Visfatin promotes cell and tumor growth by upregulating Notch1 in breast cancer

Extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase: role in disease pathophysiology and as a biomarker

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) plays a central role in mammalian cell metabolism by contributing to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis. However, NAMPT activity is not limited to the intracellular compartment, as once secreted, the protein accomplishes diverse functions in the extracellular space. Extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT, also called visfatin or pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor) has been shown to possess adipocytokine, pro-inflammatory, and pro-angiogenic activities. Numerous studies have reported the association between elevated levels of circulating eNAMPT and various inflammatory and metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lung injury and cancer. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on eNAMPT biology, proposed roles in disease pathogenesis, and its potential as a disease biomarker. We also briefly discuss the emerging therapeutic approaches for eNAMPT inhibition.

Extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT) neutralization counteracts T cell immune evasion in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a key intracellular enzyme that participates in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) homeostasis as well as a released cytokine (eNAMPT) that is elevated in inflammatory conditions and in cancer. In patients with breast cancer, circulating eNAMPT is elevated and its plasma levels correlate with prognosis and staging. In light of this, we investigated the contribution of eNAMPT in triple negative mammary carcinoma progression by investigating the effect of its neutralization via a specific neutralizing monoclonal antibody (C269).

METHODS

We used female BALB/c mice injected with 4T1 clone 5 cells and female C57BL6 injected with EO771 cells, evaluating tumoral size, spleen weight and number of metastases. We injected two times a week the anti-eNAMPT neutralizing antibody and we sacrificed the mice after 28 days. Harvested tumors were analyzed by histopathology, flow cytometry, western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and RNA sequencing to define tumor characteristics (isolating tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and tumoral cells) and to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind the observed phenotype. Moreover, we dissected the functional relationship between T cells and tumoral cells using three-dimensional (3D) co-cultures.

RESULTS

The neutralization of eNAMPT with C269 led to decreased tumor size and reduced number of lung metastases. RNA sequencing and functional assays showed that eNAMPT controlled T-cell response via the programmed death-ligand 1/programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-L1/PD-1) axis and its neutralization led to a restoration of antitumoral immune responses. In particular, eNAMPT neutralization was able to activate CD8+IFNγ+GrzB+ T cells, reducing the immunosuppressive phenotype of T regulatory cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies indicate for the first time eNAMPT as a novel immunotherapeutic target for triple negative breast cancer.

Visfatin upregulates VEGF-C expression and lymphangiogenesis in esophageal cancer by activating MEK1/2-ERK and NF-κB signaling

Lymph node metastasis is a recognized prognostic factor in esophageal cancer. Adipokines, including visfatin, and the molecule vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, are implicated in lymphangiogenesis, but whether any association exists between esophageal cancer, adipokines and VEGF-C is unknown. We examined the relevance of adipokines and VEGF-C in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. We found significantly higher levels of visfatin and VEGF-C expression in esophageal cancer tissue than in normal tissue. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining identified that higher levels of visfatin and VEGF-C expression were correlated with advanced stage ESCC. Visfatin treatment of ESCC cell lines upregulated VEGF-C expression and VEGF-C-dependent lymphangiogenesis in lymphatic endothelial cells. Visfatin induced increases in VEGF-C expression by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases1/2-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK1/2-ERK) and Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) signaling cascades. Transfecting ESCC cells with MEK1/2-ERK and NF-κB inhibitors (PD98059, FR180204, PDTC, and TPCK) and siRNAs inhibited visfatin-induced increases in VEGF-C expression. It appears that visfatin and VEGF-C are promising therapeutic targets in the inhibition of lymphangiogenesis in esophageal cancer.

Visfatin-induced upregulation of lipogenesis via EGFR/AKT/GSK3β pathway promotes breast cancer cell growth

Breast cancer (BC) incidence and associated mortality have increased in tandem with the growth in obesity among the females worldwide. An adipokine, visfatin, has been shown to potentially impact glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism, and promote cancer growth however, the mechanism underlying the effect of visfatin on lipid metabolism dysregulation contributing to BC cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis has not been elucidated. Herein, we have investigated the role of visfatin on the induction of Sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP-1) and its upstream and downstream mediators in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The survival and proliferation was investigated using MTT and Trypan blue assays, cytosolic lipid accumulation was observed using Nile red staining, mRNA and protein expressions were examined using RT-qPCR and western blotting, respectively, and cell cycle analysis was performed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Our results indicate that visfatin increased the survival and proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner and augmented lipid buildup via activation of SREBP-1 and its associated downstream lipid synthesizing enzymes, at both mRNA and protein levels in MCF-7 cells. Inhibiting SREBP-1 using fatostatin or silencing with siRNA abrogated excessive lipid deposition by suppressing the expression of genes related to lipid synthesis pathway. Further, in-silico study showed high affinity binding of visfatin with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which was confirmed in an in-vitro study where visfatin increased the phosphorylation of EGFR at tyrosine residue and activated its downstream proteins via phosphorylation of AKT and GSK3β in MCF-7 cells. Inhibition of GSK3β by phosphorylation led to increased activity of SREBP-1 and associated downstream proteins. In summary, SREBP-1 may be a critical player in visfatin-induced lipid synthesis and accumulation in BC cells via activation of EGFR/AKT/GSK3β pathway leading to increased cell survival and proliferation of BC cells.

Adipose tissue-to-breast cancer crosstalk: Comprehensive insights

The review focuses on mechanistic evidence for the link between obesity and breast cancer. According to the IARC study, there is sufficient evidence that obesity is closely related to a variety of cancers. Among them, breast cancer is particularly disturbed by adipose tissue due to the unique histological structure of the breast. The review introduces the relationship between obesity and breast cancer from two aspects, including factors that promote tumorigenesis or metastasis. We summarize alterations in adipokines and metabolic pathways that contribute to breast cancer development. Breast cancer metastasis is closely related to obesity-induced pro-inflammatory microenvironment, adipose stem cells, and miRNAs. Based on the mechanism by which obesity causes breast cancer, we list possible therapeutic directions, including reducing the risk of breast cancer and inhibiting the progression of breast cancer. We also discussed the risk of autologous breast remodeling and fat transplantation. Finally, the causes of the obesity paradox and the function of enhancing immunity are discussed. Evaluating the balance between obesity-induced inflammation and enhanced immunity warrants further study.

Altered Adipokine Expression in Tumor Microenvironment Promotes Development of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Obesity is a remarkably important factor for breast carcinogenesis and aggressiveness. The implication of increased BMI in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) development is also well established. A malignancy-promoting role of the adipose tissue has been supposed, where the adipocytes that constitute the majority of stromal cells release pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Alterations in adipokines and their receptors play significant roles in breast cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug response. Classic adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, have been extensively studied in breast cancer and connected with breast cancer risk and progression. Notably, new molecules are constantly being discovered and the list is continuously growing. Additionally, substantial progress has been made concerning their differential expression in association with clinical and pathological parameters of tumors and the prognostic and predictive value of their dysregulation in breast cancer carcinogenesis. However, evidence regarding the mechanisms by which adipose tissue is involved in the development of TNBC is lacking. In the present article we comment on current data on the suggested involvement of these mediators in breast cancer development and progression, with particular emphasis on TNBC, to draw attention to the design of novel targeted therapies and biomarkers.

DNMT1-mediated demethylation of lncRNA MEG3 promoter suppressed breast cancer progression by repressing Notch1 signaling pathway

Breast carcinoma is one of the common causes of cancer-related mortality in women. Maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), a lncRNA located at 14q32, can be involved in carcinogenesis. In this study, we discovered that MEG3 was downregulated by CpG hypermethylation within its gene promoter. Functionally, treatment of breast cancer cells with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-AzadC as well as silencing of DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) could decrease the abnormal hypermethylation of the MEG3 promoter, reverse MEG3 expression, inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis. In addition, we found that MEG3 expression was negatively correlated with DNMT1. Mechanistically, MEG3 knockdown combined with 5-AzadC or sh-DNMT1 treatment restored the expression of Notch1 receptor, leading to the Notch1 pathway activation, and promoted the progression of epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT). Finally, the mice tumor model experiments showed that DNMT1 knockdown can increase MEG3 expression and inhibit tumor growth. Collectively, our findings uncovered that DNMT1-mediated MEG3 demethylation leads to MEG3 upregulation, which in turn inhibits the Notch1 pathway and EMT process in breast cancer.

Cellular and molecular insights into the roles of visfatin in breast cancer cells plasticity programs

Obesity has reached a pandemic proportion and is responsible for the augmentation of multimorbidity including certain cancers. With the rise in obesity amongst the female population globally, a concomitant increase in breast cancer (BC) incidence and related mortality has been observed. In the present review, we have elucidated the cellular and molecular insight into the visfatin-mediated cellular plasticity programs such as Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), and stemness-associated changes in BC cells. EMT and EndoMT are responsible for inducing metastasis in cancer cells and conferring chemotherapy resistance, immune escape, and infinite growth potential. Visfatin, an obesity-associated adipokine implicated in metabolic syndrome, has emerged as a central player in BC pathogenesis. Several studies have indicated the presence of visfatin in the tumor microenvironment (TME) where it augments EMT and EndoMT of BC cells. Further, Visfatin also modulates the TME by acting on the tumor stroma cells such as adipocytes, infiltrated immune cells, and adipose-associated stem cells that secrete factors such as cytokines, and extracellular vesicles responsible for augmenting cellular plasticity program. Visfatin induced altered metabolism of the cancer cells and molecular determinants such as non-coding RNAs involved in EMT and EndoMT have been discussed. We have also highlighted specific therapeutic targets that can be exploited for the development of effective BC treatment. Taken together, these advanced understandings of cellular and molecular insight into the visfatin-mediated cellular plasticity programs may stimulate the development of better approaches for the prevention and therapy of BC, especially in obese patients.

Updated Functional Roles of NAMPT in Carcinogenesis and Therapeutic Niches

Simple Summary

The advantages and applications of using the non-invasive way to detect serum biomarkers for assessing cancer diagnosis and prognosis have been explored. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), also designated as pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) or visfatin, is a secreted adipokine known to modulate tumor malignancies. Its significance in predicting cancer patient’s survival outcome further renders the implementation of NAMPT in clinical practice. In this review, recent discoveries of NAMPT in cancer studies were focused and integrated. We aim to provide updates for researchers who are proposing relevant objectives.

Abstract

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is notable for its regulatory roles in tumor development and progression. Emerging evidence regarding NAMPT somatic mutations in cancer patients, NAMPT expressional signatures in normal tissues and cancers, and the prognostic significance of NAMPT in many cancer types has attracted attention, and NAMPT is considered a potential biomarker of cancer. Recent discoveries have demonstrated the indirect association and direct biological functions of NAMPT in modulating cancer metastasis, proliferation, angiogenesis, cancer stemness, and chemoresistance to anticancer drugs. These findings warrant further investigation of the underlying mechanisms to provide knowledge for developing novel cancer therapeutics. In this review article, we explore recent research developments involving the oncogenic activities of NAMPT by summarizing current knowledge regarding NAMPT somatic mutations, clinical trials, transcriptome data, and clinical information and discoveries related to the NAMPT-induced signaling pathway in modulating hallmarks of cancer. Furthermore, the comprehensive representation of NAMPT RNA expression in a pancancer panel as well as in specific normal cell types at single-cell level are demonstrated. The results suggest potential sites and cell types that could facilitate NAMPT-related tumorigenesis. With this review, we aim to shed light on the regulatory roles of NAMPT in tumor development and progression, and provide information to guide future research directions in this field.

The Adipokine Component in the Molecular Regulation of Cancer Cell Survival, Proliferation and Metastasis

A hormonal imbalance may disrupt the rigorously monitored cellular microenvironment by hampering the natural homeostatic mechanisms. The most common example of such hormonal glitch could be seen in obesity where the uprise in adipokine levels is in virtue of the expanding bulk of adipose tissue. Such aberrant endocrine signaling disrupts the regulation of cellular fate, rendering the cells to live in a tumor supportive microenvironment. Previously, it was believed that the adipokines support cancer proliferation and metastasis with no direct involvement in neoplastic transformations and tumorigenesis. However, the recent studies have reported discrete mechanisms that establish the direct involvement of adipokine signaling in tumorigenesis. Moreover, the individual adipokine profile of the patients has never been considered in the prognosis and staging of the disease. Hence, the present manuscript has focused on the reported extensive mechanisms that culminate the basis of poor prognosis and diminished survival rate in obese cancer patients.

Visfatin Enhances Breast Cancer Progression through CXCL1 Induction in Tumor-Associated Macrophages

Visfatin, an adipocytokine highly expressed in breast tumor tissues, is associated with breast cancer progression. Recent studies showed that adipocytokines mediate tumor development through adipocytokine tumor-stromal interactions in the tumor microenvironment. This study focused on the interaction between one key stromal constituent-tumor-associated macrophages-and visfatin. Pretreatment of THP-1 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with recombinant visfatin resulted in M2-polarization determined by CD163 and CD206 expression. Indirect co-culture with visfatin-treated THP-1 (V-THP-1) promoted the viability, migration, tumorsphere formation, EMT, and stemness of breast cancer cells. Cytokine array identified an increased CXCL1 secretion in V-THP-1 conditioned medium and recombinant CXCL1 enhanced cell migration and invasion, which were abrogated by the CXCL1-neutralizing antibody. Additionally, visfatin induced pERK in THP-1 cells and clinical samples confirmed a positive CXCL1/pERK correlation. In an orthotopic mouse model, the tumor bioluminescent signal of luciferase-expressing MDA-MB-231 (Luc-MDA-MB-231) cells co-cultured with V-THP-1 and the expression of proliferation marker Ki67 were significantly higher than that co-cultured with THP-1. Furthermore, tail vein-injected Luc-MDA-MB-231 pretreated with V-PBMCs conditioned medium metastasized to lungs more frequently compared to control, and this was reversed by CXCL1 blocking antibody. In summary, this study demonstrated that visfatin enhanced breast cancer progression via pERK/CXCL1 induction in macrophages.

Adipocytokines visfatin and resistin in breast cancer: Clinical relevance, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic potential

Obesity is one of the major modifiable risk factors in breast cancer, with obese adipose tissue showing a pathological role in breast cancer development and malignancy via the release of secretory factors, such as proinflammatory cytokines and adipocytokines. The current article focuses on visfatin and resistin, two such adipocytokines that have emerged over the last two decades as leading breast cancer promoting factors in obesity. The clinical association of circulating visfatin and resistin with breast cancer and their biological mechanisms are reviewed, in addition to their role in the context of tumor-stromal interactions in the breast cancer microenvironment. Recent findings have unraveled several mediators of visfatin and resistin that are involved in the crosstalk between breast cancer cells and adipose tissue in the breast tumor microenvironment, including growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Finally, current therapeutics targeting visfatin and resistin and their respective pathways are discussed, including future therapeutic strategies such as new drug design or neutralizing peptides that target extracellular visfatin or resistin. These hold promise in the development of novel breast cancer therapies and are of increasing relevance as the prevalence of obesity-related breast cancer increases worldwide.

Significance of Some Non-Invasive Biomarkers in the Early Diagnosis and Staging of Egyptian Breast Cancer Patients

Introduction:

Breast cancer is one of the most relevant malignancies among women. Early diagnosis and accurate staging of breast cancer is important for the selection of an appropriate therapeutic strategy and achieving a better outcome.

Aim:

This study aimed to explore the significance of some non-invasive biomarkers in the early diagnosis and staging of Egyptian breast cancer patients.

Subjects and Methods:

A total of 135 female patients with physically and pathologically confirmed breast cancer and 40 unrelated controls as well as 40 patients with benign breast mass were enrolled in this study. The malignant breast cancer group was further divided into four groups according to tumor size. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule-1 (CEACAM1), resistin and visfatin were determined by enzyme immunoassay.

Results:

Elevated levels of CEACAM1, resistin and visfatin were observed in breast cancer patients when compared with normal control and benign groups. The cutoff values, sensitivities and specificities of these biomarkers were appropriate for the discrimination of breast cancer from controls. Additionally, the serum levels of visfatin increased positively with tumor size and consequently with breast cancer stages.

Conclusion:

CEACAM1, resistin and visfatin are valuable in early diagnosis of breast cancer, with visfatin being preferentially used in staging.

Bone Marrow Adipocytes, Adipocytokines, and Breast Cancer Cells: Novel Implications in Bone Metastasis of Breast Cancer

Accumulating discoveries highlight the importance of interaction between marrow stromal cells and cancer cells for bone metastasis. Bone is the most common metastatic site of breast cancer and bone marrow adipocytes (BMAs) are the most abundant component of the bone marrow microenvironment. BMAs are unique in their origin and location, and recently they are found to serve as an endocrine organ that secretes adipokines, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. It is reasonable to speculate that BMAs contribute to the modification of bone metastatic microenvironment and affecting metastatic breast cancer cells in the bone marrow. Indeed, BMAs may participate in bone metastasis of breast cancer through regulation of recruitment, invasion, survival, colonization, proliferation, angiogenesis, and immune modulation by their production of various adipocytokines. In this review, we provide an overview of research progress, focusing on adipocytokines secreted by BMAs and their potential roles for bone metastasis of breast cancer, and investigating the mechanisms mediating the interaction between BMAs and metastatic breast cancer cells. Based on current findings, BMAs may function as a pivotal modulator of bone metastasis of breast cancer, therefore targeting BMAs combined with conventional treatment programs might present a promising therapeutic option.

The up-regulation of markers of adipose tissue fibrosis by visfatin in pre-adipocytes as well as obese children and adolescents

Adipocytes are surrounded by a three-dimensional network of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Aberrant ECM accumulation and remodeling leads to adipose tissue fibrosis. Visfatin is one of the adipocytokines that is increased in obesity and is implicated in insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of visfatin on major components of ECM remodeling. In this study, plasma levels of both endotrophin and visfatin in obese children and adolescents were significantly higher than those in control subjects and they showed a positive correlation with each other. Treatment of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes with visfatin caused significant up-regulation of Osteopontin (Opn), Collagen type VI (Col6), matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9. By using inhibitors of major signaling pathways it was shown that visfatin exerted its effect on Col6a3 gene expression through PI3K, JNK, and NF-кB pathways, while induced Opn gene expression via PI3K, JNK, MAPK/ERK, and NOTCH1. Our conclusion is that, the relationship between visfatin, endotrophin and insulin resistance parameters in obesity as well as increased expression of ECM proteins by visfatin suggests adipose tissue fibrosis as a mechanism for devastating effects of visfatin in obesity.

Visfatin Induces Senescence of Human Dental Pulp Cells

Dental pulp plays an important role in the health of teeth. The aging of teeth is strongly related to the senescence of dental pulp cells. A novel adipokine, visfatin, is closely associated with cellular senescence. However, little is known about the effect of visfatin on the senescence of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Here, it was found that in vivo visfatin levels in human dental pulp tissues increase with age and are upregulated in vitro in hDPCs during premature senescence activated by H₂O₂, suggesting a correlation between visfatin and senescence. In addition, visfatin knockdown by small interfering RNA led to the reduction in hDPC senescence; however, treatment with exogenous visfatin protein induced the senescence of hDPCs along with increased NADPH consumption, which was reversed by FK866, a chemical inhibitor of visfatin. Furthermore, visfatin-induced senescence was associated with both the induction of telomere damage and the upregulation of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors as well as NF-κB activation, which were all inhibited by FK866. Taken together, these results demonstrate, for the first time, that visfatin plays a pivotal role in hDPC senescence in association with telomere dysfunction and the induction of SASP factors.

Prognostic value of visfatin in various human malignancies: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Although numerous studies have shown that visfatin is linked to several cancers, its prognostic value is still unclear. This first comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic effect of visfatin in cancer patients. A systematic search was conducted for relevant studies in health-related electronic databases up to May 2019. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for total and stratified analyses were calculated to demonstrate the prognostic value of visfatin expression level in cancer patients. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also investigated. A total of 14 eligible studies with 1616 patients were included in the current meta-analysis. Pooling results revealed that, high visfatin expression was significantly associated with poorer overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.64-3.62, P < 0.001). Elevated visfatin level was also correlated with positive lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.43-4.17, P ≤ 0.001), positive distance metastasis (OR = 2014, 95% CI 1.25-3.69, P ≤ 0.001), advanced tumor stage (OR = 3.01, 95% CI 1.91-7.72, P ≤ 0.001), and larger tumor size (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.49-2.69, P ≤ 0.001). Our meta-results indicates that altered visfatin expression is a potential indicator of poor clinical outcomes in tumor patients, suggesting that high visfatin expression may serve as a potential biomarker of poor prognosis and metastasis in cancers.

Visfatin Mediates Malignant Behaviors through Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Intermediary in Breast Cancer

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been implicated in tumor growth and metastasis in breast cancer. ADSCs exhibit tumor tropism, and are of increasing clinical relevance due to the autologous fat grafting for breast reconstruction. Although we have previously shown that a high level of the adipocytokine visfatin in human breast cancer tissues correlated with tumor progression mediated by cAbl and STAT3, the effects of visfatin in the tumor microenvironment are unclear. To understand how visfatin modulates breast cancer within the tumor-stromal environment, we examined determinants of breast cancer progression using a visfatin-primed ADSCs-tumor co-culture model. ADSCs were isolated from tumor-free adipose tissue adjacent to breast tumors. ADSCs were treated with or without visfatin for 48 h and then collected for co-culture with breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 for 72 h in a transwell system. We found that the MDA-MB-231 cells co-cultured with visfatin-treated ADSCs (vADSCs) had higher levels of cell viability, anchorage independent growth, migration, invasion, and tumorsphere formation than that co-cultured with untreated ADSCs (uADSCs). Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) upregulation was found in the co-culture conditioned medium, with GDF15 neutralizing antibody blocking the promoting effect on MDA-MB-231 in co-culture. In addition, a GDF15-induced AKT pathway was found in MDA-MB-231 and treatment with PI3K/AKT inhibitor also reversed the promoting effect. In an orthotopic xenograft mouse model, MDA-MB-231 co-injected with vADSCs formed a larger tumor mass than with uADSCs. Positive correlations were noted between visfatin, GDF15, and phosphor-AKT expressions in human breast cancer specimens. In conclusion, visfatin activated GDF15-AKT pathway mediated via ADSCs to facilitate breast cancer progression.

The Role of Adipokines in Breast Cancer: Current Evidence and Perspectives

PURPOSE

The current review shows evidence for the role of adipokines in breast cancer (BC) pathogenesis summarizing the mechanisms underlying the association between adipokines and breast malignancy. Special emphasis is given also on intriguing insights into the relationship between obesity and BC as well as on the role of novel adipokines in BC development.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent evidence has underscored the role of the triad of obesity, insulin resistance, and adipokines in postmenopausal BC. Adipokines exert independent and joint effects on activation of major intracellular signal networks implicated in BC cell proliferation, growth, survival, invasion, and metastasis, particularly in the context of obesity, considered a systemic endocrine dysfunction characterized by chronic inflammation. To date, more than 10 adipokines have been linked to BC, and this catalog is continuously increasing. The majority of circulating adipokines, such as leptin, resistin, visfatin, apelin, lipocalin 2, osteopontin, and oncostatin M, is elevated in BC, while some adipokines such as adiponectin and irisin (adipo-myokine) are generally decreased in BC and considered protective against breast carcinogenesis. Further evidence from basic and translational research is necessary to delineate the ontological role of adipokines and their interplay in BC pathogenesis. More large-scale clinical and longitudinal studies are awaited to assess their clinical utility in BC prognosis and follow-up. Finally, novel more effective and safer adipokine-centered therapeutic strategies could pave the way for targeted oncotherapy.

Neutrophil Maturation and Survival Is Controlled by IFN-Dependent Regulation of NAMPT Signaling

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)/nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) signaling has been shown to be crucial for the modulation of neutrophil development and functionality. As this signaling pathway is significantly suppressed by type I interferons (IFNs), we aimed to study how the regulation of neutrophil differentiation and phenotype is altered in IFN-deficient mice during granulopoiesis. The composition of bone marrow granulocyte progenitors and their Nampt expression were assessed in bone marrow of type I IFN receptor knockout (Ifnar1^-/-) mice and compared to wild-type animals. The impact of NAMPT inhibition on the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of murine bone marrow progenitors, as well as of murine 32D and human HL-60 neutrophil-like cell lines, was estimated. The progressive increase of Nampt expression during neutrophil progenitor maturation could be observed, and it was more prominent in IFN-deficient animals. Altered composition of bone marrow progenitors in these mice correlated with the dysregulation of apoptosis and altered differentiation of these cells. We observed that NAMPT is vitally important for survival of early progenitors, while at later stages it delays the differentiation of neutrophils, with moderate effect on their survival. This study shows that IFN-deficiency leads to the elevated NAMPT expression in the bone marrow, which in turn modulates neutrophil development and differentiation, even in the absence of tumor-derived stimuli.

Visfatin promotes the malignancy of human acute myeloid leukemia cells via regulation of IL-17

Understanding the mechanisms of malignancy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell is important for the targeted treatment and drug development. We found that visfatin, a 52-kDa adipokine, can positively regulate the proliferation of AML cells. Targeted inhibition of visfatin via its specific siRNAs or inhibitor can suppress the proliferation of AML cells. Further, knockdown of visfatin can increase the doxorubicin (Dox) and cisplatin (CDDP) sensitivity of AML cells. Among the tested six cytokines, si-visfatin can decrease the expression of interleukin-17 (IL-17). Over expression of IL-17 can reverse si-visfatin suppressed cell proliferation and increased Dox sensitivity. The upregulation of IL-17 was also involved in visfatin induced activation of PI3K/Akt signals in AML cells. The inhibitor of PI3K/Akt can synergistically suppress the proliferation of HL60 cells which were transfected with si-visfatin. Knockdown of visfatin can increase the expression of miR-135a, which can bind to the 3'UTR of IL-17 and decrease its expression. The inhibitor of miR-135a can attenuate si-visfatin suppressed expression of IL-17 and proliferation of AML cells. Collectively, our data suggested that visfatin can increase the malignancy of AML cells via regulation of miR-135a/IL-17/PI3K/Akt signals.

Visfatin serum concentration and hepatic mRNA expression in chronic hepatitis C

Aim of the study

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a viral disease with metabolic disturbances involved in its pathogenesis. Adipokines may influence the inflammatory response and contribute to development of metabolic abnormalities in CHC. Visfatin exerts immunomodulatory and insulin-mimetic effects. The aim was to measure visfatin serum concentrations and its mRNA hepatic expression in non-obese CHC patients and to assess the relationships with metabolic and histological parameters.

Material and methods

In a group of 63 non-obese CHC patients (29 M/34 F) infected with genotype 1b aged 46.6 ±14.6 years, body mass index (BMI) 24.8 ±3.0 kg/m², serum visfatin levels and its mRNA hepatic expression were examined and the subsequent associations with metabolic and histopathological features were assessed.

Results

Serum visfatin levels were significantly higher in CHC patients compared to controls (22.7 ±5.7 vs. 17.8 ±1.5 ng/ml, p < 0.001). There was no difference in serum visfatin and its mRNA hepatic expression regardless of sex, BMI, insulin sensitivity and lipids concentrations. There was no mutual correlation between serum visfatin and visfatin mRNA hepatic expression. Hepatic visfatin mRNA levels but not visfatin serum levels were higher in patients with steatosis (1.35 ±0.75 vs. 0.98 ±0.34, p = 0.009).

Conclusions

Serum visfatin levels may reflect its involvement in chronic inflammatory processes accompanying HCV infection. Increased visfatin mRNA hepatic expression in patients with steatosis seems to be a compensatory mechanism enabling hepatocytes to survive metabolic abnormalities resulting from virus-related lipid droplet deposition prerequisite to HCV replication.

Possible role of Thiazolidinedione in the management of Type-II Endometrial Cancer

Type-II Endometrial Cancer (EMC) is one of the most common types of gynaecological cancer affecting more than 2.7 million people worldwide. Clinical evidence shows that adipokines levels are abnormally altered in Type-II EMC and reported to be one of the major responsible factor for uncontrolled proliferation and metastasis in Type-II EMC. Reversing the altered adipokine levels, therefore, help to control Type-II EMC proliferation and metastasis. In the present hypothesis we focus on the possible role of Thiazolidinediones in favourably altering the adipokine levels to benefit in the management of Type-II EMC.

The role of visfatin in cancer proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, drug resistance and clinical prognosis

Visfatin, also known as nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase or pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is an adipocytokine secreted by adipocytes, macrophages and inflamed endothelial tissue. Related reports have indicated a positive correlation between the visfatin level and obesity and cancer risk. In addition to its original function, visfatin is multifunctional and plays critical roles in the promotion of several processes relevant to cancer progression including cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and drug resistance. The relative expression of visfatin and the potential visfatin receptor on a pan-cancer scale was determined based on the transcriptome analysis data in The Cancer Genome Atlas. We further show the clinical association of its signaling axis with the survival of cancer patients, which reveals its prognostic power for specific cancer types. This review illustrates visfatin’s biological functions related to cancer progression and demonstrates its clinical significance in predicting outcomes of cancer patients.

Clinical significance of serum adiponectin and visfatin levels in endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate serum adiponectin and visfatin levels, and their ratio, in patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective case-control study of 53 patients with endometrial cancer admitted to Dalian Municipal Women and Children's Medical Center, China, between May 1, 2009, and January 31, 2013. Ninety-eight healthy women who underwent physical examination at the same time served as the control group. Serum adiponectin and visfatin levels were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Serum adiponectin level in the endometrial cancer group was significantly lower than in the control group (2.09 ± 1.24 μg/mL vs 7.59 ± 2.29 μg/mL; P<0.001). Serum adiponectin was positively correlated with visfatin level (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.472). The visfatin:adiponectin ratio in the endometrial cancer group was significantly higher than the control group (0.28 ± 0.10 vs 0.11 ± 0.09; P=0.047). Multivariate logistic regression showed that decreased serum adiponectin (odds ratio 0.998, 95% CI 0.996-0.999; P=0.045) and increased visfatin (1.010, 1.003-1.017; P=0.042) levels were independent risk factors for the onset of endometrial cancer.

CONCLUSION

Decreased serum adiponectin or increased visfatin levels are independent risk factors for endometrial cancer. The visfatin:adiponectin ratio has a certain reference value for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer.

Classic and Novel Adipocytokines at the Intersection of Obesity and Cancer: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this review, we investigate the role of classic and novel adipocytokines in cancer pathogenesis synopsizing the mechanisms underlying the association between adipocytokines and malignancy. Special emphasis is given on novel adipocytokines as new evidence is emerging regarding their entanglement in neoplastic development.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent data have emphasized the role of the triad of overweight/obesity, insulin resistance and adipocytokines in cancer. In the setting of obesity, classic and novel adipocytokines present independent and joint effects on activation of major intracellular signaling pathways implicated in cell proliferation, expansion, survival, adhesion, invasion, and metastasis. Until now, more than 15 adipocytokines have been associated with cancer, and this list continues to expand. While the plethora of circulating pro-inflammatory adipocytokines, such as leptin, resistin, extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase, and chemerin are elevated in malignancies, some adipocytokines such as adiponectin and omentin-1 are generally decreased in cancers and are considered protective against carcinogenesis. Elucidating the intertwining of inflammation, cellular bioenergetics, and adiposopathy is significant for the development of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies against cancer. Novel more effective and safe adipocytokine-centered therapeutic interventions may pave the way for targeted oncotherapy.

Visfatin and resistin in gonadotroph cells: expression, regulation of LH secretion and signalling pathways

Visfatin and resistin appear to interfere with reproduction in the gonads, but their potential action at the hypothalamic-pituitary level is not yet known. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mRNA and protein expression of these adipokines in murine gonadotroph cells and to analyse the effects of different concentrations of recombinant mouse visfatin and resistin (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10ngmL^-1) on LH secretion and signalling pathways in LβT2 cells and/or in primary female mouse pituitary cells. Both visfatin and resistin mRNA and protein were found in vivo in gonadotroph cells. In contrast with resistin, the primary tissue source of visfatin in the mouse was the skeletal muscle, and not adipose tissue. Visfatin and resistin both decreased LH secretion from LβT2 cells after 24h exposure of cells (P<0.03). These results were confirmed for resistin in primary cell culture (P<0.05). Both visfatin (1ngmL^-1) and resistin (1ngmL^-1) increased AMP-activated protein kinase α phosphorylation in LβT2 cells after 5 or 10min treatment, up to 60min (P<0.04). Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation was transiently increased only after 5min resistin (1ngmL^-1) treatment (P<0.01). In conclusion, visfatin and resistin are expressed in gonadotroph cells and they may affect mouse female fertility by regulating LH secretion at the level of the pituitary.

Investigating the effect of visfatin on ERalpha phosphorylation (Ser118 and Ser167) and ERE-dependent transcriptional activity

Obesity is associated with higher postmenopausal breast cancer incidence. Visfatin level alteration is one of the mechanisms by which obesity promotes cancer. Ligand-independent activation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is also associated with carcinogenesis. The activity of ERα is modulated through phosphorylation on multiple sites by a number of protein kinases. Here we investigated the effect of visfatin as a novel adipocytokine on the phosphorylation and activity of ERα in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We showed that exogenous administration of visfatin significantly increased the phosphorylation of ERα at serine 118 (Ser118) and 167 (Ser167) residues. Visfatin-induced Ser118 phosphorylation was diminished after treatment of cells with U0126 (MEK1/2 inhibitor). Furthermore, our results showed that visfatin-induced Ser167 phosphorylation is mediated through both MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Inhibition of the enzymatic activity of visfatin by FK866 had no effect on phosphorylation of ERα. We also showed that visfatin enhanced the estrogen response element (ERE)-dependent activity of ER in the presence of 17-β estradiol (E2). Additional study on T47D cells showed that visfatin also increased Ser118 and Ser167 phosphorylation of ERα and enhanced ERE-dependent activity in the presence of E2 in these cells.

The role of extracellular and intracellular Nicotinamide phosphoribosyl-transferase in cancer: Diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives and challenges

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyl-transferase (Nampt) or pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor or visfatin represents a pleiotropic molecule acting as an enzyme, a cytokine and a growth factor. Intracellular Nampt plays an important role in cellular bioenergetics and metabolism, particularly NAD biosynthesis. NAD biosynthesis is critical in DNA repair, oncogenic signal transduction, transcription, genomic integrity and apoptosis. Although its insulin-mimetic function remains a controversial issue, extracellular Nampt presents proliferative, anti-apoptotic, pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic and metastatic properties. Nampt is upregulated in many malignancies, including obesity-associated cancers, and is associated with worse prognosis. Serum Nampt may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cancer. Pharmacologic agents that neutralize Nampt or medications that decrease Nampt levels or downregulate signaling pathways downstream of Nampt may prove to be useful anti-cancer treatments. In particular, Nampt inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination therapy have displayed anti-cancer activity in vivo and in vitro. The aim of this review is to explore the role of Nampt in cancer pathophysiology as well as to synopsize the mechanisms underlying the association between extracellular and intracellular Nampt, and malignancy. Exploring the interplay of cellular bioenergetics, inflammation and adiposopathy is expected to be of importance in the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies against cancer.

Production and characterization of a novel Delta-like 1 functional unit as a tool for Notch pathway activation and generation of a specific antibody

Notch signalling is an evolutionary conserved cell-to-cell communication pathway crucial for development and tissue homeostasis. Abnormal Notch signalling by mutations or deregulated expression of its receptors and/or ligands can lead to cancer making it a potential therapeutic target. Delta-like1 (DLL1) is a ligand of the Notch pathway implicated in different types of cancer, including breast cancer. Herein, we produced rhDLL1-DE3, a novel soluble form of DLL1 protein, which contains the DSL domain and EGF1-3 repeats critical for Notch pathway activation. cDNA fragments of human DLL1, encoding truncated versions of DLL1 with regions required to activate Notch receptors, were cloned and expressed as histidine-fused proteins in bacterial and mammalian cells. Expression tests in mammalian cells showed almost exclusively expression of the rhDLL1-DE3 protein form comprising the minimal binding regions DSL to EGF3 to Notch receptors. The highest yield of rhDLL1-DE3 was obtained from E. coli inclusion bodies. The produced protein, with purity higher than 95% bound to human Notch1 recombinant protein, by both Biolayer interferometry and ELISA assays. Cellular assays revealed rhDLL1-DE3 was biologically active as it increased expression of Notch-dependent genes in inducible pluripotent and breast cancer cells. Moreover, rhDLL1-DE3 allowed the generation of polyclonal antibodies by immunization that efficiently recognized DLL1 proteins by immunoblot, and caused a significant decrease of Notch1 expression in MCF7 breast cancer cells. The rhDLL1-DE3 protein might thus be used for Notch pathway activation and to generate anti-DLL1 monoclonal antibodies by immunization or phage display technology to unveil the effect of DLL1 in breast cancer.

Visfatin is involved in promotion of colorectal carcinoma malignancy through an inducing EMT mechanism

Increasing evidences suggested visfatin, a newly discovered obesity-induced adipocytokine, is involved in promotion of cancer malignancy and correlated with worse clinical prognosis. While its effects and mechanisms on progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. Our clinical data show that visfatin protein is over expressed, positive associated with lymph node metastasis, high-grade tumor, and poor prognosis in 87 CRC patients. The levels of plasma visfatin are significantly upregulated in Stage IV colon cancer. Visfatin can significantly promote the in vitro migration and invasion of CRC cells via induction epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). It can increase the expression and nuclear translocation of Snail, a key transcription factor in regulating EMT. While silencing of Snail attenuates visfatin induced EMT. Further studies reveal visfatin can inhibit the association of Snail with GSK-3β and subsequently suppress ubiquitylation of Snail. In addition, visfatin can increase the expression and nuclear translocation of β-catenin, elevate its binding with Snail promoter, and then increase the transcription of Snail. While inhibitor of PI3K/Akt, LY294002, abolishes visfatin induced up regulation of Snail, Vimentin (Vim), β-catenin, and phosphorylated GSK-3β. In summary, our data suggest that increased expression of visfatin are associated with a more aggressive phenotype of CRC patients. It can trigger the EMT of CRC cells via Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signals.

Extracellular NAMPT/visfatin causes p53 deacetylation via NAD production and SIRT1 activation in breast cancer cells

Visfatin, which is secreted as an adipokine and cytokine, has been implicated in cancer development and progression. In this study, we investigated the NAD-producing ability of visfatin and its relationship with SIRT1 (silent information regulator 2) and p53 to clarify the role of visfatin in breast cancer. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were cultured and treated with visfatin. SIRT1 activity was assessed by measuring fluorescence intensity from fluoro-substrate peptide. To investigate the effect of visfatin on p53 acetylation, SDS-PAGE followed by western blotting was performed using specific antibodies against p53 and its acetylated form. Total NAD was measured both in cell lysate and the extracellular medium by colorimetric method. Visfatin increased both extracellular and intracellular NAD concentrations. It also induced proliferation of breast cancer cells, an effect that was abolished by inhibition of its enzymatic activity. Visfatin significantly increased SIRT1 activity, accompanied by induction of p53 deacetylation. In conclusion, the results show that extracellular visfatin produces NAD that causes upregulation of SIRT1 activity and p53 deacetylation. These findings explain the relationship between visfatin and breast cancer progression.

Curcumin: the spicy modulator of breast carcinogenesis

Worldwide breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. For many years clinicians and the researchers are examining and exploring various therapeutic modalities for breast cancer. Yet the disease has remained unconquered and the quest for cure is still going on. Present-day strategy of breast cancer therapy and prevention is either combination of a number of drugs or a drug that modulates multiple targets. In this regard natural products are now becoming significant options. Curcumin exemplifies a promising natural anticancer agent for this purpose. This review primarily underscores the modulatory effect of curcumin on the cancer hallmarks. The focus is its anticancer effect in the complex pathways of breast carcinogenesis. Curcumin modulates breast carcinogenesis through its effect on cell cycle and proliferation, apoptosis, senescence, cancer spread and angiogenesis. Largely the NFkB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK and JAK/STAT are the key signaling pathways involved. The review also highlights the curcumin mediated modulation of tumor microenvironment, cancer immunity, breast cancer stem cells and cancer related miRNAs. Using curcumin as a therapeutic and preventive agent in breast cancer is perplexed by its diverse biological activity, much of which remains inexplicable. The information reviewed here should point toward potential scope of future curcumin research in breast cancer.

Extracellular NAMPT/Visfatin induces proliferation through ERK1/2 and AKT and inhibits apoptosis in breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Visfatin is a novel adipokine and proinflammatory cytokine which is implicated in breast cancer progression. The exact proliferative and anti-apoptotic mechanisms of visfatin are still under debate. In this study, the effect of extracellular visfatin on proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells were investigated considering key regulatory molecules in these procedures.

METHODS

BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine) experiment was used to assess cell proliferation in response to visfatin treatment. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed using MTT assay and flowcytometry, respectively. Phosphorylation levels of AKT and ERK1/2 as well as survivin levels and Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage were investigated by western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Visfatin induced proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, an effect that was repressed by using AKT and ERK1/2 inhibitors, indicating involvement of these two signaling pathways in the proliferative effect of visfatin. Similarly, phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2 were elevated by visfatin treatment. On the other hand, visfatin improved cell viability and prevented TNF-α-induced apoptosis as well as PARP cleavage. Visfatin also exerted a protective effect on survivin.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that visfatin induces breast cancer cell proliferation through AKT/PI3K and ERK/MAPK activation and protects against apoptosis in these cells. Thus increased visfatin levels may augment breast cancer development and attenuate treatment efficiency in breast cancer patients.

Visfatin stimulates endometrial cancer cell proliferation via activation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 signalling pathways

OBJECTIVE

Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies of the female reproductive system, but the aetiology and pathogenesis are not well understood, although adipokines such as visfatin may be involved. Our study provides insight into the mechanism underlying the tumorigenic effects of visfatin in endometrial carcinoma.

METHODS

We investigated the effect of visfatin on endometrial carcinoma cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis using well-differentiated Ishikawa cells and poorly differentiated KLE cells. We also assessed the effect of visfatin on tumour growth in vivo.

RESULTS

Visfatin stimulated the proliferation of both Ishikawa and KLE cells, and visfatin treatment promoted G1/S phase progression and inhibited endometrial carcinoma cell apoptosis. Visfatin promoted endometrial carcinoma tumour growth in BALB/c-nu mice. Transplanted tumour tissues from an endometrial carcinoma mouse model were analysed using immunohistochemical staining, which revealed much stronger positive signals for Ki-67 with over-abundant visfatin. Western blot analysis revealed that insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate (IRS)1/2 and key components of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 signalling pathways were highly expressed in endometrial carcinoma cells exposed to visfatin. Treated cells showed increased C-MYC and cyclin D1 and reduced caspase-3 expression. The effects of visfatin on proliferation and apoptosis were abrogated by treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and MEK inhibitor U0126.

CONCLUSIONS

Visfatin promotes the malignant progression of endometrial carcinoma via activation of IR and PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signalling. Visfatin may serve as a therapeutic target in the treatment of endometrial carcinoma.

Extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, a new cancer metabokine

In this review, we focus on the secreted form of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT); extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT), also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor or visfatin. Although intracellular NAMPT is a key enzyme in controlling NAD metabolism, eNAMPT has been reported to function as a cytokine, with many roles in physiology and pathology. Circulating eNAMPT has been associated with several metabolic and inflammatory disorders, including cancer. Because cytokines produced in the tumour micro-environment play an important role in cancer pathogenesis, in part by reprogramming cellular metabolism, future improvements in cancer immunotherapy will require a better understanding of the crosstalk between cytokine action and tumour biology. In this review, the knowledge of eNAMPT in cancer will be discussed, focusing on its immunometabolic function as a metabokine, its secretion, its mechanism of action and possible roles in the cancer micro-environment.

A role for novel adipose tissue-secreted factors in obesity-related carcinogenesis

Obesity, a pandemic disease, is caused by an excessive accumulation of fat that can have detrimental effects on health. Adipose tissue plays a very important endocrine role, secreting different molecules that affect body physiology. In obesity, this function is altered, leading to a dysfunctional production of several factors, known as adipocytokines. This process has been linked to various comorbidities associated with obesity, such as carcinogenesis. In fact, several classical adipocytokines with increased levels in obesity have been demonstrated to exert a pro-carcinogenic role, including leptin, TNF-α, IL-6 and resistin, whereas others like adiponectin, with decreased levels in obesity, might have an anti-carcinogenic function. In this expanding field, new proteomic techniques and approaches have allowed the identification of novel adipocytokines, a number of which exhibit an altered production in obesity and type 2 diabetes and thus are related to adiposity. Many of these novel adipocytokines have also been identified in various tumour types, such as that of the breast, liver or endometrium, thereby increasing the list of potential contributors to carcinogenesis. This review is focused on the regulation of these novel adipocytokines by obesity, including apelin, endotrophin, FABP4, lipocalin 2, omentin-1, visfatin, chemerin, ANGPTL2 or osteopontin, emphasizing its involvement in tumorigenesis.

Extracellular Visfatin-Promoted Malignant Behavior in Breast Cancer Is Mediated Through c-Abl and STAT3 Activation

PURPOSE

Visfatin is an adipocytokine involved in cellular metabolism, inflammation, and cancer. This study investigated the roles of extracellular visfatin in breast cancer, and explored underlying mechanisms in clinical and experimental settings.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Associations of serum visfatin with clinicopathologic characteristics and patient survival were assessed with Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Effects of extracellular visfatin on cultured breast cancer cells were examined, followed by in vivo investigation of tumor growth and metastasis in xenograft animal models. Imatinib and Stattic were used to inhibit c-Abl and STAT3 activation, respectively.

RESULTS

Breast cancer patients with high serum visfatin levels were associated with advanced tumor stage, increased tumor size and lymph node metastasis, and poor survival. Elevated phosphorylation of c-Abl and STAT3 in breast tumor tissues were correlated with high serum visfatin levels in patients. Visfatin-promoted in vitro cell viability and metastatic capability were suppressed by imatinib (c-Abl inhibitor) and Stattic (STAT3 inhibitor). Increased in vivo cell invasiveness was observed in zebrafish xenografted with visfatin-pretreated breast cancer cells. Tumor growth and lung metastasis occurred in visfatin-administered mice xenografted with breast cancer cells. Tail vein-injected mice with visfatin-pretreated breast cancer cells showed increased lung metastasis, which was suppressed by imatinib.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum visfatin levels in breast cancer patients reveal potential prognostic values, and our findings that visfatin promoted breast cancer through activation of c-Abl and STAT3 may provide an important molecular basis for future design of targeted therapies that take into account different serum visfatin levels in breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(17); 4478-90. ©2016 AACR.

Physiological and pathophysiological roles of NAMPT and NAD metabolism

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a regulator of the intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) pool. NAD is an essential coenzyme involved in cellular redox reactions and is a substrate for NAD-dependent enzymes. In various metabolic disorders and during ageing, levels of NAD are decreased. Through its NAD-biosynthetic activity, NAMPT influences the activity of NAD-dependent enzymes, thereby regulating cellular metabolism. In addition to its enzymatic function, extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT) has cytokine-like activity. Abnormal levels of eNAMPT are associated with various metabolic disorders. NAMPT is able to modulate processes involved in the pathogenesis of obesity and related disorders such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by influencing the oxidative stress response, apoptosis, lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation and insulin resistance. NAMPT also has a crucial role in cancer cell metabolism, is often overexpressed in tumour tissues and is an experimental target for antitumour therapies. In this Review, we discuss current understanding of the functions of NAMPT and highlight progress made in identifying the physiological role of NAMPT and its relevance in various human diseases and conditions, such as obesity, NAFLD, T2DM, cancer and ageing.

Novel robust biomarkers for human bladder cancer based on activation of intracellular signaling pathways

We recently proposed a new bioinformatic algorithm called OncoFinder for quantifying the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. It was proved advantageous for minimizing errors of high-throughput gene expression analyses and showed strong potential for identifying new biomarkers. Here, for the first time, we applied OncoFinder for normal and cancerous tissues of the human bladder to identify biomarkers of bladder cancer. Using Illumina HT12v4 microarrays, we profiled gene expression in 17 cancer and seven non-cancerous bladder tissue samples. These experiments were done in two independent laboratories located in Russia and Canada. We calculated pathway activation strength values for the investigated transcriptomes and identified signaling pathways that were regulated differently in bladder cancer (BC) tissues compared with normal controls. We found, for both experimental datasets, 44 signaling pathways that serve as excellent new biomarkers of BC, supported by high area under the curve (AUC) values. We conclude that the OncoFinder approach is highly efficient in finding new biomarkers for cancer. These markers are mathematical functions involving multiple gene products, which distinguishes them from “traditional” expression biomarkers that only assess concentrations of single genes.

Regulation of NAD biosynthetic enzymes modulates NAD-sensing processes to shape mammalian cell physiology under varying biological cues

In addition to its role as a redox coenzyme, NAD is a substrate of various enzymes that split the molecule to either catalyze covalent modifications of target proteins or convert NAD into biologically active metabolites. The coenzyme bioavailability may be significantly affected by these reactions, with ensuing major impact on energy metabolism, cell survival, and aging. Moreover, through the activity of the NAD-dependent deacetylating sirtuins, NAD behaves as a beacon molecule that reports the cell metabolic state, and accordingly modulates transcriptional responses and metabolic adaptations. In this view, NAD biosynthesis emerges as a highly regulated process: it enables cells to preserve NAD homeostasis in response to significant NAD-consuming events and it can be modulated by various stimuli to induce, via NAD level changes, suitable NAD-mediated metabolic responses. Here we review the current knowledge on the regulation of mammalian NAD biosynthesis, with focus on the relevant rate-limiting enzymes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cofactor-dependent proteins: evolution, chemical diversity and bio-applications.