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Ghosh S, Ghatak D, Dutta R, Goswami D, De R. PINK1 insufficiency can be exploited as a specific target for drug combinations inducing mitochondrial pathology-mediated cell death in gastric adenocarcinoma. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 759:110110. [PMID: 39103009 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.110110] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
There exist very limited non-hazardous therapeutic strategies except for surgical resection and lymphadenectomy against gastric cancer (GC) despite being the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. This study proposes an innovative treatment approach against GC using a drug combination strategy that manipulates mitochondrial dynamics in conjunction with the induction of mitochondrial pathology-mediated cell death. Comparative analysis was done with gastric adenocarcinoma and normal cells by qPCR, western blot, microscopic immunocytochemistry, and live cell imaging. In this study, impairment of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-mediated mitochondrial fission by Mdivi-1 created an imbalance in mitochondrial structural dynamics in indomethacin-treated AGS cells in which mitophagy-regulator protein PINK1 is downregulated. These drug combinations with the individual sub-lethal doses ultimately led to the activation of cell death machinery upregulating pro-apoptotic proteins like Bax, Puma, and Noxa. Interestingly, this combinatorial therapy did not affect normal gastric epithelial cells significantly and also no significant upregulation of death markers was observed. Moreover, the drug combination strategy also retarded cell migration and reduced stemness in GC cells. In summary, this study offers a pioneering specific therapeutic strategy for GC treatment, sparing normal cells providing opportunities for minimal drug-mediated toxicity utilizing mitochondria as a viable and specific target for anti-cancer therapy in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayak Ghosh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Kolkata, Plot No: 36, 37 & 38, Major Arterial Road, Action Area II, Kadampukur Village, Newtown, Kolkata, 700135, West Bengal, India
| | - Debapriya Ghatak
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Rittick Dutta
- Swami Vivekananda University, Kolkata, 700121, West Bengal, India
| | - Devyani Goswami
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Kolkata, Plot No: 36, 37 & 38, Major Arterial Road, Action Area II, Kadampukur Village, Newtown, Kolkata, 700135, West Bengal, India
| | - Rudranil De
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Kolkata, Plot No: 36, 37 & 38, Major Arterial Road, Action Area II, Kadampukur Village, Newtown, Kolkata, 700135, West Bengal, India.
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2
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Chen WJ, Ye QQ, Wu HT, Wu Z, Lan YZ, Fang ZX, Lin WT, Liu J. MiR-338-5p, a novel metastasis-related miRNA, inhibits triple-negative breast cancer progression by targeting the ETS1/NOTCH1 axis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34949. [PMID: 39157351 PMCID: PMC11327603 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer ranks as the most prevalent cancer globally, surpassing lung cancer, with recurrence/metastasis to be its main account for the cancer-related mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate critically in various physiological and pathological processes through posttranscriptional regulation of downstream genes. Our preliminary findings identified miR-338-5p, potentially linked to metastasis in breast cancer, a previously unexplored area. Analysis of the GSE38867 dataset revealed the decreased miR-338-5p expression in metastatic breast cancer compared to normal tissues. Cellular function experiments and a xenograft tumor model demonstrated the inhibitory function of miR-338-5p on the progression of breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, it downregulated the expression of mesenchymal biomarkers and NOTCH1 significantly. With the predicting targets of miR-338-5p and transcription factors of the NOTCH1 gene, coupled with dual luciferase reporter assays, it is identified ETS1 as the interactor between miR-338-5p and NOTCH1. In breast cancer tissues, as well as in our xenograft tumor model, expression of ETS1 and NOTCH1 was positively correlated using immunohistochemical staining. This study reports, for the first time, on the miR-338-5p/ETS1/NOTCH1 axis and its pivotal role in breast cancer proliferation and metastasis. These findings propose a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancer patients and lays a foundation for its clinical detection and treatment evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jia Chen
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Qian-Qian Ye
- Department of Pathology, Ganzhou Women and Children's Health Care Hospital, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Hua-Tao Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Zheng Wu
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Yang-Zheng Lan
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Ze-Xuan Fang
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Wen-Ting Lin
- Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Jing Liu
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
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3
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Romero-Moreno R, Czowski BJ, Harris L, Kuehn JF, White KA. Intracellular pH differentially regulates transcription of metabolic and signaling pathways in normal epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 2024:107658. [PMID: 39128712 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107658] [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: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics regulate normal cell function, and dysregulated pHi dynamics is an emerging hallmark of cancer (constitutively increased pHi) and neurodegeneration (constitutively decreased pHi). However, the molecular mechanisms by which pHi dynamics regulate cell biology are poorly understood. Here, we discovered that altering pHi in normal human breast epithelial cells triggers global transcriptional changes. We identified 176 genes differentially regulated by pHi, with pHi-dependent genes clustering in signaling and glycolytic pathways. Using various normal epithelial cell models, we showed pH-dependent Notch1 expression, with increased protein abundance at high pHi. This resulted in pH-dependent downstream signaling, with increased Notch1 signaling at high pHi. We also found that high pHi increased the expression of glycolytic enzymes and regulators of pyruvate fate, including lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase. These transcriptional changes were sufficient to alter lactate production, with high pHi shifting these normal epithelial cells toward a glycolytic metabolism and increasing lactate production. Thus, pHi dynamics transcriptionally regulate signaling and metabolic pathways in normal epithelial cells. Our data reveal new molecular regulators of pHi-dependent biology and a role for increased pHi in driving the acquisition of cancer-associated signaling and metabolic changes in normal human epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Romero-Moreno
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend. IN, 46617, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Brandon J Czowski
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend. IN, 46617, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Lindsey Harris
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend. IN, 46617, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Jessamine F Kuehn
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend. IN, 46617, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Katharine A White
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend. IN, 46617, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
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4
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Mustafa M, Abbas K, Alam M, Habib S, Zulfareen, Hasan GM, Islam S, Shamsi A, Hassan I. Investigating underlying molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, emerging therapeutic approaches in pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1427802. [PMID: 39087024 PMCID: PMC11288929 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1427802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a clinically challenging malignancy constitutes a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality, characterized by an inherently poor prognosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by examining its multifaceted etiologies, including genetic mutations and environmental factors. The review explains the complex molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and summarizes current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and emerging modalities such as immunotherapy. Critical molecular pathways driving pancreatic cancer development, including KRAS, Notch, and Hedgehog, are discussed. Current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, are discussed, with an emphasis on their limitations, particularly in terms of postoperative relapse. Promising research areas, including liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, and gene editing, are explored, demonstrating the significant potential for enhancing diagnosis and treatment. While immunotherapy presents promising prospects, it faces challenges related to immune evasion mechanisms. Emerging research directions, encompassing liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and computational intelligence applications, hold promise for refining diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions. By integrating insights from genetic, molecular, and clinical research, innovative strategies that improve patient outcomes can be developed. Ongoing research in these emerging fields holds significant promise for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of this formidable malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Kashif Abbas
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mudassir Alam
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Safia Habib
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Zulfareen
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Gulam Mustafa Hasan
- Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sidra Islam
- Department of Inflammation & Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Anas Shamsi
- Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research (CMBHSR), Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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Chong ZX, Ho WY, Yeap SK. Tumour-regulatory role of long non-coding RNA HOXA-AS3. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 189:13-25. [PMID: 38593905 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulation of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOXA-AS3 has been shown to contribute to the development of multiple cancer types. Several studies have presented the tumour-modulatory role or prognostic significance of this lncRNA in various kinds of cancer. Overall, HOXA-AS3 can act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that inhibits the activity of seven microRNAs (miRNAs), including miR-29a-3p, miR-29 b-3p, miR-29c, miR-218-5p, miR-455-5p, miR-1286, and miR-4319. This relieves the downstream messenger RNA (mRNA) targets of these miRNAs from miRNA-mediated translational repression, allowing them to exert their effect in regulating cellular activities. Examples of the pathways regulated by lncRNA HOXA-AS3 and its associated downstream targets include the WNT/β-catenin and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activities. Besides, HOXA-AS3 can interact with other cellular proteins like homeobox HOXA3 and HOXA6, influencing the oncogenic signaling pathways associated with these proteins. Generally, HOXA-AS3 is overexpressed in most of the discussed human cancers, making this lncRNA a potential candidate to diagnose cancer or predict the clinical outcomes of cancer patients. Hence, targeting HOXA-AS3 could be a new therapeutic approach to slowing cancer progression or as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. A drawback of using lncRNA HOXA-AS3 as a biomarker or therapeutic target is that most of the studies that have reported the tumour-regulatory roles of lncRNA HOXA-AS3 are single observational, in vitro, or in vivo studies. More in-depth mechanistic and large-scale clinical trials must be conducted to confirm the tumour-modulatory roles of lncRNA HOXA-AS3 further. Besides, no lncRNA HOXA-AS3 inhibitor has been tested preclinically and clinically, and designing such an inhibitor is crucial as it may potentially slow cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Xiong Chong
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Wan Yong Ho
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Swee Keong Yeap
- China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, Xiamen University Malaysia, 43900 Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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6
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Jiang S, Zheng Z, Yuan B, Yan R, Yao Q, Chen H, Zhang Y, Lei Y, Liang H. MFAP2 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of osteosarcoma cells by activating the Notch1 pathway. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:2847-2859. [PMID: 38988940 PMCID: PMC11231794 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-2035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignancy originating from mesenchymal tissue. Microfibril-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) plays a crucial role in cancer, notably promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, its involvement in OS remains unexplored. Methods MFAP2 was silenced in U2OS cells using shRNA targeting MFAP2 (sh-MFAP2) and validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We extracted gene chip data of MFAP2 from multiple databases (GSE28424, GSE42572, and GSE126209). Correlation analyses between MFAP2 and the Notch1 pathway identified through the gene set variation analysis (GSVA) enrichment analysis were conducted using the Pearson correlation method. Cellular behaviors (viability, migration, and invasion) were assessed via the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and Transwell assays. EMT markers (N-cadherin, vimentin, and β-catenin) and Notch1 levels were examined by western blotting and qRT-PCR. Cell morphology was observed microscopically to evaluate EMT. Finally, the role of MFAP2 in OS was validated through a xenograft tumor model. Results OS cell lines exhibited higher MFAP2 mRNA expression than normal osteoblasts. MFAP2 knockdown in U2OS cells significantly reduced viability, migration, and invasion, along with downregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin, as well as upregulation of β-catenin. MFAP2 significantly correlated with the Notch1 pathway in OS and its knockdown inhibited Notch1 protein expression. Furthermore, Notch1 activation reversed the inhibitory effects of MFAP2 knockdown on the malignant characteristic of U2OS cells. Additionally, MFAP2 knockdown inhibited tumor growth, expression levels of EMT markers, and Notch1 expression in OS tumor tissues. Conclusions Our study revealed that MFAP2 was an upstream regulator of the Notch1 signaling pathway to promote EMT in OS. These findings suggested MFAP2 as a potential OS therapy target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jiang
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ziang Zheng
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Bo Yuan
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Rushan Yan
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qijun Yao
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Haoran Chen
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yongxun Zhang
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yue Lei
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Haidong Liang
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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7
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Pickett MR, Chen YI, Kamra M, Kumar S, Kalkunte N, Sugerman GP, Varodom K, Rausch MK, Zoldan J, Yeh HC, Parekh SH. Assessing the impact of extracellular matrix fiber orientation on breast cancer cellular metabolism. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:199. [PMID: 38840117 PMCID: PMC11151503 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03385-3] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic and complex microenvironment that modulates cell behavior and cell fate. Changes in ECM composition and architecture have been correlated with development, differentiation, and disease progression in various pathologies, including breast cancer [1]. Studies have shown that aligned fibers drive a pro-metastatic microenvironment, promoting the transformation of mammary epithelial cells into invasive ductal carcinoma via the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [2]. The impact of ECM orientation on breast cancer metabolism, however, is largely unknown. Here, we employ two non-invasive imaging techniques, fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and intensity-based multiphoton microscopy, to assess the metabolic states of cancer cells cultured on ECM-mimicking nanofibers in a random and aligned orientation. By tracking the changes in the intrinsic fluorescence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide, as well as expression levels of metastatic markers, we reveal how ECM fiber orientation alters cancer metabolism and EMT progression. Our study indicates that aligned cellular microenvironments play a key role in promoting metastatic phenotypes of breast cancer as evidenced by a more glycolytic metabolic signature on nanofiber scaffolds of aligned orientation compared to scaffolds of random orientation. This finding is particularly relevant for subsets of breast cancer marked by high levels of collagen remodeling (e.g. pregnancy associated breast cancer), and may serve as a platform for predicting clinical outcomes within these subsets [3-6].
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison R Pickett
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Yuan-I Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Mohini Kamra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Nikhith Kalkunte
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Gabriella P Sugerman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Kelsey Varodom
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Manuel K Rausch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Janet Zoldan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Hsin-Chin Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Sapun H Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton Street Stop C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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8
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Shi Q, Xue C, Zeng Y, Yuan X, Chu Q, Jiang S, Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhu D, Li L. Notch signaling pathway in cancer: from mechanistic insights to targeted therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:128. [PMID: 38797752 PMCID: PMC11128457 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01828-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling, renowned for its role in regulating cell fate, organ development, and tissue homeostasis across metazoans, is highly conserved throughout evolution. The Notch receptor and its ligands are transmembrane proteins containing epidermal growth factor-like repeat sequences, typically necessitating receptor-ligand interaction to initiate classical Notch signaling transduction. Accumulating evidence indicates that the Notch signaling pathway serves as both an oncogenic factor and a tumor suppressor in various cancer types. Dysregulation of this pathway promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis in malignancies, closely linked to cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, the Notch signaling pathway contributes to maintaining stem-like properties in cancer cells, thereby enhancing cancer invasiveness. The regulatory role of the Notch signaling pathway in cancer metabolic reprogramming and the tumor microenvironment suggests its pivotal involvement in balancing oncogenic and tumor suppressive effects. Moreover, the Notch signaling pathway is implicated in conferring chemoresistance to tumor cells. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these biological processes is crucial for developing innovative therapeutic strategies targeting Notch signaling. This review focuses on the research progress of the Notch signaling pathway in cancers, providing in-depth insights into the potential mechanisms of Notch signaling regulation in the occurrence and progression of cancer. Additionally, the review summarizes pharmaceutical clinical trials targeting Notch signaling for cancer therapy, aiming to offer new insights into therapeutic strategies for human malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingmiao Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Chen Xue
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yifan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Xin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Qingfei Chu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Shuwen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jinzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yaqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Danhua Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
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Pećina-Šlaus N, Hrašćan R. Glioma Stem Cells-Features for New Therapy Design. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1557. [PMID: 38672638 PMCID: PMC11049195 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081557] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
On a molecular level, glioma is very diverse and presents a whole spectrum of specific genetic and epigenetic alterations. The tumors are unfortunately resistant to available therapies and the survival rate is low. The explanation of significant intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity and the infiltrative capability of gliomas, as well as its resistance to therapy, recurrence and aggressive behavior, lies in a small subset of tumor-initiating cells that behave like stem cells and are known as glioma cancer stem cells (GCSCs). They are responsible for tumor plasticity and are influenced by genetic drivers. Additionally, GCSCs also display greater migratory abilities. A great effort is under way in order to find ways to eliminate or neutralize GCSCs. Many different treatment strategies are currently being explored, including modulation of the tumor microenvironment, posttranscriptional regulation, epigenetic modulation and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nives Pećina-Šlaus
- Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Reno Hrašćan
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
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10
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John P, Sudandiradoss C. A comprehensive integrated gene network construction to explore the essential role of Notch 1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38282473 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2306501] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The heterogeneous biological landscape of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is largely attributed to the activation of Notch signalling pathway. Among the Notch family transmembrane proteins, neurogenic locus notch homolog protein1 (NOTCH1) is a putative oncogene in NSCLC which activates the pathway as negative prognostic factor. This study aims to explore integrated network approach in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) especially linked to the notch pathway and its receptors. Our gene set enrichment analysis reveals the key Notch pathway genes are predominantly down regulated in LUAD. There were 675 genes with a total of 6517 functional interactions and 6 densely connected clusters of 38 miRNAs, 84 transcription factors with 156 edges identified through network construction. Here we report five key genes namely NOTCH1, CDH1, ERBB2, GAPDH and COL1A1 significantly enriched in Notch pathway which are further validated through the KM plot, box plots, stage plots and TIMER analysis. In addition, the NOTCH1 receptor is strongly linked to the immune checkpoint inhibitor CD274 (PD-L1) and can be considered as prognostic marker and tumour suppressor gene in LUAD which surely provide the basis for early diagnosis and futuristic immunotherapeutic targets for LUAD.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl John
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - C Sudandiradoss
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
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11
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Ahmad A, Tiwari RK, Siddiqui S, Chadha M, Shukla R, Srivastava V. Emerging trends in gastrointestinal cancers: Targeting developmental pathways in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 385:41-99. [PMID: 38663962 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal carcinomas are a group of cancers associated with the digestive system and its accessory organs. The most prevalent cancers related to the gastrointestinal tract are colorectal, gall bladder, gastric, hepatocellular, and esophageal cancers, respectively. Molecular aberrations in different signaling pathways, such as signal transduction systems or developmental pathways are the chief triggering mechanisms in different cancers Though a massive advancement in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions results in improved survival of patients with gastrointestinal cancer; the lower malignancy stages of these carcinomas are comparatively asymptomatic. Various gastrointestinal-related cancers are detected at advanced stages, leading to deplorable prognoses and increased rates of recurrence. Recent molecular studies have elucidated the imperative roles of several signaling pathways, namely Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch signaling pathways, play in the progression, therapeutic responsiveness, and metastasis of gastrointestinal-related cancers. This book chapter gives an interesting update on recent findings on the involvement of developmental signaling pathways their mechanistic insight in gastrointestinalcancer. Subsequently, evidences supporting the exploration of gastrointestinal cancer related molecular mechanisms have also been discussed for developing novel therapeutic strategies against these debilitating carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afza Ahmad
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rohit Kumar Tiwari
- Department of Clinical Research, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Saleha Siddiqui
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India
| | - Muskan Chadha
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ratnakar Shukla
- Department of Clinical Research, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vivek Srivastava
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Sharda School of Basic Sciences & Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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12
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Ghosh A, Mitra AK. Metastasis and cancer associated fibroblasts: taking it up a NOTCH. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 11:1277076. [PMID: 38269089 PMCID: PMC10806909 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1277076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the least understood aspect of cancer biology. 90% of cancer related deaths occur due extensive metastatic burden in patients. Apart from metastasizing cancer cells, the pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic role of the tumor stroma plays a crucial part in this complex process often leading to disease relapse and therapy resistance. Cellular signaling processes play a crucial role in the process of tumorigenesis and metastasis when aberrantly turned on, not just in the cancer cells, but also in the cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME). One of the most conserved pathways includes the Notch signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in the development and progression of many cancers. In addition to its well documented role in cancer cells, recent evidence suggests crucial involvement of Notch signaling in the stroma as well. This review aims to highlight the current findings focusing on the oncogenic role of notch signaling in cancer cells and the TME, with a specific focus on cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which constitute a major part of the tumor stroma and are important for tumor progression. Recent efforts have focused on the development of anti-cancer and anti-metastatic therapies targeting TME. Understanding the importance of Notch signaling in the TME would help identify important drivers for stromal reprogramming, metastasis and importantly, drive future research in the effort to develop TME-targeted therapies utilizing Notch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argha Ghosh
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Anirban K. Mitra
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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13
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Cai J, Qiao Y, Chen L, Lu Y, Zheng D. Regulation of the Notch signaling pathway by natural products for cancer therapy. J Nutr Biochem 2024; 123:109483. [PMID: 37848105 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2023.109483] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that modulates normal biological processes involved in cellular differentiation, apoptosis, and stem cell self-renewal in a context-dependent fashion. Attributed to its pleiotropic physiological roles, both overexpression and silencing of the pathway are associated with the emergence, progression, and poorer prognosis in various types of cancer. To decrease disease incidence and promote survival, targeting Notch may have chemopreventive and anti-cancer effects. Natural products with profound historical origins have distinguished themselves from other therapies due to their easy access, high biological compatibility, low toxicity, and reliable effects at specific physiological sites in vivo. This review describes the Notch signaling pathway, particularly its normal activation process, and some main illnesses related to Notch signaling pathway dysregulation. Emphasis is placed on the effects and mechanisms of natural products targeting the Notch signaling pathway in diverse cancer types, including curcumin, ellagic acid (EA), resveratrol, genistein, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), quercetin, and xanthohumol and so on. Existing evidence indicates that natural products are feasible solution to fight against cancer by targeting Notch signaling, either alone or in combination with current therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Cai
- School of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Yajie Qiao
- School of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Lingbin Chen
- School of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Youguang Lu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, China; Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Dali Zheng
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, China.
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14
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Rithvik A, Samarpita S, Rasool M. Unleashing the pathological imprinting of cancer in autoimmunity: Is ZEB1 the answer? Life Sci 2023; 332:122115. [PMID: 37739160 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122115] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
The intriguing scientific relationship between autoimmunity and cancer immunology have been traditionally indulged to throw spotlight on novel pathological targets. Understandably, these "slowly killing" diseases are on the opposite ends of the immune spectrum. However, the immune regulatory mechanisms between autoimmunity and cancer are not always contradictory and sometimes mirror each other based on disease stage, location, and timepoint. Moreover, the blockade of immune checkpoint molecules or signalling pathways that unleashes the immune response against cancer is being leveraged to preserve self-tolerance and treat many autoimmune disorders. Therefore, understanding the common crucial factors involved in cancer is of paramount importance to paint the autoimmune disease spectrum and validate novel drug candidates. In the current review, we will broadly describe how ZEB1, or Zinc-finger E-box Binding Homeobox 1, reinforces immune exhaustion in cancer or contributes to loss of self-tolerance in auto-immune conditions. We made an effort to exchange information about the molecular pathways and pathological responses (immune regulation, cell proliferation, senescence, autophagy, hypoxia, and circadian rhythm) that can be regulated by ZEB1 in the context of autoimmunity. This will help untwine the intricate and closely postured pathogenesis of ZEB1, that is less explored from the perspective of autoimmunity than its counterpart, cancer. This review will further consider several approaches for targeting ZEB1 in autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arulkumaran Rithvik
- Immunopathology Lab, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nādu, India
| | - Snigdha Samarpita
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Mahaboobkhan Rasool
- Immunopathology Lab, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nādu, India.
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15
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Corsaro L, Gambino VS. Notch, SUMOylation, and ESR-Mediated Signalling Are the Main Molecular Pathways Showing Significantly Different Epimutation Scores between Expressing or Not Oestrogen Receptor Breast Cancer in Three Public EWAS Datasets. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4109. [PMID: 37627137 PMCID: PMC10452656 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164109] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Oestrogen receptor expression in breast cancer (BC) cells is a marker of high cellular differentiation and allows the identification of two BC groups (ER-positive and ER-negative) that, although not completely homogeneous, differ in biological characteristics, clinical behaviour, and therapeutic options. The study, based on three publicly available EWAS (Epigenetic Wide Association Study) datasets, focuses on the comparison between these two groups of breast cancer using an epimutation score. The score is calculated not only based on the presence of the epimutation, but also on the deviation amplitude of the methylation outlier value. For each dataset, we performed a functional analysis based first on the functional gene region of each annotated gene (we aggregated the data per gene region TSS1500, TSS200, first-exon, and body-gene identified by the information from the Illumina Data Sheet), and then, we performed a pathway enrichment analysis through the REACTOME database based on the genes with the highest epimutation score. Thus, we blended our results and found common pathways for all three datasets. We found that a higher and significant epimutation score due to hypermethylation in ER-positive BC is present in the promoter region of the genes belonging to the SUMOylation pathway, the Notch pathway, the IFN-γ signalling pathway, and the deubiquitination protease pathway, while a higher and significant level of epimutation due to hypomethylation in ER-positive BC is present in the promoter region of the genes belonging to the ESR-mediated pathway. The presence of this state of promoter hypomethylation in the ESR-mediated signalling genes is consistent and coherent with an active signalling pathway mediated by oestrogen function in the group of ER-positive BC. The SUMOylation and Notch pathways are associated with BC pathogenesis and have been found to play distinct roles in the two BC subgroups. We speculated that the altered methylation profile may play a role in regulating signalling pathways with specific functions in the two subgroups of ER BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Corsaro
- Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Università di Pavia, 20100 Milan, Italy
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16
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Mallick AM, Biswas A, Mishra S, Jadhav S, Chakraborty K, Tripathi A, Mukherjee A, Roy RS. Engineered vitamin E-tethered non-immunogenic facial lipopeptide for developing improved siRNA based combination therapy against metastatic breast cancer. Chem Sci 2023; 14:7842-7866. [PMID: 37502330 PMCID: PMC10370593 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc01071f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference based therapeutic gene silencing is an emerging platform for managing highly metastatic breast cancer. Cytosolic delivery of functional siRNA remains the key obstacle for efficient RNAi therapy. To overcome the challenges of siRNA delivery, we have engineered a vitamin E-tethered, short, optimum protease stabilized facial lipopeptide based non-immunogenic, biocompatible siRNA transporter to facilitate the clinical translation in future. Our designed lipopeptide has an Arginine-Sarcosine-Arginine segment for providing optimum protease-stability, minimizing adjacent arginine-arginine repulsion and reducing intermolecular aggregation and α-tocopherol as the lipidic moiety for facilitating cellular permeabilization. Interestingly, our designed non-immunogenic siRNA transporter has exhibited significantly better long term transfection efficiency than HiPerFect and can transfect hard to transfect primary cell line, HUVEC. Our engineered siRNA therapeutics demonstrated high efficacy in managing metastasis against triple negative breast cancer by disrupting the crosstalk of endothelial cells and MDA-MB-231 and reduced stemness and metastatic markers, as evidenced by downregulating critical oncogenic pathways. Our study aimed at silencing Notch1 signalling to achieve "multi-targeted" therapy with a single putative molecular medicine. We have further developed mechanistically rational combination therapy combining Notch1 silencing with a repurposed drug m-TOR inhibitor, metformin, which demonstrated synergistic interaction and enhanced antitumor efficacy against cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argha Mario Mallick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur 741246 India
| | - Abhijit Biswas
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur 741246 India
| | - Sukumar Mishra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur 741246 India
| | - Sonali Jadhav
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune Pune 411008 India
| | - Kasturee Chakraborty
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur 741246 India
| | - Archana Tripathi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur 741246 India
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune Pune 411008 India
| | - Rituparna Sinha Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur 741246 India
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur 741246 India
- Centre for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur 741246 India
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17
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Baba SK, Baba SK, Mir R, Elfaki I, Algehainy N, Ullah MF, Barnawi J, Altemani FH, Alanazi M, Mustafa SK, Masoodi T, Akil ASA, Bhat AA, Macha MA. Long non-coding RNAs modulate tumor microenvironment to promote metastasis: novel avenue for therapeutic intervention. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1164301. [PMID: 37384249 PMCID: PMC10299194 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1164301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a devastating disease and the primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with cancer metastasis responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. Cancer metastasis is a multistep process characterized by spreading of cancer cells from the primary tumor and acquiring molecular and phenotypic changes that enable them to expand and colonize in distant organs. Despite recent advancements, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) of cancer metastasis is limited and requires further exploration. In addition to genetic alterations, epigenetic changes have been demonstrated to play an important role in the development of cancer metastasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered one of the most critical epigenetic regulators. By regulating signaling pathways and acting as decoys, guides, and scaffolds, they modulate key molecules in every step of cancer metastasis such as dissemination of carcinoma cells, intravascular transit, and metastatic colonization. Gaining a good knowledge of the detailed molecular basis underlying lncRNAs regulating cancer metastasis may provide previously unknown therapeutic and diagnostic lncRNAs for patients with metastatic disease. In this review, we concentrate on the molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNAs in the regulation of cancer metastasis, the cross-talk with metabolic reprogramming, modulating cancer cell anoikis resistance, influencing metastatic microenvironment, and the interaction with pre-metastatic niche formation. In addition, we also discuss the clinical utility and therapeutic potential of lncRNAs for cancer treatment. Finally, we also represent areas for future research in this rapidly developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Khurshid Baba
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir, India
| | - Sadaf Khursheed Baba
- Department of Microbiology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS), Soura, Kashmir, India
| | - Rashid Mir
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imadeldin Elfaki
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naseh Algehainy
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Fahad Ullah
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jameel Barnawi
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal H. Altemani
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Alanazi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Khalid Mustafa
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tariq Masoodi
- Human Immunology Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ammira S. Alshabeeb Akil
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity, and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A. Bhat
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity, and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Muzafar A. Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir, India
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Bartoszewska S, Sławski J, Collawn JF, Bartoszewski R. HIF-1-Induced hsa-miR-429: Understanding Its Direct Targets as the Key to Developing Cancer Diagnostics and Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112903. [PMID: 37296866 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in the regulation of mRNA stability and translation. In spite of our present knowledge on the mechanisms of mRNA regulation by miRNAs, the utilization and translation of these ncRNAs into clinical applications have been problematic. Using hsa-miR-429 as an example, we discuss the limitations encountered in the development of efficient miRNA-related therapies and diagnostic approaches. The miR-200 family members, which include hsa-miR-429, have been shown to be dysregulated in different types of cancer. Although these miR-200 family members have been shown to function in suppressing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, tumor metastasis, and chemoresistance, the experimental results have often been contradictory. These complications involve not only the complex networks involving these noncoding RNAs, but also the problem of identifying false positives. To overcome these limitations, a more comprehensive research strategy is needed to increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying their biological role in mRNA regulation. Here, we provide a literature analysis of the verified hsa-miR-429 targets in various human research models. A meta-analysis of this work is presented to provide better insights into the role of hsa-miR-429 in cancer diagnosis and any potential therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Bartoszewska
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-416 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jakub Sławski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - James F Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Rafal Bartoszewski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
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19
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Ko AMS, Tu HP, Ko YC. Systematic Review of Roles of Arecoline and Arecoline N-Oxide in Oral Cancer and Strategies to Block Carcinogenesis. Cells 2023; 12:1208. [PMID: 37190117 PMCID: PMC10137008 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Betel quid and areca nut are complex mixture carcinogens, but little is known about whether their derived single-agent arecoline or arecoline N-oxide (ANO) is carcinogenic, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this systematic review, we analyzed recent studies on the roles of arecoline and ANO in cancer and strategies to block carcinogenesis. In the oral cavity, flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 oxidizes arecoline to ANO, and both alkaloids conjugate with N-acetylcysteine to form mercapturic acid compounds, which are excreted in urine, reducing arecoline and ANO toxicity. However, detoxification may not be complete. Arecoline and ANO upregulated protein expression in oral cancer tissue from areca nut users compared to expression levels in adjacent normal tissue, suggesting a causal relationship between these compounds and oral cancer. Sublingual fibrosis, hyperplasia, and oral leukoplakia were diagnosed in mice subjected to oral mucosal smearing of ANO. ANO is more cytotoxic and genotoxic than arecoline. During carcinogenesis and metastasis, these compounds increase the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducers such as reactive oxygen species, transforming growth factor-β1, Notch receptor-1, and inflammatory cytokines, and they activate EMT-related proteins. Arecoline-induced epigenetic markers such as sirtuin-1 hypermethylation, low protein expression of miR-22, and miR-886-3-p accelerate oral cancer progression. Antioxidants and targeted inhibitors of the EMT inducers used reduce the risk of oral cancer development and progression. Our review findings substantiate the association of arecoline and ANO with oral cancer. Both of these single compounds are likely carcinogenic to humans, and their mechanisms and pathways of carcinogenesis are useful indicators for cancer therapy and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Min-Shan Ko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
- Cardiovascular Department, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
- Health Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Pin Tu
- Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chin Ko
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, No. 2 Yu-Der Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106216, Taiwan
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20
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Karthika CL, Venugopal V, Sreelakshmi BJ, Krithika S, Thomas JM, Abraham M, Kartha CC, Rajavelu A, Sumi S. Oscillatory shear stress modulates Notch-mediated endothelial mesenchymal plasticity in cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2023; 28:22. [PMID: 36934253 PMCID: PMC10024393 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-023-00436-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (cAVM) are a significant cause of intracranial hemorrhagic stroke and brain damage. The arteriovenous junctions in AVM nidus are known to have hemodynamic disturbances such as altered shear stress, which could lead to endothelial dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms coupling shear stress and endothelial dysfunction in cAVMs are poorly understood. We speculated that disturbed blood flow in artery-vein junctions activates Notch receptors and promotes endothelial mesenchymal plasticity during cAVM formation. METHODS We investigated the expression profile of endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and cell adhesion markers, as well as activated Notch receptors, in 18 human cAVM samples and 15 control brain tissues, by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical evaluation. Employing a combination of a microfluidic system, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, as well as invasion and inhibitor assays, the effects of various shear stress conditions on Notch-induced EndMT and invasive potential of human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/d3) were analyzed. RESULTS We found evidence for EndMT and enhanced expression of activated Notch intracellular domain (NICD3 and NICD4) in human AVM nidus samples. The expression of transmembrane adhesion receptor integrin α9/β1 is significantly reduced in cAVM nidal vessels. Cell-cell adhesion proteins such as VE-cadherin and N-cadherin were differentially expressed in AVM nidus compared with control brain tissues. Using well-characterized hCMECs, we show that altered fluid shear stress steers Notch3 nuclear translocation and promotes SNAI1/2 expression and nuclear localization. Oscillatory flow downregulates integrin α9/β1 and VE-cadherin expression, while N-cadherin expression and endothelial cell invasiveness are augmented. Gamma-secretase inhibitor RO4929097, and to a lesser level DAPT, prevent the mesenchymal transition and invasiveness of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells exposed to oscillatory fluid flow. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides, for the first time, evidence for the role of oscillatory shear stress in mediating the EndMT process and dysregulated expression of cell adhesion molecules, especially multifunctional integrin α9/β1 in human cAVM nidus. Concomitantly, our findings indicate the potential use of small-molecular inhibitors such as RO4929097 in the less-invasive therapeutic management of cAVMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Karthika
- Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - Vani Venugopal
- Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - B J Sreelakshmi
- Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - S Krithika
- Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - Jaya Mary Thomas
- Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - Mathew Abraham
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695011, India
| | - C C Kartha
- Department of Neurology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India
| | - Arumugam Rajavelu
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India
| | - S Sumi
- Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India.
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21
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Ang HL, Mohan CD, Shanmugam MK, Leong HC, Makvandi P, Rangappa KS, Bishayee A, Kumar AP, Sethi G. Mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer and its regulation by natural compounds. Med Res Rev 2023. [PMID: 36929669 DOI: 10.1002/med.21948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex process with a primordial role in cellular transformation whereby an epithelial cell transforms and acquires a mesenchymal phenotype. This transformation plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and self-renewal, and exacerbates resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy. EMT can be initiated and promoted by deregulated oncogenic signaling pathways, hypoxia, and cells in the tumor microenvironment, resulting in a loss-of-epithelial cell polarity, cell-cell adhesion, and enhanced invasive/migratory properties. Numerous transcriptional regulators, such as Snail, Slug, Twist, and ZEB1/ZEB2 induce EMT through the downregulation of epithelial markers and gain-of-expression of the mesenchymal markers. Additionally, signaling cascades such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Sonic hedgehog, nuclear factor kappa B, receptor tyrosine kinases, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Hippo, and transforming growth factor-β pathways regulate EMT whereas they are often deregulated in cancers leading to aberrant EMT. Furthermore, noncoding RNAs, tumor-derived exosomes, and epigenetic alterations are also involved in the modulation of EMT. Therefore, the regulation of EMT is a vital strategy to control the aggressive metastatic characteristics of tumor cells. Despite the vast amount of preclinical data on EMT in cancer progression, there is a lack of clinical translation at the therapeutic level. In this review, we have discussed thoroughly the role of the aforementioned transcription factors, noncoding RNAs (microRNAs, long noncoding RNA, circular RNA), signaling pathways, epigenetic modifications, and tumor-derived exosomes in the regulation of EMT in cancers. We have also emphasized the contribution of EMT to drug resistance and possible therapeutic interventions using plant-derived natural products, their semi-synthetic derivatives, and nano-formulations that are described as promising EMT blockers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li Ang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Muthu K Shanmugam
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hin Chong Leong
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pooyan Makvandi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Centre for Materials Interface, Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Anupam Bishayee
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, Florida, USA
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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22
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Novel scFv against Notch Ligand JAG1 Suitable for Development of Cell Therapies toward JAG1-Positive Tumors. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030459. [PMID: 36979394 PMCID: PMC10046313 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Notch signaling ligand JAG1 is overexpressed in various aggressive tumors and is associated with poor clinical prognosis. Hence, therapies targeting oncogenic JAG1 hold great potential for the treatment of certain tumors. Here, we report the identification of specific anti-JAG1 single-chain variable fragments (scFvs), one of them endowing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells with cytotoxicity against JAG1-positive cells. Anti-JAG1 scFvs were identified from human phage display libraries, reformatted into full-length monoclonal antibodies (Abs), and produced in mammalian cells. The characterization of these Abs identified two specific anti-JAG1 Abs (J1.B5 and J1.F1) with nanomolar affinities. Cloning the respective scFv sequences in our second- and third-generation CAR backbones resulted in six anti-JAG1 CAR constructs, which were screened for JAG1-mediated T-cell activation in Jurkat T cells in coculture assays with JAG1-positive cell lines. Studies in primary T cells demonstrated that one CAR harboring the J1.B5 scFv significantly induced effective T-cell activation in the presence of JAG1-positive, but not in JAG1-knockout, cancer cells, and enabled specific killing of JAG1-positive cells. Thus, this new anti-JAG1 scFv represents a promising candidate for the development of cell therapies against JAG1-positive tumors.
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23
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Zhang Z, Lu YX, Liu F, Sang L, Shi C, Xie S, Bian W, Yang JC, Yang Z, Qu L, Chen SY, Li J, Yang L, Yan Q, Wang W, Fu P, Shao J, Li X, Lin A. lncRNA BREA2 promotes metastasis by disrupting the WWP2-mediated ubiquitination of Notch1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2206694120. [PMID: 36795754 PMCID: PMC9974429 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206694120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch has been implicated in human cancers and is a putative therapeutic target. However, the regulation of Notch activation in the nucleus remains largely uncharacterized. Therefore, characterizing the detailed mechanisms governing Notch degradation will identify attractive strategies for treating Notch-activated cancers. Here, we report that the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) BREA2 drives breast cancer metastasis by stabilizing the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD1). Moreover, we reveal WW domain containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2 (WWP2) as an E3 ligase for NICD1 at K1821 and a suppressor of breast cancer metastasis. Mechanistically, BREA2 impairs WWP2-NICD1 complex formation and in turn stabilizes NICD1, leading to Notch signaling activation and lung metastasis. BREA2 loss sensitizes breast cancer cells to inhibition of Notch signaling and suppresses the growth of breast cancer patient-derived xenograft tumors, highlighting its therapeutic potential in breast cancer. Taken together, these results reveal the lncRNA BREA2 as a putative regulator of Notch signaling and an oncogenic player driving breast cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Yun-xin Lu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong510060, China
| | - Fangzhou Liu
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Lingjie Sang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Chengyu Shi
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Shaofang Xie
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310024, China
| | - Weixiang Bian
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310024, China
| | - Jie-cheng Yang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Zuozhen Yang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Lei Qu
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Shi-yi Chen
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Pathology School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310003, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine South China University of Technology, Guangzhou510080, China
| | - Qingfeng Yan
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Wenqi Wang
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | - Peifen Fu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310003, China
| | - Jianzhong Shao
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Xu Li
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310024, China
| | - Aifu Lin
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang310058, China
- Breast Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310003, China
- International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, The 4th Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang322000, China
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24
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Chakraborty K, Biswas A, Mishra S, Mallick AM, Tripathi A, Jan S, Sinha Roy R. Harnessing Peptide-Functionalized Multivalent Gold Nanorods for Promoting Enhanced Gene Silencing and Managing Breast Cancer Metastasis. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:458-472. [PMID: 36651932 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has become the cornerstone against undruggable targets and for managing metastatic breast cancer. However, an effective gene silencing approach is faced with a major challenge due to the delivery problem. In our present study, we have demonstrated efficient siRNA delivery, superior gene silencing, and inhibition of metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) using rod-shaped (aspect ratio: 4) multivalent peptide-functionalized gold nanoparticles and compared them to monovalent free peptide doses. Multivalency is a new concept in biology, and tuning the physical parameters of multivalent nanoparticles can enhance gene silencing and antitumor efficacy. We explored the effect of the multivalency of shape- and size-dependent peptide-functionalized gold nanoparticles in siRNA delivery. Our study demonstrates that peptide functionalization leads to reduced toxicity of the nanoparticles. Such designed peptide-functionalized nanorods also demonstrate antimetastatic efficacy in Notch1-silenced cells by preventing EMT progression in vitro. We have shown siRNA delivery in the hard-to-transfect primary cell line HUVEC and also demonstrated that the Notch1-silenced MDA-MB-231 cell line has failed to form nanobridge-mediated foci with the HUVEC in the co-culture of HUVEC and MDA-MB-231, which promote metastasis. This antimetastatic effect is further checked in a xenotransplant in vivo zebrafish model. In vivo studies also suggest that our designed nanoparticles mediated inhibition of micrometastasis due to silencing of the Notch1 gene. The outcome of our study highlights that the structure-activity relationship of multifunctional nanoparticles can be harnessed to modulate their biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasturee Chakraborty
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Abhijit Biswas
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Sukumar Mishra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Argha Mario Mallick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Archana Tripathi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Somnath Jan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Rituparna Sinha Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India.,Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India.,Centre for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
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25
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Qiu J, Guo Y, Wang S, Ren Q, Dong Z, Gao M, Ma J, Chen S, Liu S. Newly identified lncRNA-45 promotes breast cancer metastasis through activating the mTOR signaling pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 640:40-49. [PMID: 36502630 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.11.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastasis, a complex multi-stage process, is the primary cause of breast cancer-related death. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor metastasis have not been fully elucidated thus far. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) dictate the behaviours of tumor cells via multiple signaling pathways, resulting in tumor cell migration and invasion, as well as all stages of cancer progression. LncRNAs function as regulators in shaping cellular activities directly through influencing key genes involved in biological processes of the tumor, and representing promising novel targets in cancer diagnosis and therapy. We therefore sought to define the correlations between lncRNA expression and breast cancer metastasis, especially to investigate the functional pathway underlying lncRNA-mediated tumor invasion and metastasis process. RESULTS In this study, we compared the lncRNA transcriptome profiles between primary breast cancer 4T1 cells and high metastatic 4T1-LG12 cells. We found that many differently expressed lncRNAs greatly correlated to the metastatic propensity of 4T1-LG12 cells, particularly lncRNA-45, a new lncRNA without functional annotations, which was found to be the most upregulated lncRNA transcribed by an internal region within the regulatory associated with protein of mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) complex 1 (Rptor) gene. LncRNA-45 was uncovered to be involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process of breast cancer cells, as evidenced by the observation that lncRNA-45 knockdown significantly suppressed the invasive capability of parental 4T1-LG12 cells. Molecular mechanistic investigation showed that reduced activity of mTORC1-associated pathway led to a decrease of total ribosomal protein S6 kinase, polypeptide 1 (S6K1) content and enhancement of autophagy, consequently compromising the metastatic propensity in lncRNA-45 knockdown cells. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our experiments uncovered that the newly identified lncRNA-45 played a regulatory role in breast cancer cell metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahuang Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yifan Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Shunhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Quanzhong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Zheng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ming Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Juan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Shuguang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Sijin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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26
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Zamfirescu AM, Yatsenko AS, Shcherbata HR. Notch signaling sculpts the stem cell niche. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1027222. [PMID: 36605720 PMCID: PMC9810114 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1027222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult stem cells depend on their niches for regulatory signaling that controls their maintenance, division, and their progeny differentiation. While communication between various types of stem cells and their niches is becoming clearer, the process of stem cell niche establishment is still not very well understood. Model genetic organisms provide simplified systems to address various complex questions, for example, how is a stem cell niche formed? What signaling cascades induce the stem cell niche formation? Are the mechanisms of stem cell niche formation conserved? Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway first identified in fruit flies, crucial in fate acquisition and spatiotemporal patterning. While the core logic behind its activity is fairly simple and requires direct cell-cell interaction, it reaches an astonishing complexity and versatility by combining its different modes of action. Subtleties such as equivalency between communicating cells, their physical distance, receptor and ligand processing, and endocytosis can have an effect on the way the events unfold, and this review explores some important general mechanisms of action, later on focusing on its involvement in stem cell niche formation. First, looking at invertebrates, we will examine how Notch signaling induces the formation of germline stem cell niche in male and female Drosophila. In the developing testis, a group of somatic gonadal precursor cells receive Delta signals from the gut, activating Notch signaling and sealing their fate as niche cells even before larval hatching. Meanwhile, the ovarian germline stem cell niche is built later during late larval stages and requires a two-step process that involves terminal filament formation and cap cell specification. Intriguingly, double security mechanisms of Notch signaling activation coordinated by the soma or the germline control both steps to ensure the robustness of niche assembly. Second, in the vast domains of mammalian cellular signaling, there is an emerging picture of Notch being an active player in a variety of tissues in health and disease. Notch involvement has been shown in stem cell niche establishment in multiple organs, including the brain, muscle, and intestine, where the stem cell niches are essential for the maintenance of adult stem cells. But adult stem cells are not the only cells looking for a home. Cancer stem cells use Notch signaling at specific stages to gain an advantage over endogenous tissue and overpower it, at the same time acquiring migratory and invasive abilities to claim new tissues (e.g., bone) as their territory. Moreover, in vitro models such as organoids reveal similar Notch employment when it comes to the developing stem cell niches. Therefore, a better understanding of the processes regulating stem cell niche assembly is key for the fields of stem cell biology and regenerative medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Halyna R. Shcherbata
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States,*Correspondence: Halyna R. Shcherbata,
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27
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Baldi S, Zhang Q, Zhang Z, Safi M, Khamgan H, Wu H, Zhang M, Qian Y, Gao Y, Shopit A, Al‐Danakh A, Alradhi M, Al‐Nusaif M, Zuo Y. ARID1A downregulation promotes cell proliferation and migration of colon cancer via VIM activation and CDH1 suppression. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:5984-5997. [PMID: 36420658 PMCID: PMC9753436 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
According to our prior findings, ARID1A expression is decreased in colon cancer, which has a poor prognosis. In this study, we investigated the ARID1A-VIM/CDH1 signalling axis's role in colon cancer proliferation and migration. The differentially expressed genes in cells that might be controlled by ARID1A were discovered by a database screening for ARID1A knockout. qPCR was used to analyse ARID1A and EMT markers expression levels in colon cancer. We utilized siRNA RID1A to explore the influence of ARID1A silencing on EMT in CRC cells. The function of ARID1A in the colon was investigated utilizing the wound healing, transwell and CCK-8 WST- assays. The molecular mechanism by which ARID1A regulates VIM and CDH1 was elucidated using chip-qPCR. Numerous genes involved in EMT were dysregulated in the absence of ARID1A. VIM expression increased in cells lacking ARID1A expression and vice versa. Many COAD samples with high ARID1A mRNA expression had low VIM mRNA expression, despite the relevance. CDH1 gene was positively correlated with ARID1A. Moreover, siRNA-ARID1A-transfected cells accelerated cell migration and invasion and increased cell proliferation rate in vitro. Chip-qPCR analysis showed that ARID1A binds to the promoters of both genes and changes their expression in colon cancer. ARID1A inactivation is associated with VIM activation and CDH1 suppression, which might serve as crucial molecules influencing COAD prognosis, accelerate tumour progression, and shorten patients' survival time, and promote metastases of COAD. Thus, depletion of ARID1A can be therapeutically exploited by targeting downstream effects to improve cancer treatment-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salem Baldi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic MedicineDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Qianshi Zhang
- Departments of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic MedicineDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Mohammed Safi
- Department of respiratory, Shandong Second Provincial General HospitalShandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Hassan Khamgan
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI)University of Sadat CitySadatEgypt
| | - Han Wu
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic MedicineDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Mengyan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic MedicineDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Yuanyuan Qian
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic MedicineDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Yina Gao
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic MedicineDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Abdullah Shopit
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Academic Integrated Medicine & Collage of PharmacyDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Abdullah Al‐Danakh
- Department of UrologyFirst Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Mohammed Alradhi
- Department of Urologythe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Binhai UniversityQingdaoChina
| | - Murad Al‐Nusaif
- Department of NeurologyFirst Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Yunfei Zuo
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic MedicineDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
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28
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Huang T, Bao H, Meng YH, Zhu JL, Chu XD, Chu XL, Pan JH. Tumour budding is a novel marker in breast cancer: the clinical application and future prospects. Ann Med 2022; 54:1303-1312. [PMID: 35535687 PMCID: PMC9103277 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2070272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a group of markedly heterogeneous tumours. There are many subtypes with different biological behaviours and clinicopathological characteristics, leading to significantly different prognosis. Despite significant advances in the treatment of BC, early metastatic is a critical factor for poor prognosis in BC patients. Tumour budding (TB) is considered as the first step process of tumour metastasis and is related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). TB has been observed in a variety of cancers, such as colorectal and gastric cancer, and had been considered as a distinct clinicopathological characteristics for early metastasis. However, TB evaluation standards and clinical application are not uniform in BC, as well as its molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we reviewed the interpretation criteria, mechanism, clinicopathological characteristics and clinical application prospects of TB in BC. Key messagesCurrently, tumour budding is a poor prognosis for various solid tumours, also in breast cancer.Tumour budding is based on epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumour microenvironment factors and is presumed to be an early step in the metastatic process.Breast cancer tumour budding still needs multi-centre experiments. We summarize the current research on breast cancer tumour budding, analyse the method of discriminating breast cancer tumour budding and explore the prognostic role and mechanism in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Huang
- Department of Clinical Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Bao
- Department of Plastic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Hua Meng
- Department of Clinical Pathology, the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China
| | - Jian-Lin Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Chu
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Li Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Refractory Chronic Diseases, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Hua Pan
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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29
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Zhang Z, Fang T, Lv Y. Prognostic and clinicopathological value of Slug protein expression in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Surg Oncol 2022; 20:361. [PMID: 36372891 PMCID: PMC9661812 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02825-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many studies have reported the relationship between prognosis and Slug protein expression in breast cancer patients, but the results are discrepant. Therefore, there is a need for meta-analyses with high statistical power to investigate and further explore their relationship. Methods We used PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, MEDLINE, and the Web of Science to find studies on breast cancer and Slug. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were the study’s primary endpoints. We pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) to assess the association between Slug protein expression and prognostic and clinicopathological parameters. This study was performed using STATA version 14.0 for data analysis. (Stata Corporation, TX, USA). Results We conducted a literature search by searching six online databases. Ultimately, we obtained eight studies including 1458 patients through strict exclusion criteria. The results showed that increased Slug protein expression resulted in poorer OS (HR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.47–3.33; P < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.26–3.28; P = 0.004) in breast cancer patients. In addition, the results suggested that breast cancer patients with increased Slug protein expression had a higher TNM stage (I–II vs III–IV; OR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.25–0.70; P = 0.001), a greater tendency to have axillary lymph node metastases (N+ vs N0; OR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.31–3.56; P = 0.003) and were more prone to estrogen receptor deficiency (positive vs negative; OR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.45–0.99; P = 0.042). However, Slug protein expression was not associated with age, histological grade, tumor size, progesterone receptor status, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status in breast cancer patients. Conclusion This meta-analysis showed that elevated Slug protein expression may be related to poor outcomes in patients with breast cancer. Therefore, Slug is not only an indicator of patient survival but may also become a new target for breast cancer therapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-022-02825-6.
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Yu G, Chen Y, Hu Y, Zhou Y, Ding X, Zhou X. Roles of transducin-like enhancer of split (TLE) family proteins in tumorigenesis and immune regulation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1010639. [PMID: 36438567 PMCID: PMC9692235 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1010639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian transducin-like enhancer of split family proteins (TLEs) are homologous to Drosophila Groucho (Gro) and are essential transcriptional repressors. Seven TLE family members, TLE1-7, have been identified to date. These proteins do not bind DNA directly; instead, they bind a set of transcription factors and thereby inhibit target gene expression. Loss of TLEs in mice usually leads to defective early development; however, TLE functions in developmentally mature cells are unclear. Recent studies have revealed that TLEs are dysregulated in certain human cancer types and may function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in different contexts. TLE levels also affect the efficacy of cancer treatments and the development of drug resistance. In addition, TLEs play critical roles in the development and function of immune cells, including macrophages and lymphocytes. In this review, we provide updates on the expression, function, and mechanism of TLEs; discuss the roles played by TLEs in tumorigenesis and the inflammatory response; and elaborate on several TLE-associated signaling pathways, including the Notch, Wnt, and MAPK pathways. Finally, we discuss potential strategies for targeting TLEs in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiping Yu
- Department of Immunology, Nantong University, School of Medicine, Nantong, China
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangyin, China
| | - Yiqi Chen
- Department of Immunology, Nantong University, School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Yuwen Hu
- Department of Immunology, Nantong University, School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Periodontology, The Affiliated Nantong Stomatological Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaoling Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaorong Zhou
- Department of Immunology, Nantong University, School of Medicine, Nantong, China
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Cigarette Smoke Impairs Airway Epithelial Wound Repair: Role of Modulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Processes and Notch-1 Signaling. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11102018. [PMID: 36290742 PMCID: PMC9598207 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11102018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cigarette smoke (CS) induces oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in airway epithelium. It is a major risk factor for respiratory diseases, characterized by epithelial injury. The impact of CS on airway epithelial repair, which involves epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the Notch-1 pathway, is incompletely understood. In this study, we used primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) to evaluate the effect of CS on epithelial repair and these mechanisms. The effect of CS and/or TGF-beta1 on wound repair, various EMT and Notch-1 pathway markers and epithelial cell markers (TP63, SCGB1A) was assessed in PBECs cultured submerged, at the air–liquid interface (ALI) alone and in co-culture with fibroblasts. TGF-beta1 increased epithelial wound repair, activated EMT (shown by decrease in E-cadherin, and increases in vimentin, SNAIL1/SNAIL2/ZEB1), and increased Notch-1 pathway markers (NOTCH1/JAGGED1/HES1), MMP9, TP63, SCGB1A1. In contrast, CS decreased wound repair and vimentin, NOTCH1/JAGGED1/HES1, MMP9, TP63, SCGB1A1, whereas it activated the initial steps of the EMT (decrease in E-cadherin and increases in SNAIL1/SNAIL2/ZEB1). Using combined exposures, we observed that CS counteracted the effects of TGF-beta1. Furthermore, Notch signaling inhibition decreased wound repair. These data suggest that CS inhibits the physiological epithelial wound repair by interfering with the normal EMT process and the Notch-1 pathway.
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Chen W, Zhang Y, Li R, Huang W, Wei X, Zeng D, Liang Y, Zeng Y, Chen M, Zhang L, Gao W, Zhu Y, Li Y, Zhang G. Notch3 Transactivates Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3-Beta and Inhibits Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182872. [PMID: 36139447 PMCID: PMC9497076 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As a critical transformational process in the attributes of epithelial cells, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in tumor invasion, metastasis, and resistance to treatment, which contributes to the ultimate death of some patients with breast cancer. Glycogen synthase kinase-3-beta (GSK3β) is thought to be an EMT suppressor that down-regulates the protein, snail, a zinc finger transcription inhibitor, and regulates E-cadherin expression and the Wnt signaling pathway. Our previous studies have shown that Notch3 also inhibits EMT in breast cancer. In mammary gland cells, GSK3β physically bound and phosphorylated the intracellular domain of two Notch paralogs: N1ICD was positively regulated, but N2ICD was negatively regulated; however, the relationship between Notch3, GSK3β, and EMT in breast cancer is still unclear and crosstalk between Notch3 and GSK3β has not been widely investigated. In this study, we revealed that Notch3 was an essential antagonist of EMT in breast cancer cells by transcriptionally upregulating GSK3β. In breast cancer, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, the silencing of Notch3 reduced GSK3β expression, which is sufficient to induce EMT. Conversely, ectopic Notch3 expression re-activated GSK3β and E-cadherin. Mechanistically, Notch3 can bind to the GSK3β promoter directly and activate GSK3β transcription. In human breast cancer samples, Notch3 expression is positively associated with GSK3β (r = 0.416, p = 0.001); moreover, high expressions of Notch3 and GSK3β mRNA are correlated to better relapse-free survival in all breast cancer patients via analysis in "the Kaplan-Meier plotter" database. In summary, our preliminary results suggested that Notch3 might inhibit EMT by trans-activating GSK3β in breast cancer cells. The suppression of Notch3 expression may contribute to EMT by transcriptionally downregulating GSK3β in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiling Chen
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Key Laboratory for Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine of Xiamen, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast & Thyroid Cancers, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Yongqu Zhang
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Key Laboratory for Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine of Xiamen, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast & Thyroid Cancers, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Ronghui Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Wenhe Huang
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Key Laboratory for Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine of Xiamen, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast & Thyroid Cancers, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Xiaolong Wei
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - De Zeng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Yuanke Liang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Yunzhu Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Min Chen
- Key Laboratory for Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine of Xiamen, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Key Laboratory for Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine of Xiamen, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast & Thyroid Cancers, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Wenliang Gao
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Key Laboratory for Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine of Xiamen, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast & Thyroid Cancers, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Key Laboratory for Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine of Xiamen, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast & Thyroid Cancers, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Yaochen Li
- Department of Central Lab, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515041, China
- Correspondence: (Y.L.); (G.Z.)
| | - Guojun Zhang
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Key Laboratory for Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine of Xiamen, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast & Thyroid Cancers, No. 2000 Xiang’an East Road, Xiamen 361101, China
- Correspondence: (Y.L.); (G.Z.)
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Wang H. Role of EZH2 in adipogenesis and obesity: Current state of the art and implications - A review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e30344. [PMID: 36086687 PMCID: PMC10980444 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000030344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is characterized by excessive accumulation of adiposity and has been implicated in a strong predisposition to metabolic disorders and cancer, constituting one of the major public health issues worldwide. The formation of new mature adipocytes through differentiation of progenitor or precursor cells during adipogenesis can lead to the expansion of adipose tissue. Recent studies have revealed that the intrinsic risk of obesity arises not only through genetic variants but also through epigenetic predisposition. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is an enzymatic catalytic component of polycomb repressive complex 2 that acts as an epigenetic modulator in the regulation of gene expression. EZH2 can modulate the expression of its target genes by the trimethylation of Lys-27 in histone 3 or methylation of non-histone proteins. Emerging evidence has shown the important role played by EZH2 in adipogenesis and obesity. This review provides the latest knowledge about the involvement of EZH2 in the process of adipogenesis and obesity involving adipocyte differentiation, extract key concepts, and highlight open questions toward a better understanding of EZH2 function and the molecular mechanisms underlying obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Wang
- Zhejiang Changzheng Vocational and Technical College, Hangzhou, P. R. China
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Firnau MB, Brieger A. CK2 and the Hallmarks of Cancer. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081987. [PMID: 36009534 PMCID: PMC9405757 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is commonly dysregulated in cancer, impacting diverse molecular pathways. CK2 is a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase, constitutively active and ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotes. With over 500 known substrates and being estimated to be responsible for up to 10% of the human phosphoproteome, it is of significant importance. A broad spectrum of diverse types of cancer cells has been already shown to rely on disturbed CK2 levels for their survival. The hallmarks of cancer provide a rationale for understanding cancer’s common traits. They constitute the maintenance of proliferative signaling, evasion of growth suppressors, resisting cell death, enabling of replicative immortality, induction of angiogenesis, the activation of invasion and metastasis, as well as avoidance of immune destruction and dysregulation of cellular energetics. In this work, we have compiled evidence from the literature suggesting that CK2 modulates all hallmarks of cancer, thereby promoting oncogenesis and operating as a cancer driver by creating a cellular environment favorable to neoplasia.
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Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells, Obesity and the Tumor Microenvironment of Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14163908. [PMID: 36010901 PMCID: PMC9405791 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14163908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Adipose tissue is the major microenvironment of breast cancer. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (ASCs/MSCs) are key players in adipose tissue. ASCs/MSCs, particularly in the obese state, are critical in remodeling the tumor microenvironment and promoting breast cancer progression. In this review, we have addressed the impact of obesity on ASCs/MSCs, summarized the crosstalk between ASCs/MSCs and breast cancer cells, discussed related molecular mechanisms, and highlighted related research perspectives. Abstract Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a common cause of cancer-related death in women. It is well recognized that obesity is associated with an enhanced risk of more aggressive breast cancer as well as reduced patient survival. Adipose tissue is the major microenvironment of breast cancer. Obesity changes the composition, structure, and function of adipose tissue, which is associated with inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Interestingly, adipose tissue is rich in ASCs/MSCs, and obesity alters the properties and functions of these cells. As a key component of the mammary stroma, ASCs play essential roles in the breast cancer microenvironment. The crosstalk between ASCs and breast cancer cells is multilateral and can occur both directly through cell–cell contact and indirectly via the secretome released by ASC/MSC, which is considered to be the main effector of their supportive, angiogenic, and immunomodulatory functions. In this narrative review, we aim to address the impact of obesity on ASCs/MSCs, summarize the current knowledge regarding the potential pathological roles of ASCs/MSCs in the development of breast cancer, discuss related molecular mechanisms, underline the possible clinical significance, and highlight related research perspectives. In particular, we underscore the roles of ASCs/MSCs in breast cancer cell progression, including proliferation and survival, angiogenesis, migration and invasion, the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cell development, immune evasion, therapy resistance, and the potential impact of breast cancer cells on ASCS/MSCs by educating them to become cancer-associated fibroblasts. We conclude that ASCs/MSCs, especially obese ASCs/MSCs, may be key players in the breast cancer microenvironment. Targeting these cells may provide a new path of effective breast cancer treatment.
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Wang X, Zhou Y, Wang C, Zhao Y, Cheng Y, Yu S, Li X, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Quan H. HCV Core protein represses DKK3 expression via epigenetic silencing and activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway during the progression of HCC. CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPANISH ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES AND OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF MEXICO 2022; 24:1998-2009. [PMID: 35768685 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02859-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is frequently activated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A number of studies have focused on the aberrant hypermethylation of the DKK family proteins and its role in regulating the activation of specific signaling pathways. However, the exact way by which DKK regulates the signaling pathway caused by Core protein of HCV has not been reported. In the present study, we evaluated the expression level of DKK and its aberrant promoter methylation to investigate the involvement of epigenetic regulation in hepatoma cell lines. The transcription and protein expression of DKK1 was significantly increased, whereas the transcription and protein expression levels of DKK2, DKK3, and DKK4 were significantly decreased following overexpression of Core protein. Pyrosequencing indicated that hypermethylation of DKK3 was increased. This was associated with increased expression of Dnmt1. The investigation of the molecular mechanism indicated that HCV Core protein interacted with Dnmt1, which combined with the promoter of DKK3, leading to methylation of DKK3. Functional studies indicated that Core protein promoted the growth, migration and invasion of cancer cells. However, upregulation of the expression of DKK3 and/or the knockdown of the expression of Dnmt1 inhibited the growth, migration and invasion of cancer cells. Taken together, the data indicated that epigenetic silencing of DKK3 caused by Dnmt1 activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in HCV Core-mediated HCC. Therefore, DKK3 may be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Chunfu Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Yanyan Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Suhuai Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Huiqin Quan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China.
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Beyond Genetics: Metastasis as an Adaptive Response in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116271. [PMID: 35682953 PMCID: PMC9181003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic disease represents the primary cause of breast cancer (BC) mortality, yet it is still one of the most enigmatic processes in the biology of this tumor. Metastatic progression includes distinct phases: invasion, intravasation, hematogenous dissemination, extravasation and seeding at distant sites, micro-metastasis formation and metastatic outgrowth. Whole-genome sequencing analyses of primary BC and metastases revealed that BC metastatization is a non-genetically selected trait, rather the result of transcriptional and metabolic adaptation to the unfavorable microenvironmental conditions which cancer cells are exposed to (e.g., hypoxia, low nutrients, endoplasmic reticulum stress and chemotherapy administration). In this regard, the latest multi-omics analyses unveiled intra-tumor phenotypic heterogeneity, which determines the polyclonal nature of breast tumors and constitutes a challenge for clinicians, correlating with patient poor prognosis. The present work reviews BC classification and epidemiology, focusing on the impact of metastatic disease on patient prognosis and survival, while describing general principles and current in vitro/in vivo models of the BC metastatic cascade. The authors address here both genetic and phenotypic intrinsic heterogeneity of breast tumors, reporting the latest studies that support the role of the latter in metastatic spreading. Finally, the review illustrates the mechanisms underlying adaptive stress responses during BC metastatic progression.
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Mugisha S, Di X, Disoma C, Jiang H, Zhang S. Fringe family genes and their modulation of Notch signaling in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188746. [PMID: 35660646 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188746] [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: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Fringes are glycosyltransferases that transfer N-acetylglucosamine to the O-linked fucose of Notch receptors. They regulate the Notch signaling activity that drives tumor formation and progression, resulting in poor prognosis. However, the specific tumor-promoting role of Fringes differs depending on the type of cancer. Although a particular Fringe member could act as a tumor suppressor in one cancer type, it may act as an oncogene in another. This review discusses the tumorigenic role of the Fringe family (lunatic fringe, manic fringe, and radical fringe) in modulating Notch signaling in various cancers. Although the crucial functions of Fringes continue to emerge as more mechanistic studies are being pursued, further translational research is needed to explore their roles and therapeutic benefits in various malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Mugisha
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China
| | - Xiaotang Di
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China
| | - Cyrollah Disoma
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China.
| | - Shubing Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China.
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Exosome-Associated circRNAs as Key Regulators of EMT in Cancer. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101716. [PMID: 35626752 PMCID: PMC9140110 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic program of cell plasticity aberrantly reactivated in cancer. The crosstalk between tumor cells and the tumoral microenvironment (TME) has a pivotal importance for the induction of the EMT and the progression toward a malignant phenotype. Notably, exosomes are key mediators of this crosstalk as vehicles of specific molecular signals that include the class of circular RNAs (circRNAs). This review specifically focuses on the role of exosome-associated circRNAs as key regulators of EMT in cancer. The relevance of these molecules in regulating the intercellular communication in TME and tumor progression is highlighted. Moreover, the here-presented evidence indicates that exosome-associated circRNA modulation should be taken in account for cancer diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Giuli MV, Mancusi A, Giuliani E, Screpanti I, Checquolo S. Notch signaling in female cancers: a multifaceted node to overcome drug resistance. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2022; 4:805-836. [PMID: 35582386 PMCID: PMC8992449 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2021.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistance is one of the main challenges in cancer therapy, including in the treatment of female-specific malignancies, which account for more than 60% of cancer cases among women. Therefore, elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms is an urgent need in gynecological cancers to foster novel therapeutic approaches. Notably, Notch signaling, including either receptors or ligands, has emerged as a promising candidate given its multifaceted role in almost all of the hallmarks of cancer. Concerning the connection between Notch pathway and drug resistance in the afore-mentioned tumor contexts, several studies focused on the Notch-dependent regulation of the cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulation or the induction of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), both features implicated in either intrinsic or acquired resistance. Indeed, the present review provides an up-to-date overview of the published results on Notch signaling and EMT- or CSC-driven drug resistance. Moreover, other drug resistance-related mechanisms are examined such as the involvement of the Notch pathway in drug efflux and tumor microenvironment. Collectively, there is a long way to go before every facet will be fully understood; nevertheless, some small pieces are falling neatly into place. Overall, the main aim of this review is to provide strong evidence in support of Notch signaling inhibition as an effective strategy to evade or reverse resistance in female-specific cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Giuli
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Angelica Mancusi
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Eugenia Giuliani
- Scientific Direction, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Rome 00144, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University, Latina 04100, Italy.,Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
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Liu D, Hofman P. Expression of NOTCH1, NOTCH4, HLA-DMA and HLA-DRA is synergistically associated with T cell exclusion, immune checkpoint blockade efficacy and recurrence risk in ER-negative breast cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:463-477. [PMID: 35543859 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00677-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Reliable biomarkers to predict the outcome and treatment response of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer (BC) are urgently needed. Since immune-related signaling plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of ER-negative BC, we asked whether Notch genes, alone or in combination with other immune genes, can be used to predict the clinical outcome and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) for this type of cancer. METHODS We analyzed transcriptome data of 6918 BC samples from five independent cohorts, 81 xenograft triple-negative BC tumors that respond differently to ICB treatment and 754 samples of different cancer types from patients treated with ICB agents. RESULTS We found that among four Notch genes, the expression levels of NOTCH1 and NOTCH4 were positively associated with recurrence of ER-negative BC, and that combined expression of these two genes (named Notch14) further enhanced this association, which was comparable with that of the Notch pathway signature. Analysis of 1182 immune-related genes revealed that the expression levels of most HLA genes, particularly HLA-DMA and -DRA, were reversely associated with recurrence in ER-negative BC with low, but not high Notch14 expression. A combined expression signature of NOTCH1, NOTCH4, HLA-DMA and HLA-DRA was more prognostic for ER-negative and triple-negative BCs than previously reported immune-related signatures. Furthermore, we found that the expression levels of these four genes were also synergistically associated with T cell exclusion score, infiltration of specific T cells and ICB efficacy in ER-negative BC, thereby providing a potential molecular mechanism for the synergistic effect of these genes on BC. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that a gene signature composed of NOTCH1, NOTCH4, HLA-DMA and HLA-DRA may serve as a potential promising biomarker for predicting ICB therapy efficacy and recurrence in ER-negative/triple-negative BCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingxie Liu
- Bluewater Biotech LLC, PO Box 1010, New Providence, NJ, 07974, USA.
| | - Paul Hofman
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, CHU Nice, FHU OncoAge, University Côte d'Azur, 06100, Nice, France.
- Team 4, IRCAN, UMR 7284 U10181, FHU OncoAge, Centre Antoine Lacassagne University Côte d'Azur, 06107, Nice, France.
- Hospital-Integrated Biobank (BB-0033-00025), CHU Nice, FHU OncoAge, University Côte d'Azur, 06100, Nice, France.
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Tan H, Li M, Han L, Zhao Y, Zhang X. Gypensapogenin I Suppresses Cell Proliferation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Via Triggering the Closure of AKT/GSK3β/β-Catenin and Notch-1 Signaling Pathways. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:5438-5449. [PMID: 35465659 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c02512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) tea is a functional food that is commercially available worldwide. Gypensapogenin I (Gyp I), which is a natural damarane-type saponin, was obtained from the hydrolysates of total gypenosides. The present research was performed to investigate the potential antiproliferation effect of Gyp I in MDA-MB-231 cells and the underlying mechanisms. Here, we found that Gyp I attenuated survival, inhibited proliferation, and induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Target prediction by binding molecule docking and western blot assays confirmed the mechanism by which Gyp I inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells via the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. We also showed that Gyp I exhibited superior in vivo efficacy that was dose dependent. Tumor tissue transcriptome analysis indicated that Gyp I could decrease the expression levels of NOTCH1 and HES1, which was in contrast to the effect on MAML and NUMBL, indicating that our compound hindered the activation of the Notch-1 signaling pathway. In summary, we report for the first time that Gyp I shows excellent anti-breast cancer activity in vivo and in vitro and that its pathway of action is related to the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin and Notch-1 signaling pathways. Therefore, Jiaogulan tea can not only be used as a health food but also possesses the possibility to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Tan
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Minjie Li
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Linlin Han
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yuqing Zhao
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiaoshu Zhang
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
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Deng S, Zhang L, Li J, Jin Y, Wang J. Activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway by SPARC contributes to the malignant phenotype of cholangiocarcinoma cells. Tissue Cell 2022; 76:101756. [PMID: 35217388 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2022.101756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary biliary epithelium malignancy with limited therapies, poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Nowadays, the molecular mechanisms of CCA remain elusive. SPARC has been proposed to be highly expressed in clinical CCA tissues, but few studies has been elucidated its functions in CCA. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the functional role of SPARC in the progression of CCA. In this study, a significantly increased expression of SPARC was observed in CCA tissues and cells. Knockdown of SPARC by RNA interference significantly impeded the proliferation of CCA cells. Moreover, SPARC silencing hampered the migration and invasion of CCA cells by inhibiting EMT. In parallel, overexpression of SPARC in RBE cells had the opposite effects. Mechanically, SPARC promoted proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of CCA cells in vitro via activating the PI3K-AKT signaling. Overall, our integrated analysis revealed that SPARC plays a crucial role in CCA progression via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which suggests that targeting SPARC might represent a promising approach for improving CCA patient's clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikang Deng
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kumming, Yunnan, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kumming, Yunnan, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kumming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiao Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kumming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yan Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kumming, Yunnan, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kumming, Yunnan, China.
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Cravero K, Pantone MV, Shin DH, Bergman R, Cochran R, Chu D, Zabransky DJ, Karthikeyan S, Waters IG, Hunter N, Rosen DM, Kyker-Snowman K, Dalton WB, Button B, Shinn D, Wong HY, Donaldson J, Hurley PJ, Croessmann S, Park BH. NOTCH1 PEST domain variants are responsive to standard of care treatments despite distinct transformative properties in a breast cancer model. Oncotarget 2022; 13:373-386. [PMID: 35186194 PMCID: PMC8849273 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating variants in the PEST region of NOTCH1 have been associated with aggressive phenotypes in human cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Previous studies suggested that PEST domain variants in TNBC patients resulted in increased cell proliferation, invasiveness, and decreased overall survival. In this study, we assess the phenotypic transformation of activating NOTCH1 variants and their response to standard of care therapies. AAV-mediated gene targeting was used to isogenically incorporate 3 NOTCH1 variants, including a novel TNBC frameshift variant, in two non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cell lines, MCF10A and hTERT-IMEC. Two different variants at the NOTCH1 A2241 site (A2441fs and A2441T) both demonstrated increased transformative properties when compared to a non-transformative PEST domain variant (S2523L). These phenotypic changes include proliferation, migration, anchorage-independent growth, and MAPK pathway activation. In contrast to previous studies, activating NOTCH1 variants did not display sensitivity to a gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI) or resistance to chemotherapies. This study demonstrates distinct transformative phenotypes are specific to a given variant within NOTCH1 and these phenotypes do not correlate with sensitivities or resistance to chemotherapies or GSIs. Although previous studies have suggested NOTCH1 variants may be prognostic for TNBC, our study does not demonstrate prognostic ability of these variants and suggests further characterization would be required for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Cravero
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,*These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Morgan V. Pantone
- 2Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA,*These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Dong Ho Shin
- 2Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA,*These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Riley Bergman
- 2Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rory Cochran
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David Chu
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel J. Zabransky
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Swathi Karthikeyan
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ian G. Waters
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Natasha Hunter
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - D. Marc Rosen
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kelly Kyker-Snowman
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - W. Brian Dalton
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Berry Button
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dan Shinn
- 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hong Yuen Wong
- 2Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joshua Donaldson
- 2Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Paula J. Hurley
- 2Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sarah Croessmann
- 2Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ben Ho Park
- 2Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA,Correspondence to:Ben Ho Park, email:
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45
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Buyuk B, Jin S, Ye K. Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Signaling Pathways Responsible for Breast Cancer Metastasis. Cell Mol Bioeng 2022; 15:1-13. [PMID: 35096183 PMCID: PMC8761190 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-021-00694-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast carcinoma is highly metastatic and invasive. Tumor metastasis is a convoluted and multistep process involving tumor cell disseminating from their primary site and migrating to the secondary organ. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the crucial steps that initiate cell progression, invasion, and metastasis. During EMT, epithelial cells alter their molecular features and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype. The regulation of EMT is centered by several signaling pathways, including primary mediators TGF-β, Notch, Wnt, TNF-α, Hedgehog, and RTKs. It is also affected by hypoxia and microRNAs (miRNAs). All these pathways are the convergence on the transcriptional factors such as Snail, Slug, Twist, and ZEB1/2. In addition, a line of evidence suggested that EMT and cancer stem like cells (CSCs) are associated. EMT associated cancer stem cells display mesenchymal phenotypes and resist to chemotherapy or targeted therapy. In this review, we highlighted recent discoveries in these signaling pathways and their regulation in breast cancer metastasis and invasion. While the clinical relevance of EMT and breast cancers remains controversial, we speculated a convergent signaling network pivotal to elucidating the transition of epithelial to mesenchymal phenotypes and onset of metastasis of breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Busra Buyuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, State University of New York (SUNY), PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902 USA
| | - Sha Jin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, State University of New York (SUNY), PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902 USA
| | - Kaiming Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, State University of New York (SUNY), PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902 USA
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46
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Naranjo AI, González-Gómez MJ, Baladrón V, Laborda J, Nueda ML. Different Expression Levels of DLK2 Inhibit NOTCH Signaling and Inversely Modulate MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Tumor Growth In Vivo. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1554. [PMID: 35163478 PMCID: PMC8836183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
NOTCH signaling is implicated in the development of breast cancer tumors. DLK2, a non-canonical inhibitor of NOTCH signaling, was previously shown to be involved in skin and breast cancer. In this work, we studied whether different levels of DLK2 expression influenced the breast cancer characteristics of MDA-MB-231 cells. We found that DLK2 overexpression inhibited NOTCH activation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, depending on the level of inhibition of NOTCH1 activation generated by different levels of DLK2 expression, cell proliferation, cell cycle dynamics, cell apoptosis, cell migration, and tumor growth in vivo were affected in opposite directions. Low levels of DLK2 expression produced a slight inhibition of NOTCH1 activation, and enhanced MDA-MB-231 cell invasion in vitro and cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, MDA-MB-231 cells expressing elevated levels of DLK2 showed a strong inhibition of NOTCH1 activation, decreased cell proliferation, increased cell apoptosis, and were unable to generate tumors in vivo. In addition, DLK2 expression levels also affected some members of other cell signaling pathways implicated in cancer, such as ERK1/2 MAPK, AKT, and rpS6 kinases. Our data support an important role of DLK2 as a protein that can finely regulate NOTCH signaling and affect the tumor properties and growth dynamics of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Isabel Naranjo
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Branch, Medical School/CRIB/Biomedicine Unit, Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM)/CSIC, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (A.-I.N.); (V.B.)
| | - María-Julia González-Gómez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Branch, Higher Technical School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering/CRIB/Biomedicine Unit, Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM)/CSIC, 02008 Albacete, Spain;
| | - Victoriano Baladrón
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Branch, Medical School/CRIB/Biomedicine Unit, Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM)/CSIC, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (A.-I.N.); (V.B.)
| | - Jorge Laborda
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Branch, School of Pharmacy/CRIB/Biomedicine Unit, Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM)/CSIC, 02008 Albacete, Spain
| | - María-Luisa Nueda
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Branch, School of Pharmacy/CRIB/Biomedicine Unit, Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM)/CSIC, 02008 Albacete, Spain
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47
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de Keijzer MJ, de Klerk DJ, de Haan LR, van Kooten RT, Franchi LP, Dias LM, Kleijn TG, van Doorn DJ, Heger M. Inhibition of the HIF-1 Survival Pathway as a Strategy to Augment Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2451:285-403. [PMID: 35505024 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2099-1_19] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-to-minimally invasive treatment modality that utilizes photoactivatable drugs called photosensitizers to disrupt tumors with locally photoproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Photosensitizer activation by light results in hyperoxidative stress and subsequent tumor cell death, vascular shutdown and hypoxia, and an antitumor immune response. However, sublethally afflicted tumor cells initiate several survival mechanisms that account for decreased PDT efficacy. The hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) pathway is one of the most effective cell survival pathways that contributes to cell recovery from PDT-induced damage. Several hundred target genes of the HIF-1 heterodimeric complex collectively mediate processes that are involved in tumor cell survival directly and indirectly (e.g., vascularization, glucose metabolism, proliferation, and metastasis). The broad spectrum of biological ramifications culminating from the activation of HIF-1 target genes reflects the importance of HIF-1 in the context of therapeutic recalcitrance. This chapter elaborates on the involvement of HIF-1 in cancer biology, the hypoxic response mechanisms, and the role of HIF-1 in PDT. An overview of inhibitors that either directly or indirectly impede HIF-1-mediated survival signaling is provided. The inhibitors may be used as pharmacological adjuvants in combination with PDT to augment therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J de Keijzer
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel J de Klerk
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lianne R de Haan
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert T van Kooten
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Leonardo P Franchi
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB) 2, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil
- Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences, and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, epartment of Chemistry, Center of Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering-Photobiology and Photomedicine Research Group,University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lionel M Dias
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tony G Kleijn
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Diederick J van Doorn
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michal Heger
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Li P, Chen Y, Peng Y, Zhang Y, Zhou H, Chen X, Li T, Li S, Yang H, Wu C, Zheng C, Zhu J, You F, Li L, Qin X, Liu Y. Notch-1 signaling promotes reattachment of suspended cancer cells by cdc42-dependent microtentacles formation. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:4894-4908. [PMID: 34582616 PMCID: PMC8645759 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are associated with a higher risk of metastasis in tumor patients. The adhesion and arrest of CTCs at a secondary site is an essential prerequisite for the occurrence of tumor metastasis. CTC reattachment has shown to be dependent on microtentacle (McTN) formation in vivo. However, the specific molecular mechanism of McTN formation in suspended cancer cells remains largely unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the activation of Notch-1 signaling triggers McTN formation to facilitate cell reattachment in suspended cell culture conditions. Moreover, molecular mechanistic studies revealed that McTN formation is governed by the balance between microtubule-driven outgrowth and actomyosin-driven cell contractility. The activation of Notch-1 downregulates the acetylation level of microtubules via the Cdc42/HDAC6 pathway, which contributes to microtubule polymerization. Simultaneously, Notch-1 signaling-induced Cdc42 activation also reduced phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain, leading to cell contractility attenuation. Altogether, these results defined a novel mechanism by which Notch-1 signaling disturbs the balance between the expansion of microtubules and contraction of the cortical actin, which promotes McTN formation and cell reattachment. Our findings provide a new perspective on the effective therapeutic target to prevent CTC reattachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yueting Peng
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yixi Zhang
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Hanying Zhou
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiangyan Chen
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Shun Li
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunhui Wu
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan Zheng
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fengming You
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Qin
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiyao Liu
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Abudupataer M, Zhu S, Yan S, Xu K, Zhang J, Luo S, Ma W, Alam MF, Tang Y, Huang H, Chen N, Wang L, Yan G, Li J, Lai H, Wang C, Zhu K, Zhang W. Aorta smooth muscle-on-a-chip reveals impaired mitochondrial dynamics as a therapeutic target for aortic aneurysm in bicuspid aortic valve disease. eLife 2021; 10:69310. [PMID: 34486519 PMCID: PMC8451027 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiovascular disease in general population and is frequently associated with the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). There is no effective strategy to intervene with TAA progression due to an incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis. Insufficiency of NOTCH1 expression is highly related to BAV-TAA, but the underlying mechanism remains to be clarified. Methods: A comparative proteomics analysis was used to explore the biological differences between non-diseased and BAV-TAA aortic tissues. A microfluidics-based aorta smooth muscle-on-a-chip model was constructed to evaluate the effect of NOTCH1 deficiency on contractile phenotype and mitochondrial dynamics of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs). Results: Protein analyses of human aortic tissues showed the insufficient expression of NOTCH1 and impaired mitochondrial dynamics in BAV-TAA. HAoSMCs with NOTCH1-knockdown exhibited reduced contractile phenotype and were accompanied by attenuated mitochondrial fusion. Furthermore, we identified that mitochondrial fusion activators (leflunomide and teriflunomide) or mitochondrial fission inhibitor (Mdivi-1) partially rescued the disorders of mitochondrial dynamics in HAoSMCs derived from BAV-TAA patients. Conclusions: The aorta smooth muscle-on-a-chip model simulates the human pathophysiological parameters of aorta biomechanics and provides a platform for molecular mechanism studies of aortic disease and related drug screening. This aorta smooth muscle-on-a-chip model and human tissue proteomic analysis revealed that impaired mitochondrial dynamics could be a potential therapeutic target for BAV-TAA. Funding: National Key R and D Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project, Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. To function properly, the heart must remain a one-way system, pumping out oxygenated blood into the aorta – the largest artery in the body – so it can be distributed across the organism. The aortic valve, which sits at the entrance of the aorta, is a key component of this system. Its three flaps (or ‘cusps’) are pushed open when the blood exits the heart, and they shut tightly so it does not flow back in the incorrect direction. Nearly 1.4% of people around the world are born with ‘bicuspid’ aortic valves that only have two flaps. These valves may harden or become leaky, forcing the heart to work harder. This defect is also associated with bulges on the aorta which progressively weaken the artery, sometimes causing it to rupture. Open-heart surgery is currently the only way to treat these bulges (or ‘aneurysms’), as no drug exists that could slow down disease progression. This is partly because the biological processes involved in the aneurysms worsening and bursting open is unclear. Recent studies have highlighted that many individuals with bicuspid aortic valves also have lower levels of a protein known as NOTCH1, which plays a key signalling role for cells. Problems in the mitochondria – the structures that power up a cell – are also observed. However, it is not known how these findings are connected or linked with the aneurysms developing. To answer this question, Abudupataer et al. analyzed the proteins present in diseased and healthy aortic muscle cells, confirming a lower production of NOTCH1 and impaired mitochondria in diseased tissues. They also created an ‘aorta-on-a-chip’ model where aortic muscle cells were grown in the laboratory under conditions resembling those found in the body – including the rhythmic strain that the aorta is under because of the heart beating. Abudupataer et al. then reduced NOTCH1 levels in healthy samples, which made the muscle tissue less able to contract and reduced the activity of the mitochondria. Applying drugs that tweak mitochondrial activity helped tissues from patients with bicuspid aortic valves to work better. These compounds could potentially benefit individuals with deficient aortic valves, but experiments in animals and clinical trials would be needed first to confirm the results and assess safety. The aorta-on-a-chip model developed by Abudupataer et al. also provides a platform to screen for drugs and examine the molecular mechanisms at play in aortic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieradilijiang Abudupataer
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shichao Zhu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiqiang Yan
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kehua Xu
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaman Luo
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenrui Ma
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Md Fazle Alam
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuyi Tang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Wang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoquan Yan
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Lai
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunsheng Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Zhu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijia Zhang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Chen W, Wei W, Yu L, Ye Z, Huang F, Zhang L, Hu S, Cai C. Mammary Development and Breast Cancer: a Notch Perspective. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2021; 26:309-320. [PMID: 34374886 PMCID: PMC8566423 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-021-09496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammary gland development primarily occurs postnatally, and this unique process is complex and regulated by systemic hormones and local growth factors. The mammary gland is also a highly dynamic organ that undergoes profound changes at puberty and during the reproductive cycle. These changes are driven by mammary stem cells (MaSCs). Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death in women. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play prominent roles in tumor initiation, drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and metastasis. The highly conserved Notch signaling pathway functions as a key regulator of the niche mediating mammary organogenesis and breast neoplasia. In this review, we discuss mechanisms by which Notch contributes to breast carcinoma pathology and suggest potentials for therapeutic targeting of Notch in breast cancer. In summary, we provide a comprehensive overview of Notch functions in regulating MaSCs, mammary development, and breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhen Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Liya Yu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zi Ye
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Fujing Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Liyan Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shiqi Hu
- DU-ANU Joint Science College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264200, China
| | - Cheguo Cai
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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