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Talotta R. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as hypothetical epigenetic players: Results from an in silico analysis, considerations and perspectives. Vaccine 2023; 41:5182-5194. [PMID: 37453842 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.07.007] [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: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate in silico the occurrence of epigenetic crosstalk by nucleotide sequence complementarity between the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and whole human genome, including coding and noncoding (nc)RNA genes. To correlate these results with those obtained with the original spike (S) gene of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS The publicly available FASTA sequence of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and the SARS-CoV-2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1 S gene (NC_045512.2) were used separately as key input to the Ensembl.org library to evaluate base pair match to human GRCh38 genome. Human coding and noncoding genes harboring hits were assessed for functional activity and health effects using bioinformatics tools and GWAS databases. RESULTS The BLAT analysis against the human GRCh38 genome revealed a total of 37 hits for BNT162b2 mRNA and no hits for the SARS-CoV-2 S gene. More specifically, BNT162b2 mRNA matched 19 human genes whose protein products are variously involved in enzyme reactions, nucleotide or cation binding, signaling, and carrier functions. In BLASTN analysis of ncRNA genes, BNT162b2 mRNA and SARS-CoV-2 S gene matched 17 and 24 different human genomic regions, respectively. Overall, characterization of the matched noncoding sequences revealed stronger interference with epigenetic pathways for BNT162b2 mRNA compared with the original S gene. CONCLUSION This pivotal in silico analysis shows that SARS-CoV-2 S gene and the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine exhibit Watson-Crick nucleotide complementarity with human coding or noncoding genes. Although they do not share the same complementarity pattern, both may disrupt epigenetic mechanisms in target cells, potentially leading to long-term complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Talotta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, AOU "Gaetano Martino", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
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The Interplay of Tumor Stroma and Translational Factors in Endometrial Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082074. [PMID: 32726992 PMCID: PMC7463731 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common gynecologic malignancy which continues to have a poor prognosis in advanced stages due to current therapeutic limitations. A significant mechanism of chemoresistance in EC has been shown to also be the enhancement of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the subsequent obtainment of stem cell-like characteristics of EC. Current evidence on EMT in EC however fails to explain the relationship leading to an EMT signaling enhancement. Our review therefore focuses on understanding eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) as key regulators of the translational process in enhancing EMT and subsequently impacting higher chemoresistance of EC. We identified pathways connected to the development of a microenvironment for EMT, inducers of the process specifically related to estrogen receptors as well as their interplay with eIFs. In the future, investigation elucidating the translational biology of EC in EMT may therefore focus on the signaling between protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK) and eIF2alpha as well as eIF3B.
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Hyun DH. Insights into the New Cancer Therapy through Redox Homeostasis and Metabolic Shifts. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071822. [PMID: 32645959 PMCID: PMC7408991 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Modest levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are necessary for intracellular signaling, cell division, and enzyme activation. These ROS are later eliminated by the body’s antioxidant defense system. High amounts of ROS cause carcinogenesis by altering the signaling pathways associated with metabolism, proliferation, metastasis, and cell survival. Cancer cells exhibit enhanced ATP production and high ROS levels, which allow them to maintain elevated proliferation through metabolic reprograming. In order to prevent further ROS generation, cancer cells rely on more glycolysis to produce ATP and on the pentose phosphate pathway to provide NADPH. Pro-oxidant therapy can induce more ROS generation beyond the physiologic thresholds in cancer cells. Alternatively, antioxidant therapy can protect normal cells by activating cell survival signaling cascades, such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) pathway, in response to radio- and chemotherapeutic drugs. Nrf2 is a key regulator that protects cells from oxidative stress. Under normal conditions, Nrf2 is tightly bound to Keap1 and is ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. However, under oxidative stress, or when treated with Nrf2 activators, Nrf2 is liberated from the Nrf2-Keap1 complex, translocated into the nucleus, and bound to the antioxidant response element in association with other factors. This cascade results in the expression of detoxifying enzymes, including NADH-quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase 1. NQO1 and cytochrome b5 reductase can neutralize ROS in the plasma membrane and induce a high NAD+/NADH ratio, which then activates SIRT1 and mitochondrial bioenergetics. NQO1 can also stabilize the tumor suppressor p53. Given their roles in cancer pathogenesis, redox homeostasis and the metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation (through activation of Nrf2 and NQO1) seem to be good targets for cancer therapy. Therefore, Nrf2 modulation and NQO1 stimulation could be important therapeutic targets for cancer prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Hoon Hyun
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
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Enhanced Subcellular Trafficking of Resveratrol Using Mitochondriotropic Liposomes in Cancer Cells. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11080423. [PMID: 31434345 PMCID: PMC6722595 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11080423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are membrane-enclosed organelles present in most eukaryotic cells, described as “power houses of the cell”. The mitochondria can be a target for inducing cancer cell death and for developing strategies to bypass multi drug resistance (MDR) mechanisms. 4-Carboxybutyl triphenylphosphonium bromide-polyethylene glycol-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (TPP-DSPE-PEG) and dequalinium-polyethylene glycol-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DQA-DSPE-PEG) were synthesized as mitochondriotropic molecules. Mitochondria-targeting liposomes carrying resveratrol were constructed by modifying the liposome’s surface with TPP-PEG or DQA-PEG, resulting in TLS (Res) and DLS (Res), respectively, with the aim to obtain longer blood circulation and enhanced permeability and retention (EPR). Both TLS (Res) and DLS (Res) showed dimensions of approximately 120 nm and a slightly positive zeta potential. The enhanced cellular uptake and selective accumulation of TLS (Res) and DLS (Res) into the mitochondria were demonstrated by behavioral observation of rhodamine-labeled TLS or DLS, using confocal microscopy, and by resveratrol quantification in the intracellular organelle, using LC–MS/MS. Furthermore, TLS (Res) and DLS (Res) induced cytotoxicity of cancer cells by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and by dissipating the mitochondrial membrane potential. Our results demonstrated that TLS (Res) and DLS (Res) could provide a potential strategy to treat cancers by mitochondrial targeting delivery of therapeutics and stimulation of the mitochondrial signaling pathway.
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Fiorillo M, Lamb R, Tanowitz HB, Mutti L, Krstic-Demonacos M, Cappello AR, Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP. Repurposing atovaquone: targeting mitochondrial complex III and OXPHOS to eradicate cancer stem cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:34084-99. [PMID: 27136895 PMCID: PMC5085139 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Atovaquone is an FDA-approved anti-malarial drug, which first became clinically available in the year 2000. Currently, its main usage is for the treatment of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and/or toxoplasmosis in immune-compromised patients. Atovaquone is a hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone analogue of ubiquinone, also known as Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10). It is a well-tolerated drug that does not cause myelo-suppression. Mechanistically, it is thought to act as a potent and selective OXPHOS inhibitor, by targeting the CoQ10-dependence of mitochondrial complex III. Here, we show for the first time that atovaquone also has anti-cancer activity, directed against Cancer Stem-like Cells (CSCs). More specifically, we demonstrate that atovaquone treatment of MCF7 breast cancer cells inhibits oxygen-consumption and metabolically induces aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), as well as oxidative stress. Remarkably, atovaquone potently inhibits the propagation of MCF7-derived CSCs, with an IC-50 of 1 μM, as measured using the mammosphere assay. Atovaquone also maintains this selectivity and potency in mixed populations of CSCs and non-CSCs. Importantly, these results indicate that glycolysis itself is not sufficient to maintain the proliferation of CSCs, which is instead strictly dependent on mitochondrial function. In addition to targeting the proliferation of CSCs, atovaquone also induces apoptosis in both CD44+/CD24low/− CSC and ALDH+ CSC populations, during exposure to anchorage-independent conditions for 12 hours. However, it has no effect on oxygen consumption in normal human fibroblasts and, in this cellular context, behaves as an anti-inflammatory, consistent with the fact that it is well-tolerated in patients treated for infections. Future studies in xenograft models and human clinical trials may be warranted, as the IC-50 of atovaquone's action on CSCs (1 μM) is >50 times less than its average serum concentration in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fiorillo
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Rebecca Lamb
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Herbert B Tanowitz
- Department of Medicine and Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Luciano Mutti
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | | | - Anna Rita Cappello
- The Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Federica Sotgia
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Michael P Lisanti
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Cisplatin selects short forms of the mitochondrial DNA OriB variant (16184-16193 poly-cytosine tract), which confer resistance to cisplatin. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46240. [PMID: 28393913 PMCID: PMC5385546 DOI: 10.1038/srep46240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of alternations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been reported in different types of cancers, and the role of mtDNA in cancer has been attracting increasing interest. In order to investigate the relationship between mtDNA alternations and chemosensitivity, we constructed cybrid (trans-mitochondrial hybrid) cell lines carrying a HeLa nucleus and the mtDNA of healthy individuals because of the presence of somatic alternations in the mtDNA of many cancer cells. After a treatment with 1.0 μg/mL cisplatin for 10 days, we isolated 100 cisplatin-resistant clones, 70 of which carried the shorter mtDNA OriB variant (16184–16193 poly-cytosine tract), which was located in the control region of mtDNA. Whole mtDNA sequencing of 10 clones revealed no additional alternations. Re-construction of the HeLa nucleus and mtDNA from cisplatin-resistant cells showed that cisplatin resistance was only acquired by mtDNA alternations in the control region, and not by possible alternation(s) in the nuclear genome.
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Can Mitochondria DNA Provide a Novel Biomarker for Evaluating the Risk and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer? DISEASE MARKERS 2017; 2017:5189803. [PMID: 28408773 PMCID: PMC5376434 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5189803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) was one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. Accurate risk and prognosis evaluation could obtain better quality of life and longer survival time for the patients. Current research hotspot was focus on the gene biomarker to evaluate the risk and prognosis. Mitochondrion contains its own DNA and regulates self-replicating so that it can be as a candidate biomarker for evaluating the risk and prognosis of colorectal cancer. But there were already huge controversies on this issue. The review was to summarize current viewpoints of the controversial issues and described our understanding from the four aspects including mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial displacement loop, mtDNA variation, and mtDNA microsatellite instability, wishing the summary of the mtDNA in colorectal cancer could provide a meaningful reference or a valuable direction in the future studies.
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Skonieczna K, Malyarchuk BA, Grzybowski T. The landscape of mitochondrial DNA variation in human colorectal cancer on the background of phylogenetic knowledge. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2011; 1825:153-9. [PMID: 22178219 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2011.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Revised: 11/21/2011] [Accepted: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, an increasing number of studies indicate that mutations in mitochondrial genome may contribute to cancer development or metastasis. Hence, it is important to determine whether the mitochondrial DNA might be a good, clinically applicable marker of cancer. This review describes hereditary as well as somatic mutations reported in mitochondrial DNA of colorectal cancer cells. We showed here that the entire mitochondrial genome mutational spectra are different in colorectal cancer and non-tumor cells. We also placed the described mutations on the phylogenetic context, which highlighted the recurrent problem of data quality. Therefore, the most important rules for adequately assessing the quality of mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis in cancer have been summarized. As follows from this review, neither the reliable spectrum of mtDNA somatic mutations nor the association between hereditary mutations and colorectal cancer risk have been resolved. This indicates that only high resolution studies on mtDNA variability, followed by a proper data interpretation employing phylogenetic knowledge may finally verify the utility of mtDNA sequence (if any) in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Skonieczna
- Department of Molecular and Forensic Genetics, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 9 Sklodowskiej-Curie Street, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
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