Descrevemos, recentemente, que FGF2 parácrino dispara senescência nas linhagens celulares murinas Y1 e 3T3-B61, transformadas malignamente por Ras, mas sem ativação das vias apoptóticas (Costa et al., 2008). Nesta tese, estudamos os mecanismos celulares e moleculares desta resposta de estresse irreversível, disparada por FGF2. Focalizamos, principalmente, a linhagem Y1, que carrega uma amplificação do oncogene Kras, mas apresenta um controle parcial da transição G0/G1 → S do ciclo celular. Por estas características fenotípicas, as células Y1 foram utilizadas no estudo dos mecanismos das ações antagônicas de FGF2, isto é, a atividade mitogênica clássica e a nova ação citotóxica que causa senescência. Análises de citometria de fluxo e marcação com BrdU mostraram que FGF2 promove a transição G0/G1 → S (atividade mitogênica), mas bloqueia a progressão através de S e G2/M (atividade antimitogênica). Ensaios de viabilidade celular (MTS e Cyto-Tox) demonstraram que, durante o bloqueio do ciclo celular por FGF2, as células permanecem íntegras e metabolicamente ativas, embora exibam alterações morfológicas, que sugerem estresse celular. Além disso, experimentos de tomada de 3H-timidina em DNA evidenciaram que, já nas primeiras horas de G1, FGF2 dispara um processo antimitogênico que só tardiamente vai se manifestar na fase S, bloqueando a síntese de DNA. Verificamos ainda, que o inibidor específico da Tyr-quinase dos receptores de FGF, PD173074, abole completamente, tanto os efeitos mitogênicos como os antimitogênicos de FGF2 nas células Y1, demonstrando que ambos os processos iniciam-se com a ativação da Tyr-quinase dos FGFRs. Por outro lado, inibidores específicos das vias de sinalização de MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT e PKC (todas mitogênicas e à jusante dos FGFRs) bloqueiam a progressão no ciclo celular, sem proteger as células Y1 de FGF2, evidenciando que estas vias mitogênicas não participam dos mecanismos moleculares citotóxicos disparados por FGF2. Entretanto, inibidores das Tyr-quinases Src protegem parcialmente as células Y1 de FGF2, implicando a família Src na transformação maligna destas células. Para buscar novos genes pertinentes à ação citotóxica de FGF2 analisamos expressão gênica por RT-qPCR, dando continuidade a estudos anteriores desenvolvidos no laboratório, através de microarranjos de cDNA (Asprino & Armelin, 2006). Desta busca, resultaram genes codificantes de proteínas envolvidas no controle de ciclo celular, adesão e citoesqueleto, com destaque para proteínas reguladoras de RhoGTPases e os receptores de FGF. Procuramos também examinar especificidades entre os FGFRs, quanto ao disparo das ações antagônicas de FGF2. As células Y1 expressam FGFR1IIIc, FGFR2IIIc e FGFR5 enquanto as 3T3-B61 expressam FGFR1IIIc e FGFR5. A redução da expressão de FGFR2 por RNAi, em células Y1, não impediu a ação citotóxica de FGF2, mas a redução de FGFR1 protegeu as células da ação morfológico-estressante de FGF2. Como FGFR5 não possui domínio de Tyr-quinase, concluímos que o FGFR1 é o receptor mais relevante para o efeito citotóxico de FGF2, em ambas as células. Em conclusão, FGF2 ativa a Tyr-quinase dos FGFRs, disparando mecanismos moleculares antagônicos, paralelos e independentes, onde o efeito final é o bloqueio do ciclo celular nas fases S e G2/M e, consequentemente, senescência celular. / We have recently described that paracrine FGF2 triggers senescence in Ras-driven murine cell lines Y1 and 3T3-B61, without activation of apoptotic pathways (Costa et al., 2008). On this thesis, we studied the molecular and cellular mechanisms of this irreversible stress response triggered by FGF2. We have mainly focused on the Y1 cell line, which carries Kras oncogene amplification, but presents a certain control of the G0/G1 → S cell cycle transition. Because of these phenotypic features, the Y1 cells were utilized to study the mechanisms of FGF2 antagonic actions, i. e., the classical mitogenic activity and the new cytotoxic action, which causes senescence. Flow cytometer analysis and BrdU labeling have shown that FGF2 promotes the G0/G1 → S transition (mitogenic activity), but arrests the progression through S and G2/M (antimitogenic activity). Viability assays (MTS and Cyto-Tox) have shown that, during the cell cycle arrest by FGF2, cells remain intact and metabolically active, although exhibiting morphologic alterations, which suggested cellular stress. Moreover, 3H-thymidine uptake into DNA has evidenced that, within the first hours of G1, FGF2 triggers an antimitogenic process that only lately will manifest in S phase, blocking DNA synthesis. We have further verified that the specific Tyr-kinase inhibitor, PD173074, completely abolishes both FGF2 mitogenic and antimitogenic effects, showing that both processes start at FGFRs Tyr-kinase. On the other hand, specific inhibitors of MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT and PKC signaling pathways (all mitogenic and downstream of FGFRs) block the cell cycle progression, but do not protect cells from FGF2, showing that these pathways do not participate of the cytotoxic molecular mechanisms triggered by FGF2. However, Src Tyr-kinases inhibitors partially protect Y1 cells from FGF2, implicating the Src family on malignant transformation of these cells. To search new genes pertinent to the cytotoxic action of FGF2, we analyzed gene expression by RT-qPCR, continuing previous studies developed in our laboratory through cDNA microarrays (Asprino & Armelin, 2006). This search revealed protein-coding genes involved on cell cycle control, cellular adhesion and cytoskeleton, in which we highlighted regulatory proteins of RhoGTPases and FGF receptors. We also examined specificities among FGFRs in relation to FGF2 antagonic actions. Y1 cells express FGFR1IIIc, FGFR2IIIc and FGFR5 whereas 3T3-B61 cells express FGFR1IIIc and FGFR5. In Y1 cells, the knockdown of FGFR2 expression by RNAi do not stop FGF2 cytotoxic actions, but knockdown of FGFR1 expression protects cells from the FGF2 morphologic-stressing action. Since FGFR5 lacks Tyr-kinase domain, we concluded that FGFR1 is the most relevant receptor for FGF2 cytotoxic effect in both cells. In conclusion, FGF2 activates FGFRs Tyr-kinase, triggering parallel and independent antagonic molecular mechanisms, in which the final effect is the S and G2/M cell cycle arrest and, consequently, cellular senescence.

No description available.

L’infection par le virus de l’hépatite C (VHC) représente un problème majeur de santé publique du fait de sa prévalence élevée et de la sévérité de ses complications, cirrhose et carcinome hépatocellulaire (CHC). Les objectifs du projet de thèse sont (i) de mettre en place et caractériser des modèles orthotopiques de CHC chez le petit animal (xénogreffe orthotopique de la lignée de CHC humaine Huh-7 exprimant le gène rapporteur de la luciférase chez la souris immunodéficiente) et chez le gros animal (transplantation autologue d’hépatocytes de cochon préalablement transformés ex vivo par transfert par voie lentivirale d’une combinaison de six oncogènes) et (ii) d’apporter la preuve de concept d’une approche innovante d’immunothérapie adoptive allogénique du CHC et de l’infection chronique par le VHC, par administration de lymphocytes génétiquement modifiés (LGM) allogéniques exprimant un gène de toxicité conditionnelle, ou gène suicide. Un tel gène suicide permet le contrôle des LGM, conduisant à leur élimination conditionnelle en cas d’effets secondaires indésirables. Ainsi, nous avons montré que, à dose élevée, ces LGM exercent in vitro une activité cytotoxique vis-à-vis de lignées de CHC humaines et in vivo une activité anti-tumorale vis-à-vis de tumeurs orthotopiques Huh-7. A faible dose, les LGM présentent une activité anti-virale vis-à-vis du VHC sans induire de toxicité. Ces résultats ouvrent la perspective à une approche originale d’immunothérapie du CHC, associée aux traitements actuels et de prévention de la réinfection du greffon hépatique par le VHC lors de la transplantation. / The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major problem of public health, due to its high prevalence and to the severity of its complications, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aims of the thesis project are (i) to set up and characterize orthotopic HCC models in the small animal (orthotopic transplantation in immunodeficient mice of the human HCC cell line Huh-7, expressing the luciferase reporter gene) and in the large animal (autologous transplantation of porcine hepatocytes previously ex vivo-transformed by lentiviral-meidated transfer of a combination of six oncogenes) and (ii) to provide the proof-of-concept of an innovative adoptive allogeneic immunotherapy approach for the treatment of HCC and prevention of liver graft reinfection by HCV, through the administration of allogeneic suicide gene-modified lymphocytes (GML). Such a suicide gene allows for the control of GML, leading to their conditional elimination in case of undesirable side effects. Thus, we have demonstrated that, at high dose, these GML present an in vitro cytotoxic activity toward HCC cell lines and an in vivo antitumoral effect against orthotopic Huh-7 tumors. At low level, the GML have an antiviral activity against HCV, without toxicity against target cells. These results open the perspective for an original approach of immunotherapy for the treatment of HCC in association with current treatments and for the prevention of liver graft reinfection by HCV at time of liver transplantation.

Chez les mammifères, les cellules apoptotiques peuvent être complètement dégradées par des cellules phagocytaires spécialisées ou servir de vecteur d'ADN Le transfert d'oncogènes via les cellules apoptotiques aboutit à la transformation des cellules receveuses uniquement si celles-ci sont déficientes en p53. Sachant que Fniicogène E6 des papillomavirus humains (HPV) à haut risque induit la dégradation de p53, il est concevable que son transfert par la cellule apoptotique soit à l'origine d'un mécanisme alternatif de carcinogenèse associée aux HPV. Afin de confirmer cette hypothèse, l'apoptose de cellules dérivées de cancer du col de l'utérus, abriiam ou non des séquences d'HPV, a été induite. En collaboration avec l'équipe de Patrick Sandoz du laboratoire d'optique de FEMTO-ST, nous avons adapté leur inicr;système référencé en position à l'observation automatisée de Finternalisation des cellules apoptotiques. Nous avons aussi déterminé que les cellules apoptotiques son! phagocytées par les fîbroblastes quel que soit leur statut virologique. Seules les cellules apoptotiques dérivées de cellules abritant de l'ADN d'HPV transforment les cellules receveuses. L'expression de l'ADN viral, dont E6, dans les fîbroblastes transformés ainsi que la perte d'expression des protéines p53 et p21 suggère que les oncogènes d'HPV pourraient être à l'origine de la transformation. Les résultats présentés dans ces travaux mettent en évidence un nouveau mécanisme de carcinogenèse associée aux HPV via la phagocytose des cellules apoptotiques, potentiellement impliqué dans la transformation de cellules primaires et la progression des tumeurs associées aux HPV. / Apoptotic cells in mammals may be completely degraded by specialized phagocytic cells or serve as a DNA vector. The oncogene transfer via apoptotic cells leads to the transformation of récipient cells but only when they are p53 deficient. As the E6 oncogene of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) leads to p53 dégradation, its transfer from apoptotic cells may be the cause of an alternative mechanism of HPV-associated carcinogenesis. To confirm this hypothesis, we induced apoptosis of cervical cancer cells that may harbor HPV sequences. In collaboration with Patrick Sandoz's team at the FEMTO-ST optical laboratory, we used their position-referenced microsystem for the automated observation of apoptotic cell internalization. We also found that apoptotic cells are phagocytized by fibroblasts regardless of their virological status. Only apoptotic cells from cells harboring HPV DNA transform recipient cells. Viral DNA expression, including E6, in transformed fibroblasts and the loss of p53 and p21 protein expression suggest that HPV oncogènes may cause transformation. These results highlight a new mechanism of HPV-associated carcinogenesis via apoptotic cell phagocytosis. This mechanism may be involved in thé transformation of primary cells and the progression of HPV-associated tumors.

Le carcinome hépatocellulaire (CHC) est la première néoplasie létale du foie, représentant 80 à 90% des cas. Actuellement, la majeure partie des patients bénéficient de solutions thérapeutiques avec des efficacités très modestes. La haute variété étiologique, l’hétérogénéité des tumeurs ainsi que l’absence de médiateurs oncogéniques clés connus dans le développement de cette pathologie sont responsables du manque d’options thérapeutiques. À partir d’un crible génétique du kinome humain, nous avons identifié la tyrosine kinase Yes comme un acteur majeur de la prolifération des cellules de CHC. Yes appartient à la famille des kinases Src qui contrôlent de nombreux processus cellulaires notamment la prolifération, la motilité et la survie. La sur-expression ou activation anormale de Yes est retrouvée dans de nombreux cancers et est souvent associée à un mauvais pronostic. Nous avons démontré par des expériences in vitro et in vivo l’activité pro-proliférative de Yes ainsi que son potentiel oncogénique. Notamment, dans un modèle murin de carcinogenèse hépatique induit par le diéthylnitrosamine, la déplétion génétique de Yes abolit totalement la formation de tumeurs. Grâce aux profils transcriptionnels obtenus dans plusieurs modèles cellulaires de CHC, nous avons découvert que l’activité de Yes est associée à une augmentation des signatures géniques des régulateurs transcriptionnels YAP et TAZ ainsi que du facteur transcriptionnel c-Myc. Ces observations ont abouti à identifier YAP, TAZ et c-Myc comme des nouveaux substrats de la tyrosine kinase Yes. Nous avons montré que la phosphorylation par Yes de YAP et TAZ médie leur recrutement dans le noyau ce qui conduit à une hausse de leur activité transcriptionnelle. Nous avons d’ailleurs confirmé l’importance de YAP et TAZ dans les propriétés prolifératives de Yes, notamment dans différents modèles murins de carcinogenèse hépatique. De manière intéressante, nous avons observé que près de 50% de CHCs humains présentent une activation anormale des kinases Src qui corrèle avec la phosphorylation et activation de YAP. Enfin, nous avons observé in vitro et in vivo que Yes stabilise c-Myc. En effet, l’expression transgénique de Yes constitutivement actif dans des hépatocytes entraine la stabilisation de c-Myc à des stades précoces du développement tumoral et une induction de plusieurs de ses gènes cibles à des stades plus tardifs. En plus de leur synergie d’action, cette étude propose que la tyrosine Yes intervient dans les propriétés oncogéniques de c-Myc. Finalement, nous avons découvert que la kinase Yes joue un rôle dans la progression de la stéatose hépatique. En effet, la progression de la pathologie est abolie à la suite de la déplétion de Yes ou suivant l’inhibition pharmacologique des kinases Src. De plus, la survie des cellules tumorales face à leur élimination par le système immunitaire semble être favorisé par la signalisation Yes qui induit l’expression des points de contrôle immuns PD-L1/2. En conclusion nous avons découvert et caractérisé trois nouveaux effecteurs clés de la signalisation oncogénique de la tyrosine kinase Yes dans le CHC. D’ailleurs, la signature génique induite par Yes permet de prédire la survie des patients atteints de CHC. Ces données fournissent de robustes évidences qui placent la tyrosine kinase Yes comme une cible thérapeutique de choix pour la maladie du CHC. / Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the first lethal neoplasia of the liver, representing 80 to 90% of cases. Currently, for most patients the therapeutic option only provides modest efficiencies. The high etiological variety and heterogeneity of the tumors as well as the absence of known key oncogenic mediator in the development of this pathology is mainly responsible for the lack of therapeutic option. Based on a genetic screen of the human kinome, we identified the tyrosine kinase Yes as a major player in the proliferation of HCC cells. Yes belongs to the family of Src kinases which control many cellular processes including proliferation, motility and survival. The over-expression or abnormal activation of Yes is detected in many cancers and is often associated with poor prognosis. We have demonstrated in vitro and in vivo the pro-proliferative activity of Yes as well as its oncogenic potential. In particular, in a mouse model of hepatic carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine, the genetic depletion of Yes completely abolishes the formation of tumors. Thanks to the transcriptional profiles obtained in several cellular models of CHC, we discovered that the activity of Yes is associated with an increase in the gene signatures of the transcriptional regulators YAP and TAZ as well as of the transcriptional factor c-Myc. These observations led to the identification of YAP, TAZ and c-Myc as new substrates for the tyrosine kinase Yes. We have shown that the phosphorylation of YAP and TAZ by Yes mediates their recruitment into the nucleus associated with an increase in their transcriptional activity. We have also confirmed the importance of YAP and TAZ in the proliferative properties of Yes in various mouse models of hepatocarcinogenesis. Interestingly, we observed that nearly 50% of human CHCs exhibit an abnormal activation of Src kinases that correlates with phosphorylation and activation of YAP. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that Yes stabilizes c-Myc. Indeed, the transgenic expression of constitutively active Yes into hepatocytes leads to the accumulation of c-Myc protein at early stages of tumor development and to the induction of several of its target genes at later stages. In addition to their synergistic action, this study suggests that Yes is involved in the oncogenic properties of c-Myc. Finally, we discovered that Yes kinase plays a role in the progression of fatty liver diseases. Indeed, the progression of the pathology is abolished following the depletion of Yes or the pharmacological inhibition of Src kinases. In addition, the survival of Yes-active tumor cells is associated with the induction of PD-L1/2 immune checkpoints that protect cells from immune elimination. In conclusion, we have discovered and characterized three new key effectors of the oncogenic tyrosine kinase Yes in HCC. Interestingly, the gene signature induced by Yes can predict the survival of patients with HCC. These data provide strong evidence for targeting the tyrosine kinase Yes in HCC.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most lethal malignancies in the United States, with an average five-year survival rate of just 6.7%. One unifying aspect of PDAC is mutational activation of the KRAS oncogene, which occurs in over 90% of PDAC. Therefore, inhibiting KRAS function is likely an effective therapeutic strategy for this disease, and current research in our lab and others is focused on identifying downstream effectors of KRAS signaling that may be therapeutic targets. miRNAs are powerful regulators of gene expression that can behave as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Dysregulation of miRNA expression is commonly observed in human tumors, including PDAC. The mir-17~92 cluster of miRNAs is an established oncogene in a variety of tumor contexts, and members of the mir-17~92 cluster are upregulated in PDAC, but their role has not been explored in vivo. This dissertation encompasses two studies exploring the role of miRNAs in pancreatic tumorigenesis. In Chapter II, I demonstrate that deletion of the mir-17~92 cluster impairs PDAC precursor lesion formation and maintenance, and correlates with reduced ERK signaling in these lesions. mir-17~92 deficient tumors and cell lines are also less invasive, which I attribute to the loss of the miR-19 family of miRNAs. In Chapter III, I find that Dicer heterozygosity inhibits PDAC metastasis, and that this phenotype is attributable to an increased sensitivity to anoikis. Ongoing experiments will determine whether shifts in particular miRNA signatures between cell lines can be attributed to this phenotype. Together these findings illustrate the importance of miRNA biogenesis, and the mir-17~92 cluster in particular, in supporting PDAC development and progression.

Le Cancer du Col Utérin (CCU) chez la femme est provoqué par le virus oncogénique VPH. La métastase lymphatique ganglionnaire est un facteur pronostique majeur pour l’évolution de ce cancer et sa présence influence la décision thérapeutique. En général, l’envahissement ganglionnaire est diagnostiqué par histologie, mais cette méthode est laborieuse et parfois prise en défaut pour détecter les micrométastases et les cellules cancéreuses isolées et pour donner des résultats rapides en per opératoire. L’outil moléculaire que nous désirons développer pour combler cette lacune est basé sur une analyse d’ARN des gènes du VPH exprimés par les cellules du CCU. Ceci sera fait par transcription réverse de l’ARN cellulaire couplé à une réaction quantitative en chaine par polymérase en temps réel (RT-qPCR). Cette technique devrait nous permettre une détection et une évaluation rapide des micrométastases pour aider à déterminer immédiatement un pronostic fiable et la thérapie associée. C’est un test précis, sensible et rapide pour détecter un envahissement ganglionnaire dans le CCU visant à améliorer la gestion thérapeutique. Le projet est basé sur trois objectifs. En premier lieu, valider les marqueurs moléculaires E6 et E7 de VPH16 et 18 à partir des échantillons frais et des échantillons fixés dans des blocs de paraffine. En deuxième lieu, déterminer la fiabilité et la sensibilité des marqueurs pour la détection des macrométastases, des micrométastases et les cellules tumorales isolées en utilisant la technique de RT-qPCR. En troisième lieu et parallèlement au travail présenté dans ce mémoire, il est nécessaire de constituer une base de données des patientes qui ont le virus VPH16 et 18 intégré dans leur génome, qui ont été traitées et dont nous connaissons déjà le diagnostic final afin de valider la méthode (biobanque). Nous avons réussi à extraire de l’ARNm de haute qualité à partir d’échantillons complexes, à détecter les gènes E6 et E7 de VPH16 et 18 en RT-qPCR, et à déterminer précisément la limite de détection de E6 et E7 dans les échantillons frais qui est une proportion de 0,008% de cellules cancéreuses. Dans les échantillons fixés dans la paraffine, cette limite est de 0,02% et 0,05% pour E6-E7-VPH16 et E6-E7-VPH18 respectivement. Ceci comparativement à une limite de détection histologique de 1% qui est déterminée par immunohistochimie de CK19. Enfin, notre protocole est validé pour VPH18 dans les ganglions lymphatiques du CCU. / The presence of lymph nodes metastasis in uterine cervical carcinoma influences therapeutic management and patient survival. The gold standard for metastasis detection is histology. However, histology lacks sensitivity to detect micrometastasis or isolated cancer cells and is not an efficient method for immediate diagnosis during surgery. The molecular tool that we want to develop to fill this gap is based on an analysis of expressed RNA transcripts derived from the HPV genome in cells of uterine cervical carcinoma (UCC). This will be done by reverse transcription of cellular RNA coupled to a quantitative polymerase chain reaction in real-time (RT-qPCR). This technique could allow detection and rapid assessment of micrometastasis to help determine prognosis and an immediate reliable combination therapy. The proposed technique would be a specific test, sensitive and rapid to detect lymph node involvement in the UCC to improve therapy management. Our objective is to constitute a patient bank containing genetic and clinical information. This genetic information will be used to test and improve new molecular markers for UCC metastasis. These markers will be validated using comparisons to traditional histological results and evaluated for their capacity to detect lymph nodes micrometastasis. Ultimately, we wish to develop a reliable molecular diagnosis method useful during surgery and improve our knowledge about the clinical evolution of metastatic UCC. Currently, we are able to extract high quality mRNA from formalin-fixed cells mounted in paraffin blocks and to detect E6 and E7 from HPV16 and HPV18 using RT-qPCR. We have specifically determined the detection limit of E6 and E7, which is 0.008% in the fresh samples and 0.02% and 0.05% for HPV16-E6-E7 and HPV18- E6-E7 respectively in the samples fixed in paraffin blocks. Comparatively, the histological detection limit was determined to be around 1% using immunohistochemistry for CK19 expression. Finally, our protocol has been validated for HPV18 in UCC patient lymph nodes

CDC73, also known as HRPT2, is a tumour suppressor gene whose expression is lost or downregulated in parathyroid, renal, breast, uterine and gastric cancers. However, the reports regarding the role of CDC73 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are lacking. As part of the Paf1 complex, it remains associated with ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase II and is involved in transcript site selection, transcriptional elongation, histone H2B ubiquitination, histone H3 methylation, poly(A) length control and, coupling of transcriptional and posttranscriptional events. It has been reported to negatively regulate cellularproliferation by targeting oncogenes CCND1 (cyclin D1) and MYC (c-Myc). Moreover, it has also been indicated to inhibitβ-catenin-mediated transcription. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest that it contributes to the expression of genes whose products have an important role in the suppression of tumor development and cell death. In this study, we have attempted to study the transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of CDC73 and its role in OSCC. The main findings of the present study are listed below. 1. To begin with, the expression analysis of CDC73 was performed both at the RNA and the protein levels by qRT-PCR and IHC, respectively. As expected, a majority of the OSCC samples showed downregulation of CDC73 both at the RNA and the protein levels compared to their normal oral tissues. 2. Loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH), mutation and promoter methylation are the hallmarks of a tumor suppressor gene (TSG). Therefore, to characterize CDC73 as a TSG in OSCC and to look into the mechanisms that could be the cause of CDC73 downregulation in OSCC, LOH, mutation and promoter methylation of CDC73 were studied. The results showed that LOH, mutation and promoter methylation are not the major causes of CDC73 downregulation in OSCC. 3. To identify the alternate mechanisms as the cause of CDC73 downregulation in OSCC, a combination of bioinformatics and molecular approaches were used. The results showed that the upregulation of an inhibitory transcription factor WT1 (Wilms tumor protein 1) and an oncogenic microRNA-155 are the major causes of its downregulation in OSCC. 4. The luciferase reporter assay of SCC131 cells co-transfected with a WT1 construct and a CDC73 promoter construct showed that WT1 over expression represses CDC73 expression in a dose-dependent manner. 5. Due to the presence of zinc fingers in its C-terminal half, WT1 has been found to be a potent transcriptional regulator of genes. Therefore, to determine if WT1 down regulates CDC73 via binding its promoter, the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was performed. The results showed the binding of WT1 to the CDC73 promoter in vivo. Binding of WT1 to the CDC73 promoter was further confirmed in vitro by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). 6. The 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (AZA) treatment of SCC131 cells led to upregulation of WT1 with a concomitant downregulation of CDC73. The COBRA technique demonstrated that the upregulation of WT1 upon the 5-AZA treatment was due to its promoter methylation. 7. To determine if the WT1-mediated reduction of CDC73 expression has a functional relevance in cell growth and proliferation, we knocked down CDC73 expression by transient over expression of WT1 in SCC131 cells and quantitated cell proliferation by the MTT assay. As expected, the results demonstrated that the reduced CDC73 level was associated with an increased cell proliferation. Cotransfection of CDC73 with WT1 in SCC131 cells attenuated the pro-oncogenic effect of WT1 by apoptosis induction. 8. After validating CDC73 as the target of WT1 by bioinformatics and in vitro assays, we quantitated the expression levels of WT1 and CDC73 by qRT-PCR in OSCC samples and their matched normal oral tissue samples. The results showed an inverse correlation between the expression levels of WT1 and CDC73 in a majority of the samples. To exclude the possibility of alternate mechanisms as the cause of CDC73 downregulation in OSCC, we selected a subset of OSCC samples with downregulated level of CDC73 and analysed them for LOH at the CDC73 locus and promoter methylation. Further, some of these OSCC samples were also analyzed for mutations in CDC73. The results showed that these OSCC samples did not have LOH, promoter methylation or any mutation, again validating the fact that CDC73 is a biological target of oncogenic WT1, and the transcriptional repression of CDC73 by WT1 could be a major mechanism for CDC73 downregulation in OSCC. 9. Recent studies have shown that a growing class of noncoding RNAs called microRNAs (miRNAs) is involved in posttranscriptional regulation of genes. There is a growing body of literature supporting the potential role of miRNAs in tumorigenesis. The importance of CDC73 in orchestration of several cellular functions and its role in tumorigenesis make it an attractive candidate for miRNA-mediated regulation of cell growth and proliferation. Using bioinformatics approaches, we identified an oncogenic microRNA-155 (miR-155) that could posttranscriptionally regulate CDC73 expression. 10. Consistent with its oncogenic role, miR-155 was found dramatically upregulated in OSCC samples and was found to be another mechanism for downregulation of CDC73 in a panel of human cell lines and a subset of OSCC samples in the absence of LOH, mutations and promoter methylation. 11. miRNAs regulate posttranscriptional gene expression generally via binding to their cognate sites in the 3’UTR. Therefore, a luciferase reporter construct was made by cloning the 3’UTR of CDC73 downstream to the luciferase reporter gene and the reporter assay was performed. Our experiments clearly indicated that the mature miR-155 regulates CDC73 expression by interacting with its 3’UTR in a site specific manner. 12 Ectopic expression of miR-155 in HEK293 cells dramatically reduced CDC73 levels, enhanced cell viability and decreased apoptosis. Conversely, the delivery of a miR-155 antagonist (antagomir-155) to KB cells over expression miR-155 resulted in increased CDC73 level, decreased cell viability, increased apoptosis and marked regression of engrafts in nude mice. Cotransfection of miR-155 with CDC73 in HEK293 cells abrogated its pro-oncogenic effect. Reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis of KB cells were dependent on the presence or absence of the 3’UTR in CDC73. In nutshell, the knockdown of CDC73 expression due to over expression of WT1 and miR-155 not only adds a novelty to the list of mechanisms responsible for its downregulation in different tumors, but the restoration of CDC73 levels by the use of inhibitors to WT1 and antagomir-155 may also have an important role in therapeutic intervention of cancers, including OSCC.

Les cancers, qu’il s’agisse de leucémies ou de tumeurs solides, sont le résultat de proliférations cellulaires anormales et non contrôlées au sein des tissus. Ces proliférations anarchiques sont le reflet d’une surexpression et/ou sur-activation de protéines intracellulaires engendrées par un événement oncogénique. Aujourd’hui encore il est donc nécessaire de trouver de nouvelles molécules à usage thérapeutique ciblant spécifiquement ces protéines. C’est dans ce contexte que les facteurs de transcription STAT5 constituent de véritables cibles de choix puisque ces protéines participent activement à la leucogénèse. L’implication directe des protéines STAT5 dans la génèse des leucémies a été démontrée par l’utilisation de formes mutées constitutivement active de STAT5. Les facteurs de transcription STAT5 jouent un rôle essentiel dans la voie de signalisation JAK/STAT. Cette voie aboutit à la régulation de grandes fonctions biologiques telles que la prolifération cellulaire, la différenciation cellulaire ou encore l’apoptose. L’objectif de ce projet consiste donc à cibler spécifiquement les protéines STAT5 dans le but de rétablir le processus de mort cellulaire et empêcher la prolifération des cellules cancéreuses. Les inhibiteurs spécifiques des protéines STAT5 sont sélectionnés selon la méthode SELEX qui permet d’isoler des ligands structurés de forte affinité pour la protéine. L’affinité et la spécificité de ces inhibiteurs, appelés aptamères, sont caractérisées à partir de modèles cellulaires de leucémies dépendant de l’activité des facteurs de transcription STAT5. Les aptamères sont aujourd’hui de véritables outils thérapeutiques en pleine évolution. / Leukemias are due to abnormal cell proliferation, which is the result of intracellular over-expression or excessive activation of protein due to oncogenic event. Still today, it is necessary to find new therapeutic molecules, which specifically target these proteins. STAT5, via the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, controls fundamental cellular processes, including .cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. To struggle against tumorigenesis, JAK/STAT signaling pathway has to be inhibited. The aim of this project is to target specifically STAT5 factors to restore healthy signal transduction. We generated aptamers by an iterative in vitro selection. Aptamers are short-structured single strand DNAs or RNAs that bind with high affinity and specificity to their target. Once STAT5B recombinant proteins are produced, they are subjected to SELEX process. The number of rounds depends on various parameters. After seven rounds, two sequences are retrieved. The specificity and affinity of these aptamers are assessed by fluorescent immunoassays. Binding affinity and kinetics of interaction are characterized by SPR. Aptamer anti proliferative effects are determined by evaluation of the growth of cells depending on STAT5. Finally, we developed several .assays aiming at understanding the mechanism of an aptamer action on STAT5B such as phosphorylation measurement and EMSA. Aptamers are now emerging therapeutic tools; they exhibit significant advantages relative to protein therapeutics.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / While breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, its causes and natural history are not well defined. The female mammary organ is unique in that it does not reach full maturity until the lactation cycle following pregnancy. This cycle entails extensive growth and reorganization of the primitive epithelial ductal network. Following lactation, these same epithelial cells undergo an equally extensive program of apoptosis and involution. The mammary gland's sensitivity to pro-growth and pro-apoptotic signals may partly explain its proclivity to develop cancers. For epithelial cells to become transformed they must lose intracellular organization known as polarity as differentiated epithelial tissues are refractory to aberrant growth. One essential component of epithelial to mesenchymal transition is the intrinsic capacity of cells to repurpose polarity constituents to promote growth. Recently, a novel mechanism of organ size control has been shown to repurpose the apical junctional associated protein Yap into the nucleus where it functions as a transcriptional coactivator promoting growth and dedifferentiation. The focus of my work has been on a family of adaptor proteins termed Amots that have been shown to scaffold Yap and inhibit growth signaling. Specifically, I have shown that the 80KDa form of Amot, termed Amot80, acts as a dominant negative to the other Amot proteins to promote cell growth while reducing cell differentiation. Amot80 was found to promote the prolonged activation of MAPK signaling. Further, Amot80 expression was also found to enhance the transcriptional activity of Yap. This effect likely underlies the ability of Amot80 to drive disorganized overgrowth of MCF10A cells grown in Matrigel̈™. Overall, these data suggest a mechanism whereby the balance of Amot proteins controls the equilibrium between growth and differentiation within mammary epithelial tissues.