Project description:Cancer is caused primarily by somatic mutations of proto-oncogenes, leading to deregulation of gene regulatory circuits in key growth, apoptosis or DNA repair pathways. Multiple genes associated with the initiation and development of tumors are also regulated at the level of mRNA decay, through the recruitment of RNA binding proteins to AU-rich elements (AREs) located in their 3’-untranslated regions. One of these ARE-binding proteins, tristetraprolin (TTP, encoded by Zfp36) is consistently dysregulated in many human malignancies. Herein, using regulated overexpression or conditional ablation in the context of chemical cutaneous carcinogenesis, we show that TTP represents a critical regulator of skin tumorigenesis. We provide evidence that TTP controls both tumor-associated inflammation and key oncogenic pathways in malignant epidermal cells. We identify Areg as a direct target of TTP in keratinocytes, and show that EGFR signaling contributes to exacerbated tumor formation. We conclude that TTP expression by epidermal cells plays a major role in the control of early steps leading to tumorigenesis.
Project description:Disruption of skin homeostasis by environmental insults activates pathologic circuitries leading to inflammation and carcinogenesis. Galectin-7 (Gal-7), a lectin preferentially expressed in keratinocytes, has been implicated in wound healing and defective skin repair. Here we report using genetically-engineered mouse models and human samples, essential roles for Gal-7 during skin carcinogenesis via coordinated intracellular and extracellular mechanisms. Heightened Gal-7 expression delineated malignant lesions in non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) patients and shaped the course of skin carcinogenesis in mice. Intracellularly, increased Gal-7 conferred genomic instability to skin lesions and favored transcription of inflammation-related genes reprogramming the immune landscape toward a myeloid immunoregulatory profile. Extracellularly, Gal-7 accelerated skin carcinogenesis through glycan-dependent induction of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells with enhanced immune regulatory activity. Our findings identify a lectin-driven molecular circuitry that promotes skin carcinogenesis by coupling genomic instability, transcriptional regulation and myeloid immunosuppressive programs, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of NMSC.
Project description:Actinic keratoses (AK) are premalignant lesions common on photo-damaged skin that, over time, can progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A high bacterial load of Staphylococcus aureus is associated with AK and SCC but it is unknown whether this has a direct impact on skin cancer development. To determine whether S. aureus is able to trigger pro-tumorigenic skin responses, we performed RNAseq and shotgun proteomics on primary human keratinocytes after challenge with sterile culture supernatant (‘secretome’) from S. aureus clinical strains isolated from AK and SCC. Certain S. aureus secretomes induced keratinocytes to overexpress SCC biomarkers that have been associated with skin carcinogenesis, and upregulate the expression of enzymes linked with reduced skin barrier function. Further, S. aureus secretomes downregulated DNA repair mechanisms and induced oxidative stress markers. Subsequent experiments confirmed that exposure to SCC-derived S. aureus secretomes lead to increased intracellular ROS levels and DNA damage in primary human keratinocytes. Altogether, this study reveal a novel mechanism for the pro-tumorigenic activity of S. aureus. Further studies are required to determine whether S. aureus products promote SCC development in vivo, which would have important implications for the treatment of AK and prevention of SCC.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE33474: Tristetraprolin is a tumor suppressor that impairs Myc-induced lymphoma and abolishes the malignant state [bone marrow B cells]. GSE37790: Tristetraprolin is a tumor suppressor that impairs Myc-induced lymphoma and abolishes the malignant state [Lymphoma]. GSE37791: Tristetraprolin is a tumor suppressor that impairs Myc-induced lymphoma and abolishes the malignant state [retrovirally infected ex vivo lymphoma] Refer to individual Series
Project description:Affymetrix SNP arrays were performed according to the manufacturer's directions on DNA extracted from human skin keratinocytes derived from healthy donors, as well as from telomerase immortalised human skin keratinocytes (N/TERT), transduced with mock, EGFP, or EGFP-GLI2DeltaN transgenes to compare chromosomal ploidy status. Affymetrix SNP arrays were performed according to the manufacturer's directions on DNA extracted from human skin keratinocytes derived from healthy donors, as well as from telomerase immortalised human skin keratinocytes (N/TERT) to compare chromosomal ploidy status
Project description:Continuous exposure to ultraviolet (UV) is one of the main factors contributing to skin carcinogenesis. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a potent antioxidative agent which has potential to prevent the UV-induced skin cell transformation. We characterized the transcriptome and CpG methylation profile of human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) treated with UVB and/or SFN using RNA sequencing.
Project description:Continuous exposure to ultraviolet (UV) is one of the main factors contributing to skin carcinogenesis. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a potent antioxidative agent which has potential to prevent the UV-induced skin cell transformation. We characterized the transcriptome and CpG methylation profile of human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) treated with UVB and/or SFN using RNA sequencing.