Genetic variants of GPER/GPR30, a novel estrogen-related G protein receptor, are associated with human seminoma.

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the most common solid cancers in young men, with an increasing incidence over several years. However, their pathogenesis remains a matter of debate. Some epidemiological data suggest the involvement of both environmental and genetic factors. We reported two distinct effects of estrogens and/or xeno-estrogens on in vitro human seminoma-derived cells proliferation: (1) an antiproliferative effect via a classical estrogen receptor beta-dependent pathway, and (2) a promotive effect via a non-classical membrane G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR30/GPER, which is only overexpressed in seminomas, the most common TGCT. In order to explain this overexpression, we investigated the possible association of polymorphisms in the GPER gene by using allele-specific tetra-primer polymerase chain reaction performed on tissue samples from 150 paraffin-embedded TGCT specimens (131 seminomas, 19 non seminomas). Compared to control population, loss of homozygous ancestral genotype GG in two polymorphisms located in the promoter region of GPER (rs3808350 and rs3808351) was more frequent in seminomas but not in non-seminomas (respectively, OR = 1.960 (1.172-3.277) and 7.000 (2.747-17.840); p < 0.01). These polymorphisms may explain GPER overexpression and represent a genetic factor of susceptibility supporting the contribution of environmental GPER ligands in testicular carcinogenesis.

Dependence on mitochondrial respiration of malignant T cells reveals a new therapeutic target for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Cancer metabolic reprogramming has been recognized as one of the cancer hallmarks that promote cell proliferation, survival, as well as therapeutic resistance. Up-to-date regulation of metabolism in T-cell lymphoma is poorly understood. In particular, for human angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) the metabolic profile is not known. Metabolic intervention could help identify new treatment options for this cancer with very poor outcomes and no effective medication. Transcriptomic analysis of AITL tumor cells, identified that these cells use preferentially mitochondrial metabolism. By using our preclinical AITL mouse model, mimicking closely human AITL features, we confirmed that T follicular helper (Tfh) tumor cells exhibit a strong enrichment of mitochondrial metabolic signatures. Consistent with these results, disruption of mitochondrial metabolism using metformin or a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor such as IACS improved the survival of AITL lymphoma-bearing mice. Additionally, we confirmed a selective elimination of the malignant human AITL T cells in patient biopsies upon mitochondrial respiration inhibition. Moreover, we confirmed that diabetic patients suffering from T-cell lymphoma, treated with metformin survived longer as compared to patients receiving alternative treatments. Taking together, our findings suggest that targeting the mitochondrial metabolic pathway could be a clinically efficient approach to inhibit aggressive cancers such as peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

XIAP as a radioresistance factor and prognostic marker for radiotherapy in human rectal adenocarcinoma.

A differential responsiveness of patients to ionizing radiation is observed after preoperative radiotherapy for rectal adenocarcinoma that might be related, in part, to an apoptosis defect. To establish if proteins of the apoptotic cascades [pro-apoptotic: active caspase 3, 8, and 9 and DIABLO (direct inhibitor of apoptosis-binding protein with low pI); anti-apoptotic: XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis)] are involved, we analyzed their profile in radioresistant (SW480) and radiosensitive (SW48) human colorectal cell lines. We demonstrated that, after irradiation, the SW48 cells increased the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins, whereas the SW480 cells increased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein XIAP. Moreover, XIAP knockdown in SW480 cells enhanced the basal and radiation-induced apoptotic index; the propensity of the SW480 cells to undergo apoptosis after radiation was higher compared with SW48 cells. In a translational study of 38 patients with rectal carcinoma, we analyzed the apoptotic profile for tumor and noncancerous tissue for each biopsy specimen using IHC. According to their response to preoperative radiotherapy, patients were classified into two groups: responsive and nonresponsive. Although no difference in expression of caspase 3, 8, or 9 was observed in the tumor/normal tissue ratio between responsive and nonresponsive patients, the ratio decreased for DIABLO and increased for XIAP. In conclusion, inhibition of XIAP rescues cellular radiosensitivity and both DIABLO and XIAP might be potential predictive markers of radiation responsiveness in rectal adenocarcinoma.

GPER and Testicular Germ Cell Cancer.

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), also known as GPR30, is a widely conserved 7-transmembrane-domain protein which has been identified as a novel 17ß-estradiol-binding protein that is structurally distinct from the classic oestrogen receptors (ERα and ERß). There are still conflicting data regarding the exact role and the natural ligand of GPER/GPR30 in reproductive tracts as both male and female knock-out mice are fertile and have no abnormalities of reproductive organs. Testicular germ cell cancers (TGCCs) are the most common malignancy in young males and the most frequent cause of death from solid tumors in this age group. Clinical and experimental studies suggested that estrogens participate in the physiological and pathological control of male germ cell proliferation. In human seminoma cell line, while 17ß-estradiol (E2) inhibits in vitro cell proliferation through an ERß-dependent mechanism, an impermeable E2 conjugate (E2 coupled to BSA), in vitro cell proliferation is stimulated by activating ERK1/2 and protein kinase A through a membrane GPCR that we further identified as GPER/GPR30. The same effect was observed with low but environmentally relevant doses of BPA, an estrogenic endocrine disrupting compound. Furthermore, GPER/GPR30 is specifically overexpressed in seminomas but not in non-seminomas and this overexpression is correlated with an ERß-downregulation. This GPER/GPR30 overexpression could be linked to some genetic variations, as single nucleotide polymorphisms, which was also reported in other hormone-dependent cancers. We will review here the implication of GPER/GPR30 in TGCCs pathophysiology and the arguments to consider GPER/GPR30 as a potential therapeutic target in humans.

miR-139 impacts FoxO1 action by decreasing FoxO1 protein in mouse hepatocytes.

FoxO1 is a master regulator of signaling pathways used by growth factors and hormones, including insulin. Its activity is regulated by changes in subcellular localization coupled to post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation. As microRNAs have emerged as a newly identified means by which cells fine-tune gene expression, we hypothesized that they could regulate FoxO1. Since FoxO1 plays a key role in the liver, we used immortalized neonatal mouse hepatocytes to analyze the effects of potential microRNAs targeting FoxO1. We found that miR-139 targets FoxO1 mRNA directly and reduces the level of the protein without affecting transcript levels. This decrease in FoxO1 protein results in a decrease of its target genes, such as AdQR1, AdQR2 and Mttp. Our findings suggest a novel mode of FoxO1 regulation by which miR-139 could maintain the protein level of FoxO1 to preserve homeostatic regulation of its transcriptional activity in response to environmental stimuli.

Caspase 1/11 Deficiency or Pharmacological Inhibition Mitigates Psoriasis-Like Phenotype in Mice.

Inflammatory caspases, activated within the inflammasome, are responsible for the maturation and secretion of IL-1ß/IL-18. Although their expression in psoriasis was shown several years ago, little is known about the role of inflammatory caspases in the context of psoriasis. Here, we confirmed that caspases 1, 4, and 5 are activated in lesional skin from psoriasis patients. We showed in three psoriasis-like models that inflammatory caspases are activated, and accordingly, caspase 1/11 invalidation or pharmacological inhibition by Ac-YVAD-CMK (i.e., Ac-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-chloromethylketone) injection induced a decrease in ear thickness, erythema, scaling, inflammatory cytokine expression, and immune cell infiltration in mice. We observed that keratinocytes were primed to secrete IL-1ß when cultured in conditions mimicking psoriasis. Generation of chimeric mice by bone marrow transplantation was carried out to decipher the respective contribution of keratinocytes and/or immune cells in the activation of inflammatory caspases during psoriasis-like inflammatory response. Our data showed that the presence of caspase 1/11 in the immune system is sufficient for a fully inflammatory response, whereas the absence of caspase 1/11 in keratinocytes/fibroblasts had no impact. In summary, our study indicates that inflammatory caspases activated in immune cells are implicated in psoriasis pathogenesis.

Developmental epigenetic programming of adult germ cell death disease: Polycomb protein EZH2-miR-101 pathway.

AIM: The Developmental Origin of Health and Disease refers to the concept that early exposure to toxicants or nutritional imbalances during perinatal life induces changes that enhance the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases in adulthood. Patients/materials & methods: An experimental model with an adult chronic germ cell death phenotype resulting from exposure to a xenoestrogen was used. RESULTS: A reciprocal negative feedback loop involving decreased EZH2 protein level and increased miR-101 expression was identified. In vitro and in vivo knockdown of EZH2 induced an apoptotic process in germ cells through increased levels of apoptotic factors (BIM and BAD) and DNA repair alteration via topoisomerase 2B deregulation. The increased miR-101 levels were observed in the animal blood, meaning that miR-101 may be a part of a circulating mark of germ cell death. CONCLUSION: miR-101-EZH2 pathway deregulation could represent a novel pathophysiological epigenetic basis for adult germ cell disease with environmental and developmental origins.