Characterization of the protein ubiquitination response induced by Doxorubicin

Simultaneous proteasome and autophagy inhibition synergistically enhances cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in breast cancer cells

Ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy are interconnected proteolysis pathways implicated in doxorubicin resistance of breast cancer cells. Following anticancer treatments, autophagy either plays a cytoprotective role or augments treatment-induced cytotoxicity. However, the role of autophagy in breast cancer cells cotreated with doxorubicin and ixazomib remains unclear. The expression of autophagy proteins (LC3A/B and Beclin-1) and UPS protein (ubiquitin) in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells following doxorubicin, ixazomib, and/or hydroxychloroquine were determined by western blot. The combinatorial effects and combination index (CI) of triple-combination were determined by cell viability assay and CompuSyn software, respectively. Doxorubicin and ixazomib cotreatment increased Beclin-1 (3.8- and 3.5-fold) and LC3-II expression (13.5- and 1.9-fold) in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Adding lysosomal inhibitor hydroxychloroquine to doxorubicin and ixazomib further increased LC3-II expression to 45.0- and 16.5-fold in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, respectively, confirming autophagy induction. The triple-combination synergistically inhibited cell growth, achieving CI 0.672 and 0.157 in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. The triple-combination also induced ubiquitinated proteins accumulation (2.5-fold and 3.0-fold) in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. These results suggest that the autophagy induced by doxorubicin and ixazomib cotreatment serves cytoprotective role in breast cancer cells. Simultaneous UPS and autophagy inhibition synergistically enhanced doxorubicin-mediated cytotoxicity.

Nitazoxanide and related thiazolides induce cell death in cancer cells by targeting the 20S proteasome with novel binding modes

Nitazoxanide and related thiazolides are a novel class of anti-infectious agents against protozoan parasites, bacteria and viruses. In recent years, it is demonstrated thatthiazolides also can induced cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death in cancer cells. Due to their fast proliferating nature, cancer cells highly depend on the proteasome system to remove aberrant proteins. Many of these aberrant proteins are regulators of cell cycle progression and apoptosis, such as the cyclins, BCL2 family members and nuclear factor of κB (NF-κB). Here, we demonstrate at both molecular and cellular levels that the 20S proteasome is a direct target of NTZ and other thiazolides. By concurrently inhibiting the multiple catalytic subunits of 20S proteasome, NTZ promotes cell cycle arrest and triggers cell death in colon cancer cells, either directly or a sensitizer to other anti-tumor agents, especially doxorubicin. We further show that the binding mode of NTZ in the β5 subunit of the 20S proteasome is different from that of bortezomib and other existing proteasome inhibitors. These findings provide new insights in the design of novel small molecular proteasome inhibitors as anti-tumor agents suitable for solid tumor treatment in an oral dosing form.

A Fast Ubiquitination of UHRF1 Oncogene Is a Unique Feature and a Common Mechanism of Thymoquinone in Cancer Cells

Downregulation of the ubiquitin-like containing PHD and ring finger 1 (UHRF1) oncogene in cancer cells in response to natural anticancer drugs, including thymoquinone (TQ), is a key event that induces apoptosis. TQ can induce UHRF1 autoubiquitination via the E3 ligase activity of its RING domain, most likely through the downregulation of herpes virus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP). In this study, we evaluated whether HAUSP downregulation and fast ubiquitination of UHRF1 are prerequisites for UHRF1 degradation in response to TQ in cancer cells and whether doxorubicin can mimic the effects of TQ on UHRF1 ubiquitination. RNA sequencing was performed to investigate differentially expressed genes in TQ-treated Jurkat cells. The protein expression of UHRF1, HAUSP and Bcl-2 was detected by means of Western blot analysis. The proliferation of human colon cancer (HCT-116) and Jurkat cells was analyzed via the WST-1 assay. RNA sequencing data revealed that TQ significantly decreased HAUSP expression. TQ triggered UHRF1 to undergo rapid ubiquitination as the first step in its degradation and the inhibition of its cell proliferation. TQ-induced UHRF1 ubiquitination is associated with HAUSP downregulation. Like TQ, doxorubicin induced a similar dose- and time-dependent downregulation of UHRF1 in cancer cells, but UHRF1 did not undergo ubiquitination as detected in response to TQ. Furthermore, TQ decreased Bcl-2 expression without triggering its ubiquitination. A fast UHRF1 ubiquitination is an indispensable event for its degradation in response to TQ but not for its responses to doxorubicin. TQ appears to trigger ubiquitination of UHRF1 but not of the Bcl-2 oncogene, thereby identifying UHRF1 as a specific target of TQ for cancer therapy.

A PROTAC targets splicing factor 3B1

The proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are a new technology to degrade target proteins. However, their clinical application is limited currently by lack of chemical binders to target proteins. For instance, it is still unknown whether splicing factor 3B subunit 1 (SF3B1) is targetable by PROTACs. We recently identified a 2-aminothiazole derivative (herein O4I2) as a promoter in the generation of human pluripotent stem cells. In this work, proteomic analysis on the biotinylated O4I2 revealed that O4I2 targeted SF3B1 and positively regulated RNA splicing. Fusing thalidomide-the ligand of the cereblon ubiquitin ligase-to O4I2 led to a new PROTAC-O4I2, which selectively degraded SF3B1 and induced cellular apoptosis in a CRBN-dependent manner. In a Drosophila intestinal tumor model, PROTAC-O4I2 increased survival by interference with the maintenance and proliferation of stem cell. Thus, our finding demonstrates that SF3B1 is PROTACable by utilizing noninhibitory chemicals, which expands the list of PROTAC target proteins.

Doxorubicin and Varlitinib Delivery by Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles Against Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to develop drug delivery nanosystems based on pegylated gold nanoparticles (PEGAuNPs) for a combination against pancreatic cancer cells. Doxorubicin and varlitinib, an anthracycline and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor respectively, were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. The systems were characterized, after synthesis, regarding their size, stability and morphology. An efficient conjugation of doxorubicin and varlitinib with PEGAuNPs was revealed. The cytotoxicity effect induced by the combination of the nanoconjugates was investigated in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Doxorubicin and varlitinib conjugated with PEGAuNPs revealed a combined effect to decrease the cell survival of the cancer line S2-013s, while reducing the drugs' toxicity for the healthy pancreatic cells hTERT-HPNE. This study highlights the promising potential of PEGAuNPs for targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs into human cells, enhancing the antitumor growth-inhibition effect on cancer cells, and decreasing the toxicity against normal cells. In cancer therapy, the present approach based on PEGAuNP functionalization can be further explored to increase drug targeting efficiency and to reduce side effects.

Suppression of the Ubiquitin Pathway by Small Molecule Binding to Ubiquitin Enhances Doxorubicin Sensitivity of the Cancer Cells

Development of inhibitors for ubiquitin pathway has been suggested as a promising strategy to treat several types of cancers, which has been showcased by recent success of a series of novel anticancer drugs based on inhibition of ubiquitin pathways. Although the druggability of enzymes in ubiquitin pathways has been demonstrated, ubiquitin itself, the main agent of the pathway, has not been targeted. Whereas conventional enzyme inhibitors are used to silence the ubiquitination or reverse it, they cannot disrupt the binding activity of ubiquitin. Herein, we report that the scaffolds of sulfonated aryl diazo compounds, particularly Congo red, could disrupt the binding activity of ubiquitin, resulting in the activity equivalent to inhibition of ubiquitination. NMR mapping assay demonstrated that the chemical directly binds to the recognition site for ubiquitin processing enzymes on the surface of ubiquitin, and thereby blocks the binding of ubiquitin to its cognate receptors. As a proof of concept for the druggability of the ubiquitin molecule, we demonstrated that Congo red acted as an intracellular inhibitor of ubiquitin recognition and binding, which led to inhibition of ubiquitination, and thereby, could be used as a sensitizer for conventional anticancer drugs, doxorubicin.

The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 regulates phosphoantigen release and Vγ9Vδ2 T cell activation by dendritic cells

Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are activated by phosphoantigens, such as isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), which is generated in the mevalonate pathway of antigen-presenting cells. IPP is released in the extracellular microenvironment via unknown mechanisms. Here we show that the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mediates extracellular IPP release from dendritic cells (DC) in cooperation with apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and butyrophilin-3A1. IPP concentrations in the supernatants are sufficient to induce Vγ9Vδ2 T cell proliferation after DC mevalonate pathway inhibition with zoledronic acid (ZA). ZA treatment increases ABCA1 and apoA-I expression via IPP-dependent LXRα nuclear translocation and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibition. These results close the mechanistic gap in our understanding of extracellular IPP release from DC and provide a framework to fine-tune Vγ9Vδ2 T cell activation via mevalonate and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway modulation.

γδT cells are activated by phosphoantigens, and ABCA1 is involved in cholesterol transport. Here the authors link these ideas to show that ABCA1, apoA-I and BTN3A1 regulate extracellular phosphoantigen release by dendritic cells, and implicate ABCA1 in mevalonate-mediated activation of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells.

Studies on the biological functions of CPS1 in AFB1 induced hepatocarcinogenesis

Carbamyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) was down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as treated by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent hepatocarcinogenesis mycotoxin. In this study, we firstly confirmed that AFB1 down-regulated the expression of CPS1 in a dose-dependent manner. At the meantime, both siRNA knock down of CPS1 and AFB1 treatment inhibited cell proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis. To further analysis the function of CPS1, the interacting proteins of CPS1 were searched by Co-IP, and three interacting proteins including type II cytoskeletal 1 (KRT1), albumin (ALB), and ubiquitin C (UBC) were found. Both KRT1 and ALB were new interacting proteins for CPS1. Our further study showed that CPS1 was regulating interacted and colocalized with KRT1 and ALB, and the intensity correlation was changed by AFB1. KRT1, ALB and CPS1 were all reported to play an important role in differentiation and tissue specialization. These results may offer an increasing understand that CPS1 might have a function in differentiation.

Broadening Specificity and Enhancing Cytotoxicity of Adoptive T Cells for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Immunotherapy

Although promising, clinical responses to adoptive immunotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are still limited by the restricted number of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens that can be targeted and their poor immunogenicity. Our previous work indicated that the immunogenic features of the NPC-associated viral antigen BARF1 may be exploited for immunotherapeutic purposes. Nevertheless, T-cell lines obtained with current protocols include only negligible numbers of BARF1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, pointing to the need to enrich these effectors in BARF1 specificities. Considering that in B lymphocytes BARF1 is mainly a lytic EBV antigen, we tested different EBV lytic-cycle inducers (TPA/butyric acid, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) used at suboptimal concentrations for their ability to upregulate BARF1 expression in lymphoblastoid B-cell lines (LCL), the commonly used antigen-presenting cells, without compromising their survival. The LCLs treated with doxorubicin (DX-LCL) can reproducibly and efficiently generate EBV-specific effectors enriched in BARF1 specificities from both healthy donors and NPC patients. These DX-LCLs also had more pronounced immunogenic properties, including HLA class I upregulation and expression of immunogenic cell death markers, such as enhanced calreticulin exposure and HMGB1 release. In particular, doxorubicin triggers an HMGB1 autocrine/paracrine loop with its receptor, TLR4, which is also upregulated in DX-LCLs and is responsible for NF-κB activation and a delayed apoptosis that allows a prolonged stimulation of EBV-specific T-cell precursors. This protocol may thus constitute a valid alternative to the use of engineered LCLs to generate EBV-specific T-cell lines for adoptive immunotherapy, being relatively simple, easily upgradable to Good Manufacturing Practice standards, and therefore more broadly applicable. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(5); 431-40. ©2016 AACR.

Preferential binding of 4-hydroxynonenal to lysine residues in specific parasite proteins in plakortin-treated Plasmodium falciparum-parasitized red blood cells

The data show the frequencies by which the amino acid residues lysine, histidine and cysteine of six proteins of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are post-translationally modified by the lipoperoxydation endproduct 4-hydroxynonenal after challenging the parasitized red blood cell with plakortin. Plakortin is an antimalarial endoperoxide whose molecular anti-parasitic effect is described in Skorokhod et al. (2015) [1]. Plakortin did not elicit hemoglobin leakage from host red blood cells and did not oxidize reduced glutathione.

Oxidative stress-mediated antimalarial activity of plakortin, a natural endoperoxide from the tropical sponge Plakortis simplex

Plakortin, a polyketide endoperoxide from the sponge Plakortis simplex has antiparasitic activity against P. falciparum. Similar to artemisinin, its activity depends on the peroxide functionality. Plakortin induced stage-, dose- and time-dependent morphologic anomalies, early maturation delay, ROS generation and lipid peroxidation in the parasite. Ring damage by 1 and 10 µM plakortin led to parasite death before schizogony at 20 and 95%, respectively. Treatment of late schizonts with 1, 2, 5 and 10 µM plakortin resulted in decreased reinfection rates by 30, 50, 61 and 65%, respectively. In both rings and trophozoites, plakortin induced a dose- and time-dependent ROS production as well as a significant lipid peroxidation and up to 4-fold increase of the lipoperoxide breakdown product 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Antioxidants and the free radical scavengers trolox and N-acetylcysteine significantly attenuated the parasite damage. Plakortin generated 4-HNE conjugates with the P. falciparum proteins: heat shock protein Hsp70-1, endoplasmatic reticulum-standing Hsp70-2 (BiP analogue), V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A, enolase, the putative vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 11, and the dynein heavy chain-like protein, whose specific binding sites were identified by mass spectrometry. These proteins are crucially involved in protein trafficking, transmembrane and vesicular transport and parasite survival. We hypothesize that binding of 4-HNE to functionally relevant parasite proteins may explain the observed plakortin-induced morphologic aberrations and parasite death. The identification of 4-HNE-protein conjugates may generate a novel paradigm to explain the mechanism of action of pro-oxidant, peroxide-based antimalarials such as plakortin, artemisinins and synthetic endoperoxides.

Proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles from medullospheres reveals a role for iron in the cancer progression of medulloblastoma

BACKGROUND

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor with the propensity to disseminate at an early stage, and is associated with high morbidity. New treatment strategies are needed to improve cure rates and to reduce life-long cognitive and functional deficits associated with current therapies. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are important players in cell-to-cell communication in health and diseases. A clearer understanding of cell-to-cell communication in tumors can be achieved by studying EV secretion in medullospheres. This can reveal subtle modifications induced by the passage from adherent to non-adherent growth, as spheres may account for the adaptation of tumor cells to the mutated environment.

METHODS

Formation of medullospheres from MB cell lines stabilized in adherent conditions was obtained through culture conditioning based on low attachment flasks and specialized medium. EVs collected by ultracentrifugation, in adherent conditions and as spheres, were subjected to electron microscopy, NanoSight measurements and proteomics.

RESULTS

Interestingly, iron carrier proteins were only found in EVs shed by CSC-enriched tumor cell population of spheres. We used iron chelators when culturing MB cell lines as spheres. Iron chelators induced a decrease in number/size of spheres and in stem cell populations able to initiate in vitro spheres formation.

CONCLUSIONS

This work suggests a not yet identified role of iron metabolism in MB progression and invasion and opens the possibility to use chelators as adjuvants in anti-tumoral chemotherapy.

Proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles from medullospheres reveals a role for iron in the cancer progression of medulloblastoma

BACKGROUND

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor with the propensity to disseminate at an early stage, and is associated with high morbidity. New treatment strategies are needed to improve cure rates and to reduce life-long cognitive and functional deficits associated with current therapies. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are important players in cell-to-cell communication in health and diseases. A clearer understanding of cell-to-cell communication in tumors can be achieved by studying EV secretion in medullospheres. This can reveal subtle modifications induced by the passage from adherent to non-adherent growth, as spheres may account for the adaptation of tumor cells to the mutated environment.

METHODS

Formation of medullospheres from MB cell lines stabilized in adherent conditions was obtained through culture conditioning based on low attachment flasks and specialized medium. EVs collected by ultracentrifugation, in adherent conditions and as spheres, were subjected to electron microscopy, NanoSight measurements and proteomics.

RESULTS

Interestingly, iron carrier proteins were only found in EVs shed by CSC-enriched tumor cell population of spheres. We used iron chelators when culturing MB cell lines as spheres. Iron chelators induced a decrease in number/size of spheres and in stem cell populations able to initiate in vitro spheres formation.

CONCLUSIONS

This work suggests a not yet identified role of iron metabolism in MB progression and invasion and opens the possibility to use chelators as adjuvants in anti-tumoral chemotherapy.

Ubiquitination-induced fluorescence complementation (UiFC) for detection of K48 ubiquitin chains in vitro and in live cells

Proteins can be modified with eight homogenous ubiquitin chains linked by an isopeptide bond between the C-terminus of one ubiquitin and an amine from one of the seven lysines or the N-terminal methionine of the next ubiquitin. These topologically distinct ubiquitin chains signal for many essential cellular functions, such as protein degradation, cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and signal transduction. The lysine 48 (K48)-linked ubiquitin chain is one of the most abundant chains and a major proteasome-targeting signal in cells. Despite recent advancements in imaging linkage-specific polyubiquitin chains, no tool is available for imaging K48 chains in live cells. Here we report on a ubiquitination-induced fluorescence complementation (UiFC) assay for detecting K48 ubiquitin chains in vitro and in live cells. For this assay, two nonfluorescent fragments of a fluorescent protein were fused to the ubiquitin-interacting motifs (UIMs) of epsin1 protein. Upon simultaneous binding to a ubiquitin chain, the nonfluorescent fragments of the two fusion proteins are brought in close proximity to reconstitute fluorescence. When used in vitro, UiFC preferentially detected K48 ubiquitin chains with excellent signal-to-noise ratio. Time-lapse imaging revealed that UiFC is capable of monitoring increases in polyubiquitination induced by treatment with proteasome inhibitor, by agents that induce stress, and during mitophagy in live cells.

RKIP: much more than Raf kinase inhibitory protein

From its discovery as a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein in bovine brain to its designation as a physiological inhibitor of Raf kinase protein, RKIP has emerged as a critical molecule for maintaining subdued, well-orchestrated cellular responses to stimuli. The disruption of RKIP in a wide range of pathologies, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and pancreatitis, makes it an exciting target for individualized therapy and disease-specific interventions. This review attempts to highlight recent advances in the RKIP field underscoring its potential role as a master modulator of many pivotal intracellular signaling cascades that control cellular growth, motility, apoptosis, genomic integrity, and therapeutic resistance. Specific biological and functional niches are highlighted to focus future research towards an enhanced understanding of the multiple roles of RKIP in health and disease.

ING1 and 5-azacytidine act synergistically to block breast cancer cell growth

BACKGROUND

Inhibitor of Growth (ING) proteins are epigenetic "readers" that recognize trimethylated lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4Me3) and target histone acetyl transferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes to chromatin.

METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Here we asked whether dysregulating two epigenetic pathways with chemical inhibitors showed synergistic effects on breast cancer cell line killing. We also tested whether ING1 could synergize better with chemotherapeutics that target the same epigenetic mechanism such as the HDAC inhibitor LBH589 (Panobinostat) or a different epigenetic mechanism such as 5-azacytidine (5azaC), which inhibits DNA methyl transferases. Simultaneous treatment of breast cancer cell lines with LBH589 and 5azaC did not show significant synergy in killing cells. However, combination treatment of ING1 with either LBH589 or 5azaC did show synergy. The combination of ING1b with 5azaC, which targets two distinct epigenetic mechanisms, was more effective at lower doses and enhanced apoptosis as determined by Annexin V staining and cleavage of caspase 3 and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). ING1b plus 5azaC also acted synergistically to increase γH2AX staining indicating significant levels of DNA damage were induced. Adenoviral delivery of ING1b with 5azaC also inhibited cancer cell growth in a murine xenograft model and led to tumor regression when viral concentration was optimized in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that targeting distinct epigenetic pathways can be more effective in blocking cancer cell line growth than targeting the same pathway with multiple agents, and that using viral delivery of epigenetic regulators can be more effective in synergizing with a chemical agent than using two chemotherapeutic agents. This study also indicates that the ING1 epigenetic regulator may have additional activities in the cell when expressed at high levels.