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Li X, Kong L, Pan J, Liu H, Wang C, Xu S, Liu W, Sun J. N-acetylcysteine protects against neurodevelopmental injuries induced by methylmercury exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Brain Res 2024; 1827:148761. [PMID: 38211826 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148761] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
As an extremely dangerous environmental contaminant, methylmercury (MeHg) results in detrimental health effects in human brain nervous system, one of its main targets. However, as a developmental toxicant, the brain of offspring is vulnerable to MeHg during pregnancy and lactation exposure. Unfortunately, mechanisms of neurodevelopmental injuries induced by MeHg have not been fully elucidated. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been used for several decades as an antioxidant to antagonize oxidative stress. However, the molecular mechanisms of NAC alleviating MeHg-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity are not clear. Here, for evaluation of the dose-dependent effects of MeHg exposure on neurodevelopmental injuries of offspring, and the possible protective effects of NAC, the pregnant female mice were exposed to MeHg (4, 8, 12 mg/L, respectively) and NAC (50, 100, 150 mg/kg, respectively) from gestational day 1 (GD1) to postnatal day 21 (PND21). Our results indicated that administering MeHg caused behavioral impairment and neuronal injuries in the cerebral cortex of newborn mice. MeHg dose-dependently caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and oxidative stress aggravation, together with expression of Nrf2, HO-1, Notch1, and p21 up-regulation, and CDK2 inhibition. NAC treatment dose-dependently antagonized MeHg-induced oxidative stress that may contribute to alleviating neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental impairments. These results give insight into that NAC can protect against MeHg-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity by its antioxidation capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Li
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Lingxu Kong
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Jingjing Pan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Haihui Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Si Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Jingyi Sun
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, PR China.
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2
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Jiang J, Dong X, Liu J, Liu T, Chen X, Bian X, Li M, Liu Y. TRIM67 Promotes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Development by Positively Regulating the Notch Pathway through DLK1 Ubiquitination. J Cancer 2024; 15:1870-1879. [PMID: 38434968 PMCID: PMC10905413 DOI: 10.7150/jca.92723] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tripartite motif-containing 67 (TRIM67), a member of the TRIM protein family, is an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Our previous study revealed a relationship between TRIM67 expression and carcinogenesis, showing that TRIM67 expression is linked to p-TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, tumour size, cancer cell differentiation, and poor prognosis. Additionally, TRIM67 immunostaining results were associated with clinicopathological features. TRIM67 activated the Notch pathway in a favourable manner to enhance cell invasion, migration, and proliferation. Atypical ligand delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (DLK1) inhibits the function of the Notch1 receptor, which in turn prevents activation of the Notch pathway. In addition, we investigated the mechanism by which TRIM67 influences the Notch pathway. We found that TRIM67 altered the behaviour of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by ubiquitinating DLK1 via its RING domain, which in turn activates the Notch pathway. Taken together, these findings indicate that TRIM67 may be involved in promoting the growth of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yafang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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3
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Mai N, Abuhadra N, Jhaveri K. Molecularly Targeted Therapies for Triple Negative Breast Cancer: History, Advances, and Future Directions. Clin Breast Cancer 2023; 23:784-799. [PMID: 37336650 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2023.05.012] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains the subtype with poorest prognosis. Despite the subtype's heterogeneity, there is still a paucity in effective targeted therapeutics that offer both good efficacy and tolerability, and chemotherapy remains the backbone of modern TNBC therapy. In the past few years, immunotherapy as well as novel therapeutic modalities like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have shown clinical benefit and have been FDA approved in various clinical stages of unselected TNBC. However, there has not been similar advancement in molecularly targeted therapies, especially when compared to advancements seen in hormone receptor (HR)-positive or HER2-positive breast cancer. PARP inhibitors have been approved for BRCA-mutated TNBC, but responses are short-lived, and resistance remains a barrier for current treatment. PI3K pathway inhibitors approved in HR+ breast cancer has not worked for TNBC and continue to have significant dose-limiting adverse effects. EGFR inhibition has been thoroughly explored in TNBC, but all trials so far have shown minimal efficacy. Nevertheless, despite these setbacks, current research in targeted therapy for TNBC holds great promise in overcoming the barriers of the past and developing novel therapeutic approaches for the future. In this review, we describe molecular targets both identified and validated in the treatment of TNBC, discuss the historical efforts towards development of targeted agents and current areas of improvement, and address promising advances that have the potential to improve outcomes in this heterogenous and aggressive breast cancer subtype. Immunotherapy, ADCs, and AR targeting will be discussed in separate reviews of this edition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Mai
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Nour Abuhadra
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Komal Jhaveri
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
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4
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Almendarez-Reyna CI, de la Trinidad Chacón CG, Ochoa-Martínez ÁC, Rico-Guerrero LA, Pérez-Maldonado IN. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation mediates benzo(a)pyrene-induced overexpression of AQP3 and Notch1 in HaCaT cells. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2023; 64:466-472. [PMID: 37984337 DOI: 10.1002/em.22580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was twofold: (1) evaluate the effect of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on expression levels of AQP3 and Notch1 genes in HaCaT cells exposed "in vitro" and (2) investigate the possible biological role of assessed genes by bioinformatics methods. Cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of BaP (0.0-4.0 μM) for 1-4 days. After treatments, cell viability and expression levels of AhR, CYP1A1, AQP3, and Notch1 genes were evaluated. The possible biological role of assessed genes was evaluated using bioinformatics tools. Low cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells dosed with BaP was detected. A significant overexpression (p < .05) of CYP1A1, AQP3, and Notch1 was found in exposed HaCaT cells. The gene expression upregulation was dependent on AhR activation. The bioinformatics analysis showed that these genes were enriched in related cancer signaling pathways. The findings suggest that AQP3 and Notch1 are upregulated by AhR activation in HaCaT cells exposed to BaP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia I Almendarez-Reyna
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Molecular, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACYT), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Carlos Gabriel de la Trinidad Chacón
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Molecular, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACYT), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Ángeles C Ochoa-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Molecular, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACYT), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Luis A Rico-Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Molecular, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACYT), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Iván N Pérez-Maldonado
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Molecular, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACYT), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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Pelullo M, Zema S, De Carolis M, Cialfi S, Giuli MV, Palermo R, Capalbo C, Giannini G, Screpanti I, Checquolo S, Bellavia D. 5FU/Oxaliplatin-Induced Jagged1 Cleavage Counteracts Apoptosis Induction in Colorectal Cancer: A Novel Mechanism of Intrinsic Drug Resistance. Front Oncol 2022; 12:918763. [PMID: 35847908 PMCID: PMC9283835 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.918763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by early metastasis, resistance to anti-cancer therapy, and high mortality rate. Despite considerable progress in the development of new treatment options that improved survival benefits in patients with early-stage or advanced CRC, many patients relapse due to the activation of intrinsic or acquired chemoresistance mechanisms. Recently, we reported novel findings about the role of Jagged1 in CRC tumors with Kras signatures. We showed that Jagged1 is a novel proteolytic target of Kras signaling, which induces Jagged1 processing/activation resulting in Jag1-ICD release, which favors tumor development in vivo, through a non-canonical mechanism. Herein, we demonstrate that OXP and 5FU cause a strong accumulation of Jag1-ICD oncogene, through ERK1/2 activation, unveiling a surviving subpopulation with an enforced Jag1-ICD expression, presenting the ability to counteract OXP/5FU-induced apoptosis. Remarkably, we also clarify the clinical ineffectiveness of γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) in metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients. Indeed, we show that GSI compounds trigger Jag1-ICD release, which promotes cellular growth and EMT processes, functioning as tumor-promoting agents in CRC cells overexpressing Jagged1. We finally demonstrate that Jagged1 silencing in OXP- or 5FU-resistant subpopulations is enough to restore the sensitivity to chemotherapy, confirming that drug sensitivity/resistance is Jag1-ICD-dependent, suggesting Jagged1 as a molecular predictive marker for the outcome of chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pelullo
- CLN2S - Center for Life Nano- & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Zema
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela De Carolis
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Samantha Cialfi
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Valeria Giuli
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Capalbo
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
- *Correspondence: Saula Checquolo, ; Diana Bellavia,
| | - Diana Bellavia
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Saula Checquolo, ; Diana Bellavia,
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6
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Mechanisms of oxidative stress in methylmercury-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity. Neurotoxicology 2021; 85:33-46. [PMID: 33964343 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a long-lasting organic environmental pollutant that poses a great threat to human health. Ingestion of seafood containing MeHg is the most important way by which it comes into contact with human body, where the central nervous system (CNS) is the primary target of MeHg toxicity. During periods of pre-plus postnatal, in particular, the brain of offspring is vulnerable to specific developmental insults that result in abnormal neurobehavioral development, even without symptoms in mothers. While many studies on neurotoxic effects of MeHg on the developing brain have been conducted, the mechanisms of oxidative stress in MeHg-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity is less clear. Hitherto, no single process can explain the many effects observed in MeHg-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity. This review summarizes the possible mechanisms of oxidative stress in MeHg-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity, highlighting modulation of Nrf2/Keap1/Notch1, PI3K/AKT, and PKC/MAPK molecular pathways as well as some preventive drugs, and thus contributes to the discovery of endogenous and exogenous molecules that can counteract MeHg-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity.
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7
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De Blasio C, Verma N, Moretti M, Cialfi S, Zonfrilli A, Franchitto M, Truglio F, De Smaele E, Ichijo H, Naguro I, Screpanti I, Talora C. Functional cooperation between ASK1 and p21 Waf1/Cip1 in the balance of cell-cycle arrest, cell death and tumorigenesis of stressed keratinocytes. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:75. [PMID: 33846306 PMCID: PMC8042117 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00459-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Both CDKN1A (p21 Waf1/Cip1) and Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) play important roles in tumorigenesis. The role of p21 Waf1/Cip1 in attenuating ASK1-induced apoptosis by various stress conditions is well established. However, how ASK1 and p21 Waf1/Cip1 functionally interact during tumorigenesis is still unclear. To address this aspect, we crossed ASK1 knockout (ASK1KO) mice with p21 Waf1/Cip1 knockout (p21KO) mice to compare single and double-mutant mice. We observed that deletion of p21 Waf1/Cip1 leads to increased keratinocyte proliferation but also increased cell death. This is mechanistically linked to the ASK1 axis-induced apoptosis, including p38 and PARP. Indeed, deletion of ASK1 does not alter the proliferation but decreases the apoptosis of p21KO keratinocytes. To analyze as this interaction might affect skin carcinogenesis, we investigated the response of ASK1KO and p21KO mice to DMBA/TPA-induced tumorigenesis. Here we show that while endogenous ASK1 is dispensable for skin homeostasis, ASK1KO mice are resistant to DMBA/TPA-induced tumorigenesis. However, we found that epidermis lacking both p21 and ASK1 reacquires increased sensitivity to DMBA/TPA-induced tumorigenesis. We demonstrate that apoptosis and cell-cycle progression in p21KO keratinocytes are uncoupled in the absence of ASK1. These data support the model that a critical event ensuring the balance between cell death, cell-cycle arrest, and successful divisions in keratinocytes during stress conditions is the p21-dependent ASK1 inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo De Blasio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy.,IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, INSERM U1194, Université de Montpellier, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Nagendra Verma
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Marta Moretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Samantha Cialfi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Azzurra Zonfrilli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Matteo Franchitto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Federica Truglio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Hidenori Ichijo
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Isao Naguro
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy.
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Pelullo M, Savi D, Quattrucci S, Cimino G, Pizzuti A, Screpanti I, Talora C, Cialfi S. miR-125b/NRF2/HO-1 axis is involved in protection against oxidative stress of cystic fibrosis: A pilot study. Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:585. [PMID: 33850557 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the physiopathology of cystic fibrosis (CF), oxidative stress implications are recognized and widely accepted. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) defects disrupt the intracellular redox balance causing CF pathological hallmarks. Therefore, oxidative stress together with aberrant expression levels of detoxification genes and microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) may be associated with clinical outcome. Using total RNA extracted from epithelial nasal cells, the present study analyzed the expression levels of oxidative stress genes and one miRNA using quantitative PCR in a representative number of patients with CF compared with in healthy individuals. The present pilot study revealed the existence of an association among CFTR, genes involved in the oxidative stress response and miR-125b. The observed downregulation of CFTR gene expression was accompanied by increased expression levels of Nuclear factor erythroid derived-2 like2 and its targets NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase and glutathione S-transferase 1. Moreover, the expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and miR-125b were positively correlated with a forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) >60% in patients with CF with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection (r=0.74; P<0.001 and r=0.57; P<0.001, respectively). The present study revealed the activation of an inducible, but not fully functional, oxidative stress response to protect airway cells against reactive oxygen species-dependent injury in CF disease. Additionally, the correlations of HO-1 and miR-125b expression with an improved FEV1 value suggested that these factors may synergistically protect the airway cells from oxidative stress damage, inflammation and apoptosis. Furthermore, HO-1 and miR-125b may be used as prognostic markers explaining the wide CF phenotypic variability as an additional control level over the CFTR gene mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pelullo
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Savi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Quattrucci
- Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cimino
- Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Pizzuti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Samantha Cialfi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00161 Rome, Italy
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9
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Zema S, Pelullo M, Nardozza F, Felli MP, Screpanti I, Bellavia D. A Dynamic Role of Mastermind-Like 1: A Journey Through the Main (Path)ways Between Development and Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:613557. [PMID: 33425921 PMCID: PMC7787167 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.613557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Major signaling pathways, such as Notch, Hedgehog (Hh), Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo, are targeted by a plethora of physiological and pathological stimuli, ultimately resulting in the modulation of genes that act coordinately to establish specific biological processes. Many biological programs are strictly controlled by the assembly of multiprotein complexes into the nucleus, where a regulated recruitment of specific transcription factors and coactivators on gene promoter region leads to different transcriptional outcomes. MAML1 results to be a versatile coactivator, able to set up synergistic interlinking with pivotal signaling cascades and able to coordinate the network of cross-talking pathways. Accordingly, despite its original identification as a component of the Notch signaling pathway, several recent reports suggest a more articulated role for MAML1 protein, showing that it is able to sustain/empower Wnt/β-catenin, Hh and Hippo pathways, in a Notch-independent manner. For this reason, MAML1 may be associated to a molecular “switch”, with the function to control the activation of major signaling pathways, triggering in this way critical biological processes during embryonic and post-natal life. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the pleiotropic role played by MAML proteins, in particular MAML1, and we recapitulate how it takes part actively in physiological and pathological signaling networks. On this point, we also discuss the contribution of MAML proteins to malignant transformation. Accordingly, genetic alterations or impaired expression of MAML proteins may lead to a deregulated crosstalk among the pathways, culminating in a series of pathological disorders, including cancer development. Given their central role, a better knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the interplay of MAML proteins with several signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis may open up novel opportunities for an attractive molecular targeted anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Zema
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
| | - Maria Pelullo
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Diana Bellavia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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10
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Giuli MV, Diluvio G, Giuliani E, Franciosa G, Di Magno L, Pignataro MG, Tottone L, Nicoletti C, Besharat ZM, Peruzzi G, Pelullo M, Palermo R, Canettieri G, Talora C, d'Amati G, Bellavia D, Screpanti I, Checquolo S. Notch3 contributes to T-cell leukemia growth via regulation of the unfolded protein response. Oncogenesis 2020; 9:93. [PMID: 33071287 PMCID: PMC7569087 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-020-00279-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Unfolded protein response (UPR) is a conserved adaptive response that tries to restore protein homeostasis after endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Recent studies highlighted the role of UPR in acute leukemias and UPR targeting has been suggested as a therapeutic approach. Aberrant Notch signaling is a common feature of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), as downregulation of Notch activity negatively affects T-ALL cell survival, leading to the employment of Notch inhibitors in T-ALL therapy. Here we demonstrate that Notch3 is able to sustain UPR in T-ALL cells, as Notch3 silencing favored a Bip-dependent IRE1α inactivation under ER stress conditions, leading to increased apoptosis via upregulation of the ER stress cell death mediator CHOP. By using Juglone, a naturally occurring naphthoquinone acting as an anticancer agent, to decrease Notch3 expression and induce ER stress, we observed an increased ER stress-associated apoptosis. Altogether our results suggest that Notch3 inhibition may prevent leukemia cells from engaging a functional UPR needed to compensate the Juglone-mediated ER proteotoxic stress. Notably, in vivo administration of Juglone to human T-ALL xenotransplant models significantly reduced tumor growth, finally fostering the exploitation of Juglone-dependent Notch3 inhibition to perturb the ER stress/UPR signaling in Notch3-dependent T-ALL subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Valeria Giuli
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Diluvio
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Eugenia Giuliani
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Franciosa
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenaghen, Copenaghen, Denmark
| | - Laura Di Magno
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Gemma Pignataro
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Tottone
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Zein Mersini Besharat
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pelullo
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Canettieri
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Talora
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia d'Amati
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Diana Bellavia
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy.
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11
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Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells: The Prospect of Human Clinical Translation. Stem Cells Int 2020; 2020:8837654. [PMID: 33953753 PMCID: PMC8063852 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8837654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) are key players in regenerative medicine, relying principally on their differentiation/regeneration potential, immunomodulatory properties, paracrine effects, and potent homing ability with minimal if any ethical concerns. Even though multiple preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated remarkable properties for MSCs, the clinical applicability of MSC-based therapies is still questionable. Several challenges exist that critically hinder a successful clinical translation of MSC-based therapies, including but not limited to heterogeneity of their populations, variability in their quality and quantity, donor-related factors, discrepancies in protocols for isolation, in vitro expansion and premodification, and variability in methods of cell delivery, dosing, and cell homing. Alterations of MSC viability, proliferation, properties, and/or function are also affected by various drugs and chemicals. Moreover, significant safety concerns exist due to possible teratogenic/neoplastic potential and transmission of infectious diseases. Through the current review, we aim to highlight the major challenges facing MSCs' human clinical translation and shed light on the undergoing strategies to overcome them.
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12
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Gatti V, Bernassola F, Talora C, Melino G, Peschiaroli A. The Impact of the Ubiquitin System in the Pathogenesis of Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061595. [PMID: 32560247 PMCID: PMC7352818 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin system is a dynamic regulatory pathway controlling the activity, subcellular localization and stability of a myriad of cellular proteins, which in turn affects cellular homeostasis through the regulation of a variety of signaling cascades. Aberrant activity of key components of the ubiquitin system has been functionally linked with numerous human diseases including the initiation and progression of human tumors. In this review, we will contextualize the importance of the two main components of the ubiquitin system, the E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), in the etiology of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). We will discuss the signaling pathways regulated by these enzymes, emphasizing the genetic and molecular determinants underlying their deregulation in SCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Gatti
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesca Bernassola
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Angelo Peschiaroli
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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13
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Di Sano C, D'Anna C, Ferraro M, Chiappara G, Sangiorgi C, Di Vincenzo S, Bertani A, Vitulo P, Bruno A, Dino P, Pace E. Impaired activation of Notch-1 signaling hinders repair processes of bronchial epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke. Toxicol Lett 2020; 326:61-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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14
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Jiang J, Ren H, Xu Y, Wudu M, Wang Q, Liu Z, Su H, Jiang X, Zhang Y, Zhang B, Qiu X. TRIM67 Promotes the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer by Positively Regulating the Notch Pathway. J Cancer 2020; 11:1240-1249. [PMID: 31956370 PMCID: PMC6959058 DOI: 10.7150/jca.38286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tripartite motif-containing 67 (TRIM67), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, belongs to the TRIM protein family. The relationship between TRIM67 and tumorigenesis is not fully clear. Here, we elucidated TRIM67 function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TRIM67 immunostaining results were correlated with clinicopathological features. Moreover, the function of TRIM67 in cultured NSCLC cells was evaluated by MTT, colony formation, and Transwell assays. TRIM67 expression was associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, p-TNM stage, cancer cell differentiation, and poor prognosis. We altered TRIM67 expression in A549 and H1299 cell lines, and the results showed that TRIM67 promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT by positively regulating the Notch pathway. Collectively, the results showed that TRIM67 promotes NSCLC progression through the Notch pathway and that TRIM67 expression is associated with clinicopathological features, indicating that TRIM67 may play an important role in promoting the development of NSCLC and could be applied as not only an important prognostic biomarker but also a therapeutic target in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jiang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hongjiu Ren
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yitong Xu
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Muli Wudu
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiongzi Wang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zongang Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao St., Heping District, Shenyang, China
| | - Hongbo Su
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xizi Jiang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xueshan Qiu
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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15
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De Blasio C, Zonfrilli A, Franchitto M, Mariano G, Cialfi S, Verma N, Checquolo S, Bellavia D, Palermo R, Benelli D, Screpanti I, Talora C. PLK1 targets NOTCH1 during DNA damage and mitotic progression. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:17941-17950. [PMID: 31597699 PMCID: PMC6879332 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.009881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling plays a complex role in carcinogenesis, and its signaling pathway has both tumor suppressor and oncogenic components. To identify regulators that might control this dual activity of NOTCH1, we screened a chemical library targeting kinases and identified Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) as one of the kinases involved in arsenite-induced NOTCH1 down-modulation. As PLK1 activity drives mitotic entry but also is inhibited after DNA damage, we investigated the PLK1-NOTCH1 interplay in the G2 phase of the cell cycle and in response to DNA damage. Here, we found that PLK1 regulates NOTCH1 expression at G2/M transition. However, when cells in G2 phase are challenged with DNA damage, PLK1 is inhibited to prevent entry into mitosis. Interestingly, we found that the interaction between NOTCH1 and PLK1 is functionally important during the DNA damage response, as we found that whereas PLK1 activity is inhibited, NOTCH1 expression is maintained during DNA damage response. During genotoxic stress, cellular transformation requires that promitotic activity must override DNA damage checkpoint signaling to drive proliferation. Interestingly, we found that arsenite-induced genotoxic stress causes a PLK1-dependent signaling response that antagonizes the involvement of NOTCH1 in the DNA damage checkpoint. Taken together, our data provide evidence that Notch signaling is altered but not abolished in SCC cells. Thus, it is also important to recognize that Notch plasticity might be modulated and could represent a key determinant to switch on/off either the oncogenic or tumor suppressor function of Notch signaling in a single type of tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo De Blasio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Azzurra Zonfrilli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Center of Life Nano Science Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Franchitto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Germano Mariano
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Samantha Cialfi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Nagendra Verma
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Diana Bellavia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Benelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
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16
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Pelullo M, Nardozza F, Zema S, Quaranta R, Nicoletti C, Besharat ZM, Felli MP, Cerbelli B, d'Amati G, Palermo R, Capalbo C, Talora C, Di Marcotullio L, Giannini G, Checquolo S, Screpanti I, Bellavia D. Kras/ADAM17-Dependent Jag1-ICD Reverse Signaling Sustains Colorectal Cancer Progression and Chemoresistance. Cancer Res 2019; 79:5575-5586. [PMID: 31506332 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is characterized by well-known genetic defects and approximately 50% of cases harbor oncogenic Ras mutations. Increased expression of Notch ligand Jagged1 occurs in several human malignancies, including colorectal cancer, and correlates with cancer progression, poor prognosis, and recurrence. Herein, we demonstrated that Jagged1 was constitutively processed in colorectal cancer tumors with mutant Kras, which ultimately triggered intrinsic reverse signaling via its nuclear-targeted intracellular domain Jag1-ICD. This process occurred when Kras/Erk/ADAM17 signaling was switched on, demonstrating that Jagged1 is a novel target of the Kras signaling pathway. Notably, Jag1-ICD promoted tumor growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, enhancing colorectal cancer progression and chemoresistance both in vitro and in vivo. These data highlight a novel role for Jagged1 in colorectal cancer tumor biology that may go beyond its effect on canonical Notch activation and suggest that Jag1-ICD may behave as an oncogenic driver that is able to sustain tumor pathogenesis and to confer chemoresistance through a noncanonical mechanism. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings present a novel role of the transcriptionally active Jag1-ICD fragment to confer and mediate some of the activity of oncogenic KRAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pelullo
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sabrina Zema
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Quaranta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruna Cerbelli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia d'Amati
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Capalbo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Di Marcotullio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Italy
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy.
| | | | - Diana Bellavia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
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17
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Pelullo M, Zema S, Nardozza F, Checquolo S, Screpanti I, Bellavia D. Wnt, Notch, and TGF-β Pathways Impinge on Hedgehog Signaling Complexity: An Open Window on Cancer. Front Genet 2019; 10:711. [PMID: 31552081 PMCID: PMC6736567 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Constitutive activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is associated with increased risk of developing several malignancies. The biological and pathogenic importance of Hh signaling emphasizes the need to control its action tightly, both physiologically and therapeutically. Evidence of crosstalk between Hh and other signaling pathways is reported in many tumor types. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about the communication between Hh and major signaling pathways, such as Notch, Wnt, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), which play critical roles in both embryonic and adult life. When these pathways are unbalanced, impaired crosstalk contributes to disease development. It is reported that more than one of these pathways are active in different type of tumors, at the same time. Therefore, starting from a plethora of stimuli that activate multiple signaling pathways, we describe the signals that preferentially converge on the Hh signaling cascade that influence its activity. Moreover, we highlight several connection points between Hh and Notch, Wnt, or TGF-β pathways, showing a reciprocal synergism that contributes to tumorigenesis, supporting a more malignant behavior by tumor cells, such as in leukemia and brain tumors. Understanding the importance of these molecular interlinking networks will provide a rational basis for combined anticancer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pelullo
- Center of Life Nano Science Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Zema
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
| | | | - Diana Bellavia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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18
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Notch Signaling Activation as a Hallmark for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Subtype. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:8707053. [PMID: 31379945 PMCID: PMC6657611 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8707053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subgroup of 15%-20% of diagnosed breast cancer patients. It is generally considered to be the most difficult breast cancer subtype to deal with, due to the lack of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which usually direct targeted therapies. In this scenario, the current treatments of TNBC-affected patients rely on tumor excision and conventional chemotherapy. As a result, the prognosis is overall poor. Thus, the identification and characterization of targets for novel therapies are urgently required. The Notch signaling pathway has emerged to act in the pathogenesis and tumor progression of TNBCs. Firstly, Notch receptors are associated with the regulation of tumor-initiating cells (TICs) behavior, as well as with the aetiology of TNBCs. Secondly, there is a strong evidence that Notch pathway is a relevant player in mammary cancer stem cells maintenance and expansion. Finally, Notch receptors expression and activation strongly correlate with the aggressive clinicopathological and biological phenotypes of breast cancer (e.g., invasiveness and chemoresistance), which are relevant characteristics of TNBC subtype. The purpose of this up-to-date review is to provide a detailed overview of the specific role of all four Notch receptors (Notch1, Notch2, Notch3, and Notch4) in TNBCs, thus identifying the Notch signaling pathway deregulation/activation as a pathognomonic feature of this breast cancer subtype. Furthermore, this review will also discuss recent information associated with different therapeutic options related to the four Notch receptors, which may be useful to evaluate prognostic or predictive indicators as well as to develop new therapies aimed at improving the clinical outcome of TNBC patients.
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19
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In vivo and in vitro inhibition of osteosarcoma growth by the pan Bcl-2 inhibitor AT-101. Invest New Drugs 2019; 38:675-689. [DOI: 10.1007/s10637-019-00827-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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20
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Pang S, Yang J, Zhao Y, Li Y, Wang J. Computational prediction and functional analysis of arsenic-binding proteins in human cells. QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40484-019-0169-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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21
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Tottone L, Zhdanovskaya N, Carmona Pestaña Á, Zampieri M, Simeoni F, Lazzari S, Ruocco V, Pelullo M, Caiafa P, Felli MP, Checquolo S, Bellavia D, Talora C, Screpanti I, Palermo R. Histone Modifications Drive Aberrant Notch3 Expression/Activity and Growth in T-ALL. Front Oncol 2019; 9:198. [PMID: 31001470 PMCID: PMC6456714 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive blood cancer caused by the deregulation of key T-cell developmental pathways, including Notch signaling. Aberrant Notch signaling in T-ALL occurs by NOTCH1 gain-of-function mutations and by NOTCH3 overexpression. Although NOTCH3 is assumed as a Notch1 target, machinery driving its transcription in T-ALL is undefined in leukemia subsets lacking Notch1 activation. Here, we found that the binding of the intracellular Notch3 domain, as well as of the activated Notch1 fragment, to the NOTCH3 gene locus led to the recruitment of the H3K27 modifiers JMJD3 and p300, and it was required to preserve transcriptional permissive/active H3K27 marks and to sustain NOTCH3 gene expression levels. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of JMJD3 by GSKJ4 treatment or of p300 by A-485 decreased the levels of expression of NOTCH3, NOTCH1 and of the Notch target genes DELTEX1 and c-Myc and abrogated cell viability in both Notch1- and Notch3-dependent T-cell contexts. Notably, re-introduction of exogenous Notch1, Notch3 as well as c-Myc partially rescued cells from anti-growth effects induced by either treatment. Overall our findings indicate JMJD3 and p300 as general Notch1 and Notch3 signaling co-activators in T-ALL and suggest further investigation on the potential therapeutic anti-leukemic efficacy of their enzymatic inhibition in Notch/c-Myc axis-related cancers and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Tottone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Michele Zampieri
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Simeoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Lazzari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Ruocco
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pelullo
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Caiafa
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Diana Bellavia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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22
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Yang Y, Zeng B, Sun Z, Esfahani AM, Hou J, Jiao ND, Liu L, Chen L, Basson MD, Dong L, Yang R, Xi N. Optimization of Protein-Protein Interaction Measurements for Drug Discovery Using AFM Force Spectroscopy. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NANOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 18:509-517. [PMID: 32051682 PMCID: PMC7015265 DOI: 10.1109/tnano.2019.2915507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Increasingly targeted in drug discovery, protein-protein interactions challenge current high throughput screening technologies in the pharmaceutical industry. Developing an effective and efficient method for screening small molecules or compounds is critical to accelerate the discovery of ligands for enzymes, receptors and other pharmaceutical targets. Here, we report developments of methods to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for screening protein-protein interactions using atomic force microscopy (AFM) force spectroscopy. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of these developments on detecting the binding process between focal adhesion kinases (FAK) with protein kinase B (Akt1), which is a target for potential cancer drugs. These developments include optimized probe and substrate functionalization processes and redesigned probe-substrate contact regimes. Furthermore, a statistical-based data processing method was developed to enhance the contrast of the experimental data. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of the AFM force spectroscopy in automating drug screening with high throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongliang Yang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Bixi Zeng
- Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Zhiyong Sun
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Amir Monemian Esfahani
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588 USA
| | - Jing Hou
- School of Information and Control Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
| | - Nian-Dong Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110006, China
| | - Lianqing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110006, China
| | - Liangliang Chen
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Marc D Basson
- Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Lixin Dong
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Ruiguo Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588 USA
| | - Ning Xi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
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23
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Ficociello G, Zonfrilli A, Cialfi S, Talora C, Uccelletti D. Yeast-Based Screen to Identify Natural Compounds with a Potential Therapeutic Effect in Hailey-Hailey Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061814. [PMID: 29925776 PMCID: PMC6032253 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The term orthodisease defines human disorders in which the pathogenic gene has orthologs in model organism genomes. Yeasts have been instrumental for gaining insights into the molecular basis of many human disorders, particularly those resulting from impaired cellular metabolism. We and others have used yeasts as a model system to study the molecular basis of Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD), a human blistering skin disorder caused by haploinsufficiency of the gene ATP2C1 the orthologous of the yeast gene PMR1. We observed that K. lactis cells defective for PMR1 gene share several biological similarities with HHD derived keratinocytes. Based on the conservation of ATP2C1/PMR1 function from yeast to human, here we used a yeast-based assay to screen for molecules able to influence the pleiotropy associated with PMR1 deletion. We identified six compounds, Kaempferol, Indirubin, Lappaconite, Cyclocytidine, Azomycin and Nalidixic Acid that induced different major shape phenotypes in K. lactis. These include mitochondrial and the cell-wall morphology-related phenotypes. Interestingly, a secondary assay in mammalian cells confirmed activity for Kaempferol. Indeed, this compound was also active on human keratinocytes depleted of ATP2C1 function by siRNA-treatment used as an in-vitro model of HHD. We found that Kaempferol was a potent NRF2 regulator, strongly inducing its expression and its downstream target NQO1. In addition, Kaempferol could decrease oxidative stress of ATP2C1 defective keratinocytes, characterized by reduced NRF2-expression. Our results indicated that the activation of these pathways might provide protection to the HHD-skin cells. As oxidative stress plays pivotal roles in promoting the skin lesions of Hailey-Hailey, the NRF2 pathway could be a viable therapeutic target for HHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziella Ficociello
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Azzurra Zonfrilli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Samantha Cialfi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Daniela Uccelletti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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Gan RH, Wei H, Xie J, Zheng DP, Luo EL, Huang XY, Xie J, Zhao Y, Ding LC, Su BH, Lin LS, Zheng DL, Lu YG. Notch1 regulates tongue cancer cells proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. Cell Cycle 2017; 17:216-224. [PMID: 29117785 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1395534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Notch1 regulates tumor biology in a complex, context-dependent manner. The roles of Notch1 in tongue cancer are still controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the roles of Notch1 in tongue cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of Notch1 was tested between tongue cancer and normal samples by using immunohistochemistry. Tongue cancer cells were transfected with siRNA or plasmid, respectively. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion ability were tested in appropriate ways. The subcutaneous tumor model was established to observe the tumor growth. RESULTS Notch1 was upregulated in tongue carcinoma tissues and the expression of Notch1 was related with tumor stage and differentiation. Overexpression of Notch1 could increase tongue cancer cells proliferation, invasion and migration. But inhibited the expression of Notch1 could decrease cells proliferation, invasion and migration and promote cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION Our results prove that the oncogenic role of Notch1 in tongue cancer and provide the direction of targeted therapy of tongue cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Huan Gan
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
| | - Hua Wei
- c The School of Basic Medical Science , Fujian Medical University , 1 Xue Yuan Road, Shang Jie Town, Min Hou County, Fuzhou 350000 , China
| | - Jing Xie
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
| | - Dan-Ping Zheng
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
| | - Er-Ling Luo
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
| | - Xiao-Yu Huang
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
| | - Jian Xie
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
| | - Yong Zhao
- b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China.,d Department of Pathology , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China
| | - Lin-Can Ding
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
| | - Bo-Hua Su
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
| | - Li-Song Lin
- e Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery , Affiliated First Hospital of Fujian Medical University , 20 Cha Zhong Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China
| | - Da-Li Zheng
- f Department of Molecular Medicine , University of South Florida , 19202 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa , FL 33613 , United States
| | - You-Guang Lu
- a Department of Preventive Dentistry , Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University , 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000 , China.,b Key laboratory of stomatology , Fujian Province University , 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004 , China
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Mir H, Kapur N, Singh R, Sonpavde G, Lillard JW, Singh S. Andrographolide inhibits prostate cancer by targeting cell cycle regulators, CXCR3 and CXCR7 chemokine receptors. Cell Cycle 2016; 15:819-26. [PMID: 27029529 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2016.1148836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite state of the art cancer diagnostics and therapies offered in clinic, prostate cancer (PCa) remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Hence, more robust therapeutic/preventive regimes are required to combat this lethal disease. In the current study, we have tested the efficacy of Andrographolide (AG), a bioactive diterpenoid isolated from Andrographis paniculata, against PCa. This natural agent selectively affects PCa cell viability in a dose and time-dependent manner, without affecting primary prostate epithelial cells. Furthermore, AG showed differential effect on cell cycle phases in LNCaP, C4-2b and PC3 cells compared to retinoblastoma protein (RB(-/-)) and CDKN2A lacking DU-145 cells. G2/M transition was blocked in LNCaP, C4-2b and PC3 after AG treatment whereas DU-145 cells failed to transit G1/S phase. This difference was primarily due to differential activation of cell cycle regulators in these cell lines. Levels of cyclin A2 after AG treatment increased in all PCa cells line. Cyclin B1 levels increased in LNCaP and PC3, decreased in C4-2b and showed no difference in DU-145 cells after AG treatment. AG decreased cyclin E2 levels only in PC3 and DU-145 cells. It also altered Rb, H3, Wee1 and CDC2 phosphorylation in PCa cells. Intriguingly, AG reduced cell viability and the ability of PCa cells to migrate via modulating CXCL11 and CXCR3 and CXCR7 expression. The significant impact of AG on cellular and molecular processes involved in PCa progression suggests its potential use as a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hina Mir
- a Department of Microbiology , Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Neeraj Kapur
- a Department of Microbiology , Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Rajesh Singh
- a Department of Microbiology , Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Guru Sonpavde
- b Department of Medicine , Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama of Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA
| | - James W Lillard
- a Department of Microbiology , Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Shailesh Singh
- a Department of Microbiology , Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
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Ke X, Zhao Y, Lu X, Wang Z, Liu Y, Ren M, Lu G, Zhang D, Sun Z, Xu Z, Song JH, Cheng Y, Meltzer SJ, He S. TQ inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo via repression of Notch signaling. Oncotarget 2016; 6:32610-21. [PMID: 26416455 PMCID: PMC4741716 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymoquinone (TQ) has been reported to possess anti-tumor activity in various types of cancer. However, its effects and molecular mechanism of action in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still not completely understood. We observed that TQ inhibited tumor cell growth in vitro, where treatment with TQ arrested the cell cycle in G1 by upregulating p21 and downregulating cyclinD1 and CDK2 expression; moreover, TQ induced apoptosis by decreasing expression of Bcl-2 and increasing expression of Bax. Simultaneously, TQ demonstrated a suppressive impact on the Notch pathway, where overexpression of NICD1 reversed the inhibitory effect of TQ on cell proliferation, thereby attenuating the repressive effects of TQ on the Notch pathway, cyclinD1, CDK2 and Bcl-2, and also diminishing upregulation of p21 and Bax. In a xenograft model, TQ inhibited HCC growth in nude mice; this inhibitory effect in vivo, as well as of HCC cell growth in vitro, was associated with a discernible decline in NICD1 and Bcl-2 levels and a dramatic rise in p21 expression. In conclusion, TQ inhibits HCC cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, achieving these effects by repression of the Notch signaling pathway, suggesting that TQ represents a potential preventive or therapeutic agent in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiquan Ke
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xinlan Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, P.R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, P.R. China
| | - Mudan Ren
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Guifang Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Zhenguo Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
| | - Zhipeng Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Jee Hoon Song
- Division of Gastroenterology, Departments of Medicine and Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Yulan Cheng
- Division of Gastroenterology, Departments of Medicine and Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Stephen J Meltzer
- Division of Gastroenterology, Departments of Medicine and Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Shuixiang He
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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He L, Zhao F, Zheng Y, Wan Y, Song J. Loss of interactions between p53 and survivin gene in mesenchymal stem cells after spontaneous transformation in vitro. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2016; 75:74-84. [PMID: 27046449 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2016.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2015] [Revised: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from various animals undergo a spontaneous transformation in long-term culture. The transformed MSCs are highly tumorigenic and are likely to be the tumor-initiating cells of sarcoma. To explain why the transformed MSCs become tumorigenic, the present study investigated the characteristics of rat MSCs before and after spontaneous transformation. It was shown that although the transformed MSCs maintained typical surface markers of MSC, they exhibited some cancer stem cell-like characteristics such as loss of contact inhibition and multi-potency to mesenchymal lineages, and acquirement of ability of anchorage-independent growth. The expression of a key senescence regulator p16 almost disappeared, but the other one, p53 abnormally increased in the transformed MSCs. ChIP assay demonstrated that a normal negative regulation of p53 on survivin gene disappeared in the transformed cells due to a lack of p53 binding to the promoter of survivin gene. DNA sequencing revealed that the p53 gene in transformed MSCs was not a wild-type, but a 942C>T mutant with the mutation located in the sequence coding p53 protein's DNA-binding domain. These findings indicate that the transformed MSCs express high levels of a p53 mutant that loses the ability to bind survivin gene, leading to an abnormally upregulated expression of survivin, which is a key reason for the cell's unlimited proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu He
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Wuhan University School of Medicine, 135 Donghu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, PR China.
| | - Fangyu Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Wuhan University School of Medicine, 135 Donghu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, PR China.
| | - Yong Zheng
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Wuhan University School of Medicine, 135 Donghu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, PR China.
| | - Yu Wan
- Department of Physiology, Wuhan University School of Medicine, 135 Donghu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, PR China.
| | - Jian Song
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Wuhan University School of Medicine, 135 Donghu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, PR China.
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Gonzalez H, Lema C, Kirken RA, Maldonado RA, Varela-Ramirez A, Aguilera RJ. Arsenic-exposed Keratinocytes Exhibit Differential microRNAs Expression Profile; Potential Implication of miR-21, miR-200a and miR-141 in Melanoma Pathway. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 2:138-147. [PMID: 27054085 DOI: 10.2174/2212697x02666150629174704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Long-term exposure to arsenic has been linked to cancer in different organs and tissues, including skin. Here, non-malignant human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were exposed to arsenic and its effects on microRNAs (miRNAs; miR) expression were analyzed via miRCURY LNA array analyses. A total of 30 miRNAs were found differentially expressed in arsenic-treated cells, as compared to untreated controls. Among the up-regulated miRNAs, miR-21, miR-200a and miR-141, are well known to be involved in carcinogenesis. Additional findings confirmed that those three miRNAs were indeed up-regulated in arsenic-stimulated keratinocytes as demonstrated by quantitative PCR assay. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis of both potential cancer-related pathways and targeted genes affected by miR-21, miR-200a and/or miR-141 was performed. Results revealed that miR-21, miR-200a and miR-141 are implicated in skin carcinogenesis related with melanoma development. Conclusively, our results indicate that arsenic-treated keratinocytes exhibited alteration in the miRNAs expression profile and that miR-21, miR-200a and miR-141 could be promising early biomarkers of the epithelial phenotype of cancer cells and they could be potential novel targets for melanoma therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horacio Gonzalez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA
| | - Carolina Lema
- Cytometry, Screening and Imaging Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA; College of Optometry, University of Houston, 4901 Calhoun Road, Houston, Texas, 77204, USA
| | - Robert A Kirken
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA
| | - Rosa A Maldonado
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA
| | - Armando Varela-Ramirez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA; Cytometry, Screening and Imaging Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA
| | - Renato J Aguilera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA; Cytometry, Screening and Imaging Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA
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30
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TQ inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo via repression of Notch signaling. Oncotarget 2015. [PMID: 26416455 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5362.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymoquinone (TQ) has been reported to possess anti-tumor activity in various types of cancer. However, its effects and molecular mechanism of action in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still not completely understood. We observed that TQ inhibited tumor cell growth in vitro, where treatment with TQ arrested the cell cycle in G1 by upregulating p21 and downregulating cyclinD1 and CDK2 expression; moreover, TQ induced apoptosis by decreasing expression of Bcl-2 and increasing expression of Bax. Simultaneously, TQ demonstrated a suppressive impact on the Notch pathway, where overexpression of NICD1 reversed the inhibitory effect of TQ on cell proliferation, thereby attenuating the repressive effects of TQ on the Notch pathway, cyclinD1, CDK2 and Bcl-2, and also diminishing upregulation of p21 and Bax. In a xenograft model, TQ inhibited HCC growth in nude mice; this inhibitory effect in vivo, as well as of HCC cell growth in vitro, was associated with a discernible decline in NICD1 and Bcl-2 levels and a dramatic rise in p21 expression. In conclusion, TQ inhibits HCC cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, achieving these effects by repression of the Notch signaling pathway, suggesting that TQ represents a potential preventive or therapeutic agent in HCC patients.
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