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Hitti EG, Muazzen Z, Moghrabi W, Al-Yahya S, Khabar KSA. Hydroxychloroquine attenuates double-stranded RNA-stimulated hyper-phosphorylation of tristetraprolin/ZFP36 and AU-rich mRNA stabilization. Immunology 2024. [PMID: 39046234 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The human innate immune system recognizes dsRNA as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern that induces a potent inflammatory response. The primary source of pathogenic dsRNA is cells infected with replicating viruses, but can also be released from uninfected necrotic cells. Here, we show that the dsRNA poly(I:C) challenge in human macrophages activates the p38 MAPK-MK2 signalling pathway and subsequently the phosphorylation of tristetraprolin (TTP/ZFP36). The latter is an mRNA decay-promoting protein that controls the stability of AU-rich mRNAs (AREs) that code for many inflammatory mediators. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a common anti-malaria drug, is used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and, controversially, during acute COVID-19 disease. We found that HCQ reduced the dsRNA-dependent phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and its downstream kinase MK2. Subsequently, HCQ reduced the abundance and protein stability of the inactive (phosphorylated) form of TTP. HCQ reduced the levels and the mRNA stability of poly (I:C)-induced cytokines and inflammatory mRNAs like TNF, IL-6, COX-2, and IL-8 in THP-1 and primary blood monocytes. Our results demonstrate a new mechanism of the anti-inflammatory role of HCQ at post-transcriptional level (TTP phosphorylation) in a model of dsRNA activation, which usually occurs in viral infections or RNA release from necrotic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward G Hitti
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zeyad Muazzen
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Walid Moghrabi
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suhad Al-Yahya
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid S A Khabar
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Siraj AK, Poyil PK, Padmaja D, Parvathareddy SK, Alobaisi K, Thangavel S, Diaz R, Begum R, Almalik O, Al-Dayel F, Al-Kuraya KS. PLK1 and PARP positively correlate in Middle Eastern breast cancer and their combined inhibition overcomes PARP inhibitor resistance in triple negative breast cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1286585. [PMID: 38234395 PMCID: PMC10791948 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1286585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Despite advancements in treatment approaches, patients diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer (BC) subtypes typically face an unfavorable prognosis. Globally, these cancers continue to pose a significant threat to women's health, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Consequently, there has been a significant struggle to identify viable molecular targets for therapeutic intervention in these patients. Polo-like Kinase-1 (PLK1) represents one of these molecular targets currently undergoing rigorous scrutiny for the treatment of such tumors. Yet, its role in the pathogenesis of BC in Middle Eastern ethnicity remains unexplored. Methods We investigated the expression of PLK1 protein in a cohort of more than 1500 Middle Eastern ethnicity BC cases by immunohistochemistry. Association with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were performed. In vitro studies were conducted using the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib and the PARP inhibitor olaparib, either alone or in combination, in PTC cell lines. Results Overexpression of PLK1 was detected in 27.4% of all BC cases, and this was notably correlated with aggressive clinicopathological markers. PLK1 was enriched in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype and exhibited poor overall survival (p = 0.0347). Notably, there was a positive correlation between PLK1 and PARP overexpression, with co-expression of PLK1 and PARP observed in 15.7% of cases and was associated with significantly poorer overall survival (OS) compared to the overexpression of either protein alone (p = 0.0050). In vitro, we studied the effect of PLK1 and PARP inhibitors either single or combined treatments in two BRCA mutated, and one BRCA proficient TNBC cell lines. We showed that combined inhibition significantly reduced cell survival and persuaded apoptosis in TNBC cell lines. Moreover, our findings indicate that inhibition of PLK1 can reinstate sensitivity in PARP inhibitor (PARPi) resistant TNBC cell lines. Conclusion Our results shed light on the role of PLK1 in the pathogenesis and prognosis of Middle Eastern BC and support the potential clinical development of combined inhibition of PLK1 and PARP, a strategy that could potentially broaden the use of PLK1 and PARP inhibitors beyond BC cases lacking BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul K. Siraj
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pratheesh Kumar Poyil
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Divya Padmaja
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Khadija Alobaisi
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saravanan Thangavel
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roxanne Diaz
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rafia Begum
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama Almalik
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fouad Al-Dayel
- Department of Pathology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khawla S. Al-Kuraya
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Al-Yahya S, Al-Saif M, Al-Ghamdi M, Moghrabi W, Khabar KS, Al-Souhibani N. Post-transcriptional regulation of BIRC5/survivin expression and induction of apoptosis in breast cancer cells by tristetraprolin. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-15. [PMID: 38111129 PMCID: PMC10761079 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2286101] [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] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of apoptosis is one of the hallmarks of cancer and is a target of various therapeutic interventions. BIRC5 is an inhibitor of apoptosis that is aberrantly expressed in cancer leading to sustained growth of tumours. Post-transcriptional control mechanisms involving RNA-binding proteins and AU-rich elements (AREs) are fundamental to many cellular processes and changes in the expression or function of these proteins can promote an aberrant and pathological phenotype. BIRC5 mRNA has an ARE in its 3' UTR making it a candidate for regulation by the RNA binding proteins tristetraprolin (TTP) and HuR (ELAVL1). In this study, we investigated the binding of TTP and HuR by RNA-immunoprecipitation assays and found that these proteins were associated with BIRC5 mRNA to varying extents. Consequently, BIRC5 expression decreased when TTP was overexpressed and apoptosis was induced. In the absence of TTP, BIRC5 mRNA was stabilized, protein expression increased and the number of apoptotic cells declined. As an ARE-mRNA stabilizing protein, recombinant HuR led to upregulation of BIRC5 expression, whereas HuR silencing was concomitant with downregulation of BIRC5 mRNA and protein and increased cell death. Survival analyses demonstrated that increased TTP and low BIRC5 expression predicted an overall better prognosis compared to dysregulated TTP and high BIRC5. Thus, the results present a novel target of ARE-mediated post-transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhad Al-Yahya
- Molecular Biomedicine Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maher Al-Saif
- Molecular Biomedicine Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Al-Ghamdi
- Biomedical Physics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Walid Moghrabi
- Molecular Biomedicine Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid S.A. Khabar
- Molecular Biomedicine Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Norah Al-Souhibani
- Molecular Biomedicine Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Bakheet T, Khabar KSA, Hitti EG. Differential upregulation of AU-rich element-containing mRNAs in COVID-19. Hum Genomics 2022; 16:59. [PMID: 36380320 PMCID: PMC9665040 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-022-00433-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AU-rich elements (AREs) are located in the 3'UTRs of 22% of human mRNAs, including most transiently expressed inflammatory mediators. By default, AREs mark mRNAs for decay and translational inhibition, but this activity can be temporarily inhibited in case of infection to allow the onset of inflammation. Morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients have been associated with dysregulated inflammation, a process that may include aberrant ARE activity. RESULTS RNA-seq data from available transcriptomic studies were analyzed to investigate a possible differential expression of mRNAs that contain AREs in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infections. ARE-mRNAs turned out to be significantly overrepresented among the upregulated mRNAs after SARS-CoV-2 infection (up to 42%). In contrast, ARE-mRNAs were underrepresented (16%) in the downregulated group. Consequently, at a global scale, ARE-mRNAs are significantly more upregulated after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to non-ARE mRNAs. This observation was apparent in lung cell line models such as A549 and Calu-3 and with infections with other respiratory viruses and cell lines. Most importantly, at the clinical level, the elevated ARE-mRNA response appeared strongest in blood cells of COVID-19 patients with mild disease. It diminished with disease severity and was least apparent in patients in need of intubation and respiratory-related death. Gene function and clustering analysis suggest that the ARE-response is rather global and the upregulated ARE-mRNAs in patients with mild disease do not particularly cluster in specific functional groups. CONCLUSIONS Compared to the rest of the transcriptome, ARE-containing mRNAs are preferentially upregulated in response to viral infections at a global level. In the context of COVID-19, they are most upregulated in mild disease. Due to their large number, their levels measured by RNA-seq may provide a reliable indication of COVID-19 severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tala Bakheet
- grid.415310.20000 0001 2191 4301Molecular BioMedicine Program, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, 11211 Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid S. A. Khabar
- grid.415310.20000 0001 2191 4301Molecular BioMedicine Program, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, 11211 Saudi Arabia
| | - Edward G. Hitti
- grid.415310.20000 0001 2191 4301Molecular BioMedicine Program, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, 11211 Saudi Arabia
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Zhang J, Zhang L, Wang J, Ouyang L, Wang Y. Polo-like Kinase 1 Inhibitors in Human Cancer Therapy: Development and Therapeutic Potential. J Med Chem 2022; 65:10133-10160. [PMID: 35878418 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays an important role in a variety of cellular functions, including the regulation of mitosis, DNA replication, autophagy, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). PLK1 overexpression is often associated with cell proliferation and poor prognosis in cancer patients, making it a promising antitumor target. To date, at least 10 PLK1 inhibitors (PLK1i) have been entered into clinical trials, among which the typical kinase domain (KD) inhibitor BI 6727 (volasertib) was granted "breakthrough therapy designation" by the FDA in 2013. Unfortunately, many other KD inhibitors showed poor specificity, resulting in dose-limiting toxicity, which has greatly impeded their development. Researchers recently discovered many PLK1i with higher selectivity, stronger potency, and better absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) characteristics. In this review, we emphasize the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of PLK1i, providing insights into new drugs targeting PLK1 for antitumor clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifa Zhang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Lele Zhang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis 38163, Tennessee, United States
| | - Liang Ouyang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
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Ghahramani Almanghadim H, Ghorbian S, Khademi NS, Soleymani Sadrabadi M, Jarrahi E, Nourollahzadeh Z, Dastani M, Shirvaliloo M, Sheervalilou R, Sargazi S. New Insights into the Importance of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Lung Cancer: Future Clinical Approaches. DNA Cell Biol 2021; 40:1476-1494. [PMID: 34931869 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2021.0563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, a large part of the gene expression products come from the non-coding ribonucleotide sequences of the protein. These short and long sequences are within the range of tens to hundreds of nucleotides, encompassing more than 200 RNA molecules, and their function is known as the molecular structure of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). LncRNA molecules are unique nucleotides that have a substantial role in epigenetic regulation, transcription, and post-transcriptional modifications in different ways. According to the results of recent studies, lncRNAs have been shown to assume various roles, including tumor suppression or oncogenic functions in common types of cancer such as lung and breast cancer. These non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a pivotal role in activating transcription factors, managing the ribonucleoproteins, the framework for collecting co-proteins, intermittent processing regulations, chromatin status alterations, and maintaining the control within the cell. Cutting-edge technologies have been introduced to disclose several types of lncRNAs within the nucleus and the cytoplasm, which have accomplished important achievements that are applicable in medicine. Due to these efforts, various data centers have been created to facilitate and modify scientific information related to these molecules, including detection, classification, biological evolution, gene status, spatial structure, status, and location of these small molecules. In the present study, we attempt to present the impacts of these ncRNAs on lung cancer with an emphasis on their mechanisms and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saeed Ghorbian
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
| | - Nazanin Sadat Khademi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Esmaeil Jarrahi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Nourollahzadeh
- Department of Biological Science, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
| | - Masomeh Dastani
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Milad Shirvaliloo
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Saman Sargazi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
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Al-Matouq J, Al-Haj L, Al-Saif M, Khabar KSA. Post-transcriptional screen of cancer amplified genes identifies ERBB2/Her2 signaling as AU-rich mRNA stability-promoting pathway. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:61. [PMID: 34535639 PMCID: PMC8448767 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00351-w] [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: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Amplification of specific cancer genes leads to their over-expression contributing to tumor growth, spread, and drug resistance. Little is known about the ability of these amplified oncogenes to augment the expression of cancer genes through post-transcriptional control. The AU-rich elements (ARE)-mediated mRNA decay is compromised for many key cancer genes leading to their increased abundance and effects. Here, we performed a post-transcriptional screen for frequently amplified cancer genes demonstrating that ERBB2/Her2 overexpression was able to augment the post-transcriptional effects. The ERBB1/2 inhibitor, lapatinib, led to the reversal of the aberrant ARE-mediated process in ERBB2-amplified breast cancer cells. The intersection of overexpressed genes associated with ERBB2 amplification in TCGA datasets with ARE database (ARED) identified ERBB2-associated gene cluster. Many of these genes were over-expressed in the ERBB2-positive SKBR3 cells compared to MCF10A normal-like cells, and were under-expressed due to ERBB2 siRNA treatment. Lapatinib accelerated the ARE-mRNA decay for several ERBB2-regulated genes. The ERBB2 inhibitor decreased both the abundance and stability of the phosphorylated inactive form of the mRNA decay-promoting protein, tristetraprolin (ZFP36/TTP). The ERBB2 siRNA was also able to reduce the phosphorylated ZFP36/TTP form. In contrast, ectopic expression of ERBB2 in MCF10A or HEK293 cells led to increased abundance of the phosphorylated ZFP36/TTP. The effect of ERBB2 on TTP phosphorylation appeared to be mediated via the MAPK-MK2 pathway. Screening for the impact of other amplified cancer genes in HEK293 cells also demonstrated that EGFR, AKT2, CCND1, CCNE1, SKP2, and FGFR3 caused both increased abundance of phosphorylated ZFP36/TTP and ARE-post-transcriptional reporter activity. Thus, specific amplified oncogenes dysregulate post-transcriptional ARE-mediated effects, and targeting the ARE-mediated pathway itself may provide alternative therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenan Al-Matouq
- grid.415310.20000 0001 2191 4301Molecular BioMedicine Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, 11211 Saudi Arabia ,Present Address: Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Science, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Latifa Al-Haj
- grid.415310.20000 0001 2191 4301Molecular BioMedicine Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, 11211 Saudi Arabia
| | - Maher Al-Saif
- grid.415310.20000 0001 2191 4301Molecular BioMedicine Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, 11211 Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid S. A. Khabar
- grid.415310.20000 0001 2191 4301Molecular BioMedicine Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, 11211 Saudi Arabia
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