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Malonia, S. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Malonia, S. K..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

A Distal Super-Enhancer Regulate CD47 Expression and Promotes Macrophage-Mediated Phagocytosis of Ovarian Cancer Cells

CD47 is an innate immune checkpoint that can protect tumor cells from macrophage-mediated clearance, but the regulatory mechanisms underlying its expression in ovarian cancer (OC) remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the epigenetic regulation of CD47 expression in OC. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses indicated preferential CD47 expression in malignant epithelial cells. Integration of publicly available epigenomic datasets revealed a distal regulatory region with enhancer-associated features across ovarian cancer models and HGSOC patient samples. A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen further implicated PITX2 and EP300 as regulators of CD47 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed PITX2 and EP300 occupancy at candidate enhancer elements within this CD47 regulatory region. Comparative epigenomic analyses suggested that features of this regulatory landscape are also present in fallopian tube epithelial cells and become more prominent in OC. Together, these findings support a PITX2-EP300 regulatory axis associated with CD47 expression and provide evidence for its potential contribution to tumor immune evasion.

cancer biology↗

Inhibiting the GPI Transamidase Subunit GPAA1 Abolishes CD24 Surface Localization and Enhances Macrophage-Mediated Phagocytosis of Ovarian Cancer Cells

The CD24-Siglec10 signaling axis is an immune checkpoint pathway that shields ovarian cancer cells from phagocytosis by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), making it an appealing immunotherapeutic target. Here, we investigate factors influencing CD24 cell surface expression and assess their suitability as drug targets. Using a CRISPR-based knockout screen, we identify GPAA1 (glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment-1) as a positive regulator of CD24 cell surface expression. GPAA1 is a crucial component of the multi-subunit GPI transamidase complex, which facilitates the attachment of GPI lipid anchor to the C-terminus of CD24, enabling its surface localization. Reducing the activity of GPAA1 in ovarian cancer cells, either by genetic ablation or targeting with an aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin, disrupts GPI attachment to CD24. This disruption impairs CD24 cell surface localization, enhances phagocytosis by TAMs, and suppresses tumor growth in mice. Our study highlights the potential of GPAA1 targeting as a therapeutic approach for CD24-positive ovarian cancers.

cancer biology↗