Lisiane Meira

Dr Lisiane Meira


Lecturer in DNA Damage and Ageing

Academic and research departments

School of Biosciences.

About

Research

Research interests

Supervision

Postgraduate research supervision

Postgraduate research supervision

Teaching

Publications

Irene Ray, Carla S. Moller-Levet, Agnieszka Michael, Simon Butler-Manuel, Jayanta Chatterjee, Anil Tailor, Patricia E Ellis, Lisiane B. Meira (2024)Circulating Adipocytokines and Insulin Like-Growth Factors and Their Modulation in Obesity-Associated Endometrial Cancer, In: Cancers16(3)531 MDPI

Simple Summary The rise in worldwide uterine cancer is tied to increasing obesity, influencing substances such as adipocytokines and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in the body, promoting cancer mainly through inflammation. Our main objective was to evaluate the levels of adiponectin, leptin, TNF alpha, IL6, IGFs 1 and 2 in endometrial cancer patients compared to control patients and to examine their relationship with obesity. Additionally, we aimed to explore the correlation between these markers and tumour characteristics. We also conducted a reassessment of the markers 6 months post-surgery to investigate the impact of treatment on these markers. Given the absence of established biomarkers for endometrial cancer, studying these markers and their variations post-surgery may provide valuable prognostic insights.Abstract The rising global incidence of uterine cancer is linked to the escalating prevalence of obesity. Obesity results in alterations in adipocytokines and IGFs, driving cancer progression via inflammation, increased cell proliferation, and apoptosis inhibition, although the precise mechanisms are still unclear. This study examined a set of six markers, namely, adiponectin, leptin, IL6, TNF alpha, IGF1, and IGF2 and compared them between fifty age-matched endometrial cancer patients (study group) and non-cancer patients with benign gynaecological conditions (control group). We also assessed the relationship of these markers with obesity and explored the correlation between these markers and various tumour characteristics. In the cancer population, these markers were also assessed 24 h and 6 months post-surgery. Remarkably, low adiponectin levels were associated with a 35.8% increase in endometrial cancer risk. Interestingly, compared to control subjects where IGF levels decreased after menopause, post-menopausal women in the study group showed elevated IGF1 and IGF2 levels, suggesting a potential influence of endometrial cancer on the IGF system, particularly after menopause. Lastly, it is noteworthy that a discernible inverse relationship trend was observed in the levels of adipocytokines and IGFs 6 months post-surgery. This indicates that treatment for endometrial cancer may have a differential impact on adipocytokines and IGFs, potentially holding clinical significance that merits further investigation.

Thomas J.R Cox, Eren Ozcagli, Giuseppe Schettino, Lisiane B Meira (2023)Abstract B108: NUDT5 inhibition differentially affects IDH1- Wildtype and Mutant high-grade glioma to induce NAD+ independent radiosensitization and anti-proliferative effects, In: Molecular cancer therapeutics22(12_Supplement)pp. B108-B108

Abstract Adult-type diffuse gliomas are aggressive brain cancers. The widespread standard treatment for these high-grade gliomas (HGG) is the Stupp Protocol, consisting of maximal safe surgical resection followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. However, since the Stupp Protocol, no significant therapeutic advances have been as widely and easily adopted, halting improvements in HGG patient survival. Therefore, identifying new drug targets or treatments that enhance the Stupp Protocol would result in therapeutic benefit. HGG are classified by distinct genetic and metabolic alterations; the most well-known being somatic gain of function mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1/2 genes. These mutations distinguish the two most severe HGGs, namely Grade 4 IDH-Mutant Astrocytoma and IDH-Wildtype Glioblastoma (GBM).  IDH-mutant tumors accumulate the oncometabolite D-2-Hydroxyglutarate, which alters metabolic pathways and DNA damage responses. One metabolic alteration is decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, a metabolite essential for cellular homeostasis, and crucial in IDH-mutants as targeting NAD+ homeostasis is effective against IDH-mutant tumors. Here, we investigated if additional metabolic vulnerabilities within NAD+ and purine biosynthetic pathways could be identified in HGG cells. For this, a panel of cell lines, including an isogenic IDH1-mutant cell line, was screened for their sensitivity to a range of metabolic inhibitors in combination or not with chemo- and radiotherapy.  This screen identified NUDT5, a Nudix hydrolase that metabolizes ADP-Ribose into Ribose-5-Phosphate (R-5-P) to replenish NAD+ pools, and synthesizes nuclear ATP for hormone driven chromatin remodeling, as an important determinant in glioma cell survival. Cell viability assays determined NUDT5 inhibition (NUDT5i) sensitized IDH1-wildtype HGG cells to different radiotherapy modalities, specifically X-rays and alpha particles, whilst IDH1-mutant HGG were sensitive to NUDT5i alone. Live-cell imaging analysis indicated NUDT5i induced cytostasis followed by cytotoxicity in the IDH1-mutant, suggesting IDH1-mutations confer exploitable metabolic dependencies on NUDT5 for proliferation and survival. NUDT5i did not significantly deplete NAD+ levels and NAD+ precursor supplementation failed to rescue cell survival and proliferation, indicating effects of NUDT5i are NAD+ independent. Our results indicate NUDT5 plays a crucial role in HGG proliferation and survival. Given that NUDT5 produces R-5-P for downstream nucleotide synthesis, we hypothesize that NUDT5i impairs nucleotide homeostasis and leads to replication stress. Current investigations include nucleoside supplementation and characterization of replication stress signaling by western blotting. We anticipate our results to prelude further investigations into NUDT5 as a potential therapeutic target in HGG. We suggest NUDT5i could enhance the effectiveness of the Stupp Protocol regardless of IDH-Status and advance HGG therapies. Citation Format: Thomas J.R Cox, Eren Ozcagli, Giuseppe Schettino, Lisiane B Meira. NUDT5 inhibition differentially affects IDH1-Wildtype and Mutant high-grade glioma to induce NAD+ independent radiosensitization and anti-proliferative effects [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B108.

Fernanda Dittrich Oliveira, Rafael Paschoal de Campos, Luiza Cherobini Pereira, Lisiane B Meira, Guido Lenz (2024)Expression of key unfolded protein response genes predicts patient survival and an immunosuppressive microenvironment in glioblastoma, In: Translational Medicine Communications9(1) Springer

Dysregulation of cellular processes related to protein folding and trafficking leads to the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), triggering ER stress. Cells cope with ER stress by activating the unfolded protein response (UPR), a signaling pathway that has been implicated in a variety of diseases, including cancer. However, the role of the UPR in cancer initiation and progression is still unclear. Here we used bulk and single cell RNA sequencing data to investigate ER stress-related gene expression in glioblastoma, as well as the impact key UPR genes have on patient survival. ER stress-related genes are highly expressed in both cancer cells and tumor-associated macrophages, with evidence of high intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity. High expression of the UPR-related genes HSPA5, P4HB, and PDIA4 was identified as risk factors while high MAPK8 (JNK1) expression was identified as a protective factor in glioblastoma patients, indicating UPR genes have prognostic potential in this cancer type. Finally, expression of XBP1 and MAPK8, two key downstream targets of the ER sentinel IRE1[alpha], correlates with the presence of immune cell types associated with immunosuppression and a worse patient outcome. This suggests that the expression of these genes is associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and uncover a potential link between stress response pathways, tumor microenvironment and glioblastoma patient survival. We performed a comprehensive transcriptional characterization of the unfolded protein response in glioblastoma patients and identified UPR-related genes associated with glioblastoma patient survival, providing potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers as well as promising targets for developing new therapeutic interventions in glioblastoma treatment.

Nikunj Shah, Lisiane Meira, Ruan Elliott, Diana Bordin, Clara Forrer-Charlier, Mark Williams, Michael Mahmoudi (2017)CRT-600.17 DNA Ligase Activity Measuring DNA Repair Determines Atherosclerotic Plaque Instability In Acute Coronary Syndrome, In: JACC. Cardiovascular interventions10(3)pp. S56-S56 Elsevier Inc
JM Graham, LB Meira, CR Greenberg, DB Busch, ATB Doughty, DW Ziffer, DM Coleman, I Savre-Train, EC Friedberg (2000)Original COFS syndrome Manitoba Aboriginal kindred has a mutation in the Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) gene, In: PEDIATRIC RESEARCH47(4)pp. 81A-81A INT PEDIATRIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC
DL Cheo, LB Meira, DK Burns, AM Reis, T Issac, EC Friedberg (2000)Ultraviolet B radiation-induced skin cancer in mice defective in the Xpc, Trp53, and Apex (HAP1) genes: Genotype-specific effects on cancer predisposition and pathology of tumors, In: CANCER RESEARCH60(6)pp. 1580-1584 AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH
S Longerich, L Meira, D Shah, LD Samson, U Storb (2007)Alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (Aag) in somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination, In: DNA REPAIR6(12)pp. 1764-1773 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Matshediso Zachariah, Hatem Maamoun, Larissa Milano, MARGARET PHILOMENA RAYMAN, LISIANE BORGES MEIRA, Abdelali Agouni (2020)Endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress drive endothelial dysfunction induced by high selenium, In: Journal of Cellular Physiology

Selenium is an essential trace element important for human health. A balanced intake is, however, crucial to maximize the health benefits of selenium. At physiological concentrations, selenium mediates antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and pro‐survival actions. However, supra‐nutritional selenium intake was associated with increased diabetes risk leading potentially to endothelial dysfunction, the initiating step in atherosclerosis. High selenium causes apoptosis in cancer cells via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a mechanism also implicated in endothelial dysfunction. Nonetheless, whether ER stress drives selenium‐induced endothelial dysfunction, remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of increasing concentrations of selenium on endothelial cells. High selenite reduced nitric oxide bioavailability and impaired angiogenesis. High selenite also induced ER stress, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and apoptosis. Pretreatment with the chemical chaperone, 4‐phenylbutyrate, prevented the toxic effects of selenium. Our findings support a model where high selenite leads to endothelial dysfunction through activation of ER stress and increased ROS production. These results highlight the importance of tailoring selenium supplementation to achieve maximal health benefits and suggest that prophylactic use of selenium supplements as antioxidants may entail risk

L Barazzuol, R Jena, NG Burnet, LB Meira, JC Jeynes, KJ Kirkby, NF Kirkby (2013)Evaluation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor ABT-888 combined with radiotherapy and temozolomide in glioblastoma., In: Radiat Oncol8pp. 65-?

The cytotoxicity of radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be enhanced by modulating DNA repair. PARP is a family of enzymes required for an efficient base-excision repair of DNA single-strand breaks and inhibition of PARP can prevent the repair of these lesions. The current study investigates the trimodal combination of ABT-888, a potent inhibitor of PARP1-2, ionizing radiation and temozolomide(TMZ)-based chemotherapy in glioblastoma (GBM) cells.

LM Brignull, Z Czimmerer, H Saidi, B Daniel, I Villela, NW Bartlett, SL Johnston, LB Meira, L Nagy, A Nohturfft (2013)Reprogramming of lysosomal gene expression by interleukin-4 and Stat6, In: BMC GENOMICS14ARTN 8 BIOMED CENTRAL LTD

Background: Lysosomes play important roles in multiple aspects of physiology, but the problem of how the transcription of lysosomal genes is coordinated remains incompletely understood. The goal of this study was to illuminate the physiological contexts in which lysosomal genes are coordinately regulated and to identify transcription factors involved in this control.Results: As transcription factors and their target genes are often co-regulated, we performed meta-analyses of array-based expression data to identify regulators whose mRNA profiles are highly correlated with those of a core set of lysosomal genes. Among the ~50 transcription factors that rank highest by this measure, 65% are involved in differentiation or development, and 22% have been implicated in interferon signaling. The most strongly correlated candidate was Stat6, a factor commonly activated by interleukin-4 (IL-4) or IL-13. Publicly available chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) data from alternatively activated mouse macrophages show that lysosomal genes are overrepresented among Stat6-bound targets. Quantification of RNA from wild-type and Stat6-deficient cells indicates that Stat6 promotes the expression of over 100 lysosomal genes, including hydrolases, subunits of the vacuolar H+ ATPase and trafficking factors. While IL-4 inhibits and activates different sets of lysosomal genes, Stat6 mediates only the activating effects of IL-4, by promoting increased expression and by neutralizing undefined inhibitory signals induced by IL-4.Conclusions: The current data establish Stat6 as a broadly acting regulator of lysosomal gene expression in mouse macrophages. Other regulators whose expression correlates with lysosomal genes suggest that lysosome function is frequently re-programmed during differentiation, development and interferon signaling. © 2013 Brignull et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

JM Graham, LB Meira, CR Greenberg, NGJ Jaspers, D Busch, DM Coleman, DW Ziffer, EC Friedberg (1999)Original COFS syndrome Manitoba Aboriginal kindred has a mutation in the Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) gene., In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS65(4)pp. A299-A299 UNIV CHICAGO PRESS
LB MEIRA, N MAGANASCHWENCKE, D AVERBECK, JAP HENRIQUES (1994)INVOLVEMENT OF THE PS03 GENE OF SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE IN INTRACHROMOSONAL MITOTIC RECOMBINATION AND GENE AMPLIFICATION, In: MOLECULAR & GENERAL GENETICS245(6)pp. 750-759 SPRINGER VERLAG
LB Meira, K Pease, F Kerrison, M Dong, R Fry, P Dedon, LD Samson (2004)Defective repair of alkylation DNA damage in mice, In: ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS44(3)pp. 215-215
LB Meira, S Devaraj, GE Kisby, DK Burns, RL Daniel, RE Hammer, S Grundy, I Jialal, EC Friedberg (2001)Heterozygosity for the mouse Apex gene results in phenotypes associated with oxidative stress, In: CANCER RESEARCH61(14)pp. 5552-5557 AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH
DL Cheo, LB Meira, RE Hammer, DK Burns, ATB Doughty, EC Friedberg (1996)Synergistic interactions between XPC and p53 mutations in double-mutant mice: Neural tube abnormalities and accelerated UV radiation-induced skin cancer, In: CURRENT BIOLOGY6(12)pp. 1691-1694 CURRENT BIOLOGY LTD
LB Meira, DL Cheo, RE Hammer, DK Burns, A Reis, EC Friedberg (1997)Genetic interaction between HAP1/REF-1 and p53, In: NATURE GENETICS17(2)pp. 145-145 NATURE PUBLISHING CO
RP Beyer, RC Fry, MR Lasarev, LA McConnachie, LB Meira, VS Palmer, CL Powell, PK Ross, TK Bammler, BU Bradford, AB Cranson, ML Cunningham, RD Fannin, GM Higgins, P Hurban, RJ Kayton, KF Kerr, O Kosyk, EK Lobenhofer, SO Sieber, PA Vliet, BK Weis, R Wolfinger, CG Woods, JH Freedman, E Linney, WK Kaufmann, TJ Kavanagh, RS Paules, I Rusyn, LD Samson, PS Spencer, W Suk, RJ Tennant, H Zarbl (2007)Multicenter study of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity reveals the importance of biological endpoints in genomic analyses, In: TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES99(1)pp. 326-337 OXFORD UNIV PRESS
MM Mendes, AL Darling, L Meira, SA Lanham-New (2014)Vitamin D status and body composition in UK Caucasian and South Asian postmenopausal women: results from the DFINES II study, In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY73(OCE1)pp. E40-E40
JA Calvo, LB Meira, CY Lee, CA Moroski-Erkul, N Abolhassani, K Taghizadeh, LW Eichinger, S Muthupalani, LM Nordstrand, A Klungland, LD Samson (2012)DNA repair is indispensable for survival after acute inflammation., In: J Clin Invest.122(7)pp. 2680-2689 American Society for Clinical Investigation

More than 15% of cancer deaths worldwide are associated with underlying infections or inflammatory conditions, therefore understanding how inflammation contributes to cancer etiology is important for both cancer prevention and treatment. Inflamed tissues are known to harbor elevated etheno-base (ε-base) DNA lesions induced by the lipid peroxidation that is stimulated by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) released from activated neutrophils and macrophages. Inflammation contributes to carcinogenesis in part via RONS-induced cytotoxic and mutagenic DNA lesions, including ε-base lesions. The mouse alkyl adenine DNA glycosylase (AAG, also known as MPG) recognizes such base lesions, thus protecting against inflammation-associated colon cancer. Two other DNA repair enzymes are known to repair ε-base lesions, namely ALKBH2 and ALKBH3; thus, we sought to determine whether these DNA dioxygenase enzymes could protect against chronic inflammation-mediated colon carcinogenesis. Using established chemically induced colitis and colon cancer models in mice, we show here that ALKBH2 and ALKBH3 provide cancer protection similar to that of the DNA glycosylase AAG. Moreover, Alkbh2 and Alkbh3 each display apparent epistasis with Aag. Surprisingly, deficiency in all 3 DNA repair enzymes confers a massively synergistic phenotype, such that animals lacking all 3 DNA repair enzymes cannot survive even a single bout of chemically induced colitis.

EC Friedberg, LB Meira, DL Cheo (1998)Database of mouse strains carrying targeted mutations in genes affecting cellular responses to DNA damage. Version 2, In: MUTATION RESEARCH-DNA REPAIR407(3)pp. 217-226 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
LB Meira, DL Cheo, AM Reis, N Claij, DK Burns, HT Riele, EC Friedberg (2002)Mice defective in the mismatch repair gene Msh2 show increased predisposition to UVB radiation-induced skin cancer, In: DNA REPAIR1(11)PII S1568-pp. 929-934 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
LB Meira, DL Cheo, AM Reis, N Chaij, DK Burns, H te Riele, EC Friedberg (2002)Mice defective in the mismatch repair gene Msh2 show increased predisposition to UVB radiation-induced skin cancer (vol 1, pg 929, 2002), In: DNA REPAIR1(12)PII S1568-pp. 1063-1063 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Eleanor Healing, Lisiane Meira, Philip Aston, M.J. Tindall, Ruan Elliott (2016)Measurement of DNA repair activity in hepatocytes exposed to fatty acids, In: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society Volume 75, Issue OCE3 (Summer Meeting, 11–14 July 2016, New technology in nutrition research and practice)75(OCE3)

DNA repair capacity varies greatly between individuals, and evidence has begun to link this variation to cancer risk, obesity and related chronic diseases. There is also emerging evidence that dietary components can affect DNA repair, but research to date has been restricted by methods for measuring DNA repair. This study made use of newly developed microplate-based assays for the direct determination of DNA repair enzyme activities. Lipid loading of the HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line was employed as a model to test the hypothesis that hepatic steatosis affects DNA repair activity via induction of oxidative stress.

Irene Ray, Agnieszka Michael, Lisiane B Meira, Patricia E Ellis (2023)The Role of Cytokines in Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Gynaecological Cancers: A Systematic Review, In: Cells (Basel, Switzerland)12(3)416

Chronic inflammation has been closely linked to the development and progression of various cancers. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process involving the acquisition of mesenchymal features by carcinoma cells and is an important link between inflammation and cancer development. Inflammatory mediators in the tumour micro-environment, such as cytokines and chemokines, can promote EMT changes in cancer cells. The aim of this systematic review is to analyse the effect of cytokines on EMT in gynaecological cancers and discuss their possible therapeutic implications. A search of the databases CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, PubMed, TRIP, and Web of Science was performed using the keywords: "cytokines" AND "epithelial mesenchymal transition OR transformation" AND "gynaecological cancer". Seventy-one articles reported that various cytokines, such as TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6, etc., promoted EMT changes in ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers. The EMT changes included from epithelial to mesenchymal morphological change, downregulation of the epithelial markers E-cadherin/β-catenin, upregulation of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin/vimentin/fibronectin, and upregulation of the EMT-transformation factors (EMT-TF) / . Cytokine-induced EMT can lead to gynaecological cancer development and metastasis and hence novel therapies targeting the cytokines or their EMT signalling pathways could possibly prevent cancer progression, reduce cancer recurrence, and prevent drug-resistance.

K Kobayashi, LB Meira, LD Samson (2003)Transcriptional responses of Aag knockout mouse embryonic stem cells upon exposure to Me-Lex., In: TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES72pp. 256-256
LB Meira, L Samson (2003)Complex responses to damaging agents, In: DRUG METABOLISM REVIEWS35pp. 15-15
TM Hitchcock, L Dong, EE Connor, LB Meira, LD Samson, MD Wyatt, WG Cao (2004)Oxanine DNA glycosylase activity from mammalian alkyladenine glycosylase, In: JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY279(37)pp. 38177-38183 AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC
LB MEIRA, MB FONSECA, D AVERBECK, ACG SCHENBERG, JAP HENRIQUES (1992)THE PSO4-1 MUTATION REDUCES SPONTANEOUS MITOTIC GENE CONVERSION AND RECIPROCAL RECOMBINATION IN SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE, In: MOLECULAR & GENERAL GENETICS235(2-3)pp. 311-316 SPRINGER VERLAG
NR Shah, L Meira, RM Elliott, PJ Howlett, AJ Brown, M Williams, NE West, S Hoole, M Mahmoudi (2015)DNA repair activity determines atherosclerotic plaque stability in patients with stable coronary artery disease, In: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY66(15)pp. B124-B124
JA Calvo, CA Moroski-Erkul, A Lake, LW Eichinger, D Shah, I Jhun, P Limsirichai, RT Bronson, DC Christiani, LB Meira, LD Samson (2013)Aag DNA Glycosylase Promotes Alkylation-Induced Tissue Damage Mediated by Parp1, In: PLOS GENETICS9(4)ARTN epp. ?-? PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
DL Cheo, HJT Ruven, LB Meira, RE Hammer, DK Burns, NJ Tappe, AA van Zeeland, LHF Mullenders, EC Friedberg (1997)Characterization of defective nucleotide excision repair in XPC mutant mice, In: MUTATION RESEARCH-FUNDAMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF MUTAGENESIS374(1)pp. 1-9 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
AM Reis, DL Cheo, LB Meira, MS Greenblatt, JP Bond, D Nahari, EC Friedberg (2000)Genotype-specific Trp53 mutational analysis in ultraviolet B radiation-induced skin cancers in Xpc and Xpc Trp53 mutant mice, In: CANCER RESEARCH60(6)pp. 1571-1579 AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH
JM Bugni, LB Meira, LD Samson (2009)Alkylation-induced colon tumorigenesis in mice deficient in the Mgmt and Msh6 proteins, In: ONCOGENE28(5)pp. 734-741 NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) suppresses mutations and cell death that result from alkylation damage. MGMT expression is lost by epigenetic silencing in a variety of human cancers including nearly half of sporadic colorectal cancers, suggesting that this loss maybe causal. Using mice with a targeted disruption of the Mgmt gene, we tested whether Mgmt protects against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF), against AOM and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colorectal adenomas and against spontaneous intestinal adenomas in ApcMin mice. We also examined the genetic interaction of the Mgmt null gene with a DNA mismatch repair null gene, namely Msh6. Both Mgmt and Msh6 independently suppress AOM-induced ACF, and combination of the two mutant alleles had a multiplicative effect. This synergism can be explained entirely by the suppression of alkylation-induced apoptosis when Msh6 is absent. In addition, following AOM+DSS treatment Mgmt protected against adenoma formation to the same degree as it protected against AOM-induced ACF formation. Finally, Mgmt deficiency did not affect spontaneous intestinal adenoma development in ApcMin/+ mice, suggesting that Mgmt suppresses intestinal cancer associated with exogenous alkylating agents, and that endogenous alkylation does not contribute to the rapid tumor development seen in ApcMin/+ mice.

EC Friedberg, LB Meira (2000)Database of mouse strains carrying targeted mutations in genes affecting cellular responses to DNA damage. Version 4, In: MUTATION RESEARCH-DNA REPAIR459(4)pp. 243-274 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
LB MEIRA, JAP HENRIQUES, N MAGANASCHWENCKE (1995)8-METHOXYPSORALEN PHOTOINDUCED PLASMID-CHROMOSOME RECOMBINATION IN SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE USING A CENTROMERIC VECTOR, In: NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH23(9)pp. 1614-1620 OXFORD UNIV PRESS
CB QUEROL, SO PAESITORESAN, LB MEIRA, M BRENDEL, JAP HENRIQUES (1994)ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 3 MUTANTS WITH INCREASED SENSITIVITY TO PHOTOACTIVATED 3-CARBETHOXYPSORALEN IN SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE, In: CURRENT GENETICS25(5)pp. 407-411 SPRINGER VERLAG
JM Graham, LB Meira, CR Greenberg, D Busch, EC Friedberg (2000)Original COFS syndrome kindred from Manitoba has a mutation in the cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) gene., In: JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE MEDICINE48(1)pp. 48A-48A LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
Fahad A. Alhumaydhi, Debora de O. Lopes, Diana L. Bordin, Abdullah S. M. Aljohani, Cameron B. Lloyd, Michael D. McNicholas, Larissa Milano, Clara F. Charlier, Izabel Villela, João Antonio P. Henriques, Kathryn E. Plant, Ruan M. Elliott, Lisiane B. Meira (2020)Alkyladenine DNA glycosylase deficiency uncouples alkylation-induced strand break generation from PARP-1 activation and glycolysis inhibition, In: Scientific Reports10(1) Nature Publishing Group

DNA alkylation damage is repaired by base excision repair (BER) initiated by alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (AAG). Despite its role in DNA repair, AAG-initiated BER promotes cytotoxicity in a process dependent on poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1); a NAD+-consuming enzyme activated by strand break intermediates of the AAG-initiated repair process. Importantly, PARP-1 activation has been previously linked to impaired glycolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, whether alkylation affects cellular metabolism in the absence of AAG-mediated BER initiation is unclear. To address this question, we temporally profiled repair and metabolism in wild-type and Aag−I− cells treated with the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). We show that, although Aag−I− cells display similar levels of alkylation-induced DNA breaks as wild type, PARP-1 activation is undetectable in AAG-deficient cells. Accordingly, Aag−I− cells are protected from MMS-induced NAD+ depletion and glycolysis inhibition. MMS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, however, is AAG-independent. Furthermore, treatment with FK866, a selective inhibitor of the NAD+ salvage pathway enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), synergizes with MMS to induce cytotoxicity and Aag−I− cells are resistant to this combination FK866 and MMS treatment. Thus, AAG plays an important role in the metabolic response to alkylation that could be exploited in the treatment of conditions associated with NAD+ dysregulation.

EC Friedberg, JP Bond, DK Burns, DL Cheo, MS Greenblatt, LB Meira, D Nahari, AM Reis (2000)Defective nucleotide excision repair in Xpc mutant mice and its association with cancer predisposition, In: MUTATION RESEARCH-DNA REPAIR459(2)pp. 99-108 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Nikunj Shah, Lisiane B. Meira, Ruan M. Elliott, Stephen P. Hoole, Nick E. West, Adam J. Brown, Martin R. Bennett, Hector M. Garcia-Garcia, Kayode O. Kuku, Kazuhiro Dan, Paul Kolm, Mark Mariathas, Nick Curzen, Michael Mahmoudi (2019)DNA damage and repair in patients with coronary artery disease: Correlation with plaque morphology using optical coherence tomography (DECODE study), In: Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine20(9)pp. 812-818 Elsevier

Objective The aim of this study was to examine DNA ligase activity and expression of DNA damage response pathway (DDR) genes in patients with stable angina (SA) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and determine whether they correlate with plaque morphology. Background Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have evidence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). It is unclear whether this represents excess damage or defective DNA repair activity. Methods DNA ligase activity and the expression of 22 DDR genes were measured in PBMCs of patients (both SA (n = 47) and NSTEMI (n = 42)) and in age and gender-matched controls (n = 35). Target lesion anatomical assessment was undertaken with frequency domain optical coherent tomography. Results DNA ligase activity was different across the three groups of patients (control = 119 ± 53, NSTEMI = 115.6 ± 85.1, SA = 81 ± 55.7 units/g of nuclear protein; ANOVA p = 0.023). Pair wise comparison demonstrated that this significance is due to differences between the control and SA patients (p = 0.046). Genes involved in double strand break repair and nucleotide excision repair pathways were differentially expressed in patients with SA and NSTEMI. In SA patients, fibrocalcific plaques were strongly associated with GTSE1, DDB1, MLH3 and ERCC1 expression. By contrast, in NSTEMI patients the strongest association was observed between fibrous plaques and ATM and XPA expression. Conclusion PBMCs from patients with CAD exhibit differences in DNA ligase activity and expression of DDR genes. Expression levels of certain DDR genes are strongly associated with plaque morphology and may play a role in plaque development and progression.

NM Leguisamo, HC Gloria, AN Kalil, TV Martins, DB Azambuja, Lisiane Meira, J Saffi (2017)Base excision repair imbalance in colorectal cancer has prognostic value and modulates response to chemotherapy, In: Oncotargetpp. 1-16 Impact Journals

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is prevalent worldwide, and treatment often involves surgery and genotoxic chemotherapy. DNA repair mechanisms, such as base excision repair (BER) and mismatch repair (MMR), may not only influence tumour characteristics and prognosis but also dictate chemotherapy response. Defective MMR contributes to chemoresistance in colorectal cancer. Moreover, BER affects cellular survival by repairing genotoxic base damage in a process that itself can disrupt metabolism. In this study, we characterized BER and MMR gene expression in colorectal tumours and the association between this repair profile with patients’ clinical and pathological features. In addition, we exploited the possible mechanisms underlying the association between altered DNA repair, metabolism and response to chemotherapy. Seventy pairs of sporadic colorectal tumour samples and adjacent non-tumour mucosal specimens were assessed for BER and MMR gene and protein expression and their association with pathological and clinical features. MMR-deficient colon cancer cells (HCT116) transiently overexpressing MPG or XRCC1 were treated with 5-FU or TMZ and evaluated for viability and metabolic intermediate levels. Increase in BER gene and protein expression is associated with more aggressive tumour features and poor pathological outcomes in CRC. However, tumours with reduced MMR gene expression also displayed low MPG, OGG1 and PARP1 expression. Imbalancing BER by overexpression of MPG, but not XRCC1, sensitises MMR-deficient colon cancer cells to 5-FU and TMZ and leads to ATP depletion and lactate accumulation. MPG overexpression alters DNA repair and metabolism and is a potential strategy to overcome 5-FU chemotherapeutic resistance in MMR-deficient CRC.

JJ Raffoul, DC Cabelof, J Nakamura, LB Meira, EC Friedberg, AR Heydari (2004)Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE/REF-1) haploinsufficient mice display tissue-specific differences in DNA polymerase beta-dependent base excision repair, In: JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY279(18)pp. 18425-18433 AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC
A Maor-Shoshani, LB Meira, X Yang, LD Samson (2008)3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase ill important for cellular resistance to psoralen interstrand cross-links, In: DNA REPAIR7(8)pp. 1399-1406 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
E Polycarpou, LB Meira, S Carrington, E Tyrrell, H Modjtahedi, MA Carew (2013)Resveratrol 3-O-D-glucuronide and resveratrol 4 '-O-D-glucuronide inhibit colon cancer cell growth: Evidence for a role of A3 adenosine receptors, cyclin D1 depletion, and G1 cell cycle arrest, In: MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH57(10)pp. 1708-1717 WILEY-BLACKWELL
D Shah, G Marinov, L Meira, L Samson (2006)Cellular responses to 3-methyladenine DNA lesions., In: ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS47(6)pp. 467-467
J Klapacz, LB Meira, W Edelmann, LD Samson (2004)Investigating the role of exonuclease I in the O-6-methylguanine-induced apoptosis, In: ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS44(3)pp. 210-210
A Unnikrishnan, JJ Raffoul, HV Patel, TM Prychitko, N Anyangwe, LB Meira, EC Friedberg, DC Cabelof, AR Heydari (2009)Oxidative stress alters base excision repair pathway and increases apoptotic response in apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 haploinsufficient mice, In: FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE46(11)pp. 1488-1499 ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
LB Meira, JA Calvo, D Shah, J Klapacz, CA Moroski-Erkul, RT Bronson, LD Samson (2014)Repair of endogenous DNA base lesions modulate lifespan in mice, In: DNA REPAIR21pp. 78-86 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
D AVERBECK, M DARDALHON, N MAGANASCHWENCKE, LB MEIRA, V MENIEL, S BOITEUX, E SAGE (1992)NEW ASPECTS OF THE REPAIR AND GENOTOXICITY OF PSORALEN PHOTOINDUCED LESIONS IN DNA, In: JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY14(1-2)pp. 47-63 ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA LAUSANNE
I Villela, B Heidenreich, M Cheema, T di Martino, LD Samson, LB Meira (2011)Dissecting the mechanism of DNA damage induced photoreceptor cell death, In: TOXICOLOGY290(2-3)pp. 143-143 ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
L Dong, LB Meira, TK Hazra, LD Samson, W Cao (2006)Novel oxanine DNA glycosylase activities in mammalian systems., In: ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS47(6)pp. 449-449
GE Kisby, RC Fry, MR Lasarev, TK Bammler, RP Beyer, M Churchwell, DR Doerge, LB Meira, VS Palmer, A-L Ramos-Crawford, X Ren, RC Sullivan, TJ Kavanagh, LD Samson, H Zarbl, PS Spencer (2011)The Cycad Genotoxin MAM Modulates Brain Cellular Pathways Involved in Neurodegenerative Disease and Cancer in a DNA Damage-Linked Manner, In: PLOS ONE6(6)ARTN epp. ?-? PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
J Calvo, L Meira, C-Y Lee, C Moroski-Erkul, N Abolhassani, K Taghizadeh, S Muthupalani, L Nordstrand, A Klungland, L Samson (2012)DNA Repair Is Indispensable for Survival after Acute Inflammation in Mice, In: ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS53pp. S14-S14
Stella Totti, SI Vernardis, Lisiane Meira, PA Pérez-Mancera, E Costello, W Greenhalf, D Palmer, J Neoptolemos, A Mantalaris, Eirini Velliou (2017)Designing a bio-inspired bio-mimetic in vitro system for the optimisation of ex vivo studies of pancreatic cancer, In: Drug Discovery Today22(4)pp. 690-701 Elsevier

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and lethal human malignancies. Drug therapies and radiotherapy are used for treatment as adjuvants to surgery, but outcomes remain disappointing. Advances in tissue engineering point that three-dimensional cultures can reflect the in vivo tumour micro-environment and can guarantee a physiological distribution of oxygen, nutrients and drugs, therefore, being promising low cost tools for therapy development. In this work we review crucial elements, i.e., structural and environmental, that should be considered for an accurate design of an ex vivo platform for studies of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, we propose environmental stress response biomarkers as platform readouts for the efficient control and further prediction of the pancreatic cancer response to the environmental and treatment input.

Irene Ray, Lisiane B Meira, Agnieszka Michael, Patricia E Ellis (2022)Adipocytokines and disease progression in endometrial cancer: a systematic review, In: Cancer and metastasis reviews41(1)pp. 211-242 Springer Nature

The objective of the study was to document the effect of adipocytokines on endometrial cancer progression. A search of the databases CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Embase and Google Scholar was performed for English language articles from January 2000 to December 2020 using the keywords: (Endometrial cancer) AND (progression OR metastasis) AND (adipocytokine OR adiponectin OR leptin OR visfatin OR IL-6 OR TNF-alpha OR adipokine OR cytokine). Forty-nine studies on adipocytokines have been included in this review. Adiponectin has been linked with anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects on endometrial cancer cells and is associated with a better prognosis. Leptin, visfatin and resistin are linked to the stimulation of endometrial cancer growth, proliferation, invasion and metastasis and are associated with worse prognosis or with a higher grade/stage of endometrial cancer. IL-6, Il-11, IL-31, IL-33, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta 1, SDF-1 and CXCR are involved in endometrial cancer cell growth and metastasis or involved in epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) or associated with advanced disease. Adipocytokines have been found to directly impact endometrial cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration. These molecules and their signalling pathways may be used to determine prognosis and course of the disease and may also be exploited as potential targets for cancer treatment and prevention of progression.

Larissa Milano, Clara. F Charlier, Rafaela Andreguetti, THOMAS JAMES COX, Eleanor Healing, Marcos P Thomé, RUAN MICHAEL ELLIOTT, LD Samson, Jean-Yves Masson, G Lenz, João Antonio P Henriques, A Nohturfft, LISIANE BORGES MEIRA (2022)A DNA repair-independent role for alkyladenine DNA glycosylase in alkylation-induced unfolded protein response, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS119(9)e2111404119 PNAS

Alkylating agents damage DNA and proteins and are widely used in cancer chemotherapy. While cellular responses to alkylation-induced DNA damage have been explored, knowledge of how alkylation affects global cellular stress responses is sparse. Here, we examined the effects of the alkylating agent methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) on gene expression in mouse liver, using mice deficient in alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (Aag), the enzyme that initiates the repair of alkylated DNA bases. MMS induced a robust transcriptional response in wild-type liver that included markers of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response (UPR) known to be controlled by XBP1, a key UPR effector. Importantly, this response is significantly reduced in the knockout. To investigate how AAG affects alkylation-induced UPR, the expression of UPR markers after MMS treatment was interrogated in human glioblastoma cells expressing different AAG levels. Alkylation induced the UPR in cells expressing AAG; conversely, knockdown compromised UPR induction and led to a defect in XBP1 activation. To verify the requirements for the DNA repair activity of AAG in this response, knockdown cells were complemented with wild-type or with an variant producing a glycosylase-deficient AAG protein. As expected, the glycosylase-defective Aag does not fully protect knockdown cells against MMS-induced cytotoxicity. Remarkably, however, alkylation-induced XBP1 activation is fully complemented by the catalytically inactive AAG enzyme. This work establishes that, besides its enzymatic activity, AAG has noncanonical functions in alkylation-induced UPR that contribute to cellular responses to alkylation.

L Dong, RA Glass, LB Meira, LD Samson, W Cao (2007)Novel xanthine DNA glycosylase (XDG) activities in mammalian and yeast systems., In: ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS48(7)pp. 569-569
LB Meira, JM Graham, CR Greenberg, DB Busch, ATB Doughty, DW Ziffer, DM Coleman, I Savre-Train, EC Friedberg (2000)Manitoba aboriginal kindred with original cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome has a mutation in the Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) gene, In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS66(4)pp. 1221-1228 UNIV CHICAGO PRESS
Eleanor Healing, Clara. F Charlier, Lisie Meira, Ruan Elliott (2019)A panel of colorimetric assays to measure enzymatic activity in the base excision DNA repair pathway, In: Nucleic Acids Research47(11)e61 Oxford University Press

DNA repair is essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity, and evidence suggest that interindividual variation in DNA repair efficiency maycontribute to disease risk. However, robust assays suitable for quantitative determination of DNA repair capacity in large cohort and clinical trials are needed to evaluate these apparent associations fully. We describe here a set of microplate-based oligonucleotide assays for high-throughput, non-radioactiveand quantitative determination of repair enzyme activity at individual steps and over multiple steps of the DNA base excision repair pathway. The assays are highly sensitive: using HepG2 nuclear extract, enzyme activities were quantifiable at concentrationsof 0.0002 to 0.181 g per reaction, depending on the enzyme being measured. Assay coefficients of variation are comparable with other microplate-based assays. The assay format requires no specialist equipment and has the potential to be extended for analysis of a wide range of DNA repair enzyme activities. As such, these assays hold considerable promise for gaining new mechanistic insights into how DNA repair is related to individual genetics, disease status or progression and other environmental factors and investigating whether DNA repair activities can be used a biomarker of disease risk.

LB Meira, CA Moroski-Erkul, SL Green, JA Calvo, RT Bronson, D Shah, LD Samson (2009)Aag-initiated base excision repair drives alkylation-induced retinal degeneration in mice., In: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A106(3)pp. 888-893

Vision loss affects >3 million Americans and many more people worldwide. Although predisposing genes have been identified their link to known environmental factors is unclear. In wild-type animals DNA alkylating agents induce photoreceptor apoptosis and severe retinal degeneration. Alkylation-induced retinal degeneration is totally suppressed in the absence of the DNA repair protein alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (Aag) in both differentiating and postmitotic retinas. Moreover, transgenic expression of Aag activity restores the alkylation sensitivity of photoreceptors in Aag null animals. Aag heterozygotes display an intermediate level of retinal degeneration, demonstrating haploinsufficiency and underscoring that Aag expression confers a dominant retinal degeneration phenotype.

LB Meira, NE Burgis, LD Samson (2005)Base excision repair, In: N Back, IR Cohen, D Kritchevsky, A Lajtha, R Paoletti, EA Nigg (eds.), Genome Instability in Cancer Development570pp. 125-173 SPRINGER
LB Meira, AMC Reis, DL Cheo, D Nahari, DK Burns, EC Friedberg (2001)Cancer predisposition in mutant mice defective in multiple genetic pathways: uncovering important genetic interactions, In: MUTATION RESEARCH-FUNDAMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF MUTAGENESIS477(1-2)pp. 51-58 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
J Klapacz, LB Meira, DG Luchetti, JA Calvo, RT Bronson, W Edelmann, LD Samson (2009)O-6-methylguanine-induced cell death involves exonuclease 1 as well as DNA mismatch recognition in vivo, In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA106(2)pp. 576-581 NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DL Bordin, M Lima, G Lenz, J Saffi, LB Meira, P Mesange, DG Soares, AK Larsen, AE Escargueil, JAP Henriques (2013)DNA alkylation damage and autophagy induction, In: MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH753(2)pp. 91-99 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
LB Meira, JM Bugni, SL Green, C-W Lee, B Pang, D Borenshtein, BH Rickman, AB Rogers, CA Moroski-Erkul, JL McFaline, DB Schauer, PC Dedon, JG Fox, LD Samson (2008)DNA damage induced by chronic inflammation contributes to colon carcinogenesis in mice, In: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION118(7)pp. 2516-2525 AMER SOC CLINICAL INVESTIGATION INC
N Alasmael, R Mohan, LB Meira, KE Swales, NJ Plant (2015)Activation of the Farnesoid X-receptor in breast cancer cell lines results in cytotoxicity but not increased migration potential, In: Cancer Letters Elsevier

Breast cancer is the commonest form of cancer in women, but successful treatment is confounded by the heterogeneous nature of breast tumours: Effective treatments exist for hormone-sensitive tumours, but triple-negative breast cancer results in poor survival. An area of increasing interest is metabolic reprogramming, whereby drug-induced alterations in the metabolic landscape of a tumour slow tumour growth and/or increase sensitivity to existing therapeutics. Nuclear receptors are transcription factors central to the expression of metabolic and transport proteins, and thus represent potential targets for metabolic reprogramming. We show that activation of the nuclear receptor FXR, either by its endogenous ligand CDCA or the synthetic GW4064, leads to cell death in four breast cancer cell lines with distinct phenotypes: MCF-10A (normal), MCF-7 (receptor positive), MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 (triple negative). Furthermore, we show that the mechanism of cell death is predominantly through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Finally, we demonstrate that FXR agonists do not stimulate migration in breast cancer cell lines, an important potential adverse effect. Together, our data support the continued examination of FXR agonists as a novel class of therapeutics for the treatment of breast cancer.

L Dong, LB Meira, TK Hazra, LD Samson, W Cao (2008)Oxanine DNA glycosylase activities in mammalian systems, In: DNA REPAIR7(1)pp. 128-134 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
J Ringvoll, MN Moen, LM Nordstrand, LB Meira, B Pang, A Bekkelund, PC Dedon, S Bjelland, LD Samson, PO Falnes, A Klungland (2008)AlkB homologue 2-mediated repair of ethenoadenine lesions in mammalian DNA, In: CANCER RESEARCH68(11)pp. 4142-4149 AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH
EC Friedberg, LB Meira, DL Cheo (1997)Database of mouse strains carrying targeted mutations in genes affecting cellular responses to DNA damage, In: MUTATION RESEARCH-DNA REPAIR383(2)pp. 183-188 ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

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