Phenotypic screen of sixty-eight colorectal cancer cell lines identifies CEACAM6 and CEACAM5 as markers of acid resistance.

Elevated cancer metabolism releases lactic acid and CO2 into the under-perfused tumor microenvironment, resulting in extracellular acidosis. The surviving cancer cells must adapt to this selection pressure; thus, targeting tumor acidosis is a rational therapeutic strategy to manage tumor growth. However, none of the major approved treatments are based explicitly on disrupting acid handling, signaling, or adaptations, possibly because the distinction between acid-sensitive and acid-resistant phenotypes is not clear. Here, we report pH-related phenotypes of sixty-eight colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines by measuring i) extracellular acidification as a readout of acid production by fermentative metabolism and ii) growth of cell biomass over a range of extracellular pH (pHe) levels as a measure of the acid sensitivity of proliferation. Based on these measurements, CRC cell lines were grouped along two dimensions as "acid-sensitive"/"acid-resistant" versus "low metabolic acid production"/"high metabolic acid production." Strikingly, acid resistance was associated with the expression of CEACAM6 and CEACAM5 genes coding for two related cell-adhesion molecules, and among pH-regulating genes, of CA12. CEACAM5/6 protein levels were strongly induced by acidity, with a further induction under hypoxia in a subset of CRC lines. Lack of CEACAM6 (but not of CEACAM5) reduced cell growth and their ability to differentiate. Finally, CEACAM6 levels were strongly increased in human colorectal cancers from stage II and III patients, compared to matched samples from adjacent normal tissues. Thus, CEACAM6 is a marker of acid-resistant clones in colorectal cancer and a potential motif for targeting therapies to acidic regions within the tumors.

Polygenic inheritance, GWAS, polygenic risk scores, and the search for functional variants.

The reconciliation between Mendelian inheritance of discrete traits and the genetically based correlation between relatives for quantitative traits was Fisher's infinitesimal model of a large number of genetic variants, each with very small effects, whose causal effects could not be individually identified. The development of genome-wide genetic association studies (GWAS) raised the hope that it would be possible to identify single polymorphic variants with identifiable functional effects on complex traits. It soon became clear that, with larger and larger GWAS on more and more complex traits, most of the significant associations had such small effects, that identifying their individual functional effects was essentially hopeless. Polygenic risk scores that provide an overall estimate of the genetic propensity to a trait at the individual level have been developed using GWAS data. These provide useful identification of groups of individuals with substantially increased risks, which can lead to recommendations of medical treatments or behavioral modifications to reduce risks. However, each such claim will require extensive investigation to justify its practical application. The challenge now is to use limited genetic association studies to find individually identifiable variants of significant functional effect that can help to understand the molecular basis of complex diseases and traits, and so lead to improved disease prevention and treatment. This can best be achieved by 1) the study of rare variants, often chosen by careful candidate assessment, and 2) the careful choice of phenotypes, often extremes of a quantitative variable, or traits with relatively high heritability.

GMMchi: gene expression clustering using Gaussian mixture modeling.

BACKGROUND: Cancer evolution consists of a stepwise acquisition of genetic and epigenetic changes, which alter the gene expression profiles of cells in a particular tissue and result in phenotypic alterations acted upon by natural selection. The recurrent appearance of specific genetic lesions across individual cancers and cancer types suggests the existence of certain "driver mutations," which likely make up the major contribution to tumors' selective advantages over surrounding normal tissue and as such are responsible for the most consequential aspects of the cancer cells' gene expression patterns and phenotypes. We hypothesize that such mutations are likely to cluster with specific dichotomous shifts in the expression of the genes they most closely control, and propose GMMchi, a Python package that leverages Gaussian Mixture Modeling to detect and characterize bimodal gene expression patterns across cancer samples, as a tool to analyze such correlations using 2 × 2 contingency table statistics. RESULTS: Using well-defined simulated data, we were able to confirm the robust performance of GMMchi, reaching 85% accuracy with a sample size of n = 90. We were also able to demonstrate a few examples of the application of GMMchi with respect to its capacity to characterize background florescent signals in microarray data, filter out uninformative background probe sets, as well as uncover novel genetic interrelationships and tumor characteristics. Our approach to analysing gene expression analysis in cancers provides an additional lens to supplement traditional continuous-valued statistical analysis by maximizing the information that can be gathered from bulk gene expression data. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that GMMchi robustly and reliably extracts bimodal patterns from both colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line-derived microarray and tumor-derived RNA-Seq data and verify previously reported gene expression correlates of some well-characterized CRC phenotypes. AVAILABILITY: The Python package GMMchi and our cell line microarray data used in this paper is available for downloading on GitHub at https://github.com/jeffliu6068/GMMchi .

Single-molecule DNA-mapping and whole-genome sequencing of individual cells.

To elucidate cellular diversity and clonal evolution in tissues and tumors, one must resolve genomic heterogeneity in single cells. To this end, we have developed low-cost, mass-producible micro-/nanofluidic chips for DNA extraction from individual cells. These chips have modules that collect genomic DNA for sequencing or map genomic structure directly, on-chip, with denaturation-renaturation (D-R) optical mapping [Marie R, et al. (2013) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110:4893-4898]. Processing of single cells from the LS174T colorectal cancer cell line showed that D-R mapping of single molecules can reveal structural variation (SV) in the genome of single cells. In one experiment, we processed 17 fragments covering 19.8 Mb of the cell's genome. One megabase-large fragment aligned well to chromosome 19 with half its length, while the other half showed variable alignment. Paired-end single-cell sequencing supported this finding, revealing a region of complexity and a 50-kb deletion. Sequencing struggled, however, to detect a 20-kb gap that D-R mapping showed clearly in a megabase fragment that otherwise mapped well to the reference at the pericentromeric region of chromosome 4. Pericentromeric regions are complex and show substantial sequence homology between different chromosomes, making mapping of sequence reads ambiguous. Thus, D-R mapping directly, from a single molecule, revealed characteristics of the single-cell genome that were challenging for short-read sequencing.

Genetics of the human face: Identification of large-effect single gene variants.

To discover specific variants with relatively large effects on the human face, we have devised an approach to identifying facial features with high heritability. This is based on using twin data to estimate the additive genetic value of each point on a face, as provided by a 3D camera system. In addition, we have used the ethnic difference between East Asian and European faces as a further source of face genetic variation. We use principal components (PCs) analysis to provide a fine definition of the surface features of human faces around the eyes and of the profile, and chose upper and lower 10% extremes of the most heritable PCs for looking for genetic associations. Using this strategy for the analysis of 3D images of 1,832 unique volunteers from the well-characterized People of the British Isles study and 1,567 unique twin images from the TwinsUK cohort, together with genetic data for 500,000 SNPs, we have identified three specific genetic variants with notable effects on facial profiles and eyes.

Somatic selection of poorly differentiating variant stem cell clones could be a key to human ageing.

Any replicating system in which heritable variants with differing replicative potentials can arise is subject to a Darwinian evolutionary process. The continually replicating adult tissue stem cells that control the integrity of many tissues of long-lived, multicellular, complex vertebrate organisms, including humans, constitute such a replicating system. Our suggestion is that somatic selection for mutations (or stable epigenetic changes) that cause an increased rate of adult tissue stem cell proliferation, and their long-term persistence, at the expense of normal differentiation, is a major key to the ageing process. Once an organism has passed the reproductive age, there is no longer any significant counterselection at the organismal level to this inevitable cellular level Darwinian process.

Cellular polarity modulates drug resistance in primary colorectal cancers via orientation of the multidrug resistance protein ABCB1.

Colonic epithelial cells are highly polarised with a lumen-facing apical membrane, termed the brush border, and a basal membrane in contact with the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). This polarity is often maintained in cancer tissue in the form of neoplastic glands and has prognostic value. We compared the cellular polarity of several ex vivo spheroid colonic cancer cultures with their parental tumours and found that those grown as non-attached colonies exhibited apical brush border proteins on their outer cellular membranes. Transfer of these cultures to an ECM, such as collagen, re-established the centralised apical polarity observed in vivo. The multidrug resistance protein ABCB1 also became aberrantly polarised to outer colony membranes in suspension cultures, unlike cultures grown in collagen, where it was polarised to central lumens. This polarity switch was dependent on the presence of serum or selected serum components, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). The apical/basal orientation of primary cancer colon cultures cultured in collagen/serum was modulated by α2ß1 integrin signalling. The polarisation of ABCB1 in colonies significantly altered drug uptake and sensitivity, as the outward polarisation of ABCB1 in suspension colonies effluxed substrates more effectively than ECM-grown colonies with ABCB1 polarised to central lumens. Thus, serum-free suspension colonies were more resistant to a variety of anti-cancer drugs than ECM-grown colonies. In conclusion, the local stroma, or absence thereof, can have profound effects on the sensitivity of colorectal cultures to drugs that are ABCB1 substrates. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Stromal uptake and transmission of acid is a pathway for venting cancer cell-generated acid.

Proliferation and invasion of cancer cells require favorable pH, yet potentially toxic quantities of acid are produced metabolically. Membrane-bound transporters extrude acid from cancer cells, but little is known about the mechanisms that handle acid once it is released into the poorly perfused extracellular space. Here, we studied acid handling by myofibroblasts (colon cancer-derived Hs675.T, intestinal InMyoFib, embryonic colon-derived CCD-112-CoN), skin fibroblasts (NHDF-Ad), and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells (HCT116, HT29) grown in monoculture or coculture. Expression of the acid-loading transporter anion exchanger 2 (AE2) (SLC4A2 product) was detected in myofibroblasts and fibroblasts, but not in CRC cells. Compared with CRC cells, Hs675.T and InMyoFib myofibroblasts had very high capacity to absorb extracellular acid. Acid uptake into CCD-112-CoN and NHDF-Ad cells was slower and comparable to levels in CRC cells, but increased alongside SLC4A2 expression under stimulation with transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1), a cytokine involved in cancer-stroma interplay. Myofibroblasts and fibroblasts are connected by gap junctions formed by proteins such as connexin-43, which allows the absorbed acid load to be transmitted across the stromal syncytium. To match the stimulatory effect on acid uptake, cell-to-cell coupling in NHDF-Ad and CCD-112-CoN cells was strengthened with TGFß1. In contrast, acid transmission was absent between CRC cells, even after treatment with TGFß1. Thus, stromal cells have the necessary molecular apparatus for assembling an acid-venting route that can improve the flow of metabolic acid through tumors. Importantly, the activities of stromal AE2 and connexin-43 do not place an energetic burden on cancer cells, allowing resources to be diverted for other activities.

Myofibroblasts are distinguished from activated skin fibroblasts by the expression of AOC3 and other associated markers.

Pericryptal myofibroblasts in the colon and rectum play an important role in regulating the normal colorectal stem cell niche and facilitating tumor progression. Myofibroblasts previously have been distinguished from normal fibroblasts mostly by the expression of α smooth muscle actin (αSMA). We now have identified AOC3 (amine oxidase, copper containing 3), a surface monoamine oxidase, as a new marker of myofibroblasts by showing that it is the target protein of the myofibroblast-reacting mAb PR2D3. The normal and tumor tissue distribution and the cell line reactivity of AOC3 match that expected for myofibroblasts. We have shown that the surface expression of AOC3 is sensitive to digestion by trypsin and collagenase and that anti-AOC3 antibodies can be used for FACS sorting of myofibroblasts obtained by nonenzymatic procedures. Whole-genome microarray mRNA-expression profiles of myofibroblasts and skin fibroblasts revealed four additional genes that are significantly differentially expressed in these two cell types: NKX2-3 and LRRC17 in myofibroblasts and SHOX2 and TBX5 in skin fibroblasts. TGFß substantially down-regulated AOC3 expression in myofibroblasts but in skin fibroblasts it dramatically increased the expression of αSMA. A knockdown of NKX2-3 in myofibroblasts caused a decrease of myofibroblast-related gene expression and increased expression of the fibroblast-associated gene SHOX2, suggesting that NKX2-3 is a key mediator for maintaining myofibroblast characteristics. Our results show that colorectal myofibroblasts, as defined by the expression of AOC3, NKX2-3, and other markers, are a distinctly different cell type from TGFß-activated fibroblasts.

The CDX1-microRNA-215 axis regulates colorectal cancer stem cell differentiation.

The transcription factor caudal-type homeobox 1 (CDX1) is a key regulator of differentiation in the normal colon and in colorectal cancer (CRC). CDX1 activates the expression of enterocyte genes, but it is not clear how the concomitant silencing of stem cell genes is achieved. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important mediators of gene repression and have been implicated in tumor suppression and carcinogenesis, but the roles of miRNAs in differentiation, particularly in CRC, remain poorly understood. Here, we identified microRNA-215 (miR-215) as a direct transcriptional target of CDX1 by using high-throughput small RNA sequencing to profile miRNA expression in two pairs of CRC cell lines: CDX1-low HCT116 and HCT116 with stable CDX1 overexpression, and CDX1-high LS174T and LS174T with stable CDX1 knockdown. Validation of candidate miRNAs identified by RNA-seq in a larger cell-line panel revealed miR-215 to be most significantly correlated with CDX1 expression. Quantitative ChIP-PCR and promoter luciferase assays confirmed that CDX1 directly activates miR-215 transcription. miR-215 expression is depleted in FACS-enriched cancer stem cells compared with unsorted samples. Overexpression of miR-215 in poorly differentiated cell lines causes a decrease in clonogenicity, whereas miR-215 knockdown increases clonogenicity and impairs differentiation in CDX1-high cell lines. We identified the genome-wide targets of miR-215 and found that miR-215 mediates the repression of cell cycle and stemness genes downstream of CDX1. In particular, the miR-215 target gene BMI1 has been shown to promote stemness and self-renewal and to vary inversely with CDX1. Our work situates miR-215 as a link between CDX1 expression and BMI1 repression that governs differentiation in CRC.

Rapidly derived colorectal cancer cultures recapitulate parental cancer characteristics and enable personalized therapeutic assays.

We have developed a simple procedure for deriving pure cultures of growing cancer cells from colorectal cancers, including material refrigerated overnight, for pathological characterization and cytotoxicity assays. Forty-six cancers were processed and cultures set up under varying culture conditions. Use of a Rho kinase (ROCK1) inhibitor markedly increased culture survival, resulting in 80% of samples growing in culture for at least 1 month and beyond. Overnight refrigeration of samples before culture initiation had little effect on success rates, paving the way for cultures to be established for samples collected over wide geographical areas, such as those for clinical trials. Primary cultures demonstrated good correlation for differentiation markers compared to parent cancers, and were highly dynamic in 3D culture. In Matrigel, many colonies formed central lumens, indicating the presence of stem-like cells. Viable colonies in these cultures recapitulated the in vivo generation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-positive necrotic/apoptotic debris, much of which was derived from abnormal vacuolated dynamic 'bubble cells' that have not previously been described. Although bubble cells morphologically resembled signet ring cells, a rare cancer subtype, immunostaining suggested that they were most likely derived from terminally differentiated enterocytes. Micro-assays showed that drug toxicity could be measured in these cultures within hours and with sensitivity down to a few hundred cells. Primary cultures derived by our method provide valid in vitro avatars for studying the pathology of cancers in vitro and are amenable to pre-clinical drug testing, paving the way for personalized cancer treatment.

Direct and immune mediated antibody targeting of ERBB receptors in a colorectal cancer cell-line panel.

A significant proportion of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are resistant to anti-ERBB1 [avian erythroblastic leukemia viral (v-erb-b) oncogene homolog, receptor for EGF] monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). We evaluated both immune and nonimmune effects of cetuximab (anti-ERBB1 Mab), trastuzumab (anti-ERBB2 Mab), pertuzumab (anti-ERBB2 Mab), and lapatinib (dual ERBB1 and ERBB2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in a large well-characterized panel of 64 CRC cell lines to find response predictive tumor characteristics. There was a significant correlation between the direct effects of cetuximab and lapatinib. Both agents were associated (P = 0.0004) with "triple' wild-type status in KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA exon 20. Most cell lines were resistant to the direct effects of anti-ERBB2 Mabs, suggesting that the effects of lapatinib might mainly be through ERBB1. Microarray mRNA expression profiles of sensitive and resistant cell lines showed that although ERBB1 receptor or ligand levels did not associate with cetuximab sensitivity, high levels of ERBB2 (P = 0.036) and amphiregulin (P = 0.026) predicted sensitivity to lapatinib. However, higher ERBB1 expression predicted susceptibility to cetuximab-induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and occurred independently of KRAS/BRAF/PIK3CA mutations (P = 0.69). Lapatinib may be an effective alternative therapy to cetuximab in triple wild-type tumors. Microarray analysis provides suggestive biomarkers for resistance. ERBB1 levels, independent of mutation status, predict immune killing. Therefore, anti-ERBB1 antibodies may be considered in CRC tumors with higher ERBB1 expression and favorable FcγR polymorphisms.

Hypoxia and lineage specification of cell line-derived colorectal cancer stem cells.

Hypoxia is an important regulator of normal and cancer stem cell (CSC) differentiation. Colorectal CSCs from SW1222, LS180, and CCK81 colorectal cancer-derived cell lines are able to differentiate into complex 3D lumen-containing structures in normoxia, whereas in hypoxia, they form undifferentiated dense colonies that have reduced expression of the enterocyte differentiation marker CDX1, lack goblet cell formation, and have increased expression of BMI1 and activated Notch1. Hypoxia increases the clonogenicity of CSCs, which is cumulative as each round of hypoxia enriches for more CSCs. The hypoxic phenotype is reversible, because cells from hypoxic-dense colonies are able to reform differentiated structures when regrown in normoxia. We show that CDX1 is able to stimulate the generation of lumens even in hypoxia and has a negative feedback on BMI1 expression. Knockdown of CDX1 reduces lumen formation but does not affect goblet cell formation, suggesting that enterocytes and goblet cells form from different progenitor cells. Notch inhibition by dibenzazepine (DBZ) allowed CSCs to form goblet cells in both normoxia and hypoxia. Finally, we show that Hif1α, but not CA9, is an important mediator of the effects of hypoxia on the clonogenicity and differentiation of CSCs. In summary, hypoxia maintains the stem-like phenotype of colorectal cell line-derived CSCs and prevents differentiation of enterocytes and goblet cells by regulating CDX1 and Notch1, suggesting that this regulation is an important component of how hypoxia controls the switch between stemness and differentiation in CSCs.

Replication error deficient and proficient colorectal cancer gene expression differences caused by 3'UTR polyT sequence deletions.

Replication error deficient (RER+) colorectal cancers are a distinct subset of colorectal cancers, characterized by inactivation of the DNA mismatch repair system. These cancers are typically pseudodiploid, accumulate mutations in repetitive sequences as a result of their mismatch repair deficiency, and have distinct pathologies. Regulatory sequences controlling all aspects of mRNA processing, especially including message stability, are found in the 3'UTR sequence of most genes. The relevant sequences are typically A/U-rich elements or U repeats. Microarray analysis of 14 RER+ (deficient) and 16 RER- (proficient) colorectal cancer cell lines confirms a striking difference in expression profiles. Analysis of the incidence of mononucleotide repeat sequences in the 3'UTRs, 5'UTRs, and coding sequences of those genes most differentially expressed in RER+ versus RER- cell lines has shown that much of this differential expression can be explained by the occurrence of a massive enrichment of genes with 3'UTR T repeats longer than 11 base pairs in the most differentially expressed genes. This enrichment was confirmed by analysis of two published consensus sets of RER differentially expressed probesets for a large number of primary colorectal cancers. Sequence analysis of the 3'UTRs of a selection of the most differentially expressed genes shows that they all contain deletions in these repeats in all RER+ cell lines studied. These data strongly imply that deregulation of mRNA stability through accumulation of mutations in repetitive regulatory 3'UTR sequences underlies the striking difference in expression profiles between RER+ and RER- colorectal cancers.

Cancer stem cells from colorectal cancer-derived cell lines.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the subpopulation of cells within a tumor that can self-renew, differentiate into multiple lineages, and drive tumor growth. Here we describe a two-pronged approach for the identification and characterization of CSCs from colorectal cancer cell lines, using a Matrigel-based differentiation assay, and cell surface markers CD44 and CD24. About 20 to 30% of cells from the SW1222 cell line form megacolonies in Matrigel that have complex 3D structures resembling colonic crypts. The megacolonies' capacity to self-renew in vitro is direct evidence that they contain the CSCs. Furthermore, just 200 cells from SW1222 megacolonies initiate tumors in NOD/SCID mice. We also showed that CD44(+)CD24(+) cells enriched for colorectal CSCs in the HT29 and SW1222 cell lines, which can self-renew and reform all four CD44/CD24 subpopulations, are the most clonogenic in vitro and can initiate tumors in vivo. A single SW1222 CD44(+)CD24(+) CSC, when grown in Matrigel, can form large megacolonies that differentiate into enterocyte, enteroendocrine, and goblet cell lineages. The HCT116 line does not differentiate or express CDX1, nor does it contain subpopulations of cells with greater tumor-forming capacity, suggesting that HCT116 contains mainly CSCs. However, forced expression of CDX1 in HCT116 leads to reduced clonogenicity and production of differentiating crypt-containing colonies, which can explain the selection for reduced CDX1 expression in many colorectal cancers. In summary, colorectal cancer cell lines contain subpopulations of CSCs, characterized by their cell surface markers and colony morphology, which can self-renew and differentiate into multiple lineages.

Comprehensive assessment of variation at the transforming growth factor beta type 1 receptor locus and colorectal cancer predisposition.

The role of transforming growth factor beta receptor type 1 (TGFBR1) polymorphisms, particularly a coding CGC insertion (rs11466445, TGFBR1*6A/9A) in exon 1, has been extensively investigated in regard to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. These investigations have generated conflicting results. More recently, allele-specific expression (ASE) of TGFBR1 mRNA has been suggested as predisposing to CRC, with a relative risk of nearly 10-fold and a population attributable risk of approximately 10%. Owing to the potential importance of TGFBR1 variants in CRC, we performed a comprehensive examination of tagging SNPs at and around the gene in 3,101 CRC cases and 3,334 controls of northern European ancestry. To test whether rare or subpolymorphic TGFBR1 variants were associated with CRC risk, we sequenced the gene's exons in a subset of patients. We also evaluated TGFBR1 ASE in a panel of CRC cases and controls. Overall, we found no association between TGFBR1 polymorphisms and CRC risk. The rare variant screen did not identify any changes of potentially pathogenic effects. No evidence of greater ASE in cases than controls was detected, and no haplotype around TGFBR1 could account for the ASE reported in other studies. We conclude that neither genetic variation nor ASE at TGFBR1 is likely to be a major CRC risk factor.

Acid-adapted cancer cells alkalinize their cytoplasm by degrading the acid-loading membrane transporter anion exchanger 2, SLC4A2.

Acidic environments reduce the intracellular pH (pHi) of most cells to levels that are sub-optimal for growth and cellular functions. Yet, cancers maintain an alkaline cytoplasm despite low extracellular pH (pHe). Raised pHi is thought to be beneficial for tumor progression and invasiveness. However, the transport mechanisms underpinning this adaptation have not been studied systematically. Here, we characterize the pHe-pHi relationship in 66 colorectal cancer cell lines and identify the acid-loading anion exchanger 2 (AE2, SLC4A2) as a regulator of resting pHi. Cells adapt to chronic extracellular acidosis by degrading AE2 protein, which raises pHi and reduces acid sensitivity of growth. Acidity inhibits mTOR signaling, which stimulates lysosomal function and AE2 degradation, a process reversed by bafilomycin A1. We identify AE2 degradation as a mechanism for maintaining a conducive pHi in tumors. As an adaptive mechanism, inhibiting lysosomal degradation of AE2 is a potential therapeutic target.

Adult stem cell activity in naked mole rats for long-term tissue maintenance.

The naked mole rat (NMR), Heterocephalus glaber, the longest-living rodent, provides a unique opportunity to explore how evolution has shaped adult stem cell (ASC) activity and tissue function with increasing lifespan. Using cumulative BrdU labelling and a quantitative imaging approach to track intestinal ASCs (Lgr5+) in their native in vivo state, we find an expanded pool of Lgr5+ cells in NMRs, and these cells specifically at the crypt base (Lgr5+CBC) exhibit slower division rates compared to those in short-lived mice but have a similar turnover as human LGR5+CBC cells. Instead of entering quiescence (G0), NMR Lgr5+CBC cells reduce their division rates by prolonging arrest in the G1 and/or G2 phases of the cell cycle. Moreover, we also observe a higher proportion of differentiated cells in NMRs that confer enhanced protection and function to the intestinal mucosa which is able to detect any chemical imbalance in the luminal environment efficiently, triggering a robust pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative response within the stem/progenitor cell zone.

Role of rare variants in undetermined multiple adenomatous polyposis and early-onset colorectal cancer.

Some 15-20% of multiple adenomatous polyposis have no genetic explanation and 20-30% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases are thought to be due to inherited multifactorial causes. Accumulation of deleterious effects of low-frequency dominant and independently acting variants may be a partial explanation for such patients. The aim of this study was to type a selection of rare and low-frequency variants (<5%) to elucidate their role in CRC susceptibility. A total of 1181 subjects were included (866 controls; 315 cases). Cases comprised UK (n=184) and French (n=131) patients with MAP (n=187) or early-onset CRC (n=128). Seventy variants in 17 genes were examined in cases and controls. The effect of the variant effect on protein function was investigated in silico. Out of the 70 variants typed, 36 (51%) were tested for association. Twenty-one variants were rare (minor allele frequency (MAF) <1%). Four rare variants were found to have a significantly higher MAF in cases (EXO1-12, MLH1-1, CTNNB1-1 and BRCA2-37, P<0.05) than in controls. Pooling all rare variants with a MAF <0.5% showed an excess risk in cases (odds ratio=3.2; 95% confidence interval=1.1-9.5; P=0.04). Rare variants are important risk factors in CRC and, as such, should be systematically assayed alongside common variation in the search for the genetic basis of complex diseases.

Gastrointestinal differentiation marker Cytokeratin 20 is regulated by homeobox gene CDX1.

CDX1 is a transcription factor that plays a key role in intestinal development and differentiation. However, the downstream targets of CDX1 are less well defined than those of its close homologue, CDX2. We report here the identification of downstream targets of CDX1 using microarray gene-expression analysis and other approaches. Keratin 20 (KRT20), a member of the intermediate filament and a well-known marker of intestinal differentiation, was initially identified as one of the genes likely to be directly regulated by CDX1. CDX1 and KRT20 mRNA expression were significantly correlated in a panel of 38 colorectal cancer cell lines. Deletion and mutation analysis of the KRT20 promoter showed that the minimum regulatory region for the control of KRT20 expression by CDX1 is within 246 bp upstream of the KRT20 transcription start site. ChIP analysis confirmed that CDX1 binds to the predicted CDX elements in this region of the KRT20 promoter in vivo. In addition, immunohistochemistry showed expression of CDX1 parallels that of KRT20 in the normal crypt, which further supports their close relationship. In summary, our observations strongly imply that KRT20 is directly regulated by CDX1, and therefore suggest a role for CDX1 in maintaining differentiation in intestinal epithelial cells. Because a key feature of the development of a cancer is an unbalanced program of proliferation and differentiation, dysregulation of CDX1 may be an advantage for the development of a colorectal carcinoma. This could, therefore, explain the relatively frequent down regulation of CDX1 in colorectal carcinomas by hypermethylation.