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Vuong LT, Mlodzik M. Wg/Wnt-signaling-induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin is attenuated by a β-catenin peptide through its interference with the IFT-A complex. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114362. [PMID: 38870008 PMCID: PMC11311196 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114362] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Wnt/Wingless (Wg) signaling is critical in development and disease, including cancer. Canonical Wnt signaling is mediated by β-catenin/Armadillo (Arm in Drosophila) transducing signals to the nucleus, with IFT-A/Kinesin 2 complexes promoting nuclear translocation of β-catenin/Arm. Here, we demonstrate that a conserved small N-terminal Arm34-87/β-catenin peptide binds to IFT140, acting as a dominant interference tool to attenuate Wg/Wnt signaling in vivo. Arm34-87 expression antagonizes endogenous Wnt/Wg signaling, resulting in the reduction of its target expression. Arm34-87 inhibits Wg/Wnt signaling by interfering with nuclear translocation of endogenous Arm/β-catenin, and this can be modulated by levels of wild-type β-catenin or IFT140, with the Arm34-87 effect being enhanced or suppressed. Importantly, this mechanism is conserved in mammals with the equivalent β-catenin24-79 peptide blocking nuclear translocation and pathway activation, including in cancer cells. Our work indicates that Wnt signaling can be regulated by a defined N-terminal β-catenin peptide and thus might serve as an entry point for therapeutic applications to attenuate Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linh T Vuong
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Marek Mlodzik
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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2
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Pallotta MM, Di Nardo M, Musio A. Synthetic Lethality between Cohesin and WNT Signaling Pathways in Diverse Cancer Contexts. Cells 2024; 13:608. [PMID: 38607047 PMCID: PMC11011321 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070608] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cohesin is a highly conserved ring-shaped complex involved in topologically embracing chromatids, gene expression regulation, genome compartmentalization, and genome stability maintenance. Genomic analyses have detected mutations in the cohesin complex in a wide array of human tumors. These findings have led to increased interest in cohesin as a potential target in cancer therapy. Synthetic lethality has been suggested as an approach to exploit genetic differences in cancer cells to influence their selective killing. In this study, we show that mutations in ESCO1, NIPBL, PDS5B, RAD21, SMC1A, SMC3, STAG2, and WAPL genes are synthetically lethal with stimulation of WNT signaling obtained following LY2090314 treatment, a GSK3 inhibitor, in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, treatment led to the stabilization of β-catenin and affected the expression of c-MYC, probably due to the occupancy decrease in cohesin at the c-MYC promoter. Finally, LY2090314 caused gene expression dysregulation mainly involving pathways related to transcription regulation, cell proliferation, and chromatin remodeling. For the first time, our work provides the underlying molecular basis for synthetic lethality due to cohesin mutations and suggests that targeting the WNT may be a promising therapeutic approach for tumors carrying mutated cohesin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antonio Musio
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (M.M.P.); (M.D.N.)
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3
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Baldasso-Zanon A, Silva AO, Franco N, Picon RV, Lenz G, Lopez PLDC, Filippi-Chiela EC. The rational modulation of autophagy sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluouracil and oxaliplatin. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30517. [PMID: 38224178 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30517] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common and deadliest cancer globally. Regimens using 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and Oxaliplatin (OXA) are the first-line treatment for CRC, but tumor recurrence is frequent. It is plausible to hypothesize that differential cellular responses are triggered after treatments depending on the genetic background of CRC cells and that the rational modulation of cell tolerance mechanisms like autophagy may reduce the regrowth of CRC cells. This study proposes investigating the cellular mechanisms triggered by CRC cells exposed to 5FU and OXA using a preclinical experimental design mimicking one cycle of the clinical regimen (i.e., 48 h of treatment repeated every 2 weeks). To test this, we treated CRC human cell lines HCT116 and HT29 with the 5FU and OXA, combined or not, for 48 h, followed by analysis for two additional weeks. Compared to single-drug treatments, the co-treatment reduced tumor cell regrowth, clonogenicity and stemness, phenotypes associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in clinics. This effect was exerted by the induction of apoptosis and senescence only in the co-treatment. However, a week after treatment, cells that tolerated the treatment had high levels of autophagy features and restored the proliferative phenotype, resembling tumor recurrence. The pharmacologic suppression of early autophagy during its peak of occurrence, but not concomitant with chemotherapeutics, strongly reduced cell regrowth. Overall, our experimental model provides new insights into the cellular mechanisms that underlie the response and tolerance of CRC cells to 5FU and OXA, suggesting optimized, time-specific autophagy inhibition as a new avenue for improving the efficacy of current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréa Baldasso-Zanon
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Experimental, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Andrew Oliveira Silva
- Centro de Pesquisas Experimental, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Unidade Centro RS, Faculdade Estácio do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Nayara Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Experimental, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rafael V Picon
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Guido Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Luciana da Costa Lopez
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Experimental, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Eduardo C Filippi-Chiela
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Ciências em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Experimental, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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4
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Nagy N, Pál M, Nagy D, Bokor BA, Zimmermann A, Gellén B, Salamon A, Sztriha L, Klivényi P, Széll M. A novel de novo truncating variant in a Hungarian patient with CTNNB1 neurodevelopmental disorder. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:47. [PMID: 38225558 PMCID: PMC10789033 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04509-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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to elucidate the underlying disease in a Hungarian family, with only one affected family member, a 16-year-old male Hungarian patient, who developed global developmental delay, cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, short stature, intermittent headaches, recurrent dizziness, strabismus, hypermetropia, complex movement disorder and partial pituitary dysfunction. After years of detailed clinical investigations and careful pediatric care, the exact diagnosis of the patient and the cause of the disease was still unknown. METHODS We aimed to perform whole exome sequencing (WES) in order to investigate whether the affected patient is suffering from a rare monogenic disease. RESULTS Using WES, we identified a novel, de novo frameshift variant (c.1902dupG, p.Ala636SerfsTer12) of the catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1) gene. Assessment of the novel CTNNB1 variant suggested that it is a likely pathogenic one and raised the diagnosis of CTNNB1 neurodevelopmental disorder (OMIM 615,075). CONCLUSIONS Our manuscript may contribute to the better understanding of the genetic background of the recently discovered CTNNB1 neurodevelopmental disorder and raise awareness among clinicians and geneticists. The affected Hungarian family demonstrates that based on the results of the clinical workup is difficult to establish the diagnosis and high-throughput genetic screening may help to solve these complex cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Nagy
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
- Functional Clinical Genetic Research Group of the HUN-REN and the University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Margit Pál
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Functional Clinical Genetic Research Group of the HUN-REN and the University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dóra Nagy
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Kepler University Hospital Med Campus IV, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Aliz Zimmermann
- Department of Pediatrics, Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Balázs Gellén
- Department of Pediatrics, Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - András Salamon
- Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Sztriha
- Department of Pediatrics, Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Klivényi
- Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Márta Széll
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Functional Clinical Genetic Research Group of the HUN-REN and the University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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5
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Luan X, Zhai J, Li S, Du Y. Downregulation of FHL2 suppressed trophoblast migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in recurrent miscarriage. Reprod Biomed Online 2024; 48:103342. [PMID: 37945432 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103342] [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: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Is four and a half LIM domain 2 (FHL2) involved in trophoblast migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in recurrent miscarriage? DESIGN Villus tissue was collected from 24 patients who had experienced recurrent miscarriage and 24 healthy controls. FHL2 mRNA and protein expression in villus specimens were observed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Small interfering RNA and overexpression plasmid were used to change the FHL2 expression. JAR and HTR8/SVneo cell lines were used to conduct scratch-wound assay and transwell assay to detect trophoblast migration and invasion of FHL2. Downstream molecule expression of mRNA and protein and EMT markers were verified by qRT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS Significantly lower FHL2 mRNA (P = 0.019) and protein (P = 0.0014) expression was found in trophoblasts from the recurrent miscarriage group compared with healthy controls. FHL2 knockdown repressed migration (P = 0.0046), invasion (P < 0.001) and EMT, as shown by significant differences in mRNA and protein expression of the EMT markers N-cadherin, E-cadherin, Vimentin and Snail (all P < 0.05) of extravillus trophoblasts. FHL2 overexpression enhanced migration (P = 0.025), invasion (P < 0.001) and EMT of extravillus trophoblasts (all EMT markers P < 0.05). The positive upstream factor FHL2 in the extracellular signal-related kinase pathway induced JunD expression, thereby promoting trophoblast migration and invasion via matrix metalloproteinase 2. CONCLUSIONS FHL2 is involved in a regulatory pathway of trophoblast migration, invasion and EMT during early pregnancy, and may have a role in recurrent miscarriage pathogenesis, which can serve as a possible target for novel therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorui Luan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Junyu Zhai
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Shang Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Yanzhi Du
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China.
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6
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Nam T, Kang W, Oh S. Apoptosis of Kinetin Riboside in Colorectal Cancer Cells Occurs by Promoting β-Catenin Degradation. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 33:1206-1212. [PMID: 37463866 PMCID: PMC10580898 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2301.01035] [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: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Kinetin riboside is a naturally produced cytokinin that displays strong antiproliferative activity in various human cancer cells. However, the mechanism of chemoprevention in colorectal cancer cells has not been elucidated. We used a cell-based reporter system to identify kinetin riboside as an antagonist of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which is aberrantly upregulated in colorectal cancer. Kinetin riboside suppressed β-catenin response transcription (CRT) by accelerating the degradation of intracellular β-catenin via a proteasomal degradation pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β did not affect CRT downregulation. Kinetin riboside decreased the intracellular β-catenin levels in colorectal cancer cells with mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and β-catenin. Consistently, kinetin riboside repressed expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1, β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF)-dependent genes, and inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. In addition, kinetin riboside stimulated apoptosis, as measured by an increase in annexin V-FITC-stained cells. These findings suggest that kinetin riboside exerts its anti-cancer activity by promoting β-catenin degradation and has significant potential as a chemopreventive agent for colorectal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- TaeKyung Nam
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonku Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangtaek Oh
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
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7
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Panzeri I, Fagnocchi L, Apostle S, Tompkins M, Wolfrum E, Madaj Z, Hostetter G, Liu Y, Schaefer K, Chih-Hsiang Y, Bergsma A, Drougard A, Dror E, Chandler D, Schramek D, Triche TJ, Pospisilik JA. Developmental priming of cancer susceptibility. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.12.557446. [PMID: 37745326 PMCID: PMC10515831 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.12.557446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
DNA mutations are necessary drivers of cancer, yet only a small subset of mutated cells go on to cause the disease. To date, the mechanisms that determine which rare subset of cells transform and initiate tumorigenesis remain unclear. Here, we take advantage of a unique model of intrinsic developmental heterogeneity (Trim28+/D9) and demonstrate that stochastic early life epigenetic variation can trigger distinct cancer-susceptibility 'states' in adulthood. We show that these developmentally primed states are characterized by differential methylation patterns at typically silenced heterochromatin, and that these epigenetic signatures are detectable as early as 10 days of age. The differentially methylated loci are enriched for genes with known oncogenic potential. These same genes are frequently mutated in human cancers, and their dysregulation correlates with poor prognosis. These results provide proof-of-concept that intrinsic developmental heterogeneity can prime individual, life-long cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Panzeri
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Luca Fagnocchi
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Stefanos Apostle
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Megan Tompkins
- Vivarium and Transgenics Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Emily Wolfrum
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Zachary Madaj
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Galen Hostetter
- Pathology and Biorepository Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Yanqing Liu
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Kristen Schaefer
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genome Science, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Yang Chih-Hsiang
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA USA
| | - Alexis Bergsma
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Anne Drougard
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Erez Dror
- Department of Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Darrell Chandler
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Daniel Schramek
- Centre for Molecular and Systems Biology, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Timothy J. Triche
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - J. Andrew Pospisilik
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
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Agarwal S, Afaq F, Bajpai P, Behring M, Kim HG, Varambally A, Chandrashekar DS, Peter S, Al Diffalha S, Khushman M, Seeber A, Varambally S, Manne U. BZW2 Inhibition Reduces Colorectal Cancer Growth and Metastasis. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:698-712. [PMID: 37067340 PMCID: PMC10329991 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-23-0003] [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: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Because survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer remain poor, there is an urgent need to identify potential novel druggable targets that are associated with colorectal cancer progression. One such target, basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 2 (BZW2), is involved in regulation of protein translation, and its overexpression is associated with human malignancy. Thus, we investigated the expression and regulation of BZW2, assessed its role in activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling, identified its downstream molecules, and demonstrated its involvement in metastasis of colorectal cancer. In human colorectal cancers, high mRNA and protein expression levels of BZW2 were associated with tumor progression. BZW2-knockdown reduced malignant phenotypes, including cell proliferation, invasion, and spheroid and colony formation. BZW2-knockdown also reduced tumor growth and metastasis; conversely, transfection of BZW2 into BZW2 low-expressing colorectal cancer cells promoted malignant features, including tumor growth and metastasis. BZW2 expression was coordinately regulated by microRNA-98, c-Myc, and histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). RNA sequencing analyses of colorectal cancer cells modulated for BZW2 identified P4HA1 and the long noncoding RNAs, MALAT1 and NEAT1, as its downstream targets. Further, BZW2 activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in colorectal cancers expressing wild-type β-catenin. In sum, our study suggests the possibility of targeting BZW2 expression by inhibiting EZH2 and/or c-Myc. IMPLICATIONS FDA-approved small-molecule inhibitors of EZH2 can indirectly target BZW2 and because BZW2 functions as an oncogene, these inhibitors could serve as therapeutic agents for colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Agarwal
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Farrukh Afaq
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Prachi Bajpai
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Michael Behring
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Hyung-Gyoon Kim
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | | | - Shajan Peter
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Sameer Al Diffalha
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Moh’d Khushman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Andreas Seeber
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sooryanarayana Varambally
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Upender Manne
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
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9
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Glutamine Starvation Affects Cell Cycle, Oxidative Homeostasis and Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12030683. [PMID: 36978930 PMCID: PMC10045305 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells adjust their metabolism to meet energy demands. In particular, glutamine addiction represents a distinctive feature of several types of tumors, including colorectal cancer. In this study, four colorectal cancer cell lines (Caco-2, HCT116, HT29 and SW480) were cultured with or without glutamine. The growth and proliferation rate, colony-forming capacity, apoptosis, cell cycle, redox homeostasis and metabolomic analysis were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide test (MTT), flow cytometry, high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry techniques. The results show that glutamine represents an important metabolite for cell growth and that its deprivation reduces the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. Glutamine depletion induces cell death and cell cycle arrest in the GO/G1 phase by modulating energy metabolism, the amino acid content and antioxidant defenses. Moreover, the combined glutamine starvation with the glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose exerted a stronger cytotoxic effect. This study offers a strong rationale for targeting glutamine metabolism alone or in combination with glucose metabolism to achieve a therapeutic benefit in the treatment of colon cancer.
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10
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Slabá H, Määttänen M, Marttinen M, Lapinkero V, Päivärinta E, Pajari AM. Daily berry consumption attenuates β-catenin signalling and genotoxicity in colon carcinoma cells exposed to faecal water from healthy volunteers in a clinical trial. J Funct Foods 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2023.105440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
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11
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Dotsenko V, Sioofy-Khojine AB, Hyöty H, Viiri K. Human intestinal organoid models for celiac disease research. Methods Cell Biol 2023; 179:173-193. [PMID: 37625874 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2023.01.008] [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: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Celiac disease pathogenesis, in addition to immune cell component, encompasses pathogenic events also in the duodenal epithelium. In celiac disease patients, exposure to dietary gluten induces drastic changes in epithelial differentiation and elicit cellular response to inflammatory cytokines. The autoantigen in celiac disease, transglutaminase 2 (TG2) enzyme, has been also suggested to play its pathogenic gliadin deamidation event in the intestinal epithelium. Therefore in vitro epithelial cell-line models have been exploited in the past to study these pathogenic mechanisms, but they are hampered by their simplistic nature lacking proper cell-type composition and intestinal environ. Moreover, these cell models harbor many cancer-related mutations in tumor suppressor genes making them unsuitable for studying cell differentiation. Intestinal organoids provide a near-native epithelial cell model to study pathogenic agents and mechanisms related to celiac disease. Here we describe protocols to initiate and maintain celiac patient-derived organoid cultures and how to grow them in alternative ways allowing their exploitation in different kind of experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriia Dotsenko
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Heikki Hyöty
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
| | - Keijo Viiri
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
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Lechuga S, Braga-Neto MB, Naydenov NG, Rieder F, Ivanov AI. Understanding disruption of the gut barrier during inflammation: Should we abandon traditional epithelial cell lines and switch to intestinal organoids? Front Immunol 2023; 14:1108289. [PMID: 36875103 PMCID: PMC9983034 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1108289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier is a hallmark of mucosal inflammation. It increases exposure of the immune system to luminal microbes, triggering a perpetuating inflammatory response. For several decades, the inflammatory stimuli-induced breakdown of the human gut barrier was studied in vitro by using colon cancer derived epithelial cell lines. While providing a wealth of important data, these cell lines do not completely mimic the morphology and function of normal human intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) due to cancer-related chromosomal abnormalities and oncogenic mutations. The development of human intestinal organoids provided a physiologically-relevant experimental platform to study homeostatic regulation and disease-dependent dysfunctions of the intestinal epithelial barrier. There is need to align and integrate the emerging data obtained with intestinal organoids and classical studies that utilized colon cancer cell lines. This review discusses the utilization of human intestinal organoids to dissect the roles and mechanisms of gut barrier disruption during mucosal inflammation. We summarize available data generated with two major types of organoids derived from either intestinal crypts or induced pluripotent stem cells and compare them to the results of earlier studies with conventional cell lines. We identify research areas where the complementary use of colon cancer-derived cell lines and organoids advance our understanding of epithelial barrier dysfunctions in the inflamed gut and identify unique questions that could be addressed only by using the intestinal organoid platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Lechuga
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Manuel B. Braga-Neto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Digestive Diseases and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Nayden G. Naydenov
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Florian Rieder
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Digestive Diseases and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Andrei I. Ivanov
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
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13
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Kassel S, Hanson AJ, Benchabane H, Saito-Diaz K, Cabel CR, Goldsmith L, Taha M, Kanuganti A, Ng VH, Xu G, Ye F, Picker J, Port F, Boutros M, Weiss VL, Robbins DJ, Thorne CA, Ahmed Y, Lee E. USP47 deubiquitylates Groucho/TLE to promote Wnt-β-catenin signaling. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eabn8372. [PMID: 36749823 PMCID: PMC10038201 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abn8372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt-β-catenin signal transduction pathway is essential for embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. Wnt signaling converts TCF from a transcriptional repressor to an activator in a process facilitated by the E3 ligase XIAP. XIAP-mediated monoubiquitylation of the transcriptional corepressor Groucho (also known as TLE) decreases its affinity for TCF, thereby allowing the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin to displace it on TCF. Through a genome-scale screen in cultured Drosophila melanogaster cells, we identified the deubiquitylase USP47 as a positive regulator of Wnt signaling. We found that USP47 was required for Wnt signaling during Drosophila and Xenopus laevis development, as well as in human cells, indicating evolutionary conservation. In human cells, knockdown of USP47 inhibited Wnt reporter activity, and USP47 acted downstream of the β-catenin destruction complex. USP47 interacted with TLE3 and XIAP but did not alter their amounts; however, knockdown of USP47 enhanced XIAP-mediated ubiquitylation of TLE3. USP47 inhibited ubiquitylation of TLE3 by XIAP in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that USP47 is the deubiquitylase that counteracts the E3 ligase activity of XIAP on TLE. Our data suggest a mechanism by which regulated ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation of TLE enhance the ability of β-catenin to cycle on and off TCF, thereby helping to ensure that the expression of Wnt target genes continues only as long as the upstream signal is present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Kassel
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Alison J. Hanson
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Hassina Benchabane
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Kenyi Saito-Diaz
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Carly R. Cabel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Lily Goldsmith
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Muhammad Taha
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Aksheta Kanuganti
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Victoria H. Ng
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - George Xu
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Fei Ye
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Julia Picker
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Fillip Port
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Boutros
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vivian L. Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - David J. Robbins
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Curtis A. Thorne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Yashi Ahmed
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Corresponding authors. (Y.A.), (E.L.)
| | - Ethan Lee
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Corresponding authors. (Y.A.), (E.L.)
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14
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Tumor-Educated Platelet Extracellular Vesicles: Proteomic Profiling and Crosstalk with Colorectal Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020350. [PMID: 36672299 PMCID: PMC9856452 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Platelet-cancer cell interactions modulate tumor metastasis and thrombosis in cancer. Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can contribute to these outcomes. METHODS We characterized the medium-sized EVs (mEVs) released by thrombin-stimulated platelets of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and healthy subjects (HS) on the capacity to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2(PTGS2), and thromboxane (TX)B2 production in cocultures with four colorectal cancer cell lines. Platelet-derived mEVs were assessed for their size distribution and proteomics signature. RESULTS The mEV population released from thrombin-activated platelets of CRC patients had a different size distribution vs. HS. Platelet-derived mEVs from CRC patients, but not from HS, upregulated EMT marker genes, such as TWIST1 and VIM, and downregulated CDH1. PTGS2 was also upregulated. In cocultures of platelet-derived mEVs with cancer cells, TXB2 generation was enhanced. The proteomics profile of mEVs released from activated platelets of CRC patients revealed that 119 proteins were downregulated and 89 upregulated vs. HS. CONCLUSIONS We show that mEVs released from thrombin-activated platelets of CRC patients have distinct features (size distribution and proteomics cargo) vs. HS and promote prometastatic and prothrombotic phenotypes in cancer cells. The analysis of platelet-derived mEVs from CRC patients could provide valuable information for developing an appropriate treatment plan.
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15
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Ali SR, Humphreys KJ, Simpson K, McKinnon RA, Meech R, Michael MZ. Functional high-throughput screen identifies microRNAs that promote butyrate-induced death in colorectal cancer cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 30:30-47. [PMID: 36189423 PMCID: PMC9485215 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The gut fermentation product butyrate displays anti-cancer properties in the human proximal colon, including the ability to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. A natural histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), butyrate can alter histone acetylation patterns in CRC cells, and thereby regulate global gene expression, including the non-coding transcriptome and microRNAs (miRNAs). Dysregulated miRNA expression affects CRC development and progression; however, the interplay between miRNA activity and butyrate response remains to be elucidated. A high-throughput functional screen was employed to identify miRNAs that can act as enhancers of the anti-cancer properties of butyrate. Validation studies confirmed that several miRNAs, including miR-125b, miR-181a, miR-593, and miR-1227, enhanced apoptosis, decreased proliferation, and promoted cell-cycle arrest in the presence of butyrate. Pathway analyses of predicted miRNA target genes highlighted their likely involvement in critical cancer-related growth pathways, including WNT and PI3K signaling. Several cancer-associated miRNA targets, including TRIM29, COX2, PIK3R3, CCND1, MET, EEF2K, DVL3, and NUP62 were synergistically regulated by the combination of cognate miRNAs and butyrate. Overall, this study has exposed the potential of miRNAs to act as enhancers of the anti-cancer effects of HDAC inhibition and identifies specific miRNAs that might be exploited for therapeutic benefit.
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16
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Hernández ÁP, Micaelo A, Piñol R, García-Vaquero ML, Aramayona JJ, Criado JJ, Rodriguez E, Sánchez-Gallego JI, Landeira-Viñuela A, Juanes-Velasco P, Díez P, Góngora R, Jara-Acevedo R, Orfao A, Miana-Mena J, Muñoz MJ, Villanueva S, Millán Á, Fuentes M. Comprehensive and systematic characterization of multi-functionalized cisplatin nano-conjugate: from the chemistry and proteomic biocompatibility to the animal model. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:341. [PMID: 35858906 PMCID: PMC9301860 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01546-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nowadays, nanoparticles (NPs) have evolved as multifunctional systems combining different custom anchorages which opens a wide range of applications in biomedical research. Thus, their pharmacological involvements require more comprehensive analysis and novel nanodrugs should be characterized by both chemically and biological point of view. Within the wide variety of biocompatible nanosystems, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) present mostly of the required features which make them suitable for multifunctional NPs with many biopharmaceutical applications. Results Cisplatin-IONPs and different functionalization stages have been broadly evaluated. The potential application of these nanodrugs in onco-therapies has been assessed by studying in vitro biocompatibility (interactions with environment) by proteomics characterization the determination of protein corona in different proximal fluids (human plasma, rabbit plasma and fetal bovine serum),. Moreover, protein labeling and LC–MS/MS analysis provided more than 4000 proteins de novo synthetized as consequence of the nanodrugs presence defending cell signaling in different tumor cell types (data available via ProteomeXchanges with identified PXD026615). Further in vivo studies have provided a more integrative view of the biopharmaceutical perspectives of IONPs. Conclusions Pharmacological proteomic profile different behavior between species and different affinity of protein coating layers (soft and hard corona). Also, intracellular signaling exposed differences between tumor cell lines studied. First approaches in animal model reveal the potential of theses NPs as drug delivery vehicles and confirm cisplatin compounds as strengthened antitumoral agents.
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01546-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángela-Patricia Hernández
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Organic Chemistry Section. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ania Micaelo
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Piñol
- INMA, Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon, CSIC-University of Zaragoza, 50018, Saragossa, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marina L García-Vaquero
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - José J Aramayona
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Julio J Criado
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Plaza de los Caídos S/N, 37008, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Emilio Rodriguez
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Plaza de los Caídos S/N, 37008, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - José Ignacio Sánchez-Gallego
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alicia Landeira-Viñuela
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pablo Juanes-Velasco
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Paula Díez
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Góngora
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ricardo Jara-Acevedo
- ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alberto Orfao
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier Miana-Mena
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - María Jesús Muñoz
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sergio Villanueva
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ángel Millán
- INMA, Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon, CSIC-University of Zaragoza, 50018, Saragossa, Spain. .,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Manuel Fuentes
- Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, CIBERONC CB16/12/00400, Cancer Research Centre, (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), University of Salamanca-CSIC, IBSAL, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain. .,ImmunoStep, SL, Edificio Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Avda. Coimbra s/n, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain. .,Proteomics Unit, Cancer Research Centre (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
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ATF2 loss promotes tumor invasion in colorectal cancer cells via upregulation of cancer driver TROP2. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:423. [PMID: 35838828 PMCID: PMC9287261 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04445-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In cancer, the activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) has pleiotropic functions in cellular responses to growth stimuli, damage, or inflammation. Due to only limited studies, the significance of ATF2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not well understood. We report that low ATF2 levels correlated with worse prognosis and tumor aggressiveness in CRC patients. NanoString gene expression and ChIP analysis confirmed trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) as a novel inhibitory ATF2 target gene. This inverse correlation was further observed in primary human tumor tissues. Immunostainings revealed that high intratumoral heterogeneity for ATF2 and TROP2 expression was sustained also in liver metastasis. Mechanistically, our in vitro data of CRISPR/Cas9-generated ATF2 knockout (KO) clones revealed that high TROP2 levels were critical for cell de-adhesion and increased cell migration without triggering EMT. TROP2 was enriched in filopodia and displaced Paxillin from adherens junctions. In vivo imaging, micro-computer tomography, and immunostainings verified that an ATF2KO/TROP2high status triggered tumor invasiveness in in vivo mouse and chicken xenograft models. In silico analysis provided direct support that ATF2low/TROP2high expression status defined high-risk CRC patients. Finally, our data demonstrate that ATF2 acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting the cancer driver TROP2. Therapeutic TROP2 targeting might prevent particularly the first steps in metastasis, i.e., the de-adhesion and invasion of colon cancer cells.
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Novoa Díaz MB, Carriere P, Gigola G, Zwenger AO, Calvo N, Gentili C. Involvement of Met receptor pathway in aggressive behavior of colorectal cancer cells induced by parathyroid hormone-related peptide. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:3177-3200. [PMID: 36051345 PMCID: PMC9331538 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i26.3177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) plays a key role in the development and progression of many tumors. We found that in colorectal cancer (CRC) HCT116 cells, the binding of PTHrP to its receptor PTHR type 1 (PTHR1) activates events associated with an aggressive phenotype. In HCT116 cell xenografts, PTHrP modulates the expression of molecular markers linked to tumor progression. Empirical evidence suggests that the Met receptor is involved in the development and evolution of CRC. Based on these data, we hypothesized that the signaling pathway trigged by PTHrP could be involved in the transactivation of Met and consequently in the aggressive behavior of CRC cells.
AIM To elucidate the relationship among PTHR1, PTHrP, and Met in CRC models.
METHODS For in vitro assays, HCT116 and Caco-2 cells derived from human CRC were incubated in the absence or presence of PTHrP (1-34) (10-8 M). Where indicated, cells were pre-incubated with specific kinase inhibitors or dimethylsulfoxide, the vehicle of the inhibitors. The protein levels were evaluated by Western blot technique. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was carried out to determine the changes in gene expression. Wound healing assay and morphological monitoring were performed to evaluate cell migration and changes related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), respectively. The number of viable HCT116 cells was counted by trypan blue dye exclusion test to evaluate the effects of irinotecan (CPT-11), oxaliplatin (OXA), or doxorubicin (DOXO) with or without PTHrP. For in vivo tests, HCT116 cell xenografts on 6-wk-old male N:NIH (S)_nu mice received daily intratumoral injections of PTHrP (40 μg/kg) in 100 μL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or the vehicle (PBS) as a control during 20 d. Humanitarian slaughter was carried out and the tumors were removed, weighed, and fixed in a 4% formaldehyde solution for subsequent treatment by immunoassays. To evaluate the expression of molecular markers in human tumor samples, we studied 23 specimens obtained from CRC patients which were treated at the Hospital Interzonal de Graves y Agudos Dr. José Penna (Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and the Hospital Provincial de Neuquén (Neuquén, Neuquén, Argentina) from January 1990 to December 2007. Seven cases with normal colorectal tissues were assigned to the control group. Tumor tissue samples and clinical histories of patients were analyzed. Paraffin-embedded blocks from primary tumors were reviewed by hematoxylin-eosin staining technique; subsequently, representative histological samples were selected from each patient. From each paraffin block, tumor sections were stained for immunohistochemical detection. The statistical significance of differences was analyzed using proper statistical analysis. The results were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05.
RESULTS By Western blot analysis and using total Met antibody, we found that PTHrP regulated Met expression in HCT116 cells but not in Caco-2 cells. In HCT116 cells, Met protein levels increased at 30 min (P < 0.01) and at 20 h (P < 0.01) whereas the levels diminished at 3 min (P < 0.05), 10 min (P < 0.01), and 1 h to 5 h (P < 0.01) of PTHrP treatment. Using an active Met antibody, we found that where the protein levels of total Met decreased (3 min, 10 min, and 60 min of PTHrP exposure), the status of phosphorylated/activated Met increased (P < 0.01) at the same time, suggesting that Met undergoes proteasomal degradation after its phosphorylation/activation by PTHrP. The increment of its protein level after these decreases (at 30 min and 20 h) suggests a modulation of Met expression by PTHrP in order to improve Met levels and this idea is supported by our observation that the cytokine increased Met mRNA levels at least at 15 min in HCT116 cells as revealed by RT-qPCR analysis (P < 0.05). We then proceeded to evaluate the signaling pathways that mediate the phosphorylation/ activation of Met induced by PTHrP in HCT116 cells. By Western blot technique, we observed that PP1, a specific inhibitor of the activation of the proto-oncogene protein tyrosine kinase Src, blocked the effect of PTHrP on Met phosphorylation (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the selective inhibition of the ERK 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK 1/2 MAPK) using PD98059 and the p38 MAPK using SB203580 diminished the effect of PTHrP on Met phosphorylation/activation (P < 0.05). Using SU11274, the specific inhibitor of Met activation, and trypan blue dye exclusion test, Western blot, wound healing assay, and morphological analysis with a microscope, we observed the reversal of cell events induced by PTHrP such as cell proliferation (P < 0.05), migration (P < 0.05), and the EMT program (P < 0.01) in HCT116 cells. Also, PTHrP favored the chemoresistance to CPT-11 (P < 0.001), OXA (P < 0.01), and DOXO (P < 0.01) through the Met pathway. Taken together, these findings suggest that Met activated by PTHrP participates in events associated with the aggressive phenotype of CRC cells. By immunohistochemical analysis, we found that PTHrP in HCT116 cell xenografts enhanced the protein expression of Met (0.190 ± 0.014) compared to tumors from control mice (0.110 ± 0.012; P < 0.05) and of its own receptor (2.27 ± 0.20) compared to tumors from control mice (1.98 ± 0.14; P < 0.01). Finally, assuming that the changes in the expression of PTHrP and its receptor are directly correlated, we investigated the expression of both Met and PTHR1 in biopsies of CRC patients by immunohistochemical analysis. Comparing histologically differentiated tumors with respect to those less differentiated, we found that the labeling intensity for Met and PTHR1 increased and diminished in a gradual manner, respectively (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION PTHrP acts through the Met pathway in CRC cells and regulates Met expression in a CRC animal model. More basic and clinical studies are needed to further evaluate the PTHrP/Met relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Belén Novoa Díaz
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)- INBIOSUR (CONICET-UNS), Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pedro Carriere
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)- INBIOSUR (CONICET-UNS), Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Graciela Gigola
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)- INBIOSUR (CONICET-UNS), Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Natalia Calvo
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)- INBIOSUR (CONICET-UNS), Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia Gentili
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)- INBIOSUR (CONICET-UNS), Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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Youssef ASED, Abdel-Fattah MA, Lotfy MM, Nassar A, Abouelhoda M, Touny AO, Hassan ZK, Mohey Eldin M, Bahnassy AA, Khaled H, Zekri ARN. Multigene Panel Sequencing Reveals Cancer-Specific and Common Somatic Mutations in Colorectal Cancer Patients: An Egyptian Experience. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:1332-1352. [PMID: 35723313 PMCID: PMC8947625 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44030090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims at identifying common pathogenic somatic mutations at different stages of colorectal carcinogenesis in Egyptian patients. Our cohort included colonoscopic biopsies collected from 120 patients: 20 biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 38 from colonic polyp patients, and 62 from patients with colorectal cancer. On top of this, the cohort included 20 biopsies from patients with non-specific mild to moderated colitis. Targeted DNA sequencing using a customized gene panel of 96 colorectal related genes running on the Ion Torrent NGS technology was used to process the samples. Our results revealed that 69% of all cases harbored at least one somatic mutation. Fifty-seven genes were found to carry 232 somatic non-synonymous variants. The most frequently pathogenic somatic mutations were localized in TP53, APC, KRAS, and PIK3CA. In total, 16 somatic mutations were detected in the CRC group and in either the IBD or CP group. In addition, our data showed that 51% of total somatic variants were CRC-specific variants. The average number of CRC-specific variants per sample is 2.4. The top genes carrying CRC-specific mutations are APC, TP53, PIK3CA, FBXW7, ATM, and SMAD4. It seems obvious that TP53 and APC genes were the most affected genes with somatic mutations in all groups. Of interest, 85% and 28% of the APC and TP53 deleterious somatic mutations were located in Exon 14 and Exon 3, respectively. Besides, 37% and 28% of the total somatic mutations identified in APC and TP53 were CRC-specific variants, respectively. Moreover, we identified that, in 29 somatic mutations in 21 genes, their association with CRC patients was unprecedented. Ten detected variants were likely to be novel: six in PIK3CA and four variants in FBXW7. The detected P53, Wnt/βcatenin, Angiogenesis, EGFR, TGF-β and Interleukin signaling pathways were the most altered pathways in 22%, 16%, 12%, 10%, 9% and 9% of the CRC patients, respectively. These results would contribute to a better understanding of the colorectal cancer and in introducing personalized therapies for Egyptian CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Salah El-Din Youssef
- Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt; (M.M.L.); (A.N.); (Z.K.H.)
| | | | - Mai M. Lotfy
- Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt; (M.M.L.); (A.N.); (Z.K.H.)
| | - Auhood Nassar
- Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt; (M.M.L.); (A.N.); (Z.K.H.)
| | | | - Ahmed O. Touny
- Surgical Oncology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt;
| | - Zeinab K. Hassan
- Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt; (M.M.L.); (A.N.); (Z.K.H.)
| | - Mohammed Mohey Eldin
- Tropical Medicine Department, El Kasr Al-Aini, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt;
| | - Abeer A. Bahnassy
- Molecular Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt;
| | - Hussein Khaled
- Medical Oncology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt;
| | - Abdel Rahman N. Zekri
- Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt; (M.M.L.); (A.N.); (Z.K.H.)
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20
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Šeklić DS, Jovanović MM, Virijević KD, Grujić JN, Živanović MN, Marković SD. Pseudevernia furfuracea inhibits migration and invasion of colorectal carcinoma cell lines. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 284:114758. [PMID: 34688797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf is common lichen species, traditionally used worldwide in treating various medical conditions, among which are intestinal issues and cancer. Most studies are focused mainly on cytotoxic potential of lichens, whilst their antimigratory and antiinvasive properties are often disregarded. Migration and invasion of cancer cells are pivotal processes in cancer metastasis, wherein cancer cells are able to migrate individually or in form of a coherent mass. One of successful strategies in anticancer treatments is targeting Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway, that is aberrantly activated in colorectal carcinoma, as well as lowering level of migratory/invasive markers. AIM OF THE STUDY Present study aimed to show antimigratory/invasive potential of Pseudevernia furfuracea methanol extract on HCT-116 and SW-480 colorectal carcinoma cell lines and to elucidate possible mechanism of its action. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collective cell migration was assessed by Wound healing assay and single cell migration in real time by RTCA method. Analysis of anti- and promigratory protein expression was performed using immunofluorescent staining. Additionally, gene expression of antimigratory/promigratory and invasive (E-cadherin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail and MMP-9) markers were investigated by qRT-PCR method. Concentration of MMP-9 was determined colorimetrically by ELISA test. RESULTS P. furfuracea extract was able to suppress both collective and single cancer cell migration, by inhibiting expression of promigratory/invasive markers and possibly re-establishing cell-cell adhesions. The present study indicates at P. furfuracea as effective antimigratory treatment, and HCT-116 cells were proved to be a more sensitive cell line to applied treatment. CONCLUSIONS This lichen species is a promising candidate for application in treatment of cancer in order to prevent metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragana S Šeklić
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Serbia.
| | - Milena M Jovanović
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia.
| | - Katarina D Virijević
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Serbia.
| | - Jelena N Grujić
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Serbia.
| | - Marko N Živanović
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Serbia.
| | - Snežana D Marković
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia.
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21
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Šeklić DS, Jovanović MM. Platismatia glauca-Lichen species with suppressive properties on migration and invasiveness of two different colorectal carcinoma cell lines. J Food Biochem 2022; 46:e14096. [PMID: 35102582 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Platismatia glauca is a popular lichen traditionally used as a spice and possesses significant anti-cancer potential, whose anti-migratory/anti-invasive properties were mostly disregarded. Migration/invasion of cancer cells is processed in cancer metastasis and targeting their markers is an important strategy in anti-cancer treatment. We examined the anti-migratory/anti-invasive properties of P. glauca extract on two colorectal carcinoma cell lines (HCT-116 and SW-480) and elucidated possible mechanisms underlying these properties. Cell migration was evaluated by wound healing and RTCA methods. Immunofluorescent assay was used for the analysis of protein, while qRT-PCR for gene expression of migratory/invasive markers. ELISA assay was applied for the determination of MMP-9 concentration. P. glauca extract inhibited the motility of tested cells, by reducing pro-migratory/pro-invasive markers and potentially retaining intercellular connections. Treatment showed cell-selective effects, and HCT-116 cells were more responsive. Our study presents important scientific novelty, thus these lichen properties should be furtherly examined regarding the amelioration of anti-cancer treatment. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Based on the evidence we provided in the present study, we have demonstrated that lichen species Platismatia glauca possess important biological activity, which has not been sufficiently investigated so far. It is of great importance to explore its anti-cancer potential, not only from a cytotoxic point of view but especially anti-migratory and anti-invasive. Herein, we showed that this species expresses significant suppressive effects on migration and invasiveness of colorectal carcinoma cells. This tested lichen has the potential to be used as a natural complementary anti-cancer treatment, with special reference on the dose applied and type of carcinoma. Our study represents a significant novelty in the field of scientific investigation of lichens and natural products, and further detailed studies are needed on in vitro and in vivo model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragana S Šeklić
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Milena M Jovanović
- Department for Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
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22
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Chachoua I, Tzelepis I, Dai H, Lim JP, Lewandowska-Ronnegren A, Casagrande FB, Wu S, Vestlund J, Mallet de Lima CD, Bhartiya D, Scholz BA, Martino M, Mehmood R, Göndör A. Canonical WNT signaling-dependent gating of MYC requires a noncanonical CTCF function at a distal binding site. Nat Commun 2022; 13:204. [PMID: 35017527 PMCID: PMC8752836 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27868-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal WNT signaling increases MYC expression in colon cancer cells in part via oncogenic super-enhancer-(OSE)-mediated gating of the active MYC to the nuclear pore in a poorly understood process. We show here that the principal tenet of the WNT-regulated MYC gating, facilitating nuclear export of the MYC mRNA, is regulated by a CTCF binding site (CTCFBS) within the OSE to confer growth advantage in HCT-116 cells. To achieve this, the CTCFBS directs the WNT-dependent trafficking of the OSE to the nuclear pore from intra-nucleoplasmic positions in a stepwise manner. Once the OSE reaches a peripheral position, which is triggered by a CTCFBS-mediated CCAT1 eRNA activation, its final stretch (≤0.7 μm) to the nuclear pore requires the recruitment of AHCTF1, a key nucleoporin, to the CTCFBS. Thus, a WNT/ß-catenin-AHCTF1-CTCF-eRNA circuit enables the OSE to promote pathological cell growth by coordinating the trafficking of the active MYC gene within the 3D nuclear architecture. Gene-gating of a MYC oncogenic super-enhancer (OSE) increases its expression in colon cancer cells in a poorly understood process. Here the authors show that MYC gating requires a CTCF binding site (CTCFBS) within the OSE that directs the stepwise trafficking of the OSE to the nuclear pore to facilitate increased nuclear export of MYC mRNA, which results in a growth advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilyas Chachoua
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ilias Tzelepis
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hao Dai
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Breast Disease, Henan Breast Cancer Center, The affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jia Pei Lim
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Lewandowska-Ronnegren
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Felipe Beccaria Casagrande
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shuangyang Wu
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna Vestlund
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carolina Diettrich Mallet de Lima
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Deeksha Bhartiya
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Barbara A Scholz
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mirco Martino
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rashid Mehmood
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anita Göndör
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, U2, Akademiska Stråket 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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23
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Oxidative Distress Induces Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Modulation in Colorectal Cancer Cells: Perspectives on APC Retained Functions. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13236045. [PMID: 34885156 PMCID: PMC8656656 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multistep process that arises in the colic tissue microenvironment. Oxidative stress plays a role in mediating CRC cell survival and progression, as well as promoting resistance to therapies. CRC progression is associated with Wnt/β-Catenin signaling dysregulation and loss of proper APC functions. Cancer recurrence/relapse has been attributed to altered ROS levels, produced in a cancerous microenvironment. The effect of oxidative distress on Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in the light of APC functions is unclear. This study evaluated the effect of H2O2-induced short-term oxidative stress in HCT116, SW480 and SW620 cells with different phenotypes of APC and β-Catenin. The modulation and relationship of APC with characteristic molecules of Wnt/β-Catenin were assessed in gene and protein expression. Results indicated that CRC cells, even when deprived of growth factors, under acute oxidative distress conditions by H2O2 promote β-Catenin expression and modulate cytoplasmic APC protein. Furthermore, H2O2 induces differential gene expression depending on the cellular phenotype and leading to favor both Wnt/Catenin-dependent and -independent signaling. The exact mechanism by which oxidative distress can affect Wnt signaling functions will require further investigation to reveal new scenarios for the development of therapeutic approaches for CRC, in the light of the conserved functions of APC.
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24
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Bell IJ, Horn MS, Van Raay TJ. Bridging the gap between non-canonical and canonical Wnt signaling through Vangl2. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 125:37-44. [PMID: 34736823 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Non-canonical Wnt signaling (encompassing Wnt/PCP and WntCa2+) has a dual identity in the literature. One stream of research investigates its role in antagonizing canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer, typically through Ca2+, while the other stream investigates its effect on polarity in development, typically through Vangl2. Rarely do these topics intersect or overlap. What has become clear is that Wnt5a can mobilize intracellular calcium stores to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin in cancer cells but there is no evidence that Vangl2 is involved in this process. Conversely, Wnt5a can independently activate Vangl2 to affect polarity and migration but the role of calcium in this process is also limited. Further, Vangl2 has also been implicated in inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development. The consensus is that a cell can differentiate between canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling when presented with a choice, always choosing non-canonical at the expense of canonical Wnt signaling. However, these are rare events in vivo. Given the shared resources between non-canonical and canonical Wnt signaling it is perplexing that there is not more in vivo evidence for cross talk between these two pathways. In this review we discuss the intersection of non-canonical Wnt, with a focus on Wnt/PCP, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in an attempt to shed some light on pathways that rarely meet at a crossroads in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian James Bell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Matthew Sheldon Horn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Terence John Van Raay
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1.
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25
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Wang J, Ding J, Zhang S, Chen X, Yan S, Zhang Y, Yin T. Decreased USP2a Expression Inhibits Trophoblast Invasion and Associates With Recurrent Miscarriage. Front Immunol 2021; 12:717370. [PMID: 34489969 PMCID: PMC8416978 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.717370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
An appropriate development of the placenta consisting of trophoblast cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis, is essential to establishing and maintaining a successful pregnancy. Ubiquitin‐specific protease 2a (USP2a) regulates the processes of metastasis in multiple tumor cells. Yet, no known research has focused on exploring the effect of USP2a on trophoblasts and its possible mechanism in the pathogenies of recurrent miscarriage (RM). In this study, we first detected the decreased mRNA levels and the protein levels of USP2a in placental villous tissue samples from the RM patients. In vitro assays verified that overexpression of USP2a promoted human trophoblast proliferation, migration, invasion, whereas knockdown of USP2a inhibited these processes. Mechanistically, USP2a activated PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway to promote nuclear translocation of β‐catenin and further activated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the trophoblasts. Moreover, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) up-regulated USP2a expression in trophoblasts. Interestingly, M2 macrophage secreted TGF-β induced trophoblast migration and invasion, and an anti-TGF-β antibody alleviated this effect. Collectively, this study indicated that USP2a regulated trophoblast invasion and that abnormal USP2a expression might lead to aberrant trophoblast invasion, thus contributing to RM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinli Ding
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sainan Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sisi Yan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tailang Yin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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26
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Li H, Zhou Y, Wang M, Wang H, Zhang Y, Peng R, Zhang R, Zhang M, Zhang M, Qiu P, Liu L, Zhao Q, Liu J. DOC-2/DAB2 interactive protein destabilizes c-Myc to impair the growth and self-renewal of colon tumor-repopulating cells. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:4593-4603. [PMID: 34449943 PMCID: PMC8586666 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains a huge challenge in clinical treatment due to tumor metastasis and recurrence. Stem cell-like colon tumor-repopulating cells (TRCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells with highly tumorigenic and chemotherapy resistant properties. The core transcription factor c-Myc is essential for maintaining cancer stem-like cell phenotypes, yet its roles and regulatory mechanisms remain unclear in colon TRCs. We report that elevated c-Myc protein supported formation and growth of TRC spheroids. The tumor suppressor DOC-2/DAB2 interactive protein (DAB2IP) suppressed c-Myc expression to inhibit TRC expansion and self-renewal. Particularly, DAB2IP disrupted c-Myc stability through glycogen synthase kinase 3β/protein phosphatase 2A-B56α-mediated phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cascade on c-Myc protein, leading to its eventual degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The expression of DAB2IP was negatively correlated with c-Myc in CRC specimens. Overall, our results improved mechanistic insight into how DAB2IP suppressed TRC growth and self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiou Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunjiao Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Haizhou Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangyang Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruyi Peng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruike Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengna Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Peishan Qiu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiu Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China
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27
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Yan Y, Zhang Y, Li M, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Zhang X, Xu Y, Wei W, Wang J, Xu X, Song Q, Zhao C. C644-0303, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, suppresses colorectal cancer growth. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:4722-4735. [PMID: 34431598 PMCID: PMC8586673 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in tissue homeostasis, and its malignant activation is closely related to the occurrence and development of many cancers, especially colorectal cancer with adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and CTNNB1 mutations. By applying a TCF/lymphoid‐enhancing factor (LEF) luciferase reporter system, the high‐throughput screening of 18 840 small‐molecule compounds was performed. A novel scaffold compound, C644‐0303, was identified as a Wnt/β‐catenin signaling inhibitor and exhibited antitumor efficacy. It inhibited both constitutive and ligand activated Wnt signals and its downstream gene expression. Functional studies showed that C644‐0303 causes cell cycle arrest, induces apoptosis, and inhibits cancer cell migration. Moreover, transcription factor array indicated that C644‐0303 could suppress various tumor‐promoting transcription factor activities in addition to Wnt/β‐catenin. Finally, C644‐0303 suppressed tumor spheroidization in a 3‐dimensional cell culture model and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in mice. In conclusion, we report a novel structural small molecular inhibitor targeting the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway that has therapeutic potential for colorectal cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yan
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yidan Zhang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Mengyuan Li
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yazhuo Zhang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Innovation Platform of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Innovation Platform of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuting Xu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Wei
- School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jie Wang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaohan Xu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Qiaoling Song
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Innovation Platform of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Chenyang Zhao
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Innovation Platform of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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Mebed R, Ali YB, Shehata N, El-Guendy N, Gamal N, Zekri AR, Sabet S. Combining Bevacizumab with knocked-down β-catenin reduces VEGF-A and Slug mRNA in HepG2 but not in Caco-2 cell lines. Curr Mol Med 2021; 22:374-383. [PMID: 34429048 DOI: 10.2174/1573405617666210824120618] [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: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bevacizumab (Bev) resistance is hypothesized to be overcome by combination with inhibitors of other signalling pathways. OBJECTIVE We aimed to study the effect of combining Bev with knocked down β-catenin (Bev-β-cat-siRNA) on the expression of VEGF-A, Slug, NFКB and its two target genes c-Flip and FasR in HepG2. Expression of VEGF-A and Slug was also studied in Caco-2 cells. METHODS Cultured cells were divided into six groups 1) cells treated with Bev only 2) cells treated with β-catenin-siRNA 3) cells treated with Bev-β-cat-siRNA 4) cells treated with negative control 5) cells treated with Bev-negative control and untreated cells. Expressions were assessed using qPCR and western blotting. RESULTS Bev-β-cat-siRNA significantly reduced the mRNA level of VEGF-A, which was initially increased in response to Bev alone in HepG2 but not in Caco-2. Additionally, Bev-β-cat-siRNA significantly decreased Slug mRNA level compared to Bev only treated HepG2 cells. In contrast, VEGF-A and Slug mRNA levels in Bev only group were remarkably lower than Bev-β-cat-siRNA in Caco-2 cells. Distinct β-catenin and Slug protein expressions were noticed in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells. On the other hand, Bev-β-cat-siRNA remarkably reduced the level of NFКB, FasR and c-Flip compared to Bev only treated HepG2 cells although the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION We conclude that, combining Bevacizumab with knocked down β-catenin reduce the expression of VEGF-A and Slug in HepG2 but not in Caco-2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Mebed
- Chemical control unit, National Organization for Research and Control of Biologicals, Cairo. Egypt
| | - Yasser Bm Ali
- Molecular Biology unit, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City. Egypt
| | - Nahla Shehata
- Lot release unit, National Organization for Research and Control of Biologicals, Cairo. Egypt
| | - Nadia El-Guendy
- Department of Cancer Biology, National Institute of Cancer, Cairo University. Egypt
| | - Nahla Gamal
- Department of Applied Research, Research & Development Sector, VACSERA, Cairo. Egypt
| | - Abdel-Rahman Zekri
- Department of Cancer Biology, National Institute of Cancer, Cairo University. Egypt
| | - Salwa Sabet
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University. Egypt
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29
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Kasperek A, Béguin A, Bawa O, De Azevedo K, Job B, Massard C, Scoazec JY, Heidmann T, Heidmann O. Therapeutic potential of the human endogenous retroviral envelope protein HEMO: a pan-cancer analysis. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:1451-1473. [PMID: 34318590 PMCID: PMC8978518 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses represent approximately 8% of our genome. Most of these sequences are defective except for a few genes such as the ancestral retroviral HEMO envelope gene (Human Endogenous MER34 ORF), recently characterized by our group. In this study, we characterized transcriptional activation of HEMO in primary tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and in metastatic tumors from a Gustave Roussy cohort. Pan‐cancer detection of the HEMO protein in a series of patient samples validated these results. Differential gene expression analysis in various TCGA datasets revealed a link between HEMO expression and activation of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling, in particular in endometrial cancer. Studies on cell models led us to propose that the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway could act as an upstream regulator of this retroviral endogenous sequence in tumor condition. Characterization of transcriptomic profiles of both HEMOLow and HEMOHigh tumors suggested that activation of HEMO is negatively associated with immune response signatures. Taken together, these results highlight that HEMO, as an endogenous retroviral envelope protein specifically expressed in tumors, represents a promising tumor biomarker and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Kasperek
- CNRS UMR 9196, Laboratory of Physiology and Pathology of Infectious and Endogenous Retroviruses, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France
| | - Anthony Béguin
- CNRS UMR 9196, Laboratory of Physiology and Pathology of Infectious and Endogenous Retroviruses, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France
| | - Olivia Bawa
- PETRA platform, AMMICa, CNRS-UMS 3655 and INSERM-US23, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France
| | - Kévin De Azevedo
- CNRS UMR 9196, Laboratory of Physiology and Pathology of Infectious and Endogenous Retroviruses, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France
| | - Bastien Job
- Bioinformatic Core Facility, AMMICa, CNRS-UMS 3655 and INSERM-US23, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France
| | - Christophe Massard
- Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France
| | - Jean-Yves Scoazec
- PETRA platform, AMMICa, CNRS-UMS 3655 and INSERM-US23, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France.,University Paris-Saclay, Faculty of Medicine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, 94270, France.,Department of Pathology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, 94805, France
| | - Thierry Heidmann
- CNRS UMR 9196, Laboratory of Physiology and Pathology of Infectious and Endogenous Retroviruses, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France
| | - Odile Heidmann
- CNRS UMR 9196, Laboratory of Physiology and Pathology of Infectious and Endogenous Retroviruses, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94805, France
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30
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Low JL, Du W, Gocha T, Oguz G, Zhang X, Chen MW, Masirevic S, Yim DGR, Tan IBH, Ramasamy A, Fan H, DasGupta R. Molecular docking-aided identification of small molecule inhibitors targeting β-catenin-TCF4 interaction. iScience 2021; 24:102544. [PMID: 34142050 PMCID: PMC8184503 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report a molecular docking-based approach to identify small molecules that can target the β-catenin (β-cat)-TCF4 protein-protein interaction (PPI), a key effector complex for nuclear Wnt signaling activity. Specifically, we developed and optimized a computational model of β-cat using publicly available β-cat protein crystal structures, and existing β-cat-TCF4 interaction inhibitors as the training set. Using our computational model to an in silico screen predicted 27 compounds as good binders to β-cat, of which 3 were identified to be effective against a Wnt-responsive luciferase reporter. In vitro functional validation experiments revealed GB1874 as an inhibitor of the Wnt pathway that targets the β-cat-TCF4 PPI. GB1874 also affected the proliferation and stemness of Wnt-addicted colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in vitro. Encouragingly, GB1874 inhibited the growth of CRC tumor xenografts in vivo, thus demonstrating its potential for further development into therapeutics against Wnt-associated cancer indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Leng Low
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Weina Du
- Structure-Based Ligand Discovery and Design, Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Tenzin Gocha
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Gokce Oguz
- Bioinformatics Consulting and Training Platform, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Xiaoqian Zhang
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Ming Wei Chen
- Biomolecular Interactions Platform, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Srdan Masirevic
- Structure-Based Ligand Discovery and Design, Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Daniel Guo Rong Yim
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Iain Bee Huat Tan
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), Singapore 169610, Singapore
- Laboratory of Applied Cancer Genomics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Adaikalavan Ramasamy
- Bioinformatics Consulting and Training Platform, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Hao Fan
- Structure-Based Ligand Discovery and Design, Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Ramanuj DasGupta
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
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31
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Carriere P, Calvo N, Novoa Díaz MB, Lopez-Moncada F, Herrera A, Torres MJ, Alonso E, Gandini NA, Gigola G, Contreras HR, Gentili C. Role of SPARC in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by PTHrP in human colon cancer cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 530:111253. [PMID: 33781836 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) exerts its effects on cells derived from colorectal cancer (CRC) and tumor microenvironment and is involved in processes requiring the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we report that PTHrP modulates factors expression and morphological changes associated with EMT in HCT116 cells from CRC. PTHrP increased the protein expression of SPARC, a factor involved in EMT, in HCT116 cells but not in Caco-2 cells also from CRC but with less aggressiveness. PTHrP also increased SPARC expression and its subsequent release from endothelial HMEC-1 cells. The conditioned media of PTHrP-treated HMEC-1 cells induced early changes related to EMT in HCT116 cells. Moreover, SPARC treatment on HCT116 cells potentiated PTHrP modulation in E-cadherin expression and cell migration. In vivo PTHrP also increased SPARC expression and decreased E-cadherin expression. These results suggest a novel PTHrP action on CRC progression involving the microenvironment in the modulation of events associated with EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Carriere
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Natalia Calvo
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María Belén Novoa Díaz
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Fernanda Lopez-Moncada
- Department of Basic and Clinic Oncology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - Alexander Herrera
- Department of Basic and Clinic Oncology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - María José Torres
- Department of Basic and Clinic Oncology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | | | | | - Graciela Gigola
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Hector R Contreras
- Department of Basic and Clinic Oncology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - Claudia Gentili
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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32
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Xu Z, Zheng J, Chen Z, Guo J, Li X, Wang X, Qu C, Yuan L, Cheng C, Sun X, Yu J. Multilevel regulation of Wnt signaling by Zic2 in colon cancer due to mutation of β-catenin. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:584. [PMID: 34099631 PMCID: PMC8184991 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03863-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Zinc-finger of the cerebellum 2 (Zic2) is widely implicated in cancers, but the role of Zic2 in tumorigenesis is bilateral. A recent study indicated that Zic2 could render colon cancer cells more resistant to low glucose-induced apoptosis. However, the functional roles of Zic2 in colon cancer and the underlying molecular mechanism remain elusive. Herein, we demonstrated that Zic2 was highly expressed in colon cancer tissues and correlated with poor survival. Knockdown of Zic2 inhibited colon cancer cell growth, arrested the cell cycle transition from G0/G1 to S phase, and suppressed tumor sphere formation in vitro; in addition, silencing Zic2 retarded xenograft tumor formation in vivo. Consistently, ectopic expression of Zic2 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, Zic2 executed its oncogenic role in colon cancer by enhancing Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Zic2 directly binds to the promoter of Axin2 and transcriptionally represses Axin2 expression and subsequently promotes the accumulation and nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Meanwhile, Zic2 could activate Wnt signaling by interacting with β-catenin. Intriguingly, in HCT116 cells with intrinsic Ser45 mutation of β-catenin, which blocks the degradation-related phosphorylation of β-catenin by CK1, modified Zic2 expression did not affect the protein level of β-catenin. Altogether, our findings uncover a novel multilevel mechanism for the oncogenic activity of Zic2 in colon cancer and suggest Zic2 as a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengshui Xu
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Jianbao Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Zilu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Xingjie Wang
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Chao Qu
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Liyue Yuan
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Chen Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China
| | - Xuejun Sun
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China.
| | - Junhui Yu
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, PR China.
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Sacchetti A, Teeuwssen M, Verhagen M, Joosten R, Xu T, Stabile R, van der Steen B, Watson MM, Gusinac A, Kim WK, Ubink I, Van de Werken HJG, Fumagalli A, Paauwe M, Van Rheenen J, Sansom OJ, Kranenburg O, Fodde R. Phenotypic plasticity underlies local invasion and distant metastasis in colon cancer. eLife 2021; 10:e61461. [PMID: 34036938 PMCID: PMC8192123 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity represents the most relevant hallmark of the carcinoma cell as it bestows it with the capacity of transiently altering its morphological and functional features while en route to the metastatic site. However, the study of phenotypic plasticity is hindered by the rarity of these events within primary lesions and by the lack of experimental models. Here, we identified a subpopulation of phenotypic plastic colon cancer cells: EpCAMlo cells are motile, invasive, chemo-resistant, and highly metastatic. EpCAMlo bulk and single-cell RNAseq analysis indicated (1) enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signaling, (2) a broad spectrum of degrees of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) activation including hybrid E/M states (partial EMT) with highly plastic features, and (3) high correlation with the CMS4 subtype, accounting for colon cancer cases with poor prognosis and a pronounced stromal component. Of note, a signature of genes specifically expressed in EpCAMlo cancer cells is highly predictive of overall survival in tumors other than CMS4, thus highlighting the relevance of quasi-mesenchymal tumor cells across the spectrum of colon cancers. Enhanced Wnt and the downstream EMT activation represent key events in eliciting phenotypic plasticity along the invasive front of primary colon carcinomas. Distinct sets of epithelial and mesenchymal genes define transcriptional trajectories through which state transitions arise. pEMT cells, often earmarked by the extracellular matrix glycoprotein SPARC together with nuclear ZEB1 and β-catenin along the invasive front of primary colon carcinomas, are predicted to represent the origin of these (de)differentiation routes through biologically distinct cellular states and to underlie the phenotypic plasticity of colon cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tong Xu
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MCRotterdamNetherlands
| | | | - Berdine van der Steen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MCRotterdamNetherlands
| | | | - Alem Gusinac
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MCRotterdamNetherlands
| | - Won Kyu Kim
- Natural Product Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and TechnologyGangneungRepublic of Korea
| | - Inge Ubink
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Centre, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Harmen JG Van de Werken
- Cancer Computational Biology Center and Department of Urology; Erasmus University Medical CenterRotterdamNetherlands
| | | | - Madelon Paauwe
- Cancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Jacco Van Rheenen
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Owen J Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUnited Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Onno Kranenburg
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Centre, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
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Pfister E, Smith R, Lane MA. N-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acid ethyl esters decrease the invasion, but not the proliferation, of human colorectal cancer cells via a PI3K-dependent mechanism in vitro. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2021; 167:102273. [PMID: 33812216 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2021.102273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ethyl esters have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of dyslipidemia and are promising cancer therapeutics. The study objectives were to determine if and how n-3 PUFA ethyl esters affected the proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. SW620 and HCT-116 parental and HCT-116 mutant cells isogenic for constitutively active PI3K were treated with free or ethyl esterified n-3 PUFAs and counted 72 h later. Cells were also administered n-3 PUFA ethyl esters to determine if these compounds decreased invasion through Boyden chambers and PI3K activity via western blot analysis of phosphorylated Akt. Free and n-3 PUFA ethyl esters decreased the proliferation of all cell lines. The invasion and Akt phosphorylation of both parental cell lines was decreased following treatment but this did not occur in mutant cells. The ability of n-3 PUFA ethyl esters to decrease proliferation and invasion in vitro indicates these compounds may be effective in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Pfister
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX, USA, 78666
| | - Rebecca Smith
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX, USA, 78666
| | - Michelle A Lane
- Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX, USA, 78666.
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35
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Jun SY, Brown AJ, Chua NK, Yoon JY, Lee JJ, Yang JO, Jang I, Jeon SJ, Choi TI, Kim CH, Kim NS. Reduction of Squalene Epoxidase by Cholesterol Accumulation Accelerates Colorectal Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Gastroenterology 2021; 160:1194-1207.e28. [PMID: 32946903 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Squalene epoxidase (SQLE), a rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, is suggested as a proto-oncogene. Paradoxically, SQLE is degraded by excess cholesterol, and low SQLE is associated with aggressive colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, we studied the functional consequences of SQLE reduction in CRC progression. METHODS Gene and protein expression data and clinical features of CRCs were obtained from public databases and 293 human tissues, analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In vitro studies showed underlying mechanisms of CRC progression mediated by SQLE reduction. Mice were fed a 2% high-cholesterol or a control diet before and after cecum implantation of SQLE genetic knockdown/control CRC cells. Metastatic dissemination and circulating cancer stem cells were demonstrated by in vivo tracking and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. RESULTS In vitro studies showed that SQLE reduction helped cancer cells overcome constraints by inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition required to generate cancer stem cells. Surprisingly, SQLE interacted with GSK3β and p53. Active GSK3β contributes to the stability of SQLE, thereby increasing cell cholesterol content, whereas SQLE depletion disrupted the GSK3β/p53 complex, resulting in a metastatic phenotype. This was confirmed in a spontaneous CRC metastasis mice model, where SQLE reduction, by a high-cholesterol regimen or genetic knockdown, strikingly promoted CRC aggressiveness through the production of migratory cancer stem cells. CONCLUSIONS We showed that SQLE reduction caused by cholesterol accumulation aggravates CRC progression via the activation of the β-catenin oncogenic pathway and deactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor pathway. Our findings provide new insights into the link between cholesterol and CRC, identifying SQLE as a key regulator in CRC aggressiveness and a prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Young Jun
- Medical Genomics Research Center, Daejon, Korea; Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Andrew J Brown
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ngee Kiat Chua
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | - Jin Ok Yang
- Korean Bioinformation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - InSu Jang
- Korean Bioinformation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Su-Jin Jeon
- Medical Genomics Research Center, Daejon, Korea; Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Tae-Ik Choi
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Nam-Soon Kim
- Medical Genomics Research Center, Daejon, Korea; Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea.
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36
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Centyrin ligands for extrahepatic delivery of siRNA. Mol Ther 2021; 29:2053-2066. [PMID: 33601052 PMCID: PMC8178446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) offers the potential to treat disease at the earliest onset by selectively turning off the expression of target genes, such as intracellular oncogenes that drive cancer growth. However, the development of RNAi therapeutics as anti-cancer drugs has been limited by both a lack of efficient and target cell-specific delivery systems and the necessity to overcome numerous intracellular barriers, including serum/lysosomal instability, cell membrane impermeability, and limited endosomal escape. Here, we combine two technologies to achieve posttranscriptional gene silencing in tumor cells: Centyrins, alternative scaffold proteins binding plasma membrane receptors for targeted delivery, and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), chemically modified for high metabolic stability and potency. An EGFR Centyrin known to internalize in EGFR-positive tumor cells was site-specifically conjugated to a beta-catenin (CTNNb1) siRNA and found to drive potent and specific target knockdown by free uptake in cell culture and in mice inoculated with A431 tumor xenografts (EGFR amplified). The generalizability of this approach was further demonstrated with Centyrins targeting multiple receptors (e.g., BCMA, PSMA, and EpCAM) and siRNAs targeting multiple genes (e.g., CD68, KLKb1, and SSB1). Moreover, by installing multiple conjugation handles, two different siRNAs were fused to a single Centyrin, and the conjugate was shown to simultaneously silence two different targets. Finally, by specifically pairing EpCAM-binding Centyrins that exhibited optimized internalization profiles, we present data showing that an EpCAM Centyrin CTNNb1 siRNA conjugate suppressed tumor cell growth of a colorectal cancer cell line containing an APC mutation but not cells with normal CTNNb1 signaling. Overall, these data demonstrate the potential of Centyrin-siRNA conjugates to target cancer cells and silence oncogenes, paving the way to a new class of anticancer drugs.
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37
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Ear J, Abd El-Hafeez AA, Roy S, Ngo T, Rajapakse N, Choi J, Khandelwal S, Ghassemian M, McCaffrey L, Kufareva I, Sahoo D, Ghosh P. A long isoform of GIV/Girdin contains a PDZ-binding module that regulates localization and G-protein binding. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100493. [PMID: 33675748 PMCID: PMC8042451 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PDZ domains are one of the most abundant protein domains in eukaryotes and are frequently found on junction-localized scaffold proteins. Various signaling molecules bind to PDZ proteins via PDZ-binding motifs (PBM) and fine-tune cellular signaling. However, how such interaction affects protein function is difficult to predict and must be solved empirically. Here we describe a long isoform of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor GIV/Girdin (CCDC88A) that we named GIV-L, which is conserved throughout evolution, from invertebrates to vertebrates, and contains a PBM. Unlike GIV, which lacks PBM and is cytosolic, GIV-L localizes onto cell junctions and has a PDZ interactome (as shown through annotating Human Cell Map and BioID-proximity labeling studies), which impacts GIV-L's ability to bind and activate trimeric G-protein, Gαi, through its guanine-nucleotide exchange modulator (GEM) module. This GEM module is found exclusively in vertebrates. We propose that the two functional modules in GIV may have evolved sequentially: the ability to bind PDZ proteins via the PBM evolved earlier in invertebrates, whereas G-protein binding and activation may have evolved later only among vertebrates. Phenotypic studies in Caco-2 cells revealed that GIV and GIV-L may have antagonistic effects on cell growth, proliferation (cell cycle), and survival. Immunohistochemical analysis in human colon tissues showed that GIV expression increases with a concomitant decrease in GIV-L during cancer initiation. Taken together, these findings reveal how regulation in GIV/CCDC88A transcript helps to achieve protein modularity, which allows the protein to play opposing roles either as a tumor suppressor (GIV-L) or as an oncogene (GIV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Ear
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA.
| | - Amer Ali Abd El-Hafeez
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Pharmacology and Experimental Oncology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Suchismita Roy
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Tony Ngo
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Navin Rajapakse
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Julie Choi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Soni Khandelwal
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Majid Ghassemian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Luke McCaffrey
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Irina Kufareva
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Debashis Sahoo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Pradipta Ghosh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Rebecca and John Moore Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, La Jolla, California, USA.
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Fan HC, Hsieh YC, Li LH, Chang CC, Janoušková K, Ramani MV, Subbaraju GV, Cheng KT, Chang CC. Dehydroxyhispolon Methyl Ether, A Hispolon Derivative, Inhibits WNT/β-Catenin Signaling to Elicit Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228839. [PMID: 33266494 PMCID: PMC7700694 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Aberrant activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling present in the vast majority of CRC cases is indispensable for CRC initiation and progression, and thus is a promising target for CRC therapeutics. Hispolon is a fungal-derived polyphenol with a pronounced anticancer effect. Several hispolon derivatives, including dehydroxyhispolon methyl ether (DHME), have been chemically synthesized for developing lead molecules with stronger anticancer activity. Herein, a DHME-elicited anti-CRC effect with the underlying mechanism is reported for the first time. Specifically, DHME was found to be more cytotoxic than hispolon against a panel of human CRC cell lines, while exerting limited toxicity to normal human colon cell line CCD 841 CoN. Additionally, the cytotoxic effect of DHME appeared to rely on inducing apoptosis. This notion was evidenced by DHME-elicited upregulation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage and a cell population positively stained by annexin V, alongside the downregulation of antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), whereas the blockade of apoptosis by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk attenuated DHME-induced cytotoxicity. Further mechanistic inquiry revealed the inhibitory action of DHME on β-catenin-mediated, T-cell factor (TCF)-dependent transcription activity, suggesting that DHME thwarted the aberrantly active WNT/β-catenin signaling in CRC cells. Notably, ectopic expression of a dominant–active β-catenin mutant (∆N90-β-catenin) abolished DHME-induced apoptosis while also restoring BCL-2 expression. Collectively, we identified DHME as a selective proapoptotic agent against CRC cells, exerting more potent cytotoxicity than hispolon, and provoking CRC cell apoptosis via suppression of the WNT/β-catenin signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hueng-Chuen Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Medical Research, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Wuchi, Taichung 43503, Taiwan;
- Department of Rehabilitation, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli 35664, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Chu Hsieh
- Ph.D. Program in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; (Y.-C.H.); (L.-H.L.)
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (K.J.)
| | - Li-Hsuan Li
- Ph.D. Program in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; (Y.-C.H.); (L.-H.L.)
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (K.J.)
| | - Ching-Chin Chang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (K.J.)
| | - Karolína Janoušková
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (K.J.)
- University of Chemistry and Technology, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Modukuri V. Ramani
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, India; (M.V.R.); (G.V.S.)
| | - Gottumukkala V. Subbaraju
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, India; (M.V.R.); (G.V.S.)
| | - Kur-Ta Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Correspondence: or (C.-C.C.); (K.-T.C.)
| | - Chia-Che Chang
- Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; (Y.-C.H.); (L.-H.L.)
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (K.J.)
- Department of Life Sciences, The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Research Center, Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
- Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
- Correspondence: or (C.-C.C.); (K.-T.C.)
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Dannheisig DP, Bächle J, Tasic J, Keil M, Pfister AS. The Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway is Activated as a Novel Nucleolar Stress Response. J Mol Biol 2020; 433:166719. [PMID: 33221336 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ribosomes are mandatory for growth and survival. The complex process of ribosome biogenesis is located in nucleoli and requires action of the RNA polymerases I-III, together with a multitude of processing factors involved in rRNA cleavage and maturation. Impaired ribosome biogenesis and loss of nucleolar integrity triggers nucleolar stress, which classically stabilizes the tumor suppressor p53 and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Nucleolar stress is implemented in modern anti-cancer therapies, however, also emerges as contributor to diverse pathological conditions. These include ribosomopathies, such as the Shwachman Bodian Diamond Syndrome (SBDS), which are not only characterized by nucleolar stress, but paradoxically also increased cancer incidence. Wnt signaling is tightly coupled to cell proliferation and is constitutively activated in various tumor types. In addition, the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway regulates ribosome formation. Here, we demonstrate that induction of nucleolar stress by different strategies stimulates the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway. We show that depletion of the key ribosomopathy factor SBDS, or the nucleolar factors Nucleophosmin (NPM), Pescadillo 1 (PES1) or Peter Pan (PPAN) by si RNA-mediated knockdown or CRISPR/Cas9 strategy activates Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in a β-Catenin-dependent manner and stabilizes β-Catenin in human cancer cells. Moreover, triggering nucleolar stress by the chemotherapeutic agents Actinomycin D or the RNA polymerase I inhibitor CX-5461 stimulates expression of Wnt/β-Catenin targets, which is followed by the p53 target CDKN1A (p21). As PPAN expression is induced by Wnt/β-Catenin signaling, our data establish a novel feedback mechanism and reveal that nucleolar stress over-activates the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway, which most likely serves as compensatory mechanism to sustain ribosome biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Dannheisig
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jana Bächle
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmin Tasic
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marina Keil
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Astrid S Pfister
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
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Arnold A, Tronser M, Sers C, Ahadova A, Endris V, Mamlouk S, Horst D, Möbs M, Bischoff P, Kloor M, Bläker H. The majority of β-catenin mutations in colorectal cancer is homozygous. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:1038. [PMID: 33115416 PMCID: PMC7594410 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07537-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background β-catenin activation plays a crucial role for tumourigenesis in the large intestine but except for Lynch syndrome (LS) associated cancers stabilizing mutations of β-catenin gene (CTNNB1) are rare in colorectal cancer (CRC). Previous animal studies provide an explanation for this observation. They showed that CTNNB1 mutations induced transformation in the colon only when CTNNB1 was homozygously mutated or when membranous β-catenin binding was hampered by E-cadherin haploinsufficiency. We were interested, if these mechanisms are also found in human CTNNB1 mutated CRCs. Results Among 869 CRCs stabilizing CTNNB1 mutations were found in 27 cases. Homo- or hemizygous CTNNB1 mutations were detected in 74% of CTNNB1 mutated CRCs (13 microsatellite instabile (MSI-H), 7 microsatellite stabile (MSS)) but only in 3% (1/33) of extracolonic CTNNB1 mutated cancers. In contrast to MSS CRC, CTNNB1 mutations at codon 41 or 45 were highly selected in MSI-H CRC. Of the examined three CRC cell lines, β-catenin and E-cadherin expression was similar in cell lines without or with hetereozygous CTNNB1 mutations (DLD1 and HCT116), while a reduced E-cadherin expression combined with cytoplasmic accumulation of β-catenin was found in a cell line with homozygous CTNNB1 mutation (LS180). Reduced expression of E-cadherin in human MSI-H CRC tissue was identified in 60% of investigated cancers, but no association with the CTNNB1 mutational status was found. Conclusions In conclusion, this study shows that in contrast to extracolonic cancers stabilizing CTNNB1 mutations in CRC are commonly homo- or hemizygous indicating a higher threshold of β-catenin stabilization to be required for transformation in the colon as compared to extracolonic sites. Moreover, we found different mutational hotspots in CTNNB1 for MSI-H and MSS CRCs suggesting a selection of different effects on β-catenin stabilization according to the molecular pathway of tumourigenesis. Reduced E-cadherin expression in CRC may further contribute to higher levels of transcriptionally active β-catenin, but it is not directly linked to the CTNNB1 mutational status. Supplementary information Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s12885-020-07537-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Arnold
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchoweg 15 / Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Moritz Tronser
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchoweg 15 / Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Sers
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchoweg 15 / Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aysel Ahadova
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg; Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ); Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Endris
- Department of General Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Soulafa Mamlouk
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchoweg 15 / Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Horst
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchoweg 15 / Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Möbs
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchoweg 15 / Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philip Bischoff
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchoweg 15 / Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Kloor
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg; Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ); Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Bläker
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchoweg 15 / Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Present address: Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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41
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Ear J, Ali Abd El-hafeez A, Roy S, Ngo T, Rajapakse N, Choi J, Khandelwal S, Ghassemian M, Mccaffrey L, Kufareva I, Sahoo D, Ghosh P. Evolution of Modularity, Interactome and Functions of GIV/Girdin (CCDC88A) from Invertebrates to Vertebrates.. [DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.28.317172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
AbstractPDZ domains are one of the most abundant protein domains in eukaryotes and frequently found on junction-localized scaffold proteins. Various signaling molecules bind to PDZ proteins via PDZ-binding motifs (PBM) and finetune cellular signaling. Here we describe the presence of a PBM on GIV/Girdin (CCDC88A) that is conserved throughout evolution, from invertebrates to vertebrates, and is generated as a long isoform-variant in humans, which we named GIV-L. Unlike GIV, which lacks PBM and is cytosolic, GIV-L localizes to the cell junctions, and has a unique PDZ-interactome, which impacts GIV-L’s ability to bind and activate trimeric G-protein, Gi through its guanine-nucleotide exchange modulator (GEM) module; the GEM module is found exclusively in vertebrates. Thus, the two functional modules in GIV evolved sequentially: the ability to bind PDZ proteins via the PBM evolved earlier in invertebrates, whereas G-protein binding and activation may have evolved later only among vertebrates. Phenotypic studies in Caco-2 cells revealed that GIV and GIV-L may have antagonistic effects on cell growth, proliferation (cell cycle), and survival. Immunohistochemical analyses in human colon tissues showed that GIV expression increases with a concomitant decrease in GIV-L during cancer initiation. Taken together, these findings reveal how GIV/CCDC88A in humans displays evolutionary flexibility in modularity, which allows the resultant isoforms to play opposing roles either as a tumor suppressor (GIV-L) or as an oncogene (GIV).
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42
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IMU1003, an atrarate derivative, inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 532:440-445. [PMID: 32891433 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway triggers tumorigenesis in various tissues. This study identified an atrarate compound, IMU14, derived from filamentous fungi as an inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in phenotypic chemical inhibitor screening of the zebrafish eyeless phenotype. Its derivatization resulted in synthesis of IMU1003 with enhanced Wnt inhibitory activity. IMU1003 inhibited β-catenin/TCF-dependent transcriptional activation and decreased nuclear β-catenin level. In addition, IMU1003 selectively decreased viability and target gene products of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human non-colorectal cancer cell lines harboring intact APC and β-catenin. Therefore, atrarate derivatives inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling and show anticancer potential, and we developed a new class of chemical backbones for Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitors.
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43
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Najafi SMA. The Canonical Wnt Signaling (Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway): A Potential Target for Cancer Prevention and Therapy. IRANIAN BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL 2020; 24:269-80. [PMID: 32429632 PMCID: PMC7392137 DOI: 10.29252/ibj.24.5.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Precise regulation of signal transduction pathways is crucial for normal animal development and for maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis in adults. The Wnt/Frizzled-mediated signaling includes canonical and non-canonical signal transduction pathways. Upregulation or downregulation of the canonical Wnt signaling (or the Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction) leads to a variety of human diseases, including cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, skin and bone diseases, and heart deficiencies. Therefore, Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction is a potential clinical target for the treatment of not only human cancers but also some other human chronic diseases. Here, some recent results including those from my laboratory highlighting the role of Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction in human cancers will be reviewed. After a brief overview on canonical Wnt signaling and introducing some critical β-Catenin/T-cell factor-target genes, the interaction of canonical Wnt signaling with some common human cancers will be discussed. In the end, the different segments of the aforesaid signaling pathway, which have been considered as targets for clinical purposes, will be scrutinized.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mahmoud A Najafi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran
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44
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Wang C, Yan J, Yin P, Gui L, Ji L, Ma B, Gao WQ. β-Catenin inhibition shapes tumor immunity and synergizes with immunotherapy in colorectal cancer. Oncoimmunology 2020; 9:1809947. [PMID: 32939327 PMCID: PMC7470182 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2020.1809947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In colorectal cancer, Wnt/β-catenin signaling is often aberrantly activated and associated with a T-cell-excluded phenotype which is a major obstacle for many immunotherapies. However, the effects of Wnt/β-catenin inhibition on tumor immunity and immunotherapy remain to be elucidated. In syngeneic mouse models of colorectal cancer, β-catenin/TCF inhibitor iCRT14 potently enhanced the infiltration of T and NK cells, without influencing their proliferation or the infiltration of most myeloid populations. Mechanistically, β-catenin inhibition upregulated while its overexpression suppressed the expression of T/NK cell-recruiting CXCR3 chemokines CXCL9/10/11 in both mouse and human colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, iCRT14 treatment synergized with tumor vaccines or Treg cell ablation to achieve a complete inhibition of tumor growth in syngeneic models of CT26-OVA and MC38-S33Y.β-cat, respectively. Taken together, our work reveals that β-catenin inhibition shifts colorectal tumor microenvironment into a T-cell-inflamed phenotype and potentiates the efficacy of other immunotherapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liming Gui
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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45
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Raposo TP, Alfahed A, Nateri AS, Ilyas M. Tensin4 (TNS4) is upregulated by Wnt signalling in adenomas in multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) mice. Int J Exp Pathol 2020; 101:80-86. [PMID: 32567731 PMCID: PMC7370848 DOI: 10.1111/iep.12352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
ApcMin/+ mice are regarded as a standard animal model of colorectal cancer (CRC). Tensin4 (TNS4 or Cten) is a putative oncogene conferring features of stemness and promoting motility. Our objective was to assess TNS4 expression in intestinal adenomas and determine whether TNS4 is upregulated by Wnt signalling. ApcMin/+ mice (n = 11) were sacrificed at approximately 120 days old at the onset of anaemia signs. Small intestines were harvested, and Swiss roll preparations were tested for TNS4 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Individual polyps were also separately collected (n = 14) and tested for TNS4 mRNA expression and Kras mutation. The relationship between Wnt signalling and TNS4 expression was tested by Western blotting in the human CRC cell line HCT116 after inhibition of β-catenin activity with MSAB or its increase by transfection with a Flag β-catenin expression vector. Overall, 135/148 (91.2%) of the total intestinal polyps were positive for TNS4 expression by IHC, whilst adjacent normal areas were negative. RT-qPCR analysis showed approximately 5-fold upregulation of TNS4 mRNA in the polyps compared to adjacent normal tissue and no Kras mutations were detected. In HCT116, β-catenin inhibition resulted in reduced TNS4 expression, and conversely, β-catenin overexpression resulted in increased TNS4 expression. In conclusion, this is the first report linking aberrant Wnt signalling to upregulation of TNS4 both during initiation of intestinal adenomas in mice and in in vitro models. The exact contribution of TNS4 to adenoma development remains to be investigated, but the ApcMin/+ mouse represents a good model to study this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa P Raposo
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Nottingham Molecular Pathology Node, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Abdulaziz Alfahed
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Nottingham Molecular Pathology Node, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdolrahman S Nateri
- Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Group, Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Mohammad Ilyas
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Nottingham Molecular Pathology Node, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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46
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Vora SM, Fassler JS, Phillips BT. Centrosomes are required for proper β-catenin processing and Wnt response. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:1951-1961. [PMID: 32583737 PMCID: PMC7525817 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e20-02-0139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is central to metazoan development and routinely dysregulated in cancer. Wnt/β-catenin signaling initiates transcriptional reprogramming upon stabilization of the transcription factor β-catenin, which is otherwise posttranslationally processed by a destruction complex and degraded by the proteasome. Since various Wnt signaling components are enriched at centrosomes, we examined the functional contribution of centrosomes to Wnt signaling, β-catenin regulation, and posttranslational modifications. In HEK293 cells depleted of centrosomes we find that β-catenin synthesis and degradation rates are unaffected but that the normal accumulation of β-catenin in response to Wnt signaling is attenuated. This is due to accumulation of a novel high-molecular-weight form of phosphorylated β-catenin that is constitutively degraded in the absence of Wnt. Wnt signaling operates by inhibiting the destruction complex and thereby reducing destruction complex–phosphorylated β-catenin, but high-molecular-weight β-catenin is unexpectedly increased by Wnt signaling. Therefore these studies have identified a pool of β-catenin effectively shielded from regulation by Wnt. We present a model whereby centrosomes prevent inappropriate β-catenin modifications that antagonize normal stabilization by Wnt signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Setu M Vora
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324
| | - Jan S Fassler
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324
| | - Bryan T Phillips
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324
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47
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Investigation of CTNNB1 gene mutations and expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis in association with hepatitis B virus infection. Infect Agent Cancer 2020; 15:37. [PMID: 32514293 PMCID: PMC7268324 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-020-00297-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), along with Hepatitis C virus chronic infection, represents a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, molecular mechanisms involved in the development of HCC are not yet completely understood. Recent studies have indicated that mutations in CTNNB1 gene encoding for β-catenin protein lead to aberrant activation of the Wnt/ β-catenin pathway. The mutations in turn activate several downstream genes, including c-Myc, promoting the neoplastic process. The present study evaluated the mutational profile of the CTNNB1 gene and expression levels of CTNNB1 and c-Myc genes in HBV-related HCC, as well as in cirrhotic and control tissues. Mutational analysis of the β-catenin gene and HBV genotyping were conducted by direct sequencing. Expression of β-catenin and c-Myc genes was assessed using real-time PCR. Among the HCC cases, 18.1% showed missense point mutation in exon 3 of CTNNB1, more frequently in codons 32, 33, 38 and 45. The frequency of mutation in the hotspots of exon 3 was significantly higher in non-viral HCCs (29.4%) rather than HBV-related cases (12.7%, P = 0.021). The expression of β-catenin and c-Myc genes was found upregulated in cirrhotic tissues in association with HBV infection. Mutations at both phosphorylation and neighboring sites were associated with increased activity of the Wnt pathway. The results demonstrated that mutated β-catenin caused activation of the Wnt pathway, but the rate of CTNNB1 gene mutations was not related to HBV infection. HBV factors may deregulate the Wnt pathway by causing epigenetic alterations in the HBV-related HCC.
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48
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Ren L, Zhou T, Wang Y, Wu Y, Xu H, Liu J, Dong X, Yi F, Guo Q, Wang Z, Li X, Bai N, Guo W, Guo M, Jiang B, Wu X, Feng Y, Song X, Zhang S, Zhao Y, Cao L, Han S, Xing C. RNF8 induces β-catenin-mediated c-Myc expression and promotes colon cancer proliferation. Int J Biol Sci 2020; 16:2051-2062. [PMID: 32549753 PMCID: PMC7294952 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.44119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage signals transducer RING finger protein 8 (RNF8) is involved in maintaining genomic stability by facilitating the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) via ubiquitin signaling. By analyzing the TCGA database and colon cancer tissue microarrays, we found that the expression level of RNF8 was positively correlated with that of c-Myc in colon cancer, which were closely associated with poor survival of colon cancer patients. Furthermore, overexpressing and knocking down RNF8 increased and decreased the expression of c-Myc in colon cancer cells, respectively. In addition, RNF8 interacted with β-catenin and facilitated its nuclear translocation by conjugating K63 polyubiquitination on it. These observations suggested a de novo role of RNF8 in promoting the progression of colon cancer by inducing β-catenin-mediated c-Myc expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Ren
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, RP China
| | - Tingting Zhou
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Yang Wang
- Panjin Liaohe Oilfield Gem FLower Hospital, Panjin 7650036, RP China
| | - Yanmei Wu
- Panjin Liaohe Oilfield Gem FLower Hospital, Panjin 7650036, RP China
| | - Hongde Xu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Jingwei Liu
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, RP China.,Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Xiang Dong
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Fei Yi
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Qiqiang Guo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Xiaoman Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Ning Bai
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Wendong Guo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Min Guo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Bo Jiang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Xuan Wu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Yanling Feng
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Xiaoyu Song
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Siyi Zhang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Liu Cao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, RP China
| | - Shuai Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, RP China
| | - Chengzhong Xing
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, RP China
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49
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Cytotoxic Activity of Aplykurodin A Isolated From Aplysia kurodai against AXIN1-Mutated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Promoting Oncogenic β-Catenin Degradation. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18040210. [PMID: 32294900 PMCID: PMC7230895 DOI: 10.3390/md18040210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma and has thus emerged as a therapeutic target for this malignant tumor. In this study, we employed sensitive cell-based assays to identify aplykurodin A isolated from Aplysia kurodai as an antagonist of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Aplykurodin A inhibited β-catenin responsive transcription, which was stimulated by a Wnt3a-conditioned medium or a glycogen synthase kinase 3β inhibitor by accelerating intracellular β-catenin degradation. Aplykurodin A downregulated the level of oncogenic β-catenin and decreased the expression of β-catenin-dependent gene, leading to inhibition of human hepatoma Hep3B and SNU475 cell proliferation. Moreover, apoptosis and autophagy were elicited by aplykurodin A, as indicated by an increase the number of Annexin V-FITC-stained cells and the formation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 puncta, respectively, in Hep3B and SNU475 cells. Our findings suggest that aplykurodin A provides a novel therapeutic strategy for human hepatocellular carcinoma via stimulation of oncogenic β-catenin degradation.
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50
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Jaiprasart P, Dogra S, Neelakantan D, Devapatla B, Woo S. Identification of signature genes associated with therapeutic resistance to anti-VEGF therapy. Oncotarget 2020; 11:99-114. [PMID: 32002127 PMCID: PMC6967771 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
VEGF-mediated tumor angiogenesis is a validated clinical target in many cancers, but modest efficacy and rapid development of resistance are major challenges of VEGF-targeted therapies. To establish a molecular signature of this resistance in ovarian cancer, we developed preclinical tumor models of adaptive resistance to chronic anti-VEGF treatment. We performed RNA-seq analysis and reverse-phase protein array to compare changes in gene and protein expressions in stroma and cancer cells from resistant and responsive tumors. We identified a unique set of stromal-specific genes that were strongly correlated with resistance phenotypes against two different anti-VEGF treatments, and selected the apelin/APJ signaling pathway for further in vitro validation. Using various functional assays, we showed that activation of apelin/APJ signaling reduces the efficacy of a VEGF inhibitor in endothelial cells. In patients with ovarian cancer treated with bevacizumab, increased expression of apelin was associated with significantly decreased disease-free survival. These findings link signature gene expressions with anti-VEGF response, and may thus provide novel targetable mechanisms of clinical resistance to anti-VEGF therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pharavee Jaiprasart
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Samrita Dogra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Deepika Neelakantan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Bharat Devapatla
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Sukyung Woo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.,Gynecologic Cancers Research Program, Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
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