Anastasis and the ER stress response: Solving the paradox of the unfolded protein response in cancer

Potential impacts of bisphenols on prostate cells: An overview of cytotoxicity, proliferation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and ER-stress response activation

This study aimed to evaluate the toxic effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol F (BPF) and Bisphenol S (BPS) on PNT1A and PC-3 cells, focusing on their effects on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and related pathways. PNT1A and PC-3 were treated with BPA, BPF and BPS at concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 μM for 48 h cytotoxicity, BrdU cell proliferation, ROS generation, apoptosis detection, gene expression analysis and Western blot analysis were performed. BPA induced proliferation and late apoptosis in PNT1A cells, whereas it induced both late apoptosis and early apoptosis in PC-3 cells. BPF and BPS induced late apoptosis in PC-3 cells. Increased ROS levels were observed in PNT1A cells exposed to 1-10 μM BPA. BPA, BPF and BPS increased the expression levels of ER stress-related genes in PNT1A cells. Furthermore, exposure to BPA increased the expression of ER stress-related CHOP/DDIT3 protein in PNT1A cells. These findings highlight the potential health risks associated with BPA, BPF and BPS exposure and emphasize the importance of investigating the underlying mechanisms by which these chemicals may affect human health. Further research is required to comprehensively understand the role of ER stress pathways in cellular responses to these substances.

The Role of the Hypoxia-Related Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in the Tumor Microenvironment

Despite our understanding of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways, the crosstalk between the UPR and the complex signaling networks that different cancers utilize for cell survival remains to be, in most cases, a difficult research barrier. A major problem is the constant variability of different cancer types and the different stages of cancer as well as the complexity of the tumor microenvironments (TME). This complexity often leads to apparently contradictory results. Furthermore, the majority of the studies that have been conducted have utilized two-dimensional in vitro cultures of cancer cells that were exposed to continuous hypoxia, and this approach may not mimic the dynamic and cyclic conditions that are found in solid tumors. Here, we discuss the role of intermittent hypoxia, one of inducers of the UPR in the cellular component of TME, and the way in which intermittent hypoxia induces high levels of reactive oxygen species, the activation of the UPR, and the way in which cancer cells modulate the UPR to aid in their survival. Although the past decade has resulted in defining the complex, novel non-coding RNA-based regulatory networks that modulate the means by which hypoxia influences the UPR, we are now just to beginning to understand some of the connections between hypoxia, the UPR, and the TME.

On the origin of metastases: Induction of pro-metastatic states after impending cell death via ER stress, reprogramming, and a cytokine storm

How metastatic cells arise is unclear. Here, we search for the induction of recently characterized pro-metastatic states as a surrogate for the origin of metastasis. Since cell-death-inducing therapies can paradoxically promote metastasis, we ask if such treatments induce pro-metastatic states in human colon cancer cells. We find that post-near-death cells acquire pro-metastatic states (PAMEs) and form distant metastases in vivo. These PAME ("let's go" in Greek) cells exhibit a multifactorial cytokine storm as well as signs of enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and nuclear reprogramming, requiring CXCL8, INSL4, IL32, PERK-CHOP, and NANOG. PAMEs induce neighboring tumor cells to become PAME-induced migratory cells (PIMs): highly migratory cells that re-enact the storm and enhance PAME migration. Metastases are thus proposed to originate from the induction of pro-metastatic states through intrinsic and extrinsic cues in a pro-metastatic tumoral ecosystem, driven by an impending cell-death experience involving ER stress modulation, metastatic reprogramming, and paracrine recruitment via a cytokine storm.

Anastasis: Return Journey from Cell Death

For over 20 years, it has been a dogma that once the integrity of mitochondria is disrupted and proapoptotic proteins that are normally located in the intermembrane space of mitochondria appeared in the cytoplasm, the process of cell death becomes inevitable. However, it has been recently shown that upon removal of the death signal, even at the stage of disturbance in the mitochondria, cells can recover and continue to grow. This phenomenon was named anastasis. Here, we will critically discuss the present knowledge concerning the mechanisms of cell death reversal, or development of anastasis, methods for its detection, and what role signaling from different intracellular compartments plays in anastasis stimulation.

IRE1 Endoribonuclease Activity Modulates Hypoxic HIF-1α Signaling in Human Endothelial Cells

While the role of hypoxia and the induction of the hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) and the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways in the cancer microenvironment are well characterized, their roles and relationship in normal human endothelium are less clear. Here, we examined the effects of IRE1 on HIF-1α protein levels during hypoxia in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results demonstrated that HIF-1α levels peaked at 6 h of hypoxia along with two of their target genes, GLUT1 and VEGFA, whereas at up to 12 h of hypoxia the mRNA levels of markers of the UPR, IRE1, XBP1s, BiP, and CHOP, did not increase, suggesting that the UPR was not activated. Interestingly, the siRNA knockdown of IRE1 or inhibition of IRE1 endonuclease activity with 4µ8C during hypoxia significantly reduced HIF-1α protein without affecting HIF1A mRNA expression. The inhibition of the endonuclease activity with 4µ8C in two other primary endothelial cells during hypoxia, human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells and human aortic endothelial cells showed the same reduction in the HIF-1α protein. Surprisingly, the siRNA knockdown of XBP1s during hypoxia did not decrease the HIF1α protein levels, indicating that the IRE1-mediated effect on stabilizing the HIF1α protein levels was XBP1s-independent. The studies presented here, therefore, provide evidence that IRE1 activity during hypoxia increases the protein levels of HIF1α in an XBP1s-independent manner.

Computational Proteome-Wide Study for the Prediction of Escherichia coli Protein Targeting in Host Cell Organelles and Their Implication in Development of Colon Cancer

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection is associated with gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhea and colorectal cancer. Although evidences have established the involvement of E. coli in the growth of colon cancer, the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis of cancer growth and development are not well understood. We analyzed E. coli protein targeting in host cell organelles and the implication in colon cancer using in silico approaches. Our results indicated that many E. coli proteins targeted the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), ER membranes, Golgi apparatus, Golgi apparatus membranes, peroxisomes, nucleus, nuclear membrane, mitochondria, and mitochondrial membrane of host cells. These targeted proteins in ER, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, nucleus, and mitochondria may alter the normal functioning of various pathways including DNA repair, apoptosis, replication, transcription, and protein folding in E. coli-infected host cells. The results of the current in silico study provide insights into E. coli pathogenesis and may aid in designing new preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Unfolded protein response (UPR) integrated signaling networks determine cell fate during hypoxia

During hypoxic conditions, cells undergo critical adaptive responses that include the up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible proteins (HIFs) and the induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR). While their induced signaling pathways have many distinct targets, there are some important connections as well. Despite the extensive studies on both of these signaling pathways, the exact mechanisms involved that determine survival versus apoptosis remain largely unexplained and therefore beyond therapeutic control. Here we discuss the complex relationship between the HIF and UPR signaling pathways and the importance of understanding how these pathways differ between normal and cancer cell models.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway, the Unfolded Protein Response, Modulates Immune Function in the Tumor Microenvironment to Impact Tumor Progression and Therapeutic Response

Despite advances in cancer therapy, several persistent issues remain. These include cancer recurrence, effective targeting of aggressive or therapy-resistant cancers, and selective treatments for transformed cells. This review evaluates the current findings and highlights the potential of targeting the unfolded protein response to treat cancer. The unfolded protein response, an evolutionarily conserved pathway in all eukaryotes, is initiated in response to misfolded proteins accumulating within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. This pathway is initially cytoprotective, allowing cells to survive stressful events; however, prolonged activation of the unfolded protein response also activates apoptotic responses. This balance is key in successful mammalian immune response and inducing cell death in malignant cells. We discuss how the unfolded protein response affects cancer progression, survival, and immune response to cancer cells. The literature shows that targeting the unfolded protein response as a monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapies increases the efficacy of these drugs; however, systemic unfolded protein response targeting may yield deleterious effects on immune cell function and should be taken into consideration. The material in this review shows the promise of both approaches, each of which merits further research.