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Peer E, Aichberger SK, Vilotic F, Gruber W, Parigger T, Grund-Gröschke S, Elmer DP, Rathje F, Ramspacher A, Zaja M, Michel S, Hamm S, Aberger F. Casein Kinase 1D Encodes a Novel Drug Target in Hedgehog-GLI-Driven Cancers and Tumor-Initiating Cells Resistant to SMO Inhibition. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13164227. [PMID: 34439381 PMCID: PMC8394935 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13164227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Uncontrolled activation of hedgehog (HH)—GLI signaling contributes to the development of several human malignancies. Targeted inhibition of the HH—GLI signaling cascade with small-molecule inhibitors can reduce cancer growth, but patient relapse is very common due to the development of drug resistance. Therefore, a high unmet medical need exists for new drug targets and inhibitors to achieve efficient and durable responses. In the current study, we identified CSNK1D as a novel drug target in the HH—GLI signaling pathway. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of CSNK1D activity leads to suppression of oncogenic HH—GLI signaling, even in cancer cells in which already approved HH inhibitors are no longer effective due to resistance mechanisms. Inhibition of CSNK1D function reduces the malignant properties of so-called tumor-initiating cells, thereby limiting cancer growth and presumably metastasis. The results of this study form the basis for the development of efficient CSNK1D inhibitors for the therapy of HH—GLI-associated cancers. Abstract (1) Background: Aberrant activation of the hedgehog (HH)—GLI pathway in stem-like tumor-initiating cells (TIC) is a frequent oncogenic driver signal in various human malignancies. Remarkable efficacy of anti-HH therapeutics led to the approval of HH inhibitors targeting the key pathway effector smoothened (SMO) in basal cell carcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia. However, frequent development of drug resistance and severe adverse effects of SMO inhibitors pose major challenges that require alternative treatment strategies targeting HH—GLI in TIC downstream of SMO. We therefore investigated members of the casein kinase 1 (CSNK1) family as novel drug targets in HH—GLI-driven malignancies. (2) Methods: We genetically and pharmacologically inhibited CSNK1D in HH-dependent cancer cells displaying either sensitivity or resistance to SMO inhibitors. To address the role of CSNK1D in oncogenic HH signaling and tumor growth and initiation, we quantitatively analyzed HH target gene expression, performed genetic and chemical perturbations of CSNK1D activity, and monitored the oncogenic transformation of TIC in vitro and in vivo using 3D clonogenic tumor spheroid assays and xenograft models. (3) Results: We show that CSNK1D plays a critical role in controlling oncogenic GLI activity downstream of SMO. We provide evidence that inhibition of CSNK1D interferes with oncogenic HH signaling in both SMO inhibitor-sensitive and -resistant tumor settings. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacologic perturbation of CSNK1D decreases the clonogenic growth of GLI-dependent TIC in vitro and in vivo. (4) Conclusions: Pharmacologic targeting of CSNK1D represents a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of both SMO inhibitor-sensitive and -resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Peer
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Sophie Karoline Aichberger
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Filip Vilotic
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Wolfgang Gruber
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Thomas Parigger
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
- Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Salzburg Cancer Research Institute, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, IIIrd Medical Department, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sandra Grund-Gröschke
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Dominik Patrick Elmer
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Florian Rathje
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Andrea Ramspacher
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
- Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Mirko Zaja
- 4SC AG, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (M.Z.); (S.M.); (S.H.)
| | - Susanne Michel
- 4SC AG, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (M.Z.); (S.M.); (S.H.)
| | - Svetlana Hamm
- 4SC AG, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (M.Z.); (S.M.); (S.H.)
| | - Fritz Aberger
- Department of Bioscience, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.P.); (S.K.A.); (F.V.); (W.G.); (T.P.); (S.G.-G.); (D.P.E.); (F.R.); (A.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-662-8044-5792
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He S, Ma C, Zhang L, Bai J, Wang X, Zheng X, Zhang J, Xin W, Li Y, Jiang Y, Wang S, Zhu D. GLI1-mediated pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell pyroptosis contributes to hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 318:L472-L482. [PMID: 31868509 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00405.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a clinically common malignant cardiovascular disease. Pyroptosis is a new form of inflammatory cell death that is involved in many disease processes. Glioma-associated oncogene family zinc finger 1 (GLI1) is a transcriptional activator that participates in many diseases, but its role has never been explored in inducing pyroptosis and the progress of PH. In this study, we used an animal model and cell molecular biology to determine the effect of GLI1 on chronic hypoxia-mediated PH progression and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) pyroptosis. The major findings of the present study are as follows: Hypoxia induced aberrant expression of GLI1. The inhibition of GLI1 attenuated hypoxia-induced PH and PASMC pyroptosis. Meanwhile, GLI1 enhanced apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) expression by binding with its promoter. GLI1 may promote PASMC pyroptosis through ASC to affect the progression of PH. These findings may identify novel targets for molecular therapy of PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu He
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Cui Ma
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China
| | - June Bai
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Zheng
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junting Zhang
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xin
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiying Li
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Sen Wang
- College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Daling Zhu
- Central Laboratory of Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, People's Republic of China.,College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.,State Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Daqing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine Research, Ministry of Education, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
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