scholarly journals The Genomic Landscape of Thyroid Cancer Tumourigenesis and Implications for Immunotherapy

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1082
Author(s):  
Amandeep Singh ◽  
Jeehoon Ham ◽  
Joseph William Po ◽  
Navin Niles ◽  
Tara Roberts ◽  
...  

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy that comprises mostly indolent differentiated cancers (DTCs) and less frequently aggressive poorly differentiated (PDTC) or anaplastic cancers (ATCs) with high mortality. Utilisation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and advanced sequencing data analysis can aid in understanding the multi-step progression model in the development of thyroid cancers and their metastatic potential at a molecular level, promoting a targeted approach to further research and development of targeted treatment options including immunotherapy, especially for the aggressive variants. Tumour initiation and progression in thyroid cancer occurs through constitutional activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway through mutations in BRAF, RAS, mutations in the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway and/or receptor tyrosine kinase fusions/translocations, and other genetic aberrations acquired in a stepwise manner. This review provides a summary of the recent genetic aberrations implicated in the development and progression of thyroid cancer and implications for immunotherapy.

2021 ◽  
pp. 0271678X2110267
Author(s):  
Peipei Pan ◽  
Shantel Weinsheimer ◽  
Daniel Cooke ◽  
Ethan Winkler ◽  
Adib Abla ◽  
...  

Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVM) are an important cause of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), especially in younger patients. The pathogenesis of bAVM are largely unknown. Current understanding of bAVM etiology is based on studying genetic syndromes, animal models, and surgically resected specimens from patients. The identification of activating somatic mutations in the Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS) gene and other mitogen-activated protein kinase ( MAPK) pathway genes has opened up new avenues for bAVM study, leading to a paradigm shift to search for somatic, de novo mutations in sporadic bAVMs instead of focusing on inherited genetic mutations. Through the development of new models and understanding of pathways involved in maintaining normal vascular structure and functions, promising therapeutic targets have been identified and safety and efficacy studies are underway in animal models and in patients. The goal of this paper is to provide a thorough review or current diagnostic and treatment tools, known genes and key pathways involved in bAVM pathogenesis to summarize current treatment options and potential therapeutic targets uncovered by recent discoveries.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edita Aksamitiene ◽  
Anatoly Kiyatkin ◽  
Boris N. Kholodenko

In the present paper, we describe multiple levels of cross-talk between the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt and Ras/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signalling pathways. Experimental data and computer simulations demonstrate that cross-talk is context-dependent and that both pathways can activate or inhibit each other. Positive influence of the PI3K pathway on the MAPK pathway is most effective at sufficiently low doses of growth factors, whereas negative influence of the MAPK pathway on the PI3K pathway is mostly pronounced at high doses of growth factors. Pathway cross-talk endows a cell with emerging capabilities for processing and decoding signals from multiple receptors activated by different combinations of extracellular cues.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nagla Abdel Karim ◽  
Ihab Eldessouki ◽  
Ahmad Taftaf ◽  
Deeb Ayham ◽  
Ola Gaber ◽  
...  

Metastatic prognosis in uveal melanoma is assessed by gene expression profiling (GEP) testing of the tumor cells, usually obtained by fine needle aspiration (FNA). GEP has demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing class I and II tumors, both having different metastatic potential. Transcriptomic studies identified distinct mutations including somatic mutations in GNAQ and GNA11, detected in more than 80%, and contribute to the upregulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the development of uveal melanoma (UM). The role of these mutations in treatment selection and possible benefit from targeted therapy are somewhat unclear. However, until the discovery of novel agents, local versus systemic therapies remain options for treatment that can still be considered for disease control in certain cases. We report a series of patients with metastatic UM with distinct mutational profiles. One had significant liver metastases with proven GNQ-209P mutation on tissue biopsy while peripheral blood molecular profiling did not show these mutations. The other three cases had no GNQ-209P mutation. All cases received nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) as a treatment drug, and we record their responses to treatment and their molecular-profiling results.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changmin Chen ◽  
Arthur J. Sytkowski

Abstract Stimulation of the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor triggers a cascade of signaling events. We reported that EPO upregulates c-myc expression through 2 pathways in BaF3-EpoR cells—a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway operating on transcriptional initiation and a Raf-1–mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway affecting elongation. We now show that EPO induces phosphorylation of Raf-1 at serine 338 and within the carboxy-terminal domain, resulting in an electrophoretic mobility change (hyperphosphorylation). Importantly, MEK 1 inhibitor PD98059 blocked only the hyperphosphorylation of Raf-1 but not the phosphorylation at serine 338. This inhibition of Raf-1 hyperphosphorylation resulted in increased kinase activity of Raf-1 and increased phosphorylation of MEK, suggesting that the hyperphosphorylation of Raf-1 inhibits its MEK kinase activity. Deletion of the first 184 amino acids of Raf-1, which are involved in its interaction with Ras, had no effect on EPO-induced phosphorylation. Introducing the dominant-negative N17Ras or GAP had no effect on EPO-induced kinase activity of Raf-1 and ELK activation. N17Ras failed to inhibit ELK activation in another cell line—Rauscher murine erythroleukemia— which expresses the EPO receptor endogenously and differentiates in response to the hormone. These results indicate the presence of a Ras-independent mechanism for Raf-1 and MEK activation in these cells.


Brain ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anika Bongaarts ◽  
Jackelien van Scheppingen ◽  
Anatoly Korotkov ◽  
Caroline Mijnsbergen ◽  
Jasper J Anink ◽  
...  

Abstract Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominantly inherited neurocutaneous disorder caused by inactivating mutations in TSC1 or TSC2, key regulators of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway. In the CNS, TSC is characterized by cortical tubers, subependymal nodules and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs). SEGAs may lead to impaired circulation of CSF resulting in hydrocephalus and raised intracranial pressure in patients with TSC. Currently, surgical resection and mTORC1 inhibitors are the recommended treatment options for patients with SEGA. In the present study, high-throughput RNA-sequencing (SEGAs n = 19, periventricular control n = 8) was used in combination with computational approaches to unravel the complexity of SEGA development. We identified 9400 mRNAs and 94 microRNAs differentially expressed in SEGAs compared to control tissue. The SEGA transcriptome profile was enriched for the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, a major regulator of cell proliferation and survival. Analysis at the protein level confirmed that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is activated in SEGAs. Subsequently, the inhibition of ERK independently of mTORC1 blockade decreased efficiently the proliferation of primary patient-derived SEGA cultures. Furthermore, we found that LAMTOR1, LAMTOR2, LAMTOR3, LAMTOR4 and LAMTOR5 were overexpressed at both gene and protein levels in SEGA compared to control tissue. Taken together LAMTOR1–5 can form a complex, known as the ‘Ragulator’ complex, which is known to activate both mTORC1 and MAPK/ERK pathways. Overall, this study shows that the MAPK/ERK pathway could be used as a target for treatment independent of, or in combination with mTORC1 inhibitors for TSC patients. Moreover, our study provides initial evidence of a possible link between the constitutive activated mTORC1 pathway and a secondary driver pathway of tumour growth.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Alexandra Butzmann ◽  
Jyoti Kumar ◽  
Kaushik Sridhar ◽  
Sumanth Gollapudi ◽  
Robert S. Ohgami

Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder known to represent at least four distinct clinicopathologic subtypes. Large advancements in our clinical and histopathologic description of these diverse diseases have been made, resulting in subtyping based on number of enlarged lymph nodes (unicentric versus multicentric), according to viral infection by human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and with relation to clonal plasma cells (POEMS). In recent years, significant molecular and genetic abnormalities associated with CD have been described. However, we continue to lack a foundational understanding of the biological mechanisms driving this disease process. Here, we review all cases of CD with molecular abnormalities described in the literature to date, and correlate cytogenetic, molecular, and genetic abnormalities with disease subtypes and phenotypes. Our review notes complex karyotypes in subsets of cases, specific mutations in PDGFRB N666S in 10% of unicentric CD (UCD) and NCOA4 L261F in 23% of idiopathic multicentric CD (iMCD) cases. Genes affecting chromatin organization and abnormalities in methylation are seen more commonly in iMCD while abnormalities within the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and interleukin signaling pathways are more frequent in UCD. Interestingly, there is a paucity of genetic studies evaluating HHV-8 positive multicentric CD (HHV-8+ MCD) and POEMS-associated CD. Our comprehensive review of genetic and molecular abnormalities in CD identifies subtype-specific and novel pathways which may allow for more targeted treatment options and unique biologic therapies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackson Peterson ◽  
Siqi Li ◽  
Erin Kaltenbrun ◽  
Ozgun Erdogan ◽  
Christopher M. Counter

AbstractThe ability to translate three nucleotide sequences, or codons, into amino acids to form proteins is conserved across all organisms. All but two amino acids have multiple codons, and the frequency that such synonymous codons occur in genomes ranges from rare to common. Transcripts enriched in rare codons are typically associated with poor translation, but in certain settings can be robustly expressed, suggestive of codon-dependent regulation. Given this, we screened a gain-of-function library for human genes that increase the expression of a GFPrare reporter encoded by rare codons. This screen identified multiple components of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway enhancing GFPrare expression. This effect was reversed with inhibitors of this pathway and confirmed to be both codon-dependent and occur with ectopic transcripts naturally coded with rare codons. Finally, this effect was associated, at least in part, with enhanced translation. We thus identify a potential regulatory module that takes advantage of the redundancy in the genetic code to modulate protein expression.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (5) ◽  
pp. F1556-F1563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Y. Ma ◽  
Greg H. Tesch ◽  
Richard A. Flavell ◽  
Roger J. Davis ◽  
David J. Nikolic-Paterson

Activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway induces inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis. However, little is known of the contribution of the upstream kinases, MMK3 and MKK6, to activation of the p38 kinase in the kidney and consequent renal injury. This study investigated the contribution of MKK3 to p38 MAPK activation and renal injury in the obstructed kidney. Groups of eight wild-type (WT) or Mkk3−/− mice underwent unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) and were killed 3 or 7 days later. Western blotting showed a marked increase in phospho-p38 (p-p38) MAPK in UUO WT kidney. The same trend of increased p-p38 MAPK was seen in the UUO Mkk3−/− kidney, although the actual level of p-p38 MAPK was significantly reduced compared with WT, and this could not be entirely compensated for by the increase in MKK6 expression in the Mkk3−/− kidney. Apoptosis of tubular and interstitial cells in WT UUO mice was reduced by 50% in Mkk3−/− UUO mice. Furthermore, cultured Mkk3−/− tubular epithelial cells showed resistance to H2O2-induced apoptosis, suggesting a direct role for MKK3-p38 signaling in tubular apoptosis. Upregulation of MCP-1 mRNA levels and macrophage infiltration seen on day 3 in WT UUO mice was significantly reduced in Mkk3−/− mice, but this difference was not evident by day 7. The development of renal fibrosis in Mkk3−/− UUO mice was not different from that seen in WT UUO mice. In conclusion, these studies identify discrete roles for MKK3-p38 signaling in renal cell apoptosis and the early inflammatory response in the obstructed kidney.


2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (2) ◽  
pp. C375-C382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunhui Wang ◽  
Hua Xu ◽  
Huacong Chen ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
...  

Diarrhea is a common manifestation of gastrointestinal disorders. Diarrhea-induced losses of fluid and electrolyte could lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality, especially in children living in developing countries. Somatostatin, a peptide hormone secreted by D-cells, plays an important role in regulating motility and intestinal Na+ absorption. Although octreotide, a somatostatin analog, is used to treat diarrhea, its mechanisms of action are unclear. Here we showed that octreotide increased brush-border membrane Na+/H+ exchanger 8 (NHE8) expression in the small intestine to the exclusion of other NHEs that participate in Na+ absorption. The same effect also occurred in human intestinal cells (Caco-2). We found that the increase of NHE8 expression by somatostatin required p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Furthermore, the somatostatin receptor SSTR2 antagonist CYN154806 could abolish somatostatin-induced NHE8 expression and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Thus our data provided the first concrete evidence indicating that somatostatin stimulates intestinal Na+ absorption by increasing intestinal NHE8 expression through the SSTR2-p38 MAPK pathway.


2004 ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Nanzer ◽  
S Khalaf ◽  
AM Mozid ◽  
RC Fowkes ◽  
MV Patel ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES: Ghrelin is a brain-gut peptide with GH-releasing and appetite-inducing activities and a widespread tissue distribution. Ghrelin is the endogenous ligand of the GH secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a), and both ghrelin and the GHS-R1a are expressed in the pituitary. There are conflicting data regarding the effects of ghrelin on cell proliferation. A positive effect on proliferation and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been found in hepatoma, adipose, cardiomyocyte and prostate cell lines. However, ghrelin has also been shown to have anti-proliferative effects on breast, lung and thyroid cell lines. We therefore examined the effect of ghrelin on the rat pituitary cell line GH3. METHODS: RT-PCR was used for the detection of GHS-R1a and pre-proghrelin mRNA expression in GH3 cells. The effect of ghrelin on cell proliferation was studied using [(3)H]thymidine incorporation; cell counting and the activation of the MAPK pathway were studied using immunoblotting and inhibitors of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2), protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine phosphatase pathways. RESULTS: GHS-R1a and ghrelin mRNA expression were detected in GH3 cells. Ghrelin, at 10(-10) to 10(-6) M concentrations, significantly increased [(3)H]thymidine incorporation (at 10(-9) M, 183+/-13% (means+/-s.e.m.) compared with untreated controls), while 12-phorbol 13-myristate acetate (PMA) at 10(-7) M (used as a positive control) caused a 212+/-14% increase. A reproducible stimulatory effect of desoctanoyl ghrelin was also observed on [(3)H]thymidine incorporation (135+/-5%; P<0.01 at 10(-9) M compared with control), as well as on the cell count (control 6.8 x 10(4)+/-8.7 x 10(3) cells/ml vs desoctanoyl ghrelin (10(-9) M) 1.04 x 10(5)+/-7.5 x 10(3) cells/ml; P<0.01). Ghrelin caused a significant increase in phosphorylated ERK 1/2 in immunoblotting, while desoctanoyl ghrelin showed a smaller but also significant stimulatory effect. The positive effect of ghrelin and desoctanoyl ghrelin on [(3)H]thymidine incorporation was abolished by the MAPK kinase inhibitor U0126, the PKC inhibitor GF109203X and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin 23, suggesting that the ghrelin-induced cell proliferation of GH3 cells is mediated both via a PKC-MAPK-dependent pathway and via a tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway. This could also be clearly demonstrated by Western blot analysis, where a transient increase in ERK 1/2 phosphorylation by ghrelin was attenuated by all three inhibitors. CONCLUSION: We have shown a novel role for ghrelin in stimulating the proliferation of a somatotroph pituitary tumour cell line, suggesting that ERK activation is involved in mediating the effects of ghrelin on cell proliferation. Desoctanoyl ghrelin showed a similar effect. As ghrelin has been shown to be expressed in both normal and adenomatous pituitary tissue, locally produced ghrelin may play a role in pituitary tumorigenesis via an autocrine/paracrine pathway.


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