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Di Salvo C, D'Antongiovanni V, Benvenuti L, Fornai M, Valdiserra G, Natale G, Ryskalin L, Lucarini E, Mannelli LDC, Ghelardini C, Colucci R, Haskó G, Pellegrini C, Antonioli L. The pharmacological blockade of P2X4 receptor as a viable approach to manage visceral pain in a rat model of colitis. J Drug Target 2024; 32:953-963. [PMID: 38864378 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2024.2367563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Nowadays, the pharmacological management of visceral hypersensitivity associated with colitis is ineffective. In this context, targeting purinergic P2X4 receptor (P2X4R), which can modulate visceral pain transmission, could represent a promising therapeutic strategy. Herein, we tested the pain-relieving effect of two novel and selective P2X4R antagonists (NC-2600 and NP-1815-PX) in a murine model of DNBS-induced colitis and investigated the mechanisms underlying their effect. Tested drugs and dexamethasone (DEX) were administered orally, two days after colitis induction. Treatment with tested drugs and DEX improved tissue inflammatory parameters (body weight, spleen weight, macroscopic damage, TNF and IL-1β levels) in DNBS-rats. In addition, NC-2600 and NP-1815-PX attenuated visceral pain better than DEX and prevented the reduction of occludin expression. In in vitro studies, treatment of CaCo2 cells with supernatant from THP-1 cells, previously treated with LPS plus ATP, reduced the expression of tight junctions protein. By contrast, CaCo2 cells treated with supernatant from THP-1 cells, previously incubated with tested drugs, counteracted the reduction of tight junctions due to the inhibition of P2X4R/NLRP3/IL-1β axis. In conclusion, these results suggest that the direct and selective inhibition of P2X4R represents a viable approach for the management of visceral pain associated with colitis via NLRP3/IL-1β axis inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clelia Di Salvo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Laura Benvenuti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Fornai
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Valdiserra
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Natale
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Larisa Ryskalin
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Lucarini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Neurofarba, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Neurofarba, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Carla Ghelardini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Neurofarba, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Rocchina Colucci
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - György Haskó
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carolina Pellegrini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Antonioli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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2
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Wu X, Wang S, Wang C, Wu C, Zhao Z. Bioinformatics analysis identifies coagulation factor II receptor as a potential biomarker in stomach adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2468. [PMID: 38291086 PMCID: PMC10827804 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52397-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Coagulation factor 2 thrombin receptor (F2R), a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family, plays an important role in regulating blood clotting through protein hydrolytic cleavage mediated receptor activation. However, the underlying biological mechanisms by which F2R affects the development of gastric adenocarcinoma are not fully understood. This study aimed to systematically analyze the role of F2R in gastric adenocarcinoma. Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD)-related gene microarray data and corresponding clinicopathological information were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Differential expression genes (DEGs) associated with F2R were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. F2R mRNA expression data were utilized to estimate stromal cell and immune cell scores in gastric cancer tissue samples, including stromal score, immune score, and ESTIMATE score, derived from single-sample enrichment studies. Analysis of TCGA and GEO databases revealed significantly higher F2R expression in STAD tissues compared to normal tissues. Patients with high F2R expression had shorter survival times than those with low F2R expression. F2R expression was significantly correlated with tumor (T) stage, node (N) stage, histological grade and pathological stage. Enrichment analysis of F2R-related genes showed that GO terms were mainly related to circulation-mediated human immune response, immunoglobulin, cell recognition and phagocytosis. KEGG analysis indicated associations to extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interactions, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, the phosphoinositide-3-kinase-protein kinase B/Akt (PI3K-AKT) signaling pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway and the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway. GSEA revealed connections to DNA replication, the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and oxidative phosphorylation. Drug sensitivity analysis demonstrated positive correlations between F2R and several drugs, including BEZ235, CGP-60474, Dasatinib, HG-6-64-1, Aazopanib, Rapamycin, Sunitinib and TGX221, while negative correlation with CP724714, FH535, GSK1904529A, JNK-9L, LY317615, pyrimidine, rTRAIL and Vinorelbine. Knocking down F2R in GC cell lines resulted in slowed proliferation, migration, and invasion. All statistical analyses were performed using R software (version 4.2.1) and GraphPad Prism 9.0. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In conclusion, this study underscores the significance of F2R as a potential biomarker in gastric adenocarcinoma, shedding light on its molecular mechanisms in tumorigenesis. F2R holds promise for aiding in the diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy of STAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingwei Wu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241000, Anhui, China
- Clinical Laboratory, Traditional Chinese Hospital of Lu'an, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237000, Anhui, China
| | - Shengnan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Fuyang People's Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Fuyang, 236000, Anhui, China
| | - Chenci Wang
- Department of Oncology, Funan County People's Hospital, Fuyang, 236000, Anhui, China
| | - Chengwei Wu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital Affiliated to Jiaxing College, Jiaxing, 314000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhao
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241000, Anhui, China.
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Edsfeldt A, Singh P, Matthes F, Tengryd C, Cavalera M, Bengtsson E, Dunér P, Volkov P, Karadimou G, Gisterå A, Orho-Melander M, Nilsson J, Sun J, Gonçalves I. Transforming growth factor-β2 is associated with atherosclerotic plaque stability and lower risk for cardiovascular events. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:2061-2073. [PMID: 37200403 PMCID: PMC10478752 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) exists in three isoforms TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3. TGF-β1 has been suggested to be important for maintaining plaque stability, yet the role of TGF-β2 and -β3 in atherosclerosis remains to be investigated.This study explores the association of the three isoforms of TGF-β with plaque stability in the human atherosclerotic disease. METHODS AND RESULTS TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3 proteins were quantified in 223 human carotid plaques by immunoassays. Indications for the endarterectomy were: symptomatic carotid plaque with stenosis >70% or without symptoms and >80% stenosis. Plaque mRNA levels were assessed by RNA sequencing. Plaque components and extracellular matrix were measured histologically and biochemically. Matrix metalloproteinases and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was measured with immunoassays. The effect of TGF-β2 on inflammation and protease activity was investigated in vitro using THP-1 and RAW264.7 macrophages. Patients were followed longitudinally for cardiovascular (CV) events.TGF-β2 was the most abundant isoform and was increased at both protein and mRNA levels in asymptomatic plaques. TGF-β2 was the main determinant separating asymptomatic plaques in an Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis. TGF-β2 correlated positively to features of plaque stability and inversely to markers of plaque vulnerability. TGF-β2 was the only isoform inversely correlated to the matrix-degrading matrix metalloproteinase-9 and inflammation in the plaque tissue. In vitro, TGF-β2 pre-treatment reduced MCP-1 gene and protein levels as well as matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene levels and activity. Patients with plaques with high TGF-β2 levels had a lower risk to suffer from future CV events. CONCLUSIONS TGF-β2 is the most abundant TGF-β isoform in human plaques and may maintain plaque stability by decreasing inflammation and matrix degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Edsfeldt
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Pratibha Singh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Frank Matthes
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Michele Cavalera
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eva Bengtsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
- Biofilms—Research Center for Biointerfaces, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Pontus Dunér
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Petr Volkov
- Department of Clinical Sciences, LUDC Bioinformatics Unit, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Data Science and Quantitative Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Glykeria Karadimou
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anton Gisterå
- Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Jan Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jiangming Sun
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Isabel Gonçalves
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
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4
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Hung HC, Fan MH, Wang D, Miao CH, Su P, Liu CL. Effect of chimeric antigen receptor T cells against protease-activated receptor 1 for treating pancreatic cancer. BMC Med 2023; 21:338. [PMID: 37667257 PMCID: PMC10478223 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03053-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating malignancy with a 5-year survival rate of 6% following a diagnosis, and novel therapeutic modalities are needed. Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is abundantly overexpressed by both tumor cells and multiple stroma cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby offering a suitable immunotherapy target. METHODS A chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) strategy was applied to target PAR1 using a human anti-PAR1 scFv antibody fused to the transmembrane region with two co-stimulatory intracellular signaling domains of cluster of differentiation 28 (CD28) and CD137 (4-1BB), added to CD3ζ in tandem. RESULTS The engineered PAR1CAR-T cells eliminated PAR1 overexpression and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-mediated PAR1-upregulated cancer cells by approximately 80% in vitro. The adoptive transfer of PAR1CAR-T cells was persistently enhanced and induced the specific regression of established MIA PaCa-2 cancer cells by > 80% in xenograft models. Accordingly, proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines increased in CAR-T-cell-treated mouse sera, whereas Ki67 expression in tumors decreased. Furthermore, the targeted elimination of PAR1-expressing tumors reduced matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) levels, suggesting that the blocking of the PAR1/MMP1 pathway constitutes a new therapeutic option for PDAC treatment. CONCLUSIONS Third-generation PAR1CAR-T cells have antitumor activity in the TME, providing innovative CAR-T-cell immunotherapy against PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Chien Hung
- Department of General Surgery, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Huei Fan
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Daniel Wang
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Carol H Miao
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Pong Su
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Lien Liu
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan.
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan.
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5
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Shen K, Ke S, Chen B, Zhang T, Wang H, Lv J, Gao W. Identification and validation of biomarkers for epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related cells to estimate the prognosis and immune microenvironment in primary gastric cancer by the integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2023; 20:13798-13823. [PMID: 37679111 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2023614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with gastric cancer (GC) progression and immune microenvironment. To better understand the heterogeneity underlying EMT, we integrated single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and bulk sequencing data from GC patients to evaluate the prognostic utility of biomarkers for EMT-related cells (ERCs), namely, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and epithelial cells (ECs). METHODS scRNA-seq data from primary GC tumor samples were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify ERC marker genes. Bulk GC datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO were used as training and validation sets, respectively. Differentially expressed markers were identified from the TCGA database. Univariate Cox, least-absolute shrinkage, and selection operator regression analyses were performed to identify EMT-related cell-prognostic genes (ERCPGs). Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were adopted to evaluate the prognostic utility of the ERCPG signature. An ERCPG-based nomogram was constructed by integrating independent prognostic factors. Finally, we evaluated the correlations between the ERCPG signature and immune-cell infiltration and verified the expression of ERCPG prognostic signature genes by in vitro cellular assays. RESULTS The ERCPG signature was comprised of seven genes (COL4A1, F2R, MMP11, CAV1, VCAN, FKBP10, and APOD). Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on the ERCPG risk scores. Patients in the high-risk group showed a poor prognosis. ROC and calibration curves suggested that the ERCPG signature and nomogram had a good prognostic utility. An immune cell-infiltration analysis suggested that the abnormal expression of ERCPGs induced the formation of an unfavorable tumor immune microenvironment. In vitro cellular assays showed that ERCPGs were more abundantly expressed in GC cell lines compared to normal gastric tissue cell lines. CONCLUSIONS We constructed and validated an ERCPG signature using scRNA-seq and bulk sequencing data from ERCs of GC patients. Our findings support the estimation of patient prognosis and tumor treatment in future clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Shen
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Shuaiyi Ke
- Department of Internal Medicine, XianJu People's Hospital, XianJu 317399, China
| | - Binyu Chen
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Tiantian Zhang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Hongtai Wang
- Department of General Surgery, XianJu People' Hospital, XianJu 317399, China
| | - Jianhui Lv
- Department of General Surgery, XianJu People' Hospital, XianJu 317399, China
| | - Wencang Gao
- Department of Oncology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310005, China
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6
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Anti-inflammatory Effects of Novel P2X4 Receptor Antagonists, NC-2600 and NP-1815-PX, in a Murine Model of Colitis. Inflammation 2022; 45:1829-1847. [PMID: 35338432 PMCID: PMC9197920 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-022-01663-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The pharmacological blockade of P2X4 receptors has shown potential benefits in the management of several immune/inflammatory diseases. However, data regarding the involvement of P2X4 receptors in the pathophysiological mechanisms of action in intestinal inflammation are not well defined. We aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of two novel and selective P2X4 receptor antagonists, NC-2600 and NP-1815-PX, and characterize the molecular mechanisms of their action in a murine model of 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis. These two drugs and dexamethasone (DEX) were administered orally for 6 days, immediately after the manifestation of DNBS. The body weight decrease, resulting from colitis, was attenuated by NC-2600 and NP-1815-PX, but not DEX. However, all three drugs attenuated the increase in spleen weight and ameliorated macroscopic and microscopic colonic tissue damage. Furthermore, all three compounds decreased tissue IL-1β levels and caspase-1 expression and activity. Colonic tissue increase of tumor necrosis factor was downregulated by DEX, while both NC-2600 and NP-1815-PX were ineffective. The reduction of occludin associated with colitis was ameliorated by NC-2600 and NP-1815-PX, but not DEX. In THP-1 cells, lipopolysaccharide and ATP upregulated IL-1β release and NLRP3, caspase-1, caspase-5, and caspase-8 activity, but not of caspase-4. These changes were prevented by NC-2600 and NP-1815-PX treatment. For the first time, the above findings show that the selective inhibition of P2X4 receptors represents a viable approach to manage bowel inflammation via the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathways.
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7
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Enteric α-synuclein impairs intestinal epithelial barrier through caspase-1-inflammasome signaling in Parkinson's disease before brain pathology. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2022; 8:9. [PMID: 35022395 PMCID: PMC8755783 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-021-00263-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bowel inflammation, impaired intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB), and gut dysbiosis could represent early events in Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study examined, in a descriptive manner, the correlation among enteric α-synuclein, bowel inflammation, impairments of IEB and alterations of enteric bacteria in a transgenic (Tg) model of PD before brain pathology. Human A53T α-synuclein Tg mice were sacrificed at 3, 6, and 9 months of age to evaluate concomitance of enteric inflammation, IEB impairments, and enteric bacterial metabolite alterations during the early phases of α-synucleinopathy. The molecular mechanisms underlying the interplay between α-synuclein, activation of immune/inflammatory responses and IEB alterations were investigated with in vitro experiments in cell cultures. Tg mice displayed an increase in colonic levels of IL-1β, TNF, caspase-1 activity and enteric glia activation since 3 months of age. Colonic TLR-2 and zonulin-1 expression were altered in Tg mice as compared with controls. Lipopolysaccharide levels were increased in Tg animals at 3 months, while fecal butyrate and propionate levels were decreased. Co-treatment with lipopolysaccharide and α-synuclein promoted IL-1β release in the supernatant of THP-1 cells. When applied to Caco-2 cells, the THP-1-derived supernatant decreased zonulin-1 and occludin expression. Such an effect was abrogated when THP-1 cells were incubated with YVAD (caspase-1 inhibitor) or when Caco-2 were incubated with anakinra, while butyrate incubation did not prevent such decrease. Taken together, early enteric α-synuclein accumulation contributes to compromise IEB through the direct activation of canonical caspase-1-dependent inflammasome signaling. These changes could contribute both to bowel symptoms as well as central pathology.
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8
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D'Antongiovanni V, Pellegrini C, Antonioli L, Benvenuti L, Di Salvo C, Flori L, Piccarducci R, Daniele S, Martelli A, Calderone V, Martini C, Fornai M. Palmitoylethanolamide Counteracts Enteric Inflammation and Bowel Motor Dysfunctions in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:748021. [PMID: 34658885 PMCID: PMC8511319 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.748021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endogenous lipid mediator, is emerging as a promising pharmacological agent in multiple neurodegenerative disorders for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. However, its effects on enteric inflammation and colonic dysmotility associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are lacking. This study was designed to investigate the beneficial effect of PEA administration in counteracting the enteric inflammation and relieving the bowel motor dysfunctions in an AD mouse model, SAMP8 mice. In addition, the ability of PEA in modulating the activation of enteric glial cells (EGCs), pivotally involved in the pathophysiology of bowel dysfunctions associated with inflammatory conditions, has also been examined. SAMP8 mice at 4 months of age were treated orally with PEA (5 mg/kg/day) for 2 months. SAMR1 animals were employed as controls. At the end of treatment, parameters dealing with colonic motility, inflammation, barrier integrity and AD protein accumulation were evaluated. The effect of PEA on EGCs was tested in cultured cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus β-amyloid 1–42 (Aβ). SAMP8 treated with PEA displayed: 1) an improvement of in vitro colonic motor activity, citrate synthase activity and intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and 2) a decrease in colonic Aβ and α-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation, S100-β expression as well as enteric IL-1β and circulating LPS levels, as compared with untreated SAMP8 mice. In EGCs, treatment with PEA counteracted the increment of S100-β, TLR-4, NF-κB p65 and IL-1β release induced by LPS and Aβ. These results suggest that PEA, under a condition of cognitive decline, prevents the enteric glial hyperactivation, reduces AD protein accumulation and counteracts the onset and progression of colonic inflammatory condition, as well as relieves intestinal motor dysfunctions and improves the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. Therefore, PEA represents a viable approach for the management of the enteric inflammation and motor contractile abnormalities associated with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolina Pellegrini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Antonioli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Benvenuti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Clelia Di Salvo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Flori
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Alma Martelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Interdepartmental Research Center "Nutrafood: Nutraceutica e Alimentazione per la Salute", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Interdepartmental Research Center "Biology and Pathology of Ageing", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Calderone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Interdepartmental Research Center "Nutrafood: Nutraceutica e Alimentazione per la Salute", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Interdepartmental Research Center "Biology and Pathology of Ageing", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Fornai
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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9
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Kothari A, Flick MJ. Coagulation Signaling through PAR1 as a Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105138. [PMID: 34066284 PMCID: PMC8152032 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly fatal disease with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10% following diagnosis. The aggressive and invasive properties of pancreatic cancer tumors coupled with poor diagnostic options contribute to the high mortality rate since most patients present with late-stage disease. Accordingly, PDAC is linked to the highest rate of cancer-associated venous thromboembolic disease of all solid tumor malignancies. However, in addition to promoting clot formation, recent studies suggest that the coagulation system in PDAC mediates a reciprocal relationship, whereby coagulation proteases and receptors promote PDAC tumor progression and dissemination. Here, upregulation of tissue factor (TF) by tumor cells can drive local generation of the central coagulation protease thrombin that promotes cell signaling activity through protease-activated receptors (PARs) expressed by both tumor cells and multiple stromal cell subsets. Moreover, the TF-thrombin-PAR1 signaling axis appears to be a major mechanism of cancer progression in general and PDAC in particular. Here, we summarize the current literature regarding the role of PAR1 in PDAC and review possibilities for pharmacologically targeting PAR1 as a PDAC therapeutic approach.
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10
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Gao G, Yang M, Wang F, Dang G, Zhang X, Zhao J, Wang X, Jin B. Coagulation factor 2 thrombin receptor promotes malignancy in glioma under SOX2 regulation. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:10594—10613. [PMID: 32507767 PMCID: PMC7346046 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Glioma is the most common human primary brain cancer with high mortality and unfavorable clinical outcome. Coagulation factor 2 thrombin receptor (F2R), is a key component in the thrombosis process and has been demonstrated upregulated in various cancers. However, the effect and molecular mechanisms of F2R in glioma remains unclear. In our study, we confirmed that the expression of F2R was upregulated in glioma and predicted poor prognosis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and function assays demonstrated that F2R overexpression promoted glioma cell proliferation, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Then, we identified and validated F2R was the target gene of SRY-box 2 (SOX2) by dual luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Besides, High expression of F2R in malignant glioma was associated with β-catenint signaling pathway activation. Our findings conclude that F2R promotes glioma cell proliferation and metastasis under SOX2 and actives WNT/β-catenin Signaling pathway, which provides novel insight to the therapeutic regimen in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR. China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR. China
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR. China
| | - Ge Dang
- Department of Operating Theatre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR. China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Department of Operating Theatre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR. China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Operating Theatre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR. China
| | - Xiangyang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR. China
| | - Baozhe Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, PR. China
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11
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D’Antongiovanni V, Benvenuti L, Fornai M, Pellegrini C, van den Wijngaard R, Cerantola S, Giron MC, Caputi V, Colucci R, Haskó G, Németh ZH, Blandizzi C, Antonioli L. Glial A 2B Adenosine Receptors Modulate Abnormal Tachykininergic Responses and Prevent Enteric Inflammation Associated with High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051245. [PMID: 32443525 PMCID: PMC7290602 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The role played by adenosine A2B receptors (A2BRs) in the regulation of enteric glial cell (EGC) functions remains unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the involvement of A2BRs in the control of EGC functions in a model of obesity. C57BL/6 mice were fed with standard diet (SD) or high fat diet (HFD) for eight weeks. Colonic tachykininergic contractions were recorded in the presence of BAY60-6583 (A2BRs agonist), MRS1754 (A2BRs antagonist), and the gliotoxin fluorocitrate. Immunofluorescence distribution of HuC/D, S100β, and A2BRs was assessed in whole mount preparations of colonic myenteric plexus. To mimic HFD, EGCs were incubated in vitro with palmitate (PA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in the absence or in the presence of A2BR ligands. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression was assessed by Western blot analysis. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), substance P (SP), and glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) release were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays. MRS1754 enhanced electrically evoked tachykininergic contractions of colonic preparations from HFD mice. BAY60-6583 decreased the evoked tachykininergic contractions, with higher efficacy in HFD mice. Such effects were blunted upon incubation with fluorocitrate. In in vitro experiments on EGCs, PA and LPS increased TLR4 expression as well as IL-1β, GDNF, and SP release. Incubation with BAY60-6583 reduced TLR4 expression as well as IL-1β, GDNF, and SP release. Such effects were blunted by MRS1754. The present results suggest that A2BRs, expressed on EGCs, participate in the modulation of enteric inflammation and altered tachykininergic responses associated with obesity, thus representing a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa D’Antongiovanni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (V.D.); (L.B.); (M.F.); (L.A.)
| | - Laura Benvenuti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (V.D.); (L.B.); (M.F.); (L.A.)
| | - Matteo Fornai
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (V.D.); (L.B.); (M.F.); (L.A.)
| | | | - Renè van den Wijngaard
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Silvia Cerantola
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (M.C.G.); (R.C.)
| | - Maria Cecilia Giron
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (M.C.G.); (R.C.)
| | - Valentina Caputi
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YN60 Cork, Ireland;
| | - Rocchina Colucci
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (M.C.G.); (R.C.)
| | - Gyorgy Haskó
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Correspondence: (G.H.); (C.B.)
| | - Zoltán H. Németh
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Department of Surgery, Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
| | - Corrado Blandizzi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (V.D.); (L.B.); (M.F.); (L.A.)
- Correspondence: (G.H.); (C.B.)
| | - Luca Antonioli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (V.D.); (L.B.); (M.F.); (L.A.)
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12
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Signaling Crosstalk of TGF-β/ALK5 and PAR2/PAR1: A Complex Regulatory Network Controlling Fibrosis and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061568. [PMID: 29795022 PMCID: PMC6032192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Both signaling by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and agonists of the G Protein-coupled receptors proteinase-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) and -2 (PAR2) have been linked to tissue fibrosis and cancer. Intriguingly, TGF-β and PAR signaling either converge on the regulation of certain matrix genes overexpressed in these pathologies or display mutual regulation of their signaling components, which is mediated in part through sphingosine kinases and sphingosine-1-phosphate and indicative of an intimate signaling crosstalk between the two pathways. In the first part of this review, we summarize the various regulatory interactions that have been discovered so far according to the organ/tissue in which they were described. In the second part, we highlight the types of signaling crosstalk between TGF-β on the one hand and PAR2/PAR1 on the other hand. Both ligand–receptor systems interact at various levels and by several mechanisms including mutual regulation of ligand–ligand, ligand–receptor, and receptor–receptor at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and receptor transactivation levels. These mutual interactions between PAR2/PAR1 and TGF-β signaling components eventually result in feed-forward loops/vicious cycles of matrix deposition and malignant traits that exacerbate fibrosis and oncogenesis, respectively. Given the crucial role of PAR2 and PAR1 in controlling TGF-β receptor activation, signaling, TGF-β synthesis and bioactivation, combining PAR inhibitors with TGF-β blocking agents may turn out to be more efficient than targeting TGF-β alone in alleviating unwanted TGF-β-dependent responses but retaining the beneficial ones.
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13
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Liu X, Yu J, Song S, Yue X, Li Q. Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1): a promising molecular target for cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:107334-107345. [PMID: 29291033 PMCID: PMC5739818 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PAR-1 is expressed not only in epithelium, neurons, astrocytes, immune cells, but also in cancer-associated fibroblasts, ECs (epithelial cells), myocytes of blood vessels, mast cells, and macrophages in tumor microenvironment, whereas PAR-1 stimulates macrophages to synthesize and secrete thrombin as well as other growth factors, resulting in enhanced cell proliferation, tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, considerable effort has been devoted to the development of inhibitors targeting PAR-1. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of PAR-1’s role in cancer invasiveness and dissemination, as well as potential therapeutic strategies targeting PAR-1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Institute, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.,Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Jiahui Yu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Shangjin Song
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Yue
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Institute, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
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