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Singh MT, Thaggikuppe Krishnamurthy P, Magham SV. Harnessing the synergistic potential of NK1R antagonists and selective COX-2 inhibitors for simultaneous targeting of TNBC cells and cancer stem cells. J Drug Target 2024; 32:258-269. [PMID: 38252517 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2024.2309568] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks the expression of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), rendering it unresponsive to endocrine therapy and HER2 targeted treatments. Though certain chemotherapeutics targeting the cell cycle have shown efficacy to a certain extent, the presence of chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) presents a significant challenge in tackling TNBC. Multiple lines of evidence suggest the upregulation of neuropeptide Substance P (SP), its NK-1 receptor (NK1R) and the Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme in TNBC patients. Upregulation of the SP/NK1R system and COX-2 influences major signalling pathways involved in cell proliferation, growth, survival, angiogenesis, inflammation, metastasis and stem cell activity. The simultaneous activation and crosstalk between the pathways activated by SP/NK1R and COX-2 consequently increase the levels of key regulators of self-renewal pathways in CSCs, promoting stemness. The combination therapy with NK1R antagonists and COX-2 inhibitors can simultaneously target TNBC cells and CSCs, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing the risk of recurrence and relapse. This review discusses the rationale for combining NK1R antagonists and COX-2 inhibitors for the better management of TNBC and a novel strategy to deliver drug cargo precisely to the tumour site to address the challenges associated with off-target binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu Tanya Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Praveen Thaggikuppe Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sai Varshini Magham
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
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Martins MS, Almeida IF, Cruz MT, Sousa E. Chronic pruritus: from pathophysiology to drug design. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 212:115568. [PMID: 37116666 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Pruritus, the most common symptom in dermatology, is an innate response capable of protecting skin against irritants. Nonetheless, when it lasts more than six weeks it is assumed to be a chronic pathology having a negative impact on people's lives. Chronic pruritus (CP) can occur in common and rare skin diseases, having a high prevalence in global population. The existing therapies are unable to counteract CP or are associated with adverse effects, so the development of effective treatments is a pressing issue. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CP are not yet completely dissected but, based on current knowledge, involve a wide range of receptors, namely neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R), Janus kinase (JAK), and transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels, especially transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). This review will address the relevance of these molecular targets for the treatment of CP and molecules capable of modulating these receptors that have already been studied clinically or have the potential to possibly alleviate this pathology. According to scientific and clinical literature, there is an increase in the expression of these molecular targets in the lesioned skin of patients experiencing CP when compared with non-lesioned skin, highlighting their importance for the development of potential efficacious drugs through the design of antagonists/inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcia S Martins
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isaobel F Almeida
- Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, MedTech, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria T Cruz
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Emília Sousa
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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3
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Mayuri M, Krishnamurthy PT, Vijayakumar TM. NK1 receptor antagonistic effect of 17-trifluoromethyl phenyl trinor prostaglandin F2α on the growth of human breast cancer cell line. Exp Mol Pathol 2022; 127:104817. [PMID: 35901925 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2022.104817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing number of genetic and cancer biology investigations have found that the tachykinin NK1 Receptor plays an important role in cancer cell proliferation and survival. In this study. The present study was designed to evaluate the inhibition of cell growth by 17-trifluoromethyl phenyl trinor prostaglandin F2α with NK1 receptor in breast cancer cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS MDB-MB-468 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines were used in the experiment were blocked with PGF2a. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect. Cell cycle distribution, Caspase-3 enzyme activity, Bad and Bax protein expression through flow cytometry and molecular docking were carried out to analyze the NK1 receptor activity. RESULTS We found that PGF2a has a high binding affinity towards NK1 Receptor from molecular docking studies. It exerted cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against MDB-MB-468 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Our data found that treatment of cells with 17-TPGF2 resulted in cell death and showed that increased expression of Caspase-3, Bad, and Bax protein and further induces G2 cell cycle arrest. CONCLUSION Overall this study investigates the NK1 receptor antagonistic effect of PGF2 against breast cancer cell lines. However, further studies are needed to better characterize the application of NK1 receptor inhibition in clinical cancer treatment and cytotoxicity effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutukuru Mayuri
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603 203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Praveen T Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, (JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research), Ooty, The Nilgiris 643001, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Thangavel Mahalingam Vijayakumar
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603 203, Tamil Nadu, India.
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The Prognostic Potential of Neurokinin 1 Receptor in Breast Cancer and Its Relationship with Ki-67 Index. Int J Breast Cancer 2022; 2022:4987912. [PMID: 35419208 PMCID: PMC9001113 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4987912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) is a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in breast cancer. This study was aimed at investigating the expression level of NK1R in breast cancer tissues and its relationship with proliferation index as measured by Ki-67, clinicopathological characteristics of patients, and overall survival rate. Methods Immunohistochemical expression of NK1R and Ki-67 was measured in 164 paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues of four molecular subtypes (42 HER2-enriched, 40 luminal A, 42 luminal B, and 40 triple negative). NK1R was scored semiquantitatively, while Ki-67 was obtained by the percentage of total number of tumor cells with nuclear staining. The optimal cutoff values for NK1R and Ki-67 were assessed by Cutoff Finder. Pearson's Chi-square (χ2) and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the staining scores between groups. The Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test was used for survival analysis. ANOVA and Student's t-test were used to compare group means. Results A total of 164 patients were included in the study which represented females with invasive ductal carcinoma. NK1R was expressed at high levels in about 34% of investigated cases. The mean Ki-67 level was about 27% and 41.5% of sample had high Ki-67 (expression level > 22%). NK1R expression levels were associated with higher tumor grade (p = 0.021) and high Ki-67 (p = 0.012). NK1R expression negatively impacted overall survival in grade II tumors (p = 0.027). Conclusion NK1R contributes to cellular proliferation and is associated with negative prognosis in breast cancer. These findings suggest the potential role of NK1R as a therapeutic target in breast cancer.
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Ren Y, Liu Y, Luo M. Gap Junctions Between Striatal D1 Neurons and Cholinergic Interneurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:674399. [PMID: 34168539 PMCID: PMC8217616 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.674399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The striatum participates in numerous important behaviors. Its principal projection neurons use GABA and peptides as neurotransmitters and interact extensively with interneurons, including cholinergic interneurons (ChIs) that are tonically active. Dissecting the interactions between projection neurons and ChIs is important for uncovering the role and mechanisms of the striatal microcircuits. Here, by combining several optogenetic tools with cell type-specific electrophysiological recordings, we uncovered direct electrical coupling between D1-type projection neurons and ChIs, in addition to the chemical transmission between these two major cell types. Optogenetic stimulation or inhibition led to bilateral current exchanges between D1 neurons and ChIs, which can be abolished by gap junction blockers. We further confirmed the presence of gap junctions through paired electrophysiological recordings and dye microinjections. Finally, we found that activating D1 neurons promotes basal activity of ChIs via gap junctions. Collectively, these results reveal the coexistence of the chemical synapse and gap junctions between D1 neurons and ChIs, which contributes to maintaining the tonically active firing patterns of ChIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Ren
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Peking University-Tsinghua University-NIBS Joint Graduate Program, Beijing, China.,National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China.,Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.,Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Beijing, China
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Song D, Oh YI, Kim JM, Cheon DS, Kim DY, Seo KW. Detection of neurokinin-1 receptor by immunohistochemistry in canine mammary gland tumours. Vet Med Sci 2020; 6:958-964. [PMID: 32657032 PMCID: PMC7738737 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.323] [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: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine mammary gland tumour (cMGT) is the most common tumour in intact female dogs. Surgery is the only effective treatment for cMGT, and dogs with metastasis at the time of diagnosis or those diagnosed at an advanced stage have poorer prognosis. Thus, novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets are needed. Neurokinin‐1 receptor (NK‐1 receptor) is involved in cancer progression and has been detected in various malignant tumours including breast cancer in humans. Furthermore, NK‐1 receptor antagonists inhibit cancer progression. We evaluated NK‐1 receptor expression in malignant and benign cMGT compared with that in normal mammary gland tissues and analysed the relationship between the expression of NK‐1 receptor and histopathological type or malignancy grade. Specimens from 34 malignant MGT and 35 benign MGT cases were used for immunohistochemistry and scored according to intensity and percentage. Healthy margins from each tumour were used as internal controls. The scores for NK‐1 receptor intensity, percentage of positive cells and overall immunohistochemistry were higher in malignant MGT than in benign MGT and normal tissue (p < .000). NK‐1 receptor expression was not correlated with either malignancy grade or histopathological type. Expression of the NK‐1 receptor in malignant MGT was higher than that in benign MGT and normal tissues. Thus, NK‐1 receptor could be considered a novel therapeutic target for cMGT. Further studies using other quantitative tests such as western blotting or PCR and the evaluation of substance P in patient tumour tissue or serum are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duri Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ye-In Oh
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jeong-Mi Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | | | - Dae-Yong Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyoung-Won Seo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
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Ebrahimi S, Javid H, Alaei A, Hashemy SI. New insight into the role of substance P/neurokinin-1 receptor system in breast cancer progression and its crosstalk with microRNAs. Clin Genet 2020; 98:322-330. [PMID: 32266968 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide substance P (SP) triggers a variety of tumor-promoting signaling pathways through the activation of neurokinin-1receptor (NK1R), a class of neurokinin G protein-coupled receptors superfamily. Recent researches in our and other laboratories have shown the overexpression of both SP and NK1R in breast cancer (BC) patients. SP/NK1R signaling is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of BC through affecting cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, angiogenesis, and resistance. Therefore, SP/NK1R signaling responses must be rigorously regulated; otherwise, they would contribute to a more aggressive BC phenotype. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) as a specific class of epigenetic regulators have been shown to regulate NK1R and thus, controlling SP/NK1R signaling responses in BC. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the role of SP/NK1R signaling and its therapeutic potentials in BC. We also provide an overview regarding the effects of miRNA-mediated NK1R regulatory mechanisms in controlling BC tumorigenesis to gain a clearer view and thus better management of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safieh Ebrahimi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hosein Javid
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amin Alaei
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Isaac Hashemy
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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8
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Ge C, Huang H, Huang F, Yang T, Zhang T, Wu H, Zhou H, Chen Q, Shi Y, Sun Y, Liu L, Wang X, Pearson RB, Cao Y, Kang J, Fu C. Neurokinin-1 receptor is an effective target for treating leukemia by inducing oxidative stress through mitochondrial calcium overload. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:19635-19645. [PMID: 31488714 PMCID: PMC6765257 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908998116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Substance P (SP) regulates multiple biological processes through its high-affinity neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R). While the SP/NK-1R signaling axis is involved in the pathogenesis of solid cancer, the role of this signaling pathway in hematological malignancy remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that NK-1R expression is markedly elevated in the white blood cells from acute myeloid leukemia patients and a panel of human leukemia cell lines. Blocking NK-1R induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo via increase of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. This oxidative stress was triggered by rapid calcium flux from the endoplasmic reticulum into mitochondria and, consequently, impairment of mitochondrial function, a mechanism underlying the cytotoxicity of NK-1R antagonists. Besides anticancer activity, blocking NK-1R produces a potent antinociceptive effect in myeloid leukemia-induced bone pain by alleviating inflammation and inducing apoptosis. These findings thus raise the exciting possibility that the NK-1R antagonists, drugs currently used in the clinic for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, may provide a therapeutic option for treating human myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chentao Ge
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China
| | - Hemiao Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China
| | - Feiyan Huang
- Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM, 310006 Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianxin Yang
- Department of Hematology, Zhejiang Province People's Hospital, 310014 Hangzhou, China
| | - Tengfei Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongzhang Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China
| | - Hanwei Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China
| | - Yue Shi
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanfang Sun
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China
| | - Liangjue Liu
- Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM, 310006 Hangzhou, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Oncology, The People's Liberation Army No. 903rd Hospital, 310013 Hangzhou, China
| | - Richard B Pearson
- Oncogenic Signalling and Growth Control Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia;
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Yihai Cao
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jian Kang
- Oncogenic Signalling and Growth Control Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia;
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Caiyun Fu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 310018 Hangzhou, China;
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Differential consequences of neurokinin receptor 1 and 2 antagonists in metastatic breast carcinoma cells; Effects independent of Substance P. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 108:263-270. [PMID: 30223097 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The biological action of Substance P (SP) is mediated mainly by NK-1 receptors (NK1R) followed by NK2 receptors (NK2R). Aberrant expression of NK1R and NK2R has been identified in various carcinomas. The role of Substance P and its receptors, especially NK2R in cancer progression is not entirely known and there are conflicting results in the literature demonstrating the need for further investigation. In the current study, we examined the effects of SP and antagonists selective for the NK1R and NK2R in breast carcinoma cells metastasize to vital organs. METHODS The effects of highly potent and selective non-peptide mouse NK1R and NK2R antagonists RP 67,580 and GR 159897, respectively, as well as SP and SP methyl ester, on both metastatic (4THM, 4TBM, 4TLM, 4T1) and non-metastatic (67NR) breast cancer cells were determined. RESULTS NK1R and NK2R were over expressed in metastatic breast cells compared to non-metastatic cells. The NK1R antagonist at a 30 μM dose inhibited cell growth and induced cell death in metastatic cells while enhancing phosphorylation of Akt, the latter response not observed in the non-metastatic 67NR cells. Blocking the action of SP at the NK2R (30 μM antagonist) suppressed cellular proliferation in all the cell lines examined, with a response less prominent than that of the NK1R antagonist. Differently, the NK2R antagonist increased phosphorylation of p38 and enhanced MIP-2 secretion. SP and the SP methyl ester neither altered cell proliferation nor the effects of NK1R and NK2R antagonists in the metastatic cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Increased sensitivity of metastatic breast carcinoma cells to NK1R and NK2R antagonists suggest potential therapeutic value of antagonists in metastatic disease. NK1R and NK2R in metastatic breast carcinoma cells react differently to agonists and antagonists. These findings together with previously published data demonstrate that differential consequences of receptor antagonists and SP may inhibit breast cancer growth and metastasis.
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Li J, Zeng Q, Zhang Y, Li X, Hu H, Miao X, Yang W, Zhang W, Song X, Mou L, Wang R. Neurokinin-1 receptor mediated breast cancer cell migration by increased expression of MMP-2 and MMP-14. Eur J Cell Biol 2016; 95:368-377. [PMID: 27498853 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 07/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a common reason of cancer-associated death in female. To develop novel strategy of therapeutics, it is crucial to comprehensively understand the receptor status of BC cells on the surface and inner, because chemical messengers can bind the receptors and promote tumorigenesis. Compared with normal and benign samples, BC cell lines and malignant biopsies showed higher expression of neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1). In current work, we examined the role and mechanism of NK1 receptor signaling in BC cell migration. Human hemokinin-1 (hHK-1) was the peripheral agonist of NK1 receptor. Our results showed that by activating NK1 receptor, hHK-1 promoted the migration of BC cells. Gelatin zymography and WB experiment showed that hHK-1 enhanced the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-14; inhibition of these two MMPs blocked hHK-1-induced cell migration. We further explored the underlying mechanism. hHK-1 incuced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK and Akt through PKC or PKA pathway. The phosphorylation of these kinases further regulated the activation of transcriptional factor AP-1 and NF-κB. Inhibition of AP-1 and NF-κB reduced the up-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-14 by hHK-1. Taken together, we showed NK1 receptor was an important regulator of human BC cell migration and a potential target for BC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Li
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Qian Zeng
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Hui Hu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaokang Miao
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Wenle Yang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaoyun Song
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Lingyun Mou
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Rui Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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Wang JG, Yu J, Hu JL, Yang WL, Ren H, Ding D, Zhang L, Liu XP. Neurokinin-1 activation affects EGFR related signal transduction in triple negative breast cancer. Cell Signal 2015; 27:1315-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2015.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2014] [Revised: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Mozaffari S, Erfani M, Beiki D, Johari Daha F, Kobarfard F, Balalaie S, Fallahi B. Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of a new (99m)tc labeled substance p analogue as a potential tumor imaging agent. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH : IJPR 2015; 14:97-110. [PMID: 25561916 PMCID: PMC4277623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Neurokinin 1 receptors (NK1R) are overexpressed on several types of important human cancer cells. Substance P (SP) is the most specific endogenous ligand known for NK1Rs. Accordingly,a new SP analogue was synthesized and evaluated for detection of NK1R positive tumors.[6-hydrazinopyridine-3-carboxylic acid (HYNIC)-Tyr(8)-Met(O)(11)-SP] was synthesized and radiolabeled with (99m)Tc using ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (EDDA)and Tricine as coligands. Common physicochemical properties of radioconjugate were studied and in-vitro cell line biological tests were accomplished to determine the receptor mediated characteristics. In-vivo biodistribution in normal and tumor bearingnude mice was also assessed. The cold peptide was prepared in high purity (>99%) and radiolabeled with (99m)Tc at high specific activities (84-112GBq/µmol) with an acceptable labeling yield (>95%). The radioconjugate was stable in-vitro in the presence of human serum and showed 44% protein binding to human serumalbumin. In-vitro cell line studies on U373MG cells showed an acceptable uptake up to 4.91 ± 0.22% with the ratio of 60.21 ± 1.19% for its specific fraction and increasing specific internalization during 4 h. Receptor binding assays on U373MG cells indicated a mean Kd of 2.46 ± 0.43 nM and Bmax of 128925 ± 8145 sites/cell. In-vivo investigations determined the specific tumor uptake in 3.36 percent of injected dose per gram (%ID/g) for U373MG cells and noticeable accumulations of activity in the intestines and lung. Predominant renal excretion pathway was demonstrated. Therefore, this new radiolabeled peptide could be a promising radiotracer for detection of NK1R positive primary or secondary tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Mozaffari
- Department of Radiopharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mostafa Erfani
- Nuclear Science Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Davood Beiki
- Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,E-mail:
| | - Fariba Johari Daha
- Nuclear Science Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Farzad Kobarfard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saeed Balalaie
- Peptide Chemistry Research Center, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Babak Fallahi
- Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Muñoz M, González-Ortega A, Salinas-Martín MV, Carranza A, Garcia-Recio S, Almendro V, Coveñas R. The neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist aprepitant is a promising candidate for the treatment of breast cancer. Int J Oncol 2014; 45:1658-72. [PMID: 25175857 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2014.2565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The substance P (SP)/neurokinin (NK)-1 receptor system plays an important role in the development of cancer. No in-depth studies of the involvement of this system in breast cancer (BC) have been carried out, and the action exerted by the drug aprepitant on BC cells is currently unknown. We show the involvement of this system in human BC cell lines: i) these cells express mRNA for the NK-1 receptor; ii) they overexpress NK-1 receptors; iii) the NK-1 receptor is involved in their viability; iv) SP induces their proliferation; v) NK-1 receptor antagonists block SP-induced mitogen stimulation of these cells; vi) the specific antitumor action of such antagonists on these cells occurs through the NK-1 receptor; and vii) BC cell death is due to apoptosis. We also found NK-1 receptors and SP in all human BC samples studied. The NK-1 receptor may be a promising target in the treatment of BC and NK-1 receptor antagonists could be candidates as a new antitumor drug in the treatment of BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Muñoz
- Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Research Laboratory on Neuropeptides, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ana González-Ortega
- Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Research Laboratory on Neuropeptides, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Andrés Carranza
- Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Research Laboratory on Neuropeptides, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Susana Garcia-Recio
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanessa Almendro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Coveñas
- Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León (INCYL), Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems (Lab. 14), Salamanca, Spain
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Muñoz M, Coveñas R. Involvement of substance P and the NK-1 receptor in pancreatic cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:2321-2334. [PMID: 24605029 PMCID: PMC3942835 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Revised: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related-death for both men and women and the 1- and 5-year relative survival rates are 25% and 6%, respectively. Thus, it is urgent to investigate new antitumor drugs to improve the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. The peptide substance P (SP) has a widespread distribution throughout the body. After binding to the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor, SP regulates biological functions related to cancer, such as tumor cell proliferation, neoangiogenesis, the migration of tumor cells for invasion, infiltration and metastasis, and it exerts an antiapoptotic effects on tumor cells. It is known that the SP/NK-1 receptor system is involved in pancreatic cancer progression: (1) pancreatic cancer cells and samples express NK-1 receptors; (2) the NK-1 receptor is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells in comparison with non-tumor cells; (3) nanomolar concentrations of SP induce pancreatic cancer cell proliferation; (4) NK-1 receptor antagonists inhibit pancreatic cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, at a certain concentration, these antagonists inhibit 100% of tumor cells; (5) this antitumor action is mediated through the NK-1 receptor, and tumor cells die by apoptosis; and (6) NK-1 receptor antagonists inhibit angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer xenografts. All these data suggest that the SP/NK-1 receptor system could play an important role in the development of pancreatic cancer; that the NK-1 receptor could be a new promising therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer, and that NK-1 receptor antagonists could improve the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Lewis KM, Harford-Wright E, Vink R, Ghabriel MN. NK1 receptor antagonists and dexamethasone as anticancer agents in vitro and in a model of brain tumours secondary to breast cancer. Anticancer Drugs 2013; 24:344-54. [PMID: 23407059 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0b013e32835ef440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Emend, an NK1 antagonist, and dexamethasone are used to treat complications associated with metastatic brain tumours and their treatment. It has been suggested that these agents exert anticancer effects apart from their current use. The effects of the NK1 antagonists, Emend and N-acetyl-L-tryptophan, and dexamethasone on tumour growth were investigated in vitro and in vivo at clinically relevant doses. For animal experiments, a stereotaxic injection model of Walker 256 rat breast carcinoma cells into the striatum of Wistar rats was used. Emend treatment led to a decrease in tumour cell viability in vitro, although this effect was not replicated by N-acetyl-L-tryptophan. Dexamethasone did not decrease tumour cell viability in vitro but decreased tumour volume in vivo, likely to be through a reduction in tumour oedema, as indicated by the increase in tumour cell density. None of the agents investigated altered tumour cell replication or apoptosis in vivo. Inoculated animals showed increased glial fibrillary acidic protein and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 immunoreactivity indicative of astrocytes and microglia in the peritumoral area, whereas treatment with Emend and dexamethasone reduced the labelling for both glial cells. These results do not support the hypothesis that NK1 antagonists or dexamethasone exert a cytotoxic action on tumour cells, although these conclusions may be specific to this model and cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Lewis
- Adelaide Centre for Neuroscience Research, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Navarro P, Ramkissoon SH, Shah S, Park JM, Murthy RG, Patel SA, Greco SJ, Rameshwar P. An indirect role for oncomir-519b in the expression of truncated neurokinin-1 in breast cancer cells. Exp Cell Res 2012; 318:2604-15. [PMID: 22981979 PMCID: PMC3645290 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2012] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Neurokinin 1 (NK1) encodes full-length (NK1-FL) and truncated (NK1-Tr) receptors, with distinct 3' UTR. NK1-Tr exerts oncogenic functions and is increased in breast cancer (BC). Enhanced transcription of NK1 resulted in higher level of NK1-Tr. The 3' UTR of these two transcripts are distinct with NK1-Tr terminating at a premature stop codon. NK1-Tr mRNA gained an advantage over NK1-FL with regards to translation. This is due to the ability of miR519B to interact with sequences within the 3' UTR of NK1-FL, but not NK1-Tr since the corresponding region is omitted. MiR519b suppressed the translation of NK1-FL in T47D and MDA-MB-231 resulting in increased NK1-Tr protein. Cytokines can induce the transcription of NK1. However, our studies indicated that translation appeared to be independent of cytokine production by the BC cells (BCCs). This suggested that transcription and translation of NK1 might be independent. The findings were validated in vivo. MiR-519b suppressed the growth of MDA-MB-231 in 7/10 nude BALB/c. In total, increased NK1-Tr in BCCs is due to enhanced transcription and suppressed translation of NK1-FL by miR-519b to reduced tumor growth. In summary, we report on miRNA as a method to further regulate the expression of a spiced variant to promote oncogenesis. In addition, the findings have implications for therapy with NK1 antagonists. The oncogenic effect of NK1-Tr must be considered to improve the efficacy of current drugs to NK1.
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Lewis KM, Harford-Wright E, Vink R, Nimmo AJ, Ghabriel MN. Walker 256 tumour cells increase substance P immunoreactivity locally and modify the properties of the blood-brain barrier during extravasation and brain invasion. Clin Exp Metastasis 2012; 30:1-12. [PMID: 22610781 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-012-9487-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
It is not yet known how tumour cells traverse the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to form brain metastases. Substance P (SP) release is a key component of neurogenic inflammation which has been recently shown to increase the permeability of the BBB following CNS insults, making it a possible candidate as a mediator of tumour cell extravasation into the brain. This study investigated the properties of the BBB in the early stages of tumour cell invasion into the brain, and the possible involvement of SP. Male Wistar rats were injected with Walker 256 breast carcinoma cells via the internal carotid artery and euthanised at 1, 3, 6 and 9 days post tumour inoculation. Culture medium-injected animals served as controls at 1 and 9 days. Evidence of tumour cell extravasation across the BBB was first observed at 3 days post-inoculation, which corresponded with significantly increased albumin (p < 0.05) and SP immunoreactivity (p < 0.01) and significantly reduced endothelial barrier antigen labelling of microvessels when compared to culture medium control animals (p < 0.001). By day 9 after tumour cell inoculation, 100 % of animals developed large intracranial neoplasms that had significantly increased albumin in the peri-tumoral area (p < 0.001). The increased SP immunoreactivity and altered BBB properties at 3 days post-inoculation that coincided with early tumour invasion may be indicative of a mechanism for tumour cell extravasation into the brain. Thus, extravasation of tumour cells into the brain to form cerebral metastases may be a SP-mediated process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Lewis
- Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
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