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Hankins GR, Harris RT. The Opioid Growth Factor in Growth Regulation and Immune Responses in Cancer. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 35:45-85. [PMID: 38874718 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-45493-6_4] [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: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
It has become apparent that endogenous opioids act not only as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, but have multiple functions in the body. Activation of the opioid system by opiate drugs is associated with a risk of cancer development through direct stimulation of tumor cell proliferation and through immunosuppression. In contrast, the endogenous peptide opioid [Met5]-enkephalin, now commonly referred to as Opioid Growth Factor (OGF), negatively regulates cell proliferation in a wide number of cells during development, homeostasis, and neoplasia. This action is mediated through the opioid growth factor receptor, originally designated the zeta (ζ) opioid receptor. Further, contrary to the traditional notion of opiates as immunosuppressive, endogenous OGF has been shown to possess a number of positive immunomodulatory properties and may provide a beneficial effect in cancer by augmenting the activity of cells involved in both innate and acquired immunity. Taken together, the evidence supports consideration of opioid peptides such as OGF as new strategies for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald R Hankins
- Department of Biology, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, USA.
| | - Robert T Harris
- Department of Biology, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, USA
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Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Nijs J, Giordano R, Arendt-Nielsen L. Precision management of post-COVID pain: An evidence and clinical-based approach. Eur J Pain 2023; 27:1107-1125. [PMID: 36852606 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.2095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Pain after a SARS-CoV-2 acute infection (post-COVID pain) is becoming a new healthcare emergency but remains underestimated and most likely undertreated due to a lack of recognition of the phenomenon and knowledge of the underlying pain mechanisms. Evidence supporting any particular treatment approach for the management of post-COVID pain is lacking. Large variability in the patient response to any standard pain treatments is clinically observed, which has led to calls for a personalized, tailored approach to treating patients with chronic post-COVID pain (i.e. 'precision pain medicine'). Applying the global concerted action towards precision medicine to post-COVID pain could help guide clinical decision-making and aid in more effective treatments. Methods The current position paper discusses factors to be considered by clinicians for managing post-COVID pain ranging from identification of the pain phenotype to genetic consideration. Results The ability of clinicians to phenotype post-COVID pain into nociceptive, neuropathic, nociplastic or mixed type is suggested as the first step to better planification of a treatment programme. Further, the consideration of other factors, such as gender, comorbidities, treatments received at the acute phase of infection for onset-associated COVID-19 symptoms, factors during hospitalization or the presence of emotional disturbances should be implemented into a treatment programme. Conclusions Accordingly, considering these factors, management of post-COVID pain should include multimodal pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities targeting emotional/cognitive aspects (i.e. psychological and/or coping strategies), central sensitization-associated mechanisms (i.e. pain neuroscience education), exercise programmes as well as lifestyle interventions (e.g. nutritional support and sleep management). SIGNIFICANCE: This position paper presents an evidence-based clinical reasoning approach for precision management of post-COVID pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Fernández-de-Las-Peñas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Madrid, Spain
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jo Nijs
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Chronic pain rehabilitation, Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Unit of Physiotherapy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Brussels, Sweden
| | - Rocco Giordano
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Lars Arendt-Nielsen
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Mech-Sense, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
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Sánchez ML, Rodríguez FD, Coveñas R. Involvement of the Opioid Peptide Family in Cancer Progression. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1993. [PMID: 37509632 PMCID: PMC10377280 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides mediate cancer progression favoring the mitogenesis, migration, and invasion of tumor cells, promoting metastasis and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and facilitating angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis. Tumor cells overexpress peptide receptors, crucial targets for developing specific treatments against cancer cells using peptide receptor antagonists and promoting apoptosis in tumor cells. Opioids exert an antitumoral effect, whereas others promote tumor growth and metastasis. This review updates the findings regarding the involvement of opioid peptides (enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphins) in cancer development. Anticancer therapeutic strategies targeting the opioid peptidergic system and the main research lines to be developed regarding the topic reviewed are suggested. There is much to investigate about opioid peptides and cancer: basic information is scarce, incomplete, or absent in many tumors. This knowledge is crucial since promising anticancer strategies could be developed alone or in combination therapies with chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Lisardo Sánchez
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla and León (INCYL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Francisco D Rodríguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Group GIR-USAL: BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Coveñas
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla and León (INCYL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Group GIR-USAL: BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Budka J, Kowalski S, Chylinska M, Dzierzbicka K, Inkielewicz-Stepniak I. Opioid Growth Factor and its Derivatives as Potential Non-toxic Multifunctional Anticancer and Analgesic Compounds. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:673-686. [PMID: 32129162 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200304122406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant research progress on the pathogenesis, molecular biology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer, its morbidity and mortality are still high around the world. The emerging resistance of cancer cells to anticancer drugs remains still a significant problem in oncology today. Furthermore, an important challenge is the inability of anticancer drugs to selectively target tumor cells thus sparing healthy cells. One of the new potential options for efficient and safe therapy can be provided by opioid growth factor (OGF), chemically termed Met-enkephalin. It is an endogenous pentapeptide (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) with antitumor, analgesic, and immune-boosting properties. Clinical trials have demonstrated that OGF therapy alone, as well as in combination with standard chemotherapies, is a safe, non-toxic anticancer agent that reduces tumor size. In this paper, we review the structure-activity relationship of OGF and its analogues. We highlight also OGF derivatives with analgesic, immunomodulatory activity and the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and may be used as safe agents enhancing chemotherapy efficacy and improving quality of life in cancer patients. The reviewed papers indicate that Met-enkephalin and its analogues are interesting candidates for the development of novel, non-toxic, and endowed with an analgesic activity anticancer drugs. More preclinical and clinical studies are needed to explore these opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Budka
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Szymon Kowalski
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Monika Chylinska
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Krystyna Dzierzbicka
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland
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Wang X, Tian J, Jiao X, Geng J, Wang R, Liu N, Gao X, Griffin N, Gao Y, Shan F. The novel mechanism of anticancer effect on gastric cancer through inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis in vitro and in vivo by methionine enkephalin. Cancer Manag Res 2018; 10:4773-4787. [PMID: 30425572 PMCID: PMC6201847 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s178343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gastric cancer (GC) is the second cause of cancer-related deaths. Methionine enkephalin (MENK), an endogenous opioid peptide, has immunological and antitumor activity. Purpose The aim of this work was to investigate whether MENK could exhibit activity against human GC in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods Human GC cells were treated with MENK. Cell viability, colony formation, cell morphology, cell cycle, and apoptosis were assessed. The effects of MENK on gene expression of OGFr, Bax, BCL-2, caspase-3, PARP, Ki67, cyclin D1, c-myc, survivin were quantifed by qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to analyze the effects of MENK on protein expression of OGFr, Bax, BCL-2, caspase-3, PARP. The anti-tumor activity of MENK in gastic carcinoma was also investigated with animal experiments. Results The results indicate that MENK could significantly inhibit the growth of human GC cells SGC7901 and HGC27 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, decrease the number of cell colonies, and arrest cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase by causing a decrease in Ki67, cyclin D1, and c-myc mRNA. Furthermore, MENK could induce tumor cell apoptosis associated with the upregulation of Bax, a corresponding downregulation of BCL-2 and survivin, and activation of caspase-3 and PARP. Moreover, MENK upregulated the expression of opioid receptors (OGFr) in SGC7901 and HGC27 cells. The interaction between MENK and OGFr in SGC7901 and HGC27 cells appears to be essential for the antitumor activity of MENK. Conclusion We conclude that MENK may be a potential drug for the treatment of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Jing Tian
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Xue Jiao
- Department of Translational Medicine, No. 4 Teaching Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jin Geng
- Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Reizhe Wang
- Department of Gynecology, No. 1 Teaching Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shengjing Hospital
| | - Xinghua Gao
- Department of Dermatology, No. 1 Teaching Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | | | - Yuan Gao
- Faculty of Information and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fengping Shan
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
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Wang DM, Wang GC, Yang J, Plotnikoff NP, Griffin N, Han YM, Qi RQ, Gao XH, Shan FP. Inhibition of the growth of human melanoma cells by methionine enkephalin. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:5521-5527. [PMID: 27878237 PMCID: PMC5355750 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive cancer, the incidence of which is increasing worldwide. Limited therapies are currently available, particularly following metastasis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibiting effect of methionine enkephalin (MENK) on human melanoma via opioid receptors. The results of the present study revealed that MENK markedly regulates the proliferation of A375 cells, causing cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and a decrease in the percentage of cells in S and G2/M phases. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that MENK treatment increased opioid receptor expression in A375 cells. Furthermore, the expression level of survivin, an inhibitory apoptotic protein, was 1.1% of the level in the control group in the MENK group following 48 h of treatment. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, that MENK may inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of A375 cells, and describes a potential mechanism underlying these effects. Therefore, MENK should be investigated as a primary therapy for human melanoma cancer and as an adjuvant to other chemotherapies. Further studies are required to develop an optimal strategy for the use of MENK for the treatment of human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Mei Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Guang-Chuan Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121000, P.R. China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121000, P.R. China
| | | | | | - Yu-Man Han
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Rui-Qun Qi
- Department of Dermatology, No. 1 Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Xing-Hua Gao
- Department of Dermatology, No. 1 Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Feng-Ping Shan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
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Aldrich JV, McLaughlin JP. Opioid Peptides: Potential for Drug Development. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2012; 9:e1-e70. [PMID: 23316256 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2011.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Opioid receptors are important targets for the treatment of pain and potentially for other disease states (e.g. mood disorders and drug abuse) as well. Significant recent advances have been made in identifying opioid peptide analogs that exhibit promising in vivo activity for treatment of these maladies. This review focuses on the development and evaluation of opioid peptide analogs demonstrating activity after systemic administration, and recent clinical evaluations of opioid peptides for possible therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane V Aldrich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045
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Radman A, Gredičak M, Kopriva I, Jerić I. Predicting antitumor activity of peptides by consensus of regression models trained on a small data sample. Int J Mol Sci 2011; 12:8415-30. [PMID: 22272081 PMCID: PMC3257078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12128415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Revised: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting antitumor activity of compounds using regression models trained on a small number of compounds with measured biological activity is an ill-posed inverse problem. Yet, it occurs very often within the academic community. To counteract, up to some extent, overfitting problems caused by a small training data, we propose to use consensus of six regression models for prediction of biological activity of virtual library of compounds. The QSAR descriptors of 22 compounds related to the opioid growth factor (OGF, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) with known antitumor activity were used to train regression models: the feed-forward artificial neural network, the k-nearest neighbor, sparseness constrained linear regression, the linear and nonlinear (with polynomial and Gaussian kernel) support vector machine. Regression models were applied on a virtual library of 429 compounds that resulted in six lists with candidate compounds ranked by predicted antitumor activity. The highly ranked candidate compounds were synthesized, characterized and tested for an antiproliferative activity. Some of prepared peptides showed more pronounced activity compared with the native OGF; however, they were less active than highly ranked compounds selected previously by the radial basis function support vector machine (RBF SVM) regression model. The ill-posedness of the related inverse problem causes unstable behavior of trained regression models on test data. These results point to high complexity of prediction based on the regression models trained on a small data sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreja Radman
- Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia; E-Mails: (A.R.); (M.G.)
| | - Matija Gredičak
- Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia; E-Mails: (A.R.); (M.G.)
| | - Ivica Kopriva
- Division of Laser and Atomic Research and Development, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia; E-Mail:
| | - Ivanka Jerić
- Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia; E-Mails: (A.R.); (M.G.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +385-1-4560-980; Fax: +385-1-4680-195
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Cheng F, McLaughlin PJ, Banks WA, Zagon IS. Internalization of the opioid growth factor, [Met5]-enkephalin, is dependent on clathrin-mediated endocytosis for downregulation of cell proliferation. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2010; 299:R774-85. [PMID: 20592180 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00318.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The opioid growth factor (OGF; [Met(5)]-enkephalin), a constitutively expressed and tonically active inhibitory peptide, interacts with the OGF receptor (OGFr) to form an endogenous growth-regulating pathway in homeostasis. Amplification of OGF-OGFr interfacing in animal and clinical studies depresses development, neoplasia, angiogenesis, and immunity. Disruption of the OGF-OGFr axis accelerates cell proliferation and has been particularly important in wound repair. To investigate how OGF enters cells, OGF was labeled with 5,6-tetramethylrhodamine OGF (RhoOGF) to study its uptake in live cells. African green monkey kidney cells (COS-7) incubated with RhoOGF exhibited a temperature-dependent course of entry, being internalized at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C. RhoOGF was detected in the cytoplasm 15 min after initial exposure, observed in both cytoplasm and nucleus within 30 min, and remained in the cells for as long as 5 h. A 100-fold excess of OGF or the opioid antagonist naltrexone, but not other opioid ligands (some selective for classic opioid receptors), markedly reduced entry of RhoOGF into cells. RhoOGF was functional because DNA synthesis in cells incubated with RhoOGF (10(-5) to 10(-8) M) was decreased 24-36%, and was comparable to cells treated with unlabeled OGF (reductions of 26-39%). OGF internalization was dependent on clathrin-mediated endocytosis, with addition of clathrin siRNA diminishing the uptake of RhoOGF and upregulating DNA synthesis. RhoOGF clathrin-mediated endocytosis was unrelated to endosomal or Golgi pathways. Taken together, these results suggest that OGF enters cells by active transport in a saturable manner that requires clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Cheng
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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