Biology subjects

Anchang, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Anchang, B..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Identification of distinct functions of GLIS3 in β-cell generation critical to prevention of neonatal diabetes

GLIS3 plays a critical role in pancreatic {beta} cells and diabetes, being one of only a few genes implicated in Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational diabetes. In addition to {beta} cells, GLIS3 is expressed embryonically in bipotent and proendocrine progenitor cells, suggesting a role in endocrine lineage development in mice. We hypothesize that GLIS3 is playing important roles in endocrine development as well as during {beta} cell differentiation. We utilized single cell RNA-sequencing at three different timepoints (embryonic day (e)13.5, e15.5, and e18.5) and single nucleus (sn)ATAC-sequencing at e15.5 in both wild type (WT) and Glis3 Knockout (Glis3KO) mouse embryos. This analysis revealed that the numbers of bipotent, proendocrine progenitor, and all subsequent endocrine cells were proportionately reduced in Glis3KO mice. Additionally, loss of GLIS3 function generates a unique subpopulation of cells that fail to upregulate Ins2 transcription and downregulate expression of several ribosomal and oxidative phosphorylation genes normally repressed during pre{beta} to {beta} cell differentiation. Our study therefore shows that GLIS3 regulates two distinct stages: the embryonic generation/differentiation of bipotent cells and the differentiation of pre{beta} to {beta} cells. Dysregulation of these two stages provides a causal mechanism for the development of neonatal diabetes in GLIS3-deficiency.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2025

CyTOF-based profiling of circulating tumor cells predicts aggressiveness and therapy response in SCLC liquid biopsies at a personalized level

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma characterized by high numbers of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). We applied CyTOF and a 20-marker antibody panel to detect and phenotype CTCs directly in liquid biopsies of 51 SCLC patients (treatment-naive, chemotherapy and immunotherapy-treated, and tarlatamab-treated), of which a subset were longitudinally tracked. Unsupervised clustering revealed distinct cell populations enriched in patient liquid biopsies compared to those from healthy donors. Further analysis identified CTC populations of the three established SCLC subtypes driven by the high expression of ASCL1, NeuroD1, and POU2F3 transcription factors respectively. Significant differences in CTC EMT markers, established therapeutic targets (e.g. DLL3), and subtype heterogeneity were observed between naive versus treated samples. Changes in subtype proportions were observed in longitudinally tracked samples in both treatment modalities. Our study demonstrates the utility of CyTOF for high-resolution CTC profiling, offering dynamic insights into CTC heterogeneity, treatment response, and resistance mechanisms. HighlightsO_LICTCs can be detected, subtyped and phenotyped in SCLC liquid biopsies using CyTOF C_LIO_LICTC subtypes and EMT states are differentially associated with treatment modality C_LIO_LICTC DLL3 levels and epithelial features increase following anti-DLL3 BiTE therapy C_LIO_LICyTOF CTC subtyping can predict disease aggressiveness C_LIO_LILongitudinal tracking reveals CTC plasticity and therapy response correlations C_LI Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=132 SRC="FIGDIR/small/694669v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (46K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@384cbcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@35dd37org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4e7d61org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1098e4f_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

KDM5B expression is suppressed by MYC in a negative feedback loop to promote cell survival.

Both c-MYC and KDM5B are global regulators of gene transcription, cell identity, and master transcription factors in hematopoietic malignancies. In this study we link these two critical factors in a negative feedback loop that controls apoptosis and cell survival. We find the MYC specifically downregulates KDM5B, thereby inhibiting its transcriptional repressive functions. Loss of KDM5B abrogates the cell death response to MYC withdrawal in MYC-dependent cells, indicating KDM5B mediates cell death. We find that KDM5B regulates the MYC network, and specifically demethylates the MYC locus. In summary we have discovered a negative feedback loop between MYC and KDM5B. The MYC-dependent suppression of KDM5B leads to a global increase in H3K4me3 methylation, transcriptional activity, and increase cell survival and tumor progression.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Progenitor identification and SARS-CoV-2 infection in long-term human distal lung organoid cultures

The distal lung contains terminal bronchioles and alveoli that facilitate gas exchange and is affected by disorders including interstitial lung disease, cancer, and SARS-CoV-2-associated COVID-19 pneumonia. Investigations of these localized pathologies have been hindered by a lack of 3D in vitro human distal lung culture systems. Further, human distal lung stem cell identification has been impaired by quiescence, anatomic divergence from mouse and lack of lineage tracing and clonogenic culture. Here, we developed robust feeder-free, chemically-defined culture of distal human lung progenitors as organoids derived clonally from single adult human alveolar epithelial type II (AT2) or KRT5+ basal cells. AT2 organoids exhibited AT1 transdifferentiation potential, while basal cell organoids progressively developed lumens lined by differentiated club and ciliated cells. Organoids consisting solely of club cells were not observed. Upon single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), alveolar organoids were composed of proliferative AT2 cells; however, basal organoid KRT5+ cells contained a distinct ITGA6+ITGB4+ mitotic population whose proliferation segregated to a TNFRSF12Ahi subfraction. Clonogenic organoid growth was markedly enriched within the TNFRSF12Ahi subset of FACS-purified ITGA6+ITGB4+ basal cells from human lung or derivative organoids. In vivo, TNFRSF12A+ cells comprised ~10% of KRT5+ basal cells and resided in clusters within terminal bronchioles. To model COVID-19 distal lung disease, we everted the polarity of basal and alveolar organoids to rapidly relocate differentiated club and ciliated cells from the organoid lumen to the exterior surface, thus displaying the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 on the outwardly-facing apical aspect. Accordingly, basal and AT2 "apical-out" organoids were infected by SARS-CoV-2, identifying club cells as a novel target population. This long-term, feeder-free organoid culture of human distal lung alveolar and basal stem cells, coupled with single cell analysis, identifies unsuspected basal cell functional heterogeneity and exemplifies progenitor identification within a slowly proliferating human tissue. Further, our studies establish a facile in vitro organoid model for human distal lung infectious diseases including COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Mapping Lung Cancer Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition States and Trajectories with Single-Cell Resolution

Elucidating a continuum of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) states in clinical samples promises new insights in cancer progression and drug response. Using mass cytometry time-course analysis, we resolve lung cancer EMT states through TGF{beta}-treatment and identify through TGF{beta}-withdrawal, an MET state previously unrealized. We demonstrate significant differences between EMT and MET trajectories using a novel computational tool (TRACER) for reconstructing trajectories between cell states. Additionally, we construct a lung cancer reference map of EMT and MET states referred to as the EMT-MET STAte MaP (STAMP). Using a neural net algorithm, we project clinical samples onto the EMT-MET STAMP to characterize their phenotypic profile with single-cell resolution in terms of our in vitro EMT-MET analysis. In summary, we provide a framework that can be extended to phenotypically characterize clinical samples in the context of in vitro studies showing differential EMT-MET traits related to metastasis and drug sensitivity.

systems biology↗