Czechia

Acute monocytic leukaemia (AML-M5) is a bone marrow disease that affects young children. Astonishingly, the discovery of disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) capable of recapitulating human pathogenesis allows us to model this disease in vitro. We had previously generated AML-M5-specific-iPSC (AML-M5-iPSCs) from THP-1 cells obtained from a patient[1]. These AML-M5-iPSCs were then induced with growth supplements to enter haematopoietic differentiation to generate monocytic cells. We noticed that reprogramming transgenes Oct3/4, Sox2 and c-Myc were unintentionally integrated into the genome of AML-M5-iPSC during reprogramming. Out of scientific interest, the effects of transgene integration on drug responses were investigated. Firstly, the monocytic cells were characterised to determine their morphological and phagocytotic properties, and compared with their parental cell line THP-1 across 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-day post-differentiation. Subsequently, cytotoxic effect of Doxorubicin at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4μM on both cells were investigated with CCK-SK viability assay, and apoptotic effect investigated with cell cycle analysis. 
Our results revealed that in terms of size and morphology, both THP-1 and differentiated monocytic cells remained comparable up to 25 days post-differentiation. Within the same duration, their phagocytotic rates also exhibited no significant differences (p&gt;0.05) when investigated with carboxylate-modified red fluorescent latex beads. However, after 24h Doxorubicin treatment, the IC50 value determined for THP-1 cells was 0.59µM, but the IC50 value for differentiated monocytic cells could not be determined; suggesting that they were significantly (p&lt;0.05) less responsive to Doxorubicin. Upon similar treatment conditions, 92.5±3.9% of THP-1 cells entered late apoptosis stage. However, for differentiated monocytic cells, only 0.3±0.2% entered late apoptosis stage, 37.2±1.5% entered necrosis stage and 62.5±1.6% remained in viable stage. Our results showed that transgenes integration was causing monocytic cells to be resistant to Doxorubicin despite the fact the they should only affect haematopoietic differentiation. In addition, the apoptotic effect of Doxorubicin had also been switched to necrotic effect. More interesting, transgene integration did not seem to alter the morphology and phagocytosis of monocytic cells. We postulate that transgenes Oct3/4, Sox2 and c-Myc interfered with the intercalation of Doxorubicin into the DNA, subsequently altering downstream pathways thereby disrupting cell death via apoptosis. In conclusion, further investigations are warranted to determine the mechanism of reprogramming transgene-induced drug resistance in monocytic cells derived from AML-M5-iPSC.


SEB Conference 2024

Integration of reprogramming transgenes into AML-M5-iPSC caused differentiated monocytic cells to be resistant to Doxorubicin

transgene integration

doxorubicin

monocytic-like cells

aml-m5-specific-ipsc

resistance

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SEB’s Annual Conference is celebrated for creating the perfect composition of research, new discoveries and collaborative connections. Be creative and innovative by exchanging ideas and knowledge with masters of biology from all over the world.

Acute monocytic leukaemia (AML-M5) is a bone marrow disease that affects young children. Astonishingly, the discovery of disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) capable of recapitulating human pathogenesis allows us to model this disease in vitro. We had previously generated AML-M5-specific-iPSC (AML-M5-iPSCs) from THP-1 cells obtained from a patient[1]. These AML-M5-iPSCs were then induced with growth supplements to enter haematopoietic differentiation to generate monocytic cells. We noticed that reprogramming transgenes Oct3/4, Sox2 and c-Myc were unintentionally integrated into the genome of AML-M5-iPSC during reprogramming. Out of scientific interest, the effects of transgene integration on drug responses were investigated. Firstly, the monocytic cells were characterised to determine their morphological and phagocytotic properties, and compared with their parental cell line THP-1 across 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-day post-differentiation. Subsequently, cytotoxic effect of Doxorubicin at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4μM on both cells were investigated with CCK-SK viability assay, and apoptotic effect investigated with cell cycle analysis. 
Our results revealed that in terms of size and morphology, both THP-1 and differentiated monocytic cells remained comparable up to 25 days post-differentiation. Within the same duration, their phagocytotic rates also exhibited no significant differences (p>0.05) when investigated with carboxylate-modified red fluorescent latex beads. However, after 24h Doxorubicin treatment, the IC50 value determined for THP-1 cells was 0.59µM, but the IC50 value for differentiated monocytic cells could not be determined; suggesting that they were significantly (p<0.05) less responsive to Doxorubicin. Upon similar treatment conditions, 92.5±3.9% of THP-1 cells entered late apoptosis stage. However, for differentiated monocytic cells, only 0.3±0.2% entered late apoptosis stage, 37.2±1.5% entered necrosis stage and 62.5±1.6% remained in viable stage. Our results showed that transgenes integration was causing monocytic cells to be resistant to Doxorubicin despite the fact the they should only affect haematopoietic differentiation. In addition, the apoptotic effect of Doxorubicin had also been switched to necrotic effect. More interesting, transgene integration did not seem to alter the morphology and phagocytosis of monocytic cells. We postulate that transgenes Oct3/4, Sox2 and c-Myc interfered with the intercalation of Doxorubicin into the DNA, subsequently altering downstream pathways thereby disrupting cell death via apoptosis. In conclusion, further investigations are warranted to determine the mechanism of reprogramming transgene-induced drug resistance in monocytic cells derived from AML-M5-iPSC.


technical paper

Parasites can affect host behaviour and many physiological traits. Changes to host aerobic metabolism are likely responsible for these parasite induced performance alterations. Whole organism metabolic rate is underpinned by cellular energy metabolism driv en most prominently by the mitochondria. However, few studies have explored how mitochondrial enzymatic activities are linked to parasite infection despite being a putative site for metabolic disruptions. Our previous work suggest ed a link between parasite intensity and mitochondrial enzymatic activities in a variety of metabolic pathways including the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and lipid oxidation in key organs of wild caught pumpkinseed sunfish ( Lepomis gibbosus infected with trematode and cestode worms . Here, we expand on these results and assess the link between enzymatic activity and parasite infection across multiple populations of L. gibbosus which differ in the prevalence of these parasite s . We measured enzyme activities in several metabolic pathways (TCA cycle, OXPHOS, lipid oxidation and anaerobic glycolysis) in key organs. We found enzymatic activities differed across lakes. Compared to an uninfected l ake, fish from lakes with high parasite prevalence had higher citrate synthase (CS) and carnitine palmitoy ltransferase (CPT) activity in their hearts higher CPT and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity in the ir gills and higher activities of all tested enzymes in the spleen . For the brain, fish from high prevalence lakes had a higher CCO activity but a lower ETS activity. These results suggest that parasite exposure is related to altered energy metabolism at a cellular level mirroring results observed at the whole organism level

Looking at a smaller scale: exploring the link between endoparasite infections and cellular metabolism

Sharks have an unusual physiology, which remains largely a mystery. Opposed to most bony fish, elasmobranchs are isosmotic with seawater, and do so by accumulating extremely high levels of urea as an osmolyte. As urea is chaotropic, elasmobranchs release trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) into bodily fluids to protect proteins from urea toxicity, as well as improving resistance to high temperatures and pressures. In addition, elasmobranchs cannot directly oxidise lipids, which are converted to ketones, that are exported to other tissues. Elevated ketones acidify the blood in mammals, and the formation of acetone results in wasted energy. Moreover, in mammals this process is accessed in hypoglycaemic states due to glucose poor diets, starvation, and severe diabetes. To date there has been no work that interdigitates the role and influence of TMAO with energy metabolism in sharks. We also know little about how ketones and TMAO contribute to stressors such as hypoxia. Using high-resolution respirometry and a novel ATP-binding fluorophore, we addressed the effect of TMAO on mitochondrial ketone, lipid, pyrimidine and carbohydrate driven respiration, and ATP production, in cerebellum and heart of anoxia-tolerant epaulette sharks exposed to normoxia and 24h hypoxia.

TMAO regulates mitochondrial metabolism in brain and heart of the anoxia-tolerant epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum

Natural populations of guppies in the Northern Range Mountains of Trinidad range from diverse, predator-rich communities in larger, higher order streams to small headwater tributaries with only one other fish species and reduced fish of predation. 1970’s vintage life history theory accurately predicts how life histories evolve in these tributaries, where guppies experience reduced mortality risk. They delay maturity and reduce investment in reproduction. The expected tradeoff is that reduced reproductive investment will be accompanied by the evolution of the ability to reproduce to more advanced ages and have extended lifespan. In fact, I found that the opposite was true. Guppies adapted to high predation communities begin to reproduce at an earlier age, invest more in reproduction, continue to reproduce to more advanced ages and have delayed accelerations in mortality risk relative to those adapted to low predation communities. These differences define those from high predation communities as super guppies and leads to the expectation that the low predation life history should never evolve, yet it does. How and why? The answer lies in the indirect consequences of life with and without predators. Predators create a guppy environment where guppy population densities are low and food is abundant. In the absence of predators, guppy populations soar and they deplete the environment of resources. The tradeoffs that favor the evolution of the low predation life history only appear as genotype by environment interactions that include the effects of population density and interspecific competition.

Guppy Life History Evolution - Insights on Costs and Tradeoffs Derived from 40 years of Research

Phenotypic development is strongly influenced by inherited and environmental factors in adaptive and in non-adaptive ways. The outcome and duration of the effects of environmental circumstances, such as exposure to stressful conditions, vary with the severity of the stressor and with the life stage at which they are experienced. Physiological processes, such as stress responsiveness and growth rate can be affected, as can life history traits such as reproductive scheduling and longevity. Inherited factors can also have diverse effects that can span more than one generation. Early life is a particularly sensitive period since the phenotypic architecture is forming at this stage. Parental care can buffer the developing organism from environmental variation, but also give parents the potential to shape offspring phenotype to gain the best fitness outcome. The capacity of parents to buffer offspring from adverse conditions during development can vary with parental age, which can also affect inherited components. I will discuss these effects and present data from experimental work that we have conducted using zebra finches, and from some related work in the wild. 



Intergenerational and transgenerational parental effects: parent and offspring perspectives

Trailing-edge (TE) fringes observed on owl wings are believed to play a crucial role in the silent flight of owls. The effects of TE fringes and underlying mechanisms on the aeroacoustic performance of owl wings, featured by curved leading edges, wavy TEs, and several feather slots at the wingtips, have not yet been addressed in association with real owl wings. In this study we for the first time constructed two 3D owl wing models, one with TE fringes and one without, based on real owl wing characteristics. Using large-eddy simulations and the Ffowcs Williams‒Hawkings analogy, the aeroacoustic characteristics of the wing models were analyzed. The results revealed that TE fringes effectively reduce aerodynamic noise without compromising aerodynamic performance. The study visualized the near-field flow dynamics, including nearfield flow and vortex structures, and flow fluctuations, demonstrating that the TE fringes break up large TE vortices, thereby suppressing TE flow fluctuations. Additionally, the fringes are observed to mitigate feather-slot interaction, effectively suppressing wingtip vortices. These combined mechanisms enhance the effectiveness of TE fringes in terms of aerodynamic force production and noise suppression. The findings contribute to understanding the role of TE fringes in silent owl flight and suggest the validity and feasibility of employing owl-inspired TE fringes in low-noise fluid machinery applications.

Trailing-edge fringes enable robust aeroacoustic performance in owl flight: a computational study

Physiologically acclimation to temperature change is hypothesized to evolve in environments with high levels of temperature variation. However, this hypothesis has low explanatory power, meaning other factors must be in play. Behavioral thermoregulation can reduce the body temperature variation that organisms experience and selection on thermal physiology (the “Bogert Effect”). However, the interplay between behavioral thermoregulation and the evolution of thermal acclimation is rarely discussed. I will describe how the Bogert Effect applies to thermal acclimation, and use lizards as models to provide examples of how thermoregulation reduces seasonality in body temperatures and performance relative to null expectations from environmental data.

Behavioral thermoregulation and the evolution of thermal acclimation

The Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT), Thunnus thynnus, is an emblematic large and highly migratory pelagic fish with physiological specializations for its lifestyle, in-cluding partial endothermy and obligate ram ventilation. Even though general mi-gratory patterns are known, little information is available on the effects of body size and increased temperature on underlying biological migratory processes, which is of great interest in the context of ongoing climate change. We used high-resolution acoustic telemetry and heart rate biologgers to follow movements and cardiac activity for a year on twenty individuals (mass range 25 to 200 kg) held in a sea-pen (50m diameter and 30m depth) off the coast of Malta, Mediterranean Sea. During this period, in the summer 2023, a heat wave occurred with temperature increases of ~4˚C above the previous years’ summer average for about a week. Preliminary results indicate increased median daily depth use as temperature increased but only in smaller sized fish, larger fish seemed just to decrease their overall activity. The results will contribute to a better understanding of the behavioural and physiological responses of ABFT to environmental conditions, which is key to predicting their migratory behaviours in both current and future climates, and is essential for effective management of this highly exploited and socio-economically important species.

Physiological and behavioural responses to increased temperature in the Atlantic bluefin tuna

DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are highly toxic DNA lesions represented by covalently trapped proteins to DNA molecules. If not repaired, DPCs physically block DNA replication- and transcription-associated complex. Due to the structural and chemical diversity of the crosslinked proteins and a variety of potentially affected DNA/chromatin contexts, DPCs are very challenging lesions to repair. Although specific proteins have been linked with DPC repair, as a whole it is still only poorly understood, especially in plants. We recently described cytidine analog zebularine as a potent inducer of Type 1 DPCs between DNA methyltransferase MET1 (an ortholog of the mammalian DNMT1) and DNA in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The MET1 crosslinks are greatly enriched at the heterochromatic fraction of 45S rDNA repeats (Prochazkova et al., 2022).
We performed a forward-directed genetic screen to identify the molecular factors contributing to the mitigation of zebularine-induced DPCs in Arabidopsis. The SMC5/6 complex subunits were among the first characterized candidates (Dvořák Tomaštíková et al., 2023). Genetic interaction and sensitivity assays revealed that the SMC5/6 complex is essential for plant DPC repair and works parallel to the nucleolytic and proteolytic pathways. We showed that the SUMO accumulates at the crosslinked foci induced by zebularine, and the SMC5/6 complex SUMO E3 ligase subunit NSE2 is responsible for the SUMOylation. Of particular interest is a splice variant mutation in the NSE2 SUMO domain that allowed us to uncouple SUMO-related and developmental functions of the SMC5/6 complex. Further screening identified additional candidates involved in the SUMO modification. 
In summary, our forward-directed genetic screen shows the importance of SUMO in DPC repair in plants and identifies mutations that can be of great interest for further structural and functional studies. Importantly, we identified an additional 50 complementation groups including not yet characterized Arabidopsis proteins or proteins that have not yet been connected with DNA damage repair. This points not only to the complexity of DPC repair but also to the power of the forward-directed screen. 


Out of the haze of DNA-protein crosslink repair in plants

In nature, plants and microorganisms communicate with each other by exchanging different signaling compounds including volatile compounds (VCs), some of which have biostimulating properties. In Arabidopsis, VCs from the fungal phytopathogen Penicillium aurantiogriseum promote growth, photosynthesis and root hair (RH) proliferation and hyper-elongation through mechanisms involving ethylene, auxin and photosynthesis signaling. A striking alteration in the proteome of roots of fungal VC-treated plants involves strong up-regulation of RALF22. To test the possible involvement of the RALF22 in the fungal VC-promoted RH changes, we characterized the RH responses of ralf22 and fer-4 plants impaired in RALF22 and its receptor FERONIA to VCs emitted by P. aurantiogriseum. We found that these plants were unresponsive in terms of VC-promoted RH elongation and proliferation. Unlike in WT roots, fungal VCs did not enhance the transcript levels of RALF22 in roots of fer-4 and ethylene- and auxin- insensitive mutants, and those of RH-related, ethylene-responsive genes (e.g. RSL4, RHD2, PRX1 and PRX44) in ralf22 and fer-4 roots. Finally, we identified ethylene as the bioactive fungal VC, as VCs of ΔefeA strains of P. aurantiogriseum cultures impaired in ethylene synthesis weakly promoted RH proliferation and elongation in exposed plants. Collectively, our results demonstrate that RALF22-FERONIA complex is a key determinant of the ethylene, auxin and photosynthesis signaling-mediated RH response to fungal ethylene emissions.

RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR 22 is a key modulator of the root hair growth responses to fungal ethylene emissions in Arabidopsis

Chromatin located in the cell nucleus is folded into a hierarchy of structures of increasing complexity, from nucleosomes and chromatin fibres to chromatin loops, domains, chromatin compartments and chromosome territories. Its flexible spatial arrangement must ensure that the correct gene expression programs are executed at the right time and in the right cell type and that the chromatin can be rapidly reorganized into highly condensed structures – metaphase chromosomes. The elucidation of these processes is facilitated by chromosome conformation capture (3C) techniques, especially Hi-C, which provides genome-wide information about chromatin contacts in the three-dimensional space. 
We applied Hi-C to study spatial genome organisation in barley – a model for large-genome cereals. First, we combined Hi-C with flow sorting of metaphase chromosomes and nuclei at G1, S and G2 phase, respectively, and analysed chromatin dynamics during the cell cycle. We observed surprisingly small changes in higher-order chromatin structure between chromosomes and interphase nuclei isolated from root tips but a striking difference between G1 from root-tip and leaf tissue, indicating a different chromatin arrangement in the interphase between rapidly cycling and non-cycling cells. Furthermore, we used the Hi-C data to delineate active and silenced chromatin compartments in the barley genome and provided evidence for their impact on gene expression. Last, we combined barley interactome data with several epigenomic datasets to identify functional chromatin interactions. This allowed us to predict 1754 distal cis-regulatory elements (enhancers or silencers) and their target genes, which will be further validated by reporter assays and bioinformatics approaches. 
This research was supported by the Czech Science Foundation, award number 21-18794S, and from the project TowArds Next GENeration Crops, reg. no. CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004581 of the ERDF Programme Johannes Amos Comenius.


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Looking at a smaller scale: exploring the link between endoparasite infections and cellular metabolism

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Integration of reprogramming transgenes into AML-M5-iPSC caused differentiated monocytic cells to be resistant to Doxorubicin

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Looking at a smaller scale: exploring the link between endoparasite infections and cellular metabolism

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Integration of reprogramming transgenes into AML-M5-iPSC caused differentiated monocytic cells to be resistant to Doxorubicin

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