title: High expression of hTERT and stemness genes in BORIS/CTCFL positive cells isolated from embryonic cancer cells.
abstract: BORIS/CTCFL is a member of cancer testis antigen family normally expressed in germ cells. In tumors, it is aberrantly expressed although its functions are not completely well-defined. To better understand the functions of BORIS in cancer, we selected the embryonic cancer cells as a model. Using a molecular beacon, which specifically targets BORIS mRNA, we demonstrated that BORIS positive cells are a small subpopulation of tumor cells (3-5% of total). The BORIS-positive cells isolated using BORIS-molecular beacon, expressed higher telomerase hTERT, stem cell (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2) and cancer stem cell marker genes (CD44 and ALDH1) compared to the BORIS-negative tumor cells. In order to define the functional role of BORIS, stable BORIS-depleted embryonic cancer cells were generated. BORIS silencing strongly down-regulated the expression of hTERT, stem cell and cancer stem cell marker genes. Moreover, the BORIS knockdown increased cellular senescence in embryonic cancer cells, revealing a putative role of BORIS in the senescence biological program. Our data indicate an association of BORIS expressing cells subpopulation with the expression of stemness genes, highlighting the critical role played by BORIS in embryonic neoplastic disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Losi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leyvraz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland; Biopath Lab, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benhattar
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C456540:CTCFL protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase