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Fan WL, Huang SY, Yang XJ, Bintang Ilhami F, Chen JK, Cheng CC. Hydrogen-bonded cytosine-endowed supramolecular polymeric nanogels: Highly efficient cancer cell targeting and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 665:329-344. [PMID: 38531278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.03.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
We demonstrate that cytosine moieties within physically cross-linked supramolecular polymers not only manipulate drug delivery and release, but also confer specific targeting of cancer cells to effectively enhance the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy-and thus hold significant potential as a new perspective for development of drug delivery systems. Herein, we successfully developed physically cross-linked supramolecular polymers (PECH-PEG-Cy) comprised of hydrogen-bonding cytosine pendant groups, hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) side chains, and a hydrophobic poly(epichlorohydrin) main chain. The polymers spontaneously self-assemble into a reversibly hydrogen-bonded network structure induced by cytosine and directly form spherical nanogels in aqueous solution. Nanogels with a high hydrogen-bond network density (i.e., a higher content of cytosine moieties) exhibit outstanding long-term structural stability in cell culture substrates containing serum, whereas nanogels with a relatively low hydrogen-bond network density cannot preserve their structural integrity. The nanogels also exhibit numerous unique physicochemical characteristics in aqueous solution, such as a desirable spherical size, high biocompatibility with normal and cancer cells, excellent drug encapsulation capacity, and controlled pH-responsive drug release properties. More importantly, in vitro experiments conclusively indicate the drug-loaded PECH-PEG-Cy nanogels can selectively induce cancer cell-specific apoptosis and cell death via cytosine receptor-mediated endocytosis, without significantly harming normal cells. In contrast, control drug-loaded PECH-PEG nanogels, which lack cytosine moieties in their structure, can only induce cell death in cancer cells through non-specific pathways, which significantly inhibits the induction of apoptosis. This work clearly demonstrates that the cytosine moieties in PECH-PEG-Cy nanogels confer selective affinity for the surface of cancer cells, which enhances their targeted cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and subsequent induction of programmed cell death in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Lu Fan
- Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
| | - Shan-You Huang
- Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
| | - Xiu-Jing Yang
- Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
| | - Fasih Bintang Ilhami
- Department of Natural Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya 60231, Indonesia
| | - Jem-Kun Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chia Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan; Advanced Membrane Materials Research Center, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan.
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2
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Ran Y, Hu J, Chen Y, Rao Z, Zhao J, Xu Z, Ming J. Morusin-Cu(II)-indocyanine green nanoassembly ignites mitochondrial dysfunction for chemo-photothermal tumor therapy. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 662:760-773. [PMID: 38377695 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.02.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Nanoscale drug delivery systems derived from natural bioactive materials accelerate the innovation and evolution of cancer treatment modalities. Morusin (Mor) is a prenylated flavonoid compound with high cancer chemoprevention activity, however, the poor water solubility, low active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) loading content, and instability compromise its bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness. Herein, a full-API carrier-free nanoparticle is developed based on the self-assembly of indocyanine green (ICG), copper ions (Cu2+) and Mor, termed as IMCNs, via coordination-driven and π-π stacking for synergistic tumor therapy. The IMCNs exhibits a desirable loading content of Mor (58.7 %) and pH/glutathione (GSH)-responsive motif. Moreover, the photothermal stability and photo-heat conversion efficiency (42.8 %) of IMCNs are improved after coordination with Cu2+ and help to achieve photothermal therapy. Afterward, the released Cu2+ depletes intracellular overexpressed GSH and mediates Fenton-like reactions, and further synergizes with ICG at high temperatures to expand oxidative damage. Furthermore, the released Mor elicits cytoplasmic vacuolation, expedites mitochondrial dysfunction, and exerts chemo-photothermal therapy after being combined with ICG to suppress the migration of residual live tumor cells. In vivo experiments demonstrate that IMCNs under laser irradiation could excellently inhibit tumor growth (89.6 %) through the multi-modal therapeutic performance of self-enhanced chemotherapy/coordinated-drugs/ photothermal therapy (PTT), presenting a great potential for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalin Ran
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Junfeng Hu
- School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenan Rao
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Jichun Zhao
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhigang Xu
- School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jian Ming
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Lv X, Lan G, Guo Q. Identification of Subtypes in Triple-negative Breast Cancer Based on Shared Genes Between Immunity and Cancer Stemness. J Immunother 2024; 47:107-116. [PMID: 38369822 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The correlation between triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and genes related to immunity and cancer stemness, particularly shared genes, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of immunity and cancer stemness with the molecular subtyping and survival rates in TNBC using bioinformatics approaches. Differential gene analysis was conducted to identify TNBC-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cancer stem cell (CSC)-related genes were obtained using weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Immune-related gene sets were retrieved from the literature. Venn analysis was performed to identify the shared DEGs between immunity and cancer stemness in TNBC. Cluster analysis and survival analysis based on the expression of these genes were conducted to identify TNBC subtypes with significant survival differences. A total of 5259 TNBC-associated DEGs, 2214 CSC-related genes, 1793 immune-related genes, and 44 shared DEGs between immunity and cancer stemness were obtained. Among them, 3 shared DEGs were closely associated with TNBC survival rates ( P <0.05). Cluster and survival analyses revealed that among 3 subtypes, cluster2 exhibited the best survival rate, and cluster3 showed the worst survival rate ( P <0.05). Dendritic cells were highly infiltrated in cluster2, while plasma cells and resting mast cells were highly infiltrated in cluster3 ( P <0.05). Genes shared by immunity and cancer stemness were capable of classifying TNBC samples. TNBC patients of different subtypes exhibited significant differences in immune profiles, genetic mutations, and drug sensitivity. These findings could provide new insights into the pathogenesis of TNBC, the immune microenvironment, and the selection of therapeutic targets for drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianmei Lv
- Department of Radiotherapy, Jinhua People's Hospital, Jinhua, China
| | - Gaochen Lan
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Qiusheng Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
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Chen L, Hu M, Chen L, Peng Y, Zhang C, Wang X, Li X, Yao Y, Song Q, Li J, Pei H. Targeting O-GlcNAcylation in cancer therapeutic resistance: The sugar Saga continues. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216742. [PMID: 38401884 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
O-linked-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation), a dynamic post-translational modification (PTM), holds profound implications in controlling various cellular processes such as cell signaling, metabolism, and epigenetic regulation that influence cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. From the therapeutic perspective, O-GlcNAc modulates drug efflux, targeting and metabolism. By integrating signals from glucose, lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolic pathways, O-GlcNAc acts as a nutrient sensor and transmits signals to exerts its function on genome stability, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell stemness, cell apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle. O-GlcNAc also attends to tumor microenvironment (TME) and the immune response. At present, several strategies aiming at targeting O-GlcNAcylation are under mostly preclinical evaluation, where the newly developed O-GlcNAcylation inhibitors markedly enhance therapeutic efficacy. Here we systematically outline the mechanisms through which O-GlcNAcylation influences therapy resistance and deliberate on the prospects and challenges associated with targeting O-GlcNAcylation in future cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Chen
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China; Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
| | - Mengxue Hu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Luojun Chen
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yihan Peng
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Cai Zhang
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xiangpan Li
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yi Yao
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Qibin Song
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jing Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of DNA Damage Response and College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China.
| | - Huadong Pei
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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Waqar MA, Zaman M, ShafeeqUrRahman M, Khan R, Majeed I. Navigating the Tumor Microenvironment: Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Mediated Delivery of Anticancer Agents. J Drug Target 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38652480 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2024.2347356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Scientific knowledge of cancer has advanced greatly throughout the years, with most recent studies findings includes many hallmarks that capture disease's multifaceted character. One of the novel approach utilized for the delivery of anti-cancer agents includes mesenchymal stem cell mediated drug delivery. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic progenitor cells that may be extracted from bone marrow, tooth pulp, adipose tissue and placenta/umbilical cord blood dealing with adult stem cells. MSCs are mostly involved in regeneration of tissue, they have also been shown to preferentially migrate to location of several types of tumor in-vivo. Usage of MSCs ought to improve both effectiveness and safety of anti-cancer drugs by enhancing delivery efficiency of anti-cancer therapies to tumor site. Numerous researches has demonstrated that various drugs, when delivered via mesenchymal stem cell mediated delivery can elicit anti-tumor effect of cells in cancers of breast cells and thyroid cells. MSCs have minimal immunogenicity because to lack of co-stimulatory molecule expression, which means there is no requirement for immunosuppression after allogenic transplantation. This current review elaborates recent advancements of mesenchyma stem cell mediated drug delivery of anti-cancer agents along with its mechanism and previously reported studies of drugs manufactured via this drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ahsan Waqar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lahore University of Biological & Applied Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Zaman
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Rabeel Khan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lahore University of Biological & Applied Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Imtiaz Majeed
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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Xue X, Wang X, Pang M, Yu L, Qian J, Li X, Tian M, Lu C, Xiao C, Liu Y. An exosomal strategy for targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts mediated tumors desmoplastic microenvironments. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:196. [PMID: 38644492 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumors desmoplastic microenvironments are characterized by abundant stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as the most abundant of all stromal cells, play significant role in mediating microenvironments, which not only remodel ECM to establish unique pathological barriers to hinder drug delivery in desmoplastic tumors, but also talk with immune cells and cancer cells to promote immunosuppression and cancer stem cells-mediated drug resistance. Thus, CAFs mediated desmoplastic microenvironments will be emerging as promising strategy to treat desmoplastic tumors. However, due to the complexity of microenvironments and the heterogeneity of CAFs in such tumors, an effective deliver system should be fully considered when designing the strategy of targeting CAFs mediated microenvironments. Engineered exosomes own powerful intercellular communication, cargoes delivery, penetration and targeted property of desired sites, which endow them with powerful theranostic potential in desmoplastic tumors. Here, we illustrate the significance of CAFs in tumors desmoplastic microenvironments and the theranostic potential of engineered exosomes targeting CAFs mediated desmoplastic microenvironments in next generation personalized nano-drugs development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Xue
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xiangpeng Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Mingshi Pang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Liuchunyang Yu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jinxiu Qian
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Meng Tian
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Cheng Lu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Cheng Xiao
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Yuanyan Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
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7
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Sun Y, Chen Y, Zhao H, Wang J, Liu Y, Bai J, Hu C, Shang Z. Lactate-driven type I collagen deposition facilitates cancer stem cell-like phenotype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. iScience 2024; 27:109340. [PMID: 38500829 PMCID: PMC10945209 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Lactate is known to play a crucial role in the progression of malignancies. However, its mechanism in regulating the malignant phenotype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear. This study found that lactate increases cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics of HNSCC by influencing the deposition of type I collagen (Col I). Lactate promotes Col I deposition through two distinct pathways. One is to convert lactate to pyruvate, a substrate for Col I hydroxylation. The other is the activation of HIF1-α and P4HA1, the latter being a rate-limiting enzyme for Col I synthesis. Inhibition of these two pathways effectively counteracts lactate-induced enhanced cell stemness. Further studies revealed that Col I affects CSC properties by regulating cell cycle dynamics. In conclusion, our research proposes that lactate-driven Col I deposition is essential for the acquisition of CSC properties, and lactate-centric Col I deposition may be an effective target for CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuantong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junqiang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuanyu Hu
- Department of Stomatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengjun Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Zhang X, Du W, Huang X, Zhong H, Hu N. An overview of current research on cancer stem cells: a bibliometric analysis. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03486-5. [PMID: 38625493 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03486-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a potential mechanism contributing to tumorigenesis, metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance. The objective of this study is to investigate the status quo and advancements in CSC research utilizing bibliometric analysis. METHODS Publications related to CSCs from 2010 to 2022 were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Various analytical tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Scimago Graphica, and GraphPad Prism were used to visualize aspects such as co-authorship, co-occurrence, and co-citation within CSC research to provide an objective depiction of the contemporary status and developmental trajectory of the CSC field. RESULTS A total of 22,116 publications were included from 1942 journals written by 95,992 authors. Notably, China emerged as the country with the highest number of publications, whereas the United States exerted the most significant influence within the field. MD Anderson Cancer Center emerged as the institution making the most comprehensive contributions. Wicha M.S. emerged as the most prolific and influential researcher. Among journals, Cancers emerged as a focal point for CSC research, consistently publishing a wealth of high-quality papers. Furthermore, it was observed that most journals tended to approach CSC research from molecular, biological, and immunological perspectives. The research into CSCs encompassed a broad array of topics, including isolation and enrichment techniques, biomarkers, biological characteristics, cancer therapy strategies, and underlying biological regulatory mechanisms. Notably, exploration of the tumor microenvironment and extracellular vesicles emerged as burgeoning research frontiers for CSCs. CONCLUSION The research on CSCs has garnered growing interest. A trend toward multidisciplinary homogeneity is emerging within the realm of CSCs. Further investigation could potentially center on the patients of extracellular vesicles and the tumor microenvironment in relation to CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyang Zhang
- International Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Wenbo Du
- International Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xizhi Huang
- International Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Haoting Zhong
- International Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Ning Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 of Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Beach MA, Nayanathara U, Gao Y, Zhang C, Xiong Y, Wang Y, Such GK. Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery. Chem Rev 2024. [PMID: 38626459 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The recent emergence of nanomedicine has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape and necessitated the creation of more sophisticated drug delivery systems. Polymeric nanoparticles sit at the forefront of numerous promising drug delivery designs, due to their unmatched control over physiochemical properties such as size, shape, architecture, charge, and surface functionality. Furthermore, polymeric nanoparticles have the ability to navigate various biological barriers to precisely target specific sites within the body, encapsulate a diverse range of therapeutic cargo and efficiently release this cargo in response to internal and external stimuli. However, despite these remarkable advantages, the presence of polymeric nanoparticles in wider clinical application is minimal. This review will provide a comprehensive understanding of polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles. The biological barriers affecting drug delivery will be outlined first, followed by a comprehensive description of the various nanoparticle designs and preparation methods, beginning with the polymers on which they are based. The review will meticulously explore the current performance of polymeric nanoparticles against a myriad of diseases including cancer, viral and bacterial infections, before finally evaluating the advantages and crucial challenges that will determine their wider clinical potential in the decades to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian A Beach
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Umeka Nayanathara
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yanting Gao
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Changhe Zhang
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yijun Xiong
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yufu Wang
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Georgina K Such
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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10
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Meng X, Liang X, Yang S, Wu D, Wang X. A miRNA-7704/IL2RB/AKT feedback loop regulates tumorigenesis and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. Exp Cell Res 2024; 437:114012. [PMID: 38565343 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological tumors worldwide. Despite the availability of multiple treatments for ovarian cancer, its resistance to chemotherapy remains a significant challenge. miRNAs play crucial roles in the initiation and progression of cancer by affecting processes such as differentiation, proliferation, and chemoresistance. According to microarray and qPCR analyses, miR-7704 is significantly downregulated in cisplatin-resistant cells compared to parental cells. In this study, we found that miR-7704 inhibited the proliferation and promoted cisplatin sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, ectopic expression of miR-7704 had the same effect as IL2RB knockdown. Further mechanistic studies revealed that miR-7704 played an inhibitory role by regulating IL2RB expression to inactivate the AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, IL2RB reversed the miR-7704 mediated resistance to cisplatin in ovarian cancer. Based on these findings, miR-7704 and IL2RB show the potential as novel therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Meng
- Phase I Clinical Trial Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Oncology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shengjie Yang
- Phase I Clinical Trial Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Wu
- Department of Emergency, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Xinghe Wang
- Phase I Clinical Trial Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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11
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Lu W, Yang Z, Wang M, Li S, Bi H, Yang X. Identification and verification of AK4 as a protective immune-related biomarker in adipose-derived stem cells and breast cancer. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27357. [PMID: 38560200 PMCID: PMC10980947 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer (BC) remains the most common cancer among women, and novel post-surgical reconstruction techniques, including autologous fat transplantation, have emerged. While Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are known to impact the viability of fat grafts, their influence on breast cancer progression remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the genetic interplay between ADSCs and breast cancer, focusing on potential therapeutic targets. Methods Using the GEO and TCGA databases, we pinpointed differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and pseudogenes of ADSCs and BC. We performed functional enrichment analysis and constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI), RNA binding protein (RBP)-pseudogene-mRNA, and lncRNA-miRNA-transcription factor (TF)-gene networks. Our study delved into the correlation of AK4 expression with 33 different malignancies and examined its impact on prognostic outcomes across a pan-cancer cohort. Additionally, we scrutinized immune infiltration, microsatellite instability, and tumor mutational burden, and conducted single-cell analysis to further understand the implications of AK4 expression. We identified novel sample subtypes based on hub genes using the ConsensusClusterPlus package and examined their association with immune infiltration. The random forest algorithm was used to screen DE mRNAs between subtypes to validate the powerful prognostic prediction ability of the artificial neural network. Results Our analysis identified 395 DE mRNAs, 3 DE miRNAs, 84 DE lncRNAs, and 26 DE pseudogenes associated with ADSCs and BC. Of these, 173 mRNAs were commonly regulated in both ADSCs and breast cancer, and 222 exhibited differential regulation. The PPI, RBP-pseudogene-mRNA, and lncRNA-miRNA-TF-gene networks suggested AK4 as a key regulator. Our findings support AK4 as a promising immune-related therapeutic target for a wide range of malignancies. We identified 14 characteristic genes based on the AK4-related cluster using the random forest algorithm. Our artificial neural network yielded excellent diagnostic performance in the testing cohort with AUC values of 0.994, 0.973, and 0.995, indicating its ability to distinguish between breast cancer and non-breast cancer cases. Conclusions Our research sheds light on the dual role of ADSCs in BC at the genetic level and identifies AK4 as a key protective mRNA in breast cancer. We found that AK4 significantly predicts cancer prognosis and immunotherapy, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lu
- Department of Hemangioma and Vascular Malformation, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100144, China
| | - Zhenyu Yang
- Department of Hemangioma and Vascular Malformation, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100144, China
| | - Mengjie Wang
- Department of Hemangioma and Vascular Malformation, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100144, China
| | - Shiqi Li
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 4+4 M.D. Program, Beijing, 100144, China
| | - Hui Bi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100144, China
| | - Xiaonan Yang
- Department of Hemangioma and Vascular Malformation, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100144, China
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12
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Masoudi M, Moti D, Masoudi R, Auwal A, Hossain MM, Pronoy TUH, Rashel KM, Gopalan V, Islam F. Metabolic adaptations in cancer stem cells: A key to therapy resistance. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167164. [PMID: 38599259 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of tumor cells that can initiate and sustain tumor growth and cause recurrence and metastasis. CSCs are particularly resistant to conventional therapies compared to their counterparts, owing greatly to their intrinsic metabolic plasticity. Metabolic plasticity allows CSCs to switch between different energy production and usage pathways based on environmental and extrinsic factors, including conditions imposed by conventional cancer therapies. To cope with nutrient deprivation and therapeutic stress, CSCs can transpose between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) metabolism. The mechanism behind the metabolic pathway switch in CSCs is not fully understood, however, some evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment (TME) may play an influential role mediated by its release of signals, such as Wnt/β-catenin and Notch pathways, as well as a background of hypoxia. Exploring the factors that promote metabolic plasticity in CSCs offers the possibility of eventually developing therapies that may more effectively eliminate the crucial tumor cell subtype and alter the disease course substantially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Masoudi
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia
| | - Dilpreet Moti
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia
| | - Raha Masoudi
- Faculty of Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Abdul Auwal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - M Matakabbir Hossain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Tasfik Ul Haque Pronoy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Khan Mohammad Rashel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Vinod Gopalan
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia
| | - Farhadul Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.
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13
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Abu-Serie MM. Synergistic eradicating impact of 5-fluouracil with FeO nanoparticles-diethyldithiocarbamate in colon cancer spheroids. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2024. [PMID: 38578787 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2024-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Cancer stem cells' (CSCs) resistance to 5-fluorouracil (Fu), which is the main obstacle in treating colon cancer (CC), can be overcome by ferroptosis. The latter, herein, can be triggered by FeO nanoparticles (inducer of iron accumulation) and diethyldithiocarbamate-inhibited glutathione system and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1A1-maintained stemness, therapeutic resistance and metastasis). Materials & methods: Nanocomplex of FeO nanoparticles and diethyldithiocarbamate (FD) was used in combination with Fu to investigate its potential synergistic anti-CSC influence using CC spheroid models. Results: In Fu + FD-treated spheroids, the strongest growth inhibition, the highest cell death percentage, and the lowest CD133+-CSCs percentage and stemness gene expressions (e.g., drug efflux transporter), and the strongest antimetastatic effect were recorded with high synergistic indexes. Conclusion: Fu + FD represents effective combination therapy for chemoresistant CC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M Abu-Serie
- Medical Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria, 21934, Egypt
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14
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Li K, Lin H, Liu A, Qiu C, Rao Z, Wang Z, Chen S, She X, Zhu S, Li P, Liu L, Wu Q, Wang G, Xu F, Li S. SOD1-high fibroblasts derived exosomal miR-3960 promotes cisplatin resistance in triple-negative breast cancer by suppressing BRSK2-mediated phosphorylation of PIMREG. Cancer Lett 2024; 590:216842. [PMID: 38582395 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Platinum-based neoadjuvant therapy represented by cisplatin is widely employed in treating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), a particularly aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Nevertheless, the emergence of cisplatin resistance presents a formidable challenge to clinical chemotherapy efficacy. Herein, we revealed the critical role of tumor microenvironment (TME) derived exosomal miR-3960 and phosphorylation at the S16 site of PIMREG in activating NF-κB signaling pathway and promoting cisplatin resistance of TNBC. Detailed regulatory mechanisms revealed that SOD1-upregulated fibroblasts secrete miR-3960 and are then transported into TNBC cells via exosomes. Within TNBC cells, miR-3960 targets and inhibits the expression of BRSK2, an AMPK protein kinase family member. Furthermore, we emphasized that BRSK2 contributes to ubiquitination degradation of PIMREG and modulates subsequent activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway by mediating PIMREG phosphorylation at the S16 site, ultimately affects the cisplatin resistance of TNBC. In conclusion, our research demonstrated the crucial role of SOD1high fibroblast, exosomal miR-3960 and S16 site phosphorylated PIMREG in regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway and cisplatin resistance of TNBC. These findings provided significant potential as biomarkers for accurately diagnosing cisplatin-resistant TNBC patients and guiding chemotherapy strategy selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangdi Li
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Han Lin
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Anyi Liu
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Cheng Qiu
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zejun Rao
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhihong Wang
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Siqi Chen
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaowei She
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shengyu Zhu
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Lang Liu
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qi Wu
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Guihua Wang
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Feng Xu
- GI Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Shaotang Li
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
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15
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Niu L, Hu G. EHMT2 Suppresses ARRB1 Transcription and Activates the Hedgehog Signaling to Promote Malignant Phenotype and Stem Cell Property in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Mol Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12033-024-01130-9. [PMID: 38573544 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01130-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents the primary subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), characterized by a high morbidity and mortality rate. Although previous studies have established specific correlations between euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2), a histone lysine methyltransferase, and the malignant phenotype of OSCC cells, its biological functions in OSCC remain largely unknown. This study, grounded in bioinformatics predictions, aims to clarify the influence of EHMT2 on the malignant behavior of OSCC cells and delve into the underlying mechanisms. EHMT2 exhibited high expression in OSCC tissues and demonstrated an association with poor patient outcomes. Artificial EHMT2 silencing in OSCC cells, achieved through lentiviral vector infection, significantly inhibited colony formation, migration, invasion, and cell survival. Regarding the mechanism, EHMT2 was found to bind the promoter of arrestin beta 1 (ARRB1), thereby suppressing its transcription through H3K9me2 modification. ARRB1, in turn, was identified as a negative regulator of the Hedgehog pathway, leading to a reduction in the proteins GLI1 and PTCH1. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) were enriched through repeated sphere formation assays in two OSCC cell lines. EHMT2 was found to activate the Hedgehog pathway, thus promoting sphere formation, migration and invasion, survival, and tumorigenic activity of the OSCC-CSCs. Notably, these effects were counteracted by the additional overexpression of ARRB1. In conclusion, this study provides novel evidence suggesting that EHMT2 plays specific roles in enhancing stem cell properties in OSCC by modulating the ARRB1-Hedgehog signaling cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Niu
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, No. 3999, Binjiang East Road, Fengman District, Jilin, 132011, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangyao Hu
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, No. 3999, Binjiang East Road, Fengman District, Jilin, 132011, Jilin, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Zhang Z, Zhang Y. Transcriptional regulation of cancer stem cell: regulatory factors elucidation and cancer treatment strategies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:99. [PMID: 38561775 PMCID: PMC10986082 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03021-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) were first discovered in the 1990s, revealing the mysteries of cancer origin, migration, recurrence and drug-resistance from a new perspective. The expression of pluripotent genes and complex signal regulatory networks are significant features of CSC, also act as core factors to affect the characteristics of CSC. Transcription is a necessary link to regulate the phenotype and potential of CSC, involving chromatin environment, nucleosome occupancy, histone modification, transcription factor (TF) availability and cis-regulatory elements, which suffer from ambient pressure. Especially, the expression and activity of pluripotent TFs are deeply affected by both internal and external factors, which is the foundation of CSC transcriptional regulation in the current research framework. Growing evidence indicates that regulating epigenetic modifications to alter cancer stemness is effective, and some special promoters and enhancers can serve as targets to influence the properties of CSC. Clarifying the factors that regulate CSC transcription will assist us directly target key stem genes and TFs, or hinder CSC transcription through environmental and other related factors, in order to achieve the goal of inhibiting CSC and tumors. This paper comprehensively reviews the traditional aspects of transcriptional regulation, and explores the progress and insights of the impact on CSC transcription and status through tumor microenvironment (TME), hypoxia, metabolism and new meaningful regulatory factors in conjunction with the latest research. Finally, we present opinions on omnidirectional targeting CSCs transcription to eliminate CSCs and address tumor resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyue Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjie Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Huang Z, Zhou L, Duan J, Qin S, Jiang J, Chen H, Wang K, Liu R, Yuan M, Tang X, Nice EC, Wei Y, Zhang W, Huang C. Oxidative Stress Promotes Liver Cancer Metastasis via RNF25-Mediated E-Cadherin Protein Degradation. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2306929. [PMID: 38286671 PMCID: PMC10987140 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Loss of E-cadherin (ECAD) is required in tumor metastasis. Protein degradation of ECAD in response to oxidative stress is found in metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is independent of transcriptional repression as usually known. Mechanistically, protein kinase A (PKA) senses oxidative stress by redox modification in its β catalytic subunit (PRKACB) at Cys200 and Cys344. The activation of PKA kinase activity subsequently induces RNF25 phosphorylation at Ser450 to initiate RNF25-catalyzed degradation of ECAD. Functionally, RNF25 repression induces ECAD protein expression and inhibits HCC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, these results indicate that RNF25 is a critical regulator of ECAD protein turnover, and PKA is a necessary redox sensor to enable this process. This study provides some mechanistic insight into how oxidative stress-induced ECAD degradation promotes tumor metastasis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Huang
- Department of BiotherapyCancer Center and State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Li Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education)Institute for Viral HepatitisDepartment of Infectious DiseasesThe Second Affiliated HospitalChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Jiufei Duan
- Department of BiotherapyCancer Center and State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Siyuan Qin
- Department of BiotherapyCancer Center and State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Jingwen Jiang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Haining Chen
- Colorectal Cancer CenterDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Kui Wang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic MedicineState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Rui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesResearch Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and ManagementChinese Academy of Medical SciencesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Minlan Yuan
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric LaboratoryThe State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Biomedical Big Data CenterWest China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Xiangdong Tang
- Sleep Medicine CenterDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care MedicineMental Health CenterTranslational Neuroscience CenterState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Edouard C. Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVIC3167Australia
| | - Yuquan Wei
- Department of BiotherapyCancer Center and State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Frontiers Medical CenterTianfu Jincheng LaboratoryChengdu610212China
- Medical Big Data CenterSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Canhua Huang
- Department of BiotherapyCancer Center and State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
- Frontiers Medical CenterTianfu Jincheng LaboratoryChengdu610212China
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18
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Cao X, Yan Z, Chen Z, Ge Y, Hu X, Peng F, Huang W, Zhang P, Sun R, Chen J, Ding M, Zong D, He X. The Emerging Role of Deubiquitinases in Radiosensitivity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2024; 118:1347-1370. [PMID: 38092257 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Radiation therapy is a primary treatment for cancer, but radioresistance remains a significant challenge in improving efficacy and reducing toxicity. Accumulating evidence suggests that deubiquitinases (DUBs) play a crucial role in regulating cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Traditional small-molecule DUB inhibitors have demonstrated radiosensitization effects, and novel deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs) provide a promising strategy for radiosensitizer development by harnessing the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This review highlights the mechanisms by which DUBs regulate radiosensitivity, including DNA damage repair, the cell cycle, cell death, and hypoxia. Progress on DUB inhibitors and DUBTACs is summarized, and their potential radiosensitization effects are discussed. Developing drugs targeting DUBs appears to be a promising alternative approach to overcoming radioresistance, warranting further research into their mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Cao
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhenyu Yan
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zihan Chen
- Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yizhi Ge
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fanyu Peng
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenxuan Huang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Pingchuan Zhang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruozhou Sun
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiazhen Chen
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingjun Ding
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dan Zong
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xia He
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China; Department of Environmental Genomics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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19
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Mustafa M, Abbas K, Alam M, Ahmad W, Moinuddin, Usmani N, Siddiqui SA, Habib S. Molecular pathways and therapeutic targets linked to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:895-913. [PMID: 37247161 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04772-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cellular growth, abnormal morphology, and altered proliferation. Cancerous cells lose their ability to act as anchors, allowing them to spread throughout the body and infiltrate nearby cells, tissues, and organs. If these cells are not identified and treated promptly, they will likely spread. Around 70% of female breast cancers are caused by a mutation in the BRCA gene, specifically BRCA1. The absence of progesterone, oestrogen and HER2 receptors (human epidermal growth factor) distinguishes the TNBC subtype of breast cancer. There were approximately 6,85,000 deaths worldwide and 2.3 million new breast cancer cases in women in 2020. Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally, affecting 7.8 million people at the end of 2020. Compared to other cancer types, breast cancer causes more women to lose disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Worldwide, women can develop breast cancer at any age after puberty, but rates increase with age. The maintenance of mammary stem cell stemness is disrupted in TNBC, governed by signalling cascades controlling healthy mammary gland growth and development. Interpreting these essential cascades may facilitate an in-depth understanding of TNBC cancer and the search for an appropriate therapeutic target. Its treatment remains challenging because it lacks specific receptors, which renders hormone therapy and medications ineffective. In addition to radiotherapy, numerous recognized chemotherapeutic medicines are available as inhibitors of signalling pathways, while others are currently undergoing clinical trials. This article summarizes the vital druggable targets, therapeutic approaches, and strategies associated with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Kashif Abbas
- Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mudassir Alam
- Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Waleem Ahmad
- Department of Medicine, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Moinuddin
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Nazura Usmani
- Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Shahid Ali Siddiqui
- Department of Radiotherapy, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Safia Habib
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
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20
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Gholamzad A, Khakpour N, Khosroshahi EM, Asadi S, Koohpar ZK, Matinahmadi A, Jebali A, Rashidi M, Hashemi M, Sadi FH, Gholamzad M. Cancer stem cells: The important role of CD markers, Signaling pathways, and MicroRNAs. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 256:155227. [PMID: 38490099 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
For the first time, a subset of small cancer cells identified in acute myeloid leukemia has been termed Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs). These cells are notorious for their robust proliferation, self-renewal abilities, significant tumor-forming potential, spread, and resistance to treatments. CSCs are a global concern, as it found in numerous types of cancer, posing a real-world challenge today. Our review encompasses research on key CSC markers, signaling pathways, and MicroRNA in three types of cancer: breast, colon, and liver. These factors play a critical role in either promoting or inhibiting cancer cell growth. The reviewed studies have shown that as cells undergo malignant transformation, there can be an increase or decrease in the expression of different Cluster of Differentiation (CD) markers on their surface. Furthermore, alterations in essential signaling pathways, such as Wnt and Notch1, may impact CSC proliferation, survival, and movement, while also providing potential targets for cancer therapies. Additionally, some research has focused on MicroRNAs due to their dual role as potential therapeutic biomarkers and their ability to enhance CSCs' response to anti-cancer drugs. MicroRNAs also regulate a wide array of cellular processes, including the self-renewal and pluripotency of CSCs, and influence gene transcription. Thus, these studies indicate that MicroRNAs play a significant role in the malignancy of various tumors. Although the gathered information suggests that specific CSC markers, signaling pathways, and MicroRNAs are influential in determining the destiny of cancer cells and could be advantageous for therapeutic strategies, their precise roles and impacts remain incompletely defined, necessitating further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Gholamzad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloofar Khakpour
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Elaheh Mohandesi Khosroshahi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saba Asadi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Khazaei Koohpar
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences,Tonekabon Branch,Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
| | - Arash Matinahmadi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Nicolaus Copernicus,Torun,Poland
| | - Ali Jebali
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Deprtment of Medical Nanotechnology,Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology,Tehran Medical Sciences,Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Rashidi
- Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Mehrdad Gholamzad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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Elsaman T, Muddathir AM, Mohieldin EAM, Batubara I, Rahminiwati M, Yamauchi K, Mohamed MA, Asoka SF, Büsselberg D, Habtemariam S, Sharifi-Rad J. Ginsenoside Rg5 as an anticancer drug: a comprehensive review on mechanisms, structure-activity relationship, and prospects for clinical advancement. Pharmacol Rep 2024; 76:287-306. [PMID: 38526651 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00586-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in the world. Despite the considerable success of conventional treatment strategies, the incidence and mortality rates are still high, making developing new effective anticancer therapies an urgent priority. Ginsenoside Rg5 (Rg5) is a minor ginsenoside constituent obtained exclusively from ginseng species and is known for its broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. This article aimed to comprehensively review the anticancer properties of Rg5, focusing on action mechanisms, structure-activity relationship (SAR), and pharmacokinetics attributes. The in vitro and in vivo activities of Rg5 have been proven against several cancer types, such as breast, liver, lung, bone, and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The modulation of multiple signaling pathways critical for cancer growth and survival mediates these activities. Nevertheless, human clinical studies of Rg5 have not been addressed before, and there is still considerable ambiguity regarding its pharmacokinetics properties. In addition, a significant shortage in the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of Rg5 has been identified. Therefore, future efforts should focus on further optimization by performing extensive SAR studies to uncover the structural features essential for the potent anticancer activity of Rg5. Thus, this review highlights the value of Rg5 as a potential anticancer drug candidate and identifies the research areas requiring more investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilal Elsaman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Mahmoud Muddathir
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat, 13314, Khartoum North, Sudan
| | | | - Irmanida Batubara
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia
- Tropical Biopharmaca Research Center, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Min Rahminiwati
- Division of Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, IPB University, Jln Agathis Dramaga, Bogor, West Java, 16680, Indonesia
- Tropical Biopharmaca Research Center, IPB University, Jl. Taman Kencana No. 3, Bogor, West Java, 16128, Indonesia
| | - Kosei Yamauchi
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Magdi Awadalla Mohamed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shadila Fira Asoka
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia
- Tropical Biopharmaca Research Center, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Dietrich Büsselberg
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar
| | - Solomon Habtemariam
- Pharmacognosy Research and Herbal Analysis Services UK, Central Avenue , Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
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22
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Rodrigues DB, Moreira HR, Jarnalo M, Horta R, Marques AP, Reis RL, Pirraco RP. Generation of 3D melanoma models using an assembloid-based approach. Acta Biomater 2024; 178:93-110. [PMID: 38382833 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
While 3D tumor models have greatly evolved over the past years, there is still a strong requirement for more biosimilar models which are capable of recapitulating cellular crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment while equally displaying representative levels of tumor aggressiveness and invasion. Herein, we disclose an assembloid melanoma model based on the fusion of individual stromal multicellular spheroids (MCSs). In contrast to more traditional tumor models, we show that it is possible to develop self-organizing, heterotypic melanoma models where tumor cells present stem-cell like features like up-regulated pluripotency master regulators SOX2, POU5F1 and NANOG. Additionally, these assembloids display high levels of invasiveness while embedded in 3D matrices as evidenced by stromal cell promotion of melanoma cell invasion via metalloproteinase production. Furthermore, sensitivity to anticancer drug doxorubicin was demonstrated for the melanoma assembloid model. These findings suggest that melanoma assembloids may play a significant role in the field of 3D cancer models as they more closely mimic the tumor microenvironment when compared to more traditional MCSs, opening the doors to a better understanding of the role of tumor microenvironment in supporting tumor progression. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The development of complex 3D tumor models that better recapitulate the tumor microenvironment is crucial for both an improved comprehension of intercellular crosstalk and for more efficient drug screening. We have herein developed a self-organizing heterotypic assembloid-based melanoma model capable of closely mimicking the tumor microenvironment. Key features recapitulated were the preservation of cancer cell stemness, sensitivity to anti-cancer agents and tumor cell invasion promoted by stromal cells. The approach of pre-establishing distinct stromal domains for subsequent combination into more complex tumor constructs provides a route for developing superior tumor models with a higher degree of similarity to native cancer tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Rodrigues
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Helena R Moreira
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Mariana Jarnalo
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Burn Unity, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine - University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Horta
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Burn Unity, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine - University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandra P Marques
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Rogério P Pirraco
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal.
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Zhao R, Li T, Zhao X, Yang Z, Ma L, Wang X. The m6A reader IGF2BP2 promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells by increasing the stability of OCT4 mRNA. Biochem Cell Biol 2024; 102:169-178. [PMID: 37917979 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2023-0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) serves as a reader of RNA m6A (N6 methyladenosine) modification to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Emerging evidence suggests that IGF2BP2 plays critical roles in tumorigenesis and malignant development. However, the biological function and molecular mechanism of IGF2BP2 in ESCC are not well understood. Here, we found that IGF2BP2 expression was upregulated in esophageal cancer tissues and ESCC cells, and IGF2BP2 overexpression enhanced proliferation, migration, invasion, and stem cell-like properties of ESCC cells. Conversely, the knockdown of IGF2BP2 expression inhibited malignant phenotype of ESCC cells. Mechanistically, IGF2BP2 upregulated octomer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) mRNA expression, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay proved that IGF2BP2 could interact with OCT4 mRNA. Moreover, OCT4 was modified at m6A confirmed by methylated m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP)-qPCR assay, and IGF2BP2 knockdown reduced OCT4 mRNA stability. These results suggested that IGF2BP2 served as a reader for m6A-modified OCT4, thus increased OCT4 mRNA expression by regulating its stability. Furthermore, the knockdown of OCT4 could reverse the effects of IGF2BP2 on ESCC cells. In conclusion, these data indicate that IGF2BP2, as a reader for m6A, plays an oncogenic role by regulating OCT4 expression in ESCC, which provides new insights into targeting IGF2BP2/OCT4 axis for the therapy of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Xinran Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Ziyi Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Liying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xiaoxia Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China
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Ruszkowska-Ciastek B, Kwiatkowska K, Marques-da-Silva D, Lagoa R. Cancer Stem Cells from Definition to Detection and Targeted Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3903. [PMID: 38612718 PMCID: PMC11011379 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancers remain the second leading cause of mortality in the world. Preclinical and clinical studies point an important role of cancer/leukaemia stem cells (CSCs/LSCs) in the colonisation at secondary organ sites upon metastatic spreading, although the precise mechanisms for specific actions are still not fully understood. Reviewing the present knowledge on the crucial role of CSCs/LSCs, their plasticity, and population heterogeneity in treatment failures in cancer patients is timely. Standard chemotherapy, which acts mainly on rapidly dividing cells, is unable to adequately affect CSCs with a low proliferation rate. One of the proposed mechanisms of CSC resistance to anticancer agents is the fact that these cells can easily shift between different phases of the cell cycle in response to typical cell stimuli induced by anticancer drugs. In this work, we reviewed the recent studies on CSC/LSC alterations associated with disease recurrence, and we systematised the functional assays, markers, and novel methods for CSCs screening. This review emphasises CSCs' involvement in cancer progression and metastasis, as well as CSC/LSC targeting by synthetic and natural compounds aiming at their elimination or modulation of stemness properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ruszkowska-Ciastek
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kwiatkowska
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Jan Biziel University Hospital No. 2, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Dorinda Marques-da-Silva
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; (D.M.-d.-S.); (R.L.)
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena-Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Lagoa
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; (D.M.-d.-S.); (R.L.)
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena-Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
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Chi F, Griffiths JI, Nath A, Bild AH. Paradoxical cancer cell proliferation after FGFR inhibition through decreased p21 signaling in FGFR1-amplified breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:54. [PMID: 38553760 PMCID: PMC10979625 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01808-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) control various cellular functions through fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) activation, including proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival. FGFR amplification in ER + breast cancer patients correlate with poor prognosis, and FGFR inhibitors are currently being tested in clinical trials. By comparing three-dimensional spheroid growth of ER + breast cancer cells with and without FGFR1 amplification, our research discovered that FGF2 treatment can paradoxically decrease proliferation in cells with FGFR1 amplification or overexpression. In contrast, FGF2 treatment in cells without FGFR1 amplification promotes classical FGFR proliferative signaling through the MAPK cascade. The growth inhibitory effect of FGF2 in FGFR1 amplified cells aligned with an increase in p21, a cell cycle inhibitor that hinders the G1 to S phase transition in the cell cycle. Additionally, FGF2 addition in FGFR1 amplified cells activated JAK-STAT signaling and promoted a stem cell-like state. FGF2-induced paradoxical effects were reversed by inhibiting p21 or the JAK-STAT pathway and with pan-FGFR inhibitors. Analysis of patient ER + breast tumor transcriptomes from the TCGA and METABRIC datasets demonstrated a strong positive association between expression of FGF2 and stemness signatures, which was further enhanced in tumors with high FGFR1 expression. Overall, our findings reveal a divergence in FGFR signaling, transitioning from a proliferative to stemness state driven by activation of JAK-STAT signaling and modulation of p21 levels. Activation of these divergent signaling pathways in FGFR amplified cancer cells and paradoxical growth effects highlight a challenge in the use of FGFR inhibitors in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Chi
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Institute, 1218 S Fifth Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Jason I Griffiths
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Institute, 1218 S Fifth Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Aritro Nath
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Institute, 1218 S Fifth Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
| | - Andrea H Bild
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Institute, 1218 S Fifth Ave, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA.
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Sato T, Oshi M, Huang JL, Chida K, Roy AM, Endo I, Takabe K. CD133 expression is associated with less DNA repair, better response to chemotherapy and survival in ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer. Res Sq 2024:rs.3.rs-4148608. [PMID: 38585981 PMCID: PMC10996805 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4148608/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Purpose CD133, a cancer stem cells (CSC) marker, has been reported to be associated with treatment resistance and worse survival in triple-negative breast cancer (BC). However, the clinical relevance of CD133 expression in ER-positive/HER2-negative (ER+/HER2-) BC, the most abundant subtype, remains unknown. Methods The BC cohorts from the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC, n = 1904) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 1065) were used to obtain biological variables and gene expression data. Results Epithelial cells were the exclusive source of CD133 gene expression in a bulk BC. CD133-high ER+/HER2- BC was associated with CD24, NOTCH1, DLL1, and ALDH1A1 gene expressions, as well as with WNT/β-Catenin, Hedgehog, and Notchsignaling pathways, all characteristic for CSC. Consistent with a CSC phenotype, CD133-low BC was enriched with gene sets related to cell proliferation, such as G2M Checkpoint, MYC Targets V1, E2F Targets, and Ki67 gene expression. CD133-low BC was also linked with enrichment of genes related to DNA repair, such as BRCA1, E2F1, E2F4, CDK1/2. On the other hand, CD133-high tumors had proinflammatory microenvironment, higher activity of immune cells, and higher expression of genes related to inflammation and immune response. Finally, CD133-high tumors had better pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in GSE25066 cohort and better disease-free survival and overall survival in both TCGA and METABRIC cohorts. Conclusion CD133-high ER+/HER2- BC was associated with CSC phenotype such as less cell proliferation and DNA repair, but also with enhanced inflammation, better response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and better prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masanori Oshi
- Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | - Itaru Endo
- Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine
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Fan G, Xie T, Li L, Tang L, Han X, Shi Y. Single-cell and spatial analyses revealed the co-location of cancer stem cells and SPP1+ macrophage in hypoxic region that determines the poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:75. [PMID: 38521868 PMCID: PMC10960828 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00564-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), classical cancer stem cells (CSC) markers were shared by normal stem cells, targeting which may hinder hepatic regeneration and cause liver failure. Additionally, the spatial structure of CSC still remained elusive. To address these limitations, we undertook a comprehensive study combining single-cell data (56,022 cells from 20 samples) and spatial data (38,191 spots from eight samples) to obtain CSC signature and uncover its spatial structure. Utilizing the CytoTRACE algorithm, we discretely identified CSC, which displayed upregulated proliferation pathways regulated by HIF1A. A CSC signature of 107 genes was then developed using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Notably, HCC patients with high CSC levels exhibited an accumulation of SPP1+ macrophages (Macro_SPP1) expressing metalloproteinases (MMP9, MMP12, and MMP7) regulated by HIF1A, suggesting a hypoxic tumor region connecting Macro_SPP1 and CSC. Both CSC and Macro_SPP1 correlated with worse prognosis and undesirable immunotherapy response. Spatial analysis revealed the co-location of CSC and Macro_SPP1, with CD8 T cells excluded from the tumor region. The co-location area and non-tumor area of boundary exhibited a high level of hypoxia, with the HAVRC2 checkpoint highly expressed. Within the co-location area, the SPP1 signaling pathway was most active in cell-cell communication, with SPP1-CD44 and SPP1-ITGA/ITGB identified as the main ligand-receptor pairs. This study successfully constructed a CSC signature and demonstrated the co-location of CSC and Macro_SPP1 in a hypoxic region that exacerbates the tumor microenvironment in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyu Fan
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs; No. 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Tongji Xie
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs; No. 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Le Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs; No. 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiaohong Han
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Drug, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical PK & PD Investigation for Innovative Drugs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; No.1, Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yuankai Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs; No. 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China.
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Ma L, Ai F, Xiao H, Wang F, Shi L, Bai X, Zhu Y, Ma W. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide reverses drug resistance in oxaliplatin-resistant colon cancer cells by inhibiting PI3K/AKT-dependent phosphomannose isomerase. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1367747. [PMID: 38576495 PMCID: PMC10991850 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1367747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: Here, we aimed to explore the effect of LBP in combination with Oxaliplatin (OXA) on reversing drug resistance in colon cancer cells through in vitro and in vivo experiments. We also aimed to explore the possible mechanism underlying this effect. Finally, we aimed to determine potential targets of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) in colon cancer (CC) through network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: The invasion ability of colon cancer cells was assessed using the invasion assay. The migration ability of these cells was assessed using the migration assay and wound healing assay. Cell cycle analysis was carried out using flow cytometry. The expression levels of phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) and ATP-binding cassette transport protein of G2 (ABCG2) proteins were determined using immunofluorescence and western blotting. The expression levels of phosphatidylinositol3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and BCL2-Associated X (Bax) were determined using western blotting. Forty BALB/c nude mice purchased from Weitong Lihua, Beijing, for the in vivo analyses. The mice were randomly divided into eight groups. They were administered HCT116 and HCT116-OXR cells to prepare colon cancer xenograft models and then treated with PBS, LBP (50 mg/kg), OXA (10 mg/kg), or LBP + OXA (50 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg). The tumor weight and volume of treated model mice were measured, and organ toxicity was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression levels of PMI, ABCG2, PI3K, and AKT proteins were then assessed using immunohistochemistry. Moreover, PMI and ABCG2 expression levels were analyzed using immunofluorescence and western blotting. The active components and possible targets of LBP in colon cancer were explored using in silico analysis. GeneCards was used to identify CC targets, and an online Venn analysis tool was used to determine intersection targets between these and LBP active components. The PPI network for intersection target protein interactions and the PPI network for interactions between the intersection target proteins and PMI was built using STRING and Cytoscape. To obtain putative targets of LBP in CC, we performed GO function enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Results: Compared with the HCT116-OXR blank treatment group, both invasion and migration abilities of HCT116-OXR cells were inhibited in the LBP + OXA (2.5 mg/mL LBP, 10 μΜ OXA) group (p < 0.05). Cells in the LBP + OXA (2.5 mg/mL LBP, 10 μΜ OXA) group were found to arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Knockdown of PMI was found to downregulate PI3K, AKT, and Bcl-2 (p < 0.05), while it was found to upregulate Bax (p < 0.05). After treatment with L. barbarum polysaccharide, 40 colon cancer subcutaneous tumor models showed a decrease in tumor size. There was no difference in the liver index after LBP treatment (p > 0.05). However, the spleen index decreased in the OXA and LBP + OXA groups (p < 0.05), possibly as a side effect of oxaliplatin. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting showed that LBP + OXA treatment decreased PMI and ABCG2 expression levels (p < 0.05). Moreover, immunohistochemistry showed that LBP + OXA treatment decreased the expression levels of PI3K and AKT (p < 0.05). Network pharmacology analysis revealed 45 active LBP components, including carotenoids, phenylpropanoids, quercetin, xanthophylls, and other polyphenols. It also revealed 146 therapeutic targets of LBP, including AKT, SRC, EGFR, HRAS, STAT3, and MAPK3. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the LBP target proteins were enriched in pathways, including cancer-related signaling pathways, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and IL-17 signaling pathways. Finally, molecular docking experiments revealed that the active LBP components bind well with ABCG2 and PMI. conclusion: Our in vitro experiments showed that PMI knockdown downregulated PI3K, AKT, and Bcl-2 and upregulated Bax. This finding confirms that PMI plays a role in drug resistance by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway and lays a foundation to study the mechanism underlying the reversal of colon cancer cell drug resistance by the combination of LBP and OXA. Our in vivo experiments showed that LBP combined with oxaliplatin could inhibit tumor growth. LBP showed no hepatic or splenic toxicity. LBP combined with oxaliplatin could downregulate the expression levels of PMI, ABCG2, PI3K, and AKT; it may thus have positive significance for the treatment of advanced metastatic colon cancer. Our network pharmacology analysis revealed the core targets of LBP in the treatment of CC as well as the pathways they are enriched in. It further verified the results of our in vitro and in vivo experiments, showing the involvement of multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway synergism in the drug-reversing effect of LBP in CC. Overall, the findings of the present study provide new avenues for the future clinical treatment of CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Ningxia Ethnomedicine Modernization of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Fangfang Ai
- Key Laboratory of Ningxia Ethnomedicine Modernization of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Hongyan Xiao
- People’s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Fang Wang
- People’s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Lei Shi
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xuehong Bai
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yongzhao Zhu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Wenping Ma
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, China
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Abdelrahman NA, Al-Karmalawy AA, Jaballah MY, Yahya G, Sharaky M, Abouzid KAM. Design and synthesis of novel chloropyridazine hybrids as promising anticancer agents acting by apoptosis induction and PARP-1 inhibition through a molecular hybridization strategy. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:981-997. [PMID: 38516606 PMCID: PMC10953493 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00751k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Guided by the molecular hybridization principle, a novel series of 4-chloropyridazinoxyphenyl conjugates (3a-h, 4a-e, and 5) was designed and synthesized as proposed apoptotic inducers and PARP-1 inhibitors. The growth inhibition % of the designed hybrids was investigated in eleven cancer cell lines, where the anticancer activities were found to be in the following order: 4-chloropyridazinoxyphenyl-aromatic ketones hybrids (3a-h) > 4-chloropyridazinoxyphenyl-benzyloxyphenylethan-1-one hybrids (4a-e) > 4-chloropyridazinoxyphenyl-thiazolidine-2,4-dione hybrid (5). Further, the most sensitive three cancer cell lines (HNO97, FaDu, and MDA-MB-468) were selected to measure the IC50 values of the new hybrids. Moreover, the frontier three members (3c, 3e, and 4b) were selected for the measurements of apoptotic protein markers (p53, BAX, caspase 3, caspase 6, BCL-2, and CK 18). Besides, the impact of compounds 3a-e and 4b on the activity of PARP-1 was investigated, where 3c, 3d, and 3e demonstrated comparable efficiencies to olaparib. Furthermore, γ-H2Ax, a well-established marker for double-strand DNA breaks, was examined and the occurrence of DNA damage was observed. In addition, a significant inhibition of cell proliferation and a remarkable 15 to 50-fold reduction in the number of colonies compared to the control group were recorded. Finally, the PARP-1 inhibitory potential of the novel hybrids was compared to the co-crystal of the target receptor (PDB ID: 6NTU) using molecular docking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norhan A Abdelrahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain-Shams University Cairo 11566 Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Al-Karmalawy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt New Damietta 34518 Egypt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University 6th of October City Giza 12566 Egypt
| | - Maiy Y Jaballah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain-Shams University Cairo 11566 Egypt
| | - Galal Yahya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Zagazig University Zagazig 44519 Egypt
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona, Spanish National Research Council Catalonia Spain
| | - Marwa Sharaky
- Cancer Biology Department, Pharmacology Unit, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University Cairo Egypt
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University 6th of October City Giza 12566 Egypt
| | - Khaled A M Abouzid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain-Shams University Cairo 11566 Egypt
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Luo HQ, Wang Y, Ren J, Zhang QY, Chen Y, Chen MH, Huang NX, Wu MH, Tang XD, Li XY. MiRNA-296-5p promotes the sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to cisplatin via targeted inhibition of STAT3/KLF4 signaling axis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6681. [PMID: 38509141 PMCID: PMC10954770 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55123-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Improving drug sensitivity is an important strategy in chemotherapy of cancer and accumulating evidence indicates that miRNAs are involved in the regulation of drug sensitivity, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. Our previous study has found that miR-296-5p was significantly downregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here, we aim to explore whether miR-296-5p is involved in regulating cisplatin sensitivity in NPC by regulating STAT3/KLF4 signaling axis. The cell proliferation and clonogenic capacity of NPC cells were evaluated by CCK8 Assay and plate colony assay, respectively. The Annexin V-FITC staining kit was used to determine and quantify the apoptotic cells using flow cytometry. The drug efflux ability of NPC cells were determined by Rhodamine 123 efflux experiment. The expression of miR-296-5p, apoptosis-related genes and protein in NPC cell lines were detected by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Animal study was used to evaluate the sensitivity of NPC cells to DDP treatment in vivo. Our results showed that elevated miR-296-5p expression obviously promoted the sensitivity of NPC cells to DDP by inhibiting cell proliferation and clonogenic capacity, and inducing apoptosis. In addition, we found that miR-296-5p inhibited the expression of STAT3 and KLF4 in NPC cells, while overexpression of exogenous STAT3 reversed miR-296-5p-mediated enhancement in cell death of DDP-treated NPC cells. In vivo studies further confirmed that miR-296-5p promotes the sensitivity of NPC cells to DDP treatment. miRNA-296-5p enhances the drug sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to cisplatin via STAT3/KLF4 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Qing Luo
- Center of Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biologically Active Molecules of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Ren
- Key Laboratory for Biologically Active Molecules of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
| | - Quan-Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biologically Active Molecules of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Biologically Active Molecules of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
| | - Mei-Hui Chen
- Key Laboratory for Biologically Active Molecules of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning-Xin Huang
- Center of Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People's Republic of China
| | - Min-Hua Wu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu-Dong Tang
- Key Laboratory for Biologically Active Molecules of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiang-Yong Li
- Key Laboratory for Biologically Active Molecules of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, People's Republic of China.
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Rodrigues ACBDC, Silva SLR, Dias IRSB, Costa RGA, Oliveira MDS, Soares MBP, Dias RB, Valverde LF, Rocha CAG, Johnson EM, Pina C, Bezerra DP. Piplartine eliminates CD34 + AML stem/progenitor cells by inducing oxidative stress and suppressing NF-κB signalling. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:147. [PMID: 38503729 PMCID: PMC10951277 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01909-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a haematological malignancy characterised by the accumulation of transformed myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow. Piplartine (PL), also known as piperlongumine, is a pro-oxidant small molecule extracted from peppers that has demonstrated antineoplastic potential in solid tumours and other haematological malignancies. In this work, we explored the potential of PL to treat AML through the use of a combination of cellular and molecular analyses of primary and cultured leukaemia cells in vitro and in vivo. We showed that PL exhibits in vitro cytotoxicity against AML cells, including CD34+ leukaemia-propagating cells, but not healthy haematopoietic progenitors, suggesting anti-leukaemia selectivity. Mechanistically, PL treatment increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and induced ROS-mediated apoptosis in AML cells, which could be prevented by treatment with the antioxidant scavenger N-acetyl-cysteine and the pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK. PL treatment reduced NFKB1 gene transcription and the level of NF-κB p65 (pS536), which was depleted from the nucleus of AML cells, indicating suppression of NF-κB p65 signalling. Significantly, PL suppressed AML development in a mouse xenograft model, and its combination with current AML treatments (cytarabine, daunorubicin and azacytidine) had synergistic effects, indicating translational therapeutic potential. Taken together, these data position PL as a novel anti-AML candidate drug that can target leukaemia stem/progenitors and is amenable to combinatorial therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina B da C Rodrigues
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Suellen L R Silva
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Ingrid R S B Dias
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Rafaela G A Costa
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Maiara de S Oliveira
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Milena B P Soares
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
- SENAI Institute for Innovation in Advanced Health Systems, SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador, Bahia, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Rosane B Dias
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
- Department of Propaedeutics and Integrated Clinical, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, 40301-155, Brazil
| | - Ludmila F Valverde
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Clarissa A G Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
- Department of Propaedeutics and Integrated Clinical, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, 40301-155, Brazil
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Salvador, Bahia, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Emily M Johnson
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Cristina Pina
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
| | - Daniel P Bezerra
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil.
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Li Z, Ma Z, Wang S, Yan Q, Zhuang H, Zhou Z, Liu C, Chen Y, Han M, Wu Z, Huang S, Zhou Q, Hou B, Zhang C. LINC00909 up-regulates pluripotency factors and promotes cancer stemness and metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting SMAD4. Biol Direct 2024; 19:24. [PMID: 38504385 PMCID: PMC10949730 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-024-00463-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer stem cells are crucial for tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. Presently, long non-coding RNAs were found to be associated with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma stemness characteristics but the underlying mechanism is largely known. Here, we aim to explore the function of LINC00909 in regulating pancreatic cancer stemness and cancer metastasis. METHODS The expression level and clinical characteristics of LINC00909 were verified in 80-paired normal pancreas and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma tissues from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital cohort by in situ hybridization. RNA sequencing of PANC-1 cells with empty vector or vector encoding LINC00909 was experimented for subsequent bioinformatics analysis. The effect of LINC00909 in cancer stemness and metastasis was examined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The interaction between LINC00909 with SMAD4 and the pluripotency factors were studied. RESULTS LINC00909 was generally upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and was associated with inferior clinicopathologic features and outcome. Over-expression of LINC00909 enhanced the expression of pluripotency factors and cancer stem cells phenotype, while knock-down of LINC00909 decreased the expression of pluripotency factors and cancer stem cells phenotype. Moreover, LINC00909 inversely regulated SMAD4 expression, knock-down of SMAD4 rescued the effect of LINC00909-deletion inhibition on pluripotency factors and cancer stem cells phenotype. These indicated the effect of LINC00909 on pluripotency factors and CSC phenotype was dependent on SMAD4 and MAPK/JNK signaling pathway, another downstream pathway of SMAD4 was also activated by LINC00909. Specifically, LINC00909 was localized in the cytoplasm in pancreatic cancer cells and decreased the stability the SMAD4 mRNA. Finally, we found over-expression of LINC00909 not only accelerated tumor growth in subcutaneous mice models, but also facilitated tumorigenicity and spleen metastasis in orthotopic mice models. CONCLUSION We demonstrate LINC00909 inhibits SMAD4 expression at the post-transcriptional level, which up-regulates the expression of pluripotency factors and activates the MAPK/JNK signaling pathway, leading to enrichment of cancer stem cells and cancer metastasis in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenchong Li
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan people's Hospital, Heyuan, 517000, China
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Junior Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Gastrointestinal Oncology and Preclinical Models, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Zuyi Ma
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Shujie Wang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Qian Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China
| | - Hongkai Zhuang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zixuan Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China
| | - Chunsheng Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Yubin Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China
| | - Mingqian Han
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Zelong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Shanzhou Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan people's Hospital, Heyuan, 517000, China
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
- South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Hui Ya Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Huizhou, Guangdong, 516081, China.
- Department of Liver Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Baohua Hou
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan people's Hospital, Heyuan, 517000, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China.
- South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China.
| | - Chuanzhao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan people's Hospital, Heyuan, 517000, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China.
- South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China.
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Sun Y, Tang L, Kan X, Tan L, Song C, Qiu X, Liao Y, Nair V, Ding C, Liu X, Sun Y. Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus induced degradation of YAP through E3 ubiquitin ligase PRKN to exacerbate ferroptosis in tumor cells. J Virol 2024; 98:e0189723. [PMID: 38411946 PMCID: PMC10949840 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01897-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has recently gained considerable attention in the field of cancer therapy. There is significant crosstalk between ferroptosis and several classical signaling pathways, such as the Hippo pathway, which suppresses abnormal growth and is frequently aberrant in tumor tissues. Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP), the core effector molecule of the Hippo pathway, is abnormally expressed and activated in a variety of malignant tumor tissues. We previously proved that the oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) activated ferroptosis to kill tumor cells. NDV has been used in tumor therapy; however, its oncolytic mechanism is not completely understood. In this study, we demonstrated that NDV exacerbated ferroptosis in tumor cells by inducing ubiquitin-mediated degradation of YAP at Lys90 through E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin (PRKN). Blocking YAP degradation suppressed NDV-induced ferroptosis by suppressing the expression of Zrt/Irt-like protein 14 (ZIP14), a metal ion transporter that regulates iron uptake. These findings demonstrate that NDV exacerbated ferroptosis in tumor cells by inducing YAP degradation. Our study provides new insights into the mechanism of NDV-induced ferroptosis and highlights the critical role that oncolytic viruses play in the treatment of drug-resistant cancers.IMPORTANCEThe oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is being developed for use in cancer treatment; however, its oncolytic mechanism is still not completely understood. The Hippo pathway, which is a tumor suppressor pathway, is frequently dysregulated in tumor tissues due to aberrant yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) activation. In this study, we have demonstrated that NDV degrades YAP to induce ferroptosis and promote virus replication in tumor cells. Notably, NDV was found to induce ubiquitin-mediated degradation of YAP at Lys90 through E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin (PRKN). Our study reveals a new mechanism by which NDV induces ferroptosis and provides new insights into NDV as an oncolytic agent for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Sun
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Lanlan Tang
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianjin Kan
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Tan
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuiping Song
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Xusheng Qiu
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Liao
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Venugopal Nair
- Avian Oncogenic viruses group, UK-China Centre of Excellence on Avian Disease Research, The Pirbright Institute, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Chan Ding
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiufan Liu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yingjie Sun
- Department of Avian Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, China
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Shu X, Zhang HW, Liu SY, Sun LX, Zhang T, Ran YL. Anti-ENO1 antibody combined with metformin against tumor resistance: a novel antibody-based platform. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16817. [PMID: 38515460 PMCID: PMC10956521 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Antibody-based platforms (i.e., ADC) have emerged as one of the most encouraging tools for the cancer resistance caused by cancer stem cells (CSCs) enrichment. Our study might provide a promising therapeutic direction against drug resistance and serve as a potential precursor platform for screening ADC. Methods The cell migration, invasion, drug resistance, and self-renewal were assessed by the cell invasion and migration assay, wound healing assay, CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and sphere formation assay, respectively. The expression profiles of CSCs (ALDH+ and CD44+) subpopulations were screened by flow cytometry. The western blot and cell immunofluorescence assay were used to evaluate pathway-related protein expression in both anti-ENO1 antibody, MET combined with DPP/CTX-treated CSCs. Results In the present study, western blot and flow cytometry verified that anti-ENO1 antibody target the CD44+ subpopulation by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway, while metformin might target the ALDH+ subpopulation through activation of the AMPK pathway and thus reverse drug resistance to varying degrees. Subsequently, in vitro investigation indicated that anti-ENO1 antibody, metformin combined with cisplatin/cetuximab could simultaneously target ALDH+ and CD44+ subpopulations. The combination also inhibited the CSCs proliferation, migration, invasion, and sphere formation; which may result in overcoming the drug resistance. Then, molecular mechanism exploration verified that the anti-ENO1 antibody, metformin combined with cisplatin/cetuximab inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Conclusions The study preliminarily revealed anti-ENO1 antibody combined with metformin could overcome drug resistance against CSCs by inhibiting the Wnt//β-catenin pathway and might serve as a potential precursor platform for screening ADC. More importantly, it is reasonably believed that antibody-based drug combination therapy might function as an encouraging tool for oncotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Shu
- National Center for Orthopaedics, Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Beijing JiShuiTan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Wen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shi Ya Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Xin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- The Second People’s Hospital of Xining, Xining, China
| | - Yu Liang Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Han F, Chen S, Zhang K, Zhang K, Wang M, Wang P. Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing data reveal aberrant DNA methylation in SMAD3 promoter region in tumor-associated fibroblasts affecting molecular mechanism of radiosensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer. J Transl Med 2024; 22:288. [PMID: 38493128 PMCID: PMC10944599 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05057-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often exhibits resistance to radiotherapy, posing significant treatment challenges. This study investigates the role of SMAD3 in NSCLC, focusing on its potential in influencing radiosensitivity via the ITGA6/PI3K/Akt pathway. METHODS The study utilized gene expression data from the GEO database to identify differentially expressed genes related to radiotherapy resistance in NSCLC. Using the GSE37745 dataset, prognostic genes were identified through Cox regression and survival analysis. Functional roles of target genes were explored using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and co-expression analyses. Gene promoter methylation levels were assessed using databases like UALCAN, DNMIVD, and UCSC Xena, while the TISCH database provided insights into the correlation between target genes and CAFs. Experiments included RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry on NSCLC patient samples, in vitro studies on isolated CAFs cells, and in vivo nude mouse tumor models. RESULTS Fifteen key genes associated with radiotherapy resistance in NSCLC cells were identified. SMAD3 was recognized as an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC, linked to poor patient outcomes. High expression of SMAD3 was correlated with low DNA methylation in its promoter region and was enriched in CAFs. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that SMAD3 promotes radiotherapy resistance by activating the ITGA6/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSION High expression of SMAD3 in NSCLC tissues, cells, and CAFs is closely associated with poor prognosis and increased radiotherapy resistance. SMAD3 is likely to enhance radiotherapy resistance in NSCLC cells by activating the ITGA6/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fushi Han
- Department of Medical Imaging, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 389, Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Medical Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Shuzhen Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Kangwei Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 389, Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Medical Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Kunming Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Peijun Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 389, Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Medical Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, China.
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Zhu C, Ke S, Li Y, Zhang W, Che Y, Zhang R, Huang P, Xu T. Targeting DEP domain containing 1 in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Implications for stemness regulation and malignant phenotype suppression. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27150. [PMID: 38449652 PMCID: PMC10915564 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), a rare but highly aggressive endocrine malignancy, is characterized by a significant presence of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). These CSCs, known for their self-renewal and differentiation capacities, contribute to various aggressive tumor properties, including recurrence, metastasis, heterogeneity, multidrug resistance, and radiation resistance. Despite their critical role, the regulatory mechanisms of CSCs in ATC remain poorly elucidated, posing challenges in effectively targeting these cells for treatment. Methods To delve into this, we employed the single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm to evaluate the stemness of samples in combined datasets. Samples were then classified into high and low stemness subgroups based on their average stemness scores. Differential gene expression between these subgroups was analyzed. We further explored the association of candidate genes with patient prognosis. Additionally, we conducted gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and a series of cell biology experiments to validate the role of DEP domain-containing protein 1 (DEPDC1) in fostering CSC-like traits and regulating the malignant phenotypes of ATC. Results Our investigation demonstrated that DEPDC1 was significantly upregulated in CSCs and is abundantly expressed in ATC tissues. In vitro assays revealed that knockdown of DEPDC1 markedly inhibited tumor sphere formation and attenuated the proliferation, invasion, and migration of ATC cells. This silencing also resulted in reduced expression of stemness markers associated with CSCs. Furthermore, our GSEA findings linked high DEPDC1 expression to cell cycle progression and the maintenance of tumor cell stemness, with DEPDC1 knockdown disrupting these signaling pathways. Collectively, our results position DEPDC1 as a pivotal regulator of CSC-like characteristics in ATC, where aberrant DEPDC1 expression amplifies stemness properties and fuels the cancer's aggressive behavior. Consequently, DEPDC1 emerges as a promising therapeutic target for ATC management. In summary, this study underscores the pivotal role of DEPDC1 in modulating CSC-like features in ATC, offering new avenues for targeted therapy in this challenging malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaozhuang Zhu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuwei Ke
- Institute of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Li
- Institute of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wanli Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yulu Che
- Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruidan Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Tong Xu
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Wang X, He T, Chen Z, Chen J, Luo Y, Lin D, Li X, Liu D. Selective expansion of renal cancer stem cells using microfluidic single-cell culture arrays for anticancer drug testing. Lab Chip 2024; 24:1702-1714. [PMID: 38321884 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00922j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The suboptimal prognosis associated with drug therapy for renal cancer can be attributed to the presence of stem-cell-like renal cancer cells. However, the limited number of these cells prevents conventional drug screening assays from effectively assessing the response of renal cancer stem cells to anti-cancer agents. To address this issue, the present study employed microfluidic single-cell culture arrays to expand renal cancer stem cells by exploiting the anti-apoptosis and self-renewal properties of tumor stem cells. A microfluidic chip with 18 000 hydrophilic microwells was designed and fabricated to establish the single-cell culture array. Over a 7 day culture, the large-scale single-cell culture yielded a limited quantity of single-cell-derived tumorspheres. The sphere formation rates for Caki-1, 786-O, and ACHN cells were determined to be 8.74 ± 0.53%, 12.02 ± 1.43%, and 4.98 ± 1.68%, respectively. The expanded cells exhibited stemness characteristics, as indicated by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, serial passaging, and in vitro differentiation assays. Additionally, the comparative transcriptomic analysis showed significant differences in the gene expression patterns of the expanded cells compared to the differentiated renal cancer cells. The drug testing indicated that renal cancer stem cells exhibited reduced sensitivity towards the tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib, compared to differentiated renal cancer cells. This reduced sensitivity can be attributed to the elevated expression levels of tyrosine kinase in renal cancer stem cells. This present study provides evidence that the utilization of microfluidic single-cell culture arrays for selective cell expansion can facilitate drug testing of renal cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaogang Wang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, 467, Zhongshan Road, Shahekou District, Dalian 116021, Liaoning, China.
| | - Tao He
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, 467, Zhongshan Road, Shahekou District, Dalian 116021, Liaoning, China.
| | - Zihe Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Jueming Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Yanzhang Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Dongguo Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Xiancheng Li
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, 467, Zhongshan Road, Shahekou District, Dalian 116021, Liaoning, China.
| | - Dayu Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Microfluidic Chip Medical Diagnosis, Guangzhou 510180, China
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Zhang L, Liu P, Zhuang L, Ling S, Zhan Q, Zhou W, Su R, Yin L, Que Q, Hong J, Bao J, Shao C, Cai J, Zheng S, Xu X. mTOR inhibitor reduces nontumour-related death in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Biomed 2024; 5:9. [PMID: 38461206 PMCID: PMC10924815 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-024-00170-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Sirolimus is a regularly applied immunosuppressant for patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sirolimus not only significantly inhibits HCC recurrence but also protects renal function. However, the improvement effect of sirolimus on nontumour-related death in patients is still unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of sirolimus on nontumour-related deaths. In this study, we retrospectively enrolled 403 LT patients with HCC from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018. The median follow-up time was 47.1 months. The patients were divided into the sirolimus group (N = 184) and the sirolimus-free group (N = 219). There were no significant differences between the sirolimus group and the sirolimus-free group in survival (P = 0.054). In transplant patients who exceeded the Milan or Hangzhou criteria, the sirolimus group achieved higher survival than the sirolimus-free group (P = 0.005; P = 0.02). Moreover, multivariate analysis showed that sirolimus strongly reduced the hazard ratio (HR) for nontumour-related death in LT patients who exceeded the Milan (HR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.18-1; P = 0.05) or Hangzhou criteria (HR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08-0.89; P = 0.032). HCC recurrence increased the risk of nontumour-related death. In conclusion, sirolimus-based immunosuppression can significantly reduce nontumour-related death in LT patients who exceed the criteria for transplantation. In addition, this finding will further promote the application of sirolimus after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lincheng Zhang
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China
- Institute of Organ Donation and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Li Zhuang
- Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Zhejiang Shuren University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310022, China
| | - Sunbin Ling
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Qifan Zhan
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Renyi Su
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Lu Yin
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Qingyang Que
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Jiachen Hong
- Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Jiaqi Bao
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chuxiao Shao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Jinzhen Cai
- Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China.
- Institute of Organ Donation and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China.
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Zhejiang Shuren University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310022, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| | - Xiao Xu
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
- National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Liver Transplant, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
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Bhartiya D, Raouf S, Pansare K, Tripathi A, Tripathi A. Initiation of Cancer: The Journey From Mutations in Somatic Cells to Epigenetic Changes in Tissue-resident VSELs. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024:10.1007/s12015-024-10694-7. [PMID: 38457060 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10694-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Multiple theories exist to explain cancer initiation, although a consensus on this is crucial for developing effective therapies. 'Somatic mutation theory' suggests that mutations in somatic cells during DNA repair initiates cancer but this concept has several attached paradoxes. Research efforts to identify quiescent cancer stem cells (CSCs) that survive therapy and result in metastasis and recurrence have remained futile. In solid cancers, CSCs are suggested to appear during epithelial-mesenchymal transition by the dedifferentiation and reprogramming of epithelial cells. Pluripotent and quiescent very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) exist in multiple tissues but remain elusive owing to their small size and scarce nature. VSELs are developmentally connected to primordial germ cells, undergo rare, asymmetrical cell divisions and are responsible for the regular turnover of cells to maintain tissue homeostasis throughout life. VSELs are directly vulnerable to extrinsic endocrine insults because they express gonadal and gonadotropin hormone receptors. VSELs undergo epigenetic changes due to endocrine insults and transform into CSCs. CSCs exhibit genomic instability and develop mutations due to errors during DNA replication while undergoing excessive proliferation and clonal expansion to form spheroids. Thus tissue-resident VSELs offer a connection between extrinsic insults and variations in cancer incidence reported in various body tissues. To conclude, cancer is indeed a stem cell disease with mutations occurring as a consequence. In addition to immunotherapy, targeting mutations, and Lgr5 + organoids for developing new therapeutics, targeting CSCs (epigenetically altered VSELs) by improving their niche and epigenetic status could serve as a promising strategy to treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Bhartiya
- Epigeneres Biotech Pvt Ltd, Todi Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, 400013, Mumbai, India.
| | | | - Kshama Pansare
- Epigeneres Biotech Pvt Ltd, Todi Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, 400013, Mumbai, India
| | - Anish Tripathi
- Epigeneres Biotech Pvt Ltd, Todi Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, 400013, Mumbai, India
| | - Ashish Tripathi
- Epigeneres Biotech Pvt Ltd, Todi Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, 400013, Mumbai, India
- 23Ikigai Pte Ltd, 30 Cecil Street, #21-08 Prudentsial Tower, Singapore, 049712, Singapore
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Kahm YJ, Kim IG, Kim RK. Regulation of cancer stem cells by CXCL1, a chemokine whose secretion is controlled by MCM2. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:319. [PMID: 38454443 PMCID: PMC10921750 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12085-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A high expression pattern of minichromosome maintenance 2 (MCM2) has been observed in various cancers. MCM2 is a protein involved in the cell cycle and plays a role in cancer growth and differentiation by binding to six members of the MCM subfamily. The MCM protein family includes MCM2 through MCM7. METHODS MCM2 has shown high expression in both lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) and glioma stem cells (GSCs). We investigated the characteristics of CSCs and the regulation of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon in LCSCs and GSCs by MCM2. Additionally, we explored secreted factors regulated by MCM2. RESULTS There was a significant difference in survival rates between lung cancer patients and brain cancer patients based on MCM2 expression. MCM2 was found to regulate both markers and regulatory proteins in LCSCs. Moreover, MCM2 is thought to be involved in cancer metastasis by regulating cell migration and invasion, not limited to lung cancer but also identified in glioma. Among chemokines, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) was found to be regulated by MCM2. CONCLUSIONS MCM2 not only participates in the cell cycle but also affects cancer cell growth by regulating the external microenvironment to create a favorable environment for cells. MCM2 is highly expressed in malignant carcinomas, including CSCs, and contributes to the malignancy of various cancers. Therefore, MCM2 may represent a crucial target for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon-Jee Kahm
- Department of Radiation Biology, Environmental Safety Assessment Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-Daero 989 Beon-Gil, Yuseong-Gu, 34057, Daejeon, Korea
- Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-Gu, 34113, Daejeon, Korea
| | - In-Gyu Kim
- Department of Radiation Biology, Environmental Safety Assessment Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-Daero 989 Beon-Gil, Yuseong-Gu, 34057, Daejeon, Korea
- Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-Gu, 34113, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Rae-Kwon Kim
- Department of Radiation Biology, Environmental Safety Assessment Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-Daero 989 Beon-Gil, Yuseong-Gu, 34057, Daejeon, Korea.
- Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-Gu, 34113, Daejeon, Korea.
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Ruan S, Wang H, Zhang Z, Yan Q, Chen Y, Cui J, Huang S, Zhou Q, Zhang C, Hou B. Identification and validation of stemness-based and ferroptosis-related molecular clusters in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Transl Oncol 2024; 41:101877. [PMID: 38262107 PMCID: PMC10832490 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to be responsible for the poor survival, recurrence and therapy resistance of PDAC. Ferroptosis plays a crucial role in the sustain and survival of CSCs. Here, we employed a rigorous evaluation of multiple datasets to identify a novel stemness-based and ferroptosis-related genes (SFRGs) signature to access the potential prognostic application. This work we retrieved RNA-sequencing and clinical annotation data from the TCGA, ICGC, GTEx and GEO database, and acquired 26 stem cell gene sets and 259 ferroptosis genes from StemChecker database and FerrDb database, respectively. Based on consensus clustering and ssGSEA analysis, we identified two expression patterns of CSCs traits (C1 and C2). Then, WGCNA analysis was implemented to screen out hub module genes correlated with stemness. Furthermore, differential expression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and the Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression were performed to identify the SFRGs and to construct model. In addition, the differences in prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME) components and therapy responses were evaluated between two risk groups. Finally, we verified the most influential marker ARNTL2 experimentally by western blot, qRT-PCR, sphere formation assay, mitoscreen assay, intracellular iron concentration determination and MDA determination assays. In conclusion, we developed a stemness-based and ferroptosis-related prognostic model, which could help predict overall survival for PDAC patients. Targeting ferroptosis may be a promising therapeutic strategy to inhibit PDAC progression by suppressing CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiye Ruan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hailiang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Weihai Central Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Weihai 264400, China
| | - Zhongyan Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qian Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China; School of Medicine South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 51000, China
| | - Yubin Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China; School of Medicine South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 51000, China
| | - Jinwei Cui
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China; School of Medicine South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 51000, China
| | - Shanzhou Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of General Surgery, Hui Ya Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Huizhou, Guangdong 516081, China.
| | - Chuanzhao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Baohua Hou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China; School of Medicine South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 51000, China; Heyuan People's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
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Roy S, Dukic T, Keepers Z, Bhandary B, Lamichhane N, Molitoris J, Ko YH, Banerjee A, Shukla HD. SOX2 and OCT4 mediate radiation and drug resistance in pancreatic tumor organoids. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:106. [PMID: 38429272 PMCID: PMC10907757 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01871-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of only 10%, mostly due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options. In patients with unresectable disease, either FOLFIRINOX, a combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin and irinotecan, or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel combined with radiation are frontline standard regimens. However, chemo-radiation therapy has shown limited success because patients develop resistance to chemotherapy and/or radiation. In this study, we evaluated the role of pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSC) using OCT4 and SOX2, CSC markers in mouse pancreatic tumor organoids. We treated pancreatic tumor organoids with 4 or 8 Gy of radiation, 10 μM of 5-FU (5-Fluorouracil), and 100 μM 3-Bromopyruvate (3BP), a promising anti-cancer drug, as a single treatment modalities, and in combination with RT. Our results showed significant upregulation of, OCT4, and SOX2 expression in pancreatic tumor organoids treated with 4 and 8 Gy of radiation, and downregulation following 5-FU treatment. The expression of CSC markers with increasing treatment dose exhibited elevated upregulation levels to radiation and downregulation to 5-FU chemotherapy drug. Conversely, when tumor organoids were treated with a combination of 5-FU and radiation, there was a significant inhibition in SOX2 and OCT4 expression, indicating CSC self-renewal inhibition. Noticeably, we also observed that human pancreatic tumor tissues exhibited heterogeneous and aberrant OCT4 and SOX2 expression as compared to normal pancreas, indicating their potential role in pancreatic cancer growth and therapy resistance. In addition, the combination of 5-FU and radiation treatment exhibited significant inhibition of the β-catenin pathway in pancreatic tumor organoids, resulting in sensitization to treatment and organoid death. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the crucial role of CSCs in therapeutic resistance in PC treatment. We recommend using tumor organoids as a model system to explore the impact of CSCs in PC and identify new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjit Roy
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tijana Dukic
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zachery Keepers
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Binny Bhandary
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Narottam Lamichhane
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jason Molitoris
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Young H Ko
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hem D Shukla
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Ashrafizadeh M, Zhang W, Tian Y, Sethi G, Zhang X, Qiu A. Molecular panorama of therapy resistance in prostate cancer: a pre-clinical and bioinformatics analysis for clinical translation. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:229-260. [PMID: 38374496 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-024-10168-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a malignant disorder of prostate gland being asymptomatic in early stages and high metastatic potential in advanced stages. The chemotherapy and surgical resection have provided favourable prognosis of PCa patients, but advanced and aggressive forms of PCa including CRPC and AVPC lack response to therapy properly, and therefore, prognosis of patients is deteriorated. At the advanced stages, PCa cells do not respond to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a satisfactory level, and therefore, therapy resistance is emerged. Molecular profile analysis of PCa cells reveals the apoptosis suppression, pro-survival autophagy induction, and EMT induction as factors in escalating malignant of cancer cells and development of therapy resistance. The dysregulation in molecular profile of PCa including upregulation of STAT3 and PI3K/Akt, downregulation of STAT3, and aberrant expression of non-coding RNAs are determining factor for response of cancer cells to chemotherapy. Because of prevalence of drug resistance in PCa, combination therapy including co-utilization of anti-cancer drugs and nanotherapeutic approaches has been suggested in PCa therapy. As a result of increase in DNA damage repair, PCa cells induce radioresistance and RelB overexpression prevents irradiation-mediated cell death. Similar to chemotherapy, nanomaterials are promising for promoting radiosensitivity through delivery of cargo, improving accumulation in PCa cells, and targeting survival-related pathways. In respect to emergence of immunotherapy as a new tool in PCa suppression, tumour cells are able to increase PD-L1 expression and inactivate NK cells in mediating immune evasion. The bioinformatics analysis for evaluation of drug resistance-related genes has been performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Xianbin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
| | - Aiming Qiu
- Department of Geriatrics, the Fifth People's Hospital of Wujiang District, Suzhou, China.
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44
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Chen ZW, Dong ZB, Xiang HT, Chen SS, Yu WM, Liang C. Helicobacter pylori CagA protein induces gastric cancer stem cell-like properties through the Akt/FOXO3a axis. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30527. [PMID: 38332574 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
The presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection poses a substantial risk for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. The primary mechanism through which H. pylori exerts its bacterial virulence is the cytotoxin CagA. This cytotoxin has the potential to induce inter-epithelial mesenchymal transition, proliferation, metastasis, and the acquisition of stem cell-like properties in gastric cancer (GC) cells infected with CagA-positive H. pylori. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a distinct population of cells capable of self-renewal and generating heterogeneous tumor cells. Despite evidence showing that CagA can induce CSCs-like characteristics in GC cells, the precise mechanism through which CagA triggers the development of GC stem cells (GCSCs) remains uncertain. This study reveals that CagA-positive GC cells infected with H. pylori exhibit CSCs-like properties, such as heightened expression of CD44, a specific surface marker for CSCs, and increased ability to form tumor spheroids. Furthermore, we have observed that H. pylori activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a CagA-dependent manner, and our findings suggest that this activation is associated with the CSCs-like characteristics induced by H. pylori. The cytotoxin CagA, which is released during H. pylori infection, triggers the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a CagA-dependent manner. Additionally, CagA inhibits the transcription of FOXO3a and relocates it from the nucleus to the cytoplasm by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Furthermore, the regulatory function of the Akt/FOXO3a axis in the transformation of GC cells into a stemness state was successfully demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Wei Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhe-Bin Dong
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Han-Ting Xiang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Sang-Sang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Wei-Ming Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Chao Liang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
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Chen Y, Zhang YH, Li J, Shi L, Xie JC, Han X, Chen YT, Xiang M, Li BW, Xing HR, Wang JY. Novel lncRNA Gm33149 modulates metastatic heterogeneity in melanoma by regulating the miR-5623-3p/Wnt axis via exosomal transfer. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:364-375. [PMID: 38072970 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00707-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2024]
Abstract
The high mortality rate associated with melanoma primarily results from metastasis and recurrence. However, the precise mechanisms driving these processes remain poorly understood. Intercellular communication between cancer cells and non-cancer cells significantly influences the tumor microenvironment and plays a crucial role in metastasis. Therefore, our current study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating the interaction between melanoma cancer stem cells (CSCs) and non-CSCs during the metastatic colonization process. This study has characterized a novel lncRNA called Gm33149. Importantly, we provide evidence for the first time that Gm33149, originating from highly metastatic melanoma stem cells (OL-SD), can be packaged into exosomes and transferred to low-metastatic nonstem cells (OL). Once internalized by OL cells, Gm33149 exerts its function through a competitive endogenous RNA mechanism (ceRNA) involving miR-5623-3p. Specifically, Gm33149 competitively binds to miR-5623-3p, thereby activating the Wnt signaling pathway and promoting the acquisition of a more aggressive metastatic phenotype by OL cells. In summary, our findings suggest that targeting lncRNA Gm33149 within extracellular vesicles could potentially serve as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Schematic representation of the mechanisms underlying the pro-metastatic activity of lncRNA Gm33149 mediated by exosomal transfer. The figure illustrates the key mechanisms involved in the pro-metastatic activity of lncRNA Gm33149 through exosomal transfer. Melanoma stem cells (OLSD) release exosomes containing lncRNA Gm33149. These exosomes are taken up by non-stem melanoma cells (OL), delivering lncRNA Gm33149 to the recipient cells. Within OL cells, lncRNA Gm33149 functions as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), sequestering miR-5623-3p. This sequestration prevents miR-5623-3p from binding to its target genes, thereby activating the Wnt signaling pathway. The activated Wnt signaling pathway enhances the migration, invasion, and metastatic colonization capabilities of OL cells. The transfer of lncRNA Gm33149 via exosomes contributes to OL cells acquiring "metastatic competency" while promoting their metastatic colonization. These findings underscore the importance of lncRNA Gm33149 in intercellular communication and the metastatic progression of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yu-Han Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jie Li
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jia-Cheng Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xue Han
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu-Ting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Meng Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Bo-Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - H Rosie Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
| | - Jian-Yu Wang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Fatma H, Siddique HR. Cancer cell plasticity, stem cell factors, and therapy resistance: how are they linked? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:423-440. [PMID: 37796391 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10144-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Cellular plasticity can occur naturally in an organism and is considered an adapting mechanism during the developmental stage. However, abnormal cellular plasticity is observed in different diseased conditions, including cancer. Cancer cell plasticity triggers the stimuli of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), abnormal epigenetic changes, expression of stem cell factors and implicated signaling pathways, etc., and helps in the maintenance of CSC phenotype. Conversely, CSC maintains the cancer cell plasticity, EMT, and epigenetic plasticity. EMT contributes to increased cell migration and greater diversity within tumors, while epigenetic changes, stem cell factors (OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2), and various signaling pathways allow cancer cells to maintain various phenotypes, giving rise to intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity. The intricate relationships between cancer cell plasticity and stem cell factors help the tumor cells adopt drug-tolerant states, evade senescence, and successfully acquire drug resistance with treatment dismissal. Inhibiting molecules/signaling pathways involved in promoting CSCs, cellular plasticity, EMT, and epigenetic plasticity might be helpful for successful cancer therapy management. This review discussed the role of cellular plasticity, EMT, and stem cell factors in tumor initiation, progression, reprogramming, and therapy resistance. Finally, we discussed how the intervention in this axis will help better manage cancers and improve patient survivability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Fatma
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, 202002, India
| | - Hifzur R Siddique
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, 202002, India.
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47
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Chen Y, Song Z, Hou X, Liu J, Zheng C, Zhao X, Lv G, Li J, Xiu Y, Shi W, Zhao J, Yang H, Wang Y, Zhao J, Zhan X, Niu M, Zou W, Bai Z, Xiao X. Liuweiwuling Tablet relieves the inflammatory transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 321:117406. [PMID: 37952733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Liuweiwuling Tablet (LWWL) is a patented Chinese medicine approved by the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Clinically, it is used to treat a range of liver diseases that precede hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including hepatitis, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. LWWL is hypothesized to inhibit the inflammatory transformation of HCC, which may have a positive impact on the prevention and treatment of HCC. However, its exact mechanism of action remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate how LWWL is effective in the treatment of HCC and to validate the pathways involved in this process. MATERIALS AND METHODS An in vivo model of HCC induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was established to study the effect of LWWL on the development of HCC. The rat serum was analyzed for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT). The rat liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome for pathological analysis. Rat liver tissue was subjected to transcriptome sequencing. Expression of inflammatory and liver fibrosis-related factors in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and LX-2 cells was detected by QRT-PCR, ELISA and Western blot (WB). The expression of apoptosis and stemness genes in HepG2 and Huh7 cells was assessed through flow cytometry and QRT-PCR. Transcriptomics, network pharmacology, WB, and QRT-PCR were employed to validate the mechanisms associated with the amelioration of HCC development by LWWL. RESULTS LWWL significantly reduced the severity of hepatitis and liver fibrosis, the expression of tumor stemness genes, and the incidence of HCC. In addition, LWWL inhibited the release of inflammatory substances and nuclear accumulation of P65 protein in BMDMs as well as the conversion of LX-2 cells to fibroblasts. LWWL inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 and Huh7 cells, including the initiation of apoptosis and the reduction of stemness gene expression. Importantly, LWWL regulates the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, which affects hepatic inflammation and cancer progression. CONCLUSION LWWL inhibited the occurrence and development of HCC by modulating the severity of hepatitis and liver fibrosis, indicating the potential clinical relevance of LWWL in preventing and treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Zheng Song
- Peking University 302 Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiaorong Hou
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jia Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China
| | - Congyang Zheng
- Digestive Department of the Second Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhao
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Guiji Lv
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Junjie Li
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Ye Xiu
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Wei Shi
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jia Zhao
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Huijie Yang
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhan
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China; National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Ming Niu
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Wenjun Zou
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China.
| | - Zhaofang Bai
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China; National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100039, China.
| | - Xiaohe Xiao
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China; National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100039, China.
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Bae T, Hallis SP, Kwak MK. Hypoxia, oxidative stress, and the interplay of HIFs and NRF2 signaling in cancer. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:501-514. [PMID: 38424190 PMCID: PMC10985007 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01180-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxygen is crucial for life and acts as the final electron acceptor in mitochondrial energy production. Cells adapt to varying oxygen levels through intricate response systems. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), including HIF-1α and HIF-2α, orchestrate the cellular hypoxic response, activating genes to increase the oxygen supply and reduce expenditure. Under conditions of excess oxygen and resulting oxidative stress, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activates hundreds of genes for oxidant removal and adaptive cell survival. Hypoxia and oxidative stress are core hallmarks of solid tumors and activated HIFs and NRF2 play pivotal roles in tumor growth and progression. The complex interplay between hypoxia and oxidative stress within the tumor microenvironment adds another layer of intricacy to the HIF and NRF2 signaling systems. This review aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes and functions of the HIF and NRF2 signaling pathways in response to conditions of hypoxia and oxidative stress, emphasizing their implications within the tumor milieu. Additionally, this review explored the elaborate interplay between HIFs and NRF2, providing insights into the significance of these interactions for the development of novel cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taegeun Bae
- Integrated Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Steffanus Pranoto Hallis
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School of The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Kyoung Kwak
- Integrated Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School of The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
- College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
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49
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Wang B, Gao M, Yao Y, Li H, Zhang X. Focusing on the role of protein kinase mTOR in endometrial physiology and pathology: insights for therapeutic interventions. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:359. [PMID: 38400863 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08937-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine protein kinase crucial for cellular differentiation, proliferation, and autophagy. It shows a complex role in the endometrium, influencing both normal and pathogenic conditions. mTOR promotes the growth and maturation of endometrial cells, enhancing endometrial receptivity and decidualization. However, it also contributes to the development of endometriosis (EMs) and endometrial cancer (EC), thus emerging as a therapeutic target for these conditions. In this review, we summarize recent research progress on the mTOR signalling pathway in the endometrium. This provides insights into female endometrial structure and function and guides the prevention and treatment of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mingxia Gao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ying Yao
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hongwei Li
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuehong Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu, Lanzhou, China.
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50
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Kubatka P, Mazurakova A, Koklesova L, Kuruc T, Samec M, Kajo K, Kotorova K, Adamkov M, Smejkal K, Svajdlenka E, Dvorska D, Brany D, Baranovicova E, Sadlonova V, Mojzis J, Kello M. Salvia officinalis L. exerts oncostatic effects in rodent and in vitro models of breast carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1216199. [PMID: 38464730 PMCID: PMC10921418 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1216199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Based on extensive data from oncology research, the use of phytochemicals or plant-based nutraceuticals is considered an innovative tool for cancer management. This research aimed to analyze the oncostatic properties of Salvia officinalis L. [Lamiaceae; Salviae officinalis herba] using animal and in vitro models of breast carcinoma (BC). Methods: The effects of dietary administered S. officinalis in two concentrations (0.1%/SAL 0.1/and 1%/SAL 1/) were assessed in both syngeneic 4T1 mouse and chemically induced rat models of BC. The histopathological and molecular evaluations of rodent carcinoma specimens were performed after the autopsy. Besides, numerous in vitro analyses using two human cancer cell lines were performed. Results and Conclusion: The dominant metabolites found in S. officinalis propylene glycol extract (SPGE) were representatives of phenolics, specifically rosmarinic, protocatechuic, and salicylic acids. Furthermore, the occurrence of triterpenoids ursolic and oleanolic acid was proved in SPGE. In a mouse model, a non-significant tumor volume decrease after S. officinalis treatment was associated with a significant reduction in the mitotic activity index of 4T1 tumors by 37.5% (SAL 0.1) and 31.5% (SAL 1) vs. controls (set as a blank group with not applied salvia in the diet). In addition, salvia at higher doses significantly decreased necrosis/whole tumor area ratio by 46% when compared to control tumor samples. In a rat chemoprevention study, S. officinalis at a higher dose significantly lengthened the latency of tumors by 8.5 days and significantly improved the high/low-grade carcinomas ratio vs. controls in both doses. Analyses of the mechanisms of anticancer activities of S. officinalis included well-validated prognostic, predictive, and diagnostic biomarkers that are applied in both oncology practice and preclinical investigation. Our assessment in vivo revealed numerous significant changes after a comparison of treated vs. untreated cancer cells. In this regard, we found an overexpression in caspase-3, an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and a decrease in MDA, ALDH1, and EpCam expression. In addition, salvia reduced TGF-β serum levels in rats (decrease in IL-6 and TNF-α levels were with borderline significance). Evaluation of epigenetic modifications in rat cancer specimens in vivo revealed a decline in the lysine methylations of H3K4m3 and an increase in lysine acetylation in H4K16ac levels in treated groups. Salvia decreased the relative levels of oncogenic miR21 and tumor-suppressive miR145 (miR210, miR22, miR34a, and miR155 were not significantly altered). The methylation of ATM and PTEN promoters was decreased after S. officinalis treatment (PITX2, RASSF1, and TIMP3 promoters were not altered). Analyzing plasma metabolomics profile in tumor-bearing rats, we found reduced levels of ketoacids derived from BCAAs after salvia treatment. In vitro analyses revealed significant anti-cancer effects of SPGE extract in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines (cytotoxicity, caspase-3/-7, Bcl-2, Annexin V/PI, cell cycle, BrdU, and mitochondrial membrane potential). Our study demonstrates the significant chemopreventive and treatment effects of salvia haulm using animal or in vitro BC models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kubatka
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Alena Mazurakova
- Department of Anatomy, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Koklesova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Tomas Kuruc
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Marek Samec
- Department of Medical Biology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Karol Kajo
- Department of Pathology, St. Elisabeth Oncology Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Klaudia Kotorova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Marian Adamkov
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Karel Smejkal
- Department of Natural Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Emil Svajdlenka
- Department of Natural Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Dana Dvorska
- Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Dusan Brany
- Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Eva Baranovicova
- Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Vladimira Sadlonova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Jan Mojzis
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Martin Kello
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
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