Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

An Orthotopic Model of Serous Ovarian Cancer in Immunocompetent Mice for in vivo Tumor Imaging and Monitoring of Tumor Immune Responses
10:35

An Orthotopic Model of Serous Ovarian Cancer in Immunocompetent Mice for in vivo Tumor Imaging and Monitoring of Tumor Immune Responses

Published on: November 28, 2010

18.4K

Breaking satellite silence: human satellite II RNA expression in ovarian cancer

Shridar Ganesan

    The Journal of Clinical Investigation
    |August 15, 2022
    PubMed

    Insights

    High expression of human satellite (HSAT) repeats in ovarian cancer correlates with an immunosuppressive tumor environment. Surprisingly, increasing HSAT RNA levels in vitro activates innate immunity, suggesting a potential therapeutic avenue.

    Area of Science:

    • Oncology
    • Immunology
    • Epigenetics

    Background:

    • Abnormal expression of repetitive RNA sequences is linked to epigenetic instability in various cancers.
    • Repetitive RNAs are increasingly recognized for their roles in cancer development, immune response, and as potential biomarkers.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of satellite RNA in ovarian cancer.
    • To determine the association between human satellite (HSAT) repeat expression and the tumor immune microenvironment.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of HSAT repeat expression in ovarian cancer cell lines and patient tumor samples.
    • In vitro experiments to assess the effect of HSAT RNA induction on immune activation.

    Main Results:

    • High expression of HSAT repeats, unlike other repeat families, was correlated with an immunosuppressive phenotype in ovarian cancer.
    • Experimental induction of HSAT RNA in vitro unexpectedly resulted in innate immune activation.

    Conclusions:

    • Specific repetitive elements, such as HSAT RNA, play a significant role in ovarian cancer biology and immunity.
    • HSAT RNA's dual role in immunosuppression and potential for innate immune activation presents a novel therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer.

    More Related Videos

    Integration of Bioinformatics Approaches and Experimental Validations to Understand the Role of Notch Signaling in Ovarian Cancer09:08

    Integration of Bioinformatics Approaches and Experimental Validations to Understand the Role of Notch Signaling in Ovarian Cancer

    Published on: January 12, 2020

    6.8K
    Author Spotlight: RNA FISH for Locating lncRNA-SNHG6 in Osteosarcoma Cells05:27

    Author Spotlight: RNA FISH for Locating lncRNA-SNHG6 in Osteosarcoma Cells

    Published on: June 16, 2023

    1.7K

    Related Concept Videos

    The Nucleolus02:55

    The Nucleolus

    The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
    Experimental RNAi02:15

    Experimental RNAi

    RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
    Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

    Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

    Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
    When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
    Such genes that act...
    MicroRNAs01:22

    MicroRNAs

    MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
    Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

    Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

    Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
    When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
    Such genes that act...