Tumors of neuroectodermal origin are among the most aggressive and treatment-refractory forms of human cancer. While such tumors arise from a variety of defects, two key targets are the transcription factors p53 and OLIG2. We have developed stabilized peptides to study and target deregulated p53 and OLIG2 pathways in neuroectodermal cancers. PUMA (p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis) is a BH3-only member of the BCL-2 protein family that regulates apoptosis in response to p53-dependent and p53-independent stress signals. The specific interactions that mediate the pro-apoptotic activity of PUMA remain controversial. We generated stabilized alpha-helices of BCL-2 domains (SAHB) peptides modeled after the BH3 effector domain of PUMA. Structural analyses determined that PUMA SAHB contacts BAX at both the N-terminal \(\alpha1/\alpha6\) trigger site and the canonical BH3 binding pocket, binding events that functionally activate BAX. Notably, both PUMA SAHB and PUMA protein pull-downs identified anti- and pro-apoptotic binding partners in a cellular context. As PUMA has been implicated in driving apoptosis in multiple neural cell types, we further demonstrated that treatment of neuroblastoma cell lines with a cell-permeable PUMA SAHB analog triggered dose-dependent apoptosis. Together, we find that the PUMA BH3 domain activates apoptosis through multimodal interactions with BCL-2 family proteins, and its mimetics may serve as prototype therapeutics in tumors of neural origin. Whereas suppression of p53 signaling and apoptosis are features of diverse tumor types, the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor OLIG2 is selectively overexpressed in gliomas. Early in development, OLIG2 is responsible for maintaining progenitor cells in a replication-competent state. Tumor stem cells are believed to co-opt this OLIG2 functionality to continually repopulate glial tumors. To achieve its transcriptional function, OLIG2 must dimerize via its bHLH domain. Stabilized alpha-helices of OLIG2 (SAH-OLIG2) peptides of the OLIG2 bHLH domain were generated in an effort to disrupt this pathologic dimerization. While helical stabilization of several SAH-OLIG2 peptides was achieved, specific engagement and disruption of the native bHLH dimer did not occur, informing alternative design strategies for future targeting efforts. These studies underscored the importance of interrogating the OLIG2 dimeric structure and catalyzed the discovery of candidate OLIG2 interaction partners for therapeutic targeting.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(薬学) / 甲第18553号 / 薬博第815号 / 新制||薬||238(附属図書館) / 31453 / 京都大学大学院薬学研究科生命薬科学専攻 / (主査)教授 中山 和久, 教授 竹島 浩, 教授 根岸 学 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

Motor deficits are a hallmark of Down syndrome (DS), yet little is known about their exact cause. Despite the rich understanding of the neurobiology of DS, there is still a lack of targetable mechanisms for early intervention aimed at alleviating motor changes in people with DS. Therefore, we utilized a mouse model of DS known as Ts65Dn to characterize for the first time the effects of trisomy 21 on spinal cord (SC) development. A central molecular player in SC patterning and cell-type specification, Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2), is located on human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) and is triplicated in both people with DS and in Ts65Dn mice. To observe the effects of the supernumerary Olig2, we used immunohistochemistry to visualize the OLIG2-derived cellular populations (i.e., motor neurons (MNs) and oligodendrocytes (OLs)), as well as adjacent and interacting cell populations (i.e., ventral spinal interneurons (INs)). We limited our analyses to two embryonic ages—embryonic days (E) 12.5 and 14.5. Our results indicate that there is no overall change in the numbers of OLs at either E12.5 or E14.5. However, there tend to be more OL-fated cells within the pMN domain, where they originate, and migrating cells tend to be clustered closer to the pMN domain at E12.5. IN populations show some changes in Ts65Dn mice at E12.5, with both total and abventricular PAX6+ cell numbers and abventricular NKX2.2+ cell numbers increased in Ts65Dn embryos compared to euploid mice. However, at E14.5 the number of NKX2.2+ cells is unchanged. No difference in the NKX6.1+ population was seen at either time-point. In contrast, there are significant changes in the MN population at both E12.5 and E14.5. Specifically, at E12.5, the total ISL1+ MN population is significantly increased and shows altered regional distribution in the ventral horn of Ts65Dn SCs. Conversely, the Ts65Dn spinal MN population is normalized to euploid levels at E14.5. Overall, our results suggest that neurogenesis, gliogenesis, and cell-type specification of OLIG2-lineage cells are altered in the developing SC of Ts65Dn mice. Thus, this work identifies a novel target for future therapeutic interventions aimed at ameliorating motor changes in DS.

CNS-PNETs are rare, aggressive, paediatric embryonal brain tumours that are poorly studied. We recently identified an aggressive sub-group of CNS-PNETs characterized by the amplification of the C19MC microRNA cluster, however, little is known regarding the features of other CNS-PNET tumours. This study was designed to define additional molecular sub-groups of CNS-PNET by interrogating a large cohort of CNS-PNETs. To elucidate the features of CNS-PNET, we examined transcriptional and copy number profiles from primary hemispheric CNS-PNETs. We then validated and examined the clinical significance of novel sub-group markers in 123 primary CNS-PNETs. This thesis demonstrates that CNS-PNET can be categorized into three molecular sub-groups that are distinguished by distinct primitive neural, oligo-neural and mesenchymal lineage gene expression signatures and also correlated with distinct clinical features. Data from my thesis has generated a substantial body of knowledge to fuel both biological and clinical investigations of childhood CNS-PNETs.

CNS-PNETs are rare, aggressive, paediatric embryonal brain tumours that are poorly studied. We recently identified an aggressive sub-group of CNS-PNETs characterized by the amplification of the C19MC microRNA cluster, however, little is known regarding the features of other CNS-PNET tumours. This study was designed to define additional molecular sub-groups of CNS-PNET by interrogating a large cohort of CNS-PNETs. To elucidate the features of CNS-PNET, we examined transcriptional and copy number profiles from primary hemispheric CNS-PNETs. We then validated and examined the clinical significance of novel sub-group markers in 123 primary CNS-PNETs. This thesis demonstrates that CNS-PNET can be categorized into three molecular sub-groups that are distinguished by distinct primitive neural, oligo-neural and mesenchymal lineage gene expression signatures and also correlated with distinct clinical features. Data from my thesis has generated a substantial body of knowledge to fuel both biological and clinical investigations of childhood CNS-PNETs.

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by triplication of human chromosome 21 (HSA21) and is the most common genetic form of intellectual disability. It is unknown precisely how triplication of HSA21 results in the intellectual disability, but it is thought that the global transcriptional dysregulation caused by trisomy 21 perturbs multiple aspects of neurodevelopment that cumulatively contribute to its etiology. While the characteristics associated with DS can arise from any of the genes triplicated on HSA21, in this work we focus on oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (OLIG2). The progeny of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) expressing OLIG2 are likely to be involved in many of the cellular changes underlying the intellectual disability in DS. To explore the fate of OLIG2+ neural progenitors, we took advantage of two distinct models of DS, the Ts65Dn mouse model and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from individuals with DS. Our results from these two systems identified multiple perturbations in development in the cellular progeny of OLIG2+ NPCs. In Ts65Dn, we identified alterations in neurons and glia derived from the OLIG2 expressing progenitor domain in the ventral spinal cord. There were significant differences in the number of motor neurons and interneurons present in the trisomic lumbar spinal cord depending on age of the animal pointing both to a neurodevelopment and a neurodegeneration phenotype in the Ts65Dn mice. Of particular note, we identified changes in oligodendrocyte (OL) maturation in the trisomic mice that are dependent on spatial location and developmental origin. In the dorsal corticospinal tract, there were significantly fewer mature OLs in the trisomic mice, and in the lateral funiculus we observed the opposite phenotype with more mature OLs being present in the trisomic animals. We then transitioned our studies into iPSCs where we were able to pattern OLIG2+ NPCs to either a spinal cord-like or a brain-like identity and study the OL lineage that differentiated from each progenitor pool. Similar to the region-specific dysregulation found in the Ts65Dn spinal cord, we identified perturbations in trisomic OLs that were dependent on whether the NPCs had been patterned to a brain-like or spinal cord-like fate. In the spinal cord-like NPCs, there was no difference in the proportion of cells expressing either OLIG2 or NKX2.2, the two transcription factors whose co-expression is essential for OL differentiation. Conversely, in the brain-like NPCs, there was a significant increase in OLIG2+ cells in the trisomic culture and a decrease in NKX2.2 mRNA expression. We identified a sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling based mechanism underlying these changes in OLIG2 and NKX2.2 expression in the brain-like NPCs and normalized the proportion of trisomic cells expressing the transcription factors to euploid levels by modulating the activity of the SHH pathway. Finally, we continued the differentiation of the brain-like and spinal cord-like NPCs to committed OL precursor cells (OPCs) and allowed them to mature. We identified an increase in OPC production in the spinal cord-like trisomic culture which was not present in the brain-like OPCs. Conversely, we identified a maturation deficit in the brain-like trisomic OLs that was not present in the spinal cord-like OPCs. These results underscore the importance of regional patterning in characterizing changes in cell differentiation and fate in DS. Together, the findings presented in this work contribute to the understanding of the cellular and molecular etiology of the intellectual disability in DS and in particular the contribution of cells differentiated from OLIG2+ progenitors.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Tumores sÃo populaÃÃes celulares heterogÃneas hierarquicamente organizadas, cujas cÃlulas-tronco possuem importÃncia relevante desde que sÃo cÃlulas com a capacidade de se renovarem e de gerarem linhagens em fases diferentes. Dada a sua importÃncia, a identificaÃÃo de componentes de cÃlulas-tronco à essencial para o entendimento da tumorigÃnese. Apesar de marcadores de linhagem neural terem sido identificados, a associaÃÃo destes marcadores com os tumores cerebrais ainda à escassa e nos astrocitomas sÃo relacionados principalmente aos glioblastomas. Entre esses marcadores de cÃlulas-tronco,CD133, CXCR4 e CD44 sÃo relacionados à formaÃÃo do glioma, migraÃÃo e crescimento; por outro lado, OLIG2 à envolvido no destino celular. NÃo existem estudos, atà essa data, que avaliam todos esses marcadores juntos e sua relaÃÃo com grau tumoral. Adicionalmente, alteraÃÃes epigenÃticas especÃficas, especialmente a metilaÃÃo em promotor, tem sido identificadas nestes tumores, levando a inativaÃÃo de genes, com destaque o CDKN2A (proteÃna p16INK4A), um supressor tumoral. Apesar de esse mecanismo ser apontado como o principal inativador desse gene, em astrocitomas ainda existem questÃes controversas. Para avaliar essas questÃes, este estudo objetivou determinar a expressÃo e padrÃo de metilaÃÃo em promotor de CDKN2A e sua associaÃÃo com parÃmetros clinico-patolÃgicos e se a presenÃa de cÃlulas-tronco/progenitoras, considerando a expressÃo de CD133, CXCR4, CD44 e OLIG2 poderia definir subpopulaÃÃes de cÃlulas que podem ser usadas como marcadores prognÃsticos. Para isso, em uma sÃrie de 93 astrocitomas de diferentes graus de malignidade, foram estudadas a expressÃo dos marcadores CD133, CXCR4, CD44, OLIG2 e p16INK4A, detectada pela tÃcnica de imunohistoquÃmica, e o padrÃo de metilaÃÃo em promotor de CDKN2A, por PCR especÃfico para metilaÃÃo (PCR-MS). Os dados foram entÃo associados com grau tumoral, localizaÃÃo e outros parÃmetros clinico-patolÃgicos. As anÃlises estatÃsticas foram realizadas usando o teste do X2, teste exato de Fisher, correlaÃÃo de Spearman, agrupamento de k-means e anÃlise de componentes principais, com diferenÃas consideradas significantes com p<0.05. A imunomarcaÃÃo de OLIG2 mostrou a frequÃncia maior de positividade (73,1%), seguido por CXCR4 (60,2%), CD44 (55,9%) e CD133 (45,2%). AnÃlises de correlaÃÃo e agrupamento definiram dois subtipos de populaÃÃo de acordo com os marcadores estudados, um subtipo CXCR4(+)CD133(+)CD44(+) e outro OLIG2(+). Tumores CD133, CXCR4 e CD44 positivos aumentaram de acordo com malignidade. No grau IV, este subtipo de tumores [CD133(+)CXCR4(+)CD44(+)] foi significantemente mais frequente (p=0,008) e tambÃm nos tumores difusos. Adicionalmente, tumores com CXCR4(+) e CD133(+) foram preferencialmente localizados nos hemisfÃrios cerebrais e nos ventrÃculos, e a maioria nos pacientes com idade &#8805; 30 anos. Por outro lado, tumores OLIG2(+) foram associados com o cerebelo, que à a localizaÃÃo preferencial do astrocitoma pilocÃtico. Uma forte correlaÃÃo negativa entre imunomarcaÃÃo nuclear e citoplasmÃtica e metilaÃÃo em promotor de CDKN2A foi encontrada. AlÃm do mais, uma correlaÃÃo negativa significante entre metilaÃÃo em promotor de CDKN2A e idade foi observada e pacientes do sexo feminino tiveram uma maior frequÃncia significante de CDKN2A metilado em promotor que o sexo masculino. Em conclusÃo, a presenÃa de subpopulaÃÃes de cÃlulas-tronco em astrocitomas à indicativa de progressÃo tumoral, cujos marcadores CXCR4, CD133 e CD44 podem ser potencialmente usados em conjunto como marcadores prognÃsticos. A associaÃÃo com localizaÃÃo do tumor e idade tambÃm corroboram esses achados. Adicionalmente, a inativaÃÃo de CDKN2A por metilaÃÃo em promotor à um evento frequente em astrocitomas e à relacionada à idade e sexo dos pacientes. / Currently, the concept that tumors are cell populations organized in a hierarchically heterogenous way in which stem-cells are relevantly important as these cells have the capacity of self-renew and of generating cell lineages in different phases of differentiation. So that, the identification of stem-cell components is essential to tumorigenesis understanding. Althought neural cell lineage markers have been identified, the association among these markers and neurological tumors is still scarce, and taking in consideration the astrocytomas, the association assessements are verified mainly regarding the glioblastomas. Among these stem cell markers, CD133, CXCR4 and CD44 are related to the glioma formation, migration and growth; on the other hand, OLIG2 is involved in cell destination. So far there are no studies evaluating all these markers together and their relationship to tumor grades. Additionally, specific epigenetic alterations, specially promoter methylation, have been widelly identified in these tumors, leading to gene inativation, mostly involving CDKN2A (p16INK4A protein), a tumor suppressor. Althought this mechanism is pointed as this gene main inactivator, there are still controvertial questions regarding the astrocytomas. In order to evaluate these questions, the present study aimed to determine CDKN2A pattern of methylation and expression and their association to clinicalpathological parameters, and if the presence of progenitor/stem-cells, taking CD133, CXCR4, CD44 and OLIG2 expression in consideration, could define subpopulations of cells which might be used as prognostic markers. So, in a series of 93 astrocytomas of different malignity grades, the expression of CD133, CXCR4, CD44, OLIG2 and p16INK4A was analysed by the imunohistochemistry technique, and the CDKN2A methylation status was assessed by methylation specific PCR (MS-PCR). The data was then associated to tumor grades, localization and other clinicalpathological parameters. The statistic analyses were made using X 2 test, Fisher's exact test, Spearman's correlation, kmeans groupment and principal component analyses, using p<0.05 as statistically significance. The imunopositivity of OLIG2 was predominant (73.1%), followed by CXCR4 (60.2%), CD44 (55.9%) and CD133 (45.2%). The correlation and groupment analyses defined two different population subtypes, a CXCR4(+)CD133(+)CD44(+) subtype and a OLIG2(+) subtype. CXCR4(+)CD133(+)CD44(+) tumors became more frequent as malignity grew. In grade IV, this subtype was significantly more frequent (p=0.008), being also in diffuse tumors. Additionally, CXCR4(+) and CD133(+) tumors were preferentially located in brain hemisferes and in the ventricles, and mostly in aged >30 patients. On the other side, OLIG2(+) tumors were associated to the cerebellum, which is the pylocitic tumor preferential localization. A strong negative correlation between nuclear and cytoplasmatic imunopositivity and promoter methylation in CDKN2A was observed. Also, a negative significant correlation between methylated CDKN2A and patient's age was found; moreover, feminine patients presented a higher frequency of methylated CDKN2A. In conclusion, the presence of stemcell subpopulations in astrocytomas indicates tumoral progression, in which CXCR4, CD133 and CD44 may be potentially used together as prognostic markers. The association between tumor localization and patient's age also corroborates these findings. Additionally, the CDKN2A inactivation by promoter methylation is a frequent event in astrocytomas and it is associated to patient's age and gender

Ce projet vise à fournir une nouvelle compréhension moléculaire du programme de transcription impliqué dans la différenciation des cellules souches neurales en oligodendrocytes myélinisant. La logique de ce travail repose sur des études antérieures ayant montré le rôle des facteurs de transcription bHLH Olig2 et Ascl1, opérant en synergie dans la spécification des OPCs, les cellules progénitrices d‘oligodendrocytes . L‘objectif central de ce travail était de comprendre au niveau génomique et transcriptomique les mécanismes par lesquels Ascl1 et Olig2 agissent pour spécifier les OPCs. Nous avons suivi une stratégie utilisant l'analyse du transcriptome et des profils de fixation des facteurs de transcription par immuno- précipitation de la chromatine. Nous avons pu identifier les cibles directes de Ascl1 et Olig2 dans les OPC et lors de la différenciation des oligodendrocytes. Nous avons également identifié de nouveaux marqueurs spécifiques des différents stades des lignées oligodendrocyte et nous sommes concentrés sur Chd7 et Tns3, deux gènes régulé par Ascl1 etOlig2 et enrichis dans la lignée oligodendrogliale à deux stades intéressants, la phase de spécification précoce et la transition entre la migration et la différenciation des oligodendrocytes, respectivement. De plus, nous avons porté notre attention sur le rôle spécifique des oligodendrocyte dans la synthèse de la créatine et son rôle possible de support métabolique dans la synthèse de myéline et de support axonal. Nous avons également initié une approche de repositionnement toxicogénomique pour identifier de nouvelles molécules à tester dans le cadre de maladie demyélinisantesLa plupart des traitements disponibles pour traiter les maladies démyélinisantes sont basées sur une approche immune modulatrice et anti-inflammatoire. A ce jour, aucun n'est en mesure de promouvoir directement la réparation de la myéline de manière efficace. Nous espérons que les gènes dont l'expression est régulée dans les lésions de démyélinisation identifiés lors de cette étude permettront de mieux comprendre le mécanisme de remyelinisation et le développement de nouvelles stratégies dans les maladies démyélinisantes telles que la sclérose en plaques ou dans les leucodystrophies. / Our project aims to provide a new molecular understanding of the transcription program involved in neural stem cells differentiation into oligodendrocytes. The rational of this work relies on previous studies demonstrating that the bHLH transcription factors Olig2 and Ascl1 work in synergy to specify OPCs, the oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. One central goal of this work was to understand at a genomic and transcriptomic level, how Ascl1 and Olig2 work together to specify OPCs. We followed a strategy using genome-wide transcriptome analysis and chromatin immuno-precipitation to characterize Ascl1 and Olig2 directly regulated genes in OPCs and during oligodendrocyte differentiation.We identified new specific markers of different stage of the neural lineages and new important genes correlated to OPCs differentiation. We focused on Chd7 and Tns3, two genes which expressions are driven by Ascl1 and Olig2 and enriched in the oligodendroglial lineage at two interesting stage, the early specification stage and the transition between migrating and differentiating oligodendrocytes, respectively. Moreover, we identified the myelinating oligodendrocyte as the cell in charge of the creatine synthesis in the brain and potentially driving axonal metabolic support. We also used an approach a toxicogenomic and drug repositioning approach to identify new molecules known to modify OPCs and myelin genes but untested in the context of demyelinating diseases. As currently, most of the available treatments for demyelinating diseases are based on immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory drugs but none are able to directly promote myelin repair, we expect that these identified genes involved in oligodendrogenesis and whose expression are regulated in demyelinated lesions will allow the development of new therapeutic strategies promoting an efficient remyelination in demyelinating diseases such as Multiple sclerosis or leukodystrophies.

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