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Zheng Z, Lu X, Zhou D, Deng XF, Liu QX, Liu XB, Zhang J, Li YQ, Zheng H, Dai JG. A novel enemy of cancer: recent investigations into protozoan anti-tumor properties. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 13:1325144. [PMID: 38274735 PMCID: PMC10808745 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1325144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains a significant global health issue, despite advances in screening and treatment. While existing tumor treatment protocols such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy have proven effective in enhancing the prognosis for some patients, these treatments do not benefit all patients. Consequently, certain types of cancer continue to exhibit a relatively low 5-year survival rate. Therefore, the pursuit of novel tumor intervention strategies may help improve the current effectiveness of tumor treatment. Over the past few decades, numerous species of protozoa and their components have exhibited anti-tumor potential via immune and non-immune mechanisms. This discovery introduces a new research direction for the development of new and effective cancer treatments. Through in vitro experiments and studies involving tumor-bearing mice, the anti-tumor ability of Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma cruzi, and other protozoa have unveiled diverse mechanisms by which protozoa combat cancer, demonstrating encouraging prospects for their application. In this review, we summarize the anti-tumor ability and anti-tumor mechanisms of various protozoa and explore the potential for their clinical development and application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hong Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army (Third Military) Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ji-gang Dai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army (Third Military) Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Caner A, Sadıqova A, Erdoğan A, Namlıses D, Nalbantsoy A, Oltulu F, Toz S, Yiğittürk G, Ozkök E, Gunduz C, Ozbel Y, Haydaroğlu A. Targeting of antitumor ımmune responses with live-attenuated Leishmania strains in breast cancer model. Breast Cancer 2020; 27:1082-1095. [PMID: 32472473 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-020-01112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and most of the therapeutic approaches are relatively ineffective in eliminating cancer especially due to drug resistance. As an alternative, therapy with live microorganisms can induce a robust proinflammatory and anti-cancer immune response in the microenvironment of the tumor. In the present study, we aimed to establish a model for taking the advantages of immune responses against intracellular protozoan parasites for cancer treatment. METHODS Leishmania infantum and L. tropica were used in our study as agents of visceral and cutaneous forms of the infection, respectively. After establishing 4T1 breast cancer in mice groups, live-attenuated L. infantum (At-Li) and live-attenuated L. tropica (At-Lt) treatments were performed and results were evaluated according to tumor volume, immune markers and histological examination. RESULTS Live-attenuated Leishmania strains regressed 4T1-breast cancer in mice and are nonpathogenic, and these strains induce an immune response against 4T1 breast cancer. It is shown that At-Lt is found to be more effective than At-Li in breast cancer treatment using different methods included in the study as analyses of immune parameters, and histopathological examination in tumor tissue besides spleen cells. The tumor grew more slowly by the immune-stimulant effect of live-attenuated Leishmania parasites. CONCLUSION This promising therapy should be investigated for optimization in further studies with different cancer types and L. tropica may be designed to express antigens to enhance tumor antigen-specific responses, which may further improve efficacy and immune memory development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Caner
- Departments of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Basic Oncology, Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey. .,Department of Parasitology, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Aygül Sadıqova
- Infectious Disease Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Alper Erdoğan
- Department of Basic Oncology, Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Dünya Namlıses
- Department of Basic Oncology, Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ayse Nalbantsoy
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Fatih Oltulu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Seray Toz
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gürkan Yiğittürk
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Emel Ozkök
- Department of Pathology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Cumhur Gunduz
- Department of Medical Biology, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Ozbel
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ayfer Haydaroğlu
- Department of Basic Oncology, Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
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Yu Y, Fang H, Qiu Z, Xia Z, Zhou B. DHA Attenuates Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury by Activating SSeCKS in Human Cerebrovascular Pericytes. Neurochem Res 2019; 45:310-321. [PMID: 31776970 PMCID: PMC6985071 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02915-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing blood–brain barrier permeability and maintaining its integrity, accompanied by an increased Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio; however, the underlying mechanisms of these effects remain unclear. Src-suppressed C kinase substrates (SSeCKS), a substrate of protein kinase C, plays an important role in maintaining cell junctions and cell morphology and regulating cell permeability. However, whether DHA can increase SSeCKS expression and then mediate the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio still needs to be studied. Human cerebrovascular pericytes (HBVPs) cultured in vitro were divided into groups, treated with or without DHA along with SSeCKS siRNA to knockdown SSeCKS expression, and then subjected to 24 h of hypoxia followed by 6 h of reoxygenation. Cell viability; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release; and Ang-1, Ang-2 and VEGF activity were detected by using ELISA kits. The apoptosis rate was assessed by TUNEL flow cytometry. Expression of the SSeCKS, Ang-1, Ang-2 and VEGF proteins was evaluated by western blotting. Pretreatment with 10 μM or 40 μM DHA efficiently attenuated hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury by activating SSeCKS to increase the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio and downregulate VEGF expression in HBVPs, as evidenced by decreased LDH release and apoptotic rates and increased HBVPs viability. Meanwhile, after we used SSeCKS siRNA to knock down SSeCKS protein expression, the protective effect of DHA on HBVPs following H/R injury was reversed. In conclusion, DHA can activate SSeCKS to increase the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio and downregulate VEGF expression in HBVPs, thus reducing H/R injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Haibin Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Zhen Qiu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Zhongyuan Xia
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
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Possible anticancer agents: synthesis, pharmacological activity, and molecular modeling studies on some 5-N
-Substituted-2-N-(substituted benzenesulphonyl)-L(+)Glutamines. Med Chem Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-017-1858-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Lou S, Balluff B, Cleven AHG, Bovée JVMG, McDonnell LA. Prognostic Metabolite Biomarkers for Soft Tissue Sarcomas Discovered by Mass Spectrometry Imaging. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2017; 28:376-383. [PMID: 27873216 PMCID: PMC5227002 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-016-1544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/15/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Metabolites can be an important read-out of disease. The identification and validation of biomarkers in the cancer metabolome that can stratify high-risk patients is one of the main current research aspects. Mass spectrometry has become the technique of choice for metabolomics studies, and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables their visualization in patient tissues. In this study, we used MSI to identify prognostic metabolite biomarkers in high grade sarcomas; 33 high grade sarcoma patients, comprising osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma were analyzed. Metabolite MSI data were obtained from sections of fresh frozen tissue specimens with matrix-assisted laser/desorption ionization (MALDI) MSI in negative polarity using 9-aminoarcridine as matrix. Subsequent annotation of tumor regions by expert pathologists resulted in tumor-specific metabolite signatures, which were then tested for association with patient survival. Metabolite signals with significant clinical value were further validated and identified by high mass resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) MSI. Three metabolite signals were found to correlate with overall survival (m/z 180.9436 and 241.0118) and metastasis-free survival (m/z 160.8417). FTICR-MSI identified m/z 241.0118 as inositol cyclic phosphate and m/z 160.8417 as carnitine. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Lou
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin Balluff
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute (M4I), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Arjen H G Cleven
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Judith V M G Bovée
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Liam A McDonnell
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, Pisa, Italy.
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