No abstract

Metabolic reprogramming is considered one of the hallmarks in cancer and is characterized by increased glycolysis and lactate production, even in the presence of oxygen, which leads the cancer cells to a process called “aerobic glycolysis” or “Warburg effect”. The E6 and E7 oncoproteins of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV 16) favor the Warburg effect through their interaction with a molecule that regulates cellular metabolism, such as p53, retinoblastoma protein (pRb), c-Myc, and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Besides, the impact of the E6 and E7 variants of HPV 16 on metabolic reprogramming through proteins such as HIF-1α may be related to their oncogenicity by favoring cellular metabolism modifications to satisfy the energy demands necessary for viral persistence and cancer development. This review will discuss the role of HPV 16 E6 and E7 variants in metabolic reprogramming and their contribution to developing and preserving the malignant phenotype of cancers associated with HPV 16 infection.

To date, different experimental strategies have been developed for the ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic stem (HSCs) and progenitor (HPCs) cells. This has resulted in significant advances on the use of such expanded cells in transplantation settings. To this day, however, it is still unclear to what extent those stem and progenitor cells generated in vitro retain the functional and genomic integrity of their freshly isolated counterparts. In trying to contribute to the solving of this issue, in the present study we have selected and purified three different hematopoietic cell populations: HSCs (CD34+ CD38‐ CD45RA‐ CD71‐ Lin‐ cells), myeloid progenitor cells (CD34+ CD38+ CD45RA+ CD71‐ Lin‐ cells), and erythroid progenitor cells (CD34+ CD38+ CD45RA‐ CD71+ Lin‐ cells), obtained directly from fresh human umbilical cord blood (UCB) units or generated in vitro under particular culture conditions. We, then, compared their functional integrity in vitro and their gene expression profiles. Our results indicate that in spite of being immunophenotipically similar, fresh and in vitro generated cells showed significant differences, both in functional and genetic terms. As compared to their fresh counterparts, those HSCs generated in our culture system showed a deficient content of long‐term culture‐initiating cells, and a marked differentiation bias toward the myeloid lineage. In addition, in vitro generated HSCs and HPCs showed a limited expansion potential. Such functional alterations correlated with differences in their gene expression profiles. These observations are relevant in terms of HSC biology and may have implications in UCB expansion and transplantation. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2018;7:602–614

To date, different experimental strategies have been developed for the ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic stem (HSCs) and progenitor (HPCs) cells. This has resulted in significant advances on the use of such expanded cells in transplantation settings. To this day, however, it is still unclear to what extent those stem and progenitor cells generated in vitro retain the functional and genomic integrity of their freshly isolated counterparts. In trying to contribute to the solving of this issue, in the present study we have selected and purified three different hematopoietic cell populations: HSCs (CD34 + CD38 -CD45RA -CD71 -Lincells), myeloid progenitor cells (CD34 + CD38 + CD45RA + CD71 -Lincells), and erythroid progenitor cells (CD34 + CD38 + CD45RA -CD71 + Lincells), obtained directly from fresh human umbilical cord blood (UCB) units or generated in vitro under particular culture conditions. We, then, compared their functional integrity in vitro and their gene expression profiles. Our results indicate that in spite of being immunophenotipically similar, fresh and in vitro generated cells showed significant differences, both in functional and genetic terms. As compared to their fresh counterparts, those HSCs generated in our culture system showed a deficient content of long-term culture-initiating cells, and a marked differentiation bias toward the myeloid lineage. In addition, in vitro generated HSCs and HPCs showed a limited expansion potential. Such functional alterations correlated with differences in their gene expression profiles. These observations are relevant in terms of HSC biology and may have implications in UCB expansion and transplantation. STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2018;7:602-614 SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThis study presents evidence indicating that in vitro-generated hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells differ in functional and genetic terms from their freshly obtained counterparts. These findings have biologic and clinical implications.

Background High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer, but additional alterations are necessary for its development. Abnormal DNA methylation has an important role in the origin and dissemination of cervical cancer and other human tumors. In this work, we analyzed the methylation of eight genes (AJAP1, CDH1, CDH13, MAGI2, MGMT, MYOD1, RASSF1A and SOX17) that participate in several biological processes for the maintenance of cell normality. We analyzed DNA methylation by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and HPV infection using the INNO‑LiPA genotyping kit in 59 samples diagnostic of normal cervical tissue (non-SIL), 107 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), 29 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) and 51 cervical cancers (CCs). Results We found that all samples of LSIL, HSIL, and CC were HPV-positive, and the genotypes with higher frequencies were 16, 18, 51 and 56. In general, the genes analyzed displayed a significant tendency toward an increase in methylation levels according to increasing cervical lesion severity, except for the CDH13 gene. High CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) was associated with a 50.6-fold (95% CI 4.72–2267.3)-increased risk of HSIL and a 122-fold risk of CC (95% CI 10.04–5349.7). Conclusions We found that CIMP high was significantly associated with HSIL and CC risk. These results could indicate that CIMP together with HR-HPV infection and other factors participates in the development of HSIL and CC.