1
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Chen C, Xie Y, Qian S. Multifaceted role of GCN2 in tumor adaptation and therapeutic targeting. Transl Oncol 2024; 49:102096. [PMID: 39178574 PMCID: PMC11388189 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.102096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells voraciously consume nutrients from their environment to facilitate rapid proliferation, necessitating effective strategies to manage nutrient scarcity during tumor growth and progression. A pivotal regulatory mechanism in this context is the Integrated Stress Response (ISR), which ensures cellular homeostasis under conditions such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, the unfolded protein response, and nutrient deprivation. Within the ISR framework, the kinase GCN2 is critical, orchestrating a myriad of cellular processes including the inhibition of protein synthesis, the enhancement of amino acid transport, autophagy initiation, and angiogenesis. These processes collectively enable tumor survival and adaptation under nutrient-limited conditions. Furthermore, GCN2-mediated pathways may induce apoptosis, a property exploited by specific therapeutic agents. Leveraging extensive datasets from TCGA, GEO, and GTEx projects, we conducted a pan-cancer analysis to investigate the prognostic significance of GCN2 expression across diverse cancer types. Our analysis indicates that GCN2 expression significantly varies and correlates with both adverse and favorable prognoses depending on the type of cancer, illustrating its complex role in tumorigenesis. Importantly, GCN2 also modulates the tumor immune microenvironment, influencing immune checkpoint expression and the functionality of immune cells, thereby affecting immunotherapy outcomes. This study highlights the potential of targeting GCN2 with specific inhibitors, as evidenced by their efficacy in preclinical models to augment treatment responses and combat resistance in oncology. These findings advocate for a deeper exploration of GCN2's multifaceted roles, which could pave the way for novel targeted therapies in cancer treatment, aiming to improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Chen
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaping Xie
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Shenxian Qian
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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2
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Alexander ET, Fahey E, Phanstiel O, Gilmour SK. Loss of Anti-Tumor Efficacy by Polyamine Blocking Therapy in GCN2 Null Mice. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2703. [PMID: 37893077 PMCID: PMC10604246 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
GCN2 is one of the main sensors of amino acid starvation stress, and its activation in the stressful tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in tumor survival and progression. We hypothesized that elevated polyamine biosynthesis and subsequent depletion of precursor arginine activates GCN2, thus rewiring metabolism to support tumor cell survival and drive myeloid immunosuppressive function. We sought to determine if the anti-tumor efficacy of a polyamine blocking therapy (PBT) may be mediated by its effect on GCN2. Unlike wild-type mice, PBT treatment in GCN2 knockout mice bearing syngeneic B16.F10 or EG7 tumors resulted in no tumor growth inhibition and no changes in the profile of infiltrating tumor immune cells. Studies with murine bone marrow cell cultures showed that increased polyamine metabolism and subsequent arginine depletion and GCN2 activation played an essential role in the generation and cytoprotective autophagy of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as well as the M2 polarization and survival of macrophages, all of which were inhibited by PBT. In all, our data suggest that polyamine-dependent GCN2 signaling in stromal cells promotes tumor growth and the development of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and that the PBT anti-tumor effect is mediated, at least in part, by targeting GCN2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T. Alexander
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, 100 Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096, USA; (E.T.A.)
| | - Erin Fahey
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, 100 Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096, USA; (E.T.A.)
| | - Otto Phanstiel
- Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826, USA;
| | - Susan K. Gilmour
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, 100 Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096, USA; (E.T.A.)
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3
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Wang M, Zhao A, Li M, Niu T. Amino acids in hematologic malignancies: Current status and future perspective. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1113228. [PMID: 37032776 PMCID: PMC10076797 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1113228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, growing emphasis has been placed on amino acids and their role in hematologic malignancies. Cancer cell metabolism is altered during tumorigenesis and development to meet expanding energetic and biosynthetic demands. Amino acids not only act as energy-supplying substances, but also play a vital role via regulating key signaling pathways, modulating epigenetic factors and remodeling tumor microenvironment. Targeting amino acids may be an effective therapeutic approach to address the current therapeutic challenges. Here, we provide an updated overview of mechanisms by which amino acids facilitate tumor development and therapy resistance. We also summarize novel therapies targeting amino acids, focusing on recent advances in basic research and their potential clinical implications.
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4
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Fouda AY, Eldahshan W, Xu Z, Lemtalsi T, Shosha E, Zaidi SA, Abdelrahman AA, Cheng PNM, Narayanan SP, Caldwell RW, Caldwell RB. Preclinical investigation of Pegylated arginase 1 as a treatment for retina and brain injury. Exp Neurol 2022; 348:113923. [PMID: 34780773 PMCID: PMC9122100 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Arginase 1 (A1) is the enzyme that hydrolyzes the amino acid, L-arginine, to ornithine and urea. We have previously shown that A1 deletion worsens retinal ischemic injury, suggesting a protective role of A1. In this translational study, we aimed to study the utility of systemic pegylated A1 (PEG-A1, recombinant human arginase linked to polyethylene glycol) treatment in mouse models of acute retinal and brain injury. Cohorts of WT mice were subjected to retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) or brain cerebral ischemia via middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and treated with intraperitoneal injections of PEG-A1 or vehicle (PEG only). Drug penetration into retina and brain tissues was measured by western blotting and immunolabeling for PEG. Neuroprotection was measured in a blinded fashion by quantitation of NeuN (neuronal marker) immunolabeling of retina flat-mounts and brain infarct area using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Furthermore, ex vivo retina explants and in vitro retina neuron cultures were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by reoxygenation (R) and treated with PEG-A1. PEG-A1 given systemically did not cross the intact blood-retina/brain barriers in sham controls but reached the retina and brain after injury. PEG-A1 provided neuroprotection after retinal IR injury, TON and cerebral ischemia. PEG-A1 treatment was also neuroprotective in retina explants subjected to OGD/R but did not improve survival in retinal neuronal cultures exposed to OGD/R. In summary, systemic PEG-A1 administration is neuroprotective and provides an excellent route to deliver the drug to the retina and the brain after acute injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelrahman Y Fouda
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Wael Eldahshan
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Zhimin Xu
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Tahira Lemtalsi
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Esraa Shosha
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Syed Ah Zaidi
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Ammar A Abdelrahman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Paul Ning-Man Cheng
- Bio-cancer Treatment International, 511-513, Bioinformatics Building, Hong Kong Science Park, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - S Priya Narayanan
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - R William Caldwell
- Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Ruth B Caldwell
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.
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5
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Soltani M, Zhao Y, Xia Z, Ganjalikhani Hakemi M, Bazhin AV. The Importance of Cellular Metabolic Pathways in Pathogenesis and Selective Treatments of Hematological Malignancies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:767026. [PMID: 34868994 PMCID: PMC8636012 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.767026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advancements in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and the emergence of newer and more sophisticated therapeutic approaches such as immunotherapy, long-term overall survival remains unsatisfactory. Metabolic alteration, as an important hallmark of cancer cells, not only contributes to the malignant transformation of cells, but also promotes tumor progression and metastasis. As an immune-escape mechanism, the metabolic adaptation of the bone marrow microenvironment and leukemic cells is a major player in the suppression of anti-leukemia immune responses. Therefore, metabolic rewiring in leukemia would provide promising opportunities for newer therapeutic interventions. Several therapeutic agents which affect essential bioenergetic pathways in cancer cells including glycolysis, β-oxidation of fatty acids and Krebs cycle, or anabolic pathways such as lipid biosynthesis and pentose phosphate pathway, are being tested in various types of cancers. So far, numerous preclinical or clinical trial studies using such metabolic agents alone or in combination with other remedies such as immunotherapy are in progress and have demonstrated promising outcomes. In this review, we aim to argue the importance of metabolic alterations and bioenergetic pathways in different types of leukemia and their vital roles in disease development. Designing treatments based on targeting leukemic cells vulnerabilities, particularly in nonresponsive leukemia patients, should be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojdeh Soltani
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Zhijia Xia
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Alexandr V Bazhin
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
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6
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Lu X, Yan G, Klauck SM, Fleischer E, Klinger A, Sugimoto Y, Shan L, Efferth T. Cytotoxicity of 4-hydroxy-N-(naphthalen-1-yl)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carboxamide in multidrug-resistant cancer cells through activation of PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 193:114788. [PMID: 34582772 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
After decades of research, multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a huge challenge in cancer treatment. In this study, the cytotoxic of 4-hydroxy-N-(naphthalen-1-yl)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carboxamide (MCC1734) has been investigated towards multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines. MCC1734 exerted cytotoxicity on cell lines expressing different mechanisms of drug resistance (P-glycoprotein, BCRP, ABCB5, EGFR, p53 knockout) to a different extent. Interestingly, sensitive CCRF-CEM cells and multidrug-resistant P-gp-overexpressing CEM/ADR5000 cells represented similar sensitivity towards MCC1734, indicating MCC1734 can bypass P-gp-mediated resistance. Microarray-based mRNA expression revealed that MCC1734 affected cells by multiple pathways, including cell cycle regulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis signaling, and EIF2 signaling. MCC1734 stimulated the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species and the collapse of mitochondria membrane potential in CCRF-CEM cells, companied by the arrest of the cell cycle in the G2M phase and apoptosis induction as determined by flow cytometry. In addition, our immunoblotting analysis highlighted that MCC1734 triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, evidenced by the activation of p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF4 and CHOP. The anti-cancer effects of MCC1734 were further observed in vivo using human xenograft tumors transplanted to zebrafish, providing further support for MCC1734 as a promising new candidate for cancer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ge Yan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabine M Klauck
- Division of Cancer Genome Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Yoshikazu Sugimoto
- Division of Chemotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Letian Shan
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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7
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Sosnowska A, Chlebowska-Tuz J, Matryba P, Pilch Z, Greig A, Wolny A, Grzywa TM, Rydzynska Z, Sokolowska O, Rygiel TP, Grzybowski M, Stanczak P, Blaszczyk R, Nowis D, Golab J. Inhibition of arginase modulates T-cell response in the tumor microenvironment of lung carcinoma. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1956143. [PMID: 34367736 PMCID: PMC8312619 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1956143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has demonstrated significant activity in a broad range of cancer types, but still the majority of patients receiving it do not maintain durable therapeutic responses. Amino acid metabolism has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of immune response. Here, we investigated in detail the role of arginase 1 (Arg1) in the modulation of antitumor immune response against poorly immunogenic Lewis lung carcinoma. We observed that tumor progression is associated with an incremental increase in the number of Arg1+ myeloid cells that accumulate in the tumor microenvironment and cause systemic depletion of ʟ-arginine. In advanced tumors, the systemic concentrations of ʟ-arginine are decreased to levels that impair the proliferation of antigen-specific T-cells. Systemic or myeloid-specific Arg1 deletion improves antigen-induced proliferation of adoptively transferred T-cells and leads to inhibition of tumor growth. Arginase inhibitor was demonstrated to modestly inhibit tumor growth when used alone, and to potentiate antitumor effects of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies and STING agonist. The effectiveness of the combination immunotherapy was insufficient to induce complete antitumor responses, but was significantly better than treatment with the checkpoint inhibitor alone. Together, these results indicate that arginase inhibition alone is of modest therapeutic benefit in poorly immunogenic tumors; however, in combination with other treatment strategies it may significantly improve survival outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sosnowska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Chlebowska-Tuz
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pawel Matryba
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.,The Doctoral School of the Medical University of Warsaw, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zofia Pilch
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alan Greig
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Artur Wolny
- Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz M Grzywa
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,The Doctoral School of the Medical University of Warsaw, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Rydzynska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Olga Sokolowska
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz P Rygiel
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Dominika Nowis
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Golab
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Centre of Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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8
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Martí I Líndez AA, Reith W. Arginine-dependent immune responses. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5303-5324. [PMID: 34037806 PMCID: PMC8257534 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03828-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence indicates that, over the course of evolution of the immune system, arginine has been selected as a node for the regulation of immune responses. An appropriate supply of arginine has long been associated with the improvement of immune responses. In addition to being a building block for protein synthesis, arginine serves as a substrate for distinct metabolic pathways that profoundly affect immune cell biology; especially macrophage, dendritic cell and T cell immunobiology. Arginine availability, synthesis, and catabolism are highly interrelated aspects of immune responses and their fine-tuning can dictate divergent pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory immune outcomes. Here, we review the organismal pathways of arginine metabolism in humans and rodents, as essential modulators of the availability of this semi-essential amino acid for immune cells. We subsequently review well-established and novel findings on the functional impact of arginine biosynthetic and catabolic pathways on the main immune cell lineages. Finally, as arginine has emerged as a molecule impacting on a plethora of immune functions, we integrate key notions on how the disruption or perversion of arginine metabolism is implicated in pathologies ranging from infectious diseases to autoimmunity and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Walter Reith
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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9
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Chiu M, Taurino G, Bianchi MG, Bussolati O. The Role of Amino Acids in the Crosstalk Between Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Neoplastic Cells in the Hematopoietic Niche. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:714755. [PMID: 34277645 PMCID: PMC8278102 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.714755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Within the bone marrow hematopoietic cells are in close connection with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which influence the behavior and differentiation of normal or malignant lymphoid and myeloid cells. Altered cell metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, and changes in nutrient pools and fluxes are important components of the bidirectional communication between MSCs and hematological cancer cells. Among nutrients, amino acids play a significant role in cancer progression and chemo-resistance. Moreover, selected types of cancer cells are extremely greedy for glutamine, and significantly deplete the extracellular pool of the amino acid. As a consequence, this influences the behavior of MSCs in terms of either cytokine/chemokine secretion or differentiation potential. Additionally, a direct nutritional interaction exists between MSCs and immune cells. In particular, selected subpopulations of lymphocytes are dependent upon selected amino acids, such as arginine and tryptophan, for full differentiation and competence. This review describes and discusses the nutritional interactions existing in the neoplastic bone marrow niche between MSCs and other cell types, with a particular emphasis on cancer cells and immune cells. These relationships are discussed in the perspective of potential novel therapeutic strategies based on the interference on amino acid metabolism or intercellular fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Chiu
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Taurino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Ovidio Bussolati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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10
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Wu P, Gao W, Su M, Nice EC, Zhang W, Lin J, Xie N. Adaptive Mechanisms of Tumor Therapy Resistance Driven by Tumor Microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:641469. [PMID: 33732706 PMCID: PMC7957022 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.641469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease which frequently has a poor prognosis. Although multiple therapeutic strategies have been developed for various cancers, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, resistance to these treatments frequently impedes the clinical outcomes. Besides the active resistance driven by genetic and epigenetic alterations in tumor cells, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has also been reported to be a crucial regulator in tumorigenesis, progression, and resistance. Here, we propose that the adaptive mechanisms of tumor resistance are closely connected with the TME rather than depending on non-cell-autonomous changes in response to clinical treatment. Although the comprehensive understanding of adaptive mechanisms driven by the TME need further investigation to fully elucidate the mechanisms of tumor therapeutic resistance, many clinical treatments targeting the TME have been successful. In this review, we report on recent advances concerning the molecular events and important factors involved in the TME, particularly focusing on the contributions of the TME to adaptive resistance, and provide insights into potential therapeutic methods or translational medicine targeting the TME to overcome resistance to therapy in clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijie Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Miao Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Edouard C. Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Na Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
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11
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Jiang Z, Hsu JL, Li Y, Hortobagyi GN, Hung MC. Cancer Cell Metabolism Bolsters Immunotherapy Resistance by Promoting an Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1197. [PMID: 32775303 PMCID: PMC7387712 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting immune checkpoint proteins, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1, have demonstrated remarkable and durable clinical responses in various cancer types. However, a considerable number of patients receiving ICIs eventually experience a relapse due to diverse resistance mechanisms. As a result, there have been increasing research efforts to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind resistance to ICIs and improve patient outcomes. There is growing evidence that the dysregulated metabolic activity of tumor cells generates an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that orchestrates an impaired anti-tumor immune response. Notably, the immunosuppressive TME is characterized by nutrient shortage, hypoxia, an acidic extracellular milieu, and abundant immunosuppressive molecules. A detailed understanding of the TME remains a major challenge in mounting a more effective anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we discuss how tumor cells reprogram metabolism to modulate a pro-tumor TME, driving disease progression and immune evasion; in particular, we highlight potential approaches to target metabolic vulnerabilities in the context of anti-tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jennifer L. Hsu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yintao Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gabriel N. Hortobagyi
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Research Center for Cancer Biology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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12
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Métayer LE, Brown RD, Carlebur S, Burke GAA, Brown GC. Mechanisms of cell death induced by arginase and asparaginase in precursor B-cell lymphoblasts. Apoptosis 2020; 24:145-156. [PMID: 30578463 PMCID: PMC6373273 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-018-1506-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Arginase has therapeutic potential as a cytotoxic agent in some cancers, but this is unclear for precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (pre-B ALL), the commonest form of childhood leukaemia. We compared arginase cytotoxicity with asparaginase, currently used in pre-B ALL treatment, and characterised the forms of cell death induced in a pre-B ALL cell line 697. Arginase and asparaginase both efficiently killed 697 cells and mature B lymphoma cell line Ramos, but neither enzyme killed normal lymphocytes. Arginase depleted cellular arginine, and arginase-treated media induced cell death, blocked by addition of arginine or arginine-precursor citrulline. Asparaginase depleted both asparagine and glutamine, and asparaginase-treated media induced cell death, blocked by asparagine, but not glutamine. Both enzymes induced caspase cleavage and activation, chromatin condensation and phosphatidylserine exposure, indicating apoptosis. Both arginase- and asparaginase-induced death were blocked by caspase inhibitors, but with different sensitivities. BCL-2 overexpression inhibited arginase- and asparaginase-induced cell death, but did not prevent arginase-induced cytostasis, indicating a different mechanism of growth arrest. An autophagy inhibitor, chloroquine, had no effect on the cell death induced by arginase, but doubled the cell death induced by asparaginase. In conclusion, arginase causes death of lymphoblasts by arginine-depletion induced apoptosis, via mechanism distinct from asparaginase. Therapeutic implications for childhood ALL include: arginase might be used as treatment (but antagonised by dietary arginine and citrulline), chloroquine may enhance efficacy of asparaginase treatment, and partial resistance to arginase and asparaginase may develop by BCL-2 expression. Arginase or asparaginase might potentially be used to treat Burkitt lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy E Métayer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Richard D Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Saskia Carlebur
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - G A Amos Burke
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 OQQ, UK
| | - Guy C Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK.
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13
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Abstract
In this Review, Rashkovan et al. discuss the role of cancer metabolic circuitries feeding anabolism and redox potential in leukemia development and recent progress in translating these important findings to the clinic. Leukemia cell proliferation requires up-regulation and rewiring of metabolic pathways to feed anabolic cell growth. Oncogenic drivers directly and indirectly regulate metabolic pathways, and aberrant metabolism is central not only for leukemia proliferation and survival, but also mediates oncogene addiction with significant implications for the development of targeted therapies. This review explores leukemia metabolic circuitries feeding anabolism, redox potential, and energy required for tumor propagation with an emphasis on emerging therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Rashkovan
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Adolfo Ferrando
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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14
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Abstract
Macroautophagy (referred to here as autophagy) degrades and recycles cytoplasmic constituents to sustain cellular and mammalian metabolism and survival during starvation. Deregulation of autophagy is involved in numerous diseases, such as cancer. Cancers up-regulate autophagy and depend on it for survival, growth, and malignancy in a tumor cell-autonomous fashion. Recently, it has become apparent that autophagy in host tissues as well as the tumor cells themselves contribute to tumor growth. Understanding how autophagy regulates metabolism and tumor growth has revealed new essential tumor nutrients, where they come from, and how they are supplied and used, which can now be targeted for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Poillet-Perez
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA
| | - Eileen White
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
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15
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ER stress-induced mediator C/EBP homologous protein thwarts effector T cell activity in tumors through T-bet repression. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1280. [PMID: 30894532 PMCID: PMC6426975 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09263-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the intrinsic mediators that render CD8+ T cells dysfunctional in the tumor microenvironment is a requirement to develop more effective cancer immunotherapies. Here, we report that C/EBP homologous protein (Chop), a downstream sensor of severe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, is a major negative regulator of the effector function of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells. Chop expression is increased in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, which correlates with poor clinical outcome in ovarian cancer patients. Deletion of Chop in T cells improves spontaneous antitumor CD8+ T cell immunity and boosts the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapy. Mechanistically, Chop in CD8+ T cells is elevated primarily through the ER stress-associated kinase Perk and a subsequent induction of Atf4; and directly represses the expression of T-bet, a master regulator of effector T cell function. These findings demonstrate the primary role of Chop in tumor-induced CD8+ T cell dysfunction and the therapeutic potential of blocking Chop or ER stress to unleash T cell-mediated antitumor immunity.
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16
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Metabolic pathways of L-arginine and therapeutic consequences in tumors. Adv Med Sci 2019; 64:104-110. [PMID: 30605863 DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2018.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Difference in the metabolism of normal and cancer cells inspires to search for new, more specific and less toxic therapies than those currently used. The development of tumors is conditioned by genetic changes in cancer-transformed cells, immunological tolerance and immunosuppression. At the initial stages of carcinogenesis, the immune system shows anti-tumor activity, however later, cancer disrupts the function of Th1/Th17/Th2 lymphocytes by regulatory T (Treg) cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and finally causes immunosuppression. Recently, much attention has been devoted to the influence of l-arginine metabolism disorders on both carcinogenesis and the immune system. l-Arginine is essential for the maturation of the T cell receptor zeta (TCRζ), and its absence deprives T-cells of the ability to interact with tumor antigens. MDSCs deplete l-arginine due to a high expression of arginase 1 (ARG1) and their number increases 4-10 times depending on the type of the cancer. L-Arginine has been shown to be essential for the survival and progression of arginine auxotrophic tumors. However, the progression of arginine non-auxotrophic tumors is independent of exogenous l-arginine, because these tumors have arginine-succinate synthetase (ASS1) activity and are available to produce l-arginine from citrulline. Clinical studies have confirmed the high efficacy of arginine auxotrophic tumors therapy based on the elimination of l-arginine. However, l-arginine supplementation may improve the results of treatment of patients with arginine non-auxotrophic cancer. This review is an attempt to explain the seemingly contradictory results of oncological therapies based on the deprivation or supplementation of l-arginine.
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17
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Abstract
Cancer cells reprogramme metabolism to maximize the use of nitrogen and carbon for the anabolic synthesis of macromolecules that are required during tumour proliferation and growth. To achieve this aim, one strategy is to reduce catabolism and nitrogen disposal. The urea cycle (UC) in the liver is the main metabolic pathway to convert excess nitrogen into disposable urea. Outside the liver, UC enzymes are differentially expressed, enabling the use of nitrogen for the synthesis of UC intermediates that are required to accommodate cellular needs. Interestingly, the expression of UC enzymes is altered in cancer, revealing a revolutionary mechanism to maximize nitrogen incorporation into biomass. In this Review, we discuss the metabolic benefits underlying UC deregulation in cancer and the relevance of these alterations for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rom Keshet
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Peter Szlosarek
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
- Barts Health NHS Trust, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Arkaitz Carracedo
- CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia, Spain
- CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Ayelet Erez
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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18
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Fouda AY, Xu Z, Shosha E, Lemtalsi T, Chen J, Toque HA, Tritz R, Cui X, Stansfield BK, Huo Y, Rodriguez PC, Smith SB, Caldwell RW, Narayanan SP, Caldwell RB. Arginase 1 promotes retinal neurovascular protection from ischemia through suppression of macrophage inflammatory responses. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:1001. [PMID: 30254218 PMCID: PMC6156564 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1051-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The lack of effective therapies to limit neurovascular injury in ischemic retinopathy is a major clinical problem. This study aimed to examine the role of ureohydrolase enzyme, arginase 1 (A1), in retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. A1 competes with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) for their common substrate l-arginine. A1-mediated l-arginine depletion reduces nitric oxide (NO) formation by NOS leading to vascular dysfunction when endothelial NOS is involved but prevents inflammatory injury when inducible NOS is involved. Studies were performed using wild-type (WT) mice, global A1+/− knockout (KO), endothelial-specific A1 KO, and myeloid-specific A1 KO mice subjected to retinal IR injury. Global as well as myeloid-specific A1 KO mice showed worsened IR-induced neuronal loss and retinal thinning. Deletion of A1 in endothelial cells had no effect, while treatment with PEGylated (PEG) A1 improved neuronal survival in WT mice. In addition, A1+/− KO mice showed worsened vascular injury manifested by increased acellular capillaries. Western blotting analysis of retinal tissue showed increased inflammatory and necroptotic markers with A1 deletion. In vitro experiments showed that macrophages lacking A1 exhibit increased inflammatory response upon LPS stimulation. PEG-A1 treatment dampened this inflammatory response and decreased the LPS-induced metabolic reprogramming. Moreover, intravitreal injection of A1 KO macrophages or systemic macrophage depletion with clodronate liposomes increased neuronal loss after IR injury. These results demonstrate that A1 reduces IR injury-induced retinal neurovascular degeneration via dampening macrophage inflammatory responses. Increasing A1 offers a novel strategy for limiting neurovascular injury and promoting macrophage-mediated repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelrahman Y Fouda
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Zhimin Xu
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Esraa Shosha
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Tahira Lemtalsi
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Jijun Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Haroldo A Toque
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Rebekah Tritz
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Xuezhi Cui
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Brian K Stansfield
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yuqing Huo
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | | | - Sylvia B Smith
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - R William Caldwell
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - S Priya Narayanan
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Program in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Ruth B Caldwell
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA. .,Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. .,James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. .,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
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19
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Alexandrou C, Al-Aqbi SS, Higgins JA, Boyle W, Karmokar A, Andreadi C, Luo JL, Moore DA, Viskaduraki M, Blades M, Murray GI, Howells LM, Thomas A, Brown K, Cheng PN, Rufini A. Sensitivity of Colorectal Cancer to Arginine Deprivation Therapy is Shaped by Differential Expression of Urea Cycle Enzymes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12096. [PMID: 30108309 PMCID: PMC6092409 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30591-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors deficient in the urea cycle enzymes argininosuccinate synthase-1 (ASS1) and ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) are unable to synthesize arginine and can be targeted using arginine-deprivation therapy. Here, we show that colorectal cancers (CRCs) display negligible expression of OTC and, in subset of cases, ASS1 proteins. CRC cells fail to grow in arginine-free medium and dietary arginine deprivation slows growth of cancer cells implanted into immunocompromised mice. Moreover, we report that clinically-formulated arginine-degrading enzymes are effective anticancer drugs in CRC. Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20), which degrades arginine to citrulline and ammonia, affects growth of ASS1-negative cells, whereas recombinant human arginase-1 (rhArg1peg5000), which degrades arginine into urea and ornithine, is effective against a broad spectrum of OTC-negative CRC cell lines. This reflects the inability of CRC cells to recycle citrulline and ornithine into the urea cycle. Finally, we show that arginase antagonizes chemotherapeutic drugs oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), whereas ADI-PEG20 synergizes with oxaliplatin in ASS1-negative cell lines and appears to interact with 5-fluorouracil independently of ASS1 status. Overall, we conclude that CRC is amenable to arginine-deprivation therapy, but we warrant caution when combining arginine deprivation with standard chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantinos Alexandrou
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Saif Sattar Al-Aqbi
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.,Department of Pathology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
| | - Jennifer A Higgins
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - William Boyle
- Birmingham Women's Hospital, Birmingham, B15 2TG, UK
| | - Ankur Karmokar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Catherine Andreadi
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Jin-Li Luo
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - David A Moore
- Department of Pathology, UCL Cancer Centre, UCL, London, UK
| | - Maria Viskaduraki
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Support Hub, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Matthew Blades
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Support Hub, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Graeme I Murray
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25, 2ZD, UK
| | - Lynne M Howells
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Anne Thomas
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Karen Brown
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Paul N Cheng
- Bio-Cancer Treatment International Limited, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Alessandro Rufini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.
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20
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Caldwell RW, Rodriguez PC, Toque HA, Narayanan SP, Caldwell RB. Arginase: A Multifaceted Enzyme Important in Health and Disease. Physiol Rev 2018; 98:641-665. [PMID: 29412048 PMCID: PMC5966718 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00037.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The arginase enzyme developed in early life forms and was maintained during evolution. As the last step in the urea cycle, arginase cleaves l-arginine to form urea and l-ornithine. The urea cycle provides protection against excess ammonia, while l-ornithine is needed for cell proliferation, collagen formation, and other physiological functions. In mammals, increases in arginase activity have been linked to dysfunction and pathologies of the cardiovascular system, kidney, and central nervous system and also to dysfunction of the immune system and cancer. Two important aspects of the excessive activity of arginase may be involved in diseases. First, overly active arginase can reduce the supply of l-arginine needed for the production of nitric oxide (NO) by NO synthase. Second, too much l-ornithine can lead to structural problems in the vasculature, neuronal toxicity, and abnormal growth of tumor cells. Seminal studies have demonstrated that increased formation of reactive oxygen species and key inflammatory mediators promote this pathological elevation of arginase activity. Here, we review the involvement of arginase in diseases affecting the cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system and cancer and discuss the value of therapies targeting the elevated activity of arginase.
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Affiliation(s)
- R William Caldwell
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Vision Discovery Institute, Department of Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, and Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta, Georgia ; and VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Paulo C Rodriguez
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Vision Discovery Institute, Department of Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, and Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta, Georgia ; and VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Haroldo A Toque
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Vision Discovery Institute, Department of Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, and Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta, Georgia ; and VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - S Priya Narayanan
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Vision Discovery Institute, Department of Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, and Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta, Georgia ; and VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Ruth B Caldwell
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Vision Discovery Institute, Department of Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, and Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta, Georgia ; and VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
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21
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Nikonorova IA, Mirek ET, Signore CC, Goudie MP, Wek RC, Anthony TG. Time-resolved analysis of amino acid stress identifies eIF2 phosphorylation as necessary to inhibit mTORC1 activity in liver. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:5005-5015. [PMID: 29449374 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid availability is sensed by GCN2 (general control nonderepressible 2) and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), but how these two sensors coordinate their respective signal transduction events remains mysterious. In this study we utilized mouse genetic models to investigate the role of GCN2 in hepatic mTORC1 regulation upon amino acid stress induced by a single injection of asparaginase. We found that deletion of Gcn2 prevented hepatic phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α to asparaginase and instead unleashed mTORC1 activity. This change in intracellular signaling occurred within minutes and resulted in increased 5'-terminal oligopyrimidine mRNA translation instead of activating transcription factor 4 synthesis. Asparaginase also promoted hepatic mRNA levels of several genes which function as mTORC1 inhibitors, and these genes were blunted or blocked in the absence of Gcn2, but their timing could not explain the early discordant effects in mTORC1 signaling. Preconditioning mice with a chemical endoplasmic reticulum stress agent before amino acid stress rescued normal mTORC1 repression in the liver of Gcn2-/- mice but not in livers with both Gcn2 and the endoplasmic reticulum stress kinase, Perk, deleted. Furthermore, treating wildtype and Gcn2-/- mice with ISRIB, an inhibitor of PERK signaling, also failed to alter hepatic mTORC1 responses to asparaginase, although administration of ISRIB alone had an inhibitory GCN2-independent effect on mTORC1 activity. Taken together, the data show that activating transcription factor 4 is not required, but eukaryotic initiation factor 2α phosphorylation is necessary to prevent mTORC1 activation during amino acid stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna A Nikonorova
- From the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 and
| | - Emily T Mirek
- From the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 and
| | - Christina C Signore
- From the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 and
| | - Michael P Goudie
- From the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 and
| | - Ronald C Wek
- the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Tracy G Anthony
- From the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 and
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22
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Interplay between P-Glycoprotein Expression and Resistance to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stressors. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23020337. [PMID: 29415493 PMCID: PMC6017601 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23020337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a phenotype of cancer cells with reduced sensitivity to a wide range of unrelated drugs. P-glycoprotein (P-gp)—a drug efflux pump (ABCB1 member of the ABC transporter gene family)—is frequently observed to be a molecular cause of MDR. The drug-efflux activity of P-gp is considered as the underlying mechanism of drug resistance against P-gp substrates and results in failure of cancer chemotherapy. Several pathological impulses such as shortages of oxygen and glucose supply, alterations of calcium storage mechanisms and/or processes of protein N-glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to ER stress (ERS), characterized by elevation of unfolded protein cell content and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR is responsible for modification of protein folding pathways, removal of misfolded proteins by ER associated protein degradation (ERAD) and inhibition of proteosynthesis. However, sustained ERS may result in UPR-mediated cell death. Neoplastic cells could escape from the death pathway induced by ERS by switching UPR into pro survival mechanisms instead of apoptosis. Here, we aimed to present state of the art information about consequences of P-gp expression on mechanisms associated with ERS development and regulation of the ERAD system, particularly focused on advances in ERS-associated therapy of drug resistant malignancies.
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23
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Abstract
Therapeutic enzymes have a broad variety of specific uses and clinical applications, particularly as antineoplasic agents, wound debridement therapeutics, and anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. These enzymes can elicit immune response, contributing allergic reactions. Newer drugs with improved stability and less antigenicity have been developed. Covalent modification of enzymes is used to circumvent this immunogenicity. Advancements in drug delivery have revolutionized enzyme therapy. Microencapsulation and artificial liposomal entrapment are some of the techniques used to increment the stability and half-life of enzyme drugs. Several enzymes are now used as prodrug that metabolizes inactive substances into active metabolites through bioactivation process. This approach comprises a suit of techniques that allow activation of drugs locally and at the site of action. This chapter gives an outline of clinical uses of therapeutic enzymes used in non-deficiency diseases. Developments of these enzymes are reviewed with a particular focus on bioengineering applied to the native proteins.
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24
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Fung MKL, Chan GCF. Drug-induced amino acid deprivation as strategy for cancer therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2017; 10:144. [PMID: 28750681 PMCID: PMC5530962 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-017-0509-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is caused by uncontrollable growth of neoplastic cells, leading to invasion of adjacent and distant tissues resulting in death. Cancer cells have specific nutrient(s) auxotrophy and have a much higher nutrient demand compared to normal tissues. Therefore, different metabolic inhibitors or nutrient-depleting enzymes have been tested for their anti-cancer activities. We review recent available laboratory and clinical data on using various specific amino acid metabolic pathways inhibitors in treating cancers. Our focus is on glutamine, asparagine, and arginine starvation. These three amino acids are chosen due to their better scientific evidence compared to other related approaches in cancer treatment. Amino acid-specific depleting enzymes have been adopted in different standard chemotherapy protocols. Glutamine starvation by glutaminase inhibitior, transporter inhibitor, or glutamine depletion has shown to have significant anti-cancer effect in pre-clinical studies. Currently, glutaminase inhibitor is under clinical trial for testing anti-cancer efficacy. Clinical data suggests that asparagine depletion is effective in treating hematologic malignancies even as a single agent. On the other hand, arginine depletion has lower toxicity profile and can effectively reduce the level of pro-cancer biochemicals in patients as shown by ours and others’ data. This supports the clinical use of arginine depletion as anti-cancer therapy but its exact efficacy in various cancers requires further investigation. However, clinical application of these enzymes is usually hindered by common problems including allergy to these foreign proteins, off-target cytotoxicity, short half-life and rapidly emerging chemoresistance. There have been efforts to overcome these problems by modifying the drugs in different ways to circumvent these hindrance such as (1) isolate human native enzymes to reduce allergy, (2) isolate enzyme isoforms with higher specificities and efficiencies, (3) pegylate the enzymes to reduce allergy and prolong the half-lives, and (4) design drug combinations protocols to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy by drug synergy and minimizing resistance. These improvements can potentially lead to the development of more effective anti-cancer treatment with less adverse effects and higher therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Kwong Lam Fung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Godfrey Chi-Fung Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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25
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Nikonorova IA, Al-Baghdadi RJT, Mirek ET, Wang Y, Goudie MP, Wetstein BB, Dixon JL, Hine C, Mitchell JR, Adams CM, Wek RC, Anthony TG. Obesity challenges the hepatoprotective function of the integrated stress response to asparaginase exposure in mice. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:6786-6798. [PMID: 28242759 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.768408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity increases risk for liver toxicity by the anti-leukemic agent asparaginase, but the mechanism is unknown. Asparaginase activates the integrated stress response (ISR) via sensing amino acid depletion by the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) kinase GCN2. The goal of this work was to discern the impact of obesity, alone versus alongside genetic disruption of the ISR, on mechanisms of liver protection during chronic asparaginase exposure in mice. Following diet-induced obesity, biochemical analysis of livers revealed that asparaginase provoked hepatic steatosis that coincided with activation of another eIF2 kinase PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), a major ISR transducer to ER stress. Genetic loss of Gcn2 intensified hepatic PERK activation to asparaginase, yet surprisingly, mRNA levels of key ISR gene targets such as Atf5 and Trib3 failed to increase. Instead, mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signal transduction was unleashed, and this coincided with liver dysfunction reflected by a failure to maintain hydrogen sulfide production or apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB100) expression. In contrast, obese mice lacking hepatic activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4) showed an exaggerated ISR and greater loss of endogenous hydrogen sulfide but normal inhibition of mTORC1 and maintenance of ApoB100 during asparaginase exposure. In both genetic mouse models, expression and phosphorylation of Sestrin2, an ATF4 gene target, was increased by asparaginase, suggesting mTORC1 inhibition during asparaginase exposure is not driven via eIF2-ATF4-Sestrin2. In conclusion, obesity promotes a maladaptive ISR during asparaginase exposure. GCN2 functions to repress mTORC1 activity and maintain ApoB100 protein levels independently of Atf4 expression, whereas hydrogen sulfide production is promoted via GCN2-ATF4 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rana J T Al-Baghdadi
- the Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
| | | | | | | | | | - Joseph L Dixon
- From the Department of Nutritional Sciences, and.,the Rutgers Center for Lipid Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
| | - Christopher Hine
- the Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - James R Mitchell
- the Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Christopher M Adams
- the Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, and
| | - Ronald C Wek
- the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Tracy G Anthony
- From the Department of Nutritional Sciences, and .,the Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901.,the Rutgers Center for Lipid Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
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26
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Rodriguez PC, Ochoa AC, Al-Khami AA. Arginine Metabolism in Myeloid Cells Shapes Innate and Adaptive Immunity. Front Immunol 2017; 8:93. [PMID: 28223985 PMCID: PMC5293781 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine metabolism has been a key catabolic and anabolic process throughout the evolution of the immune response. Accruing evidence indicates that arginine-catabolizing enzymes, mainly nitric oxide synthases and arginases, are closely integrated with the control of immune response under physiological and pathological conditions. Myeloid cells are major players that exploit the regulators of arginine metabolism to mediate diverse, although often opposing, immunological and functional consequences. In this article, we focus on the importance of arginine catabolism by myeloid cells in regulating innate and adaptive immunity. Revisiting this matter could result in novel therapeutic approaches by which the immunoregulatory nodes instructed by arginine metabolism can be targeted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Augusto C Ochoa
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Amir A Al-Khami
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA; Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
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27
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Cubillos-Ruiz JR, Mohamed E, Rodriguez PC. Unfolding anti-tumor immunity: ER stress responses sculpt tolerogenic myeloid cells in cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2017; 5:5. [PMID: 28105371 PMCID: PMC5240216 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-016-0203-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Established tumors build a stressful and hostile microenvironment that blocks the development of protective innate and adaptive immune responses. Different subsets of immunoregulatory myeloid populations, including dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and macrophages, accumulate in the stressed tumor milieu and represent a major impediment to the success of various forms of cancer immunotherapy. Specific conditions and factors within tumor masses, including hypoxia, nutrient starvation, low pH, and increased levels of free radicals, provoke a state of “endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress” in both malignant cells and infiltrating myeloid cells. In order to cope with ER stress, cancer cells and tumor-associated myeloid cells activate an integrated signaling pathway known as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), which promotes cell survival and adaptation under adverse environmental conditions. However, the UPR can also induce cell death under unresolved levels of ER stress. Three branches of the UPR have been described, including the activation of the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), the pancreatic ER kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), and the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). In this minireview, we briefly discuss the role of ER stress and specific UPR mediators in tumor development, growth and metastasis. In addition, we describe how sustained ER stress responses operate as key mediators of chronic inflammation and immune suppression within tumors. Finally, we discuss multiple pharmacological approaches that overcome the immunosuppressive effect of the UPR in tumors, and that could potentially enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies by reprogramming the function of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan R Cubillos-Ruiz
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, 1300 York Ave, E-907, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Eslam Mohamed
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Blvd, Room CN-4125A, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Paulo C Rodriguez
- Department of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Blvd, Room CN-4114, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
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28
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Patil MD, Bhaumik J, Babykutty S, Banerjee UC, Fukumura D. Arginine dependence of tumor cells: targeting a chink in cancer's armor. Oncogene 2016; 35:4957-72. [PMID: 27109103 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Arginine, one among the 20 most common natural amino acids, has a pivotal role in cellular physiology as it is being involved in numerous cellular metabolic and signaling pathways. Dependence on arginine is diverse for both tumor and normal cells. Because of decreased expression of argininosuccinate synthetase and/or ornithine transcarbamoylase, several types of tumor are auxotrophic for arginine. Deprivation of arginine exploits a significant vulnerability of these tumor cells and leads to their rapid demise. Hence, enzyme-mediated arginine depletion is a potential strategy for the selective destruction of tumor cells. Arginase, arginine deiminase and arginine decarboxylase are potential enzymes that may be used for arginine deprivation therapy. These arginine catabolizing enzymes not only reduce tumor growth but also make them susceptible to concomitantly administered anti-cancer therapeutics. Most of these enzymes are currently under clinical investigations and if successful will potentially be advanced as anti-cancer modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Patil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India
| | - J Bhaumik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India
| | - S Babykutty
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - U C Banerjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India
| | - D Fukumura
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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29
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Jeon YJ, Kim JH, Shin JI, Jeong M, Cho J, Lee K. Salubrinal-Mediated Upregulation of eIF2α Phosphorylation Increases Doxorubicin Sensitivity in MCF-7/ADR Cells. Mol Cells 2016; 39:129-35. [PMID: 26743901 PMCID: PMC4757800 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2016.2243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α), which is a component of the eukaryotic translation initiation complex, functions in cell death and survival under various stress conditions. In this study, we investigated the roles of eIF2α phosphorylation in cell death using the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR. MCF-7/ADR cells are MCF-7-driven cells that have acquired resistance to doxorubicin (ADR). Treatment of doxorubicin reduced the viability and induced apoptosis in both cell lines, although susceptibility to the drug was very different. Treatment with doxorubicin induced phosphorylation of eIF2α in MCF-7 cells but not in MCF-7/ADR cells. Basal expression levels of Growth Arrest and DNA Damage 34 (GADD34), a regulator of eIF2α, were higher in MCF-7/ADR cells compared to MCF-7 cells. Indeed, treatment with salubrinal, an inhibitor of GADD34, resulted in the upregulation of eIF2α phosphorylation and enhanced doxorubicin-mediated apoptosis in MCF-7/ADR cells. However, MCF-7 cells did not show such synergic effects. These results suggest that dephosphorylation of eIF2α by GADD34 plays an important role in doxorubicin resistance in MCF-7/ADR cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Joon Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - Jin Hyun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - Jong-Il Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - Mini Jeong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - Jaewook Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
| | - Kyungho Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
- Korea Hemp Institute, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029,
Korea
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30
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Bobak Y, Kurlishchuk Y, Vynnytska-Myronovska B, Grydzuk O, Shuvayeva G, Redowicz MJ, Kunz-Schughart LA, Stasyk O. Arginine deprivation induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in human solid cancer cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2015; 70:29-38. [PMID: 26546743 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2015.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Deprivation for the single amino acid arginine is a rapidly developing metabolic anticancer therapy, which allows growth control in a number of highly malignant tumors. Here we report that one of the responses of human solid cancer cells to arginine starvation is the induction of prolonged endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Systematic study of two colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 and HT29, glioblastoma U251 MG and ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cell lines revealed, however, that the ER stress triggered by the absence of arginine does not result in massive apoptosis despite a profound upregulation of the proapoptotic gene CHOP. Instead, Akt- and MAPK-dependent pathways were activated which may counteract proapoptotic signaling. Treatment with DMSO as a disaggregating agent or with cycloheximide to block protein synthesis reduced ER stress evoked by arginine deprivation. On the other hand, ER stress and apoptosis induction in arginine-starved cells could be critically augmented by the arginine analog of plant origin canavanine, but not by the classic ER stress inducer tunicamycin. Our data suggest that canavanine treatment applied under the lack of arginine may enhance the efficacy of arginine deprivation-based anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaroslav Bobak
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Str. 14/16, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine.
| | - Yuliya Kurlishchuk
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Str. 14/16, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine; OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Bozhena Vynnytska-Myronovska
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Str. 14/16, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine; OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Olesia Grydzuk
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Str. 14/16, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine.
| | - Galyna Shuvayeva
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Str. 14/16, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine.
| | - Maria J Redowicz
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Cell Motility, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteur Str. 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Leoni A Kunz-Schughart
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Department of Oncology, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK.
| | - Oleh Stasyk
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Str. 14/16, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine.
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31
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Qiu F, Huang J, Sui M. Targeting arginine metabolism pathway to treat arginine-dependent cancers. Cancer Lett 2015; 364:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 03/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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32
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Liu Y, Li J, Lu Y. Enzyme therapeutics for systemic detoxification. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2015; 90:24-39. [PMID: 25980935 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Life relies on numerous biochemical processes working synergistically and correctly. Certain substances disrupt these processes, inducing living organism into an abnormal state termed intoxication. Managing intoxication usually requires interventions, which is referred as detoxification. Decades of development on detoxification reveals the potential of enzymes as ideal therapeutics and antidotes, because their high substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency are essential for clearing intoxicating substances without adverse effects. However, intrinsic shortcomings of enzymes including low stability and high immunogenicity are major hurdles, which could be overcome by delivering enzymes with specially designed nanocarriers. Extensive investigations on protein delivery indicate three types of enzyme-nanocarrier architectures that show more promise than others for systemic detoxification, including liposome-wrapped enzymes, polymer-enzyme conjugates, and polymer-encapsulated enzymes. This review highlights recent advances in these nano-architectures and discusses their applications in systemic detoxifications. Therapeutic potential of various enzymes as well as associated challenges in achieving effective delivery of therapeutic enzymes will also be discussed.
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33
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Mussai F, Egan S, Higginbotham-Jones J, Perry T, Beggs A, Odintsova E, Loke J, Pratt G, U KP, Lo A, Ng M, Kearns P, Cheng P, De Santo C. Arginine dependence of acute myeloid leukemia blast proliferation: a novel therapeutic target. Blood 2015; 125:2386-96. [PMID: 25710880 PMCID: PMC4416943 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-09-600643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common acute leukemias in adults and children, yet significant numbers of patients relapse and die of disease. In this study, we identify the dependence of AML blasts on arginine for proliferation. We show that AML blasts constitutively express the arginine transporters CAT-1 and CAT-2B, and that the majority of newly diagnosed patients' blasts have deficiencies in the arginine-recycling pathway enzymes argininosuccinate synthase and ornithine transcarbamylase, making them arginine auxotrophic. BCT-100, a pegylated human recombinant arginase, leads to a rapid depletion in extracellular and intracellular arginine concentrations, resulting in arrest of AML blast proliferation and a reduction in AML engraftment in vivo. BCT-100 as a single agent causes significant death of AML blasts from adults and children, and acts synergistically in combination with cytarabine. Using RNA sequencing, 20 further candidate genes which correlated with resistance have been identified. Thus, AML blasts are dependent on arginine for survival and proliferation, as well as depletion of arginine with BCT-100 of clinical value in the treatment of AML.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Aged
- Animals
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use
- Arginase/therapeutic use
- Arginine/metabolism
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Cytarabine/therapeutic use
- Enzyme Therapy
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/enzymology
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Male
- Mice, SCID
- Middle Aged
- Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Mussai
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon Egan
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tracey Perry
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Beggs
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Odintsova
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Justin Loke
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Guy Pratt
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kin Pong U
- Bio-cancer Treatment International Ltd, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; and
| | - Anthony Lo
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Margaret Ng
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Pamela Kearns
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Cheng
- Bio-cancer Treatment International Ltd, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; and
| | - Carmela De Santo
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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34
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Fletcher M, Ramirez ME, Sierra RA, Raber P, Thevenot P, Al-Khami AA, Sanchez-Pino D, Hernandez C, Wyczechowska DD, Ochoa AC, Rodriguez PC. l-Arginine depletion blunts antitumor T-cell responses by inducing myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Cancer Res 2015. [PMID: 25406192 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-1491.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Enzymatic depletion of the nonessential amino acid l-Arginine (l-Arg) in patients with cancer by the administration of a pegylated form of the catabolic enzyme arginase I (peg-Arg I) has shown some promise as a therapeutic approach. However, l-Arg deprivation also suppresses T-cell responses in tumors. In this study, we sought to reconcile these observations by conducting a detailed analysis of the effects of peg-Arg I on normal T cells. Strikingly, we found that peg-Arg I blocked proliferation and cell-cycle progression in normal activated T cells without triggering apoptosis or blunting T-cell activation. These effects were associated with an inhibition of aerobic glycolysis in activated T cells, but not with significant alterations in mitochondrial oxidative respiration, which thereby regulated survival of T cells exposed to peg-Arg I. Further mechanistic investigations showed that the addition of citrulline, a metabolic precursor for l-Arg, rescued the antiproliferative effects of peg-Arg I on T cells in vitro. Moreover, serum levels of citrulline increased after in vivo administration of peg-Arg I. In support of the hypothesis that peg-Arg I acted indirectly to block T-cell responses in vivo, peg-Arg I inhibited T-cell proliferation in mice by inducing accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). MDSC induction by peg-Arg I occurred through the general control nonrepressed-2 eIF2α kinase. Moreover, we found that peg-Arg I enhanced the growth of tumors in mice in a manner that correlated with higher MDSC numbers. Taken together, our results highlight the risks of the l-Arg-depleting therapy for cancer treatment and suggest a need for cotargeting MDSC in such therapeutic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Fletcher
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Maria E Ramirez
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Rosa A Sierra
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Patrick Raber
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Paul Thevenot
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Amir A Al-Khami
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Dulfary Sanchez-Pino
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Claudia Hernandez
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Dorota D Wyczechowska
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Augusto C Ochoa
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Paulo C Rodriguez
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
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35
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Wang Z, Shi X, Li Y, Fan J, Zeng X, Xian Z, Wang Z, Sun Y, Wang S, Song P, Zhao S, Hu H, Ju D. Blocking autophagy enhanced cytotoxicity induced by recombinant human arginase in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1563. [PMID: 25501824 PMCID: PMC4454157 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2014] [Revised: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Depletion of arginine by recombinant human arginase (rhArg) has proven to be an effective cancer therapeutic approach for a variety of malignant tumors. Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) lack of specific therapeutic targets, resulting in poor prognosis and limited therapeutic efficacy. To explore new therapeutic approaches for TNBC we studied the cytotoxicity of rhArg in five TNBC cells. We found that rhArg could inhibit cell growth in these five TNBC cells. Intriguingly, accumulation of autophagosomes and autophagic flux was observed in rhArg-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine (CQ), 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and siRNA targeting Beclin1 significantly enhanced rhArg-induced cytotoxic effect, indicating the cytoprotective role of autophagy in rhArg-induced cell death. In addition, N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a common antioxidant, blocked autophagy induced by rhArg, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) had an essential role in the cytotoxicity of rhArg. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of autophagy involved in rhArg-induced cytotoxicity in TNBC cells. Meanwhile, our results revealed that rhArg, either alone or in combination with autophagic inhibitors, might be a potential novel therapy for the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Wang
- 1] Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China [2] Department of Biopharmaceutical Research, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, China
| | - X Shi
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Y Li
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - J Fan
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - X Zeng
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Z Xian
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Z Wang
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, People's Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Y Sun
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - S Wang
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - P Song
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - S Zhao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - H Hu
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Research, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, China
| | - D Ju
- Department of Biosynthesis and Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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36
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Fletcher M, Ramirez ME, Sierra RA, Raber P, Thevenot P, Al-Khami AA, Sanchez-Pino D, Hernandez C, Wyczechowska DD, Ochoa AC, Rodriguez PC. l-Arginine depletion blunts antitumor T-cell responses by inducing myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Cancer Res 2014; 75:275-83. [PMID: 25406192 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-1491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Enzymatic depletion of the nonessential amino acid l-Arginine (l-Arg) in patients with cancer by the administration of a pegylated form of the catabolic enzyme arginase I (peg-Arg I) has shown some promise as a therapeutic approach. However, l-Arg deprivation also suppresses T-cell responses in tumors. In this study, we sought to reconcile these observations by conducting a detailed analysis of the effects of peg-Arg I on normal T cells. Strikingly, we found that peg-Arg I blocked proliferation and cell-cycle progression in normal activated T cells without triggering apoptosis or blunting T-cell activation. These effects were associated with an inhibition of aerobic glycolysis in activated T cells, but not with significant alterations in mitochondrial oxidative respiration, which thereby regulated survival of T cells exposed to peg-Arg I. Further mechanistic investigations showed that the addition of citrulline, a metabolic precursor for l-Arg, rescued the antiproliferative effects of peg-Arg I on T cells in vitro. Moreover, serum levels of citrulline increased after in vivo administration of peg-Arg I. In support of the hypothesis that peg-Arg I acted indirectly to block T-cell responses in vivo, peg-Arg I inhibited T-cell proliferation in mice by inducing accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). MDSC induction by peg-Arg I occurred through the general control nonrepressed-2 eIF2α kinase. Moreover, we found that peg-Arg I enhanced the growth of tumors in mice in a manner that correlated with higher MDSC numbers. Taken together, our results highlight the risks of the l-Arg-depleting therapy for cancer treatment and suggest a need for cotargeting MDSC in such therapeutic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Fletcher
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Maria E Ramirez
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Rosa A Sierra
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Patrick Raber
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Paul Thevenot
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Amir A Al-Khami
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Dulfary Sanchez-Pino
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Claudia Hernandez
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Dorota D Wyczechowska
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Augusto C Ochoa
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Paulo C Rodriguez
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Arginine deprivation affects glioblastoma cell adhesion, invasiveness and actin cytoskeleton organization by impairment of β-actin arginylation. Amino Acids 2014; 47:199-212. [PMID: 25362567 PMCID: PMC4282698 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-014-1857-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
A deficit of exogenous arginine affects growth and viability of numerous cancer cells. Although arginine deprivation-based strategy is currently undergoing clinical trials, molecular mechanisms of tumor cells’ response to arginine deprivation are not yet elucidated. We have examined effects of arginine starvation on cell motility, adhesion and invasiveness as well as on actin cytoskeleton organization of human glioblastoma cells. We observed for the first time that arginine, but not lysine, starvation affected cell morphology, significantly inhibited their motility and invasiveness, and impaired adhesion. No effects on glia cells were observed. Also, arginine deprivation in glioblastoma evoked specific changes in actin assembly, decreased β-actin filament content, and affected its N-terminal arginylation. We suggest that alterations in organization of β-actin resulted from a decrease of its arginylation could be responsible for the observed effects of arginine deprivation on cell invasiveness and migration. Our data indicate that arginine deprivation-based treatment strategies could inhibit, at least transiently, the invasion process of highly malignant brain tumors and may have a potential for combination therapy to extend overall patient survival.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Loss of cell growth control is not sufficient to explain why tumours form as the immune system recognizes many malignant cells and keeps them in check. The local inflammatory microenvironment is a pivotal factor in tumour formation, as tumour-associated inflammation actively suppresses antitumour immunity. The purpose of this review is to evaluate emerging evidence that amino acid catabolism is a key feature of tumour-associated inflammation that supports tumour progression and immune resistance to therapy. RECENT FINDINGS Enhanced amino acid catabolism in inflammatory tumour microenvironments correlates with carcinogen resistance and immune regulation mediated by tumour-associated immune cells that protect tumours from natural and vaccine-induced immunity. Interfering with metabolic pathways exploited by tumours is a promising antitumour strategy, especially when combined with other therapies. Moreover, molecular sensors that evolved to detect pathogens may enhance evasion of immune surveillance to permit tumour progression. SUMMARY Innate immune sensing that induces amino acid catabolism in tumour microenvironments may be pivotal in initiating and sustaining local inflammation that promotes immune resistance and attenuates antitumour immunity. Targeting molecular sensors that mediate these metabolic changes may be an effective strategy to enhance antitumour immunity that prevents tumour progression, as well as improving the efficacy of cancer therapy.
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Translational regulator eIF2α in tumor. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:6255-64. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-1789-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Phillips MM, Sheaff MT, Szlosarek PW. Targeting arginine-dependent cancers with arginine-degrading enzymes: opportunities and challenges. Cancer Res Treat 2013; 45:251-62. [PMID: 24453997 PMCID: PMC3893322 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2013.45.4.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arginine deprivation is a novel antimetabolite strategy for the treatment of arginine-dependent cancers that exploits differential expression and regulation of key urea cycle enzymes. Several studies have focused on inactivation of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) in a range of malignancies, including melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mesothelial and urological cancers, sarcomas, and lymphomas. Epigenetic silencing has been identified as a key mechanism for loss of the tumor suppressor role of ASS1 leading to tumoral dependence on exogenous arginine. More recently, dysregulation of argininosuccinate lyase has been documented in a subset of arginine auxotrophic glioblastoma multiforme, HCC and in fumarate hydratase-mutant renal cancers. Clinical trials of several arginine depletors are ongoing, including pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20, Polaris Group) and bioengineered forms of human arginase. ADI-PEG20 is furthest along the path of clinical development from combinatorial phase 1 to phase 3 trials and is described in more detail. The challenge will be to identify tumors sensitive to drugs such as ADI-PEG20 and integrate these agents into multimodality drug regimens using imaging and tissue/fluid-based biomarkers as predictors of response. Lastly, resistance pathways to arginine deprivation require further study to optimize arginine-targeted therapies in the oncology clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M. Phillips
- Center for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute - a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
- St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Michael T. Sheaff
- Pathology Group, Institute of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
| | - Peter W. Szlosarek
- Center for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute - a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
- St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
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Allen MD, Luong P, Hudson C, Leyton J, Delage B, Ghazaly E, Cutts R, Yuan M, Syed N, Lo Nigro C, Lattanzio L, Chmielewska-Kassassir M, Tomlinson I, Roylance R, Whitaker HC, Warren AY, Neal D, Frezza C, Beltran L, Jones LJ, Chelala C, Wu BW, Bomalaski JS, Jackson RC, Lu YJ, Crook T, Lemoine NR, Mather S, Foster J, Sosabowski J, Avril N, Li CF, Szlosarek PW. Prognostic and therapeutic impact of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 control in bladder cancer as monitored longitudinally by PET imaging. Cancer Res 2013; 74:896-907. [PMID: 24285724 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-1702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Targeted therapies have yet to have significant impact on the survival of patients with bladder cancer. In this study, we focused on the urea cycle enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) as a therapeutic target in bladder cancer, based on our discovery of the prognostic and functional import of ASS1 in this setting. ASS1 expression status in bladder tumors from 183 Caucasian and 295 Asian patients was analyzed, along with its hypothesized prognostic impact and association with clinicopathologic features, including tumor size and invasion. Furthermore, the genetics, biology, and therapeutic implications of ASS1 loss were investigated in urothelial cancer cells. We detected ASS1 negativity in 40% of bladder cancers, in which multivariate analysis indicated worse disease-specific and metastasis-free survival. ASS1 loss secondary to epigenetic silencing was accompanied by increased tumor cell proliferation and invasion, consistent with a tumor-suppressor role for ASS1. In developing a treatment approach, we identified a novel targeted antimetabolite strategy to exploit arginine deprivation with pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) as a therapeutic. ADI-PEG20 was synthetically lethal in ASS1-methylated bladder cells and its exposure was associated with a marked reduction in intracellular levels of thymidine, due to suppression of both uptake and de novo synthesis. We found that thymidine uptake correlated with thymidine kinase-1 protein levels and that thymidine levels were imageable with [(18)F]-fluoro-L-thymidine (FLT)-positron emission tomography (PET). In contrast, inhibition of de novo synthesis was linked to decreased expression of thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase. Notably, inhibition of de novo synthesis was associated with potentiation of ADI-PEG20 activity by the antifolate drug pemetrexed. Taken together, our findings argue that arginine deprivation combined with antifolates warrants clinical investigation in ASS1-negative urothelial and related cancers, using FLT-PET as an early surrogate marker of response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Allen
- Authors' Affiliations: Barts Cancer Institute-a Cancer Research UK Center of Excellence, John Vane Science Center, Queen Mary University of London; Department of Medicine, Imperial College, Charing Cross Campus; St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, West Smithfield, London; Wellcome Trust Center for Human Genetics, Oxford; Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Center; Hutchison/MRC Research Center, University of Cambridge, Medical Research Council Cancer Unit; Pharmacometrics Ltd., Cambridge; Dundee Cancer Center, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, United Kingdom; Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Translational Oncology, S Croce General Hospital, Cuneo, Italy; Department of Structural Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; Polaris Group, San Diego, California; Department of Pathology, Chi-Mei Medical Center; Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan; and National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
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Kwong-Lam F, Chi-Fung CG. Vincristine could partly suppress stromal support to T-ALL blasts during pegylated arginase I treatment. Exp Hematol Oncol 2013; 2:11. [PMID: 23574711 PMCID: PMC3655039 DOI: 10.1186/2162-3619-2-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Relapsed T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) has been an incurable disease. Recent reports showed that an L-arginine depleting enzyme, pegylated arginase (BCT-100) may be effective against T-ALL cells. On the other hand, studies including ours had shown the symbiosis of ALL blasts and human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) in bone marrow microenvironment during L-asparaginase treatment. As L-asparaginase and BCT-100 both act by depleting lymphoid cells of specific amino acid, we hypothesized that hMSCs may also protect T-ALL blasts from BCT-100 treatment in co-culture and such protection may be abrogated by pre-treating hMSCs with vincristine (VCR). Methods XTT assay was used to test sensitivities of T-ALL cell lines and hMSCs to BCT-100. Apoptosis of T-ALL cell lines with or without BCT-100 treatment were tested by annexin V / propidium iodide (AV/PI) assay using flow cytometer. Western blotting was performed to analyze the expression of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), an enzyme involved in L-arginine metabolism which may account for BCT-100 resistance. Results hMSCs were resistant to BCT-100 while CCRF-CEM, Jurkat and MOLT-4 were very sensitive to it. hMSCs could protect all the three cell lines from BCT-100 treatment in transwell co-culture. All the 3 T-ALL cell lines were also found to be rescued by an L-arginine precursor citrulline, while the breakdown product of BCT-100, ornithine only had limited salvaging effect on CCRF-CEM but not Jurkat and MOLT-4. Both hMSCs and 3 T-ALL cell lines express citrulline synthesis enzyme, ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) at basal level while only hMSCs could express OTC at relatively higher level under BCT-100 treatment. Treating hMSCs with vincristine before co-culturing with T-ALL could resume the cytotoxicity of BCT-100 to CCRF-CEM and MOLT-4 cells. Conclusions Our results suggest a possible strategy to overcome resistance to BCT-100 from cancer microenvironments by suppressing hMSCs either in marrow or in the perivascular niche using vincristine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fung Kwong-Lam
- Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
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Hernandez CP, Morrow K, Velasco C, Wyczechowska DD, Naura A, Rodriguez PC. Effects of cigarette smoke extract on primary activated T cells. Cell Immunol 2013; 282:38-43. [PMID: 23665673 PMCID: PMC3676722 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2013.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Revised: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking predisposes the development of diseases characterized by chronic inflammation and T cell dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to determine the direct effects of cigarette smoke on primary T cells and to identify the corresponding molecular mediators. Activated T cells cultured in the presence of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) displayed a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation, which associated with the induction of cellular apoptosis. T cell apoptosis by CSE was independent of caspases and mediated through reactive oxygen and nitrogen species endogenously contained within CSE. Additional results showed that exposure of T cells to CSE induced phosphorylation of the stress mediator eukaryotic-translation-initiation-factor 2 alpha (eIF2α). Inhibition of the phosphorylation of eIF2α in T cells prevented the cellular apoptosis induced by CSE. Altogether, the results show the direct effects of CSE on T cells, which advance in the understanding of how cigarette smoking promotes chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia P. Hernandez
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112
| | - Kevin Morrow
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112
| | - Cruz Velasco
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112
| | - Dorota D. Wyczechowska
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112
| | - Amarjit Naura
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112
| | - Paulo C. Rodriguez
- Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112
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