High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR HPV) cause cervical cancer, and in these cancers, HPV type 16 is the most common HR type. The HR viral oncogenes E6 and E7 partner with cellular proteins to drive cancer and modulate immune pathways; previously, we demonstrated in keratinocytes that HPV 16 E6 and high expression of the endogenous host protein partner NFX1-123 led to the increased expression of multiple genes, including Notch1, secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI), and retinoic acid early transcript 1G (RAET1G). The present study was conducted to determine if NFX1-123 was highly expressed in cervical cancer and if genes increased by NFX1-123 and 16E6 in keratinocytes were also increased in cervical cancers. Materials and Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and The Human Protein Atlas database were used to compare relative mRNA and protein gene expression, respectively, in the normal cervix and cervical cancers. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) normal cervix and HPV 16 positive cervical cancer samples were analyzed for relative protein expression by immunohistochemical staining. Protein expression of a subset of regulated genes was quantified by Western blot of HPV positive and negative cell lines. Results: Immunohistochemical staining of HPV 16 positive cervical dysplasias and cancers revealed high NFX1-123, Ki67, and Notch1 expression. NFX1 and NFX1L1 mRNA levels were increased in cervical cancers compared to normal cervix in the TCGA database. Fourteen genes previously identified as upregulated in keratinocytes with 16E6 and overexpressed NFX1-123 also had high mRNA expression and selected genes had high protein expression in cervical cancers and cell lines. Conclusion: In cervical cancer, NFX1-123 is highly expressed, and 16E6 and NFX1-123 together alter the expression of a wide set of genes. The involvement of these genes in cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion, and metastasis provides further insight into potential ways that HR HPVs promote cancer initiation and maintenance.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infant death. We previously developed a high-throughput assay that employs an SMN2-luciferase reporter allowing identification of compounds that act transcriptionally, enhance exon recognition, or stabilize the SMN protein. We describe optimization and characterization of an analog suitable for in vivo testing. Initially, we identified analog 4m that had good in vitro properties but low plasma and brain exposure in a mouse PK experiment due to short plasma stability; this was overcome by reversing the amide bond and changing the heterocycle. Thiazole 27 showed excellent in vitro properties and a promising mouse PK profile, making it suitable for in vivo testing. This series post-translationally stabilizes the SMN protein, unrelated to global proteasome or autophagy inhibition, revealing a novel therapeutic mechanism that should complement other modalities for treatment of SMA.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV) causes nearly all cervical cancers, half of which are due to HPV type 16 (HPV16). HPV16 oncoprotein E6 (16E6) binds to NFX1-123, and dysregulates gene expression, but their clinical implications are unknown. Additionally, HPV16 E7’s role has not been studied in concert with NFX1-123 and 16E6. HR HPVs express both oncogenes, and transformation requires their expression, so we sought to investigate the effect of E7 on gene expression. This study’s goal was to define gene expression profiles across cervical precancer and cancer stages, identify genes correlating with disease progression, assess patient survival, and validate findings in cell models. We analyzed NCBI GEO datasets containing transcriptomic data linked with cervical cancer stage and utilized LASSO analysis to identify cancer-driving genes. Keratinocytes expressing 16E6 and 16E7 (16E6E7) and exogenous NFX1-123 were tested for LASSO-identified gene expression. Ten out of nineteen genes correlated with disease progression, including CEBPD, NOTCH1, and KRT16, and affected survival. 16E6E7 in keratinocytes increased CEBPD, KRT16, and SLPI, and decreased NOTCH1. Exogenous NFX1-123 in 16E6E7 keratinocytes resulted in significantly increased CEBPD and NOTCH1, and reduced SLPI. This work demonstrates the clinical relevance of CEBPD, NOTCH1, KRT16, and SLPI, and shows the regulatory effects of 16E6E7 and NFX1-123.

Background: High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR HPV) cause nearly all cervical cancers and, in the United States, the majority of head and neck cancers (HNSCCs). NFX1-123 is overexpressed in cervical cancers, and NFX1-123 partners with the HR HPV type 16 E6 oncoprotein to affect multiple growth, differentiation, and immune response genes. However, neither the expression of NFX1-123 nor the levels of these genes have been investigated in HPV positive (HPV+) or negative (HPVÀ) HNSCCs. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas Splicing Variants Database and HNSCC cell lines were used to quantify expression of NFX1-123 and cellular genes increased in cervical cancers.Results: NFX1-123 was increased in HPV+ HNSCCs compared to HPVÀ HNSCCs. LCE1B, KRT16, SPRR2G, and FBN2 were highly expressed in HNSCCs compared to normal tissues. Notch1 and CCNB1IP1 had greater expression in HPV+ HNSCCs compared to HPVÀ HNSCCs. Conclusion: NFX1-123 and a subset of its known targets were increased in HPV+ HNSCCs.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from mutations in the SMN1 gene, leading to survival motor neuron (SMN) protein deficiency. One therapeutic strategy for SMA is to identify compounds that enhance the expression of the SMN2 gene, which normally only is a minor contributor to functional SMN protein production, but which is unaffected in SMA. A recent high-throughput screening campaign identified a 3,4-dihydro-4-phenyl-2(1H)-quinolinone derivative (2) that increases the expression of SMN2 by 2-fold with an EC50 = 8.3 μM. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study revealed that the array of tolerated substituents, on either the benzo portion of the quinolinone or the 4-phenyl, was very narrow. However, the lactam ring of the quinolinone was more amenable to modifications. For example, the quinazolinone (9a) and the benzoxazepin-2(3H)-one (19) demonstrated improved potency and efficacy for increase in SMN2 expression as compared to 2. 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease and the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA results from insufficient survival motor neuron (SMN) protein due to alternative splicing. Antisense oligonucleotides, gene therapy and splicing modifiers recently received FDA approval. Although severe SMA transgenic mouse models have been beneficial for testing therapeutic efficacy, models mimicking milder cases that manifest post-infancy have proven challenging to develop. We established a titratable model of mild and moderate SMA using the splicing compound NVS-SM2. Administration for 30 d prevented development of the SMA phenotype in severe SMA mice, which typically show rapid weakness and succumb by postnatal day 11. Furthermore, administration at day eight resulted in phenotypic recovery. Remarkably, acute dosing limited to the first 3 d of life significantly enhanced survival in two severe SMA mice models, easing the burden on neonates and demonstrating the compound as suitable for evaluation of follow-on therapies without potential drug–drug interactions. This pharmacologically tunable SMA model represents a useful tool to investigate cellular and molecular pathogenesis at different stages of disease.

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Background: Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor (SLPI) functions in cancer progression, cellular invasion, metastasis, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. Our previous studies showed increased SLPI with overexpressed NFX1-123 and co-expressed high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus type 16 E6 oncogene (16E6) in primary keratinocytes (HFKs) as well as high SPLI levels in cervical cancers. The HR viral oncogenes E6 and E7 partner with host cell proteins to regulate cell cycle regulation and immortalization pathways. Understanding the mechanisms of SLPI upregulation in HPV-associated cancers is critical to validating SLPI as a non-invasive biomarker as well as to test its utility in future cancer treatments. This study was designed to quantify intracellular and secreted SLPI protein in cervical cancer and to determine the roles NFX1-123 and 16E6 have on SLPI expression and secretion. Methods: Using HPV- and HPV+ cervical cancer cell lines and HFKs transduced with overexpressed NFX1-123 and 16E6, or vector controls, we measured intracellular and secreted SLPI by Western blot and ELISA, respectively. In HPV+ cervical cancer cell lines, NFX1-123 was knocked down or out by shRNA or CRISPR-Cas9, respectively, and 16E6 and 16E7 were knocked down by siRNA. In those cells, intracellular and secreted SLPI was quantified and the relative role of NFX1-123, 16E6, and 16E7 were studied. Selected classical and non-classical secretory pathways markers were also measured to assess their effects on SLPI secretion. Finally, SLPI’s concentration was measured by ELISA in cervical cancer patient sera and compared to healthy controls. Results: Our results showed increased intracellular as well as secreted SLPI in HFKs with overexpressed NFX1-123 and 16E6. Similarly, we found increased SLPI secretion in HPV+ cervical cancer cell lines (SiHa, Caski and HeLa) when compared to HPV- C33A cells. A reduction in NFX1-123 and 16E6 led to decreased SLPI secretion, pointing to a regulation of SLPI by NFX1-123 and 16E6 on SLPI secretion. Analysis of classical and non-classical secretory pathway markers suggested that NFX1-123 regulated non-classical pathways, which may drive greater secretion of SLPI in HPV+ cervical cancers. Higher SLPI protein amounts were found cervical cancer patient sera when compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: Our results suggest a functional role for NFX1-123 and 16E6 in SLPI secretion in cervical cancer and that SLPI may be a potential biomarker in cervical cancer. Citation Format: Sreenivasulu Chintala, Kevin Quist, Rachel Katzenellenbogen. Regulation of SLPI secretion by NFX1-123 and HPV 16 E6 in cervical cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5919.