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Kim J, Park S, Kim SJ, Yoo I, Kim H, Hwang S, Sim KM, Kim I, Jun E. High-throughput drug screening using a library of antibiotics targeting cancer cell lines that are resistant and sensitive to gemcitabine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 730:150369. [PMID: 39013264 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150369] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog widely used as an anticancer agent against several types of cancer. Although gemcitabine sometimes shows excellent effectiveness, cancer cells are often poorly responsive to or resistant to the drug. Recently, specific strains or dysbiosis of the human microbiome were correlated with drug reactivity and resistance acquisition. Therefore, we aimed to identify antibiotic compounds that can modulate the microbiome to enhance the responsiveness to gemcitabine. To achieve this, we confirmed the gemcitabine responsiveness based on public data and conducted drug screening on a set of 250 antibiotics compounds. Subsequently, we performed experiments to investigate whether the selected compounds could enhance the responsiveness to gemcitabine. First, we grouped a total of seven tumor cell lines into resistant and sensitive group based on the IC50 value (1 μM) of gemcitabine obtained from the public data. Second, we performed high-throughput screening with compound treatments, identifying seven compounds from the resistant group and five from the sensitive group based on dose dependency. Finally, the combination of the selected compound, puromycin dihydrochloride, with gemcitabine in gemcitabine-resistant cell lines resulted in extensive cell death and a significant increase in cytotoxic efficacy. Additionally, mRNA levels associated with cell viability and stemness were reduced. Through this study, we screened antibiotics to further improve the efficacy of existing anticancer drugs and overcome resistance. By combining existing anticancer agents and antibiotic substances, we hope to establish various drug combination therapies and ultimately improve cancer treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinju Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea; Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Sojung Park
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Jin Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea; Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Inha Yoo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea; Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Heeseon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea; Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Supyong Hwang
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Mi Sim
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Inki Kim
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eunsung Jun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea; Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea; Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea.
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Iosifidou N, Anagnostopoulou E, Botou M, Kalfa E, Tatsaki E, Frillingos S. Elucidation of the Gemcitabine Transporters of Escherichia coli K-12 and Gamma-Proteobacteria Linked to Gemcitabine-Related Chemoresistance. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7012. [PMID: 39000123 PMCID: PMC11241209 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Gemcitabine (2',2'-difluoro-2'-deoxycytidine), a widely used anticancer drug, is considered a gold standard in treating aggressive pancreatic cancers. Gamma-proteobacteria that colonize the pancreatic tumors contribute to chemoresistance against gemcitabine by metabolizing the drug to a less active and deaminated form. The gemcitabine transporters of these bacteria are unknown to date. Furthermore, there is no complete knowledge of the gemcitabine transporters in Escherichia coli or any other related proteobacteria. In this study, we investigate the complement of gemcitabine transporters in E. coli K-12 and two common chemoresistance-related bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Citrobacter freundii). We found that E. coli K-12 has two high-affinity gemcitabine transporters with distinct specificity properties, namely, NupC and NupG, whereas the gemcitabine transporters of C. freundii and K. pneumoniae include the NupC and NupG orthologs, functionally indistinguishable from their counterparts, and, in K. pneumoniae, one additional NupC variant, designated KpNupC2. All these bacterial transporters have a higher affinity for gemcitabine than their human counterparts. The highest affinity (KM 2.5-3.0 μΜ) is exhibited by NupGs of the bacteria-specific nucleoside-H+ symporter (NHS) family followed by NupCs (KM 10-13 μΜ) of the concentrative nucleoside transporter (CNT) family, 15-100 times higher than the affinities reported for the human gemcitabine transporter hENT1/SLC29A1, which is primarily associated with gemcitabine uptake in the pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Our results offer a basis for further insight into the role of specific bacteria in drug availability within tumors and for understanding the structure-function differences of bacterial and human drug transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoleta Iosifidou
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (N.I.); (E.A.); (M.B.); (E.K.); (E.T.)
| | - Eleni Anagnostopoulou
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (N.I.); (E.A.); (M.B.); (E.K.); (E.T.)
| | - Maria Botou
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (N.I.); (E.A.); (M.B.); (E.K.); (E.T.)
| | - Eirini Kalfa
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (N.I.); (E.A.); (M.B.); (E.K.); (E.T.)
| | - Ekaterini Tatsaki
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (N.I.); (E.A.); (M.B.); (E.K.); (E.T.)
| | - Stathis Frillingos
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (N.I.); (E.A.); (M.B.); (E.K.); (E.T.)
- University Research Center of Ioannina (URCI), Institute of Biosciences, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
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3
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Noto Guillen M, Li C, Rosener B, Mitchell A. Antibacterial activity of nonantibiotics is orthogonal to standard antibiotics. Science 2024; 384:93-100. [PMID: 38484036 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk7368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Numerous nonantibiotic drugs have potent antibacterial activity and can adversely affect the human microbiome. The mechanistic underpinning of this toxicity remains largely unknown. We investigated the antibacterial activity of 200 drugs using genetic screens with thousands of barcoded Escherichia coli knockouts. We analyzed 2 million gene-drug interactions underlying drug-specific toxicity. Network-based analysis of drug-drug similarities revealed that antibiotics clustered into modules that are consistent with the mode of action of their established classes, whereas nonantibiotics remained unconnected. Half of the nonantibiotics clustered into separate modules, potentially revealing shared and unexploited targets for new antimicrobials. Analysis of efflux systems revealed that they widely affect antibiotics and nonantibiotics alike, suggesting that the impact of nonantibiotics on antibiotic cross-resistance should be investigated closely in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Noto Guillen
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Carmen Li
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Brittany Rosener
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Amir Mitchell
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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Wu J, Zhang P, Mei W, Zeng C. Intratumoral microbiota: implications for cancer onset, progression, and therapy. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1301506. [PMID: 38292482 PMCID: PMC10824977 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1301506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Significant advancements have been made in comprehending the interactions between the microbiome and cancer. However, prevailing research predominantly directs its focus toward the gut microbiome, affording limited consideration to the interactions of intratumoral microbiota and tumors. Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), the intratumoral microbiome and its associated products wield regulatory influence, directing the modulation of cancer cell properties and impacting immune system functionality. However, to grasp a more profound insight into the intratumoral microbiota in cancer, further research into its underlying mechanisms is necessary. In this review, we delve into the intricate associations between intratumoral microbiota and cancer, with a specific focus on elucidating the significant contribution of intratumoral microbiota to the onset and advancement of cancer. Notably, we provide a detailed exploration of therapeutic advances facilitated by intratumoral microbiota, offering insights into recent developments in this burgeoning field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmei Wu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wuxuan Mei
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Changchun Zeng
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Zheng Q. Methods for two nonstandard problems arising from the Luria-Delbrück experiment. Genetica 2023; 151:369-373. [PMID: 38010477 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-023-00200-1] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The fluctuation experiment, devised by Luria and Delbrück in 1943, remains the method of choice for measuring microbial mutation rates in the laboratory. While most inference problems commonly encountered in a fluctuation experiment can be tackled by existing standard algorithms, investigators from time to time run into nonstandard problems not amenable to any existing algorithms. A major obstacle to solving these nonstandard problems is the construction of confidence intervals for mutation rates. This note describes methods for two important categories of nonstandard problems, namely, pooling data from separate experiments and analyzing grouped mutant count data, focusing on the construction of likelihood ratio confidence intervals. In addition to illustrative examples using real-world data, simulation results are presented to help assess the proposed methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A &M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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Halle-Smith JM, Hall LA, Powell-Brett SF, Merali N, Frampton AE, Beggs AD, Moss P, Roberts KJ. Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency and the Gut Microbiome in Pancreatic Cancer: A Target for Future Diagnostic Tests and Therapies? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5140. [PMID: 37958314 PMCID: PMC10649877 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is common amongst pancreatic cancer patients and is associated with poorer treatment outcomes. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is known to improve outcomes in pancreatic cancer, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this narrative literature review is to summarise the current evidence linking PEI with microbiome dysbiosis, assess how microbiome composition may be impacted by PERT treatment, and look towards possible future diagnostic and therapeutic targets in this area. Early evidence in the literature reveals that there are complex mechanisms by which pancreatic secretions modulate the gut microbiome, so when these are disturbed, as in PEI, gut microbiome dysbiosis occurs. PERT has been shown to return the gut microbiome towards normal, so called rebiosis, in animal studies. Gut microbiome dysbiosis has multiple downstream effects in pancreatic cancer such as modulation of the immune response and the response to chemotherapeutic agents. It therefore represents a possible future target for future therapies. In conclusion, it is likely that the gut microbiome of pancreatic cancer patients with PEI exhibits dysbiosis and that this may potentially be reversible with PERT. However, further human studies are required to determine if this is indeed the case.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M. Halle-Smith
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK (K.J.R.)
- Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK;
| | - Lewis A. Hall
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK (K.J.R.)
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Sarah F. Powell-Brett
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK (K.J.R.)
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Nabeel Merali
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK (A.E.F.); (P.M.)
- Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Leggett Building, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
| | - Adam E. Frampton
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK (A.E.F.); (P.M.)
- Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Leggett Building, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
| | - Andrew D. Beggs
- Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK;
- Colorectal Surgery Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK
| | - Paul Moss
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK (A.E.F.); (P.M.)
| | - Keith J. Roberts
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK (K.J.R.)
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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7
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Sayin S, Mitchell A. Functional Assay for Measuring Bacterial Degradation of Gemcitabine Chemotherapy. Bio Protoc 2023; 13:e4797. [PMID: 37719072 PMCID: PMC10501921 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug biotransformation by the host microbiome can impact the therapeutic success of treatment. In the context of cancer, drug degradation can take place within the microenvironment of the targeted tumor by intratumor bacteria. In pancreatic cancer, increased chemo-resistance against the frontline chemotherapy gemcitabine is thought to arise from drug degradation by the tumor microbiome. This bacterial-drug interaction highlights the need for developing rapid assays for monitoring bacterial gemcitabine breakdown. While chemical approaches such as high-performance liquid chromatography are suitable for this task, they require specialized equipment and expertise and are limited in throughput. Functional cell-based assays represent an alternate approach for performing this task. We developed a functional assay to monitor the rate of bacterial gemcitabine breakdown using a highly sensitive bacterial reporter strain. Our method relies on standard laboratory equipment and can be implemented at high throughput to monitor drug breakdown by hundreds of strains simultaneously. This functional assay can be readily adapted to monitor degradation of other drugs. Key features Quantification of gemcitabine breakdown by incubating bacteria that degrades the drug and subsequently testing the growth of a reporter strain on filtered supernatant. Use of an optimized reporter strain that was genetically engineered to be a non-degrader strain and highly sensitive to gemcitabine. A high-throughput assay performed in microplates that can be adjusted for identifying bacteria with a fast or slow gemcitabine degradation rate. The assay results can be compared to results from a standard curve with known drug concentrations to quantify degradation rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serkan Sayin
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan
Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Amir Mitchell
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan
Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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