Cohesin - bridging the gap among gene transcription, genome stability, and human diseases.

The intricate landscape of cellular processes governing gene transcription, chromatin organization, and genome stability is a fascinating field of study. A key player in maintaining this delicate equilibrium is the cohesin complex, a molecular machine with multifaceted roles. This review presents an in-depth exploration of these intricate connections and their significant impact on various human diseases.

Synthetic Lethality between Cohesin and WNT Signaling Pathways in Diverse Cancer Contexts.

Cohesin is a highly conserved ring-shaped complex involved in topologically embracing chromatids, gene expression regulation, genome compartmentalization, and genome stability maintenance. Genomic analyses have detected mutations in the cohesin complex in a wide array of human tumors. These findings have led to increased interest in cohesin as a potential target in cancer therapy. Synthetic lethality has been suggested as an approach to exploit genetic differences in cancer cells to influence their selective killing. In this study, we show that mutations in ESCO1, NIPBL, PDS5B, RAD21, SMC1A, SMC3, STAG2, and WAPL genes are synthetically lethal with stimulation of WNT signaling obtained following LY2090314 treatment, a GSK3 inhibitor, in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, treatment led to the stabilization of ß-catenin and affected the expression of c-MYC, probably due to the occupancy decrease in cohesin at the c-MYC promoter. Finally, LY2090314 caused gene expression dysregulation mainly involving pathways related to transcription regulation, cell proliferation, and chromatin remodeling. For the first time, our work provides the underlying molecular basis for synthetic lethality due to cohesin mutations and suggests that targeting the WNT may be a promising therapeutic approach for tumors carrying mutated cohesin.

The synergism of SMC1A cohesin gene silencing and bevacizumab against colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: SMC1A is a subunit of the cohesin complex that participates in many DNA- and chromosome-related biological processes. Previous studies have established that SMC1A is involved in cancer development and in particular, is overexpressed in chromosomally unstable human colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate whether SMC1A could serve as a therapeutic target for CRC. METHODS: At first, we studied the effects of either SMC1A overexpression or knockdown in vitro. Next, the outcome of SMC1A knocking down (alone or in combination with bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor) was analyzed in vivo. RESULTS: We found that SMC1A knockdown affects cell proliferation and reduces the ability to grow in anchorage-independent manner. Next, we demonstrated that the silencing of SMC1A and the combo treatment were effective in increasing overall survival in a xenograft mouse model. Functional analyses indicated that both treatments lead to atypical mitotic figures and gene expression dysregulation. Differentially expressed genes were implicated in several pathways including gene transcription regulation, cellular proliferation, and other transformation-associated processes. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that SMC1A silencing, in combination with bevacizumab, can represent a promising therapeutic strategy for human CRC.

Dynamic in vitro culture of bovine and human ovarian tissue enhances follicle progression and health.

In vitro ovarian cortical tissue culture, followed by culture of isolated secondary follicles, is a promising future option for production of mature oocytes. Although efforts have been made to improve the culture outcome by changing the medium composition, so far, most studies used static culture systems. Here we describe the outcome of 7 days cultures of bovine and human ovarian cortical tissue in a dynamic system using a novel perifusion bioreactor in comparison to static culture in conventional and/or gas permeable dishes. Findings show that dynamic culture significantly improves follicle quality and viability, percentage and health of secondary follicles, overall tissue health, and steroid secretion in both species. Model predictions suggest that such amelioration can be mediated by an enhanced oxygen availability and/or by fluid-mechanical shear stresses and solid compressive strains exerted on the tissue.

The multifaceted roles of cohesin in cancer.

The cohesin complex controls faithful chromosome segregation by pairing sister chromatids after DNA replication until mitosis. In addition, it is crucial for hierarchal three-dimensional organization of the genome, transcription regulation and maintaining DNA integrity. The core complex subunits SMC1A, SMC3, STAG1/2, and RAD21 as well as its modulators, have been found to be recurrently mutated in human cancers. The mechanisms by which cohesin mutations trigger cancer development and disease progression are still poorly understood. Since cohesin is involved in a range of chromosome-related processes, the outcome of cohesin mutations in cancer is complex. Herein, we discuss recent discoveries regarding cohesin that provide new insight into its role in tumorigenesis.

Disease-associated c-MYC downregulation in human disorders of transcriptional regulation.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare multiorgan developmental disorder caused by pathogenic variants in cohesin genes. It is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous dominant (both autosomal and X-linked) rare disease. Increasing experimental evidence indicates that CdLS is caused by a combination of factors, such as gene expression dysregulation, accumulation of cellular damage and cellular aging, which collectively contribute to the CdLS phenotype. The CdLS phenotype overlaps with a number of related diagnoses such as KBG syndrome and Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome both caused by variants in chromatin-associated factors other than cohesin. The molecular basis underlying these overlapping phenotypes is not clearly defined. Here, we found that cells from individuals with CdLS and CdLS-related diagnoses are characterized by global transcription disturbance and share common dysregulated pathways. Intriguingly, c-MYC (subsequently referred to as MYC) is downregulated in all cell lines and represents a convergent hub lying at the center of dysregulated pathways. Subsequent treatment with estradiol restores MYC expression by modulating cohesin occupancy at its promoter region. In addition, MYC activation leads to modification in expression in hundreds of genes, which in turn reduce the oxidative stress level and genome instability. Together, these results show that MYC plays a pivotal role in the etiopathogenesis of CdLS and CdLS-related diagnoses and represents a potential therapeutic target for these conditions.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress Caused by Cryopreservation in Reproductive Cells.

Mitochondria, fundamental organelles in cell metabolism, and ATP synthesis are responsible for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium homeostasis, and cell death. Mitochondria produce most ROS, and when levels exceed the antioxidant defenses, oxidative stress (OS) is generated. These changes may eventually impair the electron transport chain, resulting in decreased ATP synthesis, increased ROS production, altered mitochondrial membrane permeability, and disruption of calcium homeostasis. Mitochondria play a key role in the gamete competence to facilitate normal embryo development. However, iatrogenic factors in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may affect their functional competence, leading to an abnormal reproductive outcome. Cryopreservation, a fundamental technology in ART, may compromise mitochondrial function leading to elevated intracellular OS that decreases sperm and oocytes' competence and the dynamics of fertilization and embryo development. This article aims to review the role played by mitochondria and ROS in sperm and oocyte function and the close, biunivocal relationships between mitochondrial damage and ROS generation during cryopreservation of gametes and gonadal tissues in different species. Based on current literature, we propose tentative hypothesis of mechanisms involved in cryopreservation-associated mitochondrial dysfunction in gametes, and discuss the role played by antioxidants and other agents to retain the competence of cryopreserved reproductive cells and tissues.

Dynamic Characterization of the Biomechanical Behaviour of Bovine Ovarian Cortical Tissue and Its Short-Term Effect on Ovarian Tissue and Follicles.

The ovary is a dynamic mechanoresponsive organ. In vitro, tissue biomechanics was reported to affect follicle activation mainly through the Hippo pathway. Only recently, ovary responsiveness to mechanical signals was exploited for reproductive purposes. Unfortunately, poor characterization of ovarian cortex biomechanics and of the mechanical challenge hampers reproducible and effective treatments, and prevention of tissue damages. In this study the biomechanical response of ovarian cortical tissue from abattoir bovines was characterized for the first time. Ovarian cortical tissue fragments were subjected to uniaxial dynamic testing at frequencies up to 30 Hz, and at increasing average stresses. Tissue structure prior to and after testing was characterized by histology, with established fixation and staining protocols, to assess follicle quality and stage. Tissue properties largely varied with the donor. Bovine ovarian cortical tissue consistently exhibited a nonlinear viscoelastic behavior, with dominant elastic characteristics, in the low range of other reproductive tissues, and significant creep. Strain rate was independent of the applied stress. Histological analysis prior to and after mechanical tests showed that the short-term dynamic mechanical test used for the study did not cause significant tissue tear, nor follicle expulsion or cell damage.

Slush nitrogen vitrification of human ovarian tissue does not alter gene expression and improves follicle health and progression in long-term in vitro culture.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether slush nitrogen (SN) vs. liquid nitrogen (LN) vitrification affects human ovarian tissue gene expression and preserves follicle health during extended in vitro culture. DESIGN: Randomized experimental study. SETTING: University research laboratory. PATIENT(S): Ovarian biopsies collected by laparoscopic surgery from patients with benign gynaecologic conditions. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Ovarian strips were vitrified with LN or SN, warmed, and analyzed before or after culture for 9 days (d9) in gas-permeable dishes. Expression of genes involved in stress and toxicity pathways was analyzed in fresh and warmed strips by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array and quantitative real-time-PCR. Fresh and vitrified/warmed strips were analyzed for follicle quality, progression, and viability before or after culture. RESULT(S): The SN vitrification preserved follicle quality better than LN (% grade 1 follicles: fresh control, 54.2; LN, 29.3; SN, 48.8). Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated a noticeable up-regulation of 13 genes in LN samples (range, 10-35) and a markedly lower up-regulation of only 5 genes (range, 3.6-7.8) in SN samples. Long-term in vitro culture evidenced worse follicle quality and viability in LN samples than in both fresh and SN samples (% grade 1 follicle: fresh d0, 51.5; fresh d9, 41; LN d9, 16.4; SN d9, 55) and a highly significant reduction of primordial follicles and a concomitant increase of primary and secondary follicles in all samples. Follicle growth to the secondary stage was significantly higher in vitrified tissue than in fresh tissue, being better in SN than in LN vitrified tissue. CONCLUSION(S): Follicle quality, gene expression, viability, and progression are better preserved after SN vitrification.

Is oxygen availability a limiting factor for in vitro folliculogenesis?

Transplantation of ovarian tissue for the preservation of fertility in oncological patients is becoming an accepted clinical practice. However, the risk of re-introducing tumour cells at transplantation has stirred an increased interest for complete in vitro folliculogenesis. This has not yet been achieved in humans possibly for the lack of knowledge on the environmental milieu that orchestrates folliculogenesis in vivo. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oxygen availability on follicle health and growth during in vitro culture of ovarian tissue strips. To this end, a model was developed to predict the dissolved oxygen concentration in tissue under varying culture conditions. Ovarian cortical strips of bovine, adopted as an animal model, and human tissue were cultured in conventional (CD) and gas permeable (PD) dishes under different media column heights and gaseous oxygen tensions for 3, 6 and 9 days. Follicle quality, activation of primordial follicles to the primary stage, and progression to the secondary stage were analysed through histology. Follicle viability was assessed through a live-dead assay at the confocal scanning laser microscope. Findings showed a higher follicle quality and viability after culture of bovine ovarian strips in PD in adequate medium height and oxygen tensions. The best culture conditions found in the bovine were adopted for human ovarian strip culture and promoted a higher follicle quality, viability and progression. Overall, data demonstrated that modulation of oxygen availability in tissue plays a key role in maintaining follicles' health and their ability to survive and progress to the secondary stage during ovarian tissue in vitro culture. Such culture conditions could increase the yield of healthy secondary follicles for subsequent dissection and individual culture to obtain competent oocytes.