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Dalle Carbonare L, Minoia A, Vareschi A, Piritore FC, Zouari S, Gandini A, Meneghel M, Elia R, Lorenzi P, Antoniazzi F, Pessoa J, Zipeto D, Romanelli MG, Guardavaccaro D, Valenti MT. Exploring the Interplay of RUNX2 and CXCR4 in Melanoma Progression. Cells 2024; 13:408. [PMID: 38474372 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050408] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of the Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) has been reported in several cancer types, and the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) has an important role in tumour progression. However, the interplay between CXCR4 and RUNX2 in melanoma cells remains poorly understood. In the present study, we used melanoma cells and a RUNX2 knockout (RUNX2-KO) in vitro model to assess the influence of RUNX2 on CXCR4 protein levels along with its effects on markers associated with cell invasion and autophagy. Osteotropism was assessed using a 3D microfluidic model. Moreover, we assessed the impact of CXCR4 on the cellular levels of key cellular signalling proteins involved in autophagy. We observed that melanoma cells express both RUNX2 and CXCR4. Restored RUNX2 expression in RUNX2 KO cells increased the expression levels of CXCR4 and proteins associated with the metastatic process. The protein markers of autophagy LC3 and beclin were upregulated in response to increased CXCR4 levels. The CXCR4 inhibitor WZ811 reduced osteotropism and activated the mTOR and p70-S6 cell signalling proteins. Our data indicate that the RUNX2 transcription factor promotes the expression of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor on melanoma cells, which in turn promotes autophagy, cell invasiveness, and osteotropism, through the inhibition of the mTOR signalling pathway. Our data suggest that RUNX2 promotes melanoma progression by upregulating CXCR4, and we identify the latter as a key player in melanoma-related osteotropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Dalle Carbonare
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Arianna Minoia
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Vareschi
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | | | - Sharazed Zouari
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Alberto Gandini
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Mirko Meneghel
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Rossella Elia
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Pamela Lorenzi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Franco Antoniazzi
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - João Pessoa
- Department of Medical Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Donato Zipeto
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Romanelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | | | - Maria Teresa Valenti
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
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Wu A, Turner KA, Woolfson A, Jiang X. The Hedgehog Pathway as a Therapeutic Target in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030958. [PMID: 36986819 PMCID: PMC10053130 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the development of therapeutic agents that selectively target cancer cells, relapse driven by acquired drug resistance and resulting treatment failure remains a significant issue. The highly conserved Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway performs multiple roles in both development and tissue homeostasis, and its aberrant regulation is known to drive the pathogenesis of numerous human malignancies. However, the role of HH signaling in mediating disease progression and drug resistance remains unclear. This is especially true for myeloid malignancies. The HH pathway, and in particular the protein Smoothened (SMO), has been shown to be essential for regulating stem cell fate in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Evidence suggests that HH pathway activity is critical for maintaining the drug-resistant properties and survival of CML leukemic stem cells (LSCs), and that dual inhibition of BCR-ABL1 and SMO may comprise an effective therapeutic strategy for the eradication of these cells in patients. This review will explore the evolutionary origins of HH signaling, highlighting its roles in development and disease, which are mediated by canonical and non-canonical HH signaling. Development of small molecule inhibitors of HH signaling and clinical trials using these inhibitors as therapeutic agents in cancer and their potential resistance mechanisms, are also discussed, with a focus on CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Wu
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kelly A. Turner
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Adrian Woolfson
- Replay Holdings Inc., 5555 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Jiang
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Dukes MW, Bajema EA, Whittemore TJ, Holmgren RA, Meade TJ. Delivery of Targeted Co(III)-DNA Inhibitors of Gli Proteins to Disrupt Hedgehog Signaling. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:643-653. [PMID: 35271256 PMCID: PMC10775819 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is integral for embryonic development and normal cell maintenance. However, aberrant expression of the Hh pathway is recognized as the oncogenic driving force for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Current chemotherapeutic treatments that inhibit Hh signaling allow treatment of only locally advanced and metastatic BCCs via inhibition of the transmembrane protein, smoothened. It is further recognized that downstream mutations often lead to chemoresistant tumor recurrence. The Gli proteins are the ultimate regulators of Hh signaling and belong to a family of Cys2His2 zinc finger transcription factors (ZnFTFs) that we have shown can be irreversibly inhibited by a series of cobalt(III) Schiff base-DNA (CoSB-DNA) conjugates. However, a significant challenge is the delivery of CoSB-DNA complexes in mammalian tissues. Herein, we report a polyethyleneimine-functionalized graphene oxide nanoconjugate (GOPEI) that delivers CoGli, a CoSB-DNA complex that targets Gli specifically. We describe the characterization of the surface functionalization of GOPEI and accumulation in ASZ murine BCC cells via confocal microscopy and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Lysosomal escape of CoGli is further confirmed by confocal microscopy. We report the successful targeting of Gli by CoGli and a 17-fold improvement in potency over small-molecule Gli inhibitor GANT-61 in inhibiting Hh-driven migration of ASZ murine BCC cells. This study provides a promising starting point for further investigating CoGli inhibitors of Hh signaling in developed mammalian tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Robert A Holmgren
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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Advances in glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) inhibitors for cancer therapy. Invest New Drugs 2021; 40:370-388. [PMID: 34837604 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-021-01187-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The Hedgehog/Glioma-associated oncogene homolog (HH/GLI) signaling pathway regulates self-renewal of rare and highly malignant cancer stem cells, which have been shown to account for the initiation and maintenance of tumor growth as well as for drug resistance, metastatic spread and relapse. As an important component of the Hh signaling pathway, glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) acts as a key signal transmission hub for various signaling pathways in many tumors. Here, we review direct and indirect inhibitors of GLI; summarize the abundant active structurally diverse natural GLI inhibitors; and discuss how to better develop and utilize GLI inhibitors to solve the problem of drug resistance in tumors of interest. In summary, GLI inhibitors will be promising candidates for various cancer treatments.
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Kang W, Hu J, Zhao Q, Song F. Identification of an Autophagy-Related Risk Signature Correlates With Immunophenotype and Predicts Immune Checkpoint Blockade Efficacy of Neuroblastoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:731380. [PMID: 34746127 PMCID: PMC8567030 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.731380] [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: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is one of the malignant solid tumors with the highest mortality in childhood. Targeted immunotherapy still cannot achieve satisfactory results due to heterogeneity and tolerance. Exploring markers related to prognosis and evaluating the immune microenvironment remain the major obstacles. Herein, we constructed an autophagy-related gene (ATG) risk model by multivariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, and identified four prognostic ATGs (BIRC5, GRID2, HK2, and RNASEL) in the training cohort, then verified the signature in the internal and external validation cohorts. BIRC5 and HK2 showed higher expression in MYCN amplified cell lines and tumor tissues consistently, whereas GRID2 and RNASEL showed the opposite trends. The correlation between the signature and clinicopathological parameters was further analyzed and showing consistency. A prognostic nomogram using risk score, International Neuroblastoma Staging System stage, age, and MYCN status was built subsequently, and the area under curves, net reclassification improvement, and integrated discrimination improvement showed more satisfactory prognostic predicting performance. The ATG prognostic signature itself can significantly divide patients with neuroblastoma into high- and low-risk groups; differentially expressed genes between the two groups were enriched in autophagy-related behaviors and immune cell reactions in gene set enrichment analysis (false discovery rate q -value < 0.05). Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship of the signature risk score with immune cell infiltration and the cancer-immunity cycle. The low-risk group was characterized by more abundant expression of chemokines and higher immune checkpoints (PDL1, PD1, CTLA-4, and IDO1). The risk score was significantly correlated with the proportions of CD8+ T cells, CD4+ memory resting T cells, follicular helper T cells, memory B cells, plasma cells, and M2 macrophages in tumor tissues. In conclusion, we developed and validated an autophagy-related signature that can accurately predict the prognosis, which might be meaningful to understand the immune microenvironment and guide immune checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Kang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cancer Epidemiology, Tianjin, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiajian Hu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengju Song
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cancer Epidemiology, Tianjin, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Li Y, Feng C, Chen Y, Huang K, Li C, Xiong X, Li P, Zhou D, Peng X, Weng W, Deng X, Wu Y, Fang J. Improved Outcomes with Induction Chemotherapy Combined with Arsenic Trioxide in Stage 4 Neuroblastoma: A Case Series. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2021; 20:15330338211041454. [PMID: 34569870 PMCID: PMC8485563 DOI: 10.1177/15330338211041454] [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] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The apoptotic and cytotoxic effects of arsenic trioxide (ATO) makes it a potentially suitable agent for the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma with poor prognosis; therefore, we try to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ATO combined with reinduction/induction chemotherapy in children with recurrent/refractory or newly diagnosed stage 4 neuroblastoma. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on seven pediatric patients with recurrent /refractory or newly diagnosed stage 4 neuroblastoma treated with traditional reinduction/induction chemotherapy combined with ATO. Results: A total of 7 patients were treated synchronously with ATO and chemotherapy for up to nine courses; all patients received conventional chemotherapy plus a 0.16 mg/kg/day dose of intravenous ATO during reinduction/induction chemotherapy. Treatment was effective in five patients and ineffective in the other two patients. The overall response rate was 71.43% (5 of 7). The side effects of the ATO combination were minor, whereby only treatment in one patient was terminated at the sixth course due to a prolonged QT interval (0.51 s), which returned to normal after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions: ATO can be safely and effectively combined with chemotherapy drugs as a potential alternative means of treatment for high-risk stage 4 neuroblastoma, and we have observed that ATO can restore the sensitivity of chemotherapy in some patients who were resistant to previous chemotherapy. Further investigations and clinical data are required to confirm these observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuchu Feng
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yantao Chen
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ke Huang
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunmou Li
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xilin Xiong
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Li
- 302944South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dunhua Zhou
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaomin Peng
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjun Weng
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaogeng Deng
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaohao Wu
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianpei Fang
- 56713Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Li C, Peng X, Feng C, Xiong X, Li J, Liao N, Yang Z, Liu A, Wu P, Liang X, He Y, Tian X, Lin Y, Wang S, Li Y. Excellent Early Outcomes of Combined Chemotherapy With Arsenic Trioxide for Stage 4/M Neuroblastoma in Children: A Multicenter Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. Oncol Res 2021; 28:791-800. [PMID: 33858561 PMCID: PMC8420893 DOI: 10.3727/096504021x16184815905096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This nonrandomized, multicenter cohort, open-label clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined chemotherapy with arsenic trioxide (ATO) in children with stage 4/M neuroblastoma (NB). We enrolled patients who were newly diagnosed with NB and assessed as stage 4/M and received either traditional chemotherapy or ATO combined with chemotherapy according to their own wishes. Twenty-two patients were enrolled in the trial group (ATO combined with chemotherapy), and 13 patients were enrolled in the control group (traditional chemotherapy). Objective response rate (ORR) at 4 weeks after completing induction chemotherapy was defined as the main outcome, and adverse events were monitored and graded in the meantime. Data cutoff date was December 31, 2019. Finally, we found that patients who received ATO combined with chemotherapy had a significantly higher response rate than those who were treated with traditional chemotherapy (ORR: 86.36% vs. 46.16%, p=0.020). Reversible cardiotoxicity was just observed in three patients who were treated with ATO, and no other differential adverse events were observed between the two groups. ATO combined with chemotherapy can significantly improve end-induction response in high-risk NB, and our novel regimen is well tolerated in pediatric patients. These results highlight the superiority of chemotherapy with ATO, which creates new opportunity for prolonging survival. In addition, this treatment protocol minimizes therapeutic costs compared with anti-GD2 therapy, MIBG, and proton therapy and can decrease the burden to families and society. However, we also need to evaluate more cases to consolidate our conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmou Li
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomin Peng
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Chuchu Feng
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xilin Xiong
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jianxin Li
- †Department of Hematology and Oncology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Ning Liao
- ‡Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of GuangXi Medical University, Nanning, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Yang
- §Department of Hematology, Kunming Children’s Hospital, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Aiguo Liu
- ¶Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Pingping Wu
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xuehong Liang
- †Department of Hematology and Oncology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yunyan He
- ‡Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of GuangXi Medical University, Nanning, P.R. China
| | - Xin Tian
- §Department of Hematology, Kunming Children’s Hospital, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Yunbi Lin
- §Department of Hematology, Kunming Children’s Hospital, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Songmi Wang
- ¶Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yang Li
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
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Carballo GB, Ribeiro JH, Lopes GPDF, Ferrer VP, Dezonne RS, Pereira CM, Spohr TCLDSE. GANT-61 Induces Autophagy and Apoptosis in Glioblastoma Cells despite their heterogeneity. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 41:1227-1244. [PMID: 32504326 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00891-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common adult primary tumor of the CNS characterized by rapid growth and diffuse invasiveness into the brain parenchyma. The GBM resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs may be due to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The CSCs activate the same molecular pathways as healthy stem cells such as WNT, Sonic hedgehog (SHH), and Notch. Mutations or deregulations of those pathways play a key role in the proliferation and differentiation of their surrounding environment, leading to tumorigenesis. Here we investigated the effect of SHH signaling pathway inhibition in human GBM cells by using GANT-61, considering stem cell phenotype, cell proliferation, and cell death. Our results demonstrated that GANT-61 induces apoptosis and autophagy in GBM cells, by increasing the expression of LC3 II and cleaved caspase 3 and 9. Moreover, we observed that SHH signaling plays a crucial role in CSC phenotype maintenance, being also involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. We also noted that SHH pathway modulation can regulate cell proliferation as revealed through the analysis of Ki-67 and c-MYC expressions. We concluded that SHH signaling pathway inhibition may be a promising therapeutic approach to treat patients suffering from GBM refractory to traditional treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Basile Carballo
- Instituto Estadual Do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer, Rua do Rezende 156, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20231-092, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Orofacial Development and Regeneration, Institute of Oral Biology, Centre for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Honorato Ribeiro
- Instituto Estadual Do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer, Rua do Rezende 156, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20231-092, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK·CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Giselle Pinto de Faria Lopes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Marinha, Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (IEAPM)/Coordenação de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Valéria Pereira Ferrer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Romulo Sperduto Dezonne
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biomedicina Translacional, Universidade Do Grande Rio, Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Maria Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biomedicina Translacional, Universidade Do Grande Rio, Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Tania Cristina Leite de Sampaio E Spohr
- Instituto Estadual Do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer, Rua do Rezende 156, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20231-092, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Inhibition of the sonic hedgehog pathway activates TGF-β-activated kinase (TAK1) to induce autophagy and suppress apoptosis in thyroid tumor cells. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:459. [PMID: 33966040 PMCID: PMC8106679 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03744-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway is highly activated in a variety of malignancies and plays important roles in tumorigenesis, tumor growth, drug resistance, and metastasis. Our recent study showed that the inhibitors of the Shh pathway such as cyclopamine (CP), a Smothened (SMO) inhibitor, and GANT61, a Gli1 inhibitor, have modest inhibitory effects on thyroid tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth. The objective of this study was to determine whether autophagy was induced by inhibition of the Shh pathway and could negatively regulate GANT61-induced apoptosis. Here we report that inhibition of the Shh pathway by Gli1 siRNA or by cyclopamine and GANT61 induced autophagy in SW1736 and KAT-18 cells, two anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines; whereas Gli1 overexpression suppressed autophagy. Mechanistic investigation revealed that inhibition of the Shh pathway activated TAK1 and its two downstream kinases, the c-Jun-terminal kinase (JNK) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). GANT61-induced autophagy was blocked by TAK1 siRNA and the inhibitors of TAK1 (5Z-7-oxozeaenol, 5Z), JNK (SP600125), and AMPK (Compound C, CC). Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine and 5Z and by TAK1 and Beclin-1 siRNA enhanced GANT61-induced apoptosis and its antiproliferative activity. Our study has shown that inhibition of the Shh pathway induces autophagy by activating TAK1, whereas autophagy in turn suppresses GANT61-induced apoptosis. We have uncovered a previously unrecognized role of TAK1 in Shh pathway inhibition-induced autophagy and apoptosis.
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Koeniger A, Brichkina A, Nee I, Dempwolff L, Hupfer A, Galperin I, Finkernagel F, Nist A, Stiewe T, Adhikary T, Diederich W, Lauth M. Activation of Cilia-Independent Hedgehog/GLI1 Signaling as a Novel Concept for Neuroblastoma Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081908. [PMID: 33921042 PMCID: PMC8071409 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Elevated GLI1 expression levels are associated with improved survival in NB patients and GLI1 overexpression exerts tumor-suppressive traits in cultured NB cells. However, NB cells are protected from increased GLI1 levels as they have lost the ability to form primary cilia and transduce Hedgehog signals. This study identifies an isoxazole (ISX) molecule with primary cilia-independent GLI1-activating properties, which blocks NB cell growth. Mechanistically, ISX combines the removal of GLI3 repressor and the inhibition of class I HDACs, providing proof-of-principle evidence that small molecule-mediated activation of GLI1 could be harnessed therapeutically in the future. Abstract Although being rare in absolute numbers, neuroblastoma (NB) represents the most frequent solid tumor in infants and young children. Therapy options and prognosis are comparably good for NB patients except for the high risk stage 4 class. Particularly in adolescent patients with certain genetic alterations, 5-year survival rates can drop below 30%, necessitating the development of novel therapy approaches. The developmentally important Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is involved in neural crest differentiation, the cell type being causal in the etiology of NB. However, and in contrast to its function in some other cancer types, Hedgehog signaling and its transcription factor GLI1 exert tumor-suppressive functions in NB, rendering GLI1 an interesting new candidate for anti-NB therapy. Unfortunately, the therapeutic concept of pharmacological Hh/GLI1 pathway activation is difficult to implement as NB cells have lost primary cilia, essential organelles for Hh perception and activation. In order to bypass this bottleneck, we have identified a GLI1-activating small molecule which stimulates endogenous GLI1 production without the need for upstream Hh pathway elements such as Smoothened or primary cilia. This isoxazole compound potently abrogates NB cell proliferation and might serve as a starting point for the development of a novel class of NB-suppressive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Koeniger
- Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Department of Gastroenterology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (A.K.); (A.B.); (A.H.); (I.G.)
| | - Anna Brichkina
- Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Department of Gastroenterology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (A.K.); (A.B.); (A.H.); (I.G.)
| | - Iris Nee
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (I.N.); (L.D.); (W.D.)
| | - Lukas Dempwolff
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (I.N.); (L.D.); (W.D.)
| | - Anna Hupfer
- Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Department of Gastroenterology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (A.K.); (A.B.); (A.H.); (I.G.)
| | - Ilya Galperin
- Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Department of Gastroenterology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (A.K.); (A.B.); (A.H.); (I.G.)
| | - Florian Finkernagel
- Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Bioinformatics Core Facility, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany;
| | - Andrea Nist
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Genomics Core Facility, Institute of Molecular Oncology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (A.N.); (T.S.)
| | - Thorsten Stiewe
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Genomics Core Facility, Institute of Molecular Oncology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (A.N.); (T.S.)
| | - Till Adhikary
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany;
| | - Wibke Diederich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (I.N.); (L.D.); (W.D.)
- Core Facility Medicinal Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Lauth
- Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology, Department of Gastroenterology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (A.K.); (A.B.); (A.H.); (I.G.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Wang M, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Chang G, An G, Yang X, Zheng C, Zhao J, Liu Z, Wang D, Miao K, Rao S, Dai M, Wang D, Zhao XY. Deciphering the autophagy regulatory network via single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals a requirement for autophagy homeostasis in spermatogenesis. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:5010-5027. [PMID: 33754041 PMCID: PMC7978313 DOI: 10.7150/thno.55645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Autophagy has been implicated as a crucial component in spermatogenesis, and autophagy dysfunction can lead to reproductive disorders in animal models, including yeast, C. elegans and mice. However, the sophisticated transcriptional networks of autophagic genes throughout human spermatogenesis and their biological significance remain largely uncharacterized. Methods: We profiled the transcriptional signatures of autophagy-related genes during human spermatogenesis by assessing specimens from nine fertile controls (including two normal persons and seven obstructive azoospermia (OA) patients) and one nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) patient using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Dysregulation of autophagy was confirmed in two additional NOA patients by immunofluorescence staining. Gene knockdown was used to identify the role of Cst3 in autophagy during spermatogenesis. Results: Our data uncovered a unique, global stage-specific enrichment of autophagy-related genes. Human-mouse comparison analysis revealed that the stage-specific expression pattern of autophagy-related genes was highly conserved in mammals. More importantly, dysregulation of some clusters of autophagy-related genes was observed in NOA patients, suggesting the association of autophagy with male infertility. Cst3, a human-mouse conserved and autophagy-related gene that is actively expressed in spermatogonia and early spermatocytes, was found to regulate spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) maintenance and subsequent male germ cell development. Knockdown of Cst3 increased autophagic activity in mouse SSCs and subsequently suppressed the transcription of SSC core factors such as Oct4, Id1, and Nanos3, which could be efficiently rescued by manipulating autophagic activity. Conclusions: Our study provides comprehensive insights into the global transcriptional signatures of autophagy-related genes and confirms the importance of autophagy homeostasis in SSC maintenance and normal spermatogenesis, opening new avenues for further dissecting the significance of the autophagy regulatory network in spermatogenesis as well as male infertility.
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12
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Huang S, Gu S. Targeting autophagy in neuroblastoma. WORLD JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 2020; 3:e000121. [DOI: 10.1136/wjps-2020-000121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundNeuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracellular solid tumor among children accounting for serious mortality. Macroautophagy, a common housekeeping mechanism to maintain cellular homeostasis in eukaryotic cells, is involved in tumorigenesis and chemoresistance in a spectrum of cancers.Data resourcesBased on the terms of ‘autophagy’ and ‘neuroblastoma’, all the recent literature was searched and reviewed through PubMed.ResultsAutophagy is associated with apoptosis, histone modifications, angiogenesis, metabolism in NB. With those facts we assume that NB is an autophagy-dependent tumor, which means that autophagy inhibition therapy is desirable.ConclusionAutophagy in NB is pro-oncogenic, so inhibiting autophagy in high-risk NB may benefit treatment outcomes.
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The effect of medicinal plants on multiple drug resistance through autophagy: A review of in vitro studies. Eur J Pharmacol 2019; 852:244-253. [PMID: 30965056 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Multiple drug resistance (MDR) often occurs after prolonged chemotherapy, leading to refractory tumor and cancer recurrence. Autophagy as a primarily process during starvation or stress has a bipolar nature in cancer. It can cause MDR to become more difficult or make resistant cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapeutic agents. A number of natural products have been introduced to drug discovery for many years. Some of these compounds have been shown to reverse drug resistance by different regulatory mechanisms. In this review, the focus is on the role of medicinal plants in the MDR phenomenon, primarily through the autophagy process.
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14
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Zhang Q, Zhang Q, Jiang X, Ye Y, Liao H, Zhu F, Yan J, Luo L, Tian L, Jiang C, Chen Y, Liang X, Sun Y. Collaborative ISL1/GATA3 interaction in controlling neuroblastoma oncogenic pathways overlapping with but distinct from MYCN. Theranostics 2019; 9:986-1000. [PMID: 30867811 PMCID: PMC6401405 DOI: 10.7150/thno.30199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Transcription factor ISL1 plays a critical role in sympathetic neurogenesis. Expression of ISL1 has been associated with neuroblastoma, a pediatric tumor derived from sympatho-adrenal progenitors, however the role of ISL1 in neuroblastoma remains unexplored. Method: Here, we knocked down ISL1 (KD) in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and performed RNA-seq and ISL1 ChIP-seq analyses. Results: Analyses of these data revealed that ISL1 acts upstream of multiple oncogenic genes and pathways essential for neuroblastoma proliferation and differentiation, including LMO1 and LIN28B. ISL1 promotes expression of a number of cell cycle associated genes, but represses differentiation associated genes including RA receptors and the downstream target genes EPAS1 and CDKN1A. Consequently, Knockdown of ISL1 inhibits neuroblastoma cell proliferation and migration in vitro and impedes tumor growth in vivo, and enhances neuronal differentiation by RA treatment. Furthermore, genome-wide mapping revealed a substantial co-occupancy of binding regions by ISL1 and GATA3, and ISL1 physically interacts with GATA3, and together they synergistically regulate the aforementioned oncogenic pathways. In addition, analyses of the roles of ISL1 and MYCN in MYCN-amplified and MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma cells revealed an epistatic relationship between ISL1 and MYCN. ISL1 and MYCN function in parallel to regulate common yet distinct oncogenic pathways in neuroblastoma. Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated that ISL1 plays an essential role in neuroblastoma regulatory networks and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in neuroblastoma.
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15
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Amarante MK, Vitiello GAF, Rosa MH, Mancilla IA, Watanabe MAE. Potential use of CXCL12/CXCR4 and sonic hedgehog pathways as therapeutic targets in medulloblastoma. Acta Oncol 2018; 57:1134-1142. [PMID: 29771176 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2018.1473635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor occurring in children, and although high long-term survival rates have been reached with current therapeutic protocols, several neurological injuries are still observed among survivors. It has been shown that the development of MB is highly dependent on the microenvironment surrounding it and that the CXCL12 chemokine and its receptor, CXCR4 and the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway are crucial for cerebellar development, coordinating proliferation and migration of embryonic cells and malfunctions in these axes can lead to MB development. Indeed, the concomitant overactivation of these axes was suggested to define a new MB molecular subgroup. New molecules are being studied, aiming to inhibit either CXCR4 or the SHH pathways and have been tested in preclinical settings for the treatment of cancers. The use of these molecules could improve MB treatment and save patients from aggressive surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens, which are responsible for severe neurological consequences. This review aims to summarize current data about the experimental inhibition of CXCR4 and SHH pathways in MB and its potential implications in treatment of this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcos Henrique Rosa
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Londrina State University, Londrina, Brazil
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16
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Sabol M, Trnski D, Musani V, Ozretić P, Levanat S. Role of GLI Transcription Factors in Pathogenesis and Their Potential as New Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2562. [PMID: 30158435 PMCID: PMC6163343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
GLI transcription factors have important roles in intracellular signaling cascade, acting as the main mediators of the HH-GLI signaling pathway. This is one of the major developmental pathways, regulated both canonically and non-canonically. Deregulation of the pathway during development leads to a number of developmental malformations, depending on the deregulated pathway component. The HH-GLI pathway is mostly inactive in the adult organism but retains its function in stem cells. Aberrant activation in adult cells leads to carcinogenesis through overactivation of several tightly regulated cellular processes such as proliferation, angiogenesis, EMT. Targeting GLI transcription factors has recently become a major focus of potential therapeutic protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Sabol
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Diana Trnski
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Vesna Musani
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Petar Ozretić
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Sonja Levanat
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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17
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Zeng X, Ju D. Hedgehog Signaling Pathway and Autophagy in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2279. [PMID: 30081498 PMCID: PMC6121518 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hedgehog (Hh) pathway controls complex developmental processes in vertebrates. Abnormal activation of Hh pathway is responsible for tumorigenesis and maintenance of multiple cancers, and thus addressing this represents promising therapeutic opportunities. In recent years, two Hh inhibitors have been approved for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) treatment and show extraordinary clinical outcomes. Meanwhile, a series of novel agents are being developed for the treatment of several cancers, including lung cancer, leukemia, and pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, Hh inhibition fails to show satisfactory benefits in these cancer types compared with the success stories in BCC, highlighting the need for better understanding of Hh signaling in cancer. Autophagy, a conserved biological process for cellular component elimination, plays critical roles in the initiation, progression, and drug resistance of cancer, and therefore, implied potential to be targeted. Recent evidence demonstrated that Hh signaling interplays with autophagy in multiple cancers. Importantly, modulating this crosstalk exhibited noteworthy capability to sensitize primary and drug-resistant cancer cells to Hh inhibitors, representing an emerging opportunity to reboot the efficacy of Hh inhibition in those insensitive tumors, and to tackle drug resistance challenges. This review will highlight recent advances of Hh pathway and autophagy in cancers, and focus on their crosstalk and the implied therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Zeng
- Department of Microbiological and Biochemical Pharmacy & The Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
| | - Dianwen Ju
- Department of Microbiological and Biochemical Pharmacy & The Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.
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18
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Geng L, Lu K, Li P, Li X, Zhou X, Li Y, Wang X. GLI1 inhibitor GANT61 exhibits antitumor efficacy in T-cell lymphoma cells through down-regulation of p-STAT3 and SOCS3. Oncotarget 2018; 8:48701-48710. [PMID: 27275540 PMCID: PMC5564718 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell lymphomas are lymphoid malignancies with aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. Increasing evidences suggest that deregulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is associated with the pathogenesis of T-cell lymphomas. The hedgehog (Hh)/glioma-associated oncogene-1 (GLI1) pathway, aberrantly activated in a number of tumors, has also been extensively studied. We found that protein expressions of GL11, p-STAT3, STAT3, and SOCS3 were up-regulated in T-cell lymphoma tissues and cell lines. Moreover, the protein expressions of p-STAT3 and SOCS3 were positively correlated with GLI1 in T-cell lymphomas. GLI1 inhibitor GANT61 and lentivirus-mediated siGLI1 exhibited inhibitory effects in the three T-cell lines (Jurkat, Karpass299 and Myla3676 cells). The protein expressions of p-STAT3 and SOCS3 were decreased accompanied with the inhibition of GLI1. These findings indicated that GANT61 is a promising agent against T-cell lymphoma and the antitumor activity might be partly mediated by down-regulating p-STAT3 and SOCS3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Geng
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, P.R. China
| | - Kang Lu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, P.R. China
| | - Peipei Li
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, P.R. China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, P.R. China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, P.R. China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, P.R. China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, P.R. China
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Wang J, Huang S, Tian R, Chen J, Gao H, Xie C, Shan Y, Zhang Z, Gu S, Xu M. The protective autophagy activated by GANT-61 in MYCN amplified neuroblastoma cells is mediated by PERK. Oncotarget 2018; 9:14413-14427. [PMID: 29581853 PMCID: PMC5865679 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The proto-oncogene MYC can trigger the unfolded protein response (UPR). The double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), one of three primary branches of the UPR, is a key regulator of autophagy, promoting tumorigenesis. Upon activation of PERK, there is an increase in phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor-2 alpha (eIF2α), which in turn, activates the transcription factor-4 (ATF4), responsible for an increased expression of LC3, a common autophagy marker. PERK is repressed upon GLI1 and GLI2 induction. GANT-61 is an inhibitor of GLI1 and GLI2, known to reduce autophagy in MYCN non-amplified, but not in MYCN amplified neuroblastoma (NB) cells. In our study, we tested the effect of the joint administration of a PERK inhibitor (GSK2606414) and the GLI inhibitor GANT-61 to MYCN amplified and MYCN non-amplified NB cells. Our results suggest that inhibition of PERK impairs GANT-61 induced autophagy in NB cells with MYCN amplification, but had no effect on the MYCN non-amplified NB cells. In summary, PERK seems to be a good therapeutic target for NB. Inhibition of PERK reduces autophagy in MYCN amplified NB cells, thus amplifying the efficacy of the GLI inhibitor GANT-61 in reducing proliferation of this type of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Siqi Huang
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Ruicheng Tian
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Hongxiang Gao
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Chenjie Xie
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yuhua Shan
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.,Shanghai Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Song Gu
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Min Xu
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
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20
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Abstract
Autophagy is a catabolic program that is responsible for the degradation of dysfunctional or unnecessary proteins and organelles to maintain cellular homeostasis. Mechanistically, it involves the formation of double-membrane autophagosomes that sequester cytoplasmic material and deliver it to lysosomes for degradation. Eventually, the material is recycled back to the cytoplasm. Abnormalities of autophagy often lead to human diseases, such as neurodegeneration and cancer. In the case of cancer, increasing evidence has revealed the paradoxical roles of autophagy in both tumor inhibition and tumor promotion. Here, we summarize the context-dependent role of autophagy and its complicated molecular mechanisms in the hallmarks of cancer. Moreover, we discuss how therapeutics targeting autophagy can counter malignant transformation and tumor progression. Overall, the findings of studies discussed here shed new light on exploiting the complicated mechanisms of the autophagic machinery and relevant small-molecule modulators as potential antitumor agents to improve therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianzhi Huang
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Lou & Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Xiao Song
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Lou & Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Yongyong Yang
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Lou & Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Xuechao Wan
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Lou & Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Angel A. Alvarez
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Lou & Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Namratha Sastry
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Lou & Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Haizhong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Lou & Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Shi-Yuan Cheng
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Lou & Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
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Hedgehog signaling inhibitor GANT61 induces endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated protective autophagy in hepatic stellate cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 493:487-493. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.08.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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22
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Shao JB, Gao ZM, Huang WY, Lu ZB. The mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by TGF-β1 in neuroblastoma cells. Int J Oncol 2017; 50:1623-1633. [PMID: 28393230 PMCID: PMC5403264 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2017.3954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the second most common extracranial malignant solid tumor that occurs in childhood, and metastasis is one of the major causes of death in neuroblastoma patients. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important mechanism for both the initiation of tumor invasion and subsequent metastasis. Therefore, this study investigated the mechanism by which transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 induces EMT in human neuroblastoma cells. Using quantitative RT-qPCR and western blot analyses, we found that the mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin were significantly decreased, whereas that of α-SMA was significantly increased after neuroblastoma cells were treated with different concentrations of TGF-β1. A scratch test and Transwell migration assay revealed that cell migration significantly and directly correlated with the concentration of TGF-β1 indicating that TGF-β1 induced EMT in neuroblastoma cells and led to their migration. Inhibiting Smad2/3 expression did not affect the expression of the key molecules involved in EMT. Further investigation found that the expression of the glioblastoma transcription factor (Gli) significantly increased in TGF-β1-stimulated neuroblastoma cells undergoing EMT, accordingly, interfering with Gli1/2 expression inhibited TGF-β1-induced EMT in neuroblastoma cells. GANT61, which is a targeted inhibitor of Gli1 and Gli2, decreased cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis. Thus, TGF-β1 induced EMT in neuroblastoma cells to increase their migration. Specifically, EMT induced by TGF-β1 in neuroblastoma cells did not depend on the Smad signaling pathway, and the transcription factor Gli participated in TGF-β1-induced EMT independent of Smad signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Bo Shao
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Mei Gao
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Yan Huang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Bao Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
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Lee YJ, Lee GJ, Yi SS, Heo SH, Park CR, Nam HS, Cho MK, Lee SH. Cisplatin and resveratrol induce apoptosis and autophagy following oxidative stress in malignant mesothelioma cells. Food Chem Toxicol 2016; 97:96-107. [PMID: 27591926 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2016.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is characterized by poor responsiveness to current chemotherapeutic drugs, usually owing to high resistance to apoptosis. Here, we investigated chemosensitizing effects of phytochemical resveratrol, in combination with cisplatin, on MM cells. The combination treatment of cisplatin and resveratrol (CDDP/RSV) synergistically induced apoptosis, as evidenced by typical cell morphological changes, the appearance of sub-G0/G1 peak, an increase in the Annexin V(+) cells and the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. CDDP/RSV increased ROS production and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These changes were attenuated by pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that CDDP/RSV induced apoptosis through oxidative mitochondrial damage. Compared with MSTO-211H cells, CDDP/RSV was less efficient in killing H-2452 cells. H-2452 cells exhibited an enhanced autophagy to CDDP/RSV, as observed by an increase in viable cells exhibiting intense LysoTracker Red staining and up-regulation of Beclin-1 and LC3A. Inhibition of autophagy by bafilomycin A1 rendered cells more sensitive to CDDP/RSV-induced cytotoxicity and this was associated with induction of apoptosis. These data indicate that the increased resistance of H-2452 cells to CDDP/RSV is closely related to the activation of self-defensive autophagy, and provide the rationale for targeting the autophagy regulation in the treatment of MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon-Jin Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 330-930, Republic of Korea; Division of Molecular Cancer Research, Soonchunhyang Medical Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 330-930, Republic of Korea
| | - Gina J Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115-5000, USA
| | - Sun Shin Yi
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 336-745, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Hak Heo
- R&D Center, C.L. Pharm Co., Ltd., Seongdong-Gu, Seoul 04788, Republic of Korea
| | - Cho-Rong Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 330-930, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Seon Nam
- Division of Molecular Cancer Research, Soonchunhyang Medical Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 330-930, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon-Kyun Cho
- Division of Molecular Cancer Research, Soonchunhyang Medical Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 330-930, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Han Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 330-930, Republic of Korea.
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Samardzija G, Stevovic TK, Djuricic S, Djokic D, Djurisic M, Ciric D, Martinovic T, Bumbasirevic V, Vujic D. Aggressive human neuroblastomas show a massive increase in the numbers of autophagic vacuoles and damaged mitochondria. Ultrastruct Pathol 2016; 40:240-8. [PMID: 27669398 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2016.1187689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is activated in cancer cells in response to multiple stresses and has been demonstrated to promote tumor cell survival and drug resistance in neuroblastoma (NB). This study was conducted to analyze the ultrastructural features of peripheral neuroblastic tumors (pNTs) and identify the relation of the types of NTs, the proliferation rate, and MYCN gene amplification with a number of autophagic vacuoles. Our results indicate that aggressive human NBs show a massive increase in the number of autophagic vacuoles associated with proliferation rate and that alteration of the mitochondria might be an important factor for the induction of autophagy in NTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordana Samardzija
- a Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia "Dr Vukan Cupic ," Belgrade , Serbia
| | | | - Slavisa Djuricic
- a Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia "Dr Vukan Cupic ," Belgrade , Serbia
| | - Dragomir Djokic
- a Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia "Dr Vukan Cupic ," Belgrade , Serbia
| | - Marina Djurisic
- a Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia "Dr Vukan Cupic ," Belgrade , Serbia
| | - Darko Ciric
- b School of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia
| | | | | | - Dragana Vujic
- a Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia "Dr Vukan Cupic ," Belgrade , Serbia.,b School of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia
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25
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Gan GN, Jimeno A. Emerging from their burrow: Hedgehog pathway inhibitors for cancer. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2016; 25:1153-66. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2016.1216973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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26
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Fan J, Zeng X, Li Y, Wang S, Yang P, Cao Z, Wang Z, Song P, Mei X, Ju D. A novel therapeutic approach against B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma through co-inhibition of Hedgehog signaling pathway and autophagy. Tumour Biol 2015; 37:7305-14. [PMID: 26666826 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-4614-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world, with half of the patients dying due to the resistance or tolerance against the treatment. Thus, a novel therapeutic approach for B-NHL treatment was urgently needed. In this study, we investigated the potential of co-inhibition of Hedgehog signaling pathway (Hh) and autophagy in B-NHL therapy. We reported that vismodegib, an inhibitor of Hedgehog signaling pathway, could block the Hh pathway and induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis in B-NHL Raji cells. During this process, autophagy was activated as a response to Hh inhibition. Importantly, inhibition of autophagy potentiated the cytotoxicity and caspase 3-dependent apoptosis induced by vismodegib in B-NHL cells. Furthermore, clearance of ROS generation caused a decreased activity of autophagy and attenuated cytotoxicity in vismodegib-treated cells, while inhibition of autophagy accelerated the formation of ROS, indicating that ROS was required for vismodegib-induced autophagy and cytotoxicity in B-NHL cells. Our results demonstrated that co-inhibition of Hh pathway and autophagy could potently kill B-NHL cells and highlighted a novel approach for B-NHL therapy by co-inhibition of Hh pathway and cytoprotective autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Fan
- Department of Biosynthesis & Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xian Zeng
- Department of Biosynthesis & Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Bioinformatics and Drug Design Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yubin Li
- Department of Biosynthesis & Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Shaofei Wang
- Department of Biosynthesis & Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Instrumental Analysis Center, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhonglian Cao
- Instrumental Analysis Center, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Department of Biosynthesis & Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ping Song
- Department of Biosynthesis & Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiaobin Mei
- Department of Nephrology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Dianwen Ju
- Department of Biosynthesis & Key Lab of Smart Drug Delivery MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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27
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Targeting GLI factors to inhibit the Hedgehog pathway. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2015; 36:547-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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