Molecular and genomic characterisation of a panel of human anal cancer cell lines

Anal cancer is a rare disease that has doubled in incidence over the last four decades. Current treatment and survival of patients with this disease has not changed substantially over this period of time, due, in part, to a paucity of preclinical models to assess new therapeutic options. To address this hiatus, we set-out to establish, validate and characterise a panel of human anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) cell lines by employing an explant technique using fresh human ASCC tumour tissue. The panel of five human ASCC cell lines were validated to confirm their origin, squamous features and tumourigenicity, followed by molecular and genomic (whole-exome sequencing) characterisation. This panel recapitulates the genetic and molecular characteristics previously described in ASCC including phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) mutations in three of the human papillomavirus (HPV) positive lines and TP53 mutations in the HPV negative line. The cell lines demonstrate the ability to form tumouroids and retain their tumourigenic potential upon xenotransplantation, with varied inducible expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I) and Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). We observed differential responses to standard chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a PI3K specific molecular targeted agent in vitro, which correlated with the clinical response of the patient tumours from which they were derived. We anticipate this novel panel of human ASCC cell lines will form a valuable resource for future studies into the biology and therapeutics of this rare disease.Subject terms: Targeted therapies, Anal cancer, Immune evasion, Cancer models     

Assessing the drivers of syphilis among men who have sex with men in Switzerland reveals a key impact of screening frequency: A modelling study

Over the last decade, syphilis diagnoses among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) have strongly increased in Europe. Understanding the drivers of the ongoing epidemic may aid to curb transmissions. In order to identify the drivers of syphilis transmission in MSM in Switzerland between 2006 and 2017 as well as the effect of potential interventions, we set up an epidemiological model stratified by syphilis stage, HIV-diagnosis, and behavioral factors to account for syphilis infectiousness and risk for transmission. In the main model, we used ‘reported non-steady partners’ (nsP) as the main proxy for sexual risk. We parameterized the model using data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, Swiss Voluntary Counselling and Testing center, cross-sectional surveys among the Swiss MSM population, and published syphilis notifications from the Federal Office of Public Health. The main model reproduced the increase in syphilis diagnoses from 168 cases in 2006 to 418 cases in 2017. It estimated that between 2006 and 2017, MSM with HIV diagnosis had 45.9 times the median syphilis incidence of MSM without HIV diagnosis. Defining risk as condomless anal intercourse with nsP decreased model accuracy (sum of squared weighted residuals, 378.8 vs. 148.3). Counterfactual scenarios suggested that increasing screening of MSM without HIV diagnosis and with nsP from once every two years to twice per year may reduce syphilis incidence (at most 12.8% reduction by 2017). Whereas, increasing screening among MSM with HIV diagnosis and with nsP from once per year to twice per year may substantially reduce syphilis incidence over time (at least 63.5% reduction by 2017). The model suggests that reporting nsP regardless of condom use is suitable for risk stratification when modelling syphilis transmission. More frequent screening of MSM with HIV diagnosis, particularly those with nsP may aid to curb syphilis transmission.     

Dietary preference for methionine sources in weaned pigs

The objective of the current study was to investigate the preference of weaned pigs given the choice of diets supplemented with dl-methionine (DLM) or liquid dl-methionine hydroxy analog-free acid (MHA-FA). A basal diet (BD) was formulated to contain 2.5 g methionine (Met) per kilogram of diet. The experimental diets included: (1) BD, (2) BD + 1 g DLM/kg, (3) BD + 2 g DLM/kg, (4) BD + 1.13 g MHA-FA/kg, (5) BD + 1.52 g MHA-FA/kg, (6) BD + 2.25 g MHA-FA/kg and (7) BD + 3.05 g MHA-FA/kg. Sixty weaned mixed-sex pigs were allotted to 5 treatment groups with 12 pig replicates per treatment in a randomized complete block design. During a 35-day experimental period, pigs in treatment group 1 received the BD whereas pigs in the other 4 treatment groups were allowed to choose between a pair of diets with either added 1 g DLM/kg in combination with either 1.13 or 1.52 g MHA-FA/kg or 2 g DLM/kg in combination with 2.25 or 3.05 g MHA-FA/kg, respectively. Pigs were housed in individual pens and had free access to feed and water. Daily feed intake (FI) was used as an indicator of diet preference. Cumulatively, pigs showed a preference (% of total FI) for the diet added with 1 g/kg DLM at 74% (P<0.05) in group 2, and 65% in group 3. Irrespective of the level of MHA-FA supplementation (2.25 or 3.05 g/kg), a preference for the diet supplemented with 2 g DLM/kg was 84% (P<0.05) in groups 4 and 5. During the entire period, pigs consistently (P<0.05) consumed more and preferred the diets supplemented with DLM more than the diets supplemented with MHA-FA in groups 2, 4 and 5. The preference for diets supplemented with DLM was more pronounced at higher Met supplementation levels. Feeding pigs a pair of diets supplemented with DLM or MHA-FA improved (P<0.05) the final body weight, daily weight gain, and FCR. The performance of pigs among the Met-supplemented groups was not different. In conclusion, when given a choice pigs preferred the diets supplemented with DLM more than the diets supplemented with liquid MHA-FA.     

Eye Movements in Ephedrone-Induced Parkinsonism

Patients with ephedrone parkinsonism (EP) show a complex, rapidly progressive, irreversible, and levodopa non-responsive parkinsonian and dystonic syndrome due to manganese intoxication. Eye movements may help to differentiate parkinsonian syndromes providing insights into which brain networks are affected in the underlying disease, but they have never been systematically studied in EP. Horizontal and vertical eye movements were recorded in 28 EP and compared to 21 Parkinson''s disease (PD) patients, and 27 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects using standardized oculomotor tasks with infrared videooculography. EP patients showed slow and hypometric horizontal saccades, an increased occurrence of square wave jerks, long latencies of vertical antisaccades, a high error rate in the horizontal antisaccade task, and made more errors than controls when pro- and antisaccades were mixed. Based on oculomotor performance, a direct differentiation between EP and PD was possible only by the velocity of horizontal saccades. All remaining metrics were similar between both patient groups. EP patients present extensive oculomotor disturbances probably due to manganese-induced damage to the basal ganglia, reflecting their role in oculomotor system.     

Thresholds for Phosphatidylserine Externalization in Chinese Hamster Ovarian Cells following Exposure to Nanosecond Pulsed Electrical Fields (nsPEF)

High-amplitude, MV/m, nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) have been hypothesized to cause nanoporation of the plasma membrane. Phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization has been observed on the outer leaflet of the membrane shortly after nsPEF exposure, suggesting local structural changes in the membrane. In this study, we utilized fluorescently-tagged Annexin V to observe the externalization of PS on the plasma membrane of isolated Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells following exposure to nsPEF. A series of experiments were performed to determine the dosimetric trends of PS expression caused by nsPEF as a function of pulse duration, τ, delivered field strength, E_D, and pulse number, n. To accurately estimate dose thresholds for cellular response, data were reduced to a set of binary responses and ED50s were estimated using Probit analysis. Probit analysis results revealed that PS externalization followed the non-linear trend of (τ*E_D ²)⁻¹ for high amplitudes, but failed to predict low amplitude responses. A second set of experiments was performed to determine the nsPEF parameters necessary to cause observable calcium uptake, using cells preloaded with calcium green (CaGr), and membrane permeability, using FM1-43 dye. Calcium influx and FM1-43 uptake were found to always be observed at lower nsPEF exposure parameters compared to PS externalization. These findings suggest that multiple, higher amplitude and longer pulse exposures may generate pores of larger diameter enabling lateral diffusion of PS; whereas, smaller pores induced by fewer, lower amplitude and short pulse width exposures may only allow extracellular calcium and FM1-43 uptake.     

Synthesis of thiol-reactive lipopeptide adjuvants. Incorporation into liposomes and study of their mitogenic effect on mouse splenocytes

Synthetic analogues of triacylated and diacylated lipopeptides derived from the N-terminal domain of respectively bacterial and mycoplasmal lipoproteins are highly potent immunoadjuvants when administered either in combination with protein antigens or covalently linked to small peptide epitopes. Because of their amphipathic properties, lipopeptides, such as S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl]-N-palmitoyl-(R)-cysteinyl-alanyl-glycine (Pam(3)CAG), can be conveniently incorporated into liposomes and serve as anchors for antigens that are linked to them. To design vaccination constructs based on synthetic peptides and liposomes as vectors. we have accordingly synthesized a series of lipopeptides that differ by the number (Pam(3)C vs Pam(2)C) and nature of the acyl chains (palmitoyl vs oleoyl) and by the presence at their C-terminus of thiol-reactive functions, such as maleimide or bromoacetyl. When incorporated into liposomes, these latter functionalized lipopeptides allow, in aqueous media, a well controlled chemoselective conjugation of HS-peptides to the surface of the vesicles. Using a BALB/c mice splenocyte proliferation assay ([(3)H]thymidine incorporation), we have measured the lymphocyte activation potency of the different lipopeptides. We found that, compared to their free (emulsified) forms, the liposomal lipopeptides were endowed with enhanced mitogenic activities; i.e., up to 2 orders of magnitude for Pam(3)CAG which was more potent than Pam(2)CAG. The impact of functionalization on the cellular activity of Pam(3)CAG was dependent on the thiol-reactive group introduced: whereas the bromoacetyl derivative retained its full activity, the presence of a maleimide group virtually abolished the lymphocyte activation of the lipopeptide. Finally, the substitution of saturated palmitoyl chains by unsaturated oleoyl chains was inhibitory. Thus, thiol-reactive Ol(3)CAG derivatives were the least active mitogens in our assay. Taken together, our findings are of importance for the further optimization of antigen-specific liposomal-based synthetic vaccines; the bromoacetyl derivative of Pam(3)CAG should be a promising lipopeptide derivative serving as an anchor for peptide epitopes while retaining its lymphocyte activation activity.     

ARNO and ARF6 regulate axonal elongation and branching through downstream activation of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase alpha

In the developing nervous system, controlled neurite extension and branching are critical for the establishment of connections between neurons and their targets. Although much is known about the regulation of axonal development, many of the molecular events that regulate axonal extension remain unknown. ADP-ribosylation factor nucleotide-binding site opener (ARNO) and ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)6 have important roles in the regulation of the cytoskeleton as well as membrane trafficking. To investigate the role of these molecules in axonogenesis, we expressed ARNO and ARF6 in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Expression of catalytically inactive ARNO or dominant negative ARF6 resulted in enhanced axonal extension and branching and this effect was abrogated by coexpression of constitutively active ARF6. We sought to identify the downstream effectors of ARF6 during neurite extension by coexpressing phosphatidyl-inositol-4-phosphate 5-Kinase alpha [PI(4)P 5-Kinase alpha] with catalytically inactive ARNO and dominant negative ARF6. We found that PI(4)P 5-Kinase alpha plays a role in neurite extension and branching downstream of ARF6. Also, expression of inactive ARNO/ARF6 depleted the actin binding protein mammalian ena (Mena) from the growth cone leading edge, indicating that these effects on axonogenesis may be mediated by changes in cytoskeletal dynamics. These results suggest that ARNO and ARF6, through PI(4)P 5-Kinase alpha, regulate axonal elongation and branching during neuronal development.     

The Caenorhabditis elegans kinetochore reorganizes at prometaphase and in response to checkpoint stimuli

Previous studies of the kinetochore in mammalian systems have demonstrated that this structure undergoes reorganizations after microtubule attachment or in response to activation of the spindle checkpoint. Here, we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans kinetochore displays analogous rearrangements at prometaphase, when microtubule/chromosome interactions are being established, and after exposure to checkpoint stimuli such as nocodazole or anoxia. These reorganizations are characterized by a dissociation of several kinetochore proteins, including HCP-1/CeCENP-F, HIM-10/CeNuf2, SAN-1/CeMad3, and CeBUB-1, from the centromere. We further demonstrate that at metaphase, despite having dissociated from the centromere, these reorganized kinetochore proteins maintain their associations with the metaphase plate. After checkpoint activation, these proteins are detectable as large "flares" that project out laterally from the metaphase plate. Disrupting these gene products via RNA interference results in sensitivity to checkpoint stimuli, as well as defects in the organization of chromosomes at metaphase. These phenotypes suggest that these proteins, and by extension their reorganization during mitosis, are important for mediating the checkpoint response as well as directing the assembly of the metaphase plate.     

The yeast casein kinase Yck3p is palmitoylated, then sorted to the vacuolar membrane with AP-3-dependent recognition of a YXXPhi adaptin sorting signal

Our previous work found the two yeast plasma membrane-localized casein kinases Yck1p and Yck2p to be palmitoylated on C-terminal Cys-Cys sequences by the palmitoyl transferase Akr1p. The present work examines a third casein kinase, Yck3p, which ends with the C-terminal sequence Cys-Cys-Cys-Cys-Phe-Cys-Cys-Cys. Yck3p is palmitoylated and localized to the vacuolar membrane. While the C-terminal cysteines are required for this palmitoylation, Akr1p is not. Palmitoylation requires the C-terminal Yck3p residues 463-524, whereas information for vacuolar sorting maps to the 409-462 interval. Vacuolar sorting is disrupted in cis through deletion of the 409-462 sequences and in trans through mutation of the AP-3 adaptin complex; both cis- and trans-mutations result in Yck3p missorting to the plasma membrane. This missorted Yck3p restores 37 degrees C viability to yck1Delta yck2-ts cells. yck1Delta yck2-ts suppressor mutations isolated within the YCK3 gene identify the Yck3p vacuolar sorting signal-the tetrapeptide YDSI, a perfect fit to the YXXPhi adaptin-binding consensus. Although YXXPhi signals have a well-appreciated role in the adaptin-mediated sorting of mammalian cells, this is the first signal of this class to be identified in yeast.