The Senescent Side of Tumor Suppression

Neoplastic transformation of human cells is a rare event that requires overcoming anti-tumoral cellular responses. Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is considered a crucial tumor suppressor mechanism controlling unchecked proliferation driven by oncogenic mutation. However, the analysis of OIS has been restricted so far to cultured cells. Recently, we have identified novel molecular markers of OIS and we have demonstrated the occurrence of senescence using mouse models of oncogenic activation. Importantly, we have found that senescent cells are abundant in premalignant lesions of the skin, the lung, and the pancreas. In contrast, senescent cells were rare in the malignant lesions developed by these same animals. These observations, together with similar ones by other investigators, strongly argue for the occurrence of OIS in vivo and for its active role in restricting tumor development. These results open the possibility of using senescence markers as diagnostic and prognostic tools, and prompt the investigation on the potential therapeutical use of senescence-inducing drugs.     

Near‐genomewide RNAi screening for regulators of BRAFV600E‐induced senescence identifies RASEF,a gene epigenetically silenced in melanoma

The activation of oncogenes in primary cells blocks proliferation by inducing oncogene‐induced senescence (OIS), a highly potent in vivo tumor‐suppressing program. A prime example is mutant BRAF, which drives OIS in melanocytic nevi. Progression to melanoma occurs only in the context of additional alteration(s) like the suppression of PTEN, which abrogates OIS. Here, we performed a near‐genomewide short hairpin (sh)RNA screen for novel OIS regulators and identified by next generation sequencing and functional validation seven genes. While all but one were upregulated in OIS, depletion of each of them abrogated BRAF^V600E‐induced arrest. With genome‐wide DNA methylation analysis, we found one of these genes, RASEF, to be hypermethylated in primary cutaneous melanomas but not nevi. Bypass of OIS by depletion of RASEF was associated with suppression of several senescence biomarkers including senescence‐associated (SA)‐β‐galactosidase activity, interleukins, and tumor suppressor p15^INK4B. Restoration of RASEF expression inhibited proliferation. These results illustrate the power of shRNA OIS bypass screens and identify a potential novel melanoma suppressor gene.     

原癌基因Ras诱导的衰老与逃逸衰老机制的研究进展

在体内和细胞内由癌基因诱导的衰老(oncogene-induced senescence,OIS)是一种重要的癌症抑制机制.原癌基因Ras是人类癌症中最易突变的癌基因之一,尽管有OIS的存在,但是Ras诱导的恶性转化还是时有发生,这提示Ras基因可能存在着能够逃逸衰老的机制.本文以Ras的信号通路为线索,着重阐述和总结了Ras是如何激活一些OIS过程中的关键分子从而诱导衰老的,并且描述了几种Ras通过抑制OIS的关键因子从而逃逸衰老的机制.     

DNA methyltransferase inhibition may limit cancer cell growth by disrupting ribosome biogenesis

“Mutations” in the pattern of CpG methylation imprinting of the human genome have been correlated with a number of diseases including cancer. In particular, aberrant imprinting of tumor suppressor genes by gain of CpG methylation has been observed in many cancers and thus represents an important alternative pathway to gene “mutation” and tumor progression. Inhibitors of DNA methylation display therapeutic effects in the treatment of certain cancers, and it has been assumed these effects are due to the reversal of “mutant” gene imprinting. However, significant reactivation of imprinted tumor suppressor genes is rarely observed in vivo following treatment with DNA methylation inhibitors. A recent study revealed an unexpected requirement for CpG methylation in the synthesis and assembly of the ribosome, an essential function for cell growth and proliferation. As such, the data provide an unforeseen explanation of the action of DNA methylation inhibitors in restricting cancer cell growth.     

Cytoplasmic innate immune sensing by the caspase-4 non-canonical inflammasome promotes cellular senescence

Cytoplasmic recognition of microbial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in human cells is elicited by the caspase-4 and caspase-5 noncanonical inflammasomes, which induce a form of inflammatory cell death termed pyroptosis. Here we show that LPS-mediated activation of caspase-4 also induces a stress response promoting cellular senescence, which is dependent on the caspase-4 substrate gasdermin-D and the tumor suppressor p53. Furthermore, we found that the caspase-4 noncanonical inflammasome is induced and assembled in response to oncogenic RAS signaling during oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). Moreover, targeting caspase-4 expression in OIS showed its critical role in the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and the cell cycle arrest induced in cellular senescence. Finally, we observed that caspase-4 induction occurs in vivo in mouse models of tumor suppression and ageing. Altogether, we are showing that cellular senescence is induced by cytoplasmic LPS recognition by the noncanonical inflammasome and that this pathway is conserved in the cellular response to oncogenic stress.Subject terms: Cell biology, Proteolysis, Immune cell death     

DNA methyltransferase inhibition may limit cancer cell growth by disrupting ribosome biogenesis

Mutations in the pattern of CpG methylation imprinting of the human genome have been correlated with a number of diseases including cancer. In particular, aberrant imprinting of tumor suppressor genes by gain of CpG methylation has been observed in many cancers and thus represents an important alternative pathway to gene mutation and tumor progression. Inhibitors of DNA methylation display therapeutic effects in the treatment of certain cancers and it has been assumed that these effects are due to the reversal of mutant gene imprinting. However, significant reactivation of imprinted tumor suppressor genes is rarely observed in vivo following treatment with DNA methylation inhibitors. A recent study revealed an unexpected requirement for CpG methylation in the synthesis and assembly of the ribosome, an essential function for cell growth and proliferation. As such, the data provide an unforeseen explanation of the action of DNA methylation inhibitors in restricting cancer cell growth.Key words: DNA methylation, meCpG, DNA methyltransferase-inhibition, DNMT1^-/-, DNMT3b^-/-, aza-deoxycytidine, gene silencing, ribosome biogenesis, cancer therapy     

Small RNA-induced INTS6 gene up-regulation suppresses castration-resistant prostate cancer cells by regulating β-catenin signaling

Small RNAs play an important role in gene regulatory networks. The gene suppressive effect of small RNAs was previously the dominant focus of studies, but during the recent decade, small RNA-induced gene activation has been reported and has become a notable gene manipulation technique. In this study, a putative tumor suppressor, INTS6, was activated by introducing a promoter-targeted small RNA (dsRNA-915) into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells. Unique dynamics associated with the gene upregulation phenomenon was observed. Following gene activation, cell proliferation and motility were suppressed in vitro. Downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling was observed during the activation period, and the impairment of β-catenin degradation reversed the tumor suppressor effects of INTS6. These results suggest the potential application of small activating RNAs in targeted gene therapy for CRPC.     

The BRCA1/BARD1 heterodimer, a tumor suppressor complex with ubiquitin E3 ligase activity.

Although the protein product of the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene has been implicated in a surprisingly diverse array of biological processes, the molecular mechanism by which BRCA1 loss promotes tumor formation remains unclear. Nonetheless, a pivotal advance has been achieved by recent studies that establish BRCA1 and its partner polypeptide BARD1 as enzymatic mediators of protein ubiquitination. The potent ubiquitin E3 ligase activity of the BRCA1/BARD1 heterodimer may be responsible for many of the biological properties attributed to BRCA1, including its ability to suppress tumor formation in normal cells.     

p53与Ras协同及其在肿瘤发生中的作用

肿瘤发生是抑癌基因失活和原癌基因激活共同作用的结果。p53基因被认为是目前最重要的抑癌基因, 50%以上的肿瘤中存在p53基因的点突变现象; 而Ras基因是肿瘤中突变率较高的原癌基因, 其突变率在某些肿瘤中高达30%~90%。研究发现, 肿瘤发生过程中抑癌基因p53与原癌基因Ras之间存在复杂的相互协同作用。根据目前的文献报道, p53与Ras之间的协同作用可以分为3种：第一, p53对Ras的调节作用; 第二, Ras对p53的调节作用; 第三, p53和Ras共同调控某些与肿瘤发生相关的关键基因。了解p53与Ras之间的3种调控作用将有助于我们进一步认识p53失活与Ras激活协同促进肿瘤发生的分子通路和机制, 同时也将为癌症的个性化治疗和药物靶点的选择提供重要依据。因此, 文章将对近年来所发现的p53与Ras的各种协同作用机制及其与肿瘤发生的关系进行概括和综述。     

Controversial aspects of oncogene-induced senescence

Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is a fail-safe mechanism that is developed to suppress cell proliferation caused by aberrant activation of oncoproteins in normal cells. Most of the available literature considers senescence to be caused by activated RAS or RAF proteins. In the current review, we will discuss some of the controversial aspects of RAS- or RAF-induced senescence in different types of normal cells: are tumor suppressors important for OIS? What is the role of DNA damage in OIS? Are there different types of OIS?     

The Wnt signaling pathway has tumor suppressor properties in retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a pediatric retinal tumor caused by mutational inactivation of the tumor suppressor pRb. Additional genetic changes, as yet unidentified, are believed to be required for tumor initiation. Mutations in the Wnt signaling pathway have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many cancers. Multiple Wnt pathway genes are expressed in the retina and the pRb and Wnt pathways interact biochemically, raising the possibility that alterations in the Wnt pathway contribute to retinoblastoma. Our studies showed that Wnt signaling activation significantly decreased the viability of retinoblastoma cell lines by inducing cell cycle arrest, which was associated with upregulated p53. Furthermore, immunolocalization of the Wnt signaling mediator beta-catenin in human and mouse retinoblastoma tissue indicated that canonical Wnt signaling is suppressed in tumors in vivo. These studies are consistent with the Wnt pathway acting as a tumor suppressor in retinoblastoma and suggest that loss of Wnt signaling is tumorigenic in the retina.     

Controversial aspects of oncogene-induced senescence

Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is a fail-safe mechanism that is developed to suppress cell proliferation caused by aberrant activation of oncoproteins in normal cells. Most of the available literature considers senescence to be caused by activated RAS or RAF proteins. In the current review, we will discuss some of the controversial aspects of RAS- or RAF-induced senescence in different types of normal cells: are tumor suppressors important for OIS? What is the role of DNA damage in OIS? Are there different types of OIS?     

Retinoblastoma loss modulates DNA damage response favoring tumor progression

Senescence is one of the main barriers against tumor progression. Oncogenic signals in primary cells result in oncogene-induced senescence (OIS), crucial for protection against cancer development. It has been described in premalignant lesions that OIS requires DNA damage response (DDR) activation, safeguard of the integrity of the genome. Here we demonstrate how the cellular mechanisms involved in oncogenic transformation in a model of glioma uncouple OIS and DDR. We use this tumor type as a paradigm of oncogenic transformation. In human gliomas most of the genetic alterations that have been previously identified result in abnormal activation of cell growth signaling pathways and deregulation of cell cycle, features recapitulated in our model by oncogenic Ras expression and retinoblastoma (Rb) inactivation respectively. In this scenario, the absence of pRb confers a proliferative advantage and activates DDR to a greater extent in a DNA lesion-independent fashion than cells that express only HRas(V12). Moreover, Rb loss inactivates the stress kinase DDR-associated p38MAPK by specific Wip1-dependent dephosphorylation. Thus, Rb loss acts as a switch mediating the transition between premalignant lesions and cancer through DDR modulation. These findings may have important implications for the understanding the biology of gliomas and anticipate a new target, Wip1 phosphatase, for novel therapeutic strategies.     

WWOX in biological control and tumorigenesis

The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene is located at 16q23.1-16q23.2, a region that spans the second most common human fragile site, FRA16D. The WWOX protein contains two N-terminal WW domains and a central short chain oxidoreductase-like domain. In the last few years, considerable amount of data have shown inactivation of WWOX in a variety of human malignancies. Moreover, interacting partners have been identified biochemically that define, at least in part, the molecular mechanism of WWOX action. Recently, we demonstrated that targeted deletion of the Wwox gene in the mouse led to increased incidence of spontaneous and chemically induced tumor formation, thereby providing the first in vivo evidence that WWOX is a bona fide tumor suppressor. This review focuses on the most recent progress in understanding WWOX function as a tumor suppressor.