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Shan S, Chen X, Wang A, Yan W, Wu Q, Wan J, Hong C, Wang Y, Tong J, Tian H, Xin L. Repeated radon exposure induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like transformation via disruption of p53-dependent mitochondrial function. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2023; 12:1143-1151. [PMID: 38145089 PMCID: PMC10734629 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfad106] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Backgrouds As a human carcinogen, radon and its progeny are the second most important risk factor for lung cancer after smoking. The tumor suppressor gene, p53, is reported to play an important role in the maintenance of mitochondrial function. In this work, we investigated the association between p53 and p53-responsive signaling pathways and radon-induced carcinogenesis. Methods After repeated radon exposure, the malignant characteristics, cell cycle arrest, cell apoptotic rate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number as well as indicative biomarkers involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism were evaluated in BEAS-2B cells or BALB-c mouse lung tissue. Results Radon exposure induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like transformation in BEAS-2B cells, as indicated by increased cell proliferation and migration. Additional mitochondrial alterations, including decreased ATP content, increased ROS levels, mtDNA copy numbers, cell apoptosis, and G2/M cell cycle arrest were observed. Radon exposure caused an energy generation shift from aerobic respiration to glycolysis as reflected by increased expression of TIGAR and p53R2 proteins and decreased expression of SCO2 protein in BEAS-2B cells, and increased expression of p53, SCO2 and TIGAR proteins in mouse lung tissue, respectively. The effects of p53 deficiency on the prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction suggested a protective role of p53 in radon-induced malignant-like features in BEAS-2B cells. Conclusions Repeated radon exposure induced EMT-like transformation in BEAS-2B cells via disruption of mitochondrial function. Activation of p53 and p53-responsive signaling pathways in BEAS-2B cells and BALB-c mice may confer a protective mechanism for radon-induced lung injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Shan
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Aiqing Wang
- Department of Experimental Center, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Weici Yan
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Qianqian Wu
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Jianmei Wan
- Department of Experimental Center, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Chengjiao Hong
- Department of Experimental Center, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Yarong Wang
- Department of Experimental Center, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Jian Tong
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Hailin Tian
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Lili Xin
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
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Casas-Benito A, Martínez-Herrero S, Martínez A. Succinate-Directed Approaches for Warburg Effect-Targeted Cancer Management, an Alternative to Current Treatments? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2862. [PMID: 37345199 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately a century ago, Otto Warburg discovered that cancer cells use a fermentative rather than oxidative metabolism even though the former is more inefficient in terms of energy production per molecule of glucose. Cancer cells increase the use of this fermentative metabolism even in the presence of oxygen, and this process is called aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect. This alternative metabolism is mainly characterized by higher glycolytic rates, which allow cancer cells to obtain higher amounts of total ATP, and the production of lactate, but there are also an activation of protumoral signaling pathways and the generation of molecules that favor cancer progression. One of these molecules is succinate, a Krebs cycle intermediate whose concentration is increased in cancer and which is considered an oncometabolite. Several protumoral actions have been associated to succinate and its role in several cancer types has been already described. Despite playing a major role in metabolism and cancer, so far, the potential of succinate as a target in cancer prevention and treatment has remained mostly unexplored, as most previous Warburg-directed anticancer strategies have focused on other intermediates. In this review, we aim to summarize succinate's protumoral functions and discuss the use of succinate expression regulators as a potential cancer therapy strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Casas-Benito
- Angiogenesis Group, Oncology Area, Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Sonia Martínez-Herrero
- Angiogenesis Group, Oncology Area, Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Alfredo Martínez
- Angiogenesis Group, Oncology Area, Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), 26006 Logroño, Spain
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Bulgakova O, Kussainova A, Kakabayev A, Aripova A, Baikenova G, Izzotti A, Bersimbaev R. The level of free-circulating mtDNA in patients with radon-induced lung cancer. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 207:112215. [PMID: 34656631 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE According to the World Health Organization, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Cell free circulating mitochondrial DNA (cf mtDNA) have been used not only as a biomarker of carcinogenesis but also as a biomarker of exposure to radiation, but nothing is known about changes in the level of cf mtDNA following radon exposure. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate the cf mtDNA copy number as a biomarker of the response to radon exposure in lung cancer pathogenesis. METHODS 207 subjects were examined including 41 radon-exposed lung cancer patients, 40 lung cancer patients without radon exposure and 126 healthy controls exposed/not exposed to high level of radon. Total cell free circulating DNA from blood samples was extracted and used to detect cell free circulating mitochondrial DNA copy number by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS Our data indicate that the level of cf mtDNA in the radon-induced lung cancer patients was significantly higher than that of the other study participants. There was a significant difference in the level of cf mtDNA in the blood plasma of healthy volunteers exposed and not exposed to high doses of radon. Moreover, in healthy volunteers living in areas with high radon levels, the mtDNA copy number was higher than that in patients with lung cancer who were not exposed to high doses of radon. CONCLUSION Our study provides evidence for a possible role of cf mtDNA as a promising biomarker of lung cancer induced by exposure to high dose of radon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Bulgakova
- L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Institute of Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Assiya Kussainova
- L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Institute of Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Akmaral Aripova
- L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Institute of Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Gulim Baikenova
- Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University, Kokshetau, Kazakhstan
| | - Alberto Izzotti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico SanMartino, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Rakhmetkazhi Bersimbaev
- L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Institute of Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
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Xi H, He Z, Lv C. FOXG1 improves mitochondrial function and promotes the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Mol Med Rep 2021; 24:651. [PMID: 34278485 PMCID: PMC8299199 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12290] [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: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead‑box gene 1 (FOXG1) has been reported to serve an important role in various malignancies, but its effects on nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) remain unknown. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the specific regulatory relationship between FOXG1 and NPC progression. Tumor tissues and matching para‑carcinoma tissues were obtained from patients with NPC. Small interfering (si)RNA‑FOXG1 and pcDNA3.1‑FOXG1 were transfected into SUNE‑1 and C666‑1 cells to knockdown and overexpress FOXG1 expression, respectively. FOXG1 expression was detected using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation was detected using MTT and 5‑ethynyl‑20‑deoxyuridine assays. Transwell invasion assay, wound healing assay and flow cytometry were used to detect cell invasion, migration and apoptosis, respectively. Western blotting was conducted to detect the expression levels of mitochondrial markers (succinate dehydrogenase complex flavoprotein subunit A, heat shock protein 60 and pyruvate dehydrogenase), epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins (N‑cadherin, Snail and E‑cadherin) and apoptosis‑related proteins [Bax, Bcl‑2, poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP), cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase‑3, cleaved caspase‑8, cleaved caspase‑9, caspase‑3, caspase‑8 and caspase‑9]. The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected via flow cytometry, while the ATP/ADP ratio was determined using the ADP/ATP ratio assay kit. The present results demonstrated that FOXG1 expression was upregulated in NPC tissues and cells, and was associated with distant metastasis and TNM stage. Moreover, knockdown of FOXG1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT and mitochondrial function of SUNE‑1 cells, as well as promoted cell apoptosis, while the opposite results were observed in C666‑1 cells. In conclusion, FOXG1 enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion, induced EMT and improved mitochondrial function in NPC cells. The current findings provide an adequate theoretical basis for the treatment of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajun Xi
- Department of Otolaryngology and Stomatology, Shouguang People's Hospital, Shouguang, Shandong 262700, P.R. China
| | - Zhengxiang He
- Department of Otolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Wuwei People's Hospital, Wuwei, Gansu 733000, P.R. China
| | - Cao Lv
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, P.R. China
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