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Gnanasekaran R, Aickareth J, Hawwar M, Sanchez N, Croft J, Zhang J. CmPn/CmP Signaling Networks in the Maintenance of the Blood Vessel Barrier. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13050751. [PMID: 37240921 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13050751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) arise when capillaries within the brain enlarge abnormally, causing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to break down. The BBB serves as a sophisticated interface that controls molecular interactions between the bloodstream and the central nervous system. The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a complex structure made up of neurons, astrocytes, endothelial cells (ECs), pericytes, microglia, and basement membranes, which work together to maintain blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Within the NVU, tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs) between endothelial cells play a critical role in regulating the permeability of the BBB. Disruptions to these junctions can compromise the BBB, potentially leading to a hemorrhagic stroke. Understanding the molecular signaling cascades that regulate BBB permeability through EC junctions is, therefore, essential. New research has demonstrated that steroids, including estrogens (ESTs), glucocorticoids (GCs), and metabolites/derivatives of progesterone (PRGs), have multifaceted effects on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability by regulating the expression of tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs). They also have anti-inflammatory effects on blood vessels. PRGs, in particular, have been found to play a significant role in maintaining BBB integrity. PRGs act through a combination of its classic and non-classic PRG receptors (nPR/mPR), which are part of a signaling network known as the CCM signaling complex (CSC). This network couples both nPR and mPR in the CmPn/CmP pathway in endothelial cells (ECs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Revathi Gnanasekaran
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Justin Aickareth
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Majd Hawwar
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Nickolas Sanchez
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Jacob Croft
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
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Zhang J, Croft J, Le A. Familial CCM Genes Might Not Be Main Drivers for Pathogenesis of Sporadic CCMs-Genetic Similarity between Cancers and Vascular Malformations. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13040673. [PMID: 37109059 PMCID: PMC10143507 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13040673] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are abnormally dilated intracranial capillaries that form cerebrovascular lesions with a high risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Recently, several somatic "activating" gain-of-function (GOF) point mutations in PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit p110α) were discovered as a dominant mutation in the lesions of sporadic forms of cerebral cavernous malformation (sCCM), raising the possibility that CCMs, like other types of vascular malformations, fall in the PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS). However, this possibility has been challenged with different interpretations. In this review, we will continue our efforts to expound the phenomenon of the coexistence of gain-of-function (GOF) point mutations in the PIK3CA gene and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in CCM genes in the CCM lesions of sCCM and try to delineate the relationship between mutagenic events with CCM lesions in a temporospatial manner. Since GOF PIK3CA point mutations have been well studied in reproductive cancers, especially breast cancer as a driver oncogene, we will perform a comparative meta-analysis for GOF PIK3CA point mutations in an attempt to demonstrate the genetic similarities shared by both cancers and vascular anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Departments of Molecular & Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso (TTUHSCEP), El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Jacob Croft
- Departments of Molecular & Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso (TTUHSCEP), El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Alexander Le
- Departments of Molecular & Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso (TTUHSCEP), El Paso, TX 79905, USA
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Abou-Fadel J, Reid V, Le A, Croft J, Zhang J. Key Members of the CmPn as Biomarkers Distinguish Histological and Immune Subtypes of Hepatic Cancers. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13061012. [PMID: 36980321 PMCID: PMC10047786 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13061012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, comprising hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The liver is a primary metabolic organ for progesterone (PRG) and PRG exerts its effects through classic nuclear PRG receptors (nPRs) and non-classic membrane PRG receptors (mPRs) or a combination of both. Previous studies have shown that the CCM signaling complex (CSC) couples both nPRs and mPRs to form the CmPn (CSC-mPR-PRG-nPR) signaling network, which is involved in multiple cellular signaling pathways, including tumorigenesis of various cancers. Despite advances in treatment, 5-year survival rates for liver cancer patients remain low, largely due to the chemoresistant nature of HCCs. The lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers for liver cancer diagnosis and prognosis emphasizes the need for identifying new potential biomarkers. We propose the potential use of CmPn members’ expression data as prognostic biomarkers or biomarker signatures for the major types of hepatic cancer, including HCCs and CCAs, as well as rare subtypes such as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and hepatic angiosarcoma (HAS). In this study, we investigated the CmPn network through RNAseq data and immunofluorescence techniques to measure alterations to key cancer pathways during liver tumorigenesis. Our findings reveal significant differential expression of multiple CmPn members, including CCM1, PAQR7, PGRMC1, and nPRs, in both HCCs and CCAs, highlighting the crucial roles of mPRs, nPRs, and CSC signaling during liver tumorigenesis. These key members of the CmPn network may serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer subtypes, including rare subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jun Zhang
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(915)-215-4197
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Aickareth J, Hawwar M, Sanchez N, Gnanasekaran R, Zhang J. Membrane Progesterone Receptors (mPRs/PAQRs) Are Going beyond Its Initial Definitions. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:membranes13030260. [PMID: 36984647 PMCID: PMC10056622 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13030260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone (PRG) is a key cyclical reproductive hormone that has a significant impact on female organs in vertebrates. It is mainly produced by the corpus luteum of the ovaries, but can also be generated from other sources such as the adrenal cortex, Leydig cells of the testes and neuronal and glial cells. PRG has wide-ranging physiological effects, including impacts on metabolic systems, central nervous systems and reproductive systems in both genders. It was first purified as an ovarian steroid with hormonal function for pregnancy, and is known to play a role in pro-gestational proliferation during pregnancy. The main function of PRG is exerted through its binding to progesterone receptors (nPRs, mPRs/PAQRs) to evoke cellular responses through genomic or non-genomic signaling cascades. Most of the existing research on PRG focuses on classic PRG-nPR-paired actions such as nuclear transcriptional factors, but new evidence suggests that PRG also exerts a wide range of PRG actions through non-classic membrane PRG receptors, which can be divided into two sub-classes: mPRs/PAQRs and PGRMCs. The review will concentrate on recently found non-classical membrane progesterone receptors (mainly mPRs/PAQRs) and speculate their connections, utilizing the present comprehension of progesterone receptors.
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Renteria M, Belkin O, Aickareth J, Jang D, Hawwar M, Zhang J. Zinc's Association with the CmPn/CmP Signaling Network in Breast Cancer Tumorigenesis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1672. [PMID: 36421686 PMCID: PMC9687477 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well-known that serum and cellular concentrations of zinc are altered in breast cancer patients. Specifically, there are notable zinc hyper-aggregates in breast tumor cells when compared to normal mammary epithelial cells. However, the mechanisms responsible for zinc accumulation and the consequences of zinc dysregulation are poorly understood. In this review, we detailed cellular zinc regulation/dysregulation under the influence of varying levels of sex steroids and breast cancer tumorigenesis to try to better understand the intricate relationship between these factors based on our current understanding of the CmPn/CmP signaling network. We also made some efforts to propose a relationship between zinc signaling and the CmPn/CmP signaling network.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
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Abou-Fadel J, Jiang X, Padarti A, Goswami DG, Smith M, Grajeda B, Bhalli M, Le A, Walker WE, Zhang J. mPR-Specific Actions Influence Maintenance of the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179684. [PMID: 36077089 PMCID: PMC9456378 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are characterized by abnormally dilated intracranial microvascular sinusoids that result in increased susceptibility to hemorrhagic stroke. It has been demonstrated that three CCM proteins (CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3) form the CCM signaling complex (CSC) to mediate angiogenic signaling. Disruption of the CSC will result in hemorrhagic CCMs, a consequence of compromised blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Due to their characteristically incomplete penetrance, the majority of CCM mutation carriers (presumed CCM patients) are largely asymptomatic, but when symptoms occur, the disease has typically reached a clinical stage of focal hemorrhage with irreversible brain damage. We recently reported that the CSC couples both classic (nuclear; nPRs) and nonclassic (membrane; mPRs) progesterone (PRG)-receptors-mediated signaling within the CSC-mPRs-PRG (CmP) signaling network in nPR(−) breast cancer cells. In this report, we demonstrate that depletion of any of the three CCM genes or treatment with mPR-specific PRG actions (PRG/mifepristone) results in the disruption of the CmP signaling network, leading to increased permeability in the nPR(−) endothelial cells (ECs) monolayer in vitro. Finally, utilizing our in vivo hemizygous Ccm mutant mice models, we demonstrate that depletion of any of the three CCM genes, in combination with mPR-specific PRG actions, is also capable of leading to defective homeostasis of PRG in vivo and subsequent BBB disruption, allowing us to identify a specific panel of etiological blood biomarkers associated with BBB disruption. To our knowledge, this is the first report detailing the etiology to predict the occurrence of a disrupted BBB, an indication of early hemorrhagic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnathan Abou-Fadel
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Xiaoting Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Akhil Padarti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Dinesh G. Goswami
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Mark Smith
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Brian Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
| | - Muaz Bhalli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Alexander Le
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Wendy E. Walker
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-915-215-4197
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Abou-Fadel J, Jiang X, Grajeda B, Padarti A, Ellis CC, Flores E, Cailing-De La O AMD, Zhang J. CCM signaling complex (CSC) couples both classic and non-classic Progesterone receptor signaling. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:120. [PMID: 35971177 PMCID: PMC9377144 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00926-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer, the most diagnosed cancer, remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and excessive Progesterone (PRG) or Mifepristone (MIF) exposure may be at an increased risk for developing breast cancer. PRG exerts its cellular responses through signaling cascades involving classic, non-classic, or combined responses by binding to either classic nuclear PRG receptors (nPRs) or non-classic membrane PRG receptors (mPRs). Currently, the intricate balance and switch mechanisms between these two signaling cascades remain elusive. Three genes, CCM1-3, form the CCM signaling complex (CSC) which mediates multiple signaling cascades. METHODS Utilizing molecular, cellular, Omics, and systems biology approaches, we analyzed the relationship among the CSC, PRG, and nPRs/mPRs during breast cancer tumorigenesis. RESULTS We discovered that the CSC plays an essential role in coupling both classic and non-classic PRG signaling pathways by mediating crosstalk between them, forming the CmPn (CSC-mPRs-PRG-nPRs) signaling network. We found that mPR-specific PRG actions (PRG + MIF) play an essential role in this CmPn network during breast cancer tumorigenesis. Additionally, we have identified 4 categories of candidate biomarkers (9 intrinsic, 2 PRG-inducible, 1 PRG-repressive, 1 mPR-specific PRG-repressive, and 2 mPR-responsive) for Luminal-A breast cancers during tumorigenesis and have confirmed the prognostic application of RPL13 and RPL38 as intrinsic biomarkers using a dual validation method. CONCLUSIONS We have discovered that the CSC plays an essential role in the CmPn signaling network for Luminal-A breast cancers with identification of two intrinsic biomarkers. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnathan Abou-Fadel
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Xiaoting Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Brian Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA
| | - Akhil Padarti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Cameron C Ellis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA
| | - Esmeralda Flores
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Alyssa-Marie D Cailing-De La O
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA.
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