Etomidate inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells via downregulating WWP2

Bioelectric pharmacology of cancer: A systematic review of ion channel drugs affecting the cancer phenotype

Cancer is a pernicious and pressing medical problem; moreover, it is a failure of multicellular morphogenesis that sheds much light on evolutionary developmental biology. Numerous classes of pharmacological agents have been considered as cancer therapeutics and evaluated as potential carcinogenic agents; however, these are spread throughout the primary literature. Here, we briefly review recent work on ion channel drugs as promising anti-cancer treatments and present a systematic review of the known cancer-relevant effects of 109 drugs targeting ion channels. The roles of ion channels in cancer are consistent with the importance of bioelectrical parameters in cell regulation and with the functions of bioelectric signaling in morphogenetic signals that act as cancer suppressors. We find that compounds that are well-known for having targets in the nervous system, such as voltage-gated ion channels, ligand-gated ion channels, proton pumps, and gap junctions are especially relevant to cancer. Our review suggests further opportunities for the repurposing of numerous promising candidates in the field of cancer electroceuticals.

Advances of E3 ligases in lung cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death, and the most common type of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for approximately 85 % of lung cancer diagnoses. Recent studies have revealed that ubiquitination acts as a crucial part of the development and progression of lung cancer. The E1-E2-E3 three-enzyme cascade has a core function in ubiquitination, so targeted adjustments of E3 ligases could be used in lung cancer treatment. Hence, we elucidate research advances in lung cancer-related E3 ligases by briefly describing the structure and categorization of E3 ligases. Here, we provide a detailed review of the mechanisms by which lung cancer-related E3 ligases modify substrate proteins and regulate signaling pathways to facilitate or suppress cancer progression. We hope to show a new perspective on targeted precision therapy for lung cancer.

E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 as a promising therapeutic target for diverse human diseases

Mammalian E3 ubiquitin ligases have emerged in recent years as critical regulators of cellular homeostasis due to their roles in targeting substrate proteins for ubiquitination and triggering subsequent downstream signals. In this review, we describe the multiple roles of WWP2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase with unique and important functions in regulating a wide range of biological processes, including DNA repair, gene expression, signal transduction, and cell-fate decisions. As such, WWP2 has evolved to play a key role in normal physiology and diseases, such as tumorigenesis, skeletal development and diseases, immune regulation, cardiovascular disease, and others. We attempt to provide an overview of the biochemical, physiological, and pathophysiological roles of WWP2, as well as open questions for future research, particularly in the context of putative therapeutic opportunities.

Molecular authentication, metabolite profiling and in silico-in vitro cytotoxicity screening of endophytic Penicillium ramusculum from Withania somnifera for breast cancer therapeutics

In the present study, we isolated a potent endophytic fungus from the roots of Withania somnifera. The endophytic fungal strain was authenticated as Penicillium ramusculum SVWS3 based on morphological and molecular sequencing using four gene data and phylogenetic analyses. In vitro cytotoxicity studies unveiled the remarkable cytotoxic potential of the crude extract derived from P. ramusculum, exhibiting dose-dependent effects on MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 cells. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL, the crude extract resulted in cell viability of 29.78% for MDA-MB-468 cells and 14.61% for MCF-7 cells. The IC50 values were calculated as 62.83 ± 0.93 µg/mL and 17.23 ± 1.43 µg/mL, respectively for MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 cells. Caspase activation assay established the underlying mechanism of the crude extract depicting the activation of caspases 3 and 7, indicating the induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Chemotaxonomic profiling elucidated the ability of P. ramusculum to synthesize a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including Fasoracetam, Tryprostatin B, Odorinol, Thyronine, Brevianamide F, Proglumide, Perlolyrine, Tyrphostin B48, Baptifoline, etc. Molecular docking studies inferred that Baptifoline, Brevianamide F, Odorinol, Perlolyrine, Thyronine, Tryphostin B48, and Tryprostatin B were the lead compounds that could effectively interact with the five selected target receptors of breast cancer, further surpassing the positive controls analyzed. Pharmacokinetic profiling revealed that Baptifoline, Odorinol, and Thyronine depicted an excellent therapeutic profile of druggability. These findings collectively substantiate the anticancer activity of bioactive metabolites synthesized by P. ramusculum SVWS3. Hence, the endophytic P. ramusculum SVWS3 can be an authentic source for developing novel chemotherapeutic drug formulations.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03906-3.

WWP2 binds to NKRF, enhances the NF-κB signaling, and promotes malignant phenotypes of acute myeloid leukemia cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the hematological malignancies with a high recurrence rate. WW domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2 (WWP2) is identified as a pivotal regulator of tumor progression. This study aimed to assess the possible role of WWP2 in AML. Analysis of the GEPIA database indicated an elevated WWP2 expression in AML. We established stable WWP2-overexpressed or WWP2-silenced cells using lentivirus loaded with cDNA encoding WWP2 mRNA or shRNA targeting WWP2. Notably, WWP2 overexpression facilitated cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, which was manifested as the increase of colony formation number, S-phase percentage and cell cycle related protein levels. As observed, WWP2 knockdown presented opposite effects, leading to inhibition of tumorigenicity. Strikingly, WWP2 knockdown induced apoptosis, accompanied by upregulation of pro-apoptosis proteins cleaved caspase-9, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and downregulation of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2. Functionally, we further confirmed that WWP2 overexpression enhanced the NF-κB signaling and upregulated the levels of downstream genes, which may contribute to aggravating the development of AML. More importantly, by co-immunoprecipitation assay, we verified that WWP2 bound to NF-κB-repressing factor (NKRF) and promoted NKRF ubiquitylation. Dramatically, NKRF overexpression abolished the role of WWP2 in facilitating the process of AML. Overall, our observations confirm that WWP2 exerts a critical role in the tumorigenicity of AML, and NKRF is regarded as an essential factor in the WWP2-mediated AML progression. WWP2 may be proposed as a promising target of AML.

The role of WWP1 and WWP2 in bone/cartilage development and diseases

Bone and cartilage diseases are often associated with trauma and senescence, manifested as pain and limited mobility. The repair of bone and cartilage lesion by mesenchymal stem cells is regulated by various transcription factors. WW domain-containing protein 1 (WWP1) and WW domain-containing protein 2 (WWP2) are named for WW domain which recognizes PPXY (phono Ser Pro and Pro Arg) motifs of substrate. WWP1and WWP2 are prominent components of the homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl terminus (HECT) subfamily, a group of the ubiquitin ligase. Recently, some studies have found that WWP1 and WWP2 play an important role in the pathogenesis of bone and cartilage diseases and regulate the level and the transactivation of various transcription factors through ubiquitination. Therefore, this review summarizes the distribution and effects of WWP1 and WWP2 in the development of bone and cartilage, discusses the potential mechanism and therapeutic drugs in bone and cartilage diseases such as osteoarthritis, fracture, and osteoporosis.

Apigenin promotes cell death in NCI-H23 cells by upregulation of PTEN: potential involvement of the binding of apigenin with WWP2 protein

The tumour suppressor protein PTEN is often down-regulated in non-small cell lung cancer. A major protein promoting the lowering of the PTEN protein is WWP2. Polyphenols have been shown to promote the expression of tumour suppressor genes like PTEN. We carry out the study to check for the ability of apigenin to bind with the WWP2 protein using in-silico investigation comprising docking and simulation. We checked for the cytotoxic effect of apigenin upon the non-small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H23. We checked the PTEN expression status at the gene and protein levels. The expression levels of the apoptotic regulators BCL2, BAX and CASPASE3 genes along with the activity levels of the caspase-3 protein were checked. The ultrastructure of the cells was analysed. Our Autodock analysis showed that apigenin bound favourably with the WWP2 protein. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed that apigenin increased the parameters of RMSD, Rg and SASA when bound with the WWP2 protein. The protein-ligand complex had hydrogen bonding and majorly van der Wal's interactions. PCA analysis revealed greater fluctuations in the apigenin-bound state of the protein. The mutant form of the WWP2 revealed similar results in the presence of apigenin. Apigenin showed efficacy against the NCI-H23 cell line and promoted PTEN protein levels, lowered BCL2 gene expression and up-regulated BAX and CASPASE3 gene expression. Increased caspase-3 activity and ultra-structural analysis revealed the occurrence of apoptosis. Thus the binding of apigenin with WWP2 could promote PTEN protein levels and lead to apoptotic activity in NCI-H23 cells.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Network-based drug repurposing for HPV-associated cervical cancer

In women, cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer around the world with average cases of 604,000 and 342,000 deaths per year. Approximately 50% of high-grade CC are attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. Chances of CC in HPV-positive patients are 6 times more than HPV-negative patients which demands timely and effective treatment. Repurposing of drugs is considered a viable approach to drug discovery which makes use of existing drugs, thus potentially reducing the time and costs associated with de-novo drug discovery. In this study, we present an integrative drug repurposing framework based on a systems biology-enabled network medicine platform. First, we built an HPV-induced CC protein interaction network named HPV2C following the CC signatures defined by the omics dataset, obtained from GEO database. Second, the drug target interaction (DTI) data obtained from DrugBank, and related databases was used to model the DTI network followed by drug target network proximity analysis of HPV-host associated key targets and DTIs in the human protein interactome. This analysis identified 142 potential anti-HPV repurposable drugs to target HPV induced CC pathways. Third, as per the literature survey 51 of the predicted drugs are already used for CC and 33 of the remaining drugs have anti-viral activity. Gene set enrichment analysis of potential drugs in drug-gene signatures and in HPV-induced CC-specific transcriptomic data in human cell lines additionally validated the predictions. Finally, 13 drug combinations were found using a network based on overlapping exposure. To summarize, the study provides effective network-based technique to quickly identify suitable repurposable drugs and drug combinations that target HPV-associated CC.

NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligases: promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligase family plays a pivotal oncogenic role in a variety of malignancies via mediating ubiquitin dependent degradation processes. Moreover, aberrant expression of NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligases is often indicative of cancer progression and correlated with poor prognosis. In this review, we are going to address association of expression of NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligases with cancers, the signaling pathways and the molecular mechanisms by which the NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligases regulate oncogenesis and progression, and the therapies targeting the NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligases. This review provides the systematic and comprehensive summary of the latest research status of E3 ubiquitin ligases in the NEDD4 subfamily, and proposes that NEDD4 family E3 ubiquitin ligases are promising anti-cancer drug targets, aiming to provide research direction for clinical targeting of NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligase therapy.

WWP2 drives the progression of gastric cancer by facilitating the ubiquitination and degradation of LATS1 protein

BACKGROUND

Large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (LATS1), one of the predominant components of the Hippo pathway, has been characterized as a key player controlling the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells, including gastric cancer (GC) cells. However, the mechanism by which the functional stability of LATS1 is modulated has yet to be elucidated.

METHODS

Online prediction tools, immunohistochemistry and western blotting assays were used to explore the expression of WW domain-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase 2 (WWP2) in GC cells and tissues. Gain- and loss-of-function assays, as well as rescue experiments were performed to determine the role of the WWP2-LATS1 axis in cell proliferation and invasion. Additionally, the mechanisms involving WWP2 and LATS1 were assessed by coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP), immunofluorescence, cycloheximide and in vivo ubiquitination assays.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrate a specific interaction between LATS1 and WWP2. WWP2 was markedly upregulated and correlated with disease progression and a poor prognosis in GC patients. Moreover, ectopic WWP2 expression facilitated the proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells. Mechanistically, WWP2 interacts with LATS1, resulting in its ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, leading to increased transcriptional activity of YAP1. Importantly, LATS1 depletion abolished the suppressive effects of WWP2 knockdown on GC cells. Furthermore, WWP2 silencing attenuated tumor growth by regulating the Hippo-YAP1 pathway in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results define the WWP2-LATS1 axis as a critical regulatory mechanism of the Hippo-YAP1 pathway that promotes GC development and progression. Video Abstract.

Long-term effect of anesthesia choice on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing open liver resection

Clinical and experimental evidence suggested that anesthesia choice can influence cancer progression and patients' outcomes by modulating tumor microenvironment and tumorigenic pathways. Curative resection is the mainstay of therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is an intractable disease due to high recurrence and poor prognosis. However, different anesthetics may play different roles in alleviating surgery-induced stress response and inflammatory cytokines release that are considered to be closely associated with proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Propofol, sevoflurane, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and local anesthetics have shown to exert anti-tumor effect on HCC mainly through regulating microRNAs or signaling pathways, while other inhalational agents, dexmedetomidine and opioids have the potential to promote tumor growth. In terms of anesthetic methods and analgesia strategies, propofol based total intravenous anesthesia and thoracic epidural analgesia could be preferred for HCC patients undergoing open liver resection rather than inhalational anesthesia. Local anesthesia techniques have great potential to attenuate perioperative stress response, hence they may contribute to more favorable outcomes. This review summarized the relations between different anesthesia choices and HCC patients' long-term outcomes as well as their underlying mechanisms. Due to the complexity of molecules interactions and signaling pathways, further studies are warranted to confirm these results so as to optimize anesthesia strategy for HCC patients.

Etomidate elicits anti-tumor capacity by disrupting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading malignancy of the digestive system, especially in China. Although radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and transarterial chemoembolization have achieved tremendous success, surgical resection remains the primary treatment for HCC patients. Recent studies have shown that intravenous anesthetic drugs may affect the malignant behaviors of tumor cells, ultimately leading to differences in the postoperative prognosis of patients. Etomidate is one of the most widely used intravenous anesthetic drugs for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia in tumor patients undergoing surgery. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of etomidate on HCC cells have not yet been characterized. Our study indicated that etomidate significantly impedes the malignant progression of HCC cells. Mechanistically, etomidate inhibits phosphorylation and, ultimately, the activity of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) by competing with ATP for binding to the ATP-binding pocket of JAK2. Thus, it suppresses the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in HCC cells to exert its anti-tumor efficacy. Herein, we provide preclinical evidence that etomidate is the optimal choice for surgical treatment of HCC patients.

The role of E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 and the regulation of PARP1 by ubiquitinated degradation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been a huge threat for people's health and finding effective target therapy is urgent and important. WWP2, as one of E3 ubiquitin ligase, is involved in many biological processes by specifically binding to substrates. PARP1 plays a role in cell apoptosis and is considered as a therapeutic target of certain cancers. In this study, we firstly found that WWP2 expressed higher in newly diagnosed ALL patients comparing with complete remission (CR) ALL patients and normal control people, and WWP2 in relapse ALL patients expressed higher than normal control people. WWP2 expression was related with the FAB subtype of ALL and the proportion of blast cells in bone marrow blood tested by flow cytometry. We demonstrated knockout WWP2 inhibited the ALL growth and enhanced apoptosis induced by Dox in vitro and vivo for the first time. WWP2 negatively regulated and interacted with PARP1 and WWP2 mechanically degraded PARP1 through polyubiquitin-proteasome pathway in ALL. These findings suggested WWP2 played a role in ALL development as well as growth and apoptosis, and also displayed a regulatory pathway of PARP1, which provided a new potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ALL.