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Virtanen V, Paunu K, Niva S, Sundvall M, Paatero I. Effect of caldesmon mutations in the development of zebrafish embryos. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 669:10-18. [PMID: 37262948 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a profound medical concern and better treatments are needed for cancer patients. Therefore, new cancer targets are constantly being studied. These targets need not only be relevant for cancer progression, but their modulation needs to be tolerated reasonably well by the host. Caldesmon is one of these proposed novel targets for cancer therapy. Therefore, we analyzed effects of caldesmon mutations in normal development using genetically modified zebrafish embryos. We analyzed mutations in both zebrafish caldesmon genes, cald1a and cald1b and analyzed effects of either mutation alone or as in combination in double homozygous embryos using molecular, morphological and functional analyses. The effects of caldesmon mutations were mild and the gross development of zebrafish embryos was normal. The caldesmon mutant embryos had, however, alterations in response to light-stimulus in behavioural assays. Taken together, the effects of caldesmon mutations in the development of zebrafish embryos were reasonably well tolerated and did not indicate significant concerns for caldesmon being a potential target for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verneri Virtanen
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Kreetta Paunu
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Saana Niva
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Maria Sundvall
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland; Department of Oncology, Turku University Hospital, PL52, 20521, Turku, Finland.
| | - Ilkka Paatero
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6, 20520, Turku, Finland.
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Virtanen V, Paunu K, Kukkula A, Niva S, Junila Y, Toriseva M, Jokilehto T, Mäkelä S, Huhtaniemi R, Poutanen M, Paatero I, Sundvall M. Glucocorticoid receptor-induced non-muscle caldesmon regulates metastasis in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Oncogenesis 2023; 12:42. [PMID: 37573448 PMCID: PMC10423232 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-023-00485-z] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Lethal prostate cancer (PCa) is characterized by the presence of metastases and development of resistance to therapies. Metastases form in a multi-step process enabled by dynamic cytoskeleton remodeling. An actin cytoskeleton regulating gene, CALD1, encodes a protein caldesmon (CaD). Its isoform, low-molecular-weight CaD (l-CaD), operates in non-muscle cells, supporting the function of filaments involved in force production and mechanosensing. Several factors, including glucocorticoid receptor (GR), have been identified as regulators of l-CaD in different cell types, but the regulation of l-CaD in PCa has not been defined. PCa develops resistance in response to therapeutic inhibition of androgen signaling by multiple strategies. Known strategies include androgen receptor (AR) alterations, modified steroid synthesis, and bypassing AR signaling, for example, by GR upregulation. Here, we report that in vitro downregulation of l-CaD promotes epithelial phenotype and reduces spheroid growth in 3D, which is reflected in vivo in reduced formation of metastases in zebrafish PCa xenografts. In accordance, CALD1 mRNA expression correlates with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcripts in PCa patients. We also show that CALD1 is highly co-expressed with GR in multiple PCa data sets, and GR activation upregulates l-CaD in vitro. Moreover, GR upregulation associates with increased l-CaD expression after the development of resistance to antiandrogen therapy in PCa xenograft mouse models. In summary, GR-regulated l-CaD plays a role in forming PCa metastases, being clinically relevant when antiandrogen resistance is attained by the means of bypassing AR signaling by GR upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verneri Virtanen
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Kreetta Paunu
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Antti Kukkula
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Saana Niva
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Ylva Junila
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Mervi Toriseva
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Terhi Jokilehto
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Sari Mäkelä
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Riikka Huhtaniemi
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Matti Poutanen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Ilkka Paatero
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Maria Sundvall
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, and FICAN West Cancer Center Laboratory, University of Turku, and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland.
- Department of Oncology, Turku University Hospital, PL52, 20521, Turku, Finland.
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Pütz S, Barthel LS, Frohn M, Metzler D, Barham M, Pryymachuk G, Trunschke O, Lubomirov LT, Hescheler J, Chalovich JM, Neiss WF, Koch M, Schroeter MM, Pfitzer G. Caldesmon ablation in mice causes umbilical herniation and alters contractility of fetal urinary bladder smooth muscle. J Gen Physiol 2021; 153:212279. [PMID: 34115104 PMCID: PMC8203487 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202012776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The actin-, myosin-, and calmodulin-binding protein caldesmon (CaD) is expressed in two splice isoforms: h-CaD, which is an integral part of the actomyosin domain of smooth muscle cells, and l-CaD, which is widely expressed and is involved in many cellular functions. Despite extensive research for many years, CaD's in vivo function has remained elusive. To explore the role of CaD in smooth muscle contraction in vivo, we generated a mutant allele that ablates both isoforms. Heterozygous animals were viable and had a normal life span, but homozygous mutants died perinatally, likely because of a persistent umbilical hernia. The herniation was associated with hypoplastic and dysmorphic abdominal wall muscles. We assessed mechanical parameters in isometrically mounted longitudinal strips of E18.5 urinary bladders and in ring preparations from abdominal aorta using wire myography. Ca2+ sensitivity was higher and relaxation rate was slower in Cald1−/− compared with Cald1+/+ skinned bladder strips. However, we observed no change in the content and phosphorylation of regulatory proteins of the contractile apparatus and myosin isoforms known to affect these contractile parameters. Intact fibers showed no difference in actin and myosin content, regardless of genotype, although KCl-induced force tended to be lower in homozygous and higher in heterozygous mutants than in WTs. Conversely, in skinned fibers, myosin content and maximal force were significantly lower in Cald1−/− than in WTs. In KO abdominal aortas, resting and U46619 elicited force were lower than in WTs. Our results are consistent with the notion that CaD impacts smooth muscle function dually by (1) acting as a molecular brake on contraction and (2) maintaining the structural integrity of the contractile machinery. Most importantly, CaD is essential for resolution of the physiological umbilical hernia and ventral body wall closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pütz
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lisa Sophie Barthel
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marina Frohn
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Doris Metzler
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mohammed Barham
- Institute of Anatomy I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Galyna Pryymachuk
- Institute of Anatomy I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Oliver Trunschke
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lubomir T Lubomirov
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hescheler
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Joseph M Chalovich
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Wolfram F Neiss
- Institute of Anatomy I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Manuel Koch
- Institute for Dental Research and Oral Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mechthild M Schroeter
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pfitzer
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Center of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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