{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-09-28T11:58:12.590Z", "family": "Hallb\u00f6\u00f6k", "given": "Finn", "initials": "F", "orcid": "0000-0001-7552-187X", "affiliations": ["Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0026eda7e0594d3ca74abd8bc197049c.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0026eda7e0594d3ca74abd8bc197049c"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "8ea65aff80dc4ec2a235da03163e282c", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/8ea65aff80dc4ec2a235da03163e282c.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/8ea65aff80dc4ec2a235da03163e282c"}}, "title": "MYCN induces cell-specific tumorigenic growth in RB1-proficient human retinal organoid and chicken retina models of retinoblastoma.", "authors": [{"family": "Blixt", "given": "Maria K E", "initials": "MKE"}, {"family": "Hellsand", "given": "Minas", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0002-1459-0377", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/7ba6cf8ed63a48048c00934a3b5962f2.json"}}, {"family": "Konjusha", "given": "Dardan", "initials": "D", "orcid": "0000-0002-6959-8376", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/b18d6cb9e9ad473b9183f6aa205a0253.json"}}, {"family": "Zhang", "given": "Hanzhao", "initials": "H"}, {"family": "Stenfelt", "given": "Sonya", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "\u00c5kesson", "given": "Mikael", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Rafati", "given": "Nima", "initials": "N", "orcid": "0000-0002-3687-9745", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0210ddd9d2c74696ae194924182e09d7.json"}}, {"family": "Tararuk", "given": "Tatsiana", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "St\u00e5lhammar", "given": "Gustav", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "All-Eriksson", "given": "Charlotta", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Ring", "given": "Henrik", "initials": "H"}, {"family": "Hallb\u00f6\u00f6k", "given": "Finn", "initials": "F", "orcid": "0000-0001-7552-187X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0026eda7e0594d3ca74abd8bc197049c.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2022-06-21", "journal": {"title": "Oncogenesis", "issn": "2157-9024", "volume": "11", "issue": "1", "pages": "34", "issn-l": "2157-9024"}, "abstract": "Retinoblastoma is a rare, intraocular paediatric cancer that originates in the neural retina and is most frequently caused by bi-allelic loss of RB1 gene function. Other oncogenic mutations, such as amplification and increased expression of the MYCN gene, have been found even with proficient RB1 function. In this study, we investigated whether MYCN over-expression can drive carcinogenesis independently of RB1 loss-of-function mutations. The aim was to elucidate the events that result in carcinogenesis and identify the cancer cell-of-origin. We used the chicken retina, a well-established model for studying retinal neurogenesis, and established human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal organoids as model systems. We over-expressed MYCN by electroporation of piggyBac genome-integrating expression vectors. We found that over-expression of MYCN induced tumorigenic growth with high frequency in RB1-proficient chicken retinas and human organoids. In both systems, the tumorigenic cells expressed markers for undifferentiated cone photoreceptor/horizontal cell progenitors. The over-expression resulted in metastatic retinoblastoma within 7-9 weeks in chicken. Cells expressing MYCN could be grown in vitro and, when orthotopically injected, formed tumours that infiltrated the sclera and optic nerve and expressed markers for cone progenitors. Investigation of the tumour cell phenotype determined that the potential for neoplastic growth was embryonic stage-dependent and featured a cell-specific resistance to apoptosis in the cone/horizontal cell lineage, but not in ganglion or amacrine cells. We conclude that MYCN over-expression is sufficient to drive tumorigenesis and that a cell-specific resistance to apoptosis in the cone/horizontal cell lineage mediates the cancer phenotype.", "doi": "10.1038/s41389-022-00409-3", "pmid": "35729105", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC9213451"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1038/s41389-022-00409-3"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T11:01:27.418Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T11:01:27.532Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "923676deafa44523986122e0709ee5c9", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/923676deafa44523986122e0709ee5c9.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/923676deafa44523986122e0709ee5c9"}}, "title": "High-Resolution Imaging of Tumor Spheroids and Organoids Enabled by Expansion Microscopy.", "authors": [{"family": "Edwards", "given": "Steven J", "initials": "SJ"}, {"family": "Carannante", "given": "Valentina", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0003-4464-7087", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/e39f4c75a0c1476d846ff7b15a5b17c5.json"}}, {"family": "Kuhnigk", "given": "Kyra", "initials": "K", "orcid": "0000-0002-2265-8204", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/c9038f497daf47f4b001942f2d6a5788.json"}}, {"family": "Ring", "given": "Henrik", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0002-7659-9043", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/feb04b4988694f59a444e650a02f50c1.json"}}, {"family": "Tararuk", "given": "Tatsiana", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "Hallb\u00f6\u00f6k", "given": "Finn", "initials": "F", "orcid": "0000-0001-7552-187X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0026eda7e0594d3ca74abd8bc197049c.json"}}, {"family": "Blom", "given": "Hans", "initials": "H"}, {"family": "\u00d6nfelt", "given": "Bj\u00f6rn", "initials": "B", "orcid": "0000-0001-5178-7593", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/6b4b8fcbedb54e2ba38633687f417ae8.json"}}, {"family": "Brismar", "given": "Hjalmar", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0003-0578-4003", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/04321d9fb805493db538489927a42c8f.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2020-09-24", "journal": {"title": "Front Mol Biosci", "issn": "2296-889X", "volume": "7", "pages": "208", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "Three-dimensional cell cultures are able to better mimic the physiology and cellular environments found in tissues in vivo compared to cells grown in two dimensions. In order to study the structure and function of cells in 3-D cultures, light microscopy is frequently used. The preparation of 3-D cell cultures for light microscopy is often destructive, including physical sectioning of the samples, which can result in the loss of 3-D information. In order to probe the structure of 3-D cell cultures at high resolution, we have explored the use of expansion microscopy and compared it to a simple immersion clearing protocol. We provide a practical method for the study of spheroids, organoids and tumor-infiltrating immune cells at high resolution without the loss of spatial organization. Expanded samples are highly transparent, enabling high-resolution imaging over extended volumes by significantly reducing light scatter and absorption. In addition, the hydrogel-like nature of expanded samples enables homogenous antibody labeling of dense epitopes throughout the sample volume. The improved labeling and image quality achieved in expanded samples revealed details in the center of the organoid which were previously only observable following serial sectioning. In comparison to chemically cleared spheroids, the improved signal-to-background ratio of expanded samples greatly improved subsequent methods for image segmentation and analysis.", "doi": "10.3389/fmolb.2020.00208", "pmid": "33195398", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC7543521"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T09:30:44.644Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T14:51:47.302Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "8df5b5ce37114fdc8e0374956bad0581", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/8df5b5ce37114fdc8e0374956bad0581.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/8df5b5ce37114fdc8e0374956bad0581"}}, "title": "The evolution of Sex-linked barring alleles in chickens involves both regulatory and coding changes in CDKN2A.", "authors": [{"family": "Schwochow Thalmann", "given": "Doreen", "initials": "D", "orcid": "0000-0002-0090-4355", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5e44e74c556442b196f4ec880525813d.json"}}, {"family": "Ring", "given": "Henrik", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0002-7659-9043", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/feb04b4988694f59a444e650a02f50c1.json"}}, {"family": "Sundstr\u00f6m", "given": "Elisabeth", "initials": "E", "orcid": "0000-0003-0938-4023", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/865ced23a36d4f888844b2f7b0b6596e.json"}}, {"family": "Cao", "given": "Xiaofang", "initials": "X"}, {"family": "Larsson", "given": "M\u00e5rten", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Kerje", "given": "Susanne", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "H\u00f6glund", "given": "Andrey", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Fogelholm", "given": "Jesper", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0002-0868-8722", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/20c1fa87143c4ac1aafba692e098975f.json"}}, {"family": "Wright", "given": "Dominic", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Jemth", "given": "Per", "initials": "P"}, {"family": "Hallb\u00f6\u00f6k", "given": "Finn", "initials": "F", "orcid": "0000-0001-7552-187X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0026eda7e0594d3ca74abd8bc197049c.json"}}, {"family": "Bed'Hom", "given": "Bertrand", "initials": "B"}, {"family": "Dorshorst", "given": "Ben", "initials": "B"}, {"family": "Tixier-Boichard", "given": "Mich\u00e8le", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Andersson", "given": "Leif", "initials": "L", "orcid": "0000-0002-4085-6968", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/7c8202937eda401fa0d07f583589359d.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2017-04-00", "journal": {"title": "PLoS Genet", "issn": "1553-7404", "volume": "13", "issue": "4", "pages": "e1006665", "issn-l": "1553-7390"}, "abstract": "Sex-linked barring is a fascinating plumage pattern in chickens recently shown to be associated with two non-coding and two missense mutations affecting the ARF transcript at the CDKN2A tumor suppressor locus. It however remained a mystery whether all four mutations are indeed causative and how they contribute to the barring phenotype. Here, we show that Sex-linked barring is genetically heterogeneous, and that the mutations form three functionally different variant alleles. The B0 allele carries only the two non-coding changes and is associated with the most dilute barring pattern, whereas the B1 and B2 alleles carry both the two non-coding changes and one each of the two missense mutations causing the Sex-linked barring and Sex-linked dilution phenotypes, respectively. The data are consistent with evolution of alleles where the non-coding changes occurred first followed by the two missense mutations that resulted in a phenotype more appealing to humans. We show that one or both of the non-coding changes are cis-regulatory mutations causing a higher CDKN2A expression, whereas the missense mutations reduce the ability of ARF to interact with MDM2. Caspase assays for all genotypes revealed no apoptotic events and our results are consistent with a recent study indicating that the loss of melanocyte progenitors in Sex-linked barring in chicken is caused by premature differentiation and not apoptosis. Our results show that CDKN2A is a major locus driving the differentiation of avian melanocytes in a temporal and spatial manner.", "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgen.1006665", "pmid": "28388616", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC5384658"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "PGENETICS-D-16-01261"}], "notes": [], "created": "2018-12-05T12:59:29.780Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T09:30:02.459Z"}]}