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Bhandari K, Ding WQ. Protein Arginine Methyltransferases in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: New Molecular Targets for Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3958. [PMID: 38612768 PMCID: PMC11011826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073958] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignant disease with a low 5-year overall survival rate. It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The lack of robust therapeutics, absence of effective biomarkers for early detection, and aggressive nature of the tumor contribute to the high mortality rate of PDAC. Notably, the outcomes of recent immunotherapy and targeted therapy against PDAC remain unsatisfactory, indicating the need for novel therapeutic strategies. One of the newly described molecular features of PDAC is the altered expression of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). PRMTs are a group of enzymes known to methylate arginine residues in both histone and non-histone proteins, thereby mediating cellular homeostasis in biological systems. Some of the PRMT enzymes are known to be overexpressed in PDAC that promotes tumor progression and chemo-resistance via regulating gene transcription, cellular metabolic processes, RNA metabolism, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Small-molecule inhibitors of PRMTs are currently under clinical trials and can potentially become a new generation of anti-cancer drugs. This review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of PRMTs in PDAC, focusing on their pathological roles and their potential as new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wei-Qun Ding
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, BMSB401A, 940 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
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2
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Wu H, Lv P, Wang J, Bennett B, Wang J, Li P, Peng Y, Hu G, Lin J. Genetic screen identified PRMT5 as a neuroprotection target against cerebral ischemia. eLife 2024; 12:RP89754. [PMID: 38372724 PMCID: PMC10942588 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89754] [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] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulators present novel opportunities for both ischemic stroke research and therapeutic interventions. While previous work has implicated that they may provide neuroprotection by potentially influencing coordinated sets of genes and pathways, most of them remain largely uncharacterized in ischemic conditions. In this study, we used the oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model in the immortalized mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line HT-22 and carried out an RNAi screen on epigenetic regulators. PRMT5 was identified as a novel negative regulator of neuronal cell survival after OGD, which presented a phenotype of translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus upon oxygen and energy depletion both in vitro and in vivo. PRMT5 bound to the chromatin and a large number of promoter regions to repress downstream gene expression. Silencing Prmt5 significantly dampened the OGD-induced changes for a large-scale of genes, and gene ontology analysis showed that PRMT5-target genes were highly enriched for Hedgehog signaling. Encouraged by the above observation, mice were treated with middle cerebral artery occlusion with the PRMT5 inhibitor EPZ015666 and found that PRMT5 inhibition sustains protection against neuronal death in vivo. Together, these findings revealed a novel epigenetic mechanism of PRMT5 in cerebral ischemia and uncovered a potential target for neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyang Wu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
- Basic Medical School, Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Peiyuan Lv
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
- Basic Medical School, Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Jinyu Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
- Basic Medical School, Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Brian Bennett
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesDurhamUnited States
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Computer Network Information Center, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Pishun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Yi Peng
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Guang Hu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesDurhamUnited States
| | - Jiaji Lin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
- Basic Medical School, Air Force Medical UniversityXi'anChina
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Stitzlein LM, Adams JT, Stitzlein EN, Dudley RW, Chandra J. Current and future therapeutic strategies for high-grade gliomas leveraging the interplay between epigenetic regulators and kinase signaling networks. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:12. [PMID: 38183103 PMCID: PMC10768151 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02923-7] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies, including small molecule inhibitors directed against aberrant kinase signaling and chromatin regulators, are emerging treatment options for high-grade gliomas (HGG). However, when translating these inhibitors into the clinic, their efficacy is generally limited to partial and transient responses. Recent studies in models of high-grade gliomas reveal a convergence of epigenetic regulators and kinase signaling networks that often cooperate to promote malignant properties and drug resistance. This review examines the interplay between five well-characterized groups of chromatin regulators, including the histone deacetylase (HDAC) family, bromodomain and extraterminal (BET)-containing proteins, protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family, Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), and lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), and various signaling pathways essential for cancer cell growth and progression. These specific epigenetic regulators were chosen for review due to their targetability via pharmacological intervention and clinical relevance. Several studies have demonstrated improved efficacy from the dual inhibition of the epigenetic regulators and signaling kinases. Overall, the interactions between epigenetic regulators and kinase signaling pathways are likely influenced by several factors, including individual glioma subtypes, preexisting mutations, and overlapping/interdependent functions of the chromatin regulators. The insights gained by understanding how the genome and epigenome cooperate in high-grade gliomas will guide the design of future therapeutic strategies that utilize dual inhibition with improved efficacy and overall survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea M Stitzlein
- Department of Pediatrics Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Box 853, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jack T Adams
- Department of Pediatrics Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Box 853, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Richard W Dudley
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Findlay, Findlay, OH, USA
| | - Joya Chandra
- Department of Pediatrics Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Box 853, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Zhu Y, Xia T, Chen DQ, Xiong X, Shi L, Zuo Y, Xiao H, Liu L. Promising role of protein arginine methyltransferases in overcoming anti-cancer drug resistance. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 72:101016. [PMID: 37980859 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.101016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Drug resistance remains a major challenge in cancer treatment, necessitating the development of novel strategies to overcome it. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are enzymes responsible for epigenetic arginine methylation, which regulates various biological and pathological processes, as a result, they are attractive therapeutic targets for overcoming anti-cancer drug resistance. The ongoing development of small molecules targeting PRMTs has resulted in the generation of chemical probes for modulating most PRMTs and facilitated clinical treatment for the most advanced oncology targets, including PRMT1 and PRMT5. In this review, we summarize various mechanisms underlying protein arginine methylation and the roles of specific PRMTs in driving cancer drug resistance. Furthermore, we highlight the potential clinical implications of PRMT inhibitors in decreasing cancer drug resistance. PRMTs promote the formation and maintenance of drug-tolerant cells via several mechanisms, including altered drug efflux transporters, autophagy, DNA damage repair, cancer stem cell-related function, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and disordered tumor microenvironment. Multiple preclinical and ongoing clinical trials have demonstrated that PRMT inhibitors, particularly PRMT5 inhibitors, can sensitize cancer cells to various anti-cancer drugs, including chemotherapeutic, targeted therapeutic, and immunotherapeutic agents. Combining PRMT inhibitors with existing anti-cancer strategies will be a promising approach for overcoming anti-cancer drug resistance. Furthermore, enhanced knowledge of the complex functions of arginine methylation and PRMTs in drug resistance will guide the future development of PRMT inhibitors and may help identify new clinical indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongxia Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tong Xia
- Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Da-Qian Chen
- Department of Medicine Oncology, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen 518110, China
| | - Xia Xiong
- Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Lihong Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yueqi Zuo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Institute of Basic Translational Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, China.
| | - Hongtao Xiao
- Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China.
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Holtz AG, Lowe TL, Aoki Y, Kubota Y, Hoffman RM, Clarke SG. Asymmetric and symmetric protein arginine methylation in methionine-addicted human cancer cells. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296291. [PMID: 38134182 PMCID: PMC10745221 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The methionine addiction of cancer cells is known as the Hoffman effect. While non-cancer cells in culture can utilize homocysteine in place of methionine for cellular growth, most cancer cells require exogenous methionine for proliferation. It has been suggested that a biochemical basis of this effect is the increased utilization of methionine for S-adenosylmethionine, the major methyl donor for a variety of cellular methyltransferases. Recent studies have pointed to the role of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in cell proliferation and cancer. To further understand the biochemical basis of the methionine addiction of cancer cells, we compared protein arginine methylation in two previously described isogenic cell lines, a methionine-addicted 143B human osteosarcoma cell line and its less methionine-dependent revertant. Previous work showed that the revertant cells were significantly less malignant than the parental cells. In the present study, we utilized antibodies to detect the asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) products of PRMTs in polypeptides from cellular extracts and purified histone preparations of these cell lines fractionated by SDS-PAGE. Importantly, we observed little to no differences in the banding patterns of ADMA- and SDMA-containing species between the osteosarcoma parental and revertant cell lines. Furthermore, enzymatic activity assays using S-adenosyl-ʟ-[methyl-3H] methionine, recombinantly purified PRMT enzymes, cell lysates, and specific PRMT inhibitors revealed no major differences in radiolabeled polypeptides on SDS-PAGE gels. Taken together, these results suggest that changes in protein arginine methylation may not be major contributors to the Hoffman effect and that other consequences of methionine addiction may be more important in the metastasis and malignancy of osteosarcoma and potentially other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley G Holtz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Troy L Lowe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Yutaro Kubota
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Steven G Clarke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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Zheng J, Li B, Wu Y, Wu X, Wang Y. Targeting Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT5 for Cancer Therapy: Updated Progress and Novel Strategies. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37366223 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
As a predominant type II protein arginine methyltransferase, PRMT5 plays critical roles in various normal cellular processes by catalyzing the mono- and symmetrical dimethylation of a wide range of histone and nonhistone substrates. Clinical studies have revealed that high expression of PRMT5 is observed in different solid tumors and hematological malignancies and is closely associated with cancer initiation and progression. Accordingly, PRMT5 is becoming a promising anticancer target and has received great attention in both the pharmaceutical industry and the academic community. In this Perspective, we comprehensively summarize recent advances in the development of first-generation PRMT5 enzymatic inhibitors and highlight novel strategies targeting PRMT5 in the past 5 years. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities of PRMT5 inhibition, with the aim of shedding light on future PRMT5 drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahong Zheng
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bang Li
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingqi Wu
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Wu
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuanxiang Wang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Rasheed S, Bouley RA, Yoder RJ, Petreaca RC. Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) Mutations in Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:6042. [PMID: 37047013 PMCID: PMC10094674 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine methylation is a form of posttranslational modification that regulates many cellular functions such as development, DNA damage repair, inflammatory response, splicing, and signal transduction, among others. Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is one of nine identified methyltransferases, and it can methylate both histone and non-histone targets. It has pleiotropic functions, including recruitment of repair machinery to a chromosomal DNA double strand break (DSB) and coordinating the interplay between repair and checkpoint activation. Thus, PRMT5 has been actively studied as a cancer treatment target, and small molecule inhibitors of its enzymatic activity have already been developed. In this report, we analyzed all reported PRMT5 mutations appearing in cancer cells using data from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancers (COSMIC). Our goal is to classify mutations as either drivers or passengers to understand which ones are likely to promote cellular transformation. Using gold standard artificial intelligence algorithms, we uncovered several key driver mutations in the active site of the enzyme (D306H, L315P, and N318K). In silico protein modeling shows that these mutations may affect the affinity of PRMT5 for S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which is required as a methyl donor. Electrostatic analysis of the enzyme active site shows that one of these mutations creates a tunnel in the vicinity of the SAM binding site, which may allow interfering molecules to enter the enzyme active site and decrease its activity. We also identified several non-coding mutations that appear to affect PRMT5 splicing. Our analyses provide insights into the role of PRMT5 mutations in cancer cells. Additionally, since PRMT5 single molecule inhibitors have already been developed, this work may uncover future directions in how mutations can affect targeted inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayaan Rasheed
- James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Columbus, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Renee A. Bouley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Marion, OH 43302, USA
| | - Ryan J. Yoder
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Marion, OH 43302, USA
| | - Ruben C. Petreaca
- James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Columbus, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Marion, OH 43302, USA
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