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Summers BS, Thomas Broome S, Pang TWR, Mundell HD, Koh Belic N, Tom NC, Ng ML, Yap M, Sen MK, Sedaghat S, Weible MW, Castorina A, Lim CK, Lovelace MD, Brew BJ. A Review of the Evidence for Tryptophan and the Kynurenine Pathway as a Regulator of Stem Cell Niches in Health and Disease. Int J Tryptophan Res 2024; 17:11786469241248287. [PMID: 38757094 PMCID: PMC11097742 DOI: 10.1177/11786469241248287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Stem cells are ubiquitously found in various tissues and organs in the body, and underpin the body's ability to repair itself following injury or disease initiation, though repair can sometimes be compromised. Understanding how stem cells are produced, and functional signaling systems between different niches is critical to understanding the potential use of stem cells in regenerative medicine. In this context, this review considers kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolism in multipotent adult progenitor cells, embryonic, haematopoietic, neural, cancer, cardiac and induced pluripotent stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, and mesenchymal stromal cells. The KP is the major enzymatic pathway for sequentially catabolising the essential amino acid tryptophan (TRP), resulting in key metabolites including kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and quinolinic acid (QUIN). QUIN metabolism transitions into the adjoining de novo pathway for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) production, a critical cofactor in many fundamental cellular biochemical pathways. How stem cells uptake and utilise TRP varies between different species and stem cell types, because of their expression of transporters and responses to inflammatory cytokines. Several KP metabolites are physiologically active, with either beneficial or detrimental outcomes, and evidence of this is presented relating to several stem cell types, which is important as they may exert a significant impact on surrounding differentiated cells, particularly if they metabolise or secrete metabolites differently. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in mesenchymal stromal cells, for instance, highly upregulates rate-limiting enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO-1), initiating TRP depletion and production of metabolites including kynurenine/kynurenic acid, known agonists of the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transcription factor. AhR transcriptionally regulates an immunosuppressive phenotype, making them attractive for regenerative therapy. We also draw attention to important gaps in knowledge for future studies, which will underpin future application for stem cell-based cellular therapies or optimising drugs which can modulate the KP in innate stem cell populations, for disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Sebastian Summers
- Applied Neurosciences Program, Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sarah Thomas Broome
- Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Hamish D Mundell
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales Brain Tissue Resource Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Naomi Koh Belic
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicole C Tom
- Formerly of the Department of Physiology, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mei Li Ng
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Maylin Yap
- Formerly of the Atherothrombosis and Vascular Biology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Monokesh K Sen
- Applied Neurosciences Program, Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sara Sedaghat
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michael W Weible
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alessandro Castorina
- Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chai K Lim
- Faculty of Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael D Lovelace
- Applied Neurosciences Program, Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bruce J Brew
- Applied Neurosciences Program, Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Departments of Neurology and Immunology, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- University of Notre Dame, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Ramović Hamzagić A, Gazdić Janković M, Cvetković D, Nikolić D, Nikolić S, Milivojević Dimitrijević N, Kastratović N, Živanović M, Miletić Kovačević M, Ljujić B. Machine Learning Model for Prediction of Development of Cancer Stem Cell Subpopulation in Tumurs Subjected to Polystyrene Nanoparticles. TOXICS 2024; 12:354. [PMID: 38787133 PMCID: PMC11125870 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12050354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a key role in tumor progression, as they are often responsible for drug resistance and metastasis. Environmental pollution with polystyrene has a negative impact on human health. We investigated the effect of polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) on cancer cell stemness using flow cytometric analysis of CD24, CD44, ABCG2, ALDH1 and their combinations. This study uses simultaneous in vitro cell lines and an in silico machine learning (ML) model to predict the progression of cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulations in colon (HCT-116) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells. Our findings indicate a significant increase in cancer stemness induced by PSNPs. Exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles stimulated the development of less differentiated subpopulations of cells within the tumor, a marker of increased tumor aggressiveness. The experimental results were further used to train an ML model that accurately predicts the development of CSC markers. Machine learning, especially genetic algorithms, may be useful in predicting the development of cancer stem cells over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amra Ramović Hamzagić
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Marina Gazdić Janković
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Danijela Cvetković
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Dalibor Nikolić
- Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Sandra Nikolić
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | | | - Nikolina Kastratović
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Marko Živanović
- Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Marina Miletić Kovačević
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Biljana Ljujić
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
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Chuang TD, Munoz L, Quintanilla D, Boos D, Khorram O. Therapeutic Effects of Long-Term Administration of Tranilast in an Animal Model for the Treatment of Fibroids. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10465. [PMID: 37445642 PMCID: PMC10341593 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tranilast (N-3, 4-dimethoxycinnamoyl anthranilic acid) is an orally administered drug with antiallergic properties and approved in Japan and the Republic of Korea for the treatment of asthma and hypertrophic scars. Previous in vitro studies indicated that tranilast reduced fibroid growth through its inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of tranilast for treatment of human-derived fibroids in a mouse model. SCID mice (ovariectomized, supplemented with estrogen and progesterone) were implanted with fibroid explants and treated for two months with tranilast (50 m/kg/daily) or the vehicle. After sacrifice, xenografts were excised and analyzed. Tranilast was well tolerated without adverse side effects. There was a 37% reduction in tumor weight along with a significant decrease in staining for Ki67, CCND1, and E2F1; a significant increase in nuclear staining for cleaved caspase 3; and reduced staining for TGF-β3 and Masson's trichrome in the tranilast treated mice. There was a significant inhibition of mRNA and protein expression of fibronectin, COL3A1, CCND1, E2F1, and TGF-β3 in the xenografts from the tranilast-treated mice. These promising therapeutic effects of tranilast warrant additional animal studies and human clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy for treatment of fibroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsai-Der Chuang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA;
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; (L.M.); (D.Q.); (D.B.)
| | - Leslie Munoz
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; (L.M.); (D.Q.); (D.B.)
| | - Derek Quintanilla
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; (L.M.); (D.Q.); (D.B.)
| | - Drake Boos
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; (L.M.); (D.Q.); (D.B.)
| | - Omid Khorram
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA;
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; (L.M.); (D.Q.); (D.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Yucel MA, Ozcelik I, Algul O. Machine learning study: from the toxicity studies to tetrahydrocannabinol effects on Parkinson's disease. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:365-377. [PMID: 36942739 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2022-0181] [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: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Investigating molecules having toxicity and chemical similarity to find hit molecules. Methods: The machine learning (ML) model was developed to predict the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activity of anti-Parkinson's and US FDA-approved drugs. The ML algorithm was a support vector machine, and the dataset was Tox21. Results: The ML model predicted apomorphine in anti-Parkinson's drugs and 73 molecules in FDA-approved drugs as active. The authors were curious if there is any molecule like apomorphine in these 73 molecules. A fingerprint similarity analysis of these molecules was conducted and found tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Molecular docking studies of THC for dopamine receptor 1 (affinity = -8.2 kcal/mol) were performed. Conclusion: THC may affect dopamine receptors directly and could be useful for Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Ali Yucel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Erzincan, 24100, Turkey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mersin University, Mersin, 33169, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Ozcelik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Erzincan, 24100, Turkey
| | - Oztekin Algul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Erzincan, 24100, Turkey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mersin University, Mersin, 33169, Turkey
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Sweeney C, Lazennec G, Vogel CFA. Environmental exposure and the role of AhR in the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1095289. [PMID: 36588678 PMCID: PMC9797527 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1095289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) through environmental exposure to chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) can lead to severe adverse health effects and increase the risk of breast cancer. This review considers several mechanisms which link the tumor promoting effects of environmental pollutants with the AhR signaling pathway, contributing to the development and progression of breast cancer. We explore AhR's function in shaping the tumor microenvironment, modifying immune tolerance, and regulating cancer stemness, driving breast cancer chemoresistance and metastasis. The complexity of AhR, with evidence for both oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles is discussed. We propose that AhR functions as a "molecular bridge", linking disproportionate toxin exposure and policies which underlie environmental injustice with tumor cell behaviors which drive poor patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Sweeney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Gwendal Lazennec
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, SYS2DIAG-ALCEN, Cap Delta, Montpellier, France
| | - Christoph F. A. Vogel
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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6
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An overview of aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands in the Last two decades (2002–2022): A medicinal chemistry perspective. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114845. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Ivasechko I, Yushyn I, Roszczenko P, Senkiv J, Finiuk N, Lesyk D, Holota S, Czarnomysy R, Klyuchivska O, Khyluk D, Kashchak N, Gzella A, Bielawski K, Bielawska A, Stoika R, Lesyk R. Development of Novel Pyridine-Thiazole Hybrid Molecules as Potential Anticancer Agents. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27196219. [PMID: 36234755 PMCID: PMC9570594 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196219] [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: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel pyridine-thiazole hybrid molecules were synthesized and subjected to physico-chemical characterization and screening of their cytotoxic action towards a panel of cell lines derived from different types of tumors (carcinomas of colon, breast, and lung, glioblastoma and leukemia), and normal human keratinocytes, for comparison. High antiproliferative activity of the 3-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-[4-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-ylamino)-thiazol-5-yl]-propenone 3 and 4-(2-{1-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-[4-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-ylamino)-thiazol-5-yl]-3-oxopropylsulfanyl}-acetylamino)-benzoic acid ethyl ester 4 was revealed. The IC50 of the compound 3 in HL-60 cells of the acute human promyelocytic leukemia was 0.57 µM, while in the pseudo-normal human cell lines, the IC50 of this compound was >50 µM, which suggests that the compounds 3 and 4 might be perspective anticancer agents. The detected selectivity of the derivatives 3 and 4 for cancer cell lines inspired us to study the mechanisms of their cytotoxic action. It was shown that preincubation of tumor cells with Fluzaparib (inhibitor of PARP1) reduced the cytotoxic activity of the derivatives 3 and 4 by more than twice. The ability of these compounds to affect DNA nativity and cause changes in nucleus morphology allows for the suggestion that the mechanism of action of the novel pyridine-thiazole derivatives might be related to inducing the genetic instability in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Ivasechko
- Institute of Cell Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 14/16 Drahomanov Str., 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Ihor Yushyn
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska 69, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Piotr Roszczenko
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Julia Senkiv
- Institute of Cell Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 14/16 Drahomanov Str., 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Nataliya Finiuk
- Institute of Cell Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 14/16 Drahomanov Str., 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Danylo Lesyk
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska 69, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Serhii Holota
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska 69, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Robert Czarnomysy
- Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Olga Klyuchivska
- Institute of Cell Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 14/16 Drahomanov Str., 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Dmytro Khyluk
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Aleje Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
| | - Nataliya Kashchak
- Institute of Cell Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 14/16 Drahomanov Str., 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Andrzej Gzella
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Grunwaldzka 6, 60-780 Poznan, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Bielawski
- Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Anna Bielawska
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Rostyslav Stoika
- Institute of Cell Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 14/16 Drahomanov Str., 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Roman Lesyk
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska 69, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +380-677038010
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Ochi K, Suzawa K, Thu YM, Takatsu F, Tsudaka S, Zhu Y, Nakata K, Takeda T, Shien K, Yamamoto H, Okazaki M, Sugimoto S, Shien T, Okamoto Y, Tomida S, Toyooka S. Drug repositioning of tranilast to sensitize a cancer therapy by targeting cancer‐associated fibroblast. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:3428-3436. [PMID: 35871750 PMCID: PMC9530873 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15502] [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: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumor microenvironment that mediate resistance of cancer cells to anticancer drugs. Tranilast is an antiallergic drug that suppresses the release of cytokines from various inflammatory cells. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of tranilast on the interactions between non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and the CAFs in the tumor microenvironment. Three EGFR‐mutant NSCLC cell lines, two KRAS‐mutant cell lines, and three CAFs derived from NSCLC patients were used. To mimic the tumor microenvironment, the NSCLC cells were cocultured with the CAFs in vitro, and the molecular profiles and sensitivity to molecular targeted therapy were assessed. Crosstalk between NSCLC cells and CAFs induced multiple biological effects on the NSCLC cells both in vivo and in vitro, including activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway, promotion of xenograft tumor growth, induction of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), and acquisition of resistance to molecular‐targeted therapy, including EGFR‐mutant NSCLC cells to osimertinib and of KRAS‐mutant NSCLC cells to selumetinib. Treatment with tranilast led to inhibition of IL‐6 secretion from the CAFs, which, in turn, resulted in inhibition of CAF‐induced phospho‐STAT3 upregulation. Tranilast also inhibited CAF‐induced EMT in the NSCLC cells. Finally, combined administration of tranilast with molecular‐targeted therapy reversed the CAF‐mediated resistance of the NSCLC cells to the molecular‐targeted drugs, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that combined administration of tranilast with molecular‐targeted therapy is a possible new treatment strategy to overcome drug resistance caused by cancer‐CAF interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Ochi
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Joint School of Veterinary Medicine Tottori University Tottori Japan
| | - Ken Suzawa
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Yin Min Thu
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Fumiaki Takatsu
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Shimpei Tsudaka
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Yidan Zhu
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
- Shenyang Children's Hospital Shenyang China
| | - Kentaro Nakata
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Tatsuaki Takeda
- Departments of Pharmacy Okayama University Hospital Okayama Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Shien
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Hiromasa Yamamoto
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Mikio Okazaki
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Seiichiro Sugimoto
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Tadahiko Shien
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Okamoto
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Joint School of Veterinary Medicine Tottori University Tottori Japan
| | - Shuta Tomida
- Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine Okayama University Hospital Okayama Japan
| | - Shinichi Toyooka
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
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Peyraud F, Guegan JP, Bodet D, Cousin S, Bessede A, Italiano A. Targeting Tryptophan Catabolism in Cancer Immunotherapy Era: Challenges and Perspectives. Front Immunol 2022; 13:807271. [PMID: 35173722 PMCID: PMC8841724 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.807271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism of tryptophan (Trp), an essential amino acid, represent a major metabolic pathway that both promotes tumor cell intrinsic malignant properties as well as restricts antitumour immunity, thus emerging as a drug development target for cancer immunotherapy. Three cytosolic enzymes, namely indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), IDO2 and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2), catalyzes the first-rate limiting step of the degradation of Trp to kynurenine (Kyn) and modulates immunity toward immunosuppression mainly through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation in numerous types of cancer. By restoring antitumor immune responses and synergizing with other immunotherapies, the encouraging preclinical data of IDO1 inhibitors has dramatically failed to translate into clinical success when combined with immune checkpoints inhibitors, reigniting the debate of combinatorial approach. In this review, we i) provide comprehensive evidences on immunomodulatory role of the Trp catabolism metabolites that highlight this pathway as relevant target in immuno-oncology, ii)ii) discuss underwhelming results from clinical trials investigating efficacy of IDO1 inhibitors and underlying mechanisms that might have contributed to this failure, and finally, iii) discuss the current state-of-art surrounding alternative approaches of innovative antitumor immunotherapies that target molecules of Trp catabolism as well as challenges and perspectives in the era of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Peyraud
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
- Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Unit, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | - Sophie Cousin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
- Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Unit, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Antoine Italiano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
- Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Unit, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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Larigot L, Benoit L, Koual M, Tomkiewicz C, Barouki R, Coumoul X. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Its Diverse Ligands and Functions: An Exposome Receptor. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2021; 62:383-404. [PMID: 34499523 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-052220-115707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcriptional factor that regulates multiple functions following its activation by a variety of ligands, including xenobiotics, natural products, microbiome metabolites, and endogenous molecules. Because of this diversity, the AhR constitutes an exposome receptor. One of its main functions is to regulate several lines of defense against chemical insults and bacterial infections. Indeed, in addition to its well-established detoxication function, it has several functions at physiological barriers, and it plays a critical role in immunomodulation. The AhR is also involved in the development of several organs and their homeostatic maintenance. Its activity depends on the type of ligand and on the time frame of the receptor activation, which can be either sustained or transient, leading in some cases to opposite modes of regulations as illustrated in the regulation of different cancer pathways. The development of selective modulators and their pharmacological characterization are important areas of research. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Volume 62 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Larigot
- INSERM UMR-S1124, T3S, Toxicologie Environnementale, Cibles thérapeutiques, Signalisation cellulaire et Biomarqueurs, and Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France;
| | - Louise Benoit
- INSERM UMR-S1124, T3S, Toxicologie Environnementale, Cibles thérapeutiques, Signalisation cellulaire et Biomarqueurs, and Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; .,Service de Chirurgie Cancérologique Gynécologique et du Sein, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Meriem Koual
- INSERM UMR-S1124, T3S, Toxicologie Environnementale, Cibles thérapeutiques, Signalisation cellulaire et Biomarqueurs, and Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; .,Service de Chirurgie Cancérologique Gynécologique et du Sein, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Céline Tomkiewicz
- INSERM UMR-S1124, T3S, Toxicologie Environnementale, Cibles thérapeutiques, Signalisation cellulaire et Biomarqueurs, and Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France;
| | - Robert Barouki
- INSERM UMR-S1124, T3S, Toxicologie Environnementale, Cibles thérapeutiques, Signalisation cellulaire et Biomarqueurs, and Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; .,Service de Chirurgie Cancérologique Gynécologique et du Sein, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Xavier Coumoul
- INSERM UMR-S1124, T3S, Toxicologie Environnementale, Cibles thérapeutiques, Signalisation cellulaire et Biomarqueurs, and Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France;
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Camalexin, an indole phytoalexin, inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and mammosphere formation in breast cancer cells via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. J Nat Med 2021; 76:110-118. [PMID: 34463909 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-021-01560-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. Despite a variety of drugs available for the treatment of patients with breast cancer, drug resistance remains a significant clinical problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop drugs with new mechanisms of action. Camalexin is the main indole phytoalexin in Arabidopsis thaliana and other crucifers. Camalexin inhibits the proliferation of various cancer cells. However, the mechanism by which camalexin inhibits cell proliferation remains unclear. In this study, we found that camalexin inhibited cell proliferation and migration of breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, camalexin also suppressed breast cancer stem cell-derived mammosphere formation. We previously reported that the ligand-activated transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist suppresses mammosphere formation. Several compounds with indole structures are known to act as AhR agonists. Therefore, we hypothesized that the inhibition of mammosphere formation by camalexin may involve AhR activation. We found that camalexin increased the nuclear translocation of AhR, AhR-mediated transcriptional activation, and expression of AhR target genes. In addition, camalexin suppressed mammosphere formation in AhR-expressing breast cancer cells more than in the breast cancer cells that lacked AhR expression. Taken together, the data demonstrate that camalexin is a novel AhR agonist and that the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and mammosphere formation by camalexin involves the activation of AhR. Our findings suggest that camalexin, an AhR agonist, may be a novel therapeutic agent for breast cancer.
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Zablon HA, Ko CI, Puga A. Converging Roles of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Early Embryonic Development, Maintenance of Stemness, and Tissue Repair. Toxicol Sci 2021; 182:1-9. [PMID: 34009372 PMCID: PMC8285021 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor well-known for its adaptive role as a sensor of environmental toxicants and mediator of the metabolic detoxification of xenobiotic ligands. In addition, a growing body of experimental data has provided indisputable evidence that the AHR regulates critical functions of cell physiology and embryonic development. Recent studies have shown that the naïve AHR-that is, unliganded to xenobiotics but activated endogenously-has a crucial role in maintenance of embryonic stem cell pluripotency, tissue repair, and regulation of cancer stem cell stemness. Depending on the cellular context, AHR silences the expression of pluripotency genes Oct4 and Nanog and potentiates differentiation, whereas curtailing cellular plasticity and stemness. In these processes, AHR-mediated contextual responses and outcomes are dictated by changes of interacting partners in signaling pathways, gene networks, and cell-type-specific genomic structures. In this review, we focus on AHR-mediated changes of genomic architecture as an emerging mechanism for the AHR to regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level. Collective evidence places this receptor as a physiological hub connecting multiple biological processes whose disruption impacts on embryonic development, tissue repair, and maintenance or loss of stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alvaro Puga
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
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13
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Anti-cancer effects of Tranilast: An update. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 141:111844. [PMID: 34174504 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tranilast (TRN) or (N-3,4 -dimethoxy cinnamoyl]-anthranilic acid) is an analog of a tryptophan metabolite and is identified mainly as an anti-allergic agent with limited side effects. The anti-cancer effects of tranilast either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs have been evidenced in several pre-clinical studies. The main mechanism of action of tranilast includes targeting and modulation of various signaling and immune regulatory pathways including Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), MAP-Kinase (MAPK), Protein kinase B (Akt/PKB), c-Jun N-terminal kinase, modulation of cancer stem cells, etc. Most of these pathways are involved in tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis and it is postulated that tranilast, with its low toxicity profile and high anti-carcinogenic abilities, can serve as a potential anti-tumorigenic agent. The main aim of this review is to provide updated information on the anti-cancer effects of tranilast and its significance as a therapeutic agent.
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Chen LB, Zhu SP, Liu TP, Zhao H, Chen PF, Duan YJ, Hu R. Cancer Associated Fibroblasts Promote Renal Cancer Progression Through a TDO/Kyn/AhR Dependent Signaling Pathway. Front Oncol 2021; 11:628821. [PMID: 33842334 PMCID: PMC8027476 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.628821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play crucial roles in cancer development, however, the specific mechanisms of CAFs associated renal cancer progression remain poorly understood. Our study observed enriched CAFs in high degree malignant tumor tissues from renal cancer patients. These CAFs isolated from tumor tissues are prone to facilitate drugs resistance and promote tumor progression in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, CAFs up-regulated tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase (TDO) expression, resulting in enhanced secretion of kynurenine (Kyn). Kyn produced from CAFs could up-regulated the expression of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), eventually resulting in the AKT and STAT3 signaling pathways activation. Inhibition of AKT signal prevented cancer cells proliferation, while inhibition of the STAT3 signal reverted drugs resistance and cancer migration induced by kynurenine. Application of AhR inhibitor DMF could efficiently suppress distant metastasis of renal cancer cells, and improve anticancer effects of sorafenib (Sor)/sunitinib (Sun), which described a promising therapeutic strategy for clinical renal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Bo Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shun-Ping Zhu
- Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Tian-Pei Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Heng Zhao
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Ping-Feng Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - You-Jun Duan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Rong Hu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
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The deubiquitylase UCHL3 maintains cancer stem-like properties by stabilizing the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:78. [PMID: 32546741 PMCID: PMC7297794 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0181-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit highly aggressive and metastatic features and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression varies among non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), and the mechanisms that support abnormal AhR expression in CSCs remain elusive. Here, we identified ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3), a DUB enzyme in the UCH protease family, as a bona fide deubiquitylase of the AhR in NSCLC. UCHL3 was shown to interact with, deubiquitylate, and stabilize AhR in a manner dependent on its deubiquitylation activity. Moreover, we showed that UCHL3 promotes the stem-like characteristics and potent tumorigenic capacity of NSCLC cells. UCHL3 increased AhR stability and the binding of AhR to the promoter regions of the “stemness” genes ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2), KLF4, and c-Myc. Depletion of UCHL3 markedly downregulated the “stemness” genes ABCG2, KLF4, and c-Myc, leading to the loss of self-renewal and tumorigenesis in NSCLCs. Furthermore, the UCHL3 inhibitor TCID induced AhR degradation and exhibited significantly attenuated efficacy in NSCLC cells with stem cell-like properties. Additionally, UCHL3 was shown to indicate poor prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In general, our results reveal that the UCHL3 deubiquitylase is pivotal for AhR protein stability and a potential target for NSCLC-targeted therapy.
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Itkin B, Breen A, Turyanska L, Sandes EO, Bradshaw TD, Loaiza-Perez AI. New Treatments in Renal Cancer: The AhR Ligands. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3551. [PMID: 32443455 PMCID: PMC7279047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Kidney cancer rapidly acquires resistance to antiangiogenic agents, such as sunitinib, developing an aggressive migratory phenotype (facilitated by c-Metsignal transduction). The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has recently been postulated as a molecular target for cancer treatment. Currently, there are two antitumor agent AhR ligands, with activity against renal cancer, that have been tested clinically: aminoflavone (AFP 464, NSC710464) and the benzothiazole (5F 203) prodrug Phortress. Our studies investigated the action of AFP 464, the aminoflavone pro-drug currently used in clinical trials, and 5F 203 on renal cancer cells, specifically examining their effects on cell cycle progression, apoptosis and cell migration. Both compounds caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis but only 5F 203 potently inhibited the migration of TK-10, Caki-1 and SN12C cells as well as the migration signal transduction cascade, involving c-Met signaling, in TK-10 cells. Current investigations are focused on the development of nano-delivery vehicles, apoferritin-encapsulated benzothiazoles 5F 203 and GW610, for the treatment of renal cancer. These compounds have shown improved antitumor effects against TK-10 cells in vitro at lower concentrations compared with a naked agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Itkin
- Department of Oncology, Hospital General de Agudos Juan Fernandez, C1425 CABA Buenos Aires, Argentina;
| | - Alastair Breen
- School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, Nottinghamshire, UK; (A.B.); (T.D.B.)
| | - Lyudmila Turyanska
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, Nottinghamshire, UK;
| | - Eduardo Omar Sandes
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo (IOAHR), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Área Investigación, Av. San Martin 5481, C1417 DTB Buenos Aires, Argentina;
| | - Tracey D. Bradshaw
- School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, Nottinghamshire, UK; (A.B.); (T.D.B.)
| | - Andrea Irene Loaiza-Perez
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo (IOAHR), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Área Investigación, Av. San Martin 5481, C1417 DTB Buenos Aires, Argentina;
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Tranilast induces MiR-200c expression through blockade of RelA/p65 activity in leiomyoma smooth muscle cells. Fertil Steril 2020; 113:1308-1318. [PMID: 32199621 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the mechanism by which tranilast induces miR-200c expression in leiomyoma smooth muscle cells (LSMCs). DESIGN Experimental study. SETTING Academic research laboratory. PATIENT(S) Women undergoing hysterectomy for leiomyoma. INTERVENTION(S) Blockade of RelA/p65. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Effects of tranilast and blockade of RelA/p65 on miR-200c expression. RESULT(S) Tranilast, an inflammation inhibitor, dose-dependently induced miR-200c in LSMCs and myometrium smooth muscle cells (MSMCs), with a more profound effect in LSMCs than in MSMCs. The treatment of LSMCs with Bay 117082, an inhibitor of IκB phosphorylation, further enhanced miR-200c induction by tranilast. The knockdown of RelA/p65 by small interfering RNA also induced miR-200c expression in LSMCs. Although tranilast had no effect on total RelA/p65 protein levels in LSMCs, it significantly induced RelA/p65 phosphorylation at S536 while reducing its activity as well as its nuclear translocation. ChIP assay indicated that tranilast reduces the binding ability of RelA/p65 to miR-200c promoter, resulting in miR-200c induction. Tranilast also inhibited interleukin-8 (IL8) expression in LSMCs. The induction of miR-200c by tranilast partially mediates the inhibitory effect of tranilast on the expression of IL8 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 in LSMCs. CONCLUSION(S) Induction of miR-200c by tranilast in LSMCs is mediated through a transcriptional mechanism involving inhibition of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway. These results highlight the significance of inflammation in the pathogenesis of leiomyoma and the potential utility of antiinflammatory drugs for treatment of leiomyomas.
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19
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Sarić N, Selby M, Ramaswamy V, Kool M, Stockinger B, Hogstrand C, Williamson D, Marino S, Taylor MD, Clifford SC, Basson MA. The AHR pathway represses TGFβ-SMAD3 signalling and has a potent tumour suppressive role in SHH medulloblastoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:148. [PMID: 31924815 PMCID: PMC6954114 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56876-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastomas are brain tumours that arise in the posterior fossa. Cancer-propagating cells (CPCs) provide a reservoir of cells capable of tumour regeneration and relapse post-treatment. Understanding and targeting the mechanisms by which CPCs are maintained and expanded in SHH medulloblastoma could present novel therapeutic opportunities. We identified the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway as a potent tumour suppressor in a SHH medulloblastoma mouse model. Ahr-deficient tumours and CPCs grown in vitro, showed elevated activation of the TGFβ mediator, SMAD3. Pharmacological inhibition of the TGFβ/SMAD3 signalling axis was sufficient to inhibit the proliferation and promote the differentiation of Ahr-deficient CPCs. Human SHH medulloblastomas with high expression of the AHR repressor (AHRR) exhibited a significantly worse prognosis compared to AHRRlow tumours in two independent patient cohorts. Together, these findings suggest that reduced AHR pathway activity promotes SHH medulloblastoma progression, consistent with a tumour suppressive role for AHR. We propose that TGFβ/SMAD3 inhibition may represent an actionable therapeutic approach for a subset of aggressive SHH medulloblastomas characterised by reduced AHR pathway activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemanja Sarić
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Matthew Selby
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Vijay Ramaswamy
- Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Medical Biophysics and Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Christer Hogstrand
- Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences Division, King's College London, 3.85 Franklin-Wilkins Building, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Daniel Williamson
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Medical Biophysics and Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, 4th floor, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
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20
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Baker JR, Sakoff JA, McCluskey A. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as a breast cancer drug target. Med Res Rev 2019; 40:972-1001. [PMID: 31721255 DOI: 10.1002/med.21645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with more than 1.7 million diagnoses worldwide per annum. Metastatic breast cancer remains incurable, and the presence of triple-negative phenotypes makes targeted treatment impossible. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), most commonly associated with the metabolism of xenobiotic ligands, has emerged as a promising biological target for the treatment of this deadly disease. Ligands for the AhR can be classed as exogenous or endogenous and may have agonistic or antagonistic activity. It has been well reported that agonistic ligands may have potent and selective growth inhibition activity in a number of oncogenic cell lines, and one (aminoflavone) has progressed to phase I clinical trials for breast cancer sufferers. In this study, we examine the current state of the literature in this area and elucidate the promising advances that are being made in hijacking the cytosolic-to-nuclear pathway of the AhR for the possible future treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Baker
- Chemistry, School of Environmental & Life Sciences, the University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennette A Sakoff
- Department of Medical Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital, Waratah, NSW, Australia
| | - Adam McCluskey
- Chemistry, School of Environmental & Life Sciences, the University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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Brodaczewska KK, Bielecka ZF, Maliszewska-Olejniczak K, Szczylik C, Porta C, Bartnik E, Czarnecka AM. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma cells growing in 3D on poly‑D‑lysine or laminin present a stem‑like phenotype and drug resistance. Oncol Rep 2019; 42:1878-1892. [PMID: 31545459 PMCID: PMC6788014 DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
3D spheroids are built by heterogeneous cell types in different proliferative and metabolic states and are enriched in cancer stem cells. The main aim of the study was to investigate the usefulness of a novel metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) 3D spheroid culture for in vitro cancer stem cell physiology research and drug toxicity screening. RCC cell lines, Caki-1 (skin metastasis derived) and ACHN (pleural effusion derived), were efficiently cultured in growth-factor/serum deprived, defined, StemXvivo and Nutristem medium on laminin-coated or poly-D-lysine-coated plates. In optimal 3D culture conditions, ACHN cells (StemXVivo/poly-D-lysine) formed small spheroids with remaining adherent cells of an epithelial phenotype, while Caki-1 cells (StemXVivo/laminin) formed large dark spheroids with significantly reduced cell viability in the center. In the 3D structures, expression levels of genes encoding stem transcription factors (OCT4, SOX2, NES) and RCC stem cell markers (CD105, CD133) were deregulated in comparison to these expression levels in traditional 2D culture. Sunitinib, epirubicin and doxycycline were more toxic to cells cultured in monolayers than for cells in 3D spheroids. High numbers of cells arrested in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle were found in spheroids under sunitinib treatment. We showed that metastatic RCC 3D spheroids supported with ECM are a useful model to determine the cancer cell growth characteristics that are not found in adherent 2D cultures. Due to the more complex architecture, spheroids may mimic in vivo micrometastases and may be more appropriate to investigate novel drug candidate responses, including the direct effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor activity against RCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia K Brodaczewska
- Department of Oncology with Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, 04‑141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zofia F Bielecka
- Department of Oncology with Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, 04‑141 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Cezary Szczylik
- Department of Oncology with Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, 04‑141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Camillo Porta
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, I‑27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Ewa Bartnik
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna M Czarnecka
- Department of Oncology with Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, 04‑141 Warsaw, Poland
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Muku GE, Murray IA, Perdew GH. Activation of the Ah Receptor Modulates Gastrointestinal Homeostasis and the Intestinal Microbiome. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40495-019-00197-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Vorontsova JE, Cherezov RO, Kuzin BA, Simonova OB. Aryl-Hydrocarbon Receptor as a Potential Target for Anticancer Therapy. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW), SUPPLEMENT SERIES B: BIOMEDICAL CHEMISTRY 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s1990750819010116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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EGCG-Derivative G28 Shows High Efficacy Inhibiting the Mammosphere-Forming Capacity of Sensitive and Resistant TNBC Models. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24061027. [PMID: 30875891 PMCID: PMC6471537 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24061027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies showed that Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN), a lipogenic enzyme overexpressed in several carcinomas, plays an important role in drug resistance. Furthermore, the enrichment of Breast Cancer Stem Cell (BCSC) features has been found in breast tumors that progressed after chemotherapy. Hence, we used the triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line MDA-MB-231 (231) to evaluate the FASN and BCSC population role in resistance acquisition to chemotherapy. For this reason, parental cell line (231) and its derivatives resistant to doxorubicin (231DXR) and paclitaxel (231PTR) were used. The Mammosphere-Forming Assay and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzyme activity assay showed an increase in BCSCs in the doxorubicin-resistant model. Moreover, the expression of some transcription factors involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that confers BCSC characteristics, was upregulated after chemotherapy treatment. FASN inhibitors C75, (−)-Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), and its synthetic derivatives G28, G56 and G37 were used to evaluate the effect of FASN inhibition on the BCSC-enriched population in our cell lines. G28 showed a noticeable antiproliferative effect in adherent conditions and, interestingly, a high mammosphere-forming inhibition capacity in all cell models. Our preliminary results highlight the importance of studying FASN inhibitors for the treatment of TNBC patients, especially those who progress after chemotherapy.
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Suppression of glioblastoma by a drug cocktail reprogramming tumor cells into neuronal like cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3462. [PMID: 30837577 PMCID: PMC6401026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39852-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant tumor in adult brain. Even with the current standard therapy including surgical resection followed by postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide (Temo), GBM patients still have a poor median survival. Reprogramming of tumor cells into non-malignant cells might be a promising therapeutic strategy for malignant tumors, including GBM. Based on previous studies using small molecules to reprogram astrocytes into neuronal cells, here we further identified a FTT cocktail of three commonly used drugs (Fasudil, Tranilast, and Temo) to reprogram patient-derived GBM cells, either cultured in serum containing or serum-free medium, into neuronal like cells. FTT-treated GBM cells displayed a neuronal like morphology, expressed neuronal genes, exhibited neuronal electrophysiological properties, and showed attenuated malignancy. More importantly, FTT cocktail more significantly suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival in GBM patient derived xenograft than Temo alone. Our study provided preclinical evidence that the neuronal reprogramming drug cocktail might be a promising strategy to improve the existing treatment for GBM.
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Abstract
Immunotherapy through immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) is quickly transforming cancer treatment by improving patients' outcomes. However, innate and acquired resistance to ICBs remain a major challenge in clinical settings. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenases (IDOs) are enzymes involved in tryptophan catabolism with a central immunosuppressive function within the tumor microenvironment. IDOs are over-expressed in cancer patients and have increasingly been associated with worse outcomes and a poor prognosis. Preclinical data have shown that combining IDO and checkpoint inhibition might be a valuable strategy to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy. Currently, several IDO inhibitors have been evaluated in clinical trials, showing favorable pharmacokinetic profiles and promising efficacy. This review describes the mechanisms involved in IDO-mediated immune suppression and its role in cancer immune escape, focusing on the potential clinical application of IDO inhibitors as an immunotherapy strategy for cancer treatment.
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Vorontsova JE, Cherezov RO, Kuzin BA, Simonova OB. [Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor as a potential target for anticancer therapy]. BIOMEDIT︠S︡INSKAI︠A︡ KHIMII︠A︡ 2018; 64:397-415. [PMID: 30378556 DOI: 10.18097/pbmc20186405397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor, whose functions are related to xenobiotic detoxification, response to inflammation, and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Recent investigations suggest that AHR also plays an important role in the processes of carcinogenesis. Increased expression of AHR is observed in several types of tumors and tumor cell lines. In addition, it turned out that the composition of pharmaceutical drugs used in oncotherapy includes some ligands AHR. These facts allow us to consider an aryl-hydrocarbon receptor as a potential target for anticancer therapy, especially for the treatment of severe cancers whose treatment options are very limited or do not exist at all. In this review the examples of AHR ligands' effect on tumor cell cultures and on model mice lines with AHR-dependent response are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Vorontsova
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - R O Cherezov
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - B A Kuzin
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - O B Simonova
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Wu C, Yu S, Tan Q, Guo P, Liu H. Role of AhR in regulating cancer stem cell-like characteristics in choriocarcinoma. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:2309-2320. [PMID: 30311543 PMCID: PMC6226230 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1535219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Choriocarcinoma is sensitive to chemotherapy. However, drug resistance has become one of the major problems in recent years. Previous studies have shown that many tumors contained a small fraction of cells that exhibited enhanced tumor initiating potential and stem cell-like properties. It is hypothesized that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are organized in a cellular hierarchy. They also have the qualities of self-renewal, chemoresistance, and so on. The identification of CSCs in choriocarcinoma and the mechanism contributing to their qualities remain largely unknown. This study focused on the role of AhR, a transcription factor abundantly expressed in many different types of cancer, in the regulation of the expansion of choriocarcinoma CSCs and the exact molecular mechanisms. Spheroid cells isolated from choriocarcinoma in serum-free conditions have stem cell-like characteristics. The expression and nuclear translocation of AhR were markedly elevated in spheroid cells. Activation of AhR by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) significantly increased the spheroid-forming efficiency, chemotherapy resistance, and ability to form tumor xenografts of the cells, whereas AhR knockdown, using short hairpin RNA (shRNA), dramatically reduced stem cell properties. Mechanistically, activating the β-catenin pathway might be an essential biological function of AhR during the regulation of the CSC characteristics. This study also identified ABCG2, which plays an important role in CSCs, as a direct target of AhR. Together, these results strongly suggested the participation of AhR in choriocarcinoma carcinogenesis. Targeting AhR may provide a novel therapeutic opportunity for choriocarcinoma.
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MESH Headings
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/genetics
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/metabolism
- Animals
- Carcinogenesis
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Choriocarcinoma/metabolism
- Choriocarcinoma/pathology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Female
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/cytology
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins/pharmacology
- RNA Interference
- RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism
- Spheroids, Cellular/cytology
- Spheroids, Cellular/metabolism
- Transcriptional Activation
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchun Wu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shuran Yu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qianxia Tan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Peng Guo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Huining Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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29
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Rannug A, Rannug U. The tryptophan derivative 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, FICZ, a dynamic mediator of endogenous aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling, balances cell growth and differentiation. Crit Rev Toxicol 2018; 48:555-574. [PMID: 30226107 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2018.1493086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is not essential to survival, but does act as a key regulator of many normal physiological events. The role of this receptor in toxicological processes has been studied extensively, primarily employing the high-affinity ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). However, regulation of physiological responses by endogenous AHR ligands remains to be elucidated. Here, we review developments in this field, with a focus on 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), the endogenous ligand with the highest affinity to the receptor reported to date. The binding of FICZ to different isoforms of the AHR seems to be evolutionarily well conserved and there is a feedback loop that controls AHR activity through metabolic degradation of FICZ via the highly inducible cytochrome P450 1A1. Several investigations provide strong evidence that FICZ plays a critical role in normal physiological processes and can ameliorate immune diseases with remarkable efficiency. Low levels of FICZ are pro-inflammatory, providing resistance to pathogenic bacteria, stimulating the anti-tumor functions, and promoting the differentiation of cancer cells by repressing genes in cancer stem cells. In contrast, at high concentrations FICZ behaves in a manner similar to TCDD, exhibiting toxicity toward fish and bird embryos, immune suppression, and activation of cancer progression. The findings are indicative of a dual role for endogenously activated AHR in barrier tissues, aiding clearance of infections and suppressing immunity to terminate a vicious cycle that might otherwise lead to disease. There is not much support for the AHR ligand-specific immune responses proposed, the differences between FICZ and TCDD in this context appear to be explained by the rapid metabolism of FICZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agneta Rannug
- a Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ulf Rannug
- b Department of Molecular Biosciences , The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University , Stockholm , Sweden
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30
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Janosik T, Rannug A, Rannug U, Wahlström N, Slätt J, Bergman J. Chemistry and Properties of Indolocarbazoles. Chem Rev 2018; 118:9058-9128. [PMID: 30191712 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The indolocarbazoles are an important class of nitrogen heterocycles which has evolved significantly in recent years, with numerous studies focusing on their diverse biological effects, or targeting new materials with potential applications in organic electronics. This review aims at providing a broad survey of the chemistry and properties of indolocarbazoles from an interdisciplinary point of view, with particular emphasis on practical synthetic aspects, as well as certain topics which have not been previously accounted for in detail, such as the occurrence, formation, biological activities, and metabolism of indolo[3,2- b]carbazoles. The literature of the past decade forms the basis of the text, which is further supplemented with older key references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Janosik
- Research Institutes of Sweden , Bioscience and Materials, RISE Surface, Process and Formulation , SE-151 36 Södertälje , Sweden
| | - Agneta Rannug
- Institute of Environmental Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , SE-171 77 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ulf Rannug
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute , Stockholm University , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | | | - Johnny Slätt
- Department of Chemistry, Applied Physical Chemistry , KTH Royal Institute of Technology , SE-100 44 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Jan Bergman
- Karolinska Institutet , Department of Biosciences and Nutrition , SE-141 83 Huddinge , Sweden
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31
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Campbell PS, Mavingire N, Khan S, Rowland LK, Wooten JV, Opoku-Agyeman A, Guevara A, Soto U, Cavalli F, Loaiza-Pérez AI, Nagaraj G, Denham LJ, Adeoye O, Jenkins BD, Davis MB, Schiff R, Brantley EJ. AhR ligand aminoflavone suppresses α6-integrin-Src-Akt signaling to attenuate tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:108-121. [PMID: 30076704 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
More than 40% of patients with luminal breast cancer treated with endocrine therapy agent tamoxifen demonstrate resistance. Emerging evidence suggests tumor initiating cells (TICs) and aberrant activation of Src and Akt signaling drive tamoxifen resistance and relapse. We previously demonstrated that aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand aminoflavone (AF) inhibits the expression of TIC gene α6-integrin and disrupts mammospheres derived from tamoxifen-sensitive breast cancer cells. In the current study, we hypothesize that tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) cells exhibit higher levels of α6-integrin than tamoxifen-sensitive cells and that AF inhibits the growth of TamR cells by suppressing α6-integrin-Src-Akt signaling. In support of our hypothesis, TamR cells and associated mammospheres were found to exhibit elevated α6-integrin expression compared with their tamoxifen-sensitive counterparts. Furthermore, tumor sections from patients who relapsed on tamoxifen showed enhanced α6-integrin expression. Gene expression profiling from the TCGA database further revealed that basal-like breast cancer samples, known to be largely unresponsive to tamoxifen, demonstrated higher α6-integrin levels than luminal breast cancer samples. Importantly, AF reduced TamR cell viability and disrupted TamR mammospheres while concomitantly reducing α6-integrin messenger RNA and protein levels. In addition, AF and small interfering RNA against α6-integrin blocked tamoxifen-stimulated proliferation of TamR MCF-7 cells and further sensitized these cells to tamoxifen. Moreover, AF reduced Src and Akt signaling activation in TamR MCF-7 cells. Our findings suggest elevated α6-integrin expression is associated with tamoxifen resistance and AF suppresses α6-integrin-Src-Akt signaling activation to confer activity against TamR breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petreena S Campbell
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Nicole Mavingire
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Salma Khan
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Leah K Rowland
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Jonathan V Wooten
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Anna Opoku-Agyeman
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Ashley Guevara
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Ubaldo Soto
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Fiorella Cavalli
- Área de Investigaciónes, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H. Roffo," Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrea Irene Loaiza-Pérez
- Área de Investigaciónes, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H. Roffo," Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gayathri Nagaraj
- Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Laura J Denham
- Department of Pathology, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Olayemi Adeoye
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, California
| | - Brittany D Jenkins
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Melissa B Davis
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Rachel Schiff
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Medicine, Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Eileen J Brantley
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, California
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32
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Mao C, Wang M, Qian B, Ouyang L, Shi Y, Liu N, Chen L, Xiao D, Wang X, Cao Y, Liu S, Tao Y, Liu W. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activated by benzo (a) pyrene promotes SMARCA6 expression in NSCLC. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:1214-1227. [PMID: 30094095 PMCID: PMC6079155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that individual subunits of chromatin-remodeling complexes generate epigenetically specific signaling in tumorigenicity. The impact of environmental factors on the chromatin-remodeling factor has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. We detected the expression level of SMARCA6 (SWI/SNF2-Related, Matrix-Associated, Actin-Dependent Regulator of Chromatin, Subfamily A, Member 6) in NSCLC (Non-small-cell lung carcinoma) and measured it through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The effects of BaP on proliferation and cell cycle progression were evaluated using MTT, colony formation and FACS analyses. Tumor growth in vivo was observed in a xenograft model. ChIP and qPCR were performed to validate that SMARCA6 was a potential target of AhR in NSCLC. As a result, BaP increased SMARCA6 expression. Smoking was linked with elevated SMARCA6 expression in NSCLC. BaP promoted cancer progression in vitro and in vivo. ChIP assay confirmed that BaP increases SMARCA6 expression via recruitment of AhR and induces SMARCA6 expression by facilitating AhR translocation to the nucleus. Furthermore, inhibition of AhR expression decreases SMARCA6 expression in NSCLC. Finally, knockdown of SMARCA6 attenuates BaP-induced cancer progression. This study demonstrates that BaP promotes proliferation by activation of AhR, which promotes SMARCA6 expression, and may identify new diagnostic and therapeutic targets in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Mao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Min Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South UniversityChangsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Banglun Qian
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Lianlian Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Na Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Desheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Ya Cao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yongguang Tao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Central South UniversityChangsha 410078, Hunan, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410011, Hunan, China
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Wenliang Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha 410011, Hunan, China
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33
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Towards Resolving the Pro- and Anti-Tumor Effects of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051388. [PMID: 29735912 PMCID: PMC5983651 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We have postulated that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) drives the later, more lethal stages of some cancers when chronically activated by endogenous ligands. However, other studies have suggested that, under some circumstances, the AHR can oppose tumor aggression. Resolving this apparent contradiction is critical to the design of AHR-targeted cancer therapeutics. Molecular (siRNA, shRNA, AHR repressor, CRISPR-Cas9) and pharmacological (AHR inhibitors) approaches were used to confirm the hypothesis that AHR inhibition reduces human cancer cell invasion (irregular colony growth in 3D Matrigel cultures and Boyden chambers), migration (scratch wound assay) and metastasis (human cancer cell xenografts in zebrafish). Furthermore, these assays were used for a head-to-head comparison between AHR antagonists and agonists. AHR inhibition or knockdown/knockout consistently reduced human ER−/PR−/Her2− and inflammatory breast cancer cell invasion, migration, and metastasis. This was associated with a decrease in invasion-associated genes (e.g., Fibronectin, VCAM1, Thrombospondin, MMP1) and an increase in CDH1/E-cadherin, previously associated with decreased tumor aggression. Paradoxically, AHR agonists (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and/or 3,3′-diindolylmethane) similarly inhibited irregular colony formation in Matrigel and blocked metastasis in vivo but accelerated migration. These data demonstrate the complexity of modulating AHR activity in cancer while suggesting that AHR inhibitors, and, under some circumstances, AHR agonists, may be useful as cancer therapeutics.
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34
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Yan B, Liu S, Shi Y, Liu N, Chen L, Wang X, Xiao D, Liu X, Mao C, Jiang Y, Lai W, Xin X, Tang CE, Luo D, Tan T, Jia J, Liu Y, Yang R, Huang J, Zhou H, Cheng Y, Cao Y, Yu W, Muegge K, Tao Y. Activation of AhR with nuclear IKKα regulates cancer stem-like properties in the occurrence of radioresistance. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:490. [PMID: 29706625 PMCID: PMC5924755 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0542-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Most cancer patients receive radiotherapy in the course of their disease and the occurrence of radioresistance is associated with poor prognosis. The molecular pathways that drive enhanced tumorigenic potential during the development of radioresistance are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a vital role in the maintenance of cancer stem-like properties. AhR promotes the cancer stem-like phenotype and drives metastasis by directly targeting the promoters of 'stemness' genes, such as the ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2) gene. Moreover, the radioresistant sublines display high levels of oncometabolites including α-ketoglutarate, and treatment of cancer cells with α-ketoglutarate enhances their stem-like properties in an AhR activation-dependent manner. IKKα directly activates stemness-related genes through an interaction with AhR as a bone fide chromatin modifier. Thus, AhR is functionally linked with cancer stem-like properties, and it drives tumorigenesis in the occurrence of radioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yan
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
| | - Ying Shi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Na Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Desheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Chao Mao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Yiqun Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Weiwei Lai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Xing Xin
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Can-E Tang
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Dixian Luo
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of High-throughput Molecular Diagnosis Technology, Translational Medicine Institute, the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, 102 Luojiajing Road, Chenzhou, 423000, Hunan, China
| | - Tan Tan
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of High-throughput Molecular Diagnosis Technology, Translational Medicine Institute, the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, 102 Luojiajing Road, Chenzhou, 423000, Hunan, China
| | - Jiantao Jia
- Department of Pathophysiology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi, China
| | - Yating Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Rui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Neurosugery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Hu Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 555 Zu Chongzhi Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Ya Cao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Weishi Yu
- Cipher Gene (Beijing) Co. Ltd., 100089, Beijing, China
| | - Kathrin Muegge
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Yongguang Tao
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Pindiprolu SKSS, Krishnamurthy PT, Chintamaneni PK. Pharmacological targets of breast cancer stem cells: a review. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2018; 391:463-479. [PMID: 29476201 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-018-1479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancers contain small population of tumor-initiating cells called breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), which are spared even after chemotherapy. Recently, BCSCs are implicated to be a cause of metastasis, tumor relapse, and therapy resistance in breast cancer. BCSCs have unique molecular mechanisms, which can be targeted to eliminate them. These include surface biomarkers, proteins involved in self-renewal pathways, drug efflux transporters, apoptotic/antiapoptotic proteins, autophagy, metabolism, and microenvironment regulation. The complex molecular mechanisms behind the survival of BCSCs and pharmacological targets for elimination of BCSCs are described in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Kiran S S Pindiprolu
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy (Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University), Rocklands, Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu, 643001, India
| | - Praveen T Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy (Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University), Rocklands, Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu, 643001, India.
| | - Pavan Kumar Chintamaneni
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy (Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University), Rocklands, Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu, 643001, India
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Esophageal cancer stem cells are suppressed by tranilast, a TRPV2 channel inhibitor. J Gastroenterol 2018; 53:197-207. [PMID: 28389731 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-017-1338-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent evidence suggests that the targeting of membrane proteins specifically activated in cancer stem cells (CSCs) is an important strategy for cancer therapy. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the expression and activity of ion-transport-related molecules in the CSCs of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS Cells exhibiting strong aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (ALDH1A1) activity were isolated from TE8 cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and CSCs were then generated with the sphere formation assay. The gene expression profiles of CSCs were examined by microarray analysis. RESULTS Among TE8 cells, ALDH1A1 messenger RNA and protein levels were higher in CSCs than in non-CSCs. The CSCs obtained were resistant to cisplatin and had the ability to redifferentiate. The results of the microarray analysis revealed that the expression of 50 genes encoding plasma membrane proteins was altered in CSCs, whereas that of several genes related to ion channels, including transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2), was upregulated. The TRPV2 inhibitor tranilast was more cytotoxic at a lower concentration in CSCs than in non-CSCs, and effectively decreased the number of tumorspheres. Furthermore, tranilast significantly decreased the cell population that strongly expressed ALDH1A1 among TE8 cells. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study suggest that TRPV2 is involved in the maintenance of CSCs, and that its specific inhibitor, tranilast, has potential as a targeted therapeutic agent against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
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Saito H, Fushida S, Harada S, Miyashita T, Oyama K, Yamaguchi T, Tsukada T, Kinoshita J, Tajima H, Ninomiya I, Ohta T. Importance of human peritoneal mesothelial cells in the progression, fibrosis, and control of gastric cancer: inhibition of growth and fibrosis by tranilast. Gastric Cancer 2018; 21:55-67. [PMID: 28540637 PMCID: PMC5741788 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-017-0726-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scirrhous gastric cancer is an intractable disease with a high incidence of peritoneal dissemination and obstructive symptoms (e.g., ileus, jaundice, and hydronephrosis) arising from accompanying marked fibrosis. Microenvironmental interactions between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts are the suggested cause of the disease. We elucidated the mechanisms of tumor growth and fibrosis using human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and investigated the effects of tranilast treatment on cells and a xenograft mouse model of fibrosis. METHODS HPMCs were isolated from surgically excised omentum and their interaction with MKN-45 gastric cancer cells was investigated using co-culture. Furthermore, a fibrosis tumor model was developed based on subcutaneous transplantation of co-cultured cells into the dorsal side of nude mice to form large fibrotic tumors. Mice were subsequently treated with or without tranilast. RESULTS The morphology of HPMCs treated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 changed from cobblestone to spindle-type. Moreover, E-cadherin was weakly expressed whereas high levels of α-smooth muscle actin expression were observed. TGF-β-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like changes in HPMCs were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner following tranilast treatment through inhibition of Smad2 phosphorylation. In the mouse model, tumor size decreased significantly and fibrosis was inhibited in the tranilast treatment group compared with that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Tranilast acts on the TGF-β/Smad pathway to inhibit interactions between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts, thereby inhibiting tumor growth and fibrosis. This study supports the hypothesis that tranilast represents a novel strategy to prevent fibrous tumor establishment represented by peritoneal dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroto Saito
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Sachio Fushida
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Shinichi Harada
- Center for Biomedical Research and Education, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Tomoharu Miyashita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Katsunobu Oyama
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Takahisa Yamaguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Tomoya Tsukada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Jun Kinoshita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Hidehiro Tajima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Itasu Ninomiya
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
| | - Tetsuo Ohta
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan
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Pindiprolu SKSS, Krishnamurthy PT, Chintamaneni PK, Karri VVSR. Nanocarrier based approaches for targeting breast cancer stem cells. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 46:885-898. [PMID: 28826237 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2017.1366337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are heterogeneous subpopulation of tumour initiating cells within breast tumours. They are spared even after chemotherapy and responsible for tumour relapse. Targeting BCSCs is, therefore, necessary to achieve radical cure in breast cancer. Despite the availability of agents targeting BCSCs, their clinical application is limited due to their off-target effects and bioavailability issues. Nanotechnology based drug carriers (nanocarriers) offer various advantages to deliver anti-BCSCs agents specifically to their target sites by overcoming their bioavailability issues. In this review, we describe various strategies for targeting BCSCs using nanocarriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Kiran S S Pindiprolu
- a Department of Pharmacology , JSS College of Pharmacy (A Constituent College of Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University) , Ootacamund , Tamil Nadu , India
| | - Praveen T Krishnamurthy
- a Department of Pharmacology , JSS College of Pharmacy (A Constituent College of Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University) , Ootacamund , Tamil Nadu , India
| | - Pavan Kumar Chintamaneni
- a Department of Pharmacology , JSS College of Pharmacy (A Constituent College of Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University) , Ootacamund , Tamil Nadu , India
| | - Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Reddy Karri
- b Department of Pharmaceutics , JSS College of Pharmacy (A Constituent College of Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University) , Ootacamund , Tamil Nadu , India
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Role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in carcinogenesis and potential as an anti-cancer drug target. Arch Toxicol 2017; 91:2497-2513. [PMID: 28508231 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-017-1981-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was initially identified as the receptor that binds and mediates the toxic effects induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and structurally related halogenated aromatics. Other toxic compounds including some polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons act through the AhR; however, during the last 25 years, it has become apparent that the AhR plays an essential role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Moreover, the scope of ligands that bind the AhR includes endogenous compounds such as multiple tryptophan metabolites, other endogenous biochemicals, pharmaceuticals and health-promoting phytochemicals including flavonoids, indole-3-carbinol and its metabolites. It has also been shown that like other receptors, the AhR is a drug target for multiple diseases including cancer, where both AhR agonists and antagonists effectively block many of the critical hallmarks of cancer in multiple tumor types. This review describes the anti-cancer activities of AhR ligands and demonstrates that it is time to separate the AhR from TCDD and exploit the potential of the AhR as a novel target for cancer chemotherapy.
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Ahmed M, Chaudhari K, Babaei-Jadidi R, Dekker LV, Shams Nateri A. Concise Review: Emerging Drugs Targeting Epithelial Cancer Stem-Like Cells. Stem Cells 2017; 35:839-850. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.2579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mehreen Ahmed
- Cancer Genetics & Stem Cell Group; Nottingham United Kingdom
| | | | - Roya Babaei-Jadidi
- Cancer Genetics & Stem Cell Group; Nottingham United Kingdom
- Tumor & Vascular Biology Laboratories; Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine; Nottingham United Kingdom
| | - Lodewijk V. Dekker
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology, School of Pharmacy; Centre for Biomolecular Science, University of Nottingham; Nottingham United Kingdom
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Wang Z, Monti S, Sherr DH. The diverse and important contributions of the AHR to cancer and cancer immunity. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Safe S, Cheng Y, Jin UH. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) as a Drug Target for Cancer Chemotherapy. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2017; 2:24-29. [PMID: 28459113 DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2017.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is overexpressed in some patients with different tumor types, and the receptor can be a negative or positive prognostic factor. There is also evidence from both in vivo and in vitro cell culture models that the AhR can exhibit tumor-specific pro-oncogenic and tumor suppressor-like functions and therefore can be treated with AhR antagonists or agonists, respectively. Successful clinical applications of AhR ligands will require the synthesis and development of selective AhR modulators (SAhRMs) with tumor-specific AhR agonist or antagonist activity, and some currently available compounds such as indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane-(DIM) and synthetic AhR antagonists are potential drug candidates. There is also evidence that some AhR-active pharmaceuticals, including tranilast, flutamide, hydroxytamoxifen and omeprazole or their derivatives, may be effective AhR-dependent anticancer agents for single or combination cancer chemotherapies for treatment of breast and pancreatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Yating Cheng
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Un-Ho Jin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
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Al-Dhfyan A, Alhoshani A, Korashy HM. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor/cytochrome P450 1A1 pathway mediates breast cancer stem cells expansion through PTEN inhibition and β-Catenin and Akt activation. Mol Cancer 2017; 16:14. [PMID: 28103884 PMCID: PMC5244521 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-016-0570-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) are small sub-type of the whole cancer cells that drive tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. Recent studies have demonstrated a role for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)/cytochrome P4501A1 pathway in CSCs expansion. However, the exact molecular mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS The current study was designed to a) determine the effect of AhR activation and inhibition on breast CSCs development, maintenance, self-renewal, and chemoresistance at the in vitro and in vivo levels and b) explore the role of β-Catenin, PI3K/Akt, and PTEN signaling pathways. To test this hypothesis, CSC characteristics of five human breast cancer cells; SKBR-3, MCF-7, and MDA-MB231, HS587T, and T47D treated with AhR activators or inhibitor were determined using Aldefluor assay, side population, and mammosphere formation. The mRNA, protein expression, cellular content and localization of the target genes were determined by RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and Immunofluorescence, respectively. At the in vivo level, female Balb/c mice were treated with AhR/CYP1A1 inducer and histopathology changes and Immunohistochemistry examination for target proteins were determined. RESULTS The constitutive mRNA expression and cellular content of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, AhR-regulated genes, were markedly higher in CSCs more than differentiating non-CSCs of five different human breast cancer cells. Activation of AhR/CYP1A1 in MCF-7 cells by TCDD and DMBA, strong AhR activators, significantly increased CSC-specific markers, mammosphere formation, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, and percentage of side population (SP) cells, whereas inactivation of AhR/CYP1A1 using chemical inhibitor, α-naphthoflavone (α-NF), or by genetic shRNA knockdown, significantly inhibited the upregulation of ALDH activity and SP cells. Importantly, inactivation of the AhR/CYP1A1 significantly increased sensitization of CSCs to the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin. Mechanistically, Induction of AhR/CYP1A1 by TCDD and DMBA was associated with significant increase in β-Catenin mRNA and protein expression, nuclear translocation and its downstream target Cyclin D1, whereas AhR or CYP1A1 knockdown using shRNA dramatically inhibited β-Catenin cellular content and nuclear translocation. This was associated with significant inhibition of PTEN and induction of total and phosphorylated Akt protein expressions. Importantly, inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway by LY294002 completely blocked the TCDD-induced SP cells expansion. In vivo, IHC staining of mammary gland structures of untreated and DMBA (30 mg/kg, IP)- treated mice, showed tremendous inhibition of PTEN expression accompanied with an increase in the expression p-Akt, β-Catenin and stem cells marker ALDH1. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides the first evidence that AhR/CYP1A1 signaling pathway is controlling breast CSCs proliferation, development, self-renewal and chemoresistance through inhibition of the PTEN and activation of β-Catenin and Akt pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Al-Dhfyan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.,Stem Cell & Tissue Re-Engineering, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Alhoshani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hesham M Korashy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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Chuang TD, Khorram O. Tranilast Inhibits Genes Functionally Involved in Cell Proliferation, Fibrosis, and Epigenetic Regulation and Epigenetically Induces miR-29c Expression in Leiomyoma Cells. Reprod Sci 2016; 24:1253-1263. [PMID: 28114878 DOI: 10.1177/1933719116682878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Tranilast (N-3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl anthranilic acid) is an antiallergic agent with inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and extracellular matrix production. Here we assess the effect of tranilast on the expression of miR-29c and genes functionally involved in cell proliferation, fibrosis, and epigenetic regulation in isolated leiomyoma smooth muscle cells (LSMC). Tranilast significantly inhibited the rate of LSMC proliferation, which was associated with downregulation of cell cycle progression genes cyclin D1 (CCND1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) expression at messenger RNA and protein levels ( P < .05). Tranilast also suppressed the expression of collagen type I (COL1), collagen type III alpha 1 chain (COL3A1), the profibrotic cytokine, transforming growth factor β-3 (TGF-β3), DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), which regulate epigenetic status of gene promoters ( P < .05). Tranilast also significantly induced the expression of cellular and secreted miR-29c through downregulation of methylation status of miR-29c promoter ( P < .05). In addition, tranilast suppressed the activity of luciferase reporter containing 3'UTR of COL3A1 and CDK2, which are downstream targets of miR-29c ( P < .05). Knockdown of miR-29c expression attenuated the inhibitory effects of tranilast on COL3A1 and CDK2 protein expression ( P < .05). Collectively, these findings suggest that tranilast could have therapeutic potential as an inhibitory agent for leiomyoma growth and its associated symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsai-Der Chuang
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and LA Biomed Research Institute, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Omid Khorram
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and LA Biomed Research Institute, Torrance, CA, USA
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Stand-Sit Microchip for High-Throughput, Multiplexed Analysis of Single Cancer Cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32505. [PMID: 27581736 PMCID: PMC5007481 DOI: 10.1038/srep32505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular heterogeneity in function and response to therapeutics has been a major challenge in cancer treatment. The complex nature of tumor systems calls for the development of advanced multiplexed single-cell tools that can address the heterogeneity issue. However, to date such tools are only available in a laboratory setting and don’t have the portability to meet the needs in point-of-care cancer diagnostics. Towards that application, we have developed a portable single-cell system that is comprised of a microchip and an adjustable clamp, so on-chip operation only needs pipetting and adjusting of clamping force. Up to 10 proteins can be quantitated from each cell with hundreds of single-cell assays performed in parallel from one chip operation. We validated the technology and analyzed the oncogenic signatures of cancer stem cells by quantitating both aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities and 5 signaling proteins in single MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The technology has also been used to investigate the PI3K pathway activities of brain cancer cells expressing mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) after drug intervention targeting EGFR signaling. Our portable single-cell system will potentially have broad application in the preclinical and clinical settings for cancer diagnosis in the future.
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Novikov O, Wang Z, Stanford EA, Parks AJ, Ramirez-Cardenas A, Landesman E, Laklouk I, Sarita-Reyes C, Gusenleitner D, Li A, Monti S, Manteiga S, Lee K, Sherr DH. An Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Amplification Loop That Enforces Cell Migration in ER-/PR-/Her2- Human Breast Cancer Cells. Mol Pharmacol 2016; 90:674-688. [PMID: 27573671 PMCID: PMC5074452 DOI: 10.1124/mol.116.105361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The endogenous ligand-activated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) plays an important role in numerous biologic processes. As the known number of AHR-mediated processes grows, so too does the importance of determining what endogenous AHR ligands are produced, how their production is regulated, and what biologic consequences ensue. Consequently, our studies were designed primarily to determine whether ER−/PR−/Her2− breast cancer cells have the potential to produce endogenous AHR ligands and, if so, how production of these ligands is controlled. We postulated that: 1) malignant cells produce tryptophan-derived AHR ligand(s) through the kynurenine pathway; 2) these metabolites have the potential to drive AHR-dependent breast cancer migration; 3) the AHR controls expression of a rate-limiting kynurenine pathway enzyme(s) in a closed amplification loop; and 4) environmental AHR ligands mimic the effects of endogenous ligands. Data presented in this work indicate that primary human breast cancers, and their metastases, express high levels of AHR and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO); representative ER−/PR−/Her2− cell lines express TDO and produce sufficient intracellular kynurenine and xanthurenic acid concentrations to chronically activate the AHR. TDO overexpression, or excess kynurenine or xanthurenic acid, accelerates migration in an AHR-dependent fashion. Environmental AHR ligands 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo[p]dioxin and benzo[a]pyrene mimic this effect. AHR knockdown or inhibition significantly reduces TDO2 expression. These studies identify, for the first time, a positive amplification loop in which AHR-dependent TDO2 expression contributes to endogenous AHR ligand production. The net biologic effect of AHR activation by endogenous ligands, which can be mimicked by environmental ligands, is an increase in tumor cell migration, a measure of tumor aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Novikov
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Zhongyan Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Elizabeth A Stanford
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Ashley J Parks
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Alejandra Ramirez-Cardenas
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Esther Landesman
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Israa Laklouk
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Carmen Sarita-Reyes
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Daniel Gusenleitner
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Amy Li
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Stefano Monti
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Sara Manteiga
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - Kyongbum Lee
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
| | - David H Sherr
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., Z.W., E.A.S., A.J.P., A.R.-C., D.H.S.); Boston University Molecular and Translational Medicine Program, Boston, Massachusetts (O.N., E.A.S.); Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (D.G., A.L., S.Mo.); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (E.L., I.L., C.S.-R.); and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (S.Ma., K.L.)
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47
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Abstract
The signaling pathway of the evolutionary old transcription factor AhR is inducible by a number of small molecular weight chemicals, including toxicants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bacterial toxic pigments, and physiological compounds such as tryptophan derivatives or dietary indoles. AhR activation is of immunological importance, but at the same time mediates toxicity of environmental pollutants, such as immunosuppression by dioxins. Measuring AhR activity and identification of ligands is thus of great interest for a variety of research fields. In this chapter, I briefly introduce the AhR signaling pathway, its role in immunology, and the tools and assays needed to analyze AhR signaling. Both are also needed when therapeutic applications are envisioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Esser
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (IUF), Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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48
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Brantley E, Callero MA, Berardi DE, Campbell P, Rowland L, Zylstra D, Amis L, Yee M, Simian M, Todaro L, Loaiza-Perez AI, Soto U. AhR ligand Aminoflavone inhibits α6-integrin expression and breast cancer sphere-initiating capacity. Cancer Lett 2016; 376:53-61. [PMID: 26996297 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Traditional chemotherapies debulk tumors but fail to produce long-term clinical remissions due to their inability to eradicate tumor-initiating cells (TICs). This necessitates therapy with activity against the TIC niche. Αlpha6-integrin (α6-integrin) promotes TIC growth. In contrast, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling activation impedes the formation of mammospheres (clusters of cells enriched for TICs). We investigated the ability of AhR agonist Aminoflavone (AF) and AF pro-drug (AFP464) to disrupt mammospheres derived from breast cancer cells and a M05 mammary mouse model of breast cancer respectively. We further examined the capacity of AF and AFP464 to exhibit anticancer activity and modulate the expression of 'stemness' genes including α6-integrin using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and qRT-PCR analysis. AF disrupted mammospheres and prevented secondary mammosphere formation. In contrast, AF did not disrupt mammospheres derived from AhR ligand-unresponsive MCF-7 cells. AFP464 treatment suppressed M05 tumor growth and disrupted corresponding mammospheres. AF and AFP464 reduced the expression and percentage of cells that stained for 'stemness' markers including α6-integrin in vitro and in vivo respectively. These data suggest AFP464 thwarts bulk breast tumor and TIC growth via AhR agonist-mediated α6-integrin inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Brantley
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, 11021 Campus St, Alumni Hall Room 101, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Mariana A Callero
- Research Area, Institute of Oncology Ángel H. Roffo, University of Buenos Aires, Avenue San Martín 5481, C1417DTB Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Damian E Berardi
- Research Area, Institute of Oncology Ángel H. Roffo, University of Buenos Aires, Avenue San Martín 5481, C1417DTB Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Petreena Campbell
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, 11021 Campus St, Alumni Hall Room 101, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Leah Rowland
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, 11021 Campus St, Alumni Hall Room 101, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Dain Zylstra
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Louisa Amis
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, 11021 Campus St, Alumni Hall Room 101, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Michael Yee
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Marina Simian
- Research Area, Institute of Oncology Ángel H. Roffo, University of Buenos Aires, Avenue San Martín 5481, C1417DTB Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Todaro
- Research Area, Institute of Oncology Ángel H. Roffo, University of Buenos Aires, Avenue San Martín 5481, C1417DTB Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrea I Loaiza-Perez
- Research Area, Institute of Oncology Ángel H. Roffo, University of Buenos Aires, Avenue San Martín 5481, C1417DTB Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Ubaldo Soto
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, 11021 Campus St, Alumni Hall Room 101, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
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49
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Maynadier M, Basile I, Gallud A, Gary-Bobo M, Garcia M. Combination treatment with proteasome inhibitors and antiestrogens has a synergistic effect mediated by p21WAF1 in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Oncol Rep 2016; 36:1127-34. [PMID: 27373750 DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Although antiestrogens significantly improve the survival of patients with ER-positive breast cancer, therapeutic resistance remains a major limitation. The combinatorial use of antiestrogen with other therapies was proposed to increase their efficiency and more importantly, to prevent or delay the resistance phenomenon. In the present study, we addressed their combined effects with proteasome inhibitors (PIs). The effects of antiestrogens (hydroxyl-tamoxifen, raloxifen and fulvestrant) currently used in endocrine therapy were tested in combination with PIs, bortezomib or MG132, on the growth of three ER-positive breast cancer cell lines and in two cellular models of acquired antiestrogen resistance. When compared to single treatments, these combined treatments were significantly more effective in preventing the growth of the cell lines. The regulation of key cell cycle proteins, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21WAF1 and p27KIP1, were also studied. Bortezomib and MG132 drastically increased p21WAF1 expression through elevation of its mRNA concentration. Notably, p27KIP1 regulation was quite different from that of p21WAF1. Furthermore, the effect of bortezomib in combination with antiestrogen was evaluated on antiestrogen-resistant cell lines. The growth of two antiestrogen-resistant cell lines appeared responsive to proteasome inhibition and was strongly decreased by a combined therapy with an antiestrogen. Collectively, these findings provide new perspectives for the use of PIs in combination with endocrine therapies for breast cancer and possibly to overcome acquired hormonal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Maynadier
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS, Université Montpellier, ENSCM, Faculté de Montpellier, 34093 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Ilaria Basile
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS, Université Montpellier, ENSCM, Faculté de Montpellier, 34093 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Audrey Gallud
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS, Université Montpellier, ENSCM, Faculté de Montpellier, 34093 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Magali Gary-Bobo
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS, Université Montpellier, ENSCM, Faculté de Montpellier, 34093 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Marcel Garcia
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS, Université Montpellier, ENSCM, Faculté de Montpellier, 34093 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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50
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Environmental Ligands of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Their Effects in Models of Adult Liver Progenitor Cells. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:4326194. [PMID: 27274734 PMCID: PMC4870370 DOI: 10.1155/2016/4326194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The toxicity of environmental and dietary ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in mature liver parenchymal cells is well appreciated, while considerably less attention has been paid to their impact on cell populations exhibiting phenotypic features of liver progenitor cells. Here, we discuss the results suggesting that the consequences of the AhR activation in the cellular models derived from bipotent liver progenitors could markedly differ from those in hepatocytes. In contact-inhibited liver progenitor cells, the AhR agonists induce a range of effects potentially linked with tumor promotion. They can stimulate cell cycle progression/proliferation and deregulate cell-to-cell communication, which is associated with downregulation of proteins forming gap junctions, adherens junctions, and desmosomes (such as connexin 43, E-cadherin, β-catenin, and plakoglobin), as well as with reduced cell adhesion and inhibition of intercellular communication. At the same time, toxic AhR ligands may affect the activity of the signaling pathways contributing to regulation of liver progenitor cell activation and/or differentiation, such as downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β signaling, or upregulation of transcriptional targets of YAP/TAZ, the effectors of Hippo signaling pathway. These data illustrate the need to better understand the potential role of liver progenitors in the AhR-mediated liver carcinogenesis and tumor promotion.
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