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Biskupiak Z, Ha VV, Rohaj A, Bulaj G. Digital Therapeutics for Improving Effectiveness of Pharmaceutical Drugs and Biological Products: Preclinical and Clinical Studies Supporting Development of Drug + Digital Combination Therapies for Chronic Diseases. J Clin Med 2024; 13:403. [PMID: 38256537 PMCID: PMC10816409 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020403] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Limitations of pharmaceutical drugs and biologics for chronic diseases (e.g., medication non-adherence, adverse effects, toxicity, or inadequate efficacy) can be mitigated by mobile medical apps, known as digital therapeutics (DTx). Authorization of adjunct DTx by the US Food and Drug Administration and draft guidelines on "prescription drug use-related software" illustrate opportunities to create drug + digital combination therapies, ultimately leading towards drug-device combination products (DTx has a status of medical devices). Digital interventions (mobile, web-based, virtual reality, and video game applications) demonstrate clinically meaningful benefits for people living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, depression, and anxiety. In the respective animal disease models, preclinical studies on environmental enrichment and other non-pharmacological modalities (physical activity, social interactions, learning, and music) as surrogates for DTx "active ingredients" also show improved outcomes. In this narrative review, we discuss how drug + digital combination therapies can impact translational research, drug discovery and development, generic drug repurposing, and gene therapies. Market-driven incentives to create drug-device combination products are illustrated by Humira® (adalimumab) facing a "patent-cliff" competition with cheaper and more effective biosimilars seamlessly integrated with DTx. In conclusion, pharma and biotech companies, patients, and healthcare professionals will benefit from accelerating integration of digital interventions with pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zack Biskupiak
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Victor Vinh Ha
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Aarushi Rohaj
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA
| | - Grzegorz Bulaj
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Fernandes MSDS, Lacerda TR, Fidélis DEDS, Santos GCJ, Filgueira TO, de Souza RF, Lagranha CJ, Lira FS, Castoldi A, Souto FO. Environmental Enrichment in Cancer as a Possible Tool to Combat Tumor Development: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16516. [PMID: 38003706 PMCID: PMC10671353 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review aims to evaluate the influence of environmental enrichment (EE) on oncological factors in experimental studies involving various types of cancer models. A comprehensive search was conducted in three databases: PubMed (161 articles), Embase (335 articles), and Scopus (274 articles). Eligibility criteria were applied based on the PICOS strategy to minimize bias. Two independent researchers performed the searches, with a third participant resolving any discrepancies. The selected articles were analyzed, and data regarding sample characteristics and EE protocols were extracted. The outcomes focused solely on cancer and tumor-related parameters, including cancer type, description of the cancer model, angiogenesis, tumor occurrence, volume, weight, mice with tumors, and tumor inhibition rate. A total of 770 articles were identified across the three databases, with 12 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. The findings demonstrated that different EE protocols were effective in significantly reducing various aspects of tumor growth and development, such as angiogenesis, volume, weight, and the number of mice with tumors. Furthermore, EE enhanced the rate of tumor inhibition in mouse cancer models. This systematic review qualitatively demonstrates the impacts of EE protocols on multiple parameters associated with tumor growth and development, including angiogenesis, occurrence, volume, weight, and tumor incidence. Moreover, EE demonstrated the potential to increase the rate of tumor inhibition. These findings underscore the importance of EE as a valuable tool in the management of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Santos de Sousa Fernandes
- Instituto Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (M.S.d.S.F.); (T.O.F.); (A.C.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Aplicada à Saúde, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (T.R.L.); (D.E.d.S.F.)
| | - Tiago Ramos Lacerda
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Aplicada à Saúde, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (T.R.L.); (D.E.d.S.F.)
| | - Débora Eduarda da Silva Fidélis
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Aplicada à Saúde, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (T.R.L.); (D.E.d.S.F.)
| | | | - Tayrine Ordonio Filgueira
- Instituto Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (M.S.d.S.F.); (T.O.F.); (A.C.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Aplicada à Saúde, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (T.R.L.); (D.E.d.S.F.)
| | - Raphael Fabrício de Souza
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil;
| | - Claúdia Jacques Lagranha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição Atividade Física e Plasticidade Fenotípica, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Vitória de Santo Antão 55608-680, Pernambuco, Brazil;
| | - Fábio S. Lira
- Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Movement Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, São Paulo, Brazil;
- Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Angela Castoldi
- Instituto Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (M.S.d.S.F.); (T.O.F.); (A.C.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Aplicada à Saúde, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (T.R.L.); (D.E.d.S.F.)
| | - Fabrício Oliveira Souto
- Instituto Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (M.S.d.S.F.); (T.O.F.); (A.C.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Aplicada à Saúde, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, Pernambuco, Brazil; (T.R.L.); (D.E.d.S.F.)
- Núcleo de Ciências da Vida—NCV, Centro Acadêmico do Agreste—CAA, Caruaru 50670-901, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Anderson JM, Boardman AA, Bates R, Zou X, Huang W, Cao L. Hypothalamic TrkB.FL overexpression improves metabolic outcomes in the BTBR mouse model of autism. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282566. [PMID: 36893171 PMCID: PMC9997972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice are used as a model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), displaying similar behavioral and physiological deficits observed in patients with ASD. Our recent study found that implementation of an enriched environment (EE) in BTBR mice improved metabolic and behavioral outcomes. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) and its receptor tropomyosin kinase receptor B (Ntrk2) were upregulated in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala by implementing EE in BTBR mice, suggesting that BDNF-TrkB signaling plays a role in the EE-BTBR phenotype. Here, we used an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to overexpress the TrkB full-length (TrkB.FL) BDNF receptor in the BTBR mouse hypothalamus in order to assess whether hypothalamic BDNF-TrkB signaling is responsible for the improved metabolic and behavioral phenotypes associated with EE. Normal chow diet (NCD)-fed and high fat diet (HFD)-fed BTBR mice were randomized to receive either bilateral injections of AAV-TrkB.FL or AAV-YFP as control, and were subjected to metabolic and behavioral assessments up to 24 weeks post-injection. Both NCD and HFD TrkB.FL overexpressing mice displayed improved metabolic outcomes, characterized as reduced percent weight gain and increased energy expenditure. NCD TrkB.FL mice showed improved glycemic control, reduced adiposity, and increased lean mass. In NCD mice, TrkB.FL overexpression altered the ratio of TrkB.FL/TrkB.T1 protein expression and increased phosphorylation of PLCγ in the hypothalamus. TrkB.FL overexpression also upregulated expression of hypothalamic genes involved in energy regulation and altered expression of genes involved in thermogenesis, lipolysis, and energy expenditure in white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue. In HFD mice, TrkB.FL overexpression increased phosphorylation of PLCγ. TrkB.FL overexpression in the hypothalamus did not improve behavioral deficits in either NCD or HFD mice. Together, these results suggest that enhancing hypothalamic TrkB.FL signaling improves metabolic health in BTBR mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M. Anderson
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Amber A. Boardman
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Rhiannon Bates
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Xunchang Zou
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
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Canali MM, Guyot M, Simon T, Daoudlarian D, Chabry J, Panzolini C, Petit-Paitel A, Hypolite N, Nicolas S, Bourdely P, Schmid-Antomarchi H, Schmid-Alliana A, Soria J, Karimdjee Soilihi B, Hofman P, Prevost-Blondel A, Kato M, Mougneau E, Glaichenhaus N, Blancou P. Environmental signals perceived by the brain abate pro-metastatic monocytes by dampening glucocorticoids receptor signaling. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:15. [PMID: 36726173 PMCID: PMC9893572 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02855-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
While positive social-behavioral factors predict longer survival in cancer patients, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Since tumor metastasis are the major cancer mortality factor, we investigated how an enriched environment (EE) conductive to enhanced sensory, cognitive and motor stimulation impact metastatic progression in lungs following intravasation in the circulation. We find that mice housed in EE exhibited reduced number of lung metastatic foci compared to control mice housed in a standard environment (SE). Compared to SE mice, EE mice increased lung inflammation as early as 4 days after circulating tumor cells extravasation. The impact of environmental signals on lung metastasis is independent of adrenergic receptors signaling. By contrast, we find that serum corticosterone levels are lower in EE mice and that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist reduces the number of lung metastasis in SE mice. In addition, the difference of the number of lung metastasis between SE and EE mice is abolished when inflammatory monocytes are rendered deficient in GR signaling. This decreased GR signaling in inflammatory monocytes of SE mice results in an exacerbated inflammatory profile in the lung. Our study shows that not only EE reduces late stages of metastatic progression in lungs but disclose a novel anti-tumor mechanism whereby GR-dependent reprogramming of inflammatory monocytes can inhibit metastatic progression in lungs. Moreover, while inflammatory monocytes have been shown to promote cancer progression, they also have an anti-tumor effect, suggesting that their role is more complex than currently thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Magdalena Canali
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Mélanie Guyot
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Thomas Simon
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Douglas Daoudlarian
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Joelle Chabry
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Clara Panzolini
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Agnès Petit-Paitel
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Nicolas Hypolite
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Sarah Nicolas
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Pierre Bourdely
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Heidy Schmid-Antomarchi
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Valrose Biology Institute, 28 Avenue de Valombrose, Nice, France
| | - Annie Schmid-Alliana
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Valrose Biology Institute, 28 Avenue de Valombrose, Nice, France
| | - Javier Soria
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Babou Karimdjee Soilihi
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Valrose Biology Institute, 28 Avenue de Valombrose, Nice, France ,Polyclinique Saint Jean, Cagnes sur mer, France
| | - Paul Hofman
- grid.410528.a0000 0001 2322 4179Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology and Biobank, Nice University Hospital, Nice, France ,grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Research Institute on Cancer and Aging, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INSERM, 28 Avenue de Valombrose, Nice, France
| | - Armelle Prevost-Blondel
- grid.462098.10000 0004 0643 431XUniversité Paris Descartes, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Cochin, 22 rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Masashi Kato
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi Japan
| | - Evelyne Mougneau
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Nicolas Glaichenhaus
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
| | - Philippe Blancou
- grid.460782.f0000 0004 4910 6551Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Institute, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 660 Route des Lucioles, Valbonne, France
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Estrázulas M, Freitas RDS, Käfer ET, Dagnino APA, Campos MM. Central and peripheral effects of environmental enrichment in a mouse model of arthritis. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 102:108386. [PMID: 34824037 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This study analyzed whether environmental enrichment (EE) modulates the nociceptive and inflammatory responses in the mouse model of arthritis induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). Ninety male mice (C57BL/6-JUnib, 4-weeks-old; 20-25 g) were distributed into EE and standard (SE) groups. For EE, mice were kept in bigger cages using an alternation of materials to chew (wood and paper), for nesting (cotton), to use as hiding places (plastic tunnels), and for voluntary exercise (wheel running). Arthritis was induced by an injection of CFA (50 μL) into the right hind paw or saline solution in the control group. Separate groups received the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg; every 48 h). Inflammatory and pain measurements were performed from 1 to 35 days after CFA administration. EE per se reduced the acute paw edema formation and arthritis scores. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were undetectable in any experimental groups. EE diminished the immunopositivity for the microglia marker IBA1 in the pre-frontal cortex, with slight changes for hippocampal GFAP-positive activated astrocytes. Finally, EE induced a marked increment of brain-derived nerve factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus, an effect that was fully prevented by dexamethasone. These data bring novel evidence on the peripheral and central effects of EE in a mouse arthritis model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Estrázulas
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Pesquisas em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Raquel D S Freitas
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Pesquisas em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Eduarda T Käfer
- Curso de Graduação em Medicina, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana P A Dagnino
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Pesquisas em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria M Campos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Pesquisas em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Odontologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Queen NJ, Deng H, Huang W, Mo X, Wilkins RK, Zhu T, Wu X, Cao L. Environmental Enrichment Mitigates Age-Related Metabolic Decline and Lewis Lung Carcinoma Growth in Aged Female Mice. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2021; 14:1075-1088. [PMID: 34535449 PMCID: PMC8639669 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-21-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a complex physiological process that leads to the progressive decline of metabolic and immune function, among other biological mechanisms. As global life expectancy increases, it is important to understand determinants of healthy aging-including environmental and genetic factors-and thus slow the onset or progression of age-related disease. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a housing environment wherein laboratory animals engage with complex physical and social stimulation. EE is a prime model to understand environmental influences on aging dynamics, as it confers an antiobesity and anticancer phenotype that has been implicated in healthy aging and health span extension. Although EE is frequently used to study malignancies in young mice, fewer studies characterize EE-cancer outcomes in older mice. Here, we used young (3-month-old) and aged (14-month-old) female C57BL/6 mice to determine whether EE would be able to mitigate age-related deficiencies in metabolic function and thus alter Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) growth. Overall, EE improved metabolic function, resulting in reduced fat mass, increased lean mass, and improved glycemic processing; many of these effects were stronger in the aged cohort than in the young cohort, indicating an age-driven effect on metabolic responses. In the aged-EE cohort, subcutaneously implanted LLC tumor growth was inhibited and tumors exhibited alterations in various markers of apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, and malignancy. These results validate EE as an anticancer model in aged mice and underscore the importance of understanding environmental influences on cancer malignancy in aged populations. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: Environmental enrichment (EE) serves as a model of complex physical and social stimulation. This study validates EE as an anticancer intervention paradigm in aged mice and underscores the importance of understanding environmental influences on cancer malignancy in aged populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Queen
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Hong Deng
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Pathology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Xiaokui Mo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Ryan K Wilkins
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Tao Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
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Mormino A, Bernardini G, Cocozza G, Corbi N, Passananti C, Santoni A, Limatola C, Garofalo S. Enriched Environment Cues Suggest a New Strategy to Counteract Glioma: Engineered rAAV2-IL-15 Microglia Modulate the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:730128. [PMID: 34552593 PMCID: PMC8450436 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.730128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several types of cancer grow differently depending on the environmental stimuli they receive. In glioma, exposure to an enriched environment (EE) increases the overall survival rate of tumor-bearing mice, acting on the cells that participate to define the tumor microenvironment. In particular, environmental cues increase the microglial production of interleukin (IL)-15 which promotes a pro-inflammatory (antitumor) phenotype of microglia and the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells, counteracting glioma growth, thus representing a virtuous mechanism of interaction between NK cells and microglia. To mimic the effect of EE on glioma, we investigated the potential of creating engineered microglia as the source of IL-15 in glioma. We demonstrated that microglia modified with recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (rAAV2) carrying IL-15 (rAAV2-IL-15), to force the production of IL-15, are able to increase the NK cells viability in coculture. Furthermore, the intranasal delivery of rAAV2-IL-15 microglia triggered the interplay with NK cells in vivo, enhancing NK cell recruitment and pro-inflammatory microglial phenotype in tumor mass of glioma-bearing mice, and ultimately counteracted tumor growth. This approach has a high potential for clinical translatability, highlighting the therapeutic efficacy of forced IL-15 production in microglia: the delivery of engineered rAAV2-IL-15 microglia to boost the immune response paves the way to design a new perspective therapy for glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Mormino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bernardini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Germana Cocozza
- Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Corbi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, CNR-Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Passananti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, CNR-Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Cristina Limatola
- Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Garofalo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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Bergin SM, Xiao R, Huang W, Judd CRT, Liu X, Mansour AG, Queen N, Widstrom KJ, Caligiuri MA, Cao L. Environmental activation of a hypothalamic BDNF-adipocyte IL-15 axis regulates adipose-natural killer cells. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 95:477-488. [PMID: 33989745 PMCID: PMC8493653 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical and social environments influence immune homeostasis within adipose tissue, yet the mechanisms remain poorly defined. We report that an enriched environment (EE) housing modulates the immune cell population in white adipose tissue of mice including an increase in the abundance of natural killer (NK) cells. EE upregulates the expression of IL-15 and its receptor IL-15Rα specifically within mature adipocytes. Mechanistically, we show that hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) upregulates IL-15 production in adipocytes via sympathetic β-adrenergic signaling. Overexpressing BDNF mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector in the hypothalamus expands adipose NK cells. Conversely, inhibition of hypothalamic BDNF signaling via gene transfer of a dominant negative TrkB receptor suppresses adipose NK cells. In white adipose tissue, overexpression of IL-15 using an adipocyte-specific rAAV vector stimulates adipose NK cells and inhibits the progression of subcutaneous melanoma, whereas local IL-15 knockdown blocks the EE effect. These results suggest that bio-behavioral factors regulate adipose NK cells via a hypothalamic BDNF-sympathoneural-adipocyte IL-15 axis. Targeting this pathway may have therapeutic significance for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Bergin
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Run Xiao
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Wei Huang
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - C Ryan T Judd
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Xianglan Liu
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Anthony G Mansour
- Department of Hematological Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, United States
| | - Nicholas Queen
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Kyle J Widstrom
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Michael A Caligiuri
- Department of Hematological Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, United States.
| | - Lei Cao
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States.
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Mansour AG, Xiao R, Bergin SM, Huang W, Chrislip LA, Zhang J, Ali S, Queen NJ, Caligiuri MA, Cao L. Enriched environment enhances NK cell maturation through hypothalamic BDNF in male mice. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:557-566. [PMID: 33169371 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Macroenvironmental factors, including a patient's physical and social environment, play a role in cancer risk and progression. Our previous preclinical studies have shown that the enriched environment (EE) confers anti-obesity and anti-cancer phenotypes that are associated with enhanced adaptive immunity and are mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Natural killer (NK) cells have anti-cancer and anti-viral properties, and their absence or depletion is associated with inferior clinical outcomes. In this study, we investigated the effects of EE on NK cell maturation following their depletion. Mice living in EE displayed a higher proportion of NK cells in the spleen, bone marrow, and blood, compared to those living in the standard environment (SE). EE enhanced NK cell maturation in the spleen and was associated with upregulation of BDNF expression in the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic BDNF overexpression reproduced the EE effects on NK cell maturation in secondary lymphoid tissues. Conversely, hypothalamic BDNF knockdown blocked the EE modulation on NK cell maturation. Our results demonstrate that a bio-behavior intervention enhanced NK cell maturation and was mediated at least in part by hypothalamic BDNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G Mansour
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center and the Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.,The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Run Xiao
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Stephen M Bergin
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Wei Huang
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Logan A Chrislip
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Jianying Zhang
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center and the Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Seemaab Ali
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Nicholas J Queen
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Michael A Caligiuri
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center and the Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Lei Cao
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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Cao L, Ali S, Queen NJ. Hypothalamic gene transfer of BDNF promotes healthy aging. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2021; 115:39-66. [PMID: 33706955 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The aging process and age-related diseases all involve metabolic decline and impaired ability to cope with adversity. Environmental enrichment (EE)-a housing environment which recapitulates aspects of active lifestyle-exerts a wide range of health benefits in laboratory rodents. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hypothalamus orchestrates autonomic and neuroendocrine processes, serving as one key brain mediator of EE-induced resistance to obesity, cancer, and autoimmunity. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated hypothalamic BDNF gene transfer alleviates obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndromes in both diet-induced and genetic models. One recent study by our lab demonstrates the efficacy and safety of a built-in autoregulatory system to control transgene BDNF expression, mimicking the body's natural feedback systems in middle-age mice. Twelve-month old mice were treated with autoregulatory BDNF vector and monitored for 7months. BDNF gene transfer prevented age-associated metabolic decline by: reducing adiposity, preventing the decline of brown fat activity, increasing adiponectin while reducing leptin and insulin in circulation, improving glucose tolerance, increasing energy expenditure, alleviating hepatic steatosis, and suppressing inflammatory genes in the hypothalamus and adipose tissues. Furthermore, BDNF treatment reduced anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors. This chapter summarizes this work and discusses potential roles that hypothalamic BDNF might play in promoting healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States.
| | - Seemaab Ali
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Nicholas J Queen
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
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Adipose PTEN acts as a downstream mediator of a brain-fat axis in environmental enrichment. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2020; 4. [PMID: 35355831 PMCID: PMC8963210 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2020.100013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives Environmental enrichment (EE) is a physiological model to investigate brain-fat interactions. We previously discovered that EE activates the hypothalamic-sympathoneural adipocyte (HSA) axis via induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), thus leading to sympathetic stimulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) and an anti-obesity phenotype. Here, we investigate whether PTEN acts as a downstream mediator of the HSA axis in the EE. Methods Mice were housed in EE for 4- and 16-week periods to determine how EE regulates adipose PTEN. Hypothalamic injections of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors expressing BDNF and a dominant negative form of its receptor were performed to assess the role of the HSA axis in adipose PTEN upregulation. A β-blocker, propranolol, and a denervation agent, 6-hydroydopamine, were administered to assess sympathetic signaling in the observed EE-PTEN phenotype. To determine whether inducing PTEN is sufficient to reproduce certain EE adipose remodeling, we overexpressed PTEN in WAT using an AAV vector. To determine whether adipose PTEN is necessary for the EE-mediated reduction in adipocyte size, we injected a rAAV vector expressing Cre recombinase to the WAT of adult PTENflox mice and placed the mice in EE. Results EE upregulated adipose PTEN expression, which was associated with suppression of AKT and ERK phosphorylation, increased hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) phosphorylation, and reduced adiposity. PTEN regulation was found to be controlled by the HSA axis—with the hypothalamic BDNF acting as the upstream mediator—and dependent on sympathetic innervation. AAV-mediated adipose PTEN overexpression recapitulated EE-mediated adipose changes including suppression of AKT and ERK phosphorylation, increased HSL phosphorylation, and reduced adipose mass, whereas PTEN knockdown blocked the EE-induced reduction of adipocyte size. Conclusions These data suggest that adipose PTEN responds to environmental stimuli and serves as downstream mediator of WAT remodeling in the EE paradigm, resulting in decreased adipose mass and decreased adipocyte size. Environmental enrichment (EE) induces adipose PTEN expression and is associated with (1) suppression of AKT phosphorylation, (2) increased hormone-sensitive lipase phosphorylation, and (3) decreased adiposity The hypothalamic-sympathoneural-adipocyte (HSA) axis mediates EE-induced adipose PTEN rAAV-mediated gene delivery of PTEN to adipose tissues mimics EE-related adipose remodeling Knockdown of adipose PTEN blocks EE-induced reductions in adipocyte size
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Jiang SH, Zhang XX, Hu LP, Wang X, Li Q, Zhang XL, Li J, Gu JR, Zhang ZG. Systemic Regulation of Cancer Development by Neuro-Endocrine-Immune Signaling Network at Multiple Levels. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:586757. [PMID: 33117814 PMCID: PMC7561376 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.586757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The overarching view of current tumor therapies simplifies cancer to a cell-biology problem in which neoplasms are caused solely by malignant cells and the exploration of carcinogenesis and tumor progression largely focuses on somatic mutations and other genetic abnormalities of cancer cells. The limited therapeutic response indicates that cancer is driven not only by endogenous oncogenic factors and reciprocal interactions within the tumor microenvironment, but also by complex systemic processes. Homeostasis is the fundamental premise of health, and is maintained by systemic regulation of neuro-endocrine-immune axis. Cancer is also a systemic disease that manifested by dysfunction of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Multiple axes of regulation exist in cancer, including central-, organ-, and microenvironment-level manipulation. At each specific regulatory level, the tridirectional communication among the nervous, endocrine, and immune factors transmit flexible signaling to induce proliferation, invasion, reprogrammed metabolism, therapeutic resistance, and other malignant phenotypes of cancer cells, resulting in the extremely poor prognosis of this lethal disease. Understanding this coordinated signaling network will enable the development of new approaches for cancer treatment via behavioral and pharmacological interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Heng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-Peng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-Ren Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Hassan QN, Queen NJ, Cao L. Regulation of aging and cancer by enhanced environmental activation of a hypothalamic-sympathoneural-adipocyte axis. Transl Cancer Res 2020; 9:5687-5699. [PMID: 33134111 PMCID: PMC7595574 DOI: 10.21037/tcr.2020.02.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Social and environmental factors impact cancer and energy balance profoundly. Years ago, our lab established the existence of a novel brain-fat interaction we termed the "hypothalamic-sympathoneural-adipocyte (HSA) axis", through which complex environmental stimuli provided by an enriched environment regulate body composition, energy balance, and development of cancer. We have spent a significant portion of the past decade to further characterize the broad health benefits of an enriched environment (for example, leanness, enhanced immune function, and cancer resistance), and to identify mediators in the brain and periphery along the HSA axis. This review summarizes our recent work regarding the interface between endocrinology, immunology, cancer biology, aging, and neuroscience. We will discuss the interplay between these systemic phenomena and how the HSA axis can be targeted for regulation of cancer and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quais N. Hassan
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Queen
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
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Queen NJ, Hassan QN, Cao L. Improvements to Healthspan Through Environmental Enrichment and Lifestyle Interventions: Where Are We Now? Front Neurosci 2020; 14:605. [PMID: 32655354 PMCID: PMC7325954 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) is an experimental paradigm that is used to explore how a complex, stimulating environment can impact overall health. In laboratory animal experiments, EE housing conditions typically include larger-than-standard cages, abundant bedding, running wheels, mazes, toys, and shelters which are rearranged regularly to further increase stimulation. EE has been shown to improve multiple aspects of health, including but not limited to metabolism, learning and cognition, anxiety and depression, and immunocompetence. Recent advances in lifespan have led some researchers to consider aging as a risk factor for disease. As such, there is a pressing need to understand the processes by which healthspan can be increased. The natural and predictable changes during aging can be reversed or decreased through EE and its underlying mechanisms. Here, we review the use of EE in laboratory animals to understand mechanisms involved in aging, and comment on relative areas of strength and weakness in the current literature. We additionally address current efforts toward applying EE-like lifestyle interventions to human health to extend healthspan. Although increasing lifespan is a clear goal of medical research, improving the quality of this added time also deserves significant attention. Despite hurdles in translating experimental results toward clinical application, we argue there is great potential in using features of EE toward improving human healthy life expectancy or healthspan, especially in the context of increased global longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Queen
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Quais N. Hassan
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
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