Downregulation of SKP2 in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Acts Synergistically With TRAIL on Inducing Apoptosis via ROS

Co-targeting SKP2 and KDM5B inhibits prostate cancer progression by abrogating AKT signaling with induction of senescence and apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second-leading cause of cancer mortalities in the United States and is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in men. While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the first-line treatment option to initial responses, most PCa patients invariably develop castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). Therefore, novel and effective treatment strategies are needed. The goal of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of the combination of two small molecule inhibitors, SZL-P1-41 (SKP2 inhibitor) and PBIT (KDM5B inhibitor), on PCa suppression and to delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Human CRPC cell lines, C4-2B and PC3 cells, were treated with small molecular inhibitors alone or in combination, to assess effects on cell proliferation, migration, senescence, and apoptosis.

RESULTS

SKP2 and KDM5B showed an inverse regulation at the translational level in PCa cells. Cells deficient in SKP2 showed an increase in KDM5B protein level, compared to that in cells expressing SKP2. By contrast, cells deficient in KDM5B showed an increase in SKP2 protein level, compared to that in cells with KDM5B intact. The stability of SKP2 protein was prolonged in KDM5B depleted cells as measured by cycloheximide chase assay. Cells deficient in KDM5B were more vulnerable to SKP2 inhibition, showing a twofold greater reduction in proliferation compared to cells with KDM5B intact (p < 0.05). More importantly, combined inhibition of KDM5B and SKP2 significantly decreased proliferation and migration of PCa cells as compared to untreated controls (p < 0.005). Mechanistically, combined inhibition of KDM5B and SKP2 in PCa cells abrogated AKT activation, resulting in an induction of both cellular senescence and apoptosis, which was measured via Western blot analysis and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined inhibition of KDM5B and SKP2 was more effective at inhibiting proliferation and migration of CRPC cells, and this regimen would be an ideal therapeutic approach of controlling CRPC malignancy.

SKP2 Contributes to AKT Activation by Ubiquitination Degradation of PHLPP1, Impedes Autophagy, and Facilitates the Survival of Thyroid Carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common subtype of thyroid carcinoma. Despite a good prognosis, approximately a quarter of PTC patients are likely to relapse. Previous reports suggest an association between S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) and the prognosis of thyroid cancer. SKP1 is related to apoptosis of PTC cells; however, its role in PTC remains largely elusive. This study aimed to understand the expression and molecular mechanism of SKP2 in PTC. SKP2 expression was upregulated in PTC tissues and closely associated with clinical diagnosis. In vitro and in vivo knockdown of SKP2 expression in PTC cells suppressed cell growth and proliferation and induced apoptosis. SKP2 depletion promoted cell autophagy under glucose deprivation. SKP2 interacted with PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase-1 (PHLPP1), triggering its degradation by ubiquitination. Furthermore, SKP2 activates the AKT-related pathways via PHLPP1, which leads to the cytoplasmic translocation of SKP2, indicating a reciprocal regulation between SKP2 and AKT. In conclusion, the upregulation of SKP2 leads to PTC proliferation and survival, and the regulatory network among SKP2, PHLPP1, and AKT provides novel insight into the molecular basis of SKP2 in tumor progression.

Mitochondrial Respiration Inhibition Suppresses Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Via PI3K/Akt/FoxO1/Cyclin D1 Pathway

Background

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy, but little is known regarding PTC metabolic phenotypes and the effects of mitochondrial activity on PTC progression. The great potential of mitochondria-targeting therapy in cancer treatment promoted us to use tool compounds from a family of Mito-Fu derivatives to investigate how the regulation of mitochondrial respiration affected tumor progression characteristics and molecular changes in PTC.

Methods

Mito-Fu L20, a representative of 12 synthetic derivatives, was chosen for mitochondrial inhibition experiments. Sample sections from PTC patients were collected and processed to explore potential molecular alterations in tumor lymph node metastasis (LNM). In vitro analyses were performed using human PTC cell lines (K1 and TPC-1), with the human normal thyroid follicular cell line (Nthy) as a control. K1 cells were injected into nude mice to generate an animal model. The mice were injected with normal saline or Mito-Fu L20 at 20 or 50 mg/kg every other day; their body weights and tumor volumes were also measured over time. To elucidate the resulting metabolic phenotype, we measured oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Wound healing and Transwell assays, cell cycle assays, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining were performed to explore glycolysis-dominant metabolism in PTC.

Results

Cyclin D1 and mitochondrial complex IV were detected in tumor samples from PTC patients with LNM. Mito-Fu L20 showed dose-independent and reversible modulation of mitochondrial respiration in PTC. In addition to mitochondrial dysfunction and early apoptosis, G1/S phase arrest. Notably, reversible mitochondrial inhibition yielded durable suppression of tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion via the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1/Cyclin D1 pathway. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Mito-Fu L20 has a good safety profile and specific restorative effect on mitochondrial activity in the liver. In addition, Mito-Fu L20 showed antitumor effects, alleviated tumor angiogenesis, and improved thyroid function.

Conclusion

Reversible inhibition of ATP production and durable suppression of PTC growth indicates that the downregulation of mitochondrial function has a negative impact on tumor progression and LNM via the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1/Cyclin D1 pathway. The results provide new insights into the antitumor potential and clinical translation of mitochondrial inhibitors.

CRISPR-mediated knockout of VEGFR2/KDR inhibits cell growth in a squamous thyroid cancer cell line

Squamous and anaplastic thyroid cancers are the most aggressive and life‐threatening cancer types in humans, with the involvement of lymph nodes in 59% of cases and distant metastases in 26% of cases of all thyroid cancers. The median survival of squamous thyroid cancer patients is < 8 months and therefore is of high clinical concern. Here, we show that both VEGFC and VEGFR2/KDR are overexpressed in thyroid cancers, indicating that VEGF/VEGFR signaling plays a carcinogenic role in thyroid cancer development. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we established a KDR knockout (KO) SW579 squamous thyroid cancer cell line that exhibited dramatically decreased colony formation and invasion abilities (30% and 60% reduction, respectively) when compared to scrambled control cells. To validate the potential of KDR as a therapeutic target for thyroid cancers, we used the KDR RTK inhibitor sunitinib. Protein analysis and live/dead assay were performed to demonstrate that sunitinib significantly inhibited cell growth signal transduction and induced cell apoptosis of SW579 cells. These results suggest that selective targeting of KDR may have potential for development into novel anti‐cancer therapies to suppress VEGF/VEGFR‐mediated cancer development in patients with clinical advanced thyroid cancer.

Inhibition of Skp2 enhances doxorubicin-induced cell death in B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) is a well-defined component of the Skp2-Culin1-F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which is involved in cell cycle progression and considered a prognostic marker in cancers. Overexpression of Skp2 is frequently observed in patients with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Inhibition of this protein may be a valuable strategy to induce apoptosis in malignant cells. Less well known is the effect of Skp2 inhibition on the potentiation of the chemotherapeutic-induced cell death in B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). Our results demonstrated that inhibition of the Skp2 using SZL P1-41, not only resulted in caspase-mediated apoptosis but also potentiated doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in BCP-ALL cell lines (NALM-6 and SUP-B15). SZL P1-41 in combination with doxorubicin altered cell cycle distribution and the level of cyclins and CDKs in BCP-ALL cells. DNA damage response genes were also up-regulated in presence of the doxorubicin and SZL P1-41 in both cell lines. In conclusion, our results indicated that inhibition of Skp2 either alone or in a combination with doxorubicin may hold promise in the future treatment of BCP-ALL. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

F-box proteins and cancer: an update from functional and regulatory mechanism to therapeutic clinical prospects

E3 ubiquitin ligases play a critical role in cellular mechanisms and cancer progression. F-box protein is the core component of the SKP1-cullin 1-F-box (SCF)-type E3 ubiquitin ligase and directly binds to substrates by various specific domains. According to the specific domains, F-box proteins are further classified into three sub-families: 1) F-box with leucine rich amino acid repeats (FBXL); 2) F-box with WD 40 amino acid repeats (FBXW); 3) F-box only with uncharacterized domains (FBXO). Here, we summarize the substrates of F-box proteins, discuss the important molecular mechanism and emerging role of F-box proteins especially from the perspective of cancer development and progression. These findings will shed new light on malignant tumor progression mechanisms, and suggest the potential role of F-box proteins as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets for future cancer treatment.

The Skp2 Pathway: A Critical Target for Cancer Therapy

Strictly regulated protein degradation by ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is essential for various cellular processes whose dysregulation is linked to serious diseases including cancer. Skp2, a well characterized component of Skp2-SCF E3 ligase complex, is able to conjugate both K48-linked ubiquitin chains and K63-linked ubiquitin chains on its diverse substrates, inducing proteasome mediated proteolysis or modulating the function of tagged substrates respectively. Overexpression of Skp2 is observed in various human cancers associated with poor survival and adverse therapeutic outcomes, which in turn suggests that Skp2 engages in tumorigenic activity. To that end, the oncogenic properties of Skp2 are demonstrated by various genetic mouse models, highlighting the potential of Skp2 as a target for tackling cancer. In this article, we will describe the downstream substrates of Skp2 as well as upstream regulators for Skp2-SCF complex activity. We will further summarize the comprehensive oncogenic functions of Skp2 while describing diverse strategies and therapeutic platforms currently available for developing Skp2 inhibitors.

Mouse models of thyroid cancer: Bridging pathogenesis and novel therapeutics

Due to a global increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer, numerous novel mouse models were established to reveal thyroid cancer pathogenesis and test promising therapeutic strategies, necessitating a comprehensive review of translational medicine that covers (i) the role of mouse models in the research of thyroid cancer pathogenesis, and (ii) preclinical testing of potential anti-thyroid cancer therapeutics. The present review article aims to: (i) describe the current approaches for mouse modeling of thyroid cancer, (ii) provide insight into the biology and genetics of thyroid cancers, and (iii) offer guidance on the use of mouse models for testing potential therapeutics in preclinical settings. Based on research with mouse models of thyroid cancer pathogenesis involving the RTK, RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, SRC, and JAK-STAT signaling pathways, inhibitors of VEGFR, MEK, mTOR, SRC, and STAT3 have been developed as anti-thyroid cancer drugs for "bench-to-bedside" translation. In the future, mouse models of thyroid cancer will be designed to be ''humanized" and "patient-like," offering opportunities to: (i) investigate the pathogenesis of thyroid cancer through target screening based on the CRISPR/Cas system, (ii) test drugs based on new mouse models, and (iii) explore the underlying mechanisms based on multi-omics.

Effects of RNAi-induced Skp2 inhibition on cell cycle, apoptosis and proliferation of endometrial carcinoma cells

The aim of the current study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of S-phase kinase associated protein 2 (Skp2) gene inhibition by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) on the cell cycle, apoptosis and proliferation of endometrial carcinoma HEC-1-A cells. A lentivirus shRNA vector targeting Skp2 was constructed and transfected into HEC-1-A cells. HEC-1-A cells transfected with a scramble sequence were used as negative controls. The mRNA and protein expression of Skp2, p27, cyclin D1 and caspase-3 were detected via reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The effects of Skp2 inhibition on the cell cycle, apoptosis and proliferation of HEC-1-A cells were detected using flow cytometry and a cell counting kit-8. Skp2 co-expression data was analyzed using Oncomine and TCGA databases. The positive recombinant viral clones were identified via PCR and confirmed via sequencing. The mRNA and protein expression of Skp2 were significantly decreased in HEC-1-A cells transfected with the lentiviral vectors compared with the negative control. In addition, there were no significant changes in the mRNA expression of p27 and cyclin D1; however, the protein levels of p27 and cyclin D1 were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in HEC-1-A cells transfected with lentiviral vectors compared with negative controls. RNAi-induced Skp2 inhibition exerted an anti-proliferative effect by inducing cell cycle arrest, however cell apoptosis was not significantly affected. In the TCGA database, Skp2 expression positively associated with IGF2R, IGF2BP3, IGFBP1 and CCNF, while Skp2 expression negatively associated with IGF2, IGFBP6, IGFBP7 and IGFBP3. RNAi-induced Skp2 inhibition upregulated the protein expression of p27 and downregulated the protein expression of cyclin D1. The expression of Skp2 in endometrial cancer may therefore be regulated by the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor signaling pathway.