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Zhang X, Gao Y, Tang K, Li Z, Halberstam AA, Zhou L, Perry RJ. Thiazolidinedione enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in murine melanoma. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2024; 326:E341-E350. [PMID: 38294697 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00346.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Several clinical studies observed a surprising beneficial effect of obesity on enhancing immunotherapy responsiveness in patients with melanoma, highlighting an as-yet insufficiently understood relationship between metabolism and immunogenicity. Here, we demonstrate that the thiazolidinedione (TZD) rosiglitazone, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes by sequestering fatty acids in metabolically inert subcutaneous adipose tissue, improved sensitivity to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) treatment in YUMMER1.7 tumor-bearing mice, an initially immunotherapy-sensitive murine melanoma model. We observed a transition from high to intermediate PD-1 expression in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Moreover, TZD inhibited PD-1 expression in mouse and human T cells treated in vitro. In addition to its direct impact on immune cells, TZD also decreased circulating insulin concentrations, while insulin induced T cell exhaustion in culture. In TZD-treated mice, we observed higher fatty acid concentrations in the tumor microenvironment, with fatty acids protecting against exhaustion in culture. Together, these data are consistent with an indirect mechanism of TZD inhibiting T cell exhaustion. Finally, we analyzed imaging data from patients with melanoma before and after anti-PD-1 treatment, confirming the beneficial effect of increased subcutaneous fat on anti-PD-1 responsiveness in patients. We also found that the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), the canonical activator of lipid uptake and adipogenesis activated by TZD, correlated with overall survival time. Taken together, these data identify a new adjuvant to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in YUMMER1.7 melanoma mice, and discover a new metabolism-based prognostic marker in human melanoma.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Zhang et al. demonstrate that the diabetes drug rosiglitazone improves the efficacy of immunotherapy in mouse melanoma. This effect is both direct and indirect: TZD directly reduces PD-1 expression in CD8+ T cells (i.e., reduces exhaustion), and indirectly reduces exhaustion by lowering insulin levels and increasing local fat. Finally, they demonstrate that hallmarks of TZD action (such as PPARγ expression and subcutaneous fat content) correlate with improved immunotherapy efficacy in humans with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Yuan Gao
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Keyun Tang
- Department of Dermatology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zongyu Li
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Alexandra A Halberstam
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Liqun Zhou
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Rachel J Perry
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
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Abdel-Razek EAN, Mahmoud HM, Azouz AA. Management of ulcerative colitis by dichloroacetate: Impact on NFATC1/NLRP3/IL1B signaling based on bioinformatics analysis combined with in vivo experimental verification. Inflammopharmacology 2024; 32:667-682. [PMID: 37902927 PMCID: PMC10907436 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01362-2] [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: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
The inflammatory response in ulcerative colitis (UC) could be relieved by the conventional immunomodulatory agents; 5-aminosalicylic acid, corticosteroids, or azathioprine. However, the low remission rates and the intolerance to these agents necessitate investigation of gene expression signature in UC that could influence the therapeutic efficacy of drugs, as well as the interference with persistence genes by novel therapeutic option. Three microarray datasets (GSE66407, GSE38713 and GSE14580) from the NCBI-GEO database were utilized. Differentially expressed genes between samples of patients with UC and healthy ones were analyzed using R software. In addition, in vivo study using oxazolone-induced UC in BALB/c mice was carried out to investigate the proposed therapeutic efficacy of dichloroacetate (DCA). The bioinformatics analysis revealed the persistence of NLRP3, NFATC1, and IL1B in UC despite treatment with common therapeutic agents. DCA administration to oxazolone-treated mice showed remarkable interference with those persistence genes. Western blotting analysis for NLRP3, NFATC1, nuclear/total NF-κB, and cleaved caspase-1 revealed the ability of DCA to reduce the expression levels of these proteins in oxazolone-treated mice. Additionally, the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-13 were reduced in colonic tissue by DCA treatment. The therapeutic efficacy of DCA was further confirmed by the apparent reduction in histopathological scoring, disease activity index, and the normalization of colon length. Therefore, DCA could be suggested as a novel and promising therapeutic option in UC based on its ability to interfere with the persistence of NFATC1/NLRP3/IL1B signaling. That merits further safety/toxicological pre-clinical assessment and update of bioavailability/metabolism data prior to clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heba M Mahmoud
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62514, Egypt
| | - Amany A Azouz
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62514, Egypt
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Toledo GF, Nagamine MK, Nowosh V, Machado FT, Massoco CO, Souza-Pinto NC, Dagli MLZ. Antineoplastic effects of sodium dichloroacetate and omeprazole, alone or in combination, on canine oral mucosal melanoma cells. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1186650. [PMID: 37520008 PMCID: PMC10373870 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1186650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) is a common neoplasm in canines, although it is rare in humans. Cancer cells present alterations in energetic metabolism, and the Warburg effect states that most cancer cells undergo aerobic glycolysis. This can be reversed by certain drugs, resulting in decreased cell viability and cell death. We sought to evaluate the effects of sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) and omeprazole (OMP) alone or in combination on canine OMM and human melanoma cells. CMGD5 and SK-MEL-28 cell lines were treated with DCA and OMP alone or in combination, and cell viability was assessed using the crystal violet assay. Cell death (apoptosis and necrosis) was assessed by Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining assays using flow cytometry. In addition, the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was evaluated using a SeaHorse XF assay. Treatment with DCA or OMP alone resulted in a significant, but not dose-dependent, reduction in cell viability in both cell lines; however, the combination of DCA and OMP resulted in a significant and dose-dependent decrease in viability in both cell lines. DCA and OMP, alone or in combination, did not alter OCR at the concentrations tested in either cell line. Since the combination of DCA and OMP potentialized the inhibition of viability and increased cell death in a synergistic manner in melanoma cells, this approach may represent a new repurposing strategy to treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela F. Toledo
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcia K. Nagamine
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Victor Nowosh
- Laboratory of Comparative Imuno-Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felippe T. Machado
- Laboratory of Mitochondrial Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristina O. Massoco
- Laboratory of Comparative Imuno-Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nadja C. Souza-Pinto
- Laboratory of Mitochondrial Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria L. Z. Dagli
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Zhang X, Halberstam AA, Zhu W, Leitner BP, Thakral D, Bosenberg MW, Perry RJ. Isotope tracing reveals distinct substrate preference in murine melanoma subtypes with differing anti-tumor immunity. Cancer Metab 2022; 10:21. [PMID: 36457136 PMCID: PMC9714036 DOI: 10.1186/s40170-022-00296-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research about tumor "metabolic flexibility"-the ability of cells to toggle between preferred nutrients depending on the metabolic context-has largely focused on obesity-associated cancers. However, increasing evidence for a key role for nutrient competition in the tumor microenvironment, as well as for substrate regulation of immune function, suggests that substrate metabolism deserves reconsideration in immunogenic tumors that are not strongly associated with obesity. METHODS We compare two murine models: immunologically cold YUMM1.7 and immunologically-hot YUMMER1.7. We utilize stable isotope and radioisotope tracer-based metabolic flux studies as well as gas and liquid chromatography-based metabolomics analyses to comprehensively probe substrate preference in YUMM1.7 and YUMMER1.7 cells, with a subset of studies on the impact of available metabolites across a panel of five additional melanoma cell lines. We analyze bulk RNA-seq data and identify increased expression of amino acid and glucose metabolism genes in YUMMER1.7. Finally, we analyze melanoma patient RNA-seq data to identify potential prognostic predictors rooted in metabolism. RESULTS We demonstrate using stable isotope tracer-based metabolic flux studies as well as gas and liquid chromatography-based metabolomics that immunologically-hot melanoma utilizes more glutamine than immunologically-cold melanoma in vivo and in vitro. Analyses of human melanoma RNA-seq data demonstrate that glutamine transporter and other anaplerotic gene expression positively correlates with lymphocyte infiltration and function. CONCLUSIONS Here, we highlight the importance of understanding metabolism in non-obesity-associated cancers, such as melanoma. This work advances the understanding of the correlation between metabolism and immunogenicity in the tumor microenvironment and provides evidence supporting metabolic gene expression as potential prognostic factors of melanoma progression and may inform investigations of adjunctive metabolic therapy in melanoma. TRIAL REGISTRATION Deidentified data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology), Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208026, 333 Cedar St., SHM BE36-B, New Haven, CT, 06520-8026, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Alexandra A Halberstam
- Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology), Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208026, 333 Cedar St., SHM BE36-B, New Haven, CT, 06520-8026, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Wanling Zhu
- Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology), Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208026, 333 Cedar St., SHM BE36-B, New Haven, CT, 06520-8026, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Brooks P Leitner
- Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology), Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208026, 333 Cedar St., SHM BE36-B, New Haven, CT, 06520-8026, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Durga Thakral
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Marcus W Bosenberg
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Stem Cell Center, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rachel J Perry
- Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology), Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208026, 333 Cedar St., SHM BE36-B, New Haven, CT, 06520-8026, USA.
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA.
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Navarro CDC, Francisco A, Figueira TR, Ronchi JA, Oliveira HCF, Vercesi AE, Castilho RF. Dichloroacetate reactivates pyruvate-supported peroxide removal by liver mitochondria and prevents NAFLD aggravation in NAD(P) + transhydrogenase-null mice consuming a high-fat diet. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 917:174750. [PMID: 35032488 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms by which a high-fat diet (HFD) promotes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) appear to involve liver mitochondrial dysfunction and redox imbalance. The functional loss of the enzyme NAD(P)+ transhydrogenase, a main source of mitochondrial NADPH, results in impaired mitochondrial peroxide removal, pyruvate dehydrogenase inhibition by phosphorylation, and progression of NAFLD in HFD-fed mice. The present study aimed to investigate whether pharmacological reactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase by dichloroacetate attenuates the mitochondrial redox dysfunction and the development of NAFLD in NAD(P)+ transhydrogenase-null (Nnt-/-) mice fed an HFD (60% of total calories from fat). For this purpose, Nnt-/- mice and their congenic controls (Nnt+/+) were fed chow or an HFD for 20 weeks and received sodium dichloroacetate or NaCl in the final 12 weeks via drinking water. The results showed that HFD reduced the ability of isolated liver mitochondria from Nnt-/- mice to remove peroxide, which was prevented by the dichloroacetate treatment. HFD-fed mice of both Nnt genotypes exhibited increased body and liver mass, as well as a higher content of hepatic triglycerides, but dichloroacetate treatment attenuated these abnormalities only in Nnt-/- mice. Notably, dichloroacetate treatment decreased liver pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphorylation levels and prevented the aggravation of NAFLD in HFD-fed Nnt-/- mice. Conversely, dichloroacetate treatment elicited moderate hepatocyte ballooning in chow-fed mice, suggesting potentially toxic effects. We conclude that the protection against HFD-induced NAFLD by dichloroacetate is associated with its role in reactivating pyruvate dehydrogenase and reestablishing the pyruvate-supported liver mitochondrial capacity to handle peroxide in Nnt-/- mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia D C Navarro
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-888, Brazil.
| | - Annelise Francisco
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-888, Brazil
| | - Tiago R Figueira
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-888, Brazil; School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-907, Brazil
| | - Juliana A Ronchi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-888, Brazil
| | - Helena C F Oliveira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Anibal E Vercesi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-888, Brazil
| | - Roger F Castilho
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-888, Brazil.
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