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Hu L, Cohen RI, Barroso M, Boustany NN. Comparison of vinculin tension in cellular monolayers and three-dimensional multicellular aggregates. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:5199-5214. [PMID: 39296399 PMCID: PMC11407257 DOI: 10.1364/boe.529156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
Confocal frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells expressing the vinculin tension sensor (VinTS) is used to compare vinculin tension in three-dimensional (3D) multicellular aggregates and 2D cellular monolayers. In both 2D and 3D cultures, the FRET efficiency of VinTS is 5-6% lower than that of VinTL (p < 0.05), a tail-less control which cannot bind actin or paxillin. The difference between VinTS and VinTL FRET efficiency can be mitigated by treatment with the Rho-associated kinase inhibitor Y-27632, demonstrating that VinTS is under tension in both 2D and 3D cultures. However, there is an overall decrease in FRET efficiency of both VinTS and VinTL in the 3D multicellular aggregates compared with the 2D monolayers. Expression of VinTS in 2D and 3D cultures exhibits puncta consistent with cellular adhesions. While paxillin is present at the sites of VinTS expression in the 2D monolayers, it is generally absent from VinTS puncta in the 3D aggregates. The results suggest that VinTS experiences a modified environment in 3D aggregates compared with 2D monolayers and provide a basis for further investigation of molecular tension sensors in 3D tissue models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luni Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Rick I Cohen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Margarida Barroso
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Nada N Boustany
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Hu HH, Wang SQ, Shang HL, Lv HF, Chen BB, Gao SG, Chen XB. Roles and inhibitors of FAK in cancer: current advances and future directions. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1274209. [PMID: 38410129 PMCID: PMC10895298 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1274209] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that exhibits high expression in various tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis. FAK activation promotes tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis via both kinase-dependent and kinase-independent pathways. Moreover, FAK is crucial for sustaining the tumor microenvironment. The inhibition of FAK impedes tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance in cancer. Therefore, developing targeted inhibitors against FAK presents a promising therapeutic strategy. To date, numerous FAK inhibitors, including IN10018, defactinib, GSK2256098, conteltinib, and APG-2449, have been developed, which have demonstrated positive anti-tumor effects in preclinical studies and are undergoing clinical trials for several types of tumors. Moreover, many novel FAK inhibitors are currently in preclinical studies to advance targeted therapy for tumors with aberrantly activated FAK. The benefits of FAK degraders, especially in terms of their scaffold function, are increasingly evident, holding promising potential for future clinical exploration and breakthroughs. This review aims to clarify FAK's role in cancer, offering a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of FAK-targeted therapy and combination approaches. The goal is to provide valuable insights for advancing anti-cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hui Hu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sai-Qi Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hai-Li Shang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hui-Fang Lv
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bei-Bei Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - She-Gan Gao
- Henan Key Laboratory of Microbiome and Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Henan Key Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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