Injury suppresses Ras cell competitive advantage through enhanced wild-type cell proliferation

Healthy skin is a tapestry of wild-type and mutant clones. Although injury can cooperate with Ras mutations to promote tumorigenesis, the consequences in genetically mosaic skin are unknown. Here, we show that wild-type cells prevent oncogenic Ras-induced aberrant growth after injury. Although HrasG12V/+ and KrasG12D/+ cells outcompete wild-type cells in uninjured, mosaic tissue, their competitive advantage is suppressed after injury due to a selective increase in wild-type cell proliferation. EGFR inhibition abolishes the competitive advantage of wild-type cells after injury of HrasG12V/+-mosaic skin. Global loss of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 increases wild-type cell proliferation even without injury, suppressing the competitive advantage of HrasG12V/+ cells. Thus, injury plays an unanticipated role in switching the competitive balance between oncogenic and wild-type cells in genetically mosaic skin.

Genetic Transformation of LoHDZ2 and Analysis of its Function to Enhance Stress Resistance in Larch

To study the function of LoHDZ2 in larch, we first constructed a p1302-LoHDZ2::GUS overexpression vector. Through Agrobacterium-mediated infection, the expression vector was transferred into a larch embryogenic cell line. A stable resistant cell line was subsequently screened, and mature embryos were induced to grow until they developed into seedlings. Antagonistic cell lines were identified at both the DNA and RNA levels. The transgenic cell lines were then subjected to GUS staining, and transgenic cell lines were ultimately identified and obtained. These transgenic cell lines were sequenced to identify differentially expressed genes, and a cluster analysis was performed. The resistant cell lines were cultured under stress conditions involving 20% PEG6000 and 200 mM NaCl proliferation media (1/10-BM). After the stress treatment, the contents of peroxidase (POD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in both wild-type and transgenic cell lines were measured.The results are summarized below.1. When the specific fragment of the target gene in the genome of the resistant cell line was amplified, at the RNA level, the expression of the fragment in four resistant lines increased. In addition, GUS staining showed a blue reaction, indicating that LoHDZ2 was successfully integrated into the larch embryonic cell lines.2. To verify the accuracy and reliability of the transcriptome data, 10 differentially expressed genes (5 upregulated and 5 downregulated ones) were subjected to qRT–PCR verification. The results showed that the expression trend of the 10 differentially expressed genes was the same as that revealed by RNA-seq, indicating that the transcriptome data were reliable.3. The transcriptome sequencing showed that 176 genes were upregulated and that 140 genes were downregulated. Through GO enrichment analysis and KEGG metabolic pathway analysis, the screened differentially expressed genes were related to biological processes such as larch metabolism and response to stimuli, indicating that these genes may be closely involved in the regulation of the larch response to external stimuli, including heat stress, drought stress, metal ion stress and bacterial infection, and may participate in the growth process.4. After PEG6000 treatment, the POD enzyme activity of the transgenic cell line was greater than that of the wild-type; this activity could effectively remove the amount of peroxide produced. The MDA content of the transgenic cell lines was lower than that of the wild-type cell lines, and the accumulation degree of harmful substances was low, indicating that the degree of oxidative damage of the transgenic cell lines was lower than that of the wild-type cell lines. The SOD content of the transgenic cell lines was lower than that of the wild-type cell lines, indicating that the drought resistance of the transgenic cell lines was enhanced. After 200 mM NaCl treatment, although the increase in SOD content was not obvious, the same trend was detected, indicating that the resistance of the transgenic cell lines was indeed stronger than that of the wild-type cell lines. According to the results of previous experiments, after this gene was overexpressed in tobacco, the transformed plants showed obvious dwarfing, which may indicate that the stress resistance of the plant was enhanced.In conclusion, a transgenic larch cell line was successfully obtained, and transgenic larch seedlings were successfully induced. LoHDZ2, which is a member of the HD-ZipII subfamily, of Larix olgensis may participate in the response of plants to the external environment and may participate in the growth and development of Larix olgensis by affecting plant metabolic pathways.

Preclinical Studies on the Effect of Rucaparib in Ovarian Cancer: Impact of Brca2 Status

Background: Approximately 50% of ovarian cancer patients harbour homologous recombination repair deficiencies. These deficiencies have been successfully targeted using poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) particularly for patients harbouring BRCA1/2 mutations. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of the PARPi rucaparib in vitro using cell lines with BRCA2 mutations in comparison to those with BRCA2 wild type. Methods: Cell proliferation assays, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, annexin V/PI assays were used to assess the effects of rucaparib in vitro. Results: The BRCA2 mutant ovarian cancer cell line PEO1 exhibited higher PARP1 activity when treated with H2O2 compared to wild type cell lines. The migratory and proliferative capacity of PEO1 cells was compromised following treatment with rucaparib 10 µM compared to BRCA2 wild-type cell lines via a mechanism involving the mTOR pathway. Rucaparib treatment significantly increased DNA damage primarily in PEO1 cells and SKOV3 cells compared with wild type. Conclusions: Appropriate identification of robust predictive biomarkers for homologous recombination deficiency using ‘liquid’ biopsies would facilitate the identification of patients suitable for PARPi therapy. Preliminary efforts to undertake such testing are described here. This study also demonstrates the mechanisms of action of rucaparib (PARPi) which may involve elements of the mTOR pathway.

miR-200c in extracellular vesicles as a circulating biomarker of EGFR-TKI response and a mediator of EGFR-TKI sensitivity in heterogeneous NSCLC.

e20547 Background: Through intercellular transfer of EV(extracellular vesicles) miRNA, tumor cells can confer drug resistance to each other and contribute to tumor heterogeneity. However, the mechanisms why EGFR-TKI can be effective in heterogeneous NSCLC with low abundances of EGFR mutations remain unknown. The aim of the study is to investigate the significance of EV miRNA in mediating the efficacy of EGFR-TKI in heterogeneous NSCLC and serving as the biomarker of response to EGFR-TKI. Methods: We first evaluate if EVs from EGFR mutant cell (PC9) can affect EGFR-TKI sensitivity of EGFR wild type cell (CL1-5, H1299) in vitro co-culture system and i n vivo. We then identified the differential miRNA panel by comparing EVs from PC9 to those from CL1-5. Finally, we verified if the expressions level of these miRNA are different in blood EVs from patient with good response compared to those with poor response to EGFR-TKI. Results: We first verified that CL1-5 can take up labelled EVs from PC9 under time-lapse microscope and EGFR mutant DNA can be detected in recipient EGFR wild-type cell using digital PCR. We found EVs from PC9 enhanced gefitinib sensitivity of CL1-5. And co-culturing PC9 with CL1-5 enhanced CL1-5 gefitinib sensitivity which was reversed by adding GW4789, the inhibitor of exosome secretion. In subcutaneous CL1-5 animal model, in comparison to treating with gefitinib or PC9 EVs alone, only the combination treatment with gefitinib and PC9 EVs delayed cancer growth. Using small RNA sequencing, we identified a unique miRNA profile allowing discriminating EV from PC9 cells to those from CL1-5; MiRNA 200 family including 200a, 200b, 200c and mir429 were up-regulated significantly in PC9 EV. From Aug 2015 to Sep 2017, sixteen patients with good response (PFS > 12M) or poor response (PFS < 6M) to EGFR-TKI were enrolled and blood were collected for EV miRNA isolation. Ten of these blood samples were qualified for miRNA analysis and mir200a and 200c were found up-regulated in good responder to EGFR-TKI. The transfection of mir200c in CL1-5 cells not only inhibited the oncogenic pathway contributing to EGFR-TKI resistance including Stat3, Akt, EMT and BIM pathway but also enhanced gefitinib sensitivity of CL1-5 cells. Conclusions: Our data suggested mir200c from blood EV serve as a biomarker of response to EGFR-TKI and mir200c may mediate EGFR-TKI sensitivity in heterogenous EGFR mutant NSCLC.

Development of benzochalcone derivatives as selective CYP1B1 inhibitors and anticancer agents

A series of benzochalcone derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for CYP1 inhibitory activity and cytotoxic properties against wild type cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and drug resistant cell lines (LCC6/P-gp and MCF-7/1B1).

Abstract 558: PCPE2 Promotes Adipocyte Maturation via Regulation of SR-BI Activity

Procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer protein 2 (PCPE2) is an enhancer protein that enhances the cleavage of the C-termini of procollagen by bone morphogenetic protein 1. But the function of PCPE2 is not limited to collagen maturation. Recently our lab reported that PCPE2 increased HDL-associated cholesteryl ester uptake via scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-BI), an HDL cholesterol receptor highly expressed in adipose tissue. Interestingly, TwinsUK study in human provided data showing that PCPE2 mRNA is highly correlated with adipose tissue distribution. Further, our lab observed a reduced size of visceral fat pad in PCPE2 deficient mice despite its indifference in body weight compared to the wild type. To study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of how PCPE2 regulates SR-BI function and how it affects adipose tissue formation, we generated PCPE2 knockout (PCPE2 -/- ) cell line from murine preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cell using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Induction of 3T3-L1 cell to differentiate into mature adipocyte increases the expression of both PCPE2 and SR-BI hand in hand around 3 fold, which parallels the process of lipid droplet formation. Immunofluorescence studies showed that PCPE2 is distributed all over the cell in mature adipocyte, while SR-BI is mostly distributed along the cytoplasmic and lipid droplet membranes, in addition to the perinuclear region. More interestingly, PCPE2 -/- 3T3-L1 cell shows an impairment in lipid droplet formation during the induction of differentiation, with less than 10% of cells generating lipid droplets, and the size of lipid droplet being only about 50% of that in wild type. Although PCPE2 -/- 3T3-L1 cell expresses SR-BI at a higher level compared with wild type cell, nearly 50% of the SR-BI in wild type cell are in homodimer structure while PCPE2 -/- 3T3-L1 cell has almost none SR-BI multimer, indicating that SR-BI in PCPE2 -/- 3T3-L1 cell is inactive. Taken together, we concluded that PCPE2 plays a critical role in keeping SR-BI in active conformation, which, in turn, controls adipocyte maturation. Whether this effect is associated with collagen maturation will be assessed in our future studies.