Dynamique des changements de la longueur des télomères individuels et de leur architecture nucléaire dans les cellules néoplasiques

Telomeres play an important role in carcinogenesis. They assure immortalization of tumor cells by maintaining their length through the activation of telomerase or the alternative lengthening of telomere. Despite these mechanisms, telomeres of tumor cells are generally shorter than those of normal cells. In cancer cells, short telomeres promote chromosomal instability, which is one of the aggravating factors of neoplastic process. Also, the nuclear architecture of telomeres can be altered during carcinogenesis and cause genomic instability. To further understand the roles of telomeres in cancer, we studied the length of individual telomeres and their nuclear architecture in neoplastic cells. Using chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as a model, we established the first length profile of all individual telomeres in cancer. We found that telomeres on chromosome arms Xp, 18p and 5p were among the longest while the shortest were on 21p and 21q . Also, by comparing with normal cells, we established that individual telomeres of CML cells had different shortening rates. Moreover, we noted the presence of long telomeres on some specific chromosome arms in CML cells. These data led us to explore different mechanisms of telomere length maintenance in CML cells and we showed that both telomerase and the ALT can be used to maintain their telomere length. Finally, the use of LoVo cell line, from colon carcinoma, allowed us to show that the profile of individual telomere length can be dissimilar in different cancers; and specific mutations of TP53 influence this profile in a same cancer cell. Therefore, the profile of individual telomere length of a cancer cell is defined by the genetic background of the individual, the tumor type, and the nature of the mutations. The study of nuclear architecture of telomeres was done in three different settings. First, we explored impacts on nuclear architecture of telomeres after exposing normal cells to DNA-damaging agents. We particularly observed the presence of telomeric aggregates and a change in the position of telomeres in response to UVB exposure. Next, we showed that remodeling of the nuclear architecture of telomeres could occur as early as the first clinical phase of CML. Moreover, we categorized CML cells into two groups according to the number of telomeric aggregates. Finally, we showed that the mutation TP53-R175H lead to greater alteration of the nuclear organization of telomeres and a genomic instability than the other studied TP53 mutations. The work, presented here, fosters our understanding on the involvement of telomeres in carcinogenesis and will serve as foundation for future studies on length of individual telomeres and their nuclear architecture in cancers

Efficiency of Manual Scanning in Recovering Rare Cellular Events Identified by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization: Simulation of the Detection of Fetal Cells in Maternal Blood

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and manual scanning is a widely used strategy for retrieving rare cellular events such as fetal cells in maternal blood. In order to determine the efficiency of these techniques in detection of rare cells, slides of XX cells with predefined numbers (1–10) of XY cells were prepared. Following FISH hybridization, the slides were scanned blindly for the presence of XY cells by different observers. The average detection efficiency was 84% (125/148). Evaluation of probe hybridization in the missed events showed that 9% (2/23) were not hybridized, 17% (4/23) were poorly hybridized, while the hybridization was adequate for the remaining 74% (17/23). In conclusion, manual scanning is a relatively efficient method to recover rare cellular events, but about 16% of the events are missed; therefore, the number of fetal cells per unit volume of maternal blood has probably been underestimated when using manual scanning

High-depth African genomes inform human migration and health

The African continent is regarded as the cradle of modern humans and African genomes contain more genetic variation than those from any other continent, yet only a fraction of the genetic diversity among African individuals has been surveyed1. Here we performed whole-genome sequencing analyses of 426 individuals—comprising 50 ethnolinguistic groups, including previously unsampled populations—to explore the breadth of genomic diversity across Africa. We uncovered more than 3 million previously undescribed variants, most of which were found among individuals from newly sampled ethnolinguistic groups, as well as 62 previously unreported loci that are under strong selection, which were predominantly found in genes that are involved in viral immunity, DNA repair and metabolism. We observed complex patterns of ancestral admixture and putative-damaging and novel variation, both within and between populations, alongside evidence that Zambia was a likely intermediate site along the routes of expansion of Bantu-speaking populations. Pathogenic variants in genes that are currently characterized as medically relevant were uncommon—but in other genes, variants denoted as ‘likely pathogenic’ in the ClinVar database were commonly observed. Collectively, these findings refine our current understanding of continental migration, identify gene flow and the response to human disease as strong drivers of genome-level population variation, and underscore the scientific imperative for a broader characterization of the genomic diversity of African individuals to understand human ancestry and improve health

High-depth African genomes inform human migration and health

The African continent is regarded as the cradle of modern humans and African genomes contain more genetic variation than those from any other continent, yet only a fraction of the genetic diversity among African individuals has been surveyed1. Here we performed whole-genome sequencing analyses of 426 individuals—comprising 50 ethnolinguistic groups, including previously unsampled populations—to explore the breadth of genomic diversity across Africa. We uncovered more than 3 million previously undescribed variants, most of which were found among individuals from newly sampled ethnolinguistic groups, as well as 62 previously unreported loci that are under strong selection, which were predominantly found in genes that are involved in viral immunity, DNA repair and metabolism. We observed complex patterns of ancestral admixture and putative-damaging and novel variation, both within and between populations, alongside evidence that Zambia was a likely intermediate site along the routes of expansion of Bantu-speaking populations. Pathogenic variants in genes that are currently characterized as medically relevant were uncommon—but in other genes, variants denoted as ‘likely pathogenic’ in the ClinVar database were commonly observed. Collectively, these findings refine our current understanding of continental migration, identify gene flow and the response to human disease as strong drivers of genome-level population variation, and underscore the scientific imperative for a broader characterization of the genomic diversity of African individuals to understand human ancestry and improve health

Dynamique des changements de la longueur des télomères individuels et de leur architecture nucléaire dans les cellules néoplasiques

Telomeres play an important role in carcinogenesis. They assure immortalization of tumor cells by maintaining their length through the activation of telomerase or the alternative lengthening of telomere. Despite these mechanisms, telomeres of tumor cells are generally shorter than those of normal cells. In cancer cells, short telomeres promote chromosomal instability, which is one of the aggravating factors of neoplastic process. Also, the nuclear architecture of telomeres can be altered during carcinogenesis and cause genomic instability. To further understand the roles of telomeres in cancer, we studied the length of individual telomeres and their nuclear architecture in neoplastic cells. Using chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as a model, we established the first length profile of all individual telomeres in cancer. We found that telomeres on chromosome arms Xp, 18p and 5p were among the longest while the shortest were on 21p and 21q . Also, by comparing with normal cells, we established that individual telomeres of CML cells had different shortening rates. Moreover, we noted the presence of long telomeres on some specific chromosome arms in CML cells. These data led us to explore different mechanisms of telomere length maintenance in CML cells and we showed that both telomerase and the ALT can be used to maintain their telomere length. Finally, the use of LoVo cell line, from colon carcinoma, allowed us to show that the profile of individual telomere length can be dissimilar in different cancers; and specific mutations of TP53 influence this profile in a same cancer cell. Therefore, the profile of individual telomere length of a cancer cell is defined by the genetic background of the individual, the tumor type, and the nature of the mutations. The study of nuclear architecture of telomeres was done in three different settings. First, we explored impacts on nuclear architecture of telomeres after exposing normal cells to DNA-damaging agents. We particularly observed the presence of telomeric aggregates and a change in the position of telomeres in response to UVB exposure. Next, we showed that remodeling of the nuclear architecture of telomeres could occur as early as the first clinical phase of CML. Moreover, we categorized CML cells into two groups according to the number of telomeric aggregates. Finally, we showed that the mutation TP53-R175H lead to greater alteration of the nuclear organization of telomeres and a genomic instability than the other studied TP53 mutations. The work, presented here, fosters our understanding on the involvement of telomeres in carcinogenesis and will serve as foundation for future studies on length of individual telomeres and their nuclear architecture in cancers

Author Correction: High-depth African genomes inform human migration and health

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03286-9

Research capacity. Enabling the genomic revolution in Africa.

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