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Qiao R, Xiao R, Chen Z, Jiang J, Yuan C, Ning S, Wang J, Zhou Z. Cloning, Expression and Inhibitory Effects on Lewis Lung Carcinoma Cells of rAj-Tspin from Sea Cucumber ( Apostichopus japonicus). MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 27:molecules27010229. [PMID: 35011462 PMCID: PMC8746392 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, sea cucumber has become a favorite healthcare food due to its characteristic prevention of cardiovascular diseases, suppression of tumors, as well as enhancement of immunity. In order to screen the anti-tumoral proteins or peptides from sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), its cDNA library was analyzed, and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13)-like was found. ADAMTS13-like contains 10 thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) domains. Based on analysis of bioinformatics, the third TSP1 domain of this protein, which is further named Aj-Tspin, contains an arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) motif. Since our previous studies showed that the recombinant RGD-containing peptide from lampreys showed anti-tumoral activity, the third TSP1 domain of ADAMTS13-like was chosen to evaluate it's effect on tumor proliferation and metastasis, despite the fact it shares almost no homologue with disintegrins from other species. After artificial synthesis, its cDNA sequence, Aj-Tspin, which is composed of 56 amino acids, was subcloned into a pET23b vector and expressed as a recombinant Aj-Tspin (rAj-Tspin) in a soluble form with a molecular weight of 6.976 kDa. Through affinity chromatography, rAj-Tspin was purified as a single protein. Both anti-proliferation and immunofluorescence assays showed that rAj-Tspin suppressed the proliferation of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells through apoptosis. Adhesion assay also displayed that rAj-Tspin inhibited the adhesion of LLC cells to ECM proteins, including fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin and collagen. Lastly, rAj-Tspin also suppressed the migration and invasion of LLC cells across the filter in transwells. Thus, the above indicates that rAj-Tspin might act as a potential anti-tumoral drug in the future and could also provide information on the nutritional value of sea cucumber.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Qiao
- Liaoning Key Lab of Marine Fishery Molecular Biology, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian 116023, China; (R.Q.); (Z.C.); (J.J.)
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China; (R.X.); (C.Y.); (S.N.)
| | - Rong Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China; (R.X.); (C.Y.); (S.N.)
| | - Zhong Chen
- Liaoning Key Lab of Marine Fishery Molecular Biology, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian 116023, China; (R.Q.); (Z.C.); (J.J.)
| | - Jingwei Jiang
- Liaoning Key Lab of Marine Fishery Molecular Biology, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian 116023, China; (R.Q.); (Z.C.); (J.J.)
| | - Chenghua Yuan
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China; (R.X.); (C.Y.); (S.N.)
| | - Shuxiang Ning
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China; (R.X.); (C.Y.); (S.N.)
| | - Jihong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China; (R.X.); (C.Y.); (S.N.)
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (Z.Z.); Tel.: +86-133-8411-3698 (Z.Z.)
| | - Zunchun Zhou
- Liaoning Key Lab of Marine Fishery Molecular Biology, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian 116023, China; (R.Q.); (Z.C.); (J.J.)
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (Z.Z.); Tel.: +86-133-8411-3698 (Z.Z.)
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Yu P, Wu R, Zhou Z, Zhang X, Wang R, Wang X, Lin S, Wang J, Lv L. rAj-Tspin, a novel recombinant peptide from Apostichopus japonicus, suppresses the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BEL-7402 cells via a mechanism associated with the ITGB1-FAK-AKT pathway. Invest New Drugs 2020; 39:377-385. [DOI: 10.1007/s10637-020-01008-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Jia Q, Zhang X, Zhang A, Wu R, Liu Z, Chen Y, Wang J, Lv L. rLj-RGD4, the shortened peptide of rLj-RGD3 from Lampetra japonica, protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via the PI3K/Akt pathway. Peptides 2020; 129:170310. [PMID: 32389578 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2020.170310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The toxic RGD peptide, rLj-RGD4, characterized by 4 (Arg-Gly-Asp) (RGD) motifs, is a novel mutant of rLj-RGD3 from the salivary gland of Lampetra japonica. Our previous study showd that rLj-RGD3 exerts a protective effect against cerebral ischemia injury in rats. Through the induction of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO) injuries in rats, the present study investigated the effects and the mechanism through which rLj-RGD4 protects against ischemic stroke. In rats, treatment with rLj-RGD4 2 h after MCAO enhanced survival rate, improved movement and ameliorated the severity of brain infarction and apoptosis by diminishing pathological changes. This study demonstrated that rLj-RGD4 can reverse the downregulation of Bcl2, and the upregulation of Caspase-3. Mechanistic studies showed that rLj-RGD4 upregulated the expression levels of FAK, p-FAK, PI3K and p-Akt. In contrast, caspase-3 expression was inhibited. These results showed that rLj-RGD4 may reduce cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilan Jia
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China
| | - Ailin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China
| | - Rui Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116029, China
| | - Zhien Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China
| | - Yiheng Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China
| | - Jihong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116029, China.
| | - Li Lv
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China.
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Jin Y, Lv L, Ning SX, Wang JH, Xiao R. The Anti-tumor Activity and Mechanisms of rLj-RGD3 on Human Laryngeal Squamous Carcinoma Hep2 Cells. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2019; 19:2108-2119. [PMID: 31642792 DOI: 10.2174/1871520619666191022160024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC) is a malignant epithelial tumor with poor prognosis and its incidence rate increased recently. rLj-RGD3, a recombinant protein cloned from the buccal gland of Lampetra japonica, contains three RGD motifs that could bind to integrins on the tumor cells. METHODS MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory rate of viability. Giemsa's staining assay was used to observe the morphological changes of cells. Hoechst 33258 and TUNEL staining assay, DNA ladder assay were used to examine the apoptotic. Western blot assay was applied to detect the change of the integrin signal pathway. Wound-healing assay, migration, and invasion assay were used to detect the mobility of Hep2 cells. H&E staining assay was used to show the arrangement of the Hep2 cells in the solid tumor tissues. RESULTS In the present study, rLj-RGD3 was shown to inhibit the viability of LSCC Hep2 cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis with an IC50 of 1.23µM. Western blot showed that the apoptosis of Hep2 cells induced by rLj- RGD3 was dependent on the integrin-FAK-Akt pathway. Wound healing, transwells, and western blot assays in vitro showed that rLj-RGD3 suppressed the migration and invasion of Hep2 cells by integrin-FAKpaxillin/ PLC pathway which could also affect the cytoskeleton arrangement in Hep2 cells. In in vivo studies, rLj-RGD3 inhibited the growth, tumor volume, and weight, as well as disturbed the tissue structure of the solid tumors in xenograft models of BALB/c nude mice without reducing their body weights. CONCLUSION These results suggested that rLj-RGD3 is an effective and safe suppressor on the growth and metastasis of LSCC Hep2 cells from both in vitro and in vivo experiments. rLj-RGD3 might be expected to become a novel anti-tumor drug to treat LSCC patients in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Li Lv
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Shu-Xiang Ning
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Ji-Hong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Rong Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
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Zheng YY, Xiao R, Zhang LX, Yan HJ, Wang JH, Lv L. A Novel Mutant of rLj-RGD3 (rLj-112) Suppressed the Proliferation and Metastasis of B16 Cells through the EGFR Signaling Pathway. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17020075. [PMID: 30821275 PMCID: PMC6409697 DOI: 10.3390/md17020075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lj-RGD3, which contains three Arg⁻Gly⁻Asp (RGD) motifs, was first identified from the buccal glands of Lampetra japonica and has been shown to suppress the tumor progression in the previous studies. Apart from the three RGD motifs, Lj-RGD3 is also characterized by its high content of histidine in its amino acid sequence. In order to clarify whether the histidine-rich characterization of Lj-RGD3 is also associated with its anti-tumor activity, mutants were designed in which the three RGD motifs (Lj-112), or all histidines (Lj-27) or both (Lj-26) were deleted. Furthermore, a mutant (Lj-42) in which all histidines and three RGD motifs were respectively substituted with alanines and three Ala⁻Gly⁻Asp (AGD) motifs, as well as a mutant (Lj-41) in which all histidines were substituted with alanines was synthesized to avoid alterations in structure which might further cause changes in the peptides' functions. After recombination and purification, recombinant Lj-112 (rLj-112), recombinant Lj-27 (rLj-27), recombinant Lj-41 (rLj-41), and recombinant Lj-RGD3 (rLj-RGD3) exhibited anti-proliferative activity in B16 cells, respectively; while recombinant Lj-26 (rLj-26) and recombinant Lj-42 (rLj-42) did not affect the proliferation of B16 cells significantly. In addition, the anti-proliferative activity of rLj-112 in B16 cells was due to apoptosis. Typical apoptosis features were observed, including chromatin condensation, fragmented DNA, and increased levels of cleaved caspase 3/caspase 7/nuclear enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in B16 cells. Similar to rLj-RGD3, rLj-112 was also capable of suppressing the migration and invasion of B16 cells by disturbing the F-actin arrangement. After labeling with FITC, rLj-112 was found localized in the cytoplasm of B16 cells, which induced the internalization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), suggesting that rLj-112 might block the EGFR mediated signaling pathway. Actually, the phosphorylation level of EGFR and its downstream signal molecules including Akt, PI3K, p38, and ERK1/2 was reduced in the rLj-112 treated B16 cells. In vivo, rLj-112 also inhibited the growth, weight, and volume of the tumors in B16 xenografted C57BL/6 mice without reducing their body weight, indicating that rLj-112 might be safe and might be used as an effective anti-tumor drug in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yuan Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China.
| | - Rong Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China.
| | - Lu-Xin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China.
| | - Hui-Jie Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China.
| | - Ji-Hong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China.
| | - Li Lv
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
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