1
|
Kinoshita H, Martinez-Ordoñez A, Cid-Diaz T, Han Q, Duran A, Muta Y, Zhang X, Linares JF, Nakanishi Y, Kasashima H, Yashiro M, Maeda K, Albaladejo-Gonzalez A, Torres-Moreno D, García-Solano J, Conesa-Zamora P, Inghirami G, Diaz-Meco MT, Moscat J. Epithelial aPKC deficiency leads to stem cell loss preceding metaplasia in colorectal cancer initiation. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1972-1987.e8. [PMID: 38815584 PMCID: PMC11303105 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The early mechanisms of spontaneous tumor initiation that precede malignancy are largely unknown. We show that reduced aPKC levels correlate with stem cell loss and the induction of revival and metaplastic programs in serrated- and conventional-initiated premalignant lesions, which is perpetuated in colorectal cancers (CRCs). Acute inactivation of PKCλ/ι in vivo and in mouse organoids is sufficient to stimulate JNK in non-transformed intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), which promotes cell death and the rapid loss of the intestinal stem cells (ISCs), including those that are LGR5+. This is followed by the accumulation of revival stem cells (RSCs) at the bottom of the crypt and fetal-metaplastic cells (FMCs) at the top, creating two spatiotemporally distinct cell populations that depend on JNK-induced AP-1 and YAP. These cell lineage changes are maintained during cancer initiation and progression and determine the aggressive phenotype of human CRC, irrespective of their serrated or conventional origin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroto Kinoshita
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anxo Martinez-Ordoñez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tania Cid-Diaz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qixiu Han
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Angeles Duran
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yu Muta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Juan F Linares
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yuki Nakanishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kasashima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka city 545-8585, Japan
| | - Masakazu Yashiro
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka city 545-8585, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Maeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka city 545-8585, Japan
| | - Ana Albaladejo-Gonzalez
- Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain; Department of Pathology, Santa Lucía General University Hospital (HGUSL), Calle Mezquita sn, 30202 Cartagena, Spain
| | - Daniel Torres-Moreno
- Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain; Department of Clinical Analysis, Santa Lucía General University Hospital (HGUSL), Calle Mezquita sn, 30202 Cartagena, Spain
| | - José García-Solano
- Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain; Department of Pathology, Santa Lucía General University Hospital (HGUSL), Calle Mezquita sn, 30202 Cartagena, Spain
| | - Pablo Conesa-Zamora
- Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain; Department of Clinical Analysis, Santa Lucía General University Hospital (HGUSL), Calle Mezquita sn, 30202 Cartagena, Spain
| | - Giorgio Inghirami
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maria T Diaz-Meco
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Jorge Moscat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pareek G, Kundu M. Physiological functions of ULK1/2. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168472. [PMID: 38311233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
UNC-51-like kinases 1 and 2 (ULK1/2) are serine/threonine kinases that are best known for their evolutionarily conserved role in the autophagy pathway. Upon sensing the nutrient status of a cell, ULK1/2 integrate signals from upstream cellular energy sensors such as mTOR and AMPK and relay them to the downstream components of the autophagy machinery. ULK1/2 also play indispensable roles in the selective autophagy pathway, removing damaged mitochondria, invading pathogens, and toxic protein aggregates. Additional functions of ULK1/2 have emerged beyond autophagy, including roles in protein trafficking, RNP granule dynamics, and signaling events impacting innate immunity, axon guidance, cellular homeostasis, and cell fate. Therefore, it is no surprise that alterations in ULK1/2 expression and activity have been linked with pathophysiological processes, including cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Growing evidence suggests that ULK1/2 function as biological rheostats, tuning cellular functions to intra and extra-cellular cues. Given their broad physiological relevance, ULK1/2 are candidate targets for small molecule activators or inhibitors that may pave the way for the development of therapeutics for the treatment of diseases in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Pareek
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mondira Kundu
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen RX, Xu SD, Deng MH, Hao SH, Chen JW, Ma XD, Zhuang WT, Cao JH, Lv YR, Lin JL, Li SY, Qiao GB, Xie D, Wang FW. Mex-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A)/circMPP6 complex promotes colorectal cancer progression by inhibiting autophagy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:80. [PMID: 38565536 PMCID: PMC10987644 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01787-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs)-RNA networks have contributed to cancer development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are considered as protein recruiters; nevertheless, the patterns of circRNA-protein interactions in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still lacking. Processing bodies (PBs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are membrane-less organelles (MLOs) consisting of RBPs and RNA. Previous evidence suggests a connection between PBs dynamics and cancer progression. Despite the increasingly acknowledged crucial role of RBPs and RNA in the accumulation and maintenance of MLOs, there remains a lack of specific research on the interactions between PBs-related RBPs and circRNAs in CRC. Herein, we identify that MEX-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A), frequently upregulated in CRC tissues, predicts poorer patient survival. Elevated MEX3A accelerates malignance and inhibits autophagy of CRC cells. Importantly, MEX3A undergoes intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs)-dependent LLPS in the cytoplasm. Specifically, circMPP6 acts as a scaffold to facilitate the interaction between MEX3A and PBs proteins. The MEX3A/circMPP6 complex modulates PBs dynamic and promotes UPF-mediated phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) mRNA degradation, consequently leading to the aggressive properties of CRC cells. Clinically, CRC patients exhibiting high MEX3A expression and low PDE5A expression have the poorest overall survival. Our findings reveal a collaboration between MEX3A and circMPP6 in the regulation of mRNA decay through triggering the PBs aggregation, which provides prognostic markers and/or therapeutic targets for CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ri-Xin Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Shui-Dan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Min-Hua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Shi-Hui Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jie-Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Wei-Tao Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jing-Hua Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yong-Rui Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jin-Long Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Si-Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Gui-Bin Qiao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Dan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Feng-Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aiderus A, Barker N, Tergaonkar V. Serrated colorectal cancer: preclinical models and molecular pathways. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:76-91. [PMID: 37880007 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Serrated lesions are histologically heterogeneous, and detection can be challenging as these lesions have subtle features that may be missed by endoscopy. Furthermore, while approximately 30% of colorectal cancers (CRCs) arise from serrated lesions, only 8-10% of invasive serrated CRCs exhibit serrated morphology at presentation, suggesting potential loss of apparent characteristics with increased malignancy. Thus, understanding the genetic basis driving serrated CRC initiation and progression is critical to improve diagnosis and identify therapeutic biomarkers and targets to guide disease management. This review discusses the preclinical models of serrated CRCs reported to date and how these systems have been used to provide mechanistic insights into tumor initiation, progression, and novel treatment targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aziz Aiderus
- Laboratory of NFκB Signalling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore.
| | - Nick Barker
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), 2 Medical Drive, MD9, Singapore 117593, Republic of Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Laboratory of NFκB Signalling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), 8 Medical Drive, MD7, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Muta Y, Linares JF, Martinez-Ordoñez A, Duran A, Cid-Diaz T, Kinoshita H, Zhang X, Han Q, Nakanishi Y, Nakanishi N, Cordes T, Arora GK, Ruiz-Martinez M, Reina-Campos M, Kasashima H, Yashiro M, Maeda K, Albaladejo-Gonzalez A, Torres-Moreno D, García-Solano J, Conesa-Zamora P, Inghirami G, Metallo CM, Osborne TF, Diaz-Meco MT, Moscat J. Enhanced SREBP2-driven cholesterol biosynthesis by PKCλ/ι deficiency in intestinal epithelial cells promotes aggressive serrated tumorigenesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8075. [PMID: 38092754 PMCID: PMC10719313 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43690-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The metabolic and signaling pathways regulating aggressive mesenchymal colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation and progression through the serrated route are largely unknown. Although relatively well characterized as BRAF mutant cancers, their poor response to current targeted therapy, difficult preneoplastic detection, and challenging endoscopic resection make the identification of their metabolic requirements a priority. Here, we demonstrate that the phosphorylation of SCAP by the atypical PKC (aPKC), PKCλ/ι promotes its degradation and inhibits the processing and activation of SREBP2, the master regulator of cholesterol biosynthesis. We show that the upregulation of SREBP2 and cholesterol by reduced aPKC levels is essential for controlling metaplasia and generating the most aggressive cell subpopulation in serrated tumors in mice and humans. Since these alterations are also detected prior to neoplastic transformation, together with the sensitivity of these tumors to cholesterol metabolism inhibitors, our data indicate that targeting cholesterol biosynthesis is a potential mechanism for serrated chemoprevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Muta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Juan F Linares
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Anxo Martinez-Ordoñez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Angeles Duran
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Tania Cid-Diaz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Hiroto Kinoshita
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Qixiu Han
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yuki Nakanishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoko Nakanishi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Thekla Cordes
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, 38106, Germany
| | - Gurpreet K Arora
- Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Marc Ruiz-Martinez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Miguel Reina-Campos
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Hiroaki Kasashima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka city, 545-8585, Japan
| | - Masakazu Yashiro
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka city, 545-8585, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Maeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka city, 545-8585, Japan
| | - Ana Albaladejo-Gonzalez
- Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Santa Lucía General University Hospital (HGUSL), Calle Mezquita sn, 30202, Cartagena, Spain
| | - Daniel Torres-Moreno
- Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Santa Lucía General University Hospital (HGUSL), Calle Mezquita sn, 30202, Cartagena, Spain
| | - José García-Solano
- Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Santa Lucía General University Hospital (HGUSL), Calle Mezquita sn, 30202, Cartagena, Spain
| | - Pablo Conesa-Zamora
- Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Santa Lucía General University Hospital (HGUSL), Calle Mezquita sn, 30202, Cartagena, Spain
| | - Giorgio Inghirami
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Christian M Metallo
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Timothy F Osborne
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St, Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Maria T Diaz-Meco
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Jorge Moscat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang L, Klionsky DJ, Shen HM. The emerging mechanisms and functions of microautophagy. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:186-203. [PMID: 36097284 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00529-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 107.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
'Autophagy' refers to an evolutionarily conserved process through which cellular contents, such as damaged organelles and protein aggregates, are delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Different forms of autophagy have been described on the basis of the nature of the cargoes and the means used to deliver them to lysosomes. At present, the prevailing categories of autophagy in mammalian cells are macroautophagy, microautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy. The molecular mechanisms and biological functions of macroautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy have been extensively studied, but microautophagy has received much less attention. In recent years, there has been a growth in research on microautophagy, first in yeast and then in mammalian cells. Here we review this form of autophagy, focusing on selective forms of microautophagy. We also discuss the upstream regulatory mechanisms, the crosstalk between macroautophagy and microautophagy, and the functional implications of microautophagy in diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders in humans. Future research into microautophagy will provide opportunities to develop novel interventional strategies for autophagy- and lysosome-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liming Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Daniel J Klionsky
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Han-Ming Shen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau, China. .,Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Martinez-Ordoñez A, Duran A, Ruiz-Martinez M, Cid-Diaz T, Zhang X, Han Q, Kinoshita H, Muta Y, Linares JF, Kasashima H, Nakanishi Y, Omar M, Nishimura S, Avila L, Yashiro M, Maeda K, Pannellini T, Pigazzi A, Inghirami G, Marchionni L, Sigal D, Diaz-Meco MT, Moscat J. Hyaluronan driven by epithelial aPKC deficiency remodels the microenvironment and creates a vulnerability in mesenchymal colorectal cancer. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:252-271.e9. [PMID: 36525970 PMCID: PMC9931663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal colorectal cancer (mCRC) is microsatellite stable (MSS), highly desmoplastic, with CD8+ T cells excluded to the stromal periphery, resistant to immunotherapy, and driven by low levels of the atypical protein kinase Cs (aPKCs) in the intestinal epithelium. We show here that a salient feature of these tumors is the accumulation of hyaluronan (HA) which, along with reduced aPKC levels, predicts poor survival. HA promotes epithelial heterogeneity and the emergence of a tumor fetal metaplastic cell (TFMC) population endowed with invasive cancer features through a network of interactions with activated fibroblasts. TFMCs are sensitive to HA deposition, and their metaplastic markers have prognostic value. We demonstrate that in vivo HA degradation with a clinical dose of hyaluronidase impairs mCRC tumorigenesis and liver metastasis and enables immune checkpoint blockade therapy by promoting the recruitment of B and CD8+ T cells, including a proportion with resident memory features, and by blocking immunosuppression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anxo Martinez-Ordoñez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Angeles Duran
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Marc Ruiz-Martinez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tania Cid-Diaz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qixiu Han
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hiroto Kinoshita
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yu Muta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Juan F Linares
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hiroaki Kasashima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka City 545-8585, Japan
| | - Yuki Nakanishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mohamed Omar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sadaaki Nishimura
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Leandro Avila
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Masakazu Yashiro
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka City 545-8585, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Maeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka City 545-8585, Japan
| | - Tania Pannellini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alessio Pigazzi
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Giorgio Inghirami
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Luigi Marchionni
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Darren Sigal
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Maria T Diaz-Meco
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Jorge Moscat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Moscat J, Linares JF, Duran A, Diaz-Meco MT. Protein kinase Cλ/ι in cancer: a contextual balance of time and signals. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 32:1023-1034. [PMID: 35501226 PMCID: PMC9716658 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Nononcogenic cancer drivers often impinge on complex signals that create new addictions and vulnerabilities. Protein kinase Cλ/ι (PKCλ/ι) suppresses tumorigenesis by blocking metabolic pathways that regulate fuel oxidation and create building blocks for the epigenetic control of cell differentiation. Reduced levels of PKCλ/ι unleash these pathways to promote tumorigenesis, but the simultaneous activation of the STING-driven interferon cascade prevents tumor initiation by triggering immunosurveillance mechanisms. However, depending on the context of other signaling pathways, such as WNT/β-catenin or PKCζ, and timing, PKCλ/ι deletion can promote or inhibit tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss in detail the molecular and cellular underpinnings of PKCλ/ι functions in cancer with the perspective of the crosstalk between metabolism and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Moscat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Juan F Linares
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Angeles Duran
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maria T Diaz-Meco
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kawano T, Inokuchi J, Eto M, Murata M, Kang JH. Protein Kinase C (PKC) Isozymes as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5425. [PMID: 36358843 PMCID: PMC9658272 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase C (PKC) is a large family of calcium- and phospholipid-dependent serine/threonine kinases that consists of at least 11 isozymes. Based on their structural characteristics and mode of activation, the PKC family is classified into three subfamilies: conventional or classic (cPKCs; α, βI, βII, and γ), novel or non-classic (nPKCs; δ, ε, η, and θ), and atypical (aPKCs; ζ, ι, and λ) (PKCλ is the mouse homolog of PKCι) PKC isozymes. PKC isozymes play important roles in proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and anticancer drug resistance in cancer cells. Several studies have shown a positive relationship between PKC isozymes and poor disease-free survival, poor survival following anticancer drug treatment, and increased recurrence. Furthermore, a higher level of PKC activation has been reported in cancer tissues compared to that in normal tissues. These data suggest that PKC isozymes represent potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer. This review summarizes the current knowledge and discusses the potential of PKC isozymes as biomarkers in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takahito Kawano
- Center for Advanced Medical Innovation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Junichi Inokuchi
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Eto
- Center for Advanced Medical Innovation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Masaharu Murata
- Center for Advanced Medical Innovation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Jeong-Hun Kang
- Division of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 6-1 Shinmachi, Kishibe, Suita, Osaka 564-8565, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy in Pericytes: A Key Target for the Development of New Treatments against Glioblastoma Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168886. [PMID: 36012149 PMCID: PMC9408771 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB) cells physically interact with peritumoral pericytes (PCs) present in the brain microvasculature. These interactions facilitate tumor cells to aberrantly increase and benefit from chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in the PC. GB-induced CMA leads to major changes in PC immunomodulatory phenotypes, which, in turn, support cancer progression. In this review, we focus on the consequences of the GB-induced up-regulation of CMA activity in PCs and evaluate how manipulation of this process could offer new strategies to fight glioblastoma, increasing the availability of treatments for this cancer that escapes conventional therapies. We finally discuss the use of modified PCs unable to increase CMA in response to GB as a cell therapy alternative to minimize undesired off-target effects associated with a generalized CMA inhibition.
Collapse
|
11
|
Discovery of a signaling feedback circuit that defines interferon responses in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1750. [PMID: 35365653 PMCID: PMC8975834 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29381-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferons (IFNs) are key initiators and effectors of the immune response against malignant cells and also directly inhibit tumor growth. IFNα is highly effective in the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), but the mechanisms of action are unclear and it remains unknown why some patients respond to IFNα and others do not. Here, we identify and characterize a pathway involving PKCδ-dependent phosphorylation of ULK1 on serine residues 341 and 495, required for subsequent activation of p38 MAPK. We show that this pathway is essential for IFN-suppressive effects on primary malignant erythroid precursors from MPN patients, and that increased levels of ULK1 and p38 MAPK correlate with clinical response to IFNα therapy in these patients. We also demonstrate that IFNα treatment induces cleavage/activation of the ULK1-interacting ROCK1/2 proteins in vitro and in vivo, triggering a negative feedback loop that suppresses IFN responses. Overexpression of ROCK1/2 is seen in MPN patients and their genetic or pharmacological inhibition enhances IFN-anti-neoplastic responses in malignant erythroid precursors from MPN patients. These findings suggest the clinical potential of pharmacological inhibition of ROCK1/2 in combination with IFN-therapy for the treatment of MPNs. Interferon alpha (IFNalpha) therapy is showing promising results to treat myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Here, the authors show that IFNalpha response requires ULK1 phosphorylation to induce p38-MAPK signalling but it is counteracted by ROCK1-2 activation suggesting combination therapy of IFNalpha-ROCK1-2 inhibition may improve MPNs treatment.
Collapse
|
12
|
Moscat J, Cuervo AM, Diaz-Meco MT. Immunosurveillance, interferon, and autophagic networking in cancer: the PRKCI-ULK2 paradigm. Autophagy 2022; 18:226-227. [PMID: 34895031 PMCID: PMC8865275 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2021.1991192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms controlling immunosurveillance and immunoevasion often operate simultaneously to the triggering of the oncogenic signaling that results in tumor initiation. The resolution of the balance between anti-cancer immune responses and pro-tumorigenic pathways determines if a tumor cell survives and can remodel the microenvironment to reinforce immunosuppression or is eliminated by the immune system. Cancer cells must endure a toxic and metabolically challenging milieu. In its various forms, autophagy provides a way for transformed cells to survive by promoting catabolism and detoxification. Mounting evidence suggests that the boundaries between cancer immunity and mitogenic and metabolic programs are diffuse, with the same molecules likely serving several diverse roles in immunity and metabolism during tumor initiation and progression. Our recent data provide mechanistic detail and functional relevance of a new paradigm whereby the same signaling elements control immunity and autophagy in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Moscat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana Maria Cuervo
- Departments of Medicine and of Developmental and Molecular Biology and Institute for Aging Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Maria T. Diaz-Meco
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rosenthal J, Carelli R, Omar M, Brundage D, Halbert E, Nyman J, Hari SN, Van Allen EM, Marchionni L, Umeton R, Loda M. Building tools for machine learning and artificial intelligence in cancer research: best practices and a case study with the PathML toolkit for computational pathology. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 20:202-206. [PMID: 34880124 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Imaging datasets in cancer research are growing exponentially in both quantity and information density. These massive datasets may enable derivation of insights for cancer research and clinical care, but only if researchers are equipped with the tools to leverage advanced computational analysis approaches such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. In this work, we highlight three themes to guide development of such computational tools: scalability, standardization, and ease of use. We then apply these principles to develop PathML, a general-purpose research toolkit for computational pathology. We describe the design of the PathML framework and demonstrate applications in diverse use-cases. PathML is publicly available at www.pathml.com.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mohamed Omar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine
| | - David Brundage
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine
| | | | - Jackson Nyman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
| | - Surya N Hari
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
| | | | | | - Renato Umeton
- Informatics and Analytics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
| | | |
Collapse
|