Periostin contributes to arsenic trioxide resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells under hypoxia

Melatonin attenuates liver injury in arsenic-treated rats: The potential role of the Nrf2/HO-1, apoptosis, and miR-34a/Sirt1/autophagy pathways

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid found in the environment in different organic and inorganic forms. Molecular mechanisms implicated in arsenic hepatotoxicity are complex but include oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy. The current study focused on the potential protective capacity of melatonin against arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were allocated into control, arsenic (15 mg/kg; orally), arsenic (15 mg/kg) plus melatonin (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg; intraperitoneally), and melatonin alone (30 mg/kg) groups for 28 days. After the treatment period, the serum sample was separated to measure liver enzymes (AST and ALT). The liver tissue was removed and then histological alterations, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant capacity, the levels of Nrf2 and HO-1, apoptosis (Bcl-2, survivin, Mcl1, Bax, and caspase-3), and autophagy (Sirt1, Beclin-1, and LC3 II/I ratio) proteins, as well as the expression level of miR-34a, were evaluated on this tissue. Arsenic exposure resulted in the enhancement of serum AST, ALT, and substantial histological damage in the liver. Increased levels of malondialdehyde, a lipid peroxidation marker, and decreased levels of physiological antioxidants including glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were indicators of arsenic-induced oxidative damage. The levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and antiapoptotic proteins diminished, while proapoptotic and autophagy proteins were elevated in the arsenic group concomitant with a low level of hepatic miR-34a. The co-treatment of melatonin and arsenic reversed the changes caused by arsenic. These findings showed that melatonin reduced the hepatic damage induced by arsenic due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties as well as its regulatory effect on the miR-34a/Sirt1/autophagy pathway.

The Effect and Mechanism of POSTN and Its Alternative Splicing on the Apoptosis of Myocardial Cells in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Study in Vitro

Our study aimed to investigate key molecular targets in the pathogenesis of AMI, and provide new strategy for the treatment. In this work, the myocardial ischemia and hypoxia model was constructed by using HL-1 mouse cardiomyocytes. The over-expressing POSTN wild-type, mutant and negative control lentiviruses (GV492-POSTNWT,GV492-POSTN-MUT, GV492-NC) was conducted and transfected. Cardiomyocytes were examined for cell proliferation and apoptosis to explore the effects of POSTN and its alternative splicing. The endoplasmic reticulum stess-related apoptosis proteins were selected and detected. We found that POSTN could promote the proliferation of normal and hypoxic cardiomyocytes and inhibit their apoptosis. The mechanism by which POSTN inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis may be through inhibiting the GRP78-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP pathway of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Alternative splicing of POSTN could inhibit the apoptosis of ischemic and hypoxic cardiomyocytes, and its mechanism needs to be confirmed by further studies. We drawed the conclusion that POSTN might be a potential therapeutic target for AMI.

The role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) modulation in heavy metal toxicity

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is an oxygen-sensing transcriptional regulator orchestrating a complex of adaptive cellular responses to hypoxia. Several studies have demonstrated that toxic metal exposure may also modulate HIF-1α signal transduction pathway, although the existing data are scarce. Therefore, the present review aims to summarize the existing data on the effects of toxic metals on HIF-1 signaling and the potential underlying mechanisms with a special focus on prooxidant effect of the metals. The particular effect of metals was shown to be dependent on cell type, varying from down- to up-regulation of HIF-1 pathway. Inhibition of HIF-1 signaling may contribute to impaired hypoxic tolerance and adaptation, thus promoting hypoxic damage in the cells. In contrast, its metal-induced activation may result in increased tolerance to hypoxia through increased angiogenesis, thus promoting tumor growth and contributing to carcinogenic effect of heavy metals. Up-regulation of HIF-1 signaling is mainly observed upon Cr, As, and Ni exposure, whereas Cd and Hg may both stimulate and inhibit HIF-1 pathway. The mechanisms underlying the influence of toxic metal exposure on HIF-1 signaling involve modulation of prolyl hydroxylases (PHD2) activity, as well as interference with other tightly related pathways including Nrf2, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling. These effects are at least partially mediated by metal-induced ROS generation. Hypothetically, maintenance of adequate HIF-1 signaling upon toxic metal exposure through direct (PHD2 modulation) or indirect (antioxidant) mechanisms may provide an additional strategy for prevention of adverse effects of metal toxicity.

The multifaceted role of Matricellular Proteins in health and cancer, as biomarkers and therapeutic targets

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of a mesh of proteins, proteoglycans, growth factors, and other secretory components. It constitutes the tumor microenvironment along with the endothelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, adipocytes, and immune cells. The proteins of ECM can be functionally classified as adhesive proteins and matricellular proteins (MCP). In the tumor milieu, the ECM plays a major role in tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance. The current review encompasses thrombospondins, osteonectin, osteopontin, tenascin C, periostin, the CCN family, laminin, biglycan, decorin, mimecan, and galectins. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are also discussed as they are an integral part of the ECM with versatile functions in the tumor stroma. In this review, the role of these proteins in tumor initiation, growth, invasion and metastasis have been highlighted, with emphasis on their contribution to tumor therapeutic resistance. Further, their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets based on existing evidence are discussed. Owing to the recent advancements in protein targeting, the possibility of agents to modulate MCPs in cancer as therapeutic options are discussed.

Synergistic effects of arsenic trioxide combined with Salmonella typhimurium in treating the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in rat models

Background

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of arsenic trioxide (ATO) combined with VNP20009 in treating the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

The proliferation assay, migration assay and real-time PCR analyses were performed to assess the impact of ATO combined with VNP20009 on the McA-RH7777 cells. Forty Buffalo rats were orthotopically implanted with HCC in the livers and randomly divided into four groups: (A) ATO plus VNP20009; (B) ATO; (C) VNP20009; and (D) control. ATO (2 mg/kg) was administered by peritoneal injection once a day and continued for five days. VNP20009 (about 1×10⁷ CFU) was directly injected into the tail vein. MRI examinations were performed to access the tumor responses one and 2 weeks later, respectively. Micro CT scans of chest were performed to assess the lung metastases. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to analyze the tumor tissues.

Results

In the in vitro experiments, VNP20009 suppressed the proliferation of McA-RH7777 cells, attenuated their migration ability, and weakened the potential of metastases. MRI examinations showed that the mean residual tumor volumes of ATO plus VNP20009 group on the 7th day and 14th day after the administration of ATO combined with VNP20009 were significantly smaller than those of other groups. Micro CT scans revealed that the lung metastases rates of ATO plus VNP20009 group and VNP20009 group were significantly lower than those of other groups. Immunohistochemical analyses displayed that the levels of VEGF and Vimentin in the tumors of ATO plus VNP20009 group were obviously lower than those of other groups. The median survival of rats in the ATO plus VNP20009 group was longer than those of other groups.

Conclusions

The strategy of ATO combined with VNP20009 was safe and had a potential to inhibit tumor growth, decrease the lung metastases, and prolong the overall survival in treating the advanced HCC. The two complementary interventions may have synergistic effects.

Development of an engineered peptide antagonist against periostin to overcome doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer

Background

Chemoresistance is one of the main problems in treatment of cancer. Periostin (PN) is a stromal protein which is mostly secreted from cancer associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment and can promote cancer progression including cell survival, metastasis, and chemoresistance. The main objective of this study was to develop an anti-PN peptide from the bacteriophage library to overcome PN effects in breast cancer (BCA) cells.

Methods

A twelve amino acids bacteriophage display library was used for biopanning against the PN active site. A selected clone was sequenced and analyzed for peptide primary structure. A peptide was synthesized and tested for the binding affinity to PN. PN effects including a proliferation, migration and a drug sensitivity test were performed using PN overexpression BCA cells or PN treatment and inhibited by an anti-PN peptide. An intracellular signaling mechanism of inhibition was studied by western blot analysis. Lastly, PN expressions in BCA patients were analyzed along with clinical data.

Results

The results showed that a candidate anti-PN peptide was synthesized and showed affinity binding to PN. PN could increase proliferation and migration of BCA cells and these effects could be inhibited by an anti-PN peptide. There was significant resistance to doxorubicin in PN-overexpressed BCA cells and this effect could be reversed by an anti-PN peptide in associations with phosphorylation of AKT and expression of survivin. In BCA patients, serum PN showed a correlation with tissue PN expression but there was no significant correlation with clinical data.

Conclusions

This finding supports that anti-PN peptide is expected to be used in the development of peptide therapy to reduce PN-induced chemoresistance in BCA.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-020-07761-w.

Periostin Circulating Levels and Genetic Variants in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Circulating periostin has been suggested as a possible biomarker in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Asian studies. In the present study, we aimed to test its still controversial relevance in a Caucasian population. In patients with histologically-proven NAFLD (N. = 74; 10 with hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) plasma periostin concentrations were analyzed. POSTN haplotype analysis was based on rs9603226, rs3829365, and rs1029728. Hepatitis C patients (N. = 81, 7 HCC) and healthy subjects (N. = 27) were used as controls. The median plasma periostin concentration was 11.6 ng/mL without differences amongst groups; it was not influenced by age, liver fibrosis or steatosis. However, possession of haplotype two (rs9603226 = G, rs3829365 = C, rs1028728 = A) was associated with lower circulating periostin compared to other haplotypes. Moreover, periostin was higher in HCC patients. At multivariate analysis, HCC remained the only predictor of high periostin. In conclusion, plasma periostin concentrations in Caucasians NAFLD patients are not influenced by the degree of liver disease, but are significantly higher in HCC. Genetically-determined differences may account for some of the variability. These data suggest extreme caution in predicting a possible future role of periostin antagonists as a rational therapeutic alternative for NAFLD, but show a potential periostin role in the management of NAFLD-associated HCC.

Blockade of periostin-dependent migration and adhesion by curcumol via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B signaling in hepatic stellate cells

OBJECTIVES

Curcumol, a guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid hemiketal extracted from the herb Rhizoma Curcumae, exhibits multiple-pharmacological activities. We previously reported that curcumol ameliorated hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of curcumol on HSC migration and adhesion, and reveal its regulation mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cellular viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell migration was detected by boyden chamber and cell scratch experiment. Recombinant human periostin (rh POSTN) and adeno-associated viral (AAV)-GFP-periostin were used to achieve POSTN overexpression in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-p65 overexpression was achieved by using plasmid. ELISA was conducted to detect POSTN level. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence were performed to assess associated factor expression.

RESULTS

Curcumol suppressed HSC migration and adhesion, and reduced the secretion and expression of POSTN. By gain of function POSTN in HSCs, using rh POSTN, we found that the inhibition of HSC migration and adhesion by curcumol depended on the decrease of POSTN. Besides, curcumol protection against chronic CCl₄-caused hepatic fibrosis could be impaired by POSTN overexpression. Moreover, we showed that curcumol repressed NF-κB signaling and the production of pro-inflammatory factor. Importantly, curcumol down-regulation of POSTN was rescued by knock-in of NF-κB, as well as the inhibition of HSC migration and adhesion.

CONCLUSION

These findings reveal the molecular mechanism of curcumol-reduced HSC migration and adhesion, by which points to the possibility of using curcumol based on NF-κB dependent POSTN for the treatment of fibrogenesis.

Serum periostin is associated with cancer mortality but not cancer risk in older home-dwelling men: A 8-year prospective analysis of the STRAMBO study

BACKGROUND

Periostin (POSTN) regulates multiple biological behaviors of tumor cells. We studied the association of serum POSTN with mortality in home-dwelling men.

METHODS

POSTN was measured at baseline using immunoassay (USCN life science, China) in 815 home-dwelling men aged 60-87 followed-up for 8 years.

RESULTS

In the entire cohort, higher serum POSTN was associated with higher all-cause mortality [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.30 per Standard Deviation (SD), 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.13-1.50, p < .001] after adjustment for potential confounders. In a similar model, cancer mortality (n = 69) increased with POSTN levels (HR = 1.44 per SD, 95%CI: 1.16-1.78, p < .001). Cardiovascular mortality (n = 55) and non-cardiovascular-non-cancer mortality (n = 44) was not associated with POSTN levels (p = .28 and p = .94 respectively). In 107 men with prevalent cancer, all-cause mortality (HR = 1.93 per SD, 95%CI: 1.30-2.87, p < .005) and cancer mortality (HR = 2.07 per SD, 95%CI: 1.23-3.47, p < .01) increased with the increasing POSTN concentrations. In 613 men with incident cancer, higher POSTN concentrations were associated with higher cancer mortality (HR = 1.40 per SD, 95%CI: 1.12-1.76, p < .005) but not with the risk of cancer (HR = 1.16 per SD, 95%CI: 0.89-1.46, p = .21).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher serum POSTN is associated with higher cancer mortality, but not with the cancer risk in older home-dwelling men.

Periostin in chronic liver diseases: Current research and future perspectives

The liver is importantly metabolic and detoxifying organ in the body. When various pathogenic factors affect the liver, the normal physiological and biochemical functions are weakened, resulting in liver diseases. Liver fibrosis is a common pathological process of chronic liver disease. During hepatic fibrosis the changes in the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) provide an environment that facilitates tissue remodeling. Among these ECM components, periostin, a glycoprotein that is predominantly secreted by osteoblasts and their precursors, playing an important role in bone formation, has attracted great attention. Periostin not only involves in bone metabolism, but also functions in modulating the cell fate determination, proliferation, inflammatory responses, even tumorigenesis of many other tissues and organs including liver. In different categories of liver disease patients, the serum and liver tissue levels of periostin were closely related to the decline of liver function, and the pathological stage. Numerous animal studies and experiments in vitro subsequently demonstrated that the abnormal expression of periostin resulted in metabolic disorders, liver inflammation, fibrosis and even tumorigenesis. Here we review the current progress on the role of periostin in pathologic pathways of liver system to explore whether periostin is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of different liver diseases.

Working with Hypoxia

A hypoxic environment can be defined as a region of the body or the whole body that is deprived of oxygen. Hypoxia is a feature of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, tissue trauma, stroke, and solid cancers. A loss of oxygen supply usually results in cell death; however, when cells gradually become hypoxic, they may survive and continue to thrive as described for conditions that promote metastatic growth. The role of hypoxia in these pathogenic pathways is therefore of great interest, and understanding the effect of hypoxia in regulating these mechanisms is fundamentally important. This chapter gives an extensive overview of these mechanisms. Moreover, given the challenges posed by tumor hypoxia we describe the current methods to simulate and detect hypoxic conditions followed by a discussion on current and experimental therapies that target hypoxic cells.

Periostin: A Matricellular Protein With Multiple Functions in Cancer Development and Progression

Tumor microenvironment is considered nowadays as one of the main players in cancer development and progression. Tumor microenvironment is highly complex and consists of non-tumor cells (i.e., cancer-associated fibroblast, endothelial cells, or infiltrating leukocytes) and a large list of extracellular matrix proteins and soluble factors. The way that microenvironment components interact among them and with the tumor cells is very complex and only partially understood. However, it is now clear that these interactions govern and modulate many of the cancer hallmarks such as cell proliferation, the resistance to death, the differentiation state of tumor cells, their ability to migrate and metastasize, and the immune response against tumor cells. One of the microenvironment components that have emerged in the last years with strength is a heterogeneous group of multifaceted proteins grouped under the name of matricellular proteins. Matricellular proteins are a family of non-structural matrix proteins that regulate a variety of biological processes in normal and pathological situations. Many components of this family such as periostin (POSTN), osteopontin (SPP1), or the CNN family of proteins have been shown to regulate key aspect of tumor biology, including proliferation, invasion, matrix remodeling, and dissemination to pre-metastatic niches in distant organs. Matricellular proteins can be produced by tumor cells themselves or by tumor-associated cells, and their synthesis can be affected by intrinsic and/or extrinsic tumor cell factors. In this review, we will focus on the role of POSTN in the development and progression of cancer. We will describe their functions in normal tissues and the mechanisms involved in their regulation. We will analyze the tumors in which their expression is altered and their usefulness as a biomarker of tumor progression. Finally, we will speculate about future directions for research and therapeutic approaches targeting POSTN.

Hypoxia leads to significant changes in alternative splicing and elevated expression of CLK splice factor kinases in PC3 prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Mounting evidence suggests that one of the ways that cells adapt to hypoxia is through alternative splicing. The aim of this study was firstly to examine the effect of hypoxia on the alternative splicing of cancer associated genes using the prostate cancer cell line PC3 as a model. Secondly, the effect of hypoxia on the expression of several regulators of splicing was examined.

METHODS

PC3 cells were grown in 1% oxygen in a hypoxic chamber for 48 h, RNA extracted and sent for high throughput PCR analysis at the RNomics platform at the University of Sherbrooke, Canada. Genes whose exon inclusion rate PSI (ψ) changed significantly were identified, and their altered exon inclusion rates verified by RT-PCR in three cell lines. The expression of splice factors and splice factor kinases in response to hypoxia was examined by qPCR and western blotting. The splice factor kinase CLK1 was inhibited with the benzothiazole TG003.

RESULTS

In PC3 cells the exon inclusion rate PSI (ψ) was seen to change by > 25% in 12 cancer-associated genes; MBP, APAF1, PUF60, SYNE2, CDC42BPA, FGFR10P, BTN2A2, UTRN, RAP1GDS1, PTPN13, TTC23 and CASP9 (caspase 9). The expression of the splice factors SRSF1, SRSF2, SRSF3, SAM68, HuR, hnRNPA1, and of the splice factor kinases SRPK1 and CLK1 increased significantly in hypoxia. We also observed that the splice factor kinase CLK3, but not CLK2 and CLK4, was also induced in hypoxic DU145 prostate, HT29 colon and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines. Lastly, we show that the inhibition of CLK1 in PC3 cells with the benzothiazole TG003 increased expression of the anti-apoptotic isoform caspase 9b.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant changes in alternative splicing of cancer associated genes occur in prostate cancer cells in hypoxic conditions. The expression of several splice factors and splice factor kinases increases during hypoxia, in particular the Cdc-like splice factor kinases CLK1 and CLK3. We suggest that in hypoxia the elevated expression of these regulators of splicing helps cells adapt through alternative splicing of key cancer-associated genes. We suggest that the CLK splice factor kinases could be targeted in cancers in which hypoxia contributes to resistance to therapy.

Do all roads lead to the Rome? The glycation perspective!

Oxidative, carbonyl, and glycative stress have gained substantial attention recently for their alleged influence on cancer progression. Oxidative stress can trigger variable transcription factors, such as nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf2), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), protein-53 (p-53), activating protein-1 (AP-1), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), β-catenin/Wnt and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Activated transcription factors can lead to approximately 500 different alterations in gene expression, and can alter expression patterns of inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, regulatory cell cycle molecules, and anti-inflammatory molecules. These alterations of gene expression can induce a normal cell to become a tumor cell. Glycative stress resulting from advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and reactive dicarbonyls can significantly affect cancer progression. AGEs are fashioned from the multifaceted chemical reaction of reducing sugars with a compound containing an amino group. AGEs bind to and trigger the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) through AGE-RAGE interaction, which is a major modulator of inflammation allied tumors. Dicarbonyls like, GO (glyoxal), MG (methylglyoxal) and 3-DG (3-deoxyglucosone) fashioned throughout lipid peroxidation, glycolysis, and protein degradation are viewed as key precursors of AGEs. These dicarbonyls lead to the carbonyl stress in living organisms, possibly resulting in carbonyl impairment of proteins, carbohydrates, DNA, and lipoproteins. The damage caused by carbonyls results in numerous lesions, some of which are involved in cancer pathogenesis. In this review, the effects of oxidative, carbonyl and glycative stress on cancer initiation and progression are thoroughly discussed, including probable signaling pathways and the effects on tumorigenesis.

Hypoxia and Redox Signaling on Extracellular Matrix Remodeling: From Mechanisms to Pathological Implications

SIGNIFICANCE

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential modulator of cell behavior that influences tissue organization. It has a strong relevance in homeostasis and translational implications for human disease. In addition to ECM structural proteins, matricellular proteins are important regulators of the ECM that are involved in a myriad of different pathologies. Recent Advances: Biochemical studies, animal models, and study of human diseases have contributed to the knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved in remodeling of the ECM, both in homeostasis and disease. Some of them might help in the development of new therapeutic strategies. This review aims to review what is known about some of the most studied matricellular proteins and their regulation by hypoxia and redox signaling, as well as the pathological implications of such regulation.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Matricellular proteins have complex regulatory functions and are modulated by hypoxia and redox signaling through diverse mechanisms, in some cases with controversial effects that can be cell or tissue specific and context dependent. Therefore, a better understanding of these regulatory processes would be of great benefit and will open new avenues of considerable therapeutic potential.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Characterizing the specific molecular mechanisms that modulate matricellular proteins in pathological processes that involve hypoxia and redox signaling warrants additional consideration to harness the potential therapeutic value of these regulatory proteins. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 27, 802-822.

The Role of Tumor Microenvironment in Chemoresistance: To Survive, Keep Your Enemies Closer

Chemoresistance is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer and it continues to be a challenge in cancer treatment. Chemoresistance is influenced by genetic and epigenetic alterations which affect drug uptake, metabolism and export of drugs at the cellular levels. While most research has focused on tumor cell autonomous mechanisms of chemoresistance, the tumor microenvironment has emerged as a key player in the development of chemoresistance and in malignant progression, thereby influencing the development of novel therapies in clinical oncology. It is not surprising that the study of the tumor microenvironment is now considered to be as important as the study of tumor cells. Recent advances in technological and analytical methods, especially ‘omics’ technologies, has made it possible to identify specific targets in tumor cells and within the tumor microenvironment to eradicate cancer. Tumors need constant support from previously ‘unsupportive’ microenvironments. Novel therapeutic strategies that inhibit such microenvironmental support to tumor cells would reduce chemoresistance and tumor relapse. Such strategies can target stromal cells, proteins released by stromal cells and non-cellular components such as the extracellular matrix (ECM) within the tumor microenvironment. Novel in vitro tumor biology models that recapitulate the in vivo tumor microenvironment such as multicellular tumor spheroids, biomimetic scaffolds and tumor organoids are being developed and are increasing our understanding of cancer cell-microenvironment interactions. This review offers an analysis of recent developments on the role of the tumor microenvironment in the development of chemoresistance and the strategies to overcome microenvironment-mediated chemoresistance. We propose a systematic analysis of the relationship between tumor cells and their respective tumor microenvironments and our data show that, to survive, cancer cells interact closely with tumor microenvironment components such as mesenchymal stem cells and the extracellular matrix.