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Li N, Wang T, Zhang H, Li X, Bai H, Lu N, Lu K. Exploring the causal relationship between glutamine metabolism and leukemia risk: a Mendelian randomization and LC-MS/MS analysis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1418738. [PMID: 39050845 PMCID: PMC11265999 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1418738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This investigation sought to delineate the causal nexus between plasma glutamine concentrations and leukemia susceptibility utilizing bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis and to elucidate the metabolic ramifications of asparaginase therapy on glutamine dynamics in leukemia patients. Methods A bidirectional two-sample MR framework was implemented, leveraging genetic variants as instrumental variables from extensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS) tailored to populations of European descent. Glutamine quantification was executed through a rigorously validated Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) protocol. Comparative analyses of glutamine levels were conducted across leukemia patients versus healthy controls, pre- and post-asparaginase administration. Statistical evaluations employed inverse variance weighted (IVW) models, MR-Egger regression, and sensitivity tests addressing pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Results The MR findings underscored a significant inverse association between glutamine levels and leukemia risk (IVW p = 0.03558833), positing lower glutamine levels as a contributory factor to heightened leukemia susceptibility. Conversely, the analysis disclosed no substantive causal impact of leukemia on glutamine modulation (IVW p = 0.9694758). Notably, post-asparaginase treatment, a marked decrement in plasma glutamine concentrations was observed in patients (p = 0.0068), underlining the profound metabolic influence of the therapeutic regimen. Conclusion This study corroborates the hypothesized inverse relationship between plasma glutamine levels and leukemia risk, enhancing our understanding of glutamine's role in leukemia pathophysiology. The pronounced reduction in glutamine levels following asparaginase intervention highlights the critical need for meticulous metabolic monitoring to refine therapeutic efficacy and optimize patient management in clinical oncology. These insights pave the way for more tailored and efficacious treatment modalities in the realm of personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Mass Spectrometry Research Institute, Beijing Gobroad Hospital, Beijing, China
- Mass Spectrometry Research Institute, Beijing Gobroad Healthcare Group, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyi Wang
- Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Disease, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huiying Zhang
- Mass Spectrometry Research Institute, Beijing Gobroad Hospital, Beijing, China
- Mass Spectrometry Research Institute, Beijing Gobroad Healthcare Group, Beijing, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Gobroad Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Gobroad Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haochen Bai
- Mass Spectrometry Research Institute, Shanghai Liquan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Gobroad Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Kaizhi Lu
- Mass Spectrometry Research Institute, Beijing Gobroad Hospital, Beijing, China
- Mass Spectrometry Research Institute, Beijing Gobroad Healthcare Group, Beijing, China
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Stålberg SM, Silwal-Pandit L, Bastani NE, Nebdal DJH, Lingjærde OC, Skålhegg BS, Kure EH. Preoperative profiles of plasma amino acids and derivatives distinguish periampullary cancer and benign disease. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:555. [PMID: 38702616 PMCID: PMC11067218 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12320-8] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Periampullary cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, ampullary-, cholangio-, and duodenal carcinoma, are frequently diagnosed in an advanced stage and are associated with poor overall survival. They are difficult to differentiate from each other and challenging to distinguish from benign periampullary disease preoperatively. To improve the preoperative diagnostics of periampullary neoplasms, clinical or biological markers are warranted.In this study, 28 blood plasma amino acids and derivatives from preoperative patients with benign (N = 45) and malignant (N = 72) periampullary disease were analyzed by LC-MS/MS.Principal component analysis and consensus clustering both separated the patients with cancer and the patients with benign disease. Glutamic acid had significantly higher plasma expression and 15 other metabolites significantly lower plasma expression in patients with malignant disease compared with patients having benign disease. Phenylalanine was the only metabolite associated with improved overall survival (HR = 0.50, CI 0.30-0.83, P < 0.01).Taken together, plasma metabolite profiles from patients with malignant and benign periampullary disease were significantly different and have the potential to distinguish malignant from benign disease preoperatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Margrethe Stålberg
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Department of Pathology, Skien Hospital, Vestfold og Telemark, Norway
| | - Laxmi Silwal-Pandit
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nasser Ezzatkhah Bastani
- Division for Molecular Nutrition, Institute for Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Ole Christian Lingjærde
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bjørn Steen Skålhegg
- Division for Molecular Nutrition, Institute for Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elin Hegland Kure
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway.
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3
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Wang Z, Yang L. Natural-product-based, carrier-free, noncovalent nanoparticles for tumor chemo-photodynamic combination therapy. Pharmacol Res 2024; 203:107150. [PMID: 38521285 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107150] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer, with its diversity, heterogeneity, and complexity, is a significant contributor to global morbidity, disability, and mortality, highlighting the necessity for transformative treatment approaches. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has aroused continuous interest as a viable alternative to conventional cancer treatments that encounter drug resistance. Nanotechnology has brought new advances in medicine and has shown great potential in drug delivery and cancer treatment. For precise and efficient therapeutic utilization of such a tumor therapeutic approach with high spatiotemporal selectivity and minimal invasiveness, the carrier-free noncovalent nanoparticles (NPs) based on chemo-photodynamic combination therapy is essential. Utilizing natural products as the foundation for nanodrug development offers unparalleled advantages, including exceptional pharmacological activity, easy functionalization/modification, and well biocompatibility. The natural-product-based, carrier-free, noncovalent NPs revealed excellent synergistic anticancer activity in comparison with free photosensitizers and free bioactive natural products, representing an alternative and favorable combination therapeutic avenue to improve therapeutic efficacy. Herein, a comprehensive summary of current strategies and representative application examples of carrier-free noncovalent NPs in the past decade based on natural products (such as paclitaxel, 10-hydroxycamptothecin, doxorubicin, etoposide, combretastatin A4, epigallocatechin gallate, and curcumin) for tumor chemo-photodynamic combination therapy. We highlight the insightful design and synthesis of the smart carrier-free NPs that aim to enhance PDT efficacy. Meanwhile, we discuss the future challenges and potential opportunities associated with these NPs to provide new enlightenment, spur innovative ideas, and facilitate PDT-mediated clinical transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus, Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Liyan Yang
- School of Physics and Physical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, PR China; Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.
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4
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Ahn SH, Jang SK, Kim YJ, Kim G, Park KS, Park IC, Jin HO. Amino acid deprivation induces TXNIP expression by NRF2 downregulation. IUBMB Life 2024; 76:212-222. [PMID: 38054509 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2792] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is sensitive to oxidative stress and is involved in the pathogenesis of various metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, several studies have suggested that TXNIP is a promising therapeutic target for several diseases, particularly cancer and diabetes. However, the regulation of TXNIP expression under amino acid (AA)-restricted conditions is not well understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that TXNIP expression was promoted by the deprivation of AAs, especially arginine, glutamine, lysine, and methionine, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Interestingly, we determined that increased TXNIP expression induced by AA deprivation was associated with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) downregulation, but not with activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) activation. Furthermore, N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suppressed TXNIP expression in NSCLC cells deprived of AA. Collectively, the induction of TXNIP expression by AA deprivation was mediated by ROS production, potentially through NRF2 downregulation. Our findings suggest that TXNIP expression may be associated with the redox homeostasis of AA metabolism and provide a possible rationale for a therapeutic strategy to treat cancer with AA restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Hee Ahn
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Kyeong Jang
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Jin Kim
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeongmi Kim
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Soo Park
- Department of Biological Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Chul Park
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon-Ok Jin
- KIRAMS Radiation Biobank, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Oryani MA, Nosrati S, Javid H, Mehri A, Hashemzadeh A, Karimi-Shahri M. Targeted cancer treatment using folate-conjugated sponge-like ZIF-8 nanoparticles: a review. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:1377-1404. [PMID: 37715816 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02707-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework-8) is a potential drug delivery system because of its unique properties, which include a large surface area, a large pore capacity, a large loading capacity, and outstanding stability under physiological conditions. ZIF-8 nanoparticles may be readily functionalized with targeting ligands for the identification and absorption of particular cancer cells, enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic medicines and reducing adverse effects. ZIF-8 is also pH-responsive, allowing medication release in the acidic milieu of cancer cells. Because of its tunable structure, it can be easily functionalized to design cancer-specific targeted medicines. The delivery of ZIF-8 to cancer cells can be facilitated by folic acid-conjugation. Hence, it can bind to overexpressed folate receptors on the surface of cancer cells, which holds the promise of reducing unwanted deliveries. As a result of its importance in cancer treatment, the folate-conjugated ZIF-8 was the major focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Akbari Oryani
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Shamim Nosrati
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Azad Shahroud University, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Hossein Javid
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Ali Mehri
- Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Alireza Hashemzadeh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mehdi Karimi-Shahri
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
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Ogbodo AK, Mustafov D, Arora M, Lambrou GI, Braoudaki M, Siddiqui SS. Analysis of SIGLEC12 expression, immunomodulation and prognostic value in renal cancer using multiomic databases. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24286. [PMID: 38268823 PMCID: PMC10803920 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24286] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Siglecs belong to a family of immune regulatory receptors predominantly found on hematopoietic cells. They interact with Sia, resulting in the activation or inhibition of the immune response. Previous reports have suggested that the SIGLEC12 gene, which encodes the Siglec-XII protein, is expressed in the epithelial tissues and upregulated in carcinomas. However, studies deciphering the role of Siglec-XII in renal cancer (RC) are still unavailable, and here we provide insights on this question. We conducted expression analysis using the Human Protein Atlas and UALCAN databases. The impact of SIGLEC12 on RC prognosis was determined using the KM plotter, and an assessment of immune infiltration with SIGLEC12 was performed using the TIMER database. GSEA was conducted to identify the pathways affected by SIGLEC12. Finally, using GeneMania, we identified Siglec-XII interacting proteins. Our findings indicated that macrophages express SIGLEC12 in the kidney. Furthermore, we hypothesize that Siglec-XII expression might be involved in the increase of primary RC, but this effect may not be dependent on the age of the patient. In the tumour microenvironment, oncogenic pathways appeared to be upregulated by SIGLEC12. Similarly, our analysis suggested that SIGLEC12-related kidney renal papillary cell carcinomas may be more suitable for targeted immunotherapy, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. These preliminary results suggested that high expression of SIGLEC12 is associated with poor prognosis for RC. Future studies to assess its clinical utility are necessitated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amobichukwu K. Ogbodo
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB, United Kingdom
- #Current Address: Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom
| | - Denis Mustafov
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB, United Kingdom
- College of Health, Medicine, and Life Science, Brunel University London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Mohit Arora
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - George I. Lambrou
- Choremeio Research Laboratory, First Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, Thivon & Levadeias 8, 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon & Levadeias 8, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Braoudaki
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB, United Kingdom
| | - Shoib S. Siddiqui
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB, United Kingdom
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7
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Rushing BR, Molina S, Sumner S. Metabolomics Analysis Reveals Altered Metabolic Pathways and Response to Doxorubicin in Drug-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Metabolites 2023; 13:865. [PMID: 37512572 PMCID: PMC10383792 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13070865] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate metabolic changes following the acquisition of resistance to doxorubicin in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line MDA-MB-231. Two drug-resistant cell lines, DOX-RES-50 and DOX-RES-100, were generated by treating MDA-MB-231 cells with doxorubicin for 24 h and allowing them to recover for six weeks. Both drug-resistant cell lines demonstrated an increase in doxorubicin IC50 values, indicating acquired drug resistance. Metabolomics analysis showed clear separation between the parental MDA-MB-231 cell line and the drug-resistant cell lines. Pathway analysis revealed that arginine and proline metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and beta-alanine metabolism were significantly perturbed in the drug-resistant cell lines compared to the parental cell line. After matching signals to an in-house library of reference standards, significant decreases in short- and medium-chain acylcarnitines and significant increases in long-chain acylcarnitines, 5-oxoproline, and 7-ketodeoxycholic acid were observed in the resistant cell lines as compared to the parental MDA-MB-231 cell line. In addition to baseline metabolic differences, we also investigated differences in metabolic responses in resistant cell lines upon a second exposure at multiple concentrations. Results indicate that whereas the parental MDA-MB-231 cell line had many metabolites that responded to doxorubicin in a dose-dependent manner, the two resistant cell lines lost a dose-dependent response for the majority of these metabolites. The study's findings provide insight into how metabolism is altered during the acquisition of resistance in TNBC cells and how the metabolic response to doxorubicin changes upon repeated treatment. This information can potentially identify novel targets to prevent or reverse multi-drug resistance in TNBC, and also demonstrate the usefulness of metabolomics technology in identifying new mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer and potential drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake R Rushing
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Sabrina Molina
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Susan Sumner
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
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Bianchi M, Rossi L, Pierigè F, Biagiotti S, Bregalda A, Tasini F, Magnani M. Preclinical and clinical developments in enzyme-loaded red blood cells: an update. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2023; 20:921-935. [PMID: 37249524 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2219890] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We have previously described the preclinical developments in enzyme-loaded red blood cells to be used in the treatment of several rare diseases, as well as in chronic conditions. AREA COVERED Since our previous publication we have seen further progress in the previously discussed approaches and, interestingly enough, in additional new studies that further strengthen the idea that red blood cell-based therapeutics may have unique advantages over conventional enzyme replacement therapies in terms of efficacy and safety. Here we highlight these investigations and compare, when possible, the reported results versus the current therapeutic approaches. EXPERT OPINION The continuous increase in the number of new potential applications and the progress from the encapsulation of a single enzyme to the engineering of an entire metabolic pathway open the field to unexpected developments and confirm the role of red blood cells as cellular bioreactors that can be conveniently manipulated to acquire useful therapeutic metabolic abilities. Positioning of these new approaches versus newly approved drugs is essential for the successful transition of this technology from the preclinical to the clinical stage and hopefully to final approval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Bianchi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Luigia Rossi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- EryDel SpA, Bresso, MI, Italy
| | - Francesca Pierigè
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Sara Biagiotti
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bregalda
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Filippo Tasini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Mauro Magnani
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- EryDel SpA, Bresso, MI, Italy
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Jud P, Meinitzer A, Strohmaier H, Arefnia B, Wimmer G, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Foris V, Kovacs G, Odler B, Moazedi-Fürst F, Brodmann M, Hafner F. Association of amino acids and parameters of bone metabolism with endothelial dysfunction and vasculopathic changes in limited systemic sclerosis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1193121. [PMID: 37425312 PMCID: PMC10327605 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1193121] [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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Pathways contributing to endothelial dysfunction in patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate potential associations of amino acids and parameters of bone metabolism with endothelial dysfunction and vasculopathy-related changes in patients with lcSSc and early-stage vasculopathy. Methods Amino acids, calciotropic parameters, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH), and bone turnover parameters, including osteocalcin and N-terminal peptide of procollagen-3 (P3NP), were measured in 38 lcSSc patients and 38 controls. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by biochemical parameters, pulse-wave analysis, flow-mediated and nitroglycerine-mediated dilation. Additionally, vasculopathy-related and SSc-specific clinical changes including capillaroscopic, skin, renal, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and periodontal parameters were recorded. Results No significant differences in amino acids, calciotropic and bone turnover parameters were observed between lcSSc patients and controls. In patients with lcSSc, several significant correlations were found between selected amino acids, parameters of endothelial dysfunction, vasculopathy-related and SSc-specific clinical changes (all with p < 0.05). In addition, significant correlations were observed between PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D with homoarginine, and between osteocalcin, PTH and P3NP with modified Rodnan skin score and selected periodontal parameters (all with p < 0.05). Vitamin D deficiency defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 20 ng/ml was associated with the presence of puffy finger (p = 0.046) and early pattern (p = 0.040). Conclusion Selected amino acids may affect endothelial function and may be associated to vasculopathy-related and clinical changes in lcSSc patients, while the association with parameters of bone metabolism seems to be minor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Jud
- Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Meinitzer
- Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Heimo Strohmaier
- Center of Medical Research (ZMF), Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Behrouz Arefnia
- Division of Restorative Dentistry, Endodontics, Periodontology and Prosthodontics, Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gernot Wimmer
- Division of Restorative Dentistry, Endodontics, Periodontology and Prosthodontics, Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Lab Platform, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Vasile Foris
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz, Austria
| | - Gabor Kovacs
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz, Austria
| | - Balazs Odler
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Florentine Moazedi-Fürst
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Marianne Brodmann
- Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Franz Hafner
- Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Wetzel TJ, Erfan SC, Figueroa LD, Wheeler LM, Ananieva EA. Crosstalk between arginine, glutamine, and the branched chain amino acid metabolism in the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1186539. [PMID: 37274280 PMCID: PMC10235471 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1186539] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine, glutamine, and the branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a focus of increased interest in the field of oncology due to their importance in the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), these amino acids serve to support the elevated biosynthetic and energy demands of cancer cells, while simultaneously maintaining the growth, homeostasis, and effector function of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. To escape immune destruction, cancer cells utilize a variety of mechanisms to suppress the cytotoxic activity of effector T cells, facilitating T cell exhaustion. One such mechanism is the ability of cancer cells to overexpress metabolic enzymes specializing in the catabolism of arginine, glutamine, and the BCAAs in the TME. The action of such enzymes supplies cancer cells with metabolic intermediates that feed into the TCA cycle, supporting energy generation, or providing precursors for purine, pyrimidine, and polyamine biosynthesis. Armed with substantial metabolic flexibility, cancer cells redirect amino acids from the TME for their own advantage and growth, while leaving the local infiltrating effector T cells deprived of essential nutrients. This review addresses the metabolic pressure that cancer cells exert over immune cells in the TME by up-regulating amino acid metabolism, while discussing opportunities for targeting amino acid metabolism for therapeutic intervention. Special emphasis is given to the crosstalk between arginine, glutamine, and BCAA metabolism in affording cancer cells with metabolic dominance in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Elitsa A. Ananieva
- Ananieva Laboratory, Biochemistry and Nutrition Department, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA, United States
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11
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Ghouili E, Sassi K, Hidri Y, M’Hamed HC, Somenahally A, Xue Q, Jebara M, Nefissi Ouertani R, Riahi J, de Oliveira AC, Abid G, Muhovski Y. Effects of Date Palm Waste Compost Application on Root Proteome Changes of Barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:526. [PMID: 36771612 PMCID: PMC9921465 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Proteomic analysis was performed to investigate the differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in barley roots during the tillering stage. Bioinformatic tools were used to interpret the biological function, the pathway analysis and the visualisation of the network amongst the identified proteins. A total of 72 DAPs (33 upregulated and 39 downregulated) among a total of 2580 proteins were identified in response to compost treatment, suggesting multiple pathways of primary and secondary metabolism, such as carbohydrates and energy metabolism, phenylpropanoid pathway, glycolysis pathway, protein synthesis and degradation, redox homeostasis, RNA processing, stress response, cytoskeleton organisation, and phytohormone metabolic pathways. The expression of DAPs was further validated by qRT-PCR. The effects on barley plant development, such as the promotion of root growth and biomass increase, were associated with a change in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. The activation of enzymes involved in redox homeostasis and the regulation of stress response proteins suggest a protective effect of compost, consequently improving barley growth and stress acclimation through the reduction of the environmental impact of productive agriculture. Overall, these results may facilitate a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of compost-promoted plant growth and provide valuable information for the identification of critical genes/proteins in barley as potential targets of compost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emna Ghouili
- Laboratory of Legumes and Sustainable Agrosystems, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, (L2AD, CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - Khaled Sassi
- Laboratory of Agronomy, National Agronomy Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, Avenue Charles Nicolle, Tunis-Mahrajène, P.O. Box 43, Tunis 1082, Tunisia
| | - Yassine Hidri
- Laboratory of Integrated Olive Production in the Humid, Sub-humid and Semi-arid Region (LR16IO3), Olive Tree Institute, Cité Mahragène, P.O. Box 208, Tunis 1082, Tunisia
| | - Hatem Cheikh M’Hamed
- Agronomy Laboratory, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunis (INRAT), Carthage University, Hedi Karray Street, Ariana 2049, Tunisia
| | - Anil Somenahally
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, 370 Olsen Blvd, College Station, TX 77843-2474, USA
| | - Qingwu Xue
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Amarillo, TX 79403-6603, USA
| | - Moez Jebara
- Laboratory of Legumes and Sustainable Agrosystems, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, (L2AD, CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - Rim Nefissi Ouertani
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - Jouhaina Riahi
- Laboratory of Agronomy, National Agronomy Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, Avenue Charles Nicolle, Tunis-Mahrajène, P.O. Box 43, Tunis 1082, Tunisia
| | - Ana Caroline de Oliveira
- Biological Engineering Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Chaussée de Charleroi, P.O. Box 234, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Ghassen Abid
- Laboratory of Legumes and Sustainable Agrosystems, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, (L2AD, CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - Yordan Muhovski
- Biological Engineering Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Chaussée de Charleroi, P.O. Box 234, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
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12
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Montalbano S, Raboni S, Sidoli S, Mozzarelli A, Bettati S, Buschini A. Post-Translational Modifications of Histone Variants in the Absence and Presence of a Methionine-Depleting Enzyme in Normal and Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020527. [PMID: 36672476 PMCID: PMC9857184 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Methionine is an essential amino acid involved in the formation of polyamines and a precursor metabolite for DNA and protein methylation. The dependence of cancer cells on methionine has triggered extensive investigations aimed at its targeting for cancer therapy, including the exploitation as a therapeutic tool of methionine γ-lyase (MGL), a bacterial enzyme that degrades methionine, capable of inhibiting cancer cells growth due to methionine starvation. We have exploited the high-resolution power of mass spectrometry to compare the effects of reduced availability of the methyl donor SAM, induced by MGL treatment, on the post-translational modifications of the histone tails in normal Hs27 and cancer HT-29 cells. In the absence of MGL, our analysis detected a three-fold higher relative abundance of trimethylated K25 of H1.4 in HT-29 than Hs27 cells, and a complex pattern of methylated, unmethylated and acetylated peptides in H2 and H3.3. In the presence of MGL, in HT-29, the peptide H2A1_4_11 is predominantly unmodified with mono-methylated K5 increasing upon treatment, whereas in Hs27 cells, H2A1_4_11 is monomethylated at K5 and K9 with these marks decreasing upon treatment. The time dependence of the effects of MGL-mediated methionine depletion on PTMs of histone variants in HT-29 cancer cells was also monitored. Overall, our present data on histone variants H1, H2A, H2B as well as H3.3 integrated with our previous studies on histones H3 and H4, shed light on the epigenetic modifications associated with methionine starvation and associated cancer cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Montalbano
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
- COMT (Interdepartmental Centre for Molecular and Translational Oncology), University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Samanta Raboni
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 23/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Center, Area della Ricerca di Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 1, San Cataldo, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Center SITEIA.PARMA, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Andrea Mozzarelli
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Center, Area della Ricerca di Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 1, San Cataldo, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Center, Area della Ricerca di Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 1, San Cataldo, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Center SITEIA.PARMA, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Annamaria Buschini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
- COMT (Interdepartmental Centre for Molecular and Translational Oncology), University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
- Correspondence:
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13
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Kurokawa GA, Hamamoto Filho PT, Delafiori J, Galvani AF, de Oliveira AN, Dias-Audibert FL, Catharino RR, Pardini MIMC, Zanini MA, Lima EDO, Ferrasi AC. Differential Plasma Metabolites between High- and Low-Grade Meningioma Cases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010394. [PMID: 36613836 PMCID: PMC9820229 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningiomas (MGMs) are currently classified into grades I, II, and III. High-grade tumors are correlated with decreased survival rates and increased recurrence rates. The current grading classification is based on histological criteria and determined only after surgical tumor sampling. This study aimed to identify plasma metabolic alterations in meningiomas of different grades, which would aid surgeons in predefining the ideal surgical strategy. Plasma samples were collected from 51 patients with meningioma and classified into low-grade (LG) (grade I; n = 43), and high-grade (HG) samples (grade II, n = 5; grade III, n = 3). An untargeted metabolomic approach was used to analyze plasma metabolites. Statistical analyses were performed to select differential biomarkers among HG and LG groups. Metabolites were identified using tandem mass spectrometry along with database verification. Five and four differential biomarkers were identified for HG and LG meningiomas, respectively. To evaluate the potential of HG MGM metabolites to differentiate between HG and LG tumors, a receiving operating characteristic curve was constructed, which revealed an area under the curve of 95.7%. This indicates that the five HG MGM metabolites represent metabolic alterations that can differentiate between LG and HG meningiomas. These metabolites may indicate tumor grade even before the appearance of histological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A. Kurokawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Analysis and Neuro-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
| | - Pedro T. Hamamoto Filho
- Laboratory of Molecular Analysis and Neuro-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
| | - Jeany Delafiori
- Innovare Biomarkers Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-877, Brazil
| | - Aline F. Galvani
- Laboratory of Molecular Analysis and Neuro-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
| | - Arthur N. de Oliveira
- Innovare Biomarkers Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-877, Brazil
| | - Flávia L. Dias-Audibert
- Innovare Biomarkers Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-877, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo R. Catharino
- Innovare Biomarkers Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-877, Brazil
| | - Maria Inês M. C. Pardini
- Laboratory of Molecular Analysis and Neuro-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
| | - Marco A. Zanini
- Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
| | - Estela de O. Lima
- Laboratory of Molecular Analysis and Neuro-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-14-3880-1453
| | - Adriana C. Ferrasi
- Laboratory of Molecular Analysis and Neuro-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
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Amino Acids in Cancer and Cachexia: An Integrated View. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225691. [PMID: 36428783 PMCID: PMC9688864 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid tumor growth requires elevated biosynthetic activity, supported by metabolic rewiring occurring both intrinsically in cancer cells and extrinsically in the cancer host. The Warburg effect is one such example, burning glucose to produce a continuous flux of biomass substrates in cancer cells at the cost of energy wasting metabolic cycles in the host to maintain stable glycemia. Amino acid (AA) metabolism is profoundly altered in cancer cells, which use AAs for energy production and for supporting cell proliferation. The peculiarities in cancer AA metabolism allow the identification of specific vulnerabilities as targets of anti-cancer treatments. In the current review, specific approaches targeting AAs in terms of either deprivation or supplementation are discussed. Although based on opposed strategies, both show, in vitro and in vivo, positive effects. Any AA-targeted intervention will inevitably impact the cancer host, who frequently already has cachexia. Cancer cachexia is a wasting syndrome, also due to malnutrition, that compromises the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs and eventually causes the patient's death. AA deprivation may exacerbate malnutrition and cachexia, while AA supplementation may improve the nutritional status, counteract cachexia, and predispose the patient to a more effective anti-cancer treatment. Here is provided an attempt to describe the AA-based therapeutic approaches that integrate currently distant points of view on cancer-centered and host-centered research, providing a glimpse of several potential investigations that approach cachexia as a unique cancer disease.
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15
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Shen H, Huang F, Zhang X, Ojo OA, Li Y, Trummell HQ, Anderson JC, Fiveash J, Bredel M, Yang ES, Willey CD, Chong Z, Bonner JA, Shi LZ. Selective suppression of melanoma lacking IFN-γ pathway by JAK inhibition depends on T cells and host TNF signaling. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5013. [PMID: 36008408 PMCID: PMC9411168 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32754-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance to immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) in melanoma patients is a pressing issue, of which tumor loss of IFN-γ signaling genes is a major underlying mechanism. However, strategies of overcoming this resistance mechanism have been largely elusive. Moreover, given the indispensable role of tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) in ICBs, little is known about how tumor-intrinsic loss of IFN-γ signaling (IFNγR1KO) impacts TILs. Here, we report that IFNγR1KO melanomas have reduced infiltration and function of TILs. IFNγR1KO melanomas harbor a network of constitutively active protein tyrosine kinases centered on activated JAK1/2. Mechanistically, JAK1/2 activation is mediated by augmented mTOR. Importantly, JAK1/2 inhibition with Ruxolitinib selectively suppresses the growth of IFNγR1KO but not scrambled control melanomas, depending on T cells and host TNF. Together, our results reveal an important role of tumor-intrinsic IFN-γ signaling in shaping TILs and manifest a targeted therapy to bypass ICB resistance of melanomas defective of IFN-γ signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Fengyuan Huang
- Department of Genetics and Informatics Institute, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Xiangmin Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Oluwagbemiga A Ojo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Yuebin Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Hoa Quang Trummell
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Joshua C Anderson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - John Fiveash
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Markus Bredel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Eddy S Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Christopher D Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Zechen Chong
- Department of Genetics and Informatics Institute, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - James A Bonner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - Lewis Zhichang Shi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Programs in Immunology, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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16
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Simay S, Akbarzadeh-Khiavi M, Pourseif MM, Barar J, Safary A, Omidi Y. Recombinant production and characterization of L-glutaminase (glsA) as a promiscuity therapeutic enzyme. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:5511-5524. [PMID: 35876873 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12058-y] [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: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Because of the therapeutical impacts of hydrolytic enzymes in different diseases, in particular malignancies, we aimed to produce a recombinant putative L-glutaminase (GLS ASL-1) from a recently characterized halo-thermotolerant Bacillus sp. SL-1. For this purpose, the glsA gene was identified and efficiently overexpressed in the Origami™ B (DE3) strain. The yield of the purified GLS ASL-1 was ~ 20 mg/L, indicating a significant expression of recombinant enzyme in the Origami. The enzyme activity assay revealed a significant hydrolytic effect of the recombinant GLS ASL-1 on L-asparagine (Asn) (i.e., Km 39.8 μM, kcat 19.9 S-1) with a minimal affinity for L-glutamine (Gln). The GLS ASL-1 significantly suppressed the growth of leukemic Jurkat cells through apoptosis induction (47.5%) in the IC50 dosage of the enzyme. The GLS ASL-1 could also change the Bax/Bcl2 expression ratio, indicating its apoptotic effect on cancer cells. The in silico analysis was conducted to predict structural features related to the histidine-tag exposure in the N- or C-terminal of the recombinant GLS ASL-1. In addition, molecular docking simulation for substrate specificity revealed a greater binding affinity of Asn to the enzyme binding-site residues than Gln, which was confirmed in experimental procedures as well. In conclusion, the current study introduced a recombinant GLS ASL-1 with unique functional and structural features, highlighting its potential pharmaceutical and medical importance. GLS ASL-1 represents the first annotated enzyme from Bacillus with prominent asparaginase activity, which can be considered for developing alternative enzymes in therapeutic applications. KEY POINTS: • Hydrolytic enzymes have critical applications in different types of human malignancies. • A recombinant L-glutaminase (GLS ASL-1) was produced from halo-thermotolerant Bacillus sp. SL-1. • GLS ASL-1 displayed a marked hydrolytic activity on L-asparagine compared to the L-glutamine. • GLS ASL-1 with significant substrate promiscuity may be an alternative for developing novel pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Simay
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Akbarzadeh-Khiavi
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad M Pourseif
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jaleh Barar
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Azam Safary
- Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Yadollah Omidi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328, USA.
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17
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Zhang Q, Xiong D, Pan J, Wang Y, Hardy M, Kalyanaraman B, You M. Chemoprevention of Lung Cancer with a Combination of Mitochondria-Targeted Compounds. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102538. [PMID: 35626143 PMCID: PMC9140024 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Previous reports showed that mitochondria-targeted honokiol and mitochondria-targeted lonidamine potently inhibit complex-I- and complexes-I/II-induced respiration and cancer cell proliferation. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of combining mitochondria-targeted honokiol and mitochondria-targeted lonidamine treatments for lung cancer prevention. We found that their combination exhibited striking tumor inhibition in the benzo[a]pyrene-induced murine lung tumor model without causing detectable side effects. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we found combined treatment has a clear advantage in that it can significantly inhibit two oncogenic pathways—STAT3 signaling and AKT/mTOR/p70S6K signaling. Such dual inhibition may contribute to the greater efficacy of the combined drug treatment. Therefore, the combination provides a novel option for lung cancer chemoprevention. Abstract Combined treatment targeting mitochondria may improve the efficacy of lung cancer chemoprevention. Here, mitochondria-targeted honokiol (Mito-HNK), an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I and STAT3 phosphorylation, and mitochondria-targeted lonidamine (Mito-LND), an inhibitor of mitochondrial complexes I/II and AKT/mTOR/p70S6K signaling, were evaluated for their combinational chemopreventive efficacy on mouse lung carcinogenesis. All chemopreventive treatments began one-week post-carcinogen treatment and continued daily for 24 weeks. No evidence of toxicity (including liver toxicity) was detected by monitoring serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase enzymes. Mito-HNK or Mito-LND treatment alone reduced tumor load by 56% and 48%, respectively, whereas the combination of Mito-HNK and Mito-LND reduced tumor load by 83%. To understand the potential mechanism(s) of action for the observed combinatorial effects, single-cell RNA sequencing was performed using mouse tumors treated with Mito-HNK, Mito-LND, and their combination. In lung tumor cells, Mito-HNK treatment blocked the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial complex ǀ, oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and STAT3 signaling. Mito-LND inhibited the expression of genes for mitochondrial complexes I/II, oxidative phosphorylation, and AKT/mTOR/p70S6K signaling in lung tumor cells. In addition to these changes, a combination of Mito-HNK with Mito-LND decreased arginine and proline metabolism, N-glycan biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism in lung tumor cells. Our results demonstrate that Mito-LND enhanced the antitumor efficacy of Mito-HNK, where both compounds inhibited common targets (oxidative phosphorylation) as well as unique targets for each agent (STAT3 and mTOR signaling). Therefore, the combination of Mito-HNK with Mito-LND may present an effective strategy for lung cancer chemoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Center for Cancer Prevention, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Q.Z.); (D.X.); (J.P.); (Y.W.)
| | - Donghai Xiong
- Center for Cancer Prevention, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Q.Z.); (D.X.); (J.P.); (Y.W.)
| | - Jing Pan
- Center for Cancer Prevention, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Q.Z.); (D.X.); (J.P.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yian Wang
- Center for Cancer Prevention, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Q.Z.); (D.X.); (J.P.); (Y.W.)
| | - Micael Hardy
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, 13013 Marseille, France;
| | - Balaraman Kalyanaraman
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Center for Disease Prevention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Ming You
- Center for Cancer Prevention, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Q.Z.); (D.X.); (J.P.); (Y.W.)
- Correspondence:
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18
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Li J, Tong D, Lin J. Current status of cancer starvation therapy. Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2022; 51:241-250. [PMID: 35462463 PMCID: PMC10410570 DOI: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2021-0297] [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: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Conventional therapies for malignant tumors have limitations and disadvantages. In recent years, the cancer starvation therapy has emerged which intends to deprive cancer cells of nutritional supply. There are several approaches to"starve" cancer cells: to intervene tumor angiogenesis by targeted inhibition of angiogenic factors or their receptors and integrins; to block the blood supply of cancer cells by embolizing or compressing blood vessels; to intervene metabolic process of cancer cells by inhibition of the signal pathways of mitochondrial serine-glycine-one earbon metabolism, glycolysis and amino acid metabolism; cancer starvation therapy can be employed with oxidation therapy, chemotherapy, sonodynamic therapy, anti-autophagy therapy or other therapies to achieve synergistic effects. This article reviews the research progress of cancer starvation therapy in recent years and discusses the existing problems.
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19
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Gregorio JD, Petricca S, Iorio R, Toniato E, Flati V. MITOCHONDRIAL AND METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN CANCER CELLS. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151225. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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20
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Dumina M, Zhgun A, Pokrovskaya M, Aleksandrova S, Zhdanov D, Sokolov N, El’darov M. Highly Active Thermophilic L-Asparaginase from Melioribacter roseus Represents a Novel Large Group of Type II Bacterial L-Asparaginases from Chlorobi-Ignavibacteriae-Bacteroidetes Clade. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13632. [PMID: 34948436 PMCID: PMC8709496 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) is a biotechnologically relevant enzyme for the pharmaceutical, biosensor and food industries. Efforts to discover new promising L-ASNases for different fields of biotechnology have turned this group of enzymes into a growing family with amazing diversity. Here, we report that thermophile Melioribacter roseus from Ignavibacteriae of the Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi group possesses two L-ASNases-bacterial type II (MrAII) and plant-type (MrAIII). The current study is focused on a novel L-ASNase MrAII that was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and characterized. The enzyme is optimally active at 70 °C and pH 9.3, with a high L-asparaginase activity of 1530 U/mg and L-glutaminase activity ~19% of the activity compared with L-asparagine. The kinetic parameters KM and Vmax for the enzyme were 1.4 mM and 5573 µM/min, respectively. The change in MrAII activity was not significant in the presence of 10 mM Ni2+, Mg2+ or EDTA, but increased with the addition of Cu2+ and Ca2+ by 56% and 77%, respectively, and was completely inhibited by Zn2+, Fe3+ or urea solutions 2-8 M. MrAII displays differential cytotoxic activity: cancer cell lines K562, Jurkat, LnCap, and SCOV-3 were more sensitive to MrAII treatment, compared with normal cells. MrAII represents the first described enzyme of a large group of uncharacterized counterparts from the Chlorobi-Ignavibacteriae-Bacteroidetes clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dumina
- Group of Fungal Genetic Engineering, Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Alexander Zhgun
- Group of Fungal Genetic Engineering, Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Marina Pokrovskaya
- Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (S.A.); (D.Z.); (N.S.)
| | - Svetlana Aleksandrova
- Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (S.A.); (D.Z.); (N.S.)
| | - Dmitry Zhdanov
- Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (S.A.); (D.Z.); (N.S.)
| | - Nikolay Sokolov
- Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (S.A.); (D.Z.); (N.S.)
| | - Michael El’darov
- Group of Fungal Genetic Engineering, Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow, Russia;
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21
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Núñez-Gómez D, Legua P, Martínez-Nicolás JJ, Melgarejo P. Breba Fruits Characterization from Four Varieties (Ficus carica L.) with Important Commercial Interest in Spain. Foods 2021; 10:foods10123138. [PMID: 34945688 PMCID: PMC8700890 DOI: 10.3390/foods10123138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most of the published articles generalize with the fruit of the fig tree (Ficus carica L.), the differentiation between fig and breba is increasingly common in the bibliography. In this regard, keep in mind that the fig tree generally produces two crops a year, the parthenocarpic breba, also called as early fig, and the main non-parthenocarpic crop, the fig proper. In this study, four brebas varieties (‘Colar’, ‘SuperFig1’, ‘Cuello de Dama Negro’ and ‘San Antonio’) were selected in order to identify compositional, nutritional, and chemical diversity. These varieties were chosen for their commercial relevance in Spain. Color (internal and external), fruit and peel weight, size, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), maturity index (MI), sugar, and organic content were determined for all the breba fruits samples. In addition, polyphenolic profile, amino acids, and volatile aromatic compounds were also identified. The varieties ‘Colar’ and ‘SuperFig1’ showed the highest fruit weight and size, while ‘Cuello de Dama Negro’ presented the higher pulp yield. The higher organic acid and sugar contents were determined for ‘SuperFig1’ and ‘Cuello de Dama Negro’, respectively. Although in low concentrations, the phenolic compound quercetin 3-(6-O-acetyl-beta-glucoside) and the amino acid tyrosine were only detected in the ‘’Cuello de Dama Negra’ and ‘SuperFig1’ fruits, respectively. Of the eighty volatile aromatic compounds identified, only eight were common in four varieties. An important knowledge gap was identified in relation to the characterization of the two Ficus carica L. crops, that is, the differentiation and specification in the literature when working with brebas and/or figs.
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22
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Bogner AN, Stiers KM, Tanner JJ. Structure, biochemistry, and gene expression patterns of the proline biosynthetic enzyme pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (PYCR), an emerging cancer therapy target. Amino Acids 2021; 53:1817-1834. [PMID: 34003320 PMCID: PMC8599497 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-02999-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Proline metabolism features prominently in the unique metabolism of cancer cells. Proline biosynthetic genes are consistently upregulated in multiple cancers, while the proline catabolic enzyme proline dehydrogenase has dual, context-dependent pro-cancer and pro-apoptotic functions. Furthermore, the cycling of proline and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate through the proline cycle impacts cellular growth and death pathways by maintaining redox homeostasis between the cytosol and mitochondria. Here we focus on the last enzyme of proline biosynthesis, Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase, known as PYCR in humans. PYCR catalyzes the NAD(P)H-dependent reduction of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate to proline and forms the reductive half of the proline metabolic cycle. We review the research on the three-dimensional structure, biochemistry, inhibition, and cancer biology of PYCR. To provide a global view of PYCR gene upregulation in cancer, we mined RNA transcript databases to analyze differential gene expression in 28 cancer types. This analysis revealed strong, widespread upregulation of PYCR genes, especially PYCR1. Altogether, the research over the past 20 years makes a compelling case for PYCR as a cancer therapy target. We conclude with a discussion of some of the major challenges for the field, including developing isoform-specific inhibitors, elucidating the function of the long C-terminus of PYCR1/2, and characterizing the interactome of PYCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Bogner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Kyle M Stiers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - John J Tanner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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23
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Cui C, Wang J, Guo L, Wu C. PINCH-1 promotes Δ 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase expression and contributes to proline metabolic reprogramming in lung adenocarcinoma. Amino Acids 2021; 53:1875-1890. [PMID: 34283311 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03050-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Proline metabolic reprogramming is intimately involved in cancer progression. We recently identified a critical role of PINCH-1, a cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion protein whose expression is elevated in lung adenocarcinoma, in the promotion of proline biosynthesis, fibrosis and lung adenocarcinoma growth. How PINCH-1 promotes proline biosynthesis, however, was incompletely understood. In this study, we show that PINCH-1 promotes the expression of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), a key enzyme that links glutamate metabolism to proline biosynthesis. Depletion of PINCH-1 from lung adenocarcinoma cells reduced the protein but not mRNA level of P5CS, resulting in down-regulation of the cellular level of P5C and cell proliferation. Treatment of the cells with protease inhibitor leupeptin effectively reversed PINCH-1 deficiency-induced reduction of the P5CS level. At the molecular level, PINCH-1, through its LIM2 domain, physically associated with P5CS in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Re-expression of wild type PINCH-1, but not that of the PINCH-1 LIM2 deletion mutant, in PINCH-1 deficient lung adenocarcinoma cells restored P5CS expression, proline biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Finally, P5CS expression, like that of PINCH-1, is elevated in human and mouse lung adenocarcinoma. Using a mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma in which PINCH-1 is conditionally ablated, we show that knockout of PINCH-1 from lung adenocarcinoma effectively reduced the P5CS level in vivo. Our results reveal an important role of PINCH-1 in the promotion of P5CS expression, which likely contributes to proline metabolic reprogramming and consequently lung adenocarcinoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhong Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies and Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies and Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies and Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Chuanyue Wu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
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