Metformin impacts the differentiation of mouse bone marrow cells into macrophages affecting tumour immunity.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that metformin reduces the risk of developing several types of cancer, including gliomas, and improves the overall survival in cancer patients. Nevertheless, while the effect of metformin on cancer cells has been extensively studied, its impact on other components of the tumour microenvironment, such as macrophages, is less understood. Results: Metformin-treated mouse bone marrow cells differentiate into spindle-shaped macrophages exhibiting increased phagocytic activity and tumour cell cytotoxicity coupled with modulated expression of co-stimulatory molecules displaying reduced sensitivity to inflammatory cues compared with untreated cells. Transcriptional analyses of metformin-treated mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages show decreased expression levels of pro-tumour genes, including Tgfbi and Il1ß, related to enhanced mTOR/HIF1α signalling and metabolic rewiring towards glycolysis. Significance: Our study provides novel insights into the immunomodulatory properties of metformin in macrophages and its potential application in preventing tumour onset and in cancer immunotherapy.

DAXX promotes centromeric stability independently of ATRX by preventing the accumulation of R-loop-induced DNA double-stranded breaks.

Maintaining chromatin integrity at the repetitive non-coding DNA sequences underlying centromeres is crucial to prevent replicative stress, DNA breaks and genomic instability. The concerted action of transcriptional repressors, chromatin remodelling complexes and epigenetic factors controls transcription and chromatin structure in these regions. The histone chaperone complex ATRX/DAXX is involved in the establishment and maintenance of centromeric chromatin through the deposition of the histone variant H3.3. ATRX and DAXX have also evolved mutually-independent functions in transcription and chromatin dynamics. Here, using paediatric glioma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cell lines, we identify a novel ATRX-independent function for DAXX in promoting genome stability by preventing transcription-associated R-loop accumulation and DNA double-strand break formation at centromeres. This function of DAXX required its interaction with histone H3.3 but was independent of H3.3 deposition and did not reflect a role in the repression of centromeric transcription. DAXX depletion mobilized BRCA1 at centromeres, in line with BRCA1 role in counteracting centromeric R-loop accumulation. Our results provide novel insights into the mechanisms protecting the human genome from chromosomal instability, as well as potential perspectives in the treatment of cancers with DAXX alterations.

The DNA Damage Response in Fully Grown Mammalian Oocytes.

DNA damage in cells can occur physiologically or may be induced by exogenous factors. Genotoxic damage may cause cancer, ageing, serious developmental diseases and anomalies. If the damage occurs in the germline, it can potentially lead to infertility or chromosomal and genetic aberrations in the developing embryo. Mammalian oocytes, the female germ cells, are produced before birth, remaining arrested at the prophase stage of meiosis over a long period of time. During this extensive state of arrest the oocyte may be exposed to different DNA-damaging insults for months, years or even decades. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand how these cells respond to DNA damage. In this review, we summarize the most recent developments in the understanding of the DNA damage response mechanisms that function in fully grown mammalian oocytes.