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Afrin F, Mateen S, Oman J, Lai JCK, Barrott JJ, Pashikanti S. Natural Products and Small Molecules Targeting Cellular Ceramide Metabolism to Enhance Apoptosis in Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4645. [PMID: 37760612 PMCID: PMC10527029 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular targeting strategies have been used for years in order to control cancer progression and are often based on targeting various enzymes involved in metabolic pathways. Keeping this in mind, it is essential to determine the role of each enzyme in a particular metabolic pathway. In this review, we provide in-depth information on various enzymes such as ceramidase, sphingosine kinase, sphingomyelin synthase, dihydroceramide desaturase, and ceramide synthase which are associated with various types of cancers. We also discuss the physicochemical properties of well-studied inhibitors with natural product origins and their related structures in terms of these enzymes. Targeting ceramide metabolism exhibited promising mono- and combination therapies at preclinical stages in preventing cancer progression and cemented the significance of sphingolipid metabolism in cancer treatments. Targeting ceramide-metabolizing enzymes will help medicinal chemists design potent and selective small molecules for treating cancer progression at various levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farjana Afrin
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Sameena Mateen
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Jordan Oman
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - James C. K. Lai
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Jared J. Barrott
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;
| | - Srinath Pashikanti
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
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2
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Islam MM, Mirza SP. Versatile use of Carmofur: A comprehensive review of its chemistry and pharmacology. Drug Dev Res 2022; 83:1505-1518. [PMID: 36031762 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Carmofur, 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU) is an antineoplastic drug, which has been in clinics in Japan since 1981 for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Subsequently, it was also introduced in China, Korea, and Finland. Besides colorectal cancer, it has also shown antitumor activity in other cancers such as breast, head and neck, pancreatic, gastrointestinal, and solid brain tumors. A prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), carmofur has shown better gastrointestinal stability and superior antiproliferative activity compared to its active counterpart 5-FU. Recently, carmofur has gained attention as an acid ceramidase inhibitor and as a potential lead compound against several noncancerous diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019, Krabbe disease, acute lung injury, Parkinson's disease, dementia, childhood ependymoma etc. Carmofur has also been reported to have antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Nevertheless, no comprehensive review is available on this drug. Herein, we summarized the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacology of carmofur based on the literature published between January 1976 and March 2022 as identified from PubMed and Google Scholar search engines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mohiminul Islam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Shama P Mirza
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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3
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Pherez-Farah A, López-Sánchez RDC, Villela-Martínez LM, Ortiz-López R, Beltrán BE, Hernández-Hernández JA. Sphingolipids and Lymphomas: A Double-Edged Sword. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2051. [PMID: 35565181 PMCID: PMC9104519 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphomas are a highly heterogeneous group of hematological neoplasms. Given their ethiopathogenic complexity, their classification and management can become difficult tasks; therefore, new approaches are continuously being sought. Metabolic reprogramming at the lipid level is a hot topic in cancer research, and sphingolipidomics has gained particular focus in this area due to the bioactive nature of molecules such as sphingoid bases, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramides, sphingomyelin, cerebrosides, globosides, and gangliosides. Sphingolipid metabolism has become especially exciting because they are involved in virtually every cellular process through an extremely intricate metabolic web; in fact, no two sphingolipids share the same fate. Unsurprisingly, a disruption at this level is a recurrent mechanism in lymphomagenesis, dissemination, and chemoresistance, which means potential biomarkers and therapeutical targets might be hiding within these pathways. Many comprehensive reviews describing their role in cancer exist, but because most research has been conducted in solid malignancies, evidence in lymphomagenesis is somewhat limited. In this review, we summarize key aspects of sphingolipid biochemistry and discuss their known impact in cancer biology, with a particular focus on lymphomas and possible therapeutical strategies against them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Pherez-Farah
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey 64710, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | | | - Luis Mario Villela-Martínez
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán Rosales 80030, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Hospital Fernando Ocaranza, ISSSTE, Hermosillo 83190, Sonora, Mexico
- Centro Médico Dr. Ignacio Chávez, ISSSTESON, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Rocío Ortiz-López
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey 64710, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Brady E Beltrán
- Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima 15072, Peru
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima 1801, Peru
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4
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Structural modification of antineoplastic drug carmofur designed to the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease: A theoretical investigation. RESULTS IN CHEMISTRY 2021; 4:100259. [PMID: 34904062 PMCID: PMC8656244 DOI: 10.1016/j.rechem.2021.100259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A coherent account of the reaction mechanistic details, structural modifications, and inhibition potentials of antineoplastic drug carmofur and its modified analogs to inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is reported. The survey is performed by integrating the density functional based tight binding (DFTB3) with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The inhibition process commences with nucleophilic attack from the sulfur atom on the carbonyl group, yielding a C-S bond formation, followed by a bond formation of the H-O9 by 2.07 Å, which results in a transition state contains a ring of six atoms. We found that although the direct addition of sulfhydryl group hydrogen to the N3 position is likely to happen, the proper position of the hydrogen to O9 decreases its accessibility. The thermodynamic stability of the complex was calculated to be highly sensitive to the substituent on the N11 position. Compounds with CH2NH2 and CH2F at N11 positions of carmofur revealed high thermodynamic stability to complexation with Mpro but induced no change in substrate-binding pocket comparable to carmofur. Replacing the N11 of carmofur with carbon (C-carmofur) was effective in terms of complexation stability at CH2CH2CH2F and CH2CH2CH2OH substitutions and occupation of S1 subsite by these structures in addition to the S2 subsite. Based on the resulted data, increasing the length of the carbon chain at introduced substitutions in N-carmofur almost decreases the complexation stability while in C-carmofur the trend is reversed. Throughout these information outputs, it was suggested that compounds d, e, i′, and k′ might be novel and more efficacious drug candidates instead of carmofur. We believe that our characterization of mechanistic details and structural modification on Mpro/carmofur complex will significantly intensify researchers' understanding of this system, and consequently help them to take advantage of results into practice and design various valuable derivatives for inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease.
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5
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Beserra FP, Gushiken LFS, Hussni MF, Ribeiro VP, Bonamin F, Jackson CJ, Pellizzon CH, Bastos JK. Artepillin C as an outstanding phenolic compound of Brazilian green propolis for disease treatment: A review on pharmacological aspects. Phytother Res 2021; 35:2274-2286. [PMID: 32935428 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Propolis is a viscous resin consisting of plant material (shoots, flowers, and plant exudates), salivary secretions and waxes produced by Apis mellifera bees. Its popular use aroused the interests of scientific research, which proved to be a potential source of various bioactive substances. The chemical composition of propolis depends on several factors, such as the different types of plant sources collected by bees, geographic origin, and the time of year in which they are produced, but it is known that phenolic represent the main bioactive constituents of propolis. Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae) is the most important botanical source of propolis and a native to southeastern Brazil. It is widely known as the green propolis because of its deep green color. One of its major phenolic acids is artepillin C (Art-C), a diprenyl-p-hydroxycinnamic acid derivative. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the pharmacological effects of Art-C. The limited number of publications on this topic over the past two decades have been collected from databases and summarized. Numerous biological activities have been described for the Art-C, such as gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor. This article describes aspects of occurrence, synthesis, biological activities and pharmacokinetic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Pereira Beserra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Fernanda Hussni
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Victor Pena Ribeiro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Christopher John Jackson
- Kolling Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney (USYD) at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cláudia Helena Pellizzon
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jairo Kenupp Bastos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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6
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Metabolic Classification and Intervention Opportunities for Tumor Energy Dysfunction. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11050264. [PMID: 33922558 PMCID: PMC8146396 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11050264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive view of cell metabolism provides a new vision of cancer, conceptualized as tissue with cellular-altered metabolism and energetic dysfunction, which can shed light on pathophysiological mechanisms. Cancer is now considered a heterogeneous ecosystem, formed by tumor cells and the microenvironment, which is molecularly, phenotypically, and metabolically reprogrammable. A wealth of evidence confirms metabolic reprogramming activity as the minimum common denominator of cancer, grouping together a wide variety of aberrations that can affect any of the different metabolic pathways involved in cell physiology. This forms the basis for a new proposed classification of cancer according to the altered metabolic pathway(s) and degree of energy dysfunction. Enhanced understanding of the metabolic reprogramming pathways of fatty acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, hypoxia, and acidosis can bring about new therapeutic intervention possibilities from a metabolic perspective of cancer.
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7
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Vethakanraj HS, Chandrasekaran N, Sekar AK. Acid ceramidase, a double-edged sword in cancer aggression: A minireview. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2020; 21:CCDT-EPUB-112652. [PMID: 33357194 DOI: 10.2174/1568009620666201223154621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (AC), the key enzyme of the ceramide metabolic pathway hydrolyzes pro-apoptotic ceramide to sphingosine, which by the action of sphingosine-1-kinase is metabolized to mitogenic sphingosine-1-phosphate. The intracellular level of AC determines ceramide/sphingosine-1-phosphate rheostat which in turn decides the cell fate. The upregulated AC expression during cancerous condition acts as a "double-edged sword" by converting pro-apoptotic ceramide to anti-apoptotic sphingosine-1-phosphate, wherein on one end, the level of ceramide is decreased and on the other end, the level of sphingosine-1-phosphate is increased, thus altogether aggravating the cancer progression. In addition, cancer cells with upregulated AC expression exhibited increased cell proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance, radioresistance and numerous strategies were developed in the past to effectively target the enzyme. Gene silencing and pharmacological inhibition of AC sensitized the resistant cells to chemo/radiotherapy thereby promoting cell death. The core objective of this review is to explore AC mediated tumour progression and the potential role of AC inhibitors in various cancer cell lines/models.
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8
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Clifford RE, Govindarajah N, Bowden D, Sutton P, Glenn M, Darvish-Damavandi M, Buczacki S, McDermott U, Szulc Z, Ogretmen B, Parsons JL, Vimalachandran D. Targeting Acid Ceramidase to Improve the Radiosensitivity of Rectal Cancer. Cells 2020; 9:E2693. [PMID: 33334013 PMCID: PMC7765421 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous work utilizing proteomic and immunohistochemical analyses has identified that high levels of acid ceramidase (AC) expression confers a poorer response to neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer. We aimed to assess the radiosensitising effect of biological and pharmacological manipulation of AC and elucidate the underlying mechanism. AC manipulation in three colorectal cancer cell lines (HT29, HCT116 and LIM1215) was achieved using siRNA and plasmid overexpression. Carmofur and a novel small molecular inhibitor (LCL521) were used as pharmacological AC inhibitors. Using clonogenic assays, we demonstrate that an siRNA knockdown of AC enhanced X-ray radiosensitivity across all colorectal cancer cell lines compared to a non-targeting control siRNA, and conversely, AC protein overexpression increased radioresistance. Using CRISPR gene editing, we also generated AC knockout HCT116 cells that were significantly more radiosensitive compared to AC-expressing cells. Similarly, two patient-derived organoid models containing relatively low AC expression were found to be comparatively more radiosensitive than three other models containing higher levels of AC. Additionally, AC inhibition using carmofur and LCL521 in three colorectal cancer cell lines increased cellular radiosensitivity. Decreased AC protein led to significant poly-ADP ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1) cleavage and apoptosis post-irradiation, which was shown to be executed through a p53-dependent process. Our study demonstrates that expression of AC within colorectal cancer cell lines modulates the cellular response to radiation, and particularly that AC inhibition leads to significantly enhanced radiosensitivity through an elevation in apoptosis. This work further solidifies AC as a target for improving radiotherapy treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael E. Clifford
- Cancer Research Centre, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, 200 London Road, Liverpool L3 9TA, UK; (N.G.); (D.B.); (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.L.P.)
| | - Naren Govindarajah
- Cancer Research Centre, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, 200 London Road, Liverpool L3 9TA, UK; (N.G.); (D.B.); (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.L.P.)
| | - David Bowden
- Cancer Research Centre, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, 200 London Road, Liverpool L3 9TA, UK; (N.G.); (D.B.); (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.L.P.)
| | - Paul Sutton
- Cancer Research Centre, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, 200 London Road, Liverpool L3 9TA, UK; (N.G.); (D.B.); (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.L.P.)
| | - Mark Glenn
- Cancer Research Centre, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, 200 London Road, Liverpool L3 9TA, UK; (N.G.); (D.B.); (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.L.P.)
| | - Mahnaz Darvish-Damavandi
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (M.D.-D.); (S.B.)
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Simon Buczacki
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (M.D.-D.); (S.B.)
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | | | - Zdzislaw Szulc
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (Z.S.); (B.O.)
| | - Besim Ogretmen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (Z.S.); (B.O.)
| | - Jason L. Parsons
- Cancer Research Centre, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, 200 London Road, Liverpool L3 9TA, UK; (N.G.); (D.B.); (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.L.P.)
- Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Clatterbridge Road, Bebington CH63 4JY, UK
| | - Dale Vimalachandran
- Cancer Research Centre, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, 200 London Road, Liverpool L3 9TA, UK; (N.G.); (D.B.); (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.L.P.)
- The Countess of Chester Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester CH2 1UL, UK
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9
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Caputo S, Di Martino S, Cilibrasi V, Tardia P, Mazzonna M, Russo D, Penna I, Summa M, Bertozzi SM, Realini N, Margaroli N, Migliore M, Ottonello G, Liu M, Lansbury P, Armirotti A, Bertorelli R, Ray SS, Skerlj R, Scarpelli R. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of a Series of Oxazolone Carboxamides as a Novel Class of Acid Ceramidase Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2020; 63:15821-15851. [PMID: 33290061 PMCID: PMC7770833 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Acid
ceramidase (AC) is a cysteine hydrolase that plays a crucial
role in the metabolism of lysosomal ceramides, important members of
the sphingolipid family, a diversified class of bioactive molecules
that mediate many biological processes ranging from cell structural
integrity, signaling, and cell proliferation to cell death. In the
effort to expand the structural diversity of the existing collection
of AC inhibitors, a novel class of substituted oxazol-2-one-3-carboxamides
were designed and synthesized. Herein, we present the chemical optimization
of our initial hits, 2-oxo-4-phenyl-N-(4-phenylbutyl)oxazole-3-carboxamide 8a and 2-oxo-5-phenyl-N-(4-phenylbutyl)oxazole-3-carboxamide 12a, which resulted in the identification of 5-[4-fluoro-2-(1-methyl-4-piperidyl)phenyl]-2-oxo-N-pentyl-oxazole-3-carboxamide 32b as a potent
AC inhibitor with optimal physicochemical and metabolic properties,
showing target engagement in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and
a desirable pharmacokinetic profile in mice, following intravenous
and oral administration. 32b enriches the arsenal of
promising lead compounds that may therefore act as useful pharmacological
tools for investigating the potential therapeutic effects of AC inhibition
in relevant sphingolipid-mediated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Caputo
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Simona Di Martino
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cilibrasi
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Piero Tardia
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marco Mazzonna
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Debora Russo
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,D3-Pharma Chemistry, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Ilaria Penna
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,D3-Pharma Chemistry, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Summa
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Sine Mandrup Bertozzi
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Natalia Realini
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Natasha Margaroli
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marco Migliore
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Giuliana Ottonello
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Min Liu
- Lysosomal Therapeutics Inc., 19 Blackstone Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Peter Lansbury
- Lysosomal Therapeutics Inc., 19 Blackstone Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Rosalia Bertorelli
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Soumya S Ray
- Lysosomal Therapeutics Inc., 19 Blackstone Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Renato Skerlj
- Lysosomal Therapeutics Inc., 19 Blackstone Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rita Scarpelli
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy.,Drug Discovery and Development (D3)-Validation, Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
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10
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Shi W, Bian L, Lv D, Bi S, Dai Y, Yang K, Lu H, Zhou H, Que Y, Wang D, Zhang Z, Lu N. Enhanced neural differentiation of neural stem cells by sustained release of Shh from TG2 gene-modified EMSC co-culture in vitro. Amino Acids 2020; 53:11-22. [PMID: 33245424 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-020-02918-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
As a promising cell therapy, neural crest-derived ectoderm mesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs) secrete high amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) and neurotrophic factors, promoting neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation into neuronal lineages and aiding tissue regeneration. Additionally, the forced overexpression of secreted proteins can increase the therapeutic efficacy of the secretome. Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) is a ubiquitously expressed member of the transglutaminase family of calcium-dependent crosslinking enzymes, which can stabilize the ECM, inducing smart or living biomaterial to stimulate differentiation and enhance the neurogenesis of NSCs. In this study, we examined the neuronal differentiation of NSCs induced by TG2 gene-modified EMSCs (TG2-EMSCs) in a co-culture model directly. Two weeks after initiating differentiation, levels of the neuronal markers, tubulin beta 3 class III and growth-associated protein 43, were higher in NSCs in the TG2-EMSC co-culture group and those of the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein were lower, compared with the control group. These results were confirmed by immunofluorescence, and laminin, fibronectin and sonic hedgehog (Shh) contributed to this effect. The results of western blot analysis and the enzyme-linked immunoassay showed that after TG2-EMSCs were co-cultured for 2 weeks, they expressed much higher levels of Shh than the control group. Moreover, the sustained release of Shh was observed in the TG2-EMSC co-culture group. Overall, our findings indicate that EMSCs can induce the differentiation of NSCs, of which TG2-EMSCs can promote the differentiation of NSCs compared with EMSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Shi
- School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Bian
- School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Demin Lv
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiqi Bi
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Dai
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaiyuan Yang
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Lu
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Huangao Zhou
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunduan Que
- Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Nanjing, 211300, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongming Wang
- Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Nanjing, 211300, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijian Zhang
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Naiyan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Duarte C, Akkaoui J, Yamada C, Ho A, Mao C, Movila A. Elusive Roles of the Different Ceramidases in Human Health, Pathophysiology, and Tissue Regeneration. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061379. [PMID: 32498325 PMCID: PMC7349419 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramide and sphingosine are important interconvertible sphingolipid metabolites which govern various signaling pathways related to different aspects of cell survival and senescence. The conversion of ceramide into sphingosine is mediated by ceramidases. Altogether, five human ceramidases—named acid ceramidase, neutral ceramidase, alkaline ceramidase 1, alkaline ceramidase 2, and alkaline ceramidase 3—have been identified as having maximal activities in acidic, neutral, and alkaline environments, respectively. All five ceramidases have received increased attention for their implications in various diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and Farber disease. Furthermore, the potential anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of ceramidases in host cells exposed to pathogenic bacteria and viruses have also been demonstrated. While ceramidases have been a subject of study in recent decades, our knowledge of their pathophysiology remains limited. Thus, this review provides a critical evaluation and interpretive analysis of existing literature on the role of acid, neutral, and alkaline ceramidases in relation to human health and various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases. In addition, the essential impact of ceramidases on tissue regeneration, as well as their usefulness in enzyme replacement therapy, is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Duarte
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324, USA; (J.A.); (C.Y.); (A.H.)
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-954-262-7306 (A.M.)
| | - Juliet Akkaoui
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324, USA; (J.A.); (C.Y.); (A.H.)
| | - Chiaki Yamada
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324, USA; (J.A.); (C.Y.); (A.H.)
| | - Anny Ho
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324, USA; (J.A.); (C.Y.); (A.H.)
| | - Cungui Mao
- Department of Medicine, The State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
- Cancer Center, The State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Alexandru Movila
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324, USA; (J.A.); (C.Y.); (A.H.)
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324, USA
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-954-262-7306 (A.M.)
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12
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Li Y, He CL, Li WX, Zhang RX, Duan Y. Transcriptome analysis reveals gender-specific differences in overall metabolic response of male and female patients in lung adenocarcinoma. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230796. [PMID: 32236130 PMCID: PMC7112214 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence from multiple studies suggests metabolic abnormalities play an important role in lung cancer. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer. The present study aimed to explore differences in the global metabolic response between male and female patients in LUAD and to identify the metabolic genes associated with lung cancer susceptibility. Methods Transcriptome and clinical LUAD data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Information on metabolic genes and metabolic subsystems were collected from the Recon3D human metabolic model. Two validation datasets (GSE68465 and GSE72094) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential expression analysis, gene set enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction networks were used to identified key metabolic pathways and genes. Functional experiments were used to verify the effects of genes on proliferation, migration, and invasion in lung cancer cells in vitro. Results Samples of tumors and adjacent non-tumor tissue from both male and female patients exhibited distinct global patterns of gene expression. In addition, we found large differences in methionine and cysteine metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) metabolism, and nuclear transport between male and female LUAD patients. We identified 34 metabolic genes associated with lung cancer susceptibility in males and 15 in females. Most of the metabolic cancer-susceptibility genes had high prediction accuracy for lung cancer (AUC > 0.9). Furthermore, both bioinformatics analysis and experimental results showed that TAOK2 was down-regulated and ASAH1 was up-regulated in male tumor tissue and female tumor tissue in LUAD. Functional experiments showed that inhibiting ASAH1 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells. Conclusions Metabolic cancer-susceptibility genes may be used alone or in combination as diagnostic markers for LUAD. Further studies are required to elucidate the functions of these genes in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Li
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Institute of Laboratory Diagnosis, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Cheng-Lu He
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Institute of Laboratory Diagnosis, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Wen-Xing Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Rui-Xian Zhang
- Yunnan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yong Duan
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Institute of Laboratory Diagnosis, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- * E-mail:
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13
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Vijayan Y, Lankadasari MB, Harikumar KB. Acid Ceramidase: A Novel Therapeutic Target in Cancer. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:1512-1520. [PMID: 30827244 DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190227222930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are important constituents of the eukaryotic cell membrane which govern various signaling pathways related to different aspects of cell survival. Ceramide and Sphingosine are interconvertible sphingolipid metabolites, out of which Ceramide is pro-apoptotic and sphingosine is anti-apoptotic in nature. The conversion of ceramide to sphingosine is mediated by Acid Ceramidase (ASAH1) thus maintaining a rheostat between a tumor suppressor and a tumor promoter. This rheostat is completely altered in many tumors leading to uncontrolled proliferation. This intriguing property of ASAH1 can be used by cancer cells to their advantage, by increasing the expression of the tumor promoter, sphingosine inside cells, thus creating a favorable environment for cancer growth. The different possibilities through which this enzyme serves its role in formation, progression and resistance of different types of cancers will lead to the possibility of making Acid Ceramidase a promising drug target. This review discusses the current understanding of the role of acid ceramidase in cancer progression, metastasis and resistance, strategies to develop novel natural and synthetic inhibitors of ASAH1 and their usefulness in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadu Vijayan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Manendra Babu Lankadasari
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India
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14
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Lai M, La Rocca V, Amato R, Freer G, Pistello M. Sphingolipid/Ceramide Pathways and Autophagy in the Onset and Progression of Melanoma: Novel Therapeutic Targets and Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20143436. [PMID: 31336922 PMCID: PMC6678284 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a malignant tumor deriving from neoplastic transformation of melanocytes. The incidence of melanoma has increased dramatically over the last 50 years. It accounts for most cases of skin cancer deaths. Early diagnosis leads to remission in 90% of cases of melanoma; conversely, for melanoma at more advanced stages, prognosis becomes more unfavorable also because dvanced melanoma is often resistant to pharmacological and radiological therapies due to genetic plasticity, presence of cancer stem cells that regenerate the tumor, and efficient elimination of drugs. This review illustrates the role of autophagy in tumor progression and resistance to therapy, focusing on molecular targets for future drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Lai
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Veronica La Rocca
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Rachele Amato
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Freer
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
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15
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Cruz da Silva E, Dontenwill M, Choulier L, Lehmann M. Role of Integrins in Resistance to Therapies Targeting Growth Factor Receptors in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050692. [PMID: 31109009 PMCID: PMC6562376 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrins contribute to cancer progression and aggressiveness by activating intracellular signal transduction pathways and transducing mechanical tension forces. Remarkably, these adhesion receptors share common signaling networks with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and support their oncogenic activity, thereby promoting cancer cell proliferation, survival and invasion. During the last decade, preclinical studies have revealed that integrins play an important role in resistance to therapies targeting RTKs and their downstream pathways. A remarkable feature of integrins is their wide-ranging interconnection with RTKs, which helps cancer cells to adapt and better survive therapeutic treatments. In this context, we should consider not only the integrins expressed in cancer cells but also those expressed in stromal cells, since these can mechanically increase the rigidity of the tumor microenvironment and confer resistance to treatment. This review presents some of these mechanisms and outlines new treatment options for improving the efficacy of therapies targeting RTK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabete Cruz da Silva
- UMR 7021 CNRS, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, 67401 Illkirch, France.
| | - Monique Dontenwill
- UMR 7021 CNRS, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, 67401 Illkirch, France.
| | - Laurence Choulier
- UMR 7021 CNRS, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, 67401 Illkirch, France.
| | - Maxime Lehmann
- UMR 7021 CNRS, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, 67401 Illkirch, France.
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16
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Govindarajah N, Clifford R, Bowden D, Sutton PA, Parsons JL, Vimalachandran D. Sphingolipids and acid ceramidase as therapeutic targets in cancer therapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019; 138:104-111. [PMID: 31092365 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sphingolipids have been shown to play a key part in cancer cell growth and death and have increasingly become the subject of novel anti-cancer therapies. Acid ceramidase, a sphingolipid enzyme, has an important role in the regulation of apoptosis. In this review we aim to assess the current evidence supporting the role of sphingolipids in cancer and the potential role that acid ceramidase may play in cancer treatment. METHODS A literature search was performed for published full text articles using the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases using the search criteria string "acid ceramidase", "sphingolipid", "cancer". Additional papers were detected by scanning the references of relevant papers. A summary of the evidence for each cancer subgroup was then formed. Given the nature of the data extracted, no meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS Over expression of acid ceramidase has been demonstrated in a number of human cancers. In vitro data demonstrate that manipulation of acid ceramidase may present a useful therapeutic target. In the clinical setting, a number of drugs have been investigated with the ability to target acid ceramidase, with the most promising of those being small molecular inhibitors, such as LCL521. CONCLUSION The role of the sphingolipid pathway in cancer is becoming very clearly established by promoting ceramide accumulation in response to cancer or cellular stress. Acid ceramidase is over expressed in a variety of cancers and has a role as a potential target for inhibition by novel specific inhibitors or off-target effects of traditional anti-cancer agents. Further work is required to develop acid ceramidase inhibitors safe for progression to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Govindarajah
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - R Clifford
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - D Bowden
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - P A Sutton
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - J L Parsons
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - D Vimalachandran
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom.
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17
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Acid ceramidase, an emerging target for anti-cancer and anti-angiogenesis. Arch Pharm Res 2019; 42:232-243. [DOI: 10.1007/s12272-019-01114-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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18
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Dementiev A, Joachimiak A, Nguyen H, Gorelik A, Illes K, Shabani S, Gelsomino M, Ahn EYE, Nagar B, Doan N. Molecular Mechanism of Inhibition of Acid Ceramidase by Carmofur. J Med Chem 2018; 62:987-992. [PMID: 30525581 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Human acid ceramidase (AC) is a lysosomal cysteine amidase, which has received a great deal of interest in recent years as a potential target for the development of new therapeutics against melanoma and glioblastoma tumors. Despite the strong interest in obtaining structural information, only the structures of the apo-AC enzyme in its zymogen and activated conformations are available. In this work, the crystal structure of AC in complex with the covalent carmofur inhibitor is presented. Carmofur is an antineoplastic drug containing an electrophilic carbonyl reactive group that targets the catalytic cysteine. This novel structural data explains the basis of the AC inhibition, provides insights into the enzymatic properties of the protein, and is a great aid toward the structure-based drug design of potent inhibitors for AC, providing the detailed mechanism, which has eluded the scientific community for more than 30 years, of carmofur's mysterious 5-fluorouracil-independent antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Dementiev
- Structural Biology Center, Biosciences Division , Argonne National Laboratory , Lemont , Illinois 60439 , United States
| | - Andrzej Joachimiak
- Structural Biology Center, Biosciences Division , Argonne National Laboratory , Lemont , Illinois 60439 , United States
| | - Ha Nguyen
- California Institute of Neuroscience , Thousand Oaks , California 91360 , United States.,National Skull Base Center , Thousand Oaks , California 91360 , United States
| | - Alexei Gorelik
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3G 0B1 , Canada
| | - Katalin Illes
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3G 0B1 , Canada
| | - Saman Shabani
- Department of Neurosurgery , Medical College of Wisconsin , Milwaukee , Wisconsin 53226 , United States
| | - Michael Gelsomino
- Department of Neurosurgery , Medical College of Wisconsin , Milwaukee , Wisconsin 53226 , United States
| | - Eun-Young Erin Ahn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mitchell Cancer Institute , University of South Alabama , Mobile , Alabama 36617 United States
| | - Bhushan Nagar
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3G 0B1 , Canada
| | - Ninh Doan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mitchell Cancer Institute , University of South Alabama , Mobile , Alabama 36617 United States
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