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Bu F, Min JW, Razzaque MA, El Hamamy A, Patrizz A, Qi L, Urayama A, Li J. Activation of cerebral Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (Rac) 1 promotes post-ischemic stroke functional recovery in aged mice. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:881-886. [PMID: 37843224 PMCID: PMC10664129 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382256] [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: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain functional impairment after stroke is common; however, the molecular mechanisms of post-stroke recovery remain unclear. It is well-recognized that age is the most important independent predictor of poor outcomes after stroke as older patients show poorer functional outcomes following stroke. Mounting evidence suggests that axonal regeneration and angiogenesis, the major forms of brain plasticity responsible for post-stroke recovery, diminished with advanced age. Previous studies suggest that Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (Rac) 1 enhances stroke recovery as activation of Rac1 improved behavior recovery in a young mice stroke model. Here, we investigated the role of Rac1 signaling in long-term functional recovery and brain plasticity in an aged (male, 18 to 22 months old C57BL/6J) brain after ischemic stroke. We found that as mice aged, Rac1 expression declined in the brain. Delayed overexpression of Rac1, using lentivirus encoding Rac1 injected day 1 after ischemic stroke, promoted cognitive (assessed using novel object recognition test) and sensorimotor (assessed using adhesive removal tests) recovery on days 14-28. This was accompanied by the increase of neurite and proliferative endothelial cells in the peri-infarct zone assessed by immunostaining. In a reverse approach, pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 by intraperitoneal injection of Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 for 14 successive days after ischemic stroke worsened the outcome with the reduction of neurite and proliferative endothelial cells. Furthermore, Rac1 inhibition reduced the activation of p21-activated kinase 1, the protein level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and increased the protein level of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the ischemic brain on day 28 after stroke. Our work provided insight into the mechanisms behind the diminished plasticity after cerebral ischemia in aged brains and identified Rac1 as a potential therapeutic target for improving functional recovery in the older adults after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Bu
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology & Psychology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jia-Wei Min
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Md Abdur Razzaque
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ahmad El Hamamy
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony Patrizz
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Li Qi
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Akihiko Urayama
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
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2
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Bailly C, Degand C, Laine W, Sauzeau V, Kluza J. Implication of Rac1 GTPase in molecular and cellular mitochondrial functions. Life Sci 2024; 342:122510. [PMID: 38387701 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Rac1 is a member of the Rho GTPase family which plays major roles in cell mobility, polarity and migration, as a fundamental regulator of actin cytoskeleton. Signal transduction by Rac1 occurs through interaction with multiple effector proteins, and its activity is regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). The small protein is mainly anchored to the inner side of the plasma membrane but it can be found in endocellular compartments, notably endosomes and cell nuclei. The protein localizes also into mitochondria where it contributes to the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics, including both mitobiogenesis and mitophagy, in addition to signaling processes via different protein partners, such as the proapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and chaperone sigma-1 receptor (σ-1R). The mitochondrial form of Rac1 (mtRac1) has been understudied thus far, but it is as essential as the nuclear or plasma membrane forms, via its implication in regulation of oxidative stress and DNA damages. Rac1 is subject to diverse post-translational modifications, notably to a geranylgeranylation which contributes importantly to its mitochondrial import and its anchorage to mitochondrial membranes. In addition, Rac1 contributes to the mitochondrial translocation of other proteins, such as p53. The mitochondrial localization and functions of Rac1 are discussed here, notably in the context of human diseases such as cancers. Inhibitors of Rac1 have been identified (NSC-23766, EHT-1864) and some are being developed for the treatment of cancer (MBQ-167) or central nervous system diseases (JK-50561). Their effects on mtRac1 warrant further investigations. An overview of mtRac1 is provided here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bailly
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France; University of Lille, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), 3 rue du Professeur Laguesse, 59000 Lille, France; OncoWitan, Consulting Scientific Office, Lille (Wasquehal) 59290, France.
| | - Claire Degand
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France
| | - William Laine
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Vincent Sauzeau
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, Institut du thorax, Nantes, France
| | - Jérôme Kluza
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France
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3
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Wang N, Yin J, You N, Zhu W, Guo N, Liu X, Zhang P, Huang W, Xie Y, Ren Q, Ma X. Twist family BHLH transcription factor 1 is required for the maintenance of leukemia stem cell in MLL-AF9 + acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica 2024; 109:84-97. [PMID: 37767575 PMCID: PMC10772510 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.282748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukemia stem cells (LSC) are a rare population capable of limitless self-renewal and are responsible for the initiation, maintenance, and relapse of leukemia. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the regulation of LSC function could provide novel treatment strategies. Here, we show that TWIST1 is extremely highly expressed in the LSC of MLL-AF9+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and its upregulation is positively regulated by KDM4C in a H3K9me3 demethylation-dependent manner. We further demonstrate that TWIST1 is essential for the viability, dormancy, and self-renewal capacities of LSC, and that it promotes the initiation and maintenance of MLL-AF9-mediated AML. In addition, TWIST1 directly interacts and collaborates with HOXA9 in inducing AML in mice. Mechanistically, TWIST1 exerts its oncogenic function by activating the WNT5a/RAC1 axis. Collectively, our study uncovers a critical role of TWIST1 in LSC function and provides new mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of MLL-AF9+ AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Jing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Na You
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Wenqi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Nini Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Peiwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Wanling Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Yueqiao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Qian Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin
| | - Xiaotong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China; Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin.
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4
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Stip MC, Teeuwen L, Dierselhuis MP, Leusen JHW, Krijgsman D. Targeting the myeloid microenvironment in neuroblastoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:337. [PMID: 38087370 PMCID: PMC10716967 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02913-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloid cells (granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages) play an important role in neuroblastoma. By inducing a complex immunosuppressive network, myeloid cells pose a challenge for the adaptive immune system to eliminate tumor cells, especially in high-risk neuroblastoma. This review first summarizes the pro- and anti-tumorigenic functions of myeloid cells, including granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) during the development and progression of neuroblastoma. Secondly, we discuss how myeloid cells are engaged in the current treatment regimen and explore novel strategies to target these cells in neuroblastoma. These strategies include: (1) engaging myeloid cells as effector cells, (2) ablating myeloid cells or blocking the recruitment of myeloid cells to the tumor microenvironment and (3) reprogramming myeloid cells. Here we describe that despite their immunosuppressive traits, tumor-associated myeloid cells can still be engaged as effector cells, which is clear in anti-GD2 immunotherapy. However, their full potential is not yet reached, and myeloid cell engagement can be enhanced, for example by targeting the CD47/SIRPα axis. Though depletion of myeloid cells or blocking myeloid cell infiltration has been proven effective, this strategy also depletes possible effector cells for immunotherapy from the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, reprogramming of suppressive myeloid cells might be the optimal strategy, which reverses immunosuppressive traits, preserves myeloid cells as effectors of immunotherapy, and subsequently reactivates tumor-infiltrating T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein C Stip
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Loes Teeuwen
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jeanette H W Leusen
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniëlle Krijgsman
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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5
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Lee C, Lee S, Park E, Hong J, Shin DY, Byun JM, Yun H, Koh Y, Yoon SS. Transcriptional signatures of the BCL2 family for individualized acute myeloid leukaemia treatment. Genome Med 2022; 14:111. [PMID: 36171613 PMCID: PMC9520894 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-022-01115-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although anti-apoptotic proteins of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) family have been utilized as therapeutic targets in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), their complicated regulatory networks make individualized therapy difficult. This study aimed to discover the transcriptional signatures of BCL2 family genes that reflect regulatory dynamics, which can guide individualized therapeutic strategies. METHODS From three AML RNA-seq cohorts (BeatAML, LeuceGene, and TCGA; n = 451, 437, and 179, respectively), we constructed the BCL2 family signatures (BFSigs) by applying an innovative gene-set selection method reflecting biological knowledge followed by non-negative matrix factorization (NMF). To demonstrate the significance of the BFSigs, we conducted modelling to predict response to BCL2 family inhibitors, clustering, and functional enrichment analysis. Cross-platform validity of BFSigs was also confirmed using NanoString technology in a separate cohort of 47 patients. RESULTS We established BFSigs labeled as the BCL2, MCL1/BCL2, and BFL1/MCL1 signatures that identify key anti-apoptotic proteins. Unsupervised clustering based on BFSig information consistently classified AML patients into three robust subtypes across different AML cohorts, implying the existence of biological entities revealed by the BFSig approach. Interestingly, each subtype has distinct enrichment patterns of major cancer pathways, including MAPK and mTORC1, which propose subtype-specific combination treatment with apoptosis modulating drugs. The BFSig-based classifier also predicted response to venetoclax with remarkable performance (area under the ROC curve, AUROC = 0.874), which was well-validated in an independent cohort (AUROC = 0.950). Lastly, we successfully confirmed the validity of BFSigs using NanoString technology. CONCLUSIONS This study proposes BFSigs as a biomarker for the effective selection of apoptosis targeting treatments and cancer pathways to co-target in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chansub Lee
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungyoung Lee
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Precision Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunchae Park
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Junshik Hong
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Yeop Shin
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja Min Byun
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongseok Yun
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Center for Precision Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Youngil Koh
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sung-Soo Yoon
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Hegde S, Gasilina A, Wunderlich M, Lin Y, Buchholzer M, Krumbach OHF, Akbarzadeh M, Ahmadian MR, Seibel W, Zheng Y, Perentesis JP, Mizukawa BE, Vinnedge LP, Cancelas JA, Nassar NN. Inhibition of the RacGEF VAV3 by the small molecule IODVA1 impedes RAC signaling and overcomes resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibition in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2022; 36:637-647. [PMID: 34711926 PMCID: PMC8885421 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01455-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant RHO guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RhoGEF) activation is chief mechanism driving abnormal activation of their GTPase targets in transformation and tumorigenesis. Consequently, a small-molecule inhibitor of RhoGEF can make an anti-cancer drug. We used cellular, mouse, and humanized models of RAC-dependent BCR-ABL1-driven and Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia to identify VAV3, a tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent RacGEF, as the target of the small molecule IODVA1. We show that through binding to VAV3, IODVA1 inhibits RAC activation and signaling and increases pro-apoptotic activity in BCR-ABL1-transformed cells. Consistent with this mechanism of action, cellular and animal models of BCR-ABL1-induced leukemia in Vav3-null background do not respond to IODVA1. By durably decreasing in vivo RAC signaling, IODVA1 eradicates leukemic propagating activity of TKI-resistant BCR-ABL1(T315I) B-ALL cells after treatment withdrawal. Importantly, IODVA1 suppresses the leukemic burden in the treatment refractory pediatric Ph+ and TKI-resistant Ph+ B-ALL patient-derived xenograft models better than standard-of-care dasatinib or ponatinib and provides a more durable response after treatment withdrawal. Pediatric leukemia samples with diverse genetic lesions show high sensitivity to IODVA1 ex vivo and this sensitivity is VAV3 dependent. IODVA1 thus spearheads a novel class of drugs that inhibits a RacGEF and holds promise as an anti-tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailaja Hegde
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Anjelika Gasilina
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Mark Wunderlich
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Yuan Lin
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Marcel Buchholzer
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany
| | - Oliver H F Krumbach
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany
| | - Mohammad Akbarzadeh
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany
| | - Mohammad Reza Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany
| | - William Seibel
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3230 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - John P Perentesis
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Benjamin E Mizukawa
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Lisa Privette Vinnedge
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3230 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - José A Cancelas
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3230 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Nicolas N Nassar
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3230 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
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7
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Zhang Z, Liu M, Zheng Y. Role of Rho GTPases in stem cell regulation. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2941-2955. [PMID: 34854916 PMCID: PMC9008577 DOI: 10.1042/bst20211071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The future of regenerative medicine relies on our understanding of stem cells which are essential for tissue/organ generation and regeneration to maintain and/or restore tissue homeostasis. Rho family GTPases are known regulators of a wide variety of cellular processes related to cytoskeletal dynamics, polarity and gene transcription. In the last decade, major new advances have been made in understanding the regulatory role and mechanism of Rho GTPases in self-renewal, differentiation, migration, and lineage specification in tissue-specific signaling mechanisms in various stem cell types to regulate embryonic development, adult tissue homeostasis, and tissue regeneration upon stress or damage. Importantly, implication of Rho GTPases and their upstream regulators or downstream effectors in the transformation, migration, invasion and tumorigenesis of diverse cancer stem cells highlights the potential of Rho GTPase targeting in cancer therapy. In this review, we discuss recent evidence of Rho GTPase signaling in the regulation of embryonic stem cells, multiple somatic stem cells, and cancer stem cells. We propose promising areas where Rho GTPase pathways may serve as useful targets for stem cell manipulation and related future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, U.S.A
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, U.S.A
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8
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Master Regulators of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and WNT Signaling Pathways in Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibromas. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9091258. [PMID: 34572445 PMCID: PMC8469518 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a rare fibrovascular benign tumor showing an invasive growth pattern and affecting mainly male adolescents. We investigated the role of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and WNT signaling pathways in JNA. Gene expression profiles using nine JNA paired with four inferior nasal turbinate samples were interrogated using a customized 2.3K microarray platform containing genes mainly involved in EMT and WNT/PI3K pathways. The expression of selected genes (BCL2, CAV1, CD74, COL4A2, FZD7, ING1, LAMB1, and RAC2) and proteins (BCL2, CAV1, CD74, FZD7, RAF1, WNT5A, and WNT5B) was investigated by RT-qPCR (28 cases) and immunohistochemistry (40 cases), respectively. Among 104 differentially expressed genes, we found a significantly increased expression of COL4A2 and LAMB1 and a decreased expression of BCL2 and RAC2 by RT-qPCR. The immunohistochemistry analysis revealed a low expression of BCL2 and a negative to moderate expression of FZD7 in most samples, while increased CAV1 and RAF1 expression were detected. Moderate to strong CD74 protein expression was observed in endothelial and inflammatory cells. A significant number of JNAs (78%) presented reduced WNT5A and increased WNT5B expression. Overall, the transcript and protein profile indicated the involvement of EMT and WNT pathways in JNA. These candidates are promising druggable targets for treating JNA.
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9
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Zeisig BB, So CWE. Therapeutic Opportunities of Targeting Canonical and Noncanonical PcG/TrxG Functions in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2021; 22:103-125. [PMID: 33929894 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-111120-102443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional deregulation is a key driver of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a heterogeneous blood cancer with poor survival rates. Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) genes, originally identified in Drosophila melanogaster several decades ago as master regulators of cellular identity and epigenetic memory, not only are important in mammalian development but also play a key role in AML disease biology. In addition to their classical canonical antagonistic transcriptional functions, noncanonical synergistic and nontranscriptional functions of PcG and TrxG are emerging. Here, we review the biochemical properties of major mammalian PcG and TrxG complexes and their roles in AML disease biology, including disease maintenance as well as drug resistance. We summarize current efforts on targeting PcG and TrxG for treatment of AML and propose rational synthetic lethality and drug-induced antagonistic pleiotropy options involving PcG and TrxG as potential new therapeutic avenues for treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd B Zeisig
- Leukaemia and Stem Cell Biology Group, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, United Kingdom;
- Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
| | - Chi Wai Eric So
- Leukaemia and Stem Cell Biology Group, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, United Kingdom;
- Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
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10
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Pradhan R, Ngo PA, Martínez-Sánchez LDC, Neurath MF, López-Posadas R. Rho GTPases as Key Molecular Players within Intestinal Mucosa and GI Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010066. [PMID: 33406731 PMCID: PMC7823293 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rho proteins operate as key regulators of the cytoskeleton, cell morphology and trafficking. Acting as molecular switches, the function of Rho GTPases is determined by guanosine triphosphate (GTP)/guanosine diphosphate (GDP) exchange and their lipidation via prenylation, allowing their binding to cellular membranes and the interaction with downstream effector proteins in close proximity to the membrane. A plethora of in vitro studies demonstrate the indispensable function of Rho proteins for cytoskeleton dynamics within different cell types. However, only in the last decades we have got access to genetically modified mouse models to decipher the intricate regulation between members of the Rho family within specific cell types in the complex in vivo situation. Translationally, alterations of the expression and/or function of Rho GTPases have been associated with several pathological conditions, such as inflammation and cancer. In the context of the GI tract, the continuous crosstalk between the host and the intestinal microbiota requires a tight regulation of the complex interaction between cellular components within the intestinal tissue. Recent studies demonstrate that Rho GTPases play important roles for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in the gut. We will summarize the current knowledge on Rho protein function within individual cell types in the intestinal mucosa in vivo, with special focus on intestinal epithelial cells and T cells.
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11
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Chiarella E, Codispoti B, Aloisio A, Cosentino EG, Scicchitano S, Montalcini Y, Lico D, Morrone G, Mesuraca M, Bond HM. Zoledronic acid inhibits the growth of leukemic MLL-AF9 transformed hematopoietic cells. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04020. [PMID: 32529062 PMCID: PMC7283156 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A leukemic in vitro model produced by transducing Cord Blood derived-hematopoietic CD34+ cells with the MLL-AF9 translocation resulting in the oncogenic fusion protein, is used to assess for sensitivity to Zoledronic acid. These cells are practically immortalized and are of myeloid origin. Proliferation, clonogenic and stromal co-culture assays showed that the MLL-AF9 cells were considerably more sensitive to Zoledronic acid than normal hematopoietic CD34+ cells or MS-5 stromal cells. The MLL-AF9 cells were notably more inhibited by Zoledronic acid when cultured as colonies in 3 dimensions, requiring cell-cell contacts compared to suspension expansion cultures. This is coherent with the mechanism of action of Zoledronic acid inhibiting farnesyl diphosphate synthase which results in a block in prenylation of GTPases such that their role in the membrane is compromised for cell-cell contacts. Zoledronic acid can be proposed to target the MLL-AF9 leukemic stem cells before they emerge from the hematopoietic niche, which being in proximity to bone osteoclasts where Zoledronic acid is sequestered can be predicted to result in sufficient levels to result in an anti-leukemic action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Chiarella
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Bruna Codispoti
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.,Tecnologica Research Institute-Marrelli Health, 88900 Crotone, Italy
| | - Annamaria Aloisio
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Emanuela G Cosentino
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.,Exiris S.r.l., 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Stefania Scicchitano
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ylenia Montalcini
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Daniela Lico
- Department of Obstetrics & Ginecology, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Morrone
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Mesuraca
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Heather M Bond
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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12
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The RUNX1-ETO target gene RASSF2 suppresses t(8;21) AML development and regulates Rac GTPase signaling. Blood Cancer J 2020; 10:16. [PMID: 32029705 PMCID: PMC7005177 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-020-0282-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale chromosomal translocations are frequent oncogenic drivers in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These translocations often occur in critical transcriptional/epigenetic regulators and contribute to malignant cell growth through alteration of normal gene expression. Despite this knowledge, the specific gene expression alterations that contribute to the development of leukemia remain incompletely understood. Here, through characterization of transcriptional regulation by the RUNX1-ETO fusion protein, we have identified Ras-association domain family member 2 (RASSF2) as a critical gene that is aberrantly transcriptionally repressed in t(8;21)-associated AML. Re-expression of RASSF2 specifically inhibits t(8;21) AML development in multiple models. Through biochemical and functional studies, we demonstrate RASSF2-mediated functions to be dependent on interaction with Hippo kinases, MST1 and MST2, but independent of canonical Hippo pathway signaling. Using proximity-based biotin labeling we define the RASSF2-proximal proteome in leukemia cells and reveal association with Rac GTPase-related proteins, including an interaction with the guanine nucleotide exchange factor, DOCK2. Importantly, RASSF2 knockdown impairs Rac GTPase activation, and RASSF2 expression is broadly correlated with Rac-mediated signal transduction in AML patients. Together, these data reveal a previously unappreciated mechanistic link between RASSF2, Hippo kinases, and Rac activity with potentially broad functional consequences in leukemia.
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13
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Liu Y, Cheng G, Song Z, Xu T, Ruan H, Cao Q, Wang K, Bao L, Liu J, Zhou L, liu D, Yang H, Chen K, Zhang X. RAC2 acts as a prognostic biomarker and promotes the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2019; 55:645-656. [PMID: 31364727 PMCID: PMC6685597 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the most commonly reported malignancies of the urinary system, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an advanced metastatic tumor with high mortality rates. The Rac family small GTPase 2 (RAC2) is a member of the Rho GTPases. Although Rho GTPases play an important role in numerous different types of tumor, whether they have functions in ccRCC remains uncertain. The present study utilized bioinformatics analyses in order to compare the expression levels of RAC2 in ccRCC tumors vs. adjacent tissues, and assessed the association between RAC2 expression and clinicopathological parameters. Furthermore, reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays were performed to validate RAC2 expression levels in human ccRCC tissues and cell lines. Functional experiments were also conducted in order to identify the roles of RAC2 in vitro. The results revealed that RAC2 was upregulated in ccRCC tissues and cell lines. In addition, elevated expression levels of RAC2 were significantly associated with a poor overall survival (P=0.0061), higher Tumor‑Node‑Metastasis stage and worse G grade. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that high expression levels of RAC2 could be a diagnostic index for ccRCC (area under the curve, 0.9095; P<0.0001). Furthermore, knockdown of RAC2 in vitro attenuated the proliferation, migration and invasion of renal carcinoma cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that RAC2 may act as a promising prognostic and diagnostic biomarker of ccRCC, and could be considered as a potential therapeutic target for treating ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuenan Liu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Gong Cheng
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Zhengshuai Song
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Tianbo Xu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Hailong Ruan
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Qi Cao
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Keshan Wang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Lin Bao
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Jingchong Liu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Lijie Zhou
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Di liu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
| | - Xiaoping Zhang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022
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14
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Biswas M, Chatterjee SS, Boila LD, Chakraborty S, Banerjee D, Sengupta A. MBD3/NuRD loss participates with KDM6A program to promote DOCK5/8 expression and Rac GTPase activation in human acute myeloid leukemia. FASEB J 2019; 33:5268-5286. [PMID: 30668141 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801035r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cancer genome sequencing studies have focused on identifying oncogenic mutations. However, mutational profiling alone may not always help dissect underlying epigenetic dependencies in tumorigenesis. Nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) is an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex that regulates transcriptional architecture and is involved in cell fate commitment. We demonstrate that loss of MBD3, an important NuRD scaffold, in human primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells associates with leukemic NuRD. Interestingly, CHD4, an intact ATPase subunit of leukemic NuRD, coimmunoprecipitates and participates with H3K27Me3/2-demethylase KDM6A to induce expression of atypical guanine nucleotide exchange factors, dedicator of cytokinesis (DOCK) 5 and 8 (DOCK5/8), promoting Rac GTPase signaling. Mechanistically, MBD3 deficiency caused loss of histone deacytelase 1 occupancy with a corresponding increase in KDM6A, CBP, and H3K27Ac on DOCK5/8 loci, leading to derepression of gene expression. Importantly, the Cancer Genome Atlas AML cohort reveals that DOCK5/ 8 levels are correlated with MBD3 and KDM6A, and DOCK5/ 8 expression is significantly increased in patients who are MBD3 low and KDM6A high with a poor survival. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of DOCK signaling selectively attenuates AML cell survival. Because MBD3 and KDM6A have been implicated in metastasis, our results may suggest a general phenomenon in tumorigenesis. Collectively, these findings provide evidence for MBD3-deficient NuRD in leukemia pathobiology and inform a novel epistasis between NuRD and KDM6A toward maintenance of oncogenic gene expression in AML.-Biswas, M., Chatterjee, S. S., Boila, L. D., Chakraborty, S., Banerjee, D., Sengupta, A. MBD3/NuRD loss participates with KDM6A program to promote DOCK5/8 expression and Rac GTPase activation in human acute myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayukh Biswas
- Stem Cell and Leukemia Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.,Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-IICB, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; and
| | - Shankha Subhra Chatterjee
- Stem Cell and Leukemia Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.,Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-IICB, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; and
| | - Liberalis Debraj Boila
- Stem Cell and Leukemia Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.,Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-IICB, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; and
| | - Sayan Chakraborty
- Stem Cell and Leukemia Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.,Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-IICB, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; and
| | | | - Amitava Sengupta
- Stem Cell and Leukemia Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.,Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-IICB, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; and
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15
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Durand-Onaylı V, Haslauer T, Härzschel A, Hartmann TN. Rac GTPases in Hematological Malignancies. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19124041. [PMID: 30558116 PMCID: PMC6321480 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19124041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that crosstalk between hematologic tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment contributes to leukemia and lymphoma cell migration, survival, and proliferation. The supportive tumor cell-microenvironment interactions and the resulting cellular processes require adaptations and modulations of the cytoskeleton. The Rac subfamily of the Rho family GTPases includes key regulators of the cytoskeleton, with essential functions in both normal and transformed leukocytes. Rac proteins function downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases, chemokine receptors, and integrins, orchestrating a multitude of signals arising from the microenvironment. As such, it is not surprising that deregulation of Rac expression and activation plays a role in the development and progression of hematological malignancies. In this review, we will give an overview of the specific contribution of the deregulation of Rac GTPases in hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Durand-Onaylı
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Hematology, Medical Oncology, Hemostaseology, Infectious Disease, Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Theresa Haslauer
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Hematology, Medical Oncology, Hemostaseology, Infectious Disease, Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Andrea Härzschel
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Hematology, Medical Oncology, Hemostaseology, Infectious Disease, Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Tanja Nicole Hartmann
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Hematology, Medical Oncology, Hemostaseology, Infectious Disease, Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
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16
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Mesuraca M, Amodio N, Chiarella E, Scicchitano S, Aloisio A, Codispoti B, Lucchino V, Montalcini Y, Bond HM, Morrone G. Turning Stem Cells Bad: Generation of Clinically Relevant Models of Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia through Gene Delivery- or Genome Editing-Based Approaches. Molecules 2018; 23:E2060. [PMID: 30126100 PMCID: PMC6222541 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23082060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common acute leukemia in the adult, is believed to arise as a consequence of multiple molecular events that confer on primitive hematopoietic progenitors unlimited self-renewal potential and cause defective differentiation. A number of genetic aberrations, among which a variety of gene fusions, have been implicated in the development of a transformed phenotype through the generation of dysfunctional molecules that disrupt key regulatory mechanisms controlling survival, proliferation, and differentiation in normal stem and progenitor cells. Such genetic aberrations can be recreated experimentally to a large extent, to render normal hematopoietic stem cells "bad", analogous to the leukemic stem cells. Here, we wish to provide a brief outline of the complementary experimental approaches, largely based on gene delivery and more recently on gene editing, employed over the last two decades to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying AML development and progression and on the prospects that their applications offer for the discovery and validation of innovative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mesuraca
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Laboratory of Medical Oncology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Chiarella
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Stefania Scicchitano
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Annamaria Aloisio
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Bruna Codispoti
- Tecnologica Research Institute-Marrelli Hospital, 88900 Crotone, Italy.
| | - Valeria Lucchino
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Ylenia Montalcini
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Heather M Bond
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Morrone
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
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17
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The role of Rac in tumor susceptibility and disease progression: from biochemistry to the clinic. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:1003-1012. [PMID: 30065108 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 06/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The family of Rho GTPases are involved in the dynamic control of cytoskeleton reorganization and other fundamental cellular functions, including growth, motility, and survival. Rac1, one of the best characterized Rho GTPases, is an established effector of receptors and an important node in signaling networks crucial for tumorigenesis and metastasis. Rac1 hyperactivation is common in human cancer and could be the consequence of overexpression, abnormal upstream inputs, deregulated degradation, and/or anomalous intracellular localization. More recently, cancer-associated gain-of-function mutations in Rac1 have been identified which contribute to tumor phenotypes and confer resistance to targeted therapies. Deregulated expression/activity of Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factors responsible for Rac activation has been largely associated with a metastatic phenotype and drug resistance. Translating our extensive knowledge in Rac pathway biochemistry into a clinical setting still remains a major challenge; nonetheless, remarkable opportunities for cancer therapeutics arise from promising lead compounds targeting Rac and its effectors.
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18
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Bustelo XR. RHO GTPases in cancer: known facts, open questions, and therapeutic challenges. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:741-760. [PMID: 29871878 PMCID: PMC7615761 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RHO GTPases have been traditionally associated with protumorigenic functions. While this paradigm is still valid in many cases, recent data have unexpectedly revealed that RHO proteins can also play tumor suppressor roles. RHO signaling elements can also promote both pro- and antitumorigenic effects using GTPase-independent mechanisms, thus giving an extra layer of complexity to the role of these proteins in cancer. Consistent with these variegated roles, both gain- and loss-of-function mutations in RHO pathway genes have been found in cancer patients. Collectively, these observations challenge long-held functional archetypes for RHO proteins in both normal and cancer cells. In this review, I will summarize these data and discuss new questions arising from them such as the functional and clinical relevance of the mutations found in patients, the mechanistic orchestration of those antagonistic functions in tumors, and the pros and cons that these results represent for the development of RHO-based anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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19
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Cirmtuzumab inhibits ibrutinib-resistant, Wnt5a-induced Rac1 activation and proliferation in mantle cell lymphoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:24731-24736. [PMID: 29872501 PMCID: PMC5973864 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cirmtuzumab may enhance the therapeutic activity of ibrutinib by inhibiting ROR1-dependent signaling pathway in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is B-cell malignancy that also expresses ROR1. In this study, we found that the plasma of patients with MCL had high levels of Wnt5a, a ROR1 ligand, that were comparable to those found in patients with CLL; in contrast Wnt5a was virtually undetectable in the plasma of age-matched healthy adults. We also found that Wnt5a induced Rac1 activation in the primary MCL cells. Cirmtuzumab, but not ibrutinib, could inhibit the capacity of Wnt5a to induce primary MCL cells to activate Rac1. Addition of exogenous Wnt5a in vitro significantly enhanced the numbers of MCL cell divisions and the proportion of dividing MCL cells entering S/G2 in MCL cells over time in the presence of CD154 and IL-4/10. Treatment of the MCL cells with cirmtuzumab, but not ibrutinib, blocked Wnt5a-enhanced proliferation of MCL cells. This study indicates that cirmtuzumab and ibrutinib may have complementary activity in the treatment of patients with MCL.
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20
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Hyrenius-Wittsten A, Pilheden M, Sturesson H, Hansson J, Walsh MP, Song G, Kazi JU, Liu J, Ramakrishan R, Garcia-Ruiz C, Nance S, Gupta P, Zhang J, Rönnstrand L, Hultquist A, Downing JR, Lindkvist-Petersson K, Paulsson K, Järås M, Gruber TA, Ma J, Hagström-Andersson AK. De novo activating mutations drive clonal evolution and enhance clonal fitness in KMT2A-rearranged leukemia. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1770. [PMID: 29720585 PMCID: PMC5932012 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04180-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Activating signaling mutations are common in acute leukemia with KMT2A (previously MLL) rearrangements (KMT2A-R). These mutations are often subclonal and their biological impact remains unclear. Using a retroviral acute myeloid mouse leukemia model, we demonstrate that FLT3ITD, FLT3N676K, and NRASG12D accelerate KMT2A-MLLT3 leukemia onset. Further, also subclonal FLT3N676K mutations accelerate disease, possibly by providing stimulatory factors. Herein, we show that one such factor, MIF, promotes survival of mouse KMT2A-MLLT3 leukemia initiating cells. We identify acquired de novo mutations in Braf, Cbl, Kras, and Ptpn11 in KMT2A-MLLT3 leukemia cells that favored clonal expansion. During clonal evolution, we observe serial genetic changes at the KrasG12D locus, consistent with a strong selective advantage of additional KrasG12D. KMT2A-MLLT3 leukemias with signaling mutations enforce Myc and Myb transcriptional modules. Our results provide new insight into the biology of KMT2A-R leukemia with subclonal signaling mutations and highlight the importance of activated signaling as a contributing driver. In acute leukemia with KMT2A rearrangements (KMT2A-R), activating signaling mutations are common. Here, the authors use a retroviral acute myeloid mouse leukemia model to show that subclonal de novo activating mutations drive clonal evolution in acute leukemia with KMT2A-R and enhance clonal fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Hyrenius-Wittsten
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mattias Pilheden
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Helena Sturesson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jenny Hansson
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Michael P Walsh
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Guangchun Song
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Julhash U Kazi
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 223 63, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jian Liu
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ramprasad Ramakrishan
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Cristian Garcia-Ruiz
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stephanie Nance
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Pankaj Gupta
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Jinghui Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Lars Rönnstrand
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 223 63, Lund, Sweden.,Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden.,Division of Oncology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, 221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anne Hultquist
- Department of Pathology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, 221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - James R Downing
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Karin Lindkvist-Petersson
- Medical Structural Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, 221 84 Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kajsa Paulsson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marcus Järås
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tanja A Gruber
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.,Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Anna K Hagström-Andersson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84, Lund, Sweden.
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21
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Chatterjee SS, Biswas M, Boila LD, Banerjee D, Sengupta A. SMARCB1 Deficiency Integrates Epigenetic Signals to Oncogenic Gene Expression Program Maintenance in Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Mol Cancer Res 2018; 16:791-804. [PMID: 29483235 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
SWI/SNF is an evolutionarily conserved multi-subunit chromatin remodeling complex that regulates epigenetic architecture and cellular identity. Although SWI/SNF genes are altered in approximately 25% of human malignancies, evidences showing their involvement in tumor cell-autonomous chromatin regulation and transcriptional plasticity are limiting. This study demonstrates that human primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells exhibit near complete loss of SMARCB1 (BAF47 or SNF5/INI1) and SMARCD2 (BAF60B) associated with nucleation of SWI/SNFΔ SMARCC1 (BAF155), an intact core component of SWI/SNFΔ, colocalized with H3K27Ac to target oncogenic loci in primary AML cells. Interestingly, gene ontology (GO) term and pathway analysis suggested that SMARCC1 occupancy was enriched on genes regulating Rac GTPase activation, cell trafficking, and AML-associated transcriptional dysregulation. Transcriptome profiling revealed that expression of these genes is upregulated in primary AML blasts, and loss-of-function studies confirmed transcriptional regulation of Rac GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEF) by SMARCB1. Mechanistically, loss of SMARCB1 increased recruitment of SWI/SNFΔ and associated histone acetyltransferases (HAT) to target loci, thereby promoting H3K27Ac and gene expression. Together, SMARCB1 deficiency induced GEFs for Rac GTPase activation and augmented AML cell migration and survival. Collectively, these findings highlight tumor suppressor role of SMARCB1 and illustrate SWI/SNFΔ function in maintaining an oncogenic gene expression program in AML.Implications: Loss of SMARCB1 in AML associates with SWI/SNFΔ nucleation, which in turn promotes Rac GTPase GEF expression, Rac activation, migration, and survival of AML cells, highlighting SWI/SNFΔ downstream signaling as important molecular regulator in AML. Mol Cancer Res; 16(5); 791-804. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shankha Subhra Chatterjee
- Stem Cell & Leukemia Lab, Cancer Biology & Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Mayukh Biswas
- Stem Cell & Leukemia Lab, Cancer Biology & Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Liberalis Debraj Boila
- Stem Cell & Leukemia Lab, Cancer Biology & Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Debasis Banerjee
- Clinical Hematology, Park Clinic, Gorky Terrace, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Amitava Sengupta
- Stem Cell & Leukemia Lab, Cancer Biology & Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Translational Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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22
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Tian T, Bi C, Hein AL, Zhang X, Wang C, Shen S, Yuan J, Greiner TC, Enke C, Vose J, Yan Y, Fu K. Rac1 is a novel therapeutic target in mantle cell lymphoma. Blood Cancer J 2018; 8:17. [PMID: 29434202 PMCID: PMC5809391 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-018-0052-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tian
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Chengfeng Bi
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ashley L Hein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Songfei Shen
- Department of Oncology, Fuzhou Cancer Hospital, Fujian, China
| | - Ji Yuan
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Timothy C Greiner
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Charles Enke
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Julie Vose
- Department of Hematology Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ying Yan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Kai Fu
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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23
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Zhang S, Qian C, Liu X, Piao S, Jin X. TRAF6 Affects RAC1 Expression and Apoptosis in SK-Hep1 Cells. Chin Med 2018. [DOI: 10.4236/cm.2018.94011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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24
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Carretta M, Brouwers-Vos AZ, Bosman M, Horton SJ, Martens JHA, Vellenga E, Schuringa JJ. BRD3/4 inhibition and FLT3-ligand deprivation target pathways that are essential for the survival of human MLL-AF9+ leukemic cells. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189102. [PMID: 29240787 PMCID: PMC5730124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present work we aimed to identify targetable signaling networks in human MLL-AF9 leukemias. We show that MLL-AF9 cells critically depend on FLT3-ligand induced pathways as well as on BRD3/4 for their survival. We evaluated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of the BRD3/4 inhibitor I-BET151 in various human MLL-AF9 (primary) models and patient samples and analyzed the transcriptome changes following treatment. To further understand the mode of action of BRD3/4 inhibition, we performed ChIP-seq experiments on the MLL-AF9 complex in THP1 cells and compared it to RNA-seq data of I-BET151 treated cells. While we could confirm a consistent and specific downregulation of key-oncogenic drivers such as MYC and BCL2, we found that the majority of I-BET151-responsive genes were not direct MLL-AF9 targets. In fact, MLL-AF9 specific targets such as the HOXA cluster, MEIS1 and other cell cycle regulators such as CDK6 were not affected by I-BET151 treatment. Furthermore, we also highlight how MLL-AF9 transformed cells are dependent on the function of non-mutated hematopoietic transcription factors and tyrosine kinases such as the FLT3-TAK1/NF-kB pathway, again impacting on BCL2 but not on the HOXA cluster. We conclude that BRD3/4 and the FLT3-TAK1/NF-kB pathways collectively control a set of targets that are critically important for the survival of human MLL-AF9 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Carretta
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Annet Z. Brouwers-Vos
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Matthieu Bosman
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah J. Horton
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joost H. A. Martens
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Edo Vellenga
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Jacob Schuringa
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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25
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Nimmagadda SC, Frey S, Edelmann B, Hellmich C, Zaitseva L, König GM, Kostenis E, Bowles KM, Fischer T. Bruton's tyrosine kinase and RAC1 promote cell survival in MLL-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2017; 32:846-849. [PMID: 29109446 PMCID: PMC5843904 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S C Nimmagadda
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - S Frey
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - B Edelmann
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - C Hellmich
- Department of Molecular Haematology, Norwich Medical School, The University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - L Zaitseva
- Department of Molecular Haematology, Norwich Medical School, The University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - G M König
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - E Kostenis
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - K M Bowles
- Department of Molecular Haematology, Norwich Medical School, The University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.,Department of Haematology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust, Colney Lane, Norwich, UK
| | - T Fischer
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
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26
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Cabrera M, Echeverria E, Lenicov FR, Cardama G, Gonzalez N, Davio C, Fernández N, Menna PL. Pharmacological Rac1 inhibitors with selective apoptotic activity in human acute leukemic cell lines. Oncotarget 2017; 8:98509-98523. [PMID: 29228706 PMCID: PMC5716746 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rac1 GTPase has long been recognized as a critical regulatory protein in different cellular and molecular processes involved in cancer progression, including acute myeloid leukemia. Here we show the antitumoral activity of ZINC69391 and 1A-116, two chemically-related Rac1 pharmacological inhibitors, on a panel of four leukemic cell lines representing different levels of maturation. Importantly, we show that the main mechanism involved in the antitumoral effect triggered by the Rac1 inhibitors comprises the induction of the mitochondrial or intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Interestingly, Rac1 inhibition selectively induced apoptosis on patient-derived leukemia cells but not on normal mononuclear cells. These results show the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting Rac1 pathway in hematopoietic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maia Cabrera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica (ININFA-UBA CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emiliana Echeverria
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica (ININFA-UBA CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico Remes Lenicov
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA, Facultad de Medicina, (INBIRS-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Georgina Cardama
- Laboratorio de Oncología Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nazareno Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Oncología Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos Davio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica (ININFA-UBA CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Fernández
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica (ININFA-UBA CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Lorenzano Menna
- Laboratorio de Oncología Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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27
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Kazanietz MG, Caloca MJ. The Rac GTPase in Cancer: From Old Concepts to New Paradigms. Cancer Res 2017; 77:5445-5451. [PMID: 28807941 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Rho family GTPases are critical regulators of cellular functions that play important roles in cancer progression. Aberrant activity of Rho small G-proteins, particularly Rac1 and their regulators, is a hallmark of cancer and contributes to the tumorigenic and metastatic phenotypes of cancer cells. This review examines the multiple mechanisms leading to Rac1 hyperactivation, particularly focusing on emerging paradigms that involve gain-of-function mutations in Rac and guanine nucleotide exchange factors, defects in Rac1 degradation, and mislocalization of Rac signaling components. The unexpected pro-oncogenic functions of Rac GTPase-activating proteins also challenged the dogma that these negative Rac regulators solely act as tumor suppressors. The potential contribution of Rac hyperactivation to resistance to anticancer agents, including targeted therapies, as well as to the suppression of antitumor immune response, highlights the critical need to develop therapeutic strategies to target the Rac pathway in a clinical setting. Cancer Res; 77(20); 5445-51. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo G Kazanietz
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Maria J Caloca
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
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28
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The cell polarity determinant CDC42 controls division symmetry to block leukemia cell differentiation. Blood 2017; 130:1336-1346. [PMID: 28778865 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2016-12-758458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
As a central regulator of cell polarity, the activity of CDC42 GTPase is tightly controlled in maintaining normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSC/P) functions. We found that transformation of HSC/P to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with increased CDC42 expression and activity in leukemia cells. In a mouse model of AML, the loss of Cdc42 abrogates MLL-AF9-induced AML development. Furthermore, genetic ablation of CDC42 in both murine and human MLL-AF9 (MA9) cells decreased survival and induced differentiation of the clonogenic leukemia-initiating cells. We show that MLL-AF9 leukemia cells maintain cell polarity in the context of elevated Cdc42-guanosine triphosphate activity, similar to nonmalignant, young HSC/Ps. The loss of Cdc42 resulted in a shift to depolarized AML cells that is associated with a decrease in the frequency of symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions producing daughter cells capable of self-renewal. Importantly, we demonstrate that inducible CDC42 suppression in primary human AML cells blocks leukemia progression in a xenograft model. Thus, CDC42 loss suppresses AML cell polarity and division asymmetry, and CDC42 constitutes a useful target to alter leukemia-initiating cell fate for differentiation therapy.
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29
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Zandvakili I, Lin Y, Morris JC, Zheng Y. Rho GTPases: Anti- or pro-neoplastic targets? Oncogene 2016; 36:3213-3222. [PMID: 27991930 PMCID: PMC5464989 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Rho GTPases are critical signal transducers of multiple pathways. They have been proposed to be useful anti-neoplastic targets for over two decades, especially in Ras-driven cancers. Until recently, however, few in vivo studies had been carried out to test this premise. Several recent mouse model studies have verified that Rac1, RhoA, and some of their effector proteins such as PAK and ROCK, are likely anti-cancer targets for treating K-Ras-driven tumors. Other seemingly contradictory studies have suggested that at least in certain instances inhibition of individual Rho GTPases may paradoxically result in pro-neoplastic effects. Significantly, both RhoA GTPase gain- and loss-of-function mutations have been discovered in primary leukemia/lymphoma and gastric cancer by human cancer genome sequencing efforts, suggesting both pro- and anti-neoplastic roles. In this review we summarize and integrate these unexpected findings and discuss the mechanistic implications in the design and application of Rho GTPase targeting strategies in future cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Zandvakili
- Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Medical-Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Y Lin
- Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - J C Morris
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
| | - Y Zheng
- Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Medical-Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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30
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Yu J, Chen L, Cui B, Wu C, Choi MY, Chen Y, Zhang L, Rassenti LZ, Widhopf Ii GF, Kipps TJ. Cirmtuzumab inhibits Wnt5a-induced Rac1 activation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with ibrutinib. Leukemia 2016; 31:1333-1339. [PMID: 27904138 PMCID: PMC5462858 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Signaling via the B cell receptor (BCR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This is underscored by the clinical effectiveness of ibrutinib, an inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) that can block BCR-signaling. However, ibrutinib cannot induce complete responses (CR) or durable remissions without continued therapy, suggesting alternative pathways also contribute to CLL growth/survival that are independent of BCR-signaling. ROR1 is a receptor for Wnt5a, which can promote activation of Rac1 to enhance CLL-cell proliferation and survival. In this study, we found that CLL cells of patients treated with ibrutinib had activated Rac1. Moreover, Wnt5a could induce Rac1 activation and enhance proliferation of CLL cells treated with ibrutinib at concentrations that were effective in completely inhibiting BTK and BCR-signaling. Wnt5a-induced Rac1 activation could be blocked by cirmtuzumab (UC-961), an anti-ROR1 mAb. We found that treatment with cirmtuzumab and ibrutinib was significantly more effective than treatment with either agent alone in clearing leukemia cells in vivo. This study indicates that cirmtuzumab may enhance the activity of ibrutinib in the treatment of patients with CLL or other ROR1+ B-cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Yu
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - L Chen
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - B Cui
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christina Wu
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - M Y Choi
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Y Chen
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - L Zhang
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - L Z Rassenti
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - G F Widhopf Ii
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - T J Kipps
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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31
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Tang W, Cai P, Huo W, Li H, Tang J, Zhu D, Xie H, Chen P, Hang B, Wang S, Xia Y. Suppressive action of miRNAs to ARP2/3 complex reduces cell migration and proliferation via RAC isoforms in Hirschsprung disease. J Cell Mol Med 2016; 20:1266-75. [PMID: 26991540 PMCID: PMC4929290 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital disorder caused by the defective function of the embryonic enteric neural crest. The impaired migration of embryonic enteric neural crest plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Recent studies showed that the ARP2/3 complex and RAC isoforms had effects on actin cytoskeleton remodelling, which contributes to migration. Moreover, some regulatory relationships were identified between ARP2/3 complex and RAC isoforms. Although microRNAs (miRNAs) have been known to modulate target gene expression on the post-transcriptional level, little is known about the regulation among miRNAs, ARP2/3 complex and RAC isoforms. Here, we report that down-regulation of ARP2 and ARP3, two main subunits of ARP2/3 complex, suppressed migration and proliferation in 293T and SH-SY5Y cell lines via the inhibition of RAC1 and RAC2. Meanwhile, as the target genes, ARP2 and ARP3 are reduced by increased miR-24-1* and let-7a*, respectively, in 70 HSCR samples as compared with 74 normal controls. Co-immunoprecipitation showed that aberrant reduction in ARP2 and ARP3 could weaken the function of ARP2/3 complex. Our study demonstrates that the miR-24-1*/let-7a*-ARP2/3 complex-RAC isoforms pathway may represent a novel pathogenic mechanism for HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weibing Tang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Cai
- Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow, China
| | - Weiwei Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology (Nanjing Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongxing Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junwei Tang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dongmei Zhu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hua Xie
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pingfa Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Hang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Shouyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology (Nanjing Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Toxicology, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention & Treatment, Cancer Center, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yankai Xia
- Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology (Nanjing Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
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32
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Zhou J, Liu Y, Luo X, Shen R, Yang C, Yang T, Shi S. Identification and association of RAC1 gene polymorphisms with mRNA and protein expression levels of Rac1 in solid organ (kidney, liver, heart) transplant recipients. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:1379-88. [PMID: 27279566 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) is critical in the renal, hepatic and cardiac diseases that lead to the requirement for transplantation, however, no investigations have been performed in Chinese populations to determine the association between RAC1 genotypes and the activation of Rac1. In the present study, 304 solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs), consisting of 164 renal transplantations, 85 hepatic transplantations and 55 cardiac transplantations, and 332 Chinese healthy control subjects were recruited to investigate whether differences existed in the mRNA and protein expression levels of Rac1 in the different groups. Furthermore, the present study identified and investigated associations of the RAC1 (rs702482, rs10951982, rs702483 and rs6954996) genotypes with the mRNA expression levels of RAC1, and the protein expression levels of total Rac1 and active Rac1‑guanosine triphosphatase (GTP). It was identified that the healthy population had significantly higher levels of Rac1 and Rac1‑GTP, compared with the kidney, liver and heart transplantation populations (P<0.001 for all comparisons). Significant associations (P<0.05) were observed between the RAC1 genotypes and the expression levels of mRNA, Rac1 and Rac1‑GTP. However, the changes in the mRNA expression levels of RAC1 with genotypes were different from those of the proteins. The results of the present study represent the first, to the best of our knowledge, to report that Rac1 and Rac1‑GTP proteins can be downregulated in SOTRs, and that RAC1 genetic polymorphisms can potentially affect the mRNA expression of RAC1, and the protein expression of Rac1 and Rac1‑GTP. These results provide a foundation for further functional investigations to determine the biological and molecular functions of the RAC1 gene in SOTRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Yani Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomei Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Rufei Shen
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Chunxiao Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Tingyu Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Shaojun Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
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A PI3K p110β-Rac signalling loop mediates Pten-loss-induced perturbation of haematopoiesis and leukaemogenesis. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8501. [PMID: 26442967 PMCID: PMC4598950 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumour suppressor PTEN, which antagonizes PI3K signalling, is frequently inactivated in haematologic malignancies. In mice, deletion of PTEN in haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) causes perturbed haematopoiesis, myeloproliferative neoplasia (MPN) and leukaemia. Although the roles of the PI3K isoforms have been studied in PTEN-deficient tumours, their individual roles in PTEN-deficient HSCs are unknown. Here we show that when we delete PTEN in HSCs using the Mx1–Cre system, p110β ablation prevents MPN, improves HSC function and suppresses leukaemia initiation. Pharmacologic inhibition of p110β in PTEN-deficient mice recapitulates these genetic findings, but suggests involvement of both Akt-dependent and -independent pathways. Further investigation reveals that a p110β–Rac signalling loop plays a critical role in PTEN-deficient HSCs. Together, these data suggest that myeloid neoplasia driven by PTEN loss is dependent on p110β via p110β–Rac-positive-feedback loop, and that disruption of this loop may offer a new and effective therapeutic strategy for PTEN-deficient leukaemia. The tumor suppressor PTEN antagonizes the PI3K signalling pathway and is frequently inactivated in haematological malignancies. Here, the authors unravel the main contribution of the PI3K isoform p110ß to leukemic transformation driven by PTEN-loss.
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Glait-Santar C, Desmond R, Feng X, Bat T, Chen J, Heuston E, Mizukawa B, Mulloy JC, Bodine DM, Larochelle A, Dunbar CE. Functional Niche Competition Between Normal Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells and Myeloid Leukemia Cells. Stem Cells 2015; 33:3635-42. [PMID: 26388434 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside in a specialized niche that regulates their proliferative capacity and their fate. There is increasing evidence for similar roles of marrow niches on controlling the behavior of leukemic cells; however, whether normal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and leukemic cells reside in or functionally compete for the same marrow niche is unclear. We used the mixed lineage leukemia-AF9 (MLL-AF9) murine acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a competitive repopulation model to investigate whether normal HSPC and leukemic cells functionally compete for the same marrow niches. Irradiated recipient mice were transplanted with fixed numbers of MLL-AF9 cells mixed with increasing doses of normal syngeneic whole bone marrow (WBM) or with purified HSPC (LSK). Survival was significantly increased and leukemic progression was delayed proportional to increasing doses of normal WBM or normal LSK cells in multiple independent experiments, with all doses of WBM or LSK cells studied above the threshold for rapid and complete hematopoietic reconstitution in the absence of leukemia. Confocal microscopy demonstrated nests of either leukemic cells or normal hematopoietic cells but not both in the marrow adjacent to endosteum. Early following transplantation, leukemic cells from animals receiving lower LSK doses were cycling more actively than in those receiving higher doses. These results suggest that normal HSPC and AML cells compete for the same functional niche. Manipulation of the niche could impact on response to antileukemic therapies, and the numbers of normal HSPC could impact on leukemia outcome, informing approaches to cell dose in the context of stem cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Glait-Santar
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ronan Desmond
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Department of Haematology, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Xingmin Feng
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Taha Bat
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jichun Chen
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elisabeth Heuston
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Benjamin Mizukawa
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - James C Mulloy
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - David M Bodine
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Andre Larochelle
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cynthia E Dunbar
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Capala ME, Maat H, Bonardi F, van den Boom V, Kuipers J, Vellenga E, Giepmans BNG, Schuringa JJ. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Leukemic Stem/Progenitor Cells upon Loss of RAC2. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128585. [PMID: 26016997 PMCID: PMC4446344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) reside within bone marrow niches that maintain their relatively quiescent state and convey resistance to conventional treatment. Many of the microenvironmental signals converge on RAC GTPases. Although it has become clear that RAC proteins fulfill important roles in the hematopoietic compartment, little has been revealed about the downstream effectors and molecular mechanisms. We observed that in BCR-ABL-transduced human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) depletion of RAC2 but not RAC1 induced a marked and immediate decrease in proliferation, progenitor frequency, cobblestone formation and replating capacity, indicative for reduced self-renewal. Cell cycle analyses showed reduced cell cycle activity in RAC2-depleted BCR-ABL leukemic cobblestones coinciding with an increased apoptosis. Moreover, a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential was observed upon RAC2 downregulation, paralleled by severe mitochondrial ultrastructural malformations as determined by automated electron microscopy. Proteome analysis revealed that RAC2 specifically interacted with a set of mitochondrial proteins including mitochondrial transport proteins SAM50 and Metaxin 1, and interactions were confirmed in independent co-immunoprecipitation studies. Downregulation of SAM50 also impaired the proliferation and replating capacity of BCR-ABL-expressing cells, again associated with a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Taken together, these data suggest an important role for RAC2 in maintaining mitochondrial integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta E. Capala
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Henny Maat
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Bonardi
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Vincent van den Boom
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kuipers
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Edo Vellenga
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ben N. G. Giepmans
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Jacob Schuringa
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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36
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Bopp A, Wartlick F, Henninger C, Schwarz M, Kaina B, Fritz G. Rac1 promotes diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced formation of liver tumors. Carcinogenesis 2015; 36:378-89. [PMID: 25556150 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgu323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To elucidate the function of the Ras-homologous GTPase Rac1 in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), mice lacking hepatic Rac1 expression were treated with DEN and compared to the wild-type (WT). Rac1 knock-out (KO) mice were found to have a lower tumor yield as compared to Rac1 proficient mice. The small-sized tumors formed in the absence of Rac1 lack an activated Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, as indicated by the absence of p-ERK expression. Apparently, Rac1 is required for Ras-driven oncogenic pathways. Moreover, tumors in Rac1 deficient mice were glutamine synthase (GS) negative. They displayed a high number of p-H3-positive and cyclinB1 expressing cells, pointing to a defect in mitotic progression. To elucidate the influence of Rac1 on mechanisms of tumor initiation, acute DEN-induced hepatic stress responses were monitored. Rac1 deficiency caused fairly complex, partially time-dependent, alterations in both basal and/or DEN-induced messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of susceptibility-related genes. Basal protein expression of DNA repair factors Brca1 and DNA repair protein RAD51 homolog (Rad51) and the cell cycle regulatory factor p27 was enhanced in the absence of Rac1. Following DEN treatment, p21 mRNA and protein expression was stimulated independent of the Rac1 status. Lack of Rac1 increased mechanisms of the DNA damage response (DDR), as shown by elevated protein levels of p-ATR, p-p53 and γH2AX 24h after DEN treatment. The data show that Rac1 is essential for DEN-stimulated hepatocarcinogenesis. We hypothesize that it promotes tumor initiation by counteracting the elimination of initiated cells and, moreover, alleviates the outgrowth of transformed cells. Hence, pharmacological targeting of Rac1 could be suitable for chemoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Bopp
- Institute of Toxicology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Friedrich Wartlick
- Institute of Toxicology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Henninger
- Institute of Toxicology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Schwarz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Tübingen, Wilhelmstrasse 76, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bernd Kaina
- Institute of Toxicology, University Medical Center Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany and
| | - Gerhard Fritz
- Institute of Toxicology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany,
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Castillo-Pichardo L, Humphries-Bickley T, De La Parra C, Forestier-Roman I, Martinez-Ferrer M, Hernandez E, Vlaar C, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Washington AV, Cubano LA, Rodriguez-Orengo J, Dharmawardhane S. The Rac Inhibitor EHop-016 Inhibits Mammary Tumor Growth and Metastasis in a Nude Mouse Model. Transl Oncol 2014; 7:546-55. [PMID: 25389450 PMCID: PMC4225654 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic disease still lacks effective treatments, and remains the primary cause of cancer mortality. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop better strategies to inhibit metastatic cancer. The Rho family GTPase Rac is an ideal target for anti-metastatic cancer therapy, because Rac is a key molecular switch that is activated by a myriad of cell surface receptors to promote cancer cell migration/invasion and survival. Previously, we reported the design and development of EHop-016, a small molecule compound, which inhibits Rac activity of metastatic cancer cells with an IC50 of 1 μM. EHop-016 also inhibits the activity of the Rac downstream effector p21-activated kinase (PAK), lamellipodia extension, and cell migration in metastatic cancer cells. Herein, we tested the efficacy of EHop-016 in a nude mouse model of experimental metastasis, where EHop-016 administration at 25 mg/kg body weight (BW) significantly reduced mammary fat pad tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis. As quantified by UPLC MS/MS, EHop-016 was detectable in the plasma of nude mice at 17 to 23 ng/ml levels at 12 h following intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 10 to 25 mg/kg BW EHop-016. The EHop-016 mediated inhibition of angiogenesis In Vivo was confirmed by immunohistochemistry of excised tumors and by In Vitro tube formation assays of endothelial cells. Moreover, EHop-016 affected cell viability by down-regulating Akt and Jun kinase activities and c-Myc and Cyclin D expression, as well as increasing caspase 3/7 activities in metastatic cancer cells. In conclusion, EHop-016 has potential as an anticancer compound to block cancer progression via multiple Rac-directed mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linette Castillo-Pichardo
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico ; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
| | - Tessa Humphries-Bickley
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Columba De La Parra
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Ingrid Forestier-Roman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Magaly Martinez-Ferrer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Eliud Hernandez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Cornelis Vlaar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | | | - Luis A Cubano
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
| | - Jose Rodriguez-Orengo
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Suranganie Dharmawardhane
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Wan YJ, Yang Y, Leng QL, Lan B, Jia HY, Liu YH, Zhang CZ, Cao Y. Vav1 increases Bcl-2 expression by selective activation of Rac2-Akt in leukemia T cells. Cell Signal 2014; 26:2202-9. [PMID: 24880064 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2014.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Vav proteins are guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that activate a group of small G proteins (GTPases). Vav1 is predominantly expressed in hematopoietic cells, whereas Vav2 and Vav3 are ubiquitously distributed in almost all human tissues. All three Vav proteins contain conserved structural motifs and associate with a variety of cellular activities including proliferation, migration, and survival. Previous observation with Jurkat leukemia T cells showed that Vav1 possessed anti-apoptotic activity by enhancing Bcl-2 transcription. However the mechanism has not been unveiled. Here, we explored the effectors of Vav1 in promoting Bcl-2 expression in Jurkat cells and revealed that Rac2-Akt was specifically evoked by the expression of Vav1, but not Vav2 or Vav3. Although all three Vav isoforms existed in Jurkat cells, Rac2 was distinguishably activated by Vav1 and that led to enhanced Bcl-2 expression and cell survival. Akt was modulated downstream of Vav1-Rac2, and the activation of Akt was indispensable in the enhanced transcription of Bcl-2. Intriguingly, neither Vav2 nor Vav3 was able to activate Rac2-Akt pathway as determined by gene silencing approach. Our data illustrated a unique role of Vav1 in T leukemia survival by selectively triggering Rac2-Akt axis and elevating the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Juan Wan
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Yin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Qian-Li Leng
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Bei Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Hui-Yan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Yao-Hui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Cui-Zhu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Youjia Cao
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
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39
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Hofbauer SW, Krenn PW, Ganghammer S, Asslaber D, Pichler U, Oberascher K, Henschler R, Wallner M, Kerschbaum H, Greil R, Hartmann TN. Tiam1/Rac1 signals contribute to the proliferation and chemoresistance, but not motility, of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Blood 2014; 123:2181-8. [PMID: 24501217 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2013-08-523563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Signals from the tumor microenvironment promote the migration, survival, and proliferation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. Rho GTPases control various signaling pathways downstream of microenvironmental cues. Here, we analyze the function of Rac1 in the motility and proliferation of CLL cells. We found decreased transcription of the Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factors Tiam1 and Vav1 in unstimulated peripheral blood CLL cells with almost complete loss of Tiam1 but increased transcription of the potential Rac antagonist RhoH. Consistently, stimulation of CLL cells with the chemokine CXCL12 induced RhoA but not Rac1 activation, whereas chemokine-induced CLL cell motility was Rac1-independent. Coculture of CLL cells with activated T cells induced their activation and subsequent proliferation. Here, Tiam1 expression was induced in the malignant cells in line with increased Ki-67 and c-Myc expression. Rac1 or Tiam1 knockdown using siRNA or treatment with the Tiam1/Rac inhibitor NSC-23766 attenuated c-Myc transcription. Furthermore, treatment of CLL cells with NSC-23766 reduced their proliferation. Rac inhibition also antagonized the chemoresistance of activated CLL cells toward fludarabine. Collectively, our data suggest a dynamic regulation of Rac1 function in the CLL microenvironment. Rac inhibition could be of clinical use by selectively interfering with CLL cell proliferation and chemoresistance.
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MESH Headings
- Aminoquinolines/pharmacology
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Cell Movement/genetics
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic/drug effects
- Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors/antagonists & inhibitors
- Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors/physiology
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Mice
- NIH 3T3 Cells
- Pyrimidines/pharmacology
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- Signal Transduction/physiology
- T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1
- rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/antagonists & inhibitors
- rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian W Hofbauer
- Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research, Third Medical Department with Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, Infectiology, and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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40
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Chang YC, Hsiao YM, Wu MF, Ou CC, Lin YW, Lue KH, Ko JL. Interruption of lung cancer cell migration and proliferation by fungal immunomodulatory protein FIP-fve from Flammulina velutipes. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2013; 61:12044-12052. [PMID: 24274472 DOI: 10.1021/jf4030272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
FIP-fve is an immunomodulatory protein isolated from Flammulina velutipes that possesses anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. However, little is known about its anticancer effects. It is suppressed cell proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells on MTT assay following 48 h treatment of FIP-fve. FIP-fve treatment also resulted in cell cycle arrest but not apoptosis on flow cytometry. This immunomodulatory protein was observed to increase p53 expression, as well as the expression of its downstream gene p21, on Western blot. FIP-fve inhibited migration of A549 cells on wound healing assay and decreased filopodia fiber formation on labeling with Texas Red-X phalloidin. To confirm the effect of FIP-fve on the role of Rac1 in filopodia formation, we investigated the activity of Rac1 in A549 cells following FIP-fve treatment. FIP-fve inhibited EGF-induced activation of Rac1. We demonstrated that FIP-fve decreases RACGAP1 mRNA and protein levels on RT-PCR and Western blot. In addition, the reporter activity of RACGAP1 was reduced by FIP-fve on RacGAP1 promoter assay. Silencing of RacGAP1 decreased cell migration, and overexpression of RacGAP1 increased cell migration in A549 cells. In conclusion, FIP-fve inhibits lung cancer cell migration via RacGAP1 and suppresses the proliferation of A549 via p53 activation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chi Chang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University , No. 110, Sec. 1, Chien-Kuo N. Road, Taichung 40203, Taiwan
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41
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Abstract
NF-κB is involved in a variety of biological processes, including cancer development. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Kuo et al. show the essential role for IKK/NF-κB signaling in epigenetic regulation by MLL oncoproteins to maintain leukemia stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Goyama
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine,
Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - James C. Mulloy
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine,
Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Correspondence:
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42
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Goyama S, Schibler J, Cunningham L, Zhang Y, Rao Y, Nishimoto N, Nakagawa M, Olsson A, Wunderlich M, Link KA, Mizukawa B, Grimes HL, Kurokawa M, Liu PP, Huang G, Mulloy JC. Transcription factor RUNX1 promotes survival of acute myeloid leukemia cells. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:3876-88. [PMID: 23979164 DOI: 10.1172/jci68557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RUNX1 is generally considered a tumor suppressor in myeloid neoplasms. Inactivating RUNX1 mutations have frequently been found in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, no somatic RUNX1 alteration was found in AMLs with leukemogenic fusion proteins, such as core-binding factor (CBF) leukemia and MLL fusion leukemia, raising the possibility that RUNX1 could actually promote the growth of these leukemia cells. Using normal human cord blood cells and those expressing leukemogenic fusion proteins, we discovered a dual role of RUNX1 in myeloid leukemogenesis. RUNX1 overexpression inhibited the growth of normal cord blood cells by inducing myeloid differentiation, whereas a certain level of RUNX1 activity was required for the growth of AML1-ETO and MLL-AF9 cells. Using a mouse genetic model, we also showed that the combined loss of Runx1/Cbfb inhibited leukemia development induced by MLL-AF9. RUNX2 could compensate for the loss of RUNX1. The survival effect of RUNX1 was mediated by BCL2 in MLL fusion leukemia. Our study unveiled an unexpected prosurvival role for RUNX1 in myeloid leukemogenesis. Inhibiting RUNX1 activity rather than enhancing it could be a promising therapeutic strategy for AMLs with leukemogenic fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Goyama
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
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Abstract
The Rac inhibitor EHop-016 was developed as a compound with the potential to inhibit cancer metastasis. Inhibition of the first step of metastasis, migration, is an important strategy for metastasis prevention. The small GTPase Rac acts as a pivotal binary switch that is turned "on" by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) via a myriad of cell surface receptors, to regulate cancer cell migration, survival, and proliferation. Unlike the related GTPase Ras, Racs are not usually mutated, but overexpressed or overactivated in cancer. Therefore, a rational Rac inhibitor should block the activation of Rac by its upstream effectors, GEFs, and the Rac inhibitor NSC23766 was developed using this rationale. However, this compound is ineffective at inhibiting the elevated Rac activity of metastatic breast cancer cells. Therefore, a panel of small molecule compounds were derived from NSC23766 and screened for Rac activity inhibition in metastatic cancer cells. EHop-016 was identified as a compound that blocks the interaction of Rac with the GEF Vav in metastatic human breast cancer cells with an IC50 of ~1μM. At higher concentrations (10μM), EHop-016 inhibits the related Rho GTPase Cdc42, but not Rho, and also reduces cell viability. Moreover, EHop-016 inhibits the activation of the Rac downstream effector p21-activated kinase, extension of motile actin-based structures, and cell migration. Future goals are to develop EHop-016 as a therapeutic to inhibit cancer metastasis, either individually or in combination with current anticancer compounds. The next generation of EHop-016-based Rac inhibitors is also being developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suranganie Dharmawardhane
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA.
| | - Eliud Hernandez
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Cornelis Vlaar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
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Abstract
Advances in our understanding of the genetic determinants of leukemia have translated to better treatment options and improved survival of patients with acute myeloid and acute lymphoid leukemia. However, some leukemias, such as those bearing 11q23 (MLL) translocations, result in aggressive diseases with a relatively poor prognosis, despite improved treatments such as allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This article will briefly review the functions and regulation of wild-type MLL during normal hematopoiesis, while focusing on recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing MLL leukemias. The transcriptional targets, cooperating signaling pathways and molecular machinery involved in MLL-associated leukemias will be discussed, as well as how these may be harnessed for more personalized treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Muntean
- Department of Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 7520B Medical Science Research Building I, 1301 Catherine Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5602, USA
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Activation of Rac1 GTPase promotes leukemia cell chemotherapy resistance, quiescence and niche interaction. Mol Oncol 2013; 7:907-16. [PMID: 23726395 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2013.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Revised: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) reside in bone marrow niche and receive important signals from the microenvironment that support self-renewal, maintain quiescence and endow LSC with the ability of chemotherapy resistance. Rac1 belongs to the small GTP-binding protein superfamily and is implicated in the interactions of hematopoietic progenitors and bone marrow niche. Our previous studies have shown that Rac1 is over-expressed in leukemia patients and activation of Rac1 GTPase is closely associated with the efficient migration of leukemia cells. However, the potential functions for Rac1 GTPase in LSCs behaviors and in the residence of leukemia cells in niche remain unknown. In this study, by forced expression of a dominant-negative form of Rac1 GTPase in a CD34(+) myeloid leukemia cell line, as well as bone marrow cells from leukemia patients, we show that inactivation of Rac1 GTPase causes impaired migration and enhances chemotherapeutic sensitivity. Inactivation of Rac1 in leukemia cells also lead to a reduction in the frequency of cells in quiescent state and inhibition of homing to bone marrow niche. Gene expression analysis shows that inactivation of Rac1 down-regulates the expression of several cell intrinsic cell cycle inhibitors such as p21, p27, and p57, as well as the extrinsic molecules that mediated the interaction of LSC with osteoblastic niche. Furthermore, we show that Rac1 mediated the localization in niche is further attributed to the maintenance of quiescence. Our results provide evidence for the critical role of Rac1 GTPase in leukemia cell chemotherapy resistance, quiescence maintenance and the interaction with bone marrow microenvironment.
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46
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Hinterleitner C, Huelsenbeck J, Henninger C, Wartlick F, Schorr A, Kaina B, Fritz G. Rac1 signaling protects monocytic AML cells expressing the MLL-AF9 oncogene from caspase-mediated apoptotic death. Apoptosis 2013; 18:963-79. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-013-0842-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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47
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Abstract
The molecular mechanisms underlying oncogenesis in leukemias associated with rearrangement of the Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene have received a considerable amount of attention over the last two decades. In this review we will focus on recent studies, published over the past year, that reveal new insights into the multi-protein complexes formed by MLL and MLL fusion proteins, the role of epigenetic deregulation in MLL fusion function, downstream transcriptional target genes, the importance of the leukemia cell of origin, the role played by microRNAs, cooperating mutations and the implications that recent research has for the therapy of MLL-rearranged leukemia.
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48
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Bopp A, Wartlick F, Henninger C, Kaina B, Fritz G. Rac1 modulates acute and subacute genotoxin-induced hepatic stress responses, fibrosis and liver aging. Cell Death Dis 2013; 4:e558. [PMID: 23519127 PMCID: PMC3613835 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2013.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the importance of the Ras-homologous GTPase Rac1 for the hepatic response to genotoxic insults and liver aging, rac1 was deleted in liver of mice by Mx1-Cre-based recombination. Knockout of rac1 caused complex changes in basal as well as doxorubicin and ionizing radiation-induced mRNA expression of various genotoxic stress response-related genes, including hspa1b, rad51, wrn and xpc. Rac1 deletion protected the liver from acute toxicity following doxorubicin treatment. Moreover, the level of S139 phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX), which is indicative of DNA damage, and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory (IL-6) and pro-fibrotic (CTGF, TGFβ, αSMA) factors were mitigated in rac1 knockout animals. By contrast, lack of rac1 promoted subacute hepatotoxicity, which was determined 3 weeks after injection of multiple low doses of doxorubicin by assaying the γH2AX level, mitotic index and pro-fibrotic gene expression. Regarding ionizing radiation, rac1 deficiency had no major effects on DNA damage induction or acute pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic stress responses. Mice lacking hepatic rac1 for extended period of time (15 months) revealed increased mRNA expression of fibrosis-related factors (CTGF, TGFβ, collagen, MMP1) and fibrotic tissue remodeling. In addition, protein expression of the senescence marker p16 was enhanced in the absence of rac1. Taken together, the data provide evidence that Rac1 is required for doxorubicin-induced DNA damage induction. It is also involved in both the acute and delayed inflammatory and fibrotic stress response in the liver following doxorubicin, but not ionizing radiation, treatment and, furthermore, protects against endogenous liver aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bopp
- Department of Toxicology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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49
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Functions of BCL-X L at the Interface between Cell Death and Metabolism. Int J Cell Biol 2013; 2013:705294. [PMID: 23533418 PMCID: PMC3603586 DOI: 10.1155/2013/705294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Revised: 01/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The BCL-2 homolog BCL-XL, one of the two protein products of BCL2L1, has originally been characterized for its prominent prosurvival functions. Similar to BCL-2, BCL-XL binds to its multidomain proapoptotic counterparts BAX and BAK, hence preventing the formation of lethal pores in the mitochondrial outer membrane, as well as to multiple BH3-only proteins, thus interrupting apical proapoptotic signals. In addition, BCL-XL has been suggested to exert cytoprotective functions by sequestering a cytosolic pool of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor p53 and by binding to the voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), thereby inhibiting the so-called mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). Thus, BCL-XL appears to play a prominent role in the regulation of multiple distinct types of cell death, including apoptosis and regulated necrosis. More recently, great attention has been given to the cell death-unrelated functions of BCL-2-like proteins. In particular, BCL-XL has been shown to modulate a number of pathophysiological processes, including-but not limited to-mitochondrial ATP synthesis, protein acetylation, autophagy and mitosis. In this short review article, we will discuss the functions of BCL-XL at the interface between cell death and metabolism.
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Kang J, Pervaiz S. Crosstalk between Bcl-2 family and Ras family small GTPases: potential cell fate regulation? Front Oncol 2013; 2:206. [PMID: 23316476 PMCID: PMC3539672 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2012.00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell fate regulation is a function of diverse cell signaling pathways that promote cell survival and or inhibit cell death execution. In this regard, the role of the Bcl-2 family in maintaining a tight balance between cell death and cell proliferation has been extensively studied. The conventional dogma links cell fate regulation by the Bcl-2 family to its effect on mitochondrial permeabilization and apoptosis amplification. However, recent evidence provide a novel mechanism for death regulation by the Bcl-2 family via modulating cellular redox metabolism. For example overexpression of Bcl-2 has been shown to contribute to a pro-oxidant intracellular milieu and down-regulation of cellular superoxide levels enhanced death sensitivity of Bcl-2 overexpressing cells. Interestingly, gene knockdown of the small GTPase Rac1 or pharmacological inhibition of its activity also reverted death phenotype in Bcl-2 expressing cells. This appears to be a function of an interaction between Bcl-2 and Rac1. Similar functional associations have been described between the Bcl-2 family and other members of the Ras superfamily. These interactions at the mitochondria provide novel opportunities for strategic therapeutic targeting of drug-resistant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Kang
- ROS, Apoptosis and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Singapore, Singapore ; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore Singapore, Singapore
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