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Fujiwara-Tani R, Mori S, Ogata R, Sasaki R, Ikemoto A, Kishi S, Kondoh M, Kuniyasu H. Claudin-4: A New Molecular Target for Epithelial Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5494. [PMID: 36982569 PMCID: PMC10051602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Claudin-4 (CLDN4) is a key component of tight junctions (TJs) in epithelial cells. CLDN4 is overexpressed in many epithelial malignancies and correlates with cancer progression. Changes in CLDN4 expression have been associated with epigenetic factors (such as hypomethylation of promoter DNA), inflammation associated with infection and cytokines, and growth factor signaling. CLDN4 helps to maintain the tumor microenvironment by forming TJs and acts as a barrier to the entry of anticancer drugs into tumors. Decreased expression of CLDN4 is a potential marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and decreased epithelial differentiation due to reduced CLDN4 activity is involved in EMT induction. Non-TJ CLDN4 also activates integrin beta 1 and YAP to promote proliferation, EMT, and stemness. These roles in cancer have led to investigations of molecular therapies targeting CLDN4 using anti-CLDN4 extracellular domain antibodies, gene knockdown, clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), and C-terminus domain of CPE (C-CPE), which have demonstrated the experimental efficacy of this approach. CLDN4 is strongly involved in promoting malignant phenotypes in many epithelial cancers and is regarded as a promising molecular therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina Fujiwara-Tani
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (S.M.); (R.O.); (R.S.); (A.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Shiori Mori
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (S.M.); (R.O.); (R.S.); (A.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Ruiko Ogata
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (S.M.); (R.O.); (R.S.); (A.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Rika Sasaki
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (S.M.); (R.O.); (R.S.); (A.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Ayaka Ikemoto
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (S.M.); (R.O.); (R.S.); (A.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Shingo Kishi
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (S.M.); (R.O.); (R.S.); (A.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Masuo Kondoh
- Drug Innovation Center, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 6-1 Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Japan;
| | - Hiroki Kuniyasu
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (S.M.); (R.O.); (R.S.); (A.I.); (S.K.)
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Maesaka F, Kuwada M, Horii S, Kishi S, Fujiwara-Tani R, Mori S, Fujii K, Mori T, Ohmori H, Owari T, Miyake M, Nakai Y, Tanaka N, Bhawal UK, Luo Y, Kondoh M, Fujimoto K, Kuniyasu H. Hypomethylation of CLDN4 Gene Promoter Is Associated with Malignant Phenotype in Urinary Bladder Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126516. [PMID: 35742959 PMCID: PMC9224287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The tight junction (TJ) protein claudin-4 (CLDN4) is overexpressed in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) and correlates with cancer progression. However, the mechanism of CLDN4 upregulation and promotion of malignant phenotype is not clear. Here, we analyzed 157 cases of BUC and investigated the hypomethylation of CpG island in the CLDN4 promoter DNA and its correlation with cancer progression. In hypomethylated cases, CLDN4 expression, cell proliferation, stemness, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were increased. Treatment of three human BUC cell lines with the demethylating agent aza-2′-deoxycytidine (AZA) led to excessive CLDN4 expression, and, specifically, to an increase in CLDN4 monomer that is not integrated into the TJ. The TJ-unintegrated CLDN4 was found to bind integrin β1 and increase stemness, drug resistance, and metastatic ability of the cells as well as show an anti-apoptosis effect likely via FAK phosphorylation, which reduces upon knockdown of CLDN4. Thus, CLDN4 is overexpressed in BUC by an epigenetic mechanism and the high expression enhances the malignant phenotype of BUC via increased levels of TJ-unintegrated CLDN4. CLDN4 promoter DNA methylation is expected to be a novel indicator of BUC malignant phenotype and a new therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumisato Maesaka
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
- Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan; (T.O.); (M.M.); (Y.N.); (N.T.); (K.F.)
| | - Masaomi Kuwada
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
- Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan; (T.O.); (M.M.); (Y.N.); (N.T.); (K.F.)
| | - Shohei Horii
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
| | - Shingo Kishi
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
| | - Rina Fujiwara-Tani
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
| | - Shiori Mori
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
| | - Kiyomu Fujii
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
| | - Takuya Mori
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
| | - Hitoshi Ohmori
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
| | - Takuya Owari
- Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan; (T.O.); (M.M.); (Y.N.); (N.T.); (K.F.)
| | - Makito Miyake
- Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan; (T.O.); (M.M.); (Y.N.); (N.T.); (K.F.)
| | - Yasushi Nakai
- Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan; (T.O.); (M.M.); (Y.N.); (N.T.); (K.F.)
| | - Nobumichi Tanaka
- Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan; (T.O.); (M.M.); (Y.N.); (N.T.); (K.F.)
| | - Ujjal Kumar Bhawal
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 600077, India
| | - Yi Luo
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong 226001, China;
| | - Masuo Kondoh
- Drug Innovation Center, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 6-1 Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan;
| | - Kiyohide Fujimoto
- Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan; (T.O.); (M.M.); (Y.N.); (N.T.); (K.F.)
| | - Hiroki Kuniyasu
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8521, Nara, Japan; (F.M.); (M.K.); (S.H.); (S.K.); (R.F.-T.); (S.M.); (K.F.); (T.M.); (H.O.); (U.K.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-744-22-3051; Fax: +81-744-25-7308
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Chen SH, Huang WT, Kao WC, Hsiao SY, Pan HY, Fang CW, Shiue YL, Chou CL, Li CF. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase modulates cisplatin-induced DNA double-strand breaks by targeting the homologous recombination pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:2. [PMID: 33397362 PMCID: PMC7780675 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00699-y] [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: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The homologous recombination (HR) pathway is involved in DNA damage response (DDR), which is crucial to cancer cell survival after treatment with DNA damage agents. O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is associated with cisplatin (CDDP) resistance in cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we explored the interactions between MGMT and the HR pathway in CDDP-activated DDR and their clinical implications in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Human NPC cells were assessed using loss-of-function approaches in vitro. The expression correlations between MGMT and major proteins of the HR pathway were analyzed through Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR, and bioinformatic analysis by using a public database. The physical interactions between MGMT and HR proteins were studied using co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence analyses. Cell comet tails and γ-H2AX expression levels were examined to evaluate double-strand break (DSB) formation. Established immunofluorescence and reporter analyses were conducted to measure HR activity. Xenograft and cell viability studies were used to assess the therapeutic potential of MGMT inhibition in combination with CDDP and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, respectively. Results Among major proteins of the HR pathway, MGMT suppression inhibited CDDP-induced RAD51 expression. Bioinformatic analyses showed a positive correlation between MGMT and RAD51 expression in patients with NPC. Moreover, MGMT physically interacted with BRCA1 and regulated CDDP-induced BRCA1 phosphorylation (ser 988). In functional assays, MGMT inhibition increased CDDP-induced DSB formation through attenuation of HR activity. NPC xenograft studies demonstrated that MGMT inhibition combined with CDDP treatment reduced tumor size and downregulated RAD51 expression and BRCA1 phosphorylation. Furthermore, MGMT suppression increased PARP inhibitor–induced cell death and DSB formation in NPC cells. Conclusion MGMT is crucial in the activation of the HR pathway and regulates DDR in NPC cells treated with CDDP and PARP inhibitor. Thus, MGMT is a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatments involving HR-associated DDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Hung Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Tsung Huang
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chen Kao
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yen Hsiao
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yi Pan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Wen Fang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yow-Ling Shiue
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lin Chou
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. .,Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chi Mei Medical Center, No. 901, Zhonghua Rd., Yongkang Dist., Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
| | - Chien-Feng Li
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan. .,Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan. .,Institute of Precision Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, No.70, Lien-hai Rd., Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan.
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Chen SH, Chang JY. New Insights into Mechanisms of Cisplatin Resistance: From Tumor Cell to Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174136. [PMID: 31450627 PMCID: PMC6747329 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although cisplatin has been a pivotal chemotherapy drug in treating patients with various types of cancer for decades, drug resistance has been a major clinical impediment. In general, cisplatin exerts cytotoxic effects in tumor cells mainly through the generation of DNA-platinum adducts and subsequent DNA damage response. Accordingly, considerable effort has been devoted to clarify the resistance mechanisms inside tumor cells, such as decreased drug accumulation, enhanced detoxification activity, promotion of DNA repair capacity, and inactivated cell death signaling. However, recent advances in high-throughput techniques, cell culture platforms, animal models, and analytic methods have also demonstrated that the tumor microenvironment plays a key role in the development of cisplatin resistance. Recent clinical successes in combination treatments with cisplatin and novel agents targeting components in the tumor microenvironment, such as angiogenesis and immune cells, have also supported the therapeutic value of these components in cisplatin resistance. In this review, we summarize resistance mechanisms with respect to a single tumor cell and crucial components in the tumor microenvironment, particularly focusing on favorable results from clinical studies. By compiling emerging evidence from preclinical and clinical studies, this review may provide insights into the development of a novel approach to overcome cisplatin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Hung Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 70456, Taiwan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Jang-Yang Chang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 70456, Taiwan.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
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