Although new therapies have doubled the survival of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, this remains an incurable disease. It has been postulated that the so-called MM Cancer Stem Cells (MM-CSC) would be responsible for tumor initiation and relapse but their unequivocal identification remains unclear. Here, we investigated in a panel of MM cell lines the presence of CD20+ cells harboring a MM-CSC phenotype. Among the multiple cell lines investigated, only a small population of CD20dim+ cells (0.3%) in the RPMI-8226 cell line was found. CD20dim+ RPMI-8226 cells expressed the plasma cell markers CD38 and CD138 and were CD19-CD27-. Additionally, CD20dim+ RPMI-8226 cells did not exhibit stem-cell markers as shown by gene expression profiling and the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) assay. Moreover, we demonstrated that CD20dim+ RPMI-8226 cells are not essential for CB17-SCID mice engraftment and show lower self-renewal potential than the CD20- RPMI-8226 cells. These results do not support CD20+ expression for the identification of MM-CSC.
CD20 positive cells are undetectable in the majority of multiple myeloma cell lines and are not associated with a cancer stem cell phenotype.
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View SamplesDespite recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), it remains an incurable disease potentially due to the presence of resistant myeloma cancer stem cells (MM-CSC). Although the presence of clonogenic cells in MM was described more than 30 years ago, the phenotype of MM-CSC is still a matter of debate, especially with respect to the expression of syndecan- 1 (CD138). Here, we demonstrate the presence of two subpopulations - CD138++ (95-99%) and CD138low (1-5%) - in eight MM cell lines. To find out possible stem-cell-like features, we have phenotypically, genomic and functionally characterized the two subpopulations. Our results show that the minor CD138low subpopulation is morphologically identical to the CD138++ fraction and does not represent a more immature B-cell compartment (with lack of CD19, CD20 and CD27 surface expression). Moreover, both subpopulations have similar gene expression and genomic profiles. Importantly, both CD138++ and CD138low subpopulations have similar sensitivity to bortezomib, melphalan and doxorubicin. Finally, serial engraftment in SCID mice shows that CD138++ as well as CD138low cells have self-renewal potential and they are also phenotypically interconvertible. Overall, our results differ from previously published data which attribute a B-cell phenotype to MM-CSC and urge the need to explore more reliable markers to discriminate true clonogenic myeloma cells.
Phenotypic, genomic and functional characterization reveals no differences between CD138++ and CD138low subpopulations in multiple myeloma cell lines.
Disease, Cell line
View SamplesMicroRNAs have been demonstrated to be deregulated in multiple myeloma (MM). We have previously reported the downregulation of miR-214 in MM compared to normal plasma cells. In the present study, we have explored the functional role of miR-214 in myeloma pathogenesis. Ectopic expression of miR-214 reduced cell growth and induced apoptosis of myeloma cells. In order to identify the potential direct target genes of miR-214 which could be involved in the biological pathways regulated by this miRNA, gene expression profiling of H929 myeloma cell line transfected with precursor miR-214 was carried out. Functional analysis revealed significant enrichment for DNA replication, cell cycle phase and DNA binding. We show that miR-214 directly down-regulates the expression of PSMD10, which encodes the oncoprotein gankyrin, and ASF1B, a histone chaperone required for DNA replication, by binding to their 3'-UTR. In addition, gankyrin inhibition induced an increase of P53 mRNA levels and subsequent up-regulation in CDKN1A (p21Waf1/Cip1) and BAX transcripts, which are direct transcriptional targets of p53. In conclusion, we demonstrate that miR-214 function as a tumor suppressor in myeloma by a positive regulation of p53 and inhibition of DNA replication.
Restoration of microRNA-214 expression reduces growth of myeloma cells through positive regulation of P53 and inhibition of DNA replication.
Cell line
View SamplesSpecific microRNA (miRNA) signatures have been associated with different cytogenetic subtypes in acute leukemias. This finding prompted us to investigate potential associations between genetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM) and singular miRNA expression profiles. Moreover, global gene expression profiling was also analyzed to find correlated miRNA-gene expression and select miRNA target genes that show such correlation. For this purpose, we analyzed the expression level of 365 miRNAs and the gene expression profiling in sixty newly diagnosed MM patients, selected to represent the most relevant recurrent genetic abnormalities. Supervised analysis showed significantly deregulated miRNAs in the different cytogenetic subtypes as compared to normal PC. Interestingly, miR-1 and miR-133a clustered on the same chromosomal loci, were specifically overexpressed in the cases with t(14;16). The analysis of the relationship between miRNA expression and their respective target genes showed a conserved inverse correlation between several miRNAs deregulated in MM cells and CCND2 expression level. These results illustrate, for the first time, that miRNA expression pattern in MM is associated with genetic abnormalities, and that the correlation of the expression profile of miRNA and their putative mRNA targets is useful to find statistically significant protein-coding genes in MM pathogenesis associated to changes in specific miRNAs.
Deregulation of microRNA expression in the different genetic subtypes of multiple myeloma and correlation with gene expression profiling.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesTo gain further insights into the role of the transcriptome deregulation in the transition from a normal plasma cell (NPC) to a clonal PC and from an indolent clonal PC to a malignant PC, we performed gene expression profiling in 20 patients with MGUS, 33 with high-risk SMM and 41 with MM. The analysis showed that 126 genes were differentially expressed in MGUS, SMM and MM as compared to NPC. Interestingly, 17 and 9 out of the 126 significant differentially expressed genes were small nucleolar RNA molecules (snoRNA) and zinc finger proteins. GADD45A was the most significant up-regulated gene in clonal PC compared to NPC. Several proapoptotic genes (AKT1 and AKT2) were downregulated and antiapoptotic genes (APAF1 and BCL2L1) were upregulated in MM, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, compared to MGUS. Myc mediated apoptosis signaling is one of the top canonical pathways differentiating the asymptomatic and symptomatic myeloma. When we looked for those genes progressively modulated through the evolving stages of monoclonal gammopathies, eight snoRNA showed a progressive increase while APAF1, VCAN and MEGF9 exhibited a progressive downregulation in the transition from MGUS to SMM and to MM. In conclusion, our data show that although MGUS, SMM and MM are not clearly distinguishable groups according to their GEP, several signaling pathways and genes were significant deregulated in the different steps of transformation process.
Transcriptome analysis reveals molecular profiles associated with evolving steps of monoclonal gammopathies.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Genomic characterization of liver metastases from colorectal cancer patients.
Sex, Age, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
The cellular origin and malignant transformation of Waldenström macroglobulinemia.
Specimen part, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesAlthough information on the molecular pathogenesis of Waldenstrms Macroglobulinemia (WM) has greatly improved in recent years, the exact cellular origin and the mechanisms behind WM transformation from IgM MGUS remain undetermined. Here, we undertook an integrative phenotypic, molecular and genomic approach to study clonal B-cells from newly-diagnosed patients with IgM MGUS (n=22), smoldering (n=17), and symptomatic WM (n=10). Through principal-component-analysis of multidimensional flow cytometry data, we demonstrated overlapping phenotypic profiles between clonal B-cells from IgM MGUS, smoldering and symptomatic WM patients. Similarly, virtually no genes were significantly deregulated between FACS-sorted clonal B-cells from the three disease stages. Interestingly, while the transcriptome of the Waldenstrms clone was highly deregulated as compared to CD25-CD22+ normal B-cells, significantly less genes were differentially expressed and specific WM pathways down-regulated while comparing the transcriptome of the Waldenstrms clone vs. its normal phenotypic counterpart: CD25+CD22+dim B-cells. The frequency of specific copy number abnormalities [+4, del(6q23.3-6q25.3), +12, and +18q11-18q23] progressively increased from IgM MGUS and smoldering WM vs. symptomatic WM (18% vs. 20% and 73%, respectively; P =.008), suggesting a multistep transformation of clonal B-cells that albeit benign (i.e.: IgM MGUS and smoldering WM), already harbor the phenotypic and molecular signatures of the malignant Waldenstrms clone.
The cellular origin and malignant transformation of Waldenström macroglobulinemia.
Specimen part, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesRNA sequencing was performed on uninjured, and injured (FSP1, and aSMA expressing) fibroblasts from mice hearts. Fibrosis accompanying wound healing can drive the failure of many different organs. Activated fibroblasts are the principal determinants of post-injury pathological fibrosis as well as physiological repair, making them a difficult therapeutic target. Fibroblasts are a heterogeneous cell population lacking unique functional classification. We demonstrated that FSP1 and aSMA expressing cells are distinct, post-injury fibroblasts in the heart, kidney, and skin and exhibit unique temporal expression patterns. Using mice that express GFP under the FSP1 or aSMA promoters, we isolated these fibroblasts from mouse hearts after myocardial infarction. Protein and transcript arrays, cellular assays as well as in vivo granulation tissue formation were used to determine their functional role(s) in healing and fibrosis. Whereas aSMA+ fibroblasts predominated in producing matrix proteins, FSP1+ fibroblasts significantly promoted angiogenesis. These studies have the potential to shift our focus towards viewing fibroblasts not only molecularly but also as functionally heterogeneous and provide a new paradigm with which to approach treatment for organ fibrosis. Overall design: Fibroblasts were isolated from uninjured BL6 mice for control. FSP1 and aSMA expressing fibroblasts were isolated from transgenic mice that express GFP under FSP1 or aSMA promoter. GFP positive cells were freshly sorted 10 days following myocardial infarction from mice ventricles. RNA was prepared using Ambion RNAqueous kit and submitted for RNA sequencing.
Identification of a pro-angiogenic functional role for FSP1-positive fibroblast subtype in wound healing.
Age, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The current standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) consists of a combination of pegylated IFN alpha (pegIFN-alpha) and ribavirin. It achieves a sustained viral clearance in only 5060% of patients. To learn more about molecular mechanisms underlying treatment failure, we investigated IFN-induced signaling in paired liver biopsies collected from CHC patients before and after administration of pegIFN-alpha. In patients with a rapid virological response to treatment, pegIFN-alpha induced a strong up-regulation of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). As shown previously, nonresponders had high expression levels of ISGs before therapy. Analysis of posttreatment biopsies of these patients revealed that pegIFN-alpha did not induce expression of ISGs above the pretreatment levels. In accordance with ISG expression data, phosphorylation, DNA binding, and nuclear localization of STAT1 indicated that the IFN signaling pathway in nonresponsive patients is preactivated and refractory to further stimulation. Some features characteristic of nonresponders were more accentuated in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 4 compared with genotypes 2 and 3, providing a possible explanation for the poor response of the former group to therapy. Taken together with previous findings, our data support the concept that activation of the endogenous IFN system in CHC not only is ineffective in clearing the infection but also may impede the response to therapy, most likely by inducing a refractory state of the IFN signaling pathway.
Interferon signaling and treatment outcome in chronic hepatitis C.
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