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Melo US, Jatzlau J, Prada-Medina CA, Flex E, Hartmann S, Ali S, Schöpflin R, Bernardini L, Ciolfi A, Moeinzadeh MH, Klever MK, Altay A, Vallecillo-García P, Carpentieri G, Delledonne M, Ort MJ, Schwestka M, Ferrero GB, Tartaglia M, Brusco A, Gossen M, Strunk D, Geißler S, Mundlos S, Stricker S, Knaus P, Giorgio E, Spielmann M. Enhancer hijacking at the ARHGAP36 locus is associated with connective tissue to bone transformation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2034. [PMID: 37041138 PMCID: PMC10090176 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37585-8] [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: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterotopic ossification is a disorder caused by abnormal mineralization of soft tissues in which signaling pathways such as BMP, TGFβ and WNT are known key players in driving ectopic bone formation. Identifying novel genes and pathways related to the mineralization process are important steps for future gene therapy in bone disorders. In this study, we detect an inter-chromosomal insertional duplication in a female proband disrupting a topologically associating domain and causing an ultra-rare progressive form of heterotopic ossification. This structural variant lead to enhancer hijacking and misexpression of ARHGAP36 in fibroblasts, validated here by orthogonal in vitro studies. In addition, ARHGAP36 overexpression inhibits TGFβ, and activates hedgehog signaling and genes/proteins related to extracellular matrix production. Our work on the genetic cause of this heterotopic ossification case has revealed that ARHGAP36 plays a role in bone formation and metabolism, outlining first details of this gene contributing to bone-formation and -disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uirá Souto Melo
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Development and Disease Group, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité University Medicine Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jerome Jatzlau
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cesar A Prada-Medina
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Development and Disease Group, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabetta Flex
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Sunhild Hartmann
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Development and Disease Group, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Salaheddine Ali
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Development and Disease Group, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Schöpflin
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Development and Disease Group, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Bernardini
- Cytogenetics Unit, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Foundation, IRCCS, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciolfi
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - M-Hossein Moeinzadeh
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Department of Computational Molecular Biology, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marius-Konstantin Klever
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Development and Disease Group, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité University Medicine Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aybuge Altay
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Department of Computational Molecular Biology, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Giovanna Carpentieri
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Melanie-Jasmin Ort
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Julius Wolff Institute (JWI), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marko Schwestka
- Institute of Active Polymers, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 14513, Teltow, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Marco Tartaglia
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Brusco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, 10126, Torino, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital, Torino, 10126, Italy
| | - Manfred Gossen
- Institute of Active Polymers, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 14513, Teltow, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Strunk
- Cell Therapy Institute, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sven Geißler
- Julius Wolff Institute (JWI), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Mundlos
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Development and Disease Group, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité University Medicine Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sigmar Stricker
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Knaus
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Giorgio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Malte Spielmann
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Development and Disease Group, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck and University of Kiel, Lübeck, 23562, Germany.
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Germany, partner site Hamburg, Lübeck, Kiel, Lübeck, 23562, Germany.
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Agrawal K, Chauhan S, Kumar D. Expression analysis and regulation of GLI and its correlation with stemness and metabolic alteration in human brain tumor. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:10. [PMID: 36532860 PMCID: PMC9755437 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03419-5] [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: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
GLI gene-mediated hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a substantial role in brain cancer development and growth including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), lower-grade glioma (LGG), and medulloblastoma (MB). GLI2 and GLI3 gene expression levels are extremely enhanced in these cancers with poor patient survival. Moreover, GLI genes are correlated with stemness-related factors SOX2, SOX9, POU5F1, and NANOG that work as the driving factors for brain cancer stem cells (CSCs) progression. It's critical to find new ways to combat this deadly malignancy and CSCs. Using in silico approaches, our study explored the role of GLI genes (GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3), the primary transcription factors of the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway, in GBM, LGG, MB, and glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). Additionally, we found strong association of angiogenic-related gene VEGFA, metabolic genes ENO1, ENO2, and pluripotency-related genes SOX2, SOX9, NANOG, POU5F1 with GLI genes, suggesting their role in brain tumor initiation and progression. We also studied their transcriptional network and functional category enrichment analysis about brain tumor development to find a better therapeutic strategy against brain cancer and their stem cells. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03419-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti Agrawal
- School of Health Sciences and Technology (SoHST), UPES University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248007 India
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sec 125, Noida, 201303 India
| | - Saumya Chauhan
- Amity Global School, Sector 46, Gurugram, Haryana 122018 India
| | - Dhruv Kumar
- School of Health Sciences and Technology (SoHST), UPES University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248007 India
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sec 125, Noida, 201303 India
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3
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Wang J, Cui B, Li X, Zhao X, Huang T, Ding X. The emerging roles of Hedgehog signaling in tumor immune microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1171418. [PMID: 37213270 PMCID: PMC10196179 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1171418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is pervasively involved in human malignancies, making it an effective target for cancer treatment for decades. In addition to its direct role in regulating cancer cell attributes, recent work indicates that it has an immunoregulatory effect on tumor microenvironments. An integrated understanding of these actions of Hh signaling pathway in tumor cells and tumor microenvironments will pave the way for novel tumor treatments and further advances in anti-tumor immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the most recent research about Hh signaling pathway transduction, with a particular emphasis on its role in modulating tumor immune/stroma cell phenotype and function, such as macrophage polarity, T cell response, and fibroblast activation, as well as their mutual interactions between tumor cells and nonneoplastic cells. We also summarize the recent advances in the development of Hh pathway inhibitors and nanoparticle formulation for Hh pathway modulation. We suggest that targeting Hh signaling effects on both tumor cells and tumor immune microenvironments could be more synergistic for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Institute of Geriatrics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong), School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Nantong, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Baiping Cui
- Institute of Geriatrics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong), School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Nantong, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Li
- Institute of Geriatrics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong), School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Nantong, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyue Zhao
- Institute of Geriatrics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong), School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Nantong, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Taomin Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Taomin Huang, ; Xiaolei Ding,
| | - Xiaolei Ding
- Institute of Geriatrics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong), School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Nantong, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Taomin Huang, ; Xiaolei Ding,
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4
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Watt DM, Morton JP. Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Cancer Fibroblasts-TGFβ as a Master Regulator? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4984. [PMID: 34638468 PMCID: PMC8508541 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease for which there are very few available therapies. It is notable for its high degree of tumour complexity, with the tumour microenvironment often accounting for the majority of the tumour volume. Until recently, the biology of the stroma was poorly understood, particularly in terms of heterogeneity. Recent research, however, has shed light on the intricacy of signalling within the stroma and particularly the molecular and functional heterogeneity of the cancer associated fibroblasts. In this review, we summarise the recent improvements in our understanding of the different fibroblast populations within PDAC, with a focus on the role TGFβ plays to dictate their formation and function. These studies have highlighted some of the reasons for the failure of trials targeting the tumour stroma, however, there are still considerable gaps in our knowledge, and more work is needed to make effective fibroblast targeting a reality in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale M. Watt
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK;
| | - Jennifer P. Morton
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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Hedgehog/GLI Signaling Pathway: Transduction, Regulation, and Implications for Disease. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143410. [PMID: 34298625 PMCID: PMC8304605 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The Hedgehog/GLI (Hh/GLI) pathway plays a major role during development and it is commonly dysregulated in many diseases, including cancer. This highly concerted series of ligands, receptors, cytoplasmic signaling molecules, transcription factors, and co-regulators is involved in regulating the biological functions controlled by this pathway. Activation of Hh/GLI in cancer is most often through a non-canonical method of activation, independent of ligand binding. This review is intended to summarize our current understanding of the Hh/GLI signaling, non-canonical mechanisms of pathway activation, its implication in disease, and the current therapeutic strategies targeting this cascade. Abstract The Hh/GLI signaling pathway was originally discovered in Drosophila as a major regulator of segment patterning in development. This pathway consists of a series of ligands (Shh, Ihh, and Dhh), transmembrane receptors (Ptch1 and Ptch2), transcription factors (GLI1–3), and signaling regulators (SMO, HHIP, SUFU, PKA, CK1, GSK3β, etc.) that work in concert to repress (Ptch1, Ptch2, SUFU, PKA, CK1, GSK3β) or activate (Shh, Ihh, Dhh, SMO, GLI1–3) the signaling cascade. Not long after the initial discovery, dysregulation of the Hh/GLI signaling pathway was implicated in human disease. Activation of this signaling pathway is observed in many types of cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, colorectal, prostate, pancreatic, and many more. Most often, the activation of the Hh/GLI pathway in cancer occurs through a ligand-independent mechanism. However, in benign disease, this activation is mostly ligand-dependent. The upstream signaling component of the receptor complex, SMO, is bypassed, and the GLI family of transcription factors can be activated regardless of ligand binding. Additional mechanisms of pathway activation exist whereby the entirety of the downstream signaling pathway is bypassed, and PTCH1 promotes cell cycle progression and prevents caspase-mediated apoptosis. Throughout this review, we summarize each component of the signaling cascade, non-canonical modes of pathway activation, and the implications in human disease, including cancer.
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6
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Kotulak-Chrząszcz A, Kmieć Z, Wierzbicki PM. Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway in gynecological and genitourinary cancer (Review). Int J Mol Med 2021; 47:106. [PMID: 33907821 PMCID: PMC8057295 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.4939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancers of the urinary tract, as well as those of the female and male reproductive systems, account for a large percentage of malignancies worldwide. Mortality is frequently affected by late diagnosis or therapeutic difficulties. The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway is an evolutionary conserved molecular cascade, which is mainly associated with the development of the central nervous system in fetal life. The present review aimed to provide an in‑depth summary of the SHH signaling pathway, including the characterization of its major components, the mechanism of its upstream regulation and non‑canonical activation, as well as its interactions with other cellular pathways. In addition, the three possible mechanisms of the cellular SHH cascade in cancer tissue are discussed. The aim of the present review was to summarize significant findings with regards to the expression of the SHH pathway components in kidney, bladder, ovarian, cervical and prostate cancer. Reports associated with common deficits and de‑regulations of the SHH pathway were summarized, despite the differences in molecular and histological patterns among these malignancies. However, currently, neither are SHH pathway elements included in panels of prognostic/therapeutic molecular patterns in any of the discussed cancers, nor have the drugs targeting SMO or GLIs been approved for therapy. The findings of the present review may support future studies on the treatment of and/or molecular targets for gynecological and genitourinary cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Piotr M. Wierzbicki
- Correspondence to: Dr Piotr M. Wierzbicki, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Debinki 1, 80211 Gdansk, Poland, E-mail:
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7
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Benallegue N, Kebir H, Kapoor R, Crockett A, Li C, Cheslow L, Abdel-Hakeem MS, Gesualdi J, Miller MC, Wherry EJ, Church ME, Blanco MA, Alvarez JI. The hedgehog pathway suppresses neuropathogenesis in CD4 T cell-driven inflammation. Brain 2021; 144:1670-1683. [PMID: 33723591 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The concerted actions of the CNS and the immune system are essential to coordinating the outcome of neuroinflammatory responses. Yet, the precise mechanisms involved in this crosstalk and their contribution to the pathophysiology of neuroinflammatory diseases largely elude us. Here, we show that the CNS-endogenous hedgehog pathway, a signal triggered as part of the host response during the inflammatory phase of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, attenuates the pathogenicity of human and mouse effector CD4 T cells by regulating their production of inflammatory cytokines. Using a murine genetic model, in which the hedgehog signalling is compromised in CD4 T cells, we show that the hedgehog pathway acts on CD4 T cells to suppress the pathogenic hallmarks of autoimmune neuroinflammation, including demyelination and axonal damage, and thus mitigates the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Impairment of hedgehog signalling in CD4 T cells exacerbates brain-brainstem-cerebellum inflammation and leads to the development of atypical disease. Moreover, we present evidence that hedgehog signalling regulates the pathogenic profile of CD4 T cells by limiting their production of the inflammatory cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interferon-γ and by antagonizing their inflammatory program at the transcriptome level. Likewise, hedgehog signalling attenuates the inflammatory phenotype of human CD4 memory T cells. From a therapeutic point of view, our study underlines the potential of harnessing the hedgehog pathway to counteract ongoing excessive CNS inflammation, as systemic administration of a hedgehog agonist after disease onset effectively halts disease progression and significantly reduces neuroinflammation and the underlying neuropathology. We thus unveil a previously unrecognized role for the hedgehog pathway in regulating pathogenic inflammation within the CNS and propose to exploit its ability to modulate this neuroimmune network as a strategy to limit the progression of ongoing neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nail Benallegue
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Inserm, Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Hania Kebir
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Richa Kapoor
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexis Crockett
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cen Li
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Lara Cheslow
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mohamed S Abdel-Hakeem
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - James Gesualdi
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Miles C Miller
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - E John Wherry
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Molly E Church
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - M Andres Blanco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jorge I Alvarez
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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8
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AP-1 and TGFß cooperativity drives non-canonical Hedgehog signaling in resistant basal cell carcinoma. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5079. [PMID: 33033234 PMCID: PMC7546632 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18762-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor heterogeneity and lack of knowledge about resistant cell states remain a barrier to targeted cancer therapies. Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) depend on Hedgehog (Hh)/Gli signaling, but can develop mechanisms of Smoothened (SMO) inhibitor resistance. We previously identified a nuclear myocardin-related transcription factor (nMRTF) resistance pathway that amplifies noncanonical Gli1 activity, but characteristics and drivers of the nMRTF cell state remain unknown. Here, we use single cell RNA-sequencing of patient tumors to identify three prognostic surface markers (LYPD3, TACSTD2, and LY6D) which correlate with nMRTF and resistance to SMO inhibitors. The nMRTF cell state resembles transit-amplifying cells of the hair follicle matrix, with AP-1 and TGFß cooperativity driving nMRTF activation. JNK/AP-1 signaling commissions chromatin accessibility and Smad3 DNA binding leading to a transcriptional program of RhoGEFs that facilitate nMRTF activity. Importantly, small molecule AP-1 inhibitors selectively target LYPD3+/TACSTD2+/LY6D+ nMRTF human BCCs ex vivo, opening an avenue for improving combinatorial therapies.
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9
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Grund-Gröschke S, Stockmaier G, Aberger F. Hedgehog/GLI signaling in tumor immunity - new therapeutic opportunities and clinical implications. Cell Commun Signal 2019; 17:172. [PMID: 31878932 PMCID: PMC6933925 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-019-0459-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncontrolled activation of the Hedgehog/Glioma-associated oncogene (HH/GLI) pathway is a potent oncogenic driver signal promoting numerous cancer hallmarks such as proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, metastasis and metabolic rewiring. Several HH pathway inhibitors have already been approved for medical therapy of advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia with partially impressive therapeutic activity. However, de novo and acquired resistance as well as severe side effects and unexplained lack of therapeutic efficacy are major challenges that urgently call for improved treatment options with more durable responses. The recent breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy have changed our current understanding of targeted therapy and opened up promising therapeutic opportunities including combinations of selective cancer pathway and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although HH/GLI signaling has been intensely studied with respect to the classical hallmarks of cancer, its role in the modulation of the anti-tumoral immune response has only become evident in recent studies. These have uncovered HH/GLI regulated immunosuppressive mechanisms such as enhanced regulatory T-cell formation and production of immunosuppressive cytokines. In light of these exciting novel data on oncogenic HH/GLI signaling in immune cross-talk and modulation, we summarize and connect in this review the existing knowledge from different HH-related cancers and chronic inflammatory diseases. This is to provide a basis for the investigation and evaluation of novel treatments combining immunotherapeutic strategies with approved as well as next-generation HH/GLI inhibitors. Further, we also critically discuss recent studies demonstrating a possible negative impact of current HH/GLI pathway inhibitors on the anti-tumoral immune response, which may explain some of the disappointing results of several oncological trials with anti-HH drugs. Video abstract. (9500 kb)
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Grund-Gröschke
- Department of Biosciences, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse, 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Georg Stockmaier
- Department of Biosciences, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse, 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Fritz Aberger
- Department of Biosciences, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse, 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
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10
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Jeng KS, Jeng CJ, Jeng WJ, Sheen IS, Li SY, Leu CM, Tsay YG, Chang CF. Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway as a potential target to inhibit the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:4377-4384. [PMID: 31611946 PMCID: PMC6781692 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Hepatocarcinogenesis involves numerous interlinked factors and processes, including the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway, which participates in the carcinogenesis, progression, invasiveness, recurrence and cancer stem cell maintenance of HCC. The Shh signaling pathway is activated by ligands that bind to their receptor protein, Protein patched homolog (Ptch). The process of Shh ligand binding to Ptch weakens the inhibition of smoothened homolog (SMO) and activates signal transduction via glioma-associated oncogene homolog (Gli) transcription factors. The overexpression of Shh pathway molecules, including Shh, Ptch-1, Gli and SMO has been indicated in patients with HCC. It has also been suggested that the Shh signaling pathway exhibits cross-talk between numerous other signaling pathways. The inactivation of the Shh signaling pathway reduces HCC growth, increases radio-sensitivity and increases the beneficial effect of chemotherapy in HCC treatment. Therefore, inhibition of the Shh pathway may be an effective target therapy that can be used in the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Shyang Jeng
- Department of General Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan, R.O.C.,Department of Medical Research, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chi-Juei Jeng
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 10617, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Wen-Juei Jeng
- Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan City 33305, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - I-Shyan Sheen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 10617, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Shih-Yun Li
- Department of Medical Research, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chuen-Miin Leu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City 11221, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yeou-Guang Tsay
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City 11221, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chiung-Fang Chang
- Department of General Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan, R.O.C.,Department of Medical Research, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan, R.O.C
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11
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Pelullo M, Zema S, Nardozza F, Checquolo S, Screpanti I, Bellavia D. Wnt, Notch, and TGF-β Pathways Impinge on Hedgehog Signaling Complexity: An Open Window on Cancer. Front Genet 2019; 10:711. [PMID: 31552081 PMCID: PMC6736567 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Constitutive activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is associated with increased risk of developing several malignancies. The biological and pathogenic importance of Hh signaling emphasizes the need to control its action tightly, both physiologically and therapeutically. Evidence of crosstalk between Hh and other signaling pathways is reported in many tumor types. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about the communication between Hh and major signaling pathways, such as Notch, Wnt, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), which play critical roles in both embryonic and adult life. When these pathways are unbalanced, impaired crosstalk contributes to disease development. It is reported that more than one of these pathways are active in different type of tumors, at the same time. Therefore, starting from a plethora of stimuli that activate multiple signaling pathways, we describe the signals that preferentially converge on the Hh signaling cascade that influence its activity. Moreover, we highlight several connection points between Hh and Notch, Wnt, or TGF-β pathways, showing a reciprocal synergism that contributes to tumorigenesis, supporting a more malignant behavior by tumor cells, such as in leukemia and brain tumors. Understanding the importance of these molecular interlinking networks will provide a rational basis for combined anticancer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pelullo
- Center of Life Nano Science Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Zema
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
| | | | - Diana Bellavia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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12
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Peng L, Yang C, Yin J, Ge M, Wang S, Zhang G, Zhang Q, Xu F, Dai Z, Xie L, Li Y, Si JQ, Ma K. TGF-β2 Induces Gli1 in a Smad3-Dependent Manner Against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury After Isoflurane Post-conditioning in Rats. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:636. [PMID: 31297044 PMCID: PMC6608402 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Isoflurane (ISO) post-conditioning attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, but the underlying mechanism is incompletely elucidated. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathways govern a wide range of mechanisms in the central nervous system. We aimed to investigate the effect of the TGF-β2/Smad3 and sonic hedgehog (Shh)/Glioblastoma (Gli) signaling pathway and their crosstalk in the hippocampus of rats with ISO post-conditioning after cerebral I/R injury. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), 1.5 h occlusion and 24 h reperfusion (MCAO/R). To assess the effect of ISO after I/R injury, various approaches were used, including neurobehavioral tests, TTC staining, HE staining, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, immunofluorescence (IF), qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) and Western blot. The ISO post-conditioning group (ISO group) received 1 h ISO post-conditioning when reperfusion was initiated, leading to lower infarct volumes and neurologic deficit scores, more surviving neurons, and less damaged and apoptotic neurons. IF staining, qRT-PCR and Western blot showed high expression levels of TGF-β2, Shh and Gli1 in the hippocampal CA1 of the ISO group. Phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3), Patched (Ptch), and Smoothed (Smo) were also increased at protein level in the ISO group, whereas total Smad3 expression did not change in all groups. When TGF-β2 inhibitor, pirfenidone, or Smad3 inhibitor, SIS3 HCl, were administered, the expression levels of p-Smad3 and Gli1 were reduced, and surviving pyramidal neurons decreased. By contrast, the expression levels of TGF-β2 and p-Smad3 did not change significantly after pre-injection of Smo inhibitor cyclopamine, but reduced the expression levels of Shh, Ptch, and Gli1. Moreover, Gli showed the lowest expression levels with pirfenidone combined with cyclopamine. These findings indicate that the TGF-β and hedgehog signaling pathways mediate the neuroprotection of ISO post-conditioning after cerebral I/R injury, and crosstalk between two pathways at the Gli1 level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Chengwei Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jiangwen Yin
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Mingyue Ge
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Guixing Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Qingtong Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Zhigang Dai
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Liping Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Jun-Qiang Si
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Ketao Ma
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
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13
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Kumar S, Reynolds K, Ji Y, Gu R, Rai S, Zhou CJ. Impaired neurodevelopmental pathways in autism spectrum disorder: a review of signaling mechanisms and crosstalk. J Neurodev Disord 2019; 11:10. [PMID: 31202261 PMCID: PMC6571119 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-019-9268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development of an autistic brain is a highly complex process as evident from the involvement of various genetic and non-genetic factors in the etiology of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite being a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder, autistic patients display a few key characteristics, such as the impaired social interactions and elevated repetitive behaviors, suggesting the perturbation of specific neuronal circuits resulted from abnormal signaling pathways during brain development in ASD. A comprehensive review for autistic signaling mechanisms and interactions may provide a better understanding of ASD etiology and treatment. Main body Recent studies on genetic models and ASD patients with several different mutated genes revealed the dysregulation of several key signaling pathways, such as WNT, BMP, SHH, and retinoic acid (RA) signaling. Although no direct evidence of dysfunctional FGF or TGF-β signaling in ASD has been reported so far, a few examples of indirect evidence can be found. This review article summarizes how various genetic and non-genetic factors which have been reported contributing to ASD interact with WNT, BMP/TGF-β, SHH, FGF, and RA signaling pathways. The autism-associated gene ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) has been reported to influence WNT, BMP, and RA signaling pathways, suggesting crosstalk between various signaling pathways during autistic brain development. Finally, the article comments on what further studies could be performed to gain deeper insights into the understanding of perturbed signaling pathways in the etiology of ASD. Conclusion The understanding of mechanisms behind various signaling pathways in the etiology of ASD may help to facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets and design of new treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Kurt Reynolds
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Yu Ji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Ran Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Sunil Rai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Chengji J Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
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14
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Pietrobono S, Gagliardi S, Stecca B. Non-canonical Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Cancer: Activation of GLI Transcription Factors Beyond Smoothened. Front Genet 2019; 10:556. [PMID: 31244888 PMCID: PMC6581679 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) pathway is a highly conserved signaling that plays a critical role in controlling cell specification, cell–cell interaction and tissue patterning during embryonic development. Canonical activation of HH-GLI signaling occurs through binding of HH ligands to the twelve-pass transmembrane receptor Patched 1 (PTCH1), which derepresses the seven-pass transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor Smoothened (SMO). Thus, active SMO initiates a complex intracellular cascade that leads to the activation of the three GLI transcription factors, the final effectors of the HH-GLI pathway. Aberrant activation of this signaling has been implicated in a wide variety of tumors, such as those of the brain, skin, breast, gastrointestinal, lung, pancreas, prostate and ovary. In several of these cases, activation of HH-GLI signaling is mediated by overproduction of HH ligands (e.g., prostate cancer), loss-of-function mutations in PTCH1 or gain-of-function mutations in SMO, which occur in the majority of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), SHH-subtype medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Besides the classical canonical ligand-PTCH1-SMO route, mounting evidence points toward additional, non-canonical ways of GLI activation in cancer. By non-canonical we refer to all those mechanisms of activation of the GLI transcription factors occurring independently of SMO. Often, in a given cancer type canonical and non-canonical activation of HH-GLI signaling co-exist, and in some cancer types, more than one mechanism of non-canonical activation may occur. Tumors harboring non-canonical HH-GLI signaling are less sensitive to SMO inhibition, posing a threat for therapeutic efficacy of these antagonists. Here we will review the most recent findings on the involvement of alternative signaling pathways in inducing GLI activity in cancer and stem cells. We will also discuss the rationale of targeting these oncogenic pathways in combination with HH-GLI inhibitors as a promising anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pietrobono
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Sinforosa Gagliardi
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Barbara Stecca
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
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15
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Genomic testing, tumor microenvironment and targeted therapy of Hedgehog-related human cancers. Clin Sci (Lond) 2019; 133:953-970. [PMID: 31036756 DOI: 10.1042/cs20180845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hedgehog signals are transduced through Patched receptors to the Smoothened (SMO)-SUFU-GLI and SMO-Gi-RhoA signaling cascades. MTOR-S6K1 and MEK-ERK signals are also transduced to GLI activators through post-translational modifications. The GLI transcription network up-regulates target genes, such as BCL2, FOXA2, FOXE1, FOXF1, FOXL1, FOXM1, GLI1, HHIP, PTCH1 and WNT2B, in a cellular context-dependent manner. Aberrant Hedgehog signaling in tumor cells leads to self-renewal, survival, proliferation and invasion. Paracrine Hedgehog signaling in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which harbors cancer-associated fibroblasts, leads to angiogenesis, fibrosis, immune evasion and neuropathic pain. Hedgehog-related genetic alterations occur frequently in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (85%) and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)-subgroup medulloblastoma (87%) and less frequently in breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and ovarian cancer. Among investigational SMO inhibitors, vismodegib and sonidegib are approved for the treatment of patients with BCC, and glasdegib is approved for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Resistance to SMO inhibitors is caused by acquired SMO mutations, SUFU deletions, GLI2 amplification, other by-passing mechanisms of GLI activation and WNT/β-catenin signaling activation. GLI-DNA-interaction inhibitors (glabrescione B and GANT61), GLI2 destabilizers (arsenic trioxide and pirfenidone) and a GLI-deacetylation inhibitor (4SC-202) were shown to block GLI-dependent transcription and tumorigenesis in preclinical studies. By contrast, SMO inhibitors can remodel the immunosuppressive TME that is dominated by M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, and thus, a Phase I/II clinical trial of the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab with or without vismodegib in BCC patients is ongoing.
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16
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Girardi D, Barrichello A, Fernandes G, Pereira A. Targeting the Hedgehog Pathway in Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives. Cells 2019; 8:cells8020153. [PMID: 30759860 PMCID: PMC6406365 DOI: 10.3390/cells8020153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog pathway (HhP) plays an important role in normal embryonic development and its abnormal function has been linked to a variety of neoplasms. Recently, the complex mechanisms involved in this pathway have been deciphered and the cross talks with other important pathways involved in carcinogenesis have been characterized. This knowledge has led to the development of targeted therapies against key components of HhP, which culminated in the approval of vismodegib for the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma in 2012. Since then, other compounds have been developed and evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies with interesting results. Today, several medications against components of the HhP have demonstrated clinical activity as monotherapies and in combination with cytotoxic treatment or other targeted therapies against mitogenic pathways that are linked to the HhP. This review aims to clarify the mechanism of the HhP and the complex crosstalk with others pathways involved in carcinogenesis and to discuss both the evidence associated with the growing number of medications and combined therapies addressing this pathway and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Girardi
- Division of Medical Oncology, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Brasilia, 70200-730, Brazil.
| | - Adriana Barrichello
- Division of Medical Oncology, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Brasilia, 70200-730, Brazil.
| | - Gustavo Fernandes
- Division of Medical Oncology, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Brasilia, 70200-730, Brazil.
| | - Allan Pereira
- Division of Medical Oncology, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Brasilia, 70200-730, Brazil.
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17
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Gli Proteins: Regulation in Development and Cancer. Cells 2019; 8:cells8020147. [PMID: 30754706 PMCID: PMC6406693 DOI: 10.3390/cells8020147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gli proteins are transcriptional effectors of the Hedgehog signaling pathway. They play key roles in the development of many organs and tissues, and are deregulated in birth defects and cancer. We review the molecular mechanisms of Gli protein regulation in mammals, with special emphasis on posttranslational modifications and intracellular transport. We also discuss how Gli proteins interact with co-activators and co-repressors to fine-tune the expression of Hedgehog target genes. Finally, we provide an overview of the regulation of developmental processes and tissue regeneration by Gli proteins and discuss how these proteins are involved in cancer progression, both through canonical regulation via the Hedgehog pathway and through cross-talk with other signaling pathways.
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18
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Li Q, Alsaidan OA, Rai S, Wu M, Shen H, Beharry Z, Almada LL, Fernandez-Zapico ME, Wang L, Cai H. Stromal Gli signaling regulates the activity and differentiation of prostate stem and progenitor cells. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:10547-10560. [PMID: 29773652 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between cells in the stroma and epithelium facilitate prostate stem cell activity and tissue regeneration capacity. Numerous molecular signal transduction pathways, including the induction of sonic hedgehog (Shh) to activate the Gli transcription factors, are known to mediate the cross-talk of these two cellular compartments. However, the details of how these signaling pathways regulate prostate stem and progenitor cell activity remain elusive. Here we demonstrate that, although cell-autonomous epithelial Shh-Gli signaling is essential to determine the expression levels of basal cell markers and the renewal potential of epithelial stem and progenitor cells, stromal Gli signaling regulates prostate stem and progenitor cell activity by increasing the number and size of prostate spheroids in vitro Blockade of stromal Gli signaling also inhibited prostate tissue regeneration in vivo The inhibition of stromal Gli signaling suppressed the differentiation of basal and progenitor cells to luminal cells and limited prostate tubule secretory capability. Additionally, stromal cells were able to compensate for the deficiency of epithelial Shh signaling in prostate tissue regeneration. Mechanistically, suppression of Gli signaling increased the signaling factor transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) in stromal cells. Elevation of exogenous TGFβ1 levels inhibited prostate spheroid formation, suggesting that a stromal Gli-TGFβ signaling axis regulates the activity of epithelial progenitor cells. Our study illustrates that Gli signaling regulates epithelial stem cell activity and renewal potential in both epithelial and stromal compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianjin Li
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Omar A Alsaidan
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Sumit Rai
- the Carbohydrate Research Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Meng Wu
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Huifeng Shen
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Zanna Beharry
- the Department of Chemistry and Physics, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida 33965, and
| | - Luciana L Almada
- the Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Martin E Fernandez-Zapico
- the Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Lianchun Wang
- the Carbohydrate Research Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Houjian Cai
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602,
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19
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Targeting GLI Transcription Factors in Cancer. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23051003. [PMID: 29695137 PMCID: PMC6100584 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23051003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been observed in a wide variety of tumors and accounts for more than 25% of human cancer deaths. Inhibitors targeting the Hh signal transducer Smoothened (SMO) are widely used and display a good initial efficacy in patients suffering from basal cell carcinoma (BCC); however, a large number of patients relapse. Though SMO mutations may explain acquired therapy resistance, a growing body of evidence suggests that the non-canonical, SMO-independent activation of the Hh pathway in BCC patients can also account for this adverse effect. In this review, we highlight the importance of glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) transcription factors (the main downstream effectors of the canonical and the non-canonical Hh cascade) and their putative role in the regulation of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways. Moreover, we discuss the contribution of the Hh signaling to malignant transformation and propose GLIs as central hubs in tumor signaling networks and thus attractive molecular targets in anti-cancer therapies.
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20
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Yu B, Gu D, Zhang X, Li J, Liu B, Xie J. GLI1-mediated regulation of side population is responsible for drug resistance in gastric cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 8:27412-27427. [PMID: 28404967 PMCID: PMC5432345 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Chemotherapy is frequently used for gastric cancer treatment. Most patients with advanced gastric cancer eventually succumb to the disease despite some patients responded initially to chemotherapy. Thus, identifying molecular mechanisms responsible for cancer relapse following chemotherapy will help design new ways to treat gastric cancer. In this study, we revealed that the residual cancer cells following treatment with chemotherapeutic reagent cisplatin have elevated expression of hedgehog target genes GLI1, GLI2 and PTCH1, suggestive of hedgehog signaling activation. We showed that GLI1 knockdown sensitized gastric cancer cells to CDDP whereas ectopic GLI1 expression decreased the sensitivity. Further analyses indicate elevated GLI1 expression is associated with an increase in tumor sphere formation, side population and cell surface markers for putative cancer stem cells. We have evidence to support that GLI1 is critical for maintenance of putative cancer stem cells through direct regulation of ABCG2. In fact, GLI1 protein was shown to be associated with the promoter fragment of ABCG2 through a Gli-binding consensus site in gastric cancer cells. Disruption of ABCG2 function, through ectopic expression of an ABCG2 dominant negative construct or a specific ABCG2 inhibitor, increased drug sensitivity of cancer cells both in culture and in mice. The relevance of our studies to gastric cancer patient care is reflected by our discovery that high ABCG2 expression was associated with poor survival in the gastric cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy. Taken together, we have identified a molecular mechanism by which gastric cancer cells gain chemotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beiqin Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.,Department of Pediatrics, The Wells Center for Pediatrics Research and IU Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Dongsheng Gu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Wells Center for Pediatrics Research and IU Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Wells Center for Pediatrics Research and IU Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Jianfang Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Bingya Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jingwu Xie
- Department of Pediatrics, The Wells Center for Pediatrics Research and IU Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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21
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Positive regulatory interactions between YAP and Hedgehog signalling in skin homeostasis and BCC development in mouse skin in vivo. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183178. [PMID: 28820907 PMCID: PMC5562304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin is a highly plastic tissue that undergoes tissue turnover throughout life, but also in response to injury. YAP and Hedgehog signalling play a central role in the control of epidermal stem/progenitor cells in the skin during embryonic development, in postnatal tissue homeostasis and in skin carcinogenesis. However, the genetic contexts in which they act to control tissue homeostasis remain mostly unresolved. We provide compelling evidence that epidermal YAP and Hedgehog/GLI2 signalling undergo positive regulatory interactions in the control of normal epidermal homeostasis and in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) development, which in the large majority of cases is caused by aberrant Hedgehog signalling activity. We report increased nuclear YAP and GLI2 activity in the epidermis and BCCs of K14-CreER/Rosa-SmoM2 transgenic mouse skin, accompanied with increased ROCK signalling and ECM remodelling. Furthermore, we found that epidermal YAP activity drives GLI2 nuclear accumulation in the skin of YAP2-5SA-ΔC mice, which depends on epidermal β-catenin activation. Lastly, we found prominent nuclear activity of GLI2, YAP and β-catenin, concomitant with increased ROCK signalling and stromal fibrosis in human BCC. Our work provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the interplay between cell signalling events and mechanical force in normal tissue homeostasis in vivo, that could potentially be perturbed in BCC development.
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22
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Liang R, Šumová B, Cordazzo C, Mallano T, Zhang Y, Wohlfahrt T, Dees C, Ramming A, Krasowska D, Michalska-Jakubus M, Distler O, Schett G, Šenolt L, Distler JHW. The transcription factor GLI2 as a downstream mediator of transforming growth factor-β-induced fibroblast activation in SSc. Ann Rheum Dis 2016; 76:756-764. [PMID: 27793816 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hedgehog signalling plays a critical role during the pathogenesis of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Besides canonical hedgehog signalling with smoothened (SMO)-dependent activation of GLI transcription factors, GLI can be activated independently of classical hedgehog ligands and receptors (so-called non-canonical pathways). Here, we aimed to evaluate the role of non-canonical hedgehog signalling in SSc and to test the efficacy of direct GLI inhibitors that target simultaneously canonical and non-canonical hedgehog pathways. METHODS The GLI inhibitor GANT-61 was used to inhibit canonical as well as non-canonical hedgehog signalling, while the SMO inhibitor vismodegib was used to selectively target canonical hedgehog signalling. Furthermore, GLI2 was selectively depleted in fibroblasts using the Cre-LoxP system. The effects of pharmacological or genetic of GLI2 on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling were analysed in cultured fibroblasts, in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and in mice with overexpression of a constitutively active TGF-β receptor I. RESULTS TGF-β upregulated GLI2 in a Smad3-dependent manner and induced nuclear accumulation and DNA binding of GLI2. Fibroblast-specific knockout of GLI2 protected mice from TBRact-induced fibrosis. Combined targeting of canonical and non-canonical hedgehog signalling with direct GLI inhibitors exerted more potent antifibrotic effects than selective targeting of canonical hedgehog signalling with SMO inhibitors in experimental dermal and pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that hedgehog pathways and TGF-β signalling both converge to GLI2 and that GLI2 integrates those signalling to promote tissue fibrosis. These findings may have translational implications as non-selective inhibitors of GLI2 are in clinical use and selective molecules are currently in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifang Liang
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Barbora Šumová
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Rheumatology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Cinzia Cordazzo
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Dipartimento Cardiotoracico e Vascolare, Laboratory of Respiratory Cell Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tatjana Mallano
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Wohlfahrt
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Clara Dees
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Ramming
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dorota Krasowska
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Pediatric Dermatology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
| | | | - Oliver Distler
- Rheumaklinik, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ladislav Šenolt
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Rheumatology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jörg H W Distler
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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23
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Leon G, MacDonagh L, Finn SP, Cuffe S, Barr MP. Cancer stem cells in drug resistant lung cancer: Targeting cell surface markers and signaling pathways. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 158:71-90. [PMID: 26706243 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Despite advances in anti-cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies, five-year survival rates remain poor (<15%). Inherent and acquired resistance has been identified as a key factor in reducing the efficacy of current cytotoxic therapies in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There is growing evidence suggesting that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a critical role in tumor progression, metastasis and drug resistance. Similar to normal tissue stem cells, CSCs exhibit significant phenotypic and functional heterogeneity. While CSCs have been reported in a wide spectrum of human tumors, the biology of CSCs in NSCLC remain elusive. Current anti-cancer therapies fail to eradicate CSC clones and instead, favor the expansion of the CSC pool and select for resistant CSC clones thereby resulting in treatment resistance and subsequent relapse in these patients. The identification of CSC-specific marker subsets and the targeted therapeutic destruction of CSCs remains a significant challenge. Strategies aimed at efficient targeting of CSCs are becoming increasingly important for monitoring the progress of cancer therapy and for evaluating new therapeutic approaches. This review focuses on the current knowledge of cancer stem cell markers in treatment-resistant lung cancer cells and the signaling cascades activated by these cells to maintain their stem-like properties. Recent progress in CSC-targeted drug development and the current status of novel agents in clinical trials are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Leon
- Thoracic Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital & Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Lauren MacDonagh
- Thoracic Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital & Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Stephen P Finn
- Thoracic Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital & Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland; Department of Histopathology, St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Sinead Cuffe
- Thoracic Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital & Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Martin P Barr
- Thoracic Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital & Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland.
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24
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Gu D, Xie J. Non-Canonical Hh Signaling in Cancer-Current Understanding and Future Directions. Cancers (Basel) 2015; 7:1684-98. [PMID: 26343727 PMCID: PMC4586790 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7030857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As a major regulatory pathway for embryonic development and tissue patterning, hedgehog signaling is not active in most adult tissues, but is reactivated in a number of human cancer types. A major milestone in hedgehog signaling in cancer is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a smoothened inhibitor Vismodegib for treatment of basal cell carcinomas. Vismodegib can block ligand-mediated hedgehog signaling, but numerous additional clinical trials have failed to show significant improvements in cancer patients. Amounting evidence indicate that ligand-independent hedgehog signaling plays an essential role in cancer. Ligand-independent hedgehog signaling, also named non-canonical hedgehog signaling, generally is not sensitive to smoothened inhibitors. What we know about non-canonical hedgehog signaling in cancer, and how should we prevent its activation? In this review, we will summarize recent development of non-canonical hedgehog signaling in cancer, and will discuss potential ways to prevent this type of hedgehog signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Gu
- Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Wells Center for Pediatrics Research, 1044 W, Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Jingwu Xie
- Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Wells Center for Pediatrics Research, 1044 W, Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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25
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Al-Bahrani R, Nagamori S, Leng R, Petryk A, Sergi C. Differential Expression of Sonic Hedgehog Protein in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Pathol Oncol Res 2015; 21:901-8. [PMID: 25740074 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-015-9918-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are the two most common primary liver malignancies in adult patients. The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of HCC and CCA are still poorly understood. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling plays an essential role during mammalian development, i.e., promoting organ growth, tissue differentiation, and cell polarity. The upregulation of SHH has been observed during carcinogenesis, including colorectal carcinoma. Our aim was to investigate the expression pattern of SHH in HCC and CCA. We investigated 40 malignant tumors of the liver, including 21 HCC and 19 of intrahepatic CCA cases by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using a polyclonal antibody against SHH and Avidin-Biotin Complex method. We also investigated the co-localization of SHH and Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) in CCA using indirect double IHC. Moreover, we examined whether SHH is expressed in two HCC cell lines HepG2 and HuH-7 and three CCA cell lines OZ, HuCCT1 and HuH28. We found that SHH was expressed in 15 out of 21 cases (71.4 %) of HCC and 100 % of CCA cases by immunohistochemistry. SHH expression showed a positive trend in liver tumors (HCC, CCA) with high grade (G2-G3). SHH localized to the epithelial cells, while BMP4 was expressed in the stromal cells in CCA by double IHC. However, both HCC and CCA cell lines showed SHH expression by Western blot analysis. In conclusion, SHH seems to be an interesting marker of de-differentiation in liver tumors and the simultaneous epithelial-mesenchymal expression may be an intriguing prompt to investigate cross-talks between SHH and BMP4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Redha Al-Bahrani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, T6G 2B7, AB, Canada
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26
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Islam SS, Mokhtari RB, Noman AS, Uddin M, Rahman MZ, Azadi MA, Zlotta A, van der Kwast T, Yeger H, Farhat WA. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling promotes tumorigenicity and stemness via activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in bladder cancer. Mol Carcinog 2015; 55:537-51. [PMID: 25728352 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2014] [Revised: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Activation of the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway controls tumorigenesis in a variety of cancers. Here, we show a role for Shh signaling in the promotion of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumorigenicity, and stemness in the bladder cancer. EMT induction was assessed by the decreased expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1 and increased expression of N-cadherin. The induced EMT was associated with increased cell motility, invasiveness, and clonogenicity. These progression relevant behaviors were attenuated by treatment with Hh inhibitors cyclopamine and GDC-0449, and after knockdown by Shh-siRNA, and led to reversal of the EMT phenotype. The results with HTB-9 were confirmed using a second bladder cancer cell line, BFTC905 (DM). In a xenograft mouse model TGF-β1 treated HTB-9 cells exhibited enhanced tumor growth. Although normal bladder epithelial cells could also undergo EMT and upregulate Shh with TGF-β1 they did not exhibit tumorigenicity. The TGF-β1 treated HTB-9 xenografts showed strong evidence for a switch to a more stem cell like phenotype, with functional activation of CD133, Sox2, Nanog, and Oct4. The bladder cancer specific stem cell markers CK5 and CK14 were upregulated in the TGF-β1 treated xenograft tumor samples, while CD44 remained unchanged in both treated and untreated tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis of 22 primary human bladder tumors indicated that Shh expression was positively correlated with tumor grade and stage. Elevated expression of Ki-67, Shh, Gli2, and N-cadherin were observed in the high grade and stage human bladder tumor samples, and conversely, the downregulation of these genes were observed in the low grade and stage tumor samples. Collectively, this study indicates that TGF-β1-induced Shh may regulate EMT and tumorigenicity in bladder cancer. Our studies reveal that the TGF-β1 induction of EMT and Shh is cell type context dependent. Thus, targeting the Shh pathway could be clinically beneficial in the ability to reverse the EMT phenotype of tumor cells and potentially inhibit bladder cancer progression and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S S Islam
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Urology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - R B Mokhtari
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A S Noman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - M Uddin
- Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M Z Rahman
- Department of Pathology, Chittagong Medical College, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - M A Azadi
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - A Zlotta
- Department of Uro-Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - T van der Kwast
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - H Yeger
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - W A Farhat
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Urology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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27
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Jia Y, Wang Y, Xie J. The Hedgehog pathway: role in cell differentiation, polarity and proliferation. Arch Toxicol 2015; 89:179-91. [PMID: 25559776 PMCID: PMC4630008 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-014-1433-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hedgehog (Hh) is first described as a genetic mutation that has "spiked" phenotype in the cuticles of Drosophila in later 1970s. Since then, Hh signaling has been implicated in regulation of differentiation, proliferation, tissue polarity, stem cell population and carcinogenesis. The first link of Hh signaling to cancer was established through discovery of genetic mutations of Hh receptor gene PTCH1 being responsible for Gorlin syndrome in 1996. It was later shown that Hh signaling is associated with many types of cancer, including skin, leukemia, lung, brain and gastrointestinal cancers. Another important milestone for the Hh research field is the FDA approval for the clinical use of Hh inhibitor Erivedge/Vismodegib for treatment of locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinomas. However, recent clinical trials of Hh signaling inhibitors in pancreatic, colon and ovarian cancer all failed, indicating a real need for further understanding of Hh signaling in cancer. In this review, we will summarize recent progress in the Hh signaling mechanism and its role in human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfei Jia
- Central Laboratory, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong, University, Jinan, China
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Yunshan Wang
- Central Laboratory, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong, University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingwu Xie
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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28
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Abstract
The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is well established as being evolutionarily conserved across vertebrates, and is involved in organogenesis, hematopoiesis, embryogenesis and homeostasis of adult tissues. At a microscopic level, the Hh signaling pathway controls the proliferation, apoptosis, cell-cycle and differentiation programs of stem and progenitor cells. Increasing evidence suggests that aberrant activation of the Hh signaling pathway is related to neoplasm, including solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Currently the Hh signaling pathway has become one of the most studied potential therapeutic targets in hematological malignancies. In this review, we focus on findings related to Hh signaling in the initiation, maintenance, progression and chemoresistance of hematological malignancies, looking forward to better targeted treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Geng
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University , Jinan, Shandong , P. R. China
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29
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Akbari A, Amanpour S, Muhammadnejad S, Ghahremani MH, Ghaffari SH, Dehpour AR, Mobini GR, Shidfar F, Abastabar M, Khoshzaban A, Faghihloo E, Karimi A, Heidari M. Evaluation of antitumor activity of a TGF-beta receptor I inhibitor (SD-208) on human colon adenocarcinoma. Daru 2014; 22:47. [PMID: 24902843 PMCID: PMC4077684 DOI: 10.1186/2008-2231-22-47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway is involved in primary tumor progression and in promoting metastasis in a considerable proportion of human cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, blockage of TGF-β pathway signaling via an inhibitor could be a valuable tool in CRC treatment. METHODS To evaluate the efficacy of systemic targeting of the TGF-β pathway for therapeutic effects on CRC, we investigated the effects of a TGβRI (TGF-β receptor 1) or TβRI kinase inhibitor, SD-208, on SW-48, colon adenocarcinoma cells. In this work, in vitro cell proliferation was studied by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assays. Also, the histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations were conducted by hematoxylin and eosin, and Ki-67 and CD34 markers were stained, respectively. RESULTS Our results showed no significant reduction in cell proliferation and vessel formation (170 ± 70 and 165 ± 70, P > 0.05) in treated SW-48 cells with SD-208 compared to controls. CONCLUSION Our data suggested that SD-208 could not significantly reduce tumor growth and angiogenesis in human colorectal cancer model at least using SW-48 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abolfazl Akbari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Amanpour
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samad Muhammadnejad
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Ghahremani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Hamidollah Ghaffari
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Dehpour
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholam Reza Mobini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Shidfar
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Abastabar
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahad Khoshzaban
- Stem Cells Preparation Uinte, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Faghihloo
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Karimi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine (FATiM), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mansour Heidari
- Stem Cells Preparation Uinte, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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30
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Xie J. The hedgehog's trick for escaping immunosurveillance: The molecular mechanisms driving myeloid-derived suppressor cell recruitment in hedgehog signaling-dependent tumors. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e29180. [PMID: 25054089 PMCID: PMC4092004 DOI: 10.4161/onci.29180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are an important means by which tumor cells evade immunosurveillance. Here, we set out to determine how MDSCs are recruited to tumors in genetically engineered mouse cancer models. Expression of oncogenic and constitutively active SmoM2, a key hedgehog-signaling regulatory protein, revealed that MDSC recruitment to the tumor microenvironment is mediated by the CCL2/CCR2 axis in a TGFβ dependent fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwu Xie
- Department of Pediatrics; Wells Center for Pediatric Research; Indiana University School of Medicine; Indianapolis, IN USA
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31
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Chung Y, Fu E. Cyclosporine A up-regulates Sonic hedgehog in gingiva: role of the up-regulation on gingival cell proliferation. J Periodontal Res 2014; 49:810-6. [PMID: 24823913 DOI: 10.1111/jre.12168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Sonic hedgehog protein (SHH) is a mitogen that stimulates cell proliferation. Cyclosporine A enhances the proliferation of gingival cells; however, the relationships of SHH to cyclosporine A or to cyclosporine A-enhanced gingival cell proliferation have not been described. MATERIAL AND METHODS Here, we investigated SHH expression in gingiva in vitro and in vivo after cyclosporine A treatment and tested the effect of SHH inhibition on cyclosporine A-enhanced gingival fibroblast proliferation in vitro. RESULTS In human gingival fibroblasts, cyclosporine A treatment increased the expression of SHH transcripts and SHH protein, and stimulated cell proliferation; the addition of cyclopamine, an SHH signaling inhibitor, suppressed cyclosporine A-enhanced cell proliferation. Up-regulated expression of SHH and up-regulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen transcripts and protein were observed in the edentulous gingiva of cyclosporine A-treated rats. CONCLUSION Cyclosporine A up-regulates gingival SHH expression in vitro and in vivo, and the inhibition of the SHH pathway counteracts the stimulatory effect of cyclosporine A on gingival fibroblast proliferation. Therefore, we suggest that SHH mediates a novel molecular mechanism for cyclosporine A-induced gingival complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Chung
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China; Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, National Defense Medical Center and Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, China
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32
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Machado MV, Diehl AM. Liver renewal: detecting misrepair and optimizing regeneration. Mayo Clin Proc 2014; 89:120-30. [PMID: 24388030 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2013.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Cirrhosis and liver cancer, the main causes of liver-related morbidity and mortality, result from defective repair of liver injury. This article summarizes rapidly evolving knowledge about liver myofibroblasts and progenitors, the 2 key cell types that interact to orchestrate effective repair, because deregulation of these cells is likely to be central to the pathogenesis of both cirrhosis and liver cancer. We focus on cirrhosis pathogenesis because cirrhosis is the main risk factor for primary liver cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that the defective repair process has certain characteristics that might be exploited for biomarker development. Recent findings in preclinical models also indicate that the newly identified cellular and molecular targets are amenable to therapeutic manipulation. Thus, recent advances in our understanding about key cell types and fundamental mechanisms that regulate liver regeneration have opened new avenues to improve the outcomes of liver injury. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01899859.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University, Durham, NC.
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33
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Fan Q, Gu D, Liu H, Yang L, Zhang X, Yoder MC, Kaplan MH, Xie J. Defective TGF-β signaling in bone marrow-derived cells prevents hedgehog-induced skin tumors. Cancer Res 2013; 74:471-483. [PMID: 24282281 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-2134-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Hedgehog signaling in cancer cells drives changes in the tumor microenvironment that are incompletely understood. Here, we report that hedgehog-driven tumors exhibit an increase in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and a decrease in T cells, indicative of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This change was associated with activated TGF-β signaling in several cell types in basal cell carcinomas. We determined that TGF-β signaling in bone marrow-derived cells, not keratinocytes, regulates MDSC and promotes tumor development. Tgfbr2 deficiency in the bone marrow-derived cells also reduced the size of previously developed tumors in mice. We identified CCL2 as the major chemokine attracting MDSCs to tumor, whose expression was Tgfbr2-dependent, whereas its receptor CCR2 was highly expressed in MDSC population. CCL2 alone was sufficient to induce migration of MDSCs. Moreover, the CCR2 inhibitors prevented MDSC migration toward skin cells in vitro, and reduced MDSC accumulation and hedgehog signaling-driven tumor development in mice. Our results reveal a signaling network critical for hedgehog signaling in cancer cells to establish an effective immunosuppressive microenvironment during tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qipeng Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Dongsheng Gu
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Hailan Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Mervin C Yoder
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Mark H Kaplan
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Jingwu Xie
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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34
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Xie J, Bartels CM, Barton SW, Gu D. Targeting hedgehog signaling in cancer: research and clinical developments. Onco Targets Ther 2013; 6:1425-35. [PMID: 24143114 PMCID: PMC3797650 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s34678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its first description in Drosophila by Drs Nusslein-Volhard and Wieschaus in 1980, hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been implicated in regulation of cell differentiation, proliferation, tissue polarity, stem cell maintenance, and carcinogenesis. The first link of Hh signaling to cancer was established through studies of Gorlin syndrome in 1996 by two independent teams. Later, it was shown that Hh signaling may be involved in many types of cancer, including skin, leukemia, lung, brain, and gastrointestinal cancers. In early 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the clinical use of Hh inhibitor Erivedge/vismodegib for treatment of locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinomas. With further investigation, it is possible to see more clinical applications of Hh signaling inhibitors. In this review, we will summarize major advances in the last 3 years in our understanding of Hh signaling activation in human cancer, and recent developments in preclinical and clinical studies using Hh signaling inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwu Xie
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Stacer AC, Nyati S, Moudgil P, Iyengar R, Luker KE, Rehemtulla A, Luker GD. NanoLuc Reporter for Dual Luciferase Imaging in Living Animals. Mol Imaging 2013. [DOI: 10.2310/7290.2013.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Stacer
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Shyam Nyati
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Pranav Moudgil
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Rahul Iyengar
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kathryn E. Luker
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Gary D. Luker
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Stacer AC, Nyati S, Moudgil P, Iyengar R, Luker KE, Rehemtulla A, Luker GD. NanoLuc reporter for dual luciferase imaging in living animals. Mol Imaging 2013; 12:1-13. [PMID: 24371848 PMCID: PMC4144862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging is widely used for cell-based assays and animal imaging studies in biomedical research and drug development, capitalizing on the high signal to background of this technique. A relatively small number of luciferases are available for imaging studies, substantially limiting the ability to image multiple molecular and cellular events, as done commonly with fluorescence imaging. To advance dual reporter bioluminescence molecular imaging, we tested a recently developed, adenosine triphosphate–independent luciferase enzyme from Oplophorus gracilirostris (NanoLuc [NL]) as a reporter for animal imaging. We demonstrated that NL could be imaged in superficial and deep tissues in living mice, although the detection of NL in deep tissues was limited by emission of predominantly blue light by this enzyme. Changes in bioluminescence from NL over time could be used to quantify tumor growth, and secreted NL was detectable in small volumes of serum. We combined NL and firefly luciferase reporters to quantify two key steps in transforming growth factor β signaling in intact cells and living mice, establishing a novel dual luciferase imaging strategy for quantifying signal transduction and drug targeting. Our results establish NL as a new reporter for bioluminescence imaging studies in intact cells and living mice that will expand imaging of signal transduction in normal physiology, disease, and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Stacer
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
| | - Shyam Nyati
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
| | - Pranav Moudgil
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
| | - Rahul Iyengar
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
| | - Kathryn E. Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
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Zhu H, Carpenter RL, Han W, Lo HW. The GLI1 splice variant TGLI1 promotes glioblastoma angiogenesis and growth. Cancer Lett 2013; 343:51-61. [PMID: 24045042 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Revised: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
We investigated truncated glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (TGLI1) that behaves as gain-of-function GLI1 and promotes tumor cell migration and invasion. Herein, we report that TGLI1 had a higher propensity than GLI1 to enhance glioblastoma angiogenesis and growth, both in vivo and in vitro. TGLI1 has gained the ability to enhance expression of pro-angiogenic heparanase. In patient glioblastomas, TGLI1 levels are correlated with heparanase expression. Together, we report that TGLI1 is a novel mediator of glioblastoma angiogenesis and that heparanase is a novel transcriptional target of TGLI1, shedding new light on the molecular pathways that support tumor angiogenesis and aggressive growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | | | - Woody Han
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Hui-Wen Lo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Center for RNA Biology, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Laner-Plamberger S, Wolff F, Kaser-Eichberger A, Swierczynski S, Hauser-Kronberger C, Frischauf AM, Eichberger T. Hedgehog/GLI signaling activates suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) in epidermal and neural tumor cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75317. [PMID: 24058673 PMCID: PMC3769249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustained hedgehog (Hh) signaling mediated by the GLI transcription factors is implicated in many types of cancer. Identification of Hh/GLI target genes modulating the activity of other pathways involved in tumor development promise to open new ways for better understanding of tumor development and maintenance. Here we show that SOCS1 is a direct target of Hh/GLI signaling in human keratinocytes and medulloblastoma cells. SOCS1 is a potent inhibitor of interferon gamma (IFN-y)/STAT1 signaling. IFN-у/STAT1 signaling can induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and anti-tumor immunity. The transcription factors GLI1 and GLI2 activate the SOCS1 promoter, which contains five putative GLI binding sites, and GLI2 binding to the promoter was shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Consistent with a role of GLI in SOCS1 regulation, STAT1 phosphorylation is reduced in cells with active Hh/GLI signaling and IFN-у/STAT1 target gene activation is decreased. Furthermore, IFN-у signaling is restored by shRNA mediated knock down of SOCS1. Here, we identify SOCS1 as a novel Hh/GLI target gene, indicating a negative role of Hh/GLI pathway in IFN-y/STAT1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Laner-Plamberger
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Spinal Cord Injury & Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Salzburg, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Florian Wolff
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Alexandra Kaser-Eichberger
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Stefan Swierczynski
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Cornelia Hauser-Kronberger
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Thomas Eichberger
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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Michelotti GA, Xie G, Swiderska M, Choi SS, Karaca G, Krüger L, Premont R, Yang L, Syn WK, Metzger D, Diehl AM. Smoothened is a master regulator of adult liver repair. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:2380-94. [PMID: 23563311 DOI: 10.1172/jci66904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
When regenerative processes cannot keep pace with cell death, functional epithelia are replaced by scar. Scarring is characterized by both excessive accumulation of fibrous matrix and persistent outgrowth of cell types that accumulate transiently during successful wound healing, including myofibroblasts (MFs) and progenitors. This suggests that signaling that normally directs these cells to repair injured epithelia is deregulated. To evaluate this possibility, we examined liver repair during different types of liver injury after Smoothened (SMO), an obligate intermediate in the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, was conditionally deleted in cells expressing the MF-associated gene, αSMA. Surprisingly, blocking canonical Hh signaling in MFs not only inhibited liver fibrosis but also prevented accumulation of liver progenitors. Hh-sensitive, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were identified as the source of both MFs and progenitors by lineage-tracing studies in 3 other strains of mice, coupled with analysis of highly pure HSC preparations using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, RT-PCR, and in situ hybridization. The results identify SMO as a master regulator of hepatic epithelial regeneration based on its ability to promote mesenchymal-to-epithelial transitions in a subpopulation of HSC-derived MFs with features of multipotent progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Michelotti
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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Chung Y, Fu E. Crosstalk between Shh and TGF-β signaling in cyclosporine-enhanced cell proliferation in human gingival fibroblasts. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70128. [PMID: 23922933 PMCID: PMC3724833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunosuppressant cyclosporine-A induces gingival hyperplasia, which is characterized by increased fibroblast proliferation and overproduction of extracellular matrix components and regulated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). The TGF-β and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathways both mediate cell proliferation. Crosstalk between these pathways in cancer has recently been proposed, but the hierarchical pattern of this crosstalk remains unclear. In normal fibroblasts, a TGF-β-stimulating Shh pattern was observed in induced fibrosis. However, Shh pathway involvement in cyclosporine-enhanced gingival proliferation and the existence of crosstalk with the TGF-β pathway remain unclear. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Cyclosporine enhanced mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β and Shh in human gingival fibroblasts (RT-PCR and western blotting). A TGF-β pathway inhibitor mitigated cyclosporine-enhanced cell proliferation and an Shh pathway inhibitor attenuated cyclosporine-enhanced proliferation in fibroblasts (MTS assay and/or RT-PCR of PCNA). Exogenous TGF-β increased Shh expression; however, exogenous Shh did not alter TGF-β expression. The TGF-β pathway inhibitor mitigated cyclosporine-upregulated Shh expression, but the Shh pathway inhibitor did not alter cyclosporine-upregulated TGF-β expression. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The TGF-β and Shh pathways mediate cyclosporine-enhanced gingival fibroblast proliferation. Exogenous TGF-β increased Shh expression, and inhibition of TGF-β signaling abrogated the cyclosporine-induced upregulation of Shh expression; however, TGF-β expression appeared unchanged by enhanced or inhibited Shh signaling. This is the first study demonstrating the role of Shh in cyclosporine-enhanced gingival cell proliferation; moreover, it defines a hierarchical crosstalk pattern in which TGF-β regulates Shh in gingival fibroblasts. Understanding the regulation of cyclosporine-related Shh and TGF-β signaling and crosstalk in gingival overgrowth will clarify the mechanism of cyclosporine-induced gingival enlargement and help develop targeted therapeutics for blocking these pathways, which can be applied in pre-clinical and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chung
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, National Defense Medical Center and Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Earl Fu
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, National Defense Medical Center and Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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Wu WK, Wang XJ, Cheng AS, Luo MX, Ng SS, To KF, Chan FK, Cho CH, Sung JJ, Yu J. Dysregulation and crosstalk of cellular signaling pathways in colon carcinogenesis. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2013; 86:251-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2012.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2012] [Revised: 11/07/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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Bermudez O, Hennen E, Koch I, Lindner M, Eickelberg O. Gli1 mediates lung cancer cell proliferation and Sonic Hedgehog-dependent mesenchymal cell activation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63226. [PMID: 23667589 PMCID: PMC3646741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 04/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-Small-Cell-Lung-Cancer (NSCLC) represents approximately 85% of all lung cancers and remains poorly understood. While signaling pathways operative during organ development, including Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and associated Gli transcription factors (Gli1-3), have recently been found to be reactivated in NSCLC, their functional role remains unclear. Here, we hypothesized that Shh/Gli1-3 could mediate NSCLC autonomous proliferation and epithelial/stromal signaling in the tumoral tissue. In this context, we have investigated the activity of Shh/Gli1-3 signaling in NSCLC in both, cancer and stromal cells. We report here that inhibition of Shh signaling induces a significant decrease in the proliferation of NSCLC cells. This effect is mediated by Gli1 and Gli2, but not Gli3, through regulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin D2 expression. While exogenous Shh was unable to induce signaling in either A549 lung adenocarcinoma or H520 lung squamous carcinoma cells, both cells were found to secrete Shh ligand, which induced fibroblast proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and collagen synthesis. Furthermore, Shh secreted by NSCLC mediates the production of proangiogenic and metastatic factors in lung fibroblasts. Our results thus provide evidence that Shh plays an important role in mediating epithelial/mesenchymal crosstalk in NSCLC. While autonomous Gli activity controls NSCLC proliferation, increased Shh expression by NSCLC is associated with fibroblast activation in tumor-associated stroma. Our study highlights the relevance of studying stromal-associated cells in the context of NSCLC regarding new prognosis and therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Bermudez
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
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Pimentel A, Velez M, Barahona LJ, Swords R, Lekakis L. New prospects for drug development: the hedgehog pathway revealed. Focus on hematologic malignancies. Future Oncol 2013; 9:681-97. [PMID: 23647297 DOI: 10.2217/fon.13.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The hedgehog (Hh) pathway is a critical regulator of vertebrate embryonic development and is involved in the function of processes such as stem cell maintenance and differentiation, tissue polarity and cell proliferation. Given how critical these functions are, it is not surprising that mutations in Hh pathway components are often implicated in the tumorigenesis of a variety of human cancers. Promotion of tumor growth has recently been shown by activated Hh signaling in the tumor itself, as well as by pathway activation within surrounding cells comprising the tumor microenvironment. Targeted disruption of various Hh pathway proteins has been successfully employed as an anticancer strategy with several synthetic Hh antagonists now available. Here, the molecular basis of Hh signaling, the therapeutic rationales for targeting this pathway and the current status of Hh pathway inhibitors in the clinic are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Pimentel
- Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miami, 1475 North West 12th Avenue, Suite 3300, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Michel Velez
- Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miami, 1475 North West 12th Avenue, Suite 3300, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Luz J Barahona
- University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, 1611 North West 12th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ronan Swords
- Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miami, 1475 North West 12th Avenue, Suite 3300, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Lazaros Lekakis
- Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miami, 1475 North West 12th Avenue, Suite 3300, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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Fan Q, Gu D, He M, Liu H, Sheng T, Xie G, Li CX, Zhang X, Wainwright B, Garrossian A, Garrossian M, Gardner D, Xie J. Tumor shrinkage by cyclopamine tartrate through inhibiting hedgehog signaling. CHINESE JOURNAL OF CANCER 2013; 30:472-81. [PMID: 21718593 PMCID: PMC4013422 DOI: 10.5732/cjc.011.10157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The link of hedgehog (Hh) signaling activation to human cancer and synthesis of a variety of Hh signaling inhibitors raise great expectation that inhibiting Hh signaling may be effective in human cancer treatment. Cyclopamine (Cyc), an alkaloid from the Veratrum plant, is a specific natural product inhibitor of the Hh pathway that acts by targeting smoothened (SMO) protein. However, its poor solubility, acid sensitivity, and weak potency relative to other Hh antagonists prevent the clinical development of Cyc as a therapeutic agent. Here, we report properties of cyclopamine tartrate salt (CycT) and its activities in Hh signaling-mediated cancer in vitro and in vivo. Unlike Cyc, CycT is water soluble (5–10 mg/mL). The median lethal dose (LD50) of CycT was 62.5 mg/kg body weight compared to 43.5 mg/kg for Cyc, and the plasma half-life (T1/2) of CycT was not significantly different from that of Cyc. We showed that CycT had a higher inhibitory activity for Hh signaling-dependent motor neuron differentiation than did Cyc (IC50 = 50 nmol/L for CycT vs. 300 nmol/L for Cyc). We also tested the antitumor effectiveness of these Hh inhibitors using two mouse models of basal cell carcinomas (K14cre: Ptch1neo/neo and K14cre: SmoM2YFP). After topical application of CycT or Cyc daily for 21 days, we found that all CycT-treated mice had tumor shrinkage and decreased expression of Hh target genes. Taken together, we found that CycT is an effective inhibitor of Hh signaling-mediated Carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qipeng Fan
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics and The Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Perrot CY, Javelaud D, Mauviel A. Overlapping activities of TGF-β and Hedgehog signaling in cancer: therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Pharmacol Ther 2012; 137:183-99. [PMID: 23063491 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 09/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in the field of cancer therapeutics come from the development of drugs that specifically recognize validated oncogenic or pro-metastatic targets. The latter may be mutated proteins with altered function, such as kinases that become constitutively active, or critical components of growth factor signaling pathways, whose deregulation leads to aberrant malignant cell proliferation and dissemination to metastatic sites. We herein focus on the description of the overlapping activities of two important developmental pathways often exacerbated in cancer, namely Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) and Hedgehog (HH) signaling, with a special emphasis on the unifying oncogenic role played by GLI1/2 transcription factors. The latter are the main effectors of the canonical HH pathway, yet are direct target genes of TGF-β/SMAD signal transduction. While tumor-suppressor in healthy and pre-malignant tissues, TGF-β is often expressed at high levels in tumors and contributes to tumor growth, escape from immune surveillance, invasion and metastasis. HH signaling regulates cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, and aberrant HH signaling is found in a variety of cancers. We discuss the current knowledge on HH and TGF-β implication in cancer including cancer stem cell biology, as well as the current state, both successes and failures, of targeted therapeutics aimed at blocking either of these pathways in the pre-clinical and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Y Perrot
- Institut Curie, Team TGF-β and Oncogenesis, 91400, Orsay, France; INSERM U1021, 91400, Orsay, France
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Gu D, Fan Q, Zhang X, Xie J. A role for transcription factor STAT3 signaling in oncogene smoothened-driven carcinogenesis. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:38356-66. [PMID: 22992748 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.377382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is known to drive development of basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastomas and to associate with many other types of cancer, but the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis process remain elusive. We discovered that skin tumors derived from epidermal expression of oncogenic Smo, SmoM2, have elevated levels of IL-11, IL-11Rα, and STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr(705). The relevance of our data to human conditions was reflected by the fact that all human basal cell carcinomas examined have detectable STAT3 phosphorylation, mostly in keratinocytes. The functional relevance of STAT3 in Smo-mediated carcinogenesis was revealed by epidermal specific knockout of STAT3. We showed that removal of STAT3 from mouse epidermis dramatically reduced SmoM2-mediated cell proliferation, leading to a significant decrease in epidermal thickness and tumor development. We also observed a significant reduction of epidermal stem/progenitor cell population and cyclin D1 expression in mice with epidermis-specific knockout of STAT3. Our evidence indicates that STAT3 signaling activation may be mediated by the IL-11/IL-11Rα signaling axis. We showed that tumor development was reduced after induced expression of SmoM2 in IL-11Rα null mice. Similarly, neutralizing antibodies for IL-11 reduced the tumor size. In two Hh-responsive cell lines, ES14 and C3H10T1/2, we found that addition of Smo agonist purmorphamine is sufficient to induce STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr(705), but this effect was abolished after IL-11Rα down-regulation by shRNAs. Taken together, our results support an important role of the IL-11Rα/STAT3 signaling axis for Hh signaling-mediated signaling and carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Gu
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Pharmacology/ Toxicology, The Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46074, USA
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Genome-wide screening reveals an EMT molecular network mediated by Sonic hedgehog-Gli1 signaling in pancreatic cancer cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43119. [PMID: 22900095 PMCID: PMC3416762 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims The role of sonic hedgehog (SHH) in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of pancreatic cancer (PC) is known, however, its mechanism is unclear. Because SHH promotes tumor development predominantly through Gli1, we sought to understand its mechanism by identifying Gli1 targets in pancreatic cancer cells. Methods First, we investigated invasion, migration, and EMT in PC cells transfected with lentiviral Gli1 interference vectors or SHH over-expression vectors in vitro and in vivo. Next, we determined the target gene profiles of Gli1 in PC cells using cDNA microarray assays. Finally, the primary regulatory networks downstream of SHH-Gli1 signaling in PC cells were studied through functional analyses of these targets. Results Our results indicate there is decreased E-cadherin expression upon increased expression of SHH/Gli1. Migration of PC cells increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner within 24 hours of Gli1 expression (P<0.05). The ratio of liver metastasis and intrasplenic miniature metastasis increased markedly upon activation of SHH-Gli1 signals in nude mice. Using cDNA microarray, we identified 278 upregulated and 59 downregulated genes upon Gli1 expression in AsPC-1 cells. The data indicate that SHH-Gli1 signals promote EMT by mediating a complex signaling network including TGFβ, Ras, Wnt, growth factors, PI3K/AKT, integrins, transmembrane 4 superfamily (TM4SF), and S100A4. Conclusion Our results suggest that targeting the molecular connections established between SHH-Gli1 signaling and EMT could provide effective therapies for PC.
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Chi S, Xie G, Liu H, Chen K, Zhang X, Li C, Xie J. Rab23 negatively regulates Gli1 transcriptional factor in a Su(Fu)-dependent manner. Cell Signal 2012; 24:1222-8. [PMID: 22365972 PMCID: PMC3319238 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2012.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 02/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, via the key signal transducer Smoothened (SMO) and Gli transcription factors, is essential for embryonic development and carcinogenesis. While the biological relevance of hedgehog signaling to cancer is well established, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which signaling transduction of this pathway occurs. Rab23 was discovered as a negative regulator of the Hh pathway through a mouse genetic study. Here we report that Rab23 directly associates with Su(Fu) and inhibits Gli1 function in a Su(Fu)-dependent manner. By confocal microscope and immunoprecipitation, we detected interaction between Rab23 and Su(Fu). Using Gli1-mediated reporter gene analysis, we found that Rab23 can suppress Gli1 transcriptional activity in wild type but not Su(Fu) null fibroblasts. Similarly, Rab23 expression reduced the nuclear localization of Gli1 in wild type but not Su(Fu) null fibroblast cells. Consistent with the GTPase motif in the protein, we showed that Rab23 has GTPase activity. The dominant negative form of Rab23 was unable to suppress Gli1-mediated transcriptional activity. Taken together, these data provide evidence to support that Rab23 negatively regulates Gli1 activity in a Su(Fu)-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumin Chi
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, 980 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Departments of Physiology and Dermatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China 710032
| | - Guorui Xie
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, 980 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Hailan Liu
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, 980 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Kai Chen
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, 980 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, 980 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Chengxin Li
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, 980 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Departments of Physiology and Dermatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China 710032
| | - Jingwu Xie
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, 980 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
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49
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Crosstalk between TGF-β and hedgehog signaling in cancer. FEBS Lett 2012; 586:2016-25. [PMID: 22609357 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2012] [Revised: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Hedgehog (HH) and TGF-β signals control various aspects of embryonic development and cancer progression. While their canonical signal transduction cascades have been well characterized, there is increasing evidence that these pathways are able to exert overlapping activities that challenge efficient therapeutic targeting. We herein review the current knowledge on HH signaling and summarize the recent findings on the crosstalks between the HH and TGF-β pathways in cancer.
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Aberger F, Kern D, Greil R, Hartmann TN. Canonical and noncanonical Hedgehog/GLI signaling in hematological malignancies. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2012; 88:25-54. [PMID: 22391298 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394622-5.00002-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The highly conserved Hedgehog/GLI signaling pathway regulates multiple aspects of embryonic development and plays a decisive role in tissue homeostasis and the hematopoietic system by controlling cell fate decisions, stem cell self-renewal, and activation. Loss of negative control of Hedgehog signaling contributes to tumor pathogenesis and progression. In the classical view of canonical Hedgehog signaling, Hedgehog ligand binding to its receptor Patched culminates in the activation of the key pathway activator Smoothened, followed by activation of the GLI transcription factors. Its essential function and druggability render Smoothened well suited to therapeutic intervention. However, recent evidence suggests a critical role of Smoothened-independent regulation of GLI activity by several other signaling pathways including the PI3K/AKT and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK axes. In addition, the contribution of canonical Hedgehog signaling via Patched and Smoothened to normal and malignant hematopoiesis has been the subject of recent controversies. In this review, we discuss the current understanding and controversial findings of canonical and noncanonical GLI activation in hematological malignancies in light of the current therapeutic strategies targeting the Hedgehog pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fritz Aberger
- Division of Molecular Tumor Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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