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Pilesi E, Tesoriere G, Ferriero A, Mascolo E, Liguori F, Argirò L, Angioli C, Tramonti A, Contestabile R, Volontè C, Vernì F. Vitamin B6 deficiency cooperates with oncogenic Ras to induce malignant tumors in Drosophila. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:388. [PMID: 38830901 PMCID: PMC11148137 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06787-3] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin which possesses antioxidant properties. Its catalytically active form, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), is a crucial cofactor for DNA and amino acid metabolism. The inverse correlation between vitamin B6 and cancer risk has been observed in several studies, although dietary vitamin B6 intake sometimes failed to confirm this association. However, the molecular link between vitamin B6 and cancer remains elusive. Previous work has shown that vitamin B6 deficiency causes chromosome aberrations (CABs) in Drosophila and human cells, suggesting that genome instability may correlate the lack of this vitamin to cancer. Here we provide evidence in support of this hypothesis. Firstly, we show that PLP deficiency, induced by the PLP antagonists 4-deoxypyridoxine (4DP) or ginkgotoxin (GT), promoted tumorigenesis in eye larval discs transforming benign RasV12 tumors into aggressive forms. In contrast, PLP supplementation reduced the development of tumors. We also show that low PLP levels, induced by 4DP or by silencing the sgllPNPO gene involved in PLP biosynthesis, worsened the tumor phenotype in another Drosophila cancer model generated by concomitantly activating RasV12 and downregulating Discs-large (Dlg) gene. Moreover, we found that RasV12 eye discs from larvae reared on 4DP displayed CABs, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and low catalytic activity of serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), a PLP-dependent enzyme involved in thymidylate (dTMP) biosynthesis, in turn required for DNA replication and repair. Feeding RasV12 4DP-fed larvae with PLP or ascorbic acid (AA) plus dTMP, rescued both CABs and tumors. The same effect was produced by overexpressing catalase in RasV12 DlgRNAi 4DP-fed larvae, thus allowing to establish a relationship between PLP deficiency, CABs, and cancer. Overall, our data provide the first in vivo demonstration that PLP deficiency can impact on cancer by increasing genome instability, which is in turn mediated by ROS and reduced dTMP levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Pilesi
- Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Tesoriere
- Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Ferriero
- Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Mascolo
- Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Liguori
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy
- CNR, Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Argirò
- Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Angioli
- Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Tramonti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Contestabile
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza, University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza, University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Volontè
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy
- CNR, Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiammetta Vernì
- Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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Fukuda J, Kosuge S, Satoh Y, Sekiya S, Yamamura R, Ooshio T, Hirata T, Sato R, Hatanaka KC, Mitsuhashi T, Nakamura T, Matsuno Y, Hatanaka Y, Hirano S, Sonoshita M. Concurrent targeting of GSK3 and MEK as a therapeutic strategy to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:1333-1345. [PMID: 38320747 PMCID: PMC11007052 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16100] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. However, drug discovery for PDAC treatment has proven complicated, leading to stagnant therapeutic outcomes. Here, we identify Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) as a therapeutic target through a whole-body genetic screening utilizing a '4-hit' Drosophila model mimicking the PDAC genotype. Reducing the gene dosage of GSK3 in a whole-body manner or knocking down GSK3 specifically in transformed cells suppressed 4-hit fly lethality, similar to Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), the therapeutic target in PDAC we have recently reported. Consistently, a combination of the GSK3 inhibitor CHIR99021 and the MEK inhibitor trametinib suppressed the phosphorylation of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) as well as the growth of orthotopic human PDAC xenografts in mice. Additionally, reducing PLK1 genetically in 4-hit flies rescued their lethality. Our results reveal a therapeutic vulnerability in PDAC that offers a treatment opportunity for patients by inhibiting multiple targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junki Fukuda
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery IIHokkaido University Faculty of MedicineSapporoJapan
| | - Shinya Kosuge
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery IIHokkaido University Faculty of MedicineSapporoJapan
| | - Yusuke Satoh
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Sho Sekiya
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery IIHokkaido University Faculty of MedicineSapporoJapan
| | - Ryodai Yamamura
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Takako Ooshio
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Taiga Hirata
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Reo Sato
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Kanako C. Hatanaka
- Center for Development of Advanced DiagnosticsHokkaido University HospitalSapporoJapan
| | - Tomoko Mitsuhashi
- Department of Surgical PathologyHokkaido University HospitalSapporoJapan
| | - Toru Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery IIHokkaido University Faculty of MedicineSapporoJapan
| | - Yoshihiro Matsuno
- Department of Surgical PathologyHokkaido University HospitalSapporoJapan
| | - Yutaka Hatanaka
- Center for Development of Advanced DiagnosticsHokkaido University HospitalSapporoJapan
- Research Division of Genome Companion DiagnosticsHokkaido University HospitalSapporoJapan
| | - Satoshi Hirano
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery IIHokkaido University Faculty of MedicineSapporoJapan
| | - Masahiro Sonoshita
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
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Cao X, Scoffield J, Xie B, Morton DB, Wu H. Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1279380. [PMID: 38192401 PMCID: PMC10773677 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1279380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a valuable model for investigating human biology, including the role of the microbiome in health and disease. Historically, studies involving the infection of D. melanogaster with single microbial species have yielded critical insights into bacterial colonization and host innate immunity. However, recent evidence has underscored that multiple microbial species can interact in complex ways through physical connections, metabolic cross-feeding, or signaling exchanges, with significant implications for healthy homeostasis and the initiation, progression, and outcomes of disease. As a result, researchers have shifted their focus toward developing more robust and representative in vivo models of co-infection to probe the intricacies of polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pioneering work and recent advances in the field, highlighting the utility of Drosophila as an alternative model for studying the multifaceted microbial interactions that occur within the oral cavity and other body sites. We will discuss the factors and mechanisms that drive microbial community dynamics, as well as their impacts on host physiology and immune responses. Furthermore, this review will delve into the emerging evidence that connects oral microbes to systemic conditions in both health and disease. As our understanding of the microbiome continues to evolve, Drosophila offers a powerful and tractable model for unraveling the complex interplay between host and microbes including oral microbes, which has far-reaching implications for human health and the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Cao
- Department of Integrative Biomedical & Diagnostic Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Jessica Scoffield
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Baotong Xie
- Department of Integrative Biomedical & Diagnostic Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, Portland, OR, United States
| | - David B. Morton
- Department of Integrative Biomedical & Diagnostic Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Hui Wu
- Department of Integrative Biomedical & Diagnostic Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Wu X, Hua X, Xu K, Song Y, Lv T. Zebrafish in Lung Cancer Research. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4721. [PMID: 37835415 PMCID: PMC10571557 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish is increasingly used as a model organism for cancer research because of its genetic and physiological similarities to humans. Modeling lung cancer (LC) in zebrafish has received significant attention. This review focuses on the insights gained from using zebrafish in LC research. These insights range from investigating the genetic and molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development and progression of LC to identifying potential drug targets, testing the efficacy and toxicity of new therapies, and applying zebrafish for personalized medicine studies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of LC research performed using zebrafish, highlights the advantages and limitations of this model organism, and discusses future directions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodi Wu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (X.W.); (K.X.)
| | - Xin Hua
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Southeast University Medical College, Nanjing 210096, China;
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (X.W.); (K.X.)
| | - Yong Song
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Southeast University Medical College, Nanjing 210096, China;
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
| | - Tangfeng Lv
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (X.W.); (K.X.)
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
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Sekiya S, Fukuda J, Yamamura R, Ooshio T, Satoh Y, Kosuge S, Sato R, Hatanaka KC, Hatanaka Y, Mitsuhashi T, Nakamura T, Matsuno Y, Hirano S, Sonoshita M. Drosophila Screening Identifies Dual Inhibition of MEK and AURKB as an Effective Therapy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2023; 83:2704-2715. [PMID: 37378549 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-3762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by generating and using murine models. To accelerate drug discovery by identifying novel therapeutic targets on a systemic level, here we generated a Drosophila model mimicking the genetic signature in PDAC (KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4 alterations), which is associated with the worst prognosis in patients. The '4-hit' flies displayed epithelial transformation and decreased survival. Comprehensive genetic screening of their entire kinome revealed kinases including MEK and AURKB as therapeutic targets. Consistently, a combination of the MEK inhibitor trametinib and the AURKB inhibitor BI-831266 suppressed the growth of human PDAC xenografts in mice. In patients with PDAC, the activity of AURKB was associated with poor prognosis. This fly-based platform provides an efficient whole-body approach that complements current methods for identifying therapeutic targets in PDAC. SIGNIFICANCE Development of a Drosophila model mimicking genetic alterations in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma provides a tool for genetic screening that identifies MEK and AURKB inhibition as a potential treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Sekiya
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Junki Fukuda
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ryodai Yamamura
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takako Ooshio
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Satoh
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shinya Kosuge
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Reo Sato
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kanako C Hatanaka
- Center for Development of Advanced Diagnostics, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Hatanaka
- Center for Development of Advanced Diagnostics, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
- Research Division of Genome Companion Diagnostics, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Mitsuhashi
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toru Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Matsuno
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hirano
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sonoshita
- Division of Biomedical Oncology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Global Station for Biosurfaces and Drug Discovery, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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