Project Leader: Alain Charest. Extracellular RNA (exRNA) is a newly discovered form of cellular communication whereby information from one cell to another is conveyed by RNA molecules. exRNAs are protected from extracellular RNases by encapsulation within membrane vesicles or as amalgamations of RNA and proteins complexes (ribonucleoproteins RNPs). It appears that the production of these entities is not random and is the result of a highly orchestrated machinery, the details of which remain ill-defined. In this proposal, we aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms by which exRNA is encapsulated in extracellular vesicles and RNPs and how therapeutic interventions affect these mechanisms using glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) as a model system. Using genetically engineered mouse models of GBM that are driven by overexpression and activation of EGFR and PDGFRa, the two most common.genetic events found in GBM, we will determine the vesicle and RNP exRNA profiles of EGFR GBMs and PDGFRa GBMs using deep sequencing methods. Once established, we will then study the effect of therapeutic treatment on the dynamics of exRNA production and perform functional studies of exRNA on target cells in vitro and in vivo. We will initially focus on miRNA as it has been shown that miRNA make up a significant proportion of exRNA. Our project relates to the other projects in this U19 application on multiple levels. We will work in close collaboration with Dr. Anna Krichevsky on deciphering and cataloging the exRNA sequence composition of our genetically-defined glioblastoma tumor cells. We will also collaborate with Dr. Stephen Gould on the molecular mechanisms of exRNA production in glioblastoma as a function of EGFR and PDGFRa signaling pathways and with Dr. Xandra Breakefield on the development of methods and reagents to study exRNA transfer to recipient cells. Finally, we will work closely with Dr. Thorsten Mempel who will provide intravital imaging technology to evaluate and study exRNA fluorescent reporters in vivo.
Extracellular RNA (exRNA) is an underappreciated mode of communication between cells. Very little is known about how exRNAs are produced and what their effects on cells are. Here, using the most malignant type of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, as a model system, we seek to determine the mechanisms of how exRNAs are produced by tumor cells and how they affect neighboring normal cells in the brain. This work will be accomplished using genetically engineered mouse models of glioblastoma.
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| Zhou, Shuang; Appleman, Vicky A; Rose, Christopher M et al. (2018) Chronic platelet-derived growth factor receptor signaling exerts control over initiation of protein translation in glioma. Life Sci Alliance 1:e201800029 |
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| Boussiotis, Vassiliki A; Charest, Alain (2018) Immunotherapies for malignant glioma. Oncogene 37:1121-1141 |
| Marangoni, Francesco; Zhang, Ruan; Mani, Vinidhra et al. (2018) Tumor Tolerance-Promoting Function of Regulatory T Cells Is Optimized by CD28, but Strictly Dependent on Calcineurin. J Immunol 200:3647-3661 |
| Gustafsson, Gabriel; Lööv, Camilla; Persson, Emma et al. (2018) Secretion and Uptake of ?-Synuclein Via Extracellular Vesicles in Cultured Cells. Cell Mol Neurobiol 38:1539-1550 |
| György, Bence; Lööv, Camilla; Zaborowski, Miko?aj P et al. (2018) CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated Disruption of the Swedish APP Allele as a Therapeutic Approach for Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 11:429-440 |
| Shao, Huilin; Im, Hyungsoon; Castro, Cesar M et al. (2018) New Technologies for Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles. Chem Rev 118:1917-1950 |
| Maas, Sybren L N; Breakefield, Xandra O; Weaver, Alissa M (2017) Extracellular Vesicles: Unique Intercellular Delivery Vehicles. Trends Cell Biol 27:172-188 |
| Wu, Anthony Yan-Tang; Lai, Charles Pin-Kuang (2017) Tracking Extracellular Vesicles Delivery and RNA Translation Using Multiplexed Reporters. Methods Mol Biol 1660:255-265 |
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