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Assoni G, La Pietra V, Digilio R, Ciani C, Licata NV, Micaelli M, Facen E, Tomaszewska W, Cerofolini L, Pérez-Ràfols A, Varela Rey M, Fragai M, Woodhoo A, Marinelli L, Arosio D, Bonomo I, Provenzani A, Seneci P. HuR-targeted agents: An insight into medicinal chemistry, biophysical, computational studies and pharmacological effects on cancer models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 181:114088. [PMID: 34942276 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Human antigen R (HuR) protein is an RNA-binding protein, ubiquitously expressed in human tissues, that orchestrates target RNA maturation and processing both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. A survey of known modulators of the RNA-HuR interactions is followed by a description of its structure and molecular mechanism of action - RRM domains, interactions with RNA, dimerization, binding modes with naturally occurring and synthetic HuR inhibitors. Then, the review focuses on HuR as a validated molecular target in oncology and briefly describes its role in inflammation. Namely, we show ample evidence for the involvement of HuR in the hallmarks and enabling characteristics of cancer, reporting findings from in vitro and in vivo studies; and we provide abundant experimental proofs of a beneficial role for the inhibition of HuR-mRNA interactions through silencing (CRISPR, siRNA) or pharmacological inhibition (small molecule HuR inhibitors).
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Assoni
- Chemistry Department, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy; Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Valeria La Pietra
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Rosangela Digilio
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Caterina Ciani
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Nausicaa Valentina Licata
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Micaelli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Elisa Facen
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Weronika Tomaszewska
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Linda Cerofolini
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Anna Pérez-Ràfols
- Giotto Biotech S.R.L., Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Marta Varela Rey
- Gene Regulatory Control in Disease Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Marco Fragai
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Ashwin Woodhoo
- Gene Regulatory Control in Disease Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Functional Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Galician Agency of Innovation (GAIN), Xunta de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao 48013, Spain
| | - Luciana Marinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniela Arosio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "G. Natta" (SCITEC), National Research Council (CNR), Via C. Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Isabelle Bonomo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Alessandro Provenzani
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy.
| | - Pierfausto Seneci
- Chemistry Department, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy.
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Freen-van Heeren JJ. Using CRISPR to enhance T cell effector function for therapeutic applications. Cytokine X 2021; 3:100049. [PMID: 33604565 PMCID: PMC7885876 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytox.2020.100049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are critical to fight pathogenic microbes and combat malignantly transformed cells in the fight against cancer. To exert their effector function, T cells produce effector molecules, such as the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2. Tumors possess many inhibitory mechanisms that dampen T cell effector function, limiting the secretion of cytotoxic molecules. As a result, the control and elimination of tumors is impaired. Through recent advances in genomic editing, T cells can now be successfully modified via CRISPR/Cas9 technology. For instance, engaging (post-)transcriptional mechanisms to enhance T cell cytokine production, the retargeting of T cell antigen specificity or rendering T cells refractive to inhibitory receptor signaling can augment T cell effector function. Therefore, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing might provide novel strategies for cancer immunotherapy. Recently, the first-in-patient clinical trial was successfully performed with CRISPR/Cas9-modified human T cell therapy. In this review, a brief overview of currently available techniques is provided, and recent advances in T cell genomic engineering for the enhancement of T cell effector function for therapeutic purposes are discussed.
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Key Words
- AP-1, activator protein 1
- ARE, AU-rich element
- ARE-Del, deletion of the 3′UTR AREs from the Ifng/IFNG gene
- CAR T cells
- CAR, Chimeric Antigen Receptor
- CRISPR
- CRISPR, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat
- CRS, cytokine release syndrome
- CTLA-4, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4
- Cas, CRISPR-associated
- Cas9
- Cytokines
- DGK, Diacylglycerol kinase
- DHX37, DEAH-box helicase 37
- EBV, Epstein Barr virus
- FOXP3, Forkhead box P3
- GATA, GATA binding protein
- Genome editing
- IFN, interferon
- IL, interleukin
- LAG-3, Lymphocyte Activating 3
- NF-κB, nuclear factor of activated B cells
- PD-1, Programmed cell Death 1
- PD-L1, Programmed Death Ligand 1
- PTPN2, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor 2
- Pdia3, Protein Disulfide Isomerase Family A Member 3
- RBP, RNA-binding protein
- RNP, ribonuclear protein
- T cell effector function
- T cells
- TCR, T cell receptor
- TGF, transforming growth factor
- TIL, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte
- TLRs, Toll-like receptors
- TNF, tumor necrosis factor
- TRAC, TCR-α chain
- TRBC, TCR-β chain
- UTR, untranslated region
- tTCR, transgenic TCR
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Karginov FV. HuR controls apoptosis and activation response without effects on cytokine 3' UTRs. RNA Biol 2019; 16:686-695. [PMID: 30777501 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1582954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA binding proteins regulate gene expression through several post-transcriptional mechanisms. The broadly expressed HuR/ELAVL1 is important for proper function of multiple immune cell types, and has been proposed to regulate cytokine and other mRNA 3' UTRs upon activation. However, this mechanism has not been previously dissected in stable cellular settings. In this study, HuR demonstrated strong anti-apoptotic and activation roles in Jurkat T cells. Detailed transcriptomic analysis of HuR knockout cells revealed a substantial negative impact on the activation program, coordinately preventing the expression of immune response gene categories, including all cytokines. Knockout cells showed a significant defect in IL-2 production, which was rescued upon reintroduction of HuR. Interestingly, the mechanism of HuR regulation did not involve control of the cytokine 3' UTRs: HuR knockout did not affect the activity of 3' UTR reporters in 293 cells, and had no effect on IL-2 and TNF 3' UTRs in resting or activated Jurkats. Instead, impaired cytokine production corresponded with defective induction of the IL-2 promoter upon activation. Accordingly, upregulation of NFATC1 was also impaired, without 3' UTR effects. Together, these results indicate that HuR controls cytokine production through coordinated upstream pathways, and that additional mechanisms must be considered in investigating its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fedor V Karginov
- a Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology , Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California , Riverside , CA , USA
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Mittenberg AG, Kuzyk VO, Shabelnikov SV, Gorbach DP, Shatrova AN, Fedorova OA, Barlev NA. Combined treatment of human multiple myeloma cells with bortezomib and doxorubicin alters the interactome of 20S proteasomes. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:1745-1756. [PMID: 30009671 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1496742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteasome is the key player in targeted degradation of cellular proteins and serves as a therapeutic target for treating several blood malignancies. Although in general, degradation of proteins via the proteasome requires their ubiquitination, a subset of proteins can be degraded independently of their ubiquitination by direct interaction with subunits of the 20S proteasome core. Thus, investigation of the proteasome-associated proteins may help identify novel targets of proteasome degradation and provide important insights into the mechanisms of malignant cell proteostasis. Here, using biochemical purification of proteasomes from multiple myeloma (MM) cells followed by mass-spectrometry we have uncovered 77 proteins in total that specifically interacted with the 20S proteasome via its PSMA3 subunit. Our GST pull-down assays followed by western blots validated the interactions identified by mass-spectrometry. Eleven proteins were confirmed to bind PSMA3 only upon apoptotic conditions induced by a combined treatment with the proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, and genotoxic drug, doxorubicin. Nine of these eleven proteins contained bioinformatically predicted intrinsically disordered regions thus making them susceptible to ubiquitin-independent degradation. Importantly, among those proteins five interacted with the ubiquitin binding affinity matrix suggesting that these proteins may also be ubiquitinylated and hence degraded via the ubiquitin-dependent pathway. Collectively, these PSMA3-interacting proteins represent novel potential substrates for 20S proteasomes upon apoptosis. Furthermore, these data may shed light on the molecular mechanisms of cellular response to chemotherapy. ABBREVIATIONS BD: bortezomib/doxorubicin treatment; CDK: cyclin-dependent kinases; CHCA: α-cyanohydroxycinnamic acid; IDP: intrinsically disordered proteins; IDR: intrinsically disordered regions; IPG: immobilized pI gradient; MALDI TOF/TOF: matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass-spectrometry; MM: multiple myeloma; ODC: ornithine decarboxylase; PI: proteasomal inhibitors; PSMA: alpha-type 20S proteasome subunits; PTMs: post-translational modifications; SDS-PAGE: sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; UIP: ubiquitin-independent proteasomal proteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey G Mittenberg
- a Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Valeria O Kuzyk
- a Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Sergey V Shabelnikov
- a Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Daria P Gorbach
- a Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Alla N Shatrova
- a Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Olga A Fedorova
- a Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Nickolai A Barlev
- a Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences , St. Petersburg , Russia.,b Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University) , Moscow Region , Dolgoprudny , Russia
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Lal P, Cerofolini L, D'Agostino VG, Zucal C, Fuccio C, Bonomo I, Dassi E, Giuntini S, Di Maio D, Vishwakarma V, Preet R, Williams SN, Fairlamb MS, Munk R, Lehrmann E, Abdelmohsen K, Elezgarai SR, Luchinat C, Novellino E, Quattrone A, Biasini E, Manzoni L, Gorospe M, Dixon DA, Seneci P, Marinelli L, Fragai M, Provenzani A. Regulation of HuR structure and function by dihydrotanshinone-I. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:9514-9527. [PMID: 28934484 PMCID: PMC5766160 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Human antigen R protein (HuR) is an RNA-binding protein that recognizes U/AU-rich elements in diverse RNAs through two RNA-recognition motifs, RRM1 and RRM2, and post-transcriptionally regulates the fate of target RNAs. The natural product dihydrotanshinone-I (DHTS) prevents the association of HuR and target RNAs in vitro and in cultured cells by interfering with the binding of HuR to RNA. Here, we report the structural determinants of the interaction between DHTS and HuR and the impact of DHTS on HuR binding to target mRNAs transcriptome-wide. NMR titration and Molecular Dynamics simulation identified the residues within RRM1 and RRM2 responsible for the interaction between DHTS and HuR. RNA Electromobility Shifts and Alpha Screen Assays showed that DHTS interacts with HuR through the same binding regions as target RNAs, stabilizing HuR in a locked conformation that hampers RNA binding competitively. HuR ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation followed by microarray (RIP-chip) analysis showed that DHTS treatment of HeLa cells paradoxically enriched HuR binding to mRNAs with longer 3′UTR and with higher density of U/AU-rich elements, suggesting that DHTS inhibits the association of HuR to weaker target mRNAs. In vivo, DHTS potently inhibited xenograft tumor growth in a HuR-dependent model without systemic toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preet Lal
- Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Linda Cerofolini
- Centre for Magnetic Resonance, CERM, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Zucal
- Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Carmelo Fuccio
- Centre for Magnetic Resonance, CERM, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Isabelle Bonomo
- Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Erik Dassi
- Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Stefano Giuntini
- Centre for Magnetic Resonance, CERM, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Danilo Di Maio
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56126, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Vikalp Vishwakarma
- Department of Cancer Biology and University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Ranjan Preet
- Department of Cancer Biology and University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Sha Neisha Williams
- Department of Cancer Biology and University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Max S Fairlamb
- Department of Cancer Biology and University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Rachel Munk
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Elin Lehrmann
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Kotb Abdelmohsen
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | - Claudio Luchinat
- Centre for Magnetic Resonance, CERM, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Alessandro Quattrone
- Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento 38122, Italy
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento 38122, Italy.,Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan 20156, Italy
| | - Leonardo Manzoni
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari (ISTM), CNR, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Myriam Gorospe
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Dan A Dixon
- Department of Cancer Biology and University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Pierfausto Seneci
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Luciana Marinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Marco Fragai
- Centre for Magnetic Resonance, CERM, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
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Shen ZJ, Malter JS. Regulation of AU-Rich Element RNA Binding Proteins by Phosphorylation and the Prolyl Isomerase Pin1. Biomolecules 2015; 5:412-34. [PMID: 25874604 PMCID: PMC4496679 DOI: 10.3390/biom5020412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR), AU-rich element (ARE) containing mRNAs, are predominantly controlled at the post-transcriptional level. Regulation appears to rely on a variable and dynamic interaction between mRNA target and ARE-specific binding proteins (AUBPs). The AUBP-ARE mRNA recognition is directed by multiple intracellular signals that are predominantly targeted at the AUBPs. These include (but are unlikely limited to) methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination and isomerization. These regulatory events ultimately affect ARE mRNA location, abundance, translation and stability. In this review, we describe recent advances in our understanding of phosphorylation and its impact on conformation of the AUBPs, interaction with ARE mRNAs and highlight the role of Pin1 mediated prolyl cis-trans isomerization in these biological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Jian Shen
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8548, USA.
| | - James S Malter
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8548, USA.
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