Formation of carcinogenic chromosomal rearrangements in human thyroid cells after induction of double-strand DNA breaks by restriction endonucleases

Ionizing radiation (IR) exposure increases the risk of thyroid cancer and other cancer types. Chromosomal rearrangements, such asRET/PTC, are characteristic features of radiation-associated thyroid cancer and can be induced by radiationin vitro. IR causes double-strand breaks (DSBs), suggesting that such damage leads toRET/PTC, but the rearrangement mechanism has not been established. To study the mechanism, we explored the possibility of inducingRET/PTCby electroporation of restriction endonucleases (REs) into HTori-3 human thyroid cells. We used five REs, which induced DSB in a dose-dependent manner similar to that seen with IR. Although all but one RE caused DSB in one or more of the three genes involved inRET/PTC, rearrangement was detected only in cells electroporated with either PvuII (25 and 100 U) or StuI (100 and 250 U). The predominant rearrangement type wasRET/PTC3, which is characteristic of human thyroid cancer arising early after Chernobyl-related radioactive iodine exposure. Both enzymes that producedRET/PTChad restriction sites only in one of the two fusion partner genes. Moreover, the two enzymes that producedRET/PTChad restriction sites present in clusters, which was not the case for RE that failed to induceRET/PTC. In summary, we establish a model of DSB induction by RE and report for the first time the formation of carcinogenic chromosomal rearrangements, predominantlyRET/PTC3, as a result of DSB produced by RE. Our data also raise a possibility thatRET/PTCrearrangement can be initiated by a complex DSB that is induced in one of the fusion partner genes.

Download Full-text

Effect of low-dose tungsten on human thyroid stem/precursor cells and their progeny

Endocrine Related Cancer ◽

10.1530/erc-19-0176 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (8) ◽

pp. 713-725 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Fiorenza Gianì ◽

Giuseppe Pandini ◽

Nunzio Massimo Scalisi ◽

Paolo Vigneri ◽

Carmine Fazzari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Chronic Exposure ◽

Low Dose ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Precursor Cells ◽

Mount Etna ◽

Human Thyroid ◽

Volcanic Area ◽

Thyroid Cells

Thyroid cancer incidence is increased in volcanic areas where environment pollution biocontaminates residents. Tungsten (W) is the most increased heavy metal in drinking water of Mount Etna volcanic area where it exceeds the normal range in the urine of 27% inhabitants. The possible connection between increased tungsten and thyroid cancer has never been studied. We investigated in vitro the effect tungsten on both human thyrocytes in primary culture, thyrospheres (aggregates of stem/precursor thyroid cells) and thyrocytes differentiated from tungsten-exposed thyrospheres. Chronic exposure to low-dose (nanomolar range, as in the urines of volcanic area residents) soluble tungsten had major biological effects on thyroid stem/precursor cells, promoting growth with a biphasic (hormetic) dose-response and reducing apoptosis. No such effects were observed in mature thyrocytes. In addition, tungsten-exposed thyrospheres had abnormal expression of genes commonly altered also in thyroid cancer and increased activation of the DNA-repair proteins H2AX and 53BP1. Moreover, exposure to tungsten decreased thyrosphere differentiation, as indicated by the reduced expression of thyroid-specific genes in derived thyrocytes that also showed preneoplastic changes such as increased anchorage-independent growth, clonogenic growth and migration capacity. The mechanism of action of tungsten on thyroid stem/precursor cells is unclear but involves membrane G-proteins and activation of the ERK signaling pathway. These data indicate that chronic exposure to slightly increased tungsten, harmless for mature thyrocytes, importantly affects the biology of stem/precursor thyroid cells and of their progeny, inducing characteristics of preneoplastic transformation.

Download Full-text

Spatial Positioning of RET and H4 Following Radiation Exposure Leads to Tumor Development

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2001.31 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 186-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Yuri E. Nikiforov

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Ionizing Radiation ◽

Radiation Exposure ◽

Chromosomal Rearrangements ◽

Tumor Development ◽

Soft Tissue Sarcomas ◽

Dna Breaks ◽

Thyroid Cells ◽

Ret Gene ◽

Radiation Induced

Exposure to ionizing radiation is a well-known risk factor for a number of human cancers, including leukemia, thyroid cancer, soft tissue sarcomas, and many others. Although it has been known for a long time that radiation exposure to the cell results in extensive DNA damage, including double strand DNA breaks, the exact mechanisms of radiation-induced carcinogenesis remain unknown. Recently, a large increase in incidence of thyroid cancer was observed in children exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl nuclear accident [1]. A high prevalence of chromosomal rearrangements involving the RET gene was found among these radiation-induced thyroid tumors [2,3]. As a result of such rearrangement, a portion of the RET gene is fused with another gene, typically with the H4 or ELE1. However, since the DNA targets of ionizing radiation are randomly distributed throughout the cell nucleus, the reason for predilection for the RET rearrangements in thyroid cells was unclear.

Download Full-text

Piperlongumine, a Potent Anticancer Phytotherapeutic, Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis In Vitro and In Vivo through the ROS/Akt Pathway in Human Thyroid Cancer Cells

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13174266 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (17) ◽

pp. 4266

Author(s):

Fang-Ping Kung ◽

Yun-Ping Lim ◽

Wen-Ying Chao ◽

Yi-Sheng Zhang ◽

Hui-I Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Human Thyroid ◽

Akt Pathway ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Apoptosis Pathway

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, and its global incidence has steadily increased over the past 15 years. TC is broadly divided into well-differentiated, poorly differentiated, and undifferentiated types, depending on the histological and clinical parameters. Thus far, there are no effective treatments for undifferentiated thyroid cancers or advanced and recurrent cancer. Therefore, the development of an effective therapeutic is urgently needed for such patients. Piperlongumine (PL) is a naturally occurring small molecule derived from long pepper; it is selectively toxic to cancer cells by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we demonstrate the potential anticancer activity of PL in four TC cell lines. For this purpose, we cultured TC cell lines and analyzed the following parameters: Cell viability, colony formation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and cellular ROS induction. PL modulated the cell cycle, induced apoptosis, and suppressed tumorigenesis in TC cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner through ROS induction. Meanwhile, an intrinsic caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway was observed in the TC cells under PL treatment. The activation of Erk and the suppression of the Akt/mTOR pathways through ROS induction were seen in cells treated with PL. PL-mediated apoptosis in TC cells was through the ROS-Akt pathway. Finally, the anticancer effect and safety of PL were also demonstrated in vivo. Our findings indicate that PL exhibits antitumor activity and has the potential for use as a chemotherapeutic agent against TC. This is the first study to show the sensitivity of TC cell lines to PL.

Download Full-text

FOXE1-Dependent Regulation of Macrophage Chemotaxis by Thyroid Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22147666 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (14) ◽

pp. 7666

Author(s):

Sara C. Credendino ◽

Marta De Menna ◽

Irene Cantone ◽

Carmen Moccia ◽

Matteo Esposito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Cancer Susceptibility ◽

Macrophage Infiltration ◽

M2 Macrophage ◽

Thyroid Cells ◽

Transcriptional Alterations ◽

Cancer Phenotypes

Forkhead box E1 (FOXE1) is a lineage-restricted transcription factor involved in thyroid cancer susceptibility. Cancer-associated polymorphisms map in regulatory regions, thus affecting the extent of gene expression. We have recently shown that genetic reduction of FOXE1 dosage modifies multiple thyroid cancer phenotypes. To identify relevant effectors playing roles in thyroid cancer development, here we analyse FOXE1-induced transcriptional alterations in thyroid cells that do not express endogenous FOXE1. Expression of FOXE1 elicits cell migration, while transcriptome analysis reveals that several immune cells-related categories are highly enriched in differentially expressed genes, including several upregulated chemokines involved in macrophage recruitment. Accordingly, FOXE1-expressing cells induce chemotaxis of co-cultured monocytes. We then asked if FOXE1 was able to regulate macrophage infiltration in thyroid cancers in vivo by using a mouse model of cancer, either wild type or with only one functional FOXE1 allele. Expression of the same set of chemokines directly correlates with FOXE1 dosage, and pro-tumourigenic M2 macrophage infiltration is decreased in tumours with reduced FOXE1. These data establish a novel link between FOXE1 and macrophages recruitment in the thyroid cancer microenvironment, highlighting an unsuspected function of this gene in the crosstalk between neoplastic and immune cells that shape tumour development and progression.

Download Full-text

In Vitro Culture of Human Thyroid Cells: Preliminary Findings on the Role of the Pathological Condition of the Donors

Alternatives to Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1177/026119299702500208 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 153-160

Author(s):

Francesca Mattioli ◽

Marianna Angiola ◽

Laura Fazzuoli ◽

Francesco Razzetta ◽

Antonietta Martelli

Keyword(s):

Pathological Condition ◽

Primary Cultures ◽

S Phase ◽

Human Thyroid ◽

Thyroid Cells ◽

Toxicological Studies ◽

Predictive Indicator

Although primary cultures of human thyroid cells are used for endocrinological and toxicological studies, until now no attention has been paid toward verifying whether the hormonal conditions to which the gland was exposed in vivo prior to surgery could influence in vitro responses. Our findings suggest that the hormonal situation in vivo cannot be used as a predictive indicator of triiodothyronine and thyroxine release and/or S-phase frequency in vitro, either with or without the addition of bovine thyrotropin.

Download Full-text

Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 Trafficking to Cilia of Thyroid Epithelial Cells

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10061518 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1518

Author(s):

Maria Qatato ◽

Vaishnavi Venugopalan ◽

Alaa Al-Hashimi ◽

Maren Rehders ◽

Aaron D. Valentine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Surface ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Human Thyroid ◽

Apical Plasma Membrane ◽

Thyroid Cell ◽

Thyroid Cells ◽

Trace Amine ◽

Rat Thyroid

Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (rodent Taar1/human TAAR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is mainly recognized for its functions in neuromodulation. Previous in vitro studies suggested that Taar1 may signal from intracellular compartments. However, we have shown Taar1 to localize apically and on ciliary extensions in rodent thyrocytes, suggesting that at least in the thyroid, Taar1 may signal from the cilia at the apical plasma membrane domain of thyrocytes in situ, where it is exposed to the content of the follicle lumen containing putative Taar1 ligands. This study was designed to explore mouse Taar1 (mTaar1) trafficking, heterologously expressed in human and rat thyroid cell lines in order to establish an in vitro system in which Taar1 signaling from the cell surface can be studied in future. The results showed that chimeric mTaar1-EGFP traffics to the apical cell surface and localizes particularly to spherical structures of polarized thyroid cells, procilia, and primary cilia upon serum-starvation. Moreover, mTaar1-EGFP appears to form high molecular mass forms, possibly homodimers and tetramers, in stably expressing human thyroid cell lines. However, only monomeric mTaar1-EGFP was cell surface biotinylated in polarized human thyrocytes. In polarized rat thyrocytes, mTaar1-EGFP is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, while cilia were reached by mTaar1-EGFP transiently co-expressed in combination with an HA-tagged construct of the related mTaar5. We conclude that Taar1 trafficking to cilia depends on their integrity. The results further suggest that an in vitro cell model was established that recapitulates Taar1 trafficking in thyrocytes in situ, in principle, and will enable studying Taar1 signaling in future, thus extending our general understanding of its potential significance for thyroid autoregulation.

Download Full-text

P III C.3 Cytogenetic analysis of the effect of p53 mutation on chromosome stability in an in vitro human thyroid cancer cell model system

Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis ◽

10.1016/s0027-5107(97)82678-4 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 379 (1) ◽

pp. S25

Author(s):

Elizabeth M. Parry ◽

Hakan Ulucan

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Cytogenetic Analysis ◽

Cell Model ◽

P53 Mutation ◽

Model System ◽

Human Thyroid ◽

Chromosome Stability ◽

Thyroid Cancer Cell ◽

Cell Model System

Download Full-text

Metformin reduces glycometabolism of papillary thyroid carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology ◽

10.1530/jme-16-0134 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 15-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Chen-Tian Shen ◽

Wei-Jun Wei ◽

Zhong-Ling Qiu ◽

Hong-Jun Song ◽

Xin-Yun Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma ◽

Thyroid Carcinoma ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Papillary Thyroid ◽

Fdg Uptake ◽

Dose Dependent

More aggressive thyroid cancer cells show a higher activity of glycometabolism. Targeting cancer cell metabolism has emerged as a novel approach to prevent or treat malignant tumors. Glucose metabolism regulation effect of metformin in papillary thyroid cancer was investigated in the current study. Human papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cell lines BCPAP and KTC1 were used. Cell viability was detected by CCK8 assay. Glucose uptake and relative gene expression were measured in metformin (0–10 mM for 48 h)-treated cells by 18F-FDG uptake assay and western blotting analysis, respectively. MicroPET/CT imaging was performed to detect 18F-FDG uptake in vivo. After treatment with metformin at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mM for 48 h, the ratio of p-AMPK to total AMPK showed significant rising in a dose-dependent manner in both BCPAP and KTC1, whereas p-AKT and p-mTOR expression level were downregulated. 18F-FDG uptake reduced after metformin treatment in a dose-dependent manner, corresponding to the reduced expression level of HK2 and GLUT1 in vitro. Xenograft model of PTC using BCPAP cells was achieved successfully. MicroPET/CT imaging showed that in vivo 18F-FDG uptake decreased after treatment with metformin. Immunohistochemistry staining further confirmed the reduction of HK2 and GLUT1 expression in the tumor tissue of metformin-treated PTC xenograft model. In conclusion, metformin could reduce glucose metabolism of PTC in vitro and in vivo. Metformin, by targeting glycometabolism of cancer cells, could be a promising adjuvant therapy alternative in the treatment modality of advanced thyroid carcinoma.

Download Full-text

Hif-1α Inhibitors Could Successfully Inhibit the Progression of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in Vitro

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph13090208 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 208

Author(s):

Min-Hee Kim ◽

Tae Hyeong Lee ◽

Jin Soo Lee ◽

Dong-Jun Lim ◽

Peter Chang-Whan Lee

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽

Soft Agar ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Thyroid Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Dose Dependent

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α plays an important role in cancer progression. In various cancers, including thyroid cancer, overexpression of HIF-1α is related to poor prognosis or treatment response. However, few studies have investigated the role of HIF-1α inhibition in thyroid cancer progression. We evaluated the utility of the HIF-1α inhibitor IDF-11774 in vitro utilizing two thyroid cancer cell lines, K1 and BCPAP. Both cell lines were tested to elucidate the effects of IDF-11774 on cell proliferation and migration using soft agar and invasion assays. Here, we found that a reduction of HIF-1α expression in BCPAP cells was observed after treatment with IDF-11774 in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, cell proliferation, migration, and anchorage-independent growth were effectively inhibited by IDF-11774 in BCPAP cells but not in K1 cells. Additionally, invasion of BCPAP but not K1 cells was controlled with IDF-11774 in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that promoting the degradation of HIF-1α could be a strategy to manage progression and that HIF-1α inhibitors are potent drugs for thyroid cancer treatment.

Download Full-text