EMBO/soda-nel huggingface dataset:
MET inhibition overcomes radiation resistance of glioblastoma stem-like cells (2016)
Figure 2

Figure 2. GSCs are positively selected by irradiation.

A, Flow cytometric analysis of PKH-26 staining in irradiated BT308NS, 24 h after the last irradiation. The percentage of PKH-26pos cells is indicated. Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) was as follow: ctrl, 58.21; 1.5 Gy × 4, 69.35; 2 Gy × 3, 68.20; 5 Gy, 60.29. B, qPCR of SOX2 expression measured in NS 6 h after IR (5 Gy, fold vs. non-irradiated cells, ctrl). *: t-test, p<0.02. C, LDA (sphere forming) measuring the enrichment of GSCs after IR (5 Gy). Ctrl: non-irradiated cells *: 2 test, p<0.05. D, Schematic representation of serial xenotransplantation. Control (NS-ctrl) and irradiated (NS-IR) BT308NS were tested for tumor-initiating ability by serial subcutaneous injection of the indicated number of cells (p1, n = 4; p2, n = 6; p3, n = 6 for each condition). E, Tumor incidence in the LDA performed in p3 mice, as described in D. F, Histogram showing the in vivo GSC frequency measured by LDA in p3 tumors. GSC frequency (95% CI) was as follows: NS-ctrl, 1/258.2 (97.67-683.9); NS-IR 1/22.1 (8.05-62.6). *: 2 test, P=1.6×10-4. G, LDA (sphere forming) measuring the in vitro frequency of GSCs in cells derived from p3 tumors. *: 2 test, P=0.0006. H, LDA (sphere forming) measuring the in vitro frequency of GSCs in cells derived from intracranial tumors generated by BT463NS, and irradiated in vivo (2 Gy × 3 days) (n = 3). Ctrl: non-irradiated tumors. *: 2 test, P=2.04×10-11. Data are represented as mean ± CI or ± SEM in B.
MET inhibition overcomes radiation resistance of glioblastoma stem-like cells (2016)
Figure 3

Figure 3. MET-expressing GSCs are selected by irradiation.

A, In MET-pos-NS, the METhigh subpopulation retains GSC properties, and generates a heterogeneous progeny including also METneg pseudodifferentiated cells. B, LDA (sphere forming) measuring the GSC frequency after IR (5 Gy) in METhigh and METneg subpopulations sorted from BT308NS. *: 2 test, P=0.001. C, Flow cytometric analysis of MET in irradiated BT308NS, 24 h after the last irradiation (2 Gy × 3 days or a single dose of 5 Gy). Dotted lines: threshold to define the percentage of MET-expressing cells. Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. The MFI was as follows: ctrl, 18; 2 Gy × 3, 22.77; 5 Gy, 19.49. D, Flow cytometric analysis of MET in BT308NS weekly treated with IR (2 Gy) for 6 weeks. Dotted lines: threshold to define the percentage of MET-expressing cells. Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. E, Representative immunofluorescence staining of MET (red) on tumors generated by subcutaneous injection of BT308NS, irradiated (2 Gy × 3) and explanted 72 h after the last irradiation. Nuclei are counterstained with DAPI (blue). Ctrl: non-irradiated tumors. Scale bar, 10 µm (63× magnification). F left, Quantification of the percentage of MET-expressing cells in tumor sections represented in (E) (n = 12 HPF/group). HPF: high-power field. *: t-test, P=0.001. F right, Quantification of MET mean fluorescence intensity in tumor sections represented in (E) (n = 12 HPF/group, fold vs. non-irradiated cells, ctrl). *: t-test, P=0.00016. G, representative MET immunohistochemical staining of matched primary and recurrent tumors. Scale bar, 50 µm (40× magnification). H, Histogram representing the number of patient displaying different percentages of MET expressing cells in their primary or recurrent tumors: negative, 0-5%; low, 6-29%; moderate, 30-69%; high, 70-100% (see also Appendix Table 4). I, Dot plot representing the MET cumulative score (MET positive cell score + MET staining intensity score) in 19 primary and recurrent tumors (see Appendix Table 4). Wilcoxon, p<0.02. Data are represented as mean ± SEM or ± CI in B.
MET inhibition overcomes radiation resistance of glioblastoma stem-like cells (2016)
Figure 4

Figure 4. METhigh GSCs efficiently activate DDR.

A, Flow-cytometric analysis of Annexin V/DAPI incorporation and MET expression in BT308NS 36 h after IR (5 Gy). Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. Blue: MET-negative cells. Red: MET-expressing cells. B, Western Blot of METneg and METhigh subpopulations sorted from BT452NS, showing activation of PARP (cleaved PARP) and Caspase 3 (cleaved casp-3) after IR (5 Gy). Vinculin was used as loading control. C, Cell viability of METhigh and METneg subpopulations sorted from BT308NS, measured 96 h after IR (1-10 Gy, fold vs. non-irradiated cells, ctrl). *: t-test, p<0.001. D, Clonogenic assay with METhigh and METneg subpopulations sorted from BT308NS and irradiated (1-10 Gy, fold vs. non-irradiated cells, ctrl). *: t-test, p<0.05. E, Neutral comet assay in METhigh and METneg subpopulations sorted from BT308NS, performed 24 h after IR (5 Gy). Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. Comet tail’s length is proportional to DSB extent. F, Western Blot of METneg and METhigh subpopulations sorted from BT308NS, showing constitutive (ctrl) and/or IR-induced phosphorylation of ATM (pATM), Chk2 (pChk2) and H2AX (H2AX), and accumulation of RAD51, 24 h after IR (5 Gy). Total ATM protein is also shown. β-actin was used as loading control. G, qPCR of RAD51 expression in METhigh and METneg subpopulations sorted from BT308NS 24 h after IR (5 Gy, fold vs. non-irradiated control cells, ctrl). *: t-test, P=0.02. Data are represented as mean ± SEM.
MET inhibition overcomes radiation resistance of glioblastoma stem-like cells (2016)
Figure 5

Figure 5. MET inhibition radiosensitizes GSCs.

A, Cell viability of BT308NS, measured 48 h after IR (2 or 5 Gy) in the absence (mock) or in the presence of 10 ng/ml HGF (fold vs. non-irradiated mock treated cells, mock). Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. *: t-test (5 Gy + HGF) vs. (5 Gy), p<0.0001. B, Flow-cytometric analysis of Annexin V/DAPI incorporation in BT308NS irradiated (5 Gy) in the absence (mock) or in the presence of HGF. Histograms show the percentage of Annexin V-positive cells 48 h after IR. Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. C, Cell viability of BT308NS, irradiated in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of the MET inhibitor JNJ38877605 (500 nM), and analyzed at the indicated time points. Vehicle: non-irradiated cells (fold vs. vehicle-treated cells at time 0, mock). *: t-test, p<0.01. D, Cell viability as in C, measured 5 days after IR (1-10 Gy, fold vs. vehicle-treated cells, mock). *: t-test, p<0.03. E, Flow-cytometric analysis of Annexin V/DAPI incorporation in BT308NS irradiated (5 Gy) in the absence (vehicle) or in the presence (JNJ) of JNJ38877605. Histograms show the percentage of Annexin V-positive cells 36 h after IR. Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. *: t-test (5 Gy + JNJ) vs. (5 Gy), P=0.01. F, Western blot of BT308NS showing caspase 3 activation (cleaved casp-3), at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (-) or in the presence (+) of JNJ38877605. Vinculin was used as loading control. G, Clonogenic assay with METneg and METhigh subpopulations sorted from BT308NS, irradiated (5 Gy) in the absence (vehicle) or in the presence of MET inhibitors (JNJ38877605 and Crizotinib, 500 nM). Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. *: t-test, p<0.0004. H, LDA (sphere forming assay) with METneg and METhigh subpopulations sorted from BT308NS, measuring GSC frequency after irradiation in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of JNJ38877605. Vehicle: non-irradiated vehicle-treated cells. *: 2 test, P=0.0002. I, Flow cytometric analysis of phosphorylated histone H2AX (H2AX) in the whole BT308NS at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of JNJ38877605 (fold vs. non-irradiated cells at time 0, mock). *: t-test, p<0.05. J, Neutral comet assay with BT308NS performed 24 h after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of JNJ38877605. Vehicle: non-irradiated vehicle-treated cells. Comet tail’s length is proportional to DSB extent. Data are represented as mean ± SEM or ± CI in H.
MET inhibition overcomes radiation resistance of glioblastoma stem-like cells (2016)
Figure 6

Figure 6. MET inhibition impairs AKT-dependent ATM activity.

A, Western blot of BT463NS showing phosphorylation of ATM (pATM) and Chk2 (pChk2), and accumulation of RAD51 at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + HGF) of HGF (10 ng/ml). Total ATM is also shown. H3 was used as loading control. B, Western blot of BT308NS showing phosphorylation of ATM (pATM) and Chk2 (pChk2), and accumulation of RAD51 at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of the MET inhibitor JNJ38877605 (500 nM). Total ATM is also shown. β-actin was used as loading control. Veh: non-irradiated vehicle-treated cells. C, Densitometric analysis of ATM phosphorylation shown in (B). *: t-test, p<0.01. D, Western blot of BT308NS showing phosphorylation of ATM, Chk2, and AKT (pAKT), and accumulation of RAD51 24 h after IR (5 Gy) in the absence (vehicle, veh) or in the presence of MAPK (PD98059, 20 M), AKT (Ly294002, 20 M), MET (JNJ38877605), or ATM (CGK733, 10 M) inhibitors. Total ATM and AKT are also shown. β-actin was used as loading control. Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. E, Western blot of BT463NS showing phosphorylation of ATM, Chk2, and Aurora Kinase A (pAurora A) at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + Ly) of the AKT inhibitor Ly294002. Total ATM and Aurora Kinase A are also shown. H3 was used as loading control. Veh: non-irradiated vehicle-treated cells. F, Western blot of BT308NS showing phosphorylation of Aurora Kinase A at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of JNJ38877605. Total Aurora kinase A is also shown. H3 was used as loading control. Veh: non-irradiated vehicle-treated cells. G, Western blot of BT463NS showing phosphorylation of Aurora Kinase A at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + HGF) of HGF. Total Aurora kinase A is also shown. H3 was used as loading control (the same control applies to both panel A and G). H, Western blot of BT308NS showing phosphorylation of ATM and Aurora Kinase A at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + MLN) of the Aurora Kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 (20 M). Total ATM and Aurora kinase A are also shown. H3 was used as loading control. Veh: non-irradiated vehicle-treated cells. I, Cell viability of BT308NS, measured 72 h after IR (5 Gy) in the absence (vehicle) or in the presence of MET (JNJ38877605), Aurora Kinase A (MLN8237), or AKT (Ly294002) inhibitors (fold vs. non-irradiated vehicle-treated cells, mock). *: t-test (5 Gy + inhibitor) vs. (5 Gy + vehicle), p<0.01.
MET inhibition overcomes radiation resistance of glioblastoma stem-like cells (2016)
Figure 7

Figure 7. MET inhibition promotes p21 nuclear translocation.

A, Western blot of BT371NS showing p21 phosphorylation (pp21Thr145) in cytoplasmic lysates immunoprecipitated with p21 antibodies at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + HGF) of HGF (10 ng/ml). B, Western blot of BT463NS showing p21 phosphorylation (pp21Thr145) in cytoplasmic lysates immunoprecipitated with p21 antibodies at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of the MET inhibitor JNJ38877605 (500 nM). C, Western blot of BT308NS showing p21 localization in cytoplasmic/nuclear extracts at the indicated time points after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of JNJ38877605. Vinculin and lamin B were used as loading controls for cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions, respectively. D, Representative immunofluorescence staining of p21 (red) on BT308NS cells 3 h after IR (5 Gy) in the absence (vehicle) or in the presence (JNJ) of JNJ38877605. Ctrl: non-irradiated cells. Nuclei are counterstained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 10 µm (63× magnification). E, Quantification of the percentage of cells showing p21 cytoplasmic or nuclear localization in BT308NS represented in (D) (n = 10 HPF/group). HPF: high-power field. *: t-test (5 Gy + JNJ) vs. (ctrl or 5 Gy), p<0.0001. F, Cell cycle analysis of BT314NS, performed 24 h after IR in the absence (5 Gy) or in the presence (5 Gy + JNJ) of JNJ38877605. Vehicle: non-irradiated cells. *: one-way ANOVA, P=0.008. G, Schematic representation of the MET-driven signaling pathways that sustain DNA repair, and prevent apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Data are represented as mean ± SEM.
Beclin1-driven autophagy modulates the inflammatory response of microglia via NLRP3 (2018)
Figure 1

Figure 1. Autophagy is impaired in Becn1+/- microglia

(A) BECN1 expression of microglia from Becn1+/- and wild type mouse pups in full medium without Bafilomycin A1 (Baf) was quantified by Western blotting. Microglia from Becn1+/- mice show a signifcant reduction of BECN1 (48%) compared to microglia from wild type mice; mean ± SEM, wild type n = 3, Becn1+/- n = 7; two-tailed t-test **: p < 0.01. Blot shows representative amounts of BECN1 after various treatments.

(B) Microglia from newborn Becn1+/- and wild type mouse pups were kept for 2 h either in full medium or HBSS with or without Bafilomycin A1 (Baf). LC3 and ACTIN levels were determined by Western blot. LC3-II was significantly reduced in microglia from Becn1+/- mice after Baf treatment in full medium compared to wild type microglia; mean ± SEM, wild type n = 3, Becn1+/- n = 4; two-tailed t-test *: p < 0.05.

(C) Microglia from newborn Becn1+/- and wild type mouse pups were kept for 2 h either in full medium or HBSS with Bafilomycin A1 (Baf) and stained for endogenous LC3. Exemplary images and the quantification of LC3-positive vesicles/µm2 cell area show reduced presence of LC3-positive vesicles in microglia from Becn1+/- and induction of autophagy by HBSS; mean ± SEM, wild type n = 4, Becn1+/- n = 4, 3-5 fields per view/n and condition and 73-271 cells/n and condition; two-tailed t-test *: p < 0.05; scale bar: 20 µm
Beclin1-driven autophagy modulates the inflammatory response of microglia via NLRP3 (2018)
Figure 2

Figure 2. Reduction of BECN1 results in enhanced IL-1beta and IL-18 release

(A, B) Microglia isolated from newborn Becn1+/- and wild type mouse pups were either non treated or treated with a pro-inflammatory stimulus (LPS followed by ATP). As additional controls cells treated only with LPS or ATP were used in (A). The concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta (A) and IL-18 (B) in the cell supernatant was determined by ELISA. Reduction of BECN1 significantly enhanced release of both cytokines after stimulation with LPS/ATP; mean ± SEM, wild type n (A/B) = 9/2, wild type LPS n = 3/0, wild type ATP n = 3/0, wild type LPS/ATP n = 9/9, Becn1+/- n = 23/5, Becn1+/- LPS/ATP n = 23/23, two-tailed t-test *: p < 0.05.

(C) Microglia isolated from wild type mouse pups were pre-incubated in full medium or starvation medium HBSS before addition of a pro-inflammatory stimulus (LPS followed by ATP). The autophagy blocker 3-MA was added for the final 1 h 45 min of the experiment. The concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta in the cell supernatant was determined by ELISA. Incubation with HBSS reduced IL-1beta release significantly while 3-MA treatment increased it; mean ± SEM, full medium n = 6, full medium LPS/ATP n = 6, full medium LPS/ATP + 3MA n = 3, HBSS n = 6, HBSS LPS/ATP n = 6, HBSS LPS/ATP + 3MA n = 6; two-tailed t-test *: p < 0.05; **: p < 0.01.

(D) Microglia isolated from wild type mouse pups were pre-incubated in starvation medium HBSS before addition of a pro-inflammatory stimulus (LPS followed by ATP). The autophagy blocker 3-MA was added for the final 1 h 45 min of the experiment, microglia were stained for LC3 and images taken by confocal microscopy. Representative images show a reduction of LC3-positive vesicles in 3-MA treated cells. Scale bar: 20 µm.

(E) Proteins were extracted from brains of wild type, Becn1+/-, APPPS1 and APPPS1 Becn1+/- mice at the indicated ages. IL-1beta was measured by electrochemiluminescence (MesoScale) and compared within the repective age groups. IL-1beta was significantly increased in the TBS and TX fraction; mean ± SEM, wild type: n (per age group) = 2/6/3, Becn1+/-: n = 2/5/2, APPPS1: n = 5/5/6, APPPS1 Becn1+/-: n = 7/9/6; ANOVA with Dunnett´s post hoc test with WT as control group; *: p < 0.05; **: p < 0.01.

(F) Proteins were extracted from brains of APPPS1 and of APPPS1 Becn1+/- mice at the age as indicated. Amyloid beta 1-40 and 1-42 were measured by electrochemiluminescence (MesoScale) and compared within the repective age groups. No difference in the amyloid beta load between the genotypes is apparent; mean ± SEM, APPPS1: n = 5/5/6, APPPS1 Becn1+/-: n = 7/9/6; ANOVA with Dunnett´s post hoc test with APPPS1 as control group, ns.
Beclin1-driven autophagy modulates the inflammatory response of microglia via NLRP3 (2018)
Figure 3

Figure 3. Reduction of BECN1 influences the IL-1beta processing pathway

(A) The expression of NLRP3 protein in non treated and LPS/ATP treated wild type and Becn1+/- microglia was determined by Western blot and normalised to ACTIN. Reduction of BECN1 significantly enhanced expression of NLRP3; mean ± SEM, wild type n = 4, wild type LPS/ATP n = 9, Becn1+/- n = 4, Becn1+/- LPS/ATP n = 23; ANOVA with Tukey´s post hoc test *: p < 0.05.

(B) The expression of Nlrp3 mRNA in non treated and LPS/ATP treated wild type and Becn1+/- microglia was determined by qPCR. No significant differences can be detected between wild type and Becn1+/- microglia; mean ± SEM, wild type: n = 7, Becn1+/- : n = 3; ANOVA with Tukey ´s post hoc test, ns for LPS/ATP treated wild type versus Becn1+/-.

(C) LPS/ATP treated and non treated wild type and Becn1+/- microglia were immunolabeled for ASC (red) and imaged by confocal microscopy to investigate the assembly of inflammasomes. In non stimulated cells ASC is distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm (upper panels). However, after stimulation formation of inflammasomes (arrowheads) can be detected in a subpopulation of cells as well as release of inflammasomes after pyroptosis/ejection (arrow). Quantification showed a significantly increased percentage of inflammasomes in or around Becn1+/- microglia; mean ± SEM, wild type LPS/ATP n = 4, Becn1+/- LPS/ATP n = 7; two-tailed t-test *: p < 0.05; scale bar: 50 µm, insert scale bar: 10 µm.

(D) The presence of cleaved CASP1 (p10) protein in the supernatant of LPS/ATP treated wild type and Becn1+/- microglia was determined by Western blot and normalised to ACTIN. Reduction of BECN1 significantly enhanced release of CASP1; mean ± SEM, wild type LPS/ATP n = 8, Becn1+/- LPS/ATP n = 18; two-tailed t-test *: p < 0.05.
Beclin1-driven autophagy modulates the inflammatory response of microglia via NLRP3 (2018)
Figure 4

Figure 4. NLRP3 and LC3-positive vesicles are closely associated

(A) LPS/ATP treated and non treated wild type and Becn1+/- microglia were immunolabeled for NLRP3 (green) and LC3 (red) and imaged by confocal microscopy. Stimulation resulted in the appearance of many NLRP3-containing aggregates of different sizes (arrows). In non treated cells, only a few overlapping signals with LC3-stained autophagosomes (arrowheads) are visible. Stimulated microglia however, showed multiple colocalizations of LC3 positive vesicles and NLRP3 aggregates; scale bar: 7.5 µm.

(B) LPS/ATP treated wild type microglia were immunolabeled for NLRP3 (green) and LC3 (red) and analysed by super resolution microscopy (SIM). NLRP3 aggregates of different sizes coclustering with LC3-positive autophagosomes are clearly visible. 3D volume rendering of large (I) and small (II) NLRP3 aggregates from the magnified ROIs showed engulfment of NLRP3 by autophagosomes; scale bar: 10 µm; magnified ROIs: 1 µm.

(C) 3D Radial intensity profiles of NLRP3 and LC3 signals derived from SIM images in wild type microglia, centered on the maxima of NLRP3 clusters. The radial profiles confirm that both proteins colocalize to the same organelle; mean ± SEM, n = 4.
Beclin1-driven autophagy modulates the inflammatory response of microglia via NLRP3 (2018)
Figure 5

Figure 5. CALCOCO2/NDP52 colocalizes with NLRP3 and modulates IL-1beta release

(A) LPS/ATP treated wild type microglia were stained for NLRP3 (green) and CALCOCO2 (red) and analysed by confocal microscopy. Colocalizations of NLRP3 aggregates (arrows) and CALCOCO2 (arrowheads) are apparent; scale bar: 10 µm.

(B) LPS/ATP treated wild type microglia were stained for NLRP3 (green) and CALCOCO2 (red) and analysed by super resolution microscopy (SIM). NLRP3 aggregates coclustering with CALCOCO2-positive signals are visible. 3D volume rendering of NLRP3 aggregates from the magnified ROIs showed close contact of NLRP3 with the autophagic receptor CALCOCO2; scale bar: 10 µm; magnified ROIs: 1 µm.

(C) 3D Radial intensity profiles of NLRP3 and CALCOCO2 signals derived from SIM images in wild type microglia, centered on the maxima of NLRP3 clusters. The radial profiles confirm that both proteins colocalize; mean ± SEM, n = 3.

(D) In SIM images from wild type microglia the sub-autophagosomal localization of NLRP3 was analysed in relation to LC3 and CALCOCO2. LC3 and CALCOCO2 intensities from the center of mass of NLRP3 aggregates were normalised to their maximum within the cluster. While the center of NLRP3 aggregates shows near maximal CALCOCO2 intensity, the relative LC3 intensity there was significantly lower; mean ± SEM, LC3: n = 4, CALCOCO2: n = 3; two-tailed t-test **: p < 0.01.

(E) Microglia from Becn1+/- mice were transfected with scrambled siRNA or with siRNA for CALCOCO2. 6 d after transfection cells were stimulated with LPS/ATP. The expression of CALCOCO2 protein was determined by Western blot. Application of CALCOCO2 siRNA resulted in significantly reduced expression of CALCOCO2; mean ± SEM, n = 3; two-tailed t-test *: p < 0.05.

(F) The amount of IL-1beta in the supernatant released from the cells described in (E) was determined by ELISA. Microglia with a CALCOCO2 knockdown released significantly more IL-1beta; mean ± SEM, n = 3; two-tailed t-test *: p < 0.05.