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Wang Z, Wu D, Zhang Y, Chen W, Yang Y, Yang Y, Zu G, An Y, Yu X, Qin Y, Xu X, Chen X. PITX2 functions as a transcription factor for GPX4 and protects pancreatic cancer cells from ferroptosis. Exp Cell Res 2024; 439:114074. [PMID: 38710403 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114074] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Ferroptosis inhibits tumor progression in pancreatic cancer cells, while PITX2 is known to function as a pro-oncogenic factor in various tumor types, protecting them from ferroptosis and thereby promoting tumor progression. In this study, we sought to investigate the regulatory role of PITX2 in tumor cell ferroptosis within the context of pancreatic cancer. We conducted PITX2 knockdown experiments using lentiviral infection in two pancreatic cancer cell lines, namely PANC-1 and BxPC-3. We assessed protein expression through immunoblotting and mRNA expression through RT-PCR. To confirm PITX2 as a transcription factor for GPX4, we employed Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and Dual-luciferase assays. Furthermore, we used flow cytometry to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis and employed confocal microscopy to assess mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, electron microscopy was used to observe mitochondrial structural changes and evaluate PITX2's regulation of ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Our findings demonstrated that PITX2, functioning as a transcription factor for GPX4, promoted GPX4 expression, thereby exerting an inhibitory effect on ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer cells and consequently promoting tumor progression. Moreover, PITX2 enhanced the invasive and migratory capabilities of pancreatic cancer cells by activating the WNT signaling pathway. Knockdown of PITX2 increased ferroptosis and inhibited the proliferation of PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cells. Notably, the inhibitory effect on ferroptosis resulting from PITX2 overexpression in these cells could be countered using RSL3, an inhibitor of GPX4. Overall, our study established PITX2 as a transcriptional regulator of GPX4 that could promote tumor progression in pancreatic cancer by reducing ferroptosis. These findings suggest that PITX2 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for combating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiliang Wang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Weibo Chen
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Guangchen Zu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yong An
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yi Qin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xiaowu Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xuemin Chen
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Fei Q, Jin K, Shi S, Li T, Guo D, Lin M, Yu X, Wu W, Ye L. Suppression of pancreatic cancer proliferation through TXNIP-mediated inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024; 56:513-524. [PMID: 38229544 PMCID: PMC11094629 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023286] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a crucial thioredoxin-binding protein that is recognized as a tumor suppressor in diverse malignancies, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and thyroid cancer. However, the specific role and molecular mechanisms of TXNIP in the pathogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer cells have not been determined. In this study, we investigate the relationship between TXNIP expression and overall survival prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients. Mechanistic studies are conducted to reveal the role of TXNIP in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, migration, and regulation during malignancy. Our findings indicate that patients with high TXNIP expression have a more favorable prognosis. In vitro experiments with pancreatic cell lines show that overexpression of TXNIP suppresses the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, we find that TXNIP inhibits the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby decreasing the malignant potential of pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, our study reveals TXNIP as a promising new predictive marker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinglin Fei
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Kaizhou Jin
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Saimeng Shi
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Tianjiao Li
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Duancheng Guo
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Mengxiong Lin
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Weiding Wu
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Longyun Ye
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032China
- Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
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Chakkera M, Foote JB, Farran B, Nagaraju GP. Breaking the stromal barrier in pancreatic cancer: Advances and challenges. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189065. [PMID: 38160899 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189065] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide due to the absence of early detection methods and the low success rates of traditional therapeutic strategies. Drug resistance in PC is driven by its desmoplastic stroma, which creates a barrier that shields cancer niches and prevents the penetration of drugs. The PC stroma comprises heterogeneous cellular populations and non-cellular components involved in aberrant ECM deposition, immunosuppression, and drug resistance. These components can influence PC development through intricate and complex crosstalk with the PC cells. Understanding how stromal components and cells interact with and influence the invasiveness and refractoriness of PC cells is thus a prerequisite for developing successful stroma-modulating strategies capable of remodeling the PC stroma to alleviate drug resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we explore how non-cellular and cellular stromal components, including cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-associated macrophages, contribute to the immunosuppressive and tumor-promoting effects of the stroma. We also examine the signaling pathways underlying their activation, tumorigenic effects, and interactions with PC cells. Finally, we discuss recent pre-clinical and clinical work aimed at developing and testing novel stroma-modulating agents to alleviate drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohana Chakkera
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Jeremy B Foote
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Batoul Farran
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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