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Witherspoon JG, Hall JR, Jima D, Atkins HM, Wamsley NT, Major MB, Weissman BE, Smart RC. Mutant Nrf2 E79Q enhances the promotion and progression of a subset of oncogenic Ras keratinocytes and skin tumors. Redox Biol 2024; 75:103261. [PMID: 38963974 PMCID: PMC11269801 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), including lung, head & neck, bladder, and skin SCCs often display constitutive activation of the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway. Constitutive activation is achieved through multiple mechanisms, including activating mutations in NFE2L2 (NRF2). To determine the functional consequences of Nrf2 activation on skin SCC development, we assessed the effects of mutant Nrf2E79Q expression, one of the most common activating mutations in human SCCs, on tumor promotion and progression in the mouse skin multistage carcinogenesis model using a DMBA-initiation/TPA-promotion protocol where the Hras A->T mutation (Q61L) is the canonical driver mutation. Nrf2E79Q expression was temporally and conditionally activated in the epidermis at two stages of tumor development: 1) after DMBA initiation in the epidermis but before cutaneous tumor development and 2) in pre-existing DMBA-initiated/TPA-promoted squamous papillomas. Expression of Nrf2E79Q in the epidermis after DMBA initiation but before tumor occurrence inhibited the development/promotion of 70% of squamous papillomas. However, the remaining papillomas often displayed non-canonical Hras and Kras mutations and enhanced progression to SCCs compared to control mice expressing wildtype Nrf2. Nrf2E79Q expression in pre-existing tumors caused rapid regression of 60% of papillomas. The remaining papillomas displayed the expected canonical Hras A->T mutation (Q61L) and enhanced progression to SCCs. These results demonstrate that mutant Nrf2E79Q enhances the promotion and progression of a subset of skin tumors and alters the frequency and diversity of oncogenic Ras mutations when expressed early after initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan R Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, USA; Toxicology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, USA; Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, USA
| | - Dereje Jima
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, USA
| | - Hannah M Atkins
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, USA
| | - Nathan T Wamsley
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University at St Louis, USA
| | - Michael B Major
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University at St Louis, USA
| | - Bernard E Weissman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Robert C Smart
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, USA; Toxicology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, USA; Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, USA.
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2
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Yan L, Chen Y, Zhang S, Zhu C, Xiao S, Xia H, Chen X, Guo D, Lv X, Rao L, Zhuang M. Reconstruction of TNF-α with specific isoelectric point released from SPIONs basing on variable charge to enhance pH-sensitive controlled-release. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2024; 60:102758. [PMID: 38852881 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2024.102758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The clinical application of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is limited by its short half-life, subeffective concentration in the targeted area and severe systemic toxicity. In this study, the recombinant polypeptide S4-TNF-α was constructed and coupled with chitosan-modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (S4-TNF-α-SPIONs) to achieve pH-sensitive controlled release and active tumor targeting activity. The isoelectric point (pI) of S4-TNF-α was reconstructed to approach the pH of the tumor microenvironment. The negative-charge S4-TNF-α was adsorbed to chitosan-modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (CS-SPIONs) with a positive charge through electrostatic adsorption at physiological pH. The acidic tumor microenvironment endowed S4-TNF-α with a zero charge, which accelerated S4-TNF-α release from CS-SPIONs. Our studies showed that S4-TNF-α-SPIONs displayed an ideal pH-sensitive controlled release capacity and improved antitumor effects. Our study presents a novel approach to enhance the pH-sensitive controlled-release of genetically engineered drugs by adjusting their pI to match the pH of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yan
- The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yadi Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, School of pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 523808, China
| | - Shihao Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, School of pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 523808, China
| | - Chunjie Zhu
- School of Basic Medicine Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Shangying Xiao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, School of pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 523808, China
| | - Haishan Xia
- School of Basic Medicine Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Xiaohua Chen
- Guangdong Provincial key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Medical college, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
| | - Dan Guo
- Guangdong Provincial key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Medical college, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
| | - Xiaohua Lv
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, School of pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 523808, China
| | - Lei Rao
- Guangdong Provincial key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Medical college, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China; Department of Biomedicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Manjiao Zhuang
- The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, School of pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 523808, China.
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3
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Dunigan-Russell K, Yaeger MJ, Hodge MX, Kilburg-Basnyat B, Reece SW, Birukova A, Guttenberg MA, Novak C, Chung S, Ehrmann BM, Wallace ED, Tokarz D, Majumder N, Xia L, Christman JW, Shannahan J, Ballinger MN, Hussain S, Shaikh SR, Tighe RM, Gowdy KM. Scavenger receptor BI attenuates oxidized phospholipid-induced pulmonary inflammation. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 462:116381. [PMID: 36681128 PMCID: PMC9983330 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are molecules released from dead/dying cells following toxicant and/or environmental exposures that activate the immune response through binding of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Excessive production of DAMPs or failed clearance leads to chronic inflammation and delayed inflammation resolution. One category of DAMPs are oxidized phospholipids (oxPLs) produced upon exposure to high levels of oxidative stress, such as following ozone (O3) induced inflammation. OxPLs are bound by multiple classes of PRRs that include scavenger receptors (SRs) such as SR class B-1 (SR-BI) and toll-like receptors (TLRs). Interactions between oxPLs and PRRs appear to regulate inflammation; however, the role of SR-BI in oxPL-induced lung inflammation has not been defined. Therefore, we hypothesize that SR-BI is critical in protecting the lung from oxPL-induced pulmonary inflammation/injury. To test this hypothesis, C57BL/6J (WT) female mice were dosed with oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (oxPAPC) by oropharyngeal aspiration which increased pulmonary SR-BI expression. Following oxPAPC exposure, SR-BI deficient (SR-BI-/-) mice exhibited increased lung pathology and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production. Lipidomic analysis revealed that SR-BI-/- mice had an altered pulmonary lipidome prior to and following oxPAPC exposure, which correlated with increased oxidized phosphatidylcholines (PCs). Finally, we characterized TLR4-mediated activation of NF-κB following oxPAPC exposure and discovered that SR-BI-/- mice had increased TLR4 mRNA expression in lung tissue and macrophages, increased nuclear p65, and decreased cytoplasmic IκBα. Overall, we conclude that SR-BI is required for limiting oxPAPC-induced lung pathology by maintaining lipid homeostasis, reducing oxidized PCs, and attenuating TLR4-NF-κB activation, thereby preventing excessive and persistent inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Dunigan-Russell
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Michael J Yaeger
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Myles X Hodge
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Brita Kilburg-Basnyat
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Sky W Reece
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Anastasiya Birukova
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Marissa A Guttenberg
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Caymen Novak
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Sangwoon Chung
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Brandie Michelle Ehrmann
- Deparment of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - E Diane Wallace
- Deparment of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Debra Tokarz
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Nairrita Majumder
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Li Xia
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - John W Christman
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jonathan Shannahan
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Megan N Ballinger
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Salik Hussain
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Saame Raza Shaikh
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Robert M Tighe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Kymberly M Gowdy
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States.
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4
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Targeting Transcription Factors ATF5, CEBPB and CEBPD with Cell-Penetrating Peptides to Treat Brain and Other Cancers. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040581. [PMID: 36831248 PMCID: PMC9954556 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing novel therapeutics often follows three steps: target identification, design of strategies to suppress target activity and drug development to implement the strategies. In this review, we recount the evidence identifying the basic leucine zipper transcription factors ATF5, CEBPB, and CEBPD as targets for brain and other malignancies. We describe strategies that exploit the structures of the three factors to create inhibitory dominant-negative (DN) mutant forms that selectively suppress growth and survival of cancer cells. We then discuss and compare four peptides (CP-DN-ATF5, Dpep, Bpep and ST101) in which DN sequences are joined with cell-penetrating domains to create drugs that pass through tissue barriers and into cells. The peptide drugs show both efficacy and safety in suppressing growth and in the survival of brain and other cancers in vivo, and ST101 is currently in clinical trials for solid tumors, including GBM. We further consider known mechanisms by which the peptides act and how these have been exploited in rationally designed combination therapies. We additionally discuss lacunae in our knowledge about the peptides that merit further research. Finally, we suggest both short- and long-term directions for creating new generations of drugs targeting ATF5, CEBPB, CEBPD, and other transcription factors for treating brain and other malignancies.
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5
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Matherne MG, Phillips ES, Embrey SJ, Burke CM, Machado HL. Emerging functions of C/EBPβ in breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1111522. [PMID: 36761942 PMCID: PMC9905667 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1111522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast tumorigenesis relies on complex interactions between tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment, orchestrated by tightly regulated transcriptional networks. C/EBPβ is a key transcription factor that regulates the proliferation and differentiation of multiple cell types and modulates a variety of biological processes such as tissue homeostasis and the immune response. In addition, C/EBPβ has well-established roles in mammary gland development, is overexpressed in breast cancer, and has tumor-promoting functions. In this review, we discuss context-specific roles of C/EBPβ during breast tumorigenesis, isoform-specific gene regulation, and regulation of the tumor immune response. We present challenges in C/EBPβ biology and discuss the importance of C/EBPβ isoform-specific gene regulation in devising new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G. Matherne
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Emily S. Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Samuel J. Embrey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Caitlin M. Burke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Heather L. Machado
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States,Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, New Orleans, LA, United States,*Correspondence: Heather L. Machado,
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6
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House JS, Gray S, Owen JR, Jima DD, Smart RC, Hall JR. C/EBPβ deficiency enhances the keratinocyte innate immune response to direct activators of cytosolic pattern recognition receptors. Innate Immun 2023; 29:14-24. [PMID: 37094088 PMCID: PMC10164275 DOI: 10.1177/17534259231162192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The skin is the first line of defense to cutaneous microbes and viruses, and epidermal keratinocytes play a critical role in preventing infection by viruses and pathogens through activation of the type I interferon (IFN) response. Using RNAseq analysis, here we report that the conditional deletion of C/EBPβ transcription factor in mouse epidermis (CKOβ mice) resulted in the upregulation of IFNβ and numerous keratinocyte interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). The expression of cytosolic pattern recognition receptors (cPRRs), that recognize viral RNA and DNA, were significantly increased, and enriched in the RNAseq data set. cPRRs stimulate a type I IFN response that can trigger cell death to eliminate infected cells. To determine if the observed increases in cPRRs had functional consequences, we transfected CKOβ primary keratinocytes with the pathogen and viral mimics poly(I:C) (dsRNA) or poly(dA:dT) (synthetic B-DNA) that directly activate PRRs. Transfected CKOβ primary keratinocytes displayed an amplified type I IFN response which was accompanied by increased activation of IRF3, enhanced ISG expression, enhanced activation of caspase-8, caspase-3 and increased apoptosis. Our results identify C/EBPβ as a critical repressor of the keratinocyte type I IFN response, and demonstrates that the loss of C/EBPβ primes keratinocytes to the activation of cytosolic PRRs by pathogen RNA and DNA to induce cell death mediated by caspase-8 and caspase-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- John S. House
- Center of Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Toxicology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Sophia Gray
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Jennifer R. Owen
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Dereje D. Jima
- Center of Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Robert C. Smart
- Center of Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Toxicology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Jonathan R. Hall
- Center of Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Toxicology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
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7
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Darvishi E, Ghamsari L, Leong SF, Ramirez R, Koester M, Gallagher E, Yu M, Mason JM, Merutka G, Kappel BJ, Rotolo JA. Anticancer Activity of ST101, A Novel Antagonist of CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein β. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:1632-1644. [PMID: 36121385 PMCID: PMC9630826 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family transcription factor, which is upregulated or overactivated in many cancers, resulting in a gene expression profile that drives oncogenesis. C/EBPβ dimerization regulates binding to DNA at the canonical TTGCGCAA motif and subsequent transcriptional activity, suggesting that disruption of dimerization represents a powerful approach to inhibit this previously "undruggable" oncogenic target. Here we describe the mechanism of action and antitumor activity of ST101, a novel and selective peptide antagonist of C/EBPβ that is currently in clinical evaluation in patients with advanced solid tumors. ST101 binds the leucine zipper domain of C/EBPβ, preventing its dimerization and enhancing ubiquitin-proteasome dependent C/EBPβ degradation. ST101 exposure attenuates transcription of C/EBPβ target genes, including a significant decrease in expression of survival, transcription factors, and cell-cycle-related proteins. The result of ST101 exposure is potent, tumor-specific in vitro cytotoxic activity in cancer cell lines including glioblastoma, breast, melanoma, prostate, and lung cancer, whereas normal human immune and epithelial cells are not impacted. Further, in mouse xenograft models ST101 exposure results in potent tumor growth inhibition or regression, both as a single agent and in combination studies. These data provide the First Disclosure of ST101, and support continued clinical development of ST101 as a novel strategy for targeting C/EBPβ-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Darvishi
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528
| | - Lila Ghamsari
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528
| | - Siok F. Leong
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528
| | - Ricardo Ramirez
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528
| | - Mark Koester
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528
| | - Erin Gallagher
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528
| | - Miao Yu
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jody M. Mason
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Gene Merutka
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528
| | - Barry J. Kappel
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528
| | - Jim A. Rotolo
- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. 500 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 320, Harrison, NY 10528, Corresponding Author (, telephone: 914-607-6935)
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8
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Gilbert S, Péant B, Malaquin N, Tu V, Fleury H, Leclerc-Desaulniers K, Rodier F, Mes-Masson AM, Saad F. Targeting IKKε in Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Causes Phenotypic Senescence and Genomic Instability. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:407-418. [PMID: 34965959 PMCID: PMC9377745 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Advanced prostate cancer will often progress to a lethal, castration-resistant state. We previously demonstrated that IKKε expression correlated with the aggressiveness of prostate cancer disease. Here, we address the potential of IKKε as a therapeutic target in prostate cancer. We examined cell fate decisions (proliferation, cell death, and senescence) in IKKε-depleted PC-3 cells, which exhibited delayed cell proliferation and a senescent phenotype, but did not undergo cell death. Using IKKε/TBK1 inhibitors, BX795 and Amlexanox, we measured their effects on cell fate decisions in androgen-sensitive prostate cancer and androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines. Cell-cycle analyses revealed a G2-M cell-cycle arrest and a higher proportion of cells with 8N DNA content in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells only. Androgen-independent prostate cancer cells also displayed increased senescence-associated (SA)-β-galactosidase activity; increased γH2AX foci; genomic instability; and altered p15, p16, and p21 expression. In our mouse model, IKKε inhibitors also decreased tumor growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer xenografts but not 22Rv1 androgen-sensitive prostate cancer xenografts. Our study suggests that targeting IKKε with BX795 or Amlexanox in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells induces a senescence phenotype and demonstrates in vivo antitumor activity. These results strengthen the potential of exploiting IKKε as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Gilbert
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Benjamin Péant
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Malaquin
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Véronique Tu
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Hubert Fleury
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kim Leclerc-Desaulniers
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Francis Rodier
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Département de Radiologie, Radio-oncologie et Médicine Nucléaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anne-Marie Mes-Masson
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Corresponding Author: Anne-Marie Mes-Masson, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, 900 Saint Denis Street, Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9, Canada. Phone: 514-890-8000, ext. 25496; E-mail:
| | - Fred Saad
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) et Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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9
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AlSudais H, Rajgara R, Saleh A, Wiper-Bergeron N. C/EBPβ promotes the expression of atrophy-inducing factors by tumours and is a central regulator of cancer cachexia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022; 13:743-757. [PMID: 35014202 PMCID: PMC8818591 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is a transcription factor whose high expression in human cancers is associated with tumour aggressiveness and poor outcomes. Most advanced cancer patients will develop cachexia, characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass. In response to secreted factors from cachexia-inducing tumours, C/EBPβ is stimulated in muscle, leading to both myofibre atrophy and the inhibition of muscle regeneration. Involved in the regulation of immune responses, C/EBPβ induces the expression of many secreted factors, including cytokines. Because tumour-secreted factors drive cachexia and aggressive tumours have higher expression of C/EBPβ, we examined a potential role for C/EBPβ in the expression of tumour-derived cachexia-inducing factors. METHODS We used gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the role of tumour C/EBPβ expression on the secretion of cachexia-inducing factors. RESULTS We report that C/EBPβ overexpression up-regulates the expression of 260 secreted protein genes, resulting in a secretome that inhibits myogenic differentiation (-31%, P < 0.05) and myotube maturation [-38% (fusion index) and -25% (myotube diameter), P < 0.05]. We find that knockdown of C/EBPβ in cachexia-inducing Lewis lung carcinoma cells restores myogenic differentiation (+25%, P < 0.0001) and myotube diameter (+90%, P < 0.0001) in conditioned medium experiments and, in vivo, prevents muscle wasting (-51% for small myofibres vs. controls, P < 0.01; +140% for large myofibres, P < 0.01). Conversely, overexpression of C/EBPβ in non-cachectic tumours converts their secretome into a cachexia-inducing one, resulting in reduced myotube diameter (-41%, P < 0.0001, EL4 model) and inhibition of differentiation in culture (-26%, P < 0.01, EL4 model) and muscle wasting in vivo (+98% small fibres, P < 0.001; -76% large fibres, P < 0.001). Comparison of the differently expressed transcripts coding for secreted proteins in C/EBPβ-overexpressing myoblasts with the secretome from 27 different types of human cancers revealed ~18% similarity between C/EBPβ-regulated secreted proteins and those secreted by highly cachectic tumours (brain, pancreatic, and stomach cancers). At the protein level, we identified 16 novel secreted factors that are present in human cancer secretomes and are up-regulated by C/EBPβ. Of these, we tested the effect of three factors (SERPINF1, TNFRSF11B, and CD93) on myotubes and found that all had atrophic potential (-33 to -36% for myotube diameter, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS We find that C/EBPβ is necessary and sufficient to induce the secretion of cachexia-inducing factors by cancer cells and loss of C/EBPβ in tumours attenuates muscle atrophy in an animal model of cancer cachexia. Our findings establish C/EBPβ as a central regulator of cancer cachexia and an important therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamood AlSudais
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rashida Rajgara
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aisha Saleh
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nadine Wiper-Bergeron
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Lee AJ, Fraser E, Flowers B, Kim J, Wong K, Cataisson C, Liu H, Yang H, Lee MP, Yuspa SH, Li L. RAS induced senescence of skin keratinocytes is mediated through Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK). Mol Carcinog 2021; 60:799-812. [PMID: 34534377 PMCID: PMC8585695 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a well-documented response to oncogene activation in many tissues. Multiple pathways are invoked to achieve senescence indicating its importance to counteract the transforming activities of oncogenic stimulation. We now report that the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway is a critical regulator of oncogene-induced senescence in skin carcinogenesis. Transformation of mouse keratinocytes with oncogenic RAS upregulates ROCK activity and initiates a senescence response characterized by cell enlargement, growth inhibition, upregulation of senescence associated β-galactosidase (SAβgal) expression, and release of multiple pro-inflammatory factors comprising the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The addition of the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 and others prevents these senescence responses and maintains proliferating confluent RAS transformed keratinocyte cultures indefinitely. Mechanistically, oncogenic RAS transformation is associated with upregulation of cell cycle inhibitors p15Ink4b , p16Ink4a , and p19Arf and downregulation of p-AKT, all of which are reversed by Y-27632. RNA-seq analysis of Y-27632 treated RAS-transformed keratinocytes indicated that the inhibitor reduced growth-inhibitory gene expression profiles and maintained expression of proliferative pathways. Y-27632 also reduced the expression of NF-κB effector genes and the expression of IκBζ downstream mediators. The senescence inhibition from Y-27632 was reversible, and upon its removal, senescence reoccurred in vitro with rapid upregulation of cell cycle inhibitors, SASP expression, and cell detachment. Y-27632 treated cultured RAS-keratinocytes formed tumors in the absence of the inhibitor when placed in skin orthografts suggesting that factors in the tumor microenvironment can overcome the drive to senescence imparted by overactive ROCK activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J. Lee
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Elise Fraser
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Brittany Flowers
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Jee Kim
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Kenneth Wong
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Christophe Cataisson
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Huaitian Liu
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Howard Yang
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Maxwell P. Lee
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Stuart H. Yuspa
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
| | - Luowei Li
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda Maryland 20892
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11
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Yaeger MJ, Reece SW, Kilburg-Basnyat B, Hodge MX, Pal A, Dunigan-Russell K, Luo B, You DJ, Bonner JC, Spangenburg EE, Tokarz D, Hannan J, Armstrong M, Manke J, Reisdorph N, Tighe RM, Shaikh SR, Gowdy KM. Sex Differences in Pulmonary Eicosanoids and Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators in Response to Ozone Exposure. Toxicol Sci 2021; 183:170-183. [PMID: 34175951 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Ozone (O3) is a criteria air pollutant known to increase the morbidity and mortality of cardiopulmonary diseases. This occurs through a pulmonary inflammatory response characterized by increased recruitment of immune cells into the airspace, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pro-inflammatory lipid mediators. Recent evidence has demonstrated sex-dependent differences in the O3-induced pulmonary inflammatory response. However, it is unknown if this dimorphic response is evident in pulmonary lipid mediator metabolism. We hypothesized that there are sex-dependent differences in lipid mediator production following acute O3 exposure. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 1 part per million O3 for 3 hours and were necropsied at 6 or 24 hours following exposure. Lung lavage was collected for cell differential and total protein analysis, and lung tissue was collected for mRNA analysis, metabololipidomics, and immunohistochemistry. Compared to males, O3-exposed female mice had increases in airspace neutrophilia, neutrophil chemokine mRNA, pro-inflammatory eicosanoids such as prostaglandin E2, and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) such as resolvin D5 in lung tissue. Likewise, precursor fatty acids (arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid; DHA) were increased in female lung tissue following O3 exposure compared to males. Experiments with ovariectomized females revealed that loss of ovarian hormones exacerbates pulmonary inflammation and injury. However, eicosanoid and SPM production were not altered by ovariectomy despite depleted pulmonary DHA concentrations. Taken together, these data indicate that O3 drives an increased pulmonary inflammatory and bioactive lipid mediator response in females. Furthermore, ovariectomy increases susceptibility to O3-induced pulmonary inflammation and injury, as well as decreases pulmonary DHA concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Yaeger
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210
| | - S W Reece
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858
| | - B Kilburg-Basnyat
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858
| | - M X Hodge
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858
| | - A Pal
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599
| | - K Dunigan-Russell
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210
| | - B Luo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858
| | - D J You
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27107
| | - J C Bonner
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27107
| | - E E Spangenburg
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858
| | - D Tokarz
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709
| | - J Hannan
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858
| | - M Armstrong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado-AMC, Aurora, CO, 80045
| | - J Manke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado-AMC, Aurora, CO, 80045
| | - N Reisdorph
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado-AMC, Aurora, CO, 80045
| | - R M Tighe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710
| | - S R Shaikh
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599
| | - K M Gowdy
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210
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12
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Zhou Q, Sun X, Pasquier N, Jefferson P, Nguyen TTT, Siegelin MD, Angelastro JM, Greene LA. Cell-Penetrating CEBPB and CEBPD Leucine Zipper Decoys as Broadly Acting Anti-Cancer Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102504. [PMID: 34065488 PMCID: PMC8161188 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The gene-regulatory factors ATF5, CEBPB and CEBPD promote survival, growth, metastasis and treatment resistance of a range of cancer cell types. Presently, no drugs target all three at once. Here, with the aim of treating cancers, we designed novel cell-penetrating peptides that interact with and inactivate all three. The peptides Bpep and Dpep kill a range of cancer cell types in culture and in animals. In animals with tumors, they also significantly increase survival time. In contrast, they do not affect survival of non-cancer cells and have no apparent side effects in animals. The peptides work in combination with other anti-cancer treatments. Mechanism studies of how the peptides kill cancer cells indicate a decrease in survival proteins and increase in death proteins. These studies support the potential of Bpep and Dpep as novel, safe agents for the treatment of a variety of cancer types, both as mono- and combination therapies. Abstract Transcription factors are key players underlying cancer formation, growth, survival, metastasis and treatment resistance, yet few drugs exist to directly target them. Here, we characterized the in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer efficacy of novel synthetic cell-penetrating peptides (Bpep and Dpep) designed to interfere with the formation of active leucine-zipper-based dimers by CEBPB and CEBPD, transcription factors implicated in multiple malignancies. Both peptides similarly promoted apoptosis of multiple tumor lines of varying origins, without such effects on non-transformed cells. Combined with other treatments (radiation, Taxol, chloroquine, doxorubicin), the peptides acted additively to synergistically and were fully active on Taxol-resistant cells. The peptides suppressed expression of known direct CEBPB/CEBPD targets IL6, IL8 and asparagine synthetase (ASNS), supporting their inhibition of transcriptional activation. Mechanisms by which the peptides trigger apoptosis included depletion of pro-survival survivin and a required elevation of pro-apoptotic BMF. Bpep and Dpep significantly slowed tumor growth in mouse models without evident side effects. Dpep significantly prolonged survival in xenograft models. These findings indicate the efficacy and potential of Bpep and Dpep as novel agents to treat a variety of cancers as mono- or combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (Q.Z.); (X.S.); (N.P.); (P.J.); (T.T.T.N.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Xiotian Sun
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (Q.Z.); (X.S.); (N.P.); (P.J.); (T.T.T.N.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Nicolas Pasquier
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (Q.Z.); (X.S.); (N.P.); (P.J.); (T.T.T.N.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Parvaneh Jefferson
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (Q.Z.); (X.S.); (N.P.); (P.J.); (T.T.T.N.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Trang T. T. Nguyen
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (Q.Z.); (X.S.); (N.P.); (P.J.); (T.T.T.N.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Markus D. Siegelin
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (Q.Z.); (X.S.); (N.P.); (P.J.); (T.T.T.N.); (M.D.S.)
| | - James M. Angelastro
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Lloyd A. Greene
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (Q.Z.); (X.S.); (N.P.); (P.J.); (T.T.T.N.); (M.D.S.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Valencia K, Erice O, Kostyrko K, Hausmann S, Guruceaga E, Tathireddy A, Flores NM, Sayles LC, Lee AG, Fragoso R, Sun TQ, Vallejo A, Roman M, Entrialgo-Cadierno R, Migueliz I, Razquin N, Fortes P, Lecanda F, Lu J, Ponz-Sarvise M, Chen CZ, Mazur PK, Sweet-Cordero EA, Vicent S. The Mir181ab1 cluster promotes KRAS-driven oncogenesis and progression in lung and pancreas. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:1879-1895. [PMID: 31874105 PMCID: PMC7108928 DOI: 10.1172/jci129012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Few therapies are currently available for patients with KRAS-driven cancers, highlighting the need to identify new molecular targets that modulate central downstream effector pathways. Here we found that the microRNA (miRNA) cluster including miR181ab1 is a key modulator of KRAS-driven oncogenesis. Ablation of Mir181ab1 in genetically engineered mouse models of Kras-driven lung and pancreatic cancer was deleterious to tumor initiation and progression. Expression of both resident miRNAs in the Mir181ab1 cluster, miR181a1 and miR181b1, was necessary to rescue the Mir181ab1-loss phenotype, underscoring their nonredundant role. In human cancer cells, depletion of miR181ab1 impaired proliferation and 3D growth, whereas overexpression provided a proliferative advantage. Lastly, we unveiled miR181ab1-regulated genes responsible for this phenotype. These studies identified what we believe to be a previously unknown role for miR181ab1 as a potential therapeutic target in 2 highly aggressive and difficult to treat KRAS-mutated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karmele Valencia
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Oihane Erice
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Kaja Kostyrko
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Simone Hausmann
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth Guruceaga
- Bioinformatics Platform, Center for Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Natasha M. Flores
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Leanne C. Sayles
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Alex G. Lee
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Rita Fragoso
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Adrian Vallejo
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta Roman
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Entrialgo-Cadierno
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Itziar Migueliz
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Nerea Razquin
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Puri Fortes
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Fernando Lecanda
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jun Lu
- Genetics Department, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mariano Ponz-Sarvise
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Department of Medical Oncology, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Chang-Zheng Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Achelois Oncology, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - Pawel K. Mazur
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Silvestre Vicent
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Pamplona, Spain
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14
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Agostini M, Ganini C, Candi E, Melino G. The role of noncoding RNAs in epithelial cancer. Cell Death Discov 2020; 6:13. [PMID: 32194993 PMCID: PMC7067833 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-020-0247-6] [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: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNAs transcribed by regions of the human genome that do not encode for proteins. The three main members of this class, named microRNA, long noncoding RNA, and circular RNA play a key role in the regulation of gene expression, eventually shaping critical cellular processes. Compelling experimental evidence shows that ncRNAs function either as tumor suppressors or oncogenes by participating in the regulation of one or several cancer hallmarks, including evading cell death, and their expression is frequently deregulated during cancer onset, progression, and dissemination. More recently, preclinical and clinical studies indicate that ncRNAs are potential biomarkers for monitoring cancer progression, relapse, and response to cancer therapy. Here, we will discuss the role of noncoding RNAs in regulating cancer cell death, focusing on those ncRNAs with a potential clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Agostini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Ganini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Candi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IDI-IRCCS, Via Monti di Creta 106, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP UK
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15
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Zhuang M, Chen X, Du D, Shi J, Deng M, Long Q, Yin X, Wang Y, Rao L. SPION decorated exosome delivery of TNF-α to cancer cell membranes through magnetism. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:173-188. [PMID: 31803890 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr05865f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) is capable of inducing apoptosis and is a promising candidate for genetic engineering drugs in cancer therapy; however, the serious side-effects of TNF-α hinder their clinical application. In the present study, a method for preparing fusion proteins of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) and TNF-α (CTNF-α)-anchored exosomes coupled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (CTNF-α-exosome-SPIONs) with membrane targeting anticancer activity has been demonstrated. To acquire exosomes with TNF-α anchored in its membrane, a CTNF-α expression vector was constructed and a stable mesenchymal stem cell cell line that expressed CTNF-α was established. Conjugating transferrin-modified SPIONs (Tf-SPIONs) onto CTNF-α-exosomes through transferrin-transferrin receptor (Tf-TfR) interaction yields CTNF-α-exosome-SPIONs with good water dispersibility. The incorporation of TNF-α into exosomes and the conjugation of SPIONs significantly enhanced the binding capacity of TNF-α to its membrane-bound receptor TNFR I, thus increasing the therapeutic effects. CTNF-α-exosome-SPIONs significantly enhanced tumor cell growth inhibition via induction of the TNFR I-mediated apoptotic pathway. In vivo studies using murine melanoma subcutaneous cancer models showed that TNF-α-loaded exosome-based vehicle delivery enhanced cancer targeting under an external magnetic field and suppressed tumor growth with mitigating toxicity. Taken together, our results suggest that CTNF-α-exosome-SPIONs showed great potential in membrane targeting therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjiao Zhuang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xuelian Chen
- Department of Biomedicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Sichuan for Elderly Care and Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Dan Du
- Department of Biomedicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Sichuan for Elderly Care and Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Jiamei Shi
- Department of Biomedicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Sichuan for Elderly Care and Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Mian Deng
- Department of Biomedicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Sichuan for Elderly Care and Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Qian Long
- Department of Biomedicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Sichuan for Elderly Care and Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Xiaofei Yin
- Department of Biomedicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Sichuan for Elderly Care and Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Yayu Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lei Rao
- Department of Biomedicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Sichuan for Elderly Care and Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
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16
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Fletcher JS, Pundavela J, Ratner N. After Nf1 loss in Schwann cells, inflammation drives neurofibroma formation. Neurooncol Adv 2019; 2:i23-i32. [PMID: 32642730 PMCID: PMC7317060 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdz045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Plexiform neurofibromas (PNF) are peripheral nerve tumors caused by bi-allelic loss of NF1 in the Schwann cell (SC) lineage. PNF are common in individuals with Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) and can cause significant patient morbidity, spurring research into potential therapies. Immune cells are rare in peripheral nerve, whereas in PNF 30% of the cells are monocytes/macrophages. Mast cells, T cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) are also present. NF1 mutant neurofibroma SCs with elevated Ras-GTP signaling resemble injury-induced repair SCs, in producing growth factors and cytokines not normally present in SCs. This provides a cytokine-rich environment facilitating PNF immune cell recruitment and fibrosis. We propose a model based on genetic and pharmacologic evidence in which, after loss of Nf1 in the SC lineage, a lag occurs. Then, mast cells and macrophages are recruited to nerve. Later, T cell/DC recruitment through CXCL10/CXCR3 drives neurofibroma initiation and sustains PNF macrophages and tumor growth. Stat3 signaling is an additional critical mediator of neurofibroma initiation, cytokine production, and PNF growth. At each stage of PNF development therapeutic benefit should be achievable through pharmacologic modulation of leukocyte recruitment and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Fletcher
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jay Pundavela
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Nancy Ratner
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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17
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Tam HW, Hall JR, Messenger ZJ, Jima DD, House JS, Linder K, Smart RC. C/EBPβ suppresses keratinocyte autonomous type 1 IFN response and p53 to increase cell survival and susceptibility to UVB-induced skin cancer. Carcinogenesis 2019; 40:1099-1109. [PMID: 30698678 PMCID: PMC10893916 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgz012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
p53 is activated by DNA damage and oncogenic stimuli to regulate senescence, apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, which are essential to prevent cancer. Here, we utilized UVB radiation, a potent inducer of DNA damage, p53, apoptosis and skin cancer to investigate the mechanism of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β (C/EBPβ) in regulating p53-mediated apoptosis in keratinocytes and to test whether the deletion of C/EBPβ in epidermis can protect mice from UVB-induced skin cancer. UVB-treatment of C/EBPβ skin conditional knockout (CKOβ) mice increased p53 protein levels in epidermis and enhanced p53-dependent apoptotic activity 3-fold compared with UVB-treated control mice. UVB increased C/EBPβ levels through a p53-dependent pathway and stimulated the formation of a C/EBPβ-p53 protein complex; knockdown of C/EBPβ increased p53 protein stability in keratinocytes. These results suggest a p53-C/EBPβ feedback loop, whereby C/EBPβ, a transcriptional target of a p53 pathway, functions as a survival factor by negatively regulating p53 apoptotic activity in response to DNA damage. RNAseq analysis of UVB-treated CKOβ epidermis unexpectedly revealed that type 1 interferon (IFN) pathway was the most highly enriched pathway. Numerous pro-apoptotic interferon stimulated genes were upregulated including some known to enhance p53 apoptosis. Our results indicate that p53 and IFN pathways function together in response to DNA damage to result in the activation of extrinsic apoptosis pathways and caspase 8 cleavage. Last, we observed CKOβ mice were resistant to UVB-induced skin cancer. Our results suggest that C/EBPβ represses apoptosis through keratinocyte autonomous suppression of the type 1 IFN response and p53 to increase cell survival and susceptibility to UVB-induced skin cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hann W Tam
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jonathan R Hall
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | - Dereje D Jima
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - John S House
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Keith Linder
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Robert C Smart
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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18
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Michaletti A, Mancini M, Smirnov A, Candi E, Melino G, Zolla L. Multi-omics profiling of calcium-induced human keratinocytes differentiation reveals modulation of unfolded protein response signaling pathways. Cell Cycle 2019; 18:2124-2140. [PMID: 31291818 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2019.1642066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
By proteomic, metabolomic and transcriptomic approaches we shed light on the molecular mechanism by which human keratinocytes undergo to terminal differentiation upon in vitro calcium treatment. Proteomic analysis revealed a selective induction of the ribosomal proteins RSSA, an inhibitor of cell proliferation and inducer of differentiation, HSP 60, a protein folding chaperone and GRP78, an unfolding protein response signal. Additionally, we observed an induction of EF1D, a transcription factor for genes that contain heat-shock responsive elements. Conversely, RAD23, a protein involved in regulating ER-associated protein degradation was down-regulated. All these modifications indicated an ER stress response, which in turn activated the unfolded protein response signaling pathway through ATF4, as confirmed both by the modulation of amino acids metabolism genes, such as XBP1, PDI and GPR78, and by the metabolomic analysis. Finally, we detected a reduction of PDI protein, as confirmed by the increase of oxidized glutathione. Metabolome analysis indicated that glycolysis failed to fuel the Krebs cycle, which continued to decrease during differentiation, at glance with the PPP pathway, allowing NADH production and glutathione reduction. Since unfolded protein response is linked to keratinization, these results may be useful for studying pathological mechanisms as well as potential treatments for different pathological conditions. Abbreviation: UPR, unfolded protein response; HEK, human epidermal keratinocytes; HKGS, human keratinocytes growth factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Michaletti
- a Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia , Viterbo , Italy
| | - Mara Mancini
- b Biochemistry Laboratory, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS , Rome , Italy
| | - Artem Smirnov
- c Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy
| | - Eleonora Candi
- b Biochemistry Laboratory, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS , Rome , Italy.,c Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy
| | - Gerry Melino
- c Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Rome , Italy.,d MRC Toxicology Unit, Cambridge University , Leicester , UK
| | - Lello Zolla
- e Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia , Viterbo , Italy
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