Link of Dlk/ZIP kinase to cell apoptosis and tumor suppression

Off-target pharmacological activity at various kinases: Potential functional and pathological side effects

In drug discovery, during the lead optimization and candidate characterization stages, novel small molecules are frequently evaluated in a battery of in vitro pharmacology assays to identify potential unintended, off-target interactions with various receptors, transporters, ion channels, and enzymes, including kinases. Furthermore, these screening panels may also provide utility at later stages of development to provide a mechanistic understanding of unexpected safety findings. Here, we present a compendium of the most likely functional and pathological outcomes associated with interaction(s) to a panel of 95 kinases based on an extensive curation of the scientific literature. This panel of kinases was designed by AbbVie based on safety-related data extracted from the literature, as well as from over 20 years of institutional knowledge generated from discovery efforts. For each kinase, the scientific literature was reviewed using online databases and the most often reported functional and pathological effects were summarized. This work should serve as a practical guide for small molecule drug discovery scientists and clinical investigators to predict and/or interpret adverse effects related to pharmacological interactions with these kinases.

Silencing DAPK3 blocks the autophagosome-lysosome fusion by mediating SNAP29 in trophoblast cells under high glucose treatment

Autophagy plays an essential role in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Death-associated protein kinase-3 (DAPK3) regulates a variety of cellular functions; however, the relationship between DAPK3 and autophagy is unknown. In this study, we aim to investigate whether DAPK3 is associated with autophagy in GDM, and we found that DAPK3 was upregulated in the placenta of GDM patients and extravillous trophoblast cells under high-glucose conditions. Silencing DAPK3 decreased the assembly of the STX17-SNAP29-VAMP8 complex, leading to the blockade of autophagosome-lysosome fusion by mediating synaptosomal-associated protein 29 (SNAP29). Moreover, knockdown of DAPK3 ameliorates cell invasion and mediates autophagy in high glucose, and does not alter the expression of autophagy-related genes in normal glucose. Our study demonstrates the significance of DAPK3 in autophagy and GDM, which may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating trophoblast invasion.

Hot water extract of Agaricus blazei Murrill specifically inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells

Background

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive human malignancies. The development of a novel drug to treat pancreatic cancer is imperative, and it is thought that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) could yield such a candidate. Agaricus blazei Murrill is a CAM that has been tested as an anticancer drug, but its efficacy against pancreatic cancer is poorly understood. To study the potential of A. blazei in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, we examined the effects of its hot water extract on the proliferation and global gene expression profile of human pancreatic cancer cells.

Methods

Three distinct human pancreatic cancer cell lines, MIAPaCa-2, PCI-35, and PK-8, and the immortalized human pancreatic duct-epithelial cell line, HPDE, were employed. The cells were incubated with the appropriate growth medium supplemented with the hot water extract of A. blazei at final concentrations of 0.005, 0.015%, or 0.045%, and cellular proliferation was assessed for five consecutive days using an MTT assay. Apoptosis was examined by using flow cytometry and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Caspase-dependent apoptosis was assayed using immunoblotting. Global gene expression profiles were examined using a whole human genome 44 K microarray, and the microarray results were validated by using real-time reverse transcription PCR.

Results

The hot water extract of A. blazei significantly inhibited the proliferation of cultured pancreatic cancer cells through the induction of G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis; the effect was the smallest in HPDE cells. Furthermore, significant alterations in the global gene expression profiles of pancreatic cancer cells occurred following treatment with the hot water extract of A. blazei. Genes associated with kinetochore function, spindle formation, and centromere maintenance were particularly affected, as well as cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases that are essential for cell cycle progression. In addition, proapoptotic genes were upregulated.

Conclusions

The hot water extract of A. blazei may be useful for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and is a potential candidate for the isolation of novel, active compounds specific for mitotic spindle dysfunction.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2385-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Retinal regeneration mechanisms linked to multiple cancer molecules: A therapeutic conundrum

Over the last decade, a large number of research articles have been published demonstrating regeneration and/or neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells following manipulation of specific genetic and molecular targets. Interestingly, of the targets that have been identified to promote repair following visual system damage, many are genes known to be mutated in different types of cancer. This review explores recent literature on the potential for modulating cancer genes as a therapeutic strategy for visual system repair and looks at the potential clinical challenges associated with implementing this type of therapy. We also discuss signalling mechanisms that have been implicated in cancer and consider how similar mechanisms may improve axonal regeneration in the optic nerve.

Biophysical changes of ATP binding pocket may explain loss of kinase activity in mutant DAPK3 in cancer: A molecular dynamic simulation analysis

DAPK3 belongs to family of DAPK (death-associated protein kinases) and is involved in the regulation of progression of the cell cycle, cell proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy. It is considered as a tumor suppressor kinase, suggesting the loss of its function in case of certain specific mutations. The T112M, D161N and P216S mutations in DAPK3 have been observed in cancer patients. These DAPK3 mutants have been associated with very low kinase activity, which results in the cellular progression towards cancer. However, a clear understanding of the structural and biophysical variations that occur in DAPK3 with these mutations, resulting in the decreased kinase activity has yet not been deciphered. We performed a molecular dynamic simulation study to investigate such structural variations. Our results revealed that mutations caused a significant structural variation in DAPK3, majorly concentrated in the flexible loops that form part of the ATP binding pocket. Interestingly, D161N and P216S mutations collapsed the ATP binding pocket through flexible loops invasion, hindering ATP binding which resulted in very low kinase activity. On the contrary, T112M mutant DAPK3 reduces ATP binding potential through outward distortion of flexible loops. In addition, the mutant lacked characteristic features of the active protein kinase including proper interaction between HR/FD and DFG motifs, well structured hydrophobic spine and Lys42-Glu64 salt bridge interaction. These observations could possibly explain the underlying mechanism associated with the loss of kinase activity with T112M, D161N and P216S mutation in DAPK3.

Complex host genetic susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus infections

Understanding of the host genetic susceptibility to carriage of, and infections, due to Staphylococcus aureus, a nosocomial pathogen, is still in its nascent stages. Mouse models show variable susceptibility to S. aureus infections across mouse strains and disease models with roles for signaling pathways involving Toll-like receptors (TLR-1, TLR-2, and TLR-6), interleukins (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13), chemokines [CXC ligand (CXCL)-1 and CXCL-2], and T helper (Th)1/Th2 responses. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for carriage in humans identified SNPs in IL4, DEFB1, CRP, and VDR for persistent nasal carriage. NR3C1 haplotypes may either enhance risk or provide protection from colonization. GWASs for all S. aureus diseases have suggested roles for DAPK3, a kinase, and XRN1, a nuclease, while CDON could have a role in complicated bacteremia. More studies are needed to identify host susceptibility genes along with confirmation from functional assays.

The clinicopathological significance of miR-1307 in chemotherapy resistant epithelial ovarian cancer

Background

We aimed to examine the expression of miR-1307 in chemosensitive and chemoresistant epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines and to analyze the clinicopathological significance of miR-1307 in ovarian cancer.

Methods

MicroRNA microarray was used to screen differentially expressed microRNAs between the chemosensitive and chemoresistant epithelial ovarian cancer tissues. RT-PCR was used to validate the candidate microRNA. The potential target genes and their enriched biological pathways of microRNA were also analyzed. Dual Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay was conducted to validate the regulation of miRNA-1307 on the 3’-UTR of DAPK3.

Results

miRNA-1307 was up-regulated in the chemoresistant epithelial ovarian cancer tissues compared to the chemosensitive counterparts. The up-regulation of miRNA-1307 was not associated with menopause, tumor differentiation state, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis of ovarian cancer. Gene ontology analysis of miR-1307 candidate target genes indicated that miR-1307 candidate target genes were enriched in the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation, nucleotide synthesis and metabolism, and lymphocytes activation.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that miRNA-1307 may play a role in the development of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13048-015-0143-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genome wide association study of SNP-, gene-, and pathway-based approaches to identify genes influencing susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus infections

Background: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify specific genetic variants that underlie susceptibility to diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus in humans.

Methods: Cases (n = 309) and controls (n = 2925) were genotyped at 508,921 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Cases had at least one laboratory and clinician confirmed disease caused by S. aureus whereas controls did not. R-package (for SNP association), EIGENSOFT (to estimate and adjust for population stratification) and gene- (VEGAS) and pathway-based (DAVID, PANTHER, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) analyses were performed.

Results: No SNP reached genome-wide significance. Four SNPs exceeded the p < 10⁻⁵ threshold including two (rs2455012 and rs7152530) reaching a p-value < 10⁻⁷. The nearby genes were PDE4B (rs2455012), TXNRD2 (rs3804047), VRK1 and BCL11B (rs7152530), and PNPLA5 (rs470093). The top two findings from the gene-based analysis were NMRK2 (p_gene = 1.20E-05), which codes an integrin binding molecule (focal adhesion), and DAPK3 (p_gene = 5.10E-05), a serine/threonine kinase (apoptosis and cytokinesis). The pathway analyses identified epithelial cell responses to mechanical and non-mechanical stress.

Conclusion: We identified potential susceptibility genes for S. aureus diseases in this preliminary study but confirmation by other studies is needed. The observed associations could be relevant given the complexity of S. aureus as a pathogen and its ability to exploit multiple biological pathways to cause infections in humans.

TCP10L acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma

TCP10L (T-complex 10 (mouse)-like) has been identified as a liver and testis-specific gene. Although a potential transcriptional suppression function of TCP10L has been reported previously, biological function of this gene still remains largely elusive. In this study, we reported for the first time that TCP10L was significantly down-regulated in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples when compared to the corresponding non-tumorous liver tissues. Furthermore, TCP10L expression was highly correlated with advanced cases exceeding the Milan criteria. Overexpression of TCP10L in HCC cells suppressed colony formation, inhibited cell cycle progression through G0/G1 phase, and attenuated cell growth in vivo. Consistently, silencing of TCP10L promoted cell cycle progression and cell growth. Therefore, our study has revealed a novel suppressor role of TCP10L in HCC, by inhibiting proliferation of HCC cells, which may facilitate the diagnosis and molecular therapy in HCC.