Non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the 6th most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The transition among different NASH stages to HCC stems from the complex interaction of multiple factors, including gut-liver axis modifications and a progressive dis-architecture of the liver parenchyma. The central role of endothelial cells in regulating the metabolic crosstalk along the gut-liver axis and in shaping the spatial organization of the liver parenchyma suggests a potential vascular control of NASH progression. However, the possibility to precisely define the endothelial contribution is restrained by the limited ability to correlate gene expression profiling and functional readout, such as protein phosphorylation, with the complex morphological modifications occurring during NASH. To overcome these limitations, we combined innovative “spatial sorting” strategies with transcriptomics and quantitative phosphoproteomics, providing the first draft of the anatomical organization of proteins signaling in the liver vasculature. Moreover, we unambiguously identified tyrosine phosphorylation – the main target of the anti-angiogenic therapy (ATT) – as one of the most spatially regulated signaling event. Building on this expertise, we will combine spatial sorting strategies in gut and liver with mouse models of NASH progression and advanced imaging modalities to pursue the following aims: 1. Provide a spatiotemporal characterization of the gut and liver vasculature undergoing NASH development. 2. Dissect the vascular determinants of NASH progression. 3. Identify the molecular mechanisms underlying the synergistic effect between AAT and immune checkpoint inhibition. Together, our results will lay the foundation for understanding the molecular basis of a synergistic AAT and immune therapy in HCC, and help to identify novel prognostic markers as well as potential therapeutic targets.

Inflammation is a complex spectrum of processes whose outcomes range from cell killing to tissue regeneration. In this context, a major goal in immune oncology is the development of treatments that stimulate cytotoxic immunity while limiting repair in the tumor microenvironment (TME), as these approaches have the potential to synergize with available immunotherapies and provide benefit to otherwise resistant patients. Pancreatic cancer is a largely incurable disease, in which aberrant inflammation and profound immune suppression conspire to sustain disease initiation, progression, and immune escape. Accumulating evidence supports the view that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key orchestrators of the balance between cytotoxicity and regeneration, and thus represent promising therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer. In MEFHISTO, we aim at elucidating the molecular control, the functional implications, and the therapeutic potential of the PGE2-MEF2A axis, a newly described pathway enabling selective control of inflammatory gene expression in macrophages. By combining advanced genomic analyses in human samples, functional experiments in preclinical models, and mechanistic studies in key cell types, this Proposal will expand our knowledge of the organizing principles of innate immune responses in tumors. The ensuing results may lead to novel combinatorial treatments for diseases, such as pancreatic cancer, that are refractory to immunotherapy.

This project will investigate the role of CYLD in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL). CYLD is a deubiquinating enzyme acting as a tumour suppressor in numerous tumours. CLL is characterized by the accumulation of B-lymphocytes. It affects mostly the elder and has a high incidence rate in Europe. Recent data from CYLD knockout murine models indicate a link between CYLD and CLL, however the approach used for generation of these mice led to contrasting results. At the core of this interdisciplinary project is the generation of two transgenic murine with: i) targeted CYLD inactivation in B-lymphocytes, ii) targeted inactivation combined with a murine model of CLL. Targeted inactivation will be achieved using the Cre-Lox system, by crossing already available progenitor mice. The mice will be extensively characterized with an emphasis on B-lymphocytes development and pathophysiology. RNA-seq will be used to find differentially expressed genes in B-lymphocytes. Computational biology approaches will then be applied to identify the affected pathways, which will be evaluated against publicly available human CLL data, seeking wider consensus. CYLD targeted inactivation allows for the first time evaluation of CYLD's role in B-lymphocytes development and CLL ruling out the effect CYLD inactivation in other cells may have. This project will enable better understanding of the role of CYLD in B-lymphocytes biology and could unravel novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. At the same time the applicant will train-through-research, master novel techniques and develop soft skills valuable for his future career. This project combines the applicant’s expertise in the generation and characterization of murine models with targeted CYLD inactivation with the host's long track record in B-lymphocytes and CLL.It falls well within the EU’s research agenda, which emphasizes interdisciplinary research leading to recognition of common disease mechanisms and identification of novel biomarkers.