Project description:Analysis of Rab25 in human colon samples The adenoma dataset (n=6) contains 6 colonic adenomas for use in comparison to colon adenocarcinoma datasets.
Project description:Twelve clinical samples from human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (seven tumors and five non-tumors) were sequenced using Illumina high-throughput sequencing and the RNA-Seq profiling was investigated with 1730 genes significantly differentially expressed. The gene Rab25 was found to be down-regulated in tumors (p-value < 1E-20) and identified as a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene. The down-regulation of Rab25 was examined in a large cohort of ESCC and non-tumor cases by qPCR and immunohistochemistry analyses. Aberrant methylation in the promoter region of Rab25 was studied by demethylation treatment with 5-aza-dC and bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS). In order to assess the effect of Rab25 on tumor growth and angiogenesis, in vitro and in vivo functional studies in ESCC cell lines using lentiviral-based overexpression or knockdown models were also performed.
Project description:Twelve clinical samples from human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (seven tumors and five non-tumors) were sequenced using Illumina high-throughput sequencing and the RNA-Seq profiling was investigated with 1730 genes significantly differentially expressed. The gene Rab25 was found to be down-regulated in tumors (p-value < 1E-20) and identified as a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene. The down-regulation of Rab25 was examined in a large cohort of ESCC and non-tumor cases by qPCR and immunohistochemistry analyses. Aberrant methylation in the promoter region of Rab25 was studied by demethylation treatment with 5-aza-dC and bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS). In order to assess the effect of Rab25 on tumor growth and angiogenesis, in vitro and in vivo functional studies in ESCC cell lines using lentiviral-based overexpression or knockdown models were also performed. 7 tumor and 5 normal samples
Project description:Primary cilia (PC) are important signaling hubs in cells and we explored their role in colorectal cancer (CRC) and colitis. In the colon we found PC to be mostly present on different subtypes of fibroblasts and exposure of mice to either chemically induced colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis (CAC) or dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis decreased PC numbers. We employed conditional knock-out strains for the PC essential genes, Kif3A and Ift88, to generate mice with reduced numbers of PC on colonic fibroblasts. These mice showed an increased susceptibility in the CAC model as well as in DSS-induced colitis. Secretome and immunohistochemical analyses of DSS-treated mice displayed an elevated production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in PC-deficient colons. An inflammatory environment diminished PC presence in primary fibroblast cultures. This was triggered by IL-6 as identified by RNAseq analysis together with blocking experiments, suggesting an activation loop between IL-6 production and PC loss. Notably, an analysis of PC presence on biopsies of patients with ulcerative colitis as well as CRC patients revealed decreased numbers of PC on colonic fibroblasts in pathological versus surrounding normal tissue. Taken together, we provide evidence that a decrease in colonic PC numbers promotes colitis and CRC.
Project description:Goal of the experiment: To identify transcriptional patterns across tumors from colorectal cancer murine models and normal mouse colon samples at different developmental stages. Experiment description: Colorectal cancer (CRC) results from multiple genetic and epigenetic events that produce variable histologies and clinical outcomes. To identify gene regulatory programs that underlie colon tumorigenesis, we profiled gene expression in 39 mouse colon tumors from four independent mouse models and compared this to mouse colon embryonic development, as well as with 100 human colon carcinomas. Here, we report a striking recapitulation of embryonic patterns of gene expression in both mouse and human colon tumors. All four of the mouse colon tumor models exhibited large-scale activation of embryonic gene expression signatures. The two nuclear beta-catenin-positive mouse tumors (azoxymethane-treated [AOM] and ApcMin/+), exhibited strong activation of genes characteristic of those expressed in the earliest embryonic stages, while tumors from two other models (Smad3-/- and Tgfb1-/- x Rag2-/-) exhibited lower activation of early stage-specific genes but substantial expression of general embryonic colon genes. Human colon cancer cases over-expressed genes characteristic of both early and late embryonic stages. Examining tumor gene expression through the lens of development has revealed an extensive network of therapeutic targets for cancer control. Keywords: Tumors from four murine models of colorectal cancer and normal mouse colon samples at different developmental stages
Project description:The Ras-family small GTPase RAB25 is involved in numerous aspects of endosomal protein trafficking and cell polarity. Recent evidence has established a role for RAB25, as well as related RAB-family and effector proteins, in oncogenic signaling, highlighting the need for chemical probes targeting this class of proteins. Here we report the development of all-hydrocarbon stabilized peptides targeting RAB25 derived from the RAB-binding FIP-family of proteins. Relative to unmodified FIP peptides, optimized stapled peptides show markedly increased structural stability, binding affinity, cell permeability and inhibition of RAB25:FIP complex formation. RAB25 expression has been shown to promote both pro- and anti-oncogenic phenotypes in specific cellular contexts. Stapled peptide RFP14 treatment of breast and ovarian cancer cell lines, in which RAB25 is pro-oncogenic, inhibited migration and proliferation in a RAB25-dependent manner. In contrast, treatment of a triple-negative breast cancer cell line in which RAB25 is tumor suppressive augmented proliferation and migration. Gene expression (RNA Seq) profiling identified significantly altered transcripts in response to RAB25 expression in ovarian cancer cells, and treatment with the optimized stapled peptide RFP14 reversed this expression profile. These data validate first-in-class chemical probes targeting RAB-family proteins and support the role of RAB25 in regulating context-specific oncogenic phenotypes.