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Lambrou GI, Adamaki M, Hatziagapiou K, Vlahopoulos S. Gene Expression and Resistance to Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Brief Review and Update. Curr Drug Res Rev 2021; 12:131-149. [PMID: 32077838 DOI: 10.2174/2589977512666200220122650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resistance to glucocorticoid (GC)-induced apoptosis in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), is considered one of the major prognostic factors for the disease. Prednisolone is a corticosteroid and one of the most important agents in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The mechanics of GC resistance are largely unknown and intense ongoing research focuses on this topic. AIM The aim of the present study is to review some aspects of GC resistance in ALL, and in particular of Prednisolone, with emphasis on previous and present knowledge on gene expression and signaling pathways playing a role in the phenomenon. METHODS An electronic literature search was conducted by the authors from 1994 to June 2019. Original articles and systematic reviews selected, and the titles and abstracts of papers screened to determine whether they met the eligibility criteria, and full texts of the selected articles were retrieved. RESULTS Identification of gene targets responsible for glucocorticoid resistance may allow discovery of drugs, which in combination with glucocorticoids may increase the effectiveness of anti-leukemia therapies. The inherent plasticity of clinically evolving cancer justifies approaches to characterize and prevent undesirable activation of early oncogenic pathways. CONCLUSION Study of the pattern of intracellular signal pathway activation by anticancer drugs can lead to development of efficient treatment strategies by reducing detrimental secondary effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- George I Lambrou
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Choremeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Adamaki
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Choremeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Hatziagapiou
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Choremeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
| | - Spiros Vlahopoulos
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Choremeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
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G L, Adamaki M, Hatziagapiou K, Geronikolou SA, Tsartsalis AN, Vlahopoulos S. Early and Very Early GRIM19 and MCL1 Expression Are Correlated to Late Acquired Prednisolone Effects in a T-Cell Acute Leukemia Cell Line. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1339:147-160. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78787-5_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Lambrou GI, Hatziagapiou K, Vlahopoulos S. Inflammation and tissue homeostasis: the NF-κB system in physiology and malignant progression. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:4047-4063. [PMID: 32239468 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05410-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Disruption of tissue function activates cellular stress which triggers a number of mechanisms that protect the tissue from further damage. These mechanisms involve a number of homeostatic modules, which are regulated at the level of gene expression by the transactivator NF-κB. This transcription factor shifts between activation and repression of discrete, cell-dependent gene expression clusters. Some of its target genes provide feedback to NF-κB itself, thereby strengthening the inflammatory response of the tissue and later terminating inflammation to facilitate restoration of tissue homeostasis. Disruption of key feedback modules for NF-κB in certain cell types facilitates the survival of clones with genomic aberrations, and protects them from being recognized and eliminated by the immune system, to enable thereby carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- George I Lambrou
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon & Levadeias 8, 11527, Goudi-Athens, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Hatziagapiou
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon & Levadeias 8, 11527, Goudi-Athens, Greece
| | - Spiros Vlahopoulos
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon & Levadeias 8, 11527, Goudi-Athens, Greece.
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Varisli L, Cen O, Vlahopoulos S. Dissecting pharmacological effects of chloroquine in cancer treatment: interference with inflammatory signaling pathways. Immunology 2020; 159:257-278. [PMID: 31782148 PMCID: PMC7011648 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroquines are 4-aminoquinoline-based drugs mainly used to treat malaria. At pharmacological concentrations, they have significant effects on tissue homeostasis, targeting diverse signaling pathways in mammalian cells. A key target pathway is autophagy, which regulates macromolecule turnover in the cell. In addition to affecting cellular metabolism and bioenergetic flow equilibrium, autophagy plays a pivotal role at the interface between inflammation and cancer progression. Chloroquines consequently have critical effects in tissue metabolic activity and importantly, in key functions of the immune system. In this article, we will review the work addressing the role of chloroquines in the homeostasis of mammalian tissue, and the potential strengths and weaknesses concerning their use in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokman Varisli
- Union of Education and Science Workers (EGITIM SEN), Diyarbakir Branch, Diyarbakir, Turkey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - Osman Cen
- Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Natural Sciences, Joliet Jr College, Joliet, IL, USA
| | - Spiros Vlahopoulos
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Lambrou GI, Sarafidis M, Bizopoulos P, Iliopoulou D, Paidi A, Koutsouris DD. The "Prisoner's Dilemma" in the Tumor Biology Context: The Warburg Effect, Proliferation Dynamics and Equilibria. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:1342-1345. [PMID: 31946141 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8856886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There are numerous theories concerning carcinogenesis. Starting from the Warburg effect, which was one of the first theories concerning the mitochondrial dysfunction in tumor cells. Further on, the "two-hit" theory, where tumors were considered to be the outcome of genetic aberrations or mutations and more specifically of a certain number of "hits" each one resulting in a mutation. One of the main physical problems of biological systems is proliferation. Proliferation brings forwards two main questions: First, under a given population of cells, at time t what will be the precise population at time t+24h (or any other time point)? Second, what are the metabolic strategies followed by tumor cells in order to facilitate for their growth? In the present work we have used experimental data obtained from proliferation experiments of leukemic cells, where cell population and glucose consumption were evaluated. These data were further used to examine whether cells progress through competitive behavior or synergistically. Our results have shown that cells probably progress through a cooperative strategy.
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Mousavian Z, Nowzari-Dalini A, Rahmatallah Y, Masoudi-Nejad A. Differential network analysis and protein-protein interaction study reveals active protein modules in glucocorticoid resistance for infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Mol Med 2019; 25:36. [PMID: 31370801 PMCID: PMC6676637 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-019-0106-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in children and Glucocorticoids (GCs) form an essential component of the standard chemotherapy in most treatment regimens. The category of infant ALL patients carrying a translocation involving the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene (gene KMT2A) is characterized by resistance to GCs and poor clinical outcome. Although some studies examined GC-resistance in infant ALL patients, the understanding of this phenomenon remains limited and impede the efforts to improve prognosis. METHODS This study integrates differential co-expression (DC) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks to find active protein modules associated with GC-resistance in MLL-rearranged infant ALL patients. A network was constructed by linking differentially co-expressed gene pairs between GC-resistance and GC-sensitive samples and later integrated with PPI networks by keeping the links that are also present in the PPI network. The resulting network was decomposed into two sub-networks, specific to each phenotype. Finally, both sub-networks were clustered into modules using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and further analyzed with functional enrichment analysis. RESULTS Through the integration of DC analysis and PPI network, four protein modules were found active under the GC-resistance phenotype but not under the GC-sensitive. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these modules are related to proteasome, electron transport chain, tRNA-aminoacyl biosynthesis, and peroxisome signaling pathways. These findings are in accordance with previous findings related to GC-resistance in other hematological malignancies such as pediatric ALL. CONCLUSIONS Differential co-expression analysis is a promising approach to incorporate the dynamic context of gene expression profiles into the well-documented protein interaction networks. The approach allows the detection of relevant protein modules that are highly enriched with DC gene pairs. Functional enrichment analysis of detected protein modules generates new biological hypotheses and may help in explaining the GC-resistance in MLL-rearranged infant ALL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaynab Mousavian
- School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Nowzari-Dalini
- School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasir Rahmatallah
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205 USA
| | - Ali Masoudi-Nejad
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Ōmura S, Crump A. Lactacystin: first-in-class proteasome inhibitor still excelling and an exemplar for future antibiotic research. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2019; 72:189-201. [PMID: 30755736 PMCID: PMC6760633 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-019-0141-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Lactacystin exemplifies the role that serendipity plays in drug discovery and why “finding things without actually looking for them” retains such a pivotal role in the search for the useful properties of chemicals. The first proteasome inhibitor discovered, lactacystin stimulated new possibilities in cancer control. New and innovative uses are regularly being found for lactacystin, including as a model to study dementia, while new formulations and delivery systems may facilitate its use clinically as an anticancer agent. All this provides yet more evidence that we need a comprehensive, collaborative and coordinated programme to fully investigate all new and existing chemical compounds, especially those of microbial origin. We need to do so in order to avoid failing to detect and successfully exploit unsought yet potentially life-saving or extremely advantageous properties of microbial metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Ōmura
- Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan.
| | - Andy Crump
- Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
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Habib T, Sadoun A, Nader N, Suzuki S, Liu W, Jithesh PV, Kino T. AKT1 has dual actions on the glucocorticoid receptor by cooperating with 14-3-3. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017; 439:431-443. [PMID: 27717743 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 10/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are important therapeutic compounds for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). AKT1 or the protein kinase B is frequently activated in ALL, and contributes to the development of glucocorticoid resistance. We examined impact of AKT1 on glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-induced transcriptional activity in cooperation with phospho-serine/threonine-binding protein 14-3-3. AKT1 has two distinct actions on GR transcriptional activity, one through segregation of GR in the cytoplasm by phosphorylating GR at Ser-134 and subsequent association of 14-3-3, and the other through direct modulation of GR transcriptional activity in the nucleus. For the latter, AKT1 and 14-3-3 are attracted to DNA-bound GR, accompanied by AKT1-dependent p300 phosphorylation, H3S10 phosphorylation and H3K14 acetylation at the DNA site. These two actions of AKT1 regulate distinct sets of glucocorticoid-responsive genes. Our results suggest that specific inhibition of the AKT1/14-3-3 activity on the cytoplasmic retention of GR may be a promising target for treating glucocorticoid resistance observed in ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanwir Habib
- Division of System Biology, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Ameera Sadoun
- Division of Translational Medicine, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Nancy Nader
- Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell University in Qatar, PO Box 24144, Al Luqta Street, Education City South Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Shigeru Suzuki
- Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 10, CRC, Rm 1-3140, 10 Center Drive MSC 1109, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan.
| | - Wei Liu
- Division of Genomic Core, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Puthen V Jithesh
- Division of System Biology, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Tomoshige Kino
- Division of Translational Medicine, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar; Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 10, CRC, Rm 1-3140, 10 Center Drive MSC 1109, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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9
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Logotheti S, Khoury N, Vlahopoulos SA, Skourti E, Papaevangeliou D, Liloglou T, Gorgoulis V, Budunova I, Kyriakopoulos AM, Zoumpourlis V. N-bromotaurine surrogates for loss of antiproliferative response and enhances cisplatin efficacy in cancer cells with impaired glucocorticoid receptor. Transl Res 2016; 173:58-73.e2. [PMID: 27063960 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2016.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are frequently used in anticancer combination regimens; however, their continuous use adds selective pressure on cancer cells to develop GC-resistance via impairment of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), therefore creating a need for GC-alternatives. Based on the drug repurposing approach and the commonalities between inflammation and neoplasia, drugs that are either in late-stage clinical trials and/or already marketed for GC-refractory inflammatory diseases could be evaluated as GC-substitutes in the context of cancer. Advantageously, unlike new molecular entities currently being de novo developed to restore GC-responsiveness of cancer cells, such drugs have documented safety and efficacy profile, which overall simplifies their introduction in clinical cancer trials. In this study, we estimated the potential of a well-established, multistage, cell line-based, mouse skin carcinogenesis model to be exploited as an initial screening tool for unveiling covert GC-substitutes. First, we categorized the cell lines of this model to GC-sensitive and GC-resistant, in correlation with their corresponding GR status, localization, and functionality. We found that GC-resistance starts in papilloma stages, due to a dysfunctional GR, which is overexpressed, DNA binding-competent, but transactivation-incompetent in papilloma, squamous, and spindle stages of the model. Then, aided by this tool, we evaluated the ability of N-bromotaurine, a naturally occurring, small-molecule, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug which is under consideration for use interchangeably/in replacement to GCs in skin inflammations, to restore antiproliferative response of GC-resistant cancer cells. Unlike GCs, N-bromotaurine inhibited cell-cycle progression in GC-resistant cancer cells and efficiently synergized with cisplatin, thus indicating a potential to be exploited instead of GCs against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Logotheti
- Biomedical Applications Unit, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece; Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolas Khoury
- Biomedical Applications Unit, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Spiros A Vlahopoulos
- Horemio Research Institute, First Department of Pediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elena Skourti
- Biomedical Applications Unit, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Papaevangeliou
- Biomedical Applications Unit, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Triantafyllos Liloglou
- University of Liverpool, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vassilis Gorgoulis
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Molecular Carcinogenesis Group, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Irina Budunova
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill, USA
| | | | - Vassilis Zoumpourlis
- Biomedical Applications Unit, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.
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Moschovi M, Critselis E, Cen O, Adamaki M, Lambrou GI, Chrousos GP, Vlahopoulos S. Drugs acting on homeostasis: challenging cancer cell adaptation. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2015; 15:1405-1417. [PMID: 26523494 DOI: 10.1586/14737140.2015.1095095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer treatment aims to exploit properties that define malignant cells. In recent years, it has become apparent that malignant cells often survive cancer treatment and ensuing cell stress by switching on auxiliary turnover pathways, changing cellular metabolism and, concomitantly, the gene expression profile. The changed profile impacts the material exchange of cancer cells with affected tissues. Herein, we show that pathways of proteostasis and energy generation regulate common transcription factors. Namely, when one pathway of intracellular turnover is blocked, it triggers alternative turnover mechanisms, which induce transcription factor proteins that control expression of cytokines and regulators of apoptosis, cell division, differentiation, metabolism, and response to hormones. We focus on several alternative turnover mechanisms that can be blocked by drugs already used in clinical practice for the treatment of other non-cancer related diseases. We also discuss paradigms on the challenges posed by cancer cell adaptation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Moschovi
- a 1 University of Athens, Horemio Research Institute, First Department of Pediatrics, Thivon & Levadeias, Goudi, Athens, 11527, Greece
- b 2 University of Athens, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadeias, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Elena Critselis
- a 1 University of Athens, Horemio Research Institute, First Department of Pediatrics, Thivon & Levadeias, Goudi, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - Osman Cen
- c 3 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Maria Adamaki
- a 1 University of Athens, Horemio Research Institute, First Department of Pediatrics, Thivon & Levadeias, Goudi, Athens, 11527, Greece
- b 2 University of Athens, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadeias, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - George I Lambrou
- a 1 University of Athens, Horemio Research Institute, First Department of Pediatrics, Thivon & Levadeias, Goudi, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- a 1 University of Athens, Horemio Research Institute, First Department of Pediatrics, Thivon & Levadeias, Goudi, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - Spiros Vlahopoulos
- a 1 University of Athens, Horemio Research Institute, First Department of Pediatrics, Thivon & Levadeias, Goudi, Athens, 11527, Greece
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Sionov RV, Vlahopoulos SA, Granot Z. Regulation of Bim in Health and Disease. Oncotarget 2015; 6:23058-134. [PMID: 26405162 PMCID: PMC4695108 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The BH3-only Bim protein is a major determinant for initiating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Tight regulation of its expression and activity at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels together with the induction of alternatively spliced isoforms with different pro-apoptotic potential, ensure timely activation of Bim. Under physiological conditions, Bim is essential for shaping immune responses where its absence promotes autoimmunity, while too early Bim induction eliminates cytotoxic T cells prematurely, resulting in chronic inflammation and tumor progression. Enhanced Bim induction in neurons causes neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Moreover, type I diabetes is promoted by genetically predisposed elevation of Bim in β-cells. On the contrary, cancer cells have developed mechanisms that suppress Bim expression necessary for tumor progression and metastasis. This review focuses on the intricate network regulating Bim activity and its involvement in physiological and pathophysiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronit Vogt Sionov
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Spiros A. Vlahopoulos
- First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Horemeio Research Laboratory, Thivon and Levadias, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Zvi Granot
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
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12
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Adamaki M, Tsotra M, Vlahopoulos S, Zampogiannis A, Papavassiliou AG, Moschovi M. STAT transcript levels in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: STAT1 and STAT3 transcript correlations. Leuk Res 2015; 39:S0145-2126(15)30379-9. [PMID: 26385310 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 08/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the transcript levels of genes STAT1, STAT3, STAT5A and STAT5B in the diagnostic samples of childhood ALL patients and compared them to those of healthy controls in order to characterize STAT gene expression in childhood ALL. As compared to controls, ALL patients exhibit markedly decreased transcript levels in all four genes investigated. STAT1 and STAT3 are significantly correlated in ALL patients as opposed to controls (P<0.0005). Patients with low transcript levels of STAT1 and STAT3 survive, regardless of minimal residual disease status and relapse. Lower transcript levels appear in association with a particularly high survival outcome in the ALL patients. The identification of aberrant expression profiles provides insight into the role of STAT genes in the development of childhood ALL and enables development of patient-tailored therapeutic approaches in cases of resistant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Adamaki
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Tsotra
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Spiros Vlahopoulos
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Archontis Zampogiannis
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Maria Moschovi
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sofia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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13
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Vlahopoulos SA, Cen O, Hengen N, Agan J, Moschovi M, Critselis E, Adamaki M, Bacopoulou F, Copland JA, Boldogh I, Karin M, Chrousos GP. Dynamic aberrant NF-κB spurs tumorigenesis: a new model encompassing the microenvironment. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2015; 26:389-403. [PMID: 26119834 PMCID: PMC4526340 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2015.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recently it was discovered that a transient activation of transcription factor NF-κB can give cells properties essential for invasiveness and cancer initiating potential. In contrast, most oncogenes to date were characterized on the basis of mutations or by their constitutive overexpression. Study of NF-κB actually leads to a far more dynamic perspective on cancer: tumors caused by diverse oncogenes apparently evolve into cancer after loss of feedback regulation for NF-κB. This event alters the cellular phenotype and the expression of hormonal mediators, modifying signals between diverse cell types in a tissue. The result is a disruption of stem cell hierarchy in the tissue, and pervasive changes in the microenvironment and immune response to the malignant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spiros A Vlahopoulos
- First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Horemeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece.
| | - Osman Cen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, United States
| | - Nina Hengen
- Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University, United States
| | - James Agan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, United States
| | - Maria Moschovi
- First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Horemeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
| | - Elena Critselis
- First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Horemeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Adamaki
- First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Horemeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
| | - Flora Bacopoulou
- First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Horemeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
| | - John A Copland
- Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology, United States
| | - Istvan Boldogh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, United States
| | - Michael Karin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, United States
| | - George P Chrousos
- First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Horemeio Research Laboratory, Athens, Greece
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Abstract
The anti-malarial drug artemisinin has shown anticancer activity in vitro and animal experiments, but experience in human cancer is scarce. However, the ability of artemisinins to kill cancer cells through a variety of molecular mechanisms has been explored. A PubMed search of about 127 papers on anti-cancer effects of antimalarials has revealed that this class of drug, including other antimalarials, have several biological characteristics that include anticancer properties. Experimental evidences suggest that artemisinin compounds may be a therapeutic alternative in highly aggressive cancers with rapid dissemination, without developing drug resistance. They also exhibit synergism with other anticancer drugs with no increased toxicity toward normal cells. It has been found that semisynthetic artemisinin derivatives have much higher antitumor activity than their monomeric counterparts via mechanisms like apoptosis, arrest of cell cycle at G0/G1, and oxidative stress. The exact mechanism of activation and molecular basis of these anticancer effects are not fully elucidated. Artemisinins seem to regulate key factors such as nuclear factor-kappa B, survivin, NOXA, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and BMI-1, involving multiple pathways that may affect drug response, drug interactions, drug resistance, and associated parameters upon normal cells. Newer synthetic artemisinins have been developed showing substantial antineoplastic activity, but there is still limited information regarding the mode of action of these synthetic compounds. In view of the emerging data, specific interactions with established chemotherapy need to be further investigated in different cancer cells and their phenotypes and validated further using different semisynthetic and synthetic artemisinin derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Das
- Department of Medicine, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
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Braoudaki M, Lambrou GI, Vougas K, Karamolegou K, Tsangaris GT, Tzortzatou-Stathopoulou F. Protein biomarkers distinguish between high- and low-risk pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a tissue specific manner. J Hematol Oncol 2013; 6:52. [PMID: 23849470 PMCID: PMC3717072 DOI: 10.1186/1756-8722-6-52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study evaluated the differential expression detected in the proteomic profiles of low risk- and high risk- ALL pediatric patients to characterize candidate biomarkers related to diagnosis, prognosis and patient targeted therapy. Bone marrow and peripheral blood plasma and cell lysates samples were obtained from pediatric patients with low- (LR) and high-risk (HR) ALL at diagnosis. As controls, non-leukemic pediatric patients were studied. Cytogenetic analysis was carried out by G- banding and interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization. Differential proteomic analysis was performed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and protein identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The differential expression of certain proteins was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The obtained data revealed that CLUS, CERU, APOE, APOA4, APOA1, GELS, S10A9, AMBP, ACTB, CATA and AFAM proteins play a significant role in leukemia prognosis, potentially serving as distinctive biomarkers for leukemia aggressiveness, or as suppressor proteins in HR-ALL cases. In addition, vitronectin and plasminogen probably contributed to leukemogenesis, whilst bicaudal D-related protein 1 could afford a significant biomarker for pediatric ALL therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Braoudaki
- First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, Choremeio Research Laboratory, Thivon & Levadias 11527 Goudi-Athens, Greece
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