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Wilhelmi T, Xu X, Tan X, Hulshoff MS, Maamari S, Sossalla S, Zeisberg M, Zeisberg EM. Serelaxin alleviates cardiac fibrosis through inhibiting endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition via RXFP1. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:3905-3924. [PMID: 32226528 PMCID: PMC7086357 DOI: 10.7150/thno.38640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Cardiac fibrosis is an integral constituent of every form of chronic heart disease, and persistence of fibrosis reduces tissue compliance and accelerates the progression to heart failure. Relaxin-2 is a human hormone, which has various physiological functions such as mediating renal vasodilation in pregnancy. Its recombinant form Serelaxin has recently been tested in clinical trials as a therapy for acute heart failure but did not meet its primary endpoints. The aim of this study is to examine whether Serelaxin has an anti-fibrotic effect in the heart and therefore could be beneficial in chronic heart failure. Methods: We utilized two different cardiac fibrosis mouse models (ascending aortic constriction (AAC) and Angiotensin II (ATII) administration via osmotic minipumps) to assess the anti-fibrotic potential of Serelaxin. Histological analysis, immunofluorescence staining and molecular analysis were performed to assess the fibrosis level and indicate endothelial cells which are undergoing EndMT. In vitro TGFβ1-induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) assays were performed in human coronary artery endothelial cells and mouse cardiac endothelial cells (MCECs) and were examined using molecular methods. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR assay was utilized to identify the Serelaxin effect on chromatin remodeling in the Rxfp1 promoter region in MCECs. Results: Our results demonstrate a significant and dose-dependent anti-fibrotic effect of Serelaxin in the heart in both models. We further show that Serelaxin mediates this effect, at least in part, through inhibition of EndMT through the endothelial Relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1). We further demonstrate that Serelaxin administration is able to increase its own receptor expression (RXFP1) through epigenetic regulation in form of histone modifications by attenuating TGFβ-pSMAD2/3 signaling in endothelial cells. Conclusions: This study is the first to identify that Serelaxin increases the expression of its own receptor RXFP1 and that this mediates the inhibition of EndMT and cardiac fibrosis, suggesting that Serelaxin may have a beneficial effect as anti-fibrotic therapy in chronic heart failure.
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Huang SF, Yang ZL, Li DQ, Liu ZY, Wang CW, Miao XY, Zou Q, Yuan Y. Jagged1 and DLL4 expressions in benign and malignant pancreatic lesions and their clinicopathological significance. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2016; 15:640-646. [PMID: 27919854 DOI: 10.1016/s1499-3872(16)60110-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a poor prognosis. Despite intensive research, markers for the early diagnosis, prognosis, and targeting therapy of PDAC are not available. This study aimed to investigate the protein expressions of Jagged1 and DLL4 in PDAC tumor, benign pancreatic and normal pancreatic tissues, and analyze the associations of the two proteins with the clinical and pathological characteristics of PDAC. METHODS A total of 106 PDAC tumor tissues and 35 peritumoral tissues were collected from January 2000 to December 2011 at our hospitals. Thirteen normal pancreatic tissues and 55 benign pancreatic specimens were collected at the same period. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure Jagged1 and DLL4 protein expressions in these tissues. RESULTS The percentage of positive Jagged1 and DLL4 was significantly higher in PDAC than in normal pancreatic tissues, benign pancreatic tissues, and peritumoral tissues (P<0.01). The higher Jagged1 and DLL4 expressions in PDAC were significantly associated with poor differentiation, maximum tumor size >5 cm, invasion, regional lymph node metastasis, and TNM III/IV disease (P<0.05). In PDAC, Jagged1 expression positively correlated with DLL4 expression. Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that positive Jagged1 and DLL4 expressions were significantly associated with shorter survival in patients with PDAC. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that positive Jagged1 and DLL4 expressions were independent prognostic factors for poor prognosis of patients with PDAC. CONCLUSION Positive Jagged1 and DLL4 expression is closely correlated with severe clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognosis in patients with PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Fu Huang
- Research Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
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Crabtree JS, Singleton CS, Miele L. Notch Signaling in Neuroendocrine Tumors. Front Oncol 2016; 6:94. [PMID: 27148486 PMCID: PMC4830836 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Carcinoids and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors that arise from the neuroendocrine cells of the GI tract, endocrine pancreas, and the respiratory system. NETs remain significantly understudied with respect to molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis, particularly the role of cell fate signaling systems such as Notch. The abundance of literature on the Notch pathway is a testament to its complexity in different cellular environments. Notch receptors can function as oncogenes in some contexts and tumor suppressors in others. The genetic heterogeneity of NETs suggests that to fully understand the roles and the potential therapeutic implications of Notch signaling in NETs, a comprehensive analysis of Notch expression patterns and potential roles across all NET subtypes is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy S Crabtree
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA; Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Ciera S Singleton
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center , New Orleans, LA , USA
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA; Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Giunco S, Celeghin A, Gianesin K, Dolcetti R, Indraccolo S, De Rossi A. Cross talk between EBV and telomerase: the role of TERT and NOTCH2 in the switch of latent/lytic cycle of the virus. Cell Death Dis 2015; 6:e1774. [PMID: 26018735 PMCID: PMC4669716 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignancies, as well as lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), obtained in vitro by EBV infection of B cells, express latent viral proteins and maintain their ability to grow indefinitely through inappropriate activation of telomere-specific reverse transcriptase (TERT), the catalytic component of telomerase. Our previous studies demonstrated that high levels of TERT expression in LCLs prevent the activation of EBV lytic cycle, which is instead triggered by TERT silencing. As lytic infection promotes the death of EBV-positive tumor cells, understanding the mechanism(s) by which TERT affects the latent/lytic status of EBV may be important for setting new therapeutic strategies. BATF, a transcription factor activated by NOTCH2, the major NOTCH family member in B cells, negatively affects the expression of BZLF1, the master regulator of viral lytic cycle. We therefore analyzed the interplay between TERT, NOTCH and BATF in LCLs and found that high levels of endogenous TERT are associated with high NOTCH2 and BATF expression levels. In addition, ectopic expression of TERT in LCLs with low levels of endogenous telomerase was associated with upregulation of NOTCH2 and BATF at both mRNA and protein levels. By contrast, infection of LCLs with retroviral vectors expressing functional NOTCH2 did not alter TERT transcript levels. Luciferase reporter assays, demonstrated that TERT significantly activated NOTCH2 promoter in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that NF-κB pathway is involved in TERT-induced NOTCH2 activation. Lastly, pharmacologic inhibition of NOTCH signaling triggers the EBV lytic cycle, leading to the death of EBV-infected cells. Overall, these results indicate that TERT contributes to preserve EBV latency in B cells mainly through the NOTCH2/BAFT pathway, and suggest that NOTCH2 inhibition may represent an appealing therapeutic strategy against EBV-associated malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Giunco
- Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - A Celeghin
- Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - K Gianesin
- Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - R Dolcetti
- Cancer Bio-Immunotherapy Unit, CRO-IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - S Indraccolo
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV)-IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - A De Rossi
- 1] Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy [2] Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV)-IRCCS, Padova, Italy
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Hernandez Tejada FN, Galvez Silva JR, Zweidler-McKay PA. The challenge of targeting notch in hematologic malignancies. Front Pediatr 2014; 2:54. [PMID: 24959528 PMCID: PMC4051192 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2014.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling can play oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles depending on cell type. Hematologic malignancies encompass a wide range of transformed cells, and consequently the roles of Notch are diverse in these diseases. For example Notch is a potent T-cell oncogene, with >50% of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cases carry activating mutations in the Notch1 receptor. Targeting Notch signaling in T-ALL with gamma-secretase inhibitors, which prevent Notch receptor activation, has shown pre-clinical activity, and is under evaluation clinically. In contrast, Notch signaling inhibits acute myeloblastic leukemia growth and survival, and although targeting Notch signaling in AML with Notch activators appears to have pre-clinical activity, no Notch agonists are clinically available at this time. As such, despite accumulating evidence about the biology of Notch signaling in different hematologic cancers, which provide compelling clinical promise, we are only beginning to target this pathway clinically, either on or off. In this review, we will summarize the evidence for oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles of Notch in a wide range of leukemias and lymphomas, and describe therapeutic opportunities for now and the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jorge R Galvez Silva
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, TX , USA
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Abstract
Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved cell signaling pathway involved in cell fate during development, stem cell renewal and differentiation in postnatal tissues. Roles for Notch in carcinogenesis, in the biology of cancer stem cells and tumor angiogenesis have been reported. These features identify Notch as a potential therapeutic target in oncology. Based on the molecular structure of Notch receptor, Notch ligands and Notch activators, a set of Notch pathway inhibitors have been developed. Most of these inhibitors had shown anti-tumor effects in preclinical studies. At the same time, the combinatorial effect of these inhibitors with current chemotherapeutical drugs is still under study in different clinical trials. In this review, we describe the basics of Notch signaling and the role of Notch in normal and cancer stem cells as a logic way to develop different Notch inhibitors and their current stage of progress for cancer patient's treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Espinoza
- University of Mississippi, Cancer Institute, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Lucio Miele
- University of Mississippi, Cancer Institute, Jackson, Mississippi
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Yu SD, Liu FY, Wang QR. Notch inhibitor: a promising carcinoma radiosensitizer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2013; 13:5345-51. [PMID: 23317182 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2012.13.11.5345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is an important part of modern cancer management for many malignancies, and enhancing the radiosensitivity of tumor cells is critical for effective cancer therapies. The Notch signaling pathway plays a key role in regulation of numerous fundamental cellular processes. Further, there is accumulating evidence that dysregulated Notch activity is involved in the genesis of many human cancers. As such, Notch inhibitors are attractive therapeutic agents, although as for other anticancer agents, they exhibit significant and potential side effects. Thus, Notch inhibitors may be best used in combination with other agents or therapy. Herein, we describe evidence supporting the use of Notch inhibitors as novel and potent radiosensitizers in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Dong Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong, China.
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