Generation of a Novel Rat Model of Angelman Syndrome with a Complete Ube3a Gene Deletion.

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe intellectual disability, seizures, lack of speech, and ataxia. The gene responsible for AS was identified as Ube3a and it encodes for E6AP, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Currently, there is very little known about E6AP's mechanism of action in vivo or how the lack of this protein in neurons may contribute to the AS phenotype. Elucidating the mechanistic action of E6AP would enhance our understanding of AS and drive current research into new avenues that could lead to novel therapeutic approaches that target E6AP's various functions. To facilitate the study of AS, we have generated a novel rat model in which we deleted the rat Ube3a gene using CRISPR. The AS rat phenotypically mirrors human AS with loss of Ube3a expression in the brain and deficits in motor coordination as well as learning and memory. This model offers a new avenue for the study of AS. Autism Res 2020, 13: 397-409. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research,Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe intellectual disability, seizures, difficulty speaking, and ataxia. The gene responsible for AS was identified as UBE3A, yet very little is known about its function in vivo or how the lack of this protein in neurons may contribute to the AS phenotype. To facilitate the study of AS, we have generated a novel rat model in which we deleted the rat Ube3a gene using CRISPR. The AS rat mirrors human AS with loss of Ube3a expression in the brain and deficits in motor coordination as well as learning and memory. This model offers a new avenue for the study of AS.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in elderly mice results in altered antiviral gene expression and enhanced pathology.

Elderly persons are more susceptible to RSV-induced pneumonia than young people, but the molecular mechanism underlying this susceptibility is not well understood. In this study, we used an aged mouse model of RSV-induced pneumonia to examine how aging alters the lung pathology, modulates antiviral gene expressions, and the production of inflammatory cytokines in response to RSV infection. Young (2-3 months) and aged (19-21 months) mice were intranasally infected with mucogenic or non-mucogenic RSV strains, lung histology was examined, and gene expression was analyzed. Upon infection with mucogenic strains of RSV, leukocyte infiltration in the airways was elevated and prolonged in aged mice compared to young mice. Minitab factorial analysis identified several antiviral genes that are influenced by age, infection, and a combination of both factors. The expression of five antiviral genes, including pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and osteopontin (OPN), was altered by both age and infection, while age was associated with the expression of 15 antiviral genes. Both kinetics and magnitude of antiviral gene expression were diminished as a result of older age. In addition to delays in cytokine signaling and pattern recognition receptor induction, we found TLR7/8 signaling to be impaired in alveolar macrophages in aged mice. In vivo, induction of IL-1ß and OPN were delayed but prolonged in aged mice upon RSV infection compared to young. In conclusion, this study demonstrates inherent differences in response to RSV infection in young vs. aged mice, accompanied by delayed antiviral gene induction and cytokine signaling.

BAD phosphorylation determines ovarian cancer chemosensitivity and patient survival.

PURPOSE: Despite initial sensitivity to chemotherapy, ovarian cancers (OVCA) often develop drug resistance, which limits patient survival. Using specimens and/or genomic data from 289 patients and a panel of cancer cell lines, we explored genome-wide expression changes that underlie the evolution of OVCA chemoresistance and characterized the BCL2 antagonist of cell death (BAD) apoptosis pathway as a determinant of chemosensitivity and patient survival. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Serial OVCA cell cisplatin treatments were performed in parallel with measurements of genome-wide expression changes. Pathway analysis was carried out on genes associated with increasing cisplatin resistance (EC(50)). BAD-pathway expression and BAD protein phosphorylation were evaluated in patient samples and cell lines as determinants of chemosensitivity and/or clinical outcome and as therapeutic targets. RESULTS: Induced in vitro OVCA cisplatin resistance was associated with BAD-pathway expression (P < 0.001). In OVCA cell lines and primary specimens, BAD protein phosphorylation was associated with platinum resistance (n = 147, P < 0.0001) and also with overall patient survival (n = 134, P = 0.0007). Targeted modulation of BAD-phosphorylation levels influenced cisplatin sensitivity. A 47-gene BAD-pathway score was associated with in vitro phosphorylated BAD levels and with survival in 142 patients with advanced-stage (III/IV) serous OVCA. Integration of BAD-phosphorylation or BAD-pathway score with OVCA surgical cytoreductive status was significantly associated with overall survival by log-rank test (P = 0.004 and P < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The BAD apoptosis pathway influences OVCA chemosensitivity and overall survival, likely via modulation of BAD phosphorylation. The pathway has clinical relevance as a biomarker of therapeutic response, patient survival, and as a promising therapeutic target.

Genomic-directed targeted therapy increases endometrial cancer cell sensitivity to doxorubicin.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to utilize genome-wide expression analysis to identify molecular pathways that may contribute to endometrial cancer resistance to doxorubicin (DOX) and that also represent therapeutic targets to increase DOX sensitivity. STUDY DESIGN: Ten endometrial cancer cell lines were subjected to gene expression analysis. Sensitivity of each endometrial cell line to DOX was quantified by dimethylthiazoldiphenyltetrazoliumbromide cell proliferation assay. Pearson's correlation test was used to identify genes associated with response to DOX. Genes associated with DOX responsiveness were analyzed, and identified pathways were subjected to targeted inhibition. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation analysis identified 2871 genes associated with DOX resistance (P < .05), which included members of the Src pathway. Targeted inhibition of the Src pathway increased DOX sensitivity in RL 95-2 (P < .0001), HEC 1B (P < .001), MEF 296 (P < .05), and MEF 280 (P = .14) cell lines. CONCLUSION: Genomic analysis can identify therapeutic targets such as the Src pathway that may influence endometrial cancer DOX sensitivity.

Gedunin, a novel natural substance, inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation.

The discovery of more active therapeutic compounds is essential if the outcome for patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer is to be improved. Gedunin, an extract of the neem tree, has been used as a natural remedy for centuries in Asia. Recently, gedunin has been shown to have potential in vitro antineoplastic properties; however, its effect on ovarian cancer cells is unknown. We evaluated the in vitro effect of gedunin on SKOV3, OVCAR4, and OVCAR8 ovarian cancer cell lines proliferation, alone and in the presence of cisplatin. Furthermore, we analyzed in vitro gedunin sensitivity data, integrated with genome-wide expression data from 54 cancer cell lines in an effort to identify genes and molecular pathways that underlie the mechanism of gedunin action. In vitro treatment of ovarian cancer cell lines with gedunin alone produced up to an 80% decrease in cell proliferation (P < 0.01) and, combining gedunin with cisplatin, demonstrated up to a 47% (P < 0.01) decrease in cell proliferation compared with cisplatin treatment alone. Bioinformatic analysis of integrated gedunin sensitivity and gene expression data identified 52 genes to be associated with gedunin sensitivity. These genes are involved in molecular functions related to cell cycle control, carcinogenesis, lipid metabolism, and molecular transportation. We conclude that gedunin has in vitro activity against ovarian cancer cells and, further, may enhance the antiproliferative effect of cisplatin. The molecular determinants of in vitro gedunin response are complex and may include modulation of cell survival and apoptosis pathways.

MicroRNAs and their target messenger RNAs associated with ovarian cancer response to chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Few successful therapeutic options exist for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (OVCA). This is due in part to an incomplete understanding of the molecular determinants of chemotherapy-response. Recently, it has been shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) influence messenger-RNA (mRNA) post-transcriptional control and can contribute to human carcinogenesis. The objective of the current study was to explore the role of miRNAs, and their predicted mRNA targets, in OVCA in-vitro response to chemotherapy. METHODS: The expression of 335 unique miRNAs was measured in 16 OVCA cell lines. In parallel, the sensitivity of these cell lines to 6 commonly used chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, doxorubicin, topotecan, paclitaxel, docetaxel, and gemcitabine) was evaluated by in-vitro cell proliferation assay. MiRNAs associated with cell line drug response were identified by linear regression analysis, and their predicted mRNA targets subject to functional biologic pathway analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-seven miRNAs were found to be associated with response to the one or more of the 6 salvage chemotherapies tested (p<0.05). Predicted targets of these miRNAs included 52 mRNAs, previously reported to be associated with chemo-responsiveness, and which are also involved in functional biologic pathways that influence cancer cell cytotoxicity, carcinogenesis, cell mitosis, p53 signaling, and tumor cell growth and invasion. CONCLUSION: We have identified miRNAs and their predicted target mRNAs associated with ovarian cancer cell response to chemotherapeutic agents. Our strategy of integrating miRNA and mRNA data may aid in the characterization of important molecular pathways associated with OVCA chemo-response.

Transcriptional profile of NeuroD expression in a human fetal astroglial cell line.

NeuroD1, a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein family, is a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in terminal differentiation of neural progenitors. The primary objective was to generate an early transcriptional profile triggered by NeuroD1 to guide future studies on mechanisms of neuronal differentiation. The human NeuroD1 coding region was amplified from human fetal brain RNA using specific primers and cloned into a CMV expression vector (CT-GFP-TOPO/pcDNA3.1). Transfection of a fetal glial cell line with this construct resulted in expression of NeuroD1 in 13-15% of the cells. Markers typical of early neuronal development were observed by immunocytochemical staining in a small proportion of transfected cells. To enrich the population of NeuroD1-expressing cells, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to purify and collect the NeuroD1/GFP+ cells. Total RNA was extracted from the pair of cultures (NeuroD1/GFP vs. control plasmid/GFP) and processed for gene expression studies. A final gene list was composed from those probe sets that were either increased or decreased in the NeuroD1-expressing cells in three independent experiments (p < 0.001). Each gene was investigated further for possible roles in neurogenesis and a subset of 177 genes was chosen based on the following characteristics: a) genes that are potential NeuroD1 dimerization partners, b) genes that modulate other bHLH transcription factors, c) genes related to development, and d) genes associated with neural induction, outgrowth, and terminal differentiation. DNA microarray analysis of NeuroD1 expression in an astroglial cell line produced a "snapshot" transcriptional profile that will be useful in deciphering the complex molecular code that specifies a neuronal fate.