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Cancers are caused by genomic alterations known as drivers. Hundreds of drivers in coding genes are known but, to date, only a handful of noncoding drivers have been discovered--despite intensive searching.sup.1,2. Attention has recently shifted to the role of altered RNA splicing in cancer; driver mutations that lead to transcriptome-wide aberrant splicing have been identified in multiple types of cancer, although these mutations have only been found in protein-coding splicing factors such as splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1).sup.3-6. By contrast, cancer-related alterations in the noncoding component of the spliceosome--a series of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs)--have barely been studied, owing to the combined challenges of characterizing noncoding cancer drivers and the repetitive nature of snRNA genes.sup.1,7,8. Here we report a highly recurrent A>C somatic mutation at the third base of U1 snRNA in several types of tumour. The primary function of U1 snRNA is to recognize the 5' splice site via base-pairing. This mutation changes the preferential A-U base-pairing between U1 snRNA and the 5' splice site to C-G base-pairing, and thus creates novel splice junctions and alters the splicing pattern of multiple genes--including known drivers of cancer. Clinically, the A>C mutation is associated with heavy alcohol use in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and with the aggressive subtype of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable regions. The mutation in U1 snRNA also independently confers an adverse prognosis to patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Our study demonstrates a noncoding driver in spliceosomal RNAs, reveals a mechanism of aberrant splicing in cancer and may represent a new target for treatment. Our findings also suggest that driver discovery should be extended to a wider range of genomic regions. A highly recurrent A>C somatic mutation in U1 small nuclear RNA, which alters the splicing pattern of genes that include known drivers of cancer, is identified in several types of tumour., Author(s): Shimin Shuai [sup.1] [sup.2] , Hiromichi Suzuki [sup.3] [sup.4] , Ander Diaz-Navarro [sup.5] [sup.6] , Ferran Nadeu [sup.5] [sup.7] , Sachin A. Kumar [sup.3] [sup.4] [sup.8] , Ana Gutierrez-Fernandez [...]

In cancer, recurrent somatic single-nucleotide variants--which are rare in most paediatric cancers--are confined largely to protein-coding genes.sup.1-3. Here we report highly recurrent hotspot mutations (r.3A>G) of U1 spliceosomal small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) in about 50% of Sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastomas. These mutations were not present across other subgroups of medulloblastoma, and we identified these hotspot mutations in U1 snRNA in only Highly recurrent hotspot r.3A>G mutations are identified in U1 splicesomal small nuclear RNAs in about 50% of Sonic hedgehog medulloblastomas, which result in disrupted RNA splicing and the activation of oncogenes., Author(s): Hiromichi Suzuki [sup.1] [sup.2] , Sachin A. Kumar [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Shimin Shuai [sup.4] [sup.5] , Ander Diaz-Navarro [sup.6] [sup.7] , Ana Gutierrez-Fernandez [sup.6] [sup.7] , Pasqualino De [...]

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is released by neutrophils at the sites of acute inflammation. This enzyme modulates matrix turnover and inflammatory response, and its activity has been found to be increased after ventilator-induced lung injury. To clarify the role of MMP-9, mice lacking this enzyme and their wild-type counterparts were ventilated for 2 h with high- or low-peak inspiratory pressures (25 and 15 cm[H.sub.2]O, respectively). Lung injury was evaluated by gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, wet-to-dry weight ratio, and histological analysis. The activity of MMP-9 and levels of IL-1[beta], IL-4, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-2) were measured in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Cell count and myeloperoxidase activity were measured in BALF. There were no differences between wild-type and [Mmp9.sup.-/-] animals after low-pressure ventilation. After high-pressure ventilation, wild-type mice exhibited an increase in MMP-9 in tissue and BALF. Mice lacking MMP-9 developed more severe lung injury than wild-type mice, in terms of impaired oxygenation and lung mechanics, and higher damage in the histological study. These effects correlated with an increase in both cell count and myeloperoxidase activity in the BALF, suggesting an increased neutrophilic influx in response to ventilation. An increase in IL-1[beta] and IL-4 in the BALF only in knockout mice could be responsible for the differences. There were no differences between genotypes in MMP-2, MMP-8, or tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. These results show that MMP-9 protects against ventilator-induced lung injury by decreasing alveolar neutrophilic infiltration, probably by modulation of the cytokine response in the air spaces. mechanical ventilation; extracellular matrix; gelatinase B

Author(s): Ignacio Varela [1, 5]; Juan Cadiñanos [1, 5]; Alberto M. Pendás [1]; Ana Gutiérrez-Fernández [1]; Alicia R. Folgueras [1]; Luis M. Sánchez [1]; Zhongjun Zhou [3, 6]; Francisco J. [...]

Background: Cancer is a major medical problem in modern societies. However, the incidence of this disease in non-human primates is very low. To study whether genetic differences between human and chimpanzee could contribute to their distinct cancer susceptibility, we have examined in the chimpanzee genome the orthologous genes of a set of 333 human cancer genes. Results: This analysis has revealed that all examined human cancer genes are present in chimpanzee, contain intact open reading frames and show a high degree of conservation between both species. However, detailed analysis of this set of genes has shown some differences in genes of special relevance for human cancer. Thus, the chimpanzee gene encoding p53 contains a Pro residue at codon 72, while this codon is polymorphic in humans and can code for Arg or Pro, generating isoforms with different ability to induce apoptosis or interact with p73. Moreover, sequencing of the BRCA1 gene has shown an 8 Kb deletion in the chimpanzee sequence that prematurely truncates the co-regulated NBR2 gene. Conclusion: These data suggest that small differences in cancer genes, as those found in tumor suppressor genes, might influence the differences in cancer susceptibility between human and chimpanzee. Nevertheless, further analysis will be required to determine the exact contribution of the genetic changes identified in this study to the different cancer incidence in non-human primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]