Metabolic perturbation of epigenome by inhibiting S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase elicits senescence through DNA damage response in hepatoma cells

5'-Noraristeromycin Repurposing: Well-known S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine Hydrolase Inhibitor As a Potential Drug Against Leukemia

5'-Noraristeromycin as a racemic mixture of enantiomers was found to exhibit a pronounced cytotoxic effect on leukemia cells; IC50 for the Jurkat, K562, and THP-1 cell lines was 7.3, 1.3, and 3.7 μM, respectively. The general toxicity of 5'-noraristeromycin was studied in experiments on white mice upon single-dose intragastric administration; toxicometric parameters were determined, and the clinical and pathomorphological presentation of acute intoxication was studied. LD50 of the substance was shown to be 63.2 (52.7÷75.8) mg/kg; LD16, 44.7 mg/kg, and LD84, 89.4 mg/kg. Administration of the substance at a dose within the studied dose range is accompanied by systemic damage to the internal organs and tissues of the experimental animals.

IL-1β is involved in docetaxel chemoresistance by regulating the formation of polyploid giant cancer cells in non-small cell lung cancer

Docetaxel (Doc) is a cornerstone of chemotherapy; however, treatment with Doc often and inevitably leads to drug resistance and the formation of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs). In this study, we investigated the effect of Doc on non-small cell lung cancer to explore the role of PGCCs in drug resistance and the molecular mechanisms that regulate this resistance. We found that Doc induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and cell death in A549 and NCI-H1299 cells. However, many cells remained alive and became PGCCs by decreasing the expression of key regulatory proteins related to the cell cycle and proliferation. Notably, the PGCCs showed typical features of senescence, especially upregulation of p21 and p-histone H2A.X expression. Moreover, the mRNA level of IL-1β in the senescence-associated secretory phenotype was increased significantly with the development of PGCCs. Inhibition of IL-1β reduced the expression of p-histone H2A.X and promoted polyploidy to enhance the proapoptotic effect of Doc. Taken together, our results suggested that IL-1β was involved in the formation of PGCCs and regulated the senescence of PGCCs, which contributed to drug resistance to Doc. Therefore, targeting IL-1β in PGCCs may be a novel approach to overcome drug resistance.

Inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase induces endothelial senescence via hTERT downregulation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

It has been established that endothelial senescence plays a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. Elevated S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) level induced by inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) is one of the risk factors of atherosclerosis; however, the interplay between endothelial senescence and inhibition of SAHH is largely unknown.

METHODS

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after serial passage were used. SAHH-specific inhibitor adenosine dialdehyde (ADA) and SAHH siRNA treated HUVECs and SAHH^+/-mice were used to investigate the effect of SAHH inhibition on endothelial senescence.

RESULTS

HUVECs exhibited distinct senescence morphology as HUVECs were passaged, together with a decrease in intracellular SAHH expression and an increase in intracellular SAH levels. SAHH inhibition by ADA or SAHH siRNA elevated SA β-gal activity, arrested proliferation, and increased the expression of p16, p21 and p53 in HUVECs and the aortas of mice. In addition, decreased expression of hTERT and reduced occupancy of H3K4me3 over the hTERT promoter region were observed following SAHH inhibition treatment. To further verify the role of hTERT in the endothelial senescence induced by SAHH inhibition, hTERT was overexpressed with a plasmid vector under CMV promoter. hTERT overexpression rescued the senescence phenotypes in endothelial cells induced by SAHH inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

SAHH inhibition induces endothelial senescence via downregulation of hTERT expression, which is associated with attenuated histone methylation over the hTERT promoter region.

Atypical immunometabolism and metabolic reprogramming in liver cancer: Deciphering the role of gut microbiome

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Much recent research has delved into understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of HCC pathogenesis, which has revealed to be heterogenous and complex. Two major hallmarks of HCC include: (i) a hijacked immunometabolism and (ii) a reprogramming in metabolic processes. We posit that the gut microbiota is a third component in an entanglement triangle contributing to HCC progression. Besides metagenomic studies highlighting the diagnostic potential in the gut microbiota profile, recent research is pinpointing the gut microbiota as an instigator, not just a mere bystander, in HCC. In this chapter, we discuss mechanistic insights on atypical immunometabolism and metabolic reprogramming in HCC, including the examination of tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (e.g., T-cell exhaustion, regulatory T-cells, natural killer T-cells), the Warburg effect, rewiring of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and glutamine addiction. We further discuss the potential involvement of the gut microbiota in these characteristics of hepatocarcinogenesis. An immediate highlight is that microbiota metabolites (e.g., short chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids) can impair anti-tumor responses, which aggravates HCC. Lastly, we describe the rising 'new era' of immunotherapies (e.g., immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive T-cell transfer) and discuss for the potential incorporation of gut microbiota targeted therapeutics (e.g., probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation) to alleviate HCC. Altogether, this chapter invigorates for continuous research to decipher the role of gut microbiome in HCC from its influence on immunometabolism and metabolic reprogramming.

Targeting Cell Senescence for the Treatment of Age-Related Bone Loss

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We review cell senescence in the context of age-related bone loss by broadly discussing aging mechanisms in bone, currently known inducers and markers of senescence, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and the emerging roles of senescence in bone homeostasis and pathology.

RECENT FINDINGS

Cellular senescence is a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest induced by insults or stressors including telomere attrition, oxidative stress, DNA damage, oncogene activation, and other intrinsic or extrinsic triggers and there is mounting evidence for the role of senescence in aging bone. Cellular aging also instigates a SASP that exerts detrimental paracrine and likely systemic effects. With aging, multiple cell types in the bone microenvironment become senescent, with osteocytes and myeloid cells as primary contributors to the SASP. Targeting undesired senescent cells may be a favorable strategy to promote bone anabolic and anti-resorptive functions in aging bone, with the possibility of improving bone quality and function with normal aging and/or disease.

Knock-down of AHCY and depletion of adenosine induces DNA damage and cell cycle arrest

Recently, functional connections between S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AHCY) activity and cancer have been reported. As the properties of AHCY include the hydrolysis of S-adenosylhomocysteine and maintenance of the cellular methylation potential, the connection between AHCY and cancer is not obvious. The mechanisms by which AHCY influences the cell cycle or cell proliferation have not yet been confirmed. To elucidate AHCY-driven cancer-specific mechanisms, we pursued a multi-omics approach to investigate the effect of AHCY-knockdown on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Here, we show that reduced AHCY activity causes adenosine depletion with activation of the DNA damage response (DDR), leading to cell cycle arrest, a decreased proliferation rate and DNA damage. The underlying mechanism behind these effects might be applicable to cancer types that have either significant levels of endogenous AHCY and/or are dependent on high concentrations of adenosine in their microenvironments. Thus, adenosine monitoring might be used as a preventive measure in liver disease, whereas induced adenosine depletion might be the desired approach for provoking the DDR in diagnosed cancer, thus opening new avenues for targeted therapy. Additionally, including AHCY in mutational screens as a potential risk factor may be a beneficial preventive measure.

Bioinformatics analysis of aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes and pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM

To discover methylated-differentially expressed genes (MDEGs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to explore relevant hub genes and potential pathways.

METHODS

The data of expression profiling GSE25097 and methylation profiling GSE57956 were gained from GEO Datasets. We analyzed the differentially methylated genes and differentially expressed genes online using GEO2R. Functional and enrichment analyses of MDEGs were conducted using the DAVID database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was performed by STRING and then visualized in Cytoscape. Hub genes were ranked by cytoHubba, and a module analysis of the PPI network was conducted by MCODE in Cytoscape software.

RESULTS

In total, we categorized 266 genes as hypermethylated, lowly expressed genes (Hyper-LGs) referring to endogenous and hormone stimulus, cell surface receptor linked signal transduction and behavior. In addition, 161 genes were labelled as hypomethylated, highly expressed genes (Hypo-HGs) referring to DNA replication and metabolic process, cell cycle and division. Pathway analysis illustrated that Hyper-LGs were enriched in cancer, Wnt, and chemokine signalling pathways, while Hypo-HGs were related to cell cycle and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways. Based on PPI networks, PTGS2, PIK3CD, CXCL1, ESR1, and MMP2 were identified as hub genes for Hyper-LGs, and CDC45, DTL, AURKB, CDKN3, MCM2, and MCM10 were hub genes for Hypo-HGs by combining six ranked methods of cytoHubba.

CONCLUSION

In the study, we disclose numerous novel genetic and epigenetic regulations and offer a vital molecular groundwork to understand the pathogenesis of HCC. Hub genes, including PTGS2, PIK3CD, CXCL1, ESR1, MMP2, CDC45, DTL, AURKB, CDKN3, MCM2, and MCM10, can be used as biomarkers based on aberrant methylation for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Remodeling of Ca2+ signaling in cancer: Regulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors through oncogenes and tumor suppressors

The calcium ion (Ca²⁺) is a ubiquitous intracellular signaling molecule that regulates diverse physiological and pathological processes, including cancer. Increasing evidence indicates that oncogenes and tumor suppressors regulate the Ca²⁺ transport systems. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) receptors (IP₃Rs) are IP₃-activated Ca²⁺ release channels located on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). They play pivotal roles in the regulation of cell death and survival by controlling Ca²⁺ transfer from the ER to mitochondria through mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs). Optimal levels of Ca²⁺ mobilization to mitochondria are necessary for mitochondrial bioenergetics, whereas excessive Ca²⁺ flux into mitochondria causes loss of mitochondrial membrane integrity and apoptotic cell death. In addition to well-known functions on outer mitochondrial membranes, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins are localized on the ER and regulate IP₃Rs to control Ca²⁺ transfer into mitochondria. Another regulatory protein of IP₃R, IP₃R-binding protein released with IP₃ (IRBIT), cooperates with or counteracts the Bcl-2 family member depending on cellular states. Furthermore, several oncogenes and tumor suppressors, including Akt, K-Ras, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML), BRCA1, and BRCA1 associated protein 1 (BAP1), are localized on the ER or at MAMs and negatively or positively regulate apoptotic cell death through interactions with IP₃Rs and regulation of Ca²⁺ dynamics. The remodeling of Ca²⁺ signaling by oncogenes and tumor suppressors that interact with IP₃Rs has fundamental roles in the pathology of cancers.