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Shen Y, Li M, Liao L, Gao S, Wang Y. Plasma exosome-derived connexin43 as a promising biomarker for melanoma patients. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:242. [PMID: 36918803 PMCID: PMC10012581 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10705-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To examine the levels of exosome-derived connexin 43 (Cx43) in plasma and estimate its forecast value in patients with melanoma. METHODS We measured the plasma exosome-derived Cx43 levels in the plasma of 112 melanoma patients and 50 healthy controls. RESULTS The plasma exosome-derived Cx43 levels in patients with melanoma were substantially downregulated as opposed to the levels in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were poorer in patients with melanoma who exhibited lower levels of plasma exosome-derived Cx43 (both P < 0.001). The levels of plasma exosome-derived Cx43 were considerably elevated in patients with melanoma whose tumor was situated in the skin, tumor size < 10 cm, with Clark level I-III, TNM stages IIb-IV, and had no lymph node metastasis as opposed to patients whose tumor was situated in the viscera or mucosa, tumor size ≥ 10 cm, Clark level IV-V, TNM stages IIb-IV and had lymph node metastasis (all P < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of plasma exosome-derived Cx43 for forecasting 5-year DFS in patients with melanoma was 0.78 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70-0.86), with a specificity of 77.78% and a sensitivity of 81.55%. The ROC of plasma exosome-derived Cx43 for forecasting 5-year OS of patients with melanoma was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.68-0.84), with a specificity of 80.0% and sensitivity of 65.98%. CONCLUSION The overall findings indicated that the levels of plasma exosome-derived Cx43 in patients with melanoma were considerably downregulated. It can therefore be inferred that the levels of plasma exosome-derived Cx43 might be a prospective prognostic indicator for 5 5-year OS and 5-year DFS of patients with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Shen
- Department of Dermatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 242 Guangji Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215008, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Pathology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 242 Guangji Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215008, China
| | - Li Liao
- Department of Dermatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 242 Guangji Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215008, China
| | - Suyue Gao
- Department of Dermatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 242 Guangji Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215008, China
| | - Yongzhen Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 26 Daoqian Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215008, China.
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Oliveira MC, Verswyvel H, Smits E, Cordeiro RM, Bogaerts A, Lin A. The pro- and anti-tumoral properties of gap junctions in cancer and their role in therapeutic strategies. Redox Biol 2022; 57:102503. [PMID: 36228438 PMCID: PMC9557036 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gap junctions (GJs), essential structures for cell-cell communication, are made of two hemichannels (commonly called connexons), one on each adjacent cell. Found in almost all cells, GJs play a pivotal role in many physiological and cellular processes, and have even been linked to the progression of diseases, such as cancer. Modulation of GJs is under investigation as a therapeutic strategy to kill tumor cells. Furthermore, GJs have also been studied for their key role in activating anti-cancer immunity and propagating radiation- and oxidative stress-induced cell death to neighboring cells, a process known as the bystander effect. While, gap junction (GJ)-based therapeutic strategies are being developed, one major challenge has been the paradoxical role of GJs in both tumor progression and suppression, based on GJ composition, cancer factors, and tumoral context. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of action, regulation, and the dual characteristics of GJs in cancer is critical for developing effective therapeutics. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of GJs structure, function, and paradoxical pro- and anti-tumoral role in cancer. We also discuss the treatment strategies to target these GJs properties for anti-cancer responses, via modulation of GJ function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Oliveira
- Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine-Antwerp (PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados 5001, CEP 09210-580, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
| | - Hanne Verswyvel
- Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine-Antwerp (PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Evelien Smits
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rodrigo M Cordeiro
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados 5001, CEP 09210-580, Santo André, SP, Brazil
| | - Annemie Bogaerts
- Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine-Antwerp (PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Abraham Lin
- Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine-Antwerp (PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Antwerp, Belgium
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Takemoto JY, Altenberg GA, Poudyal N, Subedi YP, Chang CWT. Amphiphilic aminoglycosides: Modifications that revive old natural product antibiotics. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1000199. [PMID: 36212866 PMCID: PMC9537547 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1000199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Widely-used Streptomyces-derived antibacterial aminoglycosides have encountered challenges because of antibiotic resistance and toxicity. Today, they are largely relegated to medicinal topical applications. However, chemical modification to amphiphilic aminoglycosides can revive their efficacy against bacterial pathogens and expand their targets to other pathogenic microbes and disorders associated with hyperactive connexin hemichannels. For example, amphiphilic versions of neomycin and neamine are not subject to resistance and have expanded antibacterial spectra, and amphiphilic kanamycins are effective antifungals and have promising therapeutic uses as connexin hemichannel inhibitors. With further research and discoveries aimed at improved formulations and delivery, amphiphilic aminoglycosides may achieve new horizons in pharmacopeia and agriculture for Streptomyces aminoglycosides beyond just serving as topical antibacterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Y. Takemoto
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Guillermo A. Altenberg
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Center for Membrane Protein Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Naveena Poudyal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Yagya P. Subedi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Cheng-Wei T. Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- *Correspondence: Cheng-Wei T. Chang,
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