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Wang Y, Wang L, Wei Y, Wei C, Yang H, Chen Q, Zhang R, Shen H. Advances in the molecular regulation mechanism of tumor dormancy and its therapeutic strategy. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:184. [PMID: 38795254 PMCID: PMC11127899 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01049-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor dormancy is a stage in the growth and development of malignant cells and is one of the biological characteristics of malignant cells. Complex transitions involving dormant tumor cells between quiescent and proliferative states pose challenges for tumor eradication. This paper explores the biological features and molecular mechanisms of tumor dormancy and highlights emerging therapies. The strategies discussed promise innovative clinical potential against malignant tumors. Understanding the mechanisms of dormancy can help provide valuable insights into the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors to advance the fight against this world problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Linlin Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaojun Wei
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuang Wei
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Haohang Yang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiurui Chen
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongxin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Han Shen
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Wu Q, Sharma D. Autophagy and Breast Cancer: Connected in Growth, Progression, and Therapy. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081156. [PMID: 37190065 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite an increase in the incidence of breast cancer worldwide, overall prognosis has been consistently improving owing to the development of multiple targeted therapies and novel combination regimens including endocrine therapies, aromatase inhibitors, Her2-targeted therapies, and cdk4/6 inhibitors. Immunotherapy is also being actively examined for some breast cancer subtypes. This overall positive outlook is marred by the development of resistance or reduced efficacy of the drug combinations, but the underlying mechanisms are somewhat unclear. It is interesting to note that cancer cells quickly adapt and evade most therapies by activating autophagy, a catabolic process designed to recycle damaged cellular components and provide energy. In this review, we discuss the role of autophagy and autophagy-associated proteins in breast cancer growth, drug sensitivity, tumor dormancy, stemness, and recurrence. We further explore how autophagy intersects and reduces the efficacy of endocrine therapies, targeted therapies, radiotherapy, chemotherapies as well as immunotherapy via modulating various intermediate proteins, miRs, and lncRNAs. Lastly, the potential application of autophagy inhibitors and bioactive molecules to improve the anticancer effects of drugs by circumventing the cytoprotective autophagy is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qitong Wu
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD 21287-0013, USA
| | - Dipali Sharma
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD 21287-0013, USA
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3
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Wen N, Lv Q, Du ZG. MicroRNAs involved in drug resistance of breast cancer by regulating autophagy. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2021; 21:690-702. [PMID: 32893526 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2000076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process characterized by degradation and recycling of cytosolic components or organelles through a lysosome-dependent pathway. It has a complex and close relationship to drug resistance in breast cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding molecules that can influence numerous cellular processes including autophagy, through the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Autophagy is regulated by many proteins and pathways, some of which in turn have been found to be regulated by miRNAs. These miRNAs may affect the drug resistance of breast cancer. Drug resistance is the main cause of distant recurrence, metastasis and death in breast cancer patients. In this review, we summarize the causative relationship between autophagy and drug resistance of breast cancer. The roles of autophagy-related proteins and pathways and their associated miRNAs in drug resistance of breast cancer are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wen
- Department of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qing Lv
- Department of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zheng-Gui Du
- Department of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Lacal JC, Zimmerman T, Campos JM. Choline Kinase: An Unexpected Journey for a Precision Medicine Strategy in Human Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:788. [PMID: 34070409 PMCID: PMC8226952 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline kinase (ChoK) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of choline to form phosphorylcholine (PCho) in the presence of ATP and magnesium. ChoK is required for the synthesis of key membrane phospholipids and is involved in malignant transformation in a large variety of human tumours. Active compounds against ChoK have been identified and proposed as antitumor agents. The ChoK inhibitory and antiproliferative activities of symmetrical bispyridinium and bisquinolinium compounds have been defined using quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) and structural parameters. The design strategy followed in the development of the most active molecules is presented. The selective anticancer activity of these structures is also described. One promising anticancer compound has even entered clinical trials. Recently, ChoKα inhibitors have also been proposed as a novel therapeutic approach against parasites, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory processes, and pathogenic bacteria. The evidence for ChoKα as a novel drug target for approaches in precision medicine is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Lacal
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital La Paz, IDIPAZ, 28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - Tahl Zimmerman
- Food Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina University, 1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA;
| | - Joaquín M. Campos
- Departamento de Química Farmacéutica y Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, c/Campus de Cartuja, s/n, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Instituto Biosanitario de Granada (ibs. GRANADA), SAS-Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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5
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Kang R, Zeh H, Lotze M, Tang D. The Multifaceted Effects of Autophagy on the Tumor Microenvironment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1225:99-114. [PMID: 32030650 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-35727-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is composed of cancer cells, noncancer cells (e.g., immune cells, stromal cells, endothelial cells, and adipocytes), and various mediators (e.g., cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and humoral factors) that work together to support cancer growth, progression, and resistance to therapies. Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved degradation mechanism by which various cytosolic cargos (e.g., damaged organelles, unused molecules, or invaded pathogens) are engulfed by double-membrane autophagosomes, and then delivered into the lysosome for degradation and recycling. The level of autophagy is a crucial threshold to either promote cell survival or induce cell death in response to environmental stresses. Autophagy plays a context-dependent role in tumorigenesis and anticancer therapy via shaping the inflammatory, hypoxic, immunosuppressive, and metabolic tumor microenvironment. In particular, impaired autophagy flux is associated with chronic inflammation, immunosuppression, stromal formation, cancer stemness, angiogenesis, metastasis, and metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment. Understanding the molecular machinery of autophagy and its communication with hallmarks of cancer could lead to potential new anticancer strategies or drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Kang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Herbert Zeh
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael Lotze
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daolin Tang
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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6
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Ho CJ, Gorski SM. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Autophagy-Mediated Treatment Resistance in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1775. [PMID: 31717997 PMCID: PMC6896088 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in diagnostic tools and therapeutic options, treatment resistance remains a challenge for many cancer patients. Recent studies have found evidence that autophagy, a cellular pathway that delivers cytoplasmic components to lysosomes for degradation and recycling, contributes to treatment resistance in different cancer types. A role for autophagy in resistance to chemotherapies and targeted therapies has been described based largely on associations with various signaling pathways, including MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling. However, our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of autophagy in facilitating treatment resistance remains limited. Here we provide a comprehensive summary of the evidence linking autophagy to major signaling pathways in the context of treatment resistance and tumor progression, and then highlight recently emerged molecular mechanisms underlying autophagy and the p62/KEAP1/NRF2 and FOXO3A/PUMA axes in chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cally J. Ho
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada;
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Sharon M. Gorski
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada;
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development, and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
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7
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Kang SJ, Rhee WJ. Silkworm Storage Protein 1 Inhibits Autophagy-Mediated Apoptosis. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020318. [PMID: 30646576 PMCID: PMC6359030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 12/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a natural physiological process, and it induces the lysosomal degradation of intracellular components in response to environmental stresses, including nutrient starvation. Although an adequate autophagy level helps in cell survival, excessive autophagy triggered by stress such as starvation leads to autophagy-mediated apoptosis. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are widely used for producing biopharmaceuticals, including monoclonal antibodies. However, apoptosis induced by high stress levels, including nutrient deficiency, is a major problem in cell cultures grown in bioreactors, which should be overcome. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method for suppressing excessive autophagy and for maintaining an appropriate autophagy level in cells. Therefore, we investigated the effect of silkworm storage protein 1 (SP1), an antiapoptotic protein, on autophagy-mediated apoptosis. SP1-expressing CHO cells were generated to assess the effect and molecular mechanism of SP1 in suppressing autophagy. These cells were cultured under starvation conditions by treatment with Earle’s balanced salt solution (EBSS) to induce autophagy. We observed that SP1 significantly inhibited autophagy-mediated apoptosis by suppressing caspase-3 activation and reactive oxygen species generation. In addition, SP1 suppressed EBSS-induced conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and the expression of autophagy-related protein 7. Notably, basal Beclin-1 level was significantly low in the SP1-expressing cells, indicating that SP1 regulated upstream events in the autophagy pathway. Together, these findings suggest that SP1 offers a new strategy for overcoming severe autophagy-mediated apoptosis in mammalian cells, and it can be used widely in biopharmaceutical production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Jin Kang
- Division of Bioengineering, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 406-772, Korea.
| | - Won Jong Rhee
- Division of Bioengineering, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 406-772, Korea.
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8
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Abstract
Macroautophagy/autophagy is vital for intracellular quality control and homeostasis. Therefore, careful regulation of autophagy is very important. In the past 10 years, a number of studies have reported that estrogenic effectors affect autophagy. However, some results, especially those regarding the modulatory effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on autophagy seem inconsistent. Moreover, several clinical trials are already in place combining both autophagy inducers and autophagy inhibitors with endocrine therapies for breast cancer. Not all patients experience benefit, which further confuses and complicates our understanding of the main effects of autophagy in estrogen-related cancer. In view of the importance of the crosstalk between estrogen signaling and autophagy, this review summarizes the estrogenic effectors reported to affect autophagy, subcellular distribution and translocation of estrogen receptors, autophagy-targeted transcription factors (TFs), miRNAs, and histone modifications regulated by E2. Upon stimulation with estrogen, there will always be opposing functional actions, which might occur between different receptors, receptors on TFs, TFs on autophagy genes, or even histone modifications on transcription. The huge signaling network downstream of estrogen can promote autophagy and reduce overstimulated autophagy at the same time, which allows autophagy to be regulated by estrogen in a restricted range. To help understand how the estrogenic regulation of autophagy affects cell fate, a hypothetical model is presented here. Finally, we discuss some exciting new directions in the field. We hope this might help to better understand the multiple associations between estrogen and autophagy, the pathogenic mechanisms of many estrogen-related diseases, and to design novel and efficacious therapeutics. Abbreviations: AP-1, activator protein-1; HATs, histone acetyltransferases; HDAC, histone deacetylases; HOTAIR, HOX transcript antisense RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Xiang
- a Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , PR China
| | - Xiang Liu
- a Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , PR China
| | - Jing Ren
- a Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , PR China
| | - Kun Chen
- a Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , PR China
| | - Hong-Lu Wang
- a Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , PR China
| | - Yu-Yang Miao
- a Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , PR China
| | - Miao-Miao Qi
- a Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , PR China
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Ma W, Wang S, Zhang T, Zhang EY, Zhou L, Hu C, Yu JJ, Xu G. Activation of choline kinase drives aberrant choline metabolism in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2018; 155:148-156. [PMID: 29631075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.03.062] [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] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a major health threat worldwide. Research focused on molecular events associated with ESCC carcinogenesis for diagnosis, treatment and prevention is needed. Our goal is to discover novel biomarkers and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of ESCC progression by employing a global metabolomic approach. Sera from 34 ESCC patients and 32 age and sex matched healthy controls were profiled using two-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (2D LC-MS). We identified 120 differential metabolites in ESCC patient serums compared to healthy controls. Several amino acids, serine, arginine, lysine and histidine were significantly changed in ESCC patients. Most importantly, we found dysregulated lipid metabolism as an important characteristic in ESCC patients. Several free fat acids (FFA) and carnitines were found down-regulated in ESCC patients. Choline was significantly increased and phosphatidylcholines (PC) were significantly decreased in ESCC serum. The high expression of choline and low expression of total PC in patient serum were associated with the high expression of choline kinase (Chok) and activated Kennedy pathway in ESCC cells. Chok expression can serve as a significant biomarker for ESCC prognosis. In conclusion, metabolite profiles in the ESCC patient serum were significantly different from those in the healthy controls. Phosphatidylcholines and Chok, the key enzyme in the PC metabolism pathway, may serve as novel biomarkers for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Ma
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, One Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Shuangyuan Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Tengfei Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, One Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Erik Y Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML-0564, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Lina Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Chunxiu Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Jane J Yu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, One Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML-0564, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States.
| | - Guowang Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
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Investigation of discriminant metabolites in tamoxifen-resistant and choline kinase-alpha-downregulated breast cancer cells using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. PLoS One 2017. [PMID: 28644842 PMCID: PMC5482454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolites linked to changes in choline kinase-α (CK-α) expression and drug resistance, which contribute to survival and autophagy mechanisms, are attractive targets for breast cancer therapies. We previously reported that autophagy played a causative role in driving tamoxifen (TAM) resistance of breast cancer cells (BCCs) and was also promoted by CK-α knockdown, resulting in the survival of TAM-resistant BCCs. There is no comparative study yet about the metabolites resulting from BCCs with TAM-resistance and CK-α knockdown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the discriminant metabolic biomarkers responsible for TAM resistance as well as CK-α expression, which might be linked with autophagy through a protective role. A total of 33 intracellular metabolites, including a range of amino acids, energy metabolism-related molecules and others from cell extracts of the parental cells (MCF-7), TAM-resistant cells (MCF-7/TAM) and CK-α knockdown cells (MCF-7/shCK-α, MCF-7/TAM/shCK-α) were analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMRS). Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed the existence of differences in the intracellular metabolites to separate the 4 groups: MCF-7 cells, MCF-7/TAM cells, MCF-7-shCK-α cells, and MCF-7/TAM/shCK-α cells. The metabolites with VIP>1 contributed most to the differentiation of the cell groups, and they included fumarate, UA (unknown A), lactate, myo-inositol, glycine, phosphocholine, UE (unknown E), glutamine, formate, and AXP (AMP/ADP/ATP). Our results suggest that these altered metabolites would be promising metabolic biomarkers for a targeted therapeutic strategy in BCCs that exhibit TAM-resistance and aberrant CK-α expression, which triggers a survival and drug resistance mechanism.
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Chen X, Qiu H, Wang C, Yuan Y, Tickner J, Xu J, Zou J. Molecular structure and differential function of choline kinases CHKα and CHKβ in musculoskeletal system and cancer. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2016; 33:65-72. [PMID: 27769579 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Choline, a hydrophilic cation, has versatile physiological roles throughout the body, including cholinergic neurotransmission, memory consolidation and membrane biosynthesis and metabolism. Choline kinases possess enzyme activity that catalyses the conversion of choline to phosphocholine, which is further converted to cytidine diphosphate-coline (CDP-choline) in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC). PC is a major constituent of the phospholipid bilayer which constitutes the eukaryotic cell membrane, and regulates cell signal transduction. Choline Kinase consists of three isoforms, CHKα1, CHKα2 and CHKβ, encoded by two separate genes (CHKA(Human)/Chka(Mouse) and CHKB(Human)/Chkb(Mouse)). Both isoforms have similar structures and enzyme activity, but display some distinct molecular structural domains and differential tissue expression patterns. Whilst Choline Kinase was discovered in early 1950, its pivotal role in the development of muscular dystrophy, bone deformities, and cancer has only recently been identified. CHKα has been proposed as a cancer biomarker and its inhibition as an anti-cancer therapy. In contrast, restoration of CHKβ deficiency through CDP-choline supplements like citicoline may be beneficial for the treatment of muscular dystrophy, bone metabolic diseases, and cognitive conditions. The molecular structure and expression pattern of Choline Kinase, the differential roles of Choline Kinase isoforms and their potential as novel therapeutic targets for muscular dystrophy, bone deformities, cognitive conditions and cancer are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, PR China; School of Sports Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Heng Qiu
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Chao Wang
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Yu Yuan
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, PR China; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Jennifer Tickner
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Jiake Xu
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, PR China; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
| | - Jun Zou
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, PR China.
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12
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Bagnoli M, Granata A, Nicoletti R, Krishnamachary B, Bhujwalla ZM, Canese R, Podo F, Canevari S, Iorio E, Mezzanzanica D. Choline Metabolism Alteration: A Focus on Ovarian Cancer. Front Oncol 2016; 6:153. [PMID: 27446799 PMCID: PMC4916225 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared with normal differentiated cells, cancer cells require a metabolic reprograming to support their high proliferation rates and survival. Aberrant choline metabolism is a fairly new metabolic hallmark reflecting the complex reciprocal interactions between oncogenic signaling and cellular metabolism. Alterations of the involved metabolic network may be sustained by changes in activity of several choline transporters as well as of enzymes such as choline kinase-alpha (ChoK-α) and phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipases C and D. Of note, the net outcome of these enzymatic alterations is an increase of phosphocholine and total choline-containing compounds, a "cholinic phenotype" that can be monitored in cancer by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This review will highlight the molecular basis for targeting this pathway in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), a highly heterogeneous and lethal malignancy characterized by late diagnosis, frequent relapse, and development of chemoresistance. Modulation of ChoK-α expression impairs only EOC but not normal ovarian cells, thus supporting the hypothesis that "cholinic phenotype" is a peculiar feature of transformed cells and indicating ChoK-α targeting as a novel approach to improve efficacy of standard EOC chemotherapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Bagnoli
- Unit of Molecular Therapies, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori , Milan , Italy
| | - Anna Granata
- Unit of Molecular Therapies, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori , Milan , Italy
| | - Roberta Nicoletti
- Unit of Molecular Therapies, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori , Milan , Italy
| | - Balaji Krishnamachary
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Cancer Imaging Research, In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Zaver M Bhujwalla
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Cancer Imaging Research, In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Rossella Canese
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy
| | - Franca Podo
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy
| | - Silvana Canevari
- Unit of Molecular Therapies, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy; Functional Genomics and Informatics, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Egidio Iorio
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy
| | - Delia Mezzanzanica
- Unit of Molecular Therapies, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori , Milan , Italy
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