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Pan H, Ho SE, Xue C, Cui J, Johanson QS, Sachs N, Ross LS, Li F, Solomon RA, Connolly ES, Patel VI, Maegdefessel L, Zhang H, Reilly MP. Atherosclerosis Is a Smooth Muscle Cell-Driven Tumor-Like Disease. Circulation 2024; 149:1885-1898. [PMID: 38686559 PMCID: PMC11164647 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.067587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, involves the pathological activation of various cell types, including immunocytes (eg, macrophages and T cells), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and endothelial cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that transition of SMCs to other cell types, known as phenotypic switching, plays a central role in atherosclerosis development and complications. However, the characteristics of SMC-derived cells and the underlying mechanisms of SMC transition in disease pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Our objective is to characterize tumor cell-like behaviors of SMC-derived cells in atherosclerosis, with the ultimate goal of developing interventions targeting SMC transition for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. METHODS We used SMC lineage tracing mice and human tissues and applied a range of methods, including molecular, cellular, histological, computational, human genetics, and pharmacological approaches, to investigate the features of SMC-derived cells in atherosclerosis. RESULTS SMC-derived cells in mouse and human atherosclerosis exhibit multiple tumor cell-like characteristics, including genomic instability, evasion of senescence, hyperproliferation, resistance to cell death, invasiveness, and activation of comprehensive cancer-associated gene regulatory networks. Specific expression of the oncogenic mutant KrasG12D in SMCs accelerates phenotypic switching and exacerbates atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we provide proof of concept that niraparib, an anticancer drug targeting DNA damage repair, attenuates atherosclerosis progression and induces regression of lesions in advanced disease in mouse models. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that atherosclerosis is an SMC-driven tumor-like disease, advancing our understanding of its pathogenesis and opening prospects for innovative precision molecular strategies aimed at preventing and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huize Pan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Sebastian E. Ho
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Chenyi Xue
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jian Cui
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Quinian S. Johanson
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Nadja Sachs
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, partner site: Munich Heart Alliance, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Leila S. Ross
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Fang Li
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Robert A. Solomon
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - E. Sander Connolly
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Virendra I. Patel
- Section of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Interventions, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Lars Maegdefessel
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, partner site: Munich Heart Alliance, 10785 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanrui Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Muredach P. Reilly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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2
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Choi HK, Park SH, Lee J, Hwang JT. Review of Patents for Anticancer Agents Targeting Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase. J Med Food 2023; 26:605-615. [PMID: 37590001 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2023.k.0026] [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] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer, caused by abnormal and excessive cellular proliferation, can invade and destroy surrounding tissues and organs through the spreading of cancer cells. A general strategy for developing anticancer agents is to identify biomarkers that, if targeted, can produce a robust cytotoxic effect with minimal side effects. Cell-cycle regulators, checkpoint regulatory genes, and apoptosis-related genes are well-known biomarkers that inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Several compounds that target such biomarkers have been patented and more are being developed as novel therapies. Recent additions to this list include anticancer drugs that target signaling pathway proteins, such as 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which plays a vital role in cancer and normal cell metabolism. Herein, we have reviewed recent patents related to AMPK-targeting anticancer drugs and discussed the mechanisms of action of these drugs. We conclude that these recently published patents include several attractive compounds and methods for targeting AMPK. Further research and clinical trials are required to elucidate the comprehensive role of AMPK in cancer cell metabolism, identify its associated signal transduction systems, and develop novel activators that may find applications in cancer therapy. Clinical Trial Registration number: NCT01904123.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-Kyoung Choi
- Food Functionality Research Division, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Hyun Park
- Food Functionality Research Division, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jangho Lee
- Food Functionality Research Division, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Taek Hwang
- Food Functionality Research Division, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
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3
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Standing D, Feess E, Kodiyalam S, Kuehn M, Hamel Z, Johnson J, Thomas SM, Anant S. The Role of STATs in Ovarian Cancer: Exploring Their Potential for Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092485. [PMID: 37173951 PMCID: PMC10177275 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is a deadly gynecologic malignancy that presents many clinical challenges due to late-stage diagnoses and the development of acquired resistance to standard-of-care treatment protocols. There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that STATs may play a critical role in OvCa progression, resistance, and disease recurrence, and thus we sought to compile a comprehensive review to summarize the current state of knowledge on the topic. We have examined peer reviewed literature to delineate the role of STATs in both cancer cells and cells within the tumor microenvironment. In addition to summarizing the current knowledge of STAT biology in OvCa, we have also examined the capacity of small molecule inhibitor development to target specific STATs and progress toward clinical applications. From our research, the best studied and targeted factors are STAT3 and STAT5, which has resulted in the development of several inhibitors that are under current evaluation in clinical trials. There remain gaps in understanding the role of STAT1, STAT2, STAT4, and STAT6, due to limited reports in the current literature; as such, further studies to establish their implications in OvCa are necessitated. Moreover, due to the deficiency in our understanding of these STATs, selective inhibitors also remain elusive, and therefore present opportunities for discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Standing
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Emma Feess
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Satvik Kodiyalam
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Michael Kuehn
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Zachary Hamel
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Jaimie Johnson
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Sufi Mary Thomas
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Shrikant Anant
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
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4
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Rohrer KA, Song H, Akbar A, Chen Y, Pramanik S, Wilder PJ, McIntyre EM, Chaturvedi NK, Bhakat KK, Rizzino A, Coulter DW, Ray S. STAT3 Inhibition Attenuates MYC Expression by Modulating Co-Activator Recruitment and Suppresses Medulloblastoma Tumor Growth by Augmenting Cisplatin Efficacy In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082239. [PMID: 37190167 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
MB is a common childhood malignancy of the central nervous system, with significant morbidity and mortality. Among the four molecular subgroups, MYC-amplified Group 3 MB is the most aggressive type and has the worst prognosis due to therapy resistance. The present study aimed to investigate the role of activated STAT3 in promoting MB pathogenesis and chemoresistance via inducing the cancer hallmark MYC oncogene. Targeting STAT3 function either by inducible genetic knockdown (KD) or with a clinically relevant small molecule inhibitor reduced tumorigenic attributes in MB cells, including survival, proliferation, anti-apoptosis, migration, stemness and expression of MYC and its targets. STAT3 inhibition attenuates MYC expression by affecting recruitment of histone acetyltransferase p300, thereby reducing enrichment of H3K27 acetylation in the MYC promoter. Concomitantly, it also decreases the occupancy of the bromodomain containing protein-4 (BRD4) and phosphoSer2-RNA Pol II (pSer2-RNAPol II) on MYC, resulting in reduced transcription. Importantly, inhibition of STAT3 signaling significantly attenuated MB tumor growth in subcutaneous and intracranial orthotopic xenografts, increased the sensitivity of MB tumors to cisplatin, and improved the survival of mice bearing high-risk MYC-amplified tumors. Together, the results of our study demonstrate that targeting STAT3 may be a promising adjuvant therapy and chemo-sensitizer to augment treatment efficacy, reduce therapy-related toxicity and improve quality of life in high-risk pediatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Rohrer
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology Division, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Heyu Song
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Anum Akbar
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology Division, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Yingling Chen
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Suravi Pramanik
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Phillip J Wilder
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Erin M McIntyre
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology Division, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Nagendra K Chaturvedi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology Division, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Kishor K Bhakat
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Angie Rizzino
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Don W Coulter
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology Division, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Sutapa Ray
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology Division, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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5
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Pan H, Ho SE, Xue C, Cui J, Ross LS, Li F, Solomon RA, Connolly ES, Reilly MP. Atherosclerosis is a smooth muscle cell-driven tumor-like disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.06.531330. [PMID: 36945644 PMCID: PMC10028828 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.06.531330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease involving pathological activation of multiple cell types, such as immunocytes (e.g., macrophage, T cells), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and endothelial cells. Multiple lines of evidence have suggested that SMC "phenotypic switching" plays a central role in atherosclerosis development and complications. Yet, SMC roles and mechanisms underlying the disease pathogenesis are poorly understood. Here, employing SMC lineage tracing mice, comprehensive molecular, cellular, histological, and computational profiling, coupled to genetic and pharmacological studies, we reveal that atherosclerosis, in terms of SMC behaviors, share extensive commonalities with tumors. SMC-derived cells in the disease show multiple characteristics of tumor cell biology, including genomic instability, replicative immortality, malignant proliferation, resistance to cell death, invasiveness, and activation of comprehensive cancer-associated gene regulatory networks. SMC-specific expression of oncogenic KrasG12D accelerates SMC phenotypic switching and exacerbates atherosclerosis. Moreover, we present a proof of concept showing that niraparib, an anti-cancer drug targeting DNA damage repair, attenuates atherosclerosis progression and induces regression of lesions in advanced disease in mouse models. Our work provides systematic evidence that atherosclerosis is a tumor-like disease, deepening the understanding of its pathogenesis and opening prospects for novel precision molecular strategies to prevent and treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huize Pan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sebastian E. Ho
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chenyi Xue
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jian Cui
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Leila S. Ross
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Fang Li
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Robert A. Solomon
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - E. Sander Connolly
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Muredach P. Reilly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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6
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Ray S. Tumorsphere Formation Assay: A Cancer Stem-Like Cell Characterization in Pediatric Brain Cancer Medulloblastoma. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2701:253-259. [PMID: 37574488 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3373-1_17] [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] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a heterogeneous disease, comprising of a mixture of different cell populations. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are a subpopulation of multipotent cells within the cancer that has self-renewing capability, tumor-initiating ability, multi-differentiation potential, and an inherent capacity for drug and chemoresistance. Sphere-formation assay is commonly used for enrichment and analysis of CSC properties in vitro and is typically used as a metric for testing the viability of tumor cells to anticancer agents. This model is based on the ability of CSCs to grow under ultralow-attachment conditions in serum-free medium supplemented with growth factors. In contrast to the adherent 2D culture of cancer cells, the 3D culture of tumorsphere assay exploits inherent biologic features of CSCs such as anoikis resistance and self-renewal. We describe here the detailed methodology for the generation and propagation of spheres generated from pediatric brain tumor medulloblastoma (MB) cells. As signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) is known to play an important role in maintaining cancer stem cell properties, we accessed the effect of depleting or inhibiting STAT3 on MB-sphere sizes, numbers, and integrity. This may serve as a promising platform for screening potential anti-CSC agents and small-molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutapa Ray
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Child Health Research Institute, Omaha, NE, USA.
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7
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da Silva L, Jiang J, Perkins C, Atanasova KR, Bray JK, Bulut G, Azevedo-Pouly A, Campbell-Thompson M, Yang X, Hakimjavadi H, Chamala S, Ratnayake R, Gharaibeh RZ, Li C, Luesch H, Schmittgen TD. Pharmacological inhibition and reversal of pancreatic acinar ductal metaplasia. Cell Death Discov 2022; 8:378. [PMID: 36055991 PMCID: PMC9440259 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-01165-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic acinar cells display a remarkable degree of plasticity and can dedifferentiate into ductal-like progenitor cells by a process known as acinar ductal metaplasia (ADM). ADM is believed to be one of the earliest precursor lesions toward the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and maintaining the pancreatic acinar cell phenotype suppresses tumor formation. The effects of a novel pStat3 inhibitor (LLL12B) and the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) were investigated using 3-D cultures from p48Cre/+ and p48Cre/+LSL-KrasG12D/+ (KC) mice. LLL12B and TSA inhibited ADM in both KC and p48Cre/+ mouse pancreatic organoids. Furthermore, treatment with LLL12B or TSA on dedifferentiated acini from p48Cre/+ and KC mice that had undergone ADM produced morphologic and gene expression changes that suggest a reversal of ADM. Validation experiments using qRT-PCR (p48Cre/+ and KC) and RNA sequencing (KC) of the LLL12B and TSA treated cultures showed that the ADM reversal was more robust for the TSA treatments. Pathway analysis showed that TSA inhibited Spink1 and PI3K/AKT signaling during ADM reversal. The ability of TSA to reverse ADM was also observed in primary human acinar cultures. We report that pStat3 and HDAC inhibition can attenuate ADM in vitro and reverse ADM in the context of wild-type Kras. Our findings suggest that pharmacological inhibition or reversal of pancreatic ADM represents a potential therapeutic strategy for blocking aberrant ductal reprogramming of acinar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lais da Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jinmai Jiang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Corey Perkins
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kalina Rosenova Atanasova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Julie K Bray
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Gamze Bulut
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ana Azevedo-Pouly
- Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Martha Campbell-Thompson
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Xiaozhi Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hesamedin Hakimjavadi
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Srikar Chamala
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ranjala Ratnayake
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Raad Z Gharaibeh
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chenglong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hendrik Luesch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas D Schmittgen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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8
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Hashimoto S, Hashimoto A, Muromoto R, Kitai Y, Oritani K, Matsuda T. Central Roles of STAT3-Mediated Signals in Onset and Development of Cancers: Tumorigenesis and Immunosurveillance. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162618. [PMID: 36010693 PMCID: PMC9406645 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the time of Rudolf Virchow in the 19th century, it has been well-known that cancer-associated inflammation contributes to tumor initiation and progression. However, it remains unclear whether a collapse of the balance between the antitumor immune response via the immunological surveillance system and protumor immunity due to cancer-related inflammation is responsible for cancer malignancy. The majority of inflammatory signals affect tumorigenesis by activating signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor-κB. Persistent STAT3 activation in malignant cancer cells mediates extremely widespread functions, including cell growth, survival, angiogenesis, and invasion and contributes to an increase in inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. In addition, intracellular STAT3 activation in immune cells causes suppressive effects on antitumor immunity and leads to the differentiation and mobilization of immature myeloid-derived cells and tumor-associated macrophages. In many cancer types, STAT3 does not directly rely on its activation by oncogenic mutations but has important oncogenic and malignant transformation-associated functions in both cancer and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We have reported a series of studies aiming towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the proliferation of various types of tumors involving signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 as an adaptor molecule that modulates STAT3 activity, and we recently found that AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 5a functions as an mRNA stabilizer that orchestrates an immunosuppressive TME in malignant mesenchymal tumors. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the functional role of STAT3 in tumor progression and introduce novel molecular mechanisms of cancer development and malignant transformation involving STAT3 activation that we have identified to date. Finally, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for cancer that target the signaling pathway to augment STAT3 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Hashimoto
- Division of Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0815, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (T.M.)
| | - Ari Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Ryuta Muromoto
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Yuichi Kitai
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Kenji Oritani
- Department of Hematology, International University of Health and Welfare, Narita 286-8686, Japan
| | - Tadashi Matsuda
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (T.M.)
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9
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Pan L, Chen X, Rassool FV, Li C, Lin J. LLL12B, a Novel Small-Molecule STAT3 Inhibitor, Induces Apoptosis and Suppresses Cell Migration and Tumor Growth in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10082003. [PMID: 36009550 PMCID: PMC9405793 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10082003] [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: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent STAT3 signaling plays a pivotal role in human tumor malignancy, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). There are few treatment options currently available for TNBC; thus, given its importance to cancer, STAT3 is a potential cancer therapeutic target and is the focus of drug discovery efforts. In this study, we tested a novel orally bioavailable small-molecule STAT3 inhibitor, LLL12B, in human MDA-MB-231, SUM159, and murine 4T1 TNBC cell lines. TNBC cells frequently expressed persistent STAT3 phosphorylation and their cell viability was sensitive to STAT3 knockdown by siRNA. LLL12B selectively inhibited the IL-6-mediated induction of STAT3 phosphorylation, but had little effect on the IFN-γ-mediated induction of STAT1 phosphorylation nor the EGF-mediated induction of ERK phosphorylation. In addition, targeting STAT3 with LLL12B induced apoptosis, reduced colony formation ability, and inhibited cell migration in TNBC cells. Furthermore, LLL12B suppressed the tumor growth of the MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells in a mammary fat pad mouse tumor model in vivo. Together, our findings support the concept that targeting persistent STAT3 signaling using the novel small-molecule LLL12B is a potential approach for TNBC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Feyruz Virgilia Rassool
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Chenglong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jiayuh Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Correspondence:
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10
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STAT3 in medulloblastoma: a key transcriptional regulator and potential therapeutic target. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:10635-10652. [PMID: 35716286 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07694-6] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood accounting for about 60% of all pediatric embryonal tumors. Despite improvements in the overall survival rate, this tumor still lacks an efficient, reliable, and less toxic therapeutic approach. Characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in medulloblastoma initiation and progression is a crucial step for the development of effective therapies. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 is a convergence point for several signaling cascades that are implicated in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis. Accumulated evidence has revealed the pivotal role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in medulloblastoma pathogenesis such as proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression as well as maintenance, drug resistance, and recurrence. In this review, we focus on the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis and discuss the recent advances of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 inhibition as a promising developed strategy for medulloblastoma therapy.
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Chen CW, Hsieh MJ, Ju PC, Hsieh YH, Su CW, Chen YL, Yang SF, Lin CW. Curcumin analog HO-3867 triggers apoptotic pathways through activating JNK1/2 signalling in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:2273-2284. [PMID: 35191177 PMCID: PMC8995445 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the common head and neck malignancy in the world. While surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are emerging as the standard treatment for OSCC patients, the outcome is limited to the recurrence and side effects. Therefore, patients with OSCC require alternative strategies for treatment. In this study, we aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and the mode of action of the novel curcumin analog, HO-3867, against human OSCC cells. We analysed the cytotoxicity of HO-3867 using MTT assay. In vitro mechanic studies were performed to determine whether MAPK pathway is involved in HO-3867 induced cell apoptosis. As the results, we found HO-3867 suppressed OSCC cells growth effectively. The flow cytometry data indicate that HO-3867 induce the sub-G1 phase. Moreover, we found that HO-3867 induced cell apoptosis by triggering formation of activated caspase 3, caspase 8, caspase 9 and PARP. After dissecting MAPK pathway, we found HO-3867 induced cell apoptosis via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1/2 pathway. Our results suggest that HO-3867 is an effective anticancer agent as its induction of cell apoptosis through JNK1/2 pathway in human oral cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Wei Chen
- Department of Life Science, College of Science and Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Ju Hsieh
- Oral Cancer Research Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.,Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chung Ju
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsien Hsieh
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Wen Su
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Lin Chen
- Institute of Oral Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Shun-Fa Yang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Wen Lin
- Institute of Oral Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 402, Taiwan
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