1
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Selvin T, Berglund M, Lenhammar L, Lindskog M, Jarvius M, Larsson R, Nygren P, Fryknäs M, Andersson CR. Immuno-oncological effects of standard anticancer agents and commonly used concomitant drugs: an in vitro assessment. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 25:25. [PMID: 38444002 PMCID: PMC10913607 DOI: 10.1186/s40360-024-00746-6] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has become evident in the field of oncology that the outcome of medical treatment is influenced by the combined effect exerted on both cancer- and immune cells. Therefore, we evaluated potential immunological effects of 46 standard anticancer agents and 22 commonly administered concomitant non-cancer drugs. METHODS We utilized a miniaturized in vitro model system comprised of fluorescently labeled human colon and lung cancer cell lines grown as monocultures and co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The Bliss Independence Model was then applied to detect antagonism and synergy between the drugs and activated immune cells. RESULTS Among the standard anticancer agents, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) stood out as the top inducers of both antagonism and synergy. Ruxolitinib and dasatinib emerged as the most notably antagonistic substances, exhibiting the lowest Bliss scores, whereas sorafenib was shown to synergize with activated PBMCs. Most concomitant drugs did not induce neither antagonism nor synergy. However, the statins mevastatin and simvastatin were uniquely shown to synergize with activated PBMC at all tested drug concentrations in the colon cancer model. CONCLUSION We utilized a miniaturized tumor-immune model to enable time and cost-effective evaluation of a broad panel of drugs in an immuno-oncology setting in vitro. Using this approach, immunomodulatory effects exerted by TKIs and statins were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tove Selvin
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Malin Berglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lena Lenhammar
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Lindskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Pelvic Cancer, Genitourinary Oncology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Box 591, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Claes R Andersson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
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2
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Calitz C, Rosenquist J, Degerstedt O, Khaled J, Kopsida M, Fryknäs M, Lennernäs H, Samanta A, Heindryckx F. Influence of extracellular matrix composition on tumour cell behaviour in a biomimetic in vitro model for hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:748. [PMID: 36639512 PMCID: PMC9839216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27997-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor micro-environment (TME) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) consists out of cirrhotic liver tissue and is characterized by an extensive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). The evolution from a reversible fibrotic state to end-stage of liver disease, namely cirrhosis, is characterized by an increased deposition of ECM, as well as changes in the exact ECM composition, which both contribute to an increased liver stiffness and can alter tumor phenotype. The goal of this study was to assess how changes in matrix composition and stiffness influence tumor behavior. HCC-cell lines were grown in a biomimetic hydrogel model resembling the stiffness and composition of a fibrotic or cirrhotic liver. When HCC-cells were grown in a matrix resembling a cirrhotic liver, they increased proliferation and protein content, compared to those grown in a fibrotic environment. Tumour nodules spontaneously formed outside the gels, which appeared earlier in cirrhotic conditions and were significantly larger compared to those found outside fibrotic gels. These tumor nodules had an increased expression of markers related to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), when comparing cirrhotic to fibrotic gels. HCC-cells grown in cirrhotic gels were also more resistant to doxorubicin compared with those grown in fibrotic gels or in 2D. Therefore, altering ECM composition affects tumor behavior, for instance by increasing pro-metastatic potential, inducing EMT and reducing response to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlemi Calitz
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 571, 75431, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Rosenquist
- Polymer Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 538, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Oliver Degerstedt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jaafar Khaled
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 571, 75431, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Kopsida
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 571, 75431, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hans Lennernäs
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ayan Samanta
- Polymer Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 538, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Femke Heindryckx
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 571, 75431, Uppsala, Sweden.
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3
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Andersson CR, Ye J, Blom K, Fryknäs M, Larsson R, Nygren P. Assessment in vitro of interactions between anti-cancer drugs and noncancer drugs commonly used by cancer patients. Anticancer Drugs 2023; 34:92-102. [PMID: 36066384 PMCID: PMC9760465 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001344] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Cancer patients often suffer from cancer symptoms, treatment complications and concomitant diseases and are, therefore, often treated with several drugs in addition to anticancer drugs. Whether such drugs, here denoted as 'concomitant drugs', have anticancer effects or interact at the tumor cell level with the anticancer drugs is not very well known. The cytotoxic effects of nine concomitant drugs and their interactions with five anti-cancer drugs commonly used for the treatment of colorectal cancer were screened over broad ranges of drug concentrations in vitro in the human colon cancer cell line HCT116wt. Seven additional tyrosine kinase inhibitors were included to further evaluate key findings as were primary cultures of tumor cells from patients with colorectal cancer. Cytotoxic effects were evaluated using the fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA) and interaction analysis was based on Bliss independent interaction analysis. Simvastatin and loperamide, included here as an opioid agonists, were found to have cytotoxic effects on their own at reasonably low concentrations whereas betamethasone, enalapril, ibuprofen, metformin, metoclopramide, metoprolol and paracetamol were inactive also at very high concentrations. Drug interactions ranged from antagonistic to synergistic over the concentrations tested with a more homogenous pattern of synergy between simvastatin and protein kinase inhibitors in HCT116wt cells. Commonly used concomitant drugs are mostly neither expected to have anticancer effects nor to interact significantly with anticancer drugs frequently used for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiawei Ye
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kristin Blom
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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4
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Maturi NP, Neves I, Dang Y, Yildirim I, Latini F, Bergström T, Sundström A, Xing P, Jarvius M, Larsson R, Fryknäs M, Ryttlefors M, Chen X, Swartling F, Uhrbom L. STEM-08. MODELING AND UNDERSTANDING GLIOBLASTOMA EDGE CELLS. Neuro Oncol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9660742 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac209.125] [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: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a devastating disease with an overall median survival of 8 months from diagnosis. The majority of patients die of a tumor relapse in close proximity of the resected primary tumor. Glioblastoma is intensely researched but most studies have been performed on tissues and cultures derived from the bulk tumor while it is the remaining edge cells that cause lethality. Investigations of edge cells are rare and few experimental models exist. Here we have established and analyzed a series of matched cell cultures derived from the tumor bulk and outer edge of six IDH wildtype glioblastoma patients with the purpose to understand glioblastoma edge cell biology. Tumor samples were resected guided by 5-ALA fluorescence using neuro-navigation and stringent procedures to not contaminate edge samples with bulk tumor cells. First bulk tumor samples were resected from 5-ALA fluorescent tissue. After removal of all fluorescent areas and careful irrigation of the cavity the edge sample was resected 1-2 cm outside of the fluorescent border in a non-eloquent area. Following dissociation the samples were used in sphere assays and for explantation. There was a significant difference in self-renewal across all patients between matched bulk and edge cultures, in line with results from sphere assays on acute cells, suggesting maintenance of glioblastoma cell properties in established cultures. Invasion analysis showed a reverse significant difference between matched bulk and edge cultures strengthening a general functional distinction between tumor bulk and edge cells across patients. To investigate the molecular basis of our findings we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) and combined single cell RNA- and ATAC-sequencing (10X Multiome). Analyses are ongoing but WES data does not support genetic causes for their differences while the 10X Multiome data indicate that epigenetic regulation may underlie the different properties of bulk and edge glioblastoma cells.
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5
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Selvin T, Fasterius E, Jarvius M, Fryknäs M, Larsson R, Andersson CR. Single-cell transcriptional pharmacodynamics of trifluridine in a tumor-immune model. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11960. [PMID: 35831404 PMCID: PMC9279337 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16077-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the immunological effects of chemotherapy is of great importance, especially now that we have entered an era where ever-increasing pre-clinical and clinical efforts are put into combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy to combat cancer. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has proved to be a powerful technique with a broad range of applications, studies evaluating drug effects in co-cultures of tumor and immune cells are however scarce. We treated a co-culture comprised of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the nucleoside analogue trifluridine (FTD) and used scRNA-seq to analyze posttreatment gene expression profiles in thousands of individual cancer and immune cells concurrently. ScRNA-seq recapitulated major mechanisms of action previously described for FTD and provided new insight into possible treatment-induced effects on T-cell mediated antitumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tove Selvin
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Erik Fasterius
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 591, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Claes R Andersson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
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6
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Ek F, Blom K, Selvin T, Rudfeldt J, Andersson C, Senkowski W, Brechot C, Nygren P, Larsson R, Jarvius M, Fryknäs M. Sorafenib and nitazoxanide disrupt mitochondrial function and inhibit regrowth capacity in three-dimensional models of hepatocellular and colorectal carcinoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8943. [PMID: 35624293 PMCID: PMC9142582 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12519-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Quiescent cancer cells in malignant tumors can withstand cell-cycle active treatment and cause cancer spread and recurrence. Three-dimensional (3D) cancer cell models have led to the identification of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as a context-dependent vulnerability. The limited treatment options for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC) metastatic to the liver include the multikinase inhibitors sorafenib and regorafenib. Off-target effects of sorafenib and regorafenib are related to OXPHOS inhibition; however the importance of this feature to the effect on tumor cells has not been investigated in 3D models. We began by assessing global transcriptional responses in monolayer cell cultures, then moved on to multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) and tumoroids generated from a CRC patient. Cells were treated with chemotherapeutics, kinase inhibitors, and the OXPHOS inhibitors. Cells grown in 3D cultures were sensitive to the OXPHOS inhibitor nitazoxanide, sorafenib, and regorafenib and resistant to other multikinase inhibitors and chemotherapeutic drugs. Furthermore, nitazoxanide and sorafenib reduced viability, regrowth potential and inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential in an additive manner at clinically relevant concentrations. This study demonstrates that the OXPHOS inhibition caused by sorafenib and regorafenib parallels 3D activity and can be further investigated for new combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frida Ek
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristin Blom
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tove Selvin
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jakob Rudfeldt
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Claes Andersson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Wojciech Senkowski
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.,Biotech Research & Innovation Centre, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | | | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 591, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
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7
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Lu X, Maturi NP, Jarvius M, Yildirim I, Dang Y, Zhao L, Xie Y, Tan EJ, Xing P, Larsson R, Fryknäs M, Uhrbom L, Chen X. Cell-lineage controlled epigenetic regulation in glioblastoma stem cells determines functionally distinct subgroups and predicts patient survival. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2236. [PMID: 35469026 PMCID: PMC9038925 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29912-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is ample support for developmental regulation of glioblastoma stem cells. To examine how cell lineage controls glioblastoma stem cell function, we present a cross-species epigenome analysis of mouse and human glioblastoma stem cells. We analyze and compare the chromatin-accessibility landscape of nine mouse glioblastoma stem cell cultures of three defined origins and 60 patient-derived glioblastoma stem cell cultures by assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing. This separates the mouse cultures according to cell of origin and identifies three human glioblastoma stem cell clusters that show overlapping characteristics with each of the mouse groups, and a distribution along an axis of proneural to mesenchymal phenotypes. The epigenetic-based human glioblastoma stem cell clusters display distinct functional properties and can separate patient survival. Cross-species analyses reveals conserved epigenetic regulation of mouse and human glioblastoma stem cells. We conclude that epigenetic control of glioblastoma stem cells primarily is dictated by developmental origin which impacts clinically relevant glioblastoma stem cell properties and patient survival. The epigenetic regulation of glioblastoma stem cell (GSC) function remains poorly understood. Here, the authors compare the chromatin accessibility landscape of GSC cultures from mice and patients and suggest that the epigenome of GSCs is cell lineage-regulated and could predict patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Lu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75108, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Naga Prathyusha Maturi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 591, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irem Yildirim
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yonglong Dang
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75108, Uppsala, Sweden.,Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linxuan Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75108, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yuan Xie
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden.,Shaanxi Normal University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - E-Jean Tan
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pengwei Xing
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75108, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lene Uhrbom
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Xingqi Chen
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75108, Uppsala, Sweden.
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8
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Karlsson H, Fryknäs M, Senkowski W, Larsson R, Nygren P. Selective radiosensitization by nitazoxanide of quiescent clonogenic colon cancer tumour cells. Oncol Lett 2022; 23:123. [PMID: 35261637 PMCID: PMC8867181 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Henning Karlsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala S‑751 85, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala S‑751 85, Sweden
| | - Wojciech Senkowski
- Department of Medical Sciences, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala S‑751 85, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala S‑751 85, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala S‑751 85, Sweden
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9
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Handin N, Mickols E, Ölander M, Rudfeldt J, Blom K, Nyberg F, Senkowski W, Urdzik J, Maturi V, Fryknäs M, Artursson P. Conditions for maintenance of hepatocyte differentiation and function in 3D cultures. iScience 2021; 24:103235. [PMID: 34746700 PMCID: PMC8551077 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spheroid cultures of primary human hepatocytes (PHH) are used in studies of hepatic drug metabolism and toxicity. The cultures are maintained under different conditions, with possible confounding results. We performed an in-depth analysis of the influence of various culture conditions to find the optimal conditions for the maintenance of an in vivo like phenotype. The formation, protein expression, and function of PHH spheroids were followed for three weeks in a high-throughput 384-well format. Medium composition affected spheroid histology, global proteome profile, drug metabolism and drug-induced toxicity. No epithelial-mesenchymal transition was observed. Media with fasting glucose and insulin levels gave spheroids with phenotypes closest to normal PHH. The most expensive medium resulted in PHH features most divergent from that of native PHH. Our results provide a protocol for culture of healthy PHH with maintained function - a prerequisite for studies of hepatocyte homeostasis and more reproducible hepatocyte research. 3D spheroid cultures were established in 384-well format Eight different media variants were used to optimize the 3D cultures Optimized William's medium was as good as expensive commercial medium The 3D cultures were used to study drug metabolism and toxicity
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Handin
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Evgeniya Mickols
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Ölander
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jakob Rudfeldt
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristin Blom
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Frida Nyberg
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Wojciech Senkowski
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC) and Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology (DanStem), University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jozef Urdzik
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Varun Maturi
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Artursson
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
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10
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Lu X, Maturi NP, Jarvius M, Zhao L, Xie Y, Tan EJ, Xing P, Fryknäs M, Uhrbom L, Chen X. ECOA-7. Conserved cell-lineage controlled chromatin accessibility in human and mouse glioblastoma stem cells predicts functionally distinct subgroups. Neurooncol Adv 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdab070.007] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
There is ample support for developmental control of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), and a deeper knowledge of their epigenetic regulation could be central to more efficient glioblastoma (GBM) therapies. For this purpose, we analyzed the chromatin-accessibility landscape of nine mouse GSC cultures of defined cell of origin and 60 patient-derived GSC cultures by assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq). This uncovered an epigenetic variability of both mouse and human GSC cultures that differed from transcriptome clusters. Both mouse and human chromatin accessibility-guided clusters were predominantly determined by distal regulatory elements, displayed unique sets of transcription factor motif enrichment, and exhibited different functional and drug-response properties. Cross-species analysis of distal regulatory element regions in accessible chromatin of mouse and human cultures revealed conserved epigenetic regulation of GSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Lu
- Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Yuan Xie
- Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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11
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Byrgazov K, Lind T, Rasmusson AJ, Andersson C, Slipicevic A, Lehmann F, Gullbo J, Melhus H, Larsson R, Fryknäs M. Melphalan flufenamide inhibits osteoclastogenesis by suppressing proliferation of monocytes. Bone Rep 2021; 15:101098. [PMID: 34150958 PMCID: PMC8192817 DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2021.101098] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloma bone disease is a major complication in multiple myeloma affecting quality of life and survival. It is characterized by increased activity of osteoclasts, bone resorbing cells. Myeloma microenvironment promotes excessive osteoclastogenesis, a process of production of osteoclasts from their precursors, monocytes. The effects of two anti-myeloma drugs, melphalan flufenamide (melflufen) and melphalan, on the activity and proliferation of osteoclasts and their progenitors, monocytes, were assessed in this study. In line with previous research, differentiation of monocytes was associated with increased expression of genes encoding DNA damage repair proteins. Hence monocytes were more sensitive to DNA damage-causing alkylating agents than their differentiated progeny, osteoclasts. In addition, differentiated progeny of monocytes showed increased gene expression of immune checkpoint ligands which may potentially create an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Melflufen was ten-fold more active than melphalan in inhibiting proliferation of osteoclast progenitors. Furthermore, melflufen was also superior to melphalan in inhibition of osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. These results demonstrate that melflufen may exert beneficial effects in patients with multiple myeloma such as reducing bone resorption and immunosuppressive milieu by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Annica J Rasmusson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Claes Andersson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | - Joachim Gullbo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Håkan Melhus
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
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12
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Andersson CR, Selvin T, Blom K, Rubin J, Berglund M, Jarvius M, Lenhammar L, Parrow V, Loskog A, Fryknäs M, Nygren P, Larsson R. Mebendazole is unique among tubulin-active drugs in activating the MEK-ERK pathway. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13124. [PMID: 32753665 PMCID: PMC7403428 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68986-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently showed that the anti-helminthic compound mebendazole (MBZ) has immunomodulating activity in monocyte/macrophage models and induces ERK signalling. In the present study we investigated whether MBZ induced ERK activation is shared by other tubulin binding agents (TBAs) and if it is observable also in other human cell types. Curated gene signatures for a panel of TBAs in the LINCS Connectivity Map (CMap) database showed a unique strong negative correlation of MBZ with MEK/ERK inhibitors indicating ERK activation also in non-haematological cell lines. L1000 gene expression signatures for MBZ treated THP-1 monocytes also connected negatively to MEK inhibitors. MEK/ERK phosphoprotein activity testing of a number of TBAs showed that only MBZ increased the activity in both THP-1 monocytes and PMA differentiated macrophages. Distal effects on ERK phosphorylation of the substrate P90RSK and release of IL1B followed the same pattern. The effect of MBZ on MEK/ERK phosphorylation was inhibited by RAF/MEK/ERK inhibitors in THP-1 models, CD3/IL2 stimulated PBMCs and a MAPK reporter HEK-293 cell line. MBZ was also shown to increase ERK activity in CD4+ T-cells from lupus patients with known defective ERK signalling. Given these mechanistic features MBZ is suggested suitable for treatment of diseases characterized by defective ERK signalling, notably difficult to treat autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claes R Andersson
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Tove Selvin
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristin Blom
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Rubin
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Berglund
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lena Lenhammar
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vendela Parrow
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Angelica Loskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Section of Oncology, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Section of Oncology, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
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13
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Byrgazov K, Anderson C, Salzer B, Bozsaky E, Larsson R, Gullbo J, Lehner M, Lehmann F, Slipicevic A, Kager L, Fryknäs M, Taschner-Mandl S. Targeting aggressive osteosarcoma with a peptidase-enhanced cytotoxic melphalan flufenamide. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2020; 12:1758835920937891. [PMID: 32774473 PMCID: PMC7391428 DOI: 10.1177/1758835920937891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Low survival rates in metastatic high-grade osteosarcoma (HGOS) have remained stagnant for the last three decades. This study aims to investigate the role of aminopeptidase N (ANPEP) in HGOS progression and its targeting with a novel lipophilic peptidase-enhanced cytotoxic compound melphalan flufenamide (melflufen) in HGOS. Methods: Meta-analysis of publicly available gene expression datasets was performed to determine the impact of ANPEP gene expression on metastasis-free survival of HGOS patients. The efficacy of standard-of-care anti-neoplastic drugs and a lipophilic peptidase-enhanced cytotoxic conjugate melflufen was investigated in patient-derived HGOS ex vivo models and cell lines. The kinetics of apoptosis and necrosis induced by melflufen and doxorubicin were compared. Anti-neoplastic effects of melflufen were investigated in vivo. Results: Elevated ANPEP expression in diagnostic biopsies of HGOS patients was found to significantly reduce metastasis-free survival. In drug sensitivity assays, melflufen has shown an anti-proliferative effect in HGOS ex vivo samples and cell lines, including those resistant to methotrexate, etoposide, doxorubicin, and PARP inhibitors. Further, HGOS cells treated with melflufen displayed a rapid induction of apoptosis and this sensitivity correlated with high expression of ANPEP. In combination treatments, melflufen demonstrated synergy with doxorubicin in killing HGOS cells. Finally, Melflufen displayed anti-tumor growth and anti-metastatic effects in vivo. Conclusion: This study may pave the way for use of melflufen as an adjuvant to doxorubicin in improving the therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of metastatic HGOS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claes Anderson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Salzer
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Bozsaky
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Manfred Lehner
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Leo Kager
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Anna Children's Hospital, Medical University of Vienna and Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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14
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Steinmetz J, Senkowski W, Lengqvist J, Rubin J, Ossipova E, Herman S, Larsson R, Jakobsson PJ, Fryknäs M, Kultima K. Descriptive Proteome Analysis to Investigate Context-Dependent Treatment Responses to OXPHOS Inhibition in Colon Carcinoma Cells Grown as Monolayer and Multicellular Tumor Spheroids. ACS Omega 2020; 5:17242-17254. [PMID: 32715210 PMCID: PMC7376893 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c01419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We have previously identified selective upregulation of the mevalonate pathway genes upon inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in quiescent cancer cells. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we here investigated whether these responses are corroborated on the protein level and whether proteomics could yield unique insights into context-dependent biology. HCT116 colon carcinoma cells were cultured as monolayer cultures, proliferative multicellular tumor spheroids (P-MCTS), or quiescent (Q-MCTS) multicellular tumor spheroids and exposed to OXPHOS inhibitors: nitazoxanide, FCCP, oligomycin, and salinomycin or the HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitor simvastatin at two different doses for 6 and 24 h. Samples were processed using an in-depth bottom-up proteomics workflow resulting in a total of 9286 identified protein groups. Gene set enrichment analysis showed profound differences between the three cell systems and confirmed differential enrichment of hypoxia, OXPHOS, and cell cycle progression-related protein responses in P-MCTS and Q-MCTS. Treatment experiments showed that the observed drug-induced alterations in gene expression of metabolically challenged cells are not translated directly to the protein level, but the results reaffirmed OXPHOS as a selective vulnerability of quiescent cancer cells. This work provides rationale for the use of deep proteome profiling to identify context-dependent treatment responses and encourages further studies investigating metabolic processes that could be co-targeted together with OXPHOS to eradicate quiescent cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Steinmetz
- Division
of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wojciech Senkowski
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751 05, Sweden
| | - Johan Lengqvist
- Department
of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
| | - Jenny Rubin
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751 05, Sweden
| | - Elena Ossipova
- Division
of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stephanie Herman
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751 85, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751 05, Sweden
| | - Per-Johan Jakobsson
- Division
of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751 05, Sweden
| | - Kim Kultima
- Department
of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751 85, Sweden
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15
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Karlsson H, Senkowski W, Fryknäs M, Mansoori S, Linder S, Gullbo J, Larsson R, Nygren P. A novel tumor spheroid model identifies selective enhancement of radiation by an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation. Oncotarget 2019; 10:5372-5382. [PMID: 31523395 PMCID: PMC6731106 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a need for preclinical models that can enable identification of novel radiosensitizing drugs in clinically relevant high-throughput experiments. We used a new high-throughput compatible total cell kill spheroid assay to study the interaction between drugs and radiation in order to identify compounds with radiosensitizing activity. Experimental drugs were compared to known radiosensitizers and cytotoxic drugs clinically used in combination with radiotherapy. VLX600, a novel iron-chelating inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, potentiated the effect of radiation in tumor spheroids in a synergistic manner. This effect was specific to spheroids and not observed in monolayer cell cultures. In conclusion, the total cell kill spheroid assay is a feasible high-throughput method in the search for novel radiosensitizers. VLX600 shows encouraging characteristics for development as a novel radiosensitizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Karlsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Stig Linder
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Cancer Center Karolinska, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joachim Gullbo
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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16
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Blom K, Rubin J, Berglund M, Jarvius M, Lenhammar L, Parrow V, Andersson C, Loskog A, Fryknäs M, Nygren P, Larsson R. Mebendazole-induced M1 polarisation of THP-1 macrophages may involve DYRK1B inhibition. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:234. [PMID: 31010428 PMCID: PMC6477744 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4273-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We recently showed that the anti-helminthic compound mebendazole (MBZ) has immunomodulating activity by inducing a M2 to M1 phenotype switch in monocyte/macrophage models. In the present study we investigated the potential role of protein kinases in mediating this effect. RESULTS MBZ potently binds and inhibits Dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1B (DYRK1B) with a Kd and an IC50 of 7 and 360 nM, respectively. The specific DYRK1B inhibitor AZ191 did not mimic the cytokine release profile of MBZ in untreated THP-1 monocytes. However, in THP-1 cells differentiated into macrophages, AZ191 strongly induced a pro-inflammatory cytokine release pattern similar to MBZ and LPS/IFNγ. Furthermore, like MBZ, AZ191 increased the expression of the M1 marker CD80 and decreased the M2 marker CD163 in THP-1 macrophages. In this model, AZ191 also increased phospho-ERK activity although to a lesser extent compared to MBZ. Taken together, the results demonstrate that DYRK1B inhibition could, at least partly, recapitulate immune responses induced by MBZ. Hence, DYRK1B inhibition induced by MBZ may be part of the mechanism of action to switch M2 to M1 macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Blom
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Rubin
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Berglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lena Lenhammar
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vendela Parrow
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Claes Andersson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Angelica Loskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
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17
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Rubin J, Mansoori S, Blom K, Berglund M, Lenhammar L, Andersson C, Loskog A, Fryknäs M, Nygren P, Larsson R. Mebendazole stimulates CD14+ myeloid cells to enhance T-cell activation and tumour cell killing. Oncotarget 2018; 9:30805-30813. [PMID: 30112108 PMCID: PMC6089388 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mebendazole (MBZ) was recently shown to induce a tumor suppressive M1 phenotype in THP-1 monocytes and macrophages. In the present study the immune effects of MBZ was further investigated using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) co-cultured with tumour cells. The Biomap platform was used to screen for biomarkers induced from MBZ exposed co-cultures of T-cell receptor activated PBMCs, HT29 colon cancer cells and either human fibroblasts or human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cells. In these co-culture systems MBZ at 0.3-10 μM induced significant increases in TNFα and IFNγ indicating immune stimulation. PBMC cultures alone were subsequently tested for activation status and only in PBMCs activated by CD3/IL2 stimulation and MBZ, at a clinically achievable concentration, was able to increase PBMC clustering and release of pro-inflammatory IFNγ, TNFα, IL6 and IL1β cytokines. Moreover, when PBMC cultures were functionally tested for immune cell killing of lung cancer A549NucLightRed cells, MBZ significantly increased tumour cell apoptosis and reduced the number of surviving tumour cells. This effect was dependent on the presence of CD14 monocytes/macrophages in the co-culture. In summary, MBZ potentiated the immune stimulatory and anticancer effects of anti-CD3/IL2 activated PBMCs which could be relevant to explain the anticancer activity of MBZ observed in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Rubin
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Sharmineh Mansoori
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Kristin Blom
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Malin Berglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Lena Lenhammar
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Claes Andersson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Angelica Loskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
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18
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Hillert EK, Brjnic S, Mazurkiewicz M, Larsson R, Fryknäs M, Swanton L, High S, Linder S, D'Arcy PB. Abstract 1859: Inhibition of proteasome deubiquitinase activity prevents cytoprotective aggresome formation in cancer cells. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-1859] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Proteasome inhibitors kill cancer cells by inducing an acute proteotoxic stress response characterized by the cytosolic accumulation of poly-ubiquitinated proteins, ER stress and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aggresome pathway has been described as an escape mechanism from proteasome inhibitor-induced cytotoxicity that functions by sequestering the accumulated protein. We show that b-AP15, an established small molecule inhibitor of proteasome deubiquitinase activity, induces the accumulation of cytosolic poly-ubiquitin in the absence of aggresome formation. In contrast to the clinically used proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, the accumulated poly-ubiquitin complexes induced by b-AP15 remain localized in the cytoplasm and fail to form typical aggresome structures. Inhibition of aggresome formation is dependent on ubiquitin but independent of tubulin dynamics, and may result in the accumulation of a range of substrates of the intracellular transport system on microtubules. Finally, b-AP15 induces hyper-ubiquitination of the aggresome chaperone HDAC6, as well as altering HDAC6 association with the proteasome. This suggests a potential mechanism for the present findings, which will require further investigation. Our data suggests that b-AP15 inhibition of aggresome formation may circumvent a potential resistance pathway following cytotoxicity due to proteasome inhibition via the blocking of microtubule transport.
Citation Format: Ellin-Kristina Hillert, Slavica Brjnic, Magdalena Mazurkiewicz, Rolf Larsson, Mårten Fryknäs, Lisa Swanton, Stephen High, Stig Linder, Padraig B. D'Arcy. Inhibition of proteasome deubiquitinase activity prevents cytoprotective aggresome formation in cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1859.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Lisa Swanton
- 3University of Manchester, Machester, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen High
- 3University of Manchester, Machester, United Kingdom
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19
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Karlsson H, Fryknäs M, Strese S, Gullbo J, Westman G, Bremberg U, Sjöblom T, Pandzic T, Larsson R, Nygren P. Mechanistic characterization of a copper containing thiosemicarbazone with potent antitumor activity. Oncotarget 2018; 8:30217-30234. [PMID: 28415818 PMCID: PMC5444738 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The thiosemicarbazone CD 02750 (VLX50) was recently reported as a hit compound in a phenotype-based drug screen in primary cultures of patient tumor cells. We synthesized a copper complex of VLX50, denoted VLX60, and characterized its antitumor and mechanistic properties. Materials and Methods The cytotoxic effects and mechanistic properties of VLX60 were investigated in monolayer cultures of multiple human cell lines, in tumor cells from patients, in a 3-D spheroid cell culture system and in vivo and were compared with those of VLX50. Results VLX60 showed ≥ 3-fold higher cytotoxic activity than VLX50 in 2-D cultures and, in contrast to VLX50, retained its activity in the presence of additional iron. VLX60 was effective against non-proliferative spheroids and against tumor xenografts in vivo in a murine model. In contrast to VLX50, gene expression analysis demonstrated that genes associated with oxidative stress were considerably enriched in cells exposed to VLX60 as was induction of reactive oxygen. VLX60 compromised the ubiquitin-proteasome system and was more active in BRAF mutated versus BRAF wild-type colon cancer cells. Conclusions The cytotoxic effects of the copper thiosemicarbazone VLX60 differ from those of VLX50 and shows interesting features as a potential antitumor drug, notably against BRAF mutated colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Sara Strese
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Joachim Gullbo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden.,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Westman
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ulf Bremberg
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Tobias Sjöblom
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Tatjana Pandzic
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden
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20
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Jiang Y, Marinescu VD, Xie Y, Jarvius M, Maturi NP, Haglund C, Olofsson S, Lindberg N, Olofsson T, Leijonmarck C, Hesselager G, Alafuzoff I, Fryknäs M, Larsson R, Nelander S, Uhrbom L. Glioblastoma Cell Malignancy and Drug Sensitivity Are Affected by the Cell of Origin. Cell Rep 2017; 18:977-990. [PMID: 28122246 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [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: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The identity of the glioblastoma (GBM) cell of origin and its contributions to disease progression and treatment response remain largely unknown. We have analyzed how the phenotypic state of the initially transformed cell affects mouse GBM development and essential GBM cell (GC) properties. We find that GBM induced in neural stem-cell-like glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-expressing cells in the subventricular zone of adult mice shows accelerated tumor development and produces more malignant GCs (mGC1GFAP) that are less resistant to cancer drugs, compared with those originating from more differentiated nestin- (mGC2NES) or 2,'3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (mGC3CNP)-expressing cells. Transcriptome analysis of mouse GCs identified a 196 mouse cell origin (MCO) gene signature that was used to partition 61 patient-derived GC lines. Human GC lines that clustered with the mGC1GFAP cells were also significantly more self-renewing, tumorigenic, and sensitive to cancer drugs compared with those that clustered with mouse GCs of more differentiated origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Jiang
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Voichita Dana Marinescu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yuan Xie
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Naga Prathyusha Maturi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Caroline Haglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sara Olofsson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nanna Lindberg
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tommie Olofsson
- Department of Forensic Medicine, The National Board of Forensic Medicine, Box 1024, 75140 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Caroline Leijonmarck
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Göran Hesselager
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irina Alafuzoff
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sven Nelander
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Lene Uhrbom
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Nazir M, Senkowski W, Nyberg F, Blom K, Edqvist PH, Jarvius M, Andersson C, Gustafsson MG, Nygren P, Larsson R, Fryknäs M. Targeting tumor cells based on Phosphodiesterase 3A expression. Exp Cell Res 2017; 361:308-315. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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22
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Eriksson A, Chantzi E, Fryknäs M, Gullbo J, Nygren P, Gustafsson M, Höglund M, Larsson R. Towards repositioning of quinacrine for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia – Promising synergies and in vivo effects. Leuk Res 2017; 63:41-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Revised: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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23
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Niklasson M, Jarvius M, Haglund C, Chantzi E, Bergström T, Nyberg F, Hermansson A, Fryknäs M, Gustafsson M, Segerman B, Larsson R, Westermark B, Segerman A. Abstract 4175: Targeting of a mesenchymal profile in order to sensitize multitherapy resistant glioblastoma clones. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-4175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The overall aim of this study was to find ways to sensitize treatment resistant glioma-initiating cell (GIC) clones to conventional therapy. Heterogeneity is substantial in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and through establishment of clonal GIC cultures from patient biopsies we have demonstrated a wide variety in the responses to drugs and radiation. A multitherapy resistance phenotype was linked to proneural-mesenchymal transition (PMT) in the transcriptome. The variety in therapy response was observed as a continuum of phenotypes. The distribution of phenotypes resembled a normal distribution and multitherapy resistance was associated with low DNA methylation grade in promoter regions of mesenchymal master regulators (FOSL2, RUNX1). Our data thus implied that the transition is bi-directional and epigenetically regulated (Segerman et al, Cell Reports - accepted in principle).
To investigate if spontaneous changes in drug and radiation response occur, we have derived subclones from a resistant clone. Both subclones with higher and lower therapy resistance than the parental clone were generated. Also molecularly the subclones largely reconstituted the original clonal variation.
PMT shows similarities to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is induced by extrinsic factors. We therefore specifically analyzed the gene expression data for signaling receptors differentially expressed in resistant vs. sensitive clones as well as cognate ligands. To estimate the importance of a particular signaling pathway, expression of co-receptors and ligands was taken into account. We found several cases of coherent upregulation of receptor and ligand indicative of autocrine loops. Regarding pathways that appeared to be overactive in resistant vs. sensitive clones, there was a prominent overlap with EMT. It was also apparent that several pathways were activated concomitantly.
We are currently focusing on identifying combinations of drugs (and antibodies) that sensitize resistant clones to conventional treatment through modulation of cell signaling patterns. In the initial screen temozolomide (TMZ) response is used as an indicator of achieved sensitization. The strategy is to iteratively combine primarily antagonists of signaling receptors connected to resistance. We are also exploring the effect of stimulating pathways with apparently higher activity in sensitive clones (e.g. addition of ligands).The concept of sensitizing glioma and other types of cancer cells by targeting the mesenchymal character through usage of e.g. signaling receptor inhibitors is not new and has shown promise. Indeed, our preliminary data look encouraging.
In conclusion, our data show that multitherapy resistance is connected to a plastic cell-state. Also, receptors and ligands that are differentially expressed in resistant and sensitive clones engage pathways regulating EMT.
Citation Format: Mia Niklasson, Malin Jarvius, Caroline Haglund, Efthymia Chantzi, Tobias Bergström, Frida Nyberg, Annika Hermansson, Mårten Fryknäs, Mats Gustafsson, Bo Segerman, Rolf Larsson, Bengt Westermark, Anna Segerman. Targeting of a mesenchymal profile in order to sensitize multitherapy resistant glioblastoma clones [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4175. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4175
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Senkowski W, Nazir M, Jarvius M, Rubin J, Lengqvist J, Gustafsson MG, Nygren P, Kultima K, Larsson R, Fryknäs M. Abstract 4990: High-throughput drug combination screening in tumor spheroids identifies context-dependent synthetic lethalities. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-4990] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Monolayer, two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures have been a predominant in vitro model in anticancer drug discovery and high-throughput screening (HTS). However, 2D cultures of cancer cells lack numerous properties of in vivo tumors, such as tissue-like structure, cell-cell interactions and nutrient/oxygen gradients. Thus, in recent years there has been an increased interest in 3D cell cultures, such as multicellular tumors spheroids (MCTS), to address some of these limitations. Recently, we and others have applied MCTS for HTS and identified oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as a selective vulnerability of quiescent cancer cells persisting in hypoxic and nutrient-deprived milieu. However, prolonged continuous exposure to OXPHOS inhibitors is necessary for the cytotoxic effect. Thus, there is a need to identify processes that could be co-targeted for enhanced anticancer activity. Here, we present two distinct HTS approaches to identify combination partner molecules for OXPHOS inhibitors. Since we were interested in targeting non-dividing nutrient-deprived cancer cells, we used quiescent MCTS (Q-MCTS), as an in vitro model. Cells in Q-MCTS experience glucose concentrations and pH similar to those observed in deep tumor parenchyma in vivo. In our first screening approach, we have applied high-throughput gene-expression profiling to study drug effects in MCTS at a large scale. Using L1000 Gene Expression Profiling method, we generated a dataset of over 1000 drug-induced gene-expression profiles and found that co-targeting of OXPHOS and the mevalonate pathway results in selective synergistic toxicity in quiescent cancer cells. In the other approach, we screened a library of 1650 biologically active compounds, with or without addition of the FDA-approved anthelmintic agent nitazoxanide (an OXPHOS inhibitor with high drug repurposing potential). After the screen, we selected molecules that demonstrated pronounced synergy when combined with nitazoxanide, but not when used alone. Then, we validated the hits in an extensive dose-response combination experiments in Q-MCTS and chose 14 compounds that demonstrated strong synergistic interaction with nitazoxanide at broad range of concentrations. These included antifungal agents, kinase inhibitors and others. In summary, we here report on novel approaches, utilizing 3D cell cultures, to identify drug combinations targeting quiescent cancer cells. By high-throughput gene-expression profiling and large-scale combinatorial drug screens, we were able to identify drug combinations preferentially toxic to quiescent cells. This work also demonstrates how 3D cell cultures yield functional insights that are not accessible through standard 2D cultures.
Citation Format: Wojciech Senkowski, Madiha Nazir, Malin Jarvius, Jenny Rubin, Johan Lengqvist, Mats G. Gustafsson, Peter Nygren, Kim Kultima, Rolf Larsson, Mårten Fryknäs. High-throughput drug combination screening in tumor spheroids identifies context-dependent synthetic lethalities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4990. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4990
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25
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Blom K, Senkowski W, Jarvius M, Berglund M, Rubin J, Lenhammar L, Parrow V, Andersson C, Loskog A, Fryknäs M, Nygren P, Larsson R. The anticancer effect of mebendazole may be due to M1 monocyte/macrophage activation via ERK1/2 and TLR8-dependent inflammasome activation. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2017; 39:199-210. [PMID: 28472897 DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2017.1320671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Mebendazole (MBZ), a drug commonly used for helminitic infections, has recently gained substantial attention as a repositioning candidate for cancer treatment. However, the mechanism of action behind its anticancer activity remains unclear. To address this problem, we took advantage of the curated MBZ-induced gene expression signatures in the LINCS Connectivity Map (CMap) database. The analysis revealed strong negative correlation with MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitors. Moreover, several of the most upregulated genes in response to MBZ exposure were related to monocyte/macrophage activation. The MBZ-induced gene expression signature in the promyeloblastic HL-60 cell line was strongly enriched in genes involved in monocyte/macrophage pro-inflammatory (M1) activation. This was subsequently validated using MBZ-treated THP-1 monocytoid cells that demonstrated gene expression, surface markers and cytokine release characteristic of the M1 phenotype. At high concentrations MBZ substantially induced the release of IL-1β and this was further potentiated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At low MBZ concentrations, cotreatment with LPS was required for MBZ-stimulated IL-1β secretion to occur. Furthermore, we show that the activation of protein kinase C, ERK1/2 and NF-kappaB were required for MBZ-induced IL-1β release. MBZ-induced IL-1β release was found to be dependent on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and to involve TLR8 stimulation. Finally, MBZ induced tumor-suppressive effects in a coculture model with differentiated THP-1 macrophages and HT29 colon cancer cells. In summary, we report that MBZ induced a pro-inflammatory (M1) phenotype of monocytoid cells, which may, at least partly, explain MBZ's anticancer activity observed in animal tumor models and in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Blom
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Wojciech Senkowski
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Malin Berglund
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Jenny Rubin
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Lena Lenhammar
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Vendela Parrow
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Claes Andersson
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Angelica Loskog
- b Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- b Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- a Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
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26
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Jiang Y, Marinescu VD, Xie Y, Jarvius M, Maturi NP, Haglund C, Olofsson S, Lindberg N, Olofsson T, Leijonmarck C, Hesselager G, Alafuzoff I, Fryknäs M, Larsson R, Nelander S, Uhrbom L. Glioblastoma Cell Malignancy and Drug Sensitivity Are Affected by the Cell of Origin. Cell Rep 2017; 19:1080-1081. [PMID: 28467901 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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27
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Fryknäs M, Zhang X, Bremberg U, Senkowski W, Olofsson MH, Brandt P, Persson I, D'Arcy P, Gullbo J, Nygren P, Schughart LK, Linder S, Larsson R. Iron chelators target both proliferating and quiescent cancer cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:38343. [PMID: 27924826 PMCID: PMC5141479 DOI: 10.1038/srep38343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Poorly vascularized areas of solid tumors contain quiescent cell populations that are resistant to cell cycle-active cancer drugs. The compound VLX600 was recently identified to target quiescent tumor cells and to inhibit mitochondrial respiration. We here performed gene expression analysis in order to characterize the cellular response to VLX600. The compound-specific signature of VLX600 revealed a striking similarity to signatures generated by compounds known to chelate iron. Validation experiments including addition of ferrous and ferric iron in excess, EXAFS measurements, and structure activity relationship analyses showed that VLX600 chelates iron and supported the hypothesis that the biological effects of this compound is due to iron chelation. Compounds that chelate iron possess anti-cancer activity, an effect largely attributed to inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase in proliferating cells. Here we show that iron chelators decrease mitochondrial energy production, an effect poorly tolerated by metabolically stressed tumor cells. These pleiotropic features make iron chelators an attractive option for the treatment of solid tumors containing heterogeneous populations of proliferating and quiescent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden.,Cancer Center Karolinska, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Wojciech Senkowski
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Hägg Olofsson
- Cancer Center Karolinska, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Brandt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ingmar Persson
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7015, SE-756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Padraig D'Arcy
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Joachim Gullbo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Section of Oncology, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Section of Oncology, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Leoni Kunz Schughart
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, TU Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stig Linder
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden.,Cancer Center Karolinska, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
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28
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Segerman A, Niklasson M, Haglund C, Bergström T, Jarvius M, Xie Y, Westermark A, Sönmez D, Hermansson A, Kastemar M, Naimaie-Ali Z, Nyberg F, Berglund M, Sundström M, Hesselager G, Uhrbom L, Gustafsson M, Larsson R, Fryknäs M, Segerman B, Westermark B. Clonal Variation in Drug and Radiation Response among Glioma-Initiating Cells Is Linked to Proneural-Mesenchymal Transition. Cell Rep 2016; 17:2994-3009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.11.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
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Sreedharan S, Maturi NP, Xie Y, Sundström A, Jarvius M, Libard S, Alafuzoff I, Weishaupt H, Fryknäs M, Larsson R, Swartling FJ, Uhrbom L. Mouse Models of Pediatric Supratentorial High-grade Glioma Reveal How Cell-of-Origin Influences Tumor Development and Phenotype. Cancer Res 2016; 77:802-812. [PMID: 28115362 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-2482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
High-grade glioma (HGG) is a group of primary malignant brain tumors with dismal prognosis. Whereas adult HGG has been studied extensively, childhood HGG, a relatively rare disease, is less well-characterized. Here, we present two novel platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-driven mouse models of pediatric supratentorial HGG. Tumors developed from two different cells of origin reminiscent of neural stem cells (NSC) or oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC). Cross-species transcriptomics showed that both models are closely related to human pediatric HGG as compared with adult HGG. Furthermore, an NSC-like cell-of-origin enhanced tumor incidence, malignancy, and the ability of mouse glioma cells (GC) to be cultured under stem cell conditions as compared with an OPC-like cell. Functional analyses of cultured GC from these tumors showed that cells of NSC-like origin were more tumorigenic, had a higher rate of self-renewal and proliferation, and were more sensitive to a panel of cancer drugs compared with GC of a more differentiated origin. These two mouse models relevant to human pediatric supratentorial HGG propose an important role of the cell-of-origin for clinicopathologic features of this disease. Cancer Res; 77(3); 802-12. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Sreedharan
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Naga Prathyusha Maturi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yuan Xie
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Sundström
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sylwia Libard
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irina Alafuzoff
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Holger Weishaupt
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lene Uhrbom
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.
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30
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Senkowski W, Jarvius M, Rubin J, Lengqvist J, Gustafsson MG, Nygren P, Kultima K, Larsson R, Fryknäs M. Large-Scale Gene Expression Profiling Platform for Identification of Context-Dependent Drug Responses in Multicellular Tumor Spheroids. Cell Chem Biol 2016; 23:1428-1438. [PMID: 27984028 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 07/23/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cell lines grown as two-dimensional (2D) cultures have been an essential model for studying cancer biology and anticancer drug discovery. However, 2D cancer cell cultures have major limitations, as they do not closely mimic the heterogeneity and tissue context of in vivo tumors. Developing three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures, such as multicellular tumor spheroids, has the potential to address some of these limitations. Here, we combined a high-throughput gene expression profiling method with a tumor spheroid-based drug-screening assay to identify context-dependent treatment responses. As a proof of concept, we examined drug responses of quiescent cancer cells to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) inhibitors. Use of multicellular tumor spheroids led to discovery that the mevalonate pathway is upregulated in quiescent cells during OXPHOS inhibition, and that OXPHOS inhibitors and mevalonate pathway inhibitors were synergistically toxic to quiescent spheroids. This work illustrates how 3D cellular models yield functional and mechanistic insights not accessible via 2D cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Senkowski
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Rubin
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Lengqvist
- Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Solna, Sweden
| | - Mats G Gustafsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Section of Oncology, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kim Kultima
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
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31
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Zhang X, Fryknäs M, Hernlund E, Fayad W, De Milito A, Olofsson MH, Gogvadze V, Dang L, Påhlman S, Schughart LAK, Rickardson L, D'Arcy P, Gullbo J, Nygren P, Larsson R, Linder S. Induction of mitochondrial dysfunction as a strategy for targeting tumour cells in metabolically compromised microenvironments. Nat Commun 2015; 5:3295. [PMID: 24548894 PMCID: PMC3929804 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal vascularization of solid tumours results in the development of microenvironments deprived of oxygen and nutrients that harbour slowly growing and metabolically stressed cells. Such cells display enhanced resistance to standard chemotherapeutic agents and repopulate tumours after therapy. Here we identify the small molecule VLX600 as a drug that is preferentially active against quiescent cells in colon cancer 3-D microtissues. The anticancer activity is associated with reduced mitochondrial respiration, leading to bioenergetic catastrophe and tumour cell death. VLX600 shows enhanced cytotoxic activity under conditions of nutrient starvation. Importantly, VLX600 displays tumour growth inhibition in vivo. Our findings suggest that tumour cells in metabolically compromised microenvironments have a limited ability to respond to decreased mitochondrial function, and suggest a strategy for targeting the quiescent populations of tumour cells for improved cancer treatment. Quiescent sub-populations of cells in tumours are resistant to traditional chemotherapeutics and are responsible for tumour recurrence. Here, Zhang et al. identify a compound that kills quiescent tumour cells in solid tumour tissue by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Zhang
- 1] Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm S-171 76, Sweden [2]
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- 1] Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala S-751 85, Sweden [2]
| | - Emma Hernlund
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm S-171 76, Sweden
| | - Walid Fayad
- 1] Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm S-171 76, Sweden [2]
| | - Angelo De Milito
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm S-171 76, Sweden
| | - Maria Hägg Olofsson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm S-171 76, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Gogvadze
- Division of Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
| | - Long Dang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florida Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
| | - Sven Påhlman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Center for Molecular Pathology, CREATE Health, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, S-20502, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Leoni A Kunz Schughart
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Linda Rickardson
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala S-751 85, Sweden
| | - Padraig D'Arcy
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm S-171 76, Sweden
| | - Joachim Gullbo
- 1] Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala S-751 85, Sweden [2] Division of Oncology, Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala S-751 85, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Division of Oncology, Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala S-751 85, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala S-751 85, Sweden
| | - Stig Linder
- 1] Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm S-171 76, Sweden [2] Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala S-751 85, Sweden
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Mazurkiewicz M, Brnjic S, Fryknäs M, Sun C, Zhang X, Larsson R, D'Arcy P, Linder S. Abstract 1736: The anticancer activity of the DUB inhibitor b-AP15 is associated with accumulation of proteasome bound ubiquitin and oxidative stress. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-1736] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is the major cellular degradation system for damaged or short-lived proteins. Tumor cells are dependent on a functioning UPS, making it an ideal target for the development of anti-cancer therapies. Bortezomib, an inhibitor of the proteolytic activities of the proteasome core particle (20SCP), is approved for treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma; however several problems have emerged including dose-limiting toxicity and tumor relapse. We previously identified b-AP15 as a novel inhibitor of the proteasome associated deubiquitinases (DUBs) USP14 and UCH37/UCHL5. Treatment with b-AP15 induced cell death in several in vitro and in vivo cancer models. The aim of this study was to investigate how the different modes of UPS inhibition affect the structure of the 26S proteasome and cellular response as well as the potential for proteasome DUB inhibitors as a therapeutic option for cancer. Methods: HCT116 colon carcinoma cells were cultured in McCoy's 5A modified medium/10% fetal calf serum. For protein expression analysis cell extracts were resolved by Tris-Acetate gel and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane for western blotting. Proteasome integrity and cellular distribution of polyubiquitin chains were assessed in cell extracts subjected to density gradient centrifugation, conducted in 4-24% linear glycerol gradients, followed by western blot analysis. Apoptotic response was assessed with M30-CytoDeath ELISA, measuring level of caspase-cleavage of the endogenous cellular substrate keratin-18. Results: We found that inhibitors of proteasome function do not alter proteasome assembly or structure; however treatment induced the accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins associated with the 26S proteasome. Comparison of 20S CP and 19S DUB inhibition showed that b-AP15 induced more rapid and sustained apoptotic response in comparison to bortezomib. Proteasome inhibition has been previously associated with endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress, however our findings show that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are main mediators of b-AP15 induced apoptosis. b-AP15 strongly induces several genes associated with oxidative stress response; hemoxygenase-1 (HMOX1), p38-MAPK, c-JUN and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Additionally, treatment with a pharmacological inhibitor of JNK and several ROS scavengers decreased the levels of apoptosis in response to b-AP15 treatment. Conclusions: Cellular response to b-AP15 mediated proteasome inhibition is distinct from clinically used bortezomib; therefore b-AP15 has a potential clinical use, in particular for treatment of malignancies resistant to other proteasome inhibitors.
Citation Format: Magdalena Mazurkiewicz, Slavica Brnjic, Mårten Fryknäs, Chao Sun, Xiaonan Zhang, Rolf Larsson, Pádraig D'Arcy, Stig Linder. The anticancer activity of the DUB inhibitor b-AP15 is associated with accumulation of proteasome bound ubiquitin and oxidative stress. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1736. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1736
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Chao Sun
- 1Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Senkowski W, Zhang X, Olofsson MH, Isacson R, Höglund U, Gustafsson M, Nygren P, Linder S, Larsson R, Fryknäs M. Three-Dimensional Cell Culture-Based Screening Identifies the Anthelmintic Drug Nitazoxanide as a Candidate for Treatment of Colorectal Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:1504-16. [PMID: 25911689 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Because dormant cancer cells in hypoxic and nutrient-deprived regions of solid tumors provide a major obstacle to treatment, compounds targeting those cells might have clinical benefits. Here, we describe a high-throughput drug screening approach, using glucose-deprived multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) with inner hypoxia, to identify compounds that specifically target this cell population. We used a concept of drug repositioning-using known molecules for new indications. This is a promising strategy to identify molecules for rapid clinical advancement. By screening 1,600 compounds with documented clinical history, we aimed to identify candidates with unforeseen potential for repositioning as anticancer drugs. Our screen identified five molecules with pronounced MCTS-selective activity: nitazoxanide, niclosamide, closantel, pyrvinium pamoate, and salinomycin. Herein, we show that all five compounds inhibit mitochondrial respiration. This suggests that cancer cells in low glucose concentrations depend on oxidative phosphorylation rather than solely glycolysis. Importantly, continuous exposure to the compounds was required to achieve effective treatment. Nitazoxanide, an FDA-approved antiprotozoal drug with excellent pharmacokinetic and safety profile, is the only molecule among the screening hits that reaches high plasma concentrations persisting for up to a few hours after single oral dose. Nitazoxanide activated the AMPK pathway and downregulated c-Myc, mTOR, and Wnt signaling at clinically achievable concentrations. Nitazoxanide combined with the cytotoxic drug irinotecan showed anticancer activity in vivo. We here report that the FDA-approved anthelmintic drug nitazoxanide could be a potential candidate for advancement into cancer clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Senkowski
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Mats Gustafsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nygren
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Sciences, Division of Oncology Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stig Linder
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Eriksson A, Österroos A, Hassan S, Gullbo J, Rickardson L, Jarvius M, Nygren P, Fryknäs M, Höglund M, Larsson R. Drug screen in patient cells suggests quinacrine to be repositioned for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Cancer J 2015; 5:e307. [PMID: 25885427 PMCID: PMC4450329 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2015.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
To find drugs suitable for repositioning for use against leukemia, samples from patients with chronic lymphocytic, acute myeloid and lymphocytic leukemias as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were tested in response to 1266 compounds from the LOPAC1280 library (Sigma). Twenty-five compounds were defined as hits with activity in all leukemia subgroups (<50% cell survival compared with control) at 10 μM drug concentration. Only one of these compounds, quinacrine, showed low activity in normal PBMCs and was therefore selected for further preclinical evaluation. Mining the NCI-60 and the NextBio databases demonstrated leukemia sensitivity and the ability of quinacrine to reverse myeloid leukemia gene expression. Mechanistic exploration was performed using the NextBio bioinformatic software using gene expression analysis of drug exposed acute myeloid leukemia cultures (HL-60) in the database. Analysis of gene enrichment and drug correlations revealed strong connections to ribosomal biogenesis nucleoli and translation initiation. The highest drug–drug correlation was to ellipticine, a known RNA polymerase I inhibitor. These results were validated by additional gene expression analysis performed in-house. Quinacrine induced early inhibition of protein synthesis supporting these predictions. The results suggest that quinacrine have repositioning potential for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia by targeting of ribosomal biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Eriksson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - A Österroos
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S Hassan
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - J Gullbo
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - L Rickardson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - M Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - P Nygren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - M Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - M Höglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - R Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Aftab O, Nazir M, Fryknäs M, Hammerling U, Larsson R, Gustafsson MG. Label free high throughput screening for apoptosis inducing chemicals using time-lapse microscopy signal processing. Apoptosis 2015; 19:1411-8. [PMID: 24923770 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-014-1009-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Label free time-lapse microscopy has opened a new avenue to the study of time evolving events in living cells. When combined with automated image analysis it provides a powerful tool that enables automated large-scale spatiotemporal quantification at the cell population level. Very few attempts, however, have been reported regarding the design of image analysis algorithms dedicated to the detection of apoptotic cells in such time-lapse microscopy images. In particular, none of the reported attempts is based on sufficiently fast signal processing algorithms to enable large-scale detection of apoptosis within hours/days without access to high-end computers. Here we show that it is indeed possible to successfully detect chemically induced apoptosis by applying a two-dimensional linear matched filter tailored to the detection of objects with the typical features of an apoptotic cell in phase-contrast images. First a set of recorded computational detections of apoptosis was validated by comparison with apoptosis specific caspase activity readouts obtained via a fluorescence based assay. Then a large screen encompassing 2,866 drug like compounds was performed using the human colorectal carcinoma cell line HCT116. In addition to many well known inducers (positive controls) the screening resulted in the detection of two compounds here reported for the first time to induce apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obaid Aftab
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala Academic Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
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Aftab O, Fryknäs M, Hammerling U, Larsson R, Gustafsson MG. Detection of cell aggregation and altered cell viability by automated label-free video microscopy: a promising alternative to endpoint viability assays in high-throughput screening. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 20:372-81. [PMID: 25520371 DOI: 10.1177/1087057114562158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Automated phase-contrast video microscopy now makes it feasible to monitor a high-throughput (HT) screening experiment in a 384-well microtiter plate format by collecting one time-lapse video per well. Being a very cost-effective and label-free monitoring method, its potential as an alternative to cell viability assays was evaluated. Three simple morphology feature extraction and comparison algorithms were developed and implemented for analysis of differentially time-evolving morphologies (DTEMs) monitored in phase-contrast microscopy videos. The most promising layout, pixel histogram hierarchy comparison (PHHC), was able to detect several compounds that did not induce any significant change in cell viability, but made the cell population appear as spheroidal cell aggregates. According to recent reports, all these compounds seem to be involved in inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling. Thus, automated quantification of DTEM (AQDTEM) holds strong promise as an alternative or complement to viability assays in HT in vitro screening of chemical compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obaid Aftab
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala Academic Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala Academic Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulf Hammerling
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala Academic Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala Academic Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mats G Gustafsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala Academic Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
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Brnjic S, Mazurkiewicz M, Fryknäs M, Sun C, Zhang X, Larsson R, D'Arcy P, Linder S. Induction of tumor cell apoptosis by a proteasome deubiquitinase inhibitor is associated with oxidative stress. Antioxid Redox Signal 2014; 21:2271-85. [PMID: 24011031 PMCID: PMC4241954 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2013.5322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIMS b-AP15 is a recently described inhibitor of the USP14/UCHL5 deubiquitinases (DUBs) of the 19S proteasome. Exposure to b-AP15 results in blocking of proteasome function and accumulation of polyubiquitinated protein substrates in cells. This novel mechanism of proteasome inhibition may potentially be exploited for cancer therapy, in particular for treatment of malignancies resistant to currently used proteasome inhibitors. The aim of the present study was to characterize the cellular response to b-AP15-mediated proteasome DUB inhibition. RESULTS We report that b-AP15 elicits a similar, but yet distinct, cellular response as the clinically used proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. b-AP15 induces a rapid apoptotic response, associated with enhanced induction of oxidative stress and rapid activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK)/activating protein-1 signaling. Scavenging of reactive oxygen species and pharmacological inhibition of JNK reduced b-AP15-induced apoptosis. We further report that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is induced by b-AP15 and is involved in apoptosis induction. In contrast to bortezomib, ER stress is associated with induction of α-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 phosphorylation. INNOVATION The findings establish that different modes of proteasome inhibition result in distinct cellular responses, a finding of potential therapeutic importance. CONCLUSION Our data show that enhanced oxidative stress and ER stress are major determinants of the strong apoptotic response elicited by the 19S DUB inhibitor b-AP15.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavica Brnjic
- 1 Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institute , Stockholm, Sweden
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Sun C, Roboti P, Puumalainen MR, Fryknäs M, Wang X, D'Arcy P, Hult M, High S, Linder S, Swanton E. Elevation of proteasomal substrate levels sensitizes cells to apoptosis induced by inhibition of proteasomal deubiquitinases. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108839. [PMID: 25286379 PMCID: PMC4186810 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of the catalytic activity of the 20S proteasome are cytotoxic to tumor cells and are currently in clinical use for treatment of multiple myeloma, whilst the deubiquitinase activity associated with the 19S regulatory subunit of the proteasome is also a valid target for anti-cancer drugs. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs and their selective toxicity towards cancer cells are not known. Here, we show that increasing the cellular levels of proteasome substrates using an inhibitor of Sec61-mediated protein translocation significantly increases the extent of apoptosis that is induced by inhibition of proteasomal deubiquitinase activity in both cancer derived and non-transformed cell lines. Our results suggest that increased generation of misfolded proteasome substrates may contribute to the mechanism(s) underlying the increased sensitivity of tumor cells to inhibitors of the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Sun
- Cancer Center Karolinska, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peristera Roboti
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Xin Wang
- Cancer Center Karolinska, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Padraig D'Arcy
- Cancer Center Karolinska, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Hult
- Center for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stephen High
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stig Linder
- Cancer Center Karolinska, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eileithyia Swanton
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Senkowski W, Zhang X, Olofsson MH, Linder S, Larsson R, Fryknäs M. Abstract 3781: A spheroid-based screen identifies mitochondrial targeting as a promising strategy for cancer treatment and drug repositioning. Cancer Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2014-3781] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In the search for novel anticancer agents, the established principle is to harness differences between normal and tumor tissue. Thus, most of current chemotherapeutic agents target fast-proliferating cancerous cells. However, over the years such treatment strategies have proven less effective than initially expected. One of the main reasons for this is that conditions present in solid tumors, such as hypoxia, low glucose availability and high concentrations of metabolites, promote quiescent, highly resistant cell phenotypes.
In our research, we aimed to target and exploit these tumor-specific conditions. To mimic the harsh conditions in a tumor, we used multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS), which are known to simulate tumor microenvironment in vitro. We developed a novel method to easily form MCTS in 384-well format. There is only one spheroid per well formed and all are comparable in terms of size and shape. For the MCTS formation, we used colon carcinoma cell line, HCT116, with constitutive expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP). Then, we performed spheroid-based high-throughput drug screening using 1600 clinically active compounds. As a surrogate marker for cell viability, we measured mean spheroid GFP fluorescence intensity complemented with a standard resazurin-based assay. Active hits were tested in dose-response experiments in both spheroid and monolayer setup. We identified 12 compounds, which showed preferential activity against the MCTS model. We tested them in spheroid-based clonogenic assay and identified five compounds, which after 72 hrs treatment resulted in no clonogenicity at concentrations equal to monolayer-based IC50-values.
Interestingly, all of these compounds have been previously reported to impair mitochondrial function. Three of them have been also reported as uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. We tested the influence of all five compounds on oxygen consumption rate. All, except one compound, caused irreversible shutdown of mitochondrial function. For further experiments, we decided to choose nitazoxanide - a clinically used anti-parasitic agent with excellent pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and safety profile. We show that treatment with nitazoxanide, at concentrations well below what is reached clinically, results in down regulation of c-myc, mTOR and Wnt signaling. Preliminary in vivo experiments show encouraging results. We conclude that MCTS-based screening identifies mitochondria as a potential target for cancer treatment and the anthelmintic drug nitazoxanide as a promising candidate.
Citation Format: Wojciech Senkowski, Xiaonan Zhang, Maria Hägg Olofsson, Stig Linder, Rolf Larsson, Mårten Fryknäs. A spheroid-based screen identifies mitochondrial targeting as a promising strategy for cancer treatment and drug repositioning. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3781. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3781
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Kolosenko I, Fryknäs M, Forsberg S, Johnsson P, Cheon H, Holvey-Bates EG, Edsbäcker E, Pellegrini P, Rassoolzadeh H, Brnjic S, Larsson R, Stark GR, Grandér D, Linder S, Tamm KP, De Milito A. Cell crowding induces interferon regulatory factor 9, which confers resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Int J Cancer 2014; 136:E51-61. [PMID: 25156627 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 02/05/2014] [Revised: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of multicellular drug resistance, defined as the reduced efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in solid tumors is incompletely understood. Here we report that colon carcinoma cells cultured as 3D microtissues (spheroids) display dramatic increases in the expression of a subset of type I interferon-(IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs). A similar gene signature was associated previously with resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, prompting us to examine the underlying biological mechanisms. Analysis of spheroids formed by different tumor cell lines and studies using knock-down of gene expression showed that cell crowding leads to the induction of IFN regulatory factor-9 (IRF9) which together with STAT2 and independently of IFNs, is necessary for ISG upregulation. Increased expression of IRF9 alone was sufficient to induce the ISG subset in monolayer cells and to confer increased resistance to clinically used cytotoxic drugs. Our data reveal a novel mechanism of regulation of a subset of ISGs, leading to drug resistance in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Kolosenko
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
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Wang X, Stafford W, Mazurkiewicz M, Fryknäs M, Brjnic S, Zhang X, Gullbo J, Larsson R, Arnér ESJ, D'Arcy P, Linder S. The 19S Deubiquitinase inhibitor b-AP15 is enriched in cells and elicits rapid commitment to cell death. Mol Pharmacol 2014; 85:932-45. [PMID: 24714215 DOI: 10.1124/mol.113.091322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
b-AP15 [(3E,5E)-3,5-bis[(4-nitrophenyl)methylidene]-1-(prop-2-enoyl)piperidin-4-one] is a small molecule inhibitor of the ubiquitin specific peptidase (USP) 14/ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase (UCH) L5 deubiquitinases of the 19S proteasome that shows antitumor activity in a number of tumor models, including multiple myeloma. b-AP15 contains an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl unit that is likely to react with intracellular nucleophiles such as cysteine thiolates by Michael addition. We found that binding of b-AP15 to USP14 is partially reversible, and that inhibition of proteasome function is reversible in cells. Despite reversible binding, tumor cells are rapidly committed to apoptosis/cell death after exposure to b-AP15. We show that b-AP15 is rapidly taken up from the medium and enriched in cells. Enrichment provides an explanation of the stronger potency of the compound in cellular assays compared with in vitro biochemical assays. Cellular uptake was impaired by 30-minute pretreatment of cells with low concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide (10 µM), suggesting that enrichment was thiol dependent. We report that in addition to inhibition of deubiquitinases, b-AP15 inhibits the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Whereas proteasome inhibition was closely associated with cell death induction, inhibition of TrxR was not. TrxR inhibition is, however, likely to contribute to triggering of oxidative stress observed with b-AP15. Furthermore, we present structure-activity, in vivo pharmacokinetic, and hepatocyte metabolism data for b-AP15. We conclude that the strong enrichment of b-AP15 in cells and a rapid commitment to apoptosis/cell death are factors that likely contribute to the strong antitumor activity of this compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska (X.W., M.M., S.B., X.Z., P.D., S.L.), and Division of Biochemistry, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (W.S., E.S.J.A.), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (M.F., J.G., R.L., S.L.)
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Haglund C, Mohanty C, Fryknäs M, D'Arcy P, Larsson R, Linder S, Rickardson L. Identification of an inhibitor of the ubiquitin–proteasome system that induces accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins in the absence of blocking of proteasome function. Med Chem Commun 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c3md00386h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) represents one of the most promising therapeutic targets in oncology to emerge in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Haglund
- Department of Medical Sciences (Division of Clinical Pharmacology)
- Uppsala University
- SE-751 85 Uppsala
- Sweden
| | - Chitralekha Mohanty
- Department of Oncology-Pathology
- Karolinska Institutet
- SE-171 76 Stockholm
- Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences (Division of Clinical Pharmacology)
- Uppsala University
- SE-751 85 Uppsala
- Sweden
| | - Padraig D'Arcy
- Department of Oncology-Pathology
- Karolinska Institutet
- SE-171 76 Stockholm
- Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences (Division of Clinical Pharmacology)
- Uppsala University
- SE-751 85 Uppsala
- Sweden
| | - Stig Linder
- Department of Medical Sciences (Division of Clinical Pharmacology)
- Uppsala University
- SE-751 85 Uppsala
- Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology
| | - Linda Rickardson
- Department of Medical Sciences (Division of Clinical Pharmacology)
- Uppsala University
- SE-751 85 Uppsala
- Sweden
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Eriksson A, Kalushkova A, Jarvius M, Hilhorst R, Rickardson L, Kultima HG, de Wijn R, Hovestad L, Fryknäs M, Öberg F, Larsson R, Parrow V, Höglund M. AKN-028 induces cell cycle arrest, downregulation of Myc associated genes and dose dependent reduction of tyrosine kinase activity in acute myeloid leukemia. Biochem Pharmacol 2013; 87:284-91. [PMID: 24200998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 09/15/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
AKN-028 is a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor with preclinical activity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), presently undergoing investigation in a phase I/II study. It is a potent inhibitor of the FMS-like kinase 3 (FLT3) but shows in vitro activity in a wide range of AML samples. In the present study, we have characterized the effects of AKN-028 on AML cells in more detail. AKN-028 induced a dose-dependent G0/1 arrest in AML cell line MV4-11. Treatment with AKN-028 caused significantly altered gene expression in all AML cell types tested (430 downregulated, 280 upregulated transcripts). Subsequent gene set enrichment analysis revealed enrichment of genes associated with the proto-oncogene and cell cycle regulator c-Myc among the downregulated genes in both AKN-028 and midostaurin treated cells. Kinase activity profiling in AML cell lines and primary AML samples showed that tyrosine kinase activity, but not serine/threonine kinase activity, was inhibited by AKN-028 in a dose dependent manner in all samples tested, reaching approximately the same level of kinase activity. Cells sensitive to AKN-028 showed a higher overall tyrosine kinase activity than more resistant ones, whereas serine/threonine kinase activity was similar for all primary AML samples. In summary, AKN-028 induces cell cycle arrest in AML cells, downregulates Myc-associated genes and affect several signaling pathways. AML cells with high global tyrosine kinase activity seem to be more sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of AKN-028 in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Eriksson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Antonia Kalushkova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Riet Hilhorst
- PamGene International B.V., 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Linda Rickardson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Rik de Wijn
- PamGene International B.V., 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Öberg
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Martin Höglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
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Zhang X, Fryknäs M, Hernlund E, Fayad W, De Milito A, Olofsson MH, Linder S. Abstract A108: Induction of mitochondrial dysfunction as a strategy for targeting tumor cells in hypoxic microenvironment. Mol Cancer Ther 2013. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-13-a108] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
A fundamental problem in cancer drug discovery is to identify compounds that eliminate dormant malignant cells responsible for tumor relapse. Abnormal vascularization of solid tumors leads to the generation of tissue microenvironments that are chronically starved of oxygen and nutrients. Cells residing in such environments are slowly growing or quiescent and display altered phenotypic characteristics when compared to cells located in more vascularized regions. Such non-dividing cells are often resistant to mainstay standard chemotherapies that rely on DNA replication and cell division to elicit their anti-tumor effect. The altered phenotype of quiescent cells enables them to survive chemotherapeutic regimes and reseed nascent tumors following secession of chemotherapy. Indeed resistance to agents such as doxorubicin, cisplatin and vinblastine has been correlated with poor vasculature, tumor relapse and poor patient survival. Thus there is a need to alter the scope of cancer drug discovery and focus more on screening for agents that can exploit the altered phenotype of quiescent metabolically stressed cells to eliminate tumors.
Cell-based screening for novel anticancer drugs is typically performed using monolayer cultures of tumor cells, however such monolayer cultures do not represent the characteristics of 3-D solid tumors, frequently leading to the failure of subsequent in vivo models. The multicellular tumor spheroid model is of intermediate complexity between in vivo tumors and in vitro monolayer cultures and is more suitable for drug screening and evaluation. Spheroids are known to be more resistant to drug effects compared to monolayer cultures. Resistance is due not only to pharmacokinetic obstacles limiting drug penetrance to inner layers, but also to multi-cellular interactions leading to altered expression of genes and proteins regulating drug response. An additional benefit of growing cells three- dimensionally is the opportunity to explore the core regions’ potential vulnerability related to hypoxia and nutrient defiency and to reflect the heterogeneous milieu in tumor microregions relative to the supply. Poorly vascularized and perfused tumor microareas in many aggressive cancers have limited access not only to oxygen but also to glucose. Core regions are also associated with acidic pHsince these tumor cells change their metabolism towards increased glycolysis, resulting in increased lactic acid production.
We here employed spheroid cultures of HCT116 colon cancer cells to screen a diverse chemical library with the aim to find compounds with cytotoxic activity in core, hypoxic, regions. The screen identified a compound (VLX600) demonstrating anti-cancer activity with a large therapeutic window both in vitro and in vivo. Here we characterized the mechanism of action and potential of VLX600 as anti-cancer therapy.
Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):A108.
Citation Format: Xiaonan Zhang, Mårten Fryknäs, Emma Hernlund, Walid Fayad, Angelo De Milito, Maria Hägg Olofsson, Stig Linder. Induction of mitochondrial dysfunction as a strategy for targeting tumor cells in hypoxic microenvironment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A108.
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Nygren P, Fryknäs M, Agerup B, Larsson R. Repositioning of the anthelmintic drug mebendazole for the treatment for colon cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2013; 139:2133-40. [PMID: 24135855 PMCID: PMC3825534 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-013-1539-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
In the present study, we screened a compound library containing 1,600 clinically used compounds with the aim to identify compounds, which potentially could be repositioned for colon cancer therapy. Methods Two established colon cancer cell lines were tested using the fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA). For compound comparison connectivity map (CMAP) analysis, NCI 60 data mining and protein kinase binding measurements were performed. Results Sixty-eight compounds were defined as hits with activity in both of these cell lines (<40 % cell survival compared with control) at 10 μM drug concentration. Analysis of chemical similarity of the hit compounds revealed several distinct clusters, among them the antiparasitic benzimidazole group. Two of these compounds, mebendazole (MBZ) and albendazole (ABZ) are registered for human use. Data from the NCI 60 cell line panel revealed only modest correlation between MBZ and ABZ, indicating differences in mechanism of action. This was further supported when gene expression signatures were compared in the CMAP database; ABZ ranked very low when MBZ was used as the query signature. Furthermore, MBZ, but not ABZ, was found to significantly interact with several protein kinases including BCR–ABL and BRAF. Analysis of the diagnosis-specific activity of MBZ showed activity in 80 % of the colon cancer cell lines in the NCI 60 panel. Three additional colon cancer cell lines and three cell models with non-malignant phenotypes were subsequently tested, confirming selective colon cancer activity of MBZ. Conclusion MBZ seemingly has repositioning potential for colorectal cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Nygren
- Section of Oncology, Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
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Tamm KP, Kolosenko I, Fryknäs M, Johnsson P, Forsberg S, Brnjic S, Rassoolzadeh H, Pellegrini P, Grandér D, Larsson R, Linder S, Milito AD. 254. Cytokine 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2013.06.257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Kolosenko I, Edsbäcker E, Fryknäs M, Johnsson P, Grandér D, Tamm KP, Lindera S, Milito AD. 149. Cytokine 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2013.06.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Strese S, Wickström M, Fuchs PF, Fryknäs M, Gerwins P, Dale T, Larsson R, Gullbo J. The novel alkylating prodrug melflufen (J1) inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Biochem Pharmacol 2013; 86:888-95. [PMID: 23933387 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Aminopeptidase N (APN) has been reported to have a functional role in tumor angiogenesis and repeatedly reported to be over-expressed in human tumors. The melphalan-derived prodrug melphalan-flufenamide (melflufen, previously designated J1) can be activated by APN. This suggests that this alkylating prodrug may exert anti-angiogenic properties, which will possibly contribute to the anti-tumoral activity in vivo. This work presents a series of experiments designed to investigate this effect of melflufen. In a cytotoxicity assay we show that bovine endothelial cells were more than 200 times more sensitive to melflufen than to melphalan, in HUVEC cells the difference was more than 30-fold and accompanied by aminopetidase-mediated accumulation of intracellular melphalan. In the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay it is indicated that both melflufen and melphalan inhibit vessel ingrowth. Two commercially available assays with human endothelial cells co-cultured with fibroblasts (TCS Cellworks AngioKit, and Essen GFP-AngioKit) also illustrate the superior anti-angiogenic effect of melflufen compared to melphalan. Finally, in a commercially available in vivo assay in mice (Cultrex DIVAA angio-reactor assay) melflufen displayed an anti-angiogenic effect, comparable to bevacizumab. In conclusion, this study demonstrates through all methods used, that melphalan-flufenamide besides being an alkylating agent also reveals anti-angiogenic effects in different preclinical models in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Strese
- Clinical Pharmacology, Institution of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
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Fryknäs M, Gullbo J, Wang X, Rickardson L, Jarvius M, Wickström M, Hassan S, Andersson C, Gustafsson M, Westman G, Nygren P, Linder S, Larsson R. Screening for phenotype selective activity in multidrug resistant cells identifies a novel tubulin active agent insensitive to common forms of cancer drug resistance. BMC Cancer 2013; 13:374. [PMID: 23919498 PMCID: PMC3751689 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug resistance is a common cause of treatment failure in cancer patients and encompasses a multitude of different mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to identify drugs effective on multidrug resistant cells. METHODS The RPMI 8226 myeloma cell line and its multidrug resistant subline 8226/Dox40 was screened for cytotoxicity in response to 3,000 chemically diverse compounds using a fluorometric cytotoxicity assay (FMCA). Follow-up profiling was subsequently performed using various cellular and biochemical assays. RESULTS One compound, designated VLX40, demonstrated a higher activity against 8226/Dox40 cells compared to its parental counterpart. VLX40 induced delayed cell death with apoptotic features. Mechanistic exploration was performed using gene expression analysis of drug exposed tumor cells to generate a drug-specific signature. Strong connections to tubulin inhibitors and microtubule cytoskeleton were retrieved. The mechanistic hypothesis of VLX40 acting as a tubulin inhibitor was confirmed by direct measurements of interaction with tubulin polymerization using a biochemical assay and supported by demonstration of G2/M cell cycle arrest. When tested against a broad panel of primary cultures of patient tumor cells (PCPTC) representing different forms of leukemia and solid tumors, VLX40 displayed high activity against both myeloid and lymphoid leukemias in contrast to the reference compound vincristine to which myeloid blast cells are often insensitive. Significant in vivo activity was confirmed in myeloid U-937 cells implanted subcutaneously in mice using the hollow fiber model. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that VLX40 may be a useful prototype for development of novel tubulin active agents that are insensitive to common mechanisms of cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Abstract
Background Environment inside even a small tumor is characterized by total (anoxia) or partial oxygen deprivation, (hypoxia). It has been shown that radiotherapy and some conventional chemotherapies may be less effective in hypoxia, and therefore it is important to investigate how different drugs act in different microenvironments. In this study we perform a large screening of the effects of 19 clinically used or experimental chemotherapeutic drugs on five different cell lines in conditions of normoxia, hypoxia and anoxia. Methods A panel of 19 commercially available drugs: 5-fluorouracil, acriflavine, bortezomib, cisplatin, digitoxin, digoxin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, gemcitabine, irinotecan, melphalan, mitomycin c, rapamycin, sorafenib, thalidomide, tirapazamine, topotecan and vincristine were tested for cytotoxic activity on the cancer cell lines A2780 (ovarian), ACHN (renal), MCF-7 (breast), H69 (SCLC) and U-937 (lymphoma). Parallel aliquots of the cells were grown at different oxygen pressures and after 72 hours of drug exposure viability was measured with the fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA). Results Sorafenib, irinotecan and docetaxel were in general more effective in an oxygenated environment, while cisplatin, mitomycin c and tirapazamine were more effective in a low oxygen environment. Surprisingly, hypoxia in H69 and MCF-7 cells mostly rendered higher drug sensitivity. In contrast ACHN appeared more sensitive to hypoxia, giving slower proliferating cells, and consequently, was more resistant to most drugs. Conclusions A panel of standard cytotoxic agents was tested against five different human cancer cell lines cultivated at normoxic, hypoxic and anoxic conditions. Results show that impaired chemosensitivity is not universal, in contrast different cell lines behave different and some drugs appear even less effective in normoxia than hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Strese
- Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
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