The project used next generation sequencing for RNA-seq analysis, to identify transcriptome changes associated with tumorigenesis in two different caspase-2 knockout mice models. We describe key changes in both lymphoma and neuroblastoma associated genes in the two tumor types that may contribute to tumor outcome following loss of Casp2. We identified a panel of genes with altered expression in Th-MYCN/Casp2-/- tumors, that are strongly associated with neuroblastoma outcome, and which have roles in melanogenesis, Wnt and Hippo pathway signaling, that also contribute to neuronal differentiation. In addition, we found that key changes in gene expression in the EMyc/Casp2-/- tumors, are associated with increased immune signaling and suggest that Casp2 deficiency augments immune signaling pathways that may be in turn, enhance lymphomagenesis. Overall, our study has identified new genes and pathways that contribute to the caspase-2 tumor suppressor function and highlight distinct roles for caspase-2 in different tissues. SOURCE: Loretta Dorstyn (Loretta.Dorstyn@unisa.edu.au) -  University of South Australia and SA Pathology

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE124051: Transcriptome profiling of caspase-2 deficient lymphomas from EMyc and neuroblastomas from Th-MycN mice