Sam68 regulates translation of target mRNAs in male germ cells, necessary for mouse spermatogenesis

Sam68 is a KH-type RNA-binding protein involved in several steps of RNA metabolism with potential implications in cell differentiation and cancer. However, its physiological roles are still poorly understood. Herein, we show that Sam68−/− male mice are infertile and display several defects in spermatogenesis, demonstrating an essential role for Sam68 in male fertility. Sam68−/− mice produce few spermatozoa, which display dramatic motility defects and are unable to fertilize eggs. Expression of a subset of messenger mRNAs (mRNAs) is affected in the testis of knockout mice. Interestingly, Sam68 is associated with polyadenylated mRNAs in the cytoplasm during the meiotic divisions and in round spermatids, when it interacts with the translational machinery. We show that Sam68 is required for polysomal recruitment of specific mRNAs and for accumulation of the corresponding proteins in germ cells and in a heterologous system. These observations demonstrate a novel role for Sam68 in mRNA translation and highlight its essential requirement for the development of a functional male gamete

The QKI-6 RNA Binding Protein Regulates Actin-interacting Protein-1 mRNA Stability during Oligodendrocyte Differentiation

We identify new mRNA targets for the QKI-6 RNA binding proteins using an unbiased approach. We show that AIP-1 mRNA is bound by QKI-6 within its 3′-UTR. This regulation is observed in oligodendrocytes and it is essential for oligodendrocyte process outgrowth

Pre- and post-surgery MRSI predictive value in adult oligodendroglioma prognosis

International audiencePurpose: The aim of this study was to study the relationship between MRSI, before and after surgery, and patient survival. The accuracy of pre-operative MRSI in differentiating low-from high-grade oligodendrogliomas (ODGs) was also studied.Methods: Two hundred patients with ODG were retrospectively included in this study between 2000 and 2016. All patients underwent MRSI before any treatment or biopsy and/or after surgery for an intra-axial brain tumour. The R software was used for statistical data analysis. p 3.02 in the pre-operative and nCho/Cr > 2.04, Lac/Cr > 0.743 and nCho/ NAA > 3.63 in the post-operative period. Post-operative MRSI predicts survival better than pre-operative MRSI. nCho/Cr and Lac/Cr distinguished low-from high-grade ODG with a good positive predictive value.Conclusion: MRSI is associated with survival. It is a non-invasive tool which completes histopathology and can predict patients' prognosis, thus improving patient management

First Case of Human Cerebral Taenia martis Cysticercosis

Taenia martis is a tapeworm affecting mustelids, with rodents serving as intermediate hosts. The larval stage (cysticercus) has before been found only rarely in humans or primates. We hereby describe a case of cerebral T. martis cysticercosis in a French immunocompetent patient, confirmed by DNA analyses of biopsy material

Br. J. Cancer

BACKGROUND: Identifying patients who will experience lung cancer recurrence after surgery remains a challenge. We aimed to evaluate whether mutant forms of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) (mEGFR and mKRAS) are useful biomarkers in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from 841 patients who underwent surgery and molecular testing for NSCLC between 2007 and 2012. RESULTS: mEGFR was observed in 103 patients (12.2%), and mKRAS in 265 (31.5%). The median overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) were significantly lower for mKRAS (OS: 43 months; TTR: 19 months) compared with mEGFR (OS: 67 months; TTR: 24 months) and wild-type patients (OS: 55 months; disease-free survival (DFS): 24 months). Patients with KRAS G12V exhibited worse OS and TTR compared with the entire cohort (OS: KRAS G12V: 26 months vs COHORT: 60 months; DFS: KRAS G12V: 15 months vs COHORT: 24 months). These results were confirmed using multivariate analyses (non-G12V status, hazard ratio (HR): 0.43 (confidence interval: 0.28-0.65), P<0.0001 for OS; HR: 0.67 (0.48-0.92), P=0.01 for TTR). Risk of recurrence was significantly lower for non-KRAS G12V (HR: 0.01, (0.001-0.08), P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: mKRAS and mEGFR may predict survival and recurrence in early stages of NSCLC. Patients with KRAS G12V exhibited worse OS and higher recurrence incidences

J. Clin. Microbiol.

Taenia martis is a tapeworm affecting mustelids, with rodents serving as intermediate hosts. The larval stage (cysticercus) has been found before only rarely in humans or primates. We hereby describe a case of cerebral T. martis cysticercosis in a French immunocompetent patient, confirmed by DNA analyses of biopsy material

Pathology

MET pathway is a promising target in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) requiring companion tests. The aim of this study was to compare MET expression/gene copy number in a Caucasian population of NSCLC patients.We analysed 201 NSCLC, with 141 adenocarcinomas classified according to 2011 IASLC recommendations, for MET expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene copy number (GCN) by silver in situ hybridisation (SISH) on tissue microarrays. Mutations in EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, HER2, PIK3CA genes and ALK rearrangements were determined.MET overexpression was observed in 44% and a high MET GCN (≥5 copies) in 14%. MET CGN was correlated with MET expression, regardless of IHC scores (p < 0.001) but only 31% of MET overexpressed cases were SISH positive. MET overexpression/GCN number was more frequent in ADC than the other types (p < 0.001), the highest in high grade (74%/34%) and sarcomatoid ADC (86%/43%). Mutations of current genes or ALK rearrangements were identified in overexpressed or amplified MET cases. MET overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in non-smoker NSCLC in univariate (p = 0.01) and multivariate (p = 0.01) analyses.MET overexpression is more frequent than MET high GCN, particularly in high grade ADC, regardless of EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, HER2, PIK3CA and ALK status in NSCLC