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Gruszka R, Zakrzewski J, Nowosławska E, Grajkowska W, Zakrzewska M. Identification and validation of miRNA-target genes network in pediatric brain tumors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17922. [PMID: 39095557 PMCID: PMC11297236 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68945-z] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Alterations in miRNA levels have been observed in various types of cancer, impacting numerous cellular processes and increasing their potential usefulness in combination therapies also in brain tumors. Recent advances in understanding the genetics and epigenetics of brain tumours point to new aberrations and associations, making it essential to continually update knowledge and classification. Here we conducted molecular analysis of 123 samples of childhood brain tumors (pilocytic astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, ependymoma), focusing on identification of genes that could potentially be regulated by crucial representatives of OncomiR-1: miR-17-5p and miR-20a-5p. On the basis of microarray gene expression analysis and qRTPCR profiling, we selected six (WEE1, CCND1, VEGFA, PTPRO, TP53INP1, BCL2L11) the most promising target genes for further experiments. The WEE1, CCND1, PTPRO, TP53INP1 genes showed increased expression levels in all tested entities with the lowest increase in the pilocytic astrocytoma compared to the ependymoma and medulloblastoma. The obtained results indicate a correlation between gene expression and the WHO grade and subtype. Furthermore, our analysis showed that the integration between genomic and epigenetic pathways should now point the way to further molecular research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Gruszka
- Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Genetics, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Jakub Zakrzewski
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Aleja T. Kosciuszki 4, 90-419, Lodz, Poland
| | - Emilia Nowosławska
- Department of Neurosurgery, Polish Mother Memorial Hospital Research Institute in Lodz, Rzgowska 281/289, 93-338, Lodz, Poland
| | - Wiesława Grajkowska
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Av. Dzieci Polskich 20, 04-730, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Zakrzewska
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92-216, Lodz, Poland
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Venkatraman S, Balasubramanian B, Thuwajit C, Meller J, Tohtong R, Chutipongtanate S. Targeting MYC at the intersection between cancer metabolism and oncoimmunology. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1324045. [PMID: 38390324 PMCID: PMC10881682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1324045] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
MYC activation is a known hallmark of cancer as it governs the gene targets involved in various facets of cancer progression. Of interest, MYC governs oncometabolism through the interactions with its partners and cofactors, as well as cancer immunity via its gene targets. Recent investigations have taken interest in characterizing these interactions through multi-Omic approaches, to better understand the vastness of the MYC network. Of the several gene targets of MYC involved in either oncometabolism or oncoimmunology, few of them overlap in function. Prominent interactions have been observed with MYC and HIF-1α, in promoting glucose and glutamine metabolism and activation of antigen presentation on regulatory T cells, and its subsequent metabolic reprogramming. This review explores existing knowledge of the role of MYC in oncometabolism and oncoimmunology. It also unravels how MYC governs transcription and influences cellular metabolism to facilitate the induction of pro- or anti-tumoral immunity. Moreover, considering the significant roles MYC holds in cancer development, the present study discusses effective direct or indirect therapeutic strategies to combat MYC-driven cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simran Venkatraman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Brinda Balasubramanian
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Chanitra Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jaroslaw Meller
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Rutaiwan Tohtong
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Somchai Chutipongtanate
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Milk, microbiome, Immunity and Lactation research for Child Health (MILCH) and Novel Therapeutics Lab, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Miao T, Symonds A, Hickman OJ, Wu D, Wang P, Lemoine N, Wang Y, Linardopoulos S, Halldén G. Inhibition of Bromodomain Proteins Enhances Oncolytic HAdVC5 Replication and Efficacy in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Models. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1265. [PMID: 38279262 PMCID: PMC10816486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021265] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most aggressive type of pancreatic cancer, which rapidly develops resistance to the current standard of care. Several oncolytic Human AdenoViruses (HAdVs) have been reported to re-sensitize drug-resistant cancer cells and in combination with chemotherapeutics attenuate solid tumour growth. Obstacles preventing greater clinical success are rapid hepatic elimination and limited viral replication and spread within the tumour microenvironment. We hypothesised that higher intratumoural levels of the virus could be achieved by altering cellular epigenetic regulation. Here we report on the screening of an enriched epigenetics small molecule library and validation of six compounds that increased viral gene expression and replication. The greatest effects were observed with three epigenetic inhibitors targeting bromodomain (BRD)-containing proteins. Specifically, BRD4 inhibitors enhanced the efficacy of Ad5 wild type, Ad∆∆, and Ad-3∆-A20T in 3-dimensional co-culture models of PDAC and in vivo xenografts. RNAseq analysis demonstrated that the inhibitors increased viral E1A expression, altered expression of cell cycle regulators and inflammatory factors, and attenuated expression levels of tumour cell oncogenes such as c-Myc and Myb. The data suggest that the tumour-selective Ad∆∆ and Ad-3∆-A20T combined with epigenetic inhibitors is a novel strategy for the treatment of PDAC by eliminating both cancer and associated stromal cells to pave the way for immune cell access even after systemic delivery of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tizong Miao
- Centre for Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (T.M.); (N.L.); (Y.W.)
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (A.S.); (P.W.)
| | - Alistair Symonds
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (A.S.); (P.W.)
| | - Oliver J. Hickman
- Cancer Drug Target Discovery Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK; (O.J.H.); (S.L.)
| | - Dongsheng Wu
- Bioimaging Centre, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK;
| | - Ping Wang
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (A.S.); (P.W.)
| | - Nick Lemoine
- Centre for Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (T.M.); (N.L.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yaohe Wang
- Centre for Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (T.M.); (N.L.); (Y.W.)
| | - Spiros Linardopoulos
- Cancer Drug Target Discovery Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK; (O.J.H.); (S.L.)
| | - Gunnel Halldén
- Centre for Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (T.M.); (N.L.); (Y.W.)
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Huo A, Xiong X. PAICS as a potential target for cancer therapy linking purine biosynthesis to cancer progression. Life Sci 2023; 331:122070. [PMID: 37673296 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122070] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Tumor cells are required to undergo metabolic reprogramming for rapid development and progression, and one of the metabolic characteristics of cancer cells is the excessive synthesis and utilization of nucleotides. Abnormally increased nucleotides and their metabolites not only directly accelerate tumor cell progression but also indirectly act on stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) via a paracrine manner to regulate tumor progression. Purine nucleotides are mainly produced via de novo nucleotide synthesis in tumor cells; therefore, intervening in their synthesis has emerged as a promising strategy in anti-tumor therapy. De novo purine synthesis is a 10-step reaction catalyzed by six enzymes to synthesize inosine 5-monophosphate (IMP) and subsequently synthesize AMP and GMP. Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase/phosphori-bosylaminoimidazole succinocarboxamide synthetase (PAICS) is a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes de novo purine synthesis. Aberrantly elevated PAICS expression in various tumors is associated with poor prognosis. Evidence suggests that PAICS and its catalytic product, N-succinylcarboxamide-5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (SAICAR), could inhibit tumor cell apoptosis and promote the growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and metastasis by regulating signaling pathways such as pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), extracellular signal-related kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and so on. This review summarizes the structure, biological functions and the molecular mechanisms of PAICS in cancer development and discusses its potential to be a target for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Huo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China; The First Clinical Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Xiangyang Xiong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China; Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathogens and Molecular Pathology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
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