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Figueiredo JC, Bhowmick NA, Karlstaedt A. Metabolic basis of cardiac dysfunction in cancer patients. Curr Opin Cardiol 2024; 39:138-147. [PMID: 38386340 PMCID: PMC11185275 DOI: 10.1097/hco.0000000000001118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The relationship between metabolism and cardiovascular diseases is complex and bidirectional. Cardiac cells must adapt metabolic pathways to meet biosynthetic demands and energy requirements to maintain contractile function. During cancer, this homeostasis is challenged by the increased metabolic demands of proliferating cancer cells. RECENT FINDINGS Tumors have a systemic metabolic impact that extends beyond the tumor microenvironment. Lipid metabolism is critical to cancer cell proliferation, metabolic adaptation, and increased cardiovascular risk. Metabolites serve as signals which provide insights for diagnosis and prognosis in cardio-oncology patients. SUMMARY Metabolic processes demonstrate a complex relationship between cancer cell states and cardiovascular remodeling with potential for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane C. Figueiredo
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Neil Adri Bhowmick
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Anja Karlstaedt
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
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2
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Li J, Fang Z, Dal E, Zhang H, Yu K, Ma M, Wang M, Sun R, Lu M, Wang H, Li Y. Transmembrane protein 176B regulates amino acid metabolism through the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway and promotes gastric cancer progression. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:95. [PMID: 38438907 PMCID: PMC10913232 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03279-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aimed to investigate the expression level, biological function, and underlying mechanism of transmembrane protein 176B (TMEM176B) in gastric cancer (GC). METHODS TMEM176B expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting (WB). The function of TMEM176B was determined by various in vitro assays including colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), Transwell, and flow cytometry. Bioinformatics techniques were then used to elucidate the signaling pathways associated with TMEM176B activity. Tumor formation experiments were conducted on nude mice for in vivo validation of the preceding findings. TMEM176B expression was cross-referenced to clinicopathological parameters and survival outcomes. RESULTS It was observed that TMEM176B was overexpressed in GC cells and tissues. Targeted TMEM176B abrogation inhibited colony formation, proliferation, migration, and invasion but promoted apoptosis in GC cell lines while TMEM176B overexpression had the opposite effects. Subsequent experimental validation disclosed an association between TMEM176B and the phosphatidylinositol 3-carboxykinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis. Moreover, TMEM176B affects GC cancer progression by regulating asparagine synthetase (ASNS). The in vivo assays confirmed that TMEM176B is oncogenic and the clinical data revealed a connection between TMEM176B expression and the clinicopathological determinants of GC. CONCLUSION The foregoing results suggest that TMEM176B significantly promotes the development of gastric cancer and is an independent prognostic factor of it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - ZiQing Fang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Emre Dal
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84102, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - KeXun Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - MengDi Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - MingLiang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Ruochuan Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - MingDian Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - HuiZhen Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
| | - YongXiang Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
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Zhang Y, Akhil V, Seo HS, Park HR, Kim SH, You SH, Liu Z, Kim SY, Sultonova RD, Min JJ, Hong Y. The combination of calreticulin-targeting L-ASNase and anti-PD-L1 antibody modulates the tumor immune microenvironment to synergistically enhance the antitumor efficacy of radiotherapy. Theranostics 2024; 14:1195-1211. [PMID: 38323311 PMCID: PMC10845202 DOI: 10.7150/thno.90376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy (RT) triggers immunogenic cell death (ICD). L-ASNase, which catalyzes the conversion of asparagine (Asn), thereby depleting it, is used in the treatment of blood cancers. In previous work, we showed that CRT3LP and CRT4LP, PASylated L-ASNases conjugated to the calreticulin (CRT)-specific monobodies CRT3 and CRT4, increase the efficacy of ICD-inducing chemotherapy. Here, we assessed their efficacy in tumor-bearing mice treated with RT. Methods: Monobody binding was evaluated by in silico molecular docking analysis. The expression and cellular localization of ecto-CRT were assessed by confocal imaging and flow cytometry. The antitumor effect and the roles of CRT3LP and CRT4LP in irradiation (IR)-induced ICD in tumors were analyzed by ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and immune analysis methods. Results: Molecular docking analysis showed that CRT3 and CRT4 monobodies were stably bound to CRT. Exposure to 10 Gy IR decreased the viability of CT-26 and MC-38 tumor cells in a time-dependent manner until 72 h, and increased the expression of the ICD marker ecto-CRT (CRT exposed on the cell surface) and the immune checkpoint marker PD-L1 until 48 h. IR enhanced the cytotoxicity of CRT3LP and CRT4LP in CT-26 and MC-38 tumor cells, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In mice bearing CT-26 and MC-38 subcutaneous tumors treated with 6 Gy IR, Rluc8-conjugated CRT-specific monobodies (CRT3-Rluc8 and CRT4-Rluc8) specifically targeted tumor tissues, and CRT3LP and CRT4LP increased total ROS levels in tumor tissues, thereby enhancing the antitumor efficacy of RT. Tumor tissues from these mice showed increased mature dendritic, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ and TNFα) and decreased regulatory T cells, and the expression of tumor cell proliferation markers (Ki67 and CD31) was downregulated. These data indicate that the combination of IR and CRT-targeting L-ASNases activated and reprogramed the immune system of the tumor microenvironment. Consistent with these data, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-L1 antibody) markedly increased the therapeutic efficacy of combined IR and CRT-targeting L-ASNases. Conclusion: CRT-specific L-ASNases are useful as additive drug candidates in tumors treated with RT, and combination treatment with anti-PD-L1 antibody increases their therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- Current affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Molecular Imaging Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Venu Akhil
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Seong Seo
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Ran Park
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Hyun Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hwan You
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- CNCure Biotech, Inc., Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- Brain Tumor Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - So-young Kim
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- CNCure Biotech, Inc., Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Rukhsora D. Sultonova
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- New Uzbekistan University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Republican Oncology Research Center Tashkent Region Branch, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- CNCure Biotech, Inc., Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- CNCure Biotech, Inc., Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
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Wang M, Li J, Yang X, Yan Q, Wang H, Xu X, Lu Y, Li D, Wang Y, Sun R, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Meng F, Li Y. Targeting TLK2 inhibits the progression of gastric cancer by reprogramming amino acid metabolism through the mTOR/ASNS axis. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:1485-1497. [PMID: 37542132 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Several recent studies have suggested that TLKs are related to tumor progression. However, the function and mechanism of action of TLK2 in gastric cancer (GC) remain elusive. In this study, TLK2 was found to be significantly upregulated in patients with GC and was identified as an independent prognostic factor for GC. Consistently, TLK2 knockdown markedly reduced the aggressiveness of GC, whereas its overexpression had the opposite effect. IP-MS revealed that the effects of TLK2 on GC were mainly associated with metabolism reprogramming. TLK2 knockdown suppressed amino acid synthesis by downregulating the mTORC1 pathway and ASNS expression in GC cells. Mechanistically, mTORC1 directly interacts with the ASNS protein and inhibits its degradation. Further experiments validated that the ASNS protein was degraded via ubiquitination instead of autophagy. Inhibiting and activating the mTORC1 pathway can upregulate and downregulate ASNS ubiquitination, respectively, and the mTORC1 pathway can reverse the regulatory effects of TLK2 on ASNS. Furthermore, TLK2 was found to regulate the mRNA expression of ASNS. TLK2 directly interacted with ATF4, a transcription factor of ASNS, and promoted its expression. The kinase inhibitor fostamatinib significantly inhibited the proliferative, invasive, and migratory capabilities of GC cells by inhibiting TLK2 activity. Altogether, this study reveals a novel functional relationship between TLK2 and the mTORC1/ASNS axis in GC. Therefore, TLK2 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingliang Wang
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Jing Li
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Qiang Yan
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Huizhen Wang
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Xin Xu
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Yida Lu
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Deguan Li
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Yigao Wang
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Ruochuan Sun
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Shangxin Zhang
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Yonghong Zhang
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China
| | - Futao Meng
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China.
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, China.
| | - Yongxiang Li
- General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, China.
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5
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Pokrovsky VS, Abo Qoura L, Morozova E, Bunik VI. Predictive markers for efficiency of the amino-acid deprivation therapies in cancer. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1035356. [PMID: 36405587 PMCID: PMC9669297 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1035356] [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: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid deprivation therapy (AADT) is a promising strategy for developing novel anticancer treatments, based on variations in metabolism of healthy and malignant cells. L-asparaginase was the first amino acid-degrading enzyme that received FDA approval for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Arginase and arginine deiminase were effective in clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic melanomas and hepatocellular carcinomas. Essential dependence of certain cancer cells on methionine explains the anticancer efficacy of methionine-g-lyase. Along with significant progress in identification of metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells, new amino acid-cleaving enzymes appear as promising agents for cancer treatment: lysine oxidase, tyrosine phenol-lyase, cysteinase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. However, sensitivity of specific cancer cell types to these enzymes differs. Hence, search for prognostic and predictive markers for AADT and introduction of the markers into clinical practice are of great importance for translational medicine. As specific metabolic pathways in cancer cells are determined by the enzyme expression, some of these enzymes may define the sensitivity to AADT. This review considers the known predictors for efficiency of AADT, emphasizing the importance of knowledge on cancer-specific amino acid significance for such predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim S. Pokrovsky
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Combined Treatment, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biotechnology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- *Correspondence: Vadim S. Pokrovsky,
| | - Louay Abo Qoura
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Morozova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victoria I. Bunik
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physicochemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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6
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Gan X, Liu R, Cheng H, Mao W, Feng N, Chen M. ASNS can predict the poor prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:882888. [PMID: 36052245 PMCID: PMC9424662 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.882888] [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: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common malignancies of the urinary system. This study was conducted to discover a new target that can predict the prognosis and promote the treatment of ccRCC. Methods The raw data were downloaded from the TCGA database, and the predictive value of ASNS for various clinicopathological features was verified in the following analysis. Then, we analyzed the potential involvement of ASNS in tumor immunity and obtained the possible pathways involving ASNS through GO/KEGG enrichment analysis and GSEA. We also further verified our findings in pathological specimens of ccRCC patients. Results ASNS expression was significantly increased in ccRCC, which was associated with advanced clinicopathological characteristics. It was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in 535 patients with ccRCC. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that ASNS expression was related to T lymphocyte infiltration of tumors and poor prognosis. Moreover, we performed relevant functional enrichment analyses of ASNS. Conclusions ASNS might play a significant role in the development and immune cell infiltration of ccRCC and serve as a valuable clinical prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinqiang Gan
- Department of Urology, People’s Hospital of Putuo District, Shanghai, China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruiji Liu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Cheng
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Cheng, ; Ninghan Feng, ; Weipu Mao, ; Ming Chen,
| | - Weipu Mao
- Department of Urology, People’s Hospital of Putuo District, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Cheng, ; Ninghan Feng, ; Weipu Mao, ; Ming Chen,
| | - Ninghan Feng
- Department of Urology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Cheng, ; Ninghan Feng, ; Weipu Mao, ; Ming Chen,
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Lishui District People’s Hospital, Zhongda Hospital Lishui Branch, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Cheng, ; Ninghan Feng, ; Weipu Mao, ; Ming Chen,
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7
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Law AMK, Chen J, Colino‐Sanguino Y, de la Fuente LR, Fang G, Grimes SM, Lu H, Huang RJ, Boyle ST, Venhuizen J, Castillo L, Tavakoli J, Skhinas JN, Millar EKA, Beretov J, Rossello FJ, Tipper JL, Ormandy CJ, Samuel MS, Cox TR, Martelotto L, Jin D, Valdes‐Mora F, Ji HP, Gallego‐Ortega D. ALTEN: A High-Fidelity Primary Tissue-Engineering Platform to Assess Cellular Responses Ex Vivo. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2103332. [PMID: 35611998 PMCID: PMC9313544 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To fully investigate cellular responses to stimuli and perturbations within tissues, it is essential to replicate the complex molecular interactions within the local microenvironment of cellular niches. Here, the authors introduce Alginate-based tissue engineering (ALTEN), a biomimetic tissue platform that allows ex vivo analysis of explanted tissue biopsies. This method preserves the original characteristics of the source tissue's cellular milieu, allowing multiple and diverse cell types to be maintained over an extended period of time. As a result, ALTEN enables rapid and faithful characterization of perturbations across specific cell types within a tissue. Importantly, using single-cell genomics, this approach provides integrated cellular responses at the resolution of individual cells. ALTEN is a powerful tool for the analysis of cellular responses upon exposure to cytotoxic agents and immunomodulators. Additionally, ALTEN's scalability using automated microfluidic devices for tissue encapsulation and subsequent transport, to enable centralized high-throughput analysis of samples gathered by large-scale multicenter studies, is shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. K. Law
- The Kinghorn Cancer CentreGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSW2010Australia
| | - Jiamin Chen
- Division of OncologyDepartment of MedicineStanford UniversityCalifornia94305USA
| | - Yolanda Colino‐Sanguino
- Cancer Epigenetic Biology and Therapeutics LaboratoryChildren's Cancer InstituteRandwickNSW2052Australia
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of New South Wales SydneyNSW2052Australia
| | - Laura Rodriguez de la Fuente
- The Kinghorn Cancer CentreGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSW2010Australia
- Cancer Epigenetic Biology and Therapeutics LaboratoryChildren's Cancer InstituteRandwickNSW2052Australia
| | - Guocheng Fang
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD)Faculty of ScienceThe University of Technology SydneyUltimoNSW2007Australia
| | - Susan M. Grimes
- Division of OncologyDepartment of MedicineStanford UniversityCalifornia94305USA
| | - Hongxu Lu
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD)Faculty of ScienceThe University of Technology SydneyUltimoNSW2007Australia
| | - Robert J. Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineStanford UniversityCalifornia94305USA
| | - Sarah T. Boyle
- Centre for Cancer BiologySA Pathology and University of South AustraliaAdelaideSA5000Australia
| | - Jeron Venhuizen
- The Kinghorn Cancer CentreGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSW2010Australia
| | - Lesley Castillo
- The Kinghorn Cancer CentreGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSW2010Australia
| | - Javad Tavakoli
- School of Biomedical EngineeringFaculty of Engineering and Information TechnologyUniversity of Technology SydneyNSW2007Australia
| | - Joanna N. Skhinas
- The Kinghorn Cancer CentreGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSW2010Australia
| | - Ewan K. A. Millar
- Department of Anatomical PathologyNSW Health PathologySt George HospitalKogarahNSW2217Australia
- St George & Sutherland Clinical SchoolUNSW SydneyNSW2217Australia
| | - Julia Beretov
- Department of Anatomical PathologyNSW Health PathologySt George HospitalKogarahNSW2217Australia
- St George & Sutherland Clinical SchoolUNSW SydneyNSW2217Australia
| | | | - Joanne L. Tipper
- School of Biomedical EngineeringFaculty of Engineering and Information TechnologyUniversity of Technology SydneyNSW2007Australia
- School of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of LeedsLS2 9JTUK
- Department of Engineering Sciences and MathematicsLuleå University of TechnologyLuleå97187Sweden
| | - Christopher J. Ormandy
- The Kinghorn Cancer CentreGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSW2010Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of MedicineUniversity of New South Wales SydneyNSW2010Australia
| | - Michael S. Samuel
- Centre for Cancer BiologySA Pathology and University of South AustraliaAdelaideSA5000Australia
- Adelaide Medical SchoolFaculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaide5000Australia
| | - Thomas R. Cox
- The Kinghorn Cancer CentreGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSW2010Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of MedicineUniversity of New South Wales SydneyNSW2010Australia
| | - Luciano Martelotto
- Single Cell CoreSystems BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolHarvard UniversityMassachusetts02115USA
| | - Dayong Jin
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD)Faculty of ScienceThe University of Technology SydneyUltimoNSW2007Australia
| | - Fatima Valdes‐Mora
- Cancer Epigenetic Biology and Therapeutics LaboratoryChildren's Cancer InstituteRandwickNSW2052Australia
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of New South Wales SydneyNSW2052Australia
| | - Hanlee P. Ji
- Division of OncologyDepartment of MedicineStanford UniversityCalifornia94305USA
| | - David Gallego‐Ortega
- The Kinghorn Cancer CentreGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSW2010Australia
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD)Faculty of ScienceThe University of Technology SydneyUltimoNSW2007Australia
- School of Biomedical EngineeringFaculty of Engineering and Information TechnologyUniversity of Technology SydneyNSW2007Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical SchoolFaculty of MedicineUniversity of New South Wales SydneyNSW2010Australia
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Kumar V, Singh P, Gupta SK, Ali V, Jyotirmayee, Verma M. Alterations in cellular metabolisms after Imatinib therapy: a review. Med Oncol 2022; 39:95. [DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01699-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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9
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Liu N, Shi F, Yang L, Liao W, Cao Y. Oncogenic viral infection and amino acid metabolism in cancer progression: Molecular insights and clinical implications. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188724. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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10
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Wilder CS, Chen Z, DiGiovanni J. Pharmacologic approaches to amino acid depletion for cancer therapy. Mol Carcinog 2021; 61:127-152. [PMID: 34534385 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to support increased demands in bioenergetics and biosynthesis and to maintain reactive oxygen species at optimum levels. As metabolic alterations are broadly observed across many cancer types, metabolic reprogramming is considered a hallmark of cancer. A metabolic alteration commonly seen in cancer cells is an increased demand for certain amino acids. Amino acids are involved in a wide range of cellular functions, including proliferation, redox balance, bioenergetic and biosynthesis support, and homeostatic functions. Thus, targeting amino acid dependency in cancer is an attractive strategy for a number of cancers. In particular, pharmacologically mediated amino acid depletion has been evaluated as a cancer treatment option for several cancers. Amino acids that have been investigated for the feasibility of drug-induced depletion in preclinical and clinical studies for cancer treatment include arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine, lysine, and methionine. In this review, we will summarize the status of current research on pharmacologically mediated amino acid depletion as a strategy for cancer treatment and potential chemotherapeutic combinations that synergize with amino acid depletion to further inhibit tumor growth and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly S Wilder
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Zhao Chen
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - John DiGiovanni
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.,Center for Molecular Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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11
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Cioni P, Gabellieri E, Campanini B, Bettati S, Raboni S. Use of Exogenous Enzymes in Human Therapy: Approved Drugs and Potential Applications. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:411-452. [PMID: 34259137 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210713094722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The development of safe and efficacious enzyme-based human therapies has increased greatly in the last decades, thanks to remarkable advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for different diseases, and the characterization of the catalytic activity of relevant exogenous enzymes that may play a remedial effect in the treatment of such pathologies. Several enzyme-based biotherapeutics have been approved by FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and EMA (the European Medicines Agency) and many are undergoing clinical trials. Apart from enzyme replacement therapy in human genetic diseases, which is not discussed in this review, approved enzymes for human therapy find applications in several fields, from cancer therapy to thrombolysis and the treatment, e.g., of clotting disorders, cystic fibrosis, lactose intolerance and collagen-based disorders. The majority of therapeutic enzymes are of microbial origin, the most convenient source due to fast, simple and cost-effective production and manipulation. The use of microbial recombinant enzymes has broadened prospects for human therapy but some hurdles such as high immunogenicity, protein instability, short half-life and low substrate affinity, still need to be tackled. Alternative sources of enzymes, with reduced side effects and improved activity, as well as genetic modification of the enzymes and novel delivery systems are constantly searched. Chemical modification strategies, targeted- and/or nanocarrier-mediated delivery, directed evolution and site-specific mutagenesis, fusion proteins generated by genetic manipulation are the most explored tools to reduce toxicity and improve bioavailability and cellular targeting. This review provides a description of exogenous enzymes that are presently employed for the therapeutic management of human diseases with their current FDA/EMA-approved status, along with those already experimented at the clinical level and potential promising candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Cioni
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa. Italy
| | - Edi Gabellieri
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa. Italy
| | - Barbara Campanini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 23/A, 43124 Parma. Italy
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa. Italy
| | - Samanta Raboni
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa. Italy
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12
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Bhingarkar A, Vangapandu HV, Rathod S, Hoshitsuki K, Fernandez CA. Amino Acid Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemias. Front Oncol 2021; 11:694526. [PMID: 34277440 PMCID: PMC8281237 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.694526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid (AA) metabolism plays an important role in many cellular processes including energy production, immune function, and purine and pyrimidine synthesis. Cancer cells therefore require increased AA uptake and undergo metabolic reprogramming to satisfy the energy demand associated with their rapid proliferation. Like many other cancers, myeloid leukemias are vulnerable to specific therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic dependencies. Herein, our review provides a comprehensive overview and TCGA data analysis of biosynthetic enzymes required for non-essential AA synthesis and their dysregulation in myeloid leukemias. Furthermore, we discuss the role of the general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) and-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways of AA sensing on metabolic vulnerability and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aboli Bhingarkar
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Hima V. Vangapandu
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sanjay Rathod
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Keito Hoshitsuki
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Christian A. Fernandez
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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13
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Krall AS, Mullen PJ, Surjono F, Momcilovic M, Schmid EW, Halbrook CJ, Thambundit A, Mittelman SD, Lyssiotis CA, Shackelford DB, Knott SRV, Christofk HR. Asparagine couples mitochondrial respiration to ATF4 activity and tumor growth. Cell Metab 2021; 33:1013-1026.e6. [PMID: 33609439 PMCID: PMC8102379 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial respiration is critical for cell proliferation. In addition to producing ATP, respiration generates biosynthetic precursors, such as aspartate, an essential substrate for nucleotide synthesis. Here, we show that in addition to depleting intracellular aspartate, electron transport chain (ETC) inhibition depletes aspartate-derived asparagine, increases ATF4 levels, and impairs mTOR complex I (mTORC1) activity. Exogenous asparagine restores proliferation, ATF4 and mTORC1 activities, and mTORC1-dependent nucleotide synthesis in the context of ETC inhibition, suggesting that asparagine communicates active respiration to ATF4 and mTORC1. Finally, we show that combination of the ETC inhibitor metformin, which limits tumor asparagine synthesis, and either asparaginase or dietary asparagine restriction, which limit tumor asparagine consumption, effectively impairs tumor growth in multiple mouse models of cancer. Because environmental asparagine is sufficient to restore tumor growth in the context of respiration impairment, our findings suggest that asparagine synthesis is a fundamental purpose of tumor mitochondrial respiration, which can be harnessed for therapeutic benefit to cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail S Krall
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Peter J Mullen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Felicia Surjono
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Milica Momcilovic
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ernst W Schmid
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Christopher J Halbrook
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Apisadaporn Thambundit
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Steven D Mittelman
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Costas A Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - David B Shackelford
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Simon R V Knott
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Heather R Christofk
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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14
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Saeed H, Hemida A, Abdel-Fattah M, Eldoksh A, Shalaby M, Nematalla H, El-Nikhely N, Elkewedi M. Pseudomonas aeruginosa recombinant L-asparaginase: Large scale production, purification, and cytotoxicity on THP-1, MDA-MB-231, A549, Caco2 and HCT-116 cell lines. Protein Expr Purif 2021; 181:105820. [PMID: 33440252 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2021.105820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In previous studies Pseudomonas aeruginosal-ASNase complete coding sequence gene, 984 bp (GenBank accession number KU161101.2) was isolated by PCR, cloned into pET28a(+) vector, expressed in E. coli DE3(BL21) pLysS, purified to apparent homogeneity and biochemically characterized. In the present work we highlight large scale production, affinity purification of the recombinant enzyme, effect of osmolytes on the stability of the l-ASNase and cytotoxicity on different cancer cell lines. Successful overexpression was achieved in E. coli as a 6-His-Tag fusion protein after 18 h of induction with lactose at a concentration of 2 g/L in fermentation medium and at 37 °C. The recombinant enzyme was purified to homogeneity using Ni2+ chelated Fast Flow Sepharose resin with 19758.8 specific activity and 10.28 purification fold. With respect to the effect of osmolytes on the stability of the purified enzyme, the majority of the tested osmolytes namely 5% maltose, 5% mannitol, 30% glycerol and 5% BSA were found to increase the stability of the recombinant l-ASNase as compared to the free enzyme. Triple negative breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231 treated with recombinant l-ASNase showed significant morphological changes and the IC50 of the purified enzyme was found to be 3.1 IU. Human leukemia cell line, THP-1 treated with l-ASNase showed apoptotic bodies and morphological changes with IC50 of the purified enzyme 1.75 IU. Moreover, the purified recombinant l-ASNase was found to induced cytotoxic effects on colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, Caco-2 with IC50 of 68.28 IU. Results of apoptosis assay on THP-1 cells revealed that the purified l-ASNase induced early and late apoptosis at 14.16% and 7.56 respectively as compared to the control untreated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hesham Saeed
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Asmaa Hemida
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Manal Abdel-Fattah
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmad Eldoksh
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Manal Shalaby
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg Al-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Hisham Nematalla
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhur University, Damnhour, Egypt
| | - Nefertiti El-Nikhely
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Elkewedi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Technology, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
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15
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Dunn KA, Connors J, Bielawski JP, Nearing JT, Langille MGI, Van Limbergen J, Fernandez CV, MacDonald T, Kulkarni K. Investigating the gut microbial community and genes in children with differing levels of change in serum asparaginase activity during pegaspargase treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2020; 62:927-936. [PMID: 33258724 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2020.1850718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Asparaginase (ASNase) is an effective treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Changes in ASNase activity may lead to suboptimal treatment and poorer outcomes. The gut microbiome produces metabolites that could impact ASNase therapy, however, remains uninvestigated. We examined gut-microbial community and microbial-ASNase and asparagine synthetase (ASNS) genes using 16SrRNA and metagenomic sequence data from stool samples of pediatric ALL patients. Comparing ASNase activity between consecutive ASNase-doses, we found microbial communities differed between decreased- and increased-activity samples. Escherichia predominated in the decreased-activity community while Bacteroides and Streptococcus predominated in the increased-activity community. In addition microbial ASNS was significantly (p=.004) negatively correlated with change in serum ASNase activity. These preliminary findings suggest microbial communities prior to treatment could affect serum ASNase levels, although the mechanism is unknown. Replication in an independent cohort is needed, and future research on manipulation of these communities and genes could prove useful in optimizing ASNase therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Dunn
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada
| | | | - Joseph P Bielawski
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.,Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Jacob T Nearing
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Morgan G I Langille
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Johan Van Limbergen
- Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Conrad V Fernandez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada
| | - Tamara MacDonald
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University/IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Ketan Kulkarni
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada
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16
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The role of asparagine synthetase on nutrient metabolism in pancreatic disease. Pancreatology 2020; 20:1029-1034. [PMID: 32800652 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The pancreas avidly takes up and synthesizes the amino acid asparagine (Asn), in part, to maintain an active translational machinery that requires incorporation of the amino acid. The de novo synthesis of Asn in the pancreas occurs through the enzyme asparagine synthetase (ASNS). The pancreas has the highest expression of ASNS of any organ, and it can further upregulate ASNS expression in the setting of amino acid depletion. ASNS expression is driven by an intricate feedback network within the integrated stress response (ISR), which includes the amino acid response (AAR) and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Asparaginase is a cancer chemotherapeutic drug that depletes plasma Asn. However, asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) is a major medical problem and could be related to pancreatic Asn depletion. In this review, we will provide an overview of ASNS and then describe its role in pancreatic health and in the exocrine disorders of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. We will offer the overarching perspective that a high abundance of ASNS expression is hardwired in the exocrine pancreas to buffer the high demands of Asn for pancreatic digestive enzyme protein synthesis, that perturbations in the ability to express or upregulate ASNS could tip the balance towards pancreatitis, and that pancreatic cancers exploit ASNS to gain a metabolic survival advantage.
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17
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Borges GÁ, Elias ST, Araujo TSD, Souza PM, Nascimento-Filho CHV, Castilho RM, Squarize CH, Magalhães PDO, Guerra ENS. Asparaginase induces selective dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and reduction of NFκB expression in oral cancer cells. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2020; 47:857-866. [PMID: 31943292 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Asparaginase is fundamental to the treatment of haematological malignancies. However, little has been studied on the effects that asparaginase could exert on solid tumours. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of asparaginase on an oral carcinoma cell line. The cytotoxicity of asparaginase in SCC-9 (tongue squamous cell carcinoma) and HaCaT (human keratinocyte) cell lines was evaluated with MTT cell viability assay. The cells were treated with asparaginase at 0.04, 0.16, 0.63, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5, and 5.0 IU/mL. Dose-response curves and IC50 values were obtained and the Tumour Selectivity Index (TSI) was calculated. The effect of asparaginase on procaspase-3 and nuclear factor κB (NFκB) expression was evaluated with western blot because it was reported that the overexpression of NFκB has been shown to contribute to tumour cell survival, proliferation, and migration. Caspase 3/7 staining was performed to identify cell death using flow cytometry. Effective asparaginase concentrations were lower for SCC-9 cells when compared to HaCaT cells. The cytotoxicity results at 48 and 72 hours were significantly different for SCC-9 cells. The TSI indicated that asparaginase was selective for the tumour cells. A decrease in procaspase-3 and NFκB protein levels was observed in SCC-9 cells. Furthermore, asparaginase resulted in significant apoptosis after 48 and 72 hours. Based on these results, asparaginase was cytotoxic in a dose- and time-dependent manner, induces apoptosis, and reduces NFκB expression in oral cancer cells. These results encourage further studies on the effectiveness of this enzyme as a treatment for solid tumours, especially head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Álvares Borges
- Laboratory of Oral Histopathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.,Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Silvia Taveira Elias
- Laboratory of Oral Histopathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Tassiana Souza De Araujo
- Laboratory of Oral Histopathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Paula Monteiro Souza
- Natural Products Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Carlos Henrique Viesi Nascimento-Filho
- Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rogerio M Castilho
- Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Cristiane H Squarize
- Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Eliete Neves Silva Guerra
- Laboratory of Oral Histopathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.,Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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18
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Chiu M, Taurino G, Bianchi MG, Kilberg MS, Bussolati O. Asparagine Synthetase in Cancer: Beyond Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Front Oncol 2020; 9:1480. [PMID: 31998641 PMCID: PMC6962308 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine Synthetase (ASNS) catalyzes the synthesis of the non-essential amino acid asparagine (Asn) from aspartate (Asp) and glutamine (Gln). ASNS expression is highly regulated at the transcriptional level, being induced by both the Amino Acid Response (AAR) and the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathways. Lack of ASNS protein expression is a hallmark of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) blasts, which, therefore, are auxotrophic for Asn. This peculiarity is the rationale for the use of bacterial L-Asparaginase (ASNase) for ALL therapy, the first example of anti-cancer treatment targeting a tumor-specific metabolic feature. Other hematological and solid cancers express low levels of ASNS and, therefore, should also be Asn auxotrophs and ASNase sensitive. Conversely, in the last few years, several reports indicate that in some cancer types ASNS is overexpressed, promoting cell proliferation, chemoresistance, and a metastatic behavior. However, enhanced ASNS activity may constitute a metabolic vulnerability in selected cancer models, suggesting a variable and tumor-specific role of the enzyme in cancer. Recent evidence indicates that, beyond its canonical role in protein synthesis, Asn may have additional regulatory functions. These observations prompt a re-appreciation of ASNS activity in the biology of normal and cancer tissues, with particular attention to the fueling of Asn exchange between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Chiu
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Taurino
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Massimiliano G Bianchi
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Michael S Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Ovidio Bussolati
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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19
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Zeng L, Wang Q, Gu C, Yuan L, Xie X, He L, Chen K, Tan P, Xue L, Huang S, Shi K. Asparagine Synthetase and Filamin A Have Different Roles in Ovarian Cancer. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1072. [PMID: 31681605 PMCID: PMC6813569 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-stage ovarian serous carcinoma is usually difficult to detect in clinical practice. The profiling of protein expression in high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) and low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC) would provide important information for diagnoses and chemotherapy. Here, we performed proteomic profiling of specimens from 13 HGSC and 7 LGSC patients by iTRAQ. A total of 323 proteins that were differentially expressed were identified. After immunohistochemical confirmation of expressed proteins in 166 clinical tissues, asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and filamin A (FLNA) were selected for further functional study. Cisplatin-sensitive (CS; ASNShigh and FLNAlow) and cisplatin-resistant (CR; ASNSlow and FLNAhigh) SKOV3 and OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cell lines were used for subsequent in vitro and in vivo experiments. Notably, ASNS overexpression (ASNS+) or FLNA knockdown (shFLNA) enabled cisplatin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in CR cells. However, ASNS+ and shFLNA promoted and attenuated tumor growth, respectively. In CS cells, ASNS knockdown (shASNS) attenuated clonogenicity, cell proliferation, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, whereas FLNA overexpression (FLNA+) protected cells from cisplatin. In vivo, cisplatin resistance was attenuated in mice xenografted with ASNS+, shFLNA, or ASNS+-shFLNA CR cells, whereas xenografts of shASNS or FLNA+ CS cells exhibited resistance to cisplatin. Clinically, all HGSC patients (83/83) responded to cisplatin, while 6 in 41 LGSC patients exhibited cisplatin resistance. These findings identify ASNS and FLNA as distinct biomarkers for HGSC and LGSC, which may have potential value in the prognosis and clinical treatment of serous carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Division of Uterine Vascular Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Congmin Gu
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohui Xie
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijuan He
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pingping Tan
- Department of Pathology, Hunan Cancer Hospital & the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lei Xue
- Department of Pathology, Hunan Cancer Hospital & the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Sanqian Huang
- Department of Pathology, Hunan Cancer Hospital & the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Kun Shi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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20
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Dias MM, Adamoski D, Dos Reis LM, Ascenção CFR, de Oliveira KRS, Mafra ACP, da Silva Bastos AC, Quintero M, de G Cassago C, Ferreira IM, Fidelis CHV, Rocco SA, Bajgelman MC, Stine Z, Berindan-Neagoe I, Calin GA, Ambrosio ALB, Dias SMG. GLS2 is protumorigenic in breast cancers. Oncogene 2019; 39:690-702. [PMID: 31541193 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-1007-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Many types of cancers have a well-established dependence on glutamine metabolism to support survival and growth, a process linked to glutaminase 1 (GLS) isoforms. Conversely, GLS2 variants often have tumor-suppressing activity. Triple-negative (TN) breast cancer (testing negative for estrogen, progesterone, and Her2 receptors) has elevated GLS protein levels and reportedly depends on exogenous glutamine and GLS activity for survival. Despite having high GLS levels, we verified that several breast cancer cells (including TN cells) express endogenous GLS2, defying its role as a bona fide tumor suppressor. Moreover, ectopic GLS2 expression rescued cell proliferation, TCA anaplerosis, redox balance, and mitochondrial function after GLS inhibition by the small molecule currently in clinical trials CB-839 or GLS knockdown of GLS-dependent cell lines. In several cell lines, GLS2 knockdown decreased cell proliferation and glutamine-linked metabolic phenotypes. Strikingly, long-term treatment of TN cells with another GLS-exclusive inhibitor bis-2'-(5-phenylacetamide-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) selected for a drug-resistant population with increased endogenous GLS2 and restored proliferative capacity. GLS2 was linked to enhanced in vitro cell migration and invasion, mesenchymal markers (through the ERK-ZEB1-vimentin axis under certain conditions) and in vivo lung metastasis. Of concern, GLS2 amplification or overexpression is linked to an overall, disease-free and distant metastasis-free worse survival prognosis in breast cancer. Altogether, these data establish an unforeseen role of GLS2 in sustaining tumor proliferation and underlying metastasis in breast cancer and provide an initial framework for exploring GLS2 as a novel therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilia M Dias
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Douglas Adamoski
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Larissa M Dos Reis
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolline F R Ascenção
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Krishina R S de Oliveira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Paschoalini Mafra
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alliny Cristiny da Silva Bastos
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Melissa Quintero
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Carolina de G Cassago
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Igor M Ferreira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Carlos H V Fidelis
- ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Silvana A Rocco
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Marcio Chaim Bajgelman
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Zachary Stine
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu-Hatieganu", 400337, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,MedFuture Research Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu-Hatieganu", 400349, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă", 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - George A Calin
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 1950, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for RNA Inference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 1950, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Andre Luis Berteli Ambrosio
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil. .,Sao Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC), University of Sao Paulo (USP), Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil.
| | - Sandra Martha Gomes Dias
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.
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21
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Identification of important invasion and proliferation related genes in adrenocortical carcinoma. Med Oncol 2019; 36:73. [DOI: 10.1007/s12032-019-1296-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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22
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Sabi R, Tuller T. Novel insights into gene expression regulation during meiosis revealed by translation elongation dynamics. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2019; 5:12. [PMID: 30962948 PMCID: PMC6449359 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-019-0089-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to dynamically control mRNA translation has a great impact on many intracellular processes. Whereas it is believed that translational control in eukaryotes occurs mainly at initiation, the condition-specific changes at the elongation level and their potential regulatory role remain unclear. Using computational approaches applied to ribosome profiling data, we show that elongation rate is dynamic and can change considerably during the yeast meiosis to facilitate the selective translation of stage-specific transcripts. We observed unique elongation changes during meiosis II, including a global inhibition of translation elongation at the onset of anaphase II accompanied by a sharp shift toward increased elongation for genes required at this meiotic stage. We also show that ribosomal proteins counteract the global decreased elongation by maintaining high initiation rates. Our findings provide new insights into gene expression regulation during meiosis and demonstrate that codon usage evolved, among others, to optimize timely translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renana Sabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tamir Tuller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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23
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Assessment of l-Asparaginase Pharmacodynamics in Mouse Models of Cancer. Metabolites 2019; 9:metabo9010010. [PMID: 30634463 PMCID: PMC6359345 DOI: 10.3390/metabo9010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
l-asparaginase (ASNase) is a metabolism-targeted anti-neoplastic agent used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ASNase’s anticancer activity results from the enzymatic depletion of asparagine (Asn) and glutamine (Gln), which are converted to aspartic acid (Asp) and glutamic acid (Glu), respectively, in the blood. Unfortunately, accurate assessment of the in vivo pharmacodynamics (PD) of ASNase is challenging because of the following reasons: (i) ASNase is resilient to deactivation; (ii) ASNase catalytic efficiency is very high; and (iii) the PD markers Asn and Gln are depleted ex vivo in blood samples containing ASNase. To address those issues and facilitate longitudinal studies in individual mice for ASNase PD studies, we present here a new LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method that incorporates rapid quenching of ASNase for measurement of Asn, Asp, Gln, and Glu in just 10 µL of whole blood, with limits of detection (s:n ≥ 10:1) estimated to be 2.3, 3.5, 0.8, and 0.5 µM, respectively. We tested the suitability of the method in a 5-day, longitudinal PD study in mice and found the method to be simple to perform with sufficient accuracy and precision for whole blood measurements. Overall, the method increases the density of data that can be acquired from a single animal and will facilitate optimization of novel ASNase treatment regimens and/or the development of new ASNase variants with desired kinetic properties.
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24
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Maggi M, Scotti C. Enzymes in Metabolic Anticancer Therapy. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1148:173-199. [PMID: 31482500 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-7709-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer treatment has greatly improved over the last 50 years, but it remains challenging in several cases. Useful therapeutic targets are normally unique peculiarities of cancer cells that distinguish them from normal cells and that can be tackled with appropriate drugs. It is now known that cell metabolism is rewired during tumorigenesis and metastasis as a consequence of oncogene activation and oncosuppressors inactivation, leading to a new cellular homeostasis typically directed towards anabolism. Because of these modifications, cells can become strongly or absolutely dependent on specific substrates, like sugars, lipids or amino acids. Cancer addictions are a relevant target for therapy, as removal of an essential substrate can lead to their selective cell-cycle arrest or even to cell death, leaving normal cells untouched. Enzymes can act as powerful agents in this respect, as demonstrated by asparaginase, which has been included in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia for half a century. In this review, a short outline of cancer addictions will be provided, focusing on the main cancer amino acid dependencies described so far. Therapeutic enzymes which have been already experimented at the clinical level will be discussed, along with novel potential candidates that we propose as new promising molecules. The intrinsic limitations of their present molecular forms, along with molecular engineering solutions to explore, will also be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maristella Maggi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Claudia Scotti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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25
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Lin HH, Chung Y, Cheng CT, Ouyang C, Fu Y, Kuo CY, Chi KK, Sadeghi M, Chu P, Kung HJ, Li CF, Limesand KH, Ann DK. Autophagic reliance promotes metabolic reprogramming in oncogenic KRAS-driven tumorigenesis. Autophagy 2018; 14:1481-1498. [PMID: 29956571 PMCID: PMC6135591 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2018.1450708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Defects in basal autophagy limit the nutrient supply from recycling of intracellular constituents. Despite our understanding of the prosurvival role of macroautophagy/autophagy, how nutrient deprivation, caused by compromised autophagy, affects oncogenic KRAS-driven tumor progression is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that conditional impairment of the autophagy gene Atg5 (atg5-KO) extends the survival of KRASG12V-driven tumor-bearing mice by 38%. atg5-KO tumors spread more slowly during late tumorigenesis, despite a faster onset. atg5-KO tumor cells displayed reduced mitochondrial function and increased mitochondrial fragmentation. Metabolite profiles indicated a deficiency in the nonessential amino acid asparagine despite a compensatory overexpression of ASNS (asparagine synthetase), key enzyme for de novo asparagine synthesis. Inhibition of either autophagy or ASNS reduced KRASG12V-driven tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was rescued by asparagine supplementation or knockdown of MFF (mitochondrial fission factor). Finally, these observations were reflected in human cancer-derived data, linking ASNS overexpression with poor clinical outcome in multiple cancers. Together, our data document a widespread yet specific asparagine homeostasis control by autophagy and ASNS, highlighting the previously unrecognized role of autophagy in suppressing the metabolic barriers of low asparagine and excessive mitochondrial fragmentation to permit malignant KRAS-driven tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Helen Lin
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
| | - Yiyin Chung
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
| | | | | | - Yong Fu
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
| | | | - Kevin K. Chi
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
| | | | | | - Hsing-Jien Kung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Chien-Feng Li
- Department of Pathology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | | | - David K. Ann
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA USA
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26
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Shiromizu S, Kusunose N, Matsunaga N, Koyanagi S, Ohdo S. Optimizing the dosing schedule of l-asparaginase improves its anti-tumor activity in breast tumor-bearing mice. J Pharmacol Sci 2018; 136:228-233. [PMID: 29605274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Proliferation of acute lymphoblastic leukemic cells is nutritionally dependent on the external supply of asparagine. l-asparaginase, an enzyme hydrolyzing l-asparagine in blood, is used for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemic and other related blood cancers. Although previous studies demonstrated that l-asparaginase suppresses the proliferation of cultured solid tumor cells, it remains unclear whether this enzyme prevents the growth of solid tumors in vivo. In this study, we demonstrated the importance of optimizing dosing schedules for the anti-tumor activity of l-asparaginase in 4T1 breast tumor-bearing mice. Cultures of several types of murine solid tumor cells were dependent on the external supply of asparagine. Among them, we selected murine 4T1 breast cancer cells and implanted them into BALB/c female mice kept under standardized light/dark cycle conditions. The growth of 4T1 tumor cells implanted in mice was significantly suppressed by intravenous administration of l-asparaginase during the light phase, whereas its administration during the dark phase failed to show significant anti-tumor activity. Decreases in plasma asparagine levels due to the administration of l-asparaginase were closely related to the dosing time-dependency of its anti-tumor effects. These results suggest that the anti-tumor efficacy of l-asparaginase in breast tumor-bearing mice is improved by optimizing the dosing schedule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoya Shiromizu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Naoki Kusunose
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Naoya Matsunaga
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan; Department of Glocal Healthcare, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Satoru Koyanagi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan; Department of Glocal Healthcare, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shigehiro Ohdo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
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27
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Saeed H, Ali H, Soudan H, Embaby A, El-Sharkawy A, Farag A, Hussein A, Ataya F. Molecular cloning, structural modeling and production of recombinant Aspergillus terreus l. asparaginase in Escherichia coli. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 106:1041-1051. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.08.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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28
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Lomelino CL, Andring JT, McKenna R, Kilberg MS. Asparagine synthetase: Function, structure, and role in disease. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:19952-19958. [PMID: 29084849 PMCID: PMC5723983 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r117.819060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) converts aspartate and glutamine to asparagine and glutamate in an ATP-dependent reaction. ASNS is present in most, if not all, mammalian organs, but varies widely in basal expression. Human ASNS activity is highly responsive to cellular stress, primarily by increased transcription from a single gene located on chromosome 7. Elevated ASNS protein expression is associated with resistance to asparaginase therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. There is evidence that ASNS expression levels may also be inversely correlated with asparaginase efficacy in certain solid tumors as well. Children with mutations in the ASNS gene exhibit developmental delays, intellectual disability, microcephaly, intractable seizures, and progressive brain atrophy. Thus far, 15 unique mutations in the ASNS gene have been clinically associated with asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASD). Molecular modeling using the Escherichia coli ASNS-B structure has revealed that most of the reported ASD substitutions are located near catalytic sites or within highly conserved regions of the protein. For some ASD patients, fibroblast cell culture studies have eliminated protein and mRNA synthesis or stability as the basis for decreased proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie L Lomelino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shands Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Jacob T Andring
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shands Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shands Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Michael S Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shands Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610.
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Abstract
Background Recently, it is reported that asparagine synthetase (ASNS) is an independent predictor of surgical survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. It is also reported that activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) expression is decreased in HCC patients. So in the present study, we explored the relationship between ASNS and ATF6, and whether ASNS expression was associated with HCC. Methods ATF6 was over expressed in 3 HCC cell lines (HepG2, HepG2.2.15 and SMMC-7721). We then examined the mRNA levels of ASNS and ATF6 in 90 HCC patients, 77 chronic hepatitis B patients and 70 controls. We also genotyped 2 functional polymorphisms in ASNS in a case–control study. Results The expression of ASNS was significantly elevated when ATF6 was over expressed. The expressions of these 2 genes were both decreased in HCC patients, and it was more significantly with ASNS. The mRNA levels of ASNS and ATF6 were positively correlated with each other. rs34050735 was associated with HCC in the case–control study (P = 0.003) and also an independent predictor of overall survival of HCC patients (P = 0.001). Conclusions Taken together, these findings indicated that rs34050735 in ASNS may associate with HCC and may be a promising biomarker of HCC.
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Toda K, Kawada K, Iwamoto M, Inamoto S, Sasazuki T, Shirasawa S, Hasegawa S, Sakai Y. Metabolic Alterations Caused by KRAS Mutations in Colorectal Cancer Contribute to Cell Adaptation to Glutamine Depletion by Upregulation of Asparagine Synthetase. Neoplasia 2016; 18:654-665. [PMID: 27764698 PMCID: PMC5071549 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of clinical trials have shown that KRAS mutations of colorectal cancer (CRC) can predict a lack of responses to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-based therapy. Recently, there have been several studies to elucidate metabolism reprogramming in cancer. However, it remains to be investigated how mutated KRAS can coordinate the metabolic shift to sustain CRC tumor growth. In this study, we found that KRAS mutation in CRC caused alteration in amino acid metabolism. KRAS mutation causes a marked decrease in aspartate level and an increase in asparagine level in CRC. Using several human CRC cell lines and clinical specimens of primary CRC, we demonstrated that the expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), an enzyme that synthesizes asparagine from aspartate, was upregulated by mutated KRAS and that ASNS expression was induced by KRAS-activated signaling pathway, in particular PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. Importantly, we demonstrated that KRAS-mutant CRC cells could become adaptive to glutamine depletion through asparagine biosynthesis by ASNS and that asparagine addition could rescue the inhibited growth and viability of cells grown under the glutamine-free condition in vitro. Notably, a pronounced growth suppression of KRAS-mutant CRC was observed upon ASNS knockdown in vivo. Furthermore, combination of L-asparaginase plus rapamycin markedly suppressed the growth of KRAS-mutant CRC xenografts in vivo, whereas either L-asparaginase or rapamycin alone was not effective. These results indicate ASNS might be a novel therapeutic target against CRCs with mutated KRAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Toda
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kenji Kawada
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Masayoshi Iwamoto
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Susumu Inamoto
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | | | - Senji Shirasawa
- Departments of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Suguru Hasegawa
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Gastroenterological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Sakai
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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31
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Dias FFG, Ruiz ALTG, Torre AD, Sato HH. Purification, characterization and antiproliferative activity of l-asparaginase from Aspergillus oryzae CCT 3940 with no glutaminase activity. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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32
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Unique proteome signature of post-chemotherapy ovarian cancer ascites-derived tumor cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30061. [PMID: 27470985 PMCID: PMC4965858 DOI: 10.1038/srep30061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Eighty % of ovarian cancer patients diagnosed at an advanced-stage have complete remission after initial surgery and chemotherapy. However, most patients die within <5 years due to episodes of recurrences resulting from the growth of residual chemoresistant cells. In an effort to identify mechanisms associated with chemoresistance and recurrence, we compared the expression of proteins in ascites-derived tumor cells isolated from advanced-stage ovarian cancer patients obtained at diagnosis (chemonaive, CN) and after chemotherapy treatments (chemoresistant/at recurrence, CR) by using in-depth, high-resolution label-free quantitative proteomic profiling. A total of 2,999 proteins were identified. Using a stringent selection criterion to define only significantly differentially expressed proteins, we report identification of 353 proteins. There were significant differences in proteins encoding for immune surveillance, DNA repair mechanisms, cytoskeleton rearrangement, cell-cell adhesion, cell cycle pathways, cellular transport, and proteins involved with glycine/proline/arginine synthesis in tumor cells isolated from CR relative to CN patients. Pathway analyses revealed enrichment of metabolic pathways, DNA repair mechanisms and energy metabolism pathways in CR tumor cells. In conclusion, this is the first proteomics study to comprehensively analyze ascites-derived tumor cells from CN and CR ovarian cancer patients.
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33
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Xu Y, Lv F, Zhu X, Wu Y, Shen X. Loss of asparagine synthetase suppresses the growth of human lung cancer cells by arresting cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. Cancer Gene Ther 2016; 23:287-94. [PMID: 27444726 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2016.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 06/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this research is to determine the role of human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) in human lung cancer. In the present study, immunohistochemical staining and the Oncomine database mining showed that the expression of ASNS gene was higher in lung cancer tissues than that in the normal tissues by. In addition, western blot assay showed that ASNS was elevated in lung cancer A549 and 95D cell lines as compared with that in H1299 and H460 cells. Therefore, A549 and 95D cells were chosen for subsequent MTT and colony formation assay. It was found that knockdown of ASNS inhibited the growth and colony formation abilities of A549 and 95D cells. Flow cytometry showed that ASNS silencing arrested cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase in A549 cells, probably through regulating the expression of cell cycle molecules such as CDK2 and Cyclin E1 as shown by quantitative real-time PCR. Taken together, our study indicates that ASNS may be an important target for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- Department of Respiration, The Affiliated Huadong Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fanzhen Lv
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Huadong Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xunxia Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Huadong Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Huadong Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyong Shen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Huadong Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Targeting asparagine and autophagy for pulmonary adenocarcinoma therapy. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:9145-9161. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7640-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Thomas X, Le Jeune C. Erythrocyte encapsulated l-asparaginase (GRASPA) in acute leukemia. Int J Hematol Oncol 2016; 5:11-25. [PMID: 30302200 PMCID: PMC6172001 DOI: 10.2217/ijh-2016-0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
l-asparaginase, an enzyme originally derived from Escherichia coli, represents a major drug in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, the occurrence of major adverse effects often leads to early withdrawal of the enzyme. Main side effects include immune-allergic reactions, coagulopathy, pancreatitis and hepatic disorders. Novel asparaginase formulations and alternative sources have been developed to address this issue, but the results were not totally satisfactory. l-asparaginase loaded red blood cells (RBCs; GRASPA) represent a new asparaginase presentation with reduced immunological adverse reactions. RBCs protect l-asparaginase, enhance its half-life and reduce the occurrence of adverse events. We reviewed the history, biology and clinical experiences with l-asparaginase, and the characteristics and first clinical experiences with GRASPA in the treatment of acute leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Thomas
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hematology Department, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Bât.1G, 165 chemin du Grand Revoyet, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Caroline Le Jeune
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hematology Department, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Bât.1G, 165 chemin du Grand Revoyet, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
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Asparagine promotes cancer cell proliferation through use as an amino acid exchange factor. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11457. [PMID: 27126896 PMCID: PMC4855534 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 322] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular amino acid uptake is critical for mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activation and cell proliferation. However, the regulation of amino acid uptake is not well-understood. Here we describe a role for asparagine as an amino acid exchange factor: intracellular asparagine exchanges with extracellular amino acids. Through asparagine synthetase knockdown and altering of media asparagine concentrations, we show that intracellular asparagine levels regulate uptake of amino acids, especially serine, arginine and histidine. Through its exchange factor role, asparagine regulates mTORC1 activity and protein synthesis. In addition, we show that asparagine regulation of serine uptake influences serine metabolism and nucleotide synthesis, suggesting that asparagine is involved in coordinating protein and nucleotide synthesis. Finally, we show that maintenance of intracellular asparagine levels is critical for cancer cell growth. Collectively, our results indicate that asparagine is an important regulator of cancer cell amino acid homeostasis, anabolic metabolism and proliferation.
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Purification and characterization of glutaminase free asparaginase from Pseudomonas otitidis: Induce apoptosis in human leukemia MOLT-4 cells. Biochimie 2016; 121:38-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Asparaginase induces apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy in chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:3861-73. [PMID: 25738356 PMCID: PMC4414159 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2014] [Accepted: 12/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The antitumor enzyme asparaginase, which targets essential amino acid L-asparagine and catalyzes it to L-aspartic acid and ammonia, has been used for years in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), subtypes of myeloid leukemia and T-cell lymphomas, whereas the anti-chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) effect of asparaginase and its underlying mechanism has not been completely elucidated. We have shown here that asparaginase induced significant growth inhibition and apoptosis in K562 and KU812 cells. Apart from induction of apoptosis, we reported for the first time that asparaginase induced autophagic response in K562 and KU812 cells as evidenced by the formation of autophagosome, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-positive autophagy-like vacuoles, and the upregulation of LC3-II. Further study suggested that the Akt/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) and Erk (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) signaling pathway were involved in asparaginase-induced autophagy in K562 cells. Moreover, blocking autophagy using pharmacological inhibitors LY294002, chloroquine (CQ) and quinacrine (QN) enhanced asparaginase-induced cell death and apoptosis, indicating the cytoprotective role of autophagy in asparaginase-treated K562 and KU812 cells. Together, these findings provide a rationale that combination of asparaginase anticancer activity and autophagic inhibition might be a promising new therapeutic strategy for CML.
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Niu N, Wang L. In vitro human cell line models to predict clinical response to anticancer drugs. Pharmacogenomics 2015; 16:273-85. [PMID: 25712190 DOI: 10.2217/pgs.14.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro human cell line models have been widely used for cancer pharmacogenomic studies to predict clinical response, to help generate pharmacogenomic hypothesis for further testing, and to help identify novel mechanisms associated with variation in drug response. Among cell line model systems, immortalized cell lines such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) have been used most often to test the effect of germline genetic variation on drug efficacy and toxicity. Another model, especially in cancer research, uses cancer cell lines such as the NCI-60 panel. These models have been used mainly to determine the effect of somatic alterations on response to anticancer therapy. Even though these cell line model systems are very useful for initial screening, results from integrated analyses of multiple omics data and drug response phenotypes using cell line model systems still need to be confirmed by functional validation and mechanistic studies, as well as validation studies using clinical samples. Future models might include the use of patient-specific inducible pluripotent stem cells and the incorporation of 3D culture which could further optimize in vitro cell line models to improve their predictive validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nifang Niu
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
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Pharmacological inhibition of fatty-acid oxidation synergistically enhances the effect of l-asparaginase in childhood ALL cells. Leukemia 2015; 30:209-18. [DOI: 10.1038/leu.2015.213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Anishkin A, Vanegas JM, Rogers DM, Lorenzi PL, Chan WK, Purwaha P, Weinstein JN, Sukharev S, Rempe SB. Catalytic Role of the Substrate Defines Specificity of Therapeutic l-Asparaginase. J Mol Biol 2015; 427:2867-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Li H, Zhou F, Du W, Dou J, Xu Y, Gao W, Chen G, Zuo X, Sun L, Zhang X, Yang S. Knockdown of asparagine synthetase by RNAi suppresses cell growth in human melanoma cells and epidermoid carcinoma cells. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2015; 63:328-33. [PMID: 25858017 DOI: 10.1002/bab.1383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, causes more than 40,000 deaths each year worldwide. And epidermoid carcinoma is another major form of skin cancer, which could be studied together with melanoma in several aspects. Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the glutamine- and ATP-dependent conversion of aspartic acid to asparagine, and its expression is associated with the chemotherapy resistance and prognosis in several human cancers. The present study aims to explore the potential role of ASNS in melanoma cells A375 and human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431. We applied a lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) system to study its function in cell growth of both cells. The results revealed that inhibition of ASNS expression by RNAi significantly suppressed the growth of melanoma cells and epidermoid carcinoma cells, and induced a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in melanoma cells. Knockdown of ASNS in A375 cells remarkably downregulated the expression levels of CDK4, CDK6, and Cyclin D1, and upregulated the expression of p21. Therefore, our study provides evidence that ASNS may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Fusheng Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Du
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinfa Dou
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanwan Gao
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianbo Zuo
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangdan Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejun Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Sen Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
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Borad MJ, Babiker HM, Anthony S, Mita M, Buchbinder A, Keilani T, Grem J. A multicenter, open-label, Phase 1 study evaluating the safety and tolerability of pegaspargase in combination with gemcitabine in advanced metastatic solid tumors and lymphoma. Cancer Invest 2015; 33:172-9. [PMID: 25844818 DOI: 10.3109/07357907.2015.1019677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the maximum tolerated dose, safety profile, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of pegaspargase (PEG-ASP) in combination with gemcitabine in patients with advanced metastatic solid tumors and lymphoma. METHODS We conducted a multicenter, open label, nonrandomized, Phase 1 dose escalation study designed to evaluate up to 10 cohorts of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors and lymphoma. Seventeen patients were treated with of PEG-ASP in combination with gemcitabine. RESULTS The study was terminated early because the doses for PEG-ASP suggested for de-escalation were predicted not to provide desired sustained asparaginase concentrations based on the analysis of treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitesh J Borad
- 1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic , Scottsdale, Arizona , USA
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Yang H, He X, Zheng Y, Feng W, Xia X, Yu X, Lin Z. Down-Regulation of Asparagine Synthetase Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Inhibits Cell Proliferation of Breast Cancer. Chem Biol Drug Des 2014; 84:578-84. [PMID: 24775638 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2013] [Revised: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Yang
- Department of Breast Surgery; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital; 38 Guangji Road Hangzhou 310022 China
| | - Xiangming He
- Department of Breast Surgery; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital; 38 Guangji Road Hangzhou 310022 China
| | - Yabing Zheng
- Department of Internal Oncology; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital; 38 Guangji Road Hangzhou 310022 China
| | - Weiliang Feng
- Department of Breast Surgery; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital; 38 Guangji Road Hangzhou 310022 China
| | - Xianghou Xia
- Department of Breast Surgery; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital; 38 Guangji Road Hangzhou 310022 China
| | - Xingfei Yu
- Department of Breast Surgery; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital; 38 Guangji Road Hangzhou 310022 China
| | - Zhiqiang Lin
- Zhejiang Cancer Research Institute; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital; 38 Guangji Road Hangzhou 310022 China
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45
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Li Y, Zhang X, Hu T, Han L, Li R, Wen J, Zhang M. Asparagine synthetase expression and its potential prognostic value in patients with NK/T cell lymphoma. Oncol Rep 2014; 32:853-9. [PMID: 24913732 DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.3237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma usually shows a highly aggressive clinical course and the overall prognosis is poor. At present, there are no standard therapeutic regimens for this disease. Although chemotherapeutic protocols containing L-asparaginase (L-Asp) or pegaspargase (PEG‑Asp) have improved the efficacy of treatment, some patients are resistant to L-Asp or PEG-Asp. Previous studies demonstrated that the elevated expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) is correlated with the resistance to L-Asp or PEG-Asp and may also affect the prognosis in some types of tumors, but the expression level and clinical significance of ASNS in NK/T cell lymphoma remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the expression and clinical significance of ASNS in lymphoma cell lines and patients with NK/T cell lymphoma. Firstly, we detected PEG-Asp and L-Asp activity using MTT assay and expression of ASNS using real-time PCR in the 7 lymphoma cell lines. Secondly, we used branched DNA-liquidchip technology (bDNA-LCT) for detecting ASNS mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections in 50 cases of NK/T cell lymphoma and in 12 cases of nasal polyps and chronic rhinitis. Moreover, we analyzed the correlations between the expression of ASNS and the sensitivity to L-Asp and PEG-Asp in 7 lymphoma cell lines and with clinicopathological features and prognosis of NK/T cell lymphoma patients who used chemotherapy containing L-Asp and PEG-Asp. There was a marked difference in the sensitivity to L-Asp and PEG-Asp of the 7 lymphoma cell lines. YTS and SNK-6 cells were highly sensitive to PEG-Asp and had relatively low levels of ASNS mRNA expression. Hut-78, Jurkat and Karpas 299 cells were naturally resistant to PEG-Asp, and the ASNS expression levels were extremely high. The expression level of ASNS was relatively low in the NK/T cell lymphoma tissue compared to levels in the nasal polyps and chronic rhinitis (0.480±0.307 vs. 0.739±0.267; P=0.009). ASNS expression level was associated with III-IV tumor stage (P=0.041) and a high International Prognostic Index (P=0.018) in patients with NK/T cell lymphoma. The NK/T cell lymphoma patients with higher ASNS expression had a reduced median survival time when compared with the survival of patients with low ASNS expression (P=0.033). Cox regression test showed that the ASNS expression level is an independent prognostic factor for NK/T cell lymphoma patients. In conclusion, the expression of ASNS was closely related with the sensitivity of lymphoma cell lines to L-Asp and PEG-Asp in vitro and also had a certain effect on the survival of NK/T cell lymphoma patients. In conclusion, high ASNS expression in NK/T cell lymphoma is correlated with worse clinicopathological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqing Li
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Tengpeng Hu
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Lijuan Han
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Ruping Li
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Jianguo Wen
- The Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
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Deficiency in asparagine synthetase expression in rectal cancers receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy: negative prognostic impact and therapeutic relevance. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:6823-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-1895-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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The glutaminase activity of L-asparaginase is not required for anticancer activity against ASNS-negative cells. Blood 2014; 123:3596-606. [PMID: 24659632 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2013-10-535112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
L-Asparaginase (L-ASP) is a key component of therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Its mechanism of action, however, is still poorly understood, in part because of its dual asparaginase and glutaminase activities. Here, we show that L-ASP's glutaminase activity is not always required for the enzyme's anticancer effect. We first used molecular dynamics simulations of the clinically standard Escherichia coli L-ASP to predict what mutated forms could be engineered to retain activity against asparagine but not glutamine. Dynamic mapping of enzyme substrate contacts identified Q59 as a promising mutagenesis target for that purpose. Saturation mutagenesis followed by enzymatic screening identified Q59L as a variant that retains asparaginase activity but shows undetectable glutaminase activity. Unlike wild-type L-ASP, Q59L is inactive against cancer cells that express measurable asparagine synthetase (ASNS). Q59L is potently active, however, against ASNS-negative cells. Those observations indicate that the glutaminase activity of L-ASP is necessary for anticancer activity against ASNS-positive cell types but not ASNS-negative cell types. Because the clinical toxicity of L-ASP is thought to stem from its glutaminase activity, these findings suggest the hypothesis that glutaminase-negative variants of L-ASP would provide larger therapeutic indices than wild-type L-ASP for ASNS-negative cancers.
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Emadi A, Zokaee H, Sausville EA. Asparaginase in the treatment of non-ALL hematologic malignancies. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2014; 73:875-83. [PMID: 24515335 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-014-2402-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Asparaginases are among the most effective agents against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and are Food and Drug Administration-approved for the treatment of pediatric and adult ALL. However, the efficacy of these drugs for the treatment of other hematologic malignancies particularly acute myeloid leukemia is not well established. The mechanism of action of asparaginases has thought to be related to a swift and sustained reduction in serum L-asparagine, which is required for rapid proliferation of metabolically demanding leukemic cells. However, asparagine depletion alone appears not to be sufficient for effective cytotoxic activity of asparaginase against leukemia cells, because glutamine can rescue asparagine-deprived cells by regeneration of asparagine via a transamidation chemical reaction. For this reason, glutamine reduction is also necessary for full anti-leukemic activity of asparaginase. Indeed, both Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi asparaginases possess glutaminase enzymatic activity, and their administrations have shown to reduce serum glutamine level by deamidating glutamine to glutamate and ammonia. Emerging data have provided evidence that several types of neoplastic cells require glutamine for the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. This fundamental role of glutamine and its metabolic pathways for growth and proliferation of individual malignant cells may identify a special group of patients whose solid or hematologic neoplasms may benefit significantly from interruption of glutamine metabolism. To this end, asparaginase products deserve a second look particularly in non-ALL malignant blood disorders. Here, we review mechanisms of anti-tumor activity of asparaginase focusing on importance of glutamine reduction, pharmacology of asparaginase products, in vitro activities as well as clinical experience of incorporating asparaginase in therapeutic regimens for non-ALL hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Emadi
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 S. Greene Street, S9D04C, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA,
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Panosyan EH, Wang Y, Xia P, Lee WNP, Pak Y, Laks DR, Lin HJ, Moore TB, Cloughesy TF, Kornblum HI, Lasky JL. Asparagine depletion potentiates the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapy against brain tumors. Mol Cancer Res 2014; 12:694-702. [PMID: 24505127 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-13-0576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Targeting amino acid metabolism has therapeutic implications for aggressive brain tumors. Asparagine is an amino acid that is synthesized by normal cells. However, some cancer cells lack asparagine synthetase (ASNS), the key enzyme for asparagine synthesis. Asparaginase (ASNase) contributes to eradication of acute leukemia by decreasing asparagine levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. However, leukemic cells may become ASNase-resistant by upregulating ASNS. High expression of ASNS has also been associated with biologic aggressiveness of other cancers, including gliomas. Here, the impact of enzymatic depletion of asparagine on proliferation of brain tumor cells was determined. ASNase was used as monotherapy or in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Viability assays for ASNase-treated cells demonstrated significant growth reduction in multiple cell lines. This effect was reversed by glutamine in a dose-dependent manner--as expected, because glutamine is the main amino group donor for asparagine synthesis. ASNase treatment also reduced sphere formation by medulloblastoma and primary glioblastoma cells. ASNase-resistant glioblastoma cells exhibited elevated levels of ASNS mRNA. ASNase cotreatment significantly enhanced gemcitabine or etoposide cytotoxicity against glioblastoma cells. Xenograft tumors in vivo showed no significant response to ASNase monotherapy and little response to temozolomide alone. However, combinatorial therapy with ASNase and temozolomide resulted in significant growth suppression for an extended duration of time. Taken together, these findings indicate that amino acid depletion warrants further investigation as adjunctive therapy for brain tumors. IMPLICATIONS Findings have potential impact for providing adjuvant means to enhance brain tumor chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard H Panosyan
- Authors' Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance; Departments of 2Psychiatry and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology and 3Pediatrics; and 4The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California
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50
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Purwaha P, Lorenzi PL, Silva LP, Hawke DH, Weinstein JN. Targeted metabolomic analysis of amino acid response to L-asparaginase in adherent cells. Metabolomics 2014; 10:909-919. [PMID: 25177232 PMCID: PMC4145215 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-014-0634-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
L-asparaginase (L-ASP) is a therapeutic enzyme used clinically for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. L-ASP's anticancer activity is believed to be associated primarily with depletion of asparagine, but secondary glutaminase activity has also been implicated in its anticancer mechanism of action. To investigate the effects of L-ASP on amino acid metabolism, we have developed an LC-MS/MS metabolomics platform for high-throughput quantitation of 29 metabolites, including all 20 proteinogenic amino acids, 6 metabolically related amino acid derivatives (ornithine, citrulline, sarcosine, taurine, hypotaurine, and cystine), and 3 polyamines (putrescince, spermidine, and spermine) in adherent cultured cells. When we examined the response of OVCAR-8 ovarian cancer cells in culture to L-ASP, asparagine was depleted from the medium within seconds. Interestingly, intracellular asparagine was also depleted rapidly, and the mechanism was suggested to involve rapid export of intracellular asparagine followed by rapid conversion to aspartic acid by L-ASP. We also found that L-ASP-induced cell death was more closely associated with glutamine concentration than with asparagine concentration. Time-course analysis revealed the dynamics of amino acid metabolism after feeding cells with fresh medium. Overall, this study provides new insight into L-ASP's mechanism of action, and the optimized analytical method can be extended, with only slight modification, to other metabolically active amino acids, related compounds, and a range of cultured cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Purwaha
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77054 USA
| | - Philip L. Lorenzi
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77054 USA
| | - Leslie P. Silva
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77054 USA
| | - David H. Hawke
- Proteomics Facility, Department of Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77054 USA
| | - John N. Weinstein
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77054 USA
- Department of Systems Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77054 USA
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