No description available.

ZNF217 est un oncogène potentiel codant pour un facteur de transcription Krüppel-like. Cette étude vise à explorer le rôle délétère et la valeur pronostique de ZNF217 dans le cancer du sein. Nos résultats ont montré que : (i) des niveaux d'expression élevés de ZNF217 (tant au niveau de l'ARNm qu'au niveau protéique) sont associés à un mauvais pronostic chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein, et plus particulièrement dans les cancers du sein de type ER+/Luminaux/Luminaux A ; (ii) ZNF217 induit la transition épithélio mésenchymateuse (EMT) dans les cellules épithéliales mammaires humaines via la voie de signalisation du TGF-beta ; (iii) ZNF217 induit un phénotype agressif dans les cellules cancéreuses mammaires se traduisant in vitro par la stimulation de la croissance indépendante de l'ancrage, de la migration et de l'invasion cellulaire ; (iv) ZNF217 stimule la croissance tumorale et le développement spontané de métastases chez la souris ; (v) ZNF217 se lie à ERalpha et augmente l'activité transcriptionnelle ligand-dépendante de ce dernier en favorisant le recrutement d'ERalpha sur les éléments de réponse aux oestrogènes (EREs) ; (vi) ZNF217 stimule la formation de mammosphères dans des lignées cellulaires de cancer du sein ER– ou ER+ ; (vii) ZNF217 induit la résistance à l'hormonothérapie (tamoxifène) dans des cellules cancéreuses mammaires ER+ ; (viii) des niveaux élevés d'expression de ZNF217 sont associés à un mauvais pronostic en terme de survie sans récidive chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein et traitées par hormonothérapie uniquement. Nos résultats suggèrent que l'expression de ZNF217 représente un nouveau et puissant biomarqueur pronostique dans le cancer du sein ER+/Luminal/Luminal A, permettant la re-stratification de ces cancers du sein dits « de bon pronostic », pour lesquels il n'existe pas à l'heure actuelle de biomarqueurs permettant de les identifier. En conclusion, ZNF217 représente une nouvelle cible thérapeutique pour le traitement personnalisé des patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein et exprimant de forts niveaux d'expression de ZNF217, en particulier les patientes ER+/ZNF217+ / ZNF217 is a candidate oncogene encoding for a Krüppel-like transcription factor. This study aims at exploring deeper insights on deleterious roles of ZNF217 and the prognostic significance of ZNF217 expression in breast cancers. We found that: (i) high levels of ZNF217 expression (at both mRNA and protein levels) are associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients, more particularly in ER+/Luminal/Luminal A breast cancers; (ii) ZNF217 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human mammary epithelial cells via the TGF-beta-activated Smad signaling pathway; (iii) in vitro ZNF217 stimulates several aggressive phenotypes in breast cancer cells, including anchorage-independent growth, cell migration and invasion; (iv) ZNF217 stimulates tumor growth and promotes the development of metastases in vivo; (v) ZNF217 binds with ERalpha and enhances 17beta- estradiol (E2)-induced ERalpha transactivation by increasing the recruitment of ERalpha to estrogen-responsive elements (EREs); (vi) ZNF217 increases mammosphere formation in ER– or ER+ breast cancer cell lines; (vii) ZNF217 confers resistance to endocrine therapy (tamoxifen) in ER+ breast cancer cells, and (viii) high levels of ZNF217 expression are associated with shorter relapse-free survival (RFS) in breast cancer patients treated with endocrine therapy only. Our findings suggest that ZNF217 expression represents a novel and powerful prognostic biomarker in ER+/Luminal/Luminal A breast cancers, allowing the re-stratification of these “good prognosis” breast cancers, which are currently not further classified by any other biomarkers available. In conclusion, ZNF217 could be a potential therapeutic target for a personalized treatment strategy in patients overexpressing ZNF217, in particular in ER+/ZNF217+ patients

Calcium induced calcium release (CICR) is the process mediating cardiac excitation contraction coupling (ECC). In brief, depolarisation of the plasma membrane of the cardiac myocyte leads to an influx of calcium (Ca2+) into the cytosol via the L-type voltage gated Ca2+ channels. The raised level of cytosolic Ca2+ initiates Ca2+ release from the junctional cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through the opening of the ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2). The exact mechanism of termination of CICR remains to be elucidated. It has been proposed that a drop in the luminal [Ca2+] reduces the open probability of RyR2 thereby leading to termination of CICR. It is also believed that RyR2 senses the luminal [Ca2+] through the formation of a quaternary complex with the SR proteins; calsequestrin (CSQ), triadin and junctin. However, the mechanism governing the assembly of this SR ‘luminal Ca2+ sensing complex’ is still far from being fully understood. A thorough knowledge of how this protein network is assembled is not only required for a robust understanding of the normal physiology of ECC but also for understanding the pathogenesis of disease, since disruption in luminal Ca2+ sensing is reported to lead to diastolic Ca2+ leak resulting in delayed after depolarisations (DADs), the precursor of premature beats and tachyarrhythmias. The primary focus of this thesis research was to investigate the structural basis for the formation of the luminal Ca2+ sensing complex with an emphasis on RyR, CSQ and triadin interactions. In order to achieve this goal, a protocol was developed to purify RyR2 from bovine heart employing a variety of techniques. Unfortunately this work resulted in only a partial purification of RyR2 with very low yields. However, more success was achieved with the isolation of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor isoform, RyR1, from sheep skeletal muscle employing sucrose gradient fractionation. The second aim of this study was to purify calsequestrin to enable investigations into its mode of interaction with the RyR. A molecular biology approach was taken and human cardiac calsequestrin (hCSQ2) was expressed as a GST tagged fusion protein and purified from E.coli BL21 (DE3) cells. A similar strategy was taken to express and purify the full-length and C-terminal luminal domain of mouse cardiac triadin isoform 1 (Trd1). However, this proved unsuccessful. A range of biochemical and biophysical techniques was next employed to examine whether the ryanodine receptor associated with hCSQ2 in the absence of triadin. It was found that purified RyR1 bound to immobilised GST-hCSQ2 through co-precipitation experiments suggesting a direct interaction between the two proteins. Further studies using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) also showed that immobilised hCSQ2 bound both RyR1 and RyR2. These findings were then developed by experiments employing quartz crystal microbalance and dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring. The data from QCM-D was also found to support a direct interaction of RyR1 (closed state) with both Ca2+ free and Ca2+ bound hCSQ2. Isolation of a RyR1 (closed state) and hCSQ2 complex (in the absence of Ca2+) was achieved using a sucrose cushion with an aliquot of the sample examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using both negative staining and cryo-electron microscopy methods. The raw images of the complex suggested a direct interaction between RyR1 and CSQ2 in agreement with the data described above. However, intriguingly the hCSQ2 appeared to form strands of protein linking adjacent RyR molecules. These images, therefore, may suggest a possible role for hCSQ2 in a putative RyR coupled-gating mechanism. Another aspect of this research work was to optimise and employ a [3H] ryanodine binding assay to investigate how the channel activity of RyR1 and RyR2 within the SR preparations was regulated by hCSQ2 and triadin. Neither removal of endogenous CSQ from the SR membranes nor the addition of the recombinant hCSQ2, after removal of endogenous protein, modified the channel activity. However, interestingly, a synthesized domain of triadin (Trd KEKE motif) was found to enhance the channel activity as indicated by an increased [3H] ryanodine binding to both RyR1 and RyR2. In conclusion, the results from this thesis work provide evidence for a direct interaction between RyR and hCSQ2 and suggest a stimulatory role of a domain of triadin upon the activity of both isoforms of the ryanodine receptor.

Les cancers du sein luminaux, exprimant le récepteur aux œstrogènes (RE) représentent 65-75% des cancers du sein soit environ 35.000 nouvelles patientes par an en France. Les référentiels thérapeutiques en vigueur recommandent une prescription systématique d’hormonothérapie au stade précoce, et quasiment constante au stade avancé. Néanmoins, il est admis que plus de 20% des patientes au stade précoce, et la quasi-totalité au stade avancé, vont échapper au traitement endocrinien, rendant impératif le développement de modèles précliniques permettant d’étudier les mécanismes d’hormonorésistance. Dans un contexte de modèles cellulaires anciens et très imparfaits (MCF7, T47D), et de quasi absence de modèles murins pertinents, nous avons choisi de développer des modèles murins dérivés de tumeurs fraîches, dits PDX (patient derived xenografts). Nous avons montré que ces modèles, difficiles à obtenir, récapitulaient avec une grande fidélité les caractéristiques morphologiques et biologiques des tumeurs d’origine. Les PDX se distinguent également par une grande stabilité de ces caractéristiques lors des passages successifs, les rendant utilisables au long cours. Nous avons également évalué les modèles obtenus pour leur profil de sensibilité à diverses modalités de traitement hormonal.Dans une seconde étape, nous avons développé des modèles résistants à partir des PDX précédemment obtenues. Quatre modèles ont pu être obtenus, qui nous ont permis d’avoir à disposition des modèles rendant compte de situations cliniques variées. Ces 4 modèles ont fait l’objet d’analyses biologiques extensives visant à identifier les caractéristiques moléculaires potentiellement associées à telle modalité de résistance : nos données suggèrent fortement qu’il y a autant de mécanismes de résistance que de situations, rendant illusoire une définition biologique unifiée de l’hormonorésistance. La reprogrammation fonctionnelle du RE semble être au centre de ces mécanismes.La voie PI3K/mTOR est une des plus fréquemment associée à l’hormonorésistance. De manière originale, nous avons mis en évidence que cette voie était activée aussi bien dans les modèles sensibles que dans les modèles résistants. La troisième étape a consisté à évaluer l’efficacité de l’everolimus, agent ciblant mTORC1. Nous avons pu montrer que l’everolimus était hautement actif dans toutes les situations considérées, sans argument pour une synergie entre everolimus et tamoxifène ou exemestane. En revanche, il existe une nette tendance à la synergie avec le fulvestrant, inhibiteur hautement spécifique du RE entraînant sa dégradation, et faisant suggérer des interactions avec la voie non génomique du RE.Nous testons actuellement des inhibiteurs spécifiques de la PI3KCA grâce à diverses collaborations industrielles qui permettront également de mener des analyses génomiques approfondies. De multiples projets académiques sont en cours. / Luminal breast cancer (ER+, HER2 negative) accounts for 65-75% of all breast carcinomas. Current guidelines strongly recommend endocrine treatment at both the early and advanced stages. However, more than 20% of early stage patients, and all advanced patients will eventually develop endocrine resistance.As most preclinical models (MCF7, T47D) do not recapitulate tumor biology, we have chosen to develop murine models derived from fresh tumors, hence called patient derived xenografts (PDX). We show that these models, although difficult to generate, faithfully exhibit the morphological and biological features of their parental counterpart, with high long term stability. These models have also been evaluated for their sensitivity to various endocrine treatments.In the next step, we developed from these initially endocrine sensitive models new tumors rendered resistant to endocrine therapies. We show that there is no unique biological pattern associated with endocrine resistance, although ER functional reprogramming appears to be critical. We also show that PI3K/mTOR pathway activation, may not be always related to endocrine resistance, and suggest that fulvestrant, an ER down regulator, may be highly synergistic with everolimus in specific cases.Several PI3KCA inhibitors are currently being evaluated in this setting.

Thesis (M.Med. (Radiation Oncology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Background Breast cancer is known to be a heterogeneous disease that demands patient centered care. Establishing the clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer patients is a vital step in an effort to individualize their treatment. Aim The aim is to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of the different subtypes of breast cancer when classified according to immunohistochemistry markers in women attending Pietersburg hospital. Methods A retrospective review of medical records of women treated at Pietersburg hospital between 2010 and 2011 was done. Data collection was extracted on a customized data collection sheet. Chi square was used to determine association between clinicopathologic features and molecular subtypes. Analysis of variants was used to assess association between molecular types and age. Results The mean age of the population was 55.3 years (+/-14 standard deviation). The majority of patients were in stage III (46.9%) and IV (33.5%). The ER, PR, HER2/neu positive rate was 50.6%, 30% and 14,3 % respectively with a negative rate of 13,4%, 19,5% and 23,4% respectively. ER, PR and HER2/neu was unknown in 18%, 19, 5% and 23,4% respectively. The most common molecular subtype was luminal A (53,6%) followed by triple negative (27.2%), HER2/neu (11, 4%) and luminal B (7. 9%).There was no association between the subtypes and tumour stage (p=0.578).The rate of distant metastasis was similar across the subtypes being 37,9%,35%, 32,4% and 31,9% in HER2/neu, luminal B ,luminal A and TNBC, respectively. All four molecular subtypes had high rate of axillary lymph node involvement (p=0.886) Luminal A had the least percentage of high grade tumours with TNBC having the highest. Five-year overall survival for the cohort was 25, 6% with luminal A and B having a better 5 year overall survival of 27,2% and 25% respectively, whereas HER2/neu and TNBC had lower 5 year OS of 24% and 23,3%. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that luminal A subtype is the most predominant and the majority might benefit from hormonal therapy. However, some patients could not be classified due to missing IHC marker test results. The outcome across all four subtypes is poor and more effort should be put towards improving the diagnosis and treatment individualization and follow-up in these patients.

Many pathways dysregulated in prostate cancer are also involved in epithelial differentiation. To better understand prostate tumor initiation, we sought to investigate specific genes and mechanisms required for normal basal to luminal cell differentiation. Utilizing human prostate basal epithelial cells and an in vitro differentiation model, we tested the hypothesis that regulation of NOTCH3 by the p38 MAPK family (hereafter p38-MAPK), via MYC, is required for luminal differentiation. Inhibition (SB202190 and BIRB796) or knockdown of p38a (also known as MAPK14) and/or p38d (also known as MAPK13) prevented proper differentiation. Additionally, treatment with a gamma-secretase inhibitor (RO4929097) or knockdown of NOTCH1 and/or NOTCH3 greatly impaired differentiation and caused luminal cell death. Constitutive p38-MAPK activation through MKK6(CA) increased NOTCH3 (but not NOTCH1) mRNA and protein levels, which was diminished upon MYC inhibition (10058-F4 and JQ1) or knockdown. Furthermore, we validated two NOTCH3 enhancer elements through a combination of enhancer (e) RNA detection (BruUV-seq) and luciferase reporter assays. Finally, we found that the NOTCH3 mRNA half-life increased during differentiation or upon acute p38-MAPK activation. These results reveal a new connection between p38-MAPK, MYC and NOTCH signaling, demonstrate two mechanisms of NOTCH3 regulation and provide evidence for NOTCH3 involvement in prostate luminal cell differentiation.

No description available.

Abdominal surgery inhibits gastrointestinal motility, a phenomenon referred to as postoperative ileus. Since the postoperative ileus disturbs duodenal physiology it is important to minimize the side effects of this condition. Recent experiments in our laboratory show that treatment of anaesthetised rats with parecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, prevents duodenal postoperative ileus, increases duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion and improves other functions as well. One aim of the thesis was to investigate whether removal of luminal chloride affect the parecoxib- and the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-induced stimulation of duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion. The proximal duodenum of anaesthetised Dark Agouti rats was perfused with isotonic solutions containing zero or low Cl- and the effect on luminal alkalinisation determined. The basal as well as the parecoxib-induced increase in alkalinisation, but not that stimulated by VIP, were markedly reduced in the absence of luminal Cl-. One important function of the duodenum is to adjust luminal osmolality towards that in the blood. It is believed that the adjustment of osmolality in the duodenum is achieved by osmosis and diffusion of electrolytes along their concentration gradients and that these processes occur predominately paracellularly. Another aim of the thesis was to examine whether prevention of postoperative ileus affects the duodenal response to luminal hypertonicity. The proximal duodenum of anaesthetised Dark Agouti and Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused with hypertonic solutions of different composition and osmolality and the effects on duodenal motility, alkaline secretion, transepithelial fluid flux, mucosal permeability and the adjustment of luminal osmolality were determined in absence and presence of parecoxib. It is concluded that COX-2 inhibition increases duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion by stimulating apical Cl-/HCO3- exchange in duodenocytes. Furthermore, pretreatment of anaesthetised rats with parecoxib improves a number of duodenal functions in both rat strains that contribute to improve the ability to adjust luminal osmolality. The choice of rat strain is another important feature to consider when interpreting the results because the DA strain was more responsive to luminal hypertonicity than the SD strain. Finally, several evidences are provided to suggest that the adjustment of luminal osmolality in the rat duodenum is a regulated process.

O intestino dos insetos representa uma interface pouco protegida dos agentes externos. A identificação dos mecanismos moleculares envolvidos nos processos fisiológico-digestivos permite encontrar alvos potenciais para o controle de insetos. As moléculas envolvidas na absorção de nutrientes, tamponamento e geração de fluxos de água no intestino médio do inseto-modelo Musca domestica (Diptera Cyclorrhapha) foram identificadas. Para isso, foi feita uma análise da expressão gênica ao longo do intestino médio, a identificação e anotação de proteínas por bioinformática, a confirmação da localização apical das proteínas por análise proteômica de membranas microvilares purificadas e a determinação do papel de algumas das proteínas através de experimentos in vivo utilizando diferentes dietas, corantes e inibidores. A acidificação da região média é consequência da atividade anidrase carbônica que gera prótons que são bombeados por uma H+ V-ATPase apical acompanhados por cloreto transportado por um simporter K+Cl-. O K+ é recuperado por um canal de K+ e a homeostase dos cátions mantida pela Na+/K+-ATPase basolateral. O bicarbonato é eliminado basolateralmente em troca por cloreto por um antiporter. A acidificação é regulada diretamente por um antiporter Na+/H+ e indiretamente por uma proteína envolvida na homeostase do cobre. O muco protetor da região média é tamponado com bicarbonato gerado por uma anidrase carbônica com âncora de GPI e transportado por um antiporter Na+HCO3-/H+Cl-. O excesso de ácido é eliminado por um antiporter Na+/H+ situado na membrana basolateral. A alcalinização da região posterior ocorre pelo transporte apical de NH3 que sequestra os prótons luminais gerando amônio, junto à remoção de prótons em simporte com aminoácidos e peptídeos. A acidificação intracelular, consequência da entrada de aminoácidos com prótons, é regulada por uma H+ V-ATPase basolateral. A geração de fluxos de água é consequência da atividade conjunta de simporters NKCC e KCC ajudados pelas aquaporinas. A inibição dos simporters com inibidores específicos mostrou que o contrafluxo de água está envolvido na reciclagem da enzima tripsina. Por último, o principal lugar de absorção nutrientes no intestino médio é a região posterior, a exceção do cobre que é absorvido na região média. / The gut of insects is a less protected interphase against external agents. The identification of the molecular mechanisms involved in physiological-digestive processes allows one to find potential targets for insect control. The molecules involved in nutrient absorption, buffering and fluid fluxes in the midgut of the insect-model M. domestica (Diptera Cyclorrhapha) were identified. For this, gene expression along the midgut was analyzed; proteins were identified and annotated by bioinformatics; apical localization of proteins was confirmed by proteomics of purified microvillar membranes; the role of proteins was confirmed by in vivo experiments using different diets, dyes and inhibitors. Middle midgut acidification occurs by the action of an apical H+ V-ATPase with protons coming from carbonic anhydrase activity accompanied by chloride transported with potassium by a K+Cl- symporter. Potassium is recovered by a potassium channel, and cation homeostasis maintained by a basolateral Na+/K+-ATPase. Acidification is directly regulated by a Na+/H+ antiporter and indirectly by a copper homeostasis protein. Mucus protecting epithelium is neutralized with bicarbonate generated by a GPI-ancored carbonic anhydrase and transported by a Na+HCO3-/H+Cl- antiporter. Intracellular acidification is avoided by a basolateral Na+/H+ antiporter. Posterior midgut alkalization occurs by the action of an apical ammonia transporter and proton amino acid (and peptide) symporters. Intracellular acid is eliminated by a basolateral H+ V-ATPase. Fluid fluxes are generated by K+Cl- and Na+Cl-Cl- symporters helped by aquaporins. Inhibition of these symporters showed that the countercurrent flux of water allows trypsin recycling. Finally, posterior midgut is the main location of nutrient absorption, except for copper which is absorbed in the middle midgut.

Le cancer du sein est une maladie complexe et hétérogène. La classification histo-clinique connait des limites et doit donc évoluer pour une meilleure prise en charge des patientes. Depuis près de 10 ans, une nouvelle taxonomie moléculaire basée sur la similitude d’expression génique permet de classer les cancers du sein en plusieurs sous-types moléculaires distinguant des classes tumorales de phénotypes et d’évolutions cliniques différents. L’amélioration de l’approche moléculaire en complément de la classification conventionnelle devrait avoir un impact considérable sur la prise en charge des Patientes. Il a déjà été montré que la caractérisation d’altérations génomiques telles que les amplifications d’oncogènes et les pertes de gènes suppresseurs de tumeurs (TSG) combinée aux données d’expression permettaient d’identifier des gènes candidats (oncogènes et TSG). Certains sont considérés comme marqueurs au diagnostique et/ou pronostique spécifiques de sous-types moléculaires ou d’entités cliniques et peuvent constituer de futures cibles thérapeutiques potentielles. De plus, l’identification de ces altérations récurrentes améliore notre compréhension des mécanismes biologiques impliqués. Ainsi, les analyses moléculaires à haut débit du cancer du sein ont déjà révélé une partie de leur potentiel. Cependant, malgré la promesse des signatures pronostiques déjà décrites, nous manquons de données moléculaires dans certaines entités cliniques et sous-types moléculaires à phénotype particulièrement agressif. Dans cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés aux cancers du sein de sous-type moléculaire luminal B dont l’évolution clinique est particulièrement péjorative et pour lesquels aucune thérapie ciblée n’existe. Mieux comprendre ces cancers permettrait peut-être de mieux les traiter. Ainsi dans cette thèse vous sont présentés (i) le gène candidat L3MBTL4, cible de multiples altérations génomiques (perte, mutation, point de cassure) suggérant son implication comme TSG potentiel dans les cancers du sein. (ii) l’existence de quatorze TSG potentiels du chromosome 18p qui pourraient expliquer le phénotype agressif associé à la perte du 18p dans les cancers du sein.(iii) l’analyse intégrée des données génomiques et d’expression des carcinomes mammaires et l’identification de gènes candidats spécifiques du sous-type moléculaire luminal B. / Breast cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease. Histoclinical classification has limitations and must evolve to better care for patients. For nearly 10 years, a new molecular taxonomy based on similarity of gene expression used to classify breast cancers into several molecular subtypes distinguished tumor classes with different phenotypes and clinical courses. Improved molecular approach complementary to conventional classification should have a considerable impact on patients care. It has already been shown that the characterization of genomic alterations such as amplification of oncogenes and loss of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) combined with expression data allow to identify candidate genes (oncogenes and TSG). Some are considered as diagnostic and / or prognostic markers specific of molecular subtypes or clinical entities and may constitute future therapeutic targets. Furthermore, identification of these recurrent alterations improves our understanding of biological mechanisms involved.Thus, high throughput molecular analyses of breast cancer have revealed some of their potential. However, despite the promise of prognostic signatures already described, we lack molecular data in certain clinical entities and molecular subtypes with a particularly aggressive phenotype.In this thesis, we focused on luminal B breast cancer molecular subtype whose clinical course is particularly pejorative and for which no targeted therapy exists. Better understanding of these cancers might help them better deal.Thus in this thesis are presented: (i) the candidate gene L3MBTL4, target by multiple genomic alterations (loss, mutation, break-point), suggesting its involvement as a potential TSG in breast cancer.(ii) the existence of fourteen chromosome 18p potential TSG that could explain the aggressive phenotype associated with 18p loss in breast cancers.(iii) the integrated analysis of genomic and expression data of mammary carcinoma and the identification of specific luminal B molecular subtype candidate genes.