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Torcasio R, Gallo Cantafio ME, Veneziano C, De Marco C, Ganino L, Valentino I, Occhiuzzi MA, Perrotta ID, Mancuso T, Conforti F, Rizzuti B, Martino EA, Gentile M, Neri A, Viglietto G, Grande F, Amodio N. Targeting of mitochondrial fission through natural flavanones elicits anti-myeloma activity. J Transl Med 2024; 22:208. [PMID: 38413989 PMCID: PMC10898065 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05013-0] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondrial alterations, often dependent on unbalanced mitochondrial dynamics, feature in the pathobiology of human cancers, including multiple myeloma (MM). Flavanones are natural flavonoids endowed with mitochondrial targeting activities. Herein, we investigated the capability of Hesperetin (Hes) and Naringenin (Nar), two aglycones of Hesperidin and Naringin flavanone glycosides, to selectively target Drp1, a pivotal regulator of mitochondrial dynamics, prompting anti-MM activity. METHODS Molecular docking analyses were performed on the crystallographic structure of Dynamin-1-like protein (Drp1), using Hes and Nar molecular structures. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed in MM cell lines, or in co-culture systems with primary bone marrow stromal cells, using Cell Titer Glo and Annexin V-7AAD staining, respectively; clonogenicity was determined using methylcellulose colony assays. Transcriptomic analyses were carried out using the Ion AmpliSeq™ platform; mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Mitochondrial architecture was assessed by transmission electron microscopy. Real time measurement of oxygen consumption was performed by high resolution respirometry in living cells. In vivo anti-tumor activity was evaluated in NOD-SCID mice subcutaneously engrafted with MM cells. RESULTS Hes and Nar were found to accommodate within the GTPase binding site of Drp1, and to inhibit Drp1 expression and activity, leading to hyperfused mitochondria with reduced OXPHOS. In vitro, Hes and Nar reduced MM clonogenicity and viability, even in the presence of patient-derived bone marrow stromal cells, triggering ER stress and apoptosis. Interestingly, Hes and Nar rewired MM cell metabolism through the down-regulation of master transcriptional activators (SREBF-1, c-MYC) of lipogenesis genes. An extract of Tacle, a Citrus variety rich in Hesperidin and Naringin, was capable to recapitulate the phenotypic and molecular perturbations of each flavanone, triggering anti-MM activity in vivo. CONCLUSION Hes and Nar inhibit proliferation, rewire the metabolism and induce apoptosis of MM cells via antagonism of the mitochondrial fission driver Drp1. These results provide a framework for the development of natural anti-MM therapeutics targeting aberrant mitochondrial dependencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Torcasio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Campus Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Veneziano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Campus Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carmela De Marco
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Campus Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ludovica Ganino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Campus Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ilenia Valentino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Campus Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Occhiuzzi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Ida Daniela Perrotta
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Teresa Mancuso
- Annunziata" Regional Hospital Cosenza, 87100, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Filomena Conforti
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- SS Rende (CS), Department of Physics, CNR-NANOTEC, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036, Rende, CS, Italy
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Unit GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, University of Zaragoza, 50018, Saragossa, Spain
| | | | - Massimo Gentile
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, CS, Italy
- Annunziata" Regional Hospital Cosenza, 87100, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Antonino Neri
- Scientific Directorate, IRCCS Di Reggio Emilia, Emilia Romagna, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Viglietto
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Campus Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Fedora Grande
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Campus Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
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Marchese E, Gallo Cantafio ME, Ambrosio FA, Torcasio R, Valentino I, Trapasso F, Viglietto G, Alcaro S, Costa G, Amodio N. New Insights for Polyphenolic Compounds as Naturally Inspired Proteasome Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1712. [PMID: 38139838 PMCID: PMC10747119 DOI: 10.3390/ph16121712] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyphenols, an important class of natural products, are widely distributed in plant-based foods. These compounds are endowed with several biological activities and exert protective effects in various physiopathological contexts, including cancer. We herein investigated novel potential mechanisms of action of polyphenols, focusing on the proteasome, which has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target in cancers such as multiple myeloma. We carried out a structure-based virtual screening study using the DrugBank database as a repository of FDA-approved polyphenolic molecules. Starting from 86 polyphenolic compounds, based on the theoretical binding affinity and the interactions established with key residues of the chymotrypsin binding site, we selected 2 promising candidates, namely Hesperidin and Diosmin. The further assessment of the biologic activity highlighted, for the first time, the capability of these two molecules to inhibit the β5-proteasome activity and to exert anti-tumor activity against proteasome inhibitor-sensitive or resistant multiple myeloma cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Marchese
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (E.M.); (S.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Maria Eugenia Gallo Cantafio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (I.V.); (F.T.); (G.V.)
| | - Francesca Alessandra Ambrosio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (I.V.); (F.T.); (G.V.)
| | - Roberta Torcasio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (I.V.); (F.T.); (G.V.)
| | - Ilenia Valentino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (I.V.); (F.T.); (G.V.)
| | - Francesco Trapasso
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (I.V.); (F.T.); (G.V.)
| | - Giuseppe Viglietto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (I.V.); (F.T.); (G.V.)
| | - Stefano Alcaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (E.M.); (S.A.); (G.C.)
- Net4Science Academic Spin-Off, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Associazione CRISEA—Centro di Ricerca e Servizi Avanzati per l’Innovazione Rurale, Loc. Condoleo, 88055 Belcastro, Italy
| | - Giosuè Costa
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (E.M.); (S.A.); (G.C.)
- Net4Science Academic Spin-Off, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (I.V.); (F.T.); (G.V.)
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Gallo Cantafio ME, Torcasio R, Scionti F, Mesuraca M, Ronchetti D, Pistoni M, Bellizzi D, Passarino G, Morelli E, Neri A, Viglietto G, Amodio N. GPER1 Activation Exerts Anti-Tumor Activity in Multiple Myeloma. Cells 2023; 12:2226. [PMID: 37759449 PMCID: PMC10526814 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182226] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) activation is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy against several cancer types. While GPER targeting has been widely studied in the context of solid tumors, its effect on hematological malignancies remains to be fully understood. Here, we show that GPER1 mRNA is down-regulated in plasma cells from overt multiple myeloma (MM) and plasma cell leukemia patients as compared to normal donors or pre-malignant conditions (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering MM); moreover, lower GPER1 expression associates with worse overall survival of MM patients. Using the clinically applicable GPER1-selective agonist G-1, we demonstrate that the pharmacological activation of GPER1 triggered in vitro anti-MM activity through apoptosis induction, also overcoming the protective effects exerted by bone marrow stromal cells. Noteworthy, G-1 treatment reduced in vivo MM growth in two distinct xenograft models, even bearing bortezomib-resistant MM cells. Mechanistically, G-1 upregulated the miR-29b oncosuppressive network, blunting an established miR-29b-Sp1 feedback loop operative in MM cells. Overall, this study highlights the druggability of GPER1 in MM, providing the first preclinical framework for further development of GPER1 agonists to treat this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eugenia Gallo Cantafio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (M.M.); (G.V.)
| | - Roberta Torcasio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (M.M.); (G.V.)
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Francesca Scionti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Maria Mesuraca
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (M.M.); (G.V.)
| | - Domenica Ronchetti
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20141 Milan, Italy;
| | - Mariaelena Pistoni
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy;
| | - Dina Bellizzi
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (D.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (D.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Eugenio Morelli
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
| | - Antonino Neri
- Scientific Directorate, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Viglietto
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (M.M.); (G.V.)
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (M.E.G.C.); (R.T.); (M.M.); (G.V.)
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Wang J, Xiang Y, Fan M, Fang S, Hua Q. The Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in Tumor Metabolism. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082385. [PMID: 37190313 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082385] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming, which is considered a hallmark of cancer, can maintain the homeostasis of the tumor environment and promote the proliferation, survival, and metastasis of cancer cells. For instance, increased glucose uptake and high glucose consumption, known as the "Warburg effect," play an essential part in tumor metabolic reprogramming. In addition, fatty acids are harnessed to satisfy the increased requirement for the phospholipid components of biological membranes and energy. Moreover, the anabolism/catabolism of amino acids, such as glutamine, cystine, and serine, provides nitrogen donors for biosynthesis processes, development of the tumor inflammatory environment, and signal transduction. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been widely reported to be involved in various cellular biological activities. A potential role of UPS in the metabolic regulation of tumor cells has also been reported, but the specific regulatory mechanism has not been elucidated. Here, we review the role of ubiquitination and deubiquitination modification on major metabolic enzymes and important signaling pathways in tumor metabolism to inspire new strategies for the clinical treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Yuandi Xiang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Mengqi Fan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shizhen Fang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Qingquan Hua
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
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