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Ahmed MR, Zheng C, Dunning JL, Ahmed MS, Ge C, Pair FS, Gurevich VV, Gurevich EV. Arrestin-3-assisted activation of JNK3 mediates dopaminergic behavioral sensitization. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101623. [PMID: 38936368 PMCID: PMC11293330 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101623] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
In rodents with unilateral ablation of neurons supplying dopamine to the striatum, chronic treatment with the dopamine precursor L-DOPA induces a progressive increase of behavioral responses, a process known as behavioral sensitization. This sensitization is blunted in arrestin-3 knockout mice. Using virus-mediated gene delivery to the dopamine-depleted striatum of these mice, we find that the restoration of arrestin-3 fully rescues behavioral sensitization, whereas its mutant defective in c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation does not. A 25-residue arrestin-3-derived peptide that facilitates JNK3 activation in cells, expressed ubiquitously or selectively in direct pathway striatal neurons, also fully rescues sensitization, whereas an inactive homologous arrestin-2-derived peptide does not. Behavioral rescue is accompanied by the restoration of JNK3 activity, as reflected by JNK-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor c-Jun in the dopamine-depleted striatum. Thus, arrestin-3-assisted JNK3 activation in direct pathway neurons is a critical element of the molecular mechanism underlying sensitization upon dopamine depletion and chronic L-DOPA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed R Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2200 Pierce Avenue, PRB422, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; The University of Alabama at Birmingham, SHEL 121, 1825 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-2182, USA
| | - Chen Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2200 Pierce Avenue, PRB422, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jeffery L Dunning
- Contet Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mohamed S Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2200 Pierce Avenue, PRB422, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Connie Ge
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - F Sanders Pair
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham, SHEL 121, 1825 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-2182, USA
| | - Vsevolod V Gurevich
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2200 Pierce Avenue, PRB422, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Eugenia V Gurevich
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2200 Pierce Avenue, PRB422, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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2
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Zhang AB, Zhang JY, Liu YP, Wang S, Bai JY, Sun LS, Li TJ. Clinicopathological characteristics and diagnostic accuracy of BRAF mutations in ameloblastoma: A Bayesian network analysis. J Oral Pathol Med 2024; 53:393-403. [PMID: 38777565 DOI: 10.1111/jop.13542] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to analyze the associations between clinicopathological characteristics and BRAF mutations in ameloblastoma (AM) patients and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four electronic databases were searched from 2010 to 2024. The search terms used were specific to BRAF and AM. Observational studies or randomized controlled trials were considered eligible. The incidence of BRAF mutation and corresponding clinicopathological features in AM patients were subjected to Bayesian network analyses and diagnostic accuracy evaluation. RESULTS A total of 937 AM patients from 20 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of BRAF mutations in AM patients was 72%. According to the Bayesian network analysis, BRAF mutations are more likely to occur in younger (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; credible interval [CrI]: 1.2-4.5), mandible site (OR, 3.6; 95% CrI: 2.7-5.2), and unicystic (OR, 1.6; 95% CrI: 1.1-2.4) AM patients. Similarly, higher diagnostic accuracy was found in the younger, mandible, and unicystic AM groups. CONCLUSIONS The incidence, risk, and diagnostic accuracy of BRAF mutation in AM were greater in younger patients, those with mandible involvement, and those with unicystic AM than in patients with other clinicopathological features. In addition, there was a strong concordance in the diagnostic accuracy between molecular tests and immunohistochemical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao-Bo Zhang
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Precision Pathologic Diagnosis in Tumors of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU034), Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Yun Zhang
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Precision Pathologic Diagnosis in Tumors of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU034), Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Ping Liu
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Precision Pathologic Diagnosis in Tumors of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU034), Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Department of stomatology, Shandong Public Health Clinical Center, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jia-Ying Bai
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Sha Sun
- Research Unit of Precision Pathologic Diagnosis in Tumors of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU034), Beijing, China
- Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Tie-Jun Li
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Precision Pathologic Diagnosis in Tumors of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU034), Beijing, China
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3
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Bommaraju S, Dhokne MD, Arun EV, Srinivasan K, Sharma SS, Datusalia AK. An insight into crosstalk among multiple signalling pathways contributing to the pathophysiology of PTSD and depressive disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 131:110943. [PMID: 38228244 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorders represent two significant mental health challenges with substantial global prevalence. These are debilitating conditions characterized by persistent, often comorbid, symptoms that severely impact an individual's quality of life. Both PTSD and depressive disorders are often precipitated by exposure to traumatic events or chronic stress. The profound impact of PTSD and depressive disorders on individuals and society necessitates a comprehensive exploration of their shared and distinct pathophysiological features. Although the activation of the stress system is essential for maintaining homeostasis, the ability to recover from it after diminishing the threat stimulus is also equally important. However, little is known about the main reasons for individuals' differential susceptibility to external stressful stimuli. The solution to this question can be found by delving into the interplay of stress with the cognitive and emotional processing of traumatic incidents at the molecular level. Evidence suggests that dysregulation in these signalling cascades may contribute to the persistence and severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms. The treatment strategies available for this disorder are antidepressants, which have shown good efficiency in normalizing symptom severity; however, their efficacy is limited in most individuals. This calls for the exploration and development of innovative medications to address the treatment of PTSD. This review delves into the intricate crosstalk among multiple signalling pathways implicated in the development and manifestation of these mental health conditions. By unravelling the complexities of crosstalk among multiple signalling pathways, this review aims to contribute to the broader knowledge base, providing insights that could inform the development of targeted interventions for individuals grappling with the challenges of PTSD and depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumadhura Bommaraju
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh (UP) 226002, India
| | - Mrunali D Dhokne
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh (UP) 226002, India
| | - E V Arun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh (UP) 226002, India
| | - Krishnamoorthy Srinivasan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Shyam Sunder Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Datusalia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh (UP) 226002, India; Department of Regulatory Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh (UP) 226002, India.
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4
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Huang Y, Wang G, Zhang N, Zeng X. MAP3K4 kinase action and dual role in cancer. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:99. [PMID: 38568424 PMCID: PMC10992237 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-00961-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
It is commonly known that the MAPK pathway is involved in translating environmental inputs, regulating downstream reactions, and maintaining the intrinsic dynamic balance. Numerous essential elements and regulatory processes are included in this pathway, which are essential to its functionality. Among these, MAP3K4, a member of the serine/threonine kinases family, plays vital roles throughout the organism's life cycle, including the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, MAP3K4 can interact with key partners like GADD45, which affects organism's growth and development. Notably, MAP3K4 functions as both a tumor promotor and suppressor, being activated by a variety of factors and triggering diverse downstream pathways that differently influence cancer progression. The aim of this study is to provide a brief overview of physiological functions of MAP3K4 and shed light on its contradictory roles in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Huang
- Department of Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guanwen Wang
- Department of Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Ningning Zhang
- Department of Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China.
| | - Xiaohua Zeng
- Department of Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
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5
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Yamaoka S. RelA and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases potently enhance lentiviral vector production. Biochem Biophys Rep 2024; 37:101637. [PMID: 38328371 PMCID: PMC10847020 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The growing demands for gene therapy have encouraged development of safe and efficient lentiviral vector (LV) preparation. While much progress has been made in this field, it remains to be explored how to boost its production from producer cells. This paper reports that transient co-expression of RelA or several mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAP3Ks) with packaging constructs can potently enhance LV production in HEK293T producer cells. Adding in transfection a small amount of effector plasmid is sufficient to achieve 3- to 4-fold enhancement, which can further be augmented by co-expression of IκB kinase 2 or HIV Tat. It is also shown that expression of RelA or MAP3K1 can increase LV production in HEK293T/17SF cells grown in suspension. These results indicate that stimulation of intracellular signaling pathways in producer cells represents a powerful means for enhancing LV production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoji Yamaoka
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
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6
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Mordente K, Ryder L, Bekker-Jensen S. Mechanisms underlying sensing of cellular stress signals by mammalian MAP3 kinases. Mol Cell 2024; 84:142-155. [PMID: 38118452 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.028] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Cellular homeostasis is continuously challenged by environmental cues and cellular stress conditions. In their defense, cells need to mount appropriate stress responses that, dependent on the cellular context, signaling intensity, and duration, may have diverse outcomes. The stress- and mitogen-activated protein kinase (SAPK/MAPK) system consists of well-characterized signaling cascades that sense and transduce an array of different stress stimuli into biological responses. However, the physical and chemical nature of stress signals and how these are sensed by individual upstream MAP kinase kinase kinases (MAP3Ks) remain largely ambiguous. Here, we review the existing knowledge of how individual members of the large and diverse group of MAP3Ks sense specific stress signals through largely non-redundant mechanisms. We emphasize the large knowledge gaps in assigning function and stress signals for individual MAP3K family members and touch on the potential of targeting this class of proteins for clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Mordente
- Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Gene Expression, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laura Ryder
- Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Gene Expression, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Simon Bekker-Jensen
- Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Gene Expression, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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7
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Wang Z, Castro N, Bernstein AM, Wolosin JM. TGFβ1-driven SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and myofibroblast emergence are fully dependent on the TGFβ1 pre-activation of MAPKs and controlled by maternal leucine zipper kinase. Cell Signal 2024; 113:110963. [PMID: 37931692 PMCID: PMC10959399 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110963] [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: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Following wounding, endogenously secreted TGFβs drive resident and bone marrow-derived cells to convert into α-smooth actin (SMA)-rich, contractile myofibroblasts. The TGFβ effect is initiated by the phosphorylation of SMADs 2 and 3 (SMAD2/3). This event has been referred to as the canonical response to TGFβ. TGFβ also elicits other responses viewed as parallel events not directly connected to the SMAD activation, and thus referred to as noncanonical. A recognized response is the phosphorylation of the -activated kinase (TAK1/MAP3K), an upstream component of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. We have now examined the relationship between these two effects of TGFβ1 at their earliest stages. The bulk of the studies were carried out with primary fibroblasts derived from the human cornea. The results' widespread relevance was confirmed in critical experiments with dermal-, and Tenon's capsule-derived fibroblasts. Cells were treated with kinase inhibitors or targeting siRNAs followed by induction by 2 ng/ml TGFβ1, and/or 10 ng/ml TNF-α. Cells were collected after 1 to 30 min for Western blot analysis and assayed for the accumulation of phosphorylated TAK1, ASK1, JNK1/2, p38, HPS27, MELK, SMAD2/3, and GAPDH. The effect of the kinase inhibitors on α-SMA expression and α-SMA stress fiber organization was also tested. For the immediate response to TGFβ1 we found that a) activation of the MAPK pathway was completed within 1 min after the addition of TGFβ1; b) phosphorylation of JNK1/2 was fully dependent on TAK1 and ASK1 activity, c) phosphorylation of MELK was fully dependent on JNK1/2 activity; d) phosphorylation of ASK1 depends on MELK activity, indicating the existence of an ASK1-MELK positive activation feedback loop; e) phosphorylation of SMAD2/3 started only after a 5 min period and reached a nadir after 10-15 min, f) the latter phosphorylation was fully blocked by inhibition of TAK1, ASK1, JNK1/2, and MELK, and siRNA-driven MELK downregulation; g) the inhibitors equally blocked the α-SMA protein expression, stress fiber development, and cell morphology changes at 72 h. These results demonstrate that the activation of the canonical pathway is fully subordinate to the activity of the MAPK pathway, challenging the concept of canonical and noncanonical TGFβ pathways and that SMAD2/3 activation is mediated by MELK, a kinase not previously associated with rapid pharmacological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nileyma Castro
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Audrey M Bernstein
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA; New York VA Health Care, Medical Center, Syracuse, VA, USA
| | - J Mario Wolosin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Ploypetch S, Wongbandue G, Roytrakul S, Phaonakrop N, Prapaiwan N. Comparative Serum Proteome Profiling of Canine Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia before and after Castration. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3853. [PMID: 38136890 PMCID: PMC10740436 DOI: 10.3390/ani13243853] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BPH is the most prevalent prostatic condition in aging dogs. Nevertheless, clinical diagnosis and management remain inconsistent. This study employed in-solution digestion coupled with nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to assess serum proteome profiling of dogs with BPH and those dogs after castration. Male dogs were divided into two groups; control and BPH groups. In the BPH group, each dog was evaluated at two time points: Day 0 (BF subgroup) and Day 30 after castration (AT subgroup). In the BF subgroup, three proteins were significantly upregulated and associated with dihydrotestosterone: solute carrier family 5 member 5, tyrosine-protein kinase, and FRAT regulator of WNT signaling pathway 1. Additionally, the overexpression of polymeric immunoglobulin receptors in the BF subgroup hints at its potential as a novel protein linked to the BPH development process. Conversely, alpha-1-B glycoprotein (A1BG) displayed significant downregulation in the BF subgroup, suggesting A1BG's potential as a predictive protein for canine BPH. Finasteride was associated with increased proteins in the AT subgroup, including apolipoprotein C-I, apolipoprotein E, apolipoprotein A-II, TAO kinase 1, DnaJ homolog subfamily C member 16, PH domain and leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1, neuregulin 1, and pseudopodium enriched atypical kinase 1. In conclusion, this pilot study highlighted alterations in various serum proteins in canine BPH, reflecting different pathological changes occurring in this condition. These proteins could be a source of potential non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosing this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sekkarin Ploypetch
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand; (S.P.); (G.W.)
| | - Grisnarong Wongbandue
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand; (S.P.); (G.W.)
| | - Sittiruk Roytrakul
- Functional Proteomics Technology Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; (S.R.); (N.P.)
| | - Narumon Phaonakrop
- Functional Proteomics Technology Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; (S.R.); (N.P.)
| | - Nawarus Prapaiwan
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand; (S.P.); (G.W.)
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9
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Che T, Roth BL. Molecular basis of opioid receptor signaling. Cell 2023; 186:5203-5219. [PMID: 37995655 PMCID: PMC10710086 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Opioids are used for pain management despite the side effects that contribute to the opioid crisis. The pursuit of non-addictive opioid analgesics remains unattained due to the unresolved intricacies of opioid actions, receptor signaling cascades, and neuronal plasticity. Advancements in structural, molecular, and computational tools illuminate the dynamic interplay between opioids and opioid receptors, as well as the molecular determinants of signaling pathways, which are potentially interlinked with pharmacological responses. Here, we review the molecular basis of opioid receptor signaling with a focus on the structures of opioid receptors bound to endogenous peptides or pharmacological agents. These insights unveil specific interactions that dictate ligand selectivity and likely their distinctive pharmacological profiles. Biochemical analysis further unveils molecular features governing opioid receptor signaling. Simultaneously, the synergy between computational biology and medicinal chemistry continues to expedite the discovery of novel chemotypes with the promise of yielding more efficacious and safer opioid compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599, NC, USA.
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10
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Ahmed MR, Zheng C, Dunning JL, Ahmed MS, Ge C, Sanders Pair F, Gurevich VV, Gurevich EV. Arrestin-3-assisted activation of JNK3 mediates dopaminergic behavioral and signaling plasticity in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.27.564447. [PMID: 37961199 PMCID: PMC10634923 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.27.564447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
In rodents with unilateral ablation of the substantia nigra neurons supplying dopamine to the striatum, chronic treatment with the dopamine precursor L-DOPA or dopamine agonists induces a progressive increase of behavioral responses, a process known as behavioral sensitization. The sensitization is blunted in arrestin-3 knockout mice. Using virus-mediated gene delivery to the dopamine-depleted striatum of arrestin-3 knockout mice, we found that the restoration of arrestin-3 fully rescued behavioral sensitization, whereas its mutant defective in JNK activation did not. A 25-residue arrestin-3-derived peptide that facilitates JNK3 activation in cells, expressed ubiquitously or selectively in the direct pathway striatal neurons, fully rescued sensitization, whereas an inactive homologous arrestin-2-derived peptide did not. Behavioral rescue was accompanied by the restoration of JNK3 activity and of JNK-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor c-Jun in the dopamine-depleted striatum. Thus, arrestin-3-dependent JNK3 activation in direct pathway neurons is a critical element of the molecular mechanism underlying sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed R. Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Chen Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | | | - Mohamed S. Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
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11
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Jiang L, Liu T, Lyu K, Chen Y, Lu J, Wang X, Long L, Li S. Inflammation-related signaling pathways in tendinopathy. Open Life Sci 2023; 18:20220729. [PMID: 37744452 PMCID: PMC10512452 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tendon is a connective tissue that produces movement by transmitting the force produced by muscle contraction to the bones. Most tendinopathy is caused by prolonged overloading of the tendon, leading to degenerative disease of the tendon. When overloaded, the oxygen demand of tenocytes increases, and the tendon structure is special and lacks blood supply, which makes it easier to form an oxygen-deficient environment in tenocytes. The production of reactive oxygen species due to hypoxia causes elevation of inflammatory markers in the tendon, including PGE2, IL-1β, and TNF-α. In the process of tendon healing, inflammation is also a necessary stage. The inflammatory environment formed by cytokines and various immune cells play an important role in the clearance of necrotic material, the proliferation of tenocytes, and the production of collagen fibers. However, excessive inflammation can lead to tendon adhesions and hinder tendon healing. Some important and diverse biological functions of the body originate from intercellular signal transduction, among which cytokine mediation is an important way of signal transduction. In particular, NF-κB, NLRP3, p38/MAPK, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, four common signaling pathways in tendinopathy inflammatory response, play a crucial role in the regulation and transcription of inflammatory factors. Therefore, summarizing the specific mechanisms of inflammatory signaling pathways in tendinopathy is of great significance for an in-depth understanding of the inflammatory response process and exploring how to inhibit the harmful part of the inflammatory response and promote the beneficial part to improve the healing effect of the tendon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Jiang
- School of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Tianzhu Liu
- Neurology Department, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Kexin Lyu
- School of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Yixuan Chen
- School of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Jingwei Lu
- School of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Wang
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Longhai Long
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Sen Li
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital
of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China
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12
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Ganguly P, Macleod T, Wong C, Harland M, McGonagle D. Revisiting p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPK) in Inflammatory Arthritis: A Narrative of the Emergence of MAPK-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitors (MK2i). Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1286. [PMID: 37765094 PMCID: PMC10537904 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091286] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) is a crucial signaling pathway closely involved in several physiological and cellular functions, including cell cycle, apoptosis, gene expression, and responses to stress stimuli. It also plays a central role in inflammation and immunity. Owing to disparate p38-MAPK functions, it has thus far formed an elusive drug target with failed clinical trials in inflammatory diseases due to challenges including hepatotoxicity, cardiac toxicity, lack of efficacy, and tachyphylaxis, which is a brief initial improvement with rapid disease rebound. To overcome these limitations, downstream antagonism of the p38 pathway with a MAPK-activated protein kinase (MAPKAPK, also known as MK2) blockade has demonstrated the potential to abrogate inflammation without the prior recognized toxicities. Such MK2 inhibition (MK2i) is associated with robust suppression of key pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNFα and IL-6 and others in experimental systems and in vitro. Considering this recent evidence regarding MK2i in inflammatory arthritis, we revisit the p38-MAPK pathway and discuss the literature encompassing the challenges of p38 inhibitors with a focus on this pathway. We then highlight how novel MK2i strategies, although encouraging in the pre-clinical arena, may either show evidence for efficacy or the lack of efficacy in emergent human trials data from different disease settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Dennis McGonagle
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7JT, UK
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13
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Moon HR, Yun JM. Neuroprotective Effects of Zerumbone on H 2O 2-Induced Oxidative Injury in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells. J Med Food 2023; 26:641-653. [PMID: 37566491 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2023.k.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is recognized as one of the main reasons for cellular damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Zerumbone is one of the sesquiterpenoid compounds in the essential oil of Zingiber zerumbet Smith. Zerumbone exhibits various physiological activities, such as anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects. However, studies on the neuroprotective efficacy of zerumbone and the mechanism behind it are lacking. In this study, we explored the neuroprotective efficacy of zerumbone and its mechanism in hydrogen peroxide-treated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. H2O2 treatment (400 μM) for 24 h enhanced the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to untreated cells. By contrast, zerumbone treatment significantly suppressed the production of intracellular ROS. Zerumbone significantly inhibited H2O2-induced nitric oxide production and expression of inflammation-related genes. Moreover, zerumbone decreased H2O2-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) protein expression. Various hallmarks of apoptosis in H2O2-treated cells were suppressed in a dose-dependent manner through downregulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio by zerumbone. Since activation of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) is a promising therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases, we also investigated the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) as part of the autophagy mechanism in H2O2-treated SH-SY5Y cells. In this study, zerumbone upregulated the expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and p-AMPK (which were downregulated by the H2O2 treatment) and downregulated p-mTOR. Altogether, our results propose that inhibition of apoptosis and inflammation by autophagy activation plays an important neuroprotective role in H2O2-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Zerumbone may thus be a potent dietary agent that reduces the onset and progression, as well as prevents neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha-Rin Moon
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Jung-Mi Yun
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
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14
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Tserunyan V, Finley SD. A systems and computational biology perspective on advancing CAR therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 94:34-49. [PMID: 37263529 PMCID: PMC10529846 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.05.009] [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: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In the recent decades, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy signaled a new revolutionary approach to cancer treatment. This method seeks to engineer immune cells expressing an artificially designed receptor, which would endue those cells with the ability to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. While some CAR therapies received FDA approval and others are subject to clinical trials, many aspects of their workings remain elusive. Techniques of systems and computational biology have been frequently employed to explain the operating principles of CAR therapy and suggest further design improvements. In this review, we sought to provide a comprehensive account of those efforts. Specifically, we discuss various computational models of CAR therapy ranging in scale from organismal to molecular. Then, we describe the molecular and functional properties of costimulatory domains frequently incorporated in CAR structure. Finally, we describe the signaling cascades by which those costimulatory domains elicit cellular response against the target. We hope that this comprehensive summary of computational and experimental studies will further motivate the use of systems approaches in advancing CAR therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vardges Tserunyan
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stacey D Finley
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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15
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Adepoju FO, Duru KC, Li E, Kovaleva EG, Tsurkan MV. Pharmacological Potential of Betulin as a Multitarget Compound. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1105. [PMID: 37509141 PMCID: PMC10377123 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Betulin is a natural triterpene, usually from birch bark, known for its potential wound-healing properties. Despite having a wide range of pharmacological targets, no studies have proposed betulin as a multitarget compound. Betulin has protective effects against cardiovascular and liver diseases, cancer, diabetes, oxidative stress, and inflammation. It reduces postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, combats tumor cells by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting metastatic proteins, and modulates chronic inflammation by blocking the expression of proinflammatory cytokines via modulation of the NFκB and MAPKs pathways. Given its potential to influence diverse biological networks with high target specificity, it can be hypothesized that betulin may eventually become a new lead for drug development because it can modify a variety of pharmacological targets. The summarized research revealed that the diverse beneficial effects of betulin in various diseases can be attributed, at least in part, to its multitarget anti-inflammatory activity. This review focuses on the natural sources, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activity of betulin, and the multi-target effects of betulin on signaling pathways such as MAPK, NF-κB, and Nrf2, which are important regulators of the response to oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feyisayo O Adepoju
- Department of Technology for Organic Synthesis, Chemical Technology Institute, Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Kingsley C Duru
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8021, USA
| | - Erguang Li
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 22 Hankou Road, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Elena G Kovaleva
- Department of Technology for Organic Synthesis, Chemical Technology Institute, Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
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16
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Derwich A, Sykutera M, Bromińska B, Rubiś B, Ruchała M, Sawicka-Gutaj N. The Role of Activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK Pathways in Aggressive Pituitary Adenomas-New Potential Therapeutic Approach-A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10952. [PMID: 37446128 PMCID: PMC10341524 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pituitary tumors (PT) are mostly benign, although occasionally they demonstrate aggressive behavior, invasion of surrounding tissues, rapid growth, resistance to conventional treatments, and multiple recurrences. The pathogenesis of PT is still not fully understood, and the factors responsible for its invasiveness, aggressiveness, and potential for metastasis are unknown. RAF/MEK/ERK and mTOR signaling are significant pathways in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, and survival, its importance in tumorigenesis has been highlighted. The aim of our review is to determine the role of the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK pathways in the pathogenesis of pituitary tumors. Additionally, we evaluate their potential in a new therapeutic approach to provide alternative therapies and improved outcomes for patients with aggressive pituitary tumors that do not respond to standard treatment. We perform a systematic literature search using the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases (search date was 2012-2023). Out of the 529 screened studies, 13 met the inclusion criteria, 7 related to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and 7 to the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway (one study was used in both analyses). Understanding the specific factors involved in PT tumorigenesis provides opportunities for targeted therapies. We also review the possible new targeted therapies and the use of mTOR inhibitors and TKI in PT management. Although the RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways play a pivotal role in the complex signaling network along with many interactions, further research is urgently needed to clarify the exact functions and the underlying mechanisms of these signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas and their role in its invasiveness and aggressive clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Derwich
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland; (A.D.)
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, Poland
| | - Monika Sykutera
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland; (A.D.)
| | - Barbara Bromińska
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland; (A.D.)
| | - Błażej Rubiś
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marek Ruchała
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland; (A.D.)
| | - Nadia Sawicka-Gutaj
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland; (A.D.)
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17
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Ebeling M, Scheurer M, Sakkas A, Pietzka S, Schramm A, Wilde F. BRAF inhibitors in BRAF V600E-mutated ameloblastoma: systematic review of rare cases in the literature. Med Oncol 2023; 40:163. [PMID: 37115331 PMCID: PMC10147738 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-01993-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ameloblastoma in 66% of the cases harbor a somatic mutation of the "mitogen-activated protein kinase" signaling pathway (BRAF V600E). In V600E mutations, BRAF is in the permanent "on" state and relays the growth-promoting signals independently of the EGFR pathway. Therefore, mutant BRAF represents a target for handful of new drugs. METHODS We conducted a literature search, with the search terms "Vemurafenib, Dabrafenib, Ameloblastoma, and BRAF." These included seven case reports with nine patients who underwent monotherapy with Dabrafenib or Vemurafenib or combination therapy with Dabrafenib and Trametinib. RESULTS The patients age ranges from 10 years up to 86 years. The distribution of women and men is 4:5. Patients with an initial diagnosis of ameloblastoma, as well as recurrences or metastasized ameloblastoma were treated. Indications cover neoadjuvant therapy up to the use in metastasized patients in an irresectable state. Results ranging from "only" tumor size reduction to restitutio ad integrum. CONCLUSION We see the use of BRAF Inhibitors to reduce tumor size with consecutive surgical treatment as a reasonable option for therapy. However, we are aware that at present the data are based only on case reports with the longest follow-up of just 38 months. We encourage further clinical trials in the use of BRAF Inhibitors for selecting ameloblastoma patients in a multi-center setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Ebeling
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, Military Hospital Ulm, Academic Hospital of the University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Mario Scheurer
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, Military Hospital Ulm, Academic Hospital of the University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Andreas Sakkas
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, Military Hospital Ulm, Academic Hospital of the University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 10, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sebastian Pietzka
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, Military Hospital Ulm, Academic Hospital of the University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 10, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander Schramm
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, Military Hospital Ulm, Academic Hospital of the University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 10, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Frank Wilde
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, Military Hospital Ulm, Academic Hospital of the University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Oral and Plastic Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 10, 89081, Ulm, Germany
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18
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Kaewlert W, Sakonsinsiri C, Lert-itthiporn W, Ungarreevittaya P, Pairojkul C, Pinlaor S, Murata M, Thanan R. Overexpression of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS1) Relates to Poor Prognosis and Promotes Proliferation, Stemness, Migration, and Oxidative Stress Resistance in Cholangiocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032428. [PMID: 36768755 PMCID: PMC9916965 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is one of the oxidative stress-driven carcinogenesis through chronic inflammation. Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), an adaptor protein of insulin signaling pathways, is associated with the progression of many inflammation-related cancers. This study hypothesized that oxidative stress regulates IRS1 expression and that up-regulation of IRS1 induces CCA progression. The localizations of IRS1 and an oxidative stress marker (8-oxodG) were detected in CCA tissues using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The presence of IRS1 in CCA tissues was confirmed using immortal cholangiocyte cells (MMNK1), a long-term oxidative-stress-induced cell line (ox-MMNK1-L), and five CCA cell lines as cell culture models. IRS1 was overexpressed in tumor cells and this was associated with a shorter patient survival time and an increase in 8-oxodG. IRS1 expression was higher in ox-MMNK1-L cells than in MMNK1 cells. Knockdown of IRS1 by siRNA in two CCA cell lines led to inhibition of proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, invasion, stemness, and oxidative stress resistance properties. Moreover, a transcriptomics study demonstrated that suppressing IRS1 in the KKU-213B CCA cell line reduced the expression levels of several genes and pathways involved in the cellular functions. The findings indicate that IRS1 is a key molecule in the connection between oxidative stress and CCA progression. Therefore, IRS1 and its related genes can be used as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for CCA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleeporn Kaewlert
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Chadamas Sakonsinsiri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Worachart Lert-itthiporn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Piti Ungarreevittaya
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Chawalit Pairojkul
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Somchai Pinlaor
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Mariko Murata
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Raynoo Thanan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-43-363-265
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19
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Brennan CM, Hill AS, St. Andre M, Li X, Madeti V, Breitkopf S, Garren S, Xue L, Gilbert T, Hadjipanayis A, Monetti M, Emerson CP, Moccia R, Owens J, Christoforou N. DUX4 expression activates JNK and p38 MAP kinases in myoblasts. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049516. [PMID: 36196640 PMCID: PMC10655719 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by misexpression of the DUX4 transcription factor in skeletal muscle that results in transcriptional alterations, abnormal phenotypes and cell death. To gain insight into the kinetics of DUX4-induced stresses, we activated DUX4 expression in myoblasts and performed longitudinal RNA sequencing paired with proteomics and phosphoproteomics. This analysis revealed changes in cellular physiology upon DUX4 activation, including DNA damage and altered mRNA splicing. Phosphoproteomic analysis uncovered rapid widespread changes in protein phosphorylation following DUX4 induction, indicating that alterations in kinase signaling might play a role in DUX4-mediated stress and cell death. Indeed, we demonstrate that two stress-responsive MAP kinase pathways, JNK and p38, are activated in response to DUX4 expression. Inhibition of each of these pathways ameliorated DUX4-mediated cell death in myoblasts. These findings uncover that the JNK pathway is involved in DUX4-mediated cell death and provide additional insights into the role of the p38 pathway, a clinical target for the treatment of FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Brennan
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- WRDM Postdoctoral Program, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Abby S. Hill
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Xianfeng Li
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Vijaya Madeti
- NGS Technology Center, Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Susanne Breitkopf
- Proteomics Technology Center, Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Seth Garren
- NGS Technology Center, Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Liang Xue
- Machine Learning and Computational Science, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Tamara Gilbert
- High Content Imaging Technology Center, Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Angela Hadjipanayis
- NGS Technology Center, Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mara Monetti
- Proteomics Technology Center, Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Charles P. Emerson
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Robert Moccia
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jane Owens
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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20
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Elucidation of the potential molecular mechanism of the active compounds of Bryophyllum pinnatum (L. f.) Oken against gastritis based on network pharmacology. CHINESE JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjac.2022.100193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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21
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Grave N, Scheffel TB, Cruz FF, Rockenbach L, Goettert MI, Laufer S, Morrone FB. The functional role of p38 MAPK pathway in malignant brain tumors. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:975197. [PMID: 36299892 PMCID: PMC9589890 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.975197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are extremely debilitating malignant brain tumors with very limited response to therapies. The initiation and progression of gliomas can be attributed to several molecular abnormalities, such as mutations in important regulatory networks. In this regard, the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) arise as key signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. MAPK pathway has been altered in most glial tumors. In glioma cells, the activation of p38 MAPK contributes to tumor invasion and metastasis and is positively correlated with tumor grade, being considered a potential oncogenic factor contributing to brain tumorigenesis and chemotherapy resistance. Hence, a better understanding of glioma pathogenesis is essential to the advancement of therapies that provide extended life expectancy for glioma patients. This review aims to explore the role of the p38 MAPK pathway in the genesis and progression of malignant brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathália Grave
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Aplicada, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Thamiris Becker Scheffel
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Aplicada, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Fernandes Cruz
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Aplicada, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Liliana Rockenbach
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Aplicada, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Márcia Inês Goettert
- Laboratorio de Cultura de Células, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade do Vale do Taquari (Univates), Lajeado, Brazil
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Laufer
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fernanda Bueno Morrone
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Aplicada, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Fernanda Bueno Morrone,
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22
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He S, Dong D, Lin J, Wu B, Nie X, Cai G. Overexpression of TRAF4 promotes lung cancer growth and EGFR-dependent phosphorylation of ERK5. FEBS Open Bio 2022; 12:1747-1760. [PMID: 35748027 PMCID: PMC9527583 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) is overexpressed in a variety of carcinomas of different origins, but its role in tumorigenesis remains incompletely understood. Previous studies suggest that TRAF4 promotes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the downstream signaling pathway of TRAF4-mediated EGFR activation, as well as its effects on tumor cells, have not been fully elucidated. Here we report that TRAF4 overexpression is associated with increased activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in NSCLC tissues. Activation of ERK5 was dependent on TRAF4-mediated EGFR activation, since inhibition of either TRAF4 or EGFR dramatically abolished phosphorylation of ERK5. Mechanistically, EGFR recruited mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3), an upstream kinase of ERK5, in a TRAF4-dependent manner. Thus, our data suggest that an EGFR-TRAF4-MEKK3-ERK5 axis promotes the proliferation of tumor cells, and this may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwei He
- Department of Laboratory MedicineRuijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineChina
| | - Danfeng Dong
- Department of Laboratory MedicineRuijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineChina
| | - Jiafei Lin
- Department of Laboratory MedicineRuijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineChina
| | - Beiying Wu
- Department of Laboratory MedicineRuijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineChina
| | - Xiaomeng Nie
- Department of Respiratory DiseasesChanghai Hospital, the Second Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Gang Cai
- Department of Laboratory MedicineRuijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineChina
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Shu S, Liu H, Yang J, Tang H, Li H, Liu Z, Zhou M, Zhu F, Hu Z, Ding K, Lu X, Nie J. Targeted inhibition of ZAK ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis. Transl Res 2022; 246:49-65. [PMID: 35276386 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
ZAK (sterile alpha motif and leucine zipper-containing kinase) is a newly discovered member of the subfamily of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAP3Ks). The role of ZAK in kidney disease remains largely unknown. In this study, we systematically investigated the expression and function of ZAK in the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF). ZAK was induced, predominantly in tubular epithelium, in both fibrotic kidneys of human and mouse models with TIF. ZAK expression level was correlated with the extent of renal fibrosis and the decline of eGFR of CKD patients. Depleting ZAK attenuated TIF and inflammation induced by unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO) together with decreased activation of p38 MAPK and Smads signaling. Moreover, we demonstrated that overexpressed ZAK was in complex with Smad2/3 and TGF-β receptor Ⅰ (TβRI). Whereas, silencing endogenous ZAK ameliorated the amount of Smad2/3 recruited to TβRI. Moreover, we discovered a novel small molecule inhibitor of ZAK, named 6p. In vitro, incubation with 6p inhibited TGF-β1-induced fibrogenic response in NRK52E cells. In vivo, intragastric administration of 6p ameliorated TIF and inflammation in UUO and unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury model. Delayed administration of 6p was also effective in retarding the progression of the established TIF. In conclusion, ZAK is a novel therapeutic target for TIF, and 6p might be a potential therapeutic agent for TIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangshuang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Han Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jianzhang Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Haie Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Hao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhuoliang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Miaomiao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Fengxin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Ke Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyun Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jing Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
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Rasmi Y, Hatamkhani S, Naderi R, Shokati A, Nayeb Zadeh V, Hosseinzadeh F, Farnamian Y, Jalali L. Molecular signaling pathways, pathophysiological features in various organs, and treatment strategies in SARS-CoV2 infection. Acta Histochem 2022; 124:151908. [PMID: 35662001 PMCID: PMC9130726 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2022.151908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cytokine storms and extra-activated cytokine signaling pathways can lead to severe tissue damage and patient death. Activation of inflammatory signaling pathways during Cytokine storms are an important factor in the development of acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), which is the major health problem today, causing systemic and local inflammation. Cytokine storms attract many inflammatory cells that attack the lungs and other organs and cause tissue damage. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) are expressed in a different type of tissues. inhibition of ACE2 activity impairs renin-angiotensin (RAS) function, which is related to the severity of symptoms and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients. Different signaling cascades are activated, affecting various organs during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nowadays, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19, but scientists have recognized and proposed several treatment alternatives, including applying cytokine inhibitors, immunomodulators, and plasma therapy. Herein, we have provided the detailed mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 induced cytokine signaling and its connection with pathophysiological features in different organs. Possible treatment options to cope with the severe clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Rasmi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center,Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Shima Hatamkhani
- Experimental and Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Roya Naderi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Physiology, school of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ameneh Shokati
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Faezeh Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Tissue Engineering, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
| | - Yeganeh Farnamian
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ladan Jalali
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center,Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
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25
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Chen Q, Wei Y, Zhao Y, Xie X, Kuang N, Wei Y, Yu M, Hu T. Intervening Effects and Molecular Mechanism of Quercitrin on PCV2-Induced Histone Acetylation, Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response in 3D4/2 Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11050941. [PMID: 35624806 PMCID: PMC9137775 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11050941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the main pathogen causing porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVD/PCVADs), and infection of the host induces immunosuppression. Since quercitrin (QUE) has anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity, it is worth exploiting in animal diseases. In this study, the interventional effects and the molecular mechanism of QUE on PCV2-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in 3D4/2 cells and the modulation of histone acetylation modifications were investigated. The ROS production was measured by DCFH-DA fluorescent probes. HAT and HDAC enzyme activity were determined by ELISA. Histone acetylation, oxidative stress and inflammation-related gene expression levels were measured by q-PCR. Histone H3 and H4 (AcH3 and AcH4) acetylation, oxidative stress and inflammation-related protein expression levels were measured by Western blot. The results showed that QUE treatment at different concentrations on PCV2-infected 3D4/2 cells was able to attenuate the production of ROS. Moreover, QUE treatment could also intervene in oxidative stress and decrease the enzyme activity of HAT and the mRNA expression level of HAT1, while it increased the enzyme activity of HDAC and HDAC1 mRNA expression levels and downregulated histone H3 and H4 (AcH3 and AcH4) acetylation modification levels. In addition, QUE treatment even downregulated the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, IκB, AKT and p38, but upregulated the mRNA expression levels of IL-10, SOD, GPx1, p65, Keap1, Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1. As to protein expression, QUE treatment downregulated the levels of iNOS, p-p65 and IL-8 as well as the phosphorylation expression of IκB and p38, while it upregulated the levels of HO-1 and NQO1. It was shown that QUE at 25, 50 or 100 μmol/L regulated p38MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways by downregulating cellular histone acetylation modification levels while inhibiting the NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway, thus regulating the production of inflammatory and antioxidant factors and exerting both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
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Maloney RC, Zhang M, Liu Y, Jang H, Nussinov R. The mechanism of activation of MEK1 by B-Raf and KSR1. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:281. [PMID: 35508574 PMCID: PMC9068654 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04296-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
MEK1 interactions with B-Raf and KSR1 are key steps in Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. Despite this, vital mechanistic details of how these execute signal transduction are still enigmatic. Among these is why, despite B-Raf and KSR1 kinase domains similarity, the B-Raf/MEK1 and KSR1/MEK1 complexes have distinct contributions to MEK1 activation, and broadly, what is KSR1's role. Our molecular dynamics simulations clarify these still unresolved ambiguities. Our results reveal that the proline-rich (P-rich) loop of MEK1 plays a decisive role in MEK1 activation loop (A-loop) phosphorylation. In the inactive B-Raf/MEK1 heterodimer, the collapsed A-loop of B-Raf interacts with the P-rich loop and A-loop of MEK1, minimizing MEK1 A-loop fluctuation and preventing it from phosphorylation. In the active B-Raf/MEK1 heterodimer, the P-rich loop moves in concert with the A-loop of B-Raf as it extends. This reduces the number of residues interacting with MEK1 A-loop, allowing increased A-loop fluctuation, and bringing Ser222 closer to ATP for phosphorylation. B-Raf αG-helix Arg662 promotes MEK1 activation by orienting Ser218 towards ATP. In KSR1/MEK1, the KSR1 αG-helix has Ala826 in place of B-Raf Arg662. This difference results in much fewer interactions between KSR1 αG-helix and MEK1 A-loop, thus a more flexible A-loop. We postulate that if KSR1 were to adopt an active configuration with an extended A-loop as seen in other protein kinases, then the MEK1 P-rich loop would extend in a similar manner, as seen in the active B-Raf/MEK1 heterodimer. This would result in highly flexible MEK1 A-loop, and KSR1 functioning as an active, B-Raf-like, kinase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Maloney
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Mingzhen Zhang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Yonglan Liu
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA.
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Li Y, Li F, Feng C, Wu T, Chen Y, Shah JA, Wang F, Cai Y, Wang J, Jin J. MiR-372-3p Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Colon Cancer by Targeting MAP3K2. Front Genet 2022; 13:836256. [PMID: 35432472 PMCID: PMC9006175 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.836256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as small non-coding RNA transcripts bind their complementary sequences in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to regulate their expression. It is known that miR-372 belongs to the miR-371–373 gene cluster and has been found to be abnormally expressed in a variety of cancers, but its precise mechanism in cancer remains to be discovered. In this study, miR-372-3p expression was assessed in 153 frozen tissue samples, including primary diagnosed colon cancer and matched normal and adjacent tissues, using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). An analysis of qPCR data revealed a significant reduction in miR-372-3p expression (by >2-fold) in colon cancer tissues in 51.5% (34/66) of patients. Consistent with this, mimicking the increased miR-372-3p levels in SW480 colon cancer cells significantly suppressed cell growth and proliferation. Although no direct correlation was found between the low level of miR-372-3p and certain tumor-related factors, such as p53, HRE-2, PMS2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, HDAC4, p21, and Wee1, in colon cancer tissues, an inverse relationship between miR-372-3p and Ki67 (a marker of proliferation) or miR-372-3p and MAP3K2(MEKK2), which plays a critical role in the MAPK signaling pathways, was confirmed using tissue samples. The target relationship between miR-372-3p and MAP3K2 was verified using luciferase assays in SW480 colon cancer cells. As expected, miR-372-3p mimics significantly suppressed the luciferase activity of pMIR-luc/MAP3K2 3′-UTR in cells, suggesting that miR-372-3p modulates the expression of MAP3K2 by directly targeting its 3′-UTR. Overall, the results obtained herein suggest that miR-372-3p may function as a tumor-suppressor miRNA in colon cancer by targeting MAP3K2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Li
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, Changchun Children’s Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Fuqiang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- School of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Chang Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tingting Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuyang Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | | | - Fei Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yong Cai
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- School of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Jianfeng Wang, ; Jingji Jin,
| | - Jingji Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- School of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Jianfeng Wang, ; Jingji Jin,
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Kelley MB, Geddes TJ, Ochiai M, Lampl NM, Kothmann WW, Fierstein SR, Kent V, DeCicco-Skinner K. Loss of Tpl2 activates compensatory signaling and resistance to EGFR/MET dual inhibition in v-RAS transduced keratinocytes. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266017. [PMID: 35325006 PMCID: PMC8947257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer in the United States, affecting one million people per year. Patients with aggressive disease have limited treatment options and high mortality, highlighting the need to identify new biomarkers linked to poor clinical outcome. HRAS mutations are found in skin papillomas and cSCCs and increase in frequency when MAP3K family members are inhibited, suggesting a link between blockade of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and initiation of RAS-primed cells. Tpl2, a MAP3K gene, can serve as a tumor suppressor gene in cSCC. We have previously shown that upon Tpl2 ablation, mice have heightened sensitivity to aberrant RAS signaling. Tpl2-/- mice display significantly higher numbers of papillomas and cSCCs in two-stage chemical carcinogenesis studies and increased tumorigenicity of keratinocytes expressing oncogenic v-rasHa in nude mouse skin grafts. In part, this is mediated through increased mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) receptor activity. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is reported to be an essential factor for MET-driven carcinogenesis and MET activation may confer resistance to EGFR therapies, suggesting that the concurrent use of both an EGFR inhibitor and a MET inhibitor may show promise in advanced cSCCs. In this study we assessed whether normal or Ras-transformed Tpl2-/- keratinocytes have aberrant EGFR signaling and whether concomitant treatment with EGFR/MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors was more effective than single agents in reducing growth and angiogenic potential of Ras-transformed keratinocytes. Tpl2-/- keratinocytes exhibited increased HER-2 and STAT-3 under basal conditions and elevated p-MET and p-EGFR when transduced with oncogenic RAS. Inhibition of MET by Capmatinib increased p-EGFR in Tpl2-/- keratinocytes and papillomas, and inhibition of EGFR by Gefitinib increased HER2 and HER3 signaling in both genotypes. Treatment of keratinocytes with EGFR and MET inhibitors, in combination, significantly enhanced endothelial tube formation, MMP-9 activity and activation of other RTKs, with more pronounced effects when Tpl2 was ablated. These data indicate that Tpl2 cross-talks with both EGFR and MET signaling pathways. Upon inhibition of EGFR/MET signaling, a myriad of escape mechanisms exists in keratinocytes to overcome targeted drug effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary B. Kelley
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Taylor J. Geddes
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Maria Ochiai
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Noah M. Lampl
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - W. Wade Kothmann
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Sara R. Fierstein
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Victoria Kent
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, United States of America
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29
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Osman N, Shawky AEM, Brylinski M. Exploring the effects of genetic variation on gene regulation in cancer in the context of 3D genome structure. BMC Genom Data 2022; 23:13. [PMID: 35176995 PMCID: PMC8851830 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-021-01021-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted to date revealed genetic variants associated with various diseases, including breast and prostate cancers. Despite the availability of these large-scale data, relatively few variants have been functionally characterized, mainly because the majority of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) map to the non-coding regions of the human genome. The functional characterization of these non-coding variants and the identification of their target genes remain challenging. Results In this communication, we explore the potential functional mechanisms of non-coding SNPs by integrating GWAS with the high-resolution chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) data for breast and prostate cancers. We show that more genetic variants map to regulatory elements through the 3D genome structure than the 1D linear genome lacking physical chromatin interactions. Importantly, the association of enhancers, transcription factors, and their target genes with breast and prostate cancers tends to be higher when these regulatory elements are mapped to high-risk SNPs through spatial interactions compared to simply using a linear proximity. Finally, we demonstrate that topologically associating domains (TADs) carrying high-risk SNPs also contain gene regulatory elements whose association with cancer is generally higher than those belonging to control TADs containing no high-risk variants. Conclusions Our results suggest that many SNPs may contribute to the cancer development by affecting the expression of certain tumor-related genes through long-range chromatin interactions with gene regulatory elements. Integrating large-scale genetic datasets with the 3D genome structure offers an attractive and unique approach to systematically investigate the functional mechanisms of genetic variants in disease risk and progression. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12863-021-01021-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha Osman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, National Research Centre, Giza, 12622, Egypt.,Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Abd-El-Monsif Shawky
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Michal Brylinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA. .,Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
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30
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Oladejo AO, Li Y, Imam BH, Ma X, Shen W, Wu X, Jiang W, Yang J, Lv Y, Ding X, Wang S, Yan Z. MicroRNA miR-24-3p Mediates the Negative Regulation of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Endometrial Inflammatory Response by Targeting TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 (TRAF6). J Inflamm Res 2022; 15:807-825. [PMID: 35173455 PMCID: PMC8831117 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s347293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Endometritis is a female reproductive disease that affects the cattle industries development and microRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role and critical regulators of the innate immune response in varieties of diseases. The present study intends to investigate the regulatory role of miR‐24-3p in the innate immune response involved in endometritis and evaluate its therapeutic potential. Methods Whole mice uteri and bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEECs) were separately stimulated with LPS. The BEECs were also transfected with miR-24-3p mimic and negative control; siTRAF6 and siNC; pcDNA3.1 empty and pcDNA3.1(+)TRAF6 separately with LPS stimulation. The expression levels of miR‐24-3p and TRAF6 were measured via quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. LPS‐induced inflammatory response assessed by inflammatory cytokines secretion and expression via ELISA and qRT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay validated the interaction between miR‐24-3p and TRAF6. The activation of the NF‐ĸB/MAPK pathway and p65 phosphorylation was investigated by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. Results The expression of miR‐24-3p was decreased, and TRAF6 was elevated with an increased level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS‐treated BEECs and mice uterus. The overexpression of miR‐24-3p suppressed LPS‐induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL-8 and TNF-α) and deactivation of NF‐ĸB/MAPK pathways. The downregulation of TRAF6 inhibited LPS‐induced inflammatory response in BEECs. TRAF6 is validated as a target of miR‐24-3p, and miR‐24-3p reversed the overexpression of cloned TRAF6 on inflammation response in BEECs. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that the overexpression of miR‐24-3p attenuates endometrial inflammation and the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators via suppressing TRAF6. Therefore, modulating the pathogenesis of endometritis and possibly, a therapeutic potential against endometritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodele Olaolu Oladejo
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Animal Health Technology, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, 201103, Nigeria
| | - Yajuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bereket Habte Imam
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Veterinary Science, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, 397, Eritrea
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenxiang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaohu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanan Lv
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuezhi Ding
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zuoting Yan
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Zuoting Yan, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613919067215, Email
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Enomoto A, Fukasawa T, Terunuma H, Nakagawa K, Yoshizaki A, Sato S, Miyagawa K. Decrease in MAP3Ks expression enhances the cell death caused by hyperthermia. Int J Hyperthermia 2022; 39:200-208. [PMID: 35042442 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2021.2024281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Hyperthermia is a promising anticancer treatment modality. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the thermal sensitivity of tumor cells is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify how biochemical changes triggered by heat stimulate antitumor activity. METHODS AND MATERIALS The expression levels of various MAPK members in HeLa cells with or without hyperthermia were evaluated by western blotting and RT-PCR. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i was monitored by digital imaging using CaTM-2 AM. An in vitro cleavage assay was used to determine whether calcium-dependent protease calpain cleaves MAPK components. Cell proliferation and clonogenicity were assessed in the absence or presence of siRNAs targeting MAPK members. RESULTS Hyperthermia decreased the levels of MAP3K TAK1, RAF1 and MEKK2 but not of the downstream MAP2K and MAPK members. The hyperthermia-induced degradation of TAK1 and MEKK2 was rescued by either the proteasome inhibitor MG132 or the calpain inhibitor ALLN; however, RAF1 was not affected by the inhibitors. Heat induced down regulation of RAF1. Hyperthermia increased [Ca2+]i and calpain I expression. The calcium ionophore A23187 decreased TAK1 and MEKK2 levels. An in vitro cleavage assay demonstrated that TAK1 and MEKK2 are calpain I substrates. Knockdown of TAK1, RAF1 and MEKK2 suppressed cell proliferation and clonogenicity. CONCLUSIONS Hyperthermia decreased the levels of MAP3K TAK1, RAF1 and MEKK2, without reduction of the downstream components in the MAP3K-MAP2K-MAPK cascade, by a calpain-dependent degradation pathway or transcriptional regulation. TAK1, RAF1 and/or MEKK2 play crucial roles in cell proliferation and clonogenicity and are potential molecular targets for hyperthermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Enomoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Radiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takemichi Fukasawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Radiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Keiichi Nakagawa
- Comprehensive Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayumi Yoshizaki
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichi Sato
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Miyagawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Radiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Mathien S, Tesnière C, Meloche S. Regulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Its Pharmacological Potential. Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:263-296. [PMID: 34732541 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways that play essential roles in transducing extracellular environmental signals into diverse cellular responses to maintain homeostasis. These pathways are classically organized into an architecture of three sequentially acting protein kinases: a MAPK kinase kinase that phosphorylates and activates a MAPK kinase, which in turn phosphorylates and activates the effector MAPK. The activity of MAPKs is tightly regulated by phosphorylation of their activation loop, which can be modulated by positive and negative feedback mechanisms to control the amplitude and duration of the signal. The signaling outcomes of MAPK pathways are further regulated by interactions of MAPKs with scaffolding and regulatory proteins. Accumulating evidence indicates that, in addition to these mechanisms, MAPK signaling is commonly regulated by ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)-mediated control of the stability and abundance of MAPK pathway components. Notably, the biologic activity of some MAPKs appears to be regulated mainly at the level of protein turnover. Recent studies have started to explore the potential of targeted protein degradation as a powerful strategy to investigate the biologic functions of individual MAPK pathway components and as a new therapeutic approach to overcome resistance to current small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Here, we comprehensively review the mechanisms, physiologic importance, and pharmacological potential of UPS-mediated protein degradation in the control of MAPK signaling. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of targeted protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in regulating and fine-tuning the signaling output of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Manipulating protein levels of MAPK cascade components may provide a novel approach for the development of selective pharmacological tools and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Mathien
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chloé Tesnière
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Meloche
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Associations of Polymorphisms Localized in the 3'UTR Regions of the KRAS, NRAS, MAPK1 Genes with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111679. [PMID: 34828284 PMCID: PMC8625477 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Genetic variations, localized in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-related genes, may alter the transcription and impact the pathogenesis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). The present study investigated the associations of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), localized in the 3′UTR) of the KRAS, NRAS, and MAPK1 genes with LSCC risk and clinicopathological features. Methods: Genomic DNA and clinical data were collected from 327 adult men with LSCC. The control group was formed from 333 healthy men. Genotyping of the SNPs was performed using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Five KRAS, NRAS, and MAPK1 polymorphisms were analyzed. All studied genotypes were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and had the same allele distribution as the 1000 Genomes project Phase 3 dataset for the European population. Results: Significant associations of the studied SNPs with reduced LSCC risk were observed between NRAS rs14804 major genotype CC. Significant associations of the studied SNPs with clinicopathologic variables were also observed between NRAS rs14804 minor T allele and advanced tumor stage and positive lymph node status. SNP of MAPK1 rs9340 was associated with distant metastasis. Moreover, haplotype analysis of two KRAS SNPs rs712 and rs7973450 revealed that TG haplotype was associated with positive lymph node status in LSCC patients. Conclusions: According to the present study, 3′UTR SNP in the NRAS and MAPK1 genes may contribute to the identifications of patients at higher risk of LSCC lymph node and distant metastasis development.
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Chen X, Chen Z, Wu H, Liu X, Nie F, Wang Z, Sun M. Comprehensive Genomic Characterization Analysis Identifies an Oncogenic Pseudogene RP11-3543B.1 in Human Gastric Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:743652. [PMID: 34660601 PMCID: PMC8511815 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.743652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Gastrointestinal Cancer (GICs) is the most common group of malignancies, and many of its types are the leading causes of cancer related death worldwide. Pseudogenes have been revealed to have critical regulatory roles in human cancers. The objective of this study is to comprehensive characterize the pseudogenes expression profiling and identify key pseudogenes in the development of gastric cancer (GC). Methods: The pseudogenes expression profiling was analyzed in six types of GICs cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq data to identify GICs cancer related pseudogenes. Meanwhile, the genomic characterization including somatic alterations of pseudogenes was analyzed. Then, CCK8 and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate the biological function of RP11-3543B.1 and miR-145 in gastric cancer cells. The mechanisms of pseudogene RP11-3543B.1 in GC cells were explored via using bioinformatics analysis, next generation sequencing and lucifarese reporter assay. Results: We identified a great number of pseudogenes with significantly altered expression in GICs, and some of these pseudogenes expressed differently among the six cancer types. The amplification or deletion in the pseudogenes-containing loci involved in the alterations of pseudogenes expression in GICs. Among these altered pseudogenes, RP11-3543B.1 is significantly upregulated in gastric cancer. Down-regulation of RP11-3543B.1 expression impaired GC cells proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. RP11-3543B.1 exerts oncogene function via targeting miR-145-5p to regulate MAPK4 expression in gastric cancer cells. Conclusion: Our study reveals the potential of pseudogenes expression as a new paradigm for investigating GI cancer tumorigenesis and discovering prognostic biomarkers for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenyao Chen
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xianghua Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fengqi Nie
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ming Sun
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
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35
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Sahana TG, Zhang K. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9080969. [PMID: 34440173 PMCID: PMC8394856 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9080969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal motor neuron degenerative disease. Multiple genetic and non-genetic risk factors are associated with disease pathogenesis, and several cellular processes, including protein homeostasis, RNA metabolism, vesicle transport, etc., are severely impaired in ALS conditions. Despite the heterogeneity of the disease manifestation and progression, ALS patients show protein aggregates in the motor cortex and spinal cord tissue, which is believed to be at least partially caused by aberrant phase separation and the formation of persistent stress granules. Consistent with this notion, many studies have implicated cellular stress, such as ER stress, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and growth factor depletion, in ALS conditions. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a fundamental mitogen/stress-activated signal transduction pathway that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and death. Here we summarize the fundamental role of MAPK in physiology and ALS pathogenesis. We also discuss pharmacological inhibitors targeting this pathway tested in pre-clinical models, suggesting their role as potential drug candidates.
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36
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Investigation of Anti-Tumor Effects of an MLK1 Inhibitor in Prostate and Pancreatic Cancers. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10080742. [PMID: 34439974 PMCID: PMC8389662 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Both prostate and pancreatic cancers are ranked in the top five leading causes of cancer death in American. In prostate cancer, the mainstay of therapeutic approaches is inhibition of the androgen receptor; however, resistance occurs within two years. In pancreatic cancer, there is no targeted therapy available, and patients have the worst survival rate compared to all other types of cancer. We identified a novel MLK1 inhibitor (NSC14465) and demonstrated anti-tumor ability in both prostate and pancreatic cancers. Abstract It was shown that mixed lineage kinase 1 (MLK1) regulates pancreatic cancer growth; however, its role in prostate cancer remains unclear. We showed that MLK1 is a tumor marker in prostate cancer by analyzing clinical gene expression data and identified a novel MLK1 inhibitor (NSC14465) from the compound library of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) using a MLK1 protein structure. The inhibitory effects of MLK1 were validated by an in vitro kinase assay and by monitoring phosphorylation signaling, and the anti-proliferation function was shown in several prostate and pancreatic cancer cell lines. We also demonstrated anti-tumor ability and prevention of cancer-related weight loss in a syngeneic orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer that mimicked the tumor growth environment in the pancreas. Our results demonstrate that the MLK1 inhibitor is an anti-tumor agent for malignant prostate and pancreatic cancers.
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He J, Liu T, Li Y, Mi X, Han D, Yang N, Chen L, Li Y, Hong J, Kuang C, Yuan Y, Cao Y, Han Y, Shi C, Li Z, Guo X. JNK inhibition alleviates delayed neurocognitive recovery after surgery by limiting microglia pyroptosis. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 99:107962. [PMID: 34298396 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR) is a prevalent complication after surgery in older adults. Neuroinflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of dNCR. Recently,compelling evidence suggests that theinvolvement of microglia pyroptosis in the regulation of neuroinflammation in neurologicaldiseases. Nevertheless, the exact role of microglia pyroptosis in dNCR remains elusive. In the study, in vitro and in vivo models of dNCR were used to examine the potential effects of the mitogen‑activated protein kinase signaling pathway on Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated microglia pyroptosis and cognitive deficits following surgery. In vivo, we observed surgery-induced upregulation of phosphorylated (p)-c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) in microglia and subsequently NLRP3 inflammasome activation, pyroptosis, and inflammatory cytokines release in mice hippocampus. Interestingly, JNK inhibitor SP600125 significantly attenuated surgery-induced cognitive impairments through inhibiting pyroptosis, inflammatory responses, and reducing immunoreactivity of NLRP3 and gasdermin D N terminus (GSDMD-N) in hippocampal microglia. In vitro, NLRP3 inflammasome- and pyroptosis-associated proteins and immunoreactivity of NLRP3, GSDMD-N, and interleukin-1β were activated in BV2 microglial cells following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. These effects were significantly suppressed in BV2 cells by SP600125 treatment. Furthermore, treatment with NLRP3 specific inhibitor, MCC950, attenuated microglia pyroptosis induced by LPS, but did not rescue LPS-induced increased expression of p-JNK. These results indicate that the JNK pathway is largely upstream of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which exerts a crucial regulatory impact on microglia pyroptosis and inflammatory responses, thus providing a promising avenue to prevent dNCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindan He
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Taotao Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xinning Mi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Dengyang Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yitong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jingshu Hong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Chongshen Kuang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yi Yuan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - Yiyun Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital East Affiliated with Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yongzheng Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Chengmei Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhengqian Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Xiangyang Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
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Shen Y, Lin Y, Liu K, Chen J, Zhong J, Gao Y, Yuan C. XIST: A Meaningful Long Noncoding RNA in NSCLC Process. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:1407-1417. [PMID: 33267757 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826999201202102413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A number of studies have proposed that lncRNA XIST plays a role in the development and chemosensitivity of NSCLC. Besides, XIST may become a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC patients. The aim of this review is to reveal the biological functions and exact mechanisms of XIST in NSCLC. METHODS In this review, relevant researches involving the relationship between XIST and NSCLC are collected through systematic retrieval of PubMed. RESULTS XIST is an oncogene in NSCLC and is abnormally upregulated in NSCLC tissues. Considerable evidence has shown that XIST plays a critical role in the proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis and chemosensitivity of NSCLC cells. XIST mainly functions as a ceRNA in the NSCLC process, while XIST also functions at transcriptional levels. CONCLUSION LncRNA XIST has the potential to become a novel biomolecular marker of NSCLC and a therapeutic target for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Shen
- College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Yexiang Lin
- College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Kai Liu
- College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Jinlan Chen
- College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Juanjuan Zhong
- College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Yisong Gao
- College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Chengfu Yuan
- College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
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39
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Ullah R, Yin Q, Snell AH, Wan L. RAF-MEK-ERK pathway in cancer evolution and treatment. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 85:123-154. [PMID: 33992782 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The RAF-MEK-ERK signaling cascade is a well-characterized MAPK pathway involved in cell proliferation and survival. The three-layered MAPK signaling cascade is initiated upon RTK and RAS activation. Three RAF isoforms ARAF, BRAF and CRAF, and their downstream MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 kinases constitute a coherently orchestrated signaling module that directs a range of physiological functions. Genetic alterations in this pathway are among the most prevalent in human cancers, which consist of numerous hot-spot mutations such as BRAFV600E. Oncogenic mutations in this pathway often override otherwise tightly regulated checkpoints to open the door for uncontrolled cell growth and neoplasia. The crosstalk between the RAF-MEK-ERK axis and other signaling pathways further extends the proliferative potential of this pathway in human cancers. In this review, we summarize the molecular architecture and physiological functions of the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway with emphasis on its dysregulations in human cancers, as well as the efforts made to target the RAF-MEK-ERK module using small molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahim Ullah
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Qing Yin
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Aidan H Snell
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Lixin Wan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA; Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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40
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Shendy NAM, Broadhurst AL, Shoemaker K, Read R, Abell AN. MAP3K4 kinase activity dependent control of mouse gonadal sex determination†. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:491-502. [PMID: 33912929 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex determination requires the commitment of bipotential gonads to either a testis or an ovarian fate. Gene deletion of the kinase Map3k4 results in gonadal sex reversal in XY mice, and transgenic re-expression of Map3k4 rescues the sex reversal phenotype. Map3k4 encodes a large, multi-functional protein possessing a kinase domain and several, additional protein-protein interaction domains. Although MAP3K4 plays a critical role in male gonadal sex determination, it is unknown if the kinase activity of MAP3K4 is required. Here, we use mice expressing full-length, kinase-inactive MAP3K4 from the endogenous Map3k4 locus to examine the requirement of MAP3K4 kinase activity in sex determination. Although homozygous kinase-inactivation of MAP3K4 (Map3k4KI/KI) is lethal, a small fraction survive to adulthood. We show Map3k4KI/KI adults exhibit a 4:1 female-biased sex ratio. Many adult Map3k4KI/KI phenotypic females have a Y chromosome. XY Map3k4KI/KI adults with sex reversal display female mating behavior, but do not give rise to offspring. Reproductive organs are overtly female, but there is a broad spectrum of ovarian phenotypes, including ovarian absence, primitive ovaries, reduced ovarian size, and ovaries having follicles in all stages of development. Further, XY Map3k4KI/KI adults are smaller than either male or female Map3k4WT/WT mice. Examination of the critical stage of gonadal sex determination at E11.5 shows that loss of MAP3K4 kinase activity results in the loss of Sry expression in XY Map3k4KI/KI embryos, indicating embryonic male gonadal sex reversal. Together, these findings demonstrate the essential role for kinase activity of MAP3K4 in male gonadal sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha A M Shendy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Amber L Broadhurst
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kristin Shoemaker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Robert Read
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Amy N Abell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
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41
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Ottaviano M, Giunta EF, Tortora M, Curvietto M, Attademo L, Bosso D, Cardalesi C, Rosanova M, De Placido P, Pietroluongo E, Riccio V, Mucci B, Parola S, Vitale MG, Palmieri G, Daniele B, Simeone E. BRAF Gene and Melanoma: Back to the Future. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073474. [PMID: 33801689 PMCID: PMC8037827 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As widely acknowledged, 40-50% of all melanoma patients harbour an activating BRAF mutation (mostly BRAF V600E). The identification of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK (MAP kinase) signalling pathway and its targeting has represented a valuable milestone for the advanced and, more recently, for the completely resected stage III and IV melanoma therapy management. However, despite progress in BRAF-mutant melanoma treatment, the two different approaches approved so far for metastatic disease, immunotherapy and BRAF+MEK inhibitors, allow a 5-year survival of no more than 60%, and most patients relapse during treatment due to acquired mechanisms of resistance. Deep insight into BRAF gene biology is fundamental to describe the acquired resistance mechanisms (primary and secondary) and to understand the molecular pathways that are now being investigated in preclinical and clinical studies with the aim of improving outcomes in BRAF-mutant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Ottaviano
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
- CRCTR Coordinating Rare Tumors Reference Center of Campania Region, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.T.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Emilio Francesco Giunta
- Department of Precision Medicine, Università Degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Marianna Tortora
- CRCTR Coordinating Rare Tumors Reference Center of Campania Region, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.T.); (G.P.)
| | - Marcello Curvietto
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.C.); (M.G.V.); (E.S.)
| | - Laura Attademo
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Davide Bosso
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Cinzia Cardalesi
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Mario Rosanova
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Pietro De Placido
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Erica Pietroluongo
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Vittorio Riccio
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Brigitta Mucci
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Sara Parola
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Maria Grazia Vitale
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.C.); (M.G.V.); (E.S.)
| | - Giovannella Palmieri
- CRCTR Coordinating Rare Tumors Reference Center of Campania Region, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.T.); (G.P.)
| | - Bruno Daniele
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Ester Simeone
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.C.); (M.G.V.); (E.S.)
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Gentile S, Eskandari N, Rieger MA, Cuevas BD. MEKK1 Regulates Chemokine Expression in Mammary Fibroblasts: Implications for the Breast Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:609918. [PMID: 33868996 PMCID: PMC8044940 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.609918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast tumors contain both transformed epithelial cells and non-transformed stroma cells producing secreted factors that can promote metastasis. Previously, we demonstrated that the kinase MEKK1 regulates cell migration and gene expression, and that transgene-induced breast tumor metastasis is markedly inhibited in MEKK1-deficient mice. In this report, we examined the role of MEKK1 in stroma cell gene expression and the consequent effect on breast tumor cell function. Using a heterotypic cell system to quantify the effect of stroma cells on breast tumor cell function, we discovered that MEKK1-/- fibroblasts are significantly less effective at inducing tumor cell invasion than MEKK1+/+ fibroblasts. Expression array analysis revealed that both baseline and tumor cell-induced expression of the chemokines CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5 were markedly reduced in MEKK1-/- mammary fibroblasts. By focusing on the role of MEKK1 in CCL5 regulation, we discovered that MEKK1 kinase activity promotes CCL5 expression, and inactive mutant MEKK1 strongly inhibits CCL5 transcription. CCL5 and the other MEKK1-dependent chemokines are ligands for the GPCR CCR5, and we show that the CCR5 antagonist Maraviroc strongly inhibits fibroblast-induced tumor cell migration. Finally, we report that fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF-5) is secreted by MDA-MB 231 cells, that FGF-5 activates MEKK1 effectors ERK1/2 and NFκB in fibroblasts, and that chemical inhibition of NFκB inhibits CCL5 expression. Our results suggest that MEKK1 contributes to the formation of a breast tumor microenvironment that supports metastasis by promoting expression of stroma cell chemokine genes in response to tumor cell-induced paracrine signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saverio Gentile
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Najmeh Eskandari
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Michael A Rieger
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Bruce D Cuevas
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
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Guo W, Wang Q, Pan S, Li J, Wang Y, Shu Y, Chen J, Wang Q, Zhang S, Zhang X, Yue J. The ERK1/2-ATG13-FIP200 signaling cascade is required for autophagy induction to protect renal cells from hypoglycemia-induced cell death. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:6932-6947. [PMID: 33682133 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved lysosomal degradation pathway, is known to regulate a variety of physiological and pathological processes. At present, the function and the precise mechanism of autophagy regulation in kidney and renal cells remain elusive. Here, we explored the role of ERK1 and ERK2 (referred as ERK1/2 hereafter) in autophagy regulation in renal cells in response to hypoglycemia. Glucose starvation potently and transiently activated ERK1/2 in renal cells, and this was concomitant with an increase in autophagic flux. Perturbing ERK1/2 activation by treatment with inhibitors of RAF or MEK1/2, via the expression of a dominant-negative mutant form of MEK1/2 or RAS, blocked hypoglycemia-mediated ERK1/2 activation and autophagy induction in renal cells. Glucose starvation also induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in renal cells, which was involved in the activation of the ERK1/2 cascade and the induction of autophagy in renal cells. Interestingly, ATG13 and FIP200, the members of the ULK1 complex, contain the ERK consensus phosphorylation sites, and glucose starvation induced an association between ATG13 or FIP200 and ERK1/2. Moreover, the expression of the phospho-defective mutants of ATG13 and FIP200 in renal cells blocked glucose starvation-induced autophagy and rendered cells more susceptible to hypoglycemia-induced cell death. However, the expression of the phospho-mimic mutants of ATG13 and FIP200 induced autophagy and protected renal cells from hypoglycemia-induced cell death. Taken together, our results demonstrate that hypoglycemia activates the ERK1/2 signaling to regulate ATG13 and FIP200, thereby stimulating autophagy to protect the renal cells from hypoglycemia-induced cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Guo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Scientific Instruments Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Shihua Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinbing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanhua Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yahai Shu
- Scientific Instruments Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaheng Chen
- Scientific Instruments Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qizheng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianbo Yue
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.,City University of Hong Kong Chengdu Research Institute, Chengdu, China
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MEKK2 and MEKK3 orchestrate multiple signals to regulate Hippo pathway. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100400. [PMID: 33571521 PMCID: PMC7948509 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hippo pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that controls organ size in animals via the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. It consists of a kinase cascade, in which MST1/2 and MAP4Ks phosphorylate and activate LATS1/2, which in turn phosphorylate and inhibit YAP/TAZ activity. A variety of signals can modulate LATS1/2 kinase activity to regulate Hippo pathway. However, the full mechanistic details of kinase-mediated regulation of Hippo pathway signaling remain elusive. Here, we report that TNF activates LATS1/2 and inhibits YAP/TAZ activity through MEKK2/3. Furthermore, MEKK2/3 act in parallel to MST1/2 and MAP4Ks to regulate LATS1/2 and YAP/TAZ in response to various signals, such as serum and actin dynamics. Mechanistically, we show that MEKK2/3 interact with LATS1/2 and YAP/TAZ and phosphorylate them. In addition, Striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex associates with MEKK3 via CCM2 and CCM3 to inactivate MEKK3 kinase activity. Upstream signals of Hippo pathway trigger the dissociation of MEKK3 from STRIPAK complex to release MEKK3 activity. Our work has uncovered a previous unrecognized regulation of Hippo pathway via MEKK2/3 and provides new insights into molecular mechanisms for the interplay between Hippo-YAP and NF-κB signaling and the pathogenesis of cerebral cavernous malformations.
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Amino Acids in Cell Signaling: Regulation and Function. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1332:17-33. [PMID: 34251636 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74180-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Amino acids are the main building blocks for life. Aside from their roles in composing proteins, functional amino acids and their metabolites play regulatory roles in key metabolic cascades, gene expressions, and cell-to-cell communication via a variety of cell signaling pathways. These metabolic networks are necessary for maintenance, growth, reproduction, and immunity in humans and animals. These amino acids include, but are not limited to, arginine, glutamine, glutamate, glycine, leucine, proline, and tryptophan. We will discuss these functional amino acids in cell signaling pathways in mammals with a particular emphasis on mTORC1, AMPK, and MAPK pathways for protein synthesis, nutrient sensing, and anti-inflammatory responses, as well as cell survival, growth, and development.
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Insights into the Interaction Mechanism of DTP3 with MKK7 by Using STD-NMR and Computational Approaches. Biomedicines 2020; 9:biomedicines9010020. [PMID: 33396582 PMCID: PMC7824710 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
GADD45β/MKK7 complex is a non-redundant, cancer cell-restricted survival module downstream of the NF-kB survival pathway, and it has a pathogenically critical role in multiple myeloma, an incurable malignancy of plasma cells. The first-in-class GADD45β/MKK7 inhibitor DTP3 effectively kills MM cells expressing its molecular target, both in vitro and in vivo, by inducing MKK7/JNK-dependent apoptosis with no apparent toxicity to normal cells. DTP3 combines favorable drug-like properties, with on-target-specific pharmacology, resulting in a safe and cancer-selective therapeutic effect; however, its mode of action is only partially understood. In this work, we have investigated the molecular determinants underlying the MKK7 interaction with DTP3 by combining computational, NMR, and spectroscopic methods. Data gathered by fluorescence quenching and computational approaches consistently indicate that the N-terminal region of MKK7 is the optimal binding site explored by DTP3. These findings further the understanding of the selective mode of action of GADD45β/MKK7 inhibitors and inform potential mechanisms of drug resistance. Notably, upon validation of the safety and efficacy of DTP3 in human trials, our results could also facilitate the development of novel DTP3-like therapeutics with improved bioavailability or the capacity to bypass drug resistance.
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Kalinchenko NY, Tiulpakov AN. [Gonadal dysgenesis 46,XY DSD associated with variants in the MAP3K1 gene]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 66:59-64. [PMID: 33481368 DOI: 10.14341/probl12695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are congenital conditions in which phenotype does not correspond to chromosomal and gonadal sex. To date, the etiology of DSD is established only in half of the cases. With the development of modern methods of molecular genetic diagnostics in the last decade, a number of new regulators of gonad differentiation have been discovered, whose expression disorders can lead to DSD. Among these factors, Mitogen-activated triple protein kinase 1 (MAP3K1). A distinctive feature of studying the detected variants in the MAP3K1 gene that they lead to activation of MAP3K1. It does not allow using generally accepted pathogenicity assessment algorithms. However, the frequency of detection of changes in MAP3K1 is up to 18% of all cases of DSD, according to literature, which emphasizes the importance of studying each identified case, establishing the relationship of the disease with the identified genetic disorders. In this article, we present a clinical, hormonal, and molecular genetic description of 7 cases of DSD associated with variants in MAP3K1, an analysis of the significance of our own data, and a short analysis of the current scientific literature on this issue.
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Bhargavi M, Vhora N, Lanka G, Somadi G, Kanth SS, Jain A, Potlapally SR. Homology modelling and virtual screening to explore potent inhibitors for MAP2K3 protein. Struct Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11224-020-01667-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Fang CY, Lai TC, Hsiao M, Chang YC. The Diverse Roles of TAO Kinases in Health and Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7463. [PMID: 33050415 PMCID: PMC7589832 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Thousand and one kinases (TAOKs) are members of the MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family. Three members of this subfamily, TAOK1, 2, and 3, have been identified in mammals. It has been shown that TAOK1, 2 and 3 regulate the p38 MAPK and Hippo signaling pathways, while TAOK 1 and 2 modulate the SAPK/JNK cascade. Furthermore, TAOKs are involved in additional interactions with other cellular proteins and all of these pathways modulate vital physiological and pathophysiological responses in cells and tissues. Dysregulation of TAOK-related pathways is implicated in the development of diseases including inflammatory and immune disorders, cancer and drug resistance, and autism and Alzheimer's diseases. This review collates current knowledge concerning the roles of TAOKs in protein-protein interaction, signal transduction, physiological regulation, and pathogenesis and summarizes the recent development of TAOK-specific inhibitors that have the potential to ameliorate TAOKs' effects in pathological situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Yeu Fang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan;
| | - Tsung-Ching Lai
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Pulmonary Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan
| | - Michael Hsiao
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan;
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chan Chang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
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Osman N, Shawky A, Brylinski M. Exploring the effects of genetic variation on gene regulation in cancer in the context of 3D genome structure.. [DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.06.328567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
AbstractNumerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted to date revealed genetic variants associated with various diseases, including breast and prostate cancers. Despite the availability of these large-scale data, relatively few variants have been functionally characterized, mainly because the majority of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) map to the non-coding regions of the human genome. The functional characterization of these non-coding variants and the identification of their target genes remain challenging. In this communication, we explore the potential functional mechanisms of non-coding SNPs by integrating GWAS with the high-resolution chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) data for breast and prostate cancers. We show that more genetic variants map to regulatory elements through the 3D genome structure than the 1D linear genome lacking physical chromatin interactions. Importantly, the association of enhancers, transcription factors, and their target genes with breast and prostate cancers tends to be higher when these regulatory elements are mapped to high-risk SNPs through spatial interactions compared to simply using a linear proximity. Finally, we demonstrate that topologically associating domains (TADs) carrying high-risk SNPs also contain gene regulatory elements whose association with cancer is generally higher than those belonging to control TADs containing no high-risk variants. Our results suggest that many SNPs may contribute to the cancer development by affecting the expression of certain tumor-related genes through long-range chromatin interactions with gene regulatory elements. Integrating large-scale genetic datasets with the 3D genome structure offers an attractive and unique approach to systematically investigate the functional mechanisms of genetic variants in disease risk and progression.
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