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Avraham M, Sinkovits G, Hurler L, Prohászka Z, Fishelson Z. Circulating mortalin in blood and activation of the alternative complement pathway as risk indicators in COVID-19 infection. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1337215. [PMID: 38715618 PMCID: PMC11074377 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1337215] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Mortalin/GRP75 is a ubiquitous mitochondrial chaperone related to the cytosolic heat shock protein 70. It protects cells from various types of damages and from senescence. Our goal was to determine whether COVID-19 patients have circulating mortalin in their blood and to assess its prognostic value in anticipating disease severity. Methods Mortalin was determined by ELISA in the sera of 83 COVID-19 patients enrolled in the study. Patients were categorized into 4 groups: critical patients who died (FATAL) or required intensive care and survived (ICU), patients of mild severity (hospitalized but not critical) who required nasal oxygen support (HOSP+O2), and patients who did not need oxygen therapy (HOSP). Results The mortalin concentration in the serum of all COVID-19 patients in the cohort was 194-2324 pg/mL. A comparison of the mortalin levels by peak severity among the various patient groups showed a highly significant difference between the HOSP and FATAL groups and a significant difference between the HOSP and the ICU groups. COVID-19 patients who eventually failed to survive had at hospitalization a markedly higher level of mortalin in their sera. Cox regression analysis revealed a high mortality hazard (HR=3.96, p<0.01) in patients with high mortalin circulating levels (above the median, ≥651 pg/mL). This was confirmed in survival curve analysis (Kaplan-Meier; p=0.0032, log-rank test). Mortalin remained an independent predictor of mortality even after adjusting for age and sex or various complement activation products. Complement activation data collected in an earlier study in the same cohort was compared regarding the mortalin levels. Patients with higher circulating mortalin levels also had higher levels of complement C3a but reduced levels of properdin. Discussion This is the first report on circulating mortalin in COVID-19 patients. Higher mortalin levels were associated with more severe illnesses and a higher risk of death. We claim that quantifying the blood levels of mortalin and activated complement proteins will provide important information on the prognosis of COVID-19 patients and will serve as a useful tool for guiding their clinical management and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Avraham
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - György Sinkovits
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology and Research Group for Immunology and Hematology, Semmelweis University - Eötvös Loránd Research Network (Office for Supported Research Groups), Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lisa Hurler
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology and Research Group for Immunology and Hematology, Semmelweis University - Eötvös Loránd Research Network (Office for Supported Research Groups), Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Prohászka
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology and Research Group for Immunology and Hematology, Semmelweis University - Eötvös Loránd Research Network (Office for Supported Research Groups), Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zvi Fishelson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Hydrogen peroxide initiates oxidative stress and proteomic alterations in meningothelial cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14519. [PMID: 36008468 PMCID: PMC9411503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18548-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningothelial cells (MECs) are fundamental cells of the sheaths covering the brain and optic nerve, where they build a brain/optic nerve-cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) barrier that prevents the free flow of CSF from the subarachnoid space, but their exact roles and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our attempt here was to investigate the influence elicited by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on functional changes of MECs. Our study showed that cell viability of MECs was inhibited after cells were exposed to oxidative agents. Cells subjected to H2O2 at the concentration of 150 µM for 24 h and 48 h exhibited an elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity, decrease of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) compared with control cells. 95 protein spots with more than twofold difference were detected in two dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) gels through proteomics assay following H2O2 exposure for 48 h, 10 proteins were identified through TOF/MS analysis. Among the proteomic changes explored, 8 proteins related to energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, structural regulation, and cell cycle control were downregulated. Our study provides key insights that enhance our understanding of the role of MECs in the pathology of brain and optic nerve disorders.
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Pourtavakoli A, Ghafouri-Fard S. Calcium signaling in neurodevelopment and pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:10811-10823. [PMID: 35857176 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07775-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) covers a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with complex genetic background. Several genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, copy number variations and single nucleotide polymorphisms have been reported that cause ASD or modify its phenotype. Among signaling pathways that influence pathogenesis of ASD, calcium signaling has a prominent effect. METHODS We searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases with key words "Calcium signaling" and "Autism spectrum disorder". CONCLUSION This type of signaling has essential roles in the cell physiology. Endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria are the key organelles involved in this signaling. It is vastly accepted that organellar disorders intensely influence the central nervous system (CNS). Several lines of evidence indicate alterations in the function of calcium channels in polygenic disorders affecting CNS. In the current review, we describe the role of calcium signaling in normal function of CNS and pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Pourtavakoli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Alberti G, Vergilio G, Paladino L, Barone R, Cappello F, Conway de Macario E, Macario AJL, Bucchieri F, Rappa F. The Chaperone System in Breast Cancer: Roles and Therapeutic Prospects of the Molecular Chaperones Hsp27, Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147792. [PMID: 35887137 PMCID: PMC9324353 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a major public health problem, with key pieces of information needed for developing preventive and curative measures still missing. For example, the participation of the chaperone system (CS) in carcinogenesis and anti-cancer responses is poorly understood, although it can be predicted to be a crucial factor in these mechanisms. The chief components of the CS are the molecular chaperones, and here we discuss four of them, Hsp27, Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90, focusing on their pro-carcinogenic roles in BC and potential for developing anti-BC therapies. These chaperones can be targets of negative chaperonotherapy, namely the elimination/blocking/inhibition of the chaperone(s) functioning in favor of BC, using, for instance, Hsp inhibitors. The chaperones can also be employed in immunotherapy against BC as adjuvants, together with BC antigens. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in BC diagnosis and management are also briefly discussed, considering their potential as easily accessible carriers of biomarkers and as shippers of anti-cancer agents amenable to manipulation and controlled delivery. The data surveyed from many laboratories reveal that, to enhance the understanding of the role of the CS in BS pathogenesis, one must consider the CS as a physiological system, encompassing diverse members throughout the body and interacting with the ubiquitin–proteasome system, the chaperone-mediated autophagy machinery, and the immune system (IS). An integrated view of the CS, including its functional partners and considering its highly dynamic nature with EVs transporting CS components to reach all the cell compartments in which they are needed, opens as yet unexplored pathways leading to carcinogenesis that are amenable to interference by anti-cancer treatments centered on CS components, such as the molecular chaperones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusi Alberti
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (G.V.); (R.B.); (F.C.); (F.B.); (F.R.)
| | - Giuseppe Vergilio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (G.V.); (R.B.); (F.C.); (F.B.); (F.R.)
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Letizia Paladino
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (G.V.); (R.B.); (F.C.); (F.B.); (F.R.)
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Rosario Barone
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (G.V.); (R.B.); (F.C.); (F.B.); (F.R.)
| | - Francesco Cappello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (G.V.); (R.B.); (F.C.); (F.B.); (F.R.)
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Everly Conway de Macario
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore-Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), Baltimore, MD 21202, USA;
| | - Alberto J. L. Macario
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore-Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), Baltimore, MD 21202, USA;
| | - Fabio Bucchieri
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (G.V.); (R.B.); (F.C.); (F.B.); (F.R.)
| | - Francesca Rappa
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (G.V.); (R.B.); (F.C.); (F.B.); (F.R.)
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Yoon AR, Wadhwa R, Kaul SC, Yun CO. Why is Mortalin a Potential Therapeutic Target for Cancer? Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:914540. [PMID: 35859897 PMCID: PMC9290191 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.914540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Therefore, cancer therapy is a priority research field to explore the biology of the disease and identify novel targets for the development of better treatment strategies. Mortalin is a member of the heat shock 70 kDa protein family. It is enriched in several types of cancer and contributes to carcinogenesis in various ways, including inactivation of the tumor suppressor p53, deregulation of apoptosis, induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and enhancement of cancer stemness. It has been studied extensively as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment, and several types of anti-mortalin molecules have been discovered that effectively suppress the tumor cell growth. In this review, we 1) provide a comprehensive sketch of the role of mortalin in tumor biology; 2) discuss various anti-mortalin molecules, including natural compounds, synthetic small molecules, peptides, antibodies, and nucleic acids, that have shown potential for cancer treatment in laboratory studies; and 3) provide future perspectives in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Rum Yoon
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Renu Wadhwa
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Sunil C Kaul
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Chae-Ok Yun
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- GeneMedicine CO, Ltd, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Chae-Ok Yun,
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Kabakov AE, Gabai VL. HSP70s in Breast Cancer: Promoters of Tumorigenesis and Potential Targets/Tools for Therapy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123446. [PMID: 34943954 PMCID: PMC8700403 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The high frequency of breast cancer worldwide and the high mortality among women with this malignancy are a serious challenge for modern medicine. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and emergence of metastatic, therapy-resistant breast cancers would help development of novel approaches to better treatment of this disease. The review is dedicated to the role of members of the heat shock protein 70 subfamily (HSP70s or HSPA), mainly inducible HSP70, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78 or HSPA5) and GRP75 (HSPA9 or mortalin), in the development and pathogenesis of breast cancer. Various HSP70-mediated cellular mechanisms and pathways which contribute to the oncogenic transformation of mammary gland epithelium are reviewed, as well as their role in the development of human breast carcinomas with invasive, metastatic traits along with the resistance to host immunity and conventional therapeutics. Additionally, intracellular and cell surface HSP70s are considered as potential targets for therapy or sensitization of breast cancer. We also discuss a clinical implication of Hsp70s and approaches to targeting breast cancer with gene vectors or nanoparticles downregulating HSP70s, natural or synthetic (small molecule) inhibitors of HSP70s, HSP70-binding antibodies, HSP70-derived peptides, and HSP70-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander E. Kabakov
- Department of Radiation Biochemistry, A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Center—Branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Koroleva 4, 249036 Obninsk, Russia;
| | - Vladimir L. Gabai
- CureLab Oncology Inc., Dedham, MA 02026, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-617-319-7314
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