RESUMO
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a severe and frequent cause of male infertility, often treated by testicular sperm extraction followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The aim of this study is to improve the genetic diagnosis of NOA, by identifying new genes involved in human NOA and to better assess the chances of successful sperm extraction according to the individual's genotype. Exome sequencing was performed on 96 NOA-affected individuals negative for routine genetic tests. Bioinformatics analysis was limited to a panel of 151 genes selected as known causal or candidate genes for NOA. Only highly deleterious homozygous or hemizygous variants were retained as candidates. A likely causal defect was identified in 16 genes in a total of 22 individuals (23%). Six genes had not been described in man (DDX25, HENMT1, MCMDC2, MSH5, REC8, TDRKH) and 10 were previously reported (C14orf39, DMC1, FANCM, GCNA, HFM1, MCM8, MEIOB, PDHA2, TDRD9, TERB1). Seven individuals had defects in genes from piwi or DNA repair pathways, three in genes involved in post-meiotic maturation, and 12 in meiotic processes. Interestingly, all individuals with defects in meiotic genes had an unsuccessful sperm retrieval, indicating that genetic diagnosis prior to TESE could help identify individuals with low or null chances of successful sperm retrieval and thus avoid unsuccessful surgeries.
Assuntos
Azoospermia , Azoospermia/diagnóstico , Azoospermia/genética , DNA Helicases/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Recuperação Espermática , Testículo/metabolismo , Sequenciamento do ExomaRESUMO
Chronic inflammation is now a well-known precursor for cancer development. Infectious prostatitis are the most common causes of prostate inflammation, but emerging evidence points the role of metabolic disorders as a potential source of cancer-related inflammation. Although the widely used treatment for prostate cancer based on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) effectively decreases tumor size, it also causes profound alterations in immune tumor microenvironment within the prostate. Here, we demonstrate that prostates of a mouse model invalidated for nuclear receptors liver X receptors (LXRs), crucial lipid metabolism and inflammation integrators, respond in an unexpected way to androgen deprivation. Indeed, we observed profound alterations in immune cells composition, which was associated with chronic inflammation of the prostate. This was explained by the recruitment of phagocytosis-deficient macrophages leading to aberrant hyporesponse to castration. This phenotypic alteration was sufficient to allow prostatic neoplasia. Altogether, these data suggest that ADT and inflammation resulting from metabolic alterations interact to promote aberrant proliferation of epithelial prostate cells and development of neoplasia. This raises the question of the benefit of ADT for patients with metabolic disorders.
Assuntos
Imunidade/fisiologia , Receptores X do Fígado/metabolismo , Próstata/metabolismo , Antagonistas de Androgênios/imunologia , Androgênios/metabolismo , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Imunidade/imunologia , Receptores X do Fígado/genética , Receptores X do Fígado/imunologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos da Linhagem 129 , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Neoplasias/etiologia , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Próstata/patologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Próstata/patologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/terapia , Receptores Citoplasmáticos e Nucleares/metabolismo , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
Globozoospermia is a rare phenotype of primary male infertility inducing the production of round-headed spermatozoa without acrosome. Anomalies of DPY19L2 account for 50-70% of all cases and the entire deletion of the gene is by far the most frequent defect identified. Here, we present a large cohort of 69 patients with 20-100% of globozoospermia. Genetic analyses including multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, Sanger sequencing and whole-exome sequencing identified 25 subjects with a homozygous DPY19L2 deletion (36%) and 14 carrying other DPY19L2 defects (20%). Overall, 11 deleterious single-nucleotide variants were identified including eight novel and three already published mutations. Patients with a higher rate of round-headed spermatozoa were more often diagnosed and had a higher proportion of loss of function anomalies, highlighting a good genotype phenotype correlation. No gene defects were identified in patients carrying < 50% of globozoospermia while diagnosis efficiency rose to 77% for patients with > 50% of globozoospermia. In addition, results from whole-exome sequencing were scrutinized for 23 patients with a DPY19L2 negative diagnosis, searching for deleterious variants in the nine other genes described to be associated with globozoospermia in human (C2CD6, C7orf61, CCDC62, CCIN, DNAH17, GGN, PICK1, SPATA16, and ZPBP1). Only one homozygous novel truncating variant was identified in the GGN gene in one patient, confirming the association of GGN with globozoospermia. In view of these results, we propose a novel diagnostic strategy focusing on patients with at least 50% of globozoospermia and based on a classical qualitative PCR to detect DPY19L2 homozygous deletions. In the absence of the latter, we recommend to perform whole-exome sequencing to search for defects in DPY19L2 as well as in the other previously described candidate genes.
Assuntos
Infertilidade Masculina/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Teratozoospermia/genética , Hormônios Testiculares/genética , Estudos de Coortes , Deleção de Genes , Estudos de Associação Genética/métodos , Testes Genéticos/métodos , Homozigoto , Humanos , Masculino , Mutação/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único/genética , Espermatozoides/anormalidades , Sequenciamento do Exoma/métodosRESUMO
Adrenal cortex steroids are essential for body homeostasis, and adrenal insufficiency is a life-threatening condition. Adrenal endocrine activity is maintained through recruitment of subcapsular progenitor cells that follow a unidirectional differentiation path from zona glomerulosa to zona fasciculata (zF). Here, we show that this unidirectionality is ensured by the histone methyltransferase EZH2. Indeed, we demonstrate that EZH2 maintains adrenal steroidogenic cell differentiation by preventing expression of GATA4 and WT1 that cause abnormal dedifferentiation to a progenitor-like state in Ezh2 KO adrenals. EZH2 further ensures normal cortical differentiation by programming cells for optimal response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)/PKA signaling. This is achieved by repression of phosphodiesterases PDE1B, 3A, and 7A and of PRKAR1B. Consequently, EZH2 ablation results in blunted zF differentiation and primary glucocorticoid insufficiency. These data demonstrate an all-encompassing role for EZH2 in programming steroidogenic cells for optimal response to differentiation signals and in maintaining their differentiated state.
Assuntos
Córtex Suprarrenal/enzimologia , Subunidade RIbeta da Proteína Quinase Dependente de AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Proteína Potenciadora do Homólogo 2 de Zeste/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Córtex Suprarrenal/metabolismo , Animais , Diferenciação Celular , Subunidade RIbeta da Proteína Quinase Dependente de AMP Cíclico/genética , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 1/genética , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 1/metabolismo , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 3/genética , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 3/metabolismo , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 7/genética , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 7/metabolismo , Proteína Potenciadora do Homólogo 2 de Zeste/genética , Feminino , Masculino , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Esteroides/metabolismo , Zona Fasciculada/citologia , Zona Fasciculada/enzimologia , Zona Fasciculada/metabolismo , Zona Glomerulosa/citologia , Zona Glomerulosa/enzimologia , Zona Glomerulosa/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: EZH2 is overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and its inhibition reduces growth and aggressiveness of ACC cells in culture. Although EZH2 was identified as the methyltransferase that deposits the repressive H3K27me3 histone mark, it can cooperate with transcription factors to stimulate gene transcription. METHODS: We used bioinformatics approaches on gene expression data from three cohorts of patients and a mouse model of EZH2 ablation, to identify targets and mode of action of EZH2 in ACC. This was followed by ChIP and functional assays to evaluate contribution of identified targets to ACC pathogenesis. RESULTS: We show that EZH2 mostly works as a transcriptional inducer in ACC, through cooperation with the transcription factor E2F1 and identify three positive targets involved in cell cycle regulation and mitosis i.e., RRM2, PTTG1 and ASE1/PRC1. Overexpression of these genes is associated with poor prognosis, suggesting a potential role in acquisition of aggressive ACC features. Pharmacological and siRNA-mediated inhibition of RRM2 blocks cell proliferation, induces apoptosis and inhibits cell migration, suggesting that it may be an interesting target in ACC. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these data show an unexpected role of EZH2 and E2F1 in stimulating expression of genes associated with ACC aggressiveness.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Córtex Suprarrenal/genética , Carcinoma Adrenocortical/genética , Fator de Transcrição E2F1/genética , Proteína Potenciadora do Homólogo 2 de Zeste/genética , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Adenosina/análogos & derivados , Adenosina/farmacologia , Animais , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/genética , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/genética , Imunoprecipitação da Cromatina , Biologia Computacional , Proteína Potenciadora do Homólogo 2 de Zeste/antagonistas & inibidores , Humanos , Indóis/farmacologia , Camundongos Knockout , Análise Multivariada , Modelos de Riscos Proporcionais , Ribonucleosídeo Difosfato Redutase/antagonistas & inibidores , Ribonucleosídeo Difosfato Redutase/genética , Securina/genéticaRESUMO
Adrenal Cortex Carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive tumour with poor prognosis. Common alterations in patients include constitutive WNT/ß-catenin signalling and overexpression of the growth factor IGF2. However, the combination of both alterations in transgenic mice is not sufficient to trigger malignant tumour progression, suggesting that other alterations are required to allow development of carcinomas. Here, we have conducted a study of publicly available gene expression data from three cohorts of ACC patients to identify relevant alterations. Our data show that the histone methyltransferase EZH2 is overexpressed in ACC in the three cohorts. This overexpression is the result of deregulated P53/RB/E2F pathway activity and is associated with increased proliferation and poorer prognosis in patients. Inhibition of EZH2 by RNA interference or pharmacological treatment with DZNep inhibits cellular growth, wound healing and clonogenic growth and induces apoptosis of H295R cells in culture. Further growth inhibition is obtained when DZNep is combined with mitotane, the gold-standard treatment for ACC. Altogether, these observations suggest that overexpression of EZH2 is associated with aggressive progression and may constitute an interesting therapeutic target in the context of ACC.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Córtex Suprarrenal/genética , Proteína Potenciadora do Homólogo 2 de Zeste/genética , Proteína Potenciadora do Homólogo 2 de Zeste/metabolismo , Neoplasias do Córtex Suprarrenal/metabolismo , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células , Bases de Dados de Ácidos Nucleicos , Progressão da Doença , Expressão Gênica , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Humanos , Fator de Crescimento Insulin-Like II/genética , Fator de Crescimento Insulin-Like II/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Interferência de RNA , Fatores de Risco , Via de Sinalização Wnt , beta Catenina/genéticaRESUMO
Male infertility is common and complex, presenting a wide range of heterogeneous phenotypes. Although about 50% of cases are estimated to have a genetic component, the underlying cause often remains undetermined. Here, from whole-exome sequencing on samples from 168 infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia due to severe sperm flagellum, we identified homozygous ZMYND12 variants in four unrelated patients. In sperm cells from these individuals, immunofluorescence revealed altered localization of DNAH1, DNALI1, WDR66, and TTC29. Axonemal localization of ZMYND12 ortholog TbTAX-1 was confirmed using the Trypanosoma brucei model. RNAi knock-down of TbTAX-1 dramatically affected flagellar motility, with a phenotype similar to the sperm from men bearing homozygous ZMYND12 variants. Co-immunoprecipitation and ultrastructure expansion microscopy in T. brucei revealed TbTAX-1 to form a complex with TTC29. Comparative proteomics with samples from Trypanosoma and Ttc29 KO mice identified a third member of this complex: DNAH1. The data presented revealed that ZMYND12 is part of the same axonemal complex as TTC29 and DNAH1, which is critical for flagellum function and assembly in humans, and Trypanosoma. ZMYND12 is thus a new asthenoteratozoospermia-associated gene, bi-allelic variants of which cause severe flagellum malformations and primary male infertility.
Assuntos
Astenozoospermia , Infertilidade Masculina , Humanos , Masculino , Animais , Camundongos , Sêmen , Flagelos , Fertilidade , Proteínas de Ligação ao Cálcio , DineínasRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Cushing's syndrome represents a state of excessive glucocorticoids related to glucocorticoid treatments or to endogenous hypercortisolism. Cushing's syndrome is associated with high morbidity, with significant inter-individual variability. Likewise, adrenal insufficiency is a life-threatening condition of cortisol deprivation. Currently, hormone assays contribute to identify Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency. However, no biomarker directly quantifies the biological glucocorticoid action. The aim of this study was to identify such markers. DESIGN: We evaluated whole blood DNA methylome in 94 samples obtained from patients with different glucocorticoid states (Cushing's syndrome, eucortisolism, adrenal insufficiency). We used an independent cohort of 91 samples for validation. METHODS: Leukocyte DNA was obtained from whole blood samples. Methylome was determined using the Illumina methylation chip array (~850 000 CpG sites). Both unsupervised (principal component analysis) and supervised (Limma) methods were used to explore methylome profiles. A Lasso-penalized regression was used to select optimal discriminating features. RESULTS: Whole blood methylation profile was able to discriminate samples by their glucocorticoid status: glucocorticoid excess was associated with DNA hypomethylation, recovering within months after Cushing's syndrome correction. In Cushing's syndrome, an enrichment in hypomethylated CpG sites was observed in the region of FKBP5 gene locus. A methylation predictor of glucocorticoid excess was built on a training cohort and validated on two independent cohorts. Potential CpG sites associated with the risk for specific complications, such as glucocorticoid-related hypertension or osteoporosis, were identified, needing now to be confirmed on independent cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Whole blood DNA methylome is dynamically impacted by glucocorticoids. This biomarker could contribute to better assessment of glucocorticoid action beyond hormone assays.
Assuntos
Síndrome de Cushing/genética , Metilação de DNA/genética , DNA/sangue , Epigenoma/genética , Glucocorticoides/sangue , Glucocorticoides/genética , Adolescente , Insuficiência Adrenal/sangue , Insuficiência Adrenal/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores/sangue , Ilhas de CpG/genética , Síndrome de Cushing/sangue , Feminino , Humanos , Hidrocortisona/análise , Hidrocortisona/sangue , Hidrocortisona/urina , Leucócitos/química , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Saliva/química , Proteínas de Ligação a Tacrolimo/genéticaRESUMO
Design: Molecular classification is important for the diagnosis and prognosis of adrenocortical tumors (ACT). Transcriptome profiles separate adrenocortical adenomas 'C2' from carcinomas, and identify two groups of carcinomas 'C1A' and 'C1B', of poor and better prognosis respectively. However, many ACT cannot be profiled because of improper or absent freezing procedures, a mandatory requirement so far. The main aim was to determine transcriptome profiles on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, using the new 3'-end RNA-sequencing technology. A secondary aim was to demonstrate the ability of this technique to explore large FFPE archives, by focusing on the rare oncocytic ACT variants. Methods: We included 131 ACT: a training cohort from Cochin hospital and an independent validation cohort from Wuerzburg hospital. The 3' transcriptome was generated from FFPE samples using QuantSeq (Lexogen, Vienna, Austria) and NextSeq500 (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Results: In the training cohort, unsupervised clustering identified three groups: 'C1A' aggressive carcinomas (n = 28, 29%), 'C1B' more indolent carcinomas (n = 28, 29%), and 'C2' adenomas (n = 39, 41%). The prognostic value of FFPE transcriptome was confirmed in the validation cohort (5-year OS: 26% in 'C1A' (n = 26) and 100% in 'C1B' (n = 10), P = 0.003). FFPE transcriptome was an independent prognostic factor in a multivariable model including tumor stage and Ki-67 (OS HR: 7.5, P = 0.01). Oncocytic ACT (n = 19) did not form any specific cluster. Oncocytic carcinomas (n = 6) and oncocytic ACT of uncertain malignant potential (n = 4) were all in 'C1B'. Conclusions: The 3' RNA-sequencing represents a convenient solution for determining ACT molecular class from FFPE samples. This technique should facilitate routine use and large retrospective studies.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Córtex Suprarrenal , Carcinoma Adrenocortical , Neoplasias do Córtex Suprarrenal/diagnóstico , Neoplasias do Córtex Suprarrenal/genética , Carcinoma Adrenocortical/diagnóstico , Carcinoma Adrenocortical/genética , Formaldeído , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica/métodos , Humanos , Parafina , Inclusão em Parafina/métodos , Prognóstico , RNA , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fixação de Tecidos/métodos , TranscriptomaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension represents a worldwide health burden and a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hypertension can be primary (primary hypertension, PHT), or secondary to endocrine disorders (endocrine hypertension, EHT), such as Cushing's syndrome (CS), primary aldosteronism (PA), and pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL). Diagnosis of EHT is currently based on hormone assays. Efficient detection remains challenging, but is crucial to properly orientate patients for diagnostic confirmation and specific treatment. More accurate biomarkers would help in the diagnostic pathway. We hypothesized that each type of endocrine hypertension could be associated with a specific blood DNA methylation signature, which could be used for disease discrimination. To identify such markers, we aimed at exploring the methylome profiles in a cohort of 255 patients with hypertension, either PHT (n = 42) or EHT (n = 213), and at identifying specific discriminating signatures using machine learning approaches. RESULTS: Unsupervised classification of samples showed discrimination of PHT from EHT. CS patients clustered separately from all other patients, whereas PA and PPGL showed an overall overlap. Global methylation was decreased in the CS group compared to PHT. Supervised comparison with PHT identified differentially methylated CpG sites for each type of endocrine hypertension, showing a diffuse genomic location. Among the most differentially methylated genes, FKBP5 was identified in the CS group. Using four different machine learning methods-Lasso (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator), Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine-predictive models for each type of endocrine hypertension were built on training cohorts (80% of samples for each hypertension type) and estimated on validation cohorts (20% of samples for each hypertension type). Balanced accuracies ranged from 0.55 to 0.74 for predicting EHT, 0.85 to 0.95 for predicting CS, 0.66 to 0.88 for predicting PA, and 0.70 to 0.83 for predicting PPGL. CONCLUSIONS: The blood DNA methylome can discriminate endocrine hypertension, with methylation signatures for each type of endocrine disorder.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais , Hipertensão , Feocromocitoma , Humanos , Epigenoma , Metilação de DNA , Feocromocitoma/complicações , Feocromocitoma/genética , Hipertensão/diagnóstico , Hipertensão/genética , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/diagnóstico , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/genética , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/complicações , BiomarcadoresRESUMO
Duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (DPNETs) aggressiveness is heterogeneous. Tumor grade and extension are commonly used for prognostic determination. Yet, grade classes are empirically defined, with regular updates changing the definition of classes. Genomic screening may provide more objective classes and reflect tumor biology. The aim of this study was to provide a transcriptome classification of DPNETs. We included 66 DPNETs, covering the entire clinical spectrum of the disease in terms of secretion, grade, and stage. Three distinct molecular groups were identified, associated with distinct outcomes (log-rank P < 0.01): (i) better-outcome DPNETs with pancreatic beta-cell signature. This group was mainly composed of well-differentiated, grade 1 insulinomas; (ii) poor-outcome DPNETs with pancreatic alpha-cell and hepatic signature. This group included all neuroendocrine carcinomas and grade 3 DPNETs, but also some grade 1 and grade 2 DPNETs and (iii) intermediate-outcome DPNETs with pancreatic exocrine and progenitor signature. This group included grade 1 and grade 2 DPNETs, with some insulinomas. Fibrinogen gene FGA expression was one of the topmost expressed liver genes. FGA expression was associated with disease-free survival (HR = 1.13, P = 0.005) and could be validated on two independent cohorts. This original pathophysiologic insight provides new prognostic classification perspectives.
Assuntos
Insulinoma , Neoplasia Endócrina Múltipla Tipo 1 , Tumores Neuroendócrinos , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Humanos , Neoplasia Endócrina Múltipla Tipo 1/patologia , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/patologia , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/patologia , Prognóstico , TranscriptomaRESUMO
Large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors (LCCSCTs) are among the most frequent lesions occurring in male Carney complex (CNC) patients. Although they constitute a key diagnostic criterion for this rare multiple neoplasia syndrome resulting from inactivating mutations of the tumor suppressor PRKAR1A, leading to unrepressed PKA activity, LCCSCT pathogenesis and origin remain elusive. Mouse models targeting Prkar1a inactivation in all somatic populations or separately in each cell type were generated to decipher the molecular and paracrine networks involved in the induction of CNC testis lesions. We demonstrate that the Prkar1a mutation was required in both stromal and Sertoli cells for the occurrence of LCCSCTs. Integrative analyses comparing transcriptomic, immunohistological data and phenotype of mutant mouse combinations led to the understanding of human LCCSCT pathogenesis and demonstrated PKA-induced paracrine molecular circuits in which the aberrant WNT4 signal production is a limiting step in shaping intratubular lesions and tumor expansion both in a mouse model and in human CNC testes.
Assuntos
Complexo de Carney/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinases Dependentes de AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Células de Sertoli/citologia , Neoplasias Testiculares/metabolismo , Proteína Wnt4/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose , Complexo de Carney/genética , Subunidade RIalfa da Proteína Quinase Dependente de AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Genes Supressores de Tumor , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Mutação , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Comunicação Parácrina , Fenótipo , Pigmentação , Túbulos Seminíferos/metabolismo , Testículo/metabolismo , TranscriptomaRESUMO
Benign adrenal tumors cover a spectrum of lesions with distinct morphology and steroid secretion. Current classification is empirical. Beyond a few driver mutations, pathophysiology is not well understood. Here, a pangenomic characterization of benign adrenocortical tumors is proposed, aiming at unbiased classification and new pathophysiological insights. Benign adrenocortical tumors (n = 146) were analyzed by transcriptome, methylome, miRNome, chromosomal alterations and mutational status, using expression arrays, methylation arrays, miRNA sequencing, SNP arrays, and exome or targeted next-generation sequencing respectively. Pathological and hormonal data were collected for all tumors. Pangenomic analysis identifies four distinct molecular categories: (1) tumors responsible for overt Cushing, gathering distinct tumor types, sharing a common cAMP/PKA pathway activation by distinct mechanisms; (2) adenomas with mild autonomous cortisol excess and non-functioning adenomas, associated with beta-catenin mutations; (3) primary macronodular hyperplasia with ARMC5 mutations, showing an ovarian expression signature; (4) aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenomas, apart from other benign tumors. Epigenetic alterations and steroidogenesis seem associated, including CpG island hypomethylation in tumors with no or mild cortisol secretion, miRNA patterns defining specific molecular groups, and direct regulation of steroidogenic enzyme expression by methylation. Chromosomal alterations and somatic mutations are subclonal, found in less than 2/3 of cells. New pathophysiological insights, including distinct molecular signatures supporting the difference between mild autonomous cortisol excess and overt Cushing, ARMC5 implication into the adreno-gonadal differentiation faith, and the subclonal nature of driver alterations in benign tumors, will orient future research. This first genomic classification provides a large amount of data as a starting point.
Assuntos
Adenoma Adrenocortical/genética , Genômica/métodos , HumanosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The prognosis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is heterogeneous. Genomic studies have identified ACC subgroups characterized by specific molecular alterations, including features measured at DNA level (somatic mutations, chromosome alterations, DNA methylation), which are closely associated with outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate intratumor heterogeneity of prognostic molecular markers at the DNA level. METHODS: Two different tissue samples (primary tumor, local recurrence or metastasis) were analyzed in 26 patients who underwent surgery for primary or recurrent ACC. DNA-related biomarkers with prognostic role were investigated in frozen and paraffin-embedded samples. Somatic mutations of p53/Rb and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways were assessed using next-generation sequencing (n = 26), chromosome alteration profiles were determined using SNP arrays (n = 14) and methylation profiles were determined using four-gene bisulfite pyrosequencing (n = 12). RESULTS: Somatic mutations for ZNRF3, TP53, CTNN1B and CDKN2A were found in 7, 6, 6 and 4 patients, respectively, with intratumor heterogeneity in 8/26 patients (31%). Chromosome alteration profiles were 'Noisy' (numerous and anarchic alterations) in 8/14 and 'Chromosomal' (extended patterns of loss of heterozygosity) in 5/14 of the study samples. For these profiles, no intratumor heterogeneity was observed. Methylation profiles were hypermethylated in 5/12 and non-hypermethylated in 7/12 of the study samples. Intratumor heterogeneity of methylation profiles was observed in 2/12 patients (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Intratumor heterogeneity impacts DNA-related molecular markers. While somatic mutation can differ, prognostic DNA methylation and chromosome alteration profile seem rather stable and might be more robust for the prognostic assessment.
RESUMO
Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are common, with five main histological subtypes: lactotroph, somatotroph, and thyrotroph (POU1F1/PIT1 lineage); corticotroph (TBX19/TPIT lineage); and gonadotroph (NR5A1/SF1 lineage). We report a comprehensive pangenomic classification of PitNETs. PitNETs from POU1F1/PIT1 lineage showed an epigenetic signature of diffuse DNA hypomethylation, with transposable elements expression and chromosomal instability (except for GNAS-mutated somatotrophs). In TPIT lineage, corticotrophs were divided into three classes: the USP8-mutated with overt secretion, the USP8-wild-type with increased invasiveness and increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and the large silent tumors with gonadotroph transdifferentiation. Unexpected expression of gonadotroph markers was also found in GNAS-wild-type somatotrophs (SF1 expression), challenging the current definition of SF1/gonadotroph lineage. This classification improves our understanding and affects the clinical stratification of patients with PitNETs.
Assuntos
Tumores Neuroendócrinos/diagnóstico , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/genética , Neoplasias Hipofisárias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Hipofisárias/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Linhagem da Célula , Aberrações Cromossômicas , Metilação de DNA , Endopeptidases/metabolismo , Complexos Endossomais de Distribuição Requeridos para Transporte/metabolismo , Epigênese Genética , Epigenoma , Exoma , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mutação , Invasividade Neoplásica , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/patologia , Hipófise/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hipofisárias/patologia , Prognóstico , Transcriptoma , Ubiquitina Tiolesterase/metabolismo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The adrenal cortex undergoes remodeling during fetal and postnatal life. How zona reticularis emerges in the postnatal gland to support adrenarche, a process whereby higher primates increase prepubertal androgen secretion, is unknown. Using cell-fate mapping and gene deletion studies in mice, we show that activation of PKA has no effect on the fetal cortex, while it accelerates regeneration of the adult cortex, triggers zona fasciculata differentiation that is subsequently converted into a functional reticularis-like zone, and drives hypersecretion syndromes. Remarkably, PKA effects are influenced by sex. Indeed, testicular androgens increase WNT signaling that antagonizes PKA, leading to slower adrenocortical cell turnover and delayed phenotype whereas gonadectomy sensitizes males to hypercorticism and reticularis-like formation. Thus, reticularis results from ultimate centripetal conversion of adult cortex under the combined effects of PKA and cell turnover that dictate organ size. We show that PKA-induced progenitor recruitment is sexually dimorphic and may provide a paradigm for overrepresentation of women in adrenal diseases.
Assuntos
Subunidade RIalfa da Proteína Quinase Dependente de AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Caracteres Sexuais , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Zona Fasciculada/metabolismo , Zona Reticular/metabolismo , Adrenarca/metabolismo , Fatores Etários , Androgênios/metabolismo , Animais , Diferenciação Celular/fisiologia , Subunidade RIalfa da Proteína Quinase Dependente de AMP Cíclico/genética , Embrião de Mamíferos , Feminino , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Modelos AnimaisRESUMO
The adrenocortical gland undergoes structural and functional remodelling in the fetal and postnatal periods. After birth, the fetal zone of the gland undergoes rapid involution in favor of the definitive cortex, which reaches maturity with the emergence of the zona reticularis(zR) at the adrenarche. The mechanisms underlying the adrenarche, the process leading to pre-puberty elevation of plasma androgens in higher primates, remain unknown, largely due to lack of any experimental model. By following up fetal and definitive cortex cell lines in mice, we showed that activation of protein kinase A (PKA) signaling mainly impacts the adult cortex by stimulating centripetal regeneration, with differentiation and then conversion of the zona fasciculata into a functional zR. Animals developed Cushing syndrome associated with primary hyperaldosteronism, suggesting possible coexistence of these hypersecretions in certain patients. Remarkably, all of these traits were sex-dependent: testicular androgens promoted WNT signaling antagonism on PKA, slowing cortical renewal and delaying onset of Cushing syndrome and the establishment of the zR in male mice, this being corrected by orchidectomy. In conclusion, zR derives from centripetal conversion of the zona fasciculata under cellular renewal induced by PKA signaling, determining the size of the adult cortex. Finally, we demonstrated that this PKA-dependent mobilization of cortical progenitors is sexually dimorphic and could, if confirmed in humans, account for female preponderance in adrenocortical pathologies.
Assuntos
Córtex Suprarrenal/embriologia , Córtex Suprarrenal/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Camundongos , Modelos Animais , Glândulas Suprarrenais/embriologia , Glândulas Suprarrenais/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Diferenciação Celular , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos Knockout , Maturidade Sexual/fisiologiaRESUMO
This paper has been retracted at the request of the authors.
RESUMO
Advanced prostate cancer (PCa) is a clinical challenge as no curative therapeutic is available. In this context, a better understanding of metastasis and resistance mechanisms in PCa is an important issue. As phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss is the most common genetic lesion in such cancer, we investigate human data sets for mechanisms that can constrain cancer evolution in this setting. Here we report a liver X receptor (LXR) signature, which tightly correlates with PTEN loss, in PCa. Accordingly, the LXR pathway is deregulated in prostate carcinomas in Pten-null mice. Genetic ablation of LXRs in Pten-null mice, exacerbates PCa invasiveness and metastatic dissemination, which involves mesenchymal transition and accumulation of matrix metalloproteinases. Mechanistically, PTEN deletion governed LXR transcriptional activity through deregulation of cholesterol de novo synthesis, resulting in accumulation of endogenous LXR ligands. Our study therefore reveals a functional circuit linking PTEN and LXR, and highlights LXRs as metabolic gatekeepers that are able to constrain PCa progression.Treatment of prostate cancer, especially in its advanced stage, is still challenging; therefore, strategies to prevent metastatic dissemination are of great interest. Here the authors reveal a crucial role for liver X receptors in suppressing prostate carcinogenesis and metastatic progression in PTEN-null tumors.