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Zhang Y, Chen Y, Guo Q, Zhang Y, Liu A. Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO)-induced upregulation of flotillin-2 (FLOT2) contributes to cancer aggressiveness in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) via activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 758:110072. [PMID: 38914215 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.110072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
The role of fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-demethylation has been investigated in various types of cancers, but it is still unclear whether FTO participates in the progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Here, by conducting Real-Time qPCR and Western Blot analysis, we verified that FTO was especially enriched in the DLBCL cells (RCK-8, LY-3, DHL-6 and U2932) compared to normal WIL2S cells. Then, the overexpression and silencing vectors for FTO were delivered into the LY-3 and U2932 cells, and our functional experiments confirmed that silencing of FTO suppressed cell viability and division, and induced apoptotic cell death in the DLBCL cells, whereas FTO-overexpression exerted opposite effects. Further mechanical experiments showed that FTO demethylated m6A modifications in flotillin-2 (FLOT2) mRNA to sustain its stability for FLOT2 upregulation, and elevated FLOT2 subsequently increased the expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), p-Akt and p-mTOR to activate the tumor-initiating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway. Of note, FLOT2 also serve as an oncogene to enhance cancer malignancy in DLBCL, and the rescuing experiments showed that FTO-ablation induced suppressing effects on the malignant phenotypes in DLBCL were all abrogated by overexpressing FLOT2. Taken together, those data hinted that FTO-mediated m6A-demethylation upregulated FLOT2 to activate the downstream PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway, leading to the aggressiveness of DLBCL, which potentially provided diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic biomarkers for DLBCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Zhang
- Hemolymph Department, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Department of Hematology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
| | - Yao Chen
- Hemolymph Department, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China.
| | - Qiang Guo
- Department of Hematology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
| | - Aichun Liu
- Hemolymph Department, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China.
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2
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Kumar S, Arwind DA, Kumar B H, Pandey S, Nayak R, Vithalkar MP, Kumar N, Pai KSR. Inhibition of STAT3: A promising approach to enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy in medulloblastoma. Transl Oncol 2024; 46:102023. [PMID: 38852276 PMCID: PMC11220551 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.102023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is a type of brain cancer that primarily affects children. While chemotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating medulloblastoma, the development of chemotherapy resistance remains a challenge. One potential therapeutic approach is to selectively inhibit the inducible transcription factor called STAT3, which is known to play a crucial role in the survival and growth of tumor cells. The activation of STAT3 has been linked to the growth and progression of various cancers, including medulloblastoma. Inhibition of STAT3 has been shown to sensitize medulloblastoma cells to chemotherapy, leading to improved treatment outcomes. Different approaches to STAT3 inhibition have been developed, including small-molecule inhibitors and RNA interference. Preclinical studies have shown the efficacy of STAT3 inhibitors in medulloblastoma, and clinical trials are currently ongoing to evaluate their safety and effectiveness in patients with various solid tumors, including medulloblastoma. In addition, researchers are also exploring ways to optimize the use of STAT3 inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy and identify biomarkers that can predict treatment that will help to develop personalized treatment strategies. This review highlights the potential of selective inhibition of STAT3 as a novel approach for the treatment of medulloblastoma and suggests that further research into the development of STAT3 inhibitors could lead to improved outcomes for patients with aggressive cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachindra Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, India
| | - Dube Aakash Arwind
- Department of Pharmacology and toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali-844102, Bihar, India
| | - Harish Kumar B
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, India
| | - Samyak Pandey
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, India
| | - Raksha Nayak
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, India
| | - Megh Pravin Vithalkar
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, India
| | - Nitesh Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Vaishali-844102, Bihar, India
| | - K Sreedhara Ranganath Pai
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, India.
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3
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Chen C, Han P, Qing Y. Metabolic heterogeneity in tumor microenvironment - A novel landmark for immunotherapy. Autoimmun Rev 2024:103579. [PMID: 39004158 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2024.103579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The surrounding non-cancer cells and tumor cells that make up the tumor microenvironment (TME) have various metabolic rhythms. TME metabolic heterogeneity is influenced by the intricate network of metabolic control within and between cells. DNA, protein, transport, and microbial levels are important regulators of TME metabolic homeostasis. The effectiveness of immunotherapy is also closely correlated with alterations in TME metabolism. The response of a tumor patient to immunotherapy is influenced by a variety of variables, including intracellular metabolic reprogramming, metabolic interaction between cells, ecological changes within and between tumors, and general dietary preferences. Although immunotherapy and targeted therapy have made great strides, their use in the accurate identification and treatment of tumors still has several limitations. The function of TME metabolic heterogeneity in tumor immunotherapy is summarized in this article. It focuses on how metabolic heterogeneity develops and is regulated as a tumor progresses, the precise molecular mechanisms and potential clinical significance of imbalances in intracellular metabolic homeostasis and intercellular metabolic coupling and interaction, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of targeted metabolism used in conjunction with immunotherapy. This offers insightful knowledge and important implications for individualized tumor patient diagnosis and treatment plans in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peng Han
- Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150081, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Yanping Qing
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, China.
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Jin X, Huang CX, Tian Y. The multifaceted perspectives on the regulation of lncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma ferroptosis: from bench-to-bedside. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:146. [PMID: 38960924 PMCID: PMC11222271 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01418-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Despite being characterized by high malignancy, high morbidity, and low survival rates, the underlying mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully elucidated. Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death, possesses distinct morphological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics compared to other types of cell death. Dysregulated actions within the molecular network that regulates ferroptosis have been identified as significant contributors to the progression of HCC. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as influential contributors to diverse cellular processes, regulating gene function and expression through multiple mechanistic pathways. An increasing body of evidence indicates that deregulated lncRNAs are implicated in regulating malignant events such as cell proliferation, growth, invasion, and metabolism by influencing ferroptosis in HCC. Therefore, elucidating the inherent role of ferroptosis and the modulatory functions of lncRNAs on ferroptosis in HCC might promote the development of novel therapeutic interventions for this disease. This review provides a succinct overview of the roles of ferroptosis and ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in HCC progression and treatment, aiming to drive the development of promising therapeutic targets and biomarkers for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Jin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fengdu People's Hospital, Fengdu County, Chongqing, 408200, China
| | - Chun Xia Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fengdu People's Hospital, Fengdu County, Chongqing, 408200, China
| | - Yue Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fengdu People's Hospital, Fengdu County, Chongqing, 408200, China.
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Wang L, Mao X, Yu X, Su J, Li Z, Chen Z, Ren Y, Huang H, Wang W, Zhao C, Hu Y. FPR3 reprograms glycolytic metabolism and stemness in gastric cancer via calcium-NFATc1 pathway. Cancer Lett 2024; 593:216841. [PMID: 38614385 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Aerobic glycolysis accelerates tumor proliferation and progression, and inhibitors or drugs targeting abnormal cancer metabolism have been developing. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) significantly contribute to tumor initiation, metastasis, therapy resistance, and recurrence. Formyl peptide receptor 3 (FPR3), a member of FPR family, involves in inflammation, tissue repair, and angiogenesis. However, studies in exploring the regulatory mechanisms of aerobic glycolysis and CSCs by FPR3 in gastric cancer (GC) remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that overexpressed FPR3 suppressed glycolytic capacity and stemness of tumor cells, then inhibited GC cells proliferation. Mechanistically, FPR3 impeded cytoplasmic calcium ion flux and hindered nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) nuclear translocation, leading to the transcriptional inactivation of NFATc1-binding neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 3 (NOTCH3) promoter, subsequently obstructing NOTCH3 expression and the AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway, and ultimately downregulating glycolysis. Additionally, NFATc1 directly binds to the sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) promoter and modifies stemness in GC. In conclusion, our work illustrated that FPR3 played a negative role in GC progression by modulating NFATc1-mediated glycolysis and stemness in a calcium-dependent manner, providing potential insights into cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzhi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xinyuan Mao
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xiang Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jin Su
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Department of General Surgery, Zhuzhou Hospital affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, 412000, China
| | - Zhenyuan Li
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhian Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yingxin Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Huilin Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Weisheng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Cuiyin Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yanfeng Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Wu T, Gao R, Wang X, Guo D, Xie Y, Dong B, Hao X, Zhu C. Pancreatobiliary reflux increases macrophage-secreted IL-8 and activates the PI3K/NFκB pathway to promote cholangiocarcinoma progression. Transl Oncol 2024; 45:101967. [PMID: 38653100 PMCID: PMC11059331 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent pancreaticobiliary reflux (PBR) is associated with a high risk of biliary malignancy. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of PBR in biliary tract diseases and mechanisms by which PBR promoted cholangiocarcinoma progression. METHODS Overall 227 consecutive patients with primary biliary tract disease participated in this study. The amylase levels in the collected bile were analyzed. The mechanisms underlying the effect of high-amylase bile on bile duct epithelial and cholangiocarcinoma cells progression were analyzed. The source of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and its effects on the biological functions of cholangiocarcinoma cells were investigated. RESULTS The bile amylase levels in 148 of 227 patients were higher than the upper serum amylase limit of 135 IU/L. PBR was significantly correlated with sex, pyrexia, and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels in the patient cohort. High-amylase bile-induced DNA damage and genetic differences in the transcript levels of the gallbladder mucosa and facilitated the proliferation and migration of bile duct cancer cells (HUCCT1 and QBC939 cells). The concentration of many cytokines increased in high-amylase bile. IL-8 is secreted primarily by macrophages via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and partially by bile duct epithelial cells. IL-8 promotes the progression of HUCCT1 and QBC939 cells by regulating the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated proteins and activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/nuclear factor kappa-B pathway. CONCLUSIONS PBR is one of the primary causes of biliary disease. IL-8 secreted by macrophages or bile duct epithelial cells stimulated by high-amylase bile promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Ruiqian Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Dong Guo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yuwei Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Bingzi Dong
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xiwei Hao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, China.
| | - Chengzhan Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Computer Assisted Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China.
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7
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Hou Y, Wang H, Wu J, Guo H, Chen X. Dissecting the pleiotropic roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lung cancer: From carcinogenesis toward therapy. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:1566-1595. [PMID: 38284170 DOI: 10.1002/med.22018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Lung cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The specific pulmonary structure to directly connect with ambient air makes it more susceptible to damage from airborne toxins. External oxidative stimuli and endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in promoting lung carcinogenesis and development. The biological properties of higher ROS levels in tumor cells than in normal cells make them more sensitive and vulnerable to ROS injury. Therefore, the strategy of targeting ROS has been proposed for cancer therapy for decades. However, it is embarrassing that countless attempts at ROS-based therapies have had very limited success, and no FDA approval in the anticancer list was mechanistically based on ROS manipulation. Even compared with the untargetable proteins, such as transcription factors, ROS are more difficult to be targeted due to their chemical properties. Thus, the pleiotropic roles of ROS provide therapeutic potential for anticancer drug discovery, while a better dissection of the mechanistic action and signaling pathways is a prerequisite for future breakthroughs. This review discusses the critical roles of ROS in cancer carcinogenesis, ROS-inspired signaling pathways, and ROS-based treatment, exemplified by lung cancer. In particular, an eight considerations rule is proposed for ROS-targeting strategies and drug design and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, China
| | - Heng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, China
| | - Jiarui Wu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hongwei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-Related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Research and Evaluation of Bioactive Molecules & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiuping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, China
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, China
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, China
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8
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Wang J, Yang K, Yang X, Jin T, Tian Y, Dai C, Xu F. HHLA2 promotes hepatoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via SPP1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:1275-1287. [PMID: 38578157 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as one of the most malignant tumors characterized by poor prognosis and high mortality rates. Emerging evidence underscores the crucial role of the B7 protein family in various cancers, including HCC. However, the involvement of the human endogenous retrovirus H long-terminal repeat-associated protein 2 (HHLA2, or B7-H5) in HCC remains unclear. Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess the differential expression of HHLA2 between HCC and normal liver tissues. A battery of assays, including CCK8, EdU, tablet clone-forming, Transwell, and wound healing assays, were conducted to elucidate the function and potential mechanisms of HHLA2 in the malignant biological behaviors of HCC. Additionally, a xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate the tumorigenicity of hepatoma cell lines exhibiting different HHLA2 expression levels in vivo. Western blot analysis was used to analyze HHLA2, secretory phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), and PI3K/AKT/mTOR levels. HHLA2 exhibited elevated expression in HCC tissues, correlating with poor tumor differentiation and shortened overall survival in HCC patients. In vitro experiments demonstrated that HHLA2 overexpression (OE) promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatoma cells, while in vivo experiments revealed that HHLA2 OE enhanced HCC tumor growth. Conversely, inhibition of HHLA2 expression yielded the opposite effect. Downregulation of SPP1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion induced by HHLA2 OE, and this effect was linked to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that HHLA2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatoma cells via the SPP1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, establishing it as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ke Yang
- Department of Tradition Chinese Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Tianqiang Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chaoliu Dai
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Mafi A, Khoshnazar SM, Shahpar A, Nabavi N, Hedayati N, Alimohammadi M, Hashemi M, Taheriazam A, Farahani N. Mechanistic insights into circRNA-mediated regulation of PI3K signaling pathway in glioma progression. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 260:155442. [PMID: 38991456 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) are non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) characterized by a stable circular structure that regulates gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. They play diverse roles, including protein interactions, DNA methylation modification, protein-coding potential, pseudogene creation, and miRNA sponging, all of which influence various physiological processes. CircRNAs are often highly expressed in brain tissues, and their levels vary with neural development, suggesting their significance in nervous system diseases such as gliomas. Research has shown that circRNA expression related to the PI3K pathway correlates with various clinical features of gliomas. There is an interact between circRNAs and the PI3K pathway to regulate glioma cell processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and treatment resistance. Additionally, PI3K pathway-associated circRNAs hold potential as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this study, we reviewed the latest advances in the expression and cellular roles of PI3K-mediated circRNAs and their connections to glioma carcinogenesis and progression. We also highlighted the significance of circRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Mafi
- Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Mahdieh Khoshnazar
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Shahpar
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Noushin Nabavi
- Independent Researcher, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Neda Hedayati
- School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mina Alimohammadi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Najma Farahani
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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10
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Chi Z, Wang Q, Wang X, Li D, Tong L, Shi Y, Yang F, Guo Q, Zheng J, Chen Z. P4HA2 promotes proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15023. [PMID: 38951593 PMCID: PMC11217378 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64264-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Proline 4-hydroxylase 2 (P4HA2) is known for its hydroxylase activity, primarily involved in hydroxylating collagen precursors and promoting collagen cross-linking under physiological conditions. Although its overexpression influences a wide variety of malignant tumors' occurrence and development, its specific effects and mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. This study focused on investigating the expression patterns, carcinogenic functions, and underlying mechanisms of P4HA2 in OSCC cells. Various databases, including TCGA, TIMER, UALCAN, GEPIA, and K-M plotter, along with paraffin-embedded samples, were used to ascertain P4HA2 expression in cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological features. P4HA2 knockdown and overexpression cell models were developed to assess its oncogenic roles and mechanisms. The results indicated that P4HA2 was overexpressed in OSCC and inversely correlated with patient survival. Knockdown of P4HA2 suppressed invasion, migration, and proliferation of OSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo, whereas overexpression of P4HA2 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, the phosphorylation levels of the PI3K/AKT pathway were reduced following P4HA2 silencing. The study reveals that P4HA2 acts as a promising biomarker for predicting prognosis in OSCC and significantly affects metastasis, invasion, and proliferation of OSCC cells through the regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengpeng Chi
- Department of Stomatology, Qingdao Huangdao District Central Hospital, Qingdao, 266555, China
| | - Qimin Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences(Qingdao Municipal Hospital), No.5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Acupuncture and Tuina Department, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, China
| | - Dagang Li
- Department of Stomatology, Qingdao Huangdao District Central Hospital, Qingdao, 266555, China
| | - Lei Tong
- Department of Stomatology, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences(Qingdao Municipal Hospital), No.5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Yu Shi
- Department of Stomatology, Shenzhen-Shanwei Central Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shanwei, 516699, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences(Qingdao Municipal Hospital), No.5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Qingyuan Guo
- Department of Stomatology, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences(Qingdao Municipal Hospital), No.5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Jiawei Zheng
- Department of Oromaxillofacial Head and Neck Oncology, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.639, Manufacturing Bureau Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Zhenggang Chen
- Institute of Stomatology, Binzhou Medical University, 256600, Binzhou, China.
- The affiliated Yantai Stomatological Hospital, Binzhou Medical University, 264000, Binzhou, China.
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Cao D, Lin Y, Lin C, Xu M, Wang J, Zeng Z, Wang P, Li Q, Wang X, Wang W, Luo L, Zhao Y, Shi Y, Gao Z, Kang X, Wang S, Zhang Y, Xu X, Liu SL, Liu H. Cannabidiol Inhibits Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Role of Gut Microbiome. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2024; 87:1501-1512. [PMID: 38603577 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer is among the deadliest gynecological tumors worldwide. Clinical treatment usually consists of surgery and adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapies. Due to the high rate of recurrence and rapid development of drug resistance, the current focus of research is on finding effective natural products with minimal toxic side effects for treating epithelial ovarian tumors. Cannabidiol is among the most abundant cannabinoids and has a non-psychoactive effect compared to tetrahydrocannabinol, which is a key advantage for clinical application. Studies have shown that cannabidiol has antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, cytotoxic, antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. However, its therapeutic value for epithelial ovarian tumors remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of cannabidiol on epithelial ovarian tumors and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that cannabidiol has a significant inhibitory effect on epithelial ovarian tumors. In vivo experiments demonstrated that cannabidiol could inhibit tumor growth by modulating the intestinal microbiome and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria. Western blot assays showed that cannabidiol bound to EGFR/AKT/MMPs proteins and suppressed EGFR/AKT/MMPs expression in a dose-dependent manner. Network pharmacology and molecular docking results suggested that cannabidiol could affect the EGFR/AKT/MMPs signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danli Cao
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiru Lin
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Caiji Lin
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengzhi Xu
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Zeng
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Wang
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinghai Li
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxue Wang
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingjie Luo
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Yufan Zhao
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongwei Shi
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Zixiang Gao
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Kang
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Lin Liu
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Huidi Liu
- Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Harbin Medical University-University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Centre for Infection and Genomics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 4N1, Canada
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Hamwi MN, Elsayed E, Dabash H, Abuawad A, Aweer NA, Al Zeir F, Pedersen S, Al-Mansoori L, Burgon PG. MLIP and Its Potential Influence on Key Oncogenic Pathways. Cells 2024; 13:1109. [PMID: 38994962 PMCID: PMC11240681 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Muscle-enriched A-type lamin-interacting protein (MLIP) is an emerging protein involved in cellular homeostasis and stress adaptation. Eukaryotic cells regulate various cellular processes, including metabolism, DNA repair, and cell cycle progression, to maintain cellular homeostasis. Disruptions in this homeostasis can lead to diseases such as cancer, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and division. This review aims to explore for the first time the unique role MLIP may play in cancer development and progression, given its interactions with the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, p53, MAPK9, and FOXO transcription factors, all critical regulators of cellular homeostasis and tumor suppression. We discuss the current understanding of MLIP's involvement in pro-survival pathways and its potential implications in cancer cells' metabolic remodeling and dysregulated homeostasis. Additionally, we examine the potential of MLIP as a novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment. This review aims to shed light on MLIP's potential impact on cancer biology and contribute to developing innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud N Hamwi
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 0974, Qatar
| | - Engy Elsayed
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 0974, Qatar
| | - Hanan Dabash
- Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Amani Abuawad
- Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Noor A Aweer
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 0974, Qatar
| | - Faissal Al Zeir
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 0974, Qatar
| | - Shona Pedersen
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 0974, Qatar
| | - Layla Al-Mansoori
- Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Patrick G Burgon
- Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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13
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Li Z, Li X, Li S, Tao R, Tian X, Feng F, Jiang W, Wang H. Preclinical evaluation and phase 1 study of the PI3Kα/δ inhibitor TQ-B3525 in Chinese patients with advanced cancers. Cancer 2024. [PMID: 38926891 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors transformed management of various malignancies. This study preclinically characterized TQ-B3525 (dual PI3Kα/δ inhibitor) and assessed the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics in relapsed or refractory (R/R) lymphoma or advanced solid tumors (STs). METHODS Oral TQ-B3525 was given at eight dose levels on a 28-day cycle. Primary end points were dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and safety. RESULTS TQ-B3525 showed high selectivity and suppressed tumor growth. Between June 12, 2018, and November 18, 2020, 80 patients were enrolled (63 in dose-escalation cohort; 17 in dose-expansion cohort). Two DLTs occurred in two (two of 63, 3.2%) DLT-evaluable patients; MTD was not identified. TQ-B3525 at 20 mg once daily was selected as RP2D. Grade 3 or worse treatment-related adverse events mainly included hyperglycemia (16.3%), neutrophil count decreased (15.0%), and diarrhea (10.0%). Two (2.5%) treatment-related deaths were reported. Sixty patients with R/R lymphoma and 11 advanced STs demonstrated objective response rates of 68.3% and 9.1%, disease control rates of 91.7% and 54.6%, median progression-free survivals of 12.1 and 1.1 months; median overall survivals were not reached. CONCLUSION TQ-B3525 exhibited rapid absorption and a nearly proportional increase in exposure. Acceptable safety and promising efficacy support further investigation of TQ-B3525 (20 mg once daily) for R/R lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiming Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Oncology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Cancer Institute of Integrative Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Su Li
- Department of Clinical Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rong Tao
- Department of Hematology, Cancer Center Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Lymphoma, Fudan University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Tian
- Pharmacological Evaluation Research Center, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd, Nanjing, China
| | - Fan Feng
- Clinical Medicine Department, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenqi Jiang
- Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huaqing Wang
- Department of Oncology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Cancer Institute of Integrative Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tianjin, China
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14
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Hu J, Dai C, Ding Z, Pan Y, Lu L, Bao J, Zheng J. IKBIP promotes tumor development via the akt signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:759. [PMID: 38914958 PMCID: PMC11197280 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12510-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Inhibitor of kappa B kinase interacting protein (IKBIP) has been reported to promote glioma progression, but its role in other cancers remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of IKBIP and its underlying molecular mechanisms in ESCC. METHODS The mRNA expression of IKBIP was analyzed using multiple cancer databases. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect IKBIP protein expression in ESCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and Kaplan‒Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were carried out. The effects of IKBIP knockdown (or overexpression) on ESCC cells were detected by cell viability, cell migration, flow cytometry and Western blot assays. LY-294002 was used to validate the activation of the AKT signaling pathway by IKBIP. Finally, the role of IKBIP in ESCC was verified in a xenograft model. RESULTS Both bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry indicated that IKBIP expression in ESCC tissues was significantly increased and was associated with the prognosis of ESCC patients. In vitro experiments revealed that IKBIP knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells, and induced cell apoptosis and G1/S phase arrest. Molecular mechanism results showed that the AKT signaling pathway was further activated after IKBIP overexpression, thereby increasing the proliferation and migration abilities of ESCC cells. In vivo study confirmed that IKBIP promoted the initiation and development of ESCC tumors in mice. CONCLUSIONS IKBIP plays a tumor-promoting role in ESCC and may serve as a predictive biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Hu
- Department of Public Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximenjie, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China
| | - Chuanjing Dai
- Department of Public Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximenjie, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China
| | - Zhaoji Ding
- Department of Public Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximenjie, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China
| | - Yixiao Pan
- Department of Public Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximenjie, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China
| | - Lingxiao Lu
- Department of Public Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximenjie, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China
| | - Jiaqian Bao
- Department of Public Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximenjie, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China
| | - Jingmin Zheng
- Department of Public Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximenjie, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China.
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15
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Chan S, Liu Z, Chen Y, Chen S, Liang Y, Yang Z, Zhang Z, Li M, Zhang X, Liu X. The JAK-STAT signaling-related signature serves as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for renal cell carcinoma immunotherapy. Gene 2024; 927:148719. [PMID: 38917875 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents a significant portion of genitourinary cancers, marked by challenging prognosis and high metastasis rates. Immunotherapy has been applied in managing advanced renal cell carcinoma, but the therapeutic outcomes are unsatisfactory. In this study, we order to construct a Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator transcriptional (JAK/STAT)-related signature linked to kidney patient outcomes for better predicting the efficacy to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and to provide guidance for effective combination therapy. We screened 25 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that exhibited high expression in RCC samples and were enriched in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Among these genes, 11 key genes were identified and correlated with the expectation of Kidney Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC) patients and all these genes was significantly elevated in RCC tumor tissues and cancer cells compared to para-cancer tissues and normal renal cells. Utilizing these 11 genes, we divided RCC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. We found a clear correlation between the clinicopathologic factors of KIRC patients and the JAK-STAT-related risk score. And the IHC results shown that the JAK3 and STAT4 expression of tumor was significantly higher than normal tissue in RCC patients, the level of JAK3 and STAT4 was positively related to the T stage of RCC patients. In addition, high-risk patients had a poorer prognosis and greater protumor immune cell infiltration, and benefitted less from immunotherapy than did low-risk patients. Furthermore, the JAK-STAT-related risk score can predict disease-free survival (DFS) in RCC patients according to the nomogram, which constructed in combination with other clinical features such as age, TNM-staging and stage. Our study demonstrated the JAK-STAT signaling pathway's important regulatory function in RCC tumor immunity. This insight not only enhances our ability to accurately predict the survival rate of RCC patients, but also underscores a potential therapeutic alternative for RCC, involving the combined targeting of the JAK-STAT pathway and immune checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szehoi Chan
- Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zixuan Liu
- Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingying Chen
- College of Stomatology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shuna Chen
- Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuelan Liang
- Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ziyi Yang
- Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Miao Li
- Department of Dermatovenereology, The Seveneth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518106, China.
| | - Xingding Zhang
- Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xueqi Liu
- Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.
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Yu L, Deng Y, Wang X, Santos C, Davis IJ, Earp HS, Liu P. Co-targeting JAK1/STAT6/GAS6/TAM signaling improves chemotherapy efficacy in Ewing sarcoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5292. [PMID: 38906855 PMCID: PMC11192891 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric bone and soft tissue tumor treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Despite intensive multimodality therapy, ~50% patients eventually relapse and die of the disease due to chemoresistance. Here, using phospho-profiling, we find Ewing sarcoma cells treated with chemotherapeutic agents activate TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) kinases to augment Akt and ERK signaling facilitating chemoresistance. Mechanistically, chemotherapy-induced JAK1-SQ phosphorylation releases JAK1 pseudokinase domain inhibition allowing for JAK1 activation. This alternative JAK1 activation mechanism leads to STAT6 nuclear translocation triggering transcription and secretion of the TAM kinase ligand GAS6 with autocrine/paracrine consequences. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of either JAK1 by filgotinib or TAM kinases by UNC2025 sensitizes Ewing sarcoma to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. Excitingly, the TAM kinase inhibitor MRX-2843 currently in human clinical trials to treat AML and advanced solid tumors, enhances chemotherapy efficacy to further suppress Ewing sarcoma tumor growth in vivo. Our findings reveal an Ewing sarcoma chemoresistance mechanism with an immediate translational value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Yu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yu Deng
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Charlene Santos
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ian J Davis
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - H Shelton Earp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Pengda Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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17
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Luo X, Wei Q, Jiang X, Chen N, Zuo X, Zhao H, Liu Y, Liu X, Xie L, Yang Y, Liu T, Yi P, Xu J. CSTF3 contributes to platinum resistance in ovarian cancer through alternative polyadenylation of lncRNA NEAT1 and generating the short isoform NEAT1_1. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:432. [PMID: 38898019 PMCID: PMC11187223 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06816-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard postoperative adjuvant treatment for ovarian cancer (OC). Despite the initial response to chemotherapy, 85% of advanced OC patients will have recurrent disease. Relapsed disease and platinum resistance are the major causes of death in OC patients. In this study, we compared the global regulation of alternative polyadenylation (APA) in platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive tissues of OC patients by analyzing a set of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from public databases and found that platinum-resistant patients exhibited global 3' untranslated region (UTR) shortening due to the different usage of polyadenylation sites (PASs). The APA regulator CSTF3 was the most significantly upregulated gene in epithelial cells of platinum-resistant OC. CSTF3 knockdown increased the sensitivity of OC cells to platinum. The lncRNA NEAT1 has two isoforms, short (NEAT1_1) and long (NEAT1_2) transcript, because of the APA processing in 3'UTR. We found that CSTF3 knockdown reduced the usage of NEAT1 proximal PAS to lengthen the transcript and facilitate the expression of NEAT1_2. Downregulation of the expression of NEAT1 (NEAT1_1/_2), but not only NEAT1_2, also increased the sensitivity of OC cells to platinum. Overexpressed NEAT1_1 reversed the platinum resistance of OC cells after knocking down CSTF3 expression. Furthermore, downregulated expression of CSTF3 and NEAT1_1, rather than NEAT1_2, was positively correlated with inactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in OC cells. Together, our findings revealed a novel mechanism of APA regulation in platinum-resistant OC. CSTF3 directly bound downstream of the NEAT1 proximal PAS to generate the short isoform NEAT1_1 and was conducive to platinum resistance, which provides a potential biomarker and therapeutic strategy for platinum-resistant OC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Luo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qinglv Wei
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ningxuan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinzhao Zuo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyan Zhao
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Yujiao Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoyi Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingcui Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Ping Yi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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18
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Zhang W, Yu L, Xu C, Tang T, Cao J, Chen L, Pang X, Ren W. PLEK2 activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to drive lung adenocarcinoma progression by upregulating SPC25. Cell Biol Int 2024. [PMID: 38894536 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.12197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of NSCLC, characterized by poor prognosis and frequently diagnosed at advanced. While previous studies have demonstrated pleckstrin-2 (PLEK2) as aberrantly expressed and implicated in tumorigenesis across various tumor types, including LUAD, the molecular mechanisms underlying PLEK2-mediated LUAD progression remain incompletely understood. In this study, we obtained data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to assess PLEK2 expression in LUAD, a finding further confirmed through analysis of human tissue specimens. PLEK2-silenced LUAD cellular models were subsequently constructed to examine the functional role of PLEK2 both in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed elevated PLEK2 expression in LUAD, correlating with poor patients' prognosis. PLEK2 knockdown led to a significant suppression of LUAD cell proliferation and migration, accompanied by enhanced apoptosis. Moreover, tumor growth in mice injected with PLEK2-silencing LUAD cells was impaired. Gene expression profiling and Co-IP assays suggested direct interaction between PLEK2 and SPC25, with downregulation of SPC25 similarly impairing cell proliferation and migration. Additionally, we revealed phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling activation as requisite for PLEK2-induced malignant phenotypes in LUAD. Collectively, our findings underscore PLEK2's oncogenic potential in LUAD, suggesting its utility as a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for LUAD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqian Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tian Tang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jianguang Cao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xinya Pang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Weihao Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
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Cao LQ, Xie Y, Fleishman JS, Liu X, Chen ZS. Hepatocellular carcinoma and lipid metabolism: Novel targets and therapeutic strategies. Cancer Lett 2024; 597:217061. [PMID: 38876384 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an increasingly prevalent disease that is associated with high and continually rising mortality rates. Lipid metabolism holds a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HCC, in which abnormalities pertaining to the delicate balance of lipid synthesis, breakdown, and storage, predispose for the pathogenesis of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disease precursor to HCC. If caught early enough, HCC treatment may be curative. In later stages, treatment is only halting the inevitable outcome of death, boldly prompting for novel drug discovery to provide a fighting chance for this patient population. In this review, we begin by providing a summary of current local and systemic treatments against HCC. From such we discuss hepatic lipid metabolism and highlight novel targets that are ripe for anti-cancer drug discovery. Lastly, we provide a targeted summary of current known risk factors for HCC pathogenesis, providing key insights that will be essential for rationalizing future development of anti-HCC therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Qi Cao
- Institute for Biotechnology, St. John's University, New York, NY, 11439, USA; College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, 11439, USA
| | - Yuhao Xie
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, 11439, USA
| | - Joshua S Fleishman
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, 11439, USA
| | - Xuan Liu
- Shenzhen Hospital (Futian) of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518034, China.
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Institute for Biotechnology, St. John's University, New York, NY, 11439, USA; College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, 11439, USA.
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20
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Zhang W, Wang Y, Yu H, Jin Z, Yuan Y, Liu L, Zhou J. Exploring the mechanism of Erteng-Sanjie capsule in treating gastric and colorectal cancers via network pharmacology and in-vivo validation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 327:117945. [PMID: 38428659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Erteng-Sanjie capsule (ETSJC) has therapeutic effects against gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its underlying pharmacological mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY To explore the pharmacological mechanism of ETSJC against GC and CRC via network pharmacology and in-vivo validation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data on the ingredients of ETSJC were obtained from the TCMSP and HERB databases. Further, details on the related targets of the active ingredients were collected from the HERB and SwissTargetPrediction databases. The targets in GC and CRC, which were screened from the OMIM, GeneCards, and TTD databases, were uploaded to STRING for a separate protein-protein interaction network analysis. The common targets shared by ETSJC, GC, and CRC were then screened. Cytoscape and STRING were used to construct the networks of herbs-compounds-targets and PPI. Metascape was utilized to analyze the enrichment of the GO and KEGG pathways. Molecular docking was used to validate the potential binding mode between the core ingredients and targets. Finally, the predicted results were verified with animal experiment. RESULTS Eight core ingredients (resveratrol, quercetin, luteolin, baicalein, delphinidin, kaempferol, pinocembrin, and naringenin) and six core targets (TP53, SRC, PIK3R1, AKT1, MAPK3, and STAT3) were filtered via network analysis. The molecular mechanism mainly involved the positive regulation of various processes such as cell migration, protein phosphorylation, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking revealed that the core ingredients could be significantly combined with all core targets. The animal experiment revealed that ETSJC could suppress proliferation and promote apoptosis of both GC and CRC tumor cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Multiple targets (TP53, SRC, AKT1, and STAT3) were important in GC and CRC. ETSJC could act on these targets and engage in different pathways against GC and CRC. Simultaneously, inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was a promising therapeutic mechanism for treating GC and CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencui Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Han Yu
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Zengcai Jin
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Yuyao Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Likun Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
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21
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Fuentes-Rodriguez A, Mitchell A, Guérin SL, Landreville S. Recent Advances in Molecular and Genetic Research on Uveal Melanoma. Cells 2024; 13:1023. [PMID: 38920653 PMCID: PMC11201764 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM), a distinct subtype of melanoma, presents unique challenges in its clinical management due to its complex molecular landscape and tendency for liver metastasis. This review highlights recent advancements in understanding the molecular pathogenesis, genetic alterations, and immune microenvironment of UM, with a focus on pivotal genes, such as GNAQ/11, BAP1, and CYSLTR2, and delves into the distinctive genetic and chromosomal classifications of UM, emphasizing the role of mutations and chromosomal rearrangements in disease progression and metastatic risk. Novel diagnostic biomarkers, including circulating tumor cells, DNA and extracellular vesicles, are discussed, offering potential non-invasive approaches for early detection and monitoring. It also explores emerging prognostic markers and their implications for patient stratification and personalized treatment strategies. Therapeutic approaches, including histone deacetylase inhibitors, MAPK pathway inhibitors, and emerging trends and concepts like CAR T-cell therapy, are evaluated for their efficacy in UM treatment. This review identifies challenges in UM research, such as the limited treatment options for metastatic UM and the need for improved prognostic tools, and suggests future directions, including the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, immunotherapeutic strategies, and advanced drug delivery systems. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued research and innovation in addressing the unique challenges of UM to improve patient outcomes and develop more effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Fuentes-Rodriguez
- Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology-Cervico-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.F.-R.); (A.M.); (S.L.G.)
- Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec City, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale de l‘Université Laval/LOEX, Quebec City, QC G1J 1Z4, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Center, Quebec City, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Andrew Mitchell
- Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology-Cervico-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.F.-R.); (A.M.); (S.L.G.)
- Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec City, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale de l‘Université Laval/LOEX, Quebec City, QC G1J 1Z4, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Center, Quebec City, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Sylvain L. Guérin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology-Cervico-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.F.-R.); (A.M.); (S.L.G.)
- Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec City, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale de l‘Université Laval/LOEX, Quebec City, QC G1J 1Z4, Canada
| | - Solange Landreville
- Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology-Cervico-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.F.-R.); (A.M.); (S.L.G.)
- Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec City, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale de l‘Université Laval/LOEX, Quebec City, QC G1J 1Z4, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Center, Quebec City, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
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22
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Wang Y, Han Y, Shang K, Xiao J, Tao L, Peng Z, Liu S, Jiang Y. Kokusaginine attenuates renal fibrosis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116695. [PMID: 38713950 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Kokusaginine is an active ingredient alkaloid that has been isolated and extracted from Ruta graveolens L. Some researches have indicated that alkaloids possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Nevertheless, the potential nephroprotective effects of kokusaginine on renal fibrosis remain undetermined. This study was conducted to examine the protective effect of kokusaginine on renal fibrosis and to explore the underlying mechanisms using both in vivo and in vitro models. Renal fibrosis was induced in male C57BL/6 J mice by feeding with 0.2% adenine-containing food and UUO surgery. Kokusaginine was administered orally simultaneously after the establishment of renal fibrosis. Renal function was measured by serum levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen. Renal pathological changes were assessed by HE staining and Masson staining. Western blotting was employed to detect the expression levels of fibrosis-related proteins in mice and cells. Additionally, network pharmacology analysis and RNA-seq were utilized to predict the pathways through which kokusaginine could exert its anti-fibrotic effects. The treatment with kokusaginine enhanced renal function, alleviated renal histoarchitectural lesions, and mitigated renal fibrosis in the renal fibrosis models. The network pharmacology and RNA-seq enrichment analysis of the KEGG pathway demonstrated that kokusaginine could exert anti-renal fibrosis activity via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. And the results were verified in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. In conclusion, our data implied that kokusaginine inhibited the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo, and suppressed the formation of renal fibrosis. Thus, the kokusaginine-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway may represent a novel approach for the treatment of renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yuanyuan Han
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Organ Fibrosis, Central South University, Changsha, China; Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Kaiqi Shang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Jing Xiao
- Hunan Institute for Drug Control, Changsha 410001, China
| | - Lijian Tao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Organ Fibrosis, Central South University, Changsha, China; Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Zhangzhe Peng
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Organ Fibrosis, Central South University, Changsha, China; Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
| | - Shao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
| | - Yueping Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
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23
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Zhu C, Wang C, Wang X, Dong S, Xu Q, Zheng J. PABPC1 silencing inhibits pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and EMT, and induces apoptosis via PI3K/AKT pathway. Cytotechnology 2024; 76:351-361. [PMID: 38736728 PMCID: PMC11082123 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-024-00626-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to manage owing to the challenges involved in its treatment and nursing. This study aimed to clarify the roles and mechanisms of action of Poly (A)-binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1) on pancreatic cancer. The expression of PABPC1 in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines was detected using RT-qPCR and western blotting. The effects of PABPC1 on proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer cells were further investigated using MTT assays, flow cytometry, and western blotting. The expression of PABPC1 was significantly upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells, whereas PABPC1 downregulation inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, decreased the expression of EMT-associated proteins, and exerted a regulatory effect by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In addition, the findings indicated that PABPC1 over-expression significantly promoted pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, decreased the expression of E-cadherin, enhanced N-cadherin expression, and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. PABPC1 silencing significantly inhibited proliferation and EMT and induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. These findings provide novel insights into the role of PABPC1 in the development of pancreatic cancer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10616-024-00626-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changren Zhu
- Pathology Department, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, 225001 China
| | - Cuimei Wang
- Pathology Department, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, 225001 China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, 225001 China
| | - Shuangshuang Dong
- Pathology Department, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, 225001 China
| | - Qing Xu
- Pathology Department, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, 225001 China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Daytime Surgical Ward, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225001 China
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24
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Wei F, Lin K, Ruan B, Wang C, Yang L, Wang H, Wang Y. Epigallocatechin gallate protects MC3T3-E1 cells from cadmium-induced apoptosis and dysfunction via modulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17488. [PMID: 38827303 PMCID: PMC11141548 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an active constituent of tea, is recognized for its anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the specific mechanism by which EGCG protects osteoblasts from cadmium-induced damage remains incompletely understood. Here, the action of EGCG was investigated by exposing MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts to EGCG and CdCl2 and examining their growth, apoptosis, and differentiation. It was found that EGCG promoted the viability of cadmium-exposed MC3T3-E1 cells, mitigated apoptosis, and promoted both maturation and mineralization. Additionally, CdCl2 has been reported to inhibit both the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1(Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathways. EGCG treatment attenuated cadmium-induced apoptosis in osteoblasts and restored their function by upregulating both signaling pathways. The findings provide compelling evidence for EGCG's role in attenuating cadmium-induced osteoblast apoptosis and dysfunction through activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. This suggests the potential of using EGCG for treating cadmium-induced osteoblast dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanhao Wei
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kai Lin
- Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Binjia Ruan
- Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Lixun Yang
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongxiang Wang
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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Mo RL, Li Z, Zhang P, Sheng MH, Han GC, Sun DQ. Matrine inhibits invasion and migration of gallbladder cancer via regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03162-z. [PMID: 38789637 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03162-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a common malignant cancer in the biliary system, which poses a serious threat to human health. It is urgent to explore ideal drugs for the treatment of GBC. Matrine is the main active ingredient of Sophora flavescentis, with a wide range of biological activities encompassing anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and anti-tumor. However, the underlying mechanism by which Matrine treats GBC is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-tumor effects of Matrine on GBC in vivo and in vitro and to clarify the potential regulatory mechanisms. Here, we found that Matrine had a significant killing effect on GBC through CCK8 and flow cytometry, including arrest of cell cycle, inhibition of GBC cell, and induction of apoptosis. Further in vivo studies confirmed the inhibitory effect of Matrine on tumor growth in NOZ xenografted nude mouse. At the same time, Matrine also significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of GBC cells through scratch and Transwell experiments. In addition, by detecting the mRNA and protein levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and matrix metalloproteinases, Matrine furtherly substantiated the inhibitory role on invasion and migration of GBC. From a mechanistic perspective, network pharmacology analysis suggests that the potential targets of Matrine in the treatment of GBC are enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Subsequently, Matrine effectively decreased the abundance of p-PI3K and p-AKT protein in vivo and in vitro. More importantly, PI3K activator (740 Y-P) antagonized the anti-tumor effect of Matrine, while PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) increased the sensitivity of Matrine for GBC. Based on the above findings, we conclude that Matrine inhibits the invasion and migration of GBC by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our results indicate the crucial role and regulatory mechanism of Matrine in suppressing the growth of GBC, which provides a theoretical basis for Matrine to be a candidate drug for the treatment and research of GBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Liang Mo
- Anhui Medical University, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Zhuang Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Chinese People's Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, 230041, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Graduate School, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Ming-Hui Sheng
- Department of General Surgery, The Chinese People's Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, 230041, China.
| | - Gen-Cheng Han
- Anhui Medical University, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hefei, 230032, China.
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Deng-Qun Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The Chinese People's Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, 230041, China.
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Zheng D, Ning J, Deng H, Ruan Y, Cheng F. TRIM26 inhibits clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression through destabilizing ETK and thus inactivation of AKT/mTOR signaling. J Transl Med 2024; 22:481. [PMID: 38773612 PMCID: PMC11110379 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05273-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tripartite motif-containing 26 (TRIM26), a member of the TRIM protein family, exerts dual function in several types of cancer. Nevertheless, the precise role of TRIM26 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has not been investigated. METHODS The expression of TRIM26 in ccRCC tissues and cell lines were examined through the use of public resources and experimental validation. The impacts of TRIM26 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process were determined via CCK-8, colony formation, EdU incorporation, wound healing, Transwell invasion, Western blot, and Immunofluorescence assays. RNA-seq followed by bioinformatic analyses were used to identify the downstream pathway of TRIM26. The interaction between TRIM26 and ETK was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation, qRT-PCR, Western blot, cycloheximide (CHX) chase, and in vivo ubiquitination assays. RESULTS We have shown that TRIM26 exhibits a downregulation in both ccRCC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, this decreased expression of TRIM26 is closely linked to unfavorable overall survival and diseases-free survival outcomes among ccRCC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that increasing the expression of TRIM26 suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT process of ccRCC cells. Conversely, reducing the expression of TRIM26 had the opposite effects. RNA sequencing, coupled with bioinformatic analysis, revealed a significant enrichment of the mTOR signaling pathway in the control group compared to the group with TRIM26 overexpression. This finding was then confirmed by a western blot assay. Subsequent examination revealed that TRMI26 had a direct interaction with ETK, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase. This interaction facilitated the ubiquitination and degradation of ETK, resulting in the deactivation of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in ccRCC. ETK overexpression counteracted the inhibitory effects of TRIM26 overexpression on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. CONCLUSION Our results have shown a novel mechanism by which TRIM26 hinders the advancement of ccRCC by binding to and destabilizing ETK, thus leading to the deactivation of AKT/mTOR signaling. TRIM26 shows promise as both a therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for ccRCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zheng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Jinzhuo Ning
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Hao Deng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Ruan
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, P. R. China.
| | - Fan Cheng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, P. R. China.
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27
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Xu S, Li Z, Xin X, An F. Curdepsidone A Induces Intrinsic Apoptosis and Inhibits Protective Autophagy via the ROS/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in HeLa Cells. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:227. [PMID: 38786619 PMCID: PMC11123476 DOI: 10.3390/md22050227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Among female oncology patients, cervical cancer stands as the fourth most prevalent malignancy, exerting significant impacts on their health. Over 600,000 women received the diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2020, and the illness claimed over 300,000 lives globally. Curdepsidone A, a derivative of depsidone, was isolated from the secondary metabolites of Curvularia sp. IFB-Z10. In this study, we revised the molecular structure of curdepsidone A and investigated the fundamental mechanism of the anti-tumor activity of curdepsidone A in HeLa cells for the first time. The results demonstrated that curdepsidone A caused G0/G1 phase arrest, triggered apoptosis via a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, blocked the autophagic flux, suppressed the PI3K/AKT pathway, and increased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HeLa cells. Furthermore, the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) promoted apoptosis induced by curdepsidone A, while the PI3K agonist (IGF-1) eliminated such an effect. ROS scavenger (NAC) reduced curdepsidone A-induced cell apoptosis and the suppression of autophagy and the PI3K/AKT pathway. In conclusion, our results revealed that curdepsidone A hindered cell growth by causing cell cycle arrest, and promoted cell apoptosis by inhibiting autophagy and the ROS-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway. This study provides a molecular basis for the development of curdepsidone A as a new chemotherapy drug for cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunjie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China; (S.X.); (Z.L.); (X.X.)
| | - Zhimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China; (S.X.); (Z.L.); (X.X.)
| | - Xiujuan Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China; (S.X.); (Z.L.); (X.X.)
| | - Faliang An
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China; (S.X.); (Z.L.); (X.X.)
- Marine Biomedical Science and Technology Innovation Platform of Lin-Gang Special Area, No. 4, Lane 218, Haiji Sixth Road, Shanghai 201306, China
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28
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Wu Z, Zhang L, Li X, Liu L, Kuang T, Qiu Z, Deng W, Wang W. The prognostic significance and potential mechanism of DBF4 zinc finger in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10662. [PMID: 38724606 PMCID: PMC11082141 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60342-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
DBF4 zinc finger (DBF4) is a critical component involved in DNA replication and cell proliferation. It acts as a positive regulator of the cell division cycle 7 kinase. In this study, our investigation encompassed the impact of DBF4 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and delved into the potential mechanisms. We utilized open-access databases like TCGA and GEO to analyze the association between DBF4 and 33 different tumor types. We also conducted immunohistochemistry experiments to validate the expression of DBF4 in HCC, STAD, COAD, READ, PAAD, and LGG. Furthermore, we employed lentiviral transduction to knockdown DBF4 in HLF and SMMC cells, as well as to overexpress DBF4 in Huh7 cells. Subsequently, we evaluated the impact of DBF4 on proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. RNA sequencing and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were also conducted to identify potential pathways, which were further validated through WB experiments. Finally, pathway inhibitor was utilized in rescue experiments to confirm whether DBF4 exerts its effects on tumor cells via the implicated pathway. Our findings revealed that DBF4 exhibited significant expression levels in nearly all examined tumors, which were further substantiated by the results of immunohistochemistry analysis. High DBF4 expression was correlated with poor overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), progression-free interval (PFI), disease-free interval (DFI), relapse-free interval (RFI) in majority of tumor types, particularly in patients with HCC. In vitro experiments demonstrated that inhibition of DBF4 impaired the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of HCC cells, whereas overexpression of DBF4 promoted these phenotypes. Sequencing results indicated that DBF4 may induce these changes through the ERBB signaling pathway. Further experimental validation revealed that DBF4 activates the ERBB signaling pathway, leading to alterations in the JNK/STAT, MAPK, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, thereby impacting the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of tumor cells. Lastly, treatment of Huh7 cells overexpressing DBF4 with the ERBB2 inhibitor dacomitinib demonstrated the ability of ERBB2 inhibition to reverse the promoting effect of DBF4 overexpression on the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of HCC cells. DBF4 plays a pivotal oncogenic role in HCC by promoting the ERBB signaling pathway and activating its downstream PI3K/AKT, JNK/STAT3, and MAPK signaling pathways. DBF4 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongkai Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Digestive System Disease, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lilong Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Digestive System Disease, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xinyi Li
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Digestive System Disease, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Digestive System Disease, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Tianrui Kuang
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Digestive System Disease, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhendong Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Digestive System Disease, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wenhong Deng
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Digestive System Disease, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Weixing Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Digestive System Disease, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China.
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Wang Q, Wang B, Zhang W, Zhang T, Liu Q, Jiao X, Ye J, Hao Y, Gao Q, Ma G, Hao C, Cui B. APLN promotes the proliferation, migration, and glycolysis of cervical cancer through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 755:109983. [PMID: 38561035 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.109983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Apelin (APLN) is an endogenous ligand of the G protein-coupled receptor APJ (APLNR). APLN has been implicated in the development of multiple tumours. Herein, we determined the effect of APLN on the biological behaviour and underlying mechanisms of cervical cancer. The expression and survival curves of APLN were determined using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis. The cellular functions of APLN were detected using CCK-8, clone formation, EdU, Transwell assays, flow cytometry, and seahorse metabolic analysis. The underlying mechanisms were elucidated using gene set enrichment analysis and Western blotting. APLN was upregulated in the samples of patients with cervical cancer and is associated with poor prognosis. APLN knockdown decreased the proliferation, migration, and glycolysis of cervical cancer cells. The opposite results were observed when APLN was overexpressed. Mechanistically, we determined that APLN was critical for activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway via APLNR. APLN receptor inhibitor ML221 reversed the effect of APLN overexpression on cervical cancer cells. Treatment with LY294002, the PI3K inhibitor, drastically reversed the oncological behaviour of APLN-overexpressing C-33A cells. APLN promoted the proliferation, migration, and glycolysis of cervical cancer cells via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Bingyu Wang
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Teng Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Qingqing Liu
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xinlin Jiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jinwen Ye
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yiping Hao
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Qun Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Guangzhen Ma
- Department of Pathology, The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng, Liaocheng, 252600, Shandong, China
| | - Chunyan Hao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
| | - Baoxia Cui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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30
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Kalla C, Ott G, Finotello F, Niewola-Staszkowska K, Conza GD, Lahn M, van der Veen L, Schüler J, Falkenstern-Ge R, Kopecka J, Riganti C. The highly selective and oral phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3K-δ) inhibitor roginolisib induces apoptosis in mesothelioma cells and increases immune effector cell composition. Transl Oncol 2024; 43:101857. [PMID: 38412661 PMCID: PMC10907864 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeting aberrantly expressed kinases in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a promising therapeutic strategy. We here investigated the effect of the novel and highly selective Phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3K-δ) inhibitor roginolisib (IOA-244) on MPM cells and on the immune cells in MPM microenvironment. To this aim, we analyzed the expression of PI3K-δ by immunohistochemistry in specimens from primary MPM, cell viability and death in three different MPM cell lines treated with roginolisib alone and in combination with ipatasertib (AKT inhibitor) and sapanisertib (mTOR inhibitor). In a co-culture model of patient-derived MPM cells, autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fibroblasts, the tumor cell viability and changes in immune cell composition were investigated after treatment of roginolisib with nivolumab and cisplatin. PI3K-δ was detected in 66/89 (74%) MPM tumors and was associated with reduced overall survival (12 vs. 25 months, P=0.0452). Roginolisib induced apoptosis in MPM cells and enhanced the anti-tumor efficacy of AKT and mTOR kinase inhibitors by suppressing PI3K-δ/AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 signaling. Furthermore, the combination of roginolisib with chemotherapy and immunotherapy re-balanced the immune cell composition, increasing effector T-cells and reducing immune suppressive cells. Overall, roginolisib induces apoptosis in MPM cells and increases the antitumor immune cell effector function when combined with nivolumab and cisplatin. These results provide first insights on the potential of roginolisib as a therapeutic agent in patients with MPM and its potential in combination with established immunotherapy regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kalla
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Auerbachstrasse 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany; Department of Clinical Pathology, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus, Auerbachstrasse 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - German Ott
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus, Auerbachstrasse 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Francesca Finotello
- Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), Universität Innsbruck, Innrain 15, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Giusy Di Conza
- iOnctura SA, Avenue Secheron 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michael Lahn
- iOnctura SA, Avenue Secheron 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Julia Schüler
- Charles River Germany GmbH, Am Flughafen 12, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Roger Falkenstern-Ge
- Department of Molecular and Pneumonological Oncology, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus, Auerbachstrasse 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Joanna Kopecka
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, via Nizza 44, 10126, Torino, Italy; Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", via Nizza 44, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, via Nizza 44, 10126, Torino, Italy; Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", via Nizza 44, 10126, Torino, Italy; Interdepartmental Center "G.Scansetti" for the study of asbestos and other toxic particulates, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy.
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31
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Zhou X, Chen W, Zhuang D, Xu G, Puyang Y, Rui H. Knockdown of SETD5 Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth and Stemness by Regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10766-w. [PMID: 38641699 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10766-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
SET domain-containing 5 (SETD5), a member of protein lysine methyltransferase family, is expressed in multiple cancers, making it potential therapeutic targets. However, the role of SETD5 in colorectal cancer remains largely unknown. The expression of SETD5 in the 30 pairs colorectal cancer tissues samples and cell lines were determined by qRT-PCR. The functions of SETD5 was detected by knocked-down or overexpression in colorectal cancer cell lines SW480 and HCT116 cells. Cell proliferative activity, cell death, and stemness characteristics were assessed. BEZ235, a PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitor, was used to perform rescue experiment to analyze whether SETD5 exerted its effects through activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. SETD5 was substantially upregulated in colorectal cancer, and correlated to metastasis and clinical stage of patients. Knockdown of SETD5 inhibited SW480 and HCT116 cell growth, as evidenced by the inhibition of cell viability and clone-forming. Moreover, Knockdown of SETD5 suppressed the capability of tumor sphere formation of SW480 and HCT116 cells, and reduced the expression of stemness-related proteins Nanog and Sox2. Further western blot analysis revealed that SETD5 knockdown inhibited the phosphorylation of proteins associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In contrast, overexpression of SETD5 exerted the opposite effects. Mechanistically, by blocking PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway with BEZ235, the effects of SETD5 overexpression on cell viability and Nanog and Sox2 protein expression were reversed. Our results substantiated that SETD5 functioned as an oncogene by promoting cell growth and stemness in colorectal cancer cells through activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Gaochun, 211300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenqiang Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Gaochun, 211300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Duanming Zhuang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Economic Development Zone, Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, No. 53, Maoshan, Gaochun, 211300, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Guangqi Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Gaochun, 211300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongqiang Puyang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Gaochun, 211300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongqing Rui
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Gaochun, 211300, Jiangsu, China
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32
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Li M, Shi H, Dong J, Lu N, Lou J, Xu Y. Mechanisms of Ferroptosis-Related Genes in Gallbladder Cancer Based on Bioinformatics Analysis. Mol Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12033-024-01159-w. [PMID: 38635107 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01159-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Gallbladder Cancer (GBC) is a lethal malignancy with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Recent studies have emphasized the role of ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death, in various cancers, including GBC. We applied bioinformatics methodologies on four GBC datasets to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). An intersection of DEGs from the four datasets with ferroptosis and GBC-associated genes was done to identify key ferroptosis-related genes in GBC. GSVA pathway enrichment analysis and immune cell infiltration assessment were conducted to explore their functional roles and interactions. Seven ferroptosis-related genes, EZH2, MUC1, PVT1, GOT1, CDO1, LIFR, and TFAP2A, were identified to be related to GBC. These genes were associated with vital signaling pathways like the G2/M checkpoint and DNA repair and showed significant correlations with immune cell infiltration in GBC. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed their high diagnostic potential, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.796 to 0.953. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of ferroptosis in GBC and the potential of ferroptosis-related genes as diagnostic biomarkers. This study lays a foundation for further research into ferroptosis-based therapeutic strategies for GBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Li
- Department of Oncology, Ningbo TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), No. 819, Liyuan North Road, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Hang Shi
- Department of Oncology, Ningbo TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), No. 819, Liyuan North Road, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Dong
- Department of Oncology, Ningbo TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), No. 819, Liyuan North Road, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ning Lu
- Department of Oncology, Ningbo TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), No. 819, Liyuan North Road, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinjie Lou
- Department of Oncology, Ningbo TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), No. 819, Liyuan North Road, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yangbo Xu
- Department of Oncology, Ningbo TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), No. 819, Liyuan North Road, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China
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Wang Z, Zong H, Liu W, Lin W, Sun A, Ding Z, Chen X, Wan X, Liu Y, Hu Z, Zhang H, Li H, Liu Y, Li D, Zhang S, Zha X. Augmented ERO1α upon mTORC1 activation induces ferroptosis resistance and tumor progression via upregulation of SLC7A11. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:112. [PMID: 38610018 PMCID: PMC11015652 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dysregulated mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling plays a critical role in ferroptosis resistance and tumorigenesis. However, the precise underlying mechanisms still need to be fully understood. METHODS Endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase 1 alpha (ERO1α) expression in mTORC1-activated mouse embryonic fibroblasts, cancer cells, and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) clinical samples was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting, immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry. Extensive in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out to determine the role of ERO1α and its downstream target, member 11 of the solute carrier family 7 (SLC7A11), in mTORC1-mediated cell proliferation, angiogenesis, ferroptosis resistance, and tumor growth. The regulatory mechanism of ERO1α on SLC7A11 was investigated via RNA-sequencing, a cytokine array, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, qRT-PCR, western blotting, IF, a luciferase reporter assay, and a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. The combined therapeutic effect of ERO1α inhibition and the ferroptosis inducer imidazole ketone erastin (IKE) on mTORC1-activated cells was evaluated using cell line-derived xenografts, LSCC organoids, and LSCC patient-derived xenograft models. RESULTS ERO1α is a functional downstream target of mTORC1. Elevated ERO1α induced ferroptosis resistance and exerted pro-oncogenic roles in mTORC1-activated cells via upregulation of SLC7A11. Mechanically, ERO1α stimulated the transcription of SLC7A11 by activating the interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. Moreover, ERO1α inhibition combined with treatment using the ferroptosis inducer IKE exhibited synergistic antitumor effects on mTORC1-activated tumors. CONCLUSIONS The ERO1α/IL-6/STAT3/SLC7A11 pathway is crucial for mTORC1-mediated ferroptosis resistance and tumor growth, and combining ERO1α inhibition with ferroptosis inducers is a novel and effective treatment for mTORC1-related tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixi Wang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, And Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Huaiyuan Zong
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Weiwei Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Anjiang Sun
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Zhao Ding
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wan
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Hefei First People's Hospital, Hefei, 230061, China
| | - Zhongdong Hu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Hongbing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hongwu Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, 230011, China
| | - Yehai Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Dapeng Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Bozhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 616 Duzhong Road, Bozhou, 236800, Anhui Province, China.
| | - Sumei Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China.
| | - Xiaojun Zha
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China.
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Bozhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 616 Duzhong Road, Bozhou, 236800, Anhui Province, China.
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Zhu Q, Zhang X, Lu F, Miao S, Zhang C, Liu Z, Gao Z, Qi M, An X, Geng P, Wang S, Ren H, Han F, Zhang R, Zha D. RUNX1-BMP2 promotes vasculogenic mimicry in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma via activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:227. [PMID: 38610001 PMCID: PMC11010429 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01605-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the head and neck. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis and refers to the formation of fluid channels by invasive tumor cells rather than endothelial cells. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying VM during the malignant progression of LSCC remain largely unknown. METHODS Gene expression and clinical data for LSCC were obtained from the TCGA and Gene GEO (GSE27020) databases. A risk prediction model associated with VM was established using LASSO and Cox regression analyses. Based on their risk scores, patients with LSCC were categorized into high- and low-risk groups. The disparities in immune infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and functional enrichment between these two groups were examined. The core genes in LSCC were identified using the machine learning (SVM-RFE) and WGCNA algorithms. Subsequently, the involvement of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) in VM and metastasis was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. To elucidate the downstream signaling pathways regulated by BMP2, western blotting was performed. Additionally, ChIP experiments were employed to identify the key transcription factors responsible for modulating the expression of BMP2. RESULTS We established a new precise prognostic model for LSCC related to VM based on three genes: BMP2, EPO, and AGPS. The ROC curves from both TCGA and GSE27020 validation cohorts demonstrated precision survival prediction capabilities, with the nomogram showing some net clinical benefit. Multiple algorithm analyses indicated BMP2 as a potential core gene. Further experiments suggested that BMP2 promotes VM and metastasis in LSCC. The malignant progression of LSCC is promoted by BMP2 via the activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, with the high expression of BMP2 in LSCC resulting from its transcriptional activation by runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1). CONCLUSION BMP2 predicts poor prognosis in LSCC, promotes LSCC VM and metastasis through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, and is transcriptionally regulated by RUNX1. BMP2 may be a novel, precise, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarker of LSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingwen Zhu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fei Lu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Siyu Miao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chunyang Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhenzhen Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zejun Gao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Meihao Qi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaogang An
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Panling Geng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Sufang Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongbo Ren
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fugen Han
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruyue Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - DingJun Zha
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
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Zhang X, Ma H, Gao Y, Liang Y, Du Y, Hao S, Ni T. The Tumor Microenvironment: Signal Transduction. Biomolecules 2024; 14:438. [PMID: 38672455 PMCID: PMC11048169 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the challenging tumor microenvironment (TME), tumors coexist with diverse stromal cell types. During tumor progression and metastasis, a reciprocal interaction occurs between cancer cells and their environment. These interactions involve ongoing and evolving paracrine and proximal signaling. Intrinsic signal transduction in tumors drives processes such as malignant transformation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, immune evasion, and tumor cell metastasis. In addition, cancer cells embedded in the tumor microenvironment undergo metabolic reprogramming. Their metabolites, serving as signaling molecules, engage in metabolic communication with diverse matrix components. These metabolites act as direct regulators of carcinogenic pathways, thereby activating signaling cascades that contribute to cancer progression. Hence, gaining insights into the intrinsic signal transduction of tumors and the signaling communication between tumor cells and various matrix components within the tumor microenvironment may reveal novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we initially examine the development of the tumor microenvironment. Subsequently, we delineate the oncogenic signaling pathways within tumor cells and elucidate the reciprocal communication between these pathways and the tumor microenvironment. Finally, we give an overview of the effect of signal transduction within the tumor microenvironment on tumor metabolism and tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianhong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; (X.Z.); (Y.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.D.)
| | - Haijun Ma
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Protection and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China;
| | - Yue Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; (X.Z.); (Y.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.D.)
| | - Yabing Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; (X.Z.); (Y.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.D.)
| | - Yitian Du
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; (X.Z.); (Y.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.D.)
| | - Shuailin Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; (X.Z.); (Y.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.D.)
| | - Ting Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; (X.Z.); (Y.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.D.)
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Liu GH, Yao ZQ, Chen GQ, Li YL, Liang B. Potential Benefits of Green Tea in Prostate Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Comprehensive Review. Chin J Integr Med 2024:10.1007/s11655-024-4100-2. [PMID: 38561489 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-024-4100-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a prevalent and debilitating disease that necessitates effective prevention and treatment strategies. Green tea, a well-known beverage derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, contains bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including catechins and polyphenols. This comprehensive review aims to explore the potential benefits of green tea in prostate cancer prevention and treatment by examining existing literature. Green tea possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties attributed to its catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate. Epidemiological studies have reported an inverse association between green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk, with potential protection against aggressive forms of the disease. Laboratory studies demonstrate that green tea components inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis, and modulate signaling pathways critical to prostate cancer development and progression. Clinical trials and human studies further support the potential benefits of green tea. Green tea consumption has been found to be associated with a reduction in prostate-specific antigen levels, tumor markers, and played a potential role in slowing disease progression. However, challenges remain, including optimal dosage determination, formulation standardization, and conducting large-scale, long-term clinical trials. The review suggests future research should focus on combinatorial approaches with conventional therapies and personalized medicine strategies to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from green tea interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Hong Liu
- Department of Urology, Sanya Central Hospital (The Third People's Hospital of Hainan Province), Sanya City, Hainan Province, 572000, China
| | - Ze-Qin Yao
- Department of Urology, Sanya Central Hospital (The Third People's Hospital of Hainan Province), Sanya City, Hainan Province, 572000, China
| | - Guo-Qiang Chen
- Department of Urology, Sanya Central Hospital (The Third People's Hospital of Hainan Province), Sanya City, Hainan Province, 572000, China
| | - Ya-Lang Li
- Department of Urology, Yuzhou People's Hospital, Xuchang City, Henan Province, 461670, China
| | - Bing Liang
- Department of Urology, Sanya Central Hospital (The Third People's Hospital of Hainan Province), Sanya City, Hainan Province, 572000, China.
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Wang X, Liu Z, Deng S, Zhou J, Li X, Huang J, Chen J, Ji C, Deng Y, Hu Y. SIRT3 alleviates high glucose-induced chondrocyte injury through the promotion of autophagy and suppression of apoptosis in osteoarthritis progression. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 130:111755. [PMID: 38408417 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
A growing amount of epidemiological evidence proposes diabetes mellitus (DM) to be an independent risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA). Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), which is mainly located in mitochondria, belongs to the family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent protein deacetylases and is involved in the physiological and pathological processes of cell regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SIRT3 on diabetic OA and underlying mechanisms in the prevention of type 2 DM (T2DM)-induced articular cartilage damage. High-fat and high-sugar diets combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection were used for establishing an experimental T2DM rat model. The destabilization of medial meniscus (DMM) surgery was applied to induce the rat OA model. Primary rat chondrocytes were cultivated with a concentration of gradient glucose. Treatment with intra-articular injection of SIRT3 overexpression lentivirus was achieved in vivo, and intervention with SIRT3 knockdown was performed using siRNA transfection in vitro. High glucose content was found to activate inflammatory response, facilitate apoptosis, downregulate autophagy, and exacerbate mitochondrial dysfunction in a dose-dependent manner in rat chondrocytes, which can be deteriorated by SIRT3 knockdown. In addition, articular cartilage damage was found to be more severe in T2DM-OA rats than in DMM-induced OA rats, which can be mitigated by the intra-articular injection of SIRT3 overexpression lentivirus. Targeting SIRT3 is a potential therapeutic strategy for the alleviation of diabetic OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuezhong Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Zilin Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Shuang Deng
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jianlin Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xuyang Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Junwen Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Chuang Ji
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yu Deng
- Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Microsurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Yong Hu
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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Yang Y, Yan X, Bai X, Yang J, Song J. Programmed cell death-ligand 2: new insights in cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1359532. [PMID: 38605944 PMCID: PMC11006960 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1359532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, with the anti-PD-1/PD-L1 axis therapy demonstrating significant clinical efficacy across various tumor types. However, it should be noted that this therapy is not universally effective for all PD-L1-positive patients, highlighting the need to expedite research on the second ligand of PD-1, known as Programmed Cell Death Receptor Ligand 2 (PD-L2). As an immune checkpoint molecule, PD-L2 was reported to be associated with patient's prognosis and plays a pivotal role in cancer cell immune escape. An in-depth understanding of the regulatory process of PD-L2 expression may stratify patients to benefit from anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Our review focuses on exploring PD-L2 expression in different tumors, its correlation with prognosis, regulatory factors, and the interplay between PD-L2 and tumor treatment, which may provide a notable avenue in developing immune combination therapy and improving the clinical efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukang Yang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xia Yan
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xueqi Bai
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jiayang Yang
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jianbo Song
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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Fu Y, Xiang Y, Zha J, Chen G, Dong Z. Enhanced STAT3/PIK3R1/mTOR signaling triggers tubular cell inflammation and apoptosis in septic-induced acute kidney injury: implications for therapeutic intervention. Clin Sci (Lond) 2024; 138:351-369. [PMID: 38411015 DOI: 10.1042/cs20240059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Septic acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe form of renal dysfunction associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying septic AKI remain incompletely understood. Herein, we investigated the signaling pathways involved in septic AKI using the mouse models of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In these models, renal inflammation and tubular cell apoptosis were accompanied by the aberrant activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways. Pharmacological inhibition of either mTOR or STAT3 significantly improved renal function and reduced apoptosis and inflammation. Interestingly, inhibition of STAT3 with pharmacological inhibitors or small interfering RNA blocked LPS-induced mTOR activation in renal tubular cells, indicating a role of STAT3 in mTOR activation. Moreover, knockdown of STAT3 reduced the expression of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1/p85α), a key subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase for AKT and mTOR activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay also proved the binding of STAT3 to PIK3R1 gene promoter in LPS-treated kidney tubular cells. In addition, knockdown of PIK3R1 suppressed mTOR activation during LPS treatment. These findings highlight the dysregulation of mTOR and STAT3 pathways as critical mechanisms underlying the inflammatory and apoptotic phenotypes observed in renal tubular cells during septic AKI, suggesting the STAT3/ PIK3R1/mTOR pathway as a therapeutic target of septic AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Fu
- Department of Nephrology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Yu Xiang
- Department of Nephrology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Jie Zha
- Department of Nephrology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Guochun Chen
- Department of Nephrology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Zheng Dong
- Department of Nephrology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, U.S.A
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Chen L, Wang L, Han Z, Qin P, Niu G, Du J. SKI-349, a Sphingosine Kinases 1/2 Inhibitor, Suppresses Cell Viability, Invasion, and AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway, and Shows Synergistic Cytotoxic Effects with Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2024; 262:173-180. [PMID: 38123304 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.2023.j100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
SKI-349 is a novel sphingosine kinases (SPHK) inhibitor with anti-tumor effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of SKI-349 on cell biological behaviors, downstream pathways, and its synergistic effect with sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC cell lines (Huh7 and Hep3B) were treated with SKI-349 at concentrations of 1, 2, 4, or 8 μM. Then, SPHK1/2 activity, cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and protein expressions of phosphorylated-protein kinase B (p-AKT), AKT, phosphorylated-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) and mTOR were detected. Combination index values of SKI-349 (0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 μM) and sorafenib (0, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 μM) were calculated. SKI-349 decreased the relative SPHK1 and SPHK2 activity compared with blank control in a dose-dependent manner in the Huh7 and Hep3B cell lines. Meanwhile, SKI-349 reduced cell viability, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) positive cells, and invasive cells, while it increased apoptotic cells compared to blank control in a dose-dependent manner in Huh7 and Hep3B cell lines. Based on the western blot assay, SKI-349 decreased the ratio of p-AKT to AKT and that of p-mTOR to mTOR compared with blank control in a dose-dependent manner in the Huh7 and Hep3B cell lines. Additionally, SKI-349 combined with sorafenib declined cell viability with concentration gradient effects compared to SKI-349 sole treatment, and they had synergistic cytotoxic effects in Huh7 and Hep3B cell lines. SKI-349 suppresses SPHK1 and SPHK2 activity, cell viability, invasion, and AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, as well as exhibits a synergistic cytotoxic effect with sorafenib in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiao Chen
- Department of Basic Medical, Xingtai Medical College
| | | | - Zongqi Han
- Department of Basic Medical, Xingtai Medical College
| | - Peng Qin
- Department of Vascular Intervention, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xingtai Medical College
| | - Guangxu Niu
- Department of Pathology, Handan Central Hospital
| | - Jingxia Du
- Department of Basic Medical, Xingtai Medical College
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Jiang M, Wu W, Xiong Z, Yu X, Ye Z, Wu Z. Targeting autophagy drug discovery: Targets, indications and development trends. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116117. [PMID: 38295689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Autophagy plays a vital role in sustaining cellular homeostasis and its alterations have been implicated in the etiology of many diseases. Drugs development targeting autophagy began decades ago and hundreds of agents were developed, some of which are licensed for the clinical usage. However, no existing intervention specifically aimed at modulating autophagy is available. The obstacles that prevent drug developments come from the complexity of the actual impact of autophagy regulators in disease scenarios. With the development and application of new technologies, several promising categories of compounds for autophagy-based therapy have emerged in recent years. In this paper, the autophagy-targeted drugs based on their targets at various hierarchical sites of the autophagic signaling network, e.g., the upstream and downstream of the autophagosome and the autophagic components with enzyme activities are reviewed and analyzed respectively, with special attention paid to those at preclinical or clinical trials. The drugs tailored to specific autophagy alone and combination with drugs/adjuvant therapies widely used in clinical for various diseases treatments are also emphasized. The emerging drug design and development targeting selective autophagy receptors (SARs) and their related proteins, which would be expected to arrest or reverse the progression of disease in various cancers, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders, are critically reviewed. And the challenges and perspective in clinically developing autophagy-targeted drugs and possible combinations with other medicine are considered in the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Wayne Wu
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Zijie Xiong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Department of Biology, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Zihong Ye
- Department of Biology, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Zhiping Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China.
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Cao Y, Hou L, Li M, Zhang J, Wang L, Liu C, Luo T, Yan L, Zheng L. Broccoli extracellular vesicles enhance the therapeutic effects and restore the chemosensitivity of 5-fluorouracil on colon cancer. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 186:114563. [PMID: 38442787 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Broccoli contains an amount of biologically active substances, which bring beneficial effects on human health. Plant extracellular vesicles have been shown to be novel key factors in cancer diagnosis and tumor therapy. To date, the challenge of overcoming chemoresistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to facilitate the clinical management of colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been successful. Nevertheless, the functions of broccoli extracellular vesicles (BEVs) in the progression of CRC and 5-FU resistance are predominantly unclear. Herein, we showed that BEVs isolated from broccoli juice were effectively taken up by colorectal cancer HT-29 cells. The co-administration of BEVs and 5-FU significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells, effectively blocking cell cycle progression. Furthermore, the co-administration of BEVs and 5-FU induced apoptosis by stimulating ROS production and disrupting mitochondrial function. Importantly, we found that BEVs reversed 5-FU resistance in HT-29 cells by suppressing the abnormal activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings represent a novel strategy for utilizing BEVs to improve the efficacy of colorectal cancer treatment and enhance 5-FU chemosensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Cao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Linhai Hou
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Meiqi Li
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Changhong Liu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Tianyu Luo
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Ling Yan
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Engineering Research Center of Bio-Process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China.
| | - Lei Zheng
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Engineering Research Center of Bio-Process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Research Laboratory of Agricultural Environment and Food Safety, Anhui Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System, Hefei, 230009, China.
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Jiménez DJ, Javed A, Rubio-Tomás T, Seye-Loum N, Barceló C. Clinical and Preclinical Targeting of Oncogenic Pathways in PDAC: Targeted Therapeutic Approaches for the Deadliest Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2860. [PMID: 38474109 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. It is commonly diagnosed in advanced stages and therapeutic interventions are typically constrained to systemic chemotherapy, which yields only modest clinical outcomes. In this review, we examine recent developments in targeted therapy tailored to address distinct molecular pathway alteration required for PDAC. Our review delineates the principal signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms implicated in the initiation and progression of PDAC. Subsequently, we provide an overview of prevailing guidelines, ongoing investigations, and prospective research trajectories related to targeted therapeutic interventions, drawing insights from randomized clinical trials and other pertinent studies. This review focus on a comprehensive examination of preclinical and clinical data substantiating the efficacy of these therapeutic modalities, emphasizing the potential of combinatorial regimens and novel therapies to enhance the quality of life for individuals afflicted with PDAC. Lastly, the review delves into the contemporary application and ongoing research endeavors concerning targeted therapy for PDAC. This synthesis serves to bridge the molecular elucidation of PDAC with its clinical implications, the evolution of innovative therapeutic strategies, and the changing landscape of treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego J Jiménez
- Translational Pancreatic Cancer Oncogenesis Group, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Aadil Javed
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Teresa Rubio-Tomás
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Herakleion, Crete, Greece
| | - Ndioba Seye-Loum
- Translational Pancreatic Cancer Oncogenesis Group, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Carles Barceló
- Translational Pancreatic Cancer Oncogenesis Group, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Chen G, Tian TT, Wang FQ, Pan CS, Sun K, Wang XY, Yang B, Yang Z, Tang DX, Han JY. Chanling Gao suppresses colorectal cancer via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway modulation and enhances quality of survival. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:1107-1118. [PMID: 37823609 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The Chinese medicine formula Chanling Gao (CLG) exhibits significant tumor inhibitory effects in colorectal cancer (CRC) nude mice. However, the detailed mechanisms remain elusive. CRC in situ nude mouse models were treated with CLG. Small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracked tumor progression, and overall health metrics such as food and water intake, body weight, and survival were monitored. Posttreatment, tissues and blood were analyzed for indicators of tumor inhibition and systemic effects. Changes in vital organs were observed via stereoscope and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Immunohistochemistry quantified HIF-1α and P70S6K1 protein expression in xenografts. Double labeling was used to statistically analyze vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD31 neovascularization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, IL-6, and IL-10 in serum, tumors, and liver. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway-related factors TGF-β1 and smad4 in liver tissues. CLG inhibited tumor growth, improved overall health metrics, and ameliorated abnormal blood cell counts in CRC nude mice. CLG significantly reduced tumor neovascularization and VEGF expression in tumors and blood. It also suppressed HIF-1α, EGFR, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, and p-mTOR expression in tumors while enhancing PTEN oncogene expression. Systemic improvements were noted, with CLG limiting liver metastasis, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 in liver tissues, decreasing MMP-2 in blood and MMP-2 and MMP-9 in tumors, and inhibiting TGF-β1 expression in liver tissues. CLG can enhance survival quality and inhibit tumor growth in CRC nude mice, likely through the regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Ting-Ting Tian
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Fei-Qing Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Chun-Shui Pan
- Key Laboratory of Microcirculation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Sun
- Key Laboratory of Microcirculation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Yi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microcirculation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Zhu Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Dong-Xin Tang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Jing-Yan Han
- Key Laboratory of Microcirculation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
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Liu Y, Sun Q, Wei X. Strategies and techniques for preclinical therapeutic targeting of PI3K in oncology: where do we stand in 2024? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2024; 28:221-232. [PMID: 38646899 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2024.2342522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is an important signaling pathway in eukaryotic cells that is activated in a variety of cancers and is also associated with treatment resistance. This signaling pathway is an important target for anticancer therapy and holds great promise for research. At the same time PI3K inhibitors have a general problem that they have unavoidable toxic side effects. AREAS COVERED This review provides an explanation of the role of PI3K in the development and progression of cancer, including several important mutations, and a table listing the cancers caused by these mutations. We discuss the current landscape of PI3K inhibitors in preclinical and clinical trials, address the mechanisms of resistance to PI3K inhibition along with their associated toxic effects, and highlight significant advancements in preclinical research of this field. Furthermore, based on our study and comprehension of PI3K, we provide a recapitulation of the key lessons learned from the research process and propose potential measures for improvement that could prove valuable. EXPERT OPINION The PI3K pathway is a biological pathway of great potential value. However, the reduction of its toxic side effects and combination therapies need to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Liu
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, Department of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiu Sun
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, Department of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- West China Medical Publishers, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiawei Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, Department of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
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Jin T, Wang H, Liu Y, Wang H. Circular RNAs: Regulators of endothelial cell dysfunction in atherosclerosis. J Mol Med (Berl) 2024; 102:313-335. [PMID: 38265445 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-023-02413-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is associated with atherosclerosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed loops formed by back-splicing, are highly expressed in a tissue-specific or cell-specific manner, and regulate ECs mainly through miRNAs (mircoRNAs) or protein sponges. This review describes the regulatory mechanisms and physiological functions of circRNAs, as well as the differential expression of circRNAs in aberrant ECs. This review focuses on their roles in inflammation, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, senescence, and autophagy in ECs from the perspective of signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-repeat family, pyrin-domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)/caspase-1, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), and phosphoinositide-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt). Finally, we address the issues and recent advances in circRNAs as well as circRNA-mediated regulation of ECs to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of atherosclerosis and provide a reference for studies on circRNAs that regulate EC dysfunction and thus affect atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengyu Jin
- Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei, China
- Hebei General Hospital, Affiliated to Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei, China
| | - Haoyuan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Yuelin Liu
- Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Hebo Wang
- Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei, China.
- Hebei General Hospital, Affiliated to Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei, China.
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Networks and Cognitive Disorders, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei, China.
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Feng Y, An Q, Zhao Z, Wu M, Yang C, Liang W, Xu X, Jiang T, Zhang G. Beta-elemene: A phytochemical with promise as a drug candidate for tumor therapy and adjuvant tumor therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 172:116266. [PMID: 38350368 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND β-Elemene (IUPAC name: (1 S,2 S,4 R)-1-ethenyl-1-methyl-2,4-bis(prop-1-en-2-yl) cyclohexane), is a natural compound found in turmeric root. Studies have demonstrated its diverse biological functions, including its anti-tumor properties, which have been extensively investigated. However, these have not yet been reviewed. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive summary of β-elemene research, with respect to disease treatment. METHODS β-Elemene-related articles were found in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases to systematically summarize its structure, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and pharmacological activity. We also searched the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology database for therapeutic targets of β-elemene. We further combined these targets with the relevant literature for KEGG and GO analyses. RESULTS Studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying β-elemene activity indicate that it regulates multiple pathways, including STAT3, MAPKs, Cyclin-dependent kinase 1/cyclin B, Notch, PI3K/AKT, reactive oxygen species, METTL3, PTEN, p53, FAK, MMP, TGF-β/Smad signaling. Through these molecular pathways, β-elemene has been implicated in tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion and improving the immune microenvironment. Additionally, β-elemene increases chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity and reverses resistance by inhibiting DNA damage repair and regulating pathways including CTR1, pak1, ERK1/2, ABC transporter protein, Prx-1 and ERCC-1. Nonetheless, owing to its lipophilicity and low bioavailability, additional structural modifications could improve the efficacy of this drug. CONCLUSION β-Elemene exhibits low toxicity with good safety, inhibiting various tumor types via diverse mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. When combined with chemotherapeutic drugs, it enhances efficacy, reduces toxicity, and improves tumor killing. Thus, β-elemene has vast potential for research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yewen Feng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Qingwen An
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Zhengqi Zhao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Mengting Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Chuqi Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - WeiYu Liang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Xuefei Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China.
| | - Guangji Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang 310053, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine "Preventing Disease" Wisdom Health Project Research Center of Zhejiang, Zhejiang 310053, China.
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Chaudhary N, Chibly AM, Collier A, Martinalbo J, Perez-Moreno P, Moore HM, Luhn P, Metcalfe C, Hafner M. CDK4/6i-treated HR+/HER2- breast cancer tumors show higher ESR1 mutation prevalence and more altered genomic landscape. NPJ Breast Cancer 2024; 10:15. [PMID: 38388477 PMCID: PMC10883990 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-024-00617-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
As CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) approval changed treatment strategies for patients with hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC), understanding how exposure to CDK4/6i affects the tumor genomic landscape is critical for precision oncology. Using real-world data (RWD) with tumor genomic profiling from 5910 patients with metastatic HR+/HER2- BC, we investigated the evolution of alteration prevalence in commonly mutated genes across patient journeys. We found that ESR1 is more often altered in tumors exposed to at least 1 year of adjuvant endocrine therapy, contrasting with TP53 alterations. We observed a similar trend after first-line treatments in the advanced setting, but strikingly exposure to aromatase inhibitors (AI) combined with CDK4/6i led to significantly higher ESR1 alteration prevalence compared to AI alone, independent of treatment duration. Further, CDK4/6i exposure was associated with higher occurrence of concomitant alterations in multiple oncogenic pathways. Differences based on CDK4/6i exposure were confirmed in samples collected after 2L and validated in samples from the acelERA BC clinical trial. In conclusion, our work uncovers opportunities for further treatment personalization and stresses the need for effective combination treatments to address the altered tumor genomic landscape following AI+CDK4/6i exposure. Further, we demonstrated the potential of RWD for refining patient treatment strategy and guiding clinical trial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayan Chaudhary
- Real World Data Science, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alejandro M Chibly
- Department of Oncology Bioinformatics, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ann Collier
- Department of Translational Medicine Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jorge Martinalbo
- Department of Product Development Oncology, Hoffmann La Roche, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pablo Perez-Moreno
- Department of Clinical Development Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Heather M Moore
- Department of Translational Medicine Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Patricia Luhn
- Real World Data Science, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ciara Metcalfe
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marc Hafner
- Department of Oncology Bioinformatics, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Huang Q, Wu M, Pu Y, Zhou J, Zhang Y, Li R, Xia Y, Zhang Y, Ma Y. Inhibition of TNBC Cell Growth by Paroxetine: Induction of Apoptosis and Blockage of Autophagy Flux. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:885. [PMID: 38473249 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The strategy of drug repurposing has gained traction in the field of cancer therapy as a means of discovering novel therapeutic uses for established pharmaceuticals. Paroxetine (PX), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor typically utilized in the treatment of depression, has demonstrated promise as an agent for combating cancer. Nevertheless, the specific functions and mechanisms by which PX operates in the context of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain ambiguous. This study aimed to examine the impact of PX on TNBC cells in vitro as both a standalone treatment and in conjunction with other pharmaceutical agents. Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, apoptosis was assessed through flow cytometry, and the effects on signaling pathways were analyzed using RNA sequencing and Western blot techniques. Furthermore, a subcutaneous tumor model was utilized to assess the in vivo efficacy of combination therapy on tumor growth. The results of our study suggest that PX may activate the Ca2+-dependent mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway in TNBC by potentially influencing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway as well as by inducing cytoprotective autophagy. Additionally, the combination of PX and chemotherapeutic agents demonstrated moderate inhibitory effects on 4T1 tumor growth in an in vivo model. These findings indicate that PX may exert its effects on TNBC through modulation of critical molecular pathways, offering important implications for improving chemosensitivity and identifying potential therapeutic combinations for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianrui Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Mengling Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yamin Pu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Junyou Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yiqian Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ru Li
- Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yong Xia
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province/Rehabilitation Medicine Research Institute, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yimei Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Chen X, Sun B, Zeng J, Yu Z, Liu J, Tan Z, Li Y, Peng C. Molecular mechanism of Spatholobi Caulis treatment for cholangiocarcinoma based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-02985-0. [PMID: 38321212 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-02985-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a type of malignant tumor originating from the intrahepatic, periportal, or distal biliary system. The treatment means for CCA is limited, and its prognosis is poor. Spatholobi Caulis (SC) is reported to have effects on anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor, but its role in CCA is unclear. First, the potential molecular mechanism of SC for CCA treatment was explored based on network pharmacology, and the core targets were verified by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Then, we explored the inhibitory effect of SC on the malignant biological behavior of CCA in vitro and in vivo and also explored the related signaling pathways. The effect of combination therapy of SC and cisplatin (DDP) in CCA was also explored. Finally, we conducted a network pharmacological study and simple experimental verification on luteolin, one of the main components of SC. Network pharmacology analysis showed that the core targets of SC on CCA were AKT1, CASP3, MYC, TP53, and VEGFA. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation indicated a good combination between the core target protein and the corresponding active ingredients. In vitro, SC inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CCA cells. In vivo experiments, the results were consistent with in vitro experiments, and there was no significant hepatorenal toxicity of SC at our dosage. Based on KEGG enrichment analysis, we found PI3K/AKT signaling pathway might be the main signaling pathway of SC action on CCA by using AKT agonist SC79. To explore whether SC was related to the chemotherapy sensitivity of CCA, we found that SC combined with DDP could more effectively inhibit the progression of cholangiocarcinoma. Finally, we found luteolin may inhibit the proliferation and invasion of CCA cells. Our study demonstrates for the first time that SC inhibits the progression of CCA by suppressing EMT through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, and SC could enhance the effectiveness of cisplatin therapy for CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, No. 61 Jiefang West Road, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, No. 61 Jiefang West Road, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Zeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhangtao Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, No. 61 Jiefang West Road, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiguo Tan
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuhang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, No. 61 Jiefang West Road, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chuang Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, No. 61 Jiefang West Road, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
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