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Hengst JA, Nduwumwami AJ, Sharma A, Yun JK. Fanning the Flames of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress: Can Sphingolipid Metabolism Be Targeted to Enhance ER Stress-Associated Immunogenic Cell Death in Cancer? Mol Pharmacol 2024; 105:155-165. [PMID: 38164594 PMCID: PMC10877730 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The three arms of the unfolded protein response (UPR) surveil the luminal environment of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transmit information through the lipid bilayer to the cytoplasm to alert the cell of stress conditions within the ER lumen. That same lipid bilayer is the site of de novo synthesis of phospholipids and sphingolipids. Thus, it is no surprise that lipids are modulated by and are modulators of ER stress. Given that sphingolipids have both prosurvival and proapoptotic effects, they also exert opposing effects on life/death decisions in the face of prolonged ER stress detected by the UPR. In this review, we will focus on several recent studies that demonstrate how sphingolipids affect each arm of the UPR. We will also discuss the role of sphingolipids in the process of immunogenic cell death downstream of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)/eukaryotic initiating factor 2α (eIF2α) arm of the UPR. Furthermore, we will discuss strategies to target the sphingolipid metabolic pathway that could potentially act synergistically with agents that induce ER stress as novel anticancer treatments. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review provides the readers with a brief discussion of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway and the unfolded protein response. The primary focus of the review is the mechanism(s) by which sphingolipids modulate the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response pathways and the critical role of sphingolipids in the process of immunogenic cell death associated with the ER stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Hengst
- Departments of Pediatrics (J.A.H.) and Pharmacology (A.S., J.K.Y.), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland (A.J.N.)
| | - Asvelt J Nduwumwami
- Departments of Pediatrics (J.A.H.) and Pharmacology (A.S., J.K.Y.), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland (A.J.N.)
| | - Arati Sharma
- Departments of Pediatrics (J.A.H.) and Pharmacology (A.S., J.K.Y.), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland (A.J.N.)
| | - Jong K Yun
- Departments of Pediatrics (J.A.H.) and Pharmacology (A.S., J.K.Y.), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland (A.J.N.)
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2
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Nishimoto K, Okahashi N, Maruyama M, Izumi Y, Nakatani K, Ito Y, Iida J, Bamba T, Matsuda F. Lipidome and metabolome analyses reveal metabolic alterations associated with MCF-7 apoptosis upon 4-hydroxytamoxifen treatment. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18549. [PMID: 37899460 PMCID: PMC10613619 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45764-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) is an anti-cancer drug that induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Although changes in lipid levels and mitochondrial respiration have been observed in OHT-treated cells, the overall mechanisms underlying these metabolic alterations are poorly understood. In this study, time-series metabolomics and lipidomics were used to analyze the changes in metabolic profiles induced by OHT treatment in the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Lipidomic and metabolomic analyses revealed increases in ceramide, diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol, and decreases in citrate, respectively. Gene expression analyses revealed increased expression of ATP-dependent citrate lyase (ACLY) and subsequent fatty acid biosynthetic enzymes, suggesting that OHT-treated MCF-7 cells activate citrate-to-lipid metabolism. The significance of the observed metabolic changes was evaluated by co-treating MCF-7 cells with OHT and ACLY or a diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitor. Co-treatment ameliorated cell death and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential compared to that in OHT treatment alone. The inhibition of cell death by co-treatment with an ACLY inhibitor has been observed in other breast cancer cell lines. These results suggest that citrate-to-lipid metabolism is critical for OHT-induced cell death in breast cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Nishimoto
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Okahashi
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Biotechnology, Osaka University Shimadzu Analytical Innovation Research Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
- Industrial Biotechnology Initiative Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masaharu Maruyama
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Izumi
- Division of Metabolomics, Medical Research Center for High Depth Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kohta Nakatani
- Division of Metabolomics, Medical Research Center for High Depth Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuki Ito
- Department of Biotechnology, Osaka University Shimadzu Analytical Innovation Research Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
- Analytical and Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, 1 Nishinokyo Kuwabara-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-8511, Japan
| | - Junko Iida
- Department of Biotechnology, Osaka University Shimadzu Analytical Innovation Research Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
- Analytical and Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, 1 Nishinokyo Kuwabara-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-8511, Japan
| | - Takeshi Bamba
- Division of Metabolomics, Medical Research Center for High Depth Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Fumio Matsuda
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
- Department of Biotechnology, Osaka University Shimadzu Analytical Innovation Research Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
- Industrial Biotechnology Initiative Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
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3
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Identification of Potential Treatments for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia through Integrated Genomic Network Analysis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15121562. [PMID: 36559013 PMCID: PMC9786277 DOI: 10.3390/ph15121562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The advancement of high-throughput sequencing and genomic analysis revealed that acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a genetically heterogeneous disease. The abundance of such genetic data in ALL can also be utilized to identify potential targets for drug discovery and even drug repurposing. We aimed to determine potential genes for drug development and further guide the identification of candidate drugs repurposed for treating ALL through integrated genomic network analysis. Genetic variants associated with ALL were retrieved from the GWAS Catalog. We further applied a genomic-driven drug repurposing approach based on the six functional annotations to prioritize crucial biological ALL-related genes based on the scoring system. Lastly, we identified the potential drugs in which the mechanisms overlapped with the therapeutic targets and prioritized the candidate drugs using Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis. Forty-two genes were considered biological ALL-risk genes with ARID5B topping the list. Based on potentially druggable genes that we identified, palbociclib, sirolimus, and tacrolimus were under clinical trial for ALL. Additionally, chlorprothixene, sirolimus, dihydroergocristine, papaverine, and tamoxifen are the top five drug repositioning candidates for ALL according to the CMap score with dasatinib as a comparator. In conclusion, this study determines the practicability and the potential of integrated genomic network analysis in driving drug discovery in ALL.
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Pal P, Atilla-Gokcumen GE, Frasor J. Emerging Roles of Ceramides in Breast Cancer Biology and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911178. [PMID: 36232480 PMCID: PMC9569866 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the classic hallmarks of cancer is the imbalance between elevated cell proliferation and reduced cell death. Ceramide, a bioactive sphingolipid that can regulate this balance, has long been implicated in cancer. While the effects of ceramide on cell death and therapeutic efficacy are well established, emerging evidence indicates that ceramide turnover to downstream sphingolipids, such as sphingomyelin, hexosylceramides, sphingosine-1-phosphate, and ceramide-1-phosphate, is equally important in driving pro-tumorigenic phenotypes, such as proliferation, survival, migration, stemness, and therapy resistance. The complex and dynamic sphingolipid network has been extensively studied in several cancers, including breast cancer, to find key sphingolipidomic alterations that can be exploited to develop new therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. Here, we review how the current literature shapes our understanding of how ceramide synthesis and turnover are altered in breast cancer and how these changes offer potential strategies to improve breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purab Pal
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - G. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
- Correspondence: (G.E.A.-G.); (J.F.)
| | - Jonna Frasor
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Correspondence: (G.E.A.-G.); (J.F.)
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5
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A hypothetical proposal to employ meperidine and tamoxifen in treatment of glioblastoma. Role of P-glycoprotein, ceramide and metabolic pathways. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2022; 215:107208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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6
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Fisher-Wellman KH, Hagen JT, Kassai M, Kao LP, Nelson MAM, McLaughlin KL, Coalson HS, Fox TE, Tan SF, Feith DJ, Kester M, Loughran TP, Claxton DF, Cabot MC. Alterations in sphingolipid composition and mitochondrial bioenergetics represent synergistic therapeutic vulnerabilities linked to multidrug resistance in leukemia. FASEB J 2021; 36:e22094. [PMID: 34888943 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101194rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Modifications in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics are key factors implicated in cancer cell response to chemotherapy, including chemotherapy resistance. In the present work, we utilized acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines, selected to be refractory to various chemotherapeutics, to explore the interplay between SL metabolism and mitochondrial biology supportive of multidrug resistance (MDR). In agreement with previous findings in cytarabine or daunorubicin resistant AML cells, relative to chemosensitive wildtype controls, HL-60 cells refractory to vincristine (HL60/VCR) presented with alterations in SL enzyme expression and lipidome composition. Such changes were typified by upregulated expression of various ceramide detoxifying enzymes, as well as corresponding shifts in ceramide, glucosylceramide, and sphingomyelin (SM) molecular species. With respect to mitochondria, despite consistent increases in both basal respiration and maximal respiratory capacity, direct interrogation of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system revealed intrinsic deficiencies in HL60/VCR, as well as across multiple MDR model systems. Based on the apparent requirement for augmented SL and mitochondrial flux to support the MDR phenotype, we explored a combinatorial therapeutic paradigm designed to target each pathway. Remarkably, despite minimal cytotoxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), co-targeting SL metabolism, and respiratory complex I (CI) induced synergistic cytotoxicity consistently across multiple MDR leukemia models. Together, these data underscore the intimate connection between cellular sphingolipids and mitochondrial metabolism and suggest that pharmacological intervention across both pathways may represent a novel treatment strategy against MDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - James T Hagen
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Miki Kassai
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Li-Pin Kao
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Margaret A M Nelson
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kelsey L McLaughlin
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hannah S Coalson
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David J Feith
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David F Claxton
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.,Penn state Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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7
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Olivas-Aguirre M, Torres-López L, Gómez-Sandoval Z, Villatoro-Gómez K, Pottosin I, Dobrovinskaya O. Tamoxifen Sensitizes Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells to Cannabidiol by Targeting Cyclophilin-D and Altering Mitochondrial Ca 2+ Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8688. [PMID: 34445394 PMCID: PMC8395529 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and tamoxifen (TAM) have been observed in several cancer types. We have recently shown that CBD primarily targets mitochondria, inducing a stable mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and, consequently, the death of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells. Mitochondria have also been documented among cellular targets for the TAM action. In the present study we have demonstrated a synergistic cytotoxic effect of TAM and CBD against T-ALL cells. By measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), mitochondrial calcium ([Ca2+]m) and protein-ligand docking analysis we determined that TAM targets cyclophilin D (CypD) to inhibit mPTP formation. This results in a sustained [Ca2+]m overload upon the consequent CBD administration. Thus, TAM acting on CypD sensitizes T-ALL to mitocans such as CBD by altering the mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Olivas-Aguirre
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de Julio 965, Villa de San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Mexico; (M.O.-A.); (L.T.-L.); (K.V.-G.)
| | - Liliana Torres-López
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de Julio 965, Villa de San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Mexico; (M.O.-A.); (L.T.-L.); (K.V.-G.)
| | - Zeferino Gómez-Sandoval
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Colima-Coquimatlán, km. 9, Coquimatlán 28400, Mexico;
| | - Kathya Villatoro-Gómez
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de Julio 965, Villa de San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Mexico; (M.O.-A.); (L.T.-L.); (K.V.-G.)
| | - Igor Pottosin
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de Julio 965, Villa de San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Mexico; (M.O.-A.); (L.T.-L.); (K.V.-G.)
| | - Oxana Dobrovinskaya
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de Julio 965, Villa de San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Mexico; (M.O.-A.); (L.T.-L.); (K.V.-G.)
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8
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Kori M, Aydin B, Gulfidan G, Beklen H, Kelesoglu N, Caliskan Iscan A, Turanli B, Erzik C, Karademir B, Arga KY. The Repertoire of Glycan Alterations and Glycoproteins in Human Cancers. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2021; 25:139-168. [PMID: 33404348 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2020.0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cancer as the leading cause of death worldwide has many issues that still need to be addressed. Since the alterations on the glycan compositions or/and structures (i.e., glycosylation, sialylation, and fucosylation) are common features of tumorigenesis, glycomics becomes an emerging field examining the structure and function of glycans. In the past, cancer studies heavily relied on genomics and transcriptomics with relatively little exploration of the glycan alterations and glycoprotein biomarkers among individuals and populations. Since glycosylation of proteins increases their structural complexity by several orders of magnitude, glycome studies resulted in highly dynamic biomarkers that can be evaluated for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. Glycome not only integrates our genetic background with past and present environmental factors but also offers a promise of more efficient patient stratification compared with genetic variations. Therefore, studying glycans holds great potential for better diagnostic markers as well as developing more efficient treatment strategies in human cancers. While recent developments in glycomics and associated technologies now offer new possibilities to achieve a high-throughput profiling of glycan diversity, we aim to give an overview of the current status of glycan research and the potential applications of the glycans in the scope of the personalized medicine strategies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medi Kori
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Busra Aydin
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gizem Gulfidan
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hande Beklen
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nurdan Kelesoglu
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayşegul Caliskan Iscan
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Department of Pharmacy, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Beste Turanli
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Can Erzik
- Department of Medical Biology and School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Betul Karademir
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Genetic and Metabolic Diseases Research and Investigation Center, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kazim Yalcin Arga
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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9
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Clifford RE, Bowden D, Blower E, Kirwan CC, Vimalachandran D. Does tamoxifen have a therapeutic role outside of breast cancer? A systematic review of the evidence. Surg Oncol 2020; 33:100-107. [PMID: 32561074 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2020.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tamoxifen is a widely used hormonal based therapy for breast cancer in the adjuvant and metastatic setting, prolonging overall and recurrence-free survival. There has been increasing interest in the potential for novel "off-target" effects of tamoxifen and its metabolite N-desmethyltamoxifen across a number of cancer types. We aim to review the current literature regarding the potential use of tamoxifen in other primary malignancies. METHOD A qualitative systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines using pre-set search criteria across the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases from 1985 to 2019. Additional results were generated from included papers references. RESULTS A total of 324 papers were identified, of which 47 were included; a further 29 articles were obtained from additional referencing to give a total of 76 articles. Clinical trials have demonstrated benefits with the use of tamoxifen in isolation and combination, specifically in patients with advanced non-resectable malignancy, however results are not consistent across the literature. In vivo data consistently suggests that off target effects of tamoxifen are mediated through the ceramide pathway or through inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC). CONCLUSIONS With increased focus upon the potential of repurposing drugs, tamoxifen may be a candidate for repurposing in the wider cancer setting. There is evidence to suggest that the ceramide or PKC pathway could act as a therapeutic target for tamoxifen or alternative chemotherapeutics and merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Clifford
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, The University of Liverpool, UK.
| | - D Bowden
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, The University of Liverpool, UK
| | - E Blower
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - C C Kirwan
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - D Vimalachandran
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, The University of Liverpool, UK; The Countess of Chester Foundation Trust, UK
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10
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Pearson JM, Tan SF, Sharma A, Annageldiyev C, Fox TE, Abad JL, Fabrias G, Desai D, Amin S, Wang HG, Cabot MC, Claxton DF, Kester M, Feith DJ, Loughran TP. Ceramide Analogue SACLAC Modulates Sphingolipid Levels and MCL-1 Splicing to Induce Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 18:352-363. [PMID: 31744877 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid cells in the blood and bone marrow. The 5-year survival rate is approximately 25%, and recent therapeutic developments have yielded little survival benefit. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. We previously demonstrated that acid ceramidase (ASAH1, referred to as AC) is upregulated in AML and high AC activity correlates with poor patient survival. Here, we characterized a novel AC inhibitor, SACLAC, that significantly reduced the viability of AML cells with an EC50 of approximately 3 μmol/L across 30 human AML cell lines. Treatment of AML cell lines with SACLAC effectively blocked AC activity and induced a decrease in sphingosine 1-phosphate and a 2.5-fold increase in total ceramide levels. Mechanistically, we showed that SACLAC treatment led to reduced levels of splicing factor SF3B1 and alternative MCL-1 mRNA splicing in multiple human AML cell lines. This increased proapoptotic MCL-1S levels and contributed to SACLAC-induced apoptosis in AML cells. The apoptotic effects of SACLAC were attenuated by SF3B1 or MCL-1 overexpression and by selective knockdown of MCL-1S. Furthermore, AC knockdown and exogenous C16-ceramide supplementation induced similar changes in SF3B1 level and MCL-1S/L ratio. Finally, we demonstrated that SACLAC treatment leads to a 37% to 75% reduction in leukemic burden in two human AML xenograft mouse models. IMPLICATIONS: These data further emphasize AC as a therapeutic target in AML and define SACLAC as a potent inhibitor to be further optimized for future clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Pearson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Arati Sharma
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jose Luis Abad
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Networking Biomedical Research Centre on Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBER-EHD), Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Spanish National Research Council (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Fabrias
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Networking Biomedical Research Centre on Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBER-EHD), Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Spanish National Research Council (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dhimant Desai
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Shantu Amin
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | | | - Mark Kester
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - David J Feith
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. .,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
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11
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Pivotal role of mitophagy in response of acute myelogenous leukemia to a ceramide-tamoxifen-containing drug regimen. Exp Cell Res 2019; 381:256-264. [PMID: 31112736 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy marked by the accumulation of large numbers of immature myeloblasts in bone marrow. The overall prognosis in AML is poor; hence, there is a pressing need to improve treatment. Although the sphingolipid (SL) ceramide demonstrates known cancer suppressor properties, it's mechanism of action is multifaceted. Our studies in leukemia and other cancers have demonstrated that when combined with the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, the apoptosis-inducting effect of ceramide is greatly enhanced. The goal of the present study was to establish whether a ceramide-tamoxifen regimen also affects autophagic-driven cellular responses in leukemia. Using the human AML cell line KG-1, we demonstrate that, unlike exposure to the single agents, combination C6-ceramide-tamoxifen upregulated LC3-II expression, inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway, and synergistically induced KG-1 cell death in an Atg5-dependent manner. In addition, colocalization of autophagosome and mitochondria, indicative of mitophagosome formation and mitophagy, was observed. Versatility of the drug regimen was confirmed by experiments in MV4-11 cells, a FLT3-ITD AML mutant. These results indicate that the C6-ceramide-tamoxifen regimen plays a pivotal role inducing autophagy in AML, and thus constitutes a novel therapeutic design.
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12
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Targeting sphingolipid metabolism as an approach for combination therapies in haematological malignancies. Cell Death Discov 2018; 4:72. [PMID: 30062053 PMCID: PMC6060109 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-018-0075-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional chemotherapy-based drug combinations have, until recently, been the backbone of most therapeutic strategies for cancer. In a time of emerging rationale drug development, targeted therapies are beginning to be added to traditional chemotherapeutics to synergistically enhance clinical responses. Of note, the importance of pro-apoptotic ceramide in mediating the anti-cancer effects of these therapies is becoming more apparent. Furthermore, reduced cellular ceramide in favour of pro-survival sphingolipids correlates with tumorigenesis and most importantly, drug resistance. Thus, agents that manipulate sphingolipid metabolism have been explored as potential anti-cancer agents and have recently demonstrated exciting potential to augment the efficacy of anti-cancer therapeutics. This review examines the biology underpinning these observations and the potential use of sphingolipid manipulating agents in the context of existing and emerging therapies for haematological malignancies. • Efficacy of many chemotherapeutics and targeted therapies is dictated by cellular ceramide levels. • Oncogene activation skews sphingolipid metabolism to favour the production of pro-survival sphingolipids. • Inhibitors of enzymes involved in ceramide metabolism exhibit promise in the relapsed-refractory setting. • Anti-cancer activity of sphingosine kinase inhibitors provides several options for new drug combinations. Open Questions • What other clinically utilised drugs rely on increases in ceramide levels for their efficacy and can they be effectively partnered with other ceramide inducing agents? • How does ceramide modulate the Bcl-2 family proteins, Mcl-1 and Bcl-2? • Are sphingolipid enzyme inhibitors best suited in the frontline or relapsed-refractory setting?
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13
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Wimalachandra D, Yang JX, Zhu L, Tan E, Asada H, Chan JY, Lee YH. Long-chain glucosylceramides crosstalk with LYN mediates endometrial cell migration. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2018; 1863:71-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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14
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Leignadier J, Dalenc F, Poirot M, Silvente-Poirot S. Improving the efficacy of hormone therapy in breast cancer: The role of cholesterol metabolism in SERM-mediated autophagy, cell differentiation and death. Biochem Pharmacol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.06.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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15
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STAT3 mediates C6-ceramide-induced cell death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2017; 2:17051. [PMID: 29263930 PMCID: PMC5661641 DOI: 10.1038/sigtrans.2017.51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Revised: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is poorly understood and it remains incurable with current therapies. We have previously shown that nanoliposomal C6-ceramide (CNL) is an effective therapy in an in vivo murine model of CLL. However, the key signaling pathways mediating CNL-induced cell death in CLL remains unknown. We hypothesized that CNL targets STAT3, a critical regulator of hematopoietic biology. We observed that CNL treatment reduced phosphorylated STAT3 at both Y705 and S727 residues in CLL cell lines and patient cells. This, in turn, reduced STAT3 transcriptional activity and expression of critical STAT3-dependent survival factors like Mcl-1 and survivin. The effect of CNL on STAT3 was further confirmed ex vivo as shown by reduced STAT3 phosphorylation in xenograft tumors obtained from mice treated with CNL. CNL suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation at Y705 and S727 through reduction in BTK activity and MEK1/2 kinase/PKC activities, respectively. Moreover, a synergistic reduction in CLL cell viability was observed on co-treatment with CNL and the BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib. Expression of an oncogenic form of STAT3 conferred partial resistance to CNL, providing confirmation that STAT3 mediates CNL-induced cell death. Taken together, these findings provide the first body of evidence demonstrating ceramide regulation of STAT3 phosphorylation. These results are also the first to demonstrate an effect of ceramide on BTK, a critical kinase mediating the B-cell receptor signaling in CLL cells and suggest a novel and synergistic combination of CNL and BTK inhibitors for CLL treatment.
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16
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Ortega JA, Arencibia JM, La Sala G, Borgogno M, Bauer I, Bono L, Braccia C, Armirotti A, Girotto S, Ganesan A, De Vivo M. Pharmacophore Identification and Scaffold Exploration to Discover Novel, Potent, and Chemically Stable Inhibitors of Acid Ceramidase in Melanoma Cells. J Med Chem 2017; 60:5800-5815. [PMID: 28603987 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (AC) hydrolyzes ceramides, which are central lipid messengers for metabolism and signaling of sphingolipids. A growing body of evidence links deregulation of sphingolipids to several diseases, including cancer. Indeed, AC expression is abnormally high in melanoma cells. AC inhibition may thus be key to treating malignant melanoma. Here, we have used a systematic scaffold exploration to design a general pharmacophore for AC inhibition. This pharmacophore comprises a 6 + 5 fused ring heterocycle linked to an aliphatic substituent via a urea moiety. We have thus identified the novel benzimidazole derivatives 10, 21, 27, and 30, which are highly potent AC inhibitors. Their chemical and metabolic stabilities are comparable or superior to those of previously reported AC inhibitors. Moreover, they are potent against endogenous AC in intact melanoma cells. These novel inhibitors merit further characterization and can serve as a promising starting point for the discovery of new antimelanoma therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Antonio Ortega
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Jose M Arencibia
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Sala
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Borgogno
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Inga Bauer
- CompuNet, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Bono
- D3-PharmaChemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Clarissa Braccia
- D3-PharmaChemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- D3-PharmaChemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Girotto
- CompuNet, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Anand Ganesan
- Department of Dermatology and Biological Chemistry, University of California , 202 Sprague Hall, 92697-2400 Irvine, United States
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy.,IAS-5/INM-9 Computational Biomedicine Forschungszentrum Jülich , Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428 Jülich, Germany
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17
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Tan SF, Pearson JM, Feith DJ, Loughran TP. The emergence of acid ceramidase as a therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2017; 21:583-590. [PMID: 28434262 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2017.1322065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common adult leukemia. Only a fraction of AML patients will survive with existing chemotherapy regimens. Hence, there is an urgent and unmet need to identify novel targets and develop better therapeutics in AML. In the past decade, the field of sphingolipid metabolism has emerged into the forefront of cancer biology due to its importance in cancer cell proliferation and survival. In particular, acid ceramidase (AC) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target due to its role in neutralizing the pro-death effects of ceramide. Areas covered: This review highlights key information about AML biology as well as current knowledge on dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism in cancer and AML. We describe AC function and dysregulation in cancer, followed by a review of studies that report elevated AC in AML and compounds known to inhibit the enzyme. Expert opinion: AML has a great need for new drug targets and better therapeutic agents. The finding of elevated AC in AML supports the concept that this enzyme represents a novel and realistic therapeutic target for this common leukemia. More effort is needed towards developing better AC inhibitors for clinical use and combination treatment with existing AML therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Fern Tan
- a Department of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA
| | - Jennifer M Pearson
- a Department of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA
| | - David J Feith
- a Department of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA.,b University of Virginia Cancer Center , Charlottesville , VA , USA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- a Department of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA.,b University of Virginia Cancer Center , Charlottesville , VA , USA
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18
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Visualization of ceramide channels in lysosomes following endogenous palmitoyl-ceramide accumulation as an initial step in the induction of necrosis. Biochem Biophys Rep 2017; 11:174-181. [PMID: 28955782 PMCID: PMC5614681 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2017.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we showed that the dual addition of glucosyl ceramide synthase and ceramidase inhibitors to A549 cell culture led to the possibility of ceramide channel formation via endogenous palmitoyl-ceramide accumulation with an increase in cholesterol contents in the lysosome membrane as an initial step prior to initiation of necrotic cell death. In addition, the dual addition led to black circular structures of 10-20 nm, interpreted as stain-filled cylindrical channels on transmission electron microscopy. The formation of palmitoyl-ceramide channels in the lysosome membrane causes the liberation of cathepsin B from lysosomes for necrotic cell death. On the other hand, necrotic cell death in the dual addition was not caused by oxidative stress or cathepsin B activity, and the cell death was free from the contribution of the translation of Bax protein to the lysosome membrane.
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Key Words
- APCI, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization
- Bax, BCL2-associated X protein
- C16:0-Cer, palmitoyl-Cer
- CA-74Me, [(2S,3S)-3-Propylcarbamoyloxirane-2-carbonyl]-L-isoleucyl-L-proline methyl ester
- Cer, ceramide
- CerS, ceramide synthase
- D-NMAPPD, N-[(1R,2R)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxy-methyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]tetradecanamide
- DAPI, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole
- DL-PDMP, DL-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol
- DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium
- DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide
- DTT, dithiothreitol
- ECL, enhanced chemiluminescence reagent
- FBS, fetal bovine serum
- GlcCer, glucosyl ceramide
- ISs, internal standards
- LAMP-2, lysosome-associated membrane protein 2
- LC3B, autophagosomal membrane bound-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B
- LMP, lysosomal membrane permeability
- MS, mass spectrometry
- NAC, N-acetyl-L-cysteine
- PBS, phosphate buffered saline
- SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
- SIM, selected ion monitoring
- [D7]d18:0, D-erythro-sphinganine-D7
- [D7]d18:1, D-erythro-sphingosine-D7
- acridine orange, 3,6-Bis(dimethylamino) acridine hydrochloride
- d18:0, sphinganine
- d18:1, sphingosine
- d18:1-[D31]C16:0-Cer, N-palmitoyl [D31]-D-erythro-sphingosine
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19
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Morad SAF, Davis TS, MacDougall MR, Tan SF, Feith DJ, Desai DH, Amin SG, Kester M, Loughran TP, Cabot MC. Role of P-glycoprotein inhibitors in ceramide-based therapeutics for treatment of cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 130:21-33. [PMID: 28189725 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The anticancer properties of ceramide, a sphingolipid with potent tumor-suppressor properties, can be dampened via glycosylation, notably in multidrug resistance wherein ceramide glycosylation is characteristically elevated. Earlier works using the ceramide analog, C6-ceramide, demonstrated that the antiestrogen tamoxifen, a first generation P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor, blocked C6-ceramide glycosylation and magnified apoptotic responses. The present investigation was undertaken with the goal of discovering non-anti-estrogenic alternatives to tamoxifen that could be employed as adjuvants for improving the efficacy of ceramide-centric therapeutics in treatment of cancer. Herein we demonstrate that the tamoxifen metabolites, desmethyltamoxifen and didesmethyltamoxifen, and specific, high-affinity P-gp inhibitors, tariquidar and zosuquidar, synergistically enhanced C6-ceramide cytotoxicity in multidrug resistant HL-60/VCR acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells, whereas the selective estrogen receptor antagonist, fulvestrant, was ineffective. Active C6-ceramide-adjuvant combinations elicited mitochondrial ROS production and cytochrome c release, and induced apoptosis. Cytotoxicity was mitigated by introduction of antioxidant. Effective adjuvants markedly inhibited C6-ceramide glycosylation as well as conversion to sphingomyelin. Active regimens were also effective in KG-1a cells, a leukemia stem cell-like line, and in LoVo human colorectal cancer cells, a solid tumor model. In summary, our work details discovery of the link between P-gp inhibitors and the regulation and potentiation of ceramide metabolism in a pro-apoptotic direction in cancer cells. Given the active properties of these adjuvants in synergizing with C6-ceramide, independent of drug resistance status, stemness, or cancer type, our results suggest that the C6-ceramide-containing regimens could provide alternative, promising therapeutic direction, in addition to finding novel, off-label applications for P-gp inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy A F Morad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Traci S Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Matthew R MacDougall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - David J Feith
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States; University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Dhimant H Desai
- Penn State University College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University Drive, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Shantu G Amin
- Penn State University College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University Drive, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Mark Kester
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States; University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC, United States.
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20
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Morad SAF, Ryan TE, Neufer PD, Zeczycki TN, Davis TS, MacDougall MR, Fox TE, Tan SF, Feith DJ, Loughran TP, Kester M, Claxton DF, Barth BM, Deering TG, Cabot MC. Ceramide-tamoxifen regimen targets bioenergetic elements in acute myelogenous leukemia. J Lipid Res 2016; 57:1231-42. [PMID: 27140664 PMCID: PMC4918852 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m067389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of our study was to determine the mechanism of action of the short-chain ceramide analog, C6-ceramide, and the breast cancer drug, tamoxifen, which we show coactively depress viability and induce apoptosis in human acute myelogenous leukemia cells. Exposure to the C6-ceramide-tamoxifen combination elicited decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential and complex I respiration, increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS), and release of mitochondrial proapoptotic proteins. Decreases in ATP levels, reduced glycolytic capacity, and reduced expression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins also resulted. Cytotoxicity of the drug combination was mitigated by exposure to antioxidant. Cells metabolized C6-ceramide by glycosylation and hydrolysis, the latter leading to increases in long-chain ceramides. Tamoxifen potently blocked glycosylation of C6-ceramide and long-chain ceramides. N-desmethyltamoxifen, a poor antiestrogen and the major tamoxifen metabolite in humans, was also effective with C6-ceramide, indicating that traditional antiestrogen pathways are not involved in cellular responses. We conclude that cell death is driven by mitochondrial targeting and ROS generation and that tamoxifen enhances the ceramide effect by blocking its metabolism. As depletion of ATP and targeting the "Warburg effect" represent dynamic metabolic insult, this ceramide-containing combination may be of utility in the treatment of leukemia and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy A F Morad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Terence E Ryan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - P Darrell Neufer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Tonya N Zeczycki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Traci S Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Matthew R MacDougall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Todd E Fox
- Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - David J Feith
- Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Mark Kester
- Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - David F Claxton
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA
| | - Brian M Barth
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
| | - Tye G Deering
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
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21
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Marques ARA, Mirzaian M, Akiyama H, Wisse P, Ferraz MJ, Gaspar P, Ghauharali-van der Vlugt K, Meijer R, Giraldo P, Alfonso P, Irún P, Dahl M, Karlsson S, Pavlova EV, Cox TM, Scheij S, Verhoek M, Ottenhoff R, van Roomen CPAA, Pannu NS, van Eijk M, Dekker N, Boot RG, Overkleeft HS, Blommaart E, Hirabayashi Y, Aerts JM. Glucosylated cholesterol in mammalian cells and tissues: formation and degradation by multiple cellular β-glucosidases. J Lipid Res 2016; 57:451-63. [PMID: 26724485 PMCID: PMC4766994 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m064923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The membrane lipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is continuously formed and degraded. Cells express two GlcCer-degrading β-glucosidases, glucocerebrosidase (GBA) and GBA2, located in and outside the lysosome, respectively. Here we demonstrate that through transglucosylation both GBA and GBA2 are able to catalyze in vitro the transfer of glucosyl-moieties from GlcCer to cholesterol, and vice versa. Furthermore, the natural occurrence of 1-O-cholesteryl-β-D-glucopyranoside (GlcChol) in mouse tissues and human plasma is demonstrated using LC-MS/MS and 13C6-labeled GlcChol as internal standard. In cells, the inhibition of GBA increases GlcChol, whereas inhibition of GBA2 decreases glucosylated sterol. Similarly, in GBA2-deficient mice, GlcChol is reduced. Depletion of GlcCer by inhibition of GlcCer synthase decreases GlcChol in cells and likewise in plasma of inhibitor-treated Gaucher disease patients. In tissues of mice with Niemann-Pick type C disease, a condition characterized by intralysosomal accumulation of cholesterol, marked elevations in GlcChol occur as well. When lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol is induced in cultured cells, GlcChol is formed via lysosomal GBA. This illustrates that reversible transglucosylation reactions are highly dependent on local availability of suitable acceptors. In conclusion, mammalian tissues contain GlcChol formed by transglucosylation through β-glucosidases using GlcCer as donor. Our findings reveal a novel metabolic function for GlcCer.
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Affiliation(s)
- André R A Marques
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mina Mirzaian
- Departments of Medical Biochemistry Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Patrick Wisse
- Bio-organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maria J Ferraz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paulo Gaspar
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Rianne Meijer
- Departments of Medical Biochemistry Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pilar Giraldo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Unidad de Investigación Traslacional, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pilar Alfonso
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Unidad de Investigación Traslacional, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pilar Irún
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Unidad de Investigación Traslacional, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Maria Dahl
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stefan Karlsson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Elena V Pavlova
- Addenbrooke's Hospital, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Timothy M Cox
- Addenbrooke's Hospital, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Saskia Scheij
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marri Verhoek
- Departments of Medical Biochemistry Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Roelof Ottenhoff
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Navraj S Pannu
- Departments of Medical Biochemistry Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marco van Eijk
- Departments of Medical Biochemistry Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nick Dekker
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rolf G Boot
- Departments of Medical Biochemistry Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Herman S Overkleeft
- Bio-organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Edward Blommaart
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Johannes M Aerts
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Departments of Medical Biochemistry Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
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22
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Abstract
Fenretinide, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide, (4-HPR), a synthetic retinoid, owes its cancer-toxic effects in part to the generation of ceramide, a potent tumor-suppressing sphingolipid. As such, 4-HPR has garnered considerable interest as a chemotherapeutic. Cancer cells, however, via various metabolic routes, inactivate ceramide, and this can limit 4-HPR efficacy. As relatively little is known regarding 4-HPR-induced ceramide management in acute myelogeneous leukemia (AML), we undertook the present study to evaluate the impact of 4-HPR on ceramide production, metabolism, and cytotoxicity. In KG-1, HL-60, and HL-60/VCR (multidrug resistant) human leukemia cells, 4-HPR induced 15-, 2-, and 20-fold increases in ceramide (measured using [3H]palmitic acid), respectively. By use of specific inhibitors we show that ceramide was produced by sphingomyelinase and de novo pathways in response to 4-HPR exposure. HL-60/VCR cells metabolized ceramide to glucosylceramide (GC). 4-HPR exposure (1.25-10 μM) reduced viability in all cell lines, with approximate IC50's ranging from 1 to 8.0 μM. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated in response to 4-HPR treatment, and the concomitant cytotoxicity was reversed by addition of vitamin E. 4-HPR was not cytotoxic nor did it elicit ceramide formation in K562, a chronic myeloid leukemia cell line; however, K562 cells were sensitive to a cell-deliverable form of ceramide, C6-ceramide. Treatment of Molt-3, an acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, with 4-HPR revealed moderate ceramide production (5-fold over control), robust conversion of ceramide to GC and sphingomyelin, and resistance to 4-HPR and C6-ceramide. In conclusion, this work demonstrates diversity within and among leukemia in 4-HPR sensitivity and ceramide generation and subsequent metabolism. As such, knowledge of these metabolic pathways can provide guidance for enhancing ceramide-driven effects of 4-HPR in treatment of leukemia.
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Morad SAF, Cabot MC. Tamoxifen regulation of sphingolipid metabolism--Therapeutic implications. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2015; 1851:1134-45. [PMID: 25964209 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen, a triphenylethylene antiestrogen and one of the first-line endocrine therapies used to treat estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, has a number of interesting, off-target effects, and among these is the inhibition of sphingolipid metabolism. More specifically, tamoxifen inhibits ceramide glycosylation, and enzymatic step that can adventitiously support the influential tumor-suppressor properties of ceramide, the aliphatic backbone of sphingolipids. Additionally, tamoxifen and metabolites N-desmethyltamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen, have been shown to inhibit ceramide hydrolysis by the enzyme acid ceramidase. This particular intervention slows ceramide destruction and thereby depresses formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate, a mitogenic sphingolipid with cancer growth-promoting properties. As ceramide-centric therapies are becoming appealing clinical interventions in the treatment of cancer, agents like tamoxifen that can retard the generation of mitogenic sphingolipids and buffer ceramide clearance via inhibition of glycosylation, take on new importance. In this review, we present an abridged, lay introduction to sphingolipid metabolism, briefly chronicle tamoxifen's history in the clinic, examine studies that demonstrate the impact of triphenylethylenes on sphingolipid metabolism in cancer cells, and canvass works relevant to the use of tamoxifen as adjuvant to drive ceramide-centric therapies in cancer treatment. The objective is to inform the readership of what could be a novel, off-label indication of tamoxifen and structurally-related triphenylethylenes, an indication divorced from estrogen receptor status and one with application in drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy A F Morad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
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