Terminal differentiation and loss of tumorigenicity of human cancers via pluripotency-based reprogramming.

Pluripotent cells can be derived from various types of somatic cells by nuclear reprogramming using defined transcription factors. It is, however, unclear whether human cancer cells can be similarly reprogrammed and subsequently terminally differentiated with abrogation of tumorigenicity. Here, using sarcomas we show that human-derived complex karyotype solid tumors: (1) can be reprogrammed into a pluripotent-like state as defined by all in vitro criteria used to define pluripotent stem cells generated from somatic cells; (2) can be terminally differentiated into mature connective tissue and red blood cells; and (3) terminal differentiation is accompanied with loss of both proliferation and tumorigenicity. We go on to perform the first global DNA promoter methylation and gene expression analyses comparing human cancers to their reprogrammed counterparts and report that reprogramming/differentiation results in significant epigenetic remodeling of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, while not significantly altering the differentiation status of the reprogrammed cancer cells, in essence dedifferentiating them to a state slightly before the mesenchymal stem cell differentiation stage. Our data demonstrate that direct nuclear reprogramming can restore terminal differentiation potential to human-derived cancer cells, with simultaneous loss of tumorigenicity, without the need to revert to an embryonic state. We anticipate that our models would serve as a starting point to more fully assess how nuclear reprogramming overcomes the multitude of genetic and epigenetic aberrancies inherent in human cancers to restore normal terminal differentiation pathways. Finally, these findings suggest that nuclear reprogramming may be a broadly applicable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancer.

PAX7-FKHR fusion gene inhibits myogenic differentiation via NF-kappaB upregulation

OBJECTIVE: Alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas (ARMS) are characterised by a PAX3/7-FKHR translocation, which is presumed to promote a differentiation arrest in the myogenic lineage, in which setting secondary genetic events occur, resulting in sarcomagenesis. The aim of this study was to identify the mechanism by which PAX3/7-FKHR expression results in a myogenic differentiation block, as discrete from the secondary genetic events that complete the sarcomagenic process. METHODS: We performed a novel differential gene expression analysis comparing normal mesenchymal stem cells with previously generated non-tumorigenic mesenchymal stem cells expressing the PAX7-FKHR fusion gene, as well as with a known tumorigenic, PAX7-FKHR-expressing ARMS cell line, CW9019. RESULTS: This novel analysis uncovered the upregulation of the NF-kappaB pathway as a function of PAX3/7-FKHR expression, but distinct from the secondary sarcomagenic process; thus implicating NF-kappaB as a mediator of the PAX3/7-FKHR differentiation block. We further show that NF-kappaB activity is upregulated in PAX7-FKHR cells when compared to parental MSCs due to upregulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. In addition we show that NF-kappaB inhibits myogenesis via activation of cyclinD1/ cdk4 complexes, which sequester MyoD1, a key myogenic transcription factor. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the importance of the NF-kappaB pathway in myogenesis and sarcomagenesis and suggest that this pathway may be one of the potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of ARMS (AU)

Alternate PAX3 and PAX7 C-terminal isoforms in myogenic differentiation and sarcomagenesis

OBJECTIVE: Pax3 and Pax7 are closely related genes that are involved in commitment of cells to a myogenic lineage during skeletal muscle development and regeneration. Several Pax3 and Pax7 transcripts are expressed from the genes, generating different isoforms with potentially distinct DNA binding and transactivation properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the implication of Pax3 and Pax7 C-terminal isoforms during myogenic differentiation and tumorigenesis, since fusions involving these genes are commonly associated with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS). METHODS: Uncommitted (mouse mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs) and committed (C2C12) myogenic precursor cells were stably transfected with PAX3/FKHR and PAXC7/ FKHR fusion genes. We analysed gene and protein expression comparing the newly generated cells with the parental cells, to determine the functional importance of Pax3 and Pax7 C-terminal isoforms. RESULTS: We found that the transcript Pax3c was expressed at low levels in undifferentiated C2C12 and MSCs cells, but its expression levels increased considerably at later stages of differentiation. However, expression levels of Pax3d transcript increased only slightly after differentiation. Pax7 transcripts, present before differentiation in committed C2C12 cells, but absent in uncommitted MSCs, increased noticeably in MSCs after differentiation. We also found that the presence of PAX/FKHR fusions prevented both C2C12 and MSC cells from terminal myogenic differentiation and increased the expression of discrete endogenous Pax3/7 transcripts, in particular Pax3d and Pax7B. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that both Pax3 and Pax7 transcripts are required for commitment of cells to the myogenic lineage, with each transcript having a distinct role. More specifically, the Pax3c isoform may be required for terminal myogenic differentiation whereas the Pax3d isoform may be involved in undifferentiated cell maintenance and/or proliferation (AU)

Reprogramming leukemic cells to terminal differentiation by inhibiting specific cyclin-dependent kinases in G1.

Some tumor cells can be stimulated to differentiate and undergo terminal cell division and loss of tumorigenicity. The in vitro differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells is a dramatic example of tumor-cell reprogramming. We found that reentry of MEL cells into terminal differentiation is accompanied by an early transient decline in the activity of cyclin-dependant kinase (CDK) 2, followed by a decline of CDK6. Later, as cells undergo terminal arrest, CDK2 and CDK4 activities decline. By analyzing stable MEL-cell transfectants containing vectors directing inducible expression of specific CDK inhibitors, we show that only inhibitors that block the combination of CDK2 and CDK6 trigger differentiation. Inhibiting CDK2 and CDK4 does not cause differentiation. Importantly, we also show that reprogramming through inhibition of CDKs is restricted to G(1) phase of the cell cycle. The results imply that abrogation of normal cell-cycle controls in tumor cells contributes to their inability to differentiate fully and that restoration of such controls in G(1) can lead to resumption of differentiation and terminal cell division. The results also indicate that CDK4 and CDK6 are functionally distinct and support our hypothesis that the two CDKs regulate cell division at different stages of erythroid maturation.

Cell cycle exit during terminal erythroid differentiation is associated with accumulation of p27(Kip1) and inactivation of cdk2 kinase.

Progression through the mammalian cell cycle is regulated by cyclins, cyclin- dependent kinases (CDKs), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs). The function of these proteins in the irreversible growth arrest associated with terminally differentiated cells is largely unknown. The function of Cip/Kip proteins p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1) during erythropoietin-induced terminal differentiation of primary erythroblasts isolated from the spleens of mice infected with the anemia-inducing strain of Friend virus was investigated. Both p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1) proteins were induced during erythroid differentiation, but only p27(Kip1) associated with the principal G(1) CDKs-cdk4, cdk6, and cdk2. The kinetics of binding of p27(Kip1) to CDK complexes was distinct in that p27(Kip1) associated primarily with cdk4 (and, to a lesser extent, cdk6) early in differentiation, followed by subsequent association with cdk2. Binding of p27(Kip1) to cdk4 had no apparent inhibitory effect on cdk4 kinase activity, whereas inhibition of cdk2 kinase activity was associated with p27(Kip1) binding, accumulation of hypo-phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein, and G(1) growth arrest. Inhibition of cdk4 kinase activity late in differentiation resulted from events other than p27(Kip1) binding or loss of cyclin D from the complex. The data demonstrate that p27(Kip1) differentially regulates the activity of cdk4 and cdk2 during terminal erythroid differentiation and suggests a switching mechanism whereby cdk4 functions to sequester p27(Kip1) until a specified time in differentiation when cdk2 kinase activity is targeted by p27(Kip1) to elicit G(1) growth arrest. Further, the data imply that p21(Cip1) may have a function independent of growth arrest during erythroid differentiation. (Blood. 2000;96:2746-2754)

Manipulating the onset of cell cycle withdrawal in differentiated erythroid cells with cyclin-dependent kinases and inhibitors.

Terminal differentiation of erythroid cells results in terminal cell divisions followed by irreversible cell cycle withdrawal of hemoglobinized cells. The mechanisms leading to cell cycle withdrawal were assessed in stable transfectants of murine erythroleukemia cells, in which the activities of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) could be tightly regulated during differentiation. Cell cycle withdrawal of differentiating cells is mediated by induction of several CDKIs, thereby leading to inhibition of CDK2 and CDK4. Manipulation of CDK activity in differentiating cells demonstrates that the onset of cell cycle withdrawal can be either greatly accelerated or greatly delayed without affecting hemoglobin levels. Extending the proliferation of differentiating cells requires the synergistic action of CDK2 and CDK4. Importantly, CDK6 cannot substitute for CDK4 in this role, which demonstrates that the 2 cyclin D-dependent kinases are functionally different. The results show that differentiating hemoglobinized cells can be made to proliferate far beyond their normal capacity to divide. (Blood. 2000;96:2755-2764)

Reprogramming erythroleuekmia cells to terminal differentiation and terminal cell division.

In vitro differentiation of murine erythroleuekemia cells recapitulates many aspects of the erythroid terminal differentiation program, including hemoglobin synthesis and proliferation arrest. It also provides an opportunity to study the changes occurring during reprogramming of tumor cells into their normal differentiation program. This review is focused on the recent progress made in understanding the key events occurring during the reprogramming of erythroleukemia cells. We discuss the contributions of PU.1 to the block to terminal differentiation exhibited by the erythroleukemia cells as well as the role of GATA-1 in restoring normal differentiation. We also discuss the role of certain cell cycle regulators in the decision to resume normal differentiation and in the resulting terminal cell divisions and arrest.