Virpi Glumoff

Although there have been advances in understanding colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis, significant gaps still exist, highlighting the need for deeper insights. Dysregulated protein homeostasis, including perturbations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway, remains a focal point in CRC pathogenesis. Within this context, the roles of ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases have attracted attention, but exploration of their precise contributions is still in its early stages. To address this gap, we investigated the involvement of the deubiquitinase USP10 in CRC. Our in vitro and in vivo study reveals a new paradigm in CRC biology and unravels a novel mechanistic axis, demonstrating for the first time the involvement of inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type II B (INPP4B) in USP10-mediated CRC modulation. Specifically, our study demonstrates that the loss of USP10 results in reduced sensitivity to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib and osimertinib. This is accompanied by a decrease in the activation of the AKT1/PKB pathway upon EGF stimulation, which is mediated by INPP4B. Importantly, in vivo xenograft experiments validate these findings and highlight the crucial role of USP10, particularly in conjunction with INPP4B, in driving CRC progression. The findings enhance our understanding of CRC pathobiology and reveal a new regulatory axis involving USP10 and INPP4B in CRC progression. This unique insight identifies USP10 and INPP4B as potential therapeutic targets in CRC.

Objective: Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) can cause posterior uveitis; causes of recurrent OT are not well understood. We explored clinical, immunological and genetic properties associated with recurrent OT. Methods and analysis: A recurrent OT patient population (n=9) was identified. Clinical history, ophthalmological findings and immunological properties were assessed. B and T cell immunophenotyping including interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) responses were analysed. An analysis of 592 immunodeficiency genes was performed. Results: The patients experienced 2–7 OT episodes (average 3.7). The first episode occurred at an average of 23.8 (SD 10.1) years of age. All patients had anterior uveitis, vitritis and various fundus lesions of OT. The patients had lymphocyte maturation abnormalities; the proportion of naive CD4⁺CD45RA⁺CCR7⁺ T cells was high in 5/9 cases, and the percentage of CD4⁺CD45RA⁻CCR7⁻ T effector memory cells was reduced in 7/9 cases. An increased percentage of CD19⁺CD38^lowCD21^low activated B cells was observed in 5/9 cases. IFN-γ response was reduced in CD4⁺ (8.45±4.17 vs 21.27±11.0, p=0.025) and CD8⁺ (39.0±9.9 vs 18.1±18.1, p=0.017) T cells. Genetic analysis revealed several potentially harmful variants in immunologically active ERCC3, MANBA, IRF4, HAVCR2, CARMIL2, CD247, MPO, C2 and CD40 genes. Conclusion: Our recurrent OT cases had deviations in lymphocyte maturation and IFN-γ responses possibly caused by genetic reasons. However, limitations of our study include failure to identify uniform genetic mechanisms. In addition, we cannot rule out the possibility that the immunological abnormalities can be triggered by chronic toxoplasmosis. Despite the limitations, our findings contribute to the understanding of ocular immunity and development of recurrent OT.

Myocarditis can be caused by viral infection, drug reaction or general inflammatory condition. To provide understanding on inflammatory myocarditis, we describe clinical, genetic, and immunological properties of a young male patient who suffered from recurrent myocarditis episodes since the age of four years. Electrocardiography, troponin I/T, echocardiography, myocardial magnetic resonance imaging and histological findings were consistent with recurrent myocarditis episodes. Homozygous c.245 A > G p.Tyr82Cys pathogenic variant in Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2 (HAVCR2) gene encoding T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3) receptor was found. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected when the patient was asymptomatic; CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphoblasts, CD56⁺ natural killer cells and CD14⁺ monocytes were negative for surface TIM-3 expression. In vitro, TLR4 mediated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) response was high after LPS/ATP stimulation. Clinical symptoms responded to IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra. TIM-3 p.Tyr82Cys CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell proliferation in vitro was unrestrained. Findings on IL-2, interferon gamma, regulatory T cells, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1, 3 and 4 phosphorylation, and PD-1 and LAG-3 checkpoint inhibitor receptor analyses were comparable to controls. We conclude that TIM-3 deficiency due to homozygous HAVCR2 c.245 A > G p.Tyr82Cys pathogenic variant in the patient described here is associated with autoinflammatory symptoms limited to early onset recurrent febrile myocarditis. Excessive IL-1β production and defective regulation of T cell proliferation may contribute to this clinical condition responsive to anakinra treatment.

The EGFR adaptor protein, CIN85, has been shown to promote breast cancer malignancy and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stability. However, the mechanisms underlying cancer promotion remain ill defined. Here we show that CIN85 is a novel binding partner of the main HIF-prolyl hydroxylase, PHD2, but not of PHD1 or PHD3. Mechanistically, the N-terminal SRC homology 3 domains of CIN85 interacted with the proline-arginine–rich region within the N-terminus of PHD2, thereby inhibiting PHD2 activity and HIF degradation. This activity is essential in vivo, as specific loss of the CIN85–PHD2 interaction in CRISPR/Cas9-edited cells affected growth and migration properties, as well as tumor growth in mice. Overall, we discovered a previously unrecognized tumor growth checkpoint that is regulated by CIN85-PHD2 and uncovered an essential survival function in tumor cells by linking growth factor adaptors with hypoxia signaling.Significance:This study provides unprecedented evidence for an oxygen-independent mechanism of PHD2 regulation that has important implications in cancer cell survival.

Plasmids and site directed mutagenesis, GST-pull down, Fluorescence microscopy, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated EGLN1 gene editing, Lentivirus-mediated expression of sgRNAs and Cas9, Genomic DNA extraction and genotyping, RNA extraction and qRT-PCR, Scanning electron microscopy, Monolayer colony formation assay, Live Cell Imaging Assays Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)

Supplementary figure 1. CIN85 interacts with PHD2 via three N-terminal SH3 domains. Supplementary figure 2. The amino acids 81-98 within the N-terminal region of PHD2 have a major impact on the interaction with CIN85. Supplementary figure 3. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated generation of MDA-MB-231 cells lacking the amino acids critical for interaction with CIN85. Supplementary figure 4. Loss of PHD2-CIN85 interaction does not influence HIF-1α and HIF-2α mRNA levels. Supplementary figure 5. Lack of the CIN85-PHD2 interaction in E10 and E12 cells mediates HIF-α resistance upon depletion of CIN85. Supplementary figure 6. Microscopy images of S, E10, and E12 cells. Supplementary figure 7. Live cell proliferation analysis of S, E10, and E12 cells. Supplementary figure 8. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated EGLN1 (PHD2) editing in MDA-MB-231 cells with EGLN1-sgRNA-219 and with EGLN1-sgRNA-292 did not show off-target effects.

Plasmids and site directed mutagenesis, GST-pull down, Fluorescence microscopy, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated EGLN1 gene editing, Lentivirus-mediated expression of sgRNAs and Cas9, Genomic DNA extraction and genotyping, RNA extraction and qRT-PCR, Scanning electron microscopy, Monolayer colony formation assay, Live Cell Imaging Assays Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)

Supplementary figure 1. CIN85 interacts with PHD2 via three N-terminal SH3 domains. Supplementary figure 2. The amino acids 81-98 within the N-terminal region of PHD2 have a major impact on the interaction with CIN85. Supplementary figure 3. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated generation of MDA-MB-231 cells lacking the amino acids critical for interaction with CIN85. Supplementary figure 4. Loss of PHD2-CIN85 interaction does not influence HIF-1α and HIF-2α mRNA levels. Supplementary figure 5. Lack of the CIN85-PHD2 interaction in E10 and E12 cells mediates HIF-α resistance upon depletion of CIN85. Supplementary figure 6. Microscopy images of S, E10, and E12 cells. Supplementary figure 7. Live cell proliferation analysis of S, E10, and E12 cells. Supplementary figure 8. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated EGLN1 (PHD2) editing in MDA-MB-231 cells with EGLN1-sgRNA-219 and with EGLN1-sgRNA-292 did not show off-target effects.

The EGFR adaptor protein, CIN85, has been shown to promote breast cancer malignancy and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stability. However, the mechanisms underlying cancer promotion remain ill defined. Here we show that CIN85 is a novel binding partner of the main HIF-prolyl hydroxylase, PHD2, but not of PHD1 or PHD3. Mechanistically, the N-terminal SRC homology 3 domains of CIN85 interacted with the proline-arginine–rich region within the N-terminus of PHD2, thereby inhibiting PHD2 activity and HIF degradation. This activity is essential in vivo, as specific loss of the CIN85–PHD2 interaction in CRISPR/Cas9-edited cells affected growth and migration properties, as well as tumor growth in mice. Overall, we discovered a previously unrecognized tumor growth checkpoint that is regulated by CIN85-PHD2 and uncovered an essential survival function in tumor cells by linking growth factor adaptors with hypoxia signaling.Significance:This study provides unprecedented evidence for an oxygen-independent mechanism of PHD2 regulation that has important implications in cancer cell survival.

BACKGROUND. Relatlimab+nivolumab (anti-LAG3+anti-PD1) has been approved by FDA as a 1^st-line therapy in stage III/IV melanoma, but its detailed effect on the immune system is unknown. METHODS. We evaluated blood samples from 40 immunotherapy-naïve or prior immunotherapy-refractory patients with metastatic melanoma treated with anti-LAG3+anti-PD1 in a phase I trial (NCT01968109) using single-cell RNA and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing (scRNA+TCRαβ-seq) combined with other multiomics profiling. RESULTS. The highest LAG3 expression was noted in NK cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and CD8+ T cells, and these cell populations underwent the most significant changes during the treatment. Adaptive NK cells were enriched in responders and underwent profound transcriptomic changes during the therapy resulting in an active phenotype. LAG3+ Tregs expanded but based on the transcriptome profile became metabolically silent during the treatment. Lastly, higher baseline TCR clonality was observed in responding patients, and their expanding CD8+ T cell clones gained more cytotoxic and NK-like phenotype. CONCLUSION. Anti-LAG3+anti-PD1 therapy has profound effects on NK cells and Tregs in addition to CD8+ T cells. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01968109) FUNDING. Cancer Foundation Finland, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Relander Foundation, State funding for university-level health research in Finland, a Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences Fellow grant, Academy of Finland, and an investigator-initiated research grant from BMS.