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Melaccio A, Reale A, Saltarella I, Desantis V, Lamanuzzi A, Cicco S, Frassanito MA, Vacca A, Ria R. Pathways of Angiogenic and Inflammatory Cytokines in Multiple Myeloma: Role in Plasma Cell Clonal Expansion and Drug Resistance. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11216491. [PMID: 36362718 PMCID: PMC9658666 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11216491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy, and despite the introduction of innovative therapies, remains an incurable disease. Identifying early and minimally or non-invasive biomarkers for predicting clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses is an active field of investigation. Malignant plasma cells (PCs) reside in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment (BMME) which comprises cells (e.g., tumour, immune, stromal cells), components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and vesicular and non-vesicular (soluble) molecules, all factors that support PCs’ survival and proliferation. The interaction between PCs and BM stromal cells (BMSCs), a hallmark of MM progression, is based not only on intercellular interactions but also on autocrine and paracrine circuits mediated by soluble or vesicular components. In fact, PCs and BMSCs secrete various cytokines, including angiogenic cytokines, essential for the formation of specialized niches called “osteoblastic and vascular niches”, thus supporting neovascularization and bone disease, vital processes that modulate the pathophysiological PCs–BMME interactions, and ultimately promoting disease progression. Here, we aim to discuss the roles of cytokines and growth factors in pathogenetic pathways in MM and as prognostic and predictive biomarkers. We also discuss the potential of targeted drugs that simultaneously block PCs’ proliferation and survival, PCs–BMSCs interactions and BMSCs activity, which may represent the future goal of MM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta Melaccio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine “G. Baccelli”, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (R.R.); Tel.: +39-320-55-17-232 (A.M.)
| | - Antonia Reale
- Myeloma Research Group, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University—Alfred Health, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Ilaria Saltarella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Pharmacology Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Vanessa Desantis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Pharmacology Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Aurelia Lamanuzzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine “G. Baccelli”, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cicco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine “G. Baccelli”, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Antonia Frassanito
- General Pathology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Angelo Vacca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine “G. Baccelli”, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Ria
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine “G. Baccelli”, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (R.R.); Tel.: +39-320-55-17-232 (A.M.)
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Killing by Degradation: Regulation of Apoptosis by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome-System. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123465. [PMID: 34943974 PMCID: PMC8700063 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis is a cell suicide process that is essential for development, tissue homeostasis and human health. Impaired apoptosis is associated with a variety of human diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmunity and cancer. As the levels of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins can determine the life or death of cells, tight regulation of these proteins is critical. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is essential for maintaining protein turnover, which can either trigger or inhibit apoptosis. In this review, we will describe the E3 ligases that regulate the levels of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins and assisting proteins that regulate the levels of these E3 ligases. We will provide examples of apoptotic cell death modulations using the UPS, determined by positive and negative feedback loop reactions. Specifically, we will review how the stability of p53, Bcl-2 family members and IAPs (Inhibitor of Apoptosis proteins) are regulated upon initiation of apoptosis. As increased levels of oncogenes and decreased levels of tumor suppressor proteins can promote tumorigenesis, targeting these pathways offers opportunities to develop novel anti-cancer therapies, which act by recruiting the UPS for the effective and selective killing of cancer cells.
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Gao Y, Miao Y, Zhang W, Ru X, Hou L. MicroRNA-365 induces apoptosis and inhibits invasion of human myeloma cells by targeting homeobox A9 (HOXA9). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 85:103627. [PMID: 33621688 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aberrant micro-RNA (miR) expression has been reported to play a vital role in proliferation and tumorigenesis and of several human cancers. MicroRNA-365 (miR-365) has been shown to exhibit tumor-suppressive or oncogenic role in several human cancers. Nonetheless, little is known about its growth regulatory role in human multiple myeloma. The present study characterized the regulatory control exercised by miR-365 in multiple myeloma. The results showed significant (P < 0.05) upregulation of miR-365 in myeloma tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-365 significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed the proliferation and inhibition of miR-365 promoted the proliferation of the human myeloma cells. The tumor-suppressive effects of miR-365 were found to be the result of apoptosis in the IM-9 myeloma cells. The miR-365 overexpression also suppressed the invasion of the IM-9 myeloma cells. The homeobox gene, HOXA9 was identified as the molecular regulatory target of miR-365 in human myeloma. The overexpression of miR-365 was shown to cause suppression of HOXA9. The silencing of HOXA9 could also suppress the growth of the IM-9 myeloma cells while as the overexpression of HOXA9 could abolish the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-365. The in vivo study revealed that miR-365 inhibits the growth of the xenografted tumors. Nonetheless, the inhibition of miR-365 promotes the growth of the xenografted tumors. To sum up, the current study suggests the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-365 in human myeloma and highlights the applicability of miR-365 as vital therapeutic target against this fatal malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Gao
- Department of Hematology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China
| | - Yudi Miao
- Department of Hematology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China
| | - Weihua Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China
| | - Xingli Ru
- Department of Hematology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China
| | - LiMin Hou
- Department of Hematology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China.
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Ubels J, Sonneveld P, van Vliet MH, de Ridder J. Gene Networks Constructed Through Simulated Treatment Learning can Predict Proteasome Inhibitor Benefit in Multiple Myeloma. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:5952-5961. [PMID: 32913136 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-0742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Proteasome inhibitors are widely used in treating multiple myeloma, but can cause serious side effects and response varies among patients. It is, therefore, important to gain more insight into which patients will benefit from proteasome inhibitors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We introduce simulated treatment learned signatures (STLsig), a machine learning method to identify predictive gene expression signatures. STLsig uses genetically similar patients who have received an alternative treatment to model which patients will benefit more from proteasome inhibitors than from an alternative treatment. STLsig constructs gene networks by linking genes that are synergistic in their ability to predict benefit. RESULTS In a dataset of 910 patients with multiple myeloma, STLsig identified two gene networks that together can predict benefit to the proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib. In class "benefit," we found an HR of 0.47 (P = 0.04) in favor of bortezomib, while in class "no benefit," the HR was 0.91 (P = 0.68). Importantly, we observed a similar performance (HR class benefit, 0.46; P = 0.04) in an independent patient cohort. Moreover, this signature also predicts benefit for the proteasome inhibitor, carfilzomib, indicating it is not specific to bortezomib. No equivalent signature can be found when the genes in the signature are excluded from the analysis, indicating that they are essential. Multiple genes in the signature are linked to working mechanisms of proteasome inhibitors or multiple myeloma disease progression. CONCLUSIONS STLsig can identify gene signatures that could aid in treatment decisions for patients with multiple myeloma and provide insight into the biological mechanism behind treatment benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joske Ubels
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,SkylineDx, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter Sonneveld
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jeroen de Ridder
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Tundo GR, Sbardella D, Santoro AM, Coletta A, Oddone F, Grasso G, Milardi D, Lacal PM, Marini S, Purrello R, Graziani G, Coletta M. The proteasome as a druggable target with multiple therapeutic potentialities: Cutting and non-cutting edges. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 213:107579. [PMID: 32442437 PMCID: PMC7236745 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) is an adaptable and finely tuned system that sustains proteostasis network under a large variety of physiopathological conditions. Its dysregulation is often associated with the onset and progression of human diseases; hence, UPS modulation has emerged as a promising new avenue for the development of treatments of several relevant pathologies, such as cancer and neurodegeneration. The clinical interest in proteasome inhibition has considerably increased after the FDA approval in 2003 of bortezomib for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, which is now used in the front-line setting. Thereafter, two other proteasome inhibitors (carfilzomib and ixazomib), designed to overcome resistance to bortezomib, have been approved for treatment-experienced patients, and a variety of novel inhibitors are currently under preclinical and clinical investigation not only for haematological malignancies but also for solid tumours. However, since UPS collapse leads to toxic misfolded proteins accumulation, proteasome is attracting even more interest as a target for the care of neurodegenerative diseases, which are sustained by UPS impairment. Thus, conceptually, proteasome activation represents an innovative and largely unexplored target for drug development. According to a multidisciplinary approach, spanning from chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology to pharmacology, this review will summarize the most recent available literature regarding different aspects of proteasome biology, focusing on structure, function and regulation of proteasome in physiological and pathological processes, mostly cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, connecting biochemical features and clinical studies of proteasome targeting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- G R Tundo
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - A M Santoro
- CNR, Institute of Crystallography, Catania, Italy
| | - A Coletta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - F Oddone
- IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Rome, Italy
| | - G Grasso
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - D Milardi
- CNR, Institute of Crystallography, Catania, Italy
| | - P M Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - S Marini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - R Purrello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - G Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | - M Coletta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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6
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Liu T, Zhang J, Li K, Deng L, Wang H. Combination of an Autophagy Inducer and an Autophagy Inhibitor: A Smarter Strategy Emerging in Cancer Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:408. [PMID: 32322202 PMCID: PMC7156970 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is considered a cytoprotective function in cancer therapy under certain conditions and is a drug resistance mechanism that represents a clinical obstacle to successful cancer treatment and leads to poor prognosis in cancer patients. Because certain clinical drugs and agents in development have cytoprotective autophagy effects, targeting autophagic pathways has emerged as a potential smarter strategy for cancer therapy. Multiple preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that autophagy inhibition augments the efficacy of anticancer agents in various cancers. Autophagy inhibitors, such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, have already been clinically approved, promoting drug combination treatment by targeting autophagic pathways as a means of discovering and developing more novel and more effective cancer therapeutic approaches. We summarize current studies that focus on the antitumor efficiency of agents that induce cytoprotective autophagy combined with autophagy inhibitors. Furthermore, we discuss the challenge and development of targeting cytoprotective autophagy as a cancer therapeutic approach in clinical application. Thus, we need to facilitate the exploitation of appropriate autophagy inhibitors and coadministration delivery system to cooperate with anticancer drugs. This review aims to note optimal combination strategies by modulating autophagy for therapeutic advantage to overcome drug resistance and enhance the effect of antitumor therapies on cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kangdi Li
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingnan Deng
- Department of Digestion, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University TCM, Nanchang, China
| | - Hongxiang Wang
- The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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7
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Targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to overcome anti-cancer drug resistance. Drug Resist Updat 2020; 48:100663. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2019.100663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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8
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Zhu FX, Wang XT, Zeng HQ, Yin ZH, Ye ZZ. A predicted risk score based on the expression of 16 autophagy-related genes for multiple myeloma survival. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:5310-5324. [PMID: 31612041 PMCID: PMC6781562 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy has an important role in the pathogenesis of plasma cell development and multiple myeloma (MM); however, the prognostic role of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) in MM remains undefined. In the present study, the expression profiles of 234 ARGs were obtained from a Gene Expression Omnibus dataset (accession GSE24080), which contains 559 samples of patients with MM analyzed with 54,675 probes. Univariate Cox regression analysis identified 55 ARGs that were significantly associated with event-free survival of MM. Furthermore, a risk score with 16 survival-associated ARGs was developed using multivariate Cox regression analysis, including ATIC, BNIP3L, CALCOCO2, DNAJB1, DNAJB9, EIF4EBP1, EVA1A, FKBP1B, FOXO1, FOXO3, GABARAP, HIF1A, NCKAP1, PRKAR1A and SUPT20H, was constructed. Using this prognostic signature, patients with MM could be separated into high- and low-risk groups with distinct clinical outcomes. The area under the curve values for the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.740, 0.741 and 0.712 for 3, 5 and 10 years prognosis predictions, respectively. Notably, the prognostic role of this risk score could be validated with another four independent cohorts (accessions: GSE57317, GSE4581, GSE4452 and GSE4204). In conclusion, ARGs may serve vital roles in the progression of MM, and the ARGs-based prognostic model may provide novel ideas for clinical applications in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Xiao Zhu
- Department of Rheumatology, Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518040, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Tao Wang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College, Guilin, Guangxi 541001, P.R. China
| | - Hui-Qiong Zeng
- Department of Rheumatology, Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518040, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Hua Yin
- Department of Rheumatology, Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518040, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Zhong Ye
- Department of Rheumatology, Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518040, P.R. China
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Drug resistance in multiple myeloma. Cancer Treat Rev 2018; 70:199-208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2018] [Revised: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Chen X, Pei Z, Peng H, Zheng Z. Exploring the molecular mechanism associated with breast cancer bone metastasis using bioinformatic analysis and microarray genetic interaction network. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e12032. [PMID: 30212931 PMCID: PMC6156059 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000012032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bone metastases are common in advanced breast cancer patients and frequently leading to skeletal-related morbidity and deterioration in the quality of life. Although chemotherapy and hormone therapy are able to control the symptoms caused by bone destruction, the underlying molecular mechanisms for the affinity of breast cancer cells towards skeletal bones are still not completely understood. METHODS In this study, bioinformatic analysis was performed on patients' microarray gene expression data to explore the molecular mechanism associated with breast cancer bone metastasis. Microarray gene expression profile regarding patients with breast cancer and disseminated tumor cells was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (NCBI, NIH). Raw data were normalized and differently expressed genes were identified by using Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) methods. Protein interaction networks were expanded using String. Moreover, molecular functions, biological processes and signaling pathway enrichment analysis were performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). RESULTS We identified 66 differentially expressed genes. After submitting the set of genes to String, genetic interaction network was expanded, which consisted of 110 nodes and 869 edges. Pathway enrichment analysis suggested that adhesion kinase, ECM-receptor interaction, calcium signaling, Wnt pathways, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway are highly associated with breast cancer bone metastasis. CONCLUSION In this study, we established a microarray genetic interaction network associated with breast cancer bone metastasis. This information provides some potential molecular therapeutic targets for breast cancer initiation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Cancer Hospital & Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Zhe Pei
- Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC
| | - Hao Peng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhihong Zheng
- Department of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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Characterization of carfilzomib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2018; 144:1317-1327. [DOI: 10.1007/s00432-018-2662-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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12
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Ettari R, Zappalà M, Grasso S, Musolino C, Innao V, Allegra A. Immunoproteasome-selective and non-selective inhibitors: A promising approach for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Pharmacol Ther 2017; 182:176-192. [PMID: 28911826 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the major non-lysosomal proteolytic system for the degradation of abnormal or damaged proteins no longer required. The proteasome is involved in degradation of numerous proteins which regulate the cell cycle, indicating a role in controlling cell proliferation and maintaining cell survival. Defects in the UPS can lead to anarchic cell proliferation and to tumor development. For these reasons UPS inhibition has become a significant new strategy for drug development in cancer treatment. In addition to the constitutive proteasome, which is expressed in all cells and tissues, higher organisms such as vertebrates possess two immune-type proteasomes, the thymoproteasome and the immunoproteasome. The thymoproteasome is specifically expressed by thymic cortical epithelial cells and has a role in positive selection of CD8+ T cells, whereas the immunoproteasome is predominantly expressed in monocytes and lymphocytes and is responsible for the generation of antigenic peptides for cell-mediated immunity. Recent studies demonstrated that the immunoproteasome has a preservative role during oxidative stress and is up-regulated in a number of pathological disorders including cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. As a consequence, immunoproteasome-selective inhibitors are currently the focus of anticancer drug design. At present, the commercially available proteasome inhibitors bortezomib and carfilzomib which have been validated in multiple myeloma and other model systems, appear to target both the constitutive and immunoproteasomes, indiscriminately. This lack of specificity may, in part, explain some of the side effects of these agents, such as peripheral neuropathy and gastrointestinal effects, which may be due to targeting of the constitutive proteasome in these tissues. In contrast, by selectively inhibiting the immunoproteasome, it may be possible to maintain the antimyeloma and antilymphoma efficacy while reducing these toxicities, thereby increasing the therapeutic index. This review article will be focused on the discussion of the most promising immunoproteasome specific inhibitors which have been developed in recent years. Particular attention will be devoted to the description of their mechanism of action, their structure-activity relationship, and their potential application in therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ettari
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Silvana Grasso
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Caterina Musolino
- Division of Hematology, Department of Patologia Umana dell'Adulto e dell'Età Evolutiva, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 90100 Messina, Italy
| | - Vanessa Innao
- Division of Hematology, Department of Patologia Umana dell'Adulto e dell'Età Evolutiva, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 90100 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Division of Hematology, Department of Patologia Umana dell'Adulto e dell'Età Evolutiva, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 90100 Messina, Italy.
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