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Hughes T, Cottini F, Catton E, Ciarlariello D, Chen L, Yang Y, Liu B, Mundy-Bosse BL, Benson DM. Functional expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a potential novel therapeutic target in human multiple myeloma. Leuk Lymphoma 2021; 62:2968-2980. [PMID: 34232800 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1948033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The etiology of multiple myeloma (MM) remains incompletely understood; however, epidemiologic studies have suggested a possible link between exposure to environmental aromatic hydrocarbons-which serve as exogenous ligands for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), which has been implicated in cancer biology-and development of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and MM. Herein, we demonstrate the functional expression of AHR in MM cell lines and primary human MM samples. AHR is expressed in putative MM 'stem cells' and advanced clinical stages of MM, and functionally contributes to MM tumor cell phenotype and proliferation. Antagonism of AHR directly impairs MM cell viability and increases MM cell susceptibility to immune-mediated clearance. Furthermore, our findings indicate that AHR antagonism may represent an effective means to enhance the function of other drugs, such as anti-CD38 antibodies, in future clinical studies. Taken together, these data identify AHR as a novel target for MM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Hughes
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Francesca Cottini
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Evan Catton
- Biological Sciences Scholars Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - David Ciarlariello
- Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Luxi Chen
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Yiping Yang
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Bei Liu
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Bethany L Mundy-Bosse
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Don M Benson
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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Walczak K, Wnorowski A, Turski WA, Plech T. Kynurenic acid and cancer: facts and controversies. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1531-1550. [PMID: 31659416 PMCID: PMC7162828 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03332-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an endogenous tryptophan metabolite exerting neuroprotective and anticonvulsant properties in the brain. However, its importance on the periphery is still not fully elucidated. KYNA is produced endogenously in various types of peripheral cells, tissues and by gastrointestinal microbiota. Furthermore, it was found in several products of daily human diet and its absorption in the digestive tract was evidenced. More recent studies were focused on the potential role of KYNA in carcinogenesis and cancer therapy; however, the results were ambiguous and the biological activity of KYNA in these processes has not been unequivocally established. This review aims to summarize the current views on the relationship between KYNA and cancer. The differences in KYNA concentration between physiological conditions and cancer, as well as KYNA production by both normal and cancer cells, will be discussed. The review also describes the effect of KYNA on cancer cell proliferation and the known potential molecular mechanisms of this activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Walczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Artur Wnorowski
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Waldemar A Turski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Tomasz Plech
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
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Sagan D, Kocki T, Patel S, Kocki J. Utility of kynurenic acid for non-invasive detection of metastatic spread to lymph nodes in non-small cell lung cancer. Int J Med Sci 2015; 12:146-53. [PMID: 25589891 PMCID: PMC4293180 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.7541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a side-stream product of the kynurenine metabolic pathway that plays a controversial role in malignancies either enabling escape of malignant cells from immune surveillance or exerting antiproliferative effect on cancer cells, and is associated with differences in invasiveness related to metastatic spread to lymph nodes in lung cancer. Nodal involvement is a significant negative prognostic factor usually considered a contraindication for primary surgical resection. OBJECTIVE To assess potential value of circulating KYNA for non-invasive identification of patients with metastatic lymph nodes (N+) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS KYNA level in venous blood serum was determined with use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 312 subjects including 230 patients with NSCLC and 32 healthy controls. RESULTS Circulating KYNA level in NSCLC patients was higher than in controls (93.6±61.9 pmol/ml vs. 31.4±16.6 pmol/ml; p=2.2•10(-15)) and positively correlated with N (R=0.326; p=2•(10-6)) but not with T or M stage (p>0.05). In N+ patients it was higher than in N0 patients (137.7±51.8 pmol/ml vs. 71.9±41.7 pmol/ml; p=4.8•10(-16)). KYNA effectively discriminated N+ from N0 patients at a cut-off value 82.3 pmol/ml with sensitivity 94.7% (95%CI 87.1-98.5%), specificity 80.5% (95%CI 73.4-86.5%), negative predictive value NPV=96.8%, PPV=70.5% and area under the ROC curve AUC=0.900 (95%CI 0.854-0.935; p=0.0001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Circulating KYNA level measurement offers reliable non-invasive discrimination between N0 and N+ patients in NSCLC. Robust discriminatory characteristics of KYNA assay predestines it for clinical use as an adjunct facilitating selection of candidates for primary surgical resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Sagan
- 1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Tomasz Kocki
- 2. Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Samir Patel
- 3. English Division, IInd Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
| | - Janusz Kocki
- 4. Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
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Sagan D, Kocki T, Kocki J, Szumilo J. Serum kynurenic acid: possible association with invasiveness of non-small cell lung cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2013; 13:4241-4. [PMID: 23167321 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2012.13.9.4741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The lung adenocarcinoma is considered more aggressive than other types of non-small cell lung cancer. As metabolites of tryptophan degradation along the kynurenine pathway, including kynurenic acid, have been shown to induce immunosuppression and facilitate escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance, a hypothesis was set up that differences in biological behavior between types of lung cancer may be associated with altered activity of the kynurenine metabolic pathway. The aim of the study was to determine kynurenic acid levels in the serum of patients with bronchial adenocarcinoma for comparison with other types of non-small cell lung cancer. A total of 227 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled in the study, including 71 with adenocarcinoma and 96 with squamous cell carcinoma. Serum kynurenic acid concentration was determined with use of high performance liquid chromatography and fluorometry. The level of kynurenic acid in the serum of patients with adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than in those with squamous cell lung cancer (107.1 ± 62.8 pmol/ml; 95%CI: 92.4 to 132.3 pmol/ml versus 82.1 ± 47.6 pmol/ml; 95%CI: 78.5 to 91.2 pmol/ml, respectively; p = 0.027). Differences between other histological types of lung cancer were insignificant. We conclude that increased activity of kynurenine metabolic pathway manifested by elevated serum kynurenic acid level may be one of the factors associated with clinically distinct biological behavior of adenocarcinoma, in particular high invasiveness and rapid progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Sagan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
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Walczak K, Dąbrowski W, Langner E, Zgrajka W, Piłat J, Kocki T, Rzeski W, Turski WA. Kynurenic acid synthesis and kynurenine aminotransferases expression in colon derived normal and cancer cells. Scand J Gastroenterol 2011; 46:903-12. [PMID: 21615226 DOI: 10.3109/00365521.2011.579159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite, was found in human saliva, gastric juice, bile, pancreatic juice and mucus of rat small intestine. METHODS KYNA content in mucus aspirated from human caecum or colon ascendens and KYNA production in colon epithelial and cancer cells were determined using HPLC. Moreover, biological properties of KYNA and kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs) expression in colon epithelial and colon cancer cells were studied. RESULTS Considerably higher KYNA concentration was detected in samples from patients diagnosed with colon carcinoma (269.40 ± 107.00 pmol/ml, N = 4), Adenoma tubulovillosum (200.50 ± 36.72, N = 10) or Adenoma tubulare (243.50 ± 38.09, N = 9) than in control group (82.22 ± 7.61 pmol/ml, N = 30). Moreover, colon epithelium CCD 841 CoTr cells actively synthesized KYNA in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This process was decreased by aminooxyacetic acid and L-glutamate in opposite to 4-aminopyridine treatment. Interestingly, KYNA production in colon cancer cells (HT-29 1.39 ± 0.27, LS-180 1.18 ± 0.15 and Caco-2 4.21 ± 0.30 pmol/1 x 10(5) cells/2 h) was considerably higher in comparison to normal colon epithelial cells (0.70 ± 0.07 pmol/1 x 10(5) cells/2 h). However, KATs I and II were expressed at similar level in both colon epithelium and cancer cells. Furthermore, KYNA exerted an antiproliferative effect at higher micro- and millimolar concentrations against colon cancer cells with the IC(50) of 0.9, 0.2 and 1.2 mM for HT-29, LS-180 and Caco-2 cells, respectively. CONCLUSION Summarizing, this is the first report presenting KYNA synthesis and KAT expression in colon derived normal and cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Walczak
- Department of Medical Biology, Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin, Poland
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