1
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Liu Y, Ma Z. Leukemia and mitophagy: a novel perspective for understanding oncogenesis and resistance. Ann Hematol 2024; 103:2185-2196. [PMID: 38282059 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05635-w] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Mitophagy, the selective autophagic process that specifically degrades mitochondria, serves as a vital regulatory mechanism for eliminating damaged mitochondria and maintaining cellular balance. Emerging research underscores the central role of mitophagy in the initiation, advancement, and treatment of cancer. Mitophagy is widely acknowledged to govern mitochondrial homeostasis in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), influencing their metabolic dynamics. In this article, we integrate recent data to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms governing mitophagy and its intricate significance in the context of leukemia. An in-depth molecular elucidation of the processes governing mitophagy may serve as a basis for the development of pioneering approaches in targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyao Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan Province, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhigui Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan Province, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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2
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Sheridan M, Chowdhury N, Wellslager B, Oleinik N, Kassir MF, Lee HG, Engevik M, Peterson Y, Pandruvada S, Szulc ZM, Yilmaz Ö, Ogretmen B. Opportunistic pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis targets the LC3B-ceramide complex and mediates lethal mitophagy resistance in oral tumors. iScience 2024; 27:109860. [PMID: 38779482 PMCID: PMC11108982 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms by which Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) infection enhances oral tumor growth or resistance to cell death remain elusive. Here, we determined that P. gingivalis infection mediates therapeutic resistance via inhibiting lethal mitophagy in cancer cells and tumors. Mechanistically, P. gingivalis targets the LC3B-ceramide complex by associating with LC3B via bacterial major fimbriae (FimA) protein, preventing ceramide-dependent mitophagy in response to various therapeutic agents. Moreover, ceramide-mediated mitophagy is induced by Annexin A2 (ANXA2)-ceramide association involving the E142 residue of ANXA2. Inhibition of ANXA2-ceramide-LC3B complex formation by wild-type P. gingivalis prevented ceramide-dependent mitophagy. Moreover, a FimA-deletion mutant P. gingivalis variant had no inhibitory effects on ceramide-dependent mitophagy. Further, 16S rRNA sequencing of oral tumors indicated that P. gingivalis infection altered the microbiome of the tumor macroenvironment in response to ceramide analog treatment in mice. Thus, these data provide a mechanism describing the pro-survival roles of P. gingivalis in oral tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Sheridan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Nityananda Chowdhury
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Bridgette Wellslager
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Natalia Oleinik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Mohamed Faisal Kassir
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Han G. Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Mindy Engevik
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Yuri Peterson
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Subramanya Pandruvada
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Zdzislaw M. Szulc
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Özlem Yilmaz
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Besim Ogretmen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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3
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Varela YR, Iriondo MN, Goñi FM, Alonso A, Montes LR. Ceramide regulation of autophagy: A biophysical approach. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2024; 1869:159444. [PMID: 38056762 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159444] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Specific membrane lipids play unique roles in (macro)autophagy. Those include phosphatidylethanolamine, to which LC3/GABARAP autophagy proteins become covalently bound in the process, or cardiolipin, an important effector in mitochondrial autophagy (or mitophagy). Ceramide (Cer), or N-acyl sphingosine, is one of the simplest sphingolipids, known as a stress signal in the apoptotic pathway. Moreover, Cer is increasingly being recognized as an autophagy activator, although its mechanism of action is unclear. In the present review, the proposed Cer roles in autophagy are summarized, together with some biophysical properties of Cer in membranes. Possible pathways for Cer activation of autophagy are discussed, including specific protein binding of the lipid, and Cer-dependent perturbation of bilayer properties. Cer generation of lateral inhomogeneities (domain formation) is given special attention. Recent biophysical results, including fluorescence and atomic force microscopy data, show Cer-promoted enhanced binding of LC3/GABARAP to lipid bilayers. These observations could be interpreted in terms of the putative formation of Cer-rich nanodomains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaiza R Varela
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Marina N Iriondo
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Félix M Goñi
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Alicia Alonso
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain.
| | - L Ruth Montes
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
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4
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Raza Y, Atallah J, Luberto C. Advancements on the Multifaceted Roles of Sphingolipids in Hematological Malignancies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12745. [PMID: 36361536 PMCID: PMC9654982 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism plays a complex role in hematological malignancies, beginning with the first historical link between sphingolipids and apoptosis discovered in HL-60 leukemic cells. Numerous manuscripts have reviewed the field including the early discoveries that jumpstarted the studies. Many studies discussed here support a role for sphingolipids, such as ceramide, in combinatorial therapeutic regimens to enhance anti-leukemic effects and reduce resistance to standard therapies. Additionally, inhibitors of specific nodes of the sphingolipid pathway, such as sphingosine kinase inhibitors, significantly reduce leukemic cell survival in various types of leukemias. Acid ceramidase inhibitors have also shown promising results in acute myeloid leukemia. As the field moves rapidly, here we aim to expand the body of literature discussed in previously published reviews by focusing on advances reported in the latter part of the last decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasharah Raza
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jane Atallah
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Chiara Luberto
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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5
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Ung J, Tan SF, Fox TE, Shaw JJP, Vass LR, Costa-Pinheiro P, Garrett-Bakelman FE, Keng MK, Sharma A, Claxton DF, Levine RL, Tallman MS, Cabot MC, Kester M, Feith DJ, Loughran TP. Harnessing the power of sphingolipids: Prospects for acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Rev 2022; 55:100950. [PMID: 35487785 PMCID: PMC9475810 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.100950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive, heterogenous malignancy characterized by clonal expansion of bone marrow-derived myeloid progenitor cells. While our current understanding of the molecular and genomic landscape of AML has evolved dramatically and opened avenues for molecularly targeted therapeutics to improve upon standard intensive induction chemotherapy, curative treatments are elusive, particularly in older patients. Responses to current AML treatments are transient and incomplete, necessitating the development of novel treatment strategies to improve outcomes. To this end, harnessing the power of bioactive sphingolipids to treat cancer shows great promise. Sphingolipids are involved in many hallmarks of cancer of paramount importance in AML. Leukemic blast survival is influenced by cellular levels of ceramide, a bona fide pro-death molecule, and its conversion to signaling molecules such as sphingosine-1-phosphate and glycosphingolipids. Preclinical studies demonstrate the efficacy of therapeutics that target dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism as well as their combinatorial synergy with clinically-relevant therapeutics. Thus, increased understanding of sphingolipid dysregulation may be exploited to improve AML patient care and outcomes. This review summarizes the current knowledge of dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism in AML, evaluates how pro-survival sphingolipids promote AML pathogenesis, and discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting these dysregulated sphingolipid pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnson Ung
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Todd E Fox
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Jeremy J P Shaw
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Luke R Vass
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Pedro Costa-Pinheiro
- Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Francine E Garrett-Bakelman
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Michael K Keng
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Arati Sharma
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, United States of America
| | - David F Claxton
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, United States of America
| | - Ross L Levine
- Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States of America; Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Martin S Tallman
- Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, United States of America; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Mark Kester
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - David J Feith
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America.
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6
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Panina SB, Pei J, Baran N, Tjahjono E, Patel S, Alatrash G, Konoplev S, Stolbov LA, Poroikov VV, Konopleva M, Kirienko NV. Novel mitochondria-targeting compounds selectively kill human leukemia cells. Leukemia 2022; 36:2009-2021. [PMID: 35672446 PMCID: PMC11088873 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01614-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of aggressive hematological malignancies commonly associated with treatment resistance, high risk of relapse, and mitochondrial dysregulation. We identified six mitochondria-affecting compounds (PS compounds) that exhibit selective cytotoxicity against AML cells in vitro. Structure-activity relationship studies identified six analogs from two original scaffolds that had over an order of magnitude difference between LD50 in AML and healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Mechanistically, all hit compounds reduced ATP and selectively impaired both basal and ATP-linked oxygen consumption in leukemic cells. Compounds derived from PS127 significantly upregulated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in AML cells and triggered ferroptotic, necroptotic, and/or apoptotic cell death in AML cell lines and refractory/relapsed AML primary samples. These compounds exhibited synergy with several anti-leukemia agents in AML, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), or chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Pilot in vivo efficacy studies indicate anti-leukemic efficacy in a MOLM14/GFP/LUC xenograft model, including extended survival in mice injected with leukemic cells pre-treated with PS127B or PS127E and in mice treated with PS127E at a dose of 5 mg/kg. These compounds are promising leads for development of future combinatorial therapeutic approaches for mitochondria-driven hematologic malignancies such as AML, ALL, and CML.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jingqi Pei
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Natalia Baran
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elissa Tjahjono
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shraddha Patel
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gheath Alatrash
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sergej Konoplev
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Marina Konopleva
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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7
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Endocrine Therapy-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells Are More Sensitive to Ceramide Kinase Inhibition and Elevated Ceramide Levels Than Therapy-Sensitive Breast Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102380. [PMID: 35625985 PMCID: PMC9140186 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Endocrine therapy (ET) resistance is a major problem in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients. Since there have been few lipidomic studies in ET resistance and sphingolipids are heavily implicated in multidrug-resistant and chemotherapy-resistant cancers, we aimed to investigate the sphingolipidome of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells in search of a unique sphingolipid profile that can potentially be exploited therapeutically. We found that ET-resistant breast cancer cells maintain a lower level of ceramides for their survival. In order to achieve this, they are dependent on ceramide kinase (CERK), the activity of which helps maintain low endogenous ceramide levels, therefore promoting tamoxifen-resistant cell survival. Targeting CERK can therefore represent an opportunity to target therapy-resistant breast tumors and improve the patient outcome for women with ET-resistant disease. Abstract ET resistance is a critical problem for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. In this study, we have investigated how alterations in sphingolipids promote cell survival in ET-resistant breast cancer. We have performed LC-MS-based targeted sphingolipidomics of tamoxifen-sensitive and -resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Follow-up studies included treatments of cell lines and patient-derived xenograft organoids (PDxO) with small molecule inhibitors; cytometric analyses to measure cell death, proliferation, and apoptosis; siRNA-mediated knockdown; RT-qPCR and Western blot for gene and protein expression; targeted lipid analysis; and lipid addback experiments. We found that tamoxifen-resistant cells have lower levels of ceramides and hexosylceramides compared to their tamoxifen-sensitive counterpart. Upon perturbing the sphingolipid pathway with small molecule inhibitors of key enzymes, we identified that CERK is essential for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell survival, as well as a fulvestrant-resistant PDxO. CERK inhibition induces ceramide-mediated cell death in tamoxifen-resistant cells. Ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) partially reverses CERK inhibition-induced cell death in tamoxifen-resistant cells, likely through lowering endogenous ceramide levels. Our findings suggest that ET-resistant breast cancer cells maintain lower ceramide levels as an essential pro-survival mechanism. Consequently, ET-resistant breast cancer models have a unique dependence on CERK as its activity can inhibit de novo ceramide production.
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8
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A hypothetical proposal to employ meperidine and tamoxifen in treatment of glioblastoma. Role of P-glycoprotein, ceramide and metabolic pathways. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2022; 215:107208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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9
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Companioni O, Mir C, Garcia-Mayea Y, LLeonart ME. Targeting Sphingolipids for Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:745092. [PMID: 34737957 PMCID: PMC8560795 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.745092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are an extensive class of lipids with different functions in the cell, ranging from proliferation to cell death. Sphingolipids are modified in multiple cancers and are responsible for tumor proliferation, progression, and metastasis. Several inhibitors or activators of sphingolipid signaling, such as fenretinide, safingol, ABC294640, ceramide nanoliposomes (CNLs), SKI-II, α-galactosylceramide, fingolimod, and sonepcizumab, have been described. The objective of this review was to analyze the results from preclinical and clinical trials of these drugs for the treatment of cancer. Sphingolipid-targeting drugs have been tested alone or in combination with chemotherapy, exhibiting antitumor activity alone and in synergism with chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. As a consequence of treatments, the most frequent mechanism of cell death is apoptosis, followed by autophagy. Aslthough all these drugs have produced good results in preclinical studies of multiple cancers, the outcomes of clinical trials have not been similar. The most effective drugs are fenretinide and α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer). In contrast, minor adverse effects restricted to a few subjects and hepatic toxicity have been observed in clinical trials of ABC294640 and safingol, respectively. In the case of CNLs, SKI-II, fingolimod and sonepcizumab there are some limitations and absence of enough clinical studies to demonstrate a benefit. The effectiveness or lack of a major therapeutic effect of sphingolipid modulation by some drugs as a cancer therapy and other aspects related to their mechanism of action are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmel Companioni
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Mir
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yoelsis Garcia-Mayea
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matilde E LLeonart
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Center in Oncology, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Autophagy a Close Relative of AML Biology. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10060552. [PMID: 34207482 PMCID: PMC8235674 DOI: 10.3390/biology10060552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults. Despite a high rate of complete remission following conventional chemotherapy, the prognosis remains poor due to frequent relapses caused by relapse-initiating leukemic cells (RICs), which are resistant to chemotherapies. While the development of new targeted therapies holds great promise (e.g., molecules targeting IDH1/2, FLT3, BCL2), relapses still occur. Therefore, a paramount issue in the elimination of RICs is to decipher the AML resistance mechanisms. Thus, it has been recently shown that AML cells exhibit metabolic changes in response to chemotherapy or targeted therapies. Autophagy is a major regulator of cell metabolism, involved in maintaining cancer state, metastasis, and resistance to anticancer therapy. However, whether autophagy acts as a tumor suppressor or promoter in AML is still a matter of debate. Therefore, depending on molecular AML subtypes or treatments used, a better understanding of the role of autophagy is needed to determine whether its modulation could result in a clinical benefit. Abstract Autophagy, which literally means “eat yourself”, is more than just a lysosomal degradation pathway. It is a well-known regulator of cellular metabolism and a mechanism implicated in tumor initiation/progression and therapeutic resistance in many cancers. However, whether autophagy acts as a tumor suppressor or promoter is still a matter of debate. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), it is now proven that autophagy supports cell proliferation in vitro and leukemic progression in vivo. Mitophagy, the specific degradation of mitochondria through autophagy, was recently shown to be required for leukemic stem cell functions and survival, highlighting the prominent role of this selective autophagy in leukemia initiation and progression. Moreover, autophagy in AML sustains fatty acid oxidation through lipophagy to support mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPHOS), a hallmark of chemotherapy-resistant cells. Nevertheless, in the context of therapy, in AML, as well as in other cancers, autophagy could be either cytoprotective or cytotoxic, depending on the drugs used. This review summarizes the recent findings that mechanistically show how autophagy favors leukemic transformation of normal hematopoietic stem cells, as well as AML progression and also recapitulates its ambivalent role in resistance to chemotherapies and targeted therapies.
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11
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The Role of Ceramide Metabolism and Signaling in the Regulation of Mitophagy and Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102475. [PMID: 34069611 PMCID: PMC8161379 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Sphingolipids are membrane-associated lipids that are involved in signal transduction pathways regulating cell death, growth, and migration. In cancer cells, sphingolipids regulate pathways relevant to cancer therapy, such as invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and lethal mitophagy. Notable sphingolipids include ceramide, a sphingolipid that induces death and lethal mitophagy, and sphingosine-1 phosphate, a sphingolipid that induces survival and chemotherapeutic resistance. These sphingolipids participate in regulating the process of mitophagy, where cells encapsulate damaged mitochondria in double-membrane vesicles (called autophagosomes) for degradation. Lethal mitophagy is an anti-tumorigenic mechanism mediated by ceramide, where cells degrade many mitochondria until the cancer cell dies in an apoptosis-independent manner. Abstract Sphingolipids are bioactive lipids responsible for regulating diverse cellular functions such as proliferation, migration, senescence, and death. These lipids are characterized by a long-chain sphingosine backbone amide-linked to a fatty acyl chain with variable length. The length of the fatty acyl chain is determined by specific ceramide synthases, and this fatty acyl length also determines the sphingolipid’s specialized functions within the cell. One function in particular, the regulation of the selective autophagy of mitochondria, or mitophagy, is closely regulated by ceramide, a key regulatory sphingolipid. Mitophagy alterations have important implications for cancer cell proliferation, response to chemotherapeutics, and mitophagy-mediated cell death. This review will focus on the alterations of ceramide synthases in cancer and sphingolipid regulation of lethal mitophagy, concerning cancer therapy.
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12
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Shaw JJP, Boyer TL, Venner E, Beck PJ, Slamowitz T, Caste T, Hickman A, Raymond MH, Costa-Pinheiro P, Jameson MJ, Fox TE, Kester M. Inhibition of Lysosomal Function Mitigates Protective Mitophagy and Augments Ceramide Nanoliposome-Induced Cell Death in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:2621-2633. [PMID: 33087509 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Therapies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are, at best, moderately effective, underscoring the need for new therapeutic strategies. Ceramide treatment leads to cell death as a consequence of mitochondrial damage by generating oxidative stress and causing mitochondrial permeability. However, HNSCC cells are able to resist cell death through mitochondria repair via mitophagy. Through the use of the C6-ceramide nanoliposome (CNL) to deliver therapeutic levels of bioactive ceramide, we demonstrate that the effects of CNL are mitigated in drug-resistant HNSCC via an autophagic/mitophagic response. We also demonstrate that inhibitors of lysosomal function, including chloroquine (CQ), significantly augment CNL-induced death in HNSCC cell lines. Mechanistically, the combination of CQ and CNL results in dysfunctional lysosomal processing of damaged mitochondria. We further demonstrate that exogenous addition of methyl pyruvate rescues cells from CNL + CQ-dependent cell death by restoring mitochondrial functionality via the reduction of CNL- and CQ-induced generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria permeability. Taken together, inhibition of late-stage protective autophagy/mitophagy augments the efficacy of CNL through preventing mitochondrial repair. Moreover, the combination of inhibitors of lysosomal function with CNL may provide an efficacious treatment modality for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J P Shaw
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Timothy L Boyer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Emily Venner
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Patrick J Beck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Tristen Slamowitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Tara Caste
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Alexandra Hickman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Michael H Raymond
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | | | - Mark J Jameson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. .,Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
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13
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Ohe R, Meng HX, Yamada A, Ye Aung N, Kabasawa T, Tamura Y, Utsunomiya A, Tamazawa N, Kawamura I, Kitaoka T, Suzuki K, Yanagiya R, Toubai T, Ishizawa K, Yamakawa M. Good prognosis for follicular lymphoma with estrogen receptor α-positive follicular dendritic cells. Hematol Oncol 2020; 38:293-300. [PMID: 32196124 PMCID: PMC7496718 DOI: 10.1002/hon.2730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Follicular lymphoma (FL) has a meshwork of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). We previously demonstrated the presence of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)+CD23+ FDCs in grades 1‐2 FL. The significance of FDCs as a prognostic factor in FL remains unknown. The current study aimed to compare clinicopathological features, including prognosis, between FL with and without ERα+ FDCs. This study evaluated the clinicopathological significance of ERα expression in 70 FL patients by immunostaining. The presence of ERα mRNA on FDCs from 5 FL patients was confirmed by CD21/ERα double staining (immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization). We defined patients with frequent ERα expression as the ERαhigh group and those with infrequent ERα expression as the ERαlow group. Thirty‐two patients were assigned to the ERαhigh group (45.7%), and 38 patients were assigned to the ERαlow group (54.3%). Both overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were significantly better in the ERαhigh group than in the ERαlow group (OS, log‐rank, P = .0465; PFS, log‐rank, P = .0336). Moreover, high ERα expression on FDCs was an independent prognostic factor for OS in both the univariate ([hazard ratio] HR, 0.163; P = .0260) and multivariate (HR, 0.050; P = .0188) analyses and for PFS in both the univariate (HR, 0.232; P = .0213) and multivariate (HR, 0.084; P = .0243) analyses. ERα mRNA expression was detected in CD21+ FDCs within the neoplastic follicles of FL patients. In conclusion, a neoplastic follicular microenvironment with ERα‐positive FDCs might affect the grade and presence of the follicular pattern of FL and improve patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rintaro Ohe
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Hong-Xue Meng
- Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Akane Yamada
- Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Naing Ye Aung
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Takanobu Kabasawa
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Yuka Tamura
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Aya Utsunomiya
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Tamazawa
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kawamura
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Takumi Kitaoka
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Kazushi Suzuki
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Ryo Yanagiya
- Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Tomomi Toubai
- Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Kenichi Ishizawa
- Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Mitsunori Yamakawa
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
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14
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Iessi E, Marconi M, Manganelli V, Sorice M, Malorni W, Garofalo T, Matarrese P. On the role of sphingolipids in cell survival and death. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 351:149-195. [PMID: 32247579 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipids, universal components of biological membranes of all eukaryotic organisms, from yeasts to mammals, in addition of playing a structural role, also play an important part of signal transduction pathways. They participate or, also, ignite several fundamental subcellular signaling processes but, more in general, they directly contribute to key biological activities such as cell motility, growth, senescence, differentiation as well as cell fate, i.e., survival or death. The sphingolipid metabolic pathway displays an intricate network of reactions that result in the formation of multiple sphingolipids, including ceramide, and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Different sphingolipids, that have key roles in determining cell fate, can induce opposite effects: as a general rule, sphingosine-1-phosphate promotes cell survival and differentiation, whereas ceramide is known to induce apoptosis. Furthermore, together with cholesterol, sphingolipids also represent the basic lipid component of lipid rafts, cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched membrane microdomains directly involved in cell death and survival processes. In this review, we briefly describe the characteristics of sphingolipids and lipid membrane microdomains. In particular, we will consider the involvement of various sphingolipids per se and of lipid rafts in apoptotic pathway, both intrinsic and extrinsic, in nonapoptotic cell death, in autophagy, and in cell differentiation. In addition, their roles in the most common physiological and pathological contexts either as pathogenetic elements or as biomarkers of diseases will be considered. We would also hint how the manipulation of sphingolipid metabolism could represent a potential therapeutic target to be investigated and functionally validated especially for those diseases for which therapeutic options are limited or ineffective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Iessi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Marconi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Sorice
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Walter Malorni
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | - Tina Garofalo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Matarrese
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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