Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: CRISPR activation screen identifies BCL-2 proteins and B3GNT2 as drivers of cancer resistance to T cell-mediated cytotoxicity

doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-29205-8

Figure Lengend Snippet: a Schematic of the CRISPRa screen. NY-ESO-1 + and HLA-A2 + A375 melanoma cells were transduced with the pooled sgRNA library targeting more than 23,000 coding isoforms. A375 cells were exposed to primary CD4 + and CD8 + T cells expressing the T cell receptor (TCR) specific for the NY-ESO-1 antigen. Deep sequencing identified candidate genes. b Average MAGeCK analysis P -values for the acute and chronic exposure screens. Top candidate genes are annotated and the two most enriched genes from each screening strategy are highlighted in red. c Most significant pathways enriched among the 576 candidate genes. d Heatmap showing Pearson’s correlation between expression of the top four candidate genes and cytolytic activity across patient tumors from TCGA. Only significant (FDR < 0.05) correlations are shown. e Box plots showing single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) of 576 candidate genes in 308 patient tumor samples – . Patient samples were collected prior to treatment with checkpoint inhibitors and classified as responders ( n = 83) or nonresponders ( n = 225) to immunotherapy. Box plots indicate median (middle line), 25th, 75th percentile (box), and 5th and 95th percentile (whiskers). Two-tailed t tests were performed. f Cell survival of A375 cells transduced with ORFs encoding candidate genes against ESO T cell cytotoxicity at different effector to target (E:T) ratios. Cell survival was measured using a luminescent cell viability assay and normalized to paired control cells that were not cultured with T cells. T cells were derived from three donors used in the CRISPRa screen, with n = 4 replicates per donor for n = 12 total. All values are mean ± s.e.m. Two-tailed t tests with adjustments for multiple comparisons were performed. Source data are provided in Source Data 1.

Article Snippet: The human SAM CRISPR activation library (Addgene 1000000057) was used for CRISPR-Cas9 activation screening.

Techniques: Transduction, Expressing, Sequencing, Activity Assay, Two Tailed Test, Cell Viability Assay, Control, Cell Culture, Derivative Assay

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Catalytic-independent functions of INTAC in conferring sensitivity to BET inhibition

doi: 10.1101/2024.02.07.579305

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Flow chart of the genome-wide CRISPR screening conducted to enrich cells with acquired resistance to BET inhibition in Eμ-Myc cells with the stable expression of Cas9. (B) Rank plot showing the log2 fold change (JQ1 versus DMSO) of sgRNA reads in survived cells post JQ1 treatment. Top ten enriched sgRNA targets and genes encoding INTAC complex labeled in color. (C) Schematic of the INTAC complex, components of the auxiliary module are highlighted. (D) Western blotting for INTS10, INTS13, INTS14 and INTS15 in CRISPR knockout Eμ-Myc cells. β-actin is a loading control. (E) Cell survival assays in sgCtr, sgINTS10, sgINTS13, sgINTS14 and sgINTS15 Eμ-Myc cells treated with DMSO or JQ1. (F) Western blotting for INTS1, INTS8 and INTS11 in CRISPR knockout Eμ-Myc cells. (G) Cell survival assays in sgCtr, sgINTS1, sgINTS8 and sgINTS11 Eμ-Myc cells treated with DMSO or JQ1. (H) Measurement for transcription termination of the representative snRNAs Rnu1a1 and Rnu3b2 in sgCtr, sgINTS15, sgINTS10, sgINTS8 and sgINTS11 Eμ-Myc cells. (I) Western blotting for RNA Pol II phosphorylation levels at carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) Serine 5 (pSer5) and Serine 2 (pSer2) in sgCtr, sgINTS15, sgINTS10, sgINTS8 and sgINTS11 Eμ-Myc cells. β-actin is a loading control. See also Figure S1.

Article Snippet: Mouse Two Plasmid Activity-Optimized CRISPR Knockout Library (Addgene#1000000096) was amplified in E coli.

Techniques: Genome Wide, CRISPR, Inhibition, Expressing, Labeling, Western Blot, Knock-Out, Control, Phospho-proteomics

Journal: Nature cell biology

Article Title: LIMIT is an immunogenic lncRNA in cancer immunity and immunotherapy

doi: 10.1038/s41556-021-00672-3

Figure Lengend Snippet: a . A375 shFluc or shLIMIT cells were treated with IFNγ for 24 hours. RNA levels of LIMIT were determined by qRT-PCR. P value by 2-sided t-test. b . A375 shFluc or shLIMIT cells were treated with IFNγ for the indicated time. Protein levels of phospho-STAT1 (p-Y701), STAT1, and GAPDH were determined by Western blotting. 1 of 2 experiments is shown. c . A375 shFluc or shLIMIT cells were treated with IFNγ for 48 hours. Surface expression of HLA-ABC were determined by flow cytometry (FACS). P value by 2-sided t-test. d-g . YUMM1.7 ( d, e ) or CT26 ( f, g ) cells carrying shFluc or shLimit were treated with IFNγ. RNA levels of Limit were determined 24 hours after treatment ( d, f ). Surface staining of MHC-I (H2-D b ) was detected 48 hours after treatment ( e, g ). P value by 2-sided t-test. h-i . A375 WT or LIMIT promoter deletion cells were treated with IFNγ. RNA levels of LIMIT were determined 24 hours after treatment ( h ). Surface expression of HLA-ABC were determined 48 hours after treatment ( i ). P value by 2-sided t-test. j-k . B16 cells were transfected with dCas9-VPR, together with non-targeting sgRNA (sgNT) or sgRNA targeting the promoter of Limit (sgLimit). RNA levels of Limit were determined 24 hours after treatment ( j ). Surface expression of MHC-I (H2-D b ) or PD-L1 were determined 48 hours after treatment ( k ). P value by 2-sided t-test. l . B16-OVA cells carrying shFluc or shB2m were manipulated with Limit CRISPRa (sgLimit) for 48 hours. Surface expression of OVA-H2K b were determined by FACS. P value by 2-sided t-test. m-n . B16-OVA cells were manipulated with B2m knocking down (shB2m) or Limit CRISPRa (sgLimit), and co-cultured with OT-I cell at the ratio of 1:4. Cell death was measured by PI staining in CD45 − tumor cells. Dot plots ( m ) and statistical results ( n ) are shown. P value by 2-sided t-test. All data are mean ± SD. n = 3 biological independent samples in ( a, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, n ). Source data are provided in Soure_data_Fig2.xlsx and Unmodified_blots_Fig2.pdf.

Article Snippet: To apply CRISPR activation system to activate mouse Limit, phU6-sgRNAs were transfected together with SP-dCas9-VPR (Addgene #63798) into B16 cells.

Techniques: Quantitative RT-PCR, Western Blot, Expressing, Flow Cytometry, Staining, Transfection, Cell Culture

Journal: Nature cell biology

Article Title: LIMIT is an immunogenic lncRNA in cancer immunity and immunotherapy

doi: 10.1038/s41556-021-00672-3

Figure Lengend Snippet: a . Co-IP of GBP1-5 with HSP90 antibody in IFNγ-pretreated A375 cells. 1 of 3 experiments is shown. b . Co-IP of HSP90 with Flag antibody in Flag-GBP1-overexpressed A375 cells. * indicated the band shift of HSP90 upon GBP1 overexpression. 1 of 2 experiments is shown. c . Immunofluorescence staining of GBP1 and HSP90 in IFNγ-pretreated A375 cells. 1 of 4 images is shown. d . 293T cells were forced expression of Flag-HSF1 and increased doses of Flag-GBP1. Co-IP of HSF1 or GBP1 with HSP90 antibody were performed 24 hours afterwards. 1 of 2 experiments is shown. e . A375 cells were treated with HSP90 inhibitor, or forced expression of GBP1. Indicated proteins were detected 48 hours afterwards. 1 of 2 experiments is shown. f-g . A375 cells were treated with IFNγ and KRIBB11. RNA ( f ) or surface staining ( g ) levels of indicated genes were determined 48 hours afterwards. P value by 2-sided t-test. h . YUMM1.7 shFluc or shHsf1 cells were treated with IFNγ. Total protein ( h ) or surface expression ( i ) levels of indicated genes were determined 48 hours afterwards. 1 of 2 experiments is shown. P value by 2-sided t-test. j-k . Tumor growth curves of YUMM1.7 shFluc or shHsf1 cells in NSG mice ( j ) or wild type C57BL/6 mice ( k ). n = 5 ( j ) or 6 ( k ) animals, P value by 2-sided t-test for end point tumor volume. l . Percentages of CD3 + , Ki67 + , IFNγ + , and TNFα + T cells in YUMM1.7 shFluc or shHsf1 tumors. n = 5 biological independent samples, P value by 2-sided t-test. m . A375 shFluc or shLIMIT cells were transfected with HSE-luc and PRL-SV40 overnight, and then treated with IFNγ for additional 48 hours. HSF1 transcriptional activity is depicted as the relative luciferase activity. P value by 2-sided t-test. n . B16 cells were manipulated with Limit CRISPRa and treated with KRIBB11. Surface expression of MHC-I (H2-D b ) was determined 48 hours afterwards. P value by 2-sided t-test. All data are mean ± SD. n = 3 biological independent samples in ( f, g, i, m, n ). Source data are provided in Soure_data_Fig6.xlsx and Unmodified_blots_Fig6.pdf.

Article Snippet: To apply CRISPR activation system to activate mouse Limit, phU6-sgRNAs were transfected together with SP-dCas9-VPR (Addgene #63798) into B16 cells.

Techniques: Co-Immunoprecipitation Assay, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay, Over Expression, Immunofluorescence, Staining, Expressing, Transfection, Activity Assay, Luciferase