MnSOD drives neuroendocrine differentiation, androgen independence, and cell survival in prostate cancer cells

Androgen-Dependent Prostate Cancer Cells Reprogram Their Metabolic Signature upon GLUT1 Upregulation by Manganese Superoxide Dismutase

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in men across the globe. The prostate gland accounts for some unique glycolytic metabolic characteristics, which causes the metabolic features of prostate tumor initiation and progression to remain poorly characterized. The mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2) is one of the major redox metabolism regulators. This study points out SOD2 as one major regulator for both redox and glycolytic metabolism in prostate cancer. SOD2 overexpression increases glucose transporter GLUT-1 and glucose uptake. This is not an insulin-mediated effect and seems to be sex-dependent, being present in male mice only. This event concurs with a series of substantial metabolic rearrangements at cytoplasmic and mitochondrial level. A concomitant decrease in glycolytic and pentose phosphate activity, and an increase in electron transfer in the mitochondrial electronic chain, were observed. The Krebs Cycle is altered to produce amino-acid intermediates by decreasing succinate dehydrogenase. This in turn generates a 13-fold increase in the oncometabolite succinate. The protein energy sensor AMPK is decreased at basal and phosphorylated levels in response to glucose deprivation. Finally, preliminary results in prostate cancer patients indicate that glandular areas presenting high levels of SOD2 show a very strong correlation with GLUT-1 protein levels (R² = 0.287 p-value < 0.0001), indicating that in patients there may exist an analogous phenomenon to those observed in cell culture and mice.

Radioresistance in Prostate Cancer: Focus on the Interplay between NF-κB and SOD

Prostate cancer occurs frequently in men and can often lead to death. Many cancers, including prostate cancer, can be initiated by oxidative insult caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species. The superoxide dismutase family removes the oxygen-derived reactive oxygen species, and increased superoxide dismutase activity can often be protective against prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can be treated in a variety of ways, including surgery, androgen deprivation therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The clinical trajectory of prostate cancer varies from patient to patient, but more aggressive tumors often tend to be radioresistant. This is often due to the free-radical and reactive-oxygen-species-neutralizing effects of the superoxide dismutase family. Superoxide dismutase 2, which is especially important in this regard, can be induced by the NF-κB pathway, which is an important mechanism in radioresistance. This information has enabled the development of interventions that manipulate the NF-κB mechanism to treat prostate cancer.

SOD2 acetylation on lysine 68 promotes stem cell reprogramming in breast cancer

Mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2) suppresses tumor initiation but promotes invasion and dissemination of tumor cells at later stages of the disease. The mechanism of this functional switch remains poorly defined. Our results indicate that as SOD2 expression increases acetylation of lysine 68 ensues. Acetylated SOD2 promotes hypoxic signaling via increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). mtROS, in turn, stabilize hypoxia-induced factor 2α (HIF2α), a transcription factor upstream of "stemness" genes such as Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog. In this sense, our findings indicate that SOD2K68Ac and mtROS are linked to stemness reprogramming in breast cancer cells via HIF2α signaling. Based on these findings we propose that, as tumors evolve, the accumulation of SOD2K68Ac turns on a mitochondrial pathway to stemness that depends on HIF2α and may be relevant for the progression of breast cancer toward poor outcomes.

Autocrine production of reproductive axis neuropeptides affects proliferation of canine osteosarcoma in vitro

Background

Osteosarcoma strikes hundreds of people each year, of both advanced and younger ages, and is often terminal. Like many tumor types, these bone tumors will frequently undergo a neuroendocrine transition, utilizing autocrine and/or paracrine hormones as growth factors and/or promoters of angiogenesis to facilitate progression and metastasis. While many of these factors and their actions on tumor growth are characterized, some tumor-derived neuropeptides remain unexplored.

Methods

Using validated canine osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro, as well as cells derived from spontaneous tumors in dogs, we explored the autocrine production of two neuropeptides typically found in the hypothalamus, and most closely associated with reproduction: gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and kisspeptin (Kiss-1). We evaluated gene expression and protein secretion of these hormones using quantitative RT-PCR and a sensitive radioimmunoassay, and explored changes in cell proliferation determined by MTS cell viability assays.

Results

Our current studies reveal that several canine osteosarcoma cell lines (COS, POS, HMPOS, D17, C4) synthesize and secrete GnRH and express the GnRH receptor, while COS and POS also express kiss1 and its cognate receptor. We have further found that GnRH and kisspeptin, exogenously applied to these tumor cells, exert significant effects on both gene expression and proliferation. Of particular interest, kisspeptin exposure stimulated GnRH secretion from COS, similarly to the functional relationship observed within the neuroendocrine reproductive axis. Additionally, GnRH and kisspeptin treatment both increased COS proliferation, which additionally manifested in increased expression of the bone remodeling ligand rankl within these cells. These effects were blocked by treatment with a specific GnRH receptor inhibitor. Both neuropeptides were found to increase expression of the specific serotonin (5HT) receptor htr2a, the activation of which has previously been associated with cellular proliferation, suggesting that production of these factors by osteosarcoma cells may act to sensitize tumors to circulating 5HT of local and/or enteric origin.

Conclusions

Here we report that kisspeptin and GnRH act as autocrine growth factors in canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro, modulating RANKL and serotonin receptor expression in a manner consistent with pro-proliferative effects. Pharmacological targeting of these hormones may represent new avenues of osteosarcoma treatment.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-5363-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Neuroendocrine Differentiation in Prostate Cancer: Emerging Biology, Models, and Therapies

Although a de novo clinical presentation of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate is rare, a subset of patients previously diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma may develop neuroendocrine features in later stages of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) progression as a result of treatment resistance. Despite sharing clinical, histologic, and some molecular features with other neuroendocrine carcinomas, including small cell lung cancer, castration-resistant neuroendocrine prostate cancer (CRPC-NE) is clonally derived from prostate adenocarcinoma. CRPC-NE therefore retains early prostate cancer genomic alterations and acquires new molecular changes making them resistant to traditional CRPC therapies. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of CRPC-NE biology, the transdifferentiation/plasticity process, and development and characterization of relevant CRPC-NE preclinical models.

Upregulation of FoxM1 by MnSOD Overexpression Contributes to Cancer Stem-Like Cell Characteristics in the Lung Cancer H460 Cell Line

Manganese superoxide dismutase promotes migration and invasion in lung cancer cells via upregulation of the transcription factor forkhead box M1. Here, we assessed whether upregulation of forkhead box M1 by manganese superoxide dismutase overexpression mediates the acquisition of cancer stem-like cell characteristics in non-small cell lung cancer H460 cells. The second-generation spheroids from H460 cells were used as lung cancer stem-like cells. The levels of manganese superoxide dismutase, forkhead box M1, stemness markers (CD133, CD44, and ALDH1), and transcription factors (Bmi1, Nanog, and Sox2) were analyzed by Western blot. Sphere formation in vitro and carcinogenicity of lung cancer stem-like cells were evaluated by spheroid formation assay and limited dilution xenograft assays. Knockdown or overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase or/and forkhead box M1 by transduction with short hairpin RNA(shRNA) or complementary DNA were performed for mechanistic studies. We showed that manganese superoxide dismutase and forkhead box M1 amounts as well as the expression levels of stemness markers and transcription factors sphere formation in vitro, and carcinogenicity of lung cancer stem-like cells were higher than in monolayer cells. Lung cancer stem-like cells transduced with manganese superoxide dismutase shRNA or FoxM1 shRNA exhibited decreased sphere formation and lower amounts of stemness markers and transcription factors. Overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase or FoxM1 in H460 cells resulted in elevated sphere formation rates and protein levels of stemness markers and transcription factors. Meanwhile, manganese superoxide dismutase knockdown or overexpression accordingly altered forkhead box M1 levels. However, forkhead box M1 knockdown or overexpression had no effect on manganese superoxide dismutase levels but inhibited or promoted lung cancer stem-like cell functions. Interestingly, forkhead box M1 overexpression alleviated the inhibitory effects of manganese superoxide dismutase knockdown in lung cancer stem-like cells. In a panel of non-small cell lung cancer cells, including H441, H1299, and H358 cells, compared to the respective monolayer counterparts, the expression levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and forkhead box M1 were elevated in the corresponding spheroids. These findings revealed the role of forkhead box M1 upregulation by manganese superoxide dismutase overexpression in maintaining lung cancer stem-like cell properties. Therefore, inhibition of forkhead box M1 upregulation by manganese superoxide dismutase overexpression may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for non-small cell lung cancer.

GLUT1 protects prostate cancer cells from glucose deprivation-induced oxidative stress

Glucose, chief metabolic support for cancer cell survival and growth, is mainly imported into cells by facilitated glucose transporters (GLUTs). The increase in glucose uptake along with tumor progression is due to an increment of facilitative glucose transporters as GLUT1. GLUT1 prevents cell death of cancer cells caused by growth factors deprivation, but there is scarce information about its role on the damage caused by glucose deprivation, which usually occurs within the core of a growing tumor. In prostate cancer (PCa), GLUT1 is found in the most aggressive tumors, and it is regulated by androgens. To study the response of androgen-sensitive and insensitive PCa cells to glucose deprivation and the role of GLUT1 on survival mechanisms, androgen-sensitive LNCaP and castration-resistant LNCaP-R cells were employed. Results demonstrated that glucose deprivation induced a necrotic type of cell death which is prevented by antioxidants. Androgen-sensitive cells show a higher resistance to cell death triggered by glucose deprivation than castration-resistant cells. Glucose removal causes an increment of H₂O₂, an activation of androgen receptor (AR) and a stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase activity. In addition, glucose removal increases GLUT1 production in androgen sensitive PCa cells. GLUT1 ectopic overexpression makes PCa cells more resistant to glucose deprivation and oxidative stress-induced cell death. Under glucose deprivation, GLUT1 overexpressing PCa cells sustains mitochondrial SOD2 activity, compromised after glucose removal, and significantly increases reduced glutathione (GSH). In conclusion, androgen-sensitive PCa cells are more resistant to glucose deprivation-induced cell death by a GLUT1 upregulation through an enhancement of reduced glutathione levels.

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Glucose deprivation carries an increase of free radicals in prostate cancer cells.

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The androgen receptor activation after glucose deprivation proceeds with GLUT1 overproduction.

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Treatment with hydrogen peroxide mimics the response to glucose deprivation.

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GLUT1-overexpressing prostate cancer cells are more resistant to glucose deprivation.

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Glutathione is more reduced in GLUT1-overexpressing cells under glucose deprivation.

Clair DK, Kyprianou N. Profiles of Radioresistance Mechanisms in Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy (RT) is commonly used for the treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa). However, cancer cells often develop resistance to radiation through unknown mechanisms and pose an intractable challenge. Radiation resistance is highly unpredictable, rendering the treatment less effective in many patients and frequently causing metastasis and cancer recurrence. Understanding the molecular events that cause radioresistance in PCa will enable us to develop adjuvant treatments for enhancing the efficacy of RT. Radioresistant PCa depends on the elevated DNA repair system and the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to proliferate, self-renew, and scavenge anti-cancer regimens, whereas the elevated heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enable radioresistant PCa cells to metastasize after exposure to radiation. The up-regulation of the DNA repairing system, ROS, HSP90, and EMT effectors has been studied extensively, but not targeted by adjuvant therapy of radioresistant PCa. Here, we emphasize the effects of ionizing radiation and the mechanisms driving the emergence of radioresistant PCa. We also address the markers of radioresistance, the gene signatures for the predictive response to radiotherapy, and novel therapeutic platforms for targeting radioresistant PCa. This review provides significant insights into enhancing the current knowledge and the understanding toward optimization of these markers for the treatment of radioresistant PCa.

Unraveling new functions of superoxide dismutase using yeast model system: Beyond its conventional role in superoxide radical scavenging

To deal with chemically reactive oxygen molecules constantly threatening aerobic life, cells are readily equipped with elaborate biological antioxidant systems. Superoxide dismutase is a metalloenzyme catalytically eliminating superoxide radical as a first-line defense mechanism against oxidative stress. Multiple different SOD isoforms have been developed throughout evolution to play distinct roles in separate subcellular compartments. SOD is not essential for viability of most aerobic organisms and intriguingly found even in strictly anaerobic bacteria. Sod1 has recently been known to play important roles as a nuclear transcription factor, an RNA binding protein, a synthetic lethal interactor, and a signal modulator in glucose metabolism, most of which are independent of its canonical function as an antioxidant enzyme. In this review, recent advances in understanding the unconventional role of Sod1 are highlighted and discussed with an emphasis on its genetic crosstalk with DNA damage repair/checkpoint pathways. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been successfully used as an efficient tool and a model organism to investigate a number of novel functions of Sod1.

Melatonin and sirtuins: A "not-so unexpected" relationship

Epigenetic modifications, including methylation or acetylation as well as post-transcriptional modifications, are mechanisms used by eukaryotic cells to increase the genome diversity in terms of differential gene expression and protein diversity. Among these modifying enzymes, sirtuins, a class III histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, are of particular importance. Sirtuins regulate the cell cycle, DNA repair, cell survival, and apoptosis, thus having important roles in normal and cancer cells. Sirtuins can also regulate metabolic pathways by changing preference for glycolysis under aerobic conditions as well as glutaminolysis. These actions make sirtuins a major target in numerous physiological processes as well as in other contexts such as calorie restriction-induced anti-aging, cancer, or neurodegenerative disease. Interestingly, melatonin, a nighttime-produced indole synthesized by pineal gland and many other organs, has important cytoprotective effects in many tissues including aging, neurodegenerative diseases, immunomodulation, and cancer. The pleiotropic actions of melatonin in different physiological and pathological conditions indicate that may be basic cellular targeted for the indole. Thus, much research has focused attention on the potential mechanisms of the indole in modulating expression and/or activity of sirtuins. Numerous findings report a rise in activity, especially on SIRT1, in a diversity of cells and animal models after melatonin treatment. This contrasts, however, with data reporting an inhibitory effect of melatonin on this sirtuin in some tumor cells. This review tabulates and discusses the recent findings relating melatonin with sirtuins, particularly SIRT1 and mitochondrial SIRT3, showing the apparent dichotomy with the differential actions documented in normal and in cancer cells.

IGFBP3 and MAPK/ERK signaling mediates melatonin-induced antitumor activity in prostate cancer

Treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), a leading cause of cancer among males, lacks successful strategies especially in advanced, hormone-refractory stages. Some clinical studies have shown an increase in neuroendocrine-like cells parallel to the tumor progression but their exact role is a matter of debate. The prostate is a well-known target for melatonin, which reduces PCa cells proliferation and induces neuroendocrine differentiation. To evaluate the mechanisms underlying the indole effects on neuroendocrine differentiation and its impact on PCa progression, we used a cell culture model (LNCaP) and a murine model (TRAMP). Persistent ERK1/2 activation was found in both, melatonin and androgen-deprived cells. Melatonin blocked nuclear translocation of androgen receptor (AR), thus confirming anti-androgenic actions of the indole. However, using a comparative genome microarray to check the differentially expressed genes in control, melatonin, or androgen-deprived cells, some differences were found, suggesting a more complex role of the indole. By comparing control cells with those treated with melatonin or depleted of androgen, a cluster of 26 differentially expressed genes (±2.5-fold) was found. Kallikreins (KLK)2 and KLK3 (PSA) were dramatically downregulated by both treatments whereas IGFBP3 and IGF1R were up- and downregulated, respectively, in both experimental groups, thus showing a role for IGF in both scenarios. Finally, melatonin prolonged the survival of TRAMP mice by 33% when given at the beginning or at advances stages of the tumor. Serum IGFBP3 was significantly elevated by the indole in early stages of the tumor, confirming in vivo the role of the IGF signaling in the oncostatic action of the indole.

Calcium is not required for triggering volume restoration in hypotonically challenged A549 epithelial cells

Maintenance of cell volume is a fundamental housekeeping function in eukaryotic cells. Acute cell swelling activates a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) process with poorly defined volume sensing and intermediate signaling mechanisms. Here, we analyzed the putative role of Ca²⁺ signaling in RVD in single substrate-adherent human lung epithelial A549 cells. Acute cell swelling was induced by perfusion of the flow-through imaging chamber with 50 % hypotonic solution at a defined fluid turnover rate. Changes in cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and cell volume were monitored simultaneously with ratiometric Fura-2 fluorescence and 3D reconstruction of stereoscopic single-cell images, respectively. Hypotonic challenge caused a progressive swelling peaking at ∼20 min and followed, during the next 20 min, by RVD of 60 ± 7 % of the peak volume increase. However, at the rate of swelling used in our experiments, these processes were not accompanied by a measurable increment of [Ca²⁺]_i. Loading with intracellular Ca²⁺ chelator BAPTA slightly delayed peak of swelling but did not prevent RVD in 82 % of cells. Further, electrophysiology whole-cell patch-clamp experiments showed that BAPTA did not block activation of volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) measured as swelling-induced outwardly rectifying 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropyl-amino) benzoic acid sensitive current. Together, our data suggest that intracellular Ca²⁺-mediated signaling is not essential for VRAC activation and subsequent volume restoration in A549 cells.

Melatonin uptake through glucose transporters: a new target for melatonin inhibition of cancer

Melatonin is present in a multitude of taxa and it has a broad range of biological functions, from synchronizing circadian rhythms to detoxifying free radicals. Some functions of melatonin are mediated by its membrane receptors but others are receptor-independent. For the latter, melatonin must enter into the cell. Melatonin is a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan and reportedly easily crosses biological membranes due to its amphipathic nature. However, the mechanism by which melatonin enters into cells remains unknown. Changes in redox state, endocytosis pathways, multidrug resistance, glycoproteins or a variety of strategies have no effect on melatonin uptake. Herein, it is demonstrated that members of the SLC2/GLUT family glucose transporters have a central role in melatonin uptake. When studied by docking simulation, it is found that melatonin interacts at the same location in GLUT1 where glucose does. Furthermore, glucose concentration and the presence of competitive ligands of GLUT1 affect the concentration of melatonin into cells. As a regulatory mechanism, melatonin reduces the uptake of glucose and modifies the expression of GLUT1 transporter in prostate cancer cells. More importantly, glucose supplementation promotes prostate cancer progression in TRAMP mice, while melatonin attenuated glucose-induced tumor progression and prolonged the lifespan of tumor-bearing mice. This is the first time that a facilitated transport of melatonin is suggested. In fact, the important role of glucose transporters and glucose metabolism in cell fate might explain some of the diverse functions described for melatonin.

Redox-mediated and ionizing-radiation-induced inflammatory mediators in prostate cancer development and treatment

SIGNIFICANCE

Radiation therapy is widely used for treatment of prostate cancer. Radiation can directly damage biologically important molecules; however, most effects of radiation-mediated cell killing are derived from the generated free radicals that alter cellular redox status. Multiple proinflammatory mediators can also influence redox status in irradiated cells and the surrounding microenvironment, thereby affecting prostate cancer progression and radiotherapy efficiency.

RECENT ADVANCES

Ionizing radiation (IR)-generated oxidative stress can regulate and be regulated by the production of proinflammatory mediators. Depending on the type and stage of the prostate cancer cells, these proinflammatory mediators may lead to different biological consequences ranging from cell death to development of radioresistance.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Tumors are heterogeneous and dynamic communication occurs between stromal and prostate cancer cells, and complicated redox-regulated mechanisms exist in the tumor microenvironment. Thus, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategies should be carefully evaluated for each patient at different stages of the disease to maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing unintended side effects.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Compared with normal cells, tumor cells are usually under higher oxidative stress and secrete more proinflammatory mediators. Thus, redox status is often less adaptive in tumor cells than in their normal counterparts. This difference can be exploited in a search for new cancer therapeutics and treatment regimes that selectively activate cell death pathways in tumor cells with minimal unintended consequences in terms of chemo- and radio-resistance in tumor cells and toxicity in normal tissues.

Intracellular redox status controls membrane localization of pro- and anti-migratory signaling molecules

Shifts in intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have been shown to contribute to carcinogenesis and to tumor progression. In addition to DNA and cell damage by surges in ROS, sub-lethal increases in ROS are implicated in regulating cellular signaling that enhances pro-metastatic behavior. We previously showed that subtle increases in endogenous H₂O₂ regulate migratory and invasive behavior of metastatic bladder cancer cells through phosphatase inhibition and consequential phosphorylation of p130cas, an adapter of the FAK signaling pathway. We further showed that enhanced redox status contributed to enhanced localization of p130cas to the membrane of metastatic cells. Here we show that this signaling complex can similarly be induced in a redox-engineered cell culture model that enables regulation of intracellular steady state H₂O₂ level by enforced expression of superoxide dismutase 2 (Sod2) and catalase. Expression of Sod2 leads to enhanced p130cas phosphorylation in HT-1080 fibrosarcoma and UM-UC-6 bladder cancer cells. These changes are mediated by H₂O₂, as co-expression of Catalase abrogates p130cas phosphorylation and its interaction with the adapter protein Crk. Importantly, we establish that the redox environment influence the localization of the tumor suppressor and phosphatase PTEN, in both redox-engineered and metastatic bladder cancer cells that display endogenous increases in H₂O₂. Importantly, PTEN oxidation leads to its dissociation from the plasma membrane. This indicates that oxidation of PTEN not only influences its activity, but also regulates its cellular localization, effectively removing it from its primary site of lipid phosphatase activity. These data introduce hitherto unappreciated paradigms whereby ROS can reciprocally regulate the cellular localization of pro- and anti-migratory signaling molecules, p130cas and PTEN, respectively. These data further confirm that altering antioxidant status and the intracellular ROS environment can have profound effects on pro-metastatic signaling pathways.

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Sod2-mediated increases in steady state H₂O₂ enhance phosphorylation of the focal adhesion adapter protein p130cas, which regulates migration.

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Sod2-dependent changes in steady state H₂O₂ increase membrane recruitment of p130cas.

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H₂O₂ controls the oxidation-dependent recruitment of PTEN from the plasma membrane to the cytosol.

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Intracellular shifts in ROS can reciprocally regulate the cellular localization of pro- and anti-migratory signaling molecules, p130cas and PTEN respectively.

Curbing cancer's sweet tooth: is there a role for MnSOD in regulation of the Warburg effect?

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), while vital for normal cellular function, can have harmful effects on cells, leading to the development of diseases such as cancer. The Warburg effect, the shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, even in the presence of adequate oxygen, is an important metabolic change that confers many growth and survival advantages to cancer cells. Reactive oxygen species are important regulators of the Warburg effect. The mitochondria-localized antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is vital to survival in our oxygen-rich atmosphere because it scavenges mitochondrial ROS. MnSOD is important in cancer development and progression. However, the significance of MnSOD in the regulation of the Warburg effect is just now being revealed, and it may significantly impact the treatment of cancer in the future.

Phenotypic changes caused by melatonin increased sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to cytokine-induced apoptosis

Melatonin has antiproliferative properties in prostate cancer cells. Melatonin reduces proliferation without increasing apoptosis, and it promotes cell differentiation into a neuroendocrine phenotype. Because neuroendocrine cells displayed an androgen-independent growth and high resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the role of molecules that induce neuroendocrine differentiation was questioned in terms of their usefulness as oncostatic agents. By using human epithelial androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells, the role of melatonin in drug-induced apoptosis was studied after acute treatments. In addition to cytokines such as hrTNF-alpha and TRAIL, chemotherapeutic compounds, including doxorubicin, docetaxel, or etoposide, were employed in combination with melatonin to promote cell death. Melatonin promotes cell toxicity caused by cytokines without influencing the actions of chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, antioxidant properties of melatonin were confirmed in prostate cancer cells. However, its ability to increase cell death caused by cytokines was independent of the redox changes. Finally, phenotypic changes caused by chronic treatment with the indole, that is, neuroendocrine differentiation, make cells significantly more sensitive to cytokines and slightly more sensitive to some chemotherapeutic compounds. Thus, melatonin is a good inhibitor of the proliferation of prostate cancer cells, promoting phenotypic changes that do not increase survival mechanisms and make cells more sensitive to cytokines such as TNF-alpha or TRAIL.

Paradoxical relationship between Mn superoxide dismutase deficiency and radiation-induced cognitive defects

Radiation therapy of the CNS, even at low doses, can lead to deficits in neurocognitive functions. Reduction in hippocampal neurogenesis is usually, but not always, associated with cognitive deficits resulting from radiation therapy. Generation of reactive oxygen species is considered the main cause of radiation-induced tissue injuries, and elevated levels of oxidative stress persist long after the initial cranial irradiation. Consequently, mutant mice with reduced levels of the mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme, Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD or Sod2), are expected to be more sensitive to radiation-induced changes in hippocampal neurogenesis and the related functions. In this study, we showed that MnSOD deficiency led to reduced generation of immature neurons in Sod2−/+ mice even though progenitor cell proliferation was not affected. Compared to irradiated Sod2+/+ mice, which showed cognitive defects and reduced differentiation of newborn cells towards the neuronal lineage, irradiated Sod2−/+ mice showed normal hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions and normal differentiation pattern for newborn neurons and astroglia. However, we also observed a disproportional decrease in newborn neurons in irradiated Sod2−/+ following behavioral studies, suggesting that MnSOD deficiency may render newborn neurons more sensitive to stress from behavioral trainings following cranial irradiation. A positive correlation between normal cognitive functions and normal dendritic spine densities in dentate granule cells was observed. The data suggest that maintenance of synaptic connections, via maintenance of dendritic spines, may be important for normal cognitive functions following cranial irradiation.

Neuroendocrine differentiation does not have independent prognostic value in conservatively treated prostate cancer

In vitro studies have implicated neuroendocrine differentiation in the development of hormone resistant prostate cancer following administration of androgen blockers. Studies on clinical material are equivocal. We wished to understand the significance of neuroendocrine differentiation in our large and well-characterised cohort of clinically localised prostate cancer, treated conservatively. Immunohistochemical expression of chromogranin-A was assessed semi-quantitatively on tissue samples of 806 patients in a tissue microarray approach. The correlation of expression with 10-year prostate cancer survival was examined. Multivariate analysis including contemporary Gleason score was performed and sub-group analysis of early hormone treated patients was also undertaken. Chromogranin-A expression correlated with high Gleason score (χ(2) = 28.35, p < 0.001) and early prostate cancer death (HR = 1.61, 95 %CI = 1.15-2.27, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, NE differentiation correlated significantly with outcome (HR = 1.61, 95 % CI 1.15-2.27, p < 0.001) However in multivariate analysis including Gleason score, chromogranin-A expression was not an independent predictor of survival (HR = 0.97, 95 %CI = 0.89-1.37, p = 0.87). Although chromogranin-A expression was higher in patients with early hormone therapy (χ(2) = 7.25, p = 0.007), there was no association with prostate cancer survival in this sub-group (p = 0.083). Determination of neuroendocrine differentiation does not appear to have any bearing on the outcome of prostatic carcinoma and does not add to the established prognostic model.

Superoxide dismutases: ancient enzymes and new insights

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) catalyze the de toxification of superoxide. SODs therefore acquired great importance as O(2) became prevalent following the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. Thus the three forms of SOD provide intriguing insights into the evolution of the organisms and organelles that carry them today. Although ancient organisms employed Fe-dependent SODs, oxidation of the environment made Fe less bio-available, and more dangerous. Indeed, modern lineages make greater use of homologous Mn-dependent SODs. Our studies on the Fe-substituted MnSOD of Escherichia coli, as well as redox tuning in the FeSOD of E. coli shed light on how evolution accommodated differences between Fe and Mn that would affect SOD performance, in SOD proteins whose activity is specific to one or other metal ion.