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Navals P, Kwiatkowska A, Mekdad N, Couture F, Desjardins R, Day R, Dory YL. Enhancing the Drug-Like Profile of a Potent Peptide PACE4 Inhibitor by the Formation of a Host-Guest Inclusion Complex with β-Cyclodextrin. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:4559-4573. [PMID: 37555521 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00261] [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] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
The enzyme PACE4 has been validated as a promising therapeutic target to expand the range of prostate cancer (PCa) treatments. In recent years, we have developed a potent peptidomimetic inhibitor, namely, compound C23 (Ac-(DLeu)LLLRVK-4-amidinobenzylamide). Like many peptides, C23 suffers from an unfavorable drug-like profile which, despite our efforts, has not yet benefited from the usual SAR studies. Hence, we turned our attention toward a novel formulation strategy, i.e., the use of cyclodextrins (CDs). CDs can benefit compounds through the formation of "host-guest" complexes, shielding the guest from degradation and enhancing biological survival. In this study, a series of βCD-C23 complexes have been generated and their properties evaluated, including potency toward the enzyme in vitro, a cell-based proliferation assay, and stability in plasma. As a result, a new βCD-formulated lead compound has been identified, which, in addition to being more soluble and more potent, also showed an improved stability profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Navals
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Anna Kwiatkowska
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Nawel Mekdad
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Frédéric Couture
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Roxane Desjardins
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Robert Day
- Phenoswitch Bioscience Inc, 975 Rue Léon-Trépanier, Sherbrooke, Québec J1G 5J6, Canada
| | - Yves L Dory
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
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He H, Zhang S, Yang H, Xu P, Kutschick I, Pfeffer S, Britzen-Laurent N, Grützmann R, Fu D, Pilarsky C. Identification of Genes Associated with Liver Metastasis in Pancreatic Cancer Reveals PCSK6 as a Crucial Mediator. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010241. [PMID: 36612240 PMCID: PMC9818395 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver metastasis occurs frequently in patients with pancreatic cancer. We analyzed the molecular profiling in liver metastatic lesions aiming to uncover novel genes responsible for tumor progression. Bioinformatics analysis was applied to identify genes directing liver metastasis. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to knock out the candidate gene. Proliferation assays, colony formation assays, cell cycle analysis, migration assays, wound healing assays, Immunofluorescence analysis, and the tumor xenograft model of intrasplenic injection were adopted to evaluate the effects of PCSK6 inactivation on cell growth, migration and liver metastasis. GSEA and Western blot were used to investigate the corresponding signaling pathway. PCSK6 was one of the obtained liver-metastasis-related genes in pancreatic cancer. PCSK6 inactivation inhibited cell growth and cell migration, due to G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and the remodeling of cell-cell junctions or the cell skeleton, respectively. PCSK6 inactivation led to fewer counts and lower outgrowth rates of liver metastatic niches in vivo. The Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 axis was repressed by PCSK6 inactivation. Accordingly, we found PCSK6 inactivation could inhibit cell growth, cell migration, and liver metastasis, and explored the role of the Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 axis in PCSK6 inactivation. PCSK6-targeted therapy might represent a novel approach for combatting liver metastasis in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang He
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Shuman Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hai Yang
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pengyan Xu
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Isabella Kutschick
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susanne Pfeffer
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nathalie Britzen-Laurent
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Robert Grützmann
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Deliang Fu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Christian Pilarsky
- Department of Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Saeki K, Qiu W, Friedman RA, Pan S, Lu J, Ichimiya S, Chio IIC, Shawber CJ, Kitajewski J, Hu J, Su GH. Inactivation of Notch4 Attenuated Pancreatic Tumorigenesis in Mice. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:1601-1616. [PMID: 36970723 PMCID: PMC10035463 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Expression of the Notch family of receptors is often upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this study, we focused on Notch4, which had not been investigated in PDAC. We generated KC (LSL-KrasG12D;p48-Cre), N4 - / - KC (Notch4- / -;LSL-KrasG12D;p48-Cre), PKC (p16fl/fl;LSL-KrasG12D;p48-Cre), and N4 - / - PKC (Notch4-/ -; p16fl/f l;LSL-KrasG12D;p48-Cre) genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM). We performed caerulein treatment in both KC and N4 - / - KC mice, and the development of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions were significantly diminished in the N4 - / - KC than in the KC GEMM (P = 0.01). This in vivo result was validated by in vitro ADM induction of the explant cultures of pancreatic acinar cells from the N4 - / - KC and KC mice (P < 0.001), confirming that Notch4 is an important contributor to early pancreatic tumorigenesis. To evaluate the role of Notch4 in the later stage of pancreatic tumorigenesis, we compared the PKC and N4 - / - PKC mice. The N4 - / - PKC mice had better overall survival (P = 0.012) and significantly reduced tumor burden (PanIN: P = 0.018 at 2 months, PDAC: P = 0.039 at 5 months) compared with the PKC GEMM. RNA-sequencing analysis of pancreatic tumor cell lines derived from the PKC and N4 - / - PKC GEMMs revealed that 408 genes were differentially expressed (FDR < 0.05) and Pcsk5 is a potential downstream effector of the Notch4 signaling pathway (P < 0.001). Low expression of Pcsk5 positively correlates with good survival in patients with PDAC (P = 0.028). We have identified a novel role for Notch4 signaling with tumor-promoting function in pancreatic tumorigenesis. Our study also uncovered a novel association between Pcsk5 and Notch4 signaling in PDAC. Significance We demonstrated that global inactivation of Notch4 significantly improved the survival of an aggressive mouse model for PDAC and provided preclinical evidence that Notch4 and Pcsk5 are novel targets for PDAC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Saeki
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Wanglong Qiu
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Richard A. Friedman
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Samuel Pan
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jordan Lu
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Shu Ichimiya
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Iok In Christine Chio
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Carrie J. Shawber
- Deparments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jan Kitajewski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jianhua Hu
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Gloria H. Su
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
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Efficacy of PACE4 pharmacotherapy in JHU-LNCaP-SM preclinical model of androgen independent prostate cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17489. [PMID: 36261691 PMCID: PMC9582213 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21593-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a complex disease progressing from in situ to invasive or metastatic tumors while also being capable of modulating its androgen dependence. Understanding how novel therapies are working across the different stages of the disease is critical for their proper positioning in the spectrum of PCa treatments. The targeting of proprotein convertase PACE4 (Paired basic Amino Acid-Cleaving Enzyme 4) has been proposed as a novel approach to treat PCa. Animal studies performed on LNCaP xenografts, an androgen-dependent model, already yielded positive results. In this study, we tested PACE4 inhibition on JHU-LNCaP-SM, a newly described androgen-independent model, in cell-based and xenograft assays. Like LNCaP, JHU-LNCaP-SM cells express PACE4 and its oncogenic isoform PACE4-altCT. Using isoform-specific siRNAs, downregulation of PACE4-altCT resulted in JHU-LNCaP-SM growth inhibition. Furthermore, JHU-LNCaP-SM responded to the PACE4 pharmacological inhibitor known as C23 in cell-based assays as well as in athymic nude mice xenografts. These data support the efficacy of PACE4 inhibitors against androgen independent PCa thereby demonstrating that PACE4 is a key target in PCa. The JHU-LNCaP-SM cell line represents a model featuring important aspects of androgen-independent PCa, but it also represents a very convenient model as opposed to LNCaP cells for in vivo studies, as it allows rapid screening due to its high implantation rate and growth characteristics as xenografts.
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PACE4-altCT isoform of proprotein convertase PACE4 as tissue and plasmatic biomarker for prostate cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6066. [PMID: 35410344 PMCID: PMC9001653 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09778-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe proprotein convertase PACE4 has demonstrated value as a viable therapeutic target in prostate cancer (PCa). A novel isoform named PACE4-altCT, which arises in neoplastic lesions, plays an important role in tumor progression and has been validated as a pharmacological target. With the discovery of its overexpression in PCa and the alternative splicing of its pre-RNA to generate an oncogenic C-terminally modified isoform named PACE4-altCT, understanding and validating its value as a potential biomarker is of great interest either from prognostic or targeted therapy intervention. Expression of ERG in LNCaP cells was used to investigate the relationship between ERG expression occurring in PCa cells and PACE4-altCT expression by Western blot and qPCR. Using immunohistochemistry, the expression levels of PACE4 isoforms in patient tissues were investigated and correlated with ERG tumor status and Gleason score. An ELISA method was developed using affinity purified recombinant protein and used for quantitative analysis of plasma concentrations of PACE4-altCT and used for correlation. In contrast with the consensual isoform, PACE4-altCT was only strongly overexpressed in prostate cancer patients, correlated with ERG expression levels. Despite its intracellular retention PACE4-altCT could be detected in the plasma of most patients with prostate cancer, whereas it was only found at low levels in normal patients whereas total plasmatic PACE4 levels did not vary significantly between groups. Our study demonstrates that PACE4-altCT is strongly overexpressed in prostate cancer using both immunohistochemical and ELISA techniques and may have some interesting potential as a biomarker.
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Testicular Germ Cell Tumours and Proprotein Convertases. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14071633. [PMID: 35406405 PMCID: PMC8996948 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite the high survival rate of the most common neoplasia in young Caucasian men: Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (TGCT), the quality of life of these patients is impaired by the multiple long-term side effects of their treatment. The study of molecules that can serve both as diagnostic biomarkers for tumor development and as therapeutic targets seems necessary. Proprotein convertases (PC) are a group of proteases responsible for the maturation of inactive proproteins with very diverse functions, whose alterations in expression have been associated with various diseases, such as other types of cancer and inflammation. The study of the immune tumor microenvironment and the substrates of PCs could contribute to the development of new and necessary immunotherapies to treat this pathology. Abstract Testicular Germ Cell Tumours (TGCT) are widely considered a “curable cancer” due to their exceptionally high survival rate, even if it is reduced by many years after the diagnosis due to metastases and relapses. The most common therapeutic approach to TGCTs has not changed in the last 50 years despite its multiple long-term side effects, and because it is the most common malignancy in young Caucasian men, much research is needed to better the quality of life of the many survivors. Proprotein Convertases (PC) are nine serine proteases responsible for the maturation of inactive proproteins with many diverse functions. Alterations in their expression have been associated with various diseases, including cancer and inflammation. Many of their substrates are adhesion molecules, metalloproteases and proinflammatory molecules, all of which are involved in tumour development. Inhibition of certain convertases has also been shown to slow tumour formation, demonstrating their involvement in this process. Considering the very established link between PCs and inflammation-related malignancies and the recent studies carried out into the immune microenvironment of TGCTs, the study of the involvement of PCs in testicular cancer may open up avenues for being both a biomarker for diagnosis and a therapeutic target.
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He Z, Khatib AM, Creemers JWM. The proprotein convertase furin in cancer: more than an oncogene. Oncogene 2022; 41:1252-1262. [PMID: 34997216 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02175-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Furin is the first discovered proprotein convertase member and is present in almost all mammalian cells. Therefore, by regulating the maturation of a wide range of proproteins, Furin expression and/or activity is involved in various physiological and pathophysiological processes ranging from embryonic development to carcinogenesis. Since many of these protein precursors are involved in initiating and maintaining the hallmarks of cancer, Furin has been proposed as a potential target for treating several human cancers. In contrast, other studies have revealed that some types of cancer do not benefit from Furin inhibition. Therefore, understanding the heterogeneous functions of Furin in cancer will provide important insights into the design of effective strategies targeting Furin in cancer treatment. Here, we present recent advances in understanding how Furin expression and activity are regulated in cancer cells and their influences on the activity of Furin substrates in carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss how Furin represses tumorigenic properties of several cancer cells and why Furin inhibition leads to aggressive phenotypes in other tumors. Finally, we summarize the clinical applications of Furin inhibition in treating human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongsheng He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Laboratory of Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Abdel-Majid Khatib
- INSERM, LAMC, UMR 1029, Allée Geoffroy St Hilaire, Pessac, France.
- Institut Bergoinié, Bordeaux, France.
| | - John W M Creemers
- Laboratory of Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Therapeutic anti-glioma effect of the combined action of PCSK inhibitor with the anti-tumoral factors secreted by Poly (I:C)-stimulated macrophages. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:22-36. [PMID: 33402730 PMCID: PMC8761570 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-00286-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages plasticity is a key feature in cancer progression. Neoplastic cells can alter their immune functions and orient them into a pro-tumoral phenotype. In this context, we developed a new therapeutic strategy to switch macrophages phenotype and reactivate their anti-tumoral functions. We showed a dual activity of a proprotein convertases inhibitor as anti-glioma drug and anti-tumoral macrophages' reactivation drug. Proprotein convertases are proteases that cleave proteins into functional proteins. Several of their substrates are involved in tumorigenesis and immunosuppression. We combine here proprotein convertases inhibitor with Poly (I:C), a TLR3 ligand, to increase the anti-tumoral activity of macrophages. With mass spectrometry-based proteomics, system biology, combined with biological assays, we established that a stimulation of macrophages with Poly (I:C) increased their secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-tumoral factors. 3D invasion assay showed the efficacy of these anti-tumoral factors against mixed glioma cells and macrophages spheroids. Besides, immunofluorescence and proliferation assays showed an additive effect of the proprotein convertases inhibitor and the anti-tumoral factors secreted by Poly (I:C)-treated macrophages on both anti-glioma activity and macrophages anti-tumoral orientation directly in tumor microenvironment, leading to an innovative glioma therapy.
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Abstract
The kexin-like proprotein convertases perform the initial proteolytic cleavages that ultimately generate a variety of different mature peptide and proteins, ranging from brain neuropeptides to endocrine peptide hormones, to structural proteins, among others. In this review, we present a general introduction to proprotein convertase structure and biochemistry, followed by a comprehensive discussion of each member of the kexin-like subfamily of proprotein convertases. We summarize current knowledge of human proprotein convertase insufficiency syndromes, including genome-wide analyses of convertase polymorphisms, and compare these to convertase null and mutant mouse models. These mouse models have illuminated our understanding of the roles specific convertases play in human disease and have led to the identification of convertase-specific substrates; for example, the identification of procorin as a specific PACE4 substrate in the heart. We also discuss the limitations of mouse null models in interpreting human disease, such as differential precursor cleavage due to species-specific sequence differences, and the challenges presented by functional redundancy among convertases in attempting to assign specific cleavages and/or physiological roles. However, in most cases, knockout mouse models have added substantively both to our knowledge of diseases caused by human proprotein convertase insufficiency and to our appreciation of their normal physiological roles, as clearly seen in the case of the furin, proprotein convertase 1/3, and proprotein convertase 5/6 mouse models. The creation of more sophisticated mouse models with tissue- or temporally-restricted expression of specific convertases will improve our understanding of human proprotein convertase insufficiency and potentially provide support for the emerging concept of therapeutic inhibition of convertases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manita Shakya
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Iris Lindberg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Rose M, Duhamel M, Rodet F, Salzet M. The Role of Proprotein Convertases in the Regulation of the Function of Immune Cells in the Oncoimmune Response. Front Immunol 2021; 12:667850. [PMID: 33995401 PMCID: PMC8117212 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.667850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertases (PC) are a family of 9 serine proteases involved in the processing of cellular pro-proteins. They trigger the activation, inactivation or functional changes of many hormones, neuropeptides, growth factors and receptors. Therefore, these enzymes are essential for cellular homeostasis in health and disease. Nine PC subtilisin/kexin genes (PCSK1 to PCSK9) encoding for PC1/3, PC2, furin, PC4, PC5/6, PACE4, PC7, SKI-1/S1P and PCSK9 are known. The expression of PC1/3, PC2, PC5/6, Furin and PC7 in lymphoid organs such as lymph nodes, thymus and spleen has suggested a role for these enzymes in immunity. In fact, knock-out of Furin in T cells was associated with high secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and autoantibody production in mice. This suggested a key role for this enzyme in immune tolerance. Moreover, Furin through its proteolytic activity, regulates the suppressive functions of Treg and thus prevents chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. In macrophages, Furin is also involved in the regulation of their inflammatory phenotype. Similarly, PC1/3 inhibition combined with TLR4 stimulation triggers the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway with an increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Factors secreted by PC1/3 KD macrophages stimulated with LPS exert a chemoattractive effect on naive auxiliary T lymphocytes (Th0) and anti-tumoral activities. The link between TLR and PCs is thus very important in inflammatory response regulation. Furin regulates TL7 and TLR8 processing and trafficking whereas PC1/3 controls TLR4 and TLR9 trafficking. Since PC1/3 and Furin are key regulators of both the innate and adaptive immune responses their inhibition may play a major role in oncoimmune therapy. The role of PCs in the oncoimmune response and therapeutic strategies based on PCs inhibition are proposed in the present review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Rose
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Marie Duhamel
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Franck Rodet
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Michel Salzet
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
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11
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Ortutay Z, Grönholm A, Laitinen M, Keresztes-Andrei M, Hermelo I, Pesu M. Identification of Novel Genetic Regulatory Region for Proprotein Convertase FURIN and Interferon Gamma in T Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:630389. [PMID: 33679774 PMCID: PMC7930619 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.630389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The proprotein convertase enzyme FURIN promotes the proteolytic maturation of pro-proteins and thereby it serves as an important factor for maintaining cellular homeostasis. In T cells, FURIN is critical for maintaining the T regulatory cell dependent peripheral immune tolerance and intact T helper cell polarization. The enzymatic activity of FURIN is directly associated with its expression levels, but genetic determinants for cell-type specific Furin gene regulation have remained elusive. By exploring the histone acetyltransferase p300 binding patterns in T helper cells, a putative regulatory region at ca. 20kB upstream of Furin gene was identified. When this region was deleted with CRISPR/Cas9 the production of Furin mRNA was significantly reduced in activated mouse T cells. Genome-wide RNA profiling by sequencing revealed that the novel Furin regulator region also impacted the expression of several genes that have previously been associated with the Th1 type hall mark cytokine IFNγ regulation or function. Finally, Furin genetic regulatory region was found to specifically promote the secretion of IFNγ by activated T cells. In sum, our data unravels the presence of Furin expression regulatory region in T cells that has characteristics of a super-enhancer for Th1 cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsanna Ortutay
- Immunoregulation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anna Grönholm
- Immunoregulation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Melina Laitinen
- Immunoregulation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Melinda Keresztes-Andrei
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ismail Hermelo
- Computational Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Marko Pesu
- Immunoregulation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
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12
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Lin Y, Long H, Tan X, Zhang D, Jiang L. PACE4 Expression is a Novel Independent Prognostic Factor in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:8623-8629. [PMID: 32982453 PMCID: PMC7509316 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s264143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Paired basic amino acid-cleaving enzyme 4 (PACE4) belongs to the family of proprotein convertase and is essential for tumor progression, whereas its role in cancer remains controversial and little is known about its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of this study was to examine if the expression of PACE4 is a prognostic biomarker for patients with NPC. Methods Immunofluorescence (IF) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to analyze PACE4 expression in NPC cell line CNE1 and 172 clinicopathologically characterized NPC tissues. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test, Kaplan–Meier plots, and Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results IF and IHC staining results showed that PACE4 was mainly located in the cytoplasm of NPC cell line (CNE1) and NPC tissues. Expression of PACE4 was observed in 46/172 (26.7%) of NPC tissues. Further analysis showed that expression of PACE4 was positively associated with late N stage, distant metastasis, and late clinical stage (P<0.05). High expression of PACE4 predicted shorter 5-year overall survival of patients with NPC, especially for the patients in advanced stage (32.7% vs 77.3%, P<0.001). Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that PACE4 expression may serve as a potential prognostic factor for NPC. Conclusion Our results suggest that PACE4 may play a crucial role in tumor progression and may serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker for patients with NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunen Lin
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Huidong Long
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510095, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojun Tan
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Donghui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Liwen Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, People's Republic of China
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Rose M, Duhamel M, Aboulouard S, Kobeissy F, Le Rhun E, Desmons A, Tierny D, Fournier I, Rodet F, Salzet M. The Role of a Proprotein Convertase Inhibitor in Reactivation of Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Inhibition of Glioma Growth. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2020; 17:31-46. [PMID: 32300641 PMCID: PMC7152595 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumors are characterized by the presence of malignant and non-malignant cells, such as immune cells including macrophages, which are preponderant. Macrophages impact the efficacy of chemotherapy and may lead to drug resistance. In this context and based on our previous work, we investigated the ability to reactivate macrophages by using a proprotein convertases inhibitor. Proprotein convertases process immature proteins into functional proteins, with several of them having a role in immune cell activation and tumorigenesis. Macrophages were treated with a peptidomimetic inhibitor targeting furin, PC1/3, PC4, PACE4, and PC5/6. Their anti-glioma activity was analyzed by mass spectrometry-based proteomics and viability assays in 2D and 3D in vitro cultures. Comparison with temozolomide, the drug used for glioma therapy, established that the inhibitor was more efficient for the reduction of cancer cell density. The inhibitor was also able to reactivate macrophages through the secretion of several immune factors with antitumor properties. Moreover, two proteins considered as good glioma patient survival indicators were also identified in 3D cultures treated with the inhibitor. Finally, we established that the proprotein convertases inhibitor has a dual role as an anti-glioma drug and anti-tumoral macrophage reactivation drug. This strategy could be used together with chemotherapy to increase therapy efficacy in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Rose
- Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), INSERM U1192, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France.,Oncovet Clinical Research (OCR), SIRIC ONCOLille, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Marie Duhamel
- Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), INSERM U1192, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Soulaimane Aboulouard
- Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), INSERM U1192, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Emilie Le Rhun
- Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), INSERM U1192, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Annie Desmons
- Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), INSERM U1192, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Dominique Tierny
- Oncovet Clinical Research (OCR), SIRIC ONCOLille, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Isabelle Fournier
- Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), INSERM U1192, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Franck Rodet
- Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), INSERM U1192, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Michel Salzet
- Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), INSERM U1192, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
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Bakrania A, Aubé M, Desjardins R, Sabbagh R, Day R. Upregulation of PACE4 in prostate cancer is not dependent on E2F transcription factors. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2020; 98:477-481. [PMID: 32119574 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2019-0668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies in prostate cancer have identified PACE4, a proprotein convertase enzyme, as an emerging therapeutic target. Inhibition of PACE4-altCT, an oncogenic isoform of PACE4, using molecular or pharmacological approaches results in decreased cell proliferation and tumor progression in xenograft models. Although several validations have confirmed PACE4-altCT as a novel therapeutic target, the transcriptional regulation of PACE4 isoforms and mechanism of action remain a challenge. Previously, it has been reported that the human PACE4 promoter possesses potential binding sites for the E2F family of transcription factors, all of which are involved in cell cycle regulation and synthesis of DNA in mammalian cells. Therefore, we attempted to conduct in-depth evaluation of E2Fs on PACE4 and PACE4 isoform expression in prostate cancer. We conducted in vitro molecular silencing studies in various prostate cancer cell lines and determined the change in PACE4 expression levels. The results clearly show that the E2Fs alone do not alter PACE4 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Bakrania
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.,Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Mélanie Aubé
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Roxane Desjardins
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.,Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Robert Sabbagh
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.,Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Robert Day
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.,Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
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15
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Siegfried G, Descarpentrie J, Evrard S, Khatib AM. Proprotein convertases: Key players in inflammation-related malignancies and metastasis. Cancer Lett 2019; 473:50-61. [PMID: 31899298 PMCID: PMC7115805 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many cancers occur from locations of inflammation due to chronic irritation and/or infection. Tumor microenvironment contains various different inflammatory cells and mediators that orchestrate diverse neoplastic processes, including proliferation, survival, adhesion and migration. In parallel, tumor cells have adapted some of the signaling molecules used by inflammatory cells, such as selectins and chemokines as well as their receptors for invasion, extravasation and subsequently metastasis. Expression and/or activation of the majority of these molecules is mediated by the proprotein convertases (PCs); proteases expressed by both tumor cells and inflammatory cells. This review analyzes the potential role of these enzymatic system in inflammation-associated cancer impacting on the malignant and metastatic potential of cancer cells, describing the possible use of PCs as a new anti-inflammatory therapeutic approach to tumor progression and metastasis. Proteins maturation by the proprotein convertases plays important role in inflammation-related cancer and metastasis. Protein precursors require the proprotein convertases for the induction of inflammation. Understanding of the molecular mechanism linking the proprotein convertases to inflammation will allow novel therapies. Inhibitors of the proprotein convertases constitute great potential for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine Siegfried
- Univ. Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France; INSERM UMR1029, 33400, Pessac, France.
| | - Jean Descarpentrie
- Univ. Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France; INSERM UMR1029, 33400, Pessac, France.
| | - Serge Evrard
- Univ. Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France; Institut Bergonié, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Abdel-Majid Khatib
- Univ. Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France; INSERM UMR1029, 33400, Pessac, France.
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16
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Enhanced anti-tumor activity of the Multi-Leu peptide PACE4 inhibitor transformed into an albumin-bound tumor-targeting prodrug. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2118. [PMID: 30765725 PMCID: PMC6376031 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37568-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The proprotein convertase PACE4 has been validated as a potential target to develop new therapeutic interventions in prostate cancer (PCa). So far, the most effective compound blocking the activity of this enzyme has been designed based on the structure of a small peptide Ac-LLLLRVKR-NH2 known as the Multi-Leu (ML) peptide. Optimization of this scaffold led to the synthesis of compound C23 (Ac-[DLeu]LLLRVK-amidinobenzylamide) with a potent in vivo inhibitory effect on the tumor growth. However, further developments of PACE4 inhibitors may require additional improvements to counter their rapid renal clearance and to increase their tumor targeting efficiency. Herein, we explored the transformation of the ML-peptide into an albumin-binding prodrug containing a tumor specific release mechanism based on the prostate-specific antigen. Our data confirms that intravenous treatment using the ML-peptide alone has little effect on tumor growth, whereas by using the ML-prodrug in LNCaP xenograft-bearing mice it was significantly reduced. Additionally, excellent in vivo stability and tumor-targeting efficiency was demonstrated using a radiolabelled version of this compound. Taken together, these results provide a solid foundation for further development of targeted PACE4 inhibition in PCa.
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17
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Dianati V, Navals P, Couture F, Desjardins R, Dame A, Kwiatkowska A, Day R, Dory YL. Improving the Selectivity of PACE4 Inhibitors through Modifications of the P1 Residue. J Med Chem 2018; 61:11250-11260. [PMID: 30501188 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Paired basic amino acid cleaving enzyme 4 (PACE4), a serine endoprotease of the proprotein convertases family, has been recognized as a promising target for prostate cancer. We previously reported a selective and potent peptide-based inhibitor for PACE4, named the multi-Leu peptide (Ac-LLLLRVKR-NH2 sequence), which was then modified into a more potent and stable compound named C23 with the following structure: Ac-dLeu-LLLRVK-Amba (Amba: 4-amidinobenzylamide). Despite improvements in both in vitro and in vivo profiles of C23, its selectivity for PACE4 over furin was significantly reduced. We examined other Arg-mimetics instead of Amba to regain the lost selectivity. Our results indicated that the replacement of Amba with 5-(aminomethyl)picolinimidamide increased affinity for PACE4 and restored selectivity. Our results also provide a better insight on how structural differences between S1 pockets of PACE4 and furin could be employed in the rational design of selective inhibitors.
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18
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Fradet L, Temmar R, Couture F, Belzile M, Fortier PH, Day R. Evaluation of PACE4 isoforms as biomarkers in thyroid cancer. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018; 47:63. [PMID: 30340539 PMCID: PMC6194618 DOI: 10.1186/s40463-018-0311-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To date, no single molecular marker has been demonstrated as clinically useful in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules when a fine needle aspiration falls in the “unknown significance” categories of the Bethesda Classification. PACE4, a member of the proprotein convertase family of enzymes, has been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, through the formation of an oncogenic isoform named PACE4-altCT. PACE4 isoforms have also been suggested to play a role in other cancers, including thyroid cancer, but have never been investigated in a detailed manner. Our objective is to compare the histochemical distribution of the two major PACE4 isoforms in benign and malignant thyroid nodules, in order to determine their potential usefulness as discriminatory biomarkers. Methods Thyroid tissues of patients who underwent thyroidectomy were classified according to final pathology. Corresponding tissue sections were immunostained, using two previously validated antibodies raised against the C-terminal end of the two PACE4 isoforms, namely the full-length PACE4 protein (PACE4-FL) and its alternative isoform (PACE4-altCT). Nodules were compared with adjacent normal parenchyma and immunostaining was rated as “low” or “high” by a head and neck pathologist. Results Non-lesional thyroid parenchyma did not express PACE4-FL (p = 0.002). As a group, malignant (n = 17) nodules expressed PACE4-FL significantly more than benign (n = 24) nodules (percentage of high immunostaining: 52.9% vs 4.2%; p = 0.001). Reciprocally, there was a statistically lower expression of PACE4-altCT in malignant nodules than in adjacent non-lesional parenchyma (p = 0.014). The specificity of a high PACE4-FL immunostaining in determining malignancy was 95.8% (95% CI, 78.9% to 99.9%). Conclusion This study supports the previously described relationship between PACE4-FL and PACE4-altCT through alternative splicing. It also suggests that PACE4-FL is a promising biomarker for thyroid malignancy. Its high specific expression for malignancy could make it an interesting “rule in” test for thyroid cancer. Further prospective, quantitative studies are currently being designed to address how measurements of PACE4 isoforms could be used in a clinical setting. Trial registration This study does not report the results of a health care intervention on human participants. It was nonetheless registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under reference number NCT03160482. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40463-018-0311-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Fradet
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Sherbrooke, 580 Bowen S, Sherbrooke, QC, J1G 2E8, Canada.
| | - Rabia Temmar
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Sherbrooke, 580 Bowen S, Sherbrooke, QC, J1G 2E8, Canada
| | - Frédéric Couture
- Divison of Urology, Departemnt of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, 3001 12th Ave N, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Mathieu Belzile
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Sherbrooke, 580 Bowen S, Sherbrooke, QC, J1G 2E8, Canada
| | - Pierre-Hugues Fortier
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Sherbrooke, 580 Bowen S, Sherbrooke, QC, J1G 2E8, Canada
| | - Robert Day
- Divison of Urology, Departemnt of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, 3001 12th Ave N, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada
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19
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Dianati V, Kwiatkowska A, Couture F, Desjardins R, Dory YL, Day R. Increasing C-Terminal Hydrophobicity Improves the Cell Permeability and Antiproliferative Activity of PACE4 Inhibitors against Prostate Cancer Cell Lines. J Med Chem 2018; 61:8457-8467. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Dianati
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Anna Kwiatkowska
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Frédéric Couture
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Roxane Desjardins
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Yves L. Dory
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Robert Day
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
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The proprotein convertase furin is required to maintain viability of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:76743-76755. [PMID: 27572312 PMCID: PMC5363546 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Success of current therapies is still limited and outcome is particularly poor for metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS). We previously identified the proprotein convertase furin as potential target for specific drug delivery with RMS-homing peptides. Furin is a protease that converts inactive precursor proteins into bioactive proteins and peptides. In this study, we investigate the biological role of furin in aRMS progression in vitro and in vivo. Furin expression was confirmed in over 86% RMS biopsies in a tissue microarray (n=89). Inducible furin silencing in vitro led to significant impairment of cell viability and proliferation in all investigated aRMS cell lines, but not in MRC5 fibroblasts. Furthermore, the aRMS cell lines Rh3 and Rh4 revealed to be very sensitive to furin silencing, undergoing caspase-dependent cell death. Notably, furin silencing in vivo led to complete remission of established Rh4 tumors and to delayed growth in Rh30 tumors. Taken together, these findings identify furin as an important factor for aRMS progression and survival. Thus, we propose furin as a novel therapeutic target for treatment of aRMS.
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21
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Couture F, Sabbagh R, Kwiatkowska A, Desjardins R, Guay SP, Bouchard L, Day R. PACE4 Undergoes an Oncogenic Alternative Splicing Switch in Cancer. Cancer Res 2017; 77:6863-6879. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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22
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Jiang H, Wang L, Wang F, Pan J. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 6 promotes in vitro proliferation, migration and inflammatory cytokine secretion of synovial fibroblast‑like cells from rheumatoid arthritis via nuclear‑κB, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and extracellular signal regulated 1/2 pathways. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:8477-8484. [PMID: 28944919 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Our previous studies demonstrated that expression of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 6 (PCSK6) is greatly enhanced in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‑like synoviocytes (RASFs), and that PCSK6 inhibition decreases cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The present study aimed to investigate the functional role of PCSK6 in the hyperplasia of RASFs. Cultured RASFs from RA patients were stimulated with recombinant human (rh)PCSK6. Subsequent changes in proliferation, invasion, migration and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines were measured in vitro using MTT, wound healing and Transwell assays, and ELISA. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Influence on downstream gene expression levels were analyzed using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Specific signaling pathways responsible for these effects were analyzed using western blotting and confirmed with pathway‑specific inhibitors. It was demonstrated that rhPCSK6 significantly increased RASF cell invasion, migration and proliferation, which was influenced through both reduced cell cycle arrest and reduced apoptosis. Furthermore, rhPCSK6 stimulated RASFs to secrete the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‑1α, IL‑1β and IL‑6, and exhibit altered expression of genes involved in angiogenesis, hypoxia, proliferation and inflammation. These cellular effects were mediated via the nuclear factor (NF)‑κB, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and extracellular signal regulated (ERK)1/2 signaling pathways. The results demonstrated that signaling via NF‑κB and STAT3 mediated cell cycle arrest, and signaling through NF‑κB mediated apoptosis in RASF cells stimulated with PCSK6. PCSK6 can activate NF‑κB, STAT3 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in vitro to enhance cell proliferation, migration, invasion and inflammation in RASF cells. These findings suggest that PCSK6 may be an important therapeutic target in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyu Jiang
- SNP Research Group, Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Jinan, Shandong 250062, P.R. China
| | - Lin Wang
- SNP Research Group, Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Jinan, Shandong 250062, P.R. China
| | - Feifei Wang
- SNP Research Group, Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Jinan, Shandong 250062, P.R. China
| | - Jihong Pan
- SNP Research Group, Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Jinan, Shandong 250062, P.R. China
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Łepek T, Kwiatkowska A, Couture F, Ly K, Desjardins R, Dory Y, Prahl A, Day R. Macrocyclization of a potent PACE4 inhibitor: Benefits and limitations. Eur J Cell Biol 2017; 96:476-485. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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Klein-Szanto AJ, Bassi DE. Proprotein convertase inhibition: Paralyzing the cell's master switches. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 140:8-15. [PMID: 28456517 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Proprotein convertases are serine proteases responsible for the cleavage and subsequent activation of protein substrates, many of them relevant for the development of an ample variety of diseases. Seven of the PCs, including furin and PACE4, recognize and hydrolyze the C-terminal end of the general sequence RXRR/KXR, whereas PCSK-9 recognizes a series of non-basic amino acids. In some systems, PC-mediated substrate activation results in the development of pathological processes, such as cancer, endocrinopathies, and cardiovascular and infectious diseases. After establishing PCs as relevant contributors to disease processes, research efforts were directed towards the development of inhibition strategies, including small and large molecules, anti-sense therapies, and antibody-based therapies. Most of these inhibitors mimic the consensus sequence of PCs, blocking the active site in a competitive manner. The most promising inhibitors were designed as bioengineered proteins; however, some non-protein and peptidomimetic agents have also proved to be effective. These efforts led to the design of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials utilizing inhibitors to PCs. Although the initial studies were performed using non-selective PCs inhibitors, such as CMK, the search for more specific, and compartmentalized selective inhibitors resulted in specific activities ascribed to some, but not all of the PCs. For instance, PACE4 inhibitors were effective in decreasing prostate cancer cell proliferation, and neovascularization. Decreased metastatic ovarian cancer utilizing furin inhibitors represents one of the major endeavors, currently in a phase II trial stage. Antibodies targeting PCSK-9 decreased significantly the levels of HDL-cholesterol, in a phase III trial. The study of Proprotein convertases has reached a stage of maturity. New strategies based on the alteration of their activity at the cellular and clinical level represent a promising experimental pharmacology field. The development of allosteric inhibitors, or specific agents directed against individual PCs is one of the challenges to be unraveled in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel E Bassi
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cotman Ave, Philadelphia 19111, USA.
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Małuch I, Levesque C, Kwiatkowska A, Couture F, Ly K, Desjardins R, Neugebauer WA, Prahl A, Day R. Positional Scanning Identifies the Molecular Determinants of a High Affinity Multi-Leucine Inhibitor for Furin and PACE4. J Med Chem 2017; 60:2732-2744. [PMID: 28287731 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The proprotein convertase family of enzymes includes seven endoproteases with significant redundancy in their cleavage activity. We previously described the peptide Ac-LLLLRVK-Amba that displays potent inhibitory effects on both PACE4 and prostate cancer cell lines proliferation. Herein, the molecular determinants for PACE4 and furin inhibition were investigated by positional scanning using peptide libraries that substituted its leucine core with each natural amino acid. We determined that the incorporation of basic amino acids led to analogues with improved inhibitory potency toward both enzymes, whereas negatively charged residues significantly reduced it. All the remaining amino acids were in general well tolerated, with the exemption of the P6 position. However, not all of the potent PACE4 inhibitors displayed antiproliferative activity. The best analogues were obtained by the incorporation of the Ile residue at the P5 and P6 positions. These substitutions led to inhibitors with increased PACE4 selectivity and potent antiproliferative effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Małuch
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk , 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Christine Levesque
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada.,Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, J1H 5N4 Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Anna Kwiatkowska
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada.,Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, J1H 5N4 Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Frédéric Couture
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada.,Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, J1H 5N4 Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Kévin Ly
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada.,Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, J1H 5N4 Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Roxane Desjardins
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada.,Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, J1H 5N4 Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Witold A Neugebauer
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Adam Prahl
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk , 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Robert Day
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada.,Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12e Avenue Nord, J1H 5N4 Sherbrooke, Canada
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PACE4 is an important driver of ZR-75-1 estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer proliferation and tumor progression. Eur J Cell Biol 2017; 96:469-475. [PMID: 28347547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequent and deadly malignancy in women worldwide. Despite national screening programs combined with new treatments relapse rate remain high and new therapies are needed. From previous work, we identified PACE4, a member of the proprotein convertase (PCs) family of endoproteases, as a novel therapeutic target in prostate cancer. In the present study we asked the question if PACE4 could also be a potential target in breast cancer. In clinical samples of breast adenocarcinoma, we observed a specific overexpression of PACE4 in the estrogen-receptor (ER) positive subtype. We therefore looked for a breast cancer cell line model which would be representative and thus focused on the ZR-75-1 since it both expresses PACE4 and is estrogen-receptor positive. We compared stable knockdowns of furin, PACE4 and PC7 in the estrogen-receptor-positive cell line ZR-75-1 to evaluate their respective contribution to cell growth and tumor progression. PACE4 was the only PC displaying an impact on cell growth. A PACE4 peptide-based inhibitor (C23) was tested and shown to decrease proliferation of ZR-75-1 cells in cell based assays. C23 also had potent effects of tumor progression in vivo on xenografts of the ZR-75-1 cell line in athymic nude mice. Thus, PACE4-silencing and systemic administration of a PACE4 inhibitor resulted in hindered tumor progression with reduction in proliferative indices and increased cell quiescence assessed with biomarkers. Our results suggest that PACE4 is a promising target for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.
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27
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Tian XF, Huang GM, Zang HL, Cao H. PACE4 regulates apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer Panc‑1 cells via the mitochondrial signaling pathway. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:5205-5210. [PMID: 27779720 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated the overexpression of paired basic amino acid cleaving enzyme 4 (PACE4) mRNA in prostate cancer tissues. This overexpression is correlated with higher circulating protein levels in certain patients, however, the role of PACE4 in apoptosis and the potential molecular mechanisms of pancreatic cancer remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and potential molecular mechanisms of PACE4 on apoptosis in the Panc‑1 pancreatic cancer cell line. Cell proliferation was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay. Apoptotic nuclear shrinkage was monitored using Hoechst 33258 staining. Caspase‑3/7 activities were measured using a colorimetric caspase‑glo 3/7 assay. Alterations in protein expression were monitored using Western blot analysis. The results indicated that PACE4 small interfering (si)RNA inhibited cell proliferation and activated caspase‑3/7 activities. In addition, PACE4 siRNA significantly increased apoptosis via the activation of caspase‑3 and the downregulation of anti‑apoptotic proteins, X‑linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein and phosphorylated‑Akt. In addition, the results showed deregulation of the B cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2)-associated X protein/Bcl‑2 ratio which led to the release of cytochrome c following PACE4 siRNA transfection. In conclusion, PACE4 siRNA may exert antitumor activity through the mitochondrial pathway and is expected to be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Feng Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Xinmin Branch of The China‑Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Guo-Min Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Xinmin Branch of The China‑Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Hong-Liang Zang
- Department of General Surgery, Xinmin Branch of The China‑Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Hong Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Xinmin Branch of The China‑Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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Bassi DE, Zhang J, Renner C, Klein-Szanto AJ. Targeting proprotein convertases in furin-rich lung cancer cells results in decreased in vitro and in vivo growth. Mol Carcinog 2016; 56:1182-1188. [PMID: 27584082 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Proprotein convertases (PCs) are serine proteases with an active role in the post-translational processing of numerous inactive proteins to active proteins including many substrates of paramount importance in cancer development and progression. Furin (PCSKC3), a well-studied member of this family, is overexpressed in numerous human and experimental malignancies. In the present communication, we treated two furin-overexpressing non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines (Calu-6 and HOP-62) with the PC inhibitor CMK (Decanoyl-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-chloromethylketone). This resulted in a diminished IGF-1R processing and a simultaneous decrease in cell proliferation of two NSCLC lines. Similarly, growth of subcutaneous xenografts of both cell lines, were partially inhibited by an in vivo treatment with the same drug. These observations point to a potential role of PC inhibitors in cancer therapy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Bassi
- Department of Pathology and Histopathology Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jirong Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Histopathology Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Catherine Renner
- Department of Pathology and Histopathology Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andres J Klein-Szanto
- Department of Pathology and Histopathology Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Jaaks P, D’Alessandro V, Grob N, Büel S, Hajdin K, Schäfer BW, Bernasconi M. The Proprotein Convertase Furin Contributes to Rhabdomyosarcoma Malignancy by Promoting Vascularization, Migration and Invasion. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161396. [PMID: 27548722 PMCID: PMC4993484 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The proprotein convertase (PC) furin cleaves precursor proteins, an important step in the activation of many cancer-associated proteins. Substrates of furin and furin-like PCs play a role in proliferation, metastasis and invasion. Some of them are involved in the progression of the pediatric soft tissue sarcoma rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). In this study, we show that PCs, and in particular furin, are expressed in RMS cell lines. To investigate the functional role of furin, we generated RMS cell lines with modulated furin activity. Silencing or stable inhibition of furin delayed tumor growth in Rh30 and RD xenografts in vivo, and was correlated with lower microvessel density. Reduced furin activity also decreased migration and invasion abilities in vitro, and inhibition of furin in RMS cells diminished processing of IGF1R, VEGF-C, PDGF-B and MT1-MMP, leading to lower levels of mature proteins. Furthermore, we found that furin activity is required for proper IGF signaling in RMS cells, as furin silencing resulted in reduced phosphorylation of Akt upon IGF1 stimulation. Taken together, our results suggest that furin plays an important role in the malignant phenotype of RMS cells by activating proteins involved in tumor growth and vascularization, metastasis and invasion.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Movement
- Furin/antagonists & inhibitors
- Furin/genetics
- Furin/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/genetics
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 14/genetics
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 14/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/pathology
- Phosphorylation
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism
- Receptor, IGF Type 1
- Receptors, Somatomedin/genetics
- Receptors, Somatomedin/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma/genetics
- Rhabdomyosarcoma/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma/pathology
- Signal Transduction
- Soft Tissue Neoplasms/genetics
- Soft Tissue Neoplasms/metabolism
- Soft Tissue Neoplasms/pathology
- Transplantation, Heterologous
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Jaaks
- Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Valentina D’Alessandro
- Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Grob
- Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sina Büel
- Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katarina Hajdin
- Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beat W. Schäfer
- Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michele Bernasconi
- Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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30
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PACE4 inhibitors and their peptidomimetic analogs block prostate cancer tumor progression through quiescence induction, increased apoptosis and impaired neovascularisation. Oncotarget 2016; 6:3680-93. [PMID: 25682874 PMCID: PMC4414146 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in North American men. Current pharmacological treatments are limited to anti-androgen strategies and the development of new therapeutic approaches remains a challenge. As a fundamentally new approach, we propose the inhibition of PACE4, a member of the proprotein convertases family of enzymes, as a therapeutic target in prostate cancer. We developed an inhibitor named the Multi-Leu peptide, with potent in vitro anti-proliferative effects. However, the Multi-Leu peptide has not been tested under in vivo conditions and its potency under such conditions is most likely limited, due to the labile characteristics of peptides in general. Using a peptidomimetic approach, we modified the initial scaffold, generating the analog Ac-[DLeu]LLLRVK-Amba, which demonstrates increased inhibitory potency and stability. The systemic administration of this peptidomimetic significantly inhibits tumor progression in the LNCaP xenograft model of prostate cancer by inducing tumor cell quiescence, increased apoptosis and neovascularization impairment. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution profiles of this inhibitor confirm adequate tumor delivery properties of the compound. We conclude that PACE4 peptidomimetic inhibitors could result in stable and potent drugs for a novel therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer.
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Kwiatkowska A, Couture F, Levesque C, Ly K, Beauchemin S, Desjardins R, Neugebauer W, Dory YL, Day R. Novel Insights into Structure-Activity Relationships of N-Terminally Modified PACE4 Inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2016; 11:289-301. [PMID: 26751825 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201500532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PACE4 plays important roles in prostate cancer cell proliferation. The inhibition of this enzyme has been shown to slow prostate cancer progression and is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy. In previous work, we developed a highly potent and selective PACE4 inhibitor, the multi-Leu (ML) peptide, an octapeptide with the sequence Ac-LLLLRVKR-NH2 . Here, with the objective of developing a useful compound for in vivo administration, we investigate the effect of N-terminal modifications. The inhibitory activity, toxicity, stability, and cell penetration properties of the resulting analogues were studied and compared to the unmodified inhibitor. Our results show that the incorporation of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety leads to a loss of antiproliferative activity, whereas the attachment of a lipid chain preserves or improves it. However, the lipidated peptides are significantly more toxic when compared with their unmodified counterparts. Therefore, the best results were achieved not by the N-terminal extension but by the protection of both ends with the d-Leu residue and 4-amidinobenzylamide, which yielded the most stable inhibitor, with an excellent activity and toxicity profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kwiatkowska
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Frédéric Couture
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Christine Levesque
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Kévin Ly
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Sophie Beauchemin
- Département de chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Roxane Desjardins
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Witold Neugebauer
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Yves L Dory
- Département de chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada.
| | - Robert Day
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Ave. Nord Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada.
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Yao Z, Sun B, Hong Q, Yan J, Mu D, Li J, Sheng H, Guo H. PACE4 regulates apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial signaling pathways. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2015; 9:5911-23. [PMID: 26604689 PMCID: PMC4639519 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s86881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND PACE4 is a proprotein convertase capable of processing numerous substrates involved in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. However, the precise role of PACE4 during prostate cancer cell apoptosis has not been reported. METHODS In the present study, human prostate cancer cell lines DU145, LNCaP, and PC3 were transfected with PACE4 small interfering (si)RNA to investigate the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis. RESULTS We revealed that PACE4 siRNA exhibited antitumor activity by inducing apoptosis, as determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltet-razolium bromide (MTT) assay, cell cycle analysis, Hoechst staining, caspase-3/7 activity, and western blot analysis. In addition, PACE4 siRNA significantly increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, which led to the release of cytochrome c. Moreover, PACE4 siRNA also induced endoplasmic reticulum stress by increasing the expression of GRP78, GRP94, p-PERK, and p-eIF2α. The ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and GRP78 were also increased in PACE4 gene knockdown prostate cancer cells compared with the control cells. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that PACE4 siRNA may exert its antitumor activity through mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathways, indicating it may be a novel therapeutic target for prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Yao
- Department of Urology, Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Sun
- Department of Urology, Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Quan Hong
- Department of Urology, Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingmin Yan
- Department of Urology, Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dawei Mu
- Department of Urology, Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianye Li
- Department of Urology, Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Haibo Sheng
- Department of Urology, Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Heqing Guo
- Department of Urology, Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Jiang H, Wang L, Pan J. Inhibition of pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 6 has a protective role against synovitis in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis. Mol Med Rep 2015; 12:7681-6. [PMID: 26458419 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.4376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2014] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 6 (PCSK6), a proteinase implicated in the proteolytic activity of various precursor proteins and involved in the regulation of protein maturation, in fibroblast‑like synoviocytes (FLS) of a rat model of collagen‑induced arthritis (CIA). Cultured FLS from CIA models were subjected to small interfering RNA mediated PCSK6 knockdown, followed by assessment of the proliferation, invasive and migratory capacity, the secretion of inflammation factors and the cell cycle. Expression of genes associated with proliferation, invasion, migration and inflammation was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that PCSK6 knockdown significantly decreased the cell proliferation, invasion and migration of FLS from rats with CIA. ELISA showed an obvious decrease of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β secretion, and flow cytometric analysis revealed G0/G1 arrest of FLS following PCSK6 knockdown. Furthermore, a decrease in the mRNA levels of inflammation‑associated chemokine CXCL9, angiogenesis‑associated genes MMP‑2, MMP‑9 and NOSTRIN, hypoxia‑associated gene HIF‑1α, adhesion‑associated gene MPZL2, proliferation‑associated gene IGF‑2 and citrullination‑associated gene PADI4 was detected after PCSK6 knockdown. The results of the present study indicated that inhibition of PCSK6 may have a protective role against synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyu Jiang
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Jinan, Shandong 250022, P.R. China
| | - Lin Wang
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Jinan, Shandong 250022, P.R. China
| | - Jihong Pan
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Jinan, Shandong 250022, P.R. China
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Couture F, Levesque C, Dumulon-Perreault V, Ait-Mohand S, D'Anjou F, Day R, Guérin B. PACE4-based molecular targeting of prostate cancer using an engineered ⁶⁴Cu-radiolabeled peptide inhibitor. Neoplasia 2015; 16:634-43. [PMID: 25220591 PMCID: PMC4235008 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential of PACE4 as a pharmacological target in prostate cancer has been demonstrated as this proprotein convertase is strongly overexpressed in human prostate cancer tissues and its inhibition, using molecular or pharmacological approaches, results in reduced cell proliferation and tumor progression in mouse tumor xenograft models. We developed a PACE4 high-affinity peptide inhibitor, namely, the multi-leucine (ML), and sought to determine whether this peptide could be exploited for the targeting of prostate cancer for diagnostic or molecular imaging purposes. We conjugated a bifunctional chelator 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7- triacetic acid (NOTA) to the ML peptide for copper-64 ((64)Cu) labeling and positron emission tomography (PET)- based prostate cancer detection. Enzyme kinetic assays against recombinant PACE4 showed that the NOTA-modified ML peptide displays identical inhibitory properties compared to the unmodified peptide. In vivo biodistribution of the (64)Cu/NOTA-ML peptide evaluated in athymic nude mice bearing xenografts of two human prostate carcinoma cell lines showed a rapid and high uptake in PACE4-expressing LNCaP tumor at an early time point and in PACE4-rich organs. Co-injection of unlabeled peptide confirmed that tumor uptake was target-specific. PACE4-negative tumors displayed no tracer uptake 15 minutes after injection, while the kidneys, demonstrated high uptake due to rapid renal clearance of the peptide. The present study supports the feasibility of using a (64)Cu/NOTA-ML peptide for PACE4-targeted prostate cancer detection and PACE4 status determination by PET imaging but also provides evidence that ML inhibitor-based drugs would readily reach tumor sites under in vivo conditions for pharmacological intervention or targeted radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Couture
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Department of Surgery/Urology Division, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Christine Levesque
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Department of Surgery/Urology Division, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Véronique Dumulon-Perreault
- Centre de Recherche Clinique Étienne-Le Bel, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Samia Ait-Mohand
- Centre de Recherche Clinique Étienne-Le Bel, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - François D'Anjou
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Department of Surgery/Urology Division, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Robert Day
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Department of Surgery/Urology Division, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
| | - Brigitte Guérin
- Centre de Recherche Clinique Étienne-Le Bel, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
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Lin YE, Wu QN, Lin XD, Li GQ, Zhang YJ. Expression of paired basic amino acid-cleaving enzyme 4 (PACE4) correlated with prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. J Thorac Dis 2015; 7:850-60. [PMID: 26101640 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.05.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paired basic amino acid-cleaving enzyme 4 (PACE4) was shown to enhance tumor cells proliferation and invasive. This study provides the first investigation of PACE4 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the correlation with clinicopathologic features, prognostic indicators of 172 cases. METHODS Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence (IF) were applied to detect PACE4 expression in NSCLC and 16HBE cell lines, then 172 consecutive NSCLC and 15 normal lung tissues were studied through immunohistochemistry (IHC). The association between PACE4 expression and clinicopathological parameters was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the effect of PACE4 expression on survival. RESULTS PACE4 expression in NSCLC were significantly higher than normal lung cell and tissues (P<0.05). PACE4 had cytoplasmic expression and was observed in 111 of the 172 (64.5%) NSCLC patients. Clinicopathologically, PACE4 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (N stage) (P=0.007), and clinical stage (P=0.024). Multivariable analysis confirmed that PACE4 expression increased the hazard of death after adjusting for other clinicopathological factors [hazards ratio (HR): 1.584; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.167-2.151; P<0.001]. Overall survival (OS) was significantly prolonged in PACE4 negative group when compared with PACE4 positive group (5-year survival rates, 23.1% vs. 54.5%, log-rank test, χ(2)=17.717, P<0.001), as was disease-free survival (DFS) (5-year survival rates, 23.4% vs. 55.4%, log-rank test, χ(2)=20.486, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that positive expression of PACE4 is an independent factor for NSCLC patients and it might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for patients with NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-En Lin
- 1 Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China ; 2 Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Qi-Nian Wu
- 1 Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China ; 2 Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Lin
- 1 Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China ; 2 Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Guang-Qiu Li
- 1 Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China ; 2 Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Ya-Jie Zhang
- 1 Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China ; 2 Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
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Multi-Leu PACE4 Inhibitor Retention within Cells Is PACE4 Dependent and a Prerequisite for Antiproliferative Activity. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:824014. [PMID: 26114115 PMCID: PMC4465654 DOI: 10.1155/2015/824014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The overexpression as well as the critical implication of the proprotein convertase PACE4 in prostate cancer progression has been previously reported and supported the development of peptide inhibitors. The multi-Leu peptide, a PACE4-specific inhibitor, was further generated and its capability to be uptaken by tumor xenograft was demonstrated with regard to its PACE4 expression status. To investigate whether the uptake of this inhibitor was directly dependent of PACE4 levels, uptake and efflux from cancer cells were evaluated and correlations were established with PACE4 contents on both wild type and PACE4-knockdown cell lines. PACE4-knockdown associated growth deficiencies were established on the knockdown HepG2, Huh7, and HT1080 cells as well as the antiproliferative effects of the multi-Leu peptide supporting the growth capabilities of PACE4 in cancer cells.
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Couture F, Kwiatkowska A, Dory YL, Day R. Therapeutic uses of furin and its inhibitors: a patent review. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2015; 25:379-96. [PMID: 25563687 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2014.1000303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since the discovery of furin, numerous reports have studied its role in health and diseases, including cancer, inflammatory and infectious diseases. This interest has led to the development of both large protein- and peptide-based inhibitors aiming to control furin activity to treat these disorders. The most recent advances include the development of potent peptidomimetic furin inhibitors, considerably expanding the field of therapeutic applications. AREA COVERED In this review, the use of furin or its inhibitors for therapeutic conditions is described through the patent literature since 1994. Only compounds with biological efficacy or augmented properties demonstrated within the patent literature or the associated publications concerning their claimed uses are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Considering the diseases that may benefit from furin inhibition, several patents detail the use of the restricted number of furin inhibitors. However, there have been recent reports of new scaffolds, and even the use of furin itself, as a therapeutic agent. Despite considerable evidence of in vivo efficacy, limited confirmation from clinical trials supports or refutes the further use of these compounds in a therapeutic context. The most advanced application is the use of furin knockdown in the generation of an autologous cancer vaccine, which has initiated clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Couture
- Université de Sherbrooke, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Department of Surgery/Urology Division, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé , 3001 12e Ave. Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4 , Canada +1 819 564 5428 ; +1 819 564 5400 ;
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WANG FEIFEI, WANG LIN, PAN JIHONG. PACE4 regulates proliferation, migration and invasion in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Mol Med Rep 2014; 11:698-704. [DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.2691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Kang S, Zhao Y, Hu K, Xu C, Wang L, Liu J, Yao A, Zhang H, Cao F. miR-124 exhibits antiproliferative and antiaggressive effects on prostate cancer cells through PACE4 pathway. Prostate 2014; 74:1095-106. [PMID: 24913567 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION PACE4 plays an important role in prostate cancer (PCa) proliferation and aggression, which might provide a useful target against prostate cancer. In this study, we had strived to find some key miRNAs to decrease malignancy and invasiveness of PCa through regulating PACE4 expression. METHODS Clinically pathological analysis of immunohistochemistry/in situ hybridization was carried out to detect the relationship between PACE4 expression/miRNAs and the malignancy of prostate mass. Prostate cell lines (DU145, C4-2, and BPH-1) were cultured for growth curve, immunocytochemistry analysis, colony formation, Matrigel invasion, and transcriptional/translational expression assay of PACE4-related signaling molecules for confirming the relationship. MiRNAs targeting PACE4 were predicted, validated and further-corroborated using bio-software, real-time PCR, luciferase reporter assay and transfection of miRNA mimics and inhibitor. RESULTS It was suggested that PACE4 might reflect the pathological malignancy of prostate lesion from pathology analysis. Moreover, DU145 cells, the highest PACE4-level and related TF expression indicated of the strongest malignancy and invasiveness. It was significantly found that miR-124 was presented with the biggest odd to target PACE4-3'UTR, the capability of decreasing PACE expression and slowing down cell growth and cell invasion. CONCLUSIONS It was clear that PACE4 level was closely associated with malignancy and invasiveness of PCa in vivo or in vitro MiR-124, played a crucial role inhibiting PACE4 transcription thus exhibiting obvious effects of antiproliferation and antiaggression of PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaosan Kang
- Department of Urinary Surgery, Hebei United University Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei, China
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Scarborough RJ, Lévesque MV, Boudrias-Dalle E, Chute IC, Daniels SM, Ouellette RJ, Perreault JP, Gatignol A. A Conserved Target Site in HIV-1 Gag RNA is Accessible to Inhibition by Both an HDV Ribozyme and a Short Hairpin RNA. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2014; 3:e178. [PMID: 25072692 PMCID: PMC4121520 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2014.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Antisense-based molecules targeting HIV-1 RNA have the potential to be used as part of gene or drug therapy to treat HIV-1 infection. In this study, HIV-1 RNA was screened to identify more conserved and accessible target sites for ribozymes based on the hepatitis delta virus motif. Using a quantitative screen for effects on HIV-1 production, we identified a ribozyme targeting a highly conserved site in the Gag coding sequence with improved inhibitory potential compared to our previously described candidates targeting the overlapping Tat/Rev coding sequence. We also demonstrate that this target site is highly accessible to short hairpin directed RNA interference, suggesting that it may be available for the binding of antisense RNAs with different modes of action. We provide evidence that this target site is structurally conserved in diverse viral strains and that it is sufficiently different from the human transcriptome to limit off-target effects from antisense therapies. We also show that the modified hepatitis delta virus ribozyme is more sensitive to a mismatch in its target site compared to the short hairpin RNA. Overall, our results validate the potential of a new target site in HIV-1 RNA to be used for the development of antisense therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Scarborough
- 1] Virus-Cell Interactions Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, Québec, Canada [2] Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Michel V Lévesque
- Département de Biochimie, RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Etienne Boudrias-Dalle
- 1] Virus-Cell Interactions Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, Québec, Canada [2] Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ian C Chute
- Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Sylvanne M Daniels
- 1] Virus-Cell Interactions Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, Québec, Canada [2] Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- Département de Biochimie, RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Anne Gatignol
- 1] Virus-Cell Interactions Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, Québec, Canada [2] Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada [3] Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Longuespée R, Couture F, Levesque C, Kwiatkowska A, Desjardins R, Gagnon S, Vergara D, Maffia M, Fournier I, Salzet M, Day R. Implications of Proprotein Convertases in Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation and Tumor Progression: Insights for PACE4 as a Therapeutic Target. Transl Oncol 2014; 7:S1936-5233(14)00043-6. [PMID: 24818756 PMCID: PMC4145398 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2014.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Revised: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertases are a family of kexin-like serine proteases that process proteins at single and multiple basic residues. Among the predicted and identified PC substrates, an increasing number of proteins having functions in cancer progression indicate that PCs may be potential targets for antineoplastic drugs. In support of this notion, we identified PACE4 as a vital PC involved in prostate cancer proliferation and progression, contrasting with the other co-expressed PCs. The aim of the present study was to test the importance of PCs in ovarian cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression. Based on tissue-expression profiles, furin, PACE4, PC5/6 and PC7 all displayed increased expression in primary tumor, ascites cells and metastases. These PCs were also expressed in variable levels in three model ovarian cell lines tested, namely SKOV3, CAOV3 and OVCAR3 cells. Since SKOV3 cells closely represented the PC expression profile of ovarian cancer cells, we chose them to test the effects of PC silencing using stable gene-silencing shRNA strategy to generate knockdown SKOV3 cells for each expressed PC. In vitro and in vivo assays confirmed the role of PACE4 in the sustainment of SKOV3 cell proliferation, which was not observed with the other three PCs. We also tested PACE4 peptide inhibitors on all three cell lines and observed consequent reduced cell proliferation which was correlated with PACE4 expression. Overall, these data support a role of PACE4 in promoting cell proliferation in ovarian cancer and provides further evidence for PACE4 as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémi Longuespée
- MALDI Imaging Team, Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Biologique Fondamentale et Appliquée, Université Nord de France, Cité Scientifique, Université de Lille 1, Villeneuve D'Ascq, France; Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke et Département de chirurgie et service d'urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Frédéric Couture
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke et Département de chirurgie et service d'urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Christine Levesque
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke et Département de chirurgie et service d'urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Anna Kwiatkowska
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke et Département de chirurgie et service d'urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Roxane Desjardins
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke et Département de chirurgie et service d'urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Sandra Gagnon
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke et Département de chirurgie et service d'urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Daniele Vergara
- MALDI Imaging Team, Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Biologique Fondamentale et Appliquée, Université Nord de France, Cité Scientifique, Université de Lille 1, Villeneuve D'Ascq, France; Laboratory of Clinical Proteomic, "Giovanni Paolo II" Hospital, ASL-Lecce, Italy
| | - Michelle Maffia
- Laboratory of Clinical Proteomic, "Giovanni Paolo II" Hospital, ASL-Lecce, Italy
| | - Isabelle Fournier
- MALDI Imaging Team, Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Biologique Fondamentale et Appliquée, Université Nord de France, Cité Scientifique, Université de Lille 1, Villeneuve D'Ascq, France
| | - Michel Salzet
- MALDI Imaging Team, Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Biologique Fondamentale et Appliquée, Université Nord de France, Cité Scientifique, Université de Lille 1, Villeneuve D'Ascq, France.
| | - Robert Day
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke et Département de chirurgie et service d'urologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.
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Fu J, Zhang J, Gong Y, Testa CL, Klein-Szanto AJ. Regulation of HIF-1 alpha by the proprotein convertases furin and PC7 in human squamous carcinoma cells. Mol Carcinog 2014; 54:698-706. [PMID: 24436242 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Revised: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Proprotein convertases (PC), a family of serine proteases, process cancer-related substrates such as growth factors, growth factor receptors, cell adhesion molecules, metalloproteinases, etc. HIF-1α is a major transcription factor involved in tumorigenesis by sensing intratumoral hypoxia. Furin (PCSK3) is one of the numerous target genes regulated by HIF-1α transactivation and its distribution into endosomal compartments and onto the cell surface can be triggered by hypoxia via HIF-1α. siRNAs to knockdown PCs were transfected into cells alone or in combination with different drug treatments. Protein and RNA expression levels were analyzed by Western blotting or RT-PCR, respectively. PC7 (PCSK7) and furin siRNAs upregulated HIF-1α protein under normoxic condition to a level similar to that obtained by cobalt chloride treatment, eventually leading to activation of VEGF-A synthesis in two human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. The unchanged levels of HIF-1α mRNA expression under siRNA treatment and the additive HIF-1α induction of PC siRNAs and either cobalt chloride or the 26S ribosome inhibitor, MG-132, suggested a post-transcriptional PC-mediated regulation. Furthermore, cycloheximide chase showed that PC7/furin siRNA regulation occurred at the level of HIF-1α translation. A specific IGF-1R signaling inhibitor was able to attenuate the PC siRNA induction of HIF-1α, suggesting the involvement of the IGF-1R pathway. Thus, the data show that PCs regulate HIF-1α. Furin and PC7 siRNAs induced HIF-1α protein by increasing its translation, resulting in upregulation of VEGF-A. This finding may provide insight into intricate PC functions that seem to be independent from their substrate-processing activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Fu
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jirong Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yulan Gong
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Courtney Lyons Testa
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andres J Klein-Szanto
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Scarborough RJ, Lévesque MV, Perreault JP, Gatignol A. Design and evaluation of clinically relevant SOFA-HDV ribozymes targeting HIV RNA. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1103:31-43. [PMID: 24318884 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-730-3_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid therapies targeting HIV replication have the potential to be used in conjunction with or in place of the standard small-molecule therapies. Among the different classes of nucleic acid therapies, several ribozymes (Rzs, RNA enzymes) have been developed to target HIV RNA. The design of Rzs targeting HIV RNA is complicated by the sequence diversity of viral strains and the structural diversity of their target sites. Using the SOFA-HDV Rz as an example, this chapter describes methods that can be used to design Rzs for controlling HIV replication. We describe how to (1) identify highly conserved Rz target sites in HIV RNA; (2) generate a set of Rzs with the potential to be used as therapeutics; and (3) screen these Rzs for activity against HIV production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Scarborough
- Virus-Cell Interactions Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Gagnon H, Beauchemin S, Kwiatkowska A, Couture F, D'Anjou F, Levesque C, Dufour F, Desbiens AR, Vaillancourt R, Bernard S, Desjardins R, Malouin F, Dory YL, Day R. Optimization of furin inhibitors to protect against the activation of influenza hemagglutinin H5 and Shiga toxin. J Med Chem 2013; 57:29-41. [PMID: 24359257 DOI: 10.1021/jm400633d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Proprotein convertases (PCs) are crucial in the processing and entry of viral or bacterial protein precursors and confer increased infectivity of pathogens bearing a PC activation site, which results in increased symptom severity and lethality. Previously, we developed a nanomolar peptide inhibitor of PCs to prevent PC activation of infectious agents. Herein, we describe a peptidomimetic approach that increases the stability of this inhibitor for use in vivo to prevent systemic infections and cellular damage, such as that caused by influenza H5N1 and Shiga toxin. The addition of azaβ(3)-amino acids to both termini of the peptide successfully prevented influenza hemagglutinin 5 fusogenicity and Shiga toxin Vero toxicity in cell-based assays. The results from a cell-based model using stable shRNA-induced proprotein convertase knockdown indicate that only furin is the major proprotein convertase required for HA5 cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Gagnon
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke (IPS) and Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé (FMSS), Université de Sherbrooke , 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
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Kwiatkowska A, Couture F, Levesque C, Ly K, Desjardins R, Beauchemin S, Prahl A, Lammek B, Neugebauer W, Dory YL, Day R. Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship studies of a potent PACE4 inhibitor. J Med Chem 2013; 57:98-109. [PMID: 24350995 DOI: 10.1021/jm401457n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PACE4 plays an important role in the progression of prostate cancer and is an attractive target for the development of novel inhibitor-based tumor therapies. We previously reported the design and synthesis of a novel, potent, and relatively selective PACE4 inhibitor known as a Multi-Leu (ML) peptide. In the present work, we examined the ML peptide through detailed structure-activity relationship studies. A variety of ML-peptide analogues modified at the P8-P5 positions with leucine isomers (Nle, DLeu, and DNle) or substituted at the P1 position with arginine mimetics were tested for their inhibitory activity, specificity, stability, and antiproliferative effect. By incorporating d isomers at the P8 position or a decarboxylated arginine mimetic, we obtained analogues with an improved stability profile and excellent antiproliferative properties. The DLeu or DNle residue also has improved specificity toward PACE4, whereas specificity was reduced for a peptide modified with the arginine mimetic, such as 4-amidinobenzylamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kwiatkowska
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Department of Surgery/Urology Division, Université de Sherbrooke , 3001 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada
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Enhanced UV-induced skin carcinogenesis in transgenic mice overexpressing proprotein convertases. Neoplasia 2013; 15:169-79. [PMID: 23441131 DOI: 10.1593/neo.121846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The proprotein convertases (PCs) furin and PACE4 process numerous substrates involved in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. We have previously shown that PCs increase the susceptibility to chemical skin carcinogenesis. Because of the human relevancy of UV radiation in the etiopathogenesis of human skin cancer, we investigated whether or not transgenic mice overexpressing either furin alone or both furin and PACE4 show increased susceptibility to UV carcinogenesis. After backcrossing our previously described furin and PACE4 transgenic lines, targeted to the epidermis, into a SKH-1 background, we exposed both single and double transgenic mice to UV radiation for 34 weeks. The results showed an increase in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) multiplicity of approximately 70% in the single furin transgenic mouse line SF47 (P < .002) and a 30% increase in the other single transgenic line SF49 when compared to wild-type (WT) SKH-1 mice. Interestingly, there was also an increase in the percentage of high histologic grade SCCs in the transgenic lines compared to the WT mice, i.e., WT = 9%, SF47 = 15%, and SF49 = 26% (P < .02). Targeting both furin and PACE4 to the epidermis in double transgenic mice did not have an additive effect on tumor incidence/multiplicity but did enhance the tumor histopathologic grade, i.e., a significant increase in higher grade SCCs was seen in the bigenic mouse line SPF47 (P < .02). Thus, we observed an increased susceptibility to UV in single furin transgenic mice that was not substantially enhanced in the double furin/PACE4 transgenic mice.
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Role of proprotein convertases in prostate cancer progression. Neoplasia 2013; 14:1032-42. [PMID: 23226097 DOI: 10.1593/neo.121368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Revised: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Better understanding of the distinct and redundant functions of the proprotein convertase (PC) enzyme family within pathophysiological states has a great importance for potential therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the functional redundancy of PCs in prostate cancer in the commonly used androgen-sensitive LNCaP and the androgen-independent DU145 human cell lines. Using a lentiviral-based shRNA delivery system, we examined in vitro and in vivo cell proliferation characteristics of knockdown cell lines for the endogenous PCs furin, PACE4, and PC7 in both cell lines. Of the three PCs, only PACE4 was essential to maintain a high-proliferative status, as determined in vitro using XTT proliferation assays and in vivo using tumor xenografts in nude mice. Furin knockdowns in both cell lines had no effects on cell proliferation or tumor xenograft growth. Paradoxically, PC7 knockdowns reduced in vitro cellular proliferation but had no effect in vivo. Because PCs act within secretion pathways, we showed that conditioned media derived from PACE4 knockdown cells had very poor cell growth-stimulating effects in vitro. Immunohistochemistry of PACE4 knockdown tumors revealed reduced Ki67 and higher p27(KIP) levels (proliferation and cell cycle arrest markers, respectively). Interestingly, we determined that the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway was activated in PC7 knockdown tumors only, providing some explanations of the paradoxical effects of PC7 silencing in prostate cancer cell lines. We conclude that PACE4 has a distinct role in maintaining proliferation and tumor progression in prostate cancer and this positions PACE4 as a relevant therapeutic target for this disease.
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Proprotein convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) in the rat alveolar macrophage cell line NR8383: localization, trafficking and effects on cytokine secretion. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61557. [PMID: 23637853 PMCID: PMC3634814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The proprotein convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) is an important post-translational processing enzyme for the activation of precursor proteins within the regulated secretory pathway. Well characterized for its role in the neural and endocrine systems, we recently reported an unconventional role of PC1/3 as a modulator of the Toll-like receptor innate immune response. There are only a few reports that have studied PC1/3 expression in macrophages, and more investigation is needed to better characterize its function. These studies would greatly benefit from model cell lines. Our study aims to identify and characterize PC1/3 in a relevant model macrophage cell line and to determine the links between PC1/3 and innate immune cellular responses. We describe the rat alveolar cell line, NR8383, as expressing PC1/3 and the most common Toll-like receptors. In NR8383 cells, PC1/3 is localized at the Trans-Golgi network and traffics to lysosome related vesicles upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Moreover, we report the co-localization of PC1/3 and Toll-like receptor 4 upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Down regulation of PC1/3 by shRNA produce a similar phenotype in NR8383 to what we previously reported in isolated peritoneal macrophages. PC1/3 shRNA induced changes in the cellular organization and expression of the specific trafficking regulator RAB GTPase. As a consequence, NR8383 down-regulated for PC1/3, present an abnormal cytokine secretion profile. We conclude that the NR8383 cell line represents a good model to study PC1/3 in macrophages and we present PC1/3 as an important regulator of vesicle trafficking and secretion in macrophages.
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Opposite roles of furin and PC5A in N-cadherin processing. Neoplasia 2013; 14:880-92. [PMID: 23097623 DOI: 10.1593/neo.121250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Revised: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently demonstrated that lack of Furin-processing of the N-cadherin precursor (proNCAD) in highly invasive melanoma and brain tumor cells results in the cell-surface expression of a nonadhesive protein favoring cell migration and invasion in vitro. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of malignant human brain tumor cells revealed that of all proprotein convertases (PCs) only the levels of Furin and PC5A are modulated, being inversely (Furin) or directly (PC5A) correlated with brain tumor invasive capacity. Intriguingly, the N-terminal sequence following the Furin-activated NCAD site (RQKR↓DW(161), mouse nomenclature) reveals a second putative PC-processing site (RIRSDR↓DK(189)) located in the first extracellular domain. Cleavage at this site would abolish the adhesive functions of NCAD because of the loss of the critical Trp(161). This was confirmed upon analysis of the fate of the endogenous prosegment of proNCAD in human malignant glioma cells expressing high levels of Furin and low levels of PC5A (U343) or high levels of PC5A and negligible Furin levels (U251). Cellular analyses revealed that Furin is the best activating convertase releasing an ~17-kDa prosegment, whereas PC5A is the major inactivating enzyme resulting in the secretion of an ~20-kDa product. Like expression of proNCAD at the cell surface, cleavage of the NCAD molecule at RIRSDR↓DK(189) renders the U251 cancer cells less adhesive to one another and more migratory. Our work modifies the present view on posttranslational processing and surface expression of classic cadherins and clarifies how NCAD possesses a range of adhesive potentials and plays a critical role in tumor progression.
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Demidyuk IV, Shubin AV, Gasanov EV, Kurinov AM, Demkin VV, Vinogradova TV, Zinovyeva MV, Sass AV, Zborovskaya IB, Kostrov SV. Alterations in gene expression of proprotein convertases in human lung cancer have a limited number of scenarios. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55752. [PMID: 23409034 PMCID: PMC3567108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 12/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertases (PCs) is a protein family which includes nine highly specific subtilisin-like serine endopeptidases in mammals. The system of PCs is involved in carcinogenesis and levels of PC mRNAs alter in cancer, which suggests expression status of PCs as a possible marker for cancer typing and prognosis. The goal of this work was to assess the information value of expression profiling of PC genes. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for the first time to analyze mRNA levels of all PC genes as well as matrix metalloproteinase genes MMP2 and MMP14, which are substrates of PCs, in 30 matched pairs of samples of human lung cancer tumor and adjacent tissues without pathology. Significant changes in the expression of PCs have been revealed in tumor tissues: increased FURIN mRNA level (p<0.00005) and decreased mRNA levels of PCSK2 (p<0.007), PCSK5 (p<0.0002), PCSK7 (p<0.002), PCSK9 (p<0.00008), and MBTPS1 (p<0.00004) as well as a tendency to increase in the level of PCSK1 mRNA. Four distinct groups of samples have been identified by cluster analysis of the expression patterns of PC genes in tumor vs. normal tissue. Three of these groups covering 80% of samples feature a strong elevation in the expression of a single gene in cancer: FURIN, PCSK1, or PCSK6. Thus, the changes in the expression of PC genes have a limited number of scenarios, which may reflect different pathways of tumor development and cryptic features of tumors. This finding allows to consider the mRNAs of PC genes as potentially important tumor markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya V Demidyuk
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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