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Promotion of cancer cell stemness by Ras. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:467-476. [PMID: 33544116 PMCID: PMC7925005 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) may be the most relevant and elusive cancer cell population, as they have the exquisite ability to seed new tumors. It is plausible, that highly mutated cancer genes, such as KRAS, are functionally associated with processes contributing to the emergence of stemness traits. In this review, we will summarize the evidence for a stemness driving activity of oncogenic Ras. This activity appears to differ by Ras isoform, with the highly mutated KRAS having a particularly profound impact. Next to established stemness pathways such as Wnt and Hedgehog (Hh), the precise, cell cycle dependent orchestration of the MAPK-pathway appears to relay Ras activation in this context. We will examine how non-canonical activities of K-Ras4B (hereafter K-Ras) could be enabled by its trafficking chaperones calmodulin and PDE6D/PDEδ. Both dynamically localize to the cellular machinery that is intimately linked to cell fate decisions, such as the primary cilium and the centrosome. Thus, it can be speculated that oncogenic K-Ras disrupts fundamental polarized signaling and asymmetric apportioning processes that are necessary during cell differentiation.
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Vellingiri B, Iyer M, Devi Subramaniam M, Jayaramayya K, Siama Z, Giridharan B, Narayanasamy A, Abdal Dayem A, Cho SG. Understanding the Role of the Transcription Factor Sp1 in Ovarian Cancer: from Theory to Practice. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1153. [PMID: 32050495 PMCID: PMC7038193 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the deadliest cancers among women contributing to high risk of mortality, mainly owing to delayed detection. There is no specific biomarker for its detection in early stages. However, recent findings show that over-expression of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) is involved in many OC cases. The ubiquitous transcription of Sp1 apparently mediates the maintenance of normal and cancerous biological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cellular reprogramming and tumorigenesis. Sp1 exerts its effects on cellular genes containing putative GC-rich Sp1-binding site in their promoters. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying Sp1 transcription factor (TF) regulation and functions in OC tumorigenesis could help identify novel prognostic markers, to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) by following cellular reprogramming and enable the development of novel therapies for future generations. In this review, we address the structure, function, and biology of Sp1 in normal and cancer cells, underpinning the involvement of Sp1 in OC tumorigenesis. In addition, we have highlighted the influence of Sp1 TF in cellular reprogramming of iPSCs and how it plays a role in controlling CSCs. This review highlights the drugs targeting Sp1 and their action on cancer cells. In conclusion, we predict that research in this direction will be highly beneficial for OC treatment, and chemotherapeutic drugs targeting Sp1 will emerge as a promising therapy for OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, India
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore 641043, India; (M.I.); (K.J.)
| | - Mohana Devi Subramaniam
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600006, India;
| | - Kaavya Jayaramayya
- Department of Zoology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore 641043, India; (M.I.); (K.J.)
| | - Zothan Siama
- Department of Zoology, School of Life-science, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India;
| | - Bupesh Giridharan
- R&D Wing, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), BIHER, Chromepet, Chennai 600044, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Arul Narayanasamy
- Disease Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Ahmed Abdal Dayem
- Molecular & Cellular Reprogramming Center, Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Ssang-Goo Cho
- Molecular & Cellular Reprogramming Center, Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
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Liu R, Tan Q, Luo Q. Decreased expression level and DNA-binding activity of specificity protein 1 via cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition antagonizes radiation resistance, cell migration and invasion in radiation-resistant lung cancer cells. Oncol Lett 2018; 16:3029-3037. [PMID: 30127893 PMCID: PMC6096147 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.9035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation is able to inhibit tumor growth, promote tumor cell apoptosis and prolong patient survival. However, radiation resistance remains a major impediment to radiotherapy. Local and metastatic recurrences following radiation are still large impediments to overall survival. Although cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors may induce radiation sensitivity in cancer cells, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study demonstrated high potential for cell proliferation, migration and invasion in radiation-resistant lung cancer cell lines. The present study observed the overexpression of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) in these cells, and the overexpression of Sp1 induced upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, B cell lymphoma-2, in addition to a high potential for radiation resistance, migration and invasion in these cells. The present study revealed that the COX-2 selective inhibitor, celecoxib, enhanced radiation sensitivity and inhibited migration and invasion in these cells by inhibiting the expression and DNA-binding activity of Sp1. Furthermore, celecoxib downregulated Sp1 by inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Taken together, the present study demonstrated that Sp1 overexpression in radiation-resistant cancer cells and COX-2 inhibitors enhanced radiation sensitivity and inhibited the migration and invasion of cancer cells, at least partially, via inactivation of the JNK/Sp1 signaling pathway and a decrease in Sp1 DNA-binding activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijun Liu
- Department of Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Qiang Tan
- Department of Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Qingquan Luo
- Department of Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
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Wei X, Zhou J, Hong L, Xu Z, Zhao H, Wu X, Chen J. Hint1 expression inhibits proliferation and promotes radiosensitivity of human SGC7901 gastric cancer cells. Oncol Lett 2018; 16:2135-2142. [PMID: 30008911 PMCID: PMC6036515 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is a prevalent, malignant tumor that frequently escapes treatment. Histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1 (Hint1) is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor gene which contributes to intercellular communication, helps to regulate cell proliferation and survival, and is frequently underexpressed in gastric cancer. To examine the involvement of Hint1 in gastric cancer, small interfering RNA was used to knock down Hint1 expression in the human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. The data revealed that Hint1 inhibited cell proliferation, reduced radiation-induced DNA damage repair and caused G1 phase arrest, which increased the radiosensitivity of gastric cancer cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed a novel function of Hint1, whereby it acted as a negative regulator of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. These results demonstrated the critical function of Hint1 in the biology of human gastric cancer. Acting as a tumor growth suppressor and a radiosensitive agent, this protein is a potential biomarker and may be an attractive target for specific therapeutic interventions against gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Wei
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006, P.R. China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006, P.R. China
| | - Lingzhi Hong
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006, P.R. China
| | - Zhi Xu
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006, P.R. China
| | - Huanyu Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomin Wu
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006, P.R. China
| | - Jinfei Chen
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006, P.R. China
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Strand NS, Allen JM, Zayas RM. Post-translational regulation of planarian regeneration. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2018; 87:58-68. [PMID: 29705300 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Most mammals cannot easily overcome degenerative disease or traumatic injuries. In contrast, an innate ability to regenerate is observed across animal phyla. Freshwater planarians are amongst the organisms that are capable of stem cell-mediated whole-body regeneration and have served as an exemplary model to study how pluripotency is maintained and regulated in vivo. Here, we review findings on the role of post-translational modifications and the genes regulating phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and chromatin remodeling in planarian regeneration. Furthermore, we discuss how technological advances for identifying cellular targets of these processes will fill gaps in our knowledge of the signaling mechanisms that underlie regeneration in planarians, which should inform how tissue repair can be stimulated in non-regenerative model organisms and in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S Strand
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - John M Allen
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Ricardo M Zayas
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
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Robertson A, Mohamed TMA, El Maadawi Z, Stafford N, Bui T, Lim DS, Cartwright EJ, Oceandy D. Genetic ablation of the mammalian sterile-20 like kinase 1 (Mst1) improves cell reprogramming efficiency and increases induced pluripotent stem cell proliferation and survival. Stem Cell Res 2017; 20:42-49. [PMID: 28257933 PMCID: PMC5376382 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2017.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) for use in various applications. However, there are challenges in iPSC generation including low reprogramming efficiency, yield, cell survival and viability. Since the Hippo signalling pathway is a key pathway involved in regulating cell proliferation and survival, we here test whether modification of the Hippo pathway will enhance the efficiency of iPSC generation and improve their survival. The Hippo pathway was modified by genetic ablation of the mammalian sterile-20 like kinase 1 (Mst1), a major component of the pathway. Using adult skin fibroblasts isolated from Mst1 knockout mice (Mst1−/−) as a source of iPSC we found that genetic ablation of Mst1 leads to significantly increased reprogramming efficiency by 43.8%. Moreover, Mst1−/− iPSC displayed increase proliferation by 12% as well as an increase in cell viability by 20% when treated with a chemical hypoxic inducer. Mechanistically, we found higher activity of YAP, the main downstream effector of the Hippo pathway, in iPSC lacking Mst1. In conclusion, our data suggests that Mst1 can be targeted to improve the efficiency of adult somatic cell reprogramming as well as to enhance iPSC proliferation and survival. Genetic deletion of Mst1 increases the efficiency of cell reprogramming. iPSC lacking Mst1 displays higher proliferation rate than WT iPSC. In response to chemical hypoxia Mst1−/− iPSC demonstrates higher survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Robertson
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Tamer M A Mohamed
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom; J. David Gladstone Research Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA; Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Zeinab El Maadawi
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom; Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Nicholas Stafford
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Thuy Bui
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Dae-Sik Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejon, Republic of Korea
| | - Elizabeth J Cartwright
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Delvac Oceandy
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
Rad51 is a key component of homologous recombination (HR) to repair DNA double-strand breaks and it forms Rad51 recombinase filaments of broken single-stranded DNA to promote HR. In addition to its role in DNA repair and cell cycle progression, Rad51 contributes to the reprogramming process during the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells. In light of this, we performed reprogramming experiments to examine the effect of co-expression of Rad51 and four reprogramming factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, on the reprogramming efficiency. Co-expression of Rad51 significantly increased the numbers of alkaline phosphatase-positive colonies and embryonic stem cell-like colonies during the process of reprogramming. Co-expression ofRad51 significantly increased the expression of epithelial markers at an early stage of reprogramming compared with control cells. Phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX), which initiates the DNA double-strand break repair system, was highly accumulated in reprogramming intermediates upon co-expression of Rad51. This study identified a novel role of Rad51 in enhancing the reprogramming efficiency, possibly by facilitating mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and by regulating a DNA damage repair pathway during the early phase of the reprogramming process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Young Lee
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
| | - Dae-Kwan Kim
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
| | - Jeong-Jae Ko
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
| | - Keun Pil Kim
- Dept. of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06975, Korea
| | - Kyung-Soon Park
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
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Nakhaei-Rad S, Nakhaeizadeh H, Götze S, Kordes C, Sawitza I, Hoffmann MJ, Franke M, Schulz WA, Scheller J, Piekorz RP, Häussinger D, Ahmadian MR. The Role of Embryonic Stem Cell-expressed RAS (ERAS) in the Maintenance of Quiescent Hepatic Stellate Cells. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:8399-413. [PMID: 26884329 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.700088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were recently identified as liver-resident mesenchymal stem cells. HSCs are activated after liver injury and involved in pivotal processes, such as liver development, immunoregulation, regeneration, and also fibrogenesis. To date, several studies have reported candidate pathways that regulate the plasticity of HSCs during physiological and pathophysiological processes. Here we analyzed the expression changes and activity of the RAS family GTPases and thereby investigated the signaling networks of quiescent HSCs versus activated HSCs. For the first time, we report that embryonic stem cell-expressed RAS (ERAS) is specifically expressed in quiescent HSCs and down-regulated during HSC activation via promoter DNA methylation. Notably, in quiescent HSCs, the high level of ERAS protein correlates with the activation of AKT, STAT3, mTORC2, and HIPPO signaling pathways and inactivation of FOXO1 and YAP. Our data strongly indicate that in quiescent HSCs, ERAS targets AKT via two distinct pathways driven by PI3Kα/δ and mTORC2, whereas in activated HSCs, RAS signaling shifts to RAF-MEK-ERK. Thus, in contrast to the reported role of ERAS in tumor cells associated with cell proliferation, our findings indicate that ERAS is important to maintain quiescence in HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeideh Nakhaei-Rad
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty
| | | | - Silke Götze
- the Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, and
| | - Claus Kordes
- the Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, and
| | - Iris Sawitza
- the Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, and
| | - Michèle J Hoffmann
- the Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Manuel Franke
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty
| | - Wolfgang A Schulz
- the Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jürgen Scheller
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty
| | - Roland P Piekorz
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty
| | - Dieter Häussinger
- the Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, and
| | - Mohammad R Ahmadian
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty,
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