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Pallathadka H, Hsu CY, Obaid Saleh R, Renuka Jyothi S, Kumar A, Yumashev A, Sinha A, Hussein Zwamel A, Abed Jawad M, Alsaadi SB. Specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for targeting the metastasis, immune responses, and drug resistance of colorectal cancer cells (CRC). Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 140:112730. [PMID: 39083927 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112730] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) involves various genetic alterations, with liver metastasis posing a significant clinical challenge. Furthermore, CRC cells mostly show an increase in resistance to traditional treatments like chemotherapy. It is essential to investigate more advanced and effective therapies to prevent medication resistance and metastases and extend patient life. As a result, it is anticipated that small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) would be exceptional instruments that can control gene expression by RNA interference (RNAi). In eukaryotes, RNAi is a biological mechanism that destroys specific messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, thereby inhibiting gene expression. In the management of CRC, this method of treatment represents a potential therapeutic agent. However, it is important to acknowledge that siRNA therapies have significant issues, such as low serum stability and nonspecific absorption into biological systems. Delivery mechanisms are thus being created to address these issues. In the current work, we address the potential benefits of siRNA therapy and outline the difficulties in treating CRCby focusing on the primary signaling pathways linked to metastasis as well as genes implicated in the multi-drug resistance (MDR) process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chou-Yi Hsu
- Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University Tempe Campus, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA.
| | - Raed Obaid Saleh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Maarif University College, Al-Anbar, Iraq.
| | - S Renuka Jyothi
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- Department of Pharmacy, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan 303012, India
| | - Alexey Yumashev
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Russia.
| | - Aashna Sinha
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Divison of Research and Innovation Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ahmed Hussein Zwamel
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, the Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq; Medical Laboratory Technique College, the Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq; Medical Laboratory Technique college, the Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq.
| | | | - Salim B Alsaadi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Al-Hadi University College, Baghdad 10011, Iraq.
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Rodrigues P, Bangali H, Ali E, Sharma MK, Abdullaev B, Alkhafaji AT, Deorari MM, Zabibah RS, Haslany A. Microproteins/micropeptides dysregulation contributes to cancer progression and development: A mechanistic review. Cell Biol Int 2024. [PMID: 39010637 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.12219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Microproteins, known as micropeptides, are small protein molecules encoded by short open reading frames. These recently identified molecules have been proven to be an essential part of the human proteome that participates in multiple processes, such as DNA repair, mitochondrial respiration, and regulating different signaling pathways. A growing body of studies has evidenced that microproteins exhibit dysregulated expression levels in various malignancies and contribute to tumor progression. It has been reported that microproteins interact with many proteins, such as enzymes (e.g., adenosine triphosphate synthase) and signal transducers (e.g., c-Jun), and regulate malignant cell metabolism, proliferation, and metastasis. Moreover, microproteins have been found to play a significant role in multidrug resistance in vitro and in vivo by their activity in DNA repair pathways. Considering that, this review intended to summarize the roles of microproteins in different aspects of tumorigenesis with diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Rodrigues
- Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computer Science, King Khalid University, Al-Faraa, Asir-Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Harun Bangali
- Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computer Science, King Khalid University, Al-Faraa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eyhab Ali
- College of Chemistry, Al-Zahraa University for Women, Karbala, Iraq
| | - M K Sharma
- Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Bekhzod Abdullaev
- Department of Biotechnology, New Uzbekistan University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | | | - Maha Medha Deorari
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Rahman S Zabibah
- College of Technical Engineering, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
- College of Technical Engineering, The Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
- College of Technical Engineering, The Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Ali Haslany
- College of Technical Engineering, Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University, Al-Muthanna, Iraq
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3
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MacLean MR, Walker OL, Arun RP, Fernando W, Marcato P. Informed by Cancer Stem Cells of Solid Tumors: Advances in Treatments Targeting Tumor-Promoting Factors and Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4102. [PMID: 38612911 PMCID: PMC11012648 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation within tumors that promote cancer progression, metastasis, and recurrence due to their self-renewal capacity and resistance to conventional therapies. CSC-specific markers and signaling pathways highly active in CSCs have emerged as a promising strategy for improving patient outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic targets associated with CSCs of solid tumors across various cancer types, including key molecular markers aldehyde dehydrogenases, CD44, epithelial cellular adhesion molecule, and CD133 and signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and Sonic Hedgehog. We discuss a wide array of therapeutic modalities ranging from targeted antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, and near-infrared photoimmunotherapy to advanced genetic approaches like RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, aptamers, antisense oligonucleotides, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, CAR natural killer cells, bispecific T cell engagers, immunotoxins, drug-antibody conjugates, therapeutic peptides, and dendritic cell vaccines. This review spans developments from preclinical investigations to ongoing clinical trials, highlighting the innovative targeting strategies that have been informed by CSC-associated pathways and molecules to overcome therapeutic resistance. We aim to provide insights into the potential of these therapies to revolutionize cancer treatment, underscoring the critical need for a multi-faceted approach in the battle against cancer. This comprehensive analysis demonstrates how advances made in the CSC field have informed significant developments in novel targeted therapeutic approaches, with the ultimate goal of achieving more effective and durable responses in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya R. MacLean
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
| | - Olivia L. Walker
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
| | - Raj Pranap Arun
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
| | - Wasundara Fernando
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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Ke C, Zhou H, Xia T, Xie X, Jiang B. GTP binding protein 2 maintains the quiescence, self-renewal, and chemoresistance of mouse colorectal cancer stem cells via promoting Wnt signaling activation. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27159. [PMID: 38468952 PMCID: PMC10926081 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers and the second most deadly cancer across the globe. Colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs) fuel CRC growth, metastasis, relapse, and chemoresistance. A complete understanding of the modulatory mechanisms of CCSC biology is essential for developing efficacious CRC treatment. In the current study, we characterized the expression and function of GTP binding protein 2 (GTPBP2) in a chemical-induced mouse CRC model. We found that GTPBP2 was expressed at a higher level in CD133+CD44+ CCSCs compared with other CRC cells. Using a lentivirus-based Cas9/sgRNA system, GTPBP2 expression was ablated in CRC cells in vitro. GTPBP2 deficiency caused the following effects on CCSCs: 1) Significantly accelerating proliferation and increasing the proportions of cells at G1, S, and G2/M phase; 2) Impairing resistance to 5-Fluorouracil; 3) Weakening self-renewal but not impacting cell migration. In addition, GTPBP2 deficiency remarkably decreased β-catenin expression while increasing β-catenin phosphorylation in CCSCs. These effects of GTPBP2 were present in CCSCs but not in other CRC cell populations. The Wnt agonist SKL2001 completely abolished these changes in GTPBP2-deficient CCSCs. When GTPBP2-deficient CCSCs were implanted in nude mice, they exhibited consistent changes compared with GTPBP2-expressing CCSCs. Collectively, this study indicates that GTPBP2 positively modulates Wnt signaling to reinforce the quiescence, self-renewal, and chemoresistance of mouse CCSCs. Therefore, we disclose a novel mechanism underlying CCSC biology and GTPBP2 could be a therapeutic target in future CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ke
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
| | - Hongjian Zhou
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
| | - Tian Xia
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
| | - Xingwang Xie
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
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Chen F, Zhang W, Gao X, Yuan H, Liu K. The Role of Small Interfering RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Gastrointest Cancer 2024; 55:26-40. [PMID: 37432548 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-023-00911-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary liver cancer with high mortality, is the most common malignant tumor in the world. Currently, the effect of routine treatment is poor, especially for this kind of cancer with strong heterogeneity and late detection. In the past decades, the researches of gene therapy for HCC based on small interfering RNA have blossomed everywhere. This is a promising therapeutic strategy, but the application of siRNA is limited by the discovery of effective molecular targets and the delivery system targeting HCC. As the deepening of research, scientists have developed many effective delivery systems and found more new therapeutic targets. CONCLUSIONS This paper mainly reviews the research on HCC treatment based on siRNA in recent years, and summarizes and classifies the HCC treatment targets and siRNA delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Chen
- Department of Biopharmaceutical, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Wang Zhang
- Department of Biopharmaceutical, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Xinran Gao
- Department of Biopharmaceutical, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Hui Yuan
- Department of Biopharmaceutical, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Kehai Liu
- Department of Biopharmaceutical, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
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Liu J, Zhang Q, Wang J, Wang C, Lan T, Wang T, Wang B. Knockdown of BAP31 Downregulates Galectin-3 to Inhibit the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway to Modulate 5-FU Chemosensitivity and Cancer Stemness in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14402. [PMID: 37762705 PMCID: PMC10532080 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased stemness is causally linked to the development of chemoresistance in cancers. B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BAP31) has been identified to play an oncogenic role in many types of cancer. However, the role of BAP31 in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemosensitivity and stemness of colorectal cancer (CRC) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological function and molecular mechanism of BAP31 in regulating 5-FU chemosensitivity and stemness. The correlation between BAP31 expression and 5-FU chemosensitivity was examined using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide and colony formation assays. Cancer stemness was analyzed using tumor sphere formation and Western blot assays. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses of the knockdown cell lines were performed to explore the possible mechanisms. Finally, we investigated the function of BAP31 by constructing xenograft nude mouse models in vivo. In this study, we demonstrated that BAP31 was increased in CRC cells, and knockdown of BAP31 reduced the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 5-FU, while this effect was reversed by overexpression of BAP31. In addition, knockdown of BAP31 substantially reduced the stemness of CRC cells in vitro. Consistently, knockdown of BAP31 significantly suppressed the tumorigenicity and stemness of CRC in vivo. The functional study further suggested that knockdown of BAP31 downregulated galectin-3 to inhibit the accumulation of β-catenin, which in turn repressed the transcription of downstream target genes (c-MYC, SOX2) of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Knockdown of BAP31 reduced stemness by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to increase 5-FU chemosensitivity. Importantly, intrabodies against BAP31 suppressed tumor growth and enhanced the antitumor effects of 5-FU in vivo. Therefore, using intrabodies against BAP31 may be a strategy for improving the antitumor effect of 5-FU in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tianyi Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China; (J.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (T.L.)
| | - Bing Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China; (J.L.); (Q.Z.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (T.L.)
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7
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Najafi S, Rahimi Z, Mansoori B, Mohammadi A, Mohammadnejad F, Amini M, Mokhtazadeh A, Asadzadeh Z, Chi-Shing Cho W, Baradaran B. CD44 Suppression Improved the Chemosensitivity of HT-29 Colorectal Cancer Cells to 5-Fluorouracil and Inhibited Cell Migration. Adv Pharm Bull 2023; 13:551-562. [PMID: 37646068 PMCID: PMC10460815 DOI: 10.34172/apb.2023.053] [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: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose CD44 plays a pivotal role through tumorigenesis by regulating cancer cell metastasis, stemness, and chemosensitivity and is considered a promising therapeutic target for human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, the present research aimed to examine the simultaneous therapeutic effect of CD44 silencing and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on in vitro tumorigenesis of CRC cells. Methods CD44 expression was initially evaluated in TCGA datasets and CRC tissues. Furthermore, functional analysis was performed on HT-29 CRC cells overexpressing CD44. The cells were transfected with CD44 siRNA and then treated with 5-FU. Consequently, to explore the combination therapy effect on cell viability, migration, apoptosis, and chromatin fragmentation, we performed MTT assay, scratch assay, Annexin V/PI staining and DAPI staining assays, respectively. The spheroid and colony formation assays were further employed to investigate stemness features. The gene expression at protein and mRNA levels were explored using western blotting and qPCR. Results Our findings illustrated that CD44 was significantly overexpressed in CRC tissues compared to normal samples. The suppression of CD44 considerably promoted the chemosensitivity of HT-29 cells to 5-FU by apoptosis induction. Also, the combination therapy led to overexpression of apoptotic genes, including P53, caspase-3, and caspase-9, as well as downregulation of AKT1 expression. Furthermore, CD44 suppression, separately or combined with 5-FU, hindered stemness properties in HT-29 cells via downregulation of Sox2 and Nanog expression. Besides, the combination therapy remarkably downregulated MMPs and suppressed CRC cell migration. Conclusion Considering its involvement in chemosensitivity to 5-FU, CD44 could be suggested as a potential target for improving the efficiency of CRC chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souzan Najafi
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zohreh Rahimi
- Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Behzad Mansoori
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammadi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Mohammad Amini
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtazadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Asadzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Vasefifar P, Najafi S, Motafakkerazad R, Amini M, Safaei S, Najafzadeh B, Alemohammad H, Jafarlou M, Baradaran B. Targeting Nanog expression increased Cisplatin chemosensitivity and inhibited cell migration in Gastric cancer cells. Exp Cell Res 2023:113681. [PMID: 37315760 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113681] [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: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Regardless of significant advances in cancer treatment, gastric cancer (GC) incidence rate is increasing worldwide. As one of the main transcription factors participating in stemness, Nanog plays a pivotal role in various aspects of tumorigenesis, metastasis, and chemosensitivity. Given that, the current research intended to evaluate the potential effects of Nanog suppression on the GC cell cisplatin chemosensitivity and in vitro tumorigenesis. First, bioinformatics analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of Nanog expression on GC patients' survival. The MKN-45 human GC cells were transfected with specific siRNA targeting Nanog and/or treated with Cisplatin. Then, to study cellular viability and apoptosis, MTT assay and Annexin V/PI staining were done, respectively. Also, the scratch assay was performed to investigate cell migration, and MKN-45 cell stemness was followed using colony formation assay. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used for gene expression analysis. The findings demonstrated that siRNA-mediated Nanog silencing strongly increased MKN-45 cell sensitivity to Cisplatin through apoptosis induction. Also, Nanog suppression combined with Cisplatin resulted in the upregulation of the Caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio at mRNA levels and increased Caspase-3 activation. Moreover, reduced expression of Nanog, separately or combined with Cisplatin, inhibited MKN-45 cell migration by downregulating MMP2 mRNA and protein expression levels. The results also evidenced CD44 and SOX-2 downregulation aligned with a decreased rate of MKN-45 cell colony formation ability through treatments. Besides, Nanog downregulation significantly decreased MDR-1 mRNA expression. Taken together, the results of this study indicated that Nanog could be suggested as a promising target combined with Cisplatin-based GC therapies for reducing drug side effects and improving patients' outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Vasefifar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Souzan Najafi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Amini
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sahar Safaei
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Basira Najafzadeh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hajar Alemohammad
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahdi Jafarlou
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Chen J, Li H, Zhang B, Xiong Z, Jin Z, Chen J, Zheng Y, Zhu X, Zhang S. ABI2-mediated MEOX2/KLF4-NANOG axis promotes liver cancer stem cell and drives tumour recurrence. Liver Int 2022; 42:2562-2576. [PMID: 36017822 PMCID: PMC9825985 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Tumour recurrence and drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma remain challenging. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumour initiation because of their stemness characteristics. CSCs accounting for drug resistance and tumour relapse are promising therapeutic targets. We report that Abelson interactor 2 (ABI2) is a novel therapeutic target of HCC CSCs. First, ABI2 was upregulated in HCC tissues compared with liver tissues and was associated with tumour size, pathological grade, liver cirrhosis, worse prognosis and a high recurrence rate. Functional studies illustrate that ABI2 knockdown suppresses cell growth, migration, invasion and sorafenib resistance in vitro. Furthermore, ABI2 knockdown inhibited HCC sphere formation and decreased the CD24+ , CD133+ and CD326+ CSCs populations, suggesting the suppression of HCC stemness characteristics. A tumour xenograft model and limiting dilution assay demonstrated the inhibition of tumorigenicity and tumour initiation. Moreover, molecular mechanism studies showed that ABI2 recruits and directly interacts with the transcription factor MEOX2, which binds to the KLF4 and NANOG promoter regions to activate their transcription. Furthermore, overexpression of MEOX2 restored HCC malignant behaviour and the CSC population. The ABI2-mediated transcriptional axis MEOX2/KLF4-NANOG promotes HCC growth, metastasis and sorafenib resistance by maintaining the CSC population, suggesting that ABI2 is a promising CSC target in HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiandi Chen
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Huizi Li
- Department of General SurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangChina
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhiyuan Xiong
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhe Jin
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jiaxi Chen
- Department of General SurgeryThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangChina
| | - Yang Zheng
- Department of General SurgeryThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangChina
| | - Xiangnan Zhu
- Department of General SurgeryThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityNanchangChina
| | - Shuixing Zhang
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Venkateswara Rao B, Pavan Kumar P, Ramalingam V, Karthik G, Andugulapati SB, Suresh Babu K. Piperazine tethered bergenin heterocyclic hybrids: design, synthesis, anticancer activity, and molecular docking studies. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:978-985. [PMID: 36092140 PMCID: PMC9383709 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00116k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In an attempt to develop natural product-based anticancer agents, a series of novel piperazine-linked bergenin heterocyclic hybrids bearing arylthiazolyl (5a-e), benzothiazolyl (10a-i), and arylsulfonyl (13a-o) were synthesized using the classical Mannich reaction and evaluated for their anticancer activity. All the synthesized derivatives were assessed for in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer and normal cell lines and the results showed that most of the compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against cancer cells and mild cytotoxicity against normal cells. In particular, the compounds 5a, 5c, 10f, and 13o showed potent cytotoxic activity against tongue and oral cancer cell lines compared to the parent compound (<100 μM). Considering the efficacy, the compounds 5a, 5c, 10f, and 13o were subjected to cell cycle analysis and the results indicated that the compounds mitigated the cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase in the tongue and oral cancer cell lines. Subsequently, the annexin V/PI staining assay demonstrated that the compounds 5a, 5c, 10f, and 13o induced early and late apoptosis against tongue cancer and necrosis against oral cancer. Further, gene expression analysis revealed that 5a, 5c, and 13o treatment regulated the BAX and BcL-2 expression and also the selected compounds significantly reduced the expression level of vimentin, oct-4, and nanog. In addition, molecular docking studies revealed that the selected derivatives have strong binding energy with the BcL2 protein and downregulates the expression. Taken together, the study results implied that these compounds are promising anticancer candidates by modulating the epithelial to mesenchymal transition axis and could be considered for further development of novel anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banoth Venkateswara Rao
- Centre for Natural Products & Traditional Knowledge, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad - 201002 India
| | - P Pavan Kumar
- Centre for Natural Products & Traditional Knowledge, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
| | - Vaikundamoorthy Ramalingam
- Centre for Natural Products & Traditional Knowledge, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad - 201002 India
| | - G Karthik
- Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
| | - Sai Balaji Andugulapati
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad - 201002 India
- Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
| | - K Suresh Babu
- Centre for Natural Products & Traditional Knowledge, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad 500 007 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad - 201002 India
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11
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Le Minh G, Reginato MJ. Role of O-GlcNAcylation on cancer stem cells: Connecting nutrient sensing to cell plasticity. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 157:195-228. [PMID: 36725109 PMCID: PMC9895886 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tumor growth and metastasis can be promoted by a small sub-population of cancer cells, termed cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). While CSCs possess capability in self-renewing and differentiating, the hierarchy of CSCs during tumor growth is highly plastic. This plasticity in CSCs fate and function can be regulated by signals from the tumor microenvironment. One emerging pathway in CSCs that connects the alteration in microenvironment and signaling network in cancer cells is the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). The final product of HBP, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), is utilized for glycosylating of membrane and secreted proteins, but also nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins by the post-translational modification O-GlcNAcylation. O-GlcNAcylation and its enzyme, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), are upregulated in nearly all cancers and been linked to regulate many cancer cell phenotypes. Recent studies have begun to connect OGT and O-GlcNAcylation to regulation of CSCs. In this review, we will discuss the emerging role of OGT and O-GlcNAcylation in regulating fate and plasticity of CSCs, as well as the potential in targeting OGT/O-GlcNAcylation in CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giang Le Minh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mauricio J Reginato
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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12
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Monji H, Zand H, Ghorbani A, Pourvali K. The Effects of Ovalbumin on Proliferation, Migration, and Stemness Properties of Chemoresistant SW480 Colon Cancer Cells. Nutr Cancer 2022; 74:3714-3722. [PMID: 35675283 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2022.2085754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Egg peptides are factors in the embryonic environment with many significant biological activities, such as anticancer activity. Therefore, the current study investigates the effect of egg ovalbumin (OVA) on survival, cell cycle, self-renewal ability, stemness properties, and migration in SW480 colon cancer cells and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) resistant subgroup. MTT test was performed to assess cell viability. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the cell cycle. Clonogenic assay and spheroid formation were used to assess the effect of OVA on self-renewal and stemness properties. Wound healing assay and RT-PCR were performed to analyze migration and gene mRNA expression. We demonstrated that OVA (8 and 12 mg/ml) attenuated cell viability, induced cell-cycle arrest, inhibited colony formation, and non-significantly reduced spheroid formation and migration in both cell lines. Furthermore, OVA downregulated the expression of Nanog, c-Myc, and NDRG1 in both cells, suggesting a stemness and self-renewal attenuation by OVA. In conclusion, OVA exposure inhibited the 5FU-SW480 chemo-resistant subpopulation growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and diminishing self-renewal and partially stemness properties of colon cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Monji
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition Science and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Elderly Health Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Zand
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition Science and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arman Ghorbani
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition Science and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Katayoun Pourvali
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition Science and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Alemohammad H, Motafakkerazad R, Asadzadeh Z, Farsad N, Hemmat N, Najafzadeh B, Vasefifar P, Baradaran B. siRNA-mediated silencing of Nanog reduces stemness properties and increases the sensitivity of HepG2 cells to cisplatin. Gene 2022; 821:146333. [PMID: 35182674 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most lethal cancers having worldwide prevalence. Despite significant progress in cancer therapy, liver cancer-induced mortality is very high. Nanog, as an essential transcription factor modulating cellular multipotency, causes tumor progression, drug resistance, and preserves stemness properties in various tumors such as liver cancer. Thus, this research was conducted to evaluate the impact of combination therapy of Nanog siRNA/cisplatin on the sensitivity of liver cancer cells to this drug. HepG2 cells were transfected with Nanog siRNA and treated with cisplatin, individually and in combination. Then, it was observed that in transfected HepG2 cells, Nanog expression was significantly reduced at mRNA level and also these cells were sensitized to cisplatin. In addition, to assess the impact of Nanog siRNA and cisplatin individually and in combination on cells' viability, migration capacity, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression, the MTT, wound healing, colony formation assay, Annexin V/PI staining, and flow cytometry assays were applied on HepG2 cells, respectively. Also, the quantitive Real-Time PCR was used to check the expression of stemness-associated genes (CD44, CD133, and Sox2), and apoptosis-related genes (caspase-3, 8, 9, BAX and Bcl2) after combination therapy. It is indicated that the combination of Nanog siRNA and cisplatin significantly reduced proliferation, migration, and colony formation ability, as well as increased apoptosis rate, and cell cycle arrest. Also, it is found that the combination of Nanog siRNA and cisplatin down-regulated the expression of stemness-associated genes and up-regulated apoptosis-related genes in HepG2 cells. Hence, it can be suggested that Nanog inhibition in combination with cisplatin is a potential therapeutic strategy for developing new therapeutic approaches for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajar Alemohammad
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Zahra Asadzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nader Farsad
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nima Hemmat
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Basira Najafzadeh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Parisa Vasefifar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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14
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Najafzadeh B, Motafakkerazad R, Najafi S, Amini M, Alemohammad H, Vasefifar P, Baradaran B. Nanog suppression enhanced the chemosensitivity of Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer cells to Cisplatin and inhibited cell migration. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 233:153869. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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15
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Fatma H, Siddique HR, Maurya SK. The multiple faces of NANOG in cancer: a therapeutic target to chemosensitize therapy-resistant cancers. Epigenomics 2021; 13:1885-1900. [PMID: 34693722 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor NANOG regulates self-renewal and pluripotency in embryonic cells, and its downregulation leads to cell differentiation. Recent studies have linked upregulation of NANOG in various cancers and the regulation of expression of different molecules, and vice versa, to induce proliferation, metastasis, invasion and chemoresistance. Thus NANOG is an oncogene that functions by inducing stem cells' circuitries and heterogeneity in cancers. Understanding NANOG's role in various cancers may lead to it becoming a therapeutic target to halt cancer progression. The NANOG network can also be targeted to resensitize resistant cancer cells to conventional therapies. The current review focuses on NANOG regulation in the various signaling networks leading to cancer progression and chemoresistance, and highlights the therapeutic aspect of targeting NANOG in various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Fatma
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India
| | - Hifzur R Siddique
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India
| | - Santosh K Maurya
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India
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