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Franzese O, Ancona P, Bianchi N, Aguiari G. Apoptosis, a Metabolic "Head-to-Head" between Tumor and T Cells: Implications for Immunotherapy. Cells 2024; 13:924. [PMID: 38891056 PMCID: PMC11171541 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110924] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Induction of apoptosis represents a promising therapeutic approach to drive tumor cells to death. However, this poses challenges due to the intricate nature of cancer biology and the mechanisms employed by cancer cells to survive and escape immune surveillance. Furthermore, molecules released from apoptotic cells and phagocytes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) can facilitate cancer progression and immune evasion. Apoptosis is also a pivotal mechanism in modulating the strength and duration of anti-tumor T-cell responses. Combined strategies including molecular targeting of apoptosis, promoting immunogenic cell death, modulating immunosuppressive cells, and affecting energy pathways can potentially overcome resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes. Thus, an effective approach for targeting apoptosis within the TME should delicately balance the selective induction of apoptosis in tumor cells, while safeguarding survival, metabolic changes, and functionality of T cells targeting crucial molecular pathways involved in T-cell apoptosis regulation. Enhancing the persistence and effectiveness of T cells may bolster a more resilient and enduring anti-tumor immune response, ultimately advancing therapeutic outcomes in cancer treatment. This review delves into the pivotal topics of this multifaceted issue and suggests drugs and druggable targets for possible combined therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornella Franzese
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Pietro Ancona
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Nicoletta Bianchi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Gianluca Aguiari
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via F. Mortara 74, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
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2
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Zhang C, Sun Q, Zhao J, Jiang N, Hao Y, Luo J, Karim S, Wu L, de Perrot M, Peng C, Zhao X. JSI-124 inhibits cell proliferation and tumor growth by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in murine malignant mesothelioma. Mol Carcinog 2023; 62:1888-1901. [PMID: 37642305 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), mainly caused by asbestos exposure, has a poor prognosis and lacks effective treatment compared with other cancer types. The intracellular transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is overexpressed and hyperactivated in most human cancers. In this study, the role of STAT3 in murine MPM was examined. Inhibition of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 pathway with the selective inhibitor JSI-124 has an antitumor effect in murine MPM. Specifically, we demonstrated that JSI-124 inhibits murine MPM cell growth and induces apoptotic and autophagic cell death. Exposure of RN5 and AB12 cells to JSI-124 resulted in apoptosis via the Bcl-2 family of proteins. JSI-124 triggered autophagosome formation, accumulation, and conversion of LC3I to LC3II. Autophagy inhibitors, Chloroquine (CQ) and Bafilomycin A1 (Baf-A1), inhibited autophagy and sensitized RN5 and AB12 cells to JSI-124-induced apoptosis. Our data indicate that JSI-124 is a promising therapeutic agent for MPM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengke Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Thoracic Cancer, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qifeng Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangfeng Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Thoracic Cancer, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Thoracic Cancer, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingtao Hao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Thoracic Cancer, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Junwen Luo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Thoracic Cancer, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Saraf Karim
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories and Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Licun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Thoracic Cancer, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories and Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc de Perrot
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories and Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chuanliang Peng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Thoracic Cancer, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaogang Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Thoracic Cancer, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
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Li Q, Zhou L, Qin S, Huang Z, Li B, Liu R, Yang M, Nice EC, Zhu H, Huang C. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras in biotherapeutics: Current trends and future applications. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 257:115447. [PMID: 37229829 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115447] [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: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The success of inhibitor-based therapeutics is largely constrained by the acquisition of therapeutic resistance, which is partially driven by the undruggable proteome. The emergence of proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, designed for degrading proteins involved in specific biological processes, might provide a novel framework for solving the above constraint. A heterobifunctional PROTAC molecule could structurally connect an E3 ubiquitin ligase ligand with a protein of interest (POI)-binding ligand by chemical linkers. Such technology would result in the degradation of the targeted protein via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), opening up a novel way of selectively inhibiting undruggable proteins. Herein, we will highlight the advantages of PROTAC technology and summarize the current understanding of the potential mechanisms involved in biotherapeutics, with a particular focus on its application and development where therapeutic benefits over classical small-molecule inhibitors have been achieved. Finally, we discuss how this technology can contribute to developing biotherapeutic drugs, such as antivirals against infectious diseases, for use in clinical practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Li
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Li Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China
| | - Siyuan Qin
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Zhao Huang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Bowen Li
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Ruolan Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, PR China
| | - Mei Yang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Edouard C Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Huili Zhu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China.
| | - Canhua Huang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, PR China.
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4
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Tomasetti M, Monaco F, Strogovets O, Volpini L, Valentino M, Amati M, Neuzil J, Santarelli L. ATG5 as biomarker for early detection of malignant mesothelioma. BMC Res Notes 2023; 16:61. [PMID: 37095543 PMCID: PMC10127310 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-023-06330-1] [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: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive disease with grim prognosis due to lack of effective treatment options. Disease prediction in association with early diagnosis may both contribute to improved MPM survival. Inflammation and autophagy are two processes associated with asbestos-induced transformation. We evaluated the level of two autophagic factors ATG5 and HMGB1, microRNAs (miRNAs) such as miR-126 and miR-222, and the specific biomarker of MPM, soluble mesothelin related proteins (Mesothelin) in asbestos-exposed individuals, MPM patients, and healthy subjects. The performance of these markers in detecting MPM was investigated in pre-diagnostic samples of asbestos-subjects who developed MPM during the follow-up and compared for the three groups. RESULTS The ATG5 best distinguished the asbestos-exposed subjects with and without MPM, while miR-126 and Mesothelin were found as a significant prognostic biomarker for MPM. ATG5 has been identified as an asbestos-related biomarker that can help to detect MPM with high sensitivity and specificity in pre-diagnostic samples for up to two years before diagnosis. To utilize this approach practically, higher number of cases has to be tested in order to give the combination of the two markers sufficient statistical power. Performance of the biomarkers should be confirmed by testing their combination in an independent cohort with pre-diagnostic samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Tomasetti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10A, Ancona, 60126, Italy.
| | - Federica Monaco
- Department of Excellence SBSP-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10A, Ancona, 60126, Italy
| | - Olga Strogovets
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10A, Ancona, 60126, Italy
| | - Luca Volpini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10A, Ancona, 60126, Italy
| | - Matteo Valentino
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10A, Ancona, 60126, Italy
| | - Monica Amati
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10A, Ancona, 60126, Italy
| | - Jiri Neuzil
- Mitochondria, Apoptosis and Cancer Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, 4222, Australia
- Molecular Therapy Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague- West, 252 50, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science and First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 2, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Lory Santarelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10A, Ancona, 60126, Italy
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Cunningham R, Jia S, Purohit K, Salem O, Hui NS, Lin Y, Carragher NO, Hansen CG. YAP/TAZ activation predicts clinical outcomes in mesothelioma and is conserved in in vitro model of driver mutations. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1190. [PMID: 36740402 PMCID: PMC9899629 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hippo signalling pathway is dysregulated across a wide range of cancer types and, although driver mutations that directly affect the core Hippo components are rare, a handful is found within pleural mesothelioma (PM). PM is a deadly disease of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. By pooling the largest-scale clinical datasets publicly available, we here interrogate associations between the most prevalent driver mutations within PM and Hippo pathway disruption in patients, while assessing correlations with a variety of clinical markers. This analysis reveals a consistent worse outcome in patients exhibiting transcriptional markers of YAP/TAZ activation, pointing to the potential of leveraging Hippo pathway transcriptional activation status as a metric by which patients may be meaningfully stratified. Preclinical models recapitulating disease are transformative in order to develop new therapeutic strategies. We here establish an isogenic cell-line model of PM, which represents the most frequently mutated genes and which faithfully recapitulates the molecular features of clinical PM. This preclinical model is developed to probe the molecular basis by which the Hippo pathway and key driver mutations affect cancer initiation and progression. Implementing this approach, we reveal the role of NF2 as a mechanosensory component of the Hippo pathway in mesothelial cells. Cellular NF2 loss upon physiological stiffnesses analogous to the tumour niche drive YAP/TAZ-dependent anchorage-independent growth. Consequently, the development and characterisation of this cellular model provide a unique resource to obtain molecular insights into the disease and progress new drug discovery programs together with future stratification of PM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Cunningham
- Centre for Inflammation ResearchInstitute for Regeneration and RepairEdinburgh BioQuarterUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Siyang Jia
- Centre for Inflammation ResearchInstitute for Regeneration and RepairEdinburgh BioQuarterUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Krishna Purohit
- Centre for Inflammation ResearchInstitute for Regeneration and RepairEdinburgh BioQuarterUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Omar Salem
- Centre for Inflammation ResearchInstitute for Regeneration and RepairEdinburgh BioQuarterUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Ning Sze Hui
- Centre for Inflammation ResearchInstitute for Regeneration and RepairEdinburgh BioQuarterUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Yue Lin
- Centre for Inflammation ResearchInstitute for Regeneration and RepairEdinburgh BioQuarterUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Neil O. Carragher
- Cancer Research UK Scotland CentreInstitute of Genetics and CancerUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Carsten Gram Hansen
- Centre for Inflammation ResearchInstitute for Regeneration and RepairEdinburgh BioQuarterUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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6
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Carinci M, Palumbo L, Pellielo G, Agyapong ED, Morciano G, Patergnani S, Giorgi C, Pinton P, Rimessi A. The Multifaceted Roles of Autophagy in Infectious, Obstructive, and Malignant Airway Diseases. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081944. [PMID: 36009490 PMCID: PMC9405571 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a highly conserved dynamic process by which cells deliver their contents to lysosomes for degradation, thus ensuring cell homeostasis. In response to environmental stress, the induction of autophagy is crucial for cell survival. The dysregulation of this degradative process has been implicated in a wide range of pathologies, including lung diseases, representing a relevant potential target with significant clinical outcomes. During lung disease progression and infections, autophagy may exert both protective and harmful effects on cells. In this review, we will explore the implications of autophagy and its selective forms in several lung infections, such as SARS-CoV-2, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections, and different lung diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Malignant Mesothelioma (MM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Carinci
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Laura Palumbo
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giulia Pellielo
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Esther Densu Agyapong
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Morciano
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Simone Patergnani
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carlotta Giorgi
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paolo Pinton
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Center of Research for Innovative Therapies in Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara, 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rimessi
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Center of Research for Innovative Therapies in Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara, 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Vitto VAM, Bianchin S, Zolondick AA, Pellielo G, Rimessi A, Chianese D, Yang H, Carbone M, Pinton P, Giorgi C, Patergnani S. Molecular Mechanisms of Autophagy in Cancer Development, Progression, and Therapy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071596. [PMID: 35884904 PMCID: PMC9313210 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated process that plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. It involves regulation of various genes that function to degrade unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components, and to recycle metabolic substrates. Autophagy is modulated by many factors, such as nutritional status, energy level, hypoxic conditions, endoplasmic reticulum stress, hormonal stimulation and drugs, and these factors can regulate autophagy both upstream and downstream of the pathway. In cancer, autophagy acts as a double-edged sword depending on the tissue type and stage of tumorigenesis. On the one hand, autophagy promotes tumor progression in advanced stages by stimulating tumor growth. On the other hand, autophagy inhibits tumor development in the early stages by enhancing its tumor suppressor activity. Moreover, autophagy drives resistance to anticancer therapy, even though in some tumor types, its activation induces lethal effects on cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the biological mechanisms of autophagy and its dual role in cancer. In addition, we report the current understanding of autophagy in some cancer types with markedly high incidence and/or lethality, and the existing therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Angela Maria Vitto
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Silvia Bianchin
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Alicia Ann Zolondick
- Thoracic Oncology, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA; (A.A.Z.); (H.Y.); (M.C.)
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA
| | - Giulia Pellielo
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Alessandro Rimessi
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Diego Chianese
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Haining Yang
- Thoracic Oncology, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA; (A.A.Z.); (H.Y.); (M.C.)
| | - Michele Carbone
- Thoracic Oncology, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA; (A.A.Z.); (H.Y.); (M.C.)
| | - Paolo Pinton
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Carlotta Giorgi
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (S.P.)
| | - Simone Patergnani
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (S.P.)
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8
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Cancer cell's internal and external warriors: Autophagosomes and exosomes. Life Sci 2022; 300:120552. [PMID: 35452638 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
"That survival instinct, that will to live, that need to get back to life again, is more powerful than any consideration of taste, decency, politeness, manners, civility, anything. It's such a powerful force." This quote by famous director Danny Boyle is a perfect analogy to describe the cancer cell's inexhaustible drive to persist against all odds. In order to adapt to a hostile environment, the cancer cells rely on multiple mechanisms including immune escape, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, extravasation, autophagy, exosome release among others. Cancer cells depute their internal and external warriors, autophagosomes and exosomes, to dwell in the belligerent tumor microenvironment. It is quite reasonable for a cancer cell, striving to survive, to invest in pathways that will provide the maximum advantage. Autophagy is an important cellular degradation pathway, while the exosome pathway provides an alternative cargo disposal mechanism to maintain the homeostasis and cell survival. While autophagic degradation provides the essential nutrients to rapidly dividing cells, exosomal secretion ensures that the tumor microenvironment is attuned to accommodate the swiftly expanding tumor mass. Studies have revealed that exosomes secreted by cancer cells can modulate autophagy in recipient cells, while autophagy can influence the biogenesis of exosomes. Autophagy and exosome crosstalk is extremely complex and it is only beginning to be recognized and documented. This review is focused on discussing the roles of autophagy and exosomes in the cancer cell's adaptation to the tumor microenvironment and how the two pathways are coordinately regulated to facilitate cancer cell survival.
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Hegedüs L, Szücs KD, Kudla M, Heidenreich J, Jendrossek V, Peña-Llopis S, Garay T, Czirok A, Aigner C, Plönes T, Vega-Rubin-de-Celis S, Hegedüs B. Nintedanib and Dasatinib Treatments Induce Protective Autophagy as a Potential Resistance Mechanism in MPM Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:852812. [PMID: 35392170 PMCID: PMC8982261 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.852812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare type of cancer with a grim prognosis. So far, no targetable oncogenic mutation was identified in MPM and biomarkers with predictive value toward drug sensitivity or resistance are also lacking. Nintedanib (BIBF1120) is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that showed promising efficacy preclinically and in phase II trial in MPM as an angiogenesis inhibitor combined with chemotherapy. However, the extended phase III trial failed. In this study, we investigated the effect of nintedanib on one of its targets, the SRC kinase, in two commercial and six novel MPM cell lines. Surprisingly, nintedanib treatment did not inhibit SRC activation in MPM cells and even increased phosphorylation of SRC in several cell lines. Combination treatment with the SRC inhibitor dasatinib could reverse this effect in all cell lines, however, the cellular response was dependent on the drug sensitivity of the cells. In 2 cell lines, with high sensitivity to both nintedanib and dasatinib, the drug combination had no synergistic effect but cell death was initiated. In 2 cell lines insensitive to nintedanib combination treatment reduced cell viability synergisticaly without cell death. In contrast, in these cells both treatments increased the autophagic flux assessed by degradation of the autophagy substrate p62 and increased presence of LC3B-II, increased number of GFP-LC3 puncta and decreased readings of the HiBiT-LC3 reporter. Additionaly, autophagy was synergistically promoted by the combined treatment. At the transcriptional level, analysis of lysosomal biogenesis regulator Transcription Factor EB (TFEB) showed that in all cell lines treated with nintedanib and to a lesser extent, with dasatinib, it became dephosphorylated and accumulated in the nucleus. Interestingly, the expression of certain known TFEB target genes implicated in autophagy or lysosomal biogenesis were significantly modified only in 1 cell line. Finally, we showed that autophagy induction in our MPM cell lines panel by nintedanib and dasatinib is independent of the AKT/mTOR and the ERK pathways. Our study reveals that autophagy can serve as a cytoprotective mechanism following nintedanib or dasatinib treatments in MPM cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Hegedüs
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, West German Cancer Center, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Kata D. Szücs
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, West German Cancer Center, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Kudla
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Julian Heidenreich
- Translational Genomics in Solid Tumors, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) at the University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Verena Jendrossek
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Samuel Peña-Llopis
- Translational Genomics in Solid Tumors, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) at the University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tamas Garay
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andras Czirok
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Clemens Aigner
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, West German Cancer Center, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Till Plönes
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, West German Cancer Center, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Silvia Vega-Rubin-de-Celis
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Silvia Vega-Rubin-de-Celis, , ; Balazs Hegedüs,
| | - Balazs Hegedüs
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, West German Cancer Center, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Silvia Vega-Rubin-de-Celis, , ; Balazs Hegedüs,
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10
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Wu Y, Shen S, Shi Y, Tian N, Zhou Y, Zhang X. Senolytics: Eliminating Senescent Cells and Alleviating Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:823945. [PMID: 35309994 PMCID: PMC8924288 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.823945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the main cause of cervical and lumbar spondylosis. Over the past few years, the relevance between cellular senescence and IVDD has been widely studied, and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) produced by senescent cells is found to remodel extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism and destruct homeostasis. Elimination of senescent cells by senolytics and suppression of SASP production by senomorphics/senostatics are effective strategies to alleviate degenerative diseases including IVDD. Here, we review the involvement of senescence in the process of IVDD; we also discuss the potential of senolytics on eliminating senescent disc cells and alleviating IVDD; finally, we provide a table listing senolytic drugs and small molecules, aiming to propose potential drugs for IVDD therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhao Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shiwei Shen
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yifeng Shi
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China
| | - Naifeng Tian
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Naifeng Tian, ; Yifei Zhou, ; Xiaolei Zhang,
| | - Yifei Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Naifeng Tian, ; Yifei Zhou, ; Xiaolei Zhang,
| | - Xiaolei Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China
- Chinese Orthopaedic Regenerative Medicine Society, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Naifeng Tian, ; Yifei Zhou, ; Xiaolei Zhang,
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