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Abballe L, Alfano V, Antonacci C, Cefalo MG, Cacchione A, Del Baldo G, Pezzullo M, Po A, Moretti M, Mastronuzzi A, De Smaele E, Ferretti E, Locatelli F, Miele E. β-arrestin1-E2F1-ac axis regulates physiological apoptosis and cell cycle exit in cellular models of early postnatal cerebellum. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:990711. [PMID: 36923256 PMCID: PMC10010392 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.990711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of the cerebellum is characterized by rapid proliferation of cerebellar granule cell precursors (GCPs) induced by paracrine stimulation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling from Purkinje cells, in the external granular layer (EGL). Then, granule cell precursors differentiate and migrate into the inner granular layer (IGL) of the cerebellum to form a terminally differentiated cell compartment. Aberrant activation of Sonic hedgehog signaling leads to granule cell precursors hyperproliferation and the onset of Sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma (MB), the most common embryonal brain tumor. β-arrestin1 (ARRB1) protein plays an important role downstream of Smoothened, a component of the Sonic hedgehog pathway. In the medulloblastoma context, β-arrestin1 is involved in a regulatory axis in association with the acetyltransferase P300, leading to the acetylated form of the transcription factor E2F1 (E2F1-ac) and redirecting its activity toward pro-apoptotic gene targets. This axis in the granule cell precursors physiological context has not been investigated yet. In this study, we demonstrate that β-arrestin1 has antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic functions in cerebellar development. β-arrestin1 silencing increases proliferation of Sonic hedgehog treated-cerebellar precursor cells while decreases the transcription of E2F1-ac pro-apoptotic targets genes, thus impairing apoptosis. Indeed, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments show a direct interaction between β-arrestin1 and the promoter regions of the pro-apoptotic E2F1 target gene and P27, indicating the double role of β-arrestin1 in controlling apoptosis and cell cycle exit in a physiological context. Our data elucidate the role of β-arrestin1 in the early postnatal stages of cerebellar development, in those cell compartments that give rise to medulloblastoma. This series of experiments suggests that the physiological function of β-arrestin1 in neuronal progenitors is to directly control, cooperating with E2F1 acetylated form, transcription of pro-apoptotic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Abballe
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Alfano
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), UMR Inserm U1052/CNRS 5286, Lyon, France
| | - Celeste Antonacci
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Giuseppina Cefalo
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Cacchione
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Del Baldo
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Pezzullo
- Pathology Unit, Core Research Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Moretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy.,Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics and Paediatrics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
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2
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CREB signaling activity correlates with differentiation and survival in medulloblastoma. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16077. [PMID: 34373489 PMCID: PMC8352923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95381-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While there has been significant progress in the molecular characterization of the childhood brain cancer medulloblastoma, the tumor proteome remains less explored. However, it is important to obtain a complete understanding of medulloblastoma protein biology, since interactions between proteins represent potential new drug targets. Using previously generated phosphoprotein signaling-profiles of a large cohort of primary medulloblastoma, we discovered that phosphorylation of transcription factor CREB strongly correlates with medulloblastoma survival and associates with a differentiation phenotype. We further found that during normal cerebellar development, phosphorylated CREB was selectively expressed in differentiating cerebellar granule neuron progenitor (CGNP) cells. In line, we observed increased differentiation in CGNPs treated with Forskolin, Bmp6 and Bmp12 (Gdf7), which induce CREB phosphorylation. Lastly, we demonstrated that inducing CREB activation via PKA-mediated CREB signaling, but not Bmp/MEK/ERK mediated signalling, enhances medulloblastoma cell sensitivity to chemotherapy.
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Miele E, Po A, Mastronuzzi A, Carai A, Besharat ZM, Pediconi N, Abballe L, Catanzaro G, Sabato C, De Smaele E, Canettieri G, Di Marcotullio L, Vacca A, Mai A, Levrero M, Pfister SM, Kool M, Giangaspero F, Locatelli F, Ferretti E. Downregulation of miR-326 and its host gene β-arrestin1 induces pro-survival activity of E2F1 and promotes medulloblastoma growth. Mol Oncol 2020; 15:523-542. [PMID: 32920979 PMCID: PMC7858128 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent mortality rates of medulloblastoma (MB) and severe side effects of the current therapies require the definition of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to tumor progression. Using cultured MB cancer stem cells and xenograft tumors generated in mice, we show that low expression of miR-326 and its host gene β-arrestin1 (ARRB1) promotes tumor growth enhancing the E2F1 pro-survival function. Our models revealed that miR-326 and ARRB1 are controlled by a bivalent domain, since the H3K27me3 repressive mark is found at their regulatory region together with the activation-associated H3K4me3 mark. High levels of EZH2, a feature of MB, are responsible for the presence of H3K27me3. Ectopic expression of miR-326 and ARRB1 provides hints into how their low levels regulate E2F1 activity. MiR-326 targets E2F1 mRNA, thereby reducing its protein levels; ARRB1, triggering E2F1 acetylation, reverses its function into pro-apoptotic activity. Similar to miR-326 and ARRB1 overexpression, we also show that EZH2 inhibition restores miR-326/ARRB1 expression, limiting E2F1 pro-proliferative activity. Our results reveal a new regulatory molecular axis critical for MB progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Natalia Pediconi
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Sabato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessandra Vacca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Levrero
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), UMR Inserm 1052 CNRS 5286 Mixte CLB, Université de Lyon 1 (UCBL1), France.,Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felice Giangaspero
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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4
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Kallifatidis G, Mamouni K, Lokeshwar BL. The Role of β-Arrestins in Regulating Stem Cell Phenotypes in Normal and Tumorigenic Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239310. [PMID: 33297302 PMCID: PMC7729818 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
β-Arrestins (ARRBs) are ubiquitously expressed scaffold proteins that mediate inactivation of G-protein-coupled receptor signaling, and in certain circumstances, G-protein independent pathways. Intriguingly, the two known ARRBs, β-arrestin1 (ARRB1) and β-Arrestin2 (ARRB2), seem to have opposing functions in regulating signaling cascades in several models in health and disease. Recent evidence suggests that ARRBs are implicated in regulating stem cell maintenance; however, their role, although crucial, is complex, and there is no universal model for ARRB-mediated regulation of stem cell characteristics. For the first time, this review compiles information on the function of ARRBs in stem cell biology and will discuss the role of ARRBs in regulating cell signaling pathways implicated in stem cell maintenance in normal and malignant stem cell populations. Although promising targets for cancer therapy, the ubiquitous nature of ARRBs and the plethora of functions in normal cell biology brings challenges for treatment selectivity. However, recent studies show promising evidence for specifically targeting ARRBs in myeloproliferative neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Kallifatidis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
- Research Service, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
- Correspondence: (G.K.); (B.L.L.); Tel.: +1-706-446-4976 (G.K.); +1-706-723-0033 (B.L.L.); Fax: +1-305-721-0101 (B.L.L.)
| | - Kenza Mamouni
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
- Research Service, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
| | - Bal L. Lokeshwar
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
- Research Service, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, USA
- Correspondence: (G.K.); (B.L.L.); Tel.: +1-706-446-4976 (G.K.); +1-706-723-0033 (B.L.L.); Fax: +1-305-721-0101 (B.L.L.)
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5
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Pickering J, Chinnaiya K, Towers M. An autoregulatory cell cycle timer integrates growth and specification in chick wing digit development. eLife 2019; 8:47625. [PMID: 31545166 PMCID: PMC6777937 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental question is how proliferation and growth are timed during embryogenesis. Although it has been suggested that the cell cycle could be a timer, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we describe a cell cycle timer that operates in Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-expressing polarising region cells of the chick wing bud. Our data are consistent with Shh signalling stimulating polarising region cell proliferation via Cyclin D2, and then inhibiting proliferation via a Bmp2-p27kip1 pathway. When Shh signalling is blocked, polarising region cells over-proliferate and form an additional digit, which can be prevented by applying Bmp2 or by inhibiting D cyclin activity. In addition, Bmp2 also restores posterior digit identity in the absence of Shh signalling, thus indicating that it specifies antero-posterior (thumb to little finger) positional values. Our results reveal how an autoregulatory cell cycle timer integrates growth and specification and are widely applicable to many tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Pickering
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Kavitha Chinnaiya
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Towers
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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Dobson THW, Tao RH, Swaminathan J, Maegawa S, Shaik S, Bravo-Alegria J, Sharma A, Kennis B, Yang Y, Callegari K, Haltom AR, Taylor P, Kogiso M, Qi L, Khatua S, Goldman S, Lulla RR, Fangusaro J, MacDonald TJ, Li XN, Hawkins C, Rajaram V, Gopalakrishnan V. Transcriptional repressor REST drives lineage stage-specific chromatin compaction at Ptch1 and increases AKT activation in a mouse model of medulloblastoma. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/565/eaan8680. [PMID: 30670636 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aan8680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In medulloblastomas (MBs), the expression and activity of RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) is increased in tumors driven by the sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway, specifically the SHH-α (children 3 to 16 years) and SHH-β (infants) subgroups. Neuronal maturation is greater in SHH-β than SHH-α tumors, but both correlate with poor overall patient survival. We studied the contribution of REST to MB using a transgenic mouse model (RESTTG ) wherein conditional NeuroD2-controlled REST transgene expression in lineage-committed Ptch1 +/- cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (CGNPs) accelerated tumorigenesis and increased penetrance and infiltrative disease. This model revealed a neuronal maturation context-specific antagonistic interplay between the transcriptional repressor REST and the activator GLI1 at Ptch1 Expression of Arrb1, which encodes β-arrestin1 (a GLI1 inhibitor), was substantially reduced in proliferating and, to a lesser extent, lineage-committed RESTTG cells compared with wild-type proliferating CGNPs. Lineage-committed RESTTG cells also had decreased GLI1 activity and increased histone H3K9 methylation at the Ptch1 locus, which correlated with premature silencing of Ptch1 These cells also had decreased expression of Pten, which encodes a negative regulator of the kinase AKT. Expression of PTCH1 and GLI1 were less, and ARRB1 was somewhat greater, in patient SHH-β than SHH-α MBs, whereas that of PTEN was similarly lower in both subtypes than in others. Inhibition of histone modifiers or AKT reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis, respectively, in cultured REST-high MB cells. Our findings linking REST to differentiation-specific chromatin remodeling, PTCH1 silencing, and AKT activation in MB tissues reveal potential subgroup-specific therapeutic targets for MB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara H W Dobson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rong-Hua Tao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Shinji Maegawa
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shavali Shaik
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Javiera Bravo-Alegria
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ajay Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bridget Kennis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yanwen Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Keri Callegari
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Amanda R Haltom
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pete Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mari Kogiso
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lin Qi
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Soumen Khatua
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stewart Goldman
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Rishi R Lulla
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jason Fangusaro
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Xiao-Nan Li
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- Department of Pathology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Veena Rajaram
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Vidya Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. .,Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Brain Tumor Center, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Cancer Epigenetics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center-University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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7
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Miele E, Po A, Begalli F, Antonucci L, Mastronuzzi A, Marras CE, Carai A, Cucchi D, Abballe L, Besharat ZM, Catanzaro G, Infante P, Di Marcotullio L, Canettieri G, De Smaele E, Screpanti I, Locatelli F, Ferretti E. β-arrestin1-mediated acetylation of Gli1 regulates Hedgehog/Gli signaling and modulates self-renewal of SHH medulloblastoma cancer stem cells. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:488. [PMID: 28716052 PMCID: PMC5512842 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3477-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Aberrant Sonic Hedgehog/Gli (Hh/Gli) signaling pathway is a critical regulator of Sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma (SHH-MB). Cancer stem cells (CSCs), thought to be largely responsible for tumor initiation, maintenance, dissemination and relapse, have been identified in SHH-MB. Since we previously demonstrated that Hh/Gli signaling controls CSCs features in SHH-MB and that in these tumors miR-326 is down regulated, here we investigated whether there is a functional link between Hh/Gli signaling and miR-326. Methods We evaluated β-arrestin1 (Arrb1) and its intragenic miR-326 levels in CSCs derived from SHH-MB. Subsequently, we modulated the expression of Arrb1 and miR-326 in CSCs in order to gain insight into their biological role. We also analyzed the mechanism by which Arrb1 and miR-326 control Hh/Gli signaling and self-renewal, using luciferase and protein immunoprecipitation assays. Results Low levels of Arrb1 and miR-326 represent a feature of CSCs derived from SHH-MB. We observed that re-expression of Arrb1 and miR-326 inhibits Hh/Gli signaling pathway at multiple levels, which cause impaired proliferation and self-renewal, accompanied by down regulation of Nanog levels. In detail, miR-326 negatively regulates two components of the Hh/Gli pathway the receptor Smoothened (Smo) and the transcription factor Gli2, whereas Arrb1 suppresses the transcriptional activity of Gli1, by potentiating its p300-mediated acetylation. Conclusions Our results identify a new molecular mechanism involving miR-326 and Arrb1 as regulators of SHH-MB CSCs. Specifically, low levels of Arrb1 and miR-326 trigger and maintain Hh/Gli signaling and self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Miele
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Department of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Begalli
- Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Antonucci
- Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Efisio Marras
- Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Neurosurgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Neurosurgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Cucchi
- Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Zein Mersini Besharat
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Catanzaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Infante
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy. .,Neuromed Institute, 86077, Pozzilli, Italy.
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8
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Zhang YX, Li XF, Yuan GQ, Hu H, Song XY, Li JY, Miao XK, Zhou TX, Yang WL, Zhang XW, Mou LY, Wang R. β-Arrestin 1 has an essential role in neurokinin-1 receptor-mediated glioblastoma cell proliferation and G 2/M phase transition. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:8933-8947. [PMID: 28341744 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.770420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor and has a poor prognosis. Tachykinin receptor neurokinin-1 (NK1R) is a promising target in glioblastoma therapy because of its overexpression in human glioblastoma. NK1R agonists promote glioblastoma cell growth, whereas NK1R antagonists efficiently inhibit cell growth both in vitro and in vivo However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these effects are incompletely understood. β-Arrestins (ARRBs) serve as scaffold proteins and adapters to mediate intracellular signal transduction. Here we show that the ARRB1-mediated signaling pathway is essential for NK1-mediated glioblastoma cell proliferation. ARRB1 knockdown significantly inhibited NK1-mediated glioblastoma cell proliferation and induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. ARRB1 knockdown cells showed remarkable down-regulation of CDC25C/CDK1/cyclin B1 activity. We also demonstrated that ARRB1 mediated prolonged phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt in glioblastoma cells induced by NK1R activation. ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation are involved in regulating CDC25C/CDK1/cyclin B1 activity. The lack of long-term ERK1/2 and Akt activation in ARRB1 knockdown cells was at least partly responsible for the delayed cell cycle progression and proliferation. Moreover, we found that ARRB1-mediated ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation regulated the transcriptional activity of both NF-κB and AP-1, which were involved in cyclin B1 expression. ARRB1 deficiency increased the sensitivity of glioblastoma cells to the treatment of NK1R antagonists. Taken together, our results suggest that ARRB1 plays an essential role in NK1R-mediated cell proliferation and G2/M transition in glioblastoma cells. Interference with ARRB1-mediated signaling via NK1R may have potential significance for therapeutic strategies targeting glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Xin Zhang
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Xiao-Fang Li
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Guo-Qiang Yuan
- the Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hui Hu
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Xiao-Yun Song
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Jing-Yi Li
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Xiao-Kang Miao
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Tian-Xiong Zhou
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Wen-Le Yang
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Xiao-Wei Zhang
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Ling-Yun Mou
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
| | - Rui Wang
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China and
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β-Arrestin1/miR-326 Transcription Unit Is Epigenetically Regulated in Neural Stem Cells Where It Controls Stemness and Growth Arrest. Stem Cells Int 2017; 2017:5274171. [PMID: 28298929 PMCID: PMC5337365 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5274171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell development is regulated by a complex network of mRNA-encoded proteins and microRNAs, all funnelling onto the modulation of self-renewal or differentiation genes. How intragenic microRNAs and their host genes are transcriptionally coregulated and their functional relationships for the control of neural stem cells (NSCs) are poorly understood. We propose here the intragenic miR-326 and its host gene β-arrestin1 as novel players whose epigenetic silencing maintains stemness in normal cerebellar stem cells. Such a regulation is mediated by CpG islands methylation of the common promoter. Epigenetic derepression of β-arrestin1/miR-326 by differentiation signals or demethylating agents leads to suppression of stemness features and cell growth and promotes cell differentiation. β-Arrestin1 inhibits cell proliferation by enhancing the nuclear expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. Therefore, we propose a new mechanism for the control of cerebellar NSCs where a coordinated epigenetic mechanism finely regulates β-arrestin1/miR-326 expression and consequently NSCs stemness and cell growth.
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10
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Jung B, Padula D, Burtscher I, Landerer C, Lutter D, Theis F, Messias AC, Geerlof A, Sattler M, Kremmer E, Boldt K, Ueffing M, Lickert H. Pitchfork and Gprasp2 Target Smoothened to the Primary Cilium for Hedgehog Pathway Activation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149477. [PMID: 26901434 PMCID: PMC4763541 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The seven-transmembrane receptor Smoothened (Smo) activates all Hedgehog (Hh) signaling by translocation into the primary cilia (PC), but how this is regulated is not well understood. Here we show that Pitchfork (Pifo) and the G protein-coupled receptor associated sorting protein 2 (Gprasp2) are essential components of an Hh induced ciliary targeting complex able to regulate Smo translocation to the PC. Depletion of Pifo or Gprasp2 leads to failure of Smo translocation to the PC and lack of Hh target gene activation. Together, our results identify a novel protein complex that is regulated by Hh signaling and required for Smo ciliary trafficking and Hh pathway activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bomi Jung
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Padula
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ingo Burtscher
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Cedric Landerer
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN 37996, United States of America
| | - Dominik Lutter
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Diabetes and Adipositas, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Fabian Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ana C. Messias
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich at Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy, Department Chemie, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Arie Geerlof
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Michael Sattler
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich at Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy, Department Chemie, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kremmer
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Karsten Boldt
- Department of Protein Science, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Centre of Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmology Research, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marius Ueffing
- Department of Protein Science, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Centre of Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmology Research, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Heiko Lickert
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München-Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Yu J, Wang L, Zhang T, Shen H, Dong W, Ni Y, Du J. Co-expression of β-arrestin1 and NF-кB is associated with cancer progression and poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma. Tumour Biol 2015; 36:6551-8. [PMID: 25820700 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3349-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
β-arrestin1 and NF-κB have been demonstrated to be associated with tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. Thus far, there is nevertheless little study about these two molecules in lung adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between β-arrestin1 and NF-κB expression and the clinicopathological characteristics in lung adenocarcinoma. A total of 115 surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma patients were recruited for the study. Expression of β-arrestin1 and p65 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in lung adenocarcinoma tissue samples. Nuclear expression of β-arrestin1 and p65 were observed in 39.1 % (45/115) and 46.1 % (53/115) cases of lung adenocarcinoma, respectively. And high expression of β-arrestin1 had negative prognostic impact for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.034 and p = 0.033). In addition, overexpression of p65 indicated a significantly poor OS and DFS than those of lower-expression (p = 0.038 and p = 0.041). Furthermore, co-expression of nuclear β-arrestin1 and p65 correlated with poorer OS and DFS in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model confirmed that co-expression of nuclear β-arrestin1 and p65 was an independent prognostic factor for tumor progression (p = 0.008). In conclusion, these data indicated that co-expression of nuclear β-arrestin1 and p65 was a novel predictor for worse prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, People's Republic of China
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Tonic activation of Bax primes neural progenitors for rapid apoptosis through a mechanism preserved in medulloblastoma. J Neurosci 2014; 33:18098-108. [PMID: 24227720 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2602-13.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Commitment to survival or apoptosis within expanding progenitor populations poses distinct risks and benefits to the organism. We investigated whether specialized mechanisms regulate apoptosis in mouse neural progenitors and in the progenitor-derived brain tumor medulloblastoma. Here, we identified constitutive activation of proapoptotic Bax, maintained in check by Bcl-xL, as a mechanism for rapid cell death, common to postnatal neural progenitors and medulloblastoma. We found that tonic activation of Bax in cerebellar progenitors, along with sensitivity to DNA damage, was linked to differentiation state. In cerebellar progenitors, active Bax localized to mitochondria, where it was bound to Bcl-xL. Disruption of Bax:Bcl-xL binding by BH3-mimetic ABT 737 caused rapid apoptosis of cerebellar progenitors and primary murine medulloblastoma cells. Conditional deletion of Mcl-1, in contrast, did not cause death of cerebellar progenitors. Our findings identify a mechanism for the sensitivity of brain progenitors to typical anticancer therapies and reveal that this mechanism persists in medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor markedly sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy.
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Chung HY, Chang CT, Young HW, Hu SP, Tzou WS, Hu CH. Ethanol inhibits retinal and CNS differentiation due to failure of cell cycle exit via an apoptosis-independent pathway. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2013; 38:92-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2013.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Revised: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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14
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The Role of Arrestins in Development. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2013; 118:225-42. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394440-5.00009-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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15
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Rosanò L, Cianfrocca R, Tocci P, Spinella F, Di Castro V, Spadaro F, Salvati E, Biroccio AM, Natali PG, Bagnato A. β-arrestin-1 is a nuclear transcriptional regulator of endothelin-1-induced β-catenin signaling. Oncogene 2012. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2012.527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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16
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Bax deficiency prolongs cerebellar neurogenesis, accelerates medulloblastoma formation and paradoxically increases both malignancy and differentiation. Oncogene 2012; 32:2304-14. [PMID: 22710714 PMCID: PMC3449008 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2012.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neurogenesis requires negative regulation through differentiation of progenitors or their programmed cell death (PCD). Growth regulation is particularly important in the postnatal cerebellum, where excessive progenitor proliferation promotes medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. We present evidence that PCD operates alongside differentiation to regulate cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (CGNPs) and to prevent medulloblastoma. Here we show that genetic deletion of pro-apoptotic Bax disrupts regulation of cerebellar neurogenesis and promotes medulloblastoma formation. In Bax−/− mice, the period of neurogenesis was extended into the third week of postnatal life, and ectopic neurons and progenitors collected in the molecular layer of the cerebellum and adjacent tectum. Importantly, genetic deletion of Bax in medulloblastoma-prone ND2:SmoA1 transgenic mice greatly accelerated tumorigenesis. Bax-deficient medulloblastomas exhibited strikingly distinct pathology, with reduced apoptosis, increased neural differentiation and tectal migration. Comparing Bax+/+ and Bax−/− medulloblastomas, we were able to identify up-regulation of Bcl-2 and nuclear exclusion of p27 as tumorigenic changes that are required to mitigate the tumor suppressive effect of Bax. Studies on human tumors confirmed the importance of modulating Bax in medulloblastoma pathogenesis. Our results demonstrate that Bax-dependent apoptosis regulates postnatal cerebellar neurogenesis, suppresses medulloblastoma formation, and imposes selective pressure on tumors that form. Functional resistance to Bax-mediated apoptosis, required for medulloblastoma tumorigenesis, may be a tumor-specific vulnerability to be exploited for therapeutic benefit.
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Guldal CG, Ahmad A, Korshunov A, Squatrito M, Awan A, Mainwaring LA, Bhatia B, Parathath SR, Nahle Z, Pfister S, Kenney AM. An essential role for p38 MAPK in cerebellar granule neuron precursor proliferation. Acta Neuropathol 2012; 123:573-86. [PMID: 22302101 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-012-0946-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Development of the cerebellum occurs postnatally and is marked by a rapid proliferation of cerebellar granule neuron precursors (CGNPs). CGNPs are the cells of origin for SHH-driven medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Here, we investigated the role of ERK, JNK, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases in CGNP proliferation. We found high levels of p38α in proliferating CGNPs. Concomitantly, members of the p38 pathway, such as ASK1, MKK3 and ATF-2, were also elevated. Inhibition of the Shh pathway or CGNP proliferation blunts p38α levels, irrespective of Shh treatment. Strikingly, p38α levels were high in vivo in the external granule layer of the postnatal cerebellum, Shh-dependent mouse medulloblastomas and human medulloblastomas of the SHH subtype. Finally, knocking down p38α by short hairpin RNA-carrying lentiviruses as well as the pharmacologically inhibiting of its kinase activity caused a marked decrease in CGNP proliferation, underscoring its requirement for Shh-dependent proliferation in CGNPs. The inhibition of p38α also caused a decrease in Gli1 and N-myc transcript levels, consistent with reduced proliferation. These findings suggest p38 inhibition as a potential way to increase the efficacy of treatments available for malignancies associated with deregulated SHH signaling, such as basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cemile G Guldal
- Departments of Neurological Surgery and Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA; Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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Abstract
Hundreds of G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) isotypes integrate and coordinate the function of individual cells mediating signaling between different organs in our bodies. As an aberration of the normal relationships that organize cells' coexistence, cancer has to deceive cell-cell communication in order to grow and spread. GPCRs play a critical role in this process. Despite the fact that GPCRs represent one of the most common drug targets, current medical practice includes only a few anticancer compounds directly acting on their signaling. Many approaches can be envisaged to target GPCRs involved in oncology. Beyond interfering with GPCRs signaling by using agonists or antagonists to prevent cell proliferation, favor apoptosis, induce maturation, prevent migration, etc., the high specificity of the interaction between the receptors and their ligands can be exploited to deliver toxins, antineoplastic drugs or isotopes to transformed cells. In this review we describe the strategies that are in use, or appear promising, to act directly on GPCRs in the fight against neoplastic transformation and tumor progression.
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