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Xu Y, Sun F, Tian Y, Zeng G, Lei G, Bai Z, Wang Y, Ge X, Wang J, Xiao C, Wang Z, Hu M, Song J, Yang P, Liu R. Enhanced NK cell activation via eEF2K-mediated potentiation of the cGAS-STING pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 129:111628. [PMID: 38320351 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is characterized by a high mortality rate, attributed primarily to the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Within this context, we aimed to elucidate the pivotal role of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) in orchestrating the infiltration and activation of natural killer (NK) cells within the HCC tumor microenvironment. By shedding light on the immunomodulatory mechanisms at play, our findings should clarify HCC pathogenesis and help identify potential therapeutic intervention venues. METHODS We performed a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis to determine the functions of eEF2K in the context of HCC. We initially used paired tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples from patients with HCC to measure eEF2K expression and its correlation with prognosis. Subsequently, we enrolled a cohort of patients with HCC undergoing immunotherapy to examine the ability of eEF2K to predict treatment efficacy. To delve deeper into the mechanistic aspects, we established an eEF2K-knockout cell line using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. This step was crucial for verifying activation of the cGAS-STING pathway and the subsequent secretion of cytokines. To further elucidate the role of eEF2K in NK cell function, we applied siRNA-based techniques to effectively suppress eEF2K expression in vitro. For in vivo validation, we developed a tumor-bearing mouse model that enabled us to compare the infiltration and activation of NK cells within the tumor microenvironment following various treatment strategies. RESULTS We detected elevated eEF2K expression within HCC tissues, and this was correlated with an unfavorable prognosis (30.84 vs. 20.99 months, P = 0.033). In addition, co-culturing eEF2K-knockout HepG2 cells with dendritic cells led to activation of the cGAS-STING pathway and a subsequent increase in the secretion of IL-2 and CXCL9. Moreover, inhibiting eEF2K resulted in notable NK cell proliferation along with apoptosis reduction. Remarkably, after combining NH125 and PD-1 treatments, we found a significant increase in NK cell infiltration within HCC tumors in our murine model. Our flow cytometry analysis revealed reduced NKG2A expression and elevated NKG2D expression and secretion of granzyme B, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in NK cells. Immunohistochemical examination confirmed no evidence of damage to vital organs in the mice treated with the combination therapy. Additionally, we noted higher levels of glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation in the peripheral blood serum of the treated mice. CONCLUSION Targeted eEF2K blockade may result in cGAS-STING pathway activation, leading to enhanced infiltration and activity of NK cells within HCC tumors. The synergistic effect achieved by combining an eEF2K inhibitor with PD-1 antibody therapy represents a novel and promising approach for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China; Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Sun
- Senior Department of Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuying Tian
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Guineng Zeng
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Guanglin Lei
- Senior Department of Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhifang Bai
- Senior Department of Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Senior Department of Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xinlan Ge
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Chaohui Xiao
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaohai Wang
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Minggen Hu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxun Song
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Penghui Yang
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China.
| | - Rong Liu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China.
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Erdogan MA, Yılmaz OA. Rottlerin and genistein inhibit neuroblastoma cell proliferation and invasion through EF2K suppression and related protein pathways. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:2481-2500. [PMID: 37083712 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02473-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid tumors in children younger than 1 year of age, with poor prognosis and survival rates. Therefore, novel molecular targets and therapeutic strategies are needed to prolong patient survival. For this purpose, we investigated the effects of rottlerin and genistein separately and in combination on neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y, Kelly). First, the effects of rottlerin and genistein were investigated on cell proliferation. Different rottlerin (1-50 µM) and genistein (5-150 µM) doses were used as experimental groups compared to the control (DMSO/vehicle). The IC50 dose was found to be 5 µM for rottlerin and 30 µM for genistein (P < 0.0001). Other analyses, such as colony formation assays, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, matrigel invasion assays, and Western blot analysis, were performed with these doses and their combinations. To assess statistical significance, statistical analysis was conducted using the one-way ANOVA with the post hoc Tukey test. Our results showed that IC50 doses of rottlerin and genistein induced a significant reduction in cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion in neuroblastoma cells (P < 0.0001). The combination of these doses increased the levels of inhibition of cell proliferation and invasion while decreasing the level of apoptosis (P 0.0001). Furthermore, these agents caused G1-cell cycle arrest in these cells. Our western blot data showed that rottlerin and genistein treatments markedly inhibit elongation factor 2 kinase (EF2K) and other pro-tumorigenic, metastatic proteins in neuroblastoma cells. These agents probably showed their anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic, and pro-apoptotic effects through EF2K downregulation. Our results suggested that rottlerin and genistein have inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and cell cycle and induce apoptosis in both cell lines. Combined treatment with rottlerin and genistein may be a viable approach and beneficial to neuroblastoma patients as the combined effect significantly suppresses the above-mentioned pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumin Alper Erdogan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Ozlem Alkan Yılmaz
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
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Fu Q, Liu X, Li Y, Wang P, Wu T, Xiao H, Zhao Y, Liao Q, Song Z. Discovery of New Inhibitors of eEF2K from Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on In Silico Screening and In Vitro Experimental Validation. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27154886. [PMID: 35956836 PMCID: PMC9369671 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a highly conserved α kinase and is increasingly considered as an attractive therapeutic target for cancer as well as other diseases. However, so far, no selective and potent inhibitors of eEF2K have been identified. In this study, pharmacophore screening, homology modeling, and molecular docking methods were adopted to screen novel inhibitor hits of eEF2K from the traditional Chinese medicine database (TCMD), and then cytotoxicity assay and western blotting were performed to verify the validity of the screen. Resultantly, after two steps of screening, a total of 1077 chemicals were obtained as inhibitor hits for eEF2K from all 23,034 compounds in TCMD. Then, to verify the validity, the top 10 purchasable chemicals were further analyzed. Afterward, Oleuropein and Rhoifolin, two reported antitumor chemicals, were found to have low cytotoxicity but potent inhibitory effects on eEF2K activity. Finally, molecular dynamics simulation, pharmacokinetic and toxicological analyses were conducted to evaluate the property and potential of Oleuropein and Rhoifolin to be drugs. Together, by integrating in silico screening and in vitro biochemical studies, Oleuropein and Rhoifolin were revealed as novel eEF2K inhibitors, which will shed new lights for eEF2K-targeting drug development and anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ziyi Song
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-771-3235635
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4
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Fernando S, Salagaras T, Schwarz N, Sandeman L, Tan JTM, Xie J, Zareh J, Jensen K, Williamson A, Dimasi C, Chhay P, Toledo-Flores D, Long A, Manavis J, Worthington M, Fitridge R, Di Bartolo BA, Bursill CA, Nicholls SJ, Proud CG, Psaltis PJ. Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase regulates foam cell formation via translation of CD36. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22154. [PMID: 35032419 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101034r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is an atypical protein kinase that controls protein synthesis in cells under stress. Although well studied in cancer, less is known about its roles in chronic inflammatory diseases. Here, we examined its regulation of macrophage cholesterol handling in the context of atherosclerosis. eEF2K mRNA expression and protein activity were upregulated in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (oxLDL). When incubated with oxLDL, BMDMs from eEF2K knockout (Eef2k-/- ) mice formed fewer Oil Red O+ foam cells than Eef2k+/+ BMDMs (12.5% ± 2.3% vs. 32.3% ± 2.0%, p < .01). Treatment with a selective eEF2K inhibitor, JAN-384, also decreased foam cell formation for C57BL/6J BMDMs and human monocyte-derived macrophages. Disabling eEF2K selectively decreased protein expression of the CD36 cholesterol uptake receptor, mediated by a reduction in the proportion of translationally active Cd36 mRNA. Eef2k-/- mice bred onto the Ldlr-/- background developed aortic sinus atherosclerotic plaques that were 30% smaller than Eef2k+/+ -Ldlr-/- mice after 16 weeks of high cholesterol diet (p < .05). Although accompanied by a reduction in plaque CD36+ staining (p < .05) and lower CD36 expression in circulating monocytes (p < .01), this was not associated with reduced lipid content in plaques as measured by oil red O staining. Finally, EEF2K and CD36 mRNA levels were higher in blood mononuclear cells from patients with coronary artery disease and recent myocardial infarction compared to healthy controls without coronary artery disease. These results reveal a new role for eEF2K in translationally regulating CD36 expression and foam cell formation in macrophages. Further studies are required to explore therapeutic targeting of eEF2K in atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanuja Fernando
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Thalia Salagaras
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nisha Schwarz
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Lauren Sandeman
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joanne T M Tan
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jianling Xie
- Lifelong Health in Nutrition and Metabolism, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jonar Zareh
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kirk Jensen
- Lifelong Health in Nutrition and Metabolism, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Anna Williamson
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Catherine Dimasi
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Pich Chhay
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Deborah Toledo-Flores
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Aaron Long
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jim Manavis
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Michael Worthington
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Robert Fitridge
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Belinda A Di Bartolo
- The Kolling Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christina A Bursill
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Stephen J Nicholls
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher G Proud
- Lifelong Health in Nutrition and Metabolism, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Peter J Psaltis
- Vascular Research Centre, Heart and Vascular Program, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Wang C, Zhang Y, Wu Y, Xing D. Developments of CRBN-based PROTACs as potential therapeutic agents. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113749. [PMID: 34411892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Protease-targeted chimeras (PROTACs) are a new technology that is receiving much attention in the treatment of diseases. The mechanism is to inhibit protein function by hijacking the ubiquitin E3 ligase for protein degradation. Heterogeneous bifunctional PROTACs contain a ligand for recruiting E3 ligase, a linker, and another ligand to bind to the target protein for degradation. A variety of small-molecule PROTACs (CRBN, VHL, IAPs, MDM2, DCAF15, DCAF16, and RNF114-based PROTACs) have been identified so far. In particular, CRBN-based PROTACs (e.g., ARV-110 and ARV-471) have received more attention for their promising therapeutic intervention. To date, CRBN-based PRTOACs have been extensively explored worldwide and have excelled not only in cancer diseases but also in cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral infections. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive update on the latest research progress in CRBN-based PRTOACs area. Following the criteria, such as disease area and drug target class, we will present the degradants in alphabetical order by target. We also provide our own perspective on the future prospects and potential challenges facing PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Yujing Zhang
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Yudong Wu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Dongming Xing
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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Jiang M, Qi L, Jin K, Li L, Wu Y, Song D, Gan J, Huang M, Li Y, Song C. eEF2K as a novel metastatic and prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer patients. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 225:153568. [PMID: 34352439 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) has been reported to be a potential oncogenic factor in many human cancers, its usefulness as a clinical prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer has not been investigated. METHODS In this study, data about 540 patients with stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) were analyzed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to determine the expression of eEF2K. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blots, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were also performed to determine the clinical significance of eEF2K expression in 96 postoperative patients with gastric cancer. Among the 96 patients, 36 had low expression of eEF2K and 60 had high expression. RESULTS Analysis of the TCGA and GEO datasets revealed that eEF2K expression was significantly higher in the STAD tissue samples than in the non-tumorous gastric tissues. IHC, western blots, and RT-PCR confirmed these findings. The high expression level of eEF2K was found to be related to the presence of lymph node metastasis (p = 0.002). Moreover, multivariate analysis showed that eEF2K was an independent indicator of prognosis for overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-2.79; p = 0.03) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 0.997-2.765; p = 0.052) in patients with surgically resected STAD. CONCLUSION Collectively, our findings suggest that eEF2K is a clinical indicator of metastatic and prognostic significance for STAD survival and could serve as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxia Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Ling Qi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Kexin Jin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Lisha Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Yiming Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Dongfeng Song
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Junqing Gan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Mei Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Yanjing Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, PR China.
| | - Chengxin Song
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150081, China.
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Zhu S, Liao M, Tan H, Zhu L, Chen Y, He G, Liu B. Inhibiting Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase: An Update on Pharmacological Small-Molecule Compounds in Cancer. J Med Chem 2021; 64:8870-8883. [PMID: 34162208 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), a member of the atypical protein kinase family of alpha-kinases, is well-known as a negative regulator of protein synthesis by phosphorylating eEF2. Notably, eEF2K functions as a key regulator of several cellular processes, leading to tumorigenesis. To date, some small-molecule compounds have been reported as potential eEF2K inhibitors in cancer drug discovery. However, an ideal targeted drug design still faces huge challenges. Alternatively, other design strategies, such as repurposed drugs, dual-target drugs, and drug combination strategies, provide insights into the improvement of cancer treatment. Here, we summarize the crucial eEF2K-modulating pathways in cancer, including AMPK, REDD1, and Src. Moreover, we discuss the inhibition of eEF2K with single-target inhibitors, repurposed drugs, dual-target inhibitors, drug combination strategies, and other emerging technologies for therapeutic purposes. Together, these inspiring findings provide insights into a promising strategy for inhibiting eEF2K with small-molecule compounds to improve potential cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiou Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Minru Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Huidan Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lingjuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gu He
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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8
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Su LD, Shen Y. PQBP1: A New Player in Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Signaling and Synaptic Plasticity. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1637-1638. [PMID: 34091808 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00720-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Da Su
- Neuroscience Care Unit, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Elongation factor eEF2 kinase and autophagy jointly promote survival of cancer cells. Biochem J 2021; 478:1547-1569. [PMID: 33779695 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cells within solid tumours can become deprived of nutrients; in order to survive, they need to invoke mechanisms to conserve these resources. Using cancer cells in culture in the absence of key nutrients, we have explored the roles of two potential survival mechanisms, autophagy and elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), which, when activated, inhibits the resource-intensive elongation stage of protein synthesis. Both processes are regulated through the nutrient-sensitive AMP-activated protein kinase and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signalling pathways. We find that disabling both autophagy and eEF2K strongly compromises the survival of nutrient-deprived lung and breast cancer cells, whereas, for example, knocking out eEF2K alone has little effect. Contrary to some earlier reports, we find no evidence that eEF2K regulates autophagy. Unexpectedly, eEF2K does not facilitate survival of prostate cancer PC3 cells. Thus, eEF2K and autophagy enable survival of certain cell-types in a mutually complementary manner. To explore this further, we generated, by selection, cells which were able to survive nutrient starvation even when autophagy and eEF2K were disabled. Proteome profiling using mass spectrometry revealed that these 'resistant' cells showed lower levels of diverse proteins which are required for energy-consuming processes such as protein and fatty acid synthesis, although different clones of 'resistant cells' appear to adapt in dissimilar ways. Our data provide further information of the ways that human cells cope with nutrient limitation and to understanding of the utility of eEF2K as a potential target in oncology.
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10
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Shen Y, Zhang ZC, Cheng S, Liu A, Zuo J, Xia S, Liu X, Liu W, Jia Z, Xie W, Han J. PQBP1 promotes translational elongation and regulates hippocampal mGluR-LTD by suppressing eEF2 phosphorylation. Mol Cell 2021; 81:1425-1438.e10. [PMID: 33662272 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) mediates translocation of peptidyl-tRNA from the ribosomal A site to the P site to promote translational elongation. Its phosphorylation on Thr56 by its single known kinase eEF2K inactivates it and inhibits translational elongation. Extensive studies have revealed that different signal cascades modulate eEF2K activity, but whether additional factors regulate phosphorylation of eEF2 remains unclear. Here, we find that the X chromosome-linked intellectual disability protein polyglutamine-binding protein 1 (PQBP1) specifically binds to non-phosphorylated eEF2 and suppresses eEF2K-mediated phosphorylation at Thr56. Loss of PQBP1 significantly reduces general protein synthesis by suppressing translational elongation. Moreover, we show that PQBP1 regulates hippocampal metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent long-term depression (mGluR-LTD) and mGluR-LTD-associated behaviors by suppressing eEF2K-mediated phosphorylation. Our results identify PQBP1 as a novel regulator in translational elongation and mGluR-LTD, and this newly revealed regulator in the eEF2K/eEF2 pathway is also an excellent therapeutic target for various disease conditions, such as neural diseases, virus infection, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqian Shen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Zi Chao Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China.
| | - Shanshan Cheng
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - An Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Jian Zuo
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Shuting Xia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Xian Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Wenhua Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Zhengping Jia
- Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Wei Xie
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Junhai Han
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China; Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital, Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
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11
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Targeting eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase suppresses the growth and peritoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer. Cell Signal 2021; 81:109938. [PMID: 33539938 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.109938] [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] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynecological cancer and is currently incurable with standard treatment regimens. Early invasion, intraperitoneal metastasis, and an aggressive course are the hallmarks of OC. The major reason for poor prognosis is a lack of molecular targets and highly effective targeted therapies. Therefore, identification of novel molecular targets and therapeutic strategies is urgently needed to improve OC survival. Herein we report that eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (EF2K) is highly upregulated in primary and drug-resistant OC cells and its expresssion associated with progression free survival TCGA database) and promotes cell proliferation, survival, and invasion. Downregulation of EF2K reduced expression of integrin β1 and cyclin D1 and the activity of the Src, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT, and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways. Also, in vivo, therapeutic targeting of EF2K by using single-lipid nanoparticles containing siRNA led to substantial inhibition of ovarian tumor growth and peritoneal metastasis in nude mouse models. Furthermore, EF2K inhibition led to robust apoptosis and markedly reduced intratumoral proliferation in vivo in ovarian tumor xenografts and intraperitoneal metastatic models. Collectively, our data suggest for the first time that EF2K plays an important role in OC growth, metastasis, and progression and may serve as a novel therapeutic target in OCs.
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12
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Liu Y, Zhen Y, Wang G, Yang G, Fu L, Liu B, Ouyang L. Designing an eEF2K-Targeting PROTAC small molecule that induces apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 204:112505. [PMID: 32717479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a key α-kinase that negatively regulates the extension step of protein synthesis, which consumes most of the energy and amino acids required for protein synthesis. Studies have found that eEF2K protein is related to the breast cancer. However, existing inhibitor effect has not achieved the desired effect in cancer therapy. Proteolysis target chimeric (PROTAC) technology is uses proteasome to degrade target protein to achieve the purpose of inhibiting tumour cell growth. Here, we reported that the use of PROTAC strategy in combining with star eEF2K inhibitor A484954 and its potential derivatives. Consequently, candidate compound 11l was found to degrade eEF2K and induce apoptosis in human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells. Together, these findings demonstrate that our eEF2K-targeting PROTAC small molecule would be a potential new strategy for future breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, And Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Yongqi Zhen
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, And Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Gaoxia Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, And Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Leilei Fu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, And Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China.
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, And Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China.
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13
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Tong S, Zhou T, Meng Y, Xu D, Chen J. AMPK decreases ERK1/2 activity and cancer cell sensitivity to nutrition deprivation by mediating a positive feedback loop involving eEF2K. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:61-66. [PMID: 32565934 PMCID: PMC7286132 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrition deprivation (ND) is a common feature of the tumor microenvironment. Tumor cells, therefore, frequently develop resistance mechanisms against ND. One of these mechanisms is the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which promotes cell survival under ND. AMPK activation promotes the activity of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), thereby blocking protein synthesis. The results of the present study indicated the inhibiting effect of AMPK activation on mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2) activity, which in turn downregulates G1/S transition and promotes cell survival by mediating eEF2K under ND. The knockdown of ERK1/2 enhances cancer cell survival under ND. In the presence of nutrients, eEF2k interacts with dual-specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1/2, conferring a positive feedback loop via MEK1/2-ERK1/2-ribosomal protein S6 kinase α-1-eEF2K signaling, leading to the constitutive activation of ERK1/2. By contrast, under acute ND, AMPK activation blocked the interaction between eEF2K and MEK1/2, contributing to the increased resistance of cancer cells to ND. The present findings reveal a previously undiscovered mechanism that uses AMPK activation to mediate ERK1/2-regulated protein synthesis and cell survival by inhibiting eEF2K-MEK1/2 interaction under ND conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujuan Tong
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Tao Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China.,Respiratory Department, Hospital of Chinese Medicine at Sheyang County, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224300, P.R. China
| | - Yufen Meng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Dongqin Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Jianping Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
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14
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Naz I, Ramchandani S, Khan MR, Yang MH, Ahn KS. Anticancer Potential of Raddeanin A, a Natural Triterpenoid Isolated from Anemone raddeana Regel. Molecules 2020; 25:E1035. [PMID: 32106609 PMCID: PMC7179125 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25051035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural compounds extracted from plants have gained immense importance in the fight against cancer cells due to their lesser toxicity and potential therapeutic effects. Raddeanin A (RA), an oleanane type triterpenoid is a major compound isolated from Anemone raddeana Regel. As an anticancer agent, RA induces apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibits invasion, migration and angiogenesis in malignant cell lines as well as in preclinical models. In this systemic review, the pharmacological effects of RA and its underlying molecular mechanisms were carefully analyzed and potential molecular targets have been highlighted. The apoptotic potential of RA can be mediated through the modulation of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, cytochrome c and poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway serves as the major molecular target affected by RA. Furthermore, RA can block cell proliferation through inhibition of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in colorectal cancer cells. RA can also alter the activation of NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways to suppress invasion and metastasis. RA has also exhibited promising anticancer potential against drug resistant cancer cells and can enhance the anticancer effects of several chemotherapeutic agents. Overall, RA may function as a promising compound in combating cancer, although further in-depth study is required under clinical settings to validate its efficacy in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irum Naz
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan;
| | | | | | - Min Hee Yang
- KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
| | - Kwang Seok Ahn
- KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
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15
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Kim HJ. Cell Fate Control by Translation: mRNA Translation Initiation as a Therapeutic Target for Cancer Development and Stem Cell Fate Control. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9110665. [PMID: 31671902 PMCID: PMC6921038 DOI: 10.3390/biom9110665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation of mRNA is an important process that controls cell behavior and gene regulation because proteins are the functional molecules that determine cell types and function. Cancer develops as a result of genetic mutations, which lead to the production of abnormal proteins and the dysregulation of translation, which in turn, leads to aberrant protein synthesis. In addition, the machinery that is involved in protein synthesis plays critical roles in stem cell fate determination. In the current review, recent advances in the understanding of translational control, especially translational initiation in cancer development and stem cell fate control, are described. Therapeutic targets of mRNA translation such as eIF4E, 4EBP, and eIF2, for cancer treatment or stem cell fate regulation are reviewed. Upstream signaling pathways that regulate and affect translation initiation were introduced. It is important to regulate the expression of protein for normal cell behavior and development. mRNA translation initiation is a key step to regulate protein synthesis, therefore, identifying and targeting molecules that are critical for protein synthesis is necessary and beneficial to develop cancer therapeutics and stem cells fate regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Jung Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Stem Cell Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
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16
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Sanchez M, Lin Y, Yang CC, McQuary P, Rosa Campos A, Aza Blanc P, Wolf DA. Cross Talk between eIF2α and eEF2 Phosphorylation Pathways Optimizes Translational Arrest in Response to Oxidative Stress. iScience 2019; 20:466-480. [PMID: 31627132 PMCID: PMC6823656 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular stress response triggers a cascade of events leading to transcriptional reprogramming and a transient inhibition of global protein synthesis, which is thought to be mediated by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF2α). Using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and the fission yeast S. pombe, we report that rapid translational arrest and cell survival in response to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress do not rely on eIF2α kinases and eIF2α phosphorylation. Rather, H2O2 induces a block in elongation through phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Kinetic and dose-response analyses uncovered cross talk between the eIF2α and eEF2 phosphorylation pathways, indicating that, in MEFs, eEF2 phosphorylation initiates the acute shutdown in translation, which is maintained by eIF2α phosphorylation. Our results challenge the common conception that eIF2α phosphorylation is the primary trigger of translational arrest in response to oxidative stress and point to integrated control that may facilitate the survival of cancer cells. Oxidative stress-induced translation arrest is independent of eIF2α phosphorylation Oxidative stress blocks translation elongation Oxidative stress triggers eEF2 kinase activation eEF2K KO cells are hypersensitive to oxidative stress
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Sanchez
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Yingying Lin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and Center for Stress Signaling Networks, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Chih-Cheng Yang
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Philip McQuary
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Pedro Aza Blanc
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Dieter A Wolf
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and Center for Stress Signaling Networks, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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17
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What is the impact of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase on cancer: A systematic review. Eur J Pharmacol 2019; 857:172470. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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18
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Cao MJ, Zhu T, Liu JT, Ouyang L, Yang F, Lin HW. New sorbicillinoid derivatives with GLP-1R and eEF2K affinities from a sponge-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum 581F1. Nat Prod Res 2019; 34:2880-2886. [PMID: 30990084 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1596099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Two new sorbicillinoids, 13-hydroxy-dihydrotrichodermolide (1) and 10,11,27,28-tetrahydrotrisorbicillinone C (2), were isolated from the sponge-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum 581F1. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed high affinities to target proteins GLP-1R (diabetes) and eEF2K (cancer) with Kd values of 0.0285 μM, 0.0162 μM for GLP-1R and 0.118 μM, 0.0746 μM for eEF2K, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Jia Cao
- Research Center for Marine Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Pharmacy, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Zhu
- Research Center for Marine Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Pharmacy, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing-Tang Liu
- Research Center for Marine Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Pharmacy, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Research Center for Marine Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Pharmacy, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hou-Wen Lin
- Research Center for Marine Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Pharmacy, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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19
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Cao W, Li J, Hao Q, Vadgama JV, Wu Y. AMP-activated protein kinase: a potential therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2019; 21:29. [PMID: 30791936 PMCID: PMC6385460 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-019-1107-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subset of breast carcinomas that lack expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). Unlike other breast cancer subtypes, targeted therapy is presently unavailable for patients with TNBC. In spite of initial responses to chemotherapy, drug resistance tends to develop rapidly and the prognosis of metastatic TNBC is poor. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel-targeted treatment methods or development of safe and effective alternatives with recognized mechanism(s) of action. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an energy sensor, can regulate protein and lipid metabolism responding to alterations in energy supply. In the past 10 years, interest in AMPK has increased widely since it appeared as an attractive targeting molecule for cancer therapy. There has been a deep understanding of the possible role of abnormal AMPK signaling pathways in the regulation of growth and survival and the development of drug resistance in TNBC. The increasing popularity of using AMPK regulators for TNBC-targeted therapy is supported by a considerable development in ascertaining the molecular pathways implicated. This review highlights the available evidence for AMPK-targeted anti-TNBC activity of various agents or treatment strategies, with special attention placed on recent preclinical and clinical advances in the manipulation of AMPK in TNBC. The elaborative analysis of these AMPK-related signaling pathways will have a noteworthy impact on the development of AMPK regulators, resulting in efficacious treatments for this lethal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Division of Cancer Research and Training, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, and UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1748 E. 118th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA
| | - Jieqing Li
- Division of Cancer Research and Training, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, and UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1748 E. 118th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiongyu Hao
- Division of Cancer Research and Training, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, and UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1748 E. 118th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA
| | - Jaydutt V Vadgama
- Division of Cancer Research and Training, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, and UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1748 E. 118th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA.
| | - Yong Wu
- Division of Cancer Research and Training, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, and UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1748 E. 118th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA.
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20
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Ye WL, Zhang LX, Guan YD, Xue WW, Chen AF, Cao Q, Cheng Y, Cao DS. Virtual screening and experimental validation of eEF2K inhibitors by combining homology modeling, QSAR and molecular docking from FDA approved drugs. NEW J CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9nj02600b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF2K), a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, is a potential target for treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ling Ye
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Central South University
- Changsha
- P. R. China
| | - Liu-Xia Zhang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Central South University
- Changsha
- P. R. China
| | - Yi-Di Guan
- Department of Pharmacy
- The Second Xiangya Hospital
- Central South University
- Changsha
- China
| | - Wei-Wei Xue
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Drug Research
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing 401331
- China
| | - Alex F Chen
- Center for Vascular Disease and Translational Medicine
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
- Changsha
- P. R. China
| | - Qian Cao
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University
- Beijing 100001
- People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Central South University
- Changsha
- P. R. China
- Department of Pharmacy
| | - Dong-Sheng Cao
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Central South University
- Changsha
- P. R. China
- Center for Vascular Disease and Translational Medicine
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21
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Bircan HA, Gurbuz N, Pataer A, Caner A, Kahraman N, Bayraktar E, Bayraktar R, Erdogan MA, Kabil N, Ozpolat B. Elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF-2K) expression is associated with poor patient survival and promotes proliferation, invasion and tumor growth of lung cancer. Lung Cancer 2018; 124:31-39. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2018.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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22
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Suppression of eEF-2K-mediated autophagy enhances the cytotoxicity of raddeanin A against human breast cancer cells in vitro. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2018; 39:642-648. [PMID: 29239350 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2017.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence shows that raddeanin A (RA), an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin extracted from Anemone raddeana Regel, exerts remarkable cytotoxicity against cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, RA has also been found to activate autophagy in human gastric cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying RA-induced autophagy as well as the relationship between RA-induced autophagy and its cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cells in vitro. Treatment with RA (2-8 μmol/L) dose-dependently enhanced autophagy, as evidenced by increased LC3 levels in breast cancer cell lines T47D, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Furthermore, the Akt-mTOR-eEF-2K signaling pathway was demonstrated to be involved in RA-induced activation of autophagy in the 3 breast cancer cell lines. Treatment with RA (2-10 μmol/L) dose-dependently induced apoptosis in the 3 breast cancer cell lines. Pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ, 20 μmol/L) significantly enhanced RA-caused cytotoxicity via promoting apoptosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that modulating autophagy can reinforce the cytotoxicity of RA against human breast cancer cells.
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23
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Ouyang L, Zhang L, Liu J, Fu L, Yao D, Zhao Y, Zhang S, Wang G, He G, Liu B. Discovery of a Small-Molecule Bromodomain-Containing Protein 4 (BRD4) Inhibitor That Induces AMP-Activated Protein Kinase-Modulated Autophagy-Associated Cell Death in Breast Cancer. J Med Chem 2017; 60:9990-10012. [PMID: 29172540 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Upon the basis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set, we identified that several autophagy-related proteins such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were remarkably downregulated in breast cancer. Combined with coimmunoprecipitation assay, we demonstrated that BRD4 might interact with AMPK. After analyses of the pharmacophore and WPF interaction optimization, we designed a small-molecule inhibitor of BRD4, 9f (FL-411) which was validated by cocrystal structure with BD1 of BRD4. Subsequently, 9f was discovered to induce ATG5-dependent autophagy-associated cell death (ACD) by blocking BRD4-AMPK interaction and thus activating AMPK-mTOR-ULK1-modulated autophagic pathway in breast cancer cells. Interestingly, the iTRAQ-based proteomics analyses revealed that 9f induced ACD pathways involved in HMGB1, VDAC1/2, and eEF2. Moreover, 9f displayed a therapeutic potential on both breast cancer xenograft mouse and zebrafish models. Together, these results demonstrate that a novel small-molecule inhibitor of BRD4 induces BRD4-AMPK-modulated ACD in breast cancer, which may provide a candidate drug for future cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Leilei Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dahong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yuqian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shouyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gu He
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610041, China
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Guo Y, Zhao Y, Wang G, Chen Y, Jiang Y, Ouyang L, Liu B. Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a focused library of β-phenylalanine derivatives as novel eEF2K inhibitors with apoptosis-inducing mechanisms in breast cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 143:402-418. [PMID: 29202403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.11.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a Ca2+/calmudulin-dependent protein kinase, belonging to a small family of an atypical Ser/Thr-protein kinase. eEF2K has been recently reported to be highly activated or overexpressed in many types of cancer; therefore, eEF2K would be regarded as a promising therapeutic target. In this study, we discovered a β-phenylalanine scaffold by virtual high-throughput screening, as well as designed and synthesized 46 derivatives with assessment of inhibition activity against eEF2K and cytotoxicity. After several rounds of kinase and anti-proliferative activity screening, we discovered an eEF2K inhibitor (21l) with best eEF2K enzymatic activity (IC50 of 5.5 μM) and anti-proliferative activity (MDA-MB-231 cells, IC50 of 12.6 μM, MDA-MB-436 cells, IC50 of 19.8 μM). Moreover, we found that 21l could induce cell death via the apoptotic pathways in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 cells. Subsequently, we evaluated its anti-tumor activity and apoptosis-inducing mechanisms in vivo. These results suggested that 21l inhibited tumor growth by apoptosis in the xenograft mouse model of breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436). Collectively, our results demonstrate a novel small-molecule inhibitor targeting eEF2K with mechanism of apoptosis and a therapeutic potential in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China; School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yuqian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China; School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yingnan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China; School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China.
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25
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Sun D, Zhu L, Zhao Y, Jiang Y, Chen L, Yu Y, Ouyang L. Fluoxetine induces autophagic cell death via eEF2K-AMPK-mTOR-ULK complex axis in triple negative breast cancer. Cell Prolif 2017; 51:e12402. [PMID: 29094413 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a complex and intrinsically aggressive tumour with poor prognosis, and the discovery of targeted small-molecule drugs for TNBC treatment still remains in its infancy. In this study, we aimed to discover a small-molecule agent for TNBC treatment and illuminate its potential mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell viability was detected by using methylthiazoltetrazolium (MTT) assay. Electron microscopy, GFP-LC3 transfection, monodansylcadaverine staining and apoptosis assay were performed to determine Fluoxetine-induced autophagy and apoptosis. Western blotting and siRNA transfection were carried out to investigate the mechanisms of Fluoxetine-induced autophagy. iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis was used to explore the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS We have demonstrated that Fluoxetine had remarkable anti-proliferative activities and induced autophagic cell death in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 cells. The mechanism for Fluoxetine-induced autophagic cell death was associated with inhibition of eEF2K and activation of AMPK-mTOR-ULK complex axis. Further iTRAQ-based proteomics and network analyses revealed that Fluoxetine-induced mechanism was involved in BIRC6, BNIP1, SNAP29 and Bif-1. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that Fluoxetine induces apoptosis and autophagic cell death in TNBC, which will hold a promise for the future TNBC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejuan Sun
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lingjuan Zhu
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuqian Zhao
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yingnan Jiang
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China.,Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lixia Chen
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
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26
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Zhang C, Lei JL, Zhang H, Xia YZ, Yu P, Yang L, Kong LY. Calyxin Y sensitizes cisplatin-sensitive and resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells to cisplatin through apoptotic and autophagic cell death via SCF βTrCP-mediated eEF2K degradation. Oncotarget 2017; 8:70595-70616. [PMID: 29050305 PMCID: PMC5642580 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The down-regulation of eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF2K) is associated with an enhancement in the sensitivity of malignant cells to chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we found that the silencing of eEF2K enhanced cisplatin (CDDP)-induced cytotoxicity in CDDP-sensitive (HepG2) and resistant (HepG2/CDDP) cells. Calyxin Y, a unique chalcone diarylheptanoid adduct, down-regulated eEF2K by promoting Skp1-Cul1-F-box protein (SCF) β-transducin repeat-containing protein (βTrCP)-mediated protein degradation and synergistically enhanced the cytotoxicity of CDDP. Subsequently, we identified a potential mechanism of this cooperative interaction by showing that the combination of calyxin Y and CDDP enhanced apoptotic cell death via mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, the combination induced autophagy, which contributed to the synergistic cytotoxic effect. Further research revealed that calyxin Y synergistically sensitized HepG2 and HepG2/CDDP cells to CDDP through enhanced apoptotic and autophagic cell death via the SCF βTrCP-eEF2K pathway. Finally, in vivo studies demonstrated that calyxin Y could enhance the response of HepG2/CDDP cells to CDDP in xenograft models with low systemic toxicity. Thus, the combination of calyxin Y and CDDP might represent an attractive therapeutic strategy for the treatment of chemotherapy-sensitive and resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jian-Li Lei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuan-Zheng Xia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Pei Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ling-Yi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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27
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De Gassart A, Demaria O, Panes R, Zaffalon L, Ryazanov AG, Gilliet M, Martinon F. Pharmacological eEF2K activation promotes cell death and inhibits cancer progression. EMBO Rep 2016; 17:1471-1484. [PMID: 27572820 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201642194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of the elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) leads to the phosphorylation and inhibition of the elongation factor eEF2, reducing mRNA translation rates. Emerging evidence indicates that the regulation of factors involved in protein synthesis may be critical for controlling diverse biological processes including cancer progression. Here we show that inhibitors of the HIV aspartyl protease (HIV-PIs), nelfinavir in particular, trigger a robust activation of eEF2K leading to the phosphorylation of eEF2. Beyond its anti-viral effects, nelfinavir has antitumoral activity and promotes cell death. We show that nelfinavir-resistant cells specifically evade eEF2 inhibition. Decreased cell viability induced by nelfinavir is impaired in cells lacking eEF2K. Moreover, nelfinavir-mediated anti-tumoral activity is severely compromised in eEF2K-deficient engrafted tumors in vivo Our findings imply that exacerbated activation of eEF2K is detrimental for tumor survival and describe a mechanism explaining the anti-tumoral properties of HIV-PIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude De Gassart
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | - Rébecca Panes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Léa Zaffalon
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Alexey G Ryazanov
- Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | | | - Fabio Martinon
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
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28
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Kameshima S, Okada M, Ikeda S, Watanabe Y, Yamawaki H. Coordination of changes in expression and phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and eEF2 kinase in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes. Biochem Biophys Rep 2016; 7:218-224. [PMID: 28955910 PMCID: PMC5613342 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2016.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) kinase (eEF2K) is one of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases. Activated eEF2K phosphorylates its specific substrate, eEF2, which results in inhibition of protein translation. We have recently shown that protein expression of eEF2K was specifically increased in hypertrophied left ventricles (LV) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). However, phosphorylation state of eEF2K and eEF2 in hypertrophied LV is not determined. In the present study, we examined expression and phosphorylation of eEF2K and eEF2 in LV from SHR as well as the pressure overload (transverse aortic constriction: TAC)- and isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac hypertrophy model. In LV from TAC mice, eEF2K expression was increased as determined by Western blotting. In LV from TAC mice and SHR, eEF2K phosphorylation at Ser366 (inactive site) was decreased. Consistently, eEF2 phosphorylation at Thr56 was increased. In LV from ISO rats, while eEF2K phosphorylation was decreased, eEF2K expression and eEF2 phosphorylation were not different as determined by Western blotting. In the results obtained from immunohistochemistry, however, total eEF2K and phosphorylated eEF2 (at Thr56) localized to cardiomyocytes were increased in LV cardiomyocytes from ISO rats. Accordingly, the increased expression and the decreased phosphorylation of eEF2K and the increased phosphorylation of eEF2 in hypertrophied LV were common to all models in this study. The present results thus suggest that cardiac hypertrophy may be regulated at least partly via eEF2K-eEF2 signaling pathway. eEF2 kinase (eEF2K) is a unique Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. eEF2K expression increased but phosphorylation decreased in cardiac hypertrophy. eEF2 phosphorylation increased in cardiac hypertrophy. Expression and phosphorylation state of eEF2K/eEF2 was common to hypertrophy model. eEF2K/eEF2 signaling might affect the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy.
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Key Words
- AMP, adenosine monophosphate
- AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase
- BW, body weight
- CAM, calmodulin
- Cardiac hypertrophy
- Cardiomyocyte
- Eukaryotic elongation factor
- FS, fractioning shortening
- ISO, isoproterenol
- IVS, interventricular septum
- Isoproterenol
- LV, left ventricles
- LVID, left ventricular internal diameter
- LVPW, left ventricular posterior wall
- Pressure overload
- SHR
- SHR, spontaneously hypertensive rats
- TAC, transverse aortic constriction
- WKY, Wistar-Kyoto rats
- eEF2, eukaryotic elongation factor 2
- eEF2K, eEF2 kinase
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Kameshima
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan
| | - Muneyoshi Okada
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan
| | - Shiro Ikeda
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan
| | - Yuki Watanabe
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Yamawaki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan
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29
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SHI QIANQIAN, XU XIANLIN, LIU QING, LUO FENGBAO, SHI JIAN, HE XIAOZHOU. MicroRNA-877 acts as a tumor suppressor by directly targeting eEF2K in renal cell carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2016; 11:1474-1480. [PMID: 26893763 PMCID: PMC4734253 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.4072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in tumorigenesis. However, little is known about their role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the present study, the function of the miRNA miR-877 in RCC was investigated, and its expression levels in blood and paired RCC tissues were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Bioinformatics analysis predicted eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF2K) to be the potential mRNA target of miR-877, which was verified by luciferase assay. The expression levels of eEF2K in RCC tissues were evaluated by western blot analysis and qPCR. The proliferation and migration abilities of RCC cells were measured by MTT and in vitro wound healing assays, respectively. The present results indicated that the expression levels of miR-877 were downregulated in blood and paired RCC tissues, whereas the expression levels of eEF2K were upregulated in RCC tissues. In addition, overexpression of miR-877 and knockdown of eEF2K significantly reduced the proliferation and migration abilities of RCC cells in vitro. Furthermore, miR-877 affected the eEF2K/eEF2 signaling pathway in these cells. In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that miR-877 suppresses the proliferation and migration abilities of RCC cells by modulating the eEF2K/eEF2 signaling cascade. Therefore, miR-877 may be considered a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- QIANQIAN SHI
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - XIANLIN XU
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - QING LIU
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - FENGBAO LUO
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - JIAN SHI
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
| | - XIAOZHOU HE
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China
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30
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Shafique S, Younis S, Niaz H, Rashid S. Elucidation, functional clustering and structural characterization of βTrCP1 substrates through a molecular dynamics study. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2016; 12:2233-46. [DOI: 10.1039/c6mb00189k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Structural knowledge of substrate recognition by SKP1–CUL1–βTrCP1 complex for targeted cancer therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shagufta Shafique
- National Center for Bioinformatics
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad
- Pakistan
| | - Saima Younis
- National Center for Bioinformatics
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad
- Pakistan
| | - Hafsa Niaz
- National Center for Bioinformatics
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad
- Pakistan
| | - Sajid Rashid
- National Center for Bioinformatics
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad
- Pakistan
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31
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Yao Z, Li J, Liu Z, Zheng L, Fan N, Zhang Y, Jia N, Lv J, Liu N, Zhu X, Du J, Lv C, Xie F, Liu Y, Wang X, Fei Z, Gao C. Integrative bioinformatics and proteomics-based discovery of an eEF2K inhibitor (cefatrizine) with ER stress modulation in breast cancer cells. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2016; 12:729-36. [DOI: 10.1039/c5mb00848d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
eEF2K, a unique calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, may regulate ER stress in cancer.
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32
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Chen Y, Wang S, Zhang L, Xie T, Song S, Huang J, Zhang Y, Ouyang L, Liu B. Identification of ULK1 as a novel biomarker involved in miR-4487 and miR-595 regulation in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell autophagy. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11035. [PMID: 26183158 PMCID: PMC4505320 DOI: 10.1038/srep11035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy, referring to an evolutionarily conserved, multi-step lysosomal degradation process, has been well-known to be initiated by Unc-51 like kinase 1 (ULK1) with some links to Parkinson's disease (PD). MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small and non-coding endogenous RNAs 22 ~ 24 nucleotides (nt) in length, have been demonstrated to play an essential role for modulating autophagy. Recently, the relationships between miRNAs and autophagy have been widely reported in PD; however, how microRNAs regulate autophagy still remains in its infancy. Thus, in this study, we computationally constructed the ULK1-regulated autophagic kinase subnetwork in PD and further identified ULK1 able to negatively regulate p70(S6K) in starvation-induced autophagy of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Combination of in silico prediction and microarray analyses, we identified that miR-4487 and miR-595 could target ULK1 and experimentally verified they could negatively or positively regulate ULK1-mediated autophagy. In conclusion, these results may uncover the novel ULK1-p70(S6K) autophagic pathway, as well as miR-4487 and miR-595 as new ULK1 target miRNAs. Thus, these findings would provide a clue to explore ULK1 and its target miRNAs as potential biomarkers in the future PD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shuya Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Lan Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Tao Xie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Sicheng Song
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jian Huang
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yonghui Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Department of Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Xie T, Li SJ, Guo MR, Wu Y, Wang HY, Zhang K, Zhang X, Ouyang L, Liu J. Untangling knots between autophagic targets and candidate drugs, in cancer therapy. Cell Prolif 2015; 48:119-39. [PMID: 25650136 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosomal mechanism implicated in a wide variety of pathological processes, such as cancer. Autophagy can be regulated by a limited number of autophagy-related genes (Atgs) such as oncogenic Bcl-2/Bcl-XL , mTORC1, Akt and PI3KCI, and tumour suppressive proteins PI3KCIII, Beclin-1, Bif-1, p53, DAPKs, PTEN and UVRAG, which play their crucial roles in regulating autophagy-related cancer. As autophagy has a dual role in cancer cells, with tumour-promoting and tumour-suppressing properties, it has become an attractive target for a series of emerging small molecule drugs. In this review, we reveal new discoveries of related small molecules or chemical compounds that can regulate autophagic pathways and lead to pro-death or pro-survival autophagy, in different types of cancer. We discuss the knots between autophagic targets and candidate drugs, in the hope of shedding new light on exploiting new anti-tumour small molecule drugs for future cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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34
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Chen Y, He J, Tian M, Zhang SY, Guo MR, Kasimu R, Wang JH, Ouyang L. UNC51-like kinase 1, autophagic regulator and cancer therapeutic target. Cell Prolif 2014; 47:494-505. [PMID: 25327638 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy, the cell process of self-digestion, plays a pivotal role in maintaining energy homoeostasis and protein synthesis. When required, it causes degradation of long-lived proteins and damaged organelles, indicating that it may play a dual role in cancer, by both protecting against and promoting cell death. The autophagy-related gene (Atg) family, with more than 35 members, regulates multiple stages of the process. Serine/threonine protein kinase Atg1 in yeast, for example, can interact with other ATG gene products, functioning in autophagosome formation. One mammalian homologue of Atg1, UNC-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) and its related complex ULK1-mAtg13-FIP200 can mediate autophagy under nutrient-deprived conditions, by protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications. Although specific mechanisms of how ULK1 and its complex transduces upstream signals to the downstream central autophagy pathways is not fully understood, past studies have indicated that ULK1 can both suppress and promote tumour growth under different conditions. Here, we summarize some properties of ULK1 which can regulate autophagy in cancer, which may shed new light on future cancer therapy strategies, utilizing ULK1 as a potential new target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy & Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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