Apoptotic HPV Positive Cancer Cells Exhibit Transforming Properties

Previous studies have shown that DNA can be transferred from dying engineered cells to neighboring cells through the phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies, which leads to cellular transformation. Here, we provide evidence of an uptake of apoptotic-derived cervical cancer cells by human mesenchymal cells. Interestingly, HeLa (HPV 18+) or Ca Ski (HPV16+) cells, harboring integrated high-risk HPV DNA but not C-33 A cells (HPV-), were able to transform the recipient cells. Human primary fibroblasts engulfed the apoptotic bodies effectively within 30 minutes after co-cultivation. This mechanism is active and involves the actin cytoskeleton. In situ hybridization of transformed fibroblasts revealed the presence of HPV DNA in the nucleus of a subset of phagocytosing cells. These cells expressed the HPV16/18 E6 gene, which contributes to the disruption of the p53/p21 pathway, and the cells exhibited a tumorigenic phenotype, including an increased proliferation rate, polyploidy and anchorage independence growth. Such horizontal transfer of viral oncogenes to surrounding cells that lack receptors for HPV could facilitate the persistence of the virus, the main risk factor for cervical cancer development. This process might contribute to HPV-associated disease progression in vivo

Estrogenic Plant Extracts Reverse Weight Gain and Fat Accumulation without Causing Mammary Gland or Uterine Proliferation

Long-term estrogen deficiency increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. Menopausal hormone therapy containing estrogens might prevent these conditions, but its prolonged use increases the risk of breast cancer, as wells as endometrial cancer if used without progestins. Animal studies indicate that beneficial effects of estrogens in adipose tissue and adverse effects on mammary gland and uterus are mediated by estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). One strategy to improve the safety of estrogens to prevent/treat obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome is to develop estrogens that act as agonists in adipose tissue, but not in mammary gland and uterus. We considered plant extracts, which have been the source of many pharmaceuticals, as a source of tissue selective estrogens. Extracts from two plants, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (RG) and Pueraria montana var. lobata (RP) bound to ERα, activated ERα responsive reporters, and reversed weight gain and fat accumulation comparable to estradiol in ovariectomized obese mice maintained on a high fat diet. Unlike estradiol, RG and RP did not induce proliferative effects on mammary gland and uterus. Gene expression profiling demonstrated that RG and RP induced estradiol-like regulation of genes in abdominal fat, but not in mammary gland and uterus. The compounds in extracts from RG and RP might constitute a new class of tissue selective estrogens to reverse weight gain, fat accumulation and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women

Newborn screening in metachromatic leukodystrophy – European consensus-based recommendations on clinical management

Introduction: Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from arylsulfatase A enzyme deficiency, leading to toxic sulfatide accumulation. As a result affected individuals exhibit progressive neurodegeneration. Treatments such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and gene therapy are effective when administered pre-symptomatically. Newborn screening (NBS) for MLD has recently been shown to be technically feasible and is indicated because of available treatment options. However, there is a lack of guidance on how to monitor and manage identified cases. This study aims to establish consensus among international experts in MLD and patient advocates on clinical management for NBS-identified MLD cases. Methods: A real-time Delphi procedure using eDELPHI software with 22 experts in MLD was performed. Questions, based on a literature review and workshops, were answered during a seven-week period. Three levels of consensus were defined: A) 100%, B) 75–99%, and C) 50–74% or >75% but >25% neutral votes. Recommendations were categorized by agreement level, from strongly recommended to suggested. Patient advocates participated in discussions and were involved in the final consensus. Results: The study presents 57 statements guiding clinical management of NBS-identified MLD patients. Key recommendations include timely communication by MLD experts with identified families, treating early-onset MLD with gene therapy and late-onset MLD with HSCT, as well as pre-treatment monitoring schemes. Specific knowledge gaps were identified, urging prioritized research for future evidence-based guidelines. Discussion: Consensus-based recommendations for NBS in MLD will enhance harmonized management and facilitate integration in national screening programs. Structured data collection and monitoring of screening programs are crucial for evidence generation and future guideline development. Involving patient representatives in the development of recommendations seems essential for NBS programs

Impact of xenobiotics on human cancer cell progression

L’impact de l’environnement dans le développement de certaines pathologies est avéré bien qu’il soit difficile à évaluer. L’Homme est chroniquement exposé à des cocktails de xénobiotiques -des molécules étrangères à l’organisme- dont la nature, la concentration et les interactions sont variables avec des effets néfastes ou bénéfiques pour la santé humaine. Parmi ceux-ci, les polluants environnementaux jouent un rôle non négligeable dans l’apparition de certains cancers. Au contraire, des molécules naturelles comme le resvératrol, possède des propriétés anti-cancéreuses. Au cours de la cancérogenèse, les cellules tumorales acquièrent un phénotype métabolique réversible caractérisé par une glycolyse et une production de lactate élevées en présence ou non d’oxygène (effet Warburg). La flexibilité du métabolisme permet aux cellules cancéreuses d’assurer des niveaux d’énergie et de métabolites et de co-facteurs suffisants pour maintenir leur phénotype tumoral dans un microenvironnement qui fluctue. Dans cette étude, les effets de différents xénobiotiques seuls ou en mélange ont été évalués sur la progression du phénotype tumoral dans des cellules tumorales humaines. Dans une 1ère partie, les effets de 2 polluants organiques persistants agissant via des voies de signalisation différentes, la tétrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxine (TCDD) et l’a-endosulfan, un pesticide organochloré, ont été étudiés, seuls ou en mélange, sur le phénotype tumoral des cellules tumorales coliques humaines (Caco2). Nous avons montré que la TCDD (25 nM) et l’a-endosulfan (10µM) diminuent les capacités oxydatives des cellules tumorales. Cet effet est plus marqué lorsque les cellules sont exposées au mélange des 2 polluants, suggérant un effet synergique. Ces altérations sont associées à une diminution drastique de la respiration mitochondriale, corrélée à une forte réduction de l’activité du complexe I de la chaine respiratoire des mitochondries. Ces observations sont en partie liées à une diminution de l’expression de NDUFS3, l’une des sous unité du complexe I. Parallèlement, nous avons mis en évidence que l’exposition aux polluants entraine l’engagement des cellules tumorales vers une transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse (EMT). Ces données suggèrent que les polluants favorisent la progression tumorale en altérant le métabolisme énergétique des cellules tumorales coliques humaines et en favorisant la mise en place d’une EMT. Le lien entre ces 2 processus ainsi que les voies de signalisation impliquées restent à élucider. Dans une 2ème partie, nous avons évalué les effets du resvératrol (RSV), un composé naturel présent entre autre dans le vin, sur sur la progression du phénotype tumoral. Ce polyphénol a été largement décrit pour ses effets bénéfiques sur le cancer et pour ses capacités à modifier le métabolisme, notamment en mimant la restriction calorique. Nous avons montré que le RSV, à une concentration proche des doses sériques mesurées chez l’Homme (10 µM), diminue la prolifération cellulaire sans affecter la viabilité. Le RSV réoriente le métabolisme énergétique des cellules tumorales en augmentant leurs capacités oxydatives et en diminuant leurs capacités glycolytiques et l’activité de la voie des pentoses phosphates. Nous avons identifié le complexe pyruvate déshydrogénase comme une cible du RSV, mis en évidence que le calcium est impliqué dans cette régulation et que les effets métaboliques induits par le RSV sont relayés en partie par la voie CamKKß/AMPK. L’ensemble de ces résultats démontre que l’environnement, via les xénobiotiques, peut moduler le phénotype tumoral, et que le métabolisme tumoral, en raison de son extrême flexibilité, est une cible majeure de ces modulations.The impact of the environment in the development of several human diseases is well established but difficult to evaluate. Humans are chronically exposed to xenobiotics mixture - foreign chemicals substances which are not normally present within the organism – with different nature, concentration and interactions leading to deleterious or beneficial effects on human health. Among these xenobiotics, environmental pollutants play a significant role in the development of some cancers. On the contrary, a natural molecule like resveratrol has anti-cancer properties. During carcinogenesis, tumor cells acquire a reversible metabolic phenotype characterized by a high glycolysis and a massive lactate production with or without oxygen (Warburg effect). The flexibility of the metabolism allows cancer cells to provide sufficient levels of energy, metabolites and cofactors to maintain their tumor phenotype in a fluctuating microenvironment. In this study, the effects of several xenobiotics alone or in a mixture were assessed on human cancer cell progression. In the first part, the effects of 2 persistent organic pollutants acting by different signaling pathways, tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD) and a-endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide, were studied alone or in a mixture, on human colonic cancer cells (Caco2) progression. We have shown that TCDD (25 nM) and a-endosulfan (10µM) decrease the oxidative capacity of tumor cells. This effect is more pronounced when cells are exposed to the mixture, suggesting a synergistic effect. These alterations are associated with a drastic decrease in mitochondrial respiration, correlated with a strong reduction in the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. These observations are in part linked to a decrease of NDUFS3 gene expression, one of the subunit of the complex I. We have also found that the dysregulation of tumor cell metabolism was associated with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our data show that pollutants strengthen the Warburg effect associated with an EMT, which suggests that the pollutants affect the progression of the tumor phenotype. The signaling pathways involved in these observations are under investigation. In the second part, we assessed the effects of resveratrol (RSV), a natural compound present among other in wine, on cancer cell progression. This polyphenol has been widely described for its benefits on cancer and its ability to mimic caloric restriction. We have shown that the RSV, with a close concentration of serum doses measured in humans (10 µM), decreases cell proliferation without modulate cell viability. RSV redirects the energy metabolism of tumor cells by increasing their oxidative capacity, decreasing their glycolytic capacity and reducing the activity of the pentose phosphate pathway. We have identified the complex pyruvate dehydrogenase as a target of the RSV and highlighted that the calcium is involved in the regulation of PDH activity. We have also shown that the RSV induces its metabolic effects in part through CamKKß/AMPK signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that the xenobiotics can modulate tumor phenotype, and tumor metabolism, because of its extreme flexibility, is a major target of these modulations

Etude par transgenèse ciblée de l'effet de la forme dominant-négatif du récepteur de la prolactine sur le développement mammaire normal et tumoral

PARIS7-Bibliothèque centrale (751132105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Burden of cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy on affected children and their families through the eyes of family caregivers

Aim: This research assessed the needs of family caregivers of children with cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD), focusing on the diagnostic process; the burden of the disease on the child and their caregiver’s quality of life; and the physical, social, psychological, professional, and financial impacts on the whole family.Methods: Family caregivers of children with cALD were recruited via the European Leukodystrophies Association International’s online platform, Leuconnect, to respond to a quantitative survey and a quality-of-life questionnaire and participate in a qualitative semi-structured interview. The questions focused on disease experience from onset to diagnosis and consequences on current life. Twelve family caregivers of 14 children were interviewed.Results: cALD diagnosis took an average of 16.5 months, and 8 of 12 children were misdiagnosed, with parents often describing a lack of listening from doctors. Caregivers described bedridden children whose poor quality of life correlated with a high Neurologic Function Score. On average, they needed to care for their children 7.7 h/day, with serious consequences for their employment, social life, and psychological state.Conclusion: Our interviews with family caregivers helped us to consider limiting diagnostic wandering by improving the skills of general practitioners and public knowledge of pathology. By gathering information on precise daily routines centered around a dependent child, we can better understand how to effectively support families by adapting not only the global care of the child but also to the following needs expressed for the entire family: better information, coordination of both care and administrative procedures, and real respite

Real-time duplex PCR for simultaneous HPV 16 and HPV 18 DNA quantitation

International audienc