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El Menshawe SF, Shalaby K, Elkomy MH, Aboud HM, Ahmed YM, Abdelmeged AA, Elkarmalawy M, Abou Alazayem MA, El Sisi AM. Repurposing celecoxib for colorectal cancer targeting via pH-triggered ultra-elastic nanovesicles: Pronounced efficacy through up-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in DMH-induced tumorigenesis. Int J Pharm X 2024; 7:100225. [PMID: 38230407 PMCID: PMC10788539 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2023.100225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Celecoxib (CLX), a selective inhibitor for cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), has manifested potential activity against diverse types of cancer. However, low bioavailability and cardiovascular side effects remain the major challenges that limit its exploitation. In this work, we developed ultra-elastic nanovesicles (UENVs) with pH-triggered surface charge reversal traits that could efficiently deliver CLX to colorectal segments for snowballed tumor targeting. CLX-UENVs were fabricated via a thin-film hydration approach. The impact of formulation factors (Span 80, Tween 80, and sonication time) on the nanovesicular features was evaluated using Box-Behnken design, and the optimal formulation was computed. The optimum formulation was positively coated with polyethyleneimine (CLX-PEI-UENVs) and then coated with Eudragit S100 (CLX-ES-PEI-UENVs). The activity of the optimized nano-cargo was explored in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colorectal cancer in Wistar rats. Levels of COX-2, Wnt-2 and β-catenin were assessed in rats' colon. The diameter of the optimized CLX-ES-PEI-UENVs formulation was 253.62 nm, with a zeta potential of -23.24 mV, 85.64% entrapment, and 87.20% cumulative release (24 h). ES coating hindered the rapid release of CLX under acidic milieu (stomach and early small intestine) and showed extended release in the colon section. In colonic environments, the ES coating layer was removed due to high pH, and the charge on the nanovesicular corona was shifted from negative to positive. Besides, a pharmacokinetics study revealed that CLX-ES-PEI-UENVs had superior oral bioavailability by 2.13-fold compared with CLX suspension. Collectively, these findings implied that CLX-ES-PEI-UENVs could be a promising colorectal-targeted nanoplatform for effective tumor management through up-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahira F. El Menshawe
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Khaled Shalaby
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed H. Elkomy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
| | - Heba M. Aboud
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Yasmin M. Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | | | - Marwa Elkarmalawy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Manufacturing, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Amani M. El Sisi
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
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2
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Ge S, Zhao Y, Liang J, He Z, Li K, Zhang G, Hua B, Zheng H, Guo Q, Qi R, Shi Z. Immune modulation in malignant pleural effusion: from microenvironment to therapeutic implications. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:105. [PMID: 38475858 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03211-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune microenvironment and immunotherapy have become the focus and frontier of tumor research, and the immune checkpoint inhibitors has provided novel strategies for tumor treatment. Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common end-stage manifestation of lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma and other thoracic malignancies, which is invasive and often accompanied by poor prognosis, affecting the quality of life of affected patients. Currently, clinical therapy for MPE is limited to pleural puncture, pleural fixation, catheter drainage, and other palliative therapies. Immunization is a new direction for rehabilitation and treatment of MPE. The effusion caused by cancer cells establishes its own immune microenvironment during its formation. Immune cells, cytokines, signal pathways of microenvironment affect the MPE progress and prognosis of patients. The interaction between them have been proved. The relevant studies were obtained through a systematic search of PubMed database according to keywords search method. Then through screening and sorting and reading full-text, 300 literatures were screened out. Exclude irrelevant and poor quality articles, 238 literatures were cited in the references. In this study, the mechanism of immune microenvironment affecting malignant pleural effusion was discussed from the perspectives of adaptive immune cells, innate immune cells, cytokines and molecular targets. Meanwhile, this study focused on the clinical value of microenvironmental components in the immunotherapy and prognosis of malignant pleural effusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Ge
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16, Nanxiao Street, Dongzhimen, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Yuwei Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Jun Liang
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Zhongning He
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Kai Li
- Beijing Shijitan Hospital, No.10 Yangfangdiantieyilu, Haidian District, Beijing, 100038, China
| | - Guanghui Zhang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Baojin Hua
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Honggang Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Qiujun Guo
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Runzhi Qi
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
| | - Zhan Shi
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16, Nanxiao Street, Dongzhimen, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China.
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Barjesteh F, Heidari-Kalvani N, Alipourfard I, Najafi M, Bahreini E. Testosterone, β-estradiol, and hepatocellular carcinoma: stimulation or inhibition? A comparative effect analysis on cell cycle, apoptosis, and Wnt signaling of HepG2 cells. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03019-5. [PMID: 38421409 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03019-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Unlike breast and prostate cancers, which are specifically affected by estrogens or androgens, hepatocellular carcinoma has been reported to be influenced by both sex hormones. Given the coincidental differences of hepatocellular carcinoma in men and women, we investigated the effects of β-estradiol and testosterone on the cell cycle, apoptosis, and Wnt signaling in a model of hepatocellular carcinoma to understand the sex hormone-related etiology. To determine the effective concentration of both hormones, an MTT assay was performed. The effects of β-estradiol and testosterone on cell proliferation and death were evaluated by specific staining and flow cytometry. In addition, gene expression levels of estimated factors involved in GPC3-Wnt survival signaling were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Both hormones inhibited hepatic cell proliferation through arresting the cell cycle at S/G2 and increased the apoptosis rate in HepG2 cells. Both hormones dose-dependently decreased GPC3, Wnt, and DVL expression levels as activators of the Wnt-signaling pathway. In the case of Wnt-signaling inhibitors, the effects of both hormones on WIF were negligible, but they increased DKK1 levels in a dose-dependent manner. In each of the effects mentioned above, β-estradiol was notably more potent than testosterone. In contrast to the primary hypothesis of the project, in which testosterone was considered a stimulating carcinogenic factor in HCC pathogenesis, testosterone inhibited the occurrence of HCC similarly to β-estradiol. However, this inhibitory effect was weaker than that of β-estradiol and requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Barjesteh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614525, Iran
| | - Nafiseh Heidari-Kalvani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614525, Iran
| | - Iraj Alipourfard
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mohammad Najafi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614525, Iran
| | - Elham Bahreini
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614525, Iran.
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Jiménez-Jiménez C, Grobe K, Guerrero I. Hedgehog on the Move: Glypican-Regulated Transport and Gradient Formation in Drosophila. Cells 2024; 13:418. [PMID: 38474382 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Glypicans (Glps) are a family of heparan sulphate proteoglycans that are attached to the outer plasma membrane leaflet of the producing cell by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. Glps are involved in the regulation of many signalling pathways, including those that regulate the activities of Wnts, Hedgehog (Hh), Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs), and Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), among others. In the Hh-signalling pathway, Glps have been shown to be essential for ligand transport and the formation of Hh gradients over long distances, for the maintenance of Hh levels in the extracellular matrix, and for unimpaired ligand reception in distant recipient cells. Recently, two mechanistic models have been proposed to explain how Hh can form the signalling gradient and how Glps may contribute to it. In this review, we describe the structure, biochemistry, and metabolism of Glps and their interactions with different components of the Hh-signalling pathway that are important for the release, transport, and reception of Hh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Jiménez-Jiménez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Kay Grobe
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, Waldeyerstrasse 15, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Isabel Guerrero
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
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Qin K, Yu M, Fan J, Wang H, Zhao P, Zhao G, Zeng W, Chen C, Wang Y, Wang A, Schwartz Z, Hong J, Song L, Wagstaff W, Haydon RC, Luu HH, Ho SH, Strelzow J, Reid RR, He TC, Shi LL. Canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling: Multilayered mediators, signaling mechanisms and major signaling crosstalk. Genes Dis 2024; 11:103-134. [PMID: 37588235 PMCID: PMC10425814 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling plays a major role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. The Wnt ligands are a family of 19 secreted glycoproteins that mediate their signaling effects via binding to Frizzled receptors and LRP5/6 coreceptors and transducing the signal either through β-catenin in the canonical pathway or through a series of other proteins in the noncanonical pathway. Many of the individual components of both canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling have additional functions throughout the body, establishing the complex interplay between Wnt signaling and other signaling pathways. This crosstalk between Wnt signaling and other pathways gives Wnt signaling a vital role in many cellular and organ processes. Dysregulation of this system has been implicated in many diseases affecting a wide array of organ systems, including cancer and embryological defects, and can even cause embryonic lethality. The complexity of this system and its interacting proteins have made Wnt signaling a target for many therapeutic treatments. However, both stimulatory and inhibitory treatments come with potential risks that need to be addressed. This review synthesized much of the current knowledge on the Wnt signaling pathway, beginning with the history of Wnt signaling. It thoroughly described the different variants of Wnt signaling, including canonical, noncanonical Wnt/PCP, and the noncanonical Wnt/Ca2+ pathway. Further description involved each of its components and their involvement in other cellular processes. Finally, this review explained the various other pathways and processes that crosstalk with Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Qin
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Michael Yu
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jiaming Fan
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, The School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Piao Zhao
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Guozhi Zhao
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Wei Zeng
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Interventional Neurology, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523475, China
| | - Connie Chen
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yonghui Wang
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Annie Wang
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Laboratory of Craniofacial Biology and Development, Department of Surgery Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Zander Schwartz
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Jeffrey Hong
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Lily Song
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - William Wagstaff
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Rex C. Haydon
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Hue H. Luu
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Sherwin H. Ho
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jason Strelzow
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Russell R. Reid
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Laboratory of Craniofacial Biology and Development, Department of Surgery Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Tong-Chuan He
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Laboratory of Craniofacial Biology and Development, Department of Surgery Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Lewis L. Shi
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Nguyen T, Chen PC, Pham J, Kaur K, Raman SS, Jewett A, Chiang J. Current and Future States of Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Crit Rev Immunol 2024; 44:71-85. [PMID: 38618730 DOI: 10.1615/critrevimmunol.2024052486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that exhibit high levels of cytotoxicity against NK-specific targets. NK cells also produce various cytokines, and interact with T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells to effectively serve as frontliners of the innate immune system. Produce various cytokines, and interact with T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells to effectively serve as frontliners of the innate immune system. Moreover, NK cells constitute the second most common immune cell in the liver. These properties have drawn significant attention towards leveraging NK cells in treating liver cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for 75% of all primary liver cancer and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Notable anti-cancer functions of NK cells against HCC include activating antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC), facilitating Gasdermin E-mediated pyroptosis of HCC cells, and initiating an antitumor response via the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. In this review, we describe how these mechanisms work in the context of HCC. We will then discuss the existing preclinical and clinical studies that leverage NK cell activity to create single and combined immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tu Nguyen
- UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
| | - Po-Chun Chen
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, University of California School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Ave, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Janet Pham
- Department of Radiology, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kawaljit Kaur
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center of Reconstructive Biotechnology University of California School of Dentistry Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Steven S Raman
- Department of Radiology, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA School of Dentistry and Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anahid Jewett
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, University of California School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Ave, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA; The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA School of Dentistry and Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason Chiang
- Department of Radiology, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA School of Dentistry and Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Egbuna C, Patrick‐Iwuanyanwu KC, Onyeike EN, Uche CZ, Ogoke UP, Riaz M, Ibezim EN, Khan J, Adedokun KA, Imodoye SO, Bello IO, Awuchi CG. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitors, glycyrrhizic acid, solanine, polyphyllin I, crocin, hypericin, tubeimoside-1, diosmin, and rutin in medicinal plants have better binding affinities and anticancer properties: Molecular docking and ADMET study. Food Sci Nutr 2023; 11:4155-4169. [PMID: 37457177 PMCID: PMC10345731 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a role in cancer development, organogenesis, and embryogenesis. The abnormal activation promotes cancer stem cell renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. In the present study, molecular docking simulation and ADMET studies were carried out on selected bioactive compounds in search of β-catenin protein inhibitors for drug discovery against cancer. Blind docking simulation was performed using PyRx software on Autodock Vina. β-catenin protein (PDB ID: 1jdh) and 313 bioactive compounds (from PubChem database) with selected standard anticancer drugs were used for molecular docking. The ADMET properties of the best-performing compounds were calculated using SwissADME and pkCMS web servers. The results obtained from the molecular docking study showed that glycyrrhizic acid, solanine, polyphyllin I, crocin, hypericin, tubeimoside-1, diosmin, and rutin had the best binding interactions with β-catenin protein based on their binding affinities. Glycyrrhizic acid and solanine had the same and lowest binding energy of -8.5 kcal/mol. This was followed by polyphyllin I with -8.4 kcal/mol, and crocin, hypericin, and tubeimoside-1 which all had a binding energy of 8.1 kcal/mol. Other top-performing compounds include diosmin and rutin with binding energy of -8.0 kcal/mol. The ADMET study revealed that the following compounds glycyrrhizic acid, solanine, polyphyllin I, crocin, hypericin, tubeimoside-1, diosmin, rutin, and baicalin all violated Lipinski's rule of 5 which implies poor oral bioavailability. However, based on the binding energy score, it was suggested that these pharmacologically active compounds are potential molecules to be tested against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuebuka Egbuna
- Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE‐PUTOR)University of Port‐HarcourtPort HarcourtNigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Port HarcourtPort HarcourtNigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural SciencesChukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu UniversityUliNigeria
| | - Kingsley C. Patrick‐Iwuanyanwu
- Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE‐PUTOR)University of Port‐HarcourtPort HarcourtNigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Port HarcourtPort HarcourtNigeria
| | - Eugene N. Onyeike
- Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE‐PUTOR)University of Port‐HarcourtPort HarcourtNigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Port HarcourtPort HarcourtNigeria
| | - Chukwuemelie Zedech Uche
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical SciencesUniversity of NigeriaNsukkaNigeria
| | - Uchenna Petronilla Ogoke
- Biostatistics and Computation Unit, Department of Mathematics and StatisticsUniversity of Port HarcourtPort HarcourtNigeria
| | - Muhammad Riaz
- Department of Allied Health SciencesUniversity of SargodhaSargodhaPakistan
| | - Ebube Nnamdi Ibezim
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural SciencesChukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu UniversityUliNigeria
| | - Johra Khan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical SciencesMajmaah UniversityAl MajmaahSaudi Arabia
- Health and Basic Sciences Research CenterMajmaah UniversityAl MajmaahSaudi Arabia
| | - Kamoru A. Adedokun
- Department of ImmunologyRoswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBuffaloNew YorkUSA
| | - Sikiru O. Imodoye
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer InstituteUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUtahUSA
| | - Ibrahim O. Bello
- Department of Biological SciencesSouthern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsvilleIllinoisUSA
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Janssen JN, Kalev-Altman R, Shalit T, Sela-Donenfeld D, Monsonego-Ornan E. Differential gene expression in the calvarial and cortical bone of juvenile female mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1127536. [PMID: 37378024 PMCID: PMC10291685 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1127536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Both the calvarial and the cortical bones develop through intramembranous ossification, yet they have very different structures and functions. The calvaria enables the rapid while protected growth of the brain, whereas the cortical bone takes part in locomotion. Both types of bones undergo extensive modeling during embryonic and post-natal growth, while bone remodeling is the most dominant process in adults. Their shared formation mechanism and their highly distinct functions raise the fundamental question of how similar or diverse the molecular pathways that act in each bone type are. Methods To answer this question, we aimed to compare the transcriptomes of calvaria and cortices from 21-day old mice by bulk RNA-Seq analysis. Results The results revealed clear differences in expression levels of genes related to bone pathologies, craniosynostosis, mechanical loading and bone-relevant signaling pathways like WNT and IHH, emphasizing the functional differences between these bones. We further discussed the less expected candidate genes and gene sets in the context of bone. Finally, we compared differences between juvenile and mature bone, highlighting commonalities and dissimilarities of gene expression between calvaria and cortices during post-natal bone growth and adult bone remodeling. Discussion Altogether, this study revealed significant differences between the transcriptome of calvaria and cortical bones in juvenile female mice, highlighting the most important pathway mediators for the development and function of two different bone types that originate both through intramembranous ossification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Nicolas Janssen
- The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Rotem Kalev-Altman
- The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- The Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Shalit
- The Ilana and Pascal Mantoux Institute for Bioinformatics, The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dalit Sela-Donenfeld
- The Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Efrat Monsonego-Ornan
- The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Wishart TFL, Lovicu FJ. Spatiotemporal Localisation of Heparan Sulphate Proteoglycans throughout Mouse Lens Morphogenesis. Cells 2023; 12:1364. [PMID: 37408198 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) consist of a core protein decorated with sulphated HS-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains. These negatively charged HS-GAG chains rely on the activity of PAPSS synthesising enzymes for their sulfation, which allows them to bind to and regulate the activity of many positively charged HS-binding proteins. HSPGs are found on the surfaces of cells and in the pericellular matrix, where they interact with various components of the cell microenvironment, including growth factors. By binding to and regulating ocular morphogens and growth factors, HSPGs are positioned to orchestrate growth factor-mediated signalling events that are essential for lens epithelial cell proliferation, migration, and lens fibre differentiation. Previous studies have shown that HS sulfation is essential for lens development. Moreover, each of the full-time HSPGs, differentiated by thirteen different core proteins, are differentially localised in a cell-type specific manner with regional differences in the postnatal rat lens. Here, the same thirteen HSPG-associated GAGs and core proteins as well as PAPSS2, are shown to be differentially regulated throughout murine lens development in a spatiotemporal manner. These findings suggest that HS-GAG sulfation is essential for growth factor-induced cellular processes during embryogenesis, and the unique and divergent localisation of different lens HSPG core proteins indicates that different HSPGs likely play specialized roles during lens induction and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayler F L Wishart
- Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Frank J Lovicu
- Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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10
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Butler W, Xu L, Zhou Y, Cheng Q, Hauck S, He Y, Marek R, Hartman Z, Cheng L, Yang Q, Wang ME, Chen M, Zhang H, Armstrong AJ, Huang J. Oncofetal protein glypican-3 is a biomarker and critical regulator of function for neuroendocrine cells in prostate cancer. J Pathol 2023; 260:43-55. [PMID: 36752189 PMCID: PMC10273879 DOI: 10.1002/path.6063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuroendocrine (NE) cells comprise ~1% of epithelial cells in benign prostate and prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa). However, they become enriched in hormonally treated and castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). In addition, close to 20% of hormonally treated tumors recur as small cell NE carcinoma (SCNC), composed entirely of NE cells, which may be the result of clonal expansion or lineage plasticity. Since NE cells do not express androgen receptors (ARs), they are resistant to hormonal therapy and contribute to therapy failure. Here, we describe the identification of glypican-3 (GPC3) as an oncofetal cell surface protein specific to NE cells in prostate cancer. Functional studies revealed that GPC3 is critical to the viability of NE tumor cells and tumors displaying NE differentiation and that it regulates calcium homeostasis and signaling. Since our results demonstrate that GPC3 is specifically expressed by NE cells, patients with confirmed SCNC may qualify for GPC3-targeted therapy which has been developed in the context of liver cancer and displays minimal toxicity due to its tumor-specific expression. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Butler
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Lingfan Xu
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Yinglu Zhou
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA, USA
| | - Qing Cheng
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Spencer Hauck
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Yiping He
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Robert Marek
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Zachary Hartman
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Liang Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence RI, USA
| | - Qing Yang
- School of Nursing, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC 27710, USA
| | - Mu-En Wang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
| | - Andrew J. Armstrong
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC 27710, USA
| | - Jiaoti Huang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC, USA
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11
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Strong A, Rao S, von Hardenberg S, Li D, Cox LL, Lee PC, Zhang LQ, Awotoye W, Diamond T, Gold J, Gooch C, Gowans LJJ, Hakonarson H, Hing A, Loomes K, Martin N, Marazita ML, Mononen T, Piccoli D, Pfundt R, Raskin S, Scherer SW, Sobriera N, Vaccaro C, Wang X, Watson D, Weksberg R, Bhoj E, Murray JC, Lidral AC, Butali A, Buckley MF, Roscioli T, Koolen DA, Seaver LH, Prows CA, Stottmann RW, Cox TC. A mutational hotspot in AMOTL1 defines a new syndrome of orofacial clefting, cardiac anomalies, and tall stature. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:1227-1239. [PMID: 36751037 PMCID: PMC10081944 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
AMOTL1 encodes angiomotin-like protein 1, an actin-binding protein that regulates cell polarity, adhesion, and migration. The role of AMOTL1 in human disease is equivocal. We report a large cohort of individuals harboring heterozygous AMOTL1 variants and define a core phenotype of orofacial clefting, congenital heart disease, tall stature, auricular anomalies, and gastrointestinal manifestations in individuals with variants in AMOTL1 affecting amino acids 157-161, a functionally undefined but highly conserved region. Three individuals with AMOTL1 variants outside this region are also described who had variable presentations with orofacial clefting and multi-organ disease. Our case cohort suggests that heterozygous missense variants in AMOTL1, most commonly affecting amino acid residues 157-161, define a new orofacial clefting syndrome, and indicates an important functional role for this undefined region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanna Strong
- The Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Soumya Rao
- Department of Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri
| | | | - Dong Li
- The Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Liza L. Cox
- Department of Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Paul C. Lee
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Li Q. Zhang
- Department of Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Waheed Awotoye
- Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Tamir Diamond
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jessica Gold
- The Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Catherine Gooch
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Lord Jephthah Joojo Gowans
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkurumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Hakon Hakonarson
- The Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Anne Hing
- Division of Craniofacial Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kathleen Loomes
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Nicole Martin
- Division of Clinical & Metabolic Genetics and Department of Genetic Counselling, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mary L. Marazita
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tarja Mononen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - David Piccoli
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Rolph Pfundt
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Salmo Raskin
- Assistance Center for Cleft Lip and Palate (CAIF), Curitiba-PR, Brazil
| | - Stephen W. Scherer
- The Centre for Applied Genomics and Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- McLaughlin Centre and Dept. of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nara Sobriera
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Courtney Vaccaro
- The Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Xiang Wang
- The Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Deborah Watson
- The Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rosanna Weksberg
- Institute of Medical Sciences and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Clinical & Metabolic Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, and Genetics and Genome Biology Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Bhoj
- The Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Division of Genomic Diagnostics and Department of Pathology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - Azeez Butali
- Departments of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine, College of Dentistry & Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Michael F. Buckley
- NSW Health Pathology Genomics Laboratory, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Tony Roscioli
- NSW Health Pathology Genomics Laboratory, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Genetics, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia and Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - David A. Koolen
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Laurie H. Seaver
- Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Cynthia A. Prows
- Divisions of Human Genetics and Patient Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Rolf W. Stottmann
- Divisions of Human Genetics and Patient Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Steve & Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy C. Cox
- Department of Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri, 64108, USA
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12
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Wishart TFL, Lovicu FJ. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) of the ocular lens. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 93:101118. [PMID: 36068128 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) reside in most cells; on their surface, in the pericellular milieu and/or extracellular matrix. In the eye, HSPGs can orchestrate the activity of key signalling molecules found in the ocular environment that promote its development and homeostasis. To date, our understanding of the specific roles played by individual HSPG family members, and the heterogeneity of their associated sulfated HS chains, is in its infancy. The crystalline lens is a relatively simple and well characterised ocular tissue that provides an ideal stage to showcase and model the expression and unique roles of individual HSPGs. Individual HSPG core proteins are differentially localised to eye tissues in a temporal and spatial developmental- and cell-type specific manner, and their loss or functional disruption results in unique phenotypic outcomes for the lens, and other ocular tissues. More recent work has found that different HS sulfation enzymes are also presented in a cell- and tissue-specific manner, and that disruption of these different sulfation patterns affects specific HS-protein interactions. Not surprisingly, these sulfated HS chains have also been reported to be required for lens and eye development, with dysregulation of HS chain structure and function leading to pathogenesis and eye-related phenotypes. In the lens, HSPGs undergo significant and specific changes in expression and function that can drive pathology, or in some cases, promote tissue repair. As master signalling regulators, HSPGs may one day serve as valuable biomarkers, and even as putative targets for the development of novel therapeutics, not only for the eye but for many other systemic pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayler F L Wishart
- Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Frank J Lovicu
- Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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13
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Song Y, Zhang YY, Yu Q, Chen T, Wei CG, Zhang R, Hu W, Qian XJ, Zhu Z, Zhang XW, Shen JK. A nomogram based on LI-RADS features, clinical indicators and quantitative contrast-enhanced MRI parameters for predicting glypican-3 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1123141. [PMID: 36824129 PMCID: PMC9941525 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1123141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Noninvasively assessing the tumor biology and microenvironment before treatment is greatly important, and glypican-3 (GPC-3) is a new-generation immunotherapy target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the application value of a nomogram based on LI-RADS features, quantitative contrast-enhanced MRI parameters and clinical indicators in the noninvasive preoperative prediction of GPC-3 expression in HCC. Methods and materials We retrospectively reviewed 127 patients with pathologically confirmed solitary HCC who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI examinations and related laboratory tests. Quantitative contrast-enhanced MRI parameters and clinical indicators were collected by an abdominal radiologist, and LI-RADS features were independently assessed and recorded by three trained intermediate- and senior-level radiologists. The pathological and immunohistochemical results of HCC were determined by two senior pathologists. All patients were divided into a training cohort (88 cases) and validation cohort (39 cases). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify independent predictors of GPC-3 expression in HCC, and a nomogram model was established in the training cohort. The performance of the nomogram was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the calibration curve in the training cohort and validation cohort, respectively. Results Blood products in mass, nodule-in-nodule architecture, mosaic architecture, contrast enhancement ratio (CER), transition phase lesion-liver parenchyma signal ratio (TP-LNR), and serum ferritin (Fer) were independent predictors of GPC-3 expression, with odds ratios (ORs) of 5.437, 10.682, 5.477, 11.788, 0.028, and 1.005, respectively. Nomogram based on LI-RADS features (blood products in mass, nodule-in-nodule architecture and mosaic architecture), quantitative contrast-enhanced MRI parameters (CER and TP-LNR) and clinical indicators (Fer) for predicting GPC-3 expression in HCC was established successfully. The nomogram showed good discrimination (AUC of 0.925 in the training cohort and 0.908 in the validation cohort) and favorable calibration. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 76.9% and 92.3% in the training cohort, 76.8% and 93.8% in the validation cohort respectively. Conclusion The nomogram constructed from LI-RADS features, quantitative contrast-enhanced MRI parameters and clinical indicators has high application value, can accurately predict GPC-3 expression in HCC and may help noninvasively identify potential patients for GPC-3 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Song
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China,Department of Radiology, Jieshou City People’s Hospital, Fuyang, China
| | - Yue-yue Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qin Yu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China,Department of Radiology, Dongtai City People’s Hospital, Yancheng, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chao-gang Wei
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xu-jun Qian
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhi Zhu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xue-wu Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jieshou City People’s Hospital, Fuyang, China
| | - Jun-kang Shen
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China,Institute of Imaging Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China,*Correspondence: Jun-kang Shen,
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14
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Schepers EJ, Lake C, Glaser K, Bondoc AJ. Inhibition of Glypican-3 Cleavage Results in Reduced Cell Proliferation in a Liver Cancer Cell Line. J Surg Res 2023; 282:118-128. [PMID: 36272230 PMCID: PMC10893758 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a surface-bound proteoglycan overexpressed in pediatric liver cancer and utilized clinically as an immunohistochemical tumor marker. Furin is a proprotein convertase that is ubiquitously expressed and shown to modify GPC3 post-translationally. In experimental models of epithelial-based cancers, furin inhibition decreased tumor cell migration and proliferation representing a potential therapeutic target. METHODS Using a synthetic furin inhibitor, we evaluated proliferation, migration, protein, and RNA expression in two liver cancer cell lines, HepG2 (GPC3-positive) and SKHep1 cells (GPC3-negative). Total furin protein and GPC3 protein expression were assessed to evaluate functional levels of furin. RESULTS There was a reduction in HepG2 proliferation with addition of furin inhibitor at the 48-h timepoint, however there was an increase in HepG2 migration. CONCLUSIONS GPC3 cleavage in hepatoblastoma (HB) has a role in cell proliferation with therapeutic potential, however furin inhibition is not an appropriate target for GPC3-expressing HB due to increased migration which may enhance metastatic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Schepers
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
| | - Charissa Lake
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kathryn Glaser
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Alexander J Bondoc
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
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15
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MME + fibro-adipogenic progenitors are the dominant adipogenic population during fatty infiltration in human skeletal muscle. Commun Biol 2023; 6:111. [PMID: 36707617 PMCID: PMC9883500 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04504-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fatty infiltration, the ectopic deposition of adipose tissue within skeletal muscle, is mediated via the adipogenic differentiation of fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs). We used single-nuclei and single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize FAP heterogeneity in patients with fatty infiltration. We identified an MME+ FAP subpopulation which, based on ex vivo characterization as well as transplantation experiments, exhibits high adipogenic potential. MME+ FAPs are characterized by low activity of WNT, known to control adipogenic commitment, and are refractory to the inhibitory role of WNT activators. Using preclinical models for muscle damage versus fatty infiltration, we show that many MME+ FAPs undergo apoptosis during muscle regeneration and differentiate into adipocytes under pathological conditions, leading to a reduction in their abundance. Finally, we utilized the varying fat infiltration levels in human hip muscles and found less MME+ FAPs in fatty infiltrated human muscle. Altogether, we have identified the dominant adipogenic FAP subpopulation in skeletal muscle.
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16
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Chen L, Liu S, Adah D, Sun Q, Liang Z, Ho M, Sun B. Soluble programmed death ligand-1-induced immunosuppressive effects on chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer cells targeting Glypican-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunology 2023; 169:204-218. [PMID: 36640111 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the pre-clinical study of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-natural killer (NK) cell was effective against various tumours, immunosuppression mediated by tumour microenvironment hampers their application and several efforts have been explored to improve their effect in combating solid tumours. Glypican 3 (GPC3) is a promising target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and CAR-T cells targeting GPC3 have been tested in clinical trials. Based on an affinity-enhanced antibody (hYP7) targeting GPC3, we constructed GPC3-CAR-NK cells to explore their potential function in the treatment of HCC. We found that patients with HCC secreted high levels of soluble programmed death-ligand 1 (sPD-L1), which inhibits the function of CAR-NK cells targeting GPC3. In addition, we combined high-affinity sPD-L1 variant (L3C7c-Fc) with GPC3-CAR-NK cells to solve the problem of GPC3-CAR-NK inhibition. Our studies demonstrated that L3C7c-Fc could enhance the therapeutic effect of CAR-NK cells by reversing the suppression of sPD-L1, which provides the experimental evidence for the subsequent development of HCC immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyuan Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dickson Adah
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center of Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Science, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyang Sun
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoduan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center of Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Science, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Beicheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Hepatobiliary surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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17
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Knight-Schrijver VR, Davaapil H, Bayraktar S, Ross ADB, Kanemaru K, Cranley J, Dabrowska M, Patel M, Polanski K, He X, Vallier L, Teichmann S, Gambardella L, Sinha S. A single-cell comparison of adult and fetal human epicardium defines the age-associated changes in epicardial activity. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2022; 1:1215-1229. [PMID: 36938497 PMCID: PMC7614330 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-022-00183-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Re-activating quiescent adult epicardium represents a potential therapeutic approach for human cardiac regeneration. However, the exact molecular differences between inactive adult and active fetal epicardium are not known. In this study, we combined fetal and adult human hearts using single-cell and single-nuclei RNA sequencing and compared epicardial cells from both stages. We found that a migratory fibroblast-like epicardial population only in the fetal heart and fetal epicardium expressed angiogenic gene programs, whereas the adult epicardium was solely mesothelial and immune responsive. Furthermore, we predicted that adult hearts may still receive fetal epicardial paracrine communication, including WNT signaling with endocardium, reinforcing the validity of regenerative strategies that administer or reactivate epicardial cells in situ. Finally, we explained graft efficacy of our human embryonic stem-cell-derived epicardium model by noting its similarity to human fetal epicardium. Overall, our study defines epicardial programs of regenerative angiogenesis absent in adult hearts, contextualizes animal studies and defines epicardial states required for effective human heart regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent R. Knight-Schrijver
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hongorzul Davaapil
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Semih Bayraktar
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alexander D. B. Ross
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - James Cranley
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Monika Dabrowska
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Minal Patel
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Xiaoling He
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), BIH Centre for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Laure Gambardella
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- These authors jointly supervised this work: Laure Gambardella, Sanjay Sinha
| | - Sanjay Sinha
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- These authors jointly supervised this work: Laure Gambardella, Sanjay Sinha
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Glycosylation Alterations in Cancer Cells, Prognostic Value of Glycan Biomarkers and Their Potential as Novel Therapeutic Targets in Breast Cancer. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123265. [PMID: 36552021 PMCID: PMC9775348 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although we are lately witnessing major improvements in breast cancer treatment and patient outcomes, there is still a significant proportion of patients not receiving efficient therapy. More precisely, patients with triple-negative breast cancer or any type of metastatic disease. Currently available prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers are not always applicable and oftentimes lack precision. The science of glycans is a relatively new scientific approach to better characterize malignant transformation and tumor progression. In this review, we summarize the most important information about glycosylation characteristics in breast cancer cells and how different glycoproteins and enzymes involved in glycosylation could serve as more precise biomarkers, as well as new therapeutic targets.
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Wu T, Song Z, Huang H, Jakos T, Jiang H, Xie Y, Zhu J. Construction and evaluation of GPC3-targeted immunotoxins as a novel therapeutic modality for hepatocellular carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 113:109393. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Koksal AR, Thevenot P, Aydin Y, Nunez K, Sandow T, Widmer K, Nayak L, Scott J, Delk M, Moehlen MW, Cohen AJ, Dash S. Impaired Autophagy Response in Hepatocellular Carcinomas Enriches Glypican-3 in Exosomes, Not in the Microvesicles. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:959-972. [PMID: 36105695 PMCID: PMC9464631 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s376210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim HCC development in liver cirrhosis is associated with impaired autophagy leading to increased production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes and microvesicles. The goal of the study is to determine which of these particles is primarily involved in releasing of HCC-specific biomarker glypican-3 (GPC3) when autophagy is impaired. Methods Streptavidin-coated magnetic beads were coupled with either biotinylated CD63 or Annexin A1 antibodies. Coupled beads were incubated with EVs isolated from either HCC culture or serum. EVs captured by immuno-magnetic beads were then stained with FITC or PE fluorescent-conjugated antibodies targeting exosomes (CD81), and microvesicles (ARF6). The percentage of GPC3 enrichment in the microvesicles and exosomes was quantified by flow cytometry. The impact of autophagy modulation on GPC3 enrichment in exosomes and microvesicles was assessed by treating cells with Torin 1 and Bafilomycin A1. For clinical validation, GPC3 content was quantified in microvesicles, and exosomes were isolated from the serum of patients with a recent HCC diagnosis. Results The immune-magnetic bead assay distinguishes membrane-derived microvesicles from endosome-derived exosomes. The GPC3 expression was only seen in the CD63 beads group but not in the Annexin A1 beads group, confirming that in HCC, GPC3 is preferentially released through exosomes. Furthermore, we found that autophagy induction by Torin1 decreased GPC3-positive exosome secretion and decreased microvesicle release. Conversely, autophagy inhibition by Bafilomycin A1 increased the secretion of GPC3-positive exosomes. Serum analysis showed CD81+ve EVs were detected in exosomes and ARF6+ve vesicles were detected in microvesicles, suggesting that immunoaffinity assay is specific. The exosomal GPC3 enrichment was confirmed in isolated EVs from the serum of patients with HCC. The frequency of GPC3-positive exosomes was higher in patients with HCC (12.4%) compared to exosomes isolated from non-cirrhotic and healthy controls (3.7% and 1.3% respectively, p<0.001). Conclusion Our results show that GPC3 is enriched in the endolysosomal compartment and released in exosome fractions when autophagy is impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Riza Koksal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Paul Thevenot
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Yucel Aydin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kelley Nunez
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tyler Sandow
- Department of Radiology, Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kyle Widmer
- Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Leela Nayak
- Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - John Scott
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Molly Delk
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Martin W Moehlen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Ari J Cohen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of General Surgery, Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Srikanta Dash
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Aljabban J, Rohr M, Syed S, Cohen E, Hashi N, Syed S, Khorfan K, Aljabban H, Borkowski V, Segal M, Mukhtar M, Mohammed M, Boateng E, Nemer M, Panahiazar M, Hadley D, Jalil S, Mumtaz K. Dissecting novel mechanisms of hepatitis B virus related hepatocellular carcinoma using meta-analysis of public data. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14:1856-1873. [PMID: 36187396 PMCID: PMC9516659 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i9.1856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Interestingly, this process is not necessarily mediated through cirrhosis and may in fact involve oncogenic processes. Prior studies have suggested specific oncogenic gene expression pathways were affected by viral regulatory proteins. Thus, identifying these genes and associated pathways could highlight predictive factors for HCC transformation and has implications in early diagnosis and treatment.
AIM To elucidate HBV oncogenesis in HCC and identify potential therapeutic targets.
METHODS We employed our Search, Tag, Analyze, Resource platform to conduct a meta-analysis of public data from National Center for Biotechnology Information’s Gene Expression Omnibus. We performed meta-analysis consisting of 155 tumor samples compared against 185 adjacent non-tumor samples and analyzed results with ingenuity pathway analysis.
RESULTS Our analysis revealed liver X receptors/retinoid X receptor (RXR) activation and farnesoid X receptor/RXR activation as top canonical pathways amongst others. Top upstream regulators identified included the Ras family gene rab-like protein 6 (RABL6). The role of RABL6 in oncogenesis is beginning to unfold but its specific role in HBV-related HCC remains undefined. Our causal analysis suggests RABL6 mediates pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC through promotion of genes related to cell division, epigenetic regulation, and Akt signaling. We conducted survival analysis that demonstrated increased mortality with higher RABL6 expression. Additionally, homeobox A10 (HOXA10) was a top upstream regulator and was strongly upregulated in our analysis. HOXA10 has recently been demonstrated to contribute to HCC pathogenesis in vitro. Our causal analysis suggests an in vivo role through downregulation of tumor suppressors and other mechanisms.
CONCLUSION This meta-analysis describes possible roles of RABL6 and HOXA10 in the pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC. RABL6 and HOXA10 represent potential therapeutic targets and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihad Aljabban
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792, United States
| | - Michael Rohr
- Department of Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, United States
| | - Saad Syed
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Eli Cohen
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, United States
| | - Naima Hashi
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
| | - Sharjeel Syed
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Kamal Khorfan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Francisco-Fresno, Fresno, CA 93701, United States
| | - Hisham Aljabban
- Department of Medicine, Barry University, Miami, FL 33161, United States
| | - Vincent Borkowski
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792, United States
| | - Michael Segal
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792, United States
| | - Mohamed Mukhtar
- Department of Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Lansing, MI 49503, United States
| | - Mohammed Mohammed
- Department of Medicine, Windsor University School of Medicine, Frankfort, IL 60423, United States
| | - Emmanuel Boateng
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, United States
| | - Mary Nemer
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792, United States
| | - Maryam Panahiazar
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
| | - Dexter Hadley
- Department of Pathology, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, United States
| | - Sajid Jalil
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Khalid Mumtaz
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
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Busato D, Mossenta M, Dal Bo M, Macor P, Toffoli G. The Proteoglycan Glypican-1 as a Possible Candidate for Innovative Targeted Therapeutic Strategies for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810279. [PMID: 36142190 PMCID: PMC9499405 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for 90% of all pancreatic cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of 7% and 80% of patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic malignancies. Despite recent advances in diagnostic testing, surgical techniques, and systemic therapies, there remain limited options for the effective treatment of PDAC. There is an urgent need to develop targeted therapies that are able to differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous cells to reduce side effects and better inhibit tumor growth. Antibody-targeted strategies are a potentially effective option for introducing innovative therapies. Antibody-based immunotherapies and antibody-conjugated nanoparticle-based targeted therapies with antibodies targeting specific tumor-associated antigens (TAA) can be proposed. In this context, glypican-1 (GPC1), which is highly expressed in PDAC and not expressed or expressed at very low levels in non-malignant lesions and healthy pancreatic tissues, is a useful TAA that can be achieved by a specific antibody-based immunotherapy and antibody-conjugated nanoparticle-based targeted therapy. In this review, we describe the main clinical features of PDAC. We propose the proteoglycan GPC1 as a useful TAA for PDAC-targeted therapies. We also provide a digression on the main developed approaches of antibody-based immunotherapy and antibody-conjugated nanoparticle-based targeted therapy, which can be used to target GPC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Busato
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0434-659816
| | - Monica Mossenta
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Michele Dal Bo
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Paolo Macor
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Toffoli
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
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Muralidharan S, Kervarrec T, Weiss GJ, Samimi M. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is associated with MCPyV-negative status and impaired outcome in Merkel cell carcinoma. Oncotarget 2022; 13:960-967. [PMID: 35937502 PMCID: PMC9348696 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer, related to the Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) in 80% of cases. Immune checkpoint inhibitors provide sustained benefit in about 50% of MCC patients with advanced disease. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an oncofetal tumor antigen that is an attractive target for chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy due to its highly restricted expression on normal tissue and high prevalence in several solid tumors. GPC3 is known to be expressed in MCC but its association with tumor characteristics or prognosis has not been reported. We investigated MCC GPC3 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and its association with tumor characteristics, MCPyV status, and patient outcome. Methods: The GC33 antibody clone was validated for GPC3 IHC staining of tumor specimens in comparison to an established GPC3 IHC antibody. An MCC tissue microarray was stained for GPC3 by IHC using GC33 antibody. Association of GPC3+ IHC with baseline characteristics, MCPyV status (qPCR) and outcome (death from MCC/recurrence) were assessed. Results: Forty-two of 62 samples (67.7%) were GPC3+. GPC3 expression was more frequently observed in females (p = 0.048) and MCPyV-negative tumors (p = 0.021). By multivariate analysis, GPC3 expression was associated with increased death from disease (CSS) (hazard ratio [HR] 4.05, 95% CI 1.06–15.43), together with advanced age (HR 4.85, 95% CI 1.39–16.9) and male gender (HR 4.64, 95% CI 1.31–16.41). Conclusions: GPC3 expression is frequent in MCC tumors, especially MCPyV-negative cases, and is associated with increased risk of death. High prevalence of surface GPC3 makes it a putative drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujatha Muralidharan
- SOTIO Biotech Inc., Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Thibault Kervarrec
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours 37170, France
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | | | - Mahtab Samimi
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours 37170, France
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Fernandes-Ferreira R, Tenani GD, Pinhel MADS, Abrantes AMC, Botelho MFRR, Silva RDCMAD, Souza DRS, Silva RFD. GENES EXPRESSION AND SERUM BIOMARKERS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA, CIRRHOSIS AND HEPATITIS C. ARQUIVOS DE GASTROENTEROLOGIA 2022; 59:394-401. [PMID: 36102438 DOI: 10.1590/s0004-2803.202203000-71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. Risk factors for HCC include hepatitis C (HCV) and B (HBV) virus infection, alcoholic cirrhosis and genetic alterations that can affect several cellular pathways. OBJECTIVE This study purposed to analyze the gene and serum protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenesis, alpha fetoprotein, cystatin B (CSTB), β-catenin and glypican-3 (GPC3) in groups with HCC, cirrhosis or HCV and controls, and their relation with clinical staging in the HCC and cirrhosis groups, as well its sensitivity and specificity values. METHODS A total of 230 individuals were distributed in Group 1 (G1) - 80 patients with HCC; Group 2 (G2) - 76 patients with cirrhosis due to any etiology; Group 3 (G3) - 33 patients with HCV; Group 4 (G4 - controls) - 41 individuals without clinical or biochemical signs of any liver disease. Gene expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR and serum proteins were performed using the ELISA method. RESULTS Increased VEGF and angiogenesis, alpha fetoprotein expression could be observed in BCLC stage-D patients compared to stage-B patients, and stage-C patients showed higher expression of β-catenin, compared to stage-B patients (P<0.05). For VEGF and GPC3, discriminatory power was observed between HCC patients and controls (AUC =0.71; 0.82, respectively). CSTB showed discriminatory power in the comparison between patients with HCV and controls (AUC =0.74). CONCLUSION The present study confirms the sensitivity of serum CSTB in the diagnosis of hepatitis C, and gene expression of VEGF and serum GPC3, confer both sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Fernandes-Ferreira
- Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Departamento de Biologia Molecular, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil
- Universidade Paulista, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil
- Universidade de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | - Graciele Domitila Tenani
- Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Departamento de Biologia Molecular, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Dorotéia Rossi Silva Souza
- Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Departamento de Biologia Molecular, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Renato Ferreira da Silva
- Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Departamento de Biologia Molecular, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil
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Sibuh BZ, Gahtori R, Al-Dayan N, Pant K, Far BF, Malik AA, Gupta AK, Sadhu S, Dohare S, Gupta PK. Emerging trends in immunotoxin targeting cancer stem cells. Toxicol In Vitro 2022; 83:105417. [PMID: 35718257 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are self-renewing multipotent cells that play a vital role in the development of cancer drug resistance conditions. Various therapies like conventional, targeted, and radiotherapies have been broadly used in targeting and killing these CSCs. Among these, targeted therapy selectively targets CSCs and leads to overcoming disease recurrence conditions in cancer patients. Immunotoxins (ITs) are protein-based therapeutics with selective targeting capabilities. These chimeric molecules are composed of two functional moieties, i.e., a targeting moiety for cell surface binding and a toxin moiety that induces the programmed cell death upon internalization. Several ITs have been constructed recently, and their preclinical and clinical efficacies have been evaluated. In this review, we comprehensively discussed the recent preclinical and clinical advances as well as significant challenges in ITs targeting CSCs, which might reduce the burden of drug resistance conditions in cancer patients from bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belay Zeleke Sibuh
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rekha Gahtori
- Department of Biotechnology, Sir J.C. Bose Technical Campus, Kumaun University, Bhimtal, Nainital 263136, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Noura Al-Dayan
- Department of Medical Lab Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 16278, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kumud Pant
- Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Bahareh Farasati Far
- Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asrar Ahmad Malik
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research (SBSR), Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashish Kumar Gupta
- Department of Life Sciences, J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad 121006, Haryana, India
| | - Soumi Sadhu
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research (SBSR), Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sushil Dohare
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Piyush Kumar Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India; Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research (SBSR), Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Pan J, Li N, Renn A, Zhu H, Chen L, Shen M, Hall MD, Qian M, Pastan I, Ho M. GPC1-Targeted Immunotoxins Inhibit Pancreatic Tumor Growth in Mice via Depletion of Short-lived GPC1 and Downregulation of Wnt Signaling. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:960-973. [PMID: 35312769 PMCID: PMC9167738 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Glypican-1 (GPC1) is a cell surface proteoglycan that is upregulated in multiple types of human cancers including pancreatic cancer. Here, we investigated whether GPC1 could be a target of antibody-toxin fusion proteins (i.e., immunotoxins) for treating pancreatic cancer. We constructed a panel of GPC1-targeted immunotoxins derived from a functional domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin A. An albumin-binding domain was also introduced into the anti-GPC1 immunotoxin to improve serum half-life. Small-molecule screening was performed to identify irinotecan that shows synergistic efficacy with the immunotoxin. We showed that GPC1 was internalized upon antibody binding. Anti-GPC1 immunotoxins alone inhibited tumor growth in a pancreatic cancer xenograft model. The immunotoxin treatment reduced active β-catenin expression in tumor cells. Furthermore, immunotoxins containing an albumin-binding domain in combination with irinotecan caused pancreatic tumor regression. GPC1 expression was reduced by the immunotoxin treatment due to the degradation of the internalized GPC1 and its short cellular turnover rate. Our data indicate that the GPC1-targeted immunotoxin inhibits pancreatic tumor growth via degradation of internalized GPC1, downregulation of Wnt signaling, and inhibition of protein synthesis. The anti-GPC1 immunotoxin in combination with irinotecan thus provides a potential new treatment strategy for patients with pancreatic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Pan
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nan Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alex Renn
- NCATS Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hu Zhu
- NCATS Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Lu Chen
- NCATS Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Min Shen
- NCATS Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Matthew D. Hall
- NCATS Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Min Qian
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Al-Noshokaty TM, Mesbah NM, Abo-Elmatty DM, Abulsoud AI, Abdel-Hamed AR. Selenium nanoparticles overcomes sorafenib resistance in thioacetamide induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats by modulation of mTOR, NF-κB pathways and LncRNA-AF085935/GPC3 axis. Life Sci 2022; 303:120675. [PMID: 35640776 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib (SOR). Sofafenib resistance is linked to protein kinase B/ mammalian target of rapamycin (AKT/mTOR) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, apoptosis inhibition and oxidative stress. This study investigated selenium nanoparticles (SeNps) to overcome SOR resistance in thioacetamide (TAA) induced HCC in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS TAA (200 mg/kg/twice weekly, i.p.) was administered for 16 weeks to induce HCC.s. Rats were treated with oral SOR (10 mg/Kg daily), selenium, and SeNps (5 mg/kg three times/week) alone or in combination, for two weeks. Apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and drug resistance were assessed. Cleaved caspase 3 (C. CASP3), mTOR, and NF-κB were determined by western blotting. Expression of p53 gene and long-noncoding RNA-AF085935 was determined by qRT-PCR. Expression of B- Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), Bcl associated X protein (Bax)and glypican 3 (GPC3) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Liver functions, antioxidant capacity, histopathology and CD34 immunohistochemistry were performed. KEY FINDINGS SOR/SeNps reversed TAA-induced HCC in rats, through reduction of oxidative stress, activation of p53, Bax and CASP3, and inhibition of Bcl2. SOR/SeNps ameliorated the HCC-induced effect on cell proliferation and drug resistance by targeting mTOR and NF-κB pathways. SOR/SeNps decreased CD34 immunostaining indicating a decrease in angiogenesis and metastasis. SOR/SeNps regulated HCC epigenetically through the lncRNA-AF085935/GPC3 axis. SIGNIFICANCE SOR/SeNps are a promising combination for tumor suppression and overcoming sorafenib resistance in HCC by modulating apoptosis, AKT/mTOR and NF-κB pathways, as well as CD34 and lncRNA-AF085935/GPC3 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tohada M Al-Noshokaty
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noha M Mesbah
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Dina M Abo-Elmatty
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Ahmed I Abulsoud
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Asmaa R Abdel-Hamed
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
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Zhang D, Hugo W, Bergsneider M, Wang MB, Kim W, Vinters HV, Heaney AP. Single-cell RNA sequencing in silent corticotroph tumors confirms impaired POMC processing and provides new insights into their invasive behavior. Eur J Endocrinol 2022; 187:49-64. [PMID: 35521707 PMCID: PMC9248914 DOI: 10.1530/eje-21-1183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Objective Provide insights into the defective POMC processing and invasive behavior in silent pituitary corticotroph tumors. Design and methods Single-cell RNAseq was used to compare the cellular makeup and transcriptome of silent and active corticotroph tumors. Results A series of transcripts related to hormone processing peptidases and genes involved in the structural organization of secretory vesicles were reduced in silent compared to active corticotroph tumors. Most relevant to their invasive behavior, silent corticotroph tumors exhibited several features of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, with increased expression of mesenchymal genes along with the loss of transcripts that regulate hormonal biogenesis and secretion. Silent corticotroph tumor vascular smooth muscle cell and pericyte stromal cell populations also exhibited plasticity in their mesenchymal features. Conclusions Our findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of impaired POMC processing and invasion in silent corticotroph tumors and suggest that a common transcriptional reprogramming mechanism simultaneously impairs POMC processing and activates tumor invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyun Zhang
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Willy Hugo
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Marvin Bergsneider
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Marilene B. Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Won Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Harry V. Vinters
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Anthony P. Heaney
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
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29
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Shin WR, Park DY, Kim JH, Lee JP, Thai NQ, Oh IH, Sekhon SS, Choi W, Kim SY, Cho BK, Kim SC, Min J, Ahn JY, Kim YH. Structure based innovative approach to analyze aptaprobe-GPC3 complexes in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:204. [PMID: 35477501 PMCID: PMC9044640 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01391-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Glypican-3 (GPC3), a membrane-bound heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is a biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Aptamers specifically binding to target biomolecules have recently emerged as clinical disease diagnosis targets. Here, we describe 3D structure-based aptaprobe platforms for detecting GPC3, such as aptablotting, aptaprobe-based sandwich assay (ALISA), and aptaprobe-based imaging analysis. Results For preparing the aptaprobe–GPC3 platforms, we obtained 12 high affinity aptamer candidates (GPC3_1 to GPC3_12) that specifically bind to target GPC3 molecules. Structure-based molecular interactions identified distinct aptatopic residues responsible for binding to the paratopic nucleotide sequences (nt-paratope) of GPC3 aptaprobes. Sandwichable and overlapped aptaprobes were selected through structural analysis. The aptaprobe specificity for using in HCC diagnostics were verified through Aptablotting and ALISA. Moreover, aptaprobe-based imaging showed that the binding property of GPC3_3 and their GPC3 specificity were maintained in HCC xenograft models, which may indicate a new HCC imaging diagnosis. Conclusion Aptaprobe has the potential to be used as an affinity reagent to detect the target in vivo and in vitro diagnosing system. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01391-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Ri Shin
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Young Park
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Pyo Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen Quang Thai
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Hwan Oh
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Simranjeet Singh Sekhon
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Wooil Choi
- Graduate School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Yeon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Shinyoung-dong 344-2, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 570-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Kwan Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Chang Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiho Min
- Graduate School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ji-Young Ahn
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yang-Hoon Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea.
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30
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Chen T, Sun D, Wang Q, Zhou T, Tan J, Xu C, Cheng H, Shen W. α-Hederin Inhibits the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Hippo-Yes-Associated Protein Signaling Pathway. Front Oncol 2022; 12:839603. [PMID: 35311132 PMCID: PMC8927085 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.839603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Yes-associated protein (YAP), a downstream protein in the Hippo signaling pathway, plays an important role in tumor proliferation, including in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). α-hederin, a monodesmosidic triterpenoid saponin isolated from Fructus akebiae, displayed anti-cancer effects on several cancer cell lines but the precise mechanism has not been ascertained. In the present study, we explored the effects of α-hederin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human HCC cell lines and the underlying mechanisms. Main Method Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine staining, colony formation, flow cytometry. The expression patterns of components of Hippo signaling pathway and apoptotic genes were further examined via RT-qPCR and immunoblotting. A xenograft tumor model in nude mice was used to evaluate the anti-HCC effects of α-hederin in vivo. Results α-hederin promoted the apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells in vitro, and remarkably inhibited the tumor size and weight in the xenograft mouse model. Additionally, α-hederin increased the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins and suppressed the expression of anti-apoptosis proteins. Moreover, α-hederin treatment upregulated the expression of Hippo signaling pathway-related proteins and genes, while, effectively reduced the level of nuclear YAP, which resulted in the inhibition of proliferation and the induction of apoptosis of HCC cells. Finally, the effects of α-hederin on HCC cell proliferation and apoptosis were alleviated by XMU-MP-1, a Mst1/2 inhibitor in vitro. Significance We identified α-hederin is a novel agonist of Hippo signaling pathway and possesses an anti-HCC efficacy through inhibiting YAP activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongqing Chen
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dongdong Sun
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qijuan Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tingting Zhou
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiani Tan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Changliang Xu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haibo Cheng
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weixing Shen
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
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31
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Liu YC, Wierbowski BM, Salic A. Hedgehog pathway modulation by glypican 3-conjugated heparan sulfate. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:274739. [PMID: 35142364 PMCID: PMC8977055 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glypicans are a family of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans that play critical roles in multiple cell signaling pathways. Glypicans consist of a globular core, an unstructured stalk modified with sulfated glycosaminoglycan chains, and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. Though these structural features are conserved, their individual contribution to glypican function remains obscure. Here, we investigate how glypican 3 (GPC3), which is mutated in Simpson-Golabi-Behmel tissue overgrowth syndrome, regulates Hedgehog signaling. We find that GPC3 is necessary for the Hedgehog response, surprisingly controlling a downstream signal transduction step. Purified GPC3 ectodomain rescues signaling when artificially recruited to the surface of GPC3-deficient cells but has dominant-negative activity when unattached. Strikingly, the purified stalk, modified with heparan sulfate but not chondroitin sulfate, is necessary and sufficient for activity. Our results demonstrate a novel function for GPC3-associated heparan sulfate and provide a framework for the functional dissection of glycosaminoglycans by in vivo biochemical complementation. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulu Cherry Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Biology, Hood College, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | | | - Adrian Salic
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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32
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Zheng X, Liu X, Lei Y, Wang G, Liu M. Glypican-3: A Novel and Promising Target for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:824208. [PMID: 35251989 PMCID: PMC8889910 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.824208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a membrane-associated proteoglycan that is specifically up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) although rarely or not expressed in normal liver tissues, making it a perfect diagnostic and treatment target for HCC. Several GPC3-based clinical trials are ongoing and recently several innovative GPC3-targeted therapeutic methods have emerged with exciting results, including GPC3 vaccine, anti-GPC3 immunotoxin, combined therapy with immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T or NK cells. Here, we review the value of GPC3 in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC, together with its signaling pathways, with a specific focus on GPC3-targeted treatments of HCC and some prospects for the future GPC3-based therapeutic strategies in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufeng Zheng
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xun Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanna Lei
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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33
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Váncza L, Karászi K, Péterfia B, Turiák L, Dezső K, Sebestyén A, Reszegi A, Petővári G, Kiss A, Schaff Z, Baghy K, Kovalszky I. SPOCK1 Promotes the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:819883. [PMID: 35186754 PMCID: PMC8853618 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.819883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix proteoglycan SPOCK1 is increasingly recognized as a contributor to the development and progression of cancers. Here, we study how SPOCK1, which is present in non-tumorous hepatocytes at low concentrations, promotes the development and progression of malignant hepatocellular tumors. Although SPOCK1 is an extracellular matrix proteoglycan, its concentration increases in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes starting with very low expression in the normal cells and then appearing in much higher quantities in cells of cirrhotic human liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. This observation is similar to that observed after diethylnitrosamine induction of mouse hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, syndecan-1, the major proteoglycan of the liver, and SPOCK1 are in inverse correlation in the course of these events. In hepatoma cell lines, the cytoplasmic SPOCK1 colocalized with mitochondrial markers, such as MitoTracker and TOMM20, a characteristic protein of the outer membrane of the mitochondrion and could be detected in the cell nucleus. SPOCK1 downregulation of hepatoma cell lines by siRNA inhibited cell proliferation, upregulated p21 and p27, and interfered with pAkt and CDK4 expression. A tyrosine kinase array revealed that inhibition of SPOCK1 in the liver cancer cells altered MAPK signaling and downregulated several members of the Sarc family, all related to the aggressivity of the hepatoma cell lines. These studies support the idea that SPOCK1 enhancement in the liver is an active contributor to human and rodent hepatocarcinogenesis and cancer progression. However, its mitochondrial localization raises the possibility that it has a currently unidentified physiological function in normal hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lóránd Váncza
- 1 Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Karászi
- 1 Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Péterfia
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lilla Turiák
- MS Proteomics Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Dezső
- 1 Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Sebestyén
- 1 Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Reszegi
- 1 Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Petővári
- 1 Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Kiss
- 2 Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Schaff
- 2 Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kornélia Baghy
- 1 Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ilona Kovalszky
- 1 Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Ilona Kovalszky, ;
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Hu A, Hu Z, Ye J, Liu Y, Lai Z, Zhang M, Ji W, Huang L, Zou H, Chen B, Zhong J. Metformin exerts anti-tumor effects via Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway by targeting AMPK in HepG2 cells. Biochem Cell Biol 2022; 100:142-151. [PMID: 34990285 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2021-0409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin, a traditional first-line pharmacologic treatment for type 2 diabetes, has recently been shown to impart anti-cancer effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanism of metformin on its antitumor activity is still not completely clear. The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is closely associated with the initiation and progression of HCC. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of metformin on the biological behavior of HCC and the underlying functional mechanism of metformin on the Shh pathway. The HCC cellular was induced in HepG2 cells by recombinant human Shh (rhShh). The effects of metformin on proliferation and metastasis were evaluated by proliferation, wound healing and invasion assays in vitro. The mRNA and protein expression levels of proteins related to the Shh pathway were measured by western blotting, quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence staining. Metformin inhibited rhShh-induced proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, metformin decreased mRNA and protein expression of components of the Shh pathway including Shh, Ptch, Smo and Gli-1. Silencing of AMPK in the presence of metformin revealed that metformin could exert its inhibitory effect via AMPK. Our findings demonstrate that metformin can suppress the migration and invasion of HepG2 cells via AMPK-mediated inhibition of the Shh pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ang Hu
- Gannan Medical University, 74554, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Zeming Hu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Jianming Ye
- First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, 477808, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Yuwen Liu
- Gannan Medical University, 74554, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Zhonghong Lai
- Gannan Medical University, 74554, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Mi Zhang
- Gannan Medical University, 74554, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Weichao Ji
- Gannan Medical University, 74554, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Lili Huang
- Gannan Medical University, 74554, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Haohong Zou
- Gannan Medical University, 74554, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Bin Chen
- First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, 477808, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China;
| | - Jianing Zhong
- Gannan Medical University, 74554, Ganzhou, China, 341000;
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35
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Li D, Lin S, Hong J, Ho M. Immunotherapy for hepatobiliary cancers: Emerging targets and translational advances. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 156:415-449. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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36
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Wishart TFL, Lovicu FJ. An Atlas of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in the Postnatal Rat Lens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:5. [PMID: 34730792 PMCID: PMC8572486 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.14.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The arrangement of lens cells is regulated by ocular growth factors. Although the effects of these inductive molecules on lens cell behavior (proliferation, survival, and fiber differentiation) are well-characterized, the precise mechanisms underlying the regulation of growth factor-mediated signaling in lens remains elusive. Increasing evidence highlights the importance of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) for the signaling regulation of growth factors; however, the identity of the different lens HSPGs and the specific roles they play in lens biology are still unknown. Methods Semiquantitative real-time (RT)‐PCR and immunolabeling were used to characterize the spatial distribution of all known HSPG core proteins and their associated glycosaminoglycans (heparan and chondroitin sulfate) in the postnatal rat lens. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2-treated lens epithelial explants, cultured in the presence of Surfen (an inhibitor of heparan sulfate [HS]-growth factor binding interactions) were used to investigate the requirement for HS in FGF-2-induced proliferation, fiber differentiation, and ERK1/2-signaling. Results The lens expresses all HSPGs. These HSPGs are differentially localized to distinct functional regions of the lens. In vitro, inhibition of HS-sulfation with Surfen blocked FGF-2-mediated ERK1/2-signaling associated with lens epithelial cell proliferation and fiber differentiation, highlighting that these cellular processes are dependent on HS. Conclusions These findings support a requirement for HSPGs in FGF-2 driven lens cell proliferation and fiber differentiation. The identification of specific HSPG core proteins in key functional lens regions, and the divergent expression patterns of closely related HSPGs, suggests that different HSPGs may differentially regulate growth factor signaling networks leading to specific biological events involved in lens growth and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayler F L Wishart
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Frank J Lovicu
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Pan J, Ho M. Role of glypican-1 in regulating multiple cellular signaling pathways. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021; 321:C846-C858. [PMID: 34550795 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00290.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Glypican-1 (GPC1) is one of the six glypican family members in humans. It is composed of a core protein with three heparan sulfate chains and attached to the cell membrane by a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor. GPC1 modulates various signaling pathways including fibroblast growth factors (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Wnt, Hedgehog (Hh), and bone morphogenic protein (BMP) through specific interactions with pathway ligands and receptors. The impact of these interactions on signaling pathways, activating or inhibitory, is dependent upon specific GPC1 domain interaction with pathway components, as well as cell surface context. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the structure of GPC1, as well as its role in regulating multiple signaling pathways. We focus on the functions of GPC1 in cancer cells and how new insights into these signaling processes can inform its translational potential as a therapeutic target in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Pan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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38
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Mahati S, Fu X, Ma X, Zhang H, Xiao L. Delivery of miR-26a Using an Exosomes-Based Nanosystem Inhibited Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:738219. [PMID: 34552961 PMCID: PMC8450326 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.738219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: MicroRNA (abbreviated miRNA)-based treatment holds great promise for application as clinical antitumor therapy, but good carriers for delivery of the miRNA drug are lacking. Exosomes secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have proved to be safe, and exogenously modified exosomes may potentially represent an excellent drug delivery vehicle. Methods: In this study, we designed a delivery nano system using single-stranded variable fragment (scFv)-modified exosomes derived from human cord blood MSCs. Genetic engineering technology was used to obtain anti-Glypican 3 (GPC3) scFv-modified exosomes, which were then loaded with miR-26a mimics through electroporation. Results: Results of electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering indicated that the diameter of the drug-carrying exosomes was about 160 nm. Furthermore, anti-GPC3 scFv-modified exosomes effectively delivered miR-26a to GPC3-positive hepatocellular carcinoma cells, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and migration by regulating the expression of downstream target genes of miR-26a. The exosomes-based nano system displayed favorable anti-tumor effect in vivo with no obvious side effects. Conclusion: Our data provided a new perspective for the use of exosome delivery systems for miRNA-based antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaya Mahati
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xiangjun Fu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuexian Ma
- Department of Infection, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Lei Xiao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
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Bondoc A, Glaser K, Jin K, Lake C, Cairo S, Geller J, Tiao G, Aronow B. Identification of distinct tumor cell populations and key genetic mechanisms through single cell sequencing in hepatoblastoma. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1049. [PMID: 34497364 PMCID: PMC8426487 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02562-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common primary liver malignancy of childhood, and molecular investigations are limited and effective treatment options for chemoresistant disease are lacking. There is a knowledge gap in the investigation of key driver cells of HB in tumor. Here we show single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNAseq) analysis of human tumor, background liver, and patient derived xenograft (PDX) to demonstrate gene expression patterns within tumor and to identify intratumor cell subtype heterogeneity to define differing roles in pathogenesis based on intracellular signaling in pediatric HB. We have identified a driver tumor cell cluster in HB by genetic expression which can be examined to define disease mechanism and treatments. Identification of both critical mechanistic pathways combined with unique cell populations provide the basis for discovery and investigation of novel treatment strategies in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Bondoc
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Kathryn Glaser
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kang Jin
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Developmental Biology, and Pediatrics, Cincinnati, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Charissa Lake
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Stefano Cairo
- Research and Development Unit, XenTech, Genopole-Campus 3, Fontaine, France
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica (IRP), Corso Stati Uniti, Padua, Italy
| | - James Geller
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Gregory Tiao
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Bruce Aronow
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Developmental Biology, and Pediatrics, Cincinnati, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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40
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Xue T, Zhao X, Zhao K, Lu Y, Yao J, Ji X. Immunotherapy for lung cancer: Focusing on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. Curr Probl Cancer 2021; 46:100791. [PMID: 34538649 DOI: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2021.100791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Besides traditional treatment strategies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy for lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer incidence and death, immunotherapy has also emerged as a new treatment strategy. The goal of immunotherapy is to stimulate the immune system responses against cancer, using various approaches such as therapeutic vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and T-cell therapy. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, one of the most popular cancer immunotherapy approaches in the last decade, are genetically engineered T-cells to redirect patients' immune responses to recognize and eliminate tumor-associated antigens (TAA)-expressing tumor cells. CAR-T cell therapy provides promising benefits in lung tumors. In this review, we summarize different immunotherapy approaches for lung cancer, the structure of CAR-T cells, currently undergoing CARs in clinical trials, and various TAAs are being investigated as potential targets in designing CAR-T cells for lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongqing Xue
- Department of Pain and Intervention Management, Huaian Hospital of Huaian City, Huaian 223200, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiang Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huaian Hospital of Huaian City, Huaian 223200, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kun Zhao
- Department of oncology, Huaian Hospital of Huaian City, Huaian 223200, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huaian Hospital of Huaian City, Huaian 223200, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Juan Yao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huaian Hospital of Huaian City, Huaian 223200, Huaian, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xianguo Ji
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huaian Hospital of Huaian City, Huaian 223200, Huaian, Jiangsu, China.
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Zhuo J, Lu D, Wang J, Lian Z, Zhang J, Li H, Cen B, Wei X, Wei Q, Xie H, Xu X. Molecular phenotypes reveal heterogeneous engraftments of patient-derived hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts. Chin J Cancer Res 2021; 33:470-479. [PMID: 34584372 PMCID: PMC8435819 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2021.04.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models provide a promising preclinical platform for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular features associated with successful engraftment of PDX models have not been revealed. Methods HCC tumor samples from 76 patients were implanted in immunodeficient mice. The molecular expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Patient and tumor characteristics as well as tumor molecular expressions were compared for PDX engraftment using the Chi-square test. The independent prediction parameters were identified by logistic regression analyses. Results The engraftment rate for PDX models from patients with HCC was 39.47% (30/76). Tumors from younger patients and patients with elevated preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level had higher engraftment rates. Tumors with poor differentiation and vascular invasion were related to engraftment success. The positive expression of CK19, CD133, glypican-3 (GPC3), and Ki67 in tumor samples was associated with engraftment success. Logistic regression analyses indicated that GPC3 and Ki67 were two of the strongest predictors of PDX engraftment. Tumors with GPC3/Ki67 phenotypes showed heterogeneous engraftment rates, with 71.9% in GPC3+/Ki67+ tumors, 30.8% in GPC3−/Ki67+ tumors, 15.0% in GPC3+/Ki67− tumors, and 0 in GPC3−/Ki67− tumors.
Conclusions Successful engraftment of HCC PDXs was significantly related to molecular features. Tumors with the GPC3+/Ki67+ phenotype were the most likely to successfully establish HCC PDXs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Zhuo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.,National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Di Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jianguo Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zhengxing Lian
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jiali Zhang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Huihui Li
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Beini Cen
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xuyong Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Qiang Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Haiyang Xie
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.,National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
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A Humanized Anti-GPC3 Antibody for Immuno-Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Orthotopic Mouse Model of Patient-Derived Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenografts. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13163977. [PMID: 34439132 PMCID: PMC8391944 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Liver cancer, the majority of which is hepatocellular carcinoma, is a typically fatal adult liver malignancy. It is hard to detect in the early stages of the cancer, and therefore patients are often diagnosed at the advanced stages, when treatment options become more limited and survival outcomes are poor. To improve early detection, and therefore treatment and prognosis of liver cancer patients, we have developed an imaging probe for positron emission tomography, targeting a protein, glypican-3, which is specifically expressed at high levels in liver cancer cells. Our probe consists of the 89Zr radioisotope conjugated to a humanized monoclonal antibody against glypican-3, and it demonstrates specific ability to detect patient-derived liver cancer xenografts in a mouse model. With a high tumor to normal liver contrast, we believe this imaging probe can provide a useful tool in the early diagnosis and timely medical intervention for liver cancer patients. Abstract Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an attractive diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We previously reported the potential of an 89Zr-labeled murine anti-GPC3 antibody (clone 1G12) for immunoPET imaging of HCC in orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. We now humanized the murine antibody by complementarity determining region (CDR) grafting, to allow its clinical translation for human use. The engineered humanized anti-GPC3 antibody, clone H3K3, retained comparable binding affinity and specificity to human GPC3. H3K3 was conjugated with desferrioxamine (Df) and radiolabeled with 89Zr to produce the PET/CT tracer 89Zr-Df-H3K3. When injected into GPC3-expressing orthotopic HCC PDX in NOD SCID Gamma (NSG) mice, 89Zr-Df-H3K3 showed specific high uptake into the orthotopic PDX and minimal, non-specific uptake into the non-tumor bearing liver. Specificity was demonstrated by significantly higher uptake of 89Zr-Df-H3K3 into the non-blocked PDX mice, compared with the blocked PDX mice (which received prior injection of 100 mg of unlabeled H3K3). Region of interest (ROI) analysis showed that the PDX/non-tumor liver ratio was highest (mean ± SD: 3.4 ± 0.31) at 168 h post injection; this ratio was consistent with biodistribution studies at the same time point. Thus, our humanized anti-GPC3 antibody, H3K3, shows encouraging potential for use as an immunoPET tracer for diagnostic imaging of HCC patients.
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43
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Yonet-Tanyeri N, Ahlmark BZ, Little SR. Advances in Multiplexed Paper-Based Analytical Devices for Cancer Diagnosis: A Review of Technological Developments. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2021; 6:2001138. [PMID: 34447879 PMCID: PMC8384263 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202001138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide producing estimated cost of $161.2 billion in the US in 2017 only. Early detection of cancer would not only reduce cancer mortality rates but also dramatically reduce healthcare costs given that the 17 million new cancer cases in 2018 are estimated to grow 27.5 million new cases by 2040. Analytical devices based upon paper substrates could provide effective, rapid, and extremely low cost alternatives for early cancer detection compared to existing testing methods. However, low concentrations of biomarkers in body fluids as well as the possible association of any given biomarker with multiple diseases remain as one of the greatest challenges to widespread adoption of these paper-based devices. However, recent advances have opened the possibility of detecting multiple biomarkers within the same device, which could be predictive of a patient's condition with unprecedented cost-effectiveness. Accordingly, this review highlights the recent advancements in paper-based analytical devices with a multiplexing focus. The primary areas of interest include lateral flow assay and microfluidic paper-based assay formats, signal amplification approaches to enhance the sensitivity for a specific cancer type, along with current challenges and future outlook for the detection of multiple cancer biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nihan Yonet-Tanyeri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Benjamin Z Ahlmark
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Steven R Little
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
- The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, United States
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
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Current Trends in Non-Invasive Imaging of Interactions in the Liver Tumor Microenvironment Mediated by Tumor Metabolism. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153645. [PMID: 34359547 PMCID: PMC8344973 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Deregulated tumor metabolism is known to shape the tumor microenvironment and directly affect the local immune response, promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. However, the metabolic profile or tumor cells, and therefore, the composition of their microenvironment, are highly variable among patients and even within the same tumor, resulting in heterogeneous response rates to oncologic therapies, making patient selection a key issue. This review article focuses on non-invasive imaging techniques that aim to visualize the crosstalk between tumor cells and their microenvironment in liver cancer mediated by tumor metabolism. In addition to improved tumor detection, such imaging tools may be able to provide a more accurate characterization of the individual tumor and ultimately improve understanding, as well as guide personalized treatment regimens for patients with liver cancer. Abstract With the increasing understanding of resistance mechanisms mediated by the metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, there is a growing clinical interest in imaging technologies that allow for the non-invasive characterization of tumor metabolism and the interactions of cancer cells with the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated through tumor metabolism. Specifically, tumor glycolysis and subsequent tissue acidosis in the realms of the Warburg effect may promote an immunosuppressive TME, causing a substantial barrier to the clinical efficacy of numerous immuno-oncologic treatments. Thus, imaging the varying individual compositions of the TME may provide a more accurate characterization of the individual tumor. This approach can help to identify the most suitable therapy for each individual patient and design new targeted treatment strategies that disable resistance mechanisms in liver cancer. This review article focuses on non-invasive positron-emission tomography (PET)- and MR-based imaging techniques that aim to visualize the crosstalk between tumor cells and their microenvironment in liver cancer mediated by tumor metabolism.
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Yao HP, Zhao H, Hudson R, Tong XM, Wang MH. Duocarmycin-based antibody-drug conjugates as an emerging biotherapeutic entity for targeted cancer therapy: Pharmaceutical strategy and clinical progress. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:1857-1874. [PMID: 34224904 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Duocarmycins are a class of DNA minor-groove-binding alkylating molecules. For the past decade, various duocarmycin analogues have been used as payloads in the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Currently, more than 15 duocarmycin-based ADCs have been studied preclinically, and some of them such as SYD985 have been granted Fast-Track Designation status. Nevertheless, progress in duocarmycin-based ADCs also faces challenges, with setbacks including the termination of BMS-936561/MDX-1203. In this review, we discuss issues associated with the efficacy, pharmacokinetic profile, and toxicological activity of these biotherapeutics. Furthermore, we summarize the latest advances in duocarmycin-based ADCs that have different target specificities and linker chemistries. Evidence from preclinical and clinical studies has indicated that duocarmycin-based ADCs are promising biotherapeutics for oncological application in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang-Ping Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Hui Zhao
- Office of Scientific Research, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Rachel Hudson
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | - Xiang-Min Tong
- Department of Hematology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital and People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ming-Hai Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Cancer Biology Research Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA.
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Advances in immunotherapeutic targets for childhood cancers: A focus on glypican-2 and B7-H3. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 223:107892. [PMID: 33992682 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies have revolutionized how we can treat adult malignancies and are being translated to pediatric oncology. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies targeting CD19 have shown success for the treatment of pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody has demonstrated efficacy in neuroblastoma. In this review, we summarize the immunotherapeutic agents that have been approved for treating childhood cancers and provide an updated review of molecules expressed by pediatric cancers that are under study or are emerging candidates for future immunotherapies. Advances in our knowledge of tumor immunology and in genome profiling of cancers has led to the identification of new tumor-specific/associated antigens. While cell surface antigens are normally targeted in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent manner using antibody-based therapies, intracellular antigens are normally targeted with MHC-dependent T cell therapies. Glypican 2 (GPC2) and B7-H3 (CD276) are two cell surface antigens that are expressed by a variety of pediatric tumors such as neuroblastoma and potentially can have a positive impact on the treatment of pediatric cancers in the clinic.
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Radiomics, Radiogenomics, and Next-Generation Molecular Imaging to Augment Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 26:108-115. [PMID: 32205534 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and [F]F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography are invaluable in the clinical evaluation of human cancers. Radiomics and radiogenomics tools may allow clinicians to standardize interpretation of these conventional imaging modalities, while better linking radiographic hallmarks to disease biology and prognosis. These advances, coupled with next-generation positron emission tomography imaging tracers capable of providing biologically relevant tumor information, may further expand the tools available in our armamentarium against human cancers. We present current imaging methods and explore emerging research that may improve diagnosis and monitoring of local, oligometastatic, and disseminated cancers exhibiting heterogeneous uptake of [F]F-fluorodeoxyglucose, using hepatocellular carcinoma as an example.
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Abstract
Diabetes is a complex disorder responsible for the mortality and morbidity of millions of individuals worldwide. Although many approaches have been used to understand and treat diabetes, the role of proteoglycans, in particular heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), has only recently received attention. The HSPGs are heterogeneous, highly negatively charged, and are found in all cells primarily attached to the plasma membrane or present in the extracellular matrix (ECM). HSPGs are involved in development, cell migration, signal transduction, hemostasis, inflammation, and antiviral activity, and regulate cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and enzymes. Hyperglycemia, accompanying diabetes, increases reactive oxygen species and upregulates the enzyme heparanase that degrades HSPGs or affects the synthesis of the HSPGs altering their structure. The modified HSPGs in the endothelium and ECM in the blood vessel wall contribute to the nephropathy, cardiovascular disease, and retinopathy seen in diabetes. Besides the blood vessel, other cells and tissues in the heart, kidney, and eye are affected by diabetes. Although not well understood, the adipose tissue, intestine, and brain also reveal HSPG changes associated with diabetes. Further, HSPGs are significantly involved in protecting the β cells of the pancreas from autoimmune destruction and could be a focus of prevention of type I diabetes. In some circumstances, HSPGs may contribute to the pathology of the disease. Understanding the role of HSPGs and how they are modified by diabetes may lead to new treatments as well as preventative measures to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this complex condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda M Hiebert
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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49
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Sun L, Gao F, Gao Z, Ao L, Li N, Ma S, Jia M, Li N, Lu P, Sun B, Ho M, Jia S, Ding T, Gao W. Shed antigen-induced blocking effect on CAR-T cells targeting Glypican-3 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e001875. [PMID: 33833049 PMCID: PMC8039282 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glypican-3 (GPC3), a cell surface glycoprotein that is pathologically highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is an attractive target for immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. The serum GPC3 is frequently elevated in HCC patients due to the shedding effect of cell surface GPC3. The shed GPC3 (sGPC3) is reported to block the function of cell-surface GPC3 as a negative regulator. Therefore, it would be worth investigating the potential influence of antigen shedding in anti-GPC3 CAR-T therapy for HCC. METHODS In this study, we constructed two types of CAR-T cells targeting distinct epitopes of GPC3 to examine how sGPC3 influences the activation and cytotoxicity of CAR-T cells in vitro and in vivo by introducing sGPC3 positive patient serum or recombinant sGPC3 proteins into HCC cells or by using sGPC3-overexpressing HCC cell lines. RESULTS Both humanized YP7 CAR-T cells and 32A9 CAR-T cells showed GPC3-specific antitumor functions in vitro and in vivo. The existence of sGPC3 significantly inhibited the release of cytokines and the cytotoxicity of anti-GPC3 CAR-T cells in vitro. In animal models, mice carrying Hep3B xenograft tumors expressing sGPC3 exhibited a worse response to the treatment with CAR-T cells under both a low and high tumor burden. sGPC3 bound to CAR-T cells but failed to induce the effective activation of CAR-T cells. Therefore, sGPC3 acted as dominant negative regulators when competed with cell surface GPC3 to bind anti-GPC3 CAR-T cells, leading to an inhibitory effect on CAR-T cells in HCC. CONCLUSIONS We provide a proof-of-concept study demonstrating that GPC3 shedding might cause worse response to CAR-T cell treatment by competing with cell surface GPC3 for CAR-T cell binding, which revealed a new mechanism of tumor immune escape in HCC, providing a novel biomarker for patient enrolment in future clinical trials and/or treatments with GPC3-targeted CAR-T cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Binding, Competitive
- Biomarkers, Tumor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Biomarkers, Tumor/blood
- Biomarkers, Tumor/immunology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Female
- Glypicans/antagonists & inhibitors
- Glypicans/blood
- Glypicans/immunology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive
- Liver Neoplasms/blood
- Liver Neoplasms/immunology
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/therapy
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, Nude
- Proof of Concept Study
- Protein Binding
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/transplantation
- Tumor Burden
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Luan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Antibody Techniques, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Antibody Techniques, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhanhui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Antibody Techniques, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Ao
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Antibody Techniques, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Antibody Techniques, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sujuan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Antibody Techniques, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meng Jia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland - Saint Lucia Campus, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Biotherapy, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nan Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peihua Lu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Beicheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shaochang Jia
- Department of Biotherapy, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tong Ding
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Antibody Techniques, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Antibody Techniques, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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MicroRNAs Regulating Hippo-YAP Signaling in Liver Cancer. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9040347. [PMID: 33808155 PMCID: PMC8067275 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and its prevalence and mortality rate are increasing due to the lack of biomarkers and effective treatments. The Hippo signaling pathway has long been known to control liver size, and genetic depletion of Hippo kinases leads to liver cancer in mice through activation of the downstream effectors yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Both YAP and TAZ not only reprogram tumor cells but also alter the tumor microenvironment to exert carcinogenic effects. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of YAP/TAZ-mediated liver tumorigenesis will help overcome liver cancer. For decades, small noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), have been reported to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of many cancers, including liver cancer. However, the interactions between miRNAs and Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in the liver are still largely unknown. Here, we review miRNAs that influence the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of tumor cells by modulating Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling during hepatic tumorigenesis. Previous findings suggest that these miRNAs are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of liver cancer.
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