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Fioretto BS, Rosa I, Andreucci E, Mencucci R, Marini M, Romano E, Manetti M. Pharmacological Stimulation of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Counteracts the Profibrotic Activation of Human Conjunctival Fibroblasts. Cells 2024; 13:360. [PMID: 38391973 PMCID: PMC10887040 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040360] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Conjunctival fibrosis is a serious clinical concern implicated in a wide spectrum of eye diseases, including outcomes of surgery for pterygium and glaucoma. It is mainly driven by chronic inflammation that stimulates conjunctival fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts over time, leading to abnormal wound healing and scar formation. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulation was found to suppress transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-induced myofibroblastic differentiation in various stromal cells such as skin and pulmonary fibroblasts, as well as corneal keratocytes. Here, we evaluated the in vitro effects of stimulation of the sGC enzyme with the cell-permeable pyrazolopyridinylpyrimidine compound BAY 41-2272 in modulating the TGFβ1-mediated profibrotic activation of human conjunctival fibroblasts. Cells were pretreated with the sGC stimulator before challenging with recombinant human TGFβ1, and subsequently assayed for viability, proliferation, migration, invasiveness, myofibroblast marker expression, and contractile properties. Stimulation of sGC significantly counteracted TGFβ1-induced cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and acquisition of a myofibroblast-like phenotype, as shown by a significant downregulation of FAP, ACTA2, COL1A1, COL1A2, FN1, MMP2, TIMP1, and TIMP2 mRNA levels, as well as by a significant reduction in α-smooth muscle actin, N-cadherin, COL1A1, and FN-EDA protein expression. In addition, pretreatment with the sGC stimulator was capable of significantly dampening TGFβ1-induced acquisition of a contractile phenotype by conjunctival fibroblasts, as well as phosphorylation of Smad3 and release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Taken together, our findings are the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of pharmacological sGC stimulation in counteracting conjunctival fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, thus providing a promising scientific background to further explore the feasibility of sGC stimulators as potential new adjuvant therapeutic compounds to treat conjunctival fibrotic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Saveria Fioretto
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.S.F.); (I.R.); (M.M.)
| | - Irene Rosa
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.S.F.); (I.R.); (M.M.)
| | - Elena Andreucci
- Section of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Rita Mencucci
- Eye Clinic, Careggi Hospital, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Pharmacology and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Mirca Marini
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.S.F.); (I.R.); (M.M.)
| | - Eloisa Romano
- Section of Internal Medicine, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Mirko Manetti
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.S.F.); (I.R.); (M.M.)
- Imaging Platform, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
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Cai Y, Wang Z, Guo S, Lin C, Yao H, Yang Q, Wang Y, Yu X, He X, Sun W, Qiu S, Guo Y, Tang S, Xie Y, Zhang A. Detection, mechanisms, and therapeutic implications of oncometabolites. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:849-861. [PMID: 37739878 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic abnormalities are a hallmark of cancer cells and are essential to tumor progression. Oncometabolites have pleiotropic effects on cancer biology and affect a plethora of processes, from oncogenesis and metabolism to therapeutic resistance. Targeting oncometabolites, therefore, could offer promising therapeutic avenues against tumor growth and resistance to treatments. Recent advances in characterizing the metabolic profiles of cancer cells are shedding light on the underlying mechanisms and associated metabolic networks. This review summarizes the diverse detection methods, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic targets of oncometabolites, which may lead to targeting oncometabolism for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cai
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China; Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhibo Wang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China; Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Sifan Guo
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China; Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Chunsheng Lin
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Hong Yao
- First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qiang Yang
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yan Wang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Xiaodan Yu
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Xiaowen He
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Wanying Sun
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Shi Qiu
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| | - Yu Guo
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| | - Songqi Tang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| | - Yiqiang Xie
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| | - Aihua Zhang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, International Joint Research Center on Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China; Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.
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Frisardi V, Canovi S, Vaccaro S, Frazzi R. The Significance of Microenvironmental and Circulating Lactate in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15369. [PMID: 37895048 PMCID: PMC10607673 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015369] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lactate represents the main product of pyruvate reduction catalyzed by the lactic dehydrogenase family of enzymes. Cancer cells utilize great quantities of glucose, shifting toward a glycolytic metabolism. With the contribution of tumor stromal cells and under hypoxic conditions, this leads toward the acidification of the extracellular matrix. The ability to shift between different metabolic pathways is a characteristic of breast cancer cells and is associated with an aggressive phenotype. Furthermore, the preliminary scientific evidence concerning the levels of circulating lactate in breast cancer points toward a correlation between hyperlactacidemia and poor prognosis, even though no clear linkage has been demonstrated. Overall, lactate may represent a promising metabolic target that needs to be investigated in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenza Frisardi
- Geriatric Unit, Neuromotor Department, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale—IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Simone Canovi
- Clinical Laboratory, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale—IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Salvatore Vaccaro
- Clinical Nutrition Unit and Oncological Metabolic Centre, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale—IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Raffaele Frazzi
- Scientific Directorate, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale—IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Bingham PM, Zachar Z. Toward a Unifying Hypothesis for Redesigned Lipid Catabolism as a Clinical Target in Advanced, Treatment-Resistant Carcinomas. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14365. [PMID: 37762668 PMCID: PMC10531647 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We review extensive progress from the cancer metabolism community in understanding the specific properties of lipid metabolism as it is redesigned in advanced carcinomas. This redesigned lipid metabolism allows affected carcinomas to make enhanced catabolic use of lipids in ways that are regulated by oxygen availability and is implicated as a primary source of resistance to diverse treatment approaches. This oxygen control permits lipid catabolism to be an effective energy/reducing potential source under the relatively hypoxic conditions of the carcinoma microenvironment and to do so without intolerable redox side effects. The resulting robust access to energy and reduced potential apparently allow carcinoma cells to better survive and recover from therapeutic trauma. We surveyed the essential features of this advanced carcinoma-specific lipid catabolism in the context of treatment resistance and explored a provisional unifying hypothesis. This hypothesis is robustly supported by substantial preclinical and clinical evidence. This approach identifies plausible routes to the clinical targeting of many or most sources of carcinoma treatment resistance, including the application of existing FDA-approved agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Bingham
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
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Zhang L. The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Modulating the Breast Cancer Microenvironment. Cell Transplant 2023; 32:9636897231220073. [PMID: 38135917 DOI: 10.1177/09636897231220073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the breast tumor microenvironment (TME) is significant and multifaceted. MSCs are recruited to breast tumor sites through molecular signals released by tumor sites. Once in the TME, MSCs undergo polarization and interact with various cell populations, including immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), cancer stem cells (CSCs), and breast cancer cells. In most cases, MSCs play roles in breast cancer therapeutic resistance, but there is also evidence that indicates their abilities to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. MSCs possess inherent regenerative and homing properties, making them attractive candidates for cell-based therapies. Therefore, MSCs can be engineered to express therapeutic molecules or deliver anti-cancer agents directly to tumor sites. Unraveling the intricate relationship between MSCs and the breast TME has the potential to uncover novel therapeutic targets and advance our understanding of breast cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luxiao Zhang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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