Células somáticas podem ser reprogramadas para um estádio pluripotente (iPS) adquirindo propriedades semelhantes às células-tronco embrionárias (CTE). O interesse nas células pluripotentes reside em sua capacidade de originar todos os tipos de células somáticas e germinativas, podendo ser aplicadas no tratamento de diversas doenças crônico-degenerativas. Desde sua primeira descrição, diferentes combinações de moléculas já foram utilizadas com sucesso para a geração de iPS. Entretanto, os mecanismos pelos quais a transdução de fatores específicos atuam na reprogramação celular não estão esclarecidos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo induzir a expressão do gene TCL1 em fibroblastos humanos e avaliar a ação deste gene no processo de reprogramação celular. Para tal, foram estabelecidas linhagens celulares de fibroblastos humanos com a expressão estável de TCL1 e essas células foram cultivadas em condições de pluripotência. Após a modificação, as células adquiriram morfologia sugestiva de colônias de células-tronco pluripotentes com marcação positiva para a proteína intracelular NANOG e com níveis de expressão gênica elevados de SOX2, MYC, NANOG, LIN28, TP53, CDH1 e reduzidos de SLUG, quando comparados com fibroblastos virgens. Com intuito de avaliar as alterações transcricionais decorrentes da inserção de TCL1 e do cultivo em condições favorecedoras da pluripotência, foram comparados os perfis de expressão gênica obtidos por microarray de diferentes bibliotecas, incluindo as células modificadas com TCL1, fibroblastos, CTE e iPS. A análise exploratória dos dados mostrou que a introdução de TCL1 modificou o perfil de expressão dos fibroblastos e as células resultantes adquiriram um perfil transcricional que se assemelhou mais com o perfil de células pluripotentes do que com o perfil das células somáticas de origem. A análise diferencial dos dados revelou que vias importantes para a reprogramação celular foram moduladas pela inserção de TCL1, como: Pluripotência de células-tronco embrionárias humanas, Sinalização Wnt/?-catenina e Regulação da transição epitelial-mesenquimal. Os resultados deste trabalho propõem que TCL1 interage com AKT1, aumentando sua atividade, que por sua vez ativa NANOG, acionando a maquinaria de pluripotência e, contribuindo assim, para a reprogramação celular / Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stage (iPS) acquiring properties similar to embryonic stem cells (ESC). The interest in pluripotent stem cells lies in their ability to originate all types of somatic and germ cells, and in their possible application in the treatment of various chronic and degenerative diseases. Since its first description, different combinations of molecules have been successfully used for the generation of iPS. However, the mechanisms by which the transduction of specific factors act on cell reprogramming remain unclear. This study aimed to induce the TCL1 gene expression in human fibroblasts and to evaluate its effect on the cell reprogramming process. We established human fibroblast cell lines with stable expression of TCL1 and cultured these cells under pluripotency conditions. After modification, the cells acquired a pluripotent stem cells-like morphology, stained positive for intracellular protein NANOG, expressed high levels of SOX2, MYC, NANOG, LIN28, TP53, CDH1, and reduced levels of SLUG, as compared to nontransduced fibroblasts. In order to evaluate the transcriptional changes resulting from the insertion of TCL1 and from the culture conditions favoring the pluripotency, we compared the gene expression profiles obtained by microarray among different libraries, including the TCL1 modified cells, fibroblasts, ESC and iPS. Exploratory data analysis showed that the introduction of TCL1 gene modified the expression profile of cells and the resulting fibroblasts acquired a transcriptional profile that resembled more to the profile of pluripotent cells than with the profile of the somatic cells. Differential data analysis revealed that pathways important for cell reprogramming were modulated by TCL1 insertion such as: Human embryonic pluripotent stem cell pathway, Wnt / ?-catenin signaling pathway, and Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The results of this study suggest that TCL1 interacts with AKT1, increasing its activity, which in turn activates NANOG, triggering the machinery of pluripotency and thus contribute to cellular reprogramming.

Células somáticas podem ser reprogramadas para um estádio pluripotente (iPS) adquirindo propriedades semelhantes às células-tronco embrionárias (CTE). O interesse nas células pluripotentes reside em sua capacidade de originar todos os tipos de células somáticas e germinativas, podendo ser aplicadas no tratamento de diversas doenças crônico-degenerativas. Desde sua primeira descrição, diferentes combinações de moléculas já foram utilizadas com sucesso para a geração de iPS. Entretanto, os mecanismos pelos quais a transdução de fatores específicos atuam na reprogramação celular não estão esclarecidos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo induzir a expressão do gene TCL1 em fibroblastos humanos e avaliar a ação deste gene no processo de reprogramação celular. Para tal, foram estabelecidas linhagens celulares de fibroblastos humanos com a expressão estável de TCL1 e essas células foram cultivadas em condições de pluripotência. Após a modificação, as células adquiriram morfologia sugestiva de colônias de células-tronco pluripotentes com marcação positiva para a proteína intracelular NANOG e com níveis de expressão gênica elevados de SOX2, MYC, NANOG, LIN28, TP53, CDH1 e reduzidos de SLUG, quando comparados com fibroblastos virgens. Com intuito de avaliar as alterações transcricionais decorrentes da inserção de TCL1 e do cultivo em condições favorecedoras da pluripotência, foram comparados os perfis de expressão gênica obtidos por microarray de diferentes bibliotecas, incluindo as células modificadas com TCL1, fibroblastos, CTE e iPS. A análise exploratória dos dados mostrou que a introdução de TCL1 modificou o perfil de expressão dos fibroblastos e as células resultantes adquiriram um perfil transcricional que se assemelhou mais com o perfil de células pluripotentes do que com o perfil das células somáticas de origem. A análise diferencial dos dados revelou que vias importantes para a reprogramação celular foram moduladas pela inserção de TCL1, como: Pluripotência de células-tronco embrionárias humanas, Sinalização Wnt/?-catenina e Regulação da transição epitelial-mesenquimal. Os resultados deste trabalho propõem que TCL1 interage com AKT1, aumentando sua atividade, que por sua vez ativa NANOG, acionando a maquinaria de pluripotência e, contribuindo assim, para a reprogramação celular / Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stage (iPS) acquiring properties similar to embryonic stem cells (ESC). The interest in pluripotent stem cells lies in their ability to originate all types of somatic and germ cells, and in their possible application in the treatment of various chronic and degenerative diseases. Since its first description, different combinations of molecules have been successfully used for the generation of iPS. However, the mechanisms by which the transduction of specific factors act on cell reprogramming remain unclear. This study aimed to induce the TCL1 gene expression in human fibroblasts and to evaluate its effect on the cell reprogramming process. We established human fibroblast cell lines with stable expression of TCL1 and cultured these cells under pluripotency conditions. After modification, the cells acquired a pluripotent stem cells-like morphology, stained positive for intracellular protein NANOG, expressed high levels of SOX2, MYC, NANOG, LIN28, TP53, CDH1, and reduced levels of SLUG, as compared to nontransduced fibroblasts. In order to evaluate the transcriptional changes resulting from the insertion of TCL1 and from the culture conditions favoring the pluripotency, we compared the gene expression profiles obtained by microarray among different libraries, including the TCL1 modified cells, fibroblasts, ESC and iPS. Exploratory data analysis showed that the introduction of TCL1 gene modified the expression profile of cells and the resulting fibroblasts acquired a transcriptional profile that resembled more to the profile of pluripotent cells than with the profile of the somatic cells. Differential data analysis revealed that pathways important for cell reprogramming were modulated by TCL1 insertion such as: Human embryonic pluripotent stem cell pathway, Wnt / ?-catenin signaling pathway, and Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The results of this study suggest that TCL1 interacts with AKT1, increasing its activity, which in turn activates NANOG, triggering the machinery of pluripotency and thus contribute to cellular reprogramming.

La leucémie lymphoïde chronique (LLC) est décrite comme la plus fréquente forme de leucémie de l’adulte dans les pays occidentaux. Elle est caractérisée par l’envahissement de la moelle osseuse, du sang et parfois des organes lymphoïdes secondaires par des lymphocytes B matures à l’immunophénotype spécifique. Son évolution clinique est très variable selon les patients. Des progrès thérapeutiques majeurs permettent des réponses profondes et durables sans pour autant être à l’origine d’authentiques guérisons. Nous proposons dans ce travail d’explorer différents mécanismes de chimiorésistance. L’altération de TP53 est le facteur le plus reconnu de résistance mais les mécanismes qui lui sont possiblement associés sont peu documentés. Une première partie portant sur 115 patients a décrit une perte d’intégrité des télomères significativement plus importante en cas d’altération de TP53 (raccourcissement télomérique, ré-expression d’hTERT, répression des gènes codant le complexe shelterin). Ces 2 perturbations pouvant coopérer en aggravant l’instabilité génomique comme en témoignent des données cytogénétiques. Une autre analyse par séquençage ciblé nouvelle génération de 114 patients présentant une LLC en rechute a révélé la présence et le pronostic défavorable des combinaisons récurrentes de mutations géniques impliquant TP53, SF3B1 et ATM, gènes disposant d’un rôle crucial dans la réponse aux dommages à l’ADN. Une seconde partie s’est intéressée au rôle de TCL1A, une protéine co-activatrice d’AKT et de la voie NF-Kappa B. Alors que son hyperexpression est à l’origine du principal modèle murin de LLC, son rôle chez les patients restait peu connu. Nous avons montré qu’un niveau élevé d’expression de TCL1A était associé à des caractéristiques clinico-biologiques de maladie agressive et à un pronostic plus sombre. Le transcriptome dépendant de TCL1A généré chez des patients et dans une lignée lymphoïde B par une stratégie de shRNA est en faveur d’une signature MYC. Les inhibiteurs des protéines à BET bromodomaine ont précédemment été identifiés comme une stratégie efficace pour cibler cette voie. Cette approche thérapeutique (molécule JQ1) s’est avérée très efficace in vitro sur des cellules primaires de LLC.Ces travaux ont ainsi identifié des coopérations génomiques pouvant être à l’origine d’une résistance à l’immunochimiothérapie et ont aussi montré qu’une hyperexpression de TCL1A pouvait expliquer certains cas de résistance pour lesquels une stratégie de traitement épigénétique doit être évaluée dans des essais cliniques. / Résumé indisponible.

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Incomplete biological concepts in lymphoid neoplasms still dictate to a large extent the limited availability of efficient targeted treatments, which entertains the mostly unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Aberrant expression of the embryonal and lymphatic TCL1 family of oncogenes, i.e., the paradigmatic TCL1A, but also TML1 or MTCP1, is causally implicated in T- and B-lymphocyte transformation. TCL1A also carries prognostic information in these particular T-cell and B-cell tumors. More recently, the TCL1A oncogene has been observed also in epithelial tumors as part of oncofetal stemness signatures. Although the concepts on the modes of TCL1A dysregulation in lymphatic neoplasms and solid tumors are still incomplete, there are recent advances in defining the mechanisms of its (de)regulation. This review presents a comprehensive overview of TCL1A expression in tumors and the current understanding of its (dys)regulation via genomic aberrations, epigenetic modifications, or deregulation of TCL1A-targeting micro RNAs. We also summarize triggers that act through such transcriptional and translational regulation, i.e., altered signals by the tumor microenvironment. A refined mechanistic understanding of these modes of dysregulations together with improved concepts of TCL1A-associated malignant transformation can benefit future approaches to specifically interfere in TCL1A-initiated or -driven tumorigenesis.

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CAR-T-Zell-Therapie ist eine vielversprechende neuartige Behandlungsform für Patienten mit aggressiven B-Zell Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomen (B-NHL). In dieser Arbeit wurde die anti-CXCR5 CAR-T-Zell-Therapie als Alternative zur anti-CD19 CAR-T-Zell-Therapie für die Behandlung von reifen B-NHLs untersucht. CXCR5 ist ein B-Zell-homing Rezeptor, der von reifen B Zellen und follikulären T-Helferzellen (TFH Zellen) exprimiert wird. TFH Zellen wurden als tumor-unterstützend in chronisch lymphatischer Leukämie (CLL) und im follikulären Lymphom (FL) beschrieben. Dieses Expressionsmuster erlaubt es, auf einzigartige Weise zeitgleich die malignen Zellen und die tumorunterstützende Mikroumgebung mithilfe von CAR-T-Zell-Therapie gerichtet gegen einen Chemokinrezeptor anzugreifen. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit waren, dass (1) die anti-CXCR5 CAR T-Zellen zielgerichtet CXCR5 positive reife B-NHL Zelllinien und Patientenproben in vitro eliminierten und eine starke anti-Tumor Reaktivität in einem immundefizienten Xenotransplantationsmausmodell zeigten, (2) die anti-CXCR5 CAR T-Zellen zielgerichtet die tumorunterstützenden TFH Zellen in CLL und FL Patientenproben in vitro erkannten und dass (3) CXCR5 ein sicheres Expressionsprofil zeigte. CXCR5 war stark und häufig auf B-NHL exprimiert und die Expression auf gesundem Gewebe war auf lymphoide Zellen beschränkt. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass die anti-CXCR5 CAR-T-Zell-Therapie eine neue Behandlungsmöglichkeit für Patienten mit reifen B-NHL darstellt, indem durch die anti-CXCR5 CAR-T Zellen sowohl der Tumor als auch ein Anteil der tumorunterstützende Mikroumgebung eliminiert werden. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wurde das Eμ-Tcl1 murine CLL Lymphommodell genutzt um die Auswirkung der Lymphomentwicklung auf die CXCR5+ T Zellen zu untersuchen. Mittels RNA-Einzelzell-Sequenzierung konnte ein profunder Einfluss des Lymphomwachstums auf das T Zell-Kompartiment der Mäuse, denen Eμ-Tcl1 Zellen gespritzt wurden, gezeigt werden. / CAR T cell therapy is a promising new treatment option for patients suffering from aggressive B non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). In CAR T cell therapy, patient-derived T cells are genetically modified to express a chimeric receptor commonly directed towards a surface antigen expressed by neoplastic cells. In this thesis, anti-CXCR5 CAR T cell therapy was investigated as an alternative to anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy for the treatment of mature B-NHLs. CXCR5 is a B cell homing receptor expressed by mature B cells and follicular helper T (TFH) cells. TFH cells were described to support the tumor cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and follicular lymphoma (FL). This expression pattern allows simultaneous targeting of the malignant cells and the tumor-supporting microenvironment by CAR T cell therapy against a chemokine receptor in an unprecedented manner. Main findings included that (1) anti-CXCR5 CAR T cells targeted specifically CXCR5 expressing mature B-NHL cell lines and patient samples in vitro and showed strong in vivo anti-tumor reactivity in an immunodeficient xenograft mouse model, (2) anti-CXCR5 CAR T cells targeted tumor-supportive TFH cells derived from CLL and FL patient samples in vitro and (3) CXCR5 showed a safe expression profile. CXCR5 was strongly and frequently expressed by B-NHLs and its expression on healthy tissue was restricted to lymphoid cells. In summary, anti-CXCR5 CAR T cell therapy presents a novel treatment option for patients suffering from mature B-NHLs by eliminating the tumor and part of the tumor-supportive microenvironment. The second part of the project, the Eμ-Tcl1 murine lymphoma model, which mimics human CLL, was used to study the impact of lymphomagenesis on CXCR5+ T cells. Using single cell RNA sequencing, a profound influence of lymphoma growth on the T cell compartment in Eμ-Tcl1 tumor-challenged mice could be shown.