Biology subjects

McCloy, R. A.

Publications and source records attributed to McCloy, R. A..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Protein Translation Dysregulation and Immune Cell Evasion Define Metastatic Clones in HPV-related Cancer of the Oropharynx

Head and neck cancers, representing the seventh most common malignancy globally, have seen a shift in causative factors from traditional smoking and alcohol use to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, now accounting for up to 80% of oropharyngeal cancers. We identify the cellular and clonal mechanisms underlying immune avoidance and metastasis by analysing single-cell and spatial genomic data from primary and metastatic cancers. We first map the clonal evolution of malignant cells based on the accumulation of mutations. We identify metastasising clones based on mutational similarity scores between cells in the primary and lymph node metastasis. Genomic analysis of metastasising and non-metastasising clones identified virally mediated protein translation relief (P=4.24x10-24) pathway underlying metastatic expansion. We show that in metastatic clones, this process is driven through upregulation of transition-initiating factors, EIF4E (P=1.5x10-13) and EIFG1 (P<2.22x10-16), and suppression of regulatory kinases EIF4EBP1 (P=2.1x10), EIF2AK2 (P<2.22x10-16), and EIF2S1 (P<2.22x10-16). We subsequently identify that metastatic clones have a corresponding downregulation of the JAK/STAT pathway and immunoproteasome genes PSMB8 (P<2.22x10- 16) and PSMB9 (P<2.22x10-16), suggesting these clones escape immune surveillance through decreased INF inflammatory response and antigen presentation. We validate these results using spatial RNA-seq data, where metastatic cancer clones show decreased cell-to-cell interactions with CD4 T-effector memory cells (CD4TEM) (P=0.0077), CD8 T-exhausted cells (CD8Ex) (P=0.0191), and innate lymphoid cells (ILC) (P=0.04). Finally, we demonstrate that the upregulation of cap-independent translational drives cell proliferation in metastatic clones through the expression of translation initiation factors (EIF4G1: P<2.22x10-16). Our results provide evidence of the mechanisms by which virally induced cancer clones lead to advanced disease and poor prognosis in patients.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Retinal ganglion cell-specific genetic regulation in primary open angle glaucoma

To assess the transcriptomic profile of disease-specific cell populations, fibroblasts from patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) before being differentiated into retinal organoids and compared to those from healthy individuals. We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of a total of 330,569 cells and identified cluster-specific molecular signatures. Comparing the gene expression profile between cases and controls, we identified novel genetic associations for this blinding disease. Expression quantitative trait mapping identified a total of 2,235 significant loci across all cell types, 58 of which are specific to the retinal ganglion cell subpopulations, which ultimately degenerate in POAG. Transcriptome-wide association analysis identified genes at loci previously associated with POAG, and analysis, conditional on disease status, implicated 54 statistically significant retinal ganglion cell-specific expression quantitative trait loci. This work highlights the power of large-scale iPSC studies to uncover context-specific profiles for a genetically complex disease.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2020

Resistance to platinum chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma is driven by a non-genetic, cell-cycle dependent mechanism

We previously used a pulse-based in vitro assay to unveil targetable signalling pathways associated with innate cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma (Hastings et al., 2020). Here we advanced this model system and identified a non- genetic mechanism of resistance that drives recovery and regrowth in a subset of cells. Using RNAseq and a suite of biosensors to track single cell fates both in vitro and in vivo, we identified that early S phase cells have a greater ability to maintain proliferative capacity, which correlated with reduced DNA damage over multiple generations. In contrast, cells in G1, late S or those treated with PARP/RAD51 inhibitors, maintained higher levels of DNA damage and underwent prolonged S/G2 phase arrest and senescence. Combined with our previous work, these data indicate that there is a non-genetic mechanism of resistance in lung adenocarcinoma that is dependent on the cell cycle stage at the time of cisplatin exposure.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Dynamic analysis of pulsed cisplatin identifies effectors of resistance in lung adenocarcinoma

Identification of clinically viable strategies for overcoming resistance to platinum chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma has been hampered by inappropriately tailored in vitro assays of drug response. Therefore, using a pulse model that closely recapitulates the in vivo pharmacokinetics of platinum therapy, we profiled cisplatin-induced signalling, DNA damage and apoptotic responses across a panel of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. By coupling this data with real-time, single cell imaging of cell cycle and apoptosis, we show that TP53 mutation status influenced the mode of cisplatin induced cell cycle arrest, but could not predict cisplatin sensitivity. In contrast, P70S6K-mediated signalling promoted resistance by increasing p53/p63 and p21 expression, reducing double-stranded DNA breaks and apoptosis. Targeting P70S6K sensitised both TP53 wildtype and null lines to cisplatin, but not TP53 mutant lines. In summary, using in vitro assays that mimic in vivo pharmacokinetics identified P70S6K as a robust mediator of cisplatin resistance and highlighted the importance of considering somatic mutation status when designing patient-specific combination therapies.

cancer biology↗