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Mukherjee D, Chakraborty S, Bercz L, D’Alesio L, Wedig J, Torok MA, Pfau T, Lathrop H, Jasani S, Guenther A, McGue J, Adu-Ampratwum D, Fuchs JR, Frankel TL, Pietrzak M, Culp S, Strohecker AM, Skardal A, Mace TA. Tomatidine targets ATF4-dependent signaling and induces ferroptosis to limit pancreatic cancer progression. iScience 2023; 26:107408. [PMID: 37554459 PMCID: PMC10405072 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with high metastasis and therapeutic resistance. Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a master regulator of cellular stress, is exploited by cancer cells to survive. Prior research and data reported provide evidence that high ATF4 expression correlates with worse overall survival in PDAC. Tomatidine, a natural steroidal alkaloid, is associated with inhibition of ATF4 signaling in multiple diseases. Here, we discovered that in vitro and in vivo tomatidine treatment of PDAC cells inhibits tumor growth. Tomatidine inhibited nuclear translocation of ATF4 and reduced the transcriptional binding of ATF4 with downstream promoters. Tomatidine enhanced gemcitabine chemosensitivity in 3D ECM-hydrogels and in vivo. Tomatidine treatment was associated with induction of ferroptosis signaling validated by increased lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and decreased GPX4 expression in PDAC cells. This study highlights a possible therapeutic approach utilizing a plant-derived metabolite, tomatidine, to target ATF4 activity in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasmita Mukherjee
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Srija Chakraborty
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Lena Bercz
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Liliana D’Alesio
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jessica Wedig
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Molly A. Torok
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Timothy Pfau
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Hannah Lathrop
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Shrina Jasani
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Abigail Guenther
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jake McGue
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Daniel Adu-Ampratwum
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - James R. Fuchs
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | | | - Maciej Pietrzak
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Stacey Culp
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Anne M. Strohecker
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology & Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Thomas A. Mace
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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Hao Y, Zou R, Tao J, Jiang M, Li D. SP1/RNASEH2A accelerates the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating EMT. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18127. [PMID: 37520960 PMCID: PMC10374915 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The expression level of Ribonuclease H2, subunit A (RNASEH2A) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported, but the function of RNASEH2A on HCC cells development and the related molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we intend to explore the upstream regulator of RNASEH2A and its role in the HCC progression. Methods GEPIA website was employed to determine the level of RNASEH2A in HCC tissues and get a survival analysis. After reducing RNASEH2A expression by RNA interference, cell counting kit-8, colony formation, Western blot, Transwell and wound healing assays were performed to estimate the malignant properties of HCC cells. The transcriptional factor of RNASEH2A was predicted by UCSC and JASPAR database and confirmed by dual luciferase assay and Ch-IP assay. The expression level of EMT pathway related molecules was determined by western blotting. Results An increased expression of RNASEH2A was presented in HCC and predicted worse prognosis of HCC patients. Functionally, the results demonstrated that depletion of RNASEH2A suppressed HCC cell proliferation, cell cycle, migration and invasion. Moreover, we illustrated that SP1 targeted to the promoter of RNASEH2A and modulated its expression in HCC cell lines. RNASEH2A knockdown counteracted the function of SP1 overexpression in modulating HCC cell growth, cell cycle, and mobility. Then, our data showed that the SP1/RNASEH2A axis affected the malignant behaviors of HCC cells by regulating EMT process. Conclusions In summary, these results demonstrated that RNASEH2A promoted HCC cells development through regulating EMT process and was transcriptionally modulated by SP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhe Hao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hainan Cancer Hospital, No. 9 West 4th Changbin Street, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570100, Hainan, China
| | - Rui Zou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hainan Cancer Hospital, No. 9 West 4th Changbin Street, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570100, Hainan, China
| | - Jiashou Tao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hainan Cancer Hospital, No. 9 West 4th Changbin Street, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570100, Hainan, China
| | - Manfei Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hainan Cancer Hospital, No. 9 West 4th Changbin Street, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570100, Hainan, China
| | - Duo Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hainan Cancer Hospital, No. 9 West 4th Changbin Street, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570100, Hainan, China
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Bailly C. The steroidal alkaloids α-tomatine and tomatidine: Panorama of their mode of action and pharmacological properties. Steroids 2021; 176:108933. [PMID: 34695457 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2021.108933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The steroidal glycoalkaloid α-tomatine (αTM) and its aglycone tomatidine (TD) are abundant in the skin of unripe green tomato and present in tomato leaves and flowers. They mainly serve as defensive agents to protect the plant against infections by insects, bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. In addition, the two products display a range of pharmacological properties potentially useful to treat various human diseases. We have analyzed all known pharmacological activities of αTM and TD, and the corresponding molecular targets and pathways impacted by these two steroidal alkaloids. In experimental models, αTM displays anticancer effects, particularly strong against androgen-independent prostate cancer, as well as robust antifungal effects. αTM is a potent cholesterol binder, useful as a vaccine adjuvant to improve delivery of protein antigens or therapeutic oligonucleotides. TD is a much less cytotoxic compound, able to restrict the spread of certain viruses (such as dengue, chikungunya and porcine epidemic diarrhea viruses) and to provide cardio and neuro-protective effects toward human cells. Both αTM and TD exhibit marked anti-inflammatory activities. They proceed through multiple signaling pathways and protein targets, including the sterol C24 methyltransferase Erg6 and vitamin D receptor, both directly targeted by TD. αTM is a powerful regulator of the NFkB/ERK signaling pathway implicated in various diseases. Collectively, the analysis shed light on the multitargeted action of αTM/TD and their usefulness as chemo-preventive or chemotherapeutic agents. A novel medicinal application for αTM is proposed.
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Jun HY, Kim TH, Choi JW, Lee YH, Lee KK, Yoon KH. Evaluation of connectivity map-discovered celastrol as a radiosensitizing agent in a murine lung carcinoma model: Feasibility study of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178204. [PMID: 28542649 PMCID: PMC5441657 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was designed to identify potential radiosensitizing (RS) agents for combined radio- and chemotherapy in a murine model of human lung carcinoma, and to evaluate the in vivo effect of the RS agents using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). Radioresistance-associated genes in A549 and H460 cells were isolated on the basis of their gene expression profiles. Celastrol was selected as a candidate RS by using connectivity mapping, and its efficacy in lung cancer radiotherapy was tested. Mice inoculated with A549 carcinoma cells were treated with single ionizing radiation (SIR), single celastrol (SC), or celastrol-combined ionizing radiation (CCIR). Changes in radiosensitization over time were assessed using DW-MRI before and at 3, 6, and 12 days after therapy initiation. The tumors were stained with hematoxylin and eosin at 6 and 12 days after therapy. The percentage change in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in the CCIR group was significantly higher than that in the SC and SIR group on the 12th day (Mann–Whitney U-test, p = 0.05; Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.05). A significant correlation (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient of 0.713, p = 0.001) was observed between the mean percentage tumor necrotic area and the mean ADC values after therapy initiation. These results suggest that the novel radiosensitizing agent celastrol has therapeutic effects when combined with ionizing radiation (IR), thereby maximizing the therapeutic effect of radiation in non–small cell lung carcinoma. In addition, DW-MRI is a useful noninvasive tool to monitor the effects of RS agents by assessing cellularity changes and sequential therapeutic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Young Jun
- Imaging Science Research Center, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hoon Kim
- Imaging Science Research Center, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woo Choi
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Kyung Hee University College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Hwan Lee
- Department of Radiology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kang Kyoo Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon-Ha Yoon
- Imaging Science Research Center, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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Weighted gene co-expression network analysis reveals key genes involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma development. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2016; 39:379-88. [PMID: 27240826 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-016-0283-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy. Up till now, the patient's prognosis remains poor which, among others, is due to the paucity of reliable early diagnostic biomarkers. In the past, candidate diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets have been delineated from genes that were found to be differentially expressed in normal versus tumour samples. Recently, new systems biology approaches have been developed to analyse gene expression data, which may yield new biomarkers. As of yet, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) tool has not been applied to PDAC microarray-based gene expression data. METHODS PDAC microarray-based gene expression datasets, listed in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, were analysed. After pre-processing of the data, we built two final datasets, Normal and PDAC, encompassing 104 and 129 patient samples, respectively. Next, we constructed a weighted gene co-expression network and identified modules of co-expressed genes distinguishing normal from disease conditions. Functional annotations of the genes in these modules were carried out to highlight PDAC-associated molecular pathways and common regulatory mechanisms. Finally, overall survival analyses were carried out to assess the suitability of the genes identified as prognostic biomarkers. RESULTS Using WGCNA, we identified several key genes that may play important roles in PDAC. These genes are mainly related to either endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion or membrane functions, exhibit transferase or hydrolase activities and are involved in biological processes such as lipid metabolism or transmembrane transport. As a validation of the applied method, we found that some of the identified key genes (CEACAM1, MCU, VDAC1, CYCS, C15ORF52, TMEM51, LARP1 and ERLIN2) have previously been reported by others as potential PDAC biomarkers. Using overall survival analyses, we found that several of the newly identified genes may serve as biomarkers to stratify PDAC patients into low- and high-risk groups. CONCLUSIONS Using this new systems biology approach, we identified several genes that appear to be critical to PDAC development. As such, they may represent potential diagnostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets with clinical utility.
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Vizcaíno C, Mansilla S, Portugal J. Sp1 transcription factor: A long-standing target in cancer chemotherapy. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 152:111-24. [PMID: 25960131 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 271] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Sp1 (specificity protein 1) is a well-known member of a family of transcription factors that also includes Sp2, Sp3 and Sp4, which are implicated in an ample variety of essential biological processes and have been proven important in cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis. Sp1 activates the transcription of many cellular genes that contain putative CG-rich Sp-binding sites in their promoters. Sp1 and Sp3 proteins bind to similar, if not the same, DNA tracts and compete for binding, thus they can enhance or repress gene expression. Evidences exist that the Sp-family of proteins regulates the expression of genes that play pivotal roles in cell proliferation and metastasis of various tumors. In patients with a variety of cancers, high levels of Sp1 protein are considered a negative prognostic factor. A plethora of compounds can interfere with the trans-activating activities of Sp1 and other Sp proteins on gene expression. Several pathways are involved in the down-regulation of Sp proteins by compounds with different mechanisms of action, which include not only the direct interference with the binding of Sp proteins to their putative DNA binding sites, but also promoting the degradation of Sp protein factors. Down-regulation of Sp transcription factors and Sp1-regulated genes is drug-dependent and it is determined by the cell context. The acknowledgment that several of those compounds are safe enough might accelerate their introduction into clinical usage in patients with tumors that over-express Sp1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Vizcaíno
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, CSIC, Parc Científic de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sylvia Mansilla
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, CSIC, Parc Científic de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Portugal
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, CSIC, Parc Científic de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Du S, Jia L, Zhang Y, Fang L, Zhang X, Fan Y. CARMA3 is upregulated in human pancreatic carcinoma, and its depletion inhibits tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:5965-70. [PMID: 24633921 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-1791-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevated CARMA3 expression has been reported to be involved in tumor progression of several cancer types. In the present study, we examined the expression pattern of CARMA3 protein and its biological roles in human pancreatic carcinoma. Using immunohistochemistry, we checked CARMA3 protein expression in 95 pancreatic ductal carcinoma specimens. We found that CARMA3 was overexpressed in 34 of 95 (35.8 %) specimens. A significant association was observed between CARMA3 overexpression with histological grade (p=0.0099) and nodal status (p=0.0126). To further explore its biological roles, we knocked down CARMA3 expression in CAPAN2 cell line using small interfering RNA (siRNA). MTT growth assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay showed that CARMA3 depletion inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. We also showed that CARMA3 depletion inhibited EGF-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation and its target genes' expression. The effect of CARMA3 depletion on NF-κB signaling was significantly reduced in Bcl10-depleted cells. In conclusion, CARMA3 is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer and regulates malignant cell growth, invasion, and NF-κB signaling, which was dependent on its association with Bcl10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Du
- Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China
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