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Uehara M, Domoto T, Takenaka S, Takeuchi O, Shimasaki T, Miyashita T, Minamoto T. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β: the nexus of chemoresistance, invasive capacity, and cancer stemness in pancreatic cancer. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2024; 7:4. [PMID: 38318525 PMCID: PMC10838383 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The treatment of pancreatic cancer remains a significant clinical challenge due to the limited number of patients eligible for curative (R0) surgery, failures in the clinical development of targeted and immune therapies, and the pervasive acquisition of chemotherapeutic resistance. Refractory pancreatic cancer is typified by high invasiveness and resistance to therapy, with both attributes related to tumor cell stemness. These malignant characteristics mutually enhance each other, leading to rapid cancer progression. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have produced evidence of the pivotal role of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3β in the progression of over 25 different cancer types, including pancreatic cancer. In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge on the pathological roles of aberrant GSK3β in supporting tumor cell proliferation and invasion, as well as its contribution to gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer. Importantly, we discuss the central role of GSK3β as a molecular hub that mechanistically connects chemoresistance, tumor cell invasion, and stemness in pancreatic cancer. We also discuss the involvement of GSK3β in the formation of desmoplastic tumor stroma and in promoting anti-cancer immune evasion, both of which constitute major obstacles to successful cancer treatment. Overall, GSK3β has characteristics of a promising therapeutic target to overcome chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Uehara
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Takahiro Domoto
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Satoshi Takenaka
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Transplantation, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama 939-8511, Japan
| | - Osamu Takeuchi
- Biomedical Laboratory, Department of Research, Kitasato University Kitasato Institute Hospital, Tokyo 108-8642, Japan
| | - Takeo Shimasaki
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Japan
| | - Tomoharu Miyashita
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Transplantation, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama 939-8511, Japan
| | - Toshinari Minamoto
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
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2
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Tsuji T, Tsunematsu H, Imanishi M, Denda M, Tsuchiya K, Otaka A. Enhanced tumor specific drug release by hypoxia sensitive dual-prodrugs based on 2-nitroimidazole. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 95:129484. [PMID: 37716415 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia in cancer is important in the development of cancer-selective medicines. Here, a novel hypoxia-responsible dual-prodrug is described. We designed and synthesized 2-nitroimidazole derivatives which spontaneously release both a PYG inhibitor and gemcitabine under hypoxic conditions. One such derivative, a prodrug 9 was found to be stable against chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis, and upon chemical reduction of the nitro group on imidazole, successfully releases both drugs. In an in vitro proliferation assay using human pancreatic cells, compound 9 exhibited significant anti-proliferative effects in hypoxia but fewer effects in normoxia. Consequently, prodrug 9 should be useful for cancer treatment due to its improved cancer selectivity and potential to overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Tsuji
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Honoka Tsunematsu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Masaki Imanishi
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Masaya Denda
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Koichiro Tsuchiya
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Akira Otaka
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan.
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3
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Barar E, Shi J. Genome, Metabolism, or Immunity: Which Is the Primary Decider of Pancreatic Cancer Fate through Non-Apoptotic Cell Death? Biomedicines 2023; 11:2792. [PMID: 37893166 PMCID: PMC10603981 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a solid tumor characterized by poor prognosis and resistance to treatment. Resistance to apoptosis, a cell death process, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, are some of the hallmarks of cancer. Exploring non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms provides an opportunity to overcome apoptosis resistance in PDAC. Several recent studies evaluated ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis as the non-apoptotic cell death processes in PDAC that play a crucial role in the prognosis and treatment of this disease. Ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis play a crucial role in PDAC development via several signaling pathways, gene expression, and immunity regulation. This review summarizes the current understanding of how ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis interact with signaling pathways, the genome, the immune system, the metabolism, and other factors in the prognosis and treatment of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erfaneh Barar
- Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1416753955, Iran
| | - Jiaqi Shi
- Department of Pathology & Clinical Labs, Rogel Cancer Center, Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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4
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Moon OJ, Yoon CJ, Lee BR, Lee J. An Optimally Fabricated Platform Guides Cancer-Specific Activation of Chemotherapeutic Drugs and Toxicity-free Cancer Treatment. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200765. [PMID: 35670274 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cancer chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin, mitomycin C, and gemcitabine, which are mostly small synthetic molecules, are still clinically useful for cancer treatment. However, despite considerable therapeutic efficacy, severe toxicity-associated problems, which are mainly caused by the non-specific mode of action such as chromosomal DNA damage and interference in the DNA replication even in normal cells, remain unresolved and a major challenge for safer and thus more widespread adoption of chemotherapy. Here we developed an innovative platform through beneficially integrating core peptide units into highly-ordered, stable, and flexibly guest-adaptable structure of apoferritin, which simultaneously fulfills high-capacity loading of chemotherapeutic drugs compared with the case of FDA-approved antibody-drug conjugates, efficient drug targeting to cancer cells, and cancer cell-specific drug release and activation. This approach dramatically reduced drug toxicity to normal cells, significantly enhanced efficacy in in vivo cancer treatment without toxicity to normal organs of mice, and thus is expected to open up a novel clinical route to break through the limits of current cancer chemotherapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ok Jeong Moon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Anam-Ro 145, Seoul, 136-713, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Joo Yoon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Anam-Ro 145, Seoul, 136-713, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Ram Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Anam-Ro 145, Seoul, 136-713, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeewon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Anam-Ro 145, Seoul, 136-713, Republic of Korea
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Hsu SK, Chu YH, Syue WJ, Lin HYH, Chang WT, Chen JYF, Wu CY, Yen CH, Cheng KC, Chiu CC. The Role of Nonapoptotic Programmed Cell Death — Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis — in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Treatment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:872883. [PMID: 35664778 PMCID: PMC9160188 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.872883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most lethal cancer, with a dismal 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. It is estimated that approximately 80% of pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) patients are diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage. Hence, most patients are not appropriate candidates for surgical resection and therefore require systemic chemotherapy. However, it has been reported that most patients develop chemoresistance within several months, partly because of antiapoptotic mechanisms. Hence, inducing alternative programmed cell death (PCD), including ferroptosis, necroptosis or pyroptosis, seems to be a promising strategy to overcome antiapoptosis-mediated chemoresistance. In this review, we shed light on the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis and suggest several potential strategies (e.g., compounds and nanoparticles [NPs]) that are capable of triggering nonapoptotic PCD to suppress PDAC progression. In conclusion, these strategies might serve as adjuvants in combination with clinical first-line chemotherapies to improve patient survival rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Kai Hsu
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Chu
- Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wun-Jyun Syue
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hugo You-Hsien Lin
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Tsan Chang
- Division of General and Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jeff Yi-Fu Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Yi Wu
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hung Yen
- The Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Chun Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Kai-Chun Cheng, ; Chien-Chih Chiu,
| | - Chien-Chih Chiu
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Center for Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- The Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Kai-Chun Cheng, ; Chien-Chih Chiu,
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Shan L, Hao C, Jun Z, Qinghe C. Histone methyltransferase Dot1L inhibits pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis by promoting NUPR1 expression. J Int Med Res 2022; 50:3000605221088431. [PMID: 35350907 PMCID: PMC8973069 DOI: 10.1177/03000605221088431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore functions of the histone H3 lysine 79 (K79) methyltransferase Dot1L in the development of pancreatic cancer and evaluate the possibility of targeting Dot1L to inhibit pancreatic cancer progression. Methods Patient samples were used to detect differences in Dot1L expression between tumor and adjacent tissues and to determine correlations between Dot1L expression in patients with different stages of pancreatic cancer. Lentiviral-mediated knockdown of Dot1L expression and flow cytometry were used to detect apoptosis in pancreatic cancer lacking Dot1L expression; chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative PCR were used to detect downstream target genes of Dot1L. Results We show that Dot1L is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, and that its expression is related to pancreatic cancer stage. Knocking down Dot1L significantly promoted apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells, while overexpressing Dot1L inhibited apoptosis. Mechanistically, Dot1L regulated apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells by promoting NUPR1 expression. The enriched H3K79 trimethylation in the transcription initiation region of NUPR1 promoted its expression. Overexpressing NUPR1 inhibited the pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis caused by Dot1L knockdown. Conclusions Dot1L inhibits pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis by targeting NUPR1; thus, Dot1L is a promising target for pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Shan
- Affiliated Hospital of Putian University
| | - Chen Hao
- Affiliated Hospital of Putian University
| | - Zheng Jun
- Affiliated Hospital of Putian University
| | - Cai Qinghe
- Affiliated Hospital of Putian University
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7
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NUPR1 inhibitor ZZW-115 induces ferroptosis in a mitochondria-dependent manner. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:269. [PMID: 34599149 PMCID: PMC8486797 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00662-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death characterized by the accumulation of hydroperoxided phospholipids. Here, we report that the NUPR1 inhibitor ZZW-115 induces ROS accumulation followed by a ferroptotic cell death, which could be prevented by ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) and ROS-scavenging agents. The ferroptotic activity can be improved by inhibiting antioxidant factors in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)- and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-derived cells. In addition, ZZW-115-treatment increases the accumulation of hydroperoxided lipids in these cells. We also found that a loss of activity and strong deregulation of key enzymes involved in the GSH- and GPX-dependent antioxidant systems upon ZZW-115 treatment. These results have been validated in xenografts induced with PDAC- and HCC-derived cells in nude mice during the treatment with ZZW-115. More importantly, we demonstrate that ZZW-115-induced mitochondrial morphological changes, compatible with the ferroptotic process, as well as mitochondrial network disorganization and strong mitochondrial metabolic dysfunction, which are rescued by both Fer-1 and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Of note, the expression of TFAM, a key regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, is downregulated by ZZW-115. Forced expression of TFAM is able to rescue morphological and functional mitochondrial alterations, ROS production, and cell death induced by ZZW-115 or genetic inhibition of NUPR1. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the mitochondrial cell death mediated by NUPR1 inhibitor ZZW-115 is fully rescued by Fer-1 but also via TFAM complementation. In conclusion, TFAM could be considered as an antagonist of the ferroptotic cell death.
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8
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Augello G, Emma MR, Azzolina A, Puleio R, Condorelli L, Cusimano A, Giannitrapani L, McCubrey JA, Iovanna JL, Cervello M. The NUPR1/p73 axis contributes to sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2021; 519:250-262. [PMID: 34314755 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib was the first drug approved by the FDA for treating patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, sorafenib resistance remains a major challenge for improving the effectiveness of HCC treatment. Previously, we identified several genes modulated after sorafenib treatment of human HCC cells, including the stress-inducible nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) gene. Multiple studies have shown that NUPR1 regulates autophagy, apoptosis, and chemoresistance. Here, we demonstrate that treatment of HCC cells with sorafenib resulted in the activation of autophagic flux. NUPR1 knock-down (KD) in HCC cells was associated with increased p62 expression, suggesting an impairment of autophagic flux, and with a significant increase of cell sensitivity to sorafenib. In NUPR1 KD cells, reduced levels of NUPR1 were associated with the increased expression of p73 as well as its downstream transcription targets PUMA, NOXA, and p21. Simultaneous silencing of p73 and NUPR1 in HCC cells resulted in increased resistance to sorafenib, as compared to the single KD of either gene. Conversely, pharmacological activation of p73, via the novel p73 small molecule activator NSC59984, determined synergistic anti-tumor effects in sorafenib-treated HCC cells. The combination of NSC59984 and sorafenib, when compared to either treatment alone, synergistically suppressed tumor growth of HCC cells in vivo. Our data suggest that the activation of the p73 pathway achieved by NUPR1 KD potentiates sorafenib-induced anti-tumor effects in HCC cells. Moreover, combined pharmacological therapy with the p73 activator NSC59984 and sorafenib could represent a novel approach for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppa Augello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Emma
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonina Azzolina
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Lucia Condorelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonella Cusimano
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lydia Giannitrapani
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy; Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Juan Lucio Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy.
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Borrello MT, Santofimia-Castaño P, Bocchio M, Listi A, Fraunhoffer N, Soubeyran P, Chevet E, Pin C, Iovanna J. NUPR1 interacts with eIF2α and is required for resolution of the ER stress response in pancreatic tissue. FEBS J 2021; 288:4081-4097. [PMID: 33403797 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) is a stress response protein overexpressed upon cell injury in virtually all organs including the exocrine pancreas. Despite NUPR1's well-established role in the response to cell stress, the molecular and structural machineries triggered by NUPR1 activation remain largely debated. In this study, we uncover a new role for NUPR1, participating in the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the integrated stress response. Biochemical results and ultrastructural morphological observations revealed alterations in the UPR of acinar cells of germline-deleted NUPR1 murine models, consistent with the inability to restore general protein synthesis after stress induction. Bioinformatic analysis of NUPR1-interacting partners showed significant enrichment in translation initiation factors, including eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 2α. Co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays confirmed the interaction between NUPR1 and eIF2α and its phosphorylated form (p-eIF2α). Furthermore, our data suggest loss of NUPR1 in cells results in maintained eIF2α phosphorylation and evaluation of nascent proteins by click chemistry revealed that NUPR1-depleted PANC-1 cells displayed a slower poststress protein synthesis recovery when compared to wild-type. Combined, these data propose a novel role for NUPR1 in the integrated stress response pathway, at least partially through promoting efficient PERK branch activity and resolution through a unique interaction with eIF2α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Borrello
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Patricia Santofimia-Castaño
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Marco Bocchio
- INMED (INSERM U1249), Turing Center for Living Systems, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Angela Listi
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Nicolas Fraunhoffer
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Soubeyran
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Chevet
- INSERM U1242, Proteostasis and Cancer Team, Chemistry Oncogenesis Stress Signaling, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Christopher Pin
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Departments of Pediatrics, Oncology, and Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
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10
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He W, Cheng F, Zheng B, Wang J, Zhao G, Yao Z, Zhang T. NUPR1 is a novel potential biomarker and confers resistance to sorafenib in clear cell renal cell carcinoma by increasing stemness and targeting the PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:14015-14038. [PMID: 34030133 PMCID: PMC8202846 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sorafenib can improve the survival of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. However, its benefits are modest, as patients eventually become resistant, and the mechanisms remain elusive. NUPR1, a stress-induced protein, has been reported in malignancies and functions as an oncogene by modulating the stress response, facilitating survival in harsh environments and conferring drug resistance. However, its role in ccRCC has not been explored. METHODS The expression and clinical significance of NUPR1 were analyzed in ccRCC patients in in-house patients and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts. The biological functions of NUPR1 were investigated. Xenografts were performed to confirm the effects of NUPR1 on tumorigenesis. The molecular mechanism of NUPR1 was investigated in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS NUPR1 expression was upregulated in tumor tissue. Further analysis showed that NUPR1 overexpression was associated with an aggressive phenotype and predicted a poor prognosis. Depletion of NUPR1 suppressed tumorigenesis and sensitized cells to sorafenib treatment. Finally, mechanistic investigations indicated that NUPR1 promoted tumorigenesis in ccRCC by increasing stemness and activating the PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our results suggest that NUPR1 may serve as a predictor of ccRCC. Notably, NUPR1 silencing reversed sorafenib resistance in ccRCC. These findings provide a novel potential therapeutic target in the clinical management of ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei He
- Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fajuan Cheng
- Department of Nephrology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Nephrology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Bin Zheng
- Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guiting Zhao
- Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongshun Yao
- Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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11
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Yu J, Zhu H, Li R, Jiang Q, Luan W, Shi J, Liu P. Oncogenic Role of NUPR1 in Ovarian Cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:12289-12300. [PMID: 33299325 PMCID: PMC7721279 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s262224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) plays a critical role in the development and progression of various types of human cancers. However, the role and mechanism of NUPR1 in ovarian cancer have not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NUPR1 on ovarian cancer in vivo and in vitro. Materials and Methods Through the pretreatment of ovarian cancer cell lines, including A2780 and SKOV3 cells, the expression of NUPR1 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot assays. When NUPR1 was overexpressed and knocked down in A2780 cells and overexpressed in SKOV3 cells, the MTT assays, colony formation assays and EdU assays were used to detect cell proliferation. Furthermore, cell invasion and migration ability were detected with the transwell assays. Cell cycle and apoptosis of A2780 cells after small interfering RNA-NUPR1 (siRNA-NUPR1) were detected by flow cytometry assays. Finally, the effect of NUPR1 gene silencing on the growth of ovarian cancer was evaluated by tumor xenograft experiment in vivo. Results The expression of NUPR1 protein in A2780 cells was significantly higher than that in ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) cells (P < 0.05). The results showed that downregulation of NUPR1 gene expression significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of A2780 cells, and increased apoptosis of A2780 cells, which expressed relatively high levels of NUPR1. And the expression of apoptosis-related proteins caspase 3, caspase 9 and Bax was upregulated when NUPR1 was knocked out, while the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl was downregulated. At the same time, the opposite results were observed when NUPR1 was overexpressed in A2780 and SKOV3 cells. Notably, the effect of NUPR1 overexpression in A2780 cells could be partially or completely eliminated by treatment with the AKT inhibitor LY294002. In addition, NUPR1 knockdown could effectively inhibit tumor growth of mice in vivo. Conclusion In summary, NUPR1 has a carcinogenic effect in ovarian cancer, and the oncogenic effect of NUPR1 in ovarian cancer may be achieved by the AKT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangtao Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, People's Republic of China.,Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Zhu
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, People's Republic of China.,Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200126, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Jiang
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, People's Republic of China.,Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqing Luan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Juanjuan Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Peishu Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, People's Republic of China
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12
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Zhu YX, Li CH, Li G, Feng H, Xia T, Wong CH, Fung FKC, Tong JHM, To KF, Chen R, Chen Y. LLGL1 Regulates Gemcitabine Resistance by Modulating the ERK-SP1-OSMR Pathway in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 10:811-828. [PMID: 32615164 PMCID: PMC7505810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Gemcitabine resistance is rapidly acquired by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. Novel approaches that predict the gemcitabine response of patients and enhance gemcitabine chemosensitivity are important to improve patient survival. We aimed to identify genes as novel biomarkers to predict the gemcitabine response and the therapeutic targets to attenuate chemoresistance in PDAC cells. METHODS Genome-wide RNA interference screening was conducted to identify genes that regulated gemcitabine chemoresistance. A cell proliferation assay and a tumor formation assay were conducted to study the role of lethal giant larvae homolog 1 (LLGL1) in gemcitabine chemoresistance. Levels of LLGL1 and its regulating targets were measured by immunohistochemical staining in tumor tissues obtained from patients who received gemcitabine as a single therapeutic agent. A gene-expression microarray was conducted to identify the targets regulated by LLGL1. RESULTS Silencing of LLGL1 markedly reduced the gemcitabine chemosensitivity in PDAC cells. Patients had significantly shorter survival (6 months) if they bore tumors expressing low LLGL1 level than tumors with high LLGL1 level (20 months) (hazard ratio, 0.1567; 95% CI, 0.05966-0.4117). Loss of LLGL1 promoted cytokine receptor oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) expression in PDAC cells that led to gemcitabine resistance, while knockdown of OSMR effectively rescued the chemoresistance phenotype. The LLGL1-OSMR regulatory pathway showed great clinical importance because low LLGL1 and high OSMR expressions were observed frequently in PDAC tissues. Silencing of LLGL1 induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and specificity protein 1 (Sp1), promoted Sp1 (pThr453) binding at the OSMR promoter, and enhanced OSMR transcription. CONCLUSIONS LLGL1 possessed a tumor-suppressor role as an inhibitor of chemoresistance by regulating OSMR-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2/Sp1 signaling. The data sets generated and analyzed during the current study are available in the Gene Expression Omnibus repository (ID: GSE64681).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Xin Zhu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Han Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Guolin Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiyi Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Tian Xia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Hin Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Frederic Khe Cheong Fung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Joanna Hung-Man Tong
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Rufu Chen
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Yangchao Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
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13
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Talebian S, Shim IK, Kim SC, Spinks GM, Vine KL, Foroughi J. Coaxial mussel-inspired biofibers: making of a robust and efficacious depot for cancer drug delivery. J Mater Chem B 2020; 8:5064-5079. [PMID: 32400836 DOI: 10.1039/d0tb00052c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Biopolymer-based hydrogels have emerged as promising platforms for drug delivery systems (DDSs) due to their inherent biocompatibility, tunable physical properties and controllable degradability. Yet, drug release in majority of these systems is solely contingent on diffusion of drug molecules through the hydrogel, which often leads to burst release of drugs from these systems. Herein, inspired by the chemistry of mussel adhesive proteins, a new generation of coaxial hydrogel fibers was developed that could simultaneously exert both affinity and diffusion control over the release of chemotherapeutic drugs. Specifically, dopamine-modified alginate hydrogel along with chemotherapeutic drugs (doxorubicin or gemcitabine) was used as the main core component to confer affinity-controlled release, while a methacrylated-alginate hydrogel was used as the shell composition to provide the controlled diffusion barrier. It was shown that our coaxial mussel-inspired biofibers yielded biocompatible hydrogel fibers (as indicated by comprehensive in vitro and in vivo experiments) with favourable properties including controlled swelling, and enhanced mechanical properties, when compared against single fibers made from unmodified alginate. Notably, it was observed that these coaxial fibers were capable of releasing the two drugs in a slower manner, when compared to single fibers made from pure alginate, which was partly attributed to stronger interactions of drugs with dopamine-modified alginate (the core element of coaxial fibers) as observed from zeta-potential measurements. It was further shown that these drug-loaded coaxial fibers had optimal anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo using various pancreatic cancer cell lines. Most remarkably, drug loaded coaxial fibers, particularly doxorubicin-containing fibers, had higher anticancer effect in vivo compared to systemic injection of equivalent dosage of the drugs. Altogether, these biocompatible and robust hydrogel fibers may be further used as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies for controlled delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs locally to the tumor sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepehr Talebian
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
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14
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Santofimia-Castaño P, Rizzuti B, Xia Y, Abian O, Peng L, Velázquez-Campoy A, Neira JL, Iovanna J. Targeting intrinsically disordered proteins involved in cancer. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1695-1707. [PMID: 31667555 PMCID: PMC7190594 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03347-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not have a well-defined structure under physiological conditions, but they have key roles in cell signaling and regulation, and they are frequently related to the development of diseases, such as cancer and other malignancies. This has converted IDPs in attractive therapeutic targets; however, targeting IDPs is challenging because of their dynamic nature. In the last years, different experimental and computational approaches, as well as the combination of both, have been explored to identify molecules to target either the hot-spots or the allosteric sites of IDPs. In this review, we summarize recent developments in successful targeting of IDPs, all of which are involved in different cancer types. The strategies used to develop and design (or in one particular example, to repurpose) small molecules targeting IDPs are, in a global sense, similar to those used in well-folded proteins: (1) screening of chemically diverse or target-oriented compound libraries; or (2) study of the interfaces involved in recognition of their natural partners, and design of molecular candidates capable of binding to such binding interface. We describe the outcomes of using these approaches in targeting IDPs involved in cancer, in the view to providing insight, to target IDPs in general. In a broad sense, the designed small molecules seem to target the most hydrophobic regions of the IDPs, hampering macromolecule (DNA or protein)-IDP interactions; furthermore, in most of the molecule-IDP complexes described so far, the protein remains disordered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Santofimia-Castaño
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS, UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- CNR-NANOTEC, Licryl-UOS Cosenza and CEMIF.Cal, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 31 C, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Yi Xia
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, No. 55 Daxuecheng South Road, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China
| | - Olga Abian
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ling Peng
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, UMR 7325, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Adrián Velázquez-Campoy
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Fundacion ARAID, Government of Aragon, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José L Neira
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avda. del Ferrocarril s/n, Elche, 03202, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS, UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France.
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15
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Li A, Li X, Chen X, Zeng C, Wang Z, Li Z, Chen J. NUPR1 Silencing Induces Autophagy-Mediated Apoptosis in Multiple Myeloma Cells Through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway. DNA Cell Biol 2020; 39:368-378. [PMID: 31971825 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2019.5196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anmao Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing, China
| | - Xingxin Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuanxin Chen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing, China
| | - Chensi Zeng
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing, China
| | - Zuo Wang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianbin Chen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing, China
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16
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Santofimia-Castaño P, Xia Y, Peng L, Velázquez-Campoy A, Abián O, Lan W, Lomberk G, Urrutia R, Rizzuti B, Soubeyran P, Neira JL, Iovanna J. Targeting the Stress-Induced Protein NUPR1 to Treat Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Cells 2019; 8:E1453. [PMID: 31744261 PMCID: PMC6912534 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells activate stress-response mechanisms to adapt themselves to a variety of stressful conditions. Among these protective mechanisms, those controlled by the stress-induced nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1 ) belong to the most conserved ones. NUPR1 is an 82-residue-long, monomeric, basic and intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), which was found to be invariably overexpressed in some, if not all, cancer tissues. Remarkably, we and others have previously showed that genetic inactivation of the Nupr1 gene antagonizes the growth of pancreatic cancer as well as several other tumors. With the use of a multidisciplinary strategy by combining biophysical, biochemical, bioinformatic, and biological approaches, a trifluoperazine-derived compound, named ZZW-115, has been identified as an inhibitor of the NUPR1 functions. The anticancer activity of the ZZW-115 was first validated on a large panel of cancer cells. Furthermore, ZZW-115 produced a dose-dependent tumor regression of the tumor size in xenografted mice. Mechanistically, we have demonstrated that NUPR1 binds to several importins. Because ZZW-115 binds NUPR1 through the region around the amino acid Thr68, which is located into the nuclear location signal (NLS) region of the protein, we demonstrated that treatment with ZZW-115 inhibits completely the translocation of NUPR1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus by competing with importins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Santofimia-Castaño
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France; (P.S.-C.); (W.L.); (P.S.)
- Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Yi Xia
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China;
| | - Ling Peng
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, UMR 7325, «Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer», Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France;
| | - Adrián Velázquez-Campoy
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos, Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, 50009 Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; (A.V.-C.); (O.A.); (J.L.N.)
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Fundacion ARAID, Government of Aragon, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Olga Abián
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos, Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, 50009 Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; (A.V.-C.); (O.A.); (J.L.N.)
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Wenjun Lan
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France; (P.S.-C.); (W.L.); (P.S.)
- Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Gwen Lomberk
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery and the Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center (GSPMC), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (G.L.); (R.U.)
| | - Raul Urrutia
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery and the Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center (GSPMC), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (G.L.); (R.U.)
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- CNR-NANOTEC, Licryl-UOS Cosenza and CEMIF.Cal, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy;
| | - Philippe Soubeyran
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France; (P.S.-C.); (W.L.); (P.S.)
- Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - José Luis Neira
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos, Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, 50009 Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; (A.V.-C.); (O.A.); (J.L.N.)
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Edificio Torregaitán, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France; (P.S.-C.); (W.L.); (P.S.)
- Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, CEDEX, 13288 Marseille, France
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17
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Santofimia-Castaño P, Xia Y, Lan W, Zhou Z, Huang C, Peng L, Soubeyran P, Velázquez-Campoy A, Abián O, Rizzuti B, Neira JL, Iovanna J. Ligand-based design identifies a potent NUPR1 inhibitor exerting anticancer activity via necroptosis. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:2500-2513. [PMID: 30920390 DOI: 10.1172/jci127223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are emerging as attractive drug targets by virtue of their prevalence in various diseases including cancer. Drug development targeting IDPs is challenging because they have dynamical structure features and conventional drug design is not applicable. NUPR1 is an IDP playing an important role in pancreatic cancer. We previously reported that Trifluoperazine (TFP), an antipsychotic agent, was capable of binding to NUPR1 and inhibiting tumors growth. Unfortunately, TFP showed strong central nervous system side-effects. In this work, we undertook a multidisciplinary approach to optimize TFP, based on the synergy of computer modeling, chemical synthesis, and a variety of biophysical, biochemical and biological evaluations. A family of TFP-derived compounds was produced and the most active one, named ZZW-115, showed a dose-dependent tumor regression with no neurological effects and induced cell death mainly by necroptosis. This study opens a new perspective for drug development against IDPs, demonstrating the possibility of successful ligand-based drug design for such challenging targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Santofimia-Castaño
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Yi Xia
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenjun Lan
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, UMR 7325, «Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer», Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Zhengwei Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Can Huang
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Ling Peng
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, UMR 7325, «Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer», Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Soubeyran
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Adrián Velázquez-Campoy
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos, Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Barcelona, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Fundacion ARAID, Government of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Olga Abián
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos, Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Barcelona, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- CNR-NANOTEC, Licryl-UOS Cosenza and CEMIF.Cal, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - José L Neira
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Edificio Torregaitán, Alicante, Spain
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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18
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Speirs MMP, Swensen AC, Chan TY, Jones PM, Holman JC, Harris MB, Maschek JA, Cox JE, Carson RH, Hill JT, Andersen JL, Prince JT, Price JC. Imbalanced sphingolipid signaling is maintained as a core proponent of a cancerous phenotype in spite of metabolic pressure and epigenetic drift. Oncotarget 2019; 10:449-479. [PMID: 30728898 PMCID: PMC6355186 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor heterogeneity may arise through genetic drift and environmentally driven clonal selection for metabolic fitness. This would promote subpopulations derived from single cancer cells that exhibit distinct phenotypes while conserving vital pro-survival pathways. We aimed to identify significant drivers of cell fitness in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) creating subclones in different nutrient formulations to encourage differential metabolic reprogramming. The genetic and phenotypic expression profiles of each subclone were analyzed relative to a healthy control cell line (hTert-HPNE). The subclones exhibited distinct variations in protein expression and lipid metabolism. Relative to hTert-HPNE, PSN-1 subclones uniformly maintained modified sphingolipid signaling and specifically retained elevated sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) relative to C16 ceramide (C16 Cer) ratios. Each clone utilized a different perturbation to this pathway, but maintained this modified signaling to preserve cancerous phenotypes, such as rapid proliferation and defense against mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Although the subclones were unique in their sensitivity, inhibition of S1P synthesis significantly reduced the ratio of S1P/C16 Cer, slowed cell proliferation, and enhanced sensitivity to apoptotic signals. This reliance on S1P signaling identifies this pathway as a promising drug-sensitizing target that may be used to eliminate cancerous cells consistently across uniquely reprogrammed PDAC clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique M P Speirs
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Adam C Swensen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Tsz Y Chan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Peter M Jones
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - John C Holman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - McCall B Harris
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - John A Maschek
- Health Sciences Cores-Metabolomics, University of Utah, Salt Lake, Utah, USA
| | - James E Cox
- Health Sciences Cores-Metabolomics, University of Utah, Salt Lake, Utah, USA
| | - Richard H Carson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Jonathon T Hill
- Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Joshua L Andersen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - John T Prince
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - John C Price
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
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19
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Augello G, Emma MR, Cusimano A, Azzolina A, Mongiovì S, Puleio R, Cassata G, Gulino A, Belmonte B, Gramignoli R, Strom SC, McCubrey JA, Montalto G, Cervello M. Targeting HSP90 with the small molecule inhibitor AUY922 (luminespib) as a treatment strategy against hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2018; 144:2613-2624. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppa Augello
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy”National Research Council (CNR) Palermo Italy
| | - Maria Rita Emma
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy”National Research Council (CNR) Palermo Italy
| | - Antonella Cusimano
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy”National Research Council (CNR) Palermo Italy
| | - Antonina Azzolina
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy”National Research Council (CNR) Palermo Italy
| | - Sarah Mongiovì
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy”National Research Council (CNR) Palermo Italy
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”Histopathology and Immunohistochemistry Laboratory Palermo Italy
| | - Giovanni Cassata
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”Histopathology and Immunohistochemistry Laboratory Palermo Italy
| | - Alessandro Gulino
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health ScienceUniversity of Palermo Palermo Italy
| | - Beatrice Belmonte
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health ScienceUniversity of Palermo Palermo Italy
| | - Roberto Gramignoli
- Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory MedicineKarolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - Stephen C. Strom
- Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory MedicineKarolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - James A. McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyBrody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Greenville North Carolina USA
| | - Giuseppe Montalto
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy”National Research Council (CNR) Palermo Italy
- Biomedic Department of Internal Medicine and SpecialtiesUniversity of Palermo Palermo Italy
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy”National Research Council (CNR) Palermo Italy
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20
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Inactivation of NUPR1 promotes cell death by coupling ER-stress responses with necrosis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16999. [PMID: 30451898 PMCID: PMC6242935 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35020-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It was already described that genetic inhibition of NUPR1 induces tumor growth arrest. In this paper we studied the metabolism changes after NUPR1 downregulation in pancreatic cancer cells, which results in a significant decrease of OXPHOS activity with a concomitant lower ATP production which precedes the necrotic cell death. We demonstrated that NUPR1 downregulation induces a mitochondrial failure with a loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, a strong increase in ROS production and a concomitant relocalization of mitochondria to the vicinity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In addition, the transcriptomic analysis of NUPR1-deficient cells shows a decrease in the expression of some ER stress response-associated genes. Indeed, in ER stressors-treated cells with thapsigargin, brefeldin A or tunicamycin, a greater increase in necrosis and decrease of ATP content was observed in NUPR1-defficent cells. Finally, in vivo experiments, using acute pancreatitis which induces ER stress as well as NUPR1 activation, we observed that NUPR1 expression protects acinar cells from necrosis in mice. Importantly, we also report that the cell death observed after knocking-down NUPR1 expression is completely reversed by incubation with Necrostatin-1, but not by inhibiting caspase activity with Z-VAD-FMK. Altogether, these data enable us to describe a model in which inactivation of NUPR1 in pancreatic cancer cells results in an ER stress that induces a mitochondrial malfunction, a deficient ATP production and, as consequence, the cell death mediated by a programmed necrosis.
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21
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Poudel BK, Gupta B, Ramasamy T, Thapa RK, Pathak S, Oh KT, Jeong JH, Choi HG, Yong CS, Kim JO. PEGylated thermosensitive lipid-coated hollow gold nanoshells for effective combinational chemo-photothermal therapy of pancreatic cancer. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2017; 160:73-83. [PMID: 28917152 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2017.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has extremely poor prognosis with an 85% mortality rate that results from aggressive and asymptomatic growth, high metastatic potential, and rapid development of resistance to already ineffective chemotherapy. In this study, plasmonic hollow gold nanoshells (GNS) coated with PEGylated thermosensitive lipids were prepared as an efficient platform to ratiometrically co-deliver two drugs, bortezomib and gemcitabine (GNS-L/GB), for combinational chemotherapy and photothermal therapy of pancreatic cancer. Bortezomib was loaded within the lipid bilayers, while gemcitabine was loaded into the hydrophilic interior of the porous GNS via an ammonium sulfate-driven pH gradient method. Physicochemical characterizations and biological studies of GNS-L/GB were performed, with the latter using cytotoxicity assays, cellular uptake and apoptosis assays, live/dead assays, and western blot analysis of pancreatic cancer cell lines (MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1). The nanoshells showed remotely controllable drug release when exposed to near-infrared laser for site-specific delivery. GNS-L/GB showed synergistic cytotoxicity and improved internalization by cancer cells. High-powered near-infrared continuous wave laser (λ=808nm) effectively killed cancer cells via the photothermal effect of GNS-L/GB, irrespective of cell type in a power density-, time-, and GNS dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that this method can provide a novel approach to achieve synergistic combinational chemotherapy and photothermal therapy, even with resistant pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijay Kumar Poudel
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Biki Gupta
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Thiruganesh Ramasamy
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Raj Kumar Thapa
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Shiva Pathak
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Taek Oh
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heuksuk-dong Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee-Heon Jeong
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Gon Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Hanyang University, 55, Hanyangdaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Soon Yong
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong Oh Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea.
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22
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Neira JL, Bintz J, Arruebo M, Rizzuti B, Bonacci T, Vega S, Lanas A, Velázquez-Campoy A, Iovanna JL, Abián O. Identification of a Drug Targeting an Intrinsically Disordered Protein Involved in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2017; 7:39732. [PMID: 28054562 PMCID: PMC5213423 DOI: 10.1038/srep39732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are prevalent in eukaryotes, performing signaling and regulatory functions. Often associated with human diseases, they constitute drug-development targets. NUPR1 is a multifunctional IDP, over-expressed and involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development. By screening 1120 FDA-approved compounds, fifteen candidates were selected, and their interactions with NUPR1 were characterized by experimental and simulation techniques. The protein remained disordered upon binding to all fifteen candidates. These compounds were tested in PDAC-derived cell-based assays, and all induced cell-growth arrest and senescence, reduced cell migration, and decreased chemoresistance, mimicking NUPR1-deficiency. The most effective compound completely arrested tumor development in vivo on xenografted PDAC-derived cells in mice. Besides reporting the discovery of a compound targeting an intact IDP and specifically active against PDAC, our study proves the possibility to target the ‘fuzzy’ interface of a protein that remains disordered upon binding to its natural biological partners or to selected drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Neira
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Edificio Torregaitán, Avda. del Ferrocarril s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain.,Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Unidad Asociada IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jennifer Bintz
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - María Arruebo
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Av. San Juan Bosco 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IIS) Aragón, Av. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- CNR-NANOTEC, Licryl-UOS Cosenza and CEMIF.Cal, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 31 C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Thomas Bonacci
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Sonia Vega
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Unidad Asociada IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Angel Lanas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IIS) Aragón, Av. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain.,Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Clínico Universitario "Lozano Blesa", Av. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.,Department of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Perdro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adrián Velázquez-Campoy
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Unidad Asociada IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IIS) Aragón, Av. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.,Fundación ARAID, Diputación General de Aragón, C/María de Luna 11, Edificio CEEIARAGÓN, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Juan L Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Olga Abián
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Unidad Asociada IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Av. San Juan Bosco 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IIS) Aragón, Av. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain
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23
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Rajabpour A, Rajaei F, Teimoori-Toolabi L. Molecular alterations contributing to pancreatic cancer chemoresistance. Pancreatology 2016; 17:310-320. [PMID: 28065383 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2016.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Revised: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death all over the world. This disease is difficult to treat and patients have an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Although two drugs, gemcitabine (GEM) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have been shown to improve the survival rate of patients systematically, they do not increase general survival to a clinically acceptable degree. Lack of ideal clinical response of pancreatic cancer patients to chemotherapy is likely to be due to intrinsic and acquired chemoresistance of tumor cells. Various mechanisms of drug resistance have been investigated in pancreatic cancer, including genetic and epigenetic changes in particular genes or signaling pathways. In addition, evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) play significant roles as key regulators of gene expression in many cellular processes, including drug resistance. Understanding underlying genes and mechanisms of drug resistance in pancreatic cancer is critical to develop new effective treatments for this deadly disease. This review illustrates the genes and miRNAs involved in resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Rajabpour
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran; Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran; Department of Molecular Medicine, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzad Rajaei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran; Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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24
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Emma MR, Iovanna JL, Bachvarov D, Puleio R, Loria GR, Augello G, Candido S, Libra M, Gulino A, Cancila V, McCubrey JA, Montalto G, Cervello M. NUPR1, a new target in liver cancer: implication in controlling cell growth, migration, invasion and sorafenib resistance. Cell Death Dis 2016; 7:e2269. [PMID: 27336713 PMCID: PMC5143401 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2016.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, is the only approved agent for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its benefits are modest, and as its mechanisms of action remain elusive, a better understanding of its anticancer effects is needed. Based on our previous study results, we investigated here the implication of the nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) in HCC and its role in sorafenib treatment. NUPR1 is a stress-inducible protein that is overexpressed in various malignancies, but its role in HCC is not yet fully understood. We found that NUPR1 expression was significantly higher in primary human HCC samples than in the normal liver. Knockdown of NUPR1 significantly increased cell sensitivity to sorafenib and inhibited the cell growth, migration and invasion of HCC cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, NUPR1 silencing influenced the expression of RELB and IER3 genes. Unsurprisingly, RELB and IER3 knockdown also inhibited HCC cell viability, growth and migration. Using gene expression profiling of HCC cells following stable NUPR1 knockdown, we found that genes functionally involved in cell death and survival, cellular response to therapies, lipid metabolism, cell growth and proliferation, molecular transport and cellular movement were mostly suppressed. Network analysis of dynamic gene expression identified NF-κB and ERK as downregulated gene nodes, and several HCC-related oncogenes were also suppressed. We identified Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene as a NUPR1-regulated gene and demonstrated that RUNX2 gene silencing inhibits HCC cell viability, growth, migration and increased cell sensitivity to sorafenib. We propose that the NUPR1/RELB/IER3/RUNX2 pathway has a pivotal role in hepatocarcinogenesis. The identification of the NUPR1/RELB/IER3/RUNX2 pathway as a potential therapeutic target may contribute to the development of new treatment strategies for HCC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Emma
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology "Alberto Monroy", National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy.,Biomedic Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties (DiBiMIS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - J L Iovanna
- INSERM UMR1068, Center of Research in Cancerology of Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France
| | - D Bachvarov
- Cancer Research Centre, Hôpital L'Hotel-Dieu de Québec, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Quebec City (Quebec), Canada.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City (Quebec), Canada
| | - R Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Histopathology and Immunohistochemistry Laboratory, Palermo, Italy
| | - G R Loria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Histopathology and Immunohistochemistry Laboratory, Palermo, Italy
| | - G Augello
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology "Alberto Monroy", National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy.,Biomedic Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties (DiBiMIS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - S Candido
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - M Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - A Gulino
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Science, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - V Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Science, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - J A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - G Montalto
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology "Alberto Monroy", National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy.,Biomedic Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties (DiBiMIS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - M Cervello
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology "Alberto Monroy", National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
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25
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Lopez MB, Garcia MN, Grasso D, Bintz J, Molejon MI, Velez G, Lomberk G, Neira JL, Urrutia R, Iovanna J. Functional Characterization of Nupr1L, A Novel p53-Regulated Isoform of the High-Mobility Group (HMG)-Related Protumoral Protein Nupr1. J Cell Physiol 2015; 230:2936-50. [PMID: 25899918 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated a crucial role of nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) in tumor development and progression. In this work, we report the functional characterization of a novel Nupr1-like isoform (NUPR1L) and its functional interaction with the protumoral factor NUPR1. Through the use of primary sequence analysis, threading, and homology-based molecular modeling, as well as expression and immunolocalization, studies reveal that NUPR1L displays properties, which are similar to member of the HMG-like family of chromatin regulators, including its ability to translocate to the cell nucleus and bind to DNA. Analysis of the NUPR1L promoter showed the presence of two p53-response elements at positions -37 and -7, respectively. Experiments using reporter assays combined with site-directed mutagenesis and using cells with controllable p53 expression demonstrate that both of these sequences are responsible for the regulation of NUPR1L expression by p53. Congruently, NUPR1L gene expression is activated in response to DNA damage induced by oxaliplatin treatment or cell cycle arrest induced by serum starvation, two well-validated methods to achieve p53 activation. Interestingly, expression of NUPR1L downregulates the expression of NUPR1, its closely related protumoral isoform, by a mechanism that involves the inhibition of its promoter activity. At the cellular level, overexpression of NUPR1L induces G1 cell cycle arrest and a decrease in their cell viability, an effect that is mediated, at least in part, by downregulating NUPR1 expression. Combined, these experiments constitute the first functional characterization of NUPR1L as a new p53-induced gene, which negatively regulates the protumoral factor NUPR1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Belen Lopez
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Maria Noé Garcia
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Daniel Grasso
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Jennifer Bintz
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Maria Inés Molejon
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Gabriel Velez
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics, Gastroenterology Research Unit, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, and Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Gwen Lomberk
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics, Gastroenterology Research Unit, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, and Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Jose Luis Neira
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche (Alicante), Spain
| | - Raul Urrutia
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics, Gastroenterology Research Unit, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, and Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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26
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Byun HO, Lee YK, Kim JM, Yoon G. From cell senescence to age-related diseases: differential mechanisms of action of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes. BMB Rep 2015; 48:549-58. [PMID: 26129674 PMCID: PMC4911181 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2015.48.10.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a process by which cells enter a state of permanent cell cycle arrest. It is commonly believed to underlie organismal aging and age-associated diseases. However, the mechanism by which cellular senescence contributes to aging and age-associated pathologies remains unclear. Recent studies showed that senescent cells exert detrimental effects on the tissue microenvironment, generating pathological facilitators or aggravators. The most significant environmental effector resulting from senescent cells is the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which is constituted by a strikingly increased expression and secretion of diverse pro-inflammatory cytokines. Careful investigation into the components of SASPs and their mechanism of action, may improve our understanding of the pathological backgrounds of age-associated diseases. In this review, we focus on the differential expression of SASP-related genes, in addition to SASP components, during the progress of senescence. We also provide a perspective on the possible action mechanisms of SASP components, and potential contributions of SASP-expressing senescent cells, to age-associated pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae-Ok Byun
- Department of Biochemistry, Ajou University School of Medicine
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School
| | - Young-Kyoung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Ajou University School of Medicine
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School
| | - Jeong-Min Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Ajou University School of Medicine
- College of Natural Sciences, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Korea
| | - Gyesoon Yoon
- Department of Biochemistry, Ajou University School of Medicine
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School
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Bak Y, Shin HJ, Bak IS, Yoon DY, Yu DY. Hepatitis B virus X promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development via nuclear protein 1 pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 466:676-81. [PMID: 26392315 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.09.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for HCC. Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein relates to trigger oncogenesis. HBx has oncogenic properties with a hyperproliferative response to HCC. Nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) is a stress-response protein, frequently upregulated in several cancers. Recent data revealed that NUPR1 is involved in tumor progression, but its function in HCC is not revealed yet. Here we report HBx can induce NUPR1 in patients, mice, and HCC cell lines. In an HBx transgenic mouse model, we found that HBx overexpression upregulates NUPR1 expression consistently with tumor progression. Further, in cultured HBV positive cells, HBx knockdown induces downregulation of NUPR1. Smad4 is a representative transcription factor, regulated by HBx, and we showed that HBx upregulates NUPR1 by Smad4 dependent way. We found that NUPR1 can inhibit cell death and induce vasculogenic mimicry in HCC cell lines. Moreover, NUPR1 silencing in HepG2-HBx showed reduced cell motility. These results suggest that HBx can modulate NUPR1 expression through the Smad4 pathway and NUPR1 has a role in hepatocellular carcinoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesol Bak
- Disease Model Research Laboratory, Aging Intervention Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hye-jun Shin
- Disease Model Research Laboratory, Aging Intervention Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - In seon Bak
- Disease Model Research Laboratory, Aging Intervention Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Do-young Yoon
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Bio/Molecular Informatics Center, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dae-Yeul Yu
- Disease Model Research Laboratory, Aging Intervention Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea.
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Chen SS, Hu W, Wang Z, Lou XE, Zhou HJ. p8 attenuates the apoptosis induced by dihydroartemisinin in cancer cells through promoting autophagy. Cancer Biol Ther 2015; 16:770-9. [PMID: 25891535 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2015.1026477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibits anticancer activities in a variety of cancer cells, but DHA alone are not effective enough for cancer therapy. In this study we found the stress-regulated protein p8 was obviously increased after DHA treatment in several cancer cells, which further to induce autophagy by the upregulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein ATF4 and CHOP. Furthermore, when we silenced p8 by siRNA in cancer cells, the apoptosis induced by DHA were notably increased, whereas the overexpression of p8 in cancer cells leaded to the resistance to DHA-induced apoptosis. Moreover, we found the inhibition of autophagy with chloroquine (CQ) can enhance the anticancer effect of DHA both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, we found that p8-mediated autophagy attenuates DHA-induced apoptosis in cancer cells, which provides evidence to support the use p8 as a cancer therapeutic target, and suggests that the combination treatment with DHA and autophagy inhibitor might be an effective cancer therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Sang Chen
- a Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Zhejiang University ; Hangzhou , PR China
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29
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Gaddis M, Gerrard D, Frietze S, Farnham PJ. Altering cancer transcriptomes using epigenomic inhibitors. Epigenetics Chromatin 2015; 8:9. [PMID: 26191083 PMCID: PMC4506402 DOI: 10.1186/1756-8935-8-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Revised: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Due to the hyper-activation of WNT signaling in a variety of cancer types, there has been a strong drive to develop pathway-specific inhibitors with the eventual goal of providing a chemotherapeutic antagonist of WNT signaling to cancer patients. A new category of drugs, called epigenetic inhibitors, are being developed that hold high promise for inhibition of the WNT pathway. The canonical WNT signaling pathway initiates when WNT ligands bind to receptors, causing the nuclear localization of the co-activator β-catenin (CTNNB1), which leads to an association of β-catenin with a member of the TCF transcription factor family at regulatory regions of WNT-responsive genes. The TCF/β-catenin complex then recruits CBP (CREBBP) or p300 (EP300), leading to histone acetylation and gene activation. A current model in the field is that CBP-driven expression of WNT target genes supports proliferation whereas p300-driven expression of WNT target genes supports differentiation. The small molecule inhibitor ICG-001 binds to CBP, but not to p300, and competitively inhibits the interaction of CBP with β-catenin. Upon treatment of cancer cells, this should reduce expression of CBP-regulated transcription, leading to reduced tumorigenicity and enhanced differentiation. Results We have compared the genome-wide effects on the transcriptome after treatment with ICG-001 (the specific CBP inhibitor) versus C646, a compound that competes with acetyl-coA for the Lys-coA binding pocket of both CBP and p300. We found that both drugs cause large-scale changes in the transcriptome of HCT116 colon cancer cells and PANC1 pancreatic cancer cells and reverse some tumor-specific changes in gene expression. Interestingly, although the epigenetic inhibitors affect cell cycle pathways in both the colon and pancreatic cancer cell lines, the WNT signaling pathway was affected only in the colon cancer cells. Notably, WNT target genes were similarly downregulated after treatment of HCT116 with C646 as with ICG-001. Conclusion Our results suggest that treatment with a general HAT inhibitor causes similar effects on the transcriptome as does treatment with a CBP-specific inhibitor and that epigenetic inhibition affects the WNT pathway in HCT116 cells and the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in PANC1 cells. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-8935-8-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malaina Gaddis
- USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, 1450 Biggy Street, NRT 6503, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9601 USA
| | - Diana Gerrard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639 USA
| | - Seth Frietze
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639 USA
| | - Peggy J Farnham
- USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, 1450 Biggy Street, NRT 6503, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9601 USA
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Targeting cMET with INC280 impairs tumour growth and improves efficacy of gemcitabine in a pancreatic cancer model. BMC Cancer 2015; 15:71. [PMID: 25884642 PMCID: PMC4340491 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-015-1064-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expression and activation of the cMET receptor have been implicated in tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy in human pancreatic cancer. In this regard we assessed the effects of targeting cMET in pancreatic cancer models in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Human (L3.6pl, BxP3, HPAF-II, MiaPaCa2) and murine (Panc02) pancreatic cancer cell lines, endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were used for the experiments. Furthermore, the human pancreatic cancer cell line MiaPaCa2 with acquired resistance to gemcitabine was employed (MiaPaCa2(G250)). For targeting the cMET receptor, the oral available, ATP-competitive inhibitor INC280 was used. Effects of cMET inhibition on cancer and stromal cells were determined by growth assays, western blotting, motility assays and ELISA. Moreover, orthotopic xenogeneic and syngeneic mouse (BALB-C nu/nu; C57BL/6) models were used to assess in vivo efficacy of targeting cMET alone and in combination with gemcitabine. RESULTS Treatment with INC280 impairs activation of signaling intermediates in pancreatic cancer cells and ECs, particularly when cells were stimulated with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Moreover, motility of cancer cells and ECs in response to HGF was reduced upon treatment with INC280. Only minor effects on VSMCs were detected. Interestingly, MiaPaCa2(G250) showed an increase in cMET expression and cMET inhibition abrogated HGF-induced effects on growth, motility and signaling as well as DFX-hypoxia HIF-1alpha and MDR-1 expression in vitro. In vivo, therapy with INC280 alone led to inhibition of orthotopic tumor growth in xenogeneic and syngeneic models. Similar to in vitro results, cMET expression was increased upon treatment with gemcitabine, and combination of the cMET inhibitor with gemcitabine improved anti-neoplastic capacity in an orthotopic syngeneic model. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant inhibition of tumor cell proliferation (Ki67) and tumor vascularization (CD31). Finally, combination of gemcitabine with INC280 significantly prolonged survival in the orthotopic syngeneic tumor model even when treatment with the cMET inhibitor was initiated at an advanced stage of disease. CONCLUSIONS These data provide evidence that targeting cMET in combination with gemcitabine may be effective in human pancreatic cancer and warrants further clinical evaluation.
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Grasso D, Garcia MN, Hamidi T, Cano C, Calvo E, Lomberk G, Urrutia R, Iovanna JL. Genetic inactivation of the pancreatitis-inducible gene Nupr1 impairs PanIN formation by modulating Kras(G12D)-induced senescence. Cell Death Differ 2014; 21:1633-41. [PMID: 24902898 PMCID: PMC4158688 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2014.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear protein 1 (Nupr1), a small chromatin protein, has a critical role in cancer development, progression and resistance to therapy. Previously, we had demonstrated that Nupr1 cooperates with KrasG12D to induce pancreas intraepithelial neoplasias (PanIN) formation and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma development in mice. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Nupr1 influences Kras-mediated preneoplastic growth remain to be fully characterized. In the current study, we report evidence supporting a role for Nupr1 as a gene modifier of KrasG12D-induced senescence, which must be overcome to promote PanIN formation. We found that genetic inactivation of Nupr1 in mice impairs Kras-induced PanIN, leading to an increase in β-galactosidase-positive cells and an upregulation of surrogate marker genes for senescence. More importantly, both of these cellular and molecular changes are recapitulated by the results of mechanistic experiments using RNAi-based inactivation of Nupr1 in human pancreatic cancer cell models. In addition, the senescent phenotype, which results from Nupr1 inactivation, is accompanied by activation of the FoxO3a-Skp2-p27Kip1-pRb-E2F pathway in vivo and in vitro. Thus, combined, these results show, for the first time, that Nupr1 aids oncogenic Kras to bypass senescence in a manner that cooperatively promotes PanIN formation. Besides its mechanistic importance, this new knowledge bears medical relevance as it delineates early pathobiological events that may be targeted in the future as a means to interfere with the formation of preneoplastic lesions early during pancreatic carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Grasso
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - M N Garcia
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - T Hamidi
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - C Cano
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - E Calvo
- Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology Research Center, CHUL Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - G Lomberk
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics, Gastroenterology Research Unit, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, and Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - R Urrutia
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics, Gastroenterology Research Unit, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, and Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - J L Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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Cano CE, Hamidi T, Garcia MN, Grasso D, Loncle C, Garcia S, Calvo E, Lomberk G, Dusetti N, Bartholin L, Urrutia R, Iovanna JL. Genetic inactivation of Nupr1 acts as a dominant suppressor event in a two-hit model of pancreatic carcinogenesis. Gut 2014; 63:984-95. [PMID: 24026351 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2013-305221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclear protein 1 (Nupr1) is a major factor in the cell stress response required for Kras(G12D)-driven formation of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplastic lesions (PanINs). We evaluated the relevance of Nupr1 in the development of pancreatic cancer. METHODS We investigated the role of Nupr1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression beyond PanINs in Pdx1-cre;LSL-Kras(G12D);Ink4a/Arf(fl/fl)(KIC) mice. RESULTS Even in the context of the second tumorigenic hit of Ink4a/Arf deletion, Nupr1 deficiency led to suppression of malignant transformation involving caspase 3 activation in premalignant cells of KIC pancreas. Only half of Nupr1-deficient;KIC mice achieved PDAC development, and incident cases survived longer than Nupr1(wt);KIC mice. This was associated with the development of well-differentiated PDACs in Nupr1-deficient;KIC mice, which displayed enrichment of genes characteristic of the recently identified human classical PDAC subtype. Nupr1-deficient;KIC PDACs also shared with human classical PDACs the overexpression of the Kras-activation gene signature. In contrast, Nupr1(wt);KIC mice developed invasive PDACs with enriched gene signature of human quasi-mesenchymal (QM) PDACs. Cells derived from Nupr1-deficient;KIC PDACs growth in an anchorage-independent manner in vitro had higher aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and overexpressed nanog, Oct-4 and Sox2 transcripts compared with Nupr1(wt);KIC cells. Moreover, Nupr1-deficient and Nurpr1(wt);KIC cells differed in their sensitivity to the nucleoside analogues Ly101-4b and WJQ63. Together, these findings show the pivotal role of Nupr1 in both the initiation and late stages of PDAC in vivo, with a potential impact on PDAC cell stemness. CONCLUSIONS According to Nupr1 status, KIC mice develop tumours that phenocopy human classical or QM-PDAC, respectively, and present differential drug sensitivity, thus becoming attractive models for preclinical drug trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla E Cano
- Centre de Recherche en Carcérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM UMR 1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille University and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, , Marseille, France
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Bonacci T, Audebert S, Camoin L, Baudelet E, Bidaut G, Garcia M, Witzel II, Perkins ND, Borg JP, Iovanna JL, Soubeyran P. Identification of new mechanisms of cellular response to chemotherapy by tracking changes in post-translational modifications by ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins. J Proteome Res 2014; 13:2478-94. [PMID: 24654937 DOI: 10.1021/pr401258d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a very aggressive malignancy characterized by an excessive resistance to all known anticancer therapies, a still largely elusive phenomenon. To identify original mechanisms, we have explored the role of post-translational modifications (PTMs) mediated by members of the ubiquitin family. Although alterations of these pathways have been reported in different cancers, no methodical search for these kinds of anomalies has been performed so far. Therefore, we studied the ubiquitin-, Nedd8-, and SUMO1-specific proteomes of a pancreatic cancer cell line (MiaPaCa-2) and identified changes induced by gemcitabine, the standard PDAC's chemotherapeutic drug. These PTMs profiles contained both known major substrates of all three modifiers as well as original ones. Gemcitabine treatment altered the PTM profile of proteins involved in various biological functions, some known cancer associated genes, many potentially cancer-associated genes, and several cancer-signaling networks, including canonical and noncanonical WNT and PI3K/Akt/MTOR pathways. Some of these altered PTMs formed groups of functionally and physically associated proteins. Importantly, we could validate the gemcitabine-induced PTMs variations of relevant candidates and we could demonstrate the biological significance of such altered PTMs by studying in detail the sumoylation of SNIP1, one of these new targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bonacci
- CRCM, INSERM U1068; Institut Paoli-Calmettes; Aix-Marseille Université, UM105; CNRS, UMR7258, 163 Av de Luminy, F-13009 Marseille, France
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Zhang R, Yao F, Cheng C, Chen Y, Lv Y, Li Z, Zhao N, Wang T, Xin W, Zou X, Hou L. Expression and roles of As-NUPR1 protein from Artemia sinica during embryo development and in response to salinity stress. Mol Biol Rep 2014; 41:3465-73. [PMID: 24510410 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-014-3208-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
As-NUPR1, a stress-related protein, plays an important role in post-diapause during embryonic development in the brine shrimp Artemia sinica. In the present study, successful expression of As-NUPR1 from the cDNA sequence isolated from A. sinica was demonstrated using a prokaryotic expression system. The recombinant protein consisted of 132 amino acids with a molecular weight of 15 kDa, and a predicted isoelectric point of 7.17. As-NUPR1 polyclonal antibodies were prepared by immunization of Balb/c mice with purified recombinant As-NUPR1 protein as an antigen, and immunological studies were carried out. Expression of As-NUPR1 during different developmental stages of the embryo and in response to salinity stress was analyzed in A. sinica using Western blots. The experimental results showed that the expression of As-NUPR1 is widely distributed at different developmental stages in A. sinica, and there was no tissue or organ specificity. Expression of As-NUPR1 decreased gradually during the diapause termination stage of embryo development, after which there was a general increase in expression after breaking the shell. In addition, As-NUPR1 expression was highly upregulated under conditions of high salinity. These results suggest that the As-NUPR1 protein is a stress-related protein that plays a role in protecting embryos from high salt damage in different embryonic developmental stages, especially during the post-diapause period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, No. 1, Liushu South Street, Ganjingzi District, Dalian, 116081, People's Republic of China
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Xu D, Cobb MG, Gavilano L, Witherspoon SM, Williams D, White CD, Taverna P, Bednarski BK, Kim HJ, Baldwin AS, Baines AT. Inhibition of oncogenic Pim-3 kinase modulates transformed growth and chemosensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. Cancer Biol Ther 2014; 14:492-501. [PMID: 23760491 DOI: 10.4161/cbt.24343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer with a 5-year survival rate of only 6%. Although the cytosine analog gemcitabine is the drug commonly used to treat PDAC, chemoresistance unfortunately renders the drug ineffective. Thus, strategies that can decrease this resistance will be essential for improving the dismal outcome of patients suffering from this disease. We previously observed that oncogenic Pim-1 kinase was aberrantly expressed in PDAC tissues and cell lines and was responsible for radioresistance. Furthermore, members of the Pim family have been shown to reduce the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer. Therefore, we attempted to evaluate the role of Pim-3 in chemoresistance of PDAC cells. We were able to confirm upregulation of the Pim-3 oncogene in PDAC tissues and cell lines versus normal samples. Biological consequences of inhibiting Pim-3 expression with shRNA-mediated suppression included decreases in anchorage-dependent growth, invasion through Matrigel and chemoresistance to gemcitabine as measured by caspase-3 activity. Additionally, we were able to demonstrate that Pim-1 and Pim-3 play overlapping but non-identical roles as it relates to gemcitabine sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells. To further support the role of Pim-3 suppression in sensitizing PDAC cells to gemcitabine, we used the pharmacological Pim kinase inhibitor SGI-1776. Treatment of PDAC cells with SGI-1776 resulted in decreased phosphorylation of the proapoptotic protein Bad and cell cycle changes. When SGI-1776 was combined with gemcitabine, there was a greater decrease in cell viability in the PDAC cells versus cells treated with either of the drugs separately. These results suggest combining drug therapies that inhibit Pim kinases, such as Pim-3, with chemotherapeutic agents, to aid in decreasing chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Du P, Ye L, Yang Y, Jiang WG. Candidate of metastasis 1 regulates in vitro growth and invasion of bladder cancer cells. Int J Oncol 2013; 42:1249-56. [PMID: 23443904 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2013.1802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
COM1 (candidate of metastasis 1) has been recently shown to influence the metastatic ability of cancer cells and disease progression of certain solid tumours. The role of COM1 in bladder cancer remains unknown. In the present study, we examined the expression of the COM1 protein in human bladder tissues, and also its effect on growth, adhesion, migration and invasion of human bladder cancer cells, in vitro. The expression of COM1 in human bladder tissues and bladder cancer cell lines was assessed at both the mRNA and protein levels using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. COM1 staining was compared with tumour staging. Mammalian COM1 expression construct and anti-COM1 ribozyme transgenes were used to generate sublines of human bladder cancer cells with differential expression of COM1. The effect of COM1 on cellular functions was examined in bladder cancer cells with which COM1 was overexpressed or knocked down using a variety of in vitro assays. In normal bladder tissues, stronger staining of COM1 was seen in the cytoplasm of normal urothelial cells. In contrast, the staining was notably weak or absent in cancer cells of tumour tissues and invasive tumours had significantly low levels of staining compared with non-invasive tumours (p=0.012). Knockdown of COM1 in bladder cancer cell lines resulted in an increase in cellular growth and invasion, while overexpression of COM1 suppressed invasiveness and growth of these cells. Further investigation revealed an increased apoptosis and upregulated p21 in bladder cancer cells when COM1 was overexpressed. COM1 is expressed at low levels in human bladder cancer and in particular in invasive bladder tumours. COM1 levels are inversely correlated with the invasiveness and growth of bladder cancer cells in vitro. Induced apoptosis and upregulation of p21 are indicated in the mechanism of COM1 inhibiting bladder cancer cell growth. It suggests that COM1 is a potential tumour suppressor in human bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Du
- Cardiff University-Peking University School of Oncology Joint Institute, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
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Zhang L, Nishihara H, Kano MR. Pericyte-coverage of human tumor vasculature and nanoparticle permeability. Biol Pharm Bull 2012; 35:761-6. [PMID: 22687413 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.35.761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nano drug delivery systems (nanoDDS) are a promising strategy for treatment of human tumors. As indicated by our previous work, the extent of pericyte-coverage of tumor vasculature is important to determining nanoDDS efficacy since intratumoral accumulation of nanoDDS is less in tumor models with pericyte-covered vasculature. Here we investigated the clinical relevance of our previous observations in animal models, by determining pericyte coverage using immunohistochemistry of smooth muscle actin (SMA) with CD34: a vascular endothelial marker, in human tumor tissue samples. The investigation revealed that tumor vasculature coverage by pericytes in pancreatic and diffuse-type gastric cancers was significantly greater than in ovarian, colon, and intestinal-type gastric cancers. The latter group of cancers is easier to treat clinically. These observations are consistent with our previous findings in animal models. On the basis of these findings we believe optimization of nanoDDS delivery should be done depend upon a clear understanding of the effects of pericyte vascular coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuzhe Zhang
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Faculty of Medicine, and Department of Molecular Pathology, University of Tokyo, Japan
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Guo X, Wang W, Hu J, Feng K, Pan Y, Zhang L, Feng Y. Lentivirus-mediated RNAi knockdown of NUPR1 inhibits human nonsmall cell lung cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2012; 295:2114-21. [PMID: 22961798 DOI: 10.1002/ar.22571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2011] [Revised: 07/29/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
NUPR1 (nuclear protein 1) was found to play a key role in the development of several malignancies including pancreas, breast, and prostate cancers. However, the functional role of NUPR1 in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression and development is little known. Here, lentivirus-mediated small interfering RNA (siRNA) was employed to downregulate endogenous NUPR1 expression to study the function of NUPR1 in growth of nonsmall cell lung cancer. A lentivirus-mediated RNAi technology was used to specifically knock down the expression of NUPR1 in H1299 cells. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, western blot and cell count assays were studied to characterize NUPR1 expression in vitro. Furthermore, nonsmall cell lung cancer xenograft models in nude mice were established to investigate whether knockdown of NUPR1 reduces the tumor growth in vivo. We found that downregulation of NUPR1 expression significantly inhibited nonsmall cell lung cancer H1299 cells proliferation and colony formation in vitro. Moreover, the specific downregulation of NUPR1 arrested cells in G0 phase of cell cycle and increased apoptosis rate. Silencing of NUPR1 also suppressed tumor growth by tail vein injection of lentivirus encoded shRNA against NUPR1 in vivo. Our findings revealed that the NUPR1 gene represents a promising target for gene silencing therapy in nonsmall cell lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China
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The human NUPR1/P8 gene is transcriptionally activated by transforming growth factor β via the SMAD signalling pathway. Biochem J 2012; 445:285-93. [PMID: 22738338 DOI: 10.1042/bj20120368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
NUPR1 (nuclear protein 1), also called P8 (molecular mass 8 kDa) or COM1 (candidate of metastasis 1), is involved in the stress response and in cancer progression. In the present study, we investigated whether human NUPR1 expression was regulated by TGFβ (transforming growth factor β), a secreted polypeptide largely involved in tumorigenesis. We demonstrate that the expression of NUPR1 was activated by TGFβ at the transcriptional level. We show that this activation is mediated by the SMAD proteins, which are transcription factors specifically involved in the signalling of TGFβ superfamily members. NUPR1 promoter analysis reveals the presence of a functional TGFβ-response element binding the SMAD proteins located in the genomic DNA region corresponding to the 5'-UTR (5'-untranslated region). Altogether, the molecular results of the present study, which demonstrate the existence of a TGFβ/SMAD/NUPR1 activation cascade, open the way to consider and investigate further a new mechanism enabling TGFβ to promote tumorigenesis by inducing stress resistance.
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Hamidi T, Cano CE, Grasso D, Garcia MN, Sandi MJ, Calvo EL, Dagorn JC, Lomberk G, Urrutia R, Goruppi S, Carracedo A, Velasco G, Iovanna JL. Nupr1-aurora kinase A pathway provides protection against metabolic stress-mediated autophagic-associated cell death. Clin Cancer Res 2012; 18:5234-46. [PMID: 22899799 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The limited supply of oxygen and nutrients is thought to result in rigorous selection of cells that will eventually form the tumor. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Nupr1 expression pattern was analyzed in human tissue microarray (TMA) and correlated with survival time of the patient. Microarray analysis was conducted on MiaPaCa2 cells subjected to metabolic stress in Nupr1-silenced conditions. DNA repair and cell cycle-associated gene expression was confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Nupr1 and AURKA protective role were analyzed using RNA interference (RNAi) silencing or overexpression. DNA damage and autophagy were analyzed by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. RESULTS We showed that both Nupr1 and HIF1α are coexpressed in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) samples and negatively correlate with survival time. PDAC-derived cells submitted to hypoxia and/or glucose starvation induce DNA damage-dependent cell death concomitantly to the overexpression of stress protein Nupr1. Affymetrix-based transcriptoma analysis reveals that Nupr1 knockdown enhances DNA damage and alters the expression of several genes involved in DNA repair and cell-cycle progression. Expression of some of these genes is common to hypoxia and glucose starvation, such as Aurka gene, suggesting that Nupr1 overexpression counteracts the transcriptional changes occurring under metabolic stress. The molecular mechanism by which hypoxia and glucose starvation induce cell death involves autophagy-associated, but not caspase-dependent, cell death. Finally, we have found that AURKA expression is partially regulated by Nupr1 and plays a major role in this response. CONCLUSIONS Our data reveal that Nupr1 is involved in a defense mechanism that promotes pancreatic cancer cell survival when exposed to metabolic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tewfik Hamidi
- Stress Cellulaire, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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Rathos MJ, Joshi K, Khanwalkar H, Manohar SM, Joshi KS. Molecular evidence for increased antitumor activity of gemcitabine in combination with a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, P276-00 in pancreatic cancers. J Transl Med 2012; 10:161. [PMID: 22873289 PMCID: PMC3478973 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-10-161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background P276-00 is a novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor currently in Phase II clinical trials. Gemcitabine is a standard of care for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The present study investigated the effect of the combination of P276-00 and gemcitabine in five pancreatic cancer cell lines. Methods Cytotoxic activity was evaluated by Propidium Iodide assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Genes and proteins known to inhibit apoptosis and contribute to chemoresistance were analysed using western blot analysis and RT-PCR. In vivo efficacy was studied in PANC-1 xenograft model. Results The combination of gemcitabine followed by P276-00 was found to be highly to weakly synergistic in various pancreatic cancer cell lines as assessed by the combination index. Enhancement of apoptosis in PANC-1 cells and decrease in the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and survivin was seen. P276-00 potentiated the gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity by modulation of proteins involved in chemoresistance to gemcitabine and cell cycle viz. antiapoptotic proteins p8 and cox-2, proapoptotic protein BNIP3 and cell cycle related proteins Cdk4 and cyclin D1. The above results could explain the novel mechanisms of action of the combination therapy. We also show here that gemcitabine in combination with P276-00 is much more effective as an antitumor agent compared with either agent alone in the PANC-1 xenograft tumor model in SCID mice. Conclusions The chemosensitzation of pancreatic tumors to gemcitabine would likely be an important and novel strategy for treatment of pancreatic cancer and enable the use of lower and safer concentrations, to pave the way for a more effective treatment in this devastating disease. Phase IIb clinical trials of P276-00 in combination with gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer patients are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie J Rathos
- Oncology Franchise, Piramal Life Sciences Ltd, Mumbai, India
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Vincent AJ, Ren S, Harris LG, Devine DJ, Samant RS, Fodstad O, Shevde LA. Cytoplasmic translocation of p21 mediates NUPR1-induced chemoresistance: NUPR1 and p21 in chemoresistance. FEBS Lett 2012; 586:3429-34. [PMID: 22858377 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.07.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2012] [Revised: 07/09/2012] [Accepted: 07/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The expression of Nuclear Protein 1 (NUPR1) is associated with chemoresistance in multiple malignancies. We previously reported that NUPR1 functions as a transcriptional cofactor for the p300-p53 complex and transcriptionally regulates p21 expression. In the present study we investigated the activity of NUPR1 in p53-deficient, triple-negative, inflammatory SUM159 breast cancer cells. Our studies reveal that NUPR1 confers growth benefit and chemoresistance by causing Akt-mediated phosphorylation and subsequent cytoplasmic re-localization of p21 and activation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein. Our findings elucidate a NUPR1-PI-3-K/Akt-phospho-p21 axis that functions in p53-negative, inflammatory breast cancer cells to enhance chemoresistance in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Vincent
- Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United States
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Cano CE, Sandí MJ, Hamidi T, Calvo EL, Turrini O, Bartholin L, Loncle C, Secq V, Garcia S, Lomberk G, Kroemer G, Urrutia R, Iovanna JL. Homotypic cell cannibalism, a cell-death process regulated by the nuclear protein 1, opposes to metastasis in pancreatic cancer. EMBO Mol Med 2012; 4:964-79. [PMID: 22821859 PMCID: PMC3491828 DOI: 10.1002/emmm.201201255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Revised: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely deadly disease for which all treatments available have failed to improve life expectancy significantly. This may be explained by the high metastatic potential of PDAC cells, which results from their dedifferentiation towards a mesenchymal phenotype. Some PDAC present cell-in-cell structures whose origin and significance are currently unknown. We show here that cell-in-cells form after homotypic cell cannibalism (HoCC). We found PDAC patients whose tumours display HoCC develop less metastasis than those without. In vitro, HoCC was promoted by inactivation of the nuclear protein 1 (Nupr1), and was enhanced by treatment with transforming growth factor β. HoCC ends with death of PDAC cells, consistent with a metastasis suppressor role for this phenomenon. Hence, our data indicates a protective role for HoCC in PDAC and identifies Nupr1 as a molecular regulator of this process.
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Thomas F, Delmar P, Vergez S, Rochaix P, Hennebelle I, McLoughlin P, Benlyazid A, Sarini J, Delord JP. Gene expression profiling on pre- and post-erlotinib tumors from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck 2012; 35:809-18. [PMID: 22791662 DOI: 10.1002/hed.23036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of our work was to identify genomic predictive markers of erlotinib response in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS Tumor tissue biopsies were collected before and after treatment for 39 patients. We analyzed genomic expression of the tumors using microarrays to (1) identify genes differentially expressed in baseline samples in patients who were responders vs nonresponders, (2) characterize erlotinib's effect on gene expression, and (3) identify the pharmacodynamic marker of erlotinib. RESULTS Gene expression profiles found no statistically significant differentially expressed genes between responders and nonresponders. An exploratory analysis by combining statistical criteria allowed us to identify genes differentially expressed in nonresponders compared to responders and genes whose expression was modified during erlotinib treatment. Finally, the search of pharmacodynamic markers identified cyclin-dependent kinase 2-interacting protein (CINP) as a potential marker of erlotinib efficacy because its expression decreased only in patients who were responders to the treatment. CONCLUSION This study provides candidate genes potentially involved in erlotinib response in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Thomas
- EA4553 and Université de Toulouse, 20-24 Rue du Pont St Pierre, 31052 Toulouse, France.
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Li Q, Zhang Q, Han L, Yuan Z, Tan J, Du B, Zou X, Hou L. Molecular characterization and expression of As-nurp1 gene from Artemia sinica during development and in response to salinity and temperature stress. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2012; 222:182-191. [PMID: 22815367 DOI: 10.1086/bblv222n3p182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear protein 1 (NURP1) is a stress-related protein and closely related to diapause in the development of Artemia. In the present paper, the full-length 568-bp cDNA sequence of the nurp1 homolog of Artemia sinica (As-nurp1) was isolated by RACE technology for the first time. The putative As-nurp1 protein consists of 66 amino acids with a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) motif and a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS). Multiple sequence alignments revealed that the putative As-nurp1 protein sequence was relatively conserved across species, especially in the bHLH domain. The expression of As-nurp1 is widely distributed during A. sinica development. This is followed by a dramatic downregulation after diapause and is newly upregulated from the larval nauplius stage. Furthermore, As-nurp1 transcripts are highly upregulated under conditions of high salinity and low temperature. These findings suggest that As-nurp1 is stress-related and may act as a protective factor in embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuying Li
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
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Hamidi T, Algül H, Cano CE, Sandi MJ, Molejon MI, Riemann M, Calvo EL, Lomberk G, Dagorn JC, Weih F, Urrutia R, Schmid RM, Iovanna JL. Nuclear protein 1 promotes pancreatic cancer development and protects cells from stress by inhibiting apoptosis. J Clin Invest 2012; 122:2092-103. [PMID: 22565310 DOI: 10.1172/jci60144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has the lowest survival rate of all cancers and shows remarkable resistance to cell stress. Nuclear protein 1 (Nupr1), which mediates stress response in the pancreas, is frequently upregulated in pancreatic cancer. Here, we report that Nupr1 plays an essential role in pancreatic tumorigenesis. In a mouse model of pancreatic cancer with constitutively expressed oncogenic Kras(G12D), we found that loss of Nupr1 protected from the development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs). Further, in cultured pancreatic cells, nutrient deprivation activated Nupr1 expression, which we found to be required for cell survival. We found that Nupr1 protected cells from stress-induced death by inhibiting apoptosis through a pathway dependent on transcription factor RelB and immediate early response 3 (IER3). NUPR1, RELB, and IER3 proteins were coexpressed in mouse PanINs from Kras(G12D)-expressing pancreas. Moreover, pancreas-specific deletion of Relb in a Kras(G12D) background resulted in delayed in PanIN development associated with a lack of IER3 expression. Thus, efficient PanIN formation was dependent on the expression of Nupr1 and Relb, with likely involvement of IER3. Finally, in patients with PDAC, expression of NUPR1, RELB, and IER3 was significantly correlated with a poor prognosis. Cumulatively, these results reveal a NUPR1/RELB/IER3 stress-related pathway that is required for oncogenic Kras(G12D)-dependent transformation of the pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tewfik Hamidi
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM UMR 1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
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Fan P, Zhang JJ, Wang B, Wu HQ, Zhou SX, Wang CY, Zhang JH, Tian Y, Wu HS. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 up-regulates the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 in pancreatic cancer cells under hypoxic conditions. Pancreatology 2012; 12:170-8. [PMID: 22487528 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2012.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2011] [Revised: 02/10/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hypoxia is a common characteristic of solid tumors. Recent studies confirmed that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a significant role in cancer invasion and progression. In this study, the correlation between the expression of TLR4 and the change of the protein level of Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) was studied. METHODS We examined 84 human pancreatic cancer tissues for expression of HIF-1α and TLR4 proteins. Panc-1 cells were exposed to normoxia (20% O(2)) or hypoxia (<1% O(2)) or treated with CoCl(2). TLR4 protein was analyzed by flow cytometry and immunostaining. Growth studies were conducted on cells with the HIF-1α inhibition isolated from stable transfected cell lines. Finally, TLR4 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in vivo tumors. RESULTS There was a positive correlation between TLR4 and HIF-1α protein in pancreatic cancer tissues. Hypoxic stress induced TLR4 mRNA and protein expression in Panc-1 cells. Cells transfected with HIF-1α siRNA showed attenuation of hypoxia stress-induced TLR4 expression. In vivo growth decreased in response to TLR4 and HIF-1α inhibiton. Transient HIF-1α siRNA treatment could effectively curb tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION These results suggest that TLR4 expression in pancreatic cancer cells is up-regulated via HIF-1α in response to hypoxic stress and underscore the crucial role of HIF-1α-induced TLR4 in tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Fan
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1277, Jiefang Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, China
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Rôle de la protéine de stress p8 dans la progression tumorale et le développement des métastases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 59:303-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.patbio.2009.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2009] [Accepted: 10/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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p8 Expression controls pancreatic cancer cell migration, invasion, adhesion, and tumorigenesis. J Cell Physiol 2011; 226:3442-51. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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50
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Taeger J, Moser C, Hellerbrand C, Mycielska ME, Glockzin G, Schlitt HJ, Geissler EK, Stoeltzing O, Lang SA. Targeting FGFR/PDGFR/VEGFR impairs tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis by effects on tumor cells, endothelial cells, and pericytes in pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2011; 10:2157-67. [PMID: 21885862 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-11-0312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Activation of receptor tyrosine kinases, such as fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and VEGF receptor (VEGFR), has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis in human pancreatic cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of TKI258, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor to FGFR, PDGFR, and VEGFR on pancreatic cancer cell lines (HPAF-II, BxPC-3, MiaPaCa2, and L3.6pl), endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Results showed that treatment with TKI258 impaired activation of signaling intermediates in pancreatic cancer cells, endothelial cells, and VSMCs, even upon stimulation with FGF-1, FGF-2, VEGF-A, and PDGF-B. Furthermore, blockade of FGFR/PDGFR/VEGFR reduced survivin expression and improved activity of gemcitabine in MiaPaCa2 pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, motility of cancer cells, endothelial cells, and VSMCs was reduced upon treatment with TKI258. In vivo, therapy with TKI258 led to dose-dependent inhibition of subcutaneous (HPAF-II) and orthotopic (L3.6pl) tumor growth. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed effects on tumor cell proliferation [bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)] and tumor vascularization (CD31). Moreover, lymph node metastases were significantly reduced in the orthotopic tumor model when treatment was initiated early with TKI258 (30 mg/kg/d). In established tumors, TKI258 (30 mg/kg/d) led to significant growth delay and improved survival in subcutaneous and orthotopic models, respectively. These data provide evidence that targeting FGFR/PDFGR/VEGFR with TKI258 may be effective in human pancreatic cancer and warrants further clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Taeger
- Department of Surgery, University of Regensburg Medical Center, Franz-Josef-Strauss Allee 11, 93042 Regensburg, Germany
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