In vivo single-cell CRISPR uncovers distinct TNF programmes in tumour evolution.
Peter F RenzUmesh GhoshdastiderSimona Baghai SainFabiola Valdivia-FranciaAmeya KhandekarMark OrmistonMartino BernasconiClara DuréJonas A KretzMinkyoung LeeKatie HyamsMerima FornyMarcel F PohlyXenia FichtStephanie J EllisAndreas E MoorAtaman SendoelPublished in: Nature (2024)
The tumour evolution model posits that malignant transformation is preceded by randomly distributed driver mutations in cancer genes, which cause clonal expansions in phenotypically normal tissues. Although clonal expansions can remodel entire tissues 1-3 , the mechanisms that result in only a small number of clones transforming into malignant tumours remain unknown. Here we develop an in vivo single-cell CRISPR strategy to systematically investigate tissue-wide clonal dynamics of the 150 most frequently mutated squamous cell carcinoma genes. We couple ultrasound-guided in utero lentiviral microinjections, single-cell RNA sequencing and guide capture to longitudinally monitor clonal expansions and document their underlying gene programmes at single-cell transcriptomic resolution. We uncover a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) signalling module, which is dependent on TNF receptor 1 and involving macrophages, that acts as a generalizable driver of clonal expansions in epithelial tissues. Conversely, during tumorigenesis, the TNF signalling module is downregulated. Instead, we identify a subpopulation of invasive cancer cells that switch to an autocrine TNF gene programme associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Finally, we provide in vivo evidence that the autocrine TNF gene programme is sufficient to mediate invasive properties and show that the TNF signature correlates with shorter overall survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Collectively, our study demonstrates the power of applying in vivo single-cell CRISPR screening to mammalian tissues, unveils distinct TNF programmes in tumour evolution and highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between clonal expansions in epithelia and tumorigenesis.
Keyphrases
- single cell
- genome wide
- rheumatoid arthritis
- rna seq
- squamous cell carcinoma
- epithelial mesenchymal transition
- high throughput
- gene expression
- crispr cas
- genome editing
- dna methylation
- genome wide identification
- copy number
- study protocol
- randomized controlled trial
- healthcare
- affordable care act
- ultrasound guided
- single molecule
- transforming growth factor
- transcription factor
- locally advanced
- rectal cancer
- fine needle aspiration
- childhood cancer