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Wei X, Chow HY, Chong HC, Leung SL, Ho MK, Lee MY, Leung YC. Arginine Is a Novel Drug Target for Arginine Decarboxylase in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13741. [PMID: 37762044 PMCID: PMC10531272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been proven to be highly reliant on arginine availability. Limiting arginine-rich foods or treating patients with arginine-depleting enzymes arginine deiminase (ADI) or arginase can suppress colon cancer. However, arginase and ADI are not the best drug candidates for CRC. Ornithine, the product of arginase, can enhance the supply of polyamine, which favors CRC cell growth, while citrulline, the product of ADI, faces the problem of arginine recycling due to the overexpression of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS). Biosynthetic arginine decarboxylase (ADC), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of arginine to agmatine and carbon dioxide, may be a better choice as it combines both arginine depletion and suppression of intracellular polyamine synthesis via its product agmatine. ADC has anti-tumor potential yet has received much less attention than the other two arginine-depleting enzymes. In order to gain a better understanding of ADC, the preparation and the anti-cancer properties of this enzyme were explored in this study. When tested in vitro, ADC inhibited the proliferation of three colorectal cancer cell lines regardless of their ASS cellular expression. In contrast, ADC had a lesser cytotoxic effect on the human foreskin fibroblasts and rat primary hepatocytes. Further in vitro studies revealed that ADC induced S and G2/M phase cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCT116 and LoVo cells. ADC-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells followed the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and was caspase-3-dependent. With all results obtained, we suggest that arginine is a potential target for treating colorectal cancer with ADC, and the anti-cancer properties of ADC should be more deeply investigated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlei Wei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ho-Yin Chow
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hiu-Chi Chong
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu-Lun Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mei-Ki Ho
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Man-Yuen Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Lo Ka Chung Research Centre for Natural Anti-Cancer Drug Development, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yun-Chung Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Lo Ka Chung Research Centre for Natural Anti-Cancer Drug Development, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
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Chu YD, Lai MW, Yeh CT. Unlocking the Potential of Arginine Deprivation Therapy: Recent Breakthroughs and Promising Future for Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10668. [PMID: 37445845 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310668] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that supports protein synthesis to maintain cellular functions. Recent studies suggest that arginine also promotes wound healing, cell division, ammonia metabolism, immune system regulation, and hormone biosynthesis-all of which are critical for tumor growth. These discoveries, coupled with the understanding of cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, have led to renewed interest in arginine deprivation as a new anticancer therapy. Several arginine deprivation strategies have been developed and entered clinical trials. The main principle behind these therapies is that arginine auxotrophic tumors rely on external arginine sources for growth because they carry reduced key arginine-synthesizing enzymes such as argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) in the intracellular arginine cycle. To obtain anticancer effects, modified arginine-degrading enzymes, such as PEGylated recombinant human arginase 1 (rhArg1-PEG) and arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20), have been developed and shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials. They have been tried as a monotherapy or in combination with other existing therapies. This review discusses recent advances in arginine deprivation therapy, including the molecular basis of extracellular arginine degradation leading to tumor cell death, and how this approach could be a valuable addition to the current anticancer arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-De Chu
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Wei Lai
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chau-Ting Yeh
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
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Du Z, Li T, Huang J, Chen Y, Chen C. Arginase: Mechanisms and Clinical Application in Hematologic Malignancy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:905893. [PMID: 35814439 PMCID: PMC9260017 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.905893] [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: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared to normal tissues and cells, the metabolic patterns of tumor illnesses are more complex, and there are hallmarks of metabolic reprogramming in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. When tumor cells are in a state of fast growth, they are susceptible to food shortage, resulting in growth suppression. Using this metabolic sensitivity of tumor cells to construct amino acid consumption therapy does not harm the function of normal cells, which is the focus of metabolic therapy research at the moment. As a non-essential amino acid, arginine is involved in numerous crucial biological processes, including the signaling system, cell proliferation, and material metabolism. Rapidly dividing tumor cells are more likely to be deficient in arginine; hence, utilizing arginase to consume arginine can suppress tumor growth. Due to the absence of arginine succinate synthase, arginine succinate lyase, and ornithine carbamoyl transferase in some blood tumors, arginases may be employed to treat blood tumors. By investigating the mechanism of arginase treatment and the mechanism of drug resistance in greater depth, arginase treatment becomes more successful in hematological cancers and a new anti-cancer agent in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zefan Du
- Department of Pediatrics, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tianwen Li
- Department of Pediatrics, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junbin Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Yun Chen, ; Chun Chen,
| | - Chun Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Yun Chen, ; Chun Chen,
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Deciphering the Role of Pyrvinium Pamoate in the Generation of Integrated Stress Response and Modulation of Mitochondrial Function in Myeloid Leukemia Cells through Transcriptome Analysis. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121869. [PMID: 34944685 PMCID: PMC8698814 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyrvinium pamoate, a widely-used anthelmintic agent, reportedly exhibits significant anti-tumor effects in several cancers. However, the efficacy and mechanisms of pyrvinium against myeloid leukemia remain unclear. The growth inhibitory effects of pyrvinium were tested in human AML cell lines. Transcriptome analysis of Molm13 myeloid leukemia cells suggested that pyrvinium pamoate could trigger an unfolded protein response (UPR)-like pathway, including responses to extracellular stimulus [p-value = 2.78 × 10-6] and to endoplasmic reticulum stress [p-value = 8.67 × 10-7], as well as elicit metabolic reprogramming, including sulfur compound catabolic processes [p-value = 2.58 × 10-8], and responses to a redox state [p-value = 5.80 × 10-5]; on the other hand, it could elicit a pyrvinium blunted protein folding function, including protein folding [p-value = 2.10 × 10-8] and an ATP metabolic process [p-value = 3.95 × 10-4]. Subsequently, pyrvinium was verified to induce an integrated stress response (ISR), demonstrated by activation of the eIF2α-ATF4 pathway and inhibition of mTORC1 signaling, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, pyrvinium could co-localize with mitochondria and then decrease the mitochondrial basal oxidative consumption rate, ultimately dysregulating the mitochondrial function. Similar effects were observed in cabozantinib-resistant Molm13-XR cell lines. Furthermore, pyrvinium treatment retarded Molm13 and Molm13-XR xenograft tumor growth. Thus, we concluded that pyrvinium exerts anti-tumor activity, at least, via the modulation of the mitochondrial function and by triggering ISR.
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