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Obreque J, Vergara-Gómez L, Venegas N, Weber H, Owen GI, Pérez-Moreno P, Leal P, Roa JC, Bizama C. Advances towards the use of gastrointestinal tumor patient-derived organoids as a therapeutic decision-making tool. Biol Res 2023; 56:63. [PMID: 38041132 PMCID: PMC10693174 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00476-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In December 2022 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed the requirement that drugs in development must undergo animal testing before clinical evaluation, a declaration that now demands the establishment and verification of ex vivo preclinical models that closely represent tumor complexity and that can predict therapeutic response. Fortunately, the emergence of patient-derived organoid (PDOs) culture has enabled the ex vivo mimicking of the pathophysiology of human tumors with the reassembly of tissue-specific features. These features include histopathological variability, molecular expression profiles, genetic and cellular heterogeneity of parental tissue, and furthermore growing evidence suggests the ability to predict patient therapeutic response. Concentrating on the highly lethal and heterogeneous gastrointestinal (GI) tumors, herein we present the state-of-the-art and the current methodology of PDOs. We highlight the potential additions, improvements and testing required to allow the ex vivo of study the tumor microenvironment, as well as offering commentary on the predictive value of clinical response to treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javiera Obreque
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Diagonal Paraguay 362, Office 526, 8330024, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Prevención y Control de Cáncer (CECAN), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Vergara-Gómez
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Biomedicine and Translational Research Lab, Universidad de La Frontera, 4810296, Temuco, Chile
| | - Nicolás Venegas
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Diagonal Paraguay 362, Office 526, 8330024, Santiago, Chile
| | - Helga Weber
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Biomedicine and Translational Research Lab, Universidad de La Frontera, 4810296, Temuco, Chile
| | - Gareth I Owen
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Prevención y Control de Cáncer (CECAN), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Pérez-Moreno
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Diagonal Paraguay 362, Office 526, 8330024, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pamela Leal
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Biomedicine and Translational Research Lab, Universidad de La Frontera, 4810296, Temuco, Chile
| | - Juan Carlos Roa
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Diagonal Paraguay 362, Office 526, 8330024, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Prevención y Control de Cáncer (CECAN), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Bizama
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Diagonal Paraguay 362, Office 526, 8330024, Santiago, Chile.
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150, Santiago, Chile.
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Centro de Prevención y Control de Cáncer (CECAN), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Muñoz JP, Pérez-Moreno P, Pérez Y, Calaf GM. The Role of MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer and the Challenges of Their Clinical Application. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3072. [PMID: 37835815 PMCID: PMC10572677 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13193072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a subclass of non-coding RNAs that exert substantial influence on gene-expression regulation. Their tightly controlled expression plays a pivotal role in various cellular processes, while their dysregulation has been implicated in numerous pathological conditions, including cancer. Among cancers affecting women, breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignant tumor. Extensive investigations have demonstrated distinct expression patterns of miRNAs in normal and malignant breast cells. Consequently, these findings have prompted research efforts towards leveraging miRNAs as diagnostic tools and the development of therapeutic strategies. The aim of this review is to describe the role of miRNAs in BC. We discuss the identification of oncogenic, tumor suppressor and metastatic miRNAs among BC cells, and their impact on tumor progression. We describe the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BC, as well as their role as promising therapeutic targets. Finally, we evaluate the current use of artificial intelligence tools for miRNA analysis and the challenges faced by these new biomedical approaches in its clinical application. The insights presented in this review underscore the promising prospects of utilizing miRNAs as innovative diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools for the management of BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P. Muñoz
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1000007, Chile
| | - Pablo Pérez-Moreno
- Programa de Comunicación Celular en Cáncer, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7780272, Chile
| | - Yasmín Pérez
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1000007, Chile
| | - Gloria M. Calaf
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1000000, Chile
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Riquelme I, Pérez-Moreno P, Mora-Lagos B, Ili C, Brebi P, Roa JC. Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as Regulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Gastric Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076294. [PMID: 37047267 PMCID: PMC10094576 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) represents ~10% of the global cancer-related deaths, increasingly affecting the younger population in active stages of life. The high mortality of GC is due to late diagnosis, the presence of metastasis and drug resistance development. Additionally, current clinical markers do not guide the patient management adequately, thereby new and more reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets are still needed for this disease. RNA-seq technology has allowed the discovery of new types of RNA transcripts including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are able to regulate the gene/protein expression of many signaling pathways (e.g., the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway) in cancer cells by diverse molecular mechanisms. In addition, these lncRNAs might also be proposed as promising diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers or as potential therapeutic targets in GC. This review describes important topics about some lncRNAs that have been described as regulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and hence, their potential oncogenic role in the development of this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Riquelme
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4810101, Chile
- Correspondence: (I.R.); (J.C.R.); Tel.: +56-95923-6933 (I.R.); +56-22354-1061 (J.C.R.)
| | - Pablo Pérez-Moreno
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy (MIII), Center for Cancer Prevention and Control (CECAN), Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile
| | - Bárbara Mora-Lagos
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4810101, Chile
| | - Carmen Ili
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy (MIII), Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine—Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT-BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4810296, Chile
| | - Priscilla Brebi
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy (MIII), Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine—Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT-BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4810296, Chile
| | - Juan Carlos Roa
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy (MIII), Center for Cancer Prevention and Control (CECAN), Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile
- Correspondence: (I.R.); (J.C.R.); Tel.: +56-95923-6933 (I.R.); +56-22354-1061 (J.C.R.)
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Landeros N, Gonzalez-Hormazabal P, Pérez-Moreno P, Tapia JC, Jara L. A Single Variant in Pri-miRNA-155 Associated with Susceptibility to Hereditary Breast Cancer Promotes Aggressiveness in Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315418. [PMID: 36499743 PMCID: PMC9735695 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Variants in genes encoding for microRNAs have been associated with their deregulation in breast cancer (BC). Sequencing of microRNAs deregulated in BC was performed using DNA from Chilean patients with a strong family history and negative for mutations in BRCA1/BRCA2. Seventeen variants were identified, three of which were selected for a case-control association study: rs376491654 (miR-335), rs755634302 (miR-497), and rs190708267 (miR-155). For rs190708267 C>T, the heterozygous T allele was detected in four BC cases and absent in controls, while homozygous TT cases were not detected. Variants were modelled in silico, cloned in a plasmid, expressed in BC cell lines, and functional in vitro assays were performed. Overexpression of the miR-155-T allele increased mature miR-155-5p levels in both BC cell lines, suggesting that its presence alters pre-miR-155 processing. Moreover, BC cells overexpressing the miR-155-T allele showed increased proliferation, migration, and resistance to cisplatin-induced death compared to miR-155-C overexpressing cells. Of note, the 3′UTR of APC, GSK3β, and PPP1CA genes, all into the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, were identified as direct targets. APC and GSK3β mRNA levels decreased while PP1 levels increased. These results suggest a pathogenic role of the variant rs190708267 (miR-155) in BRCA 1/2 negative BC, conferring susceptibility and promoting traits of aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Landeros
- Programa de Genética Humana, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Patricio Gonzalez-Hormazabal
- Programa de Genética Humana, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Pablo Pérez-Moreno
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Julio C Tapia
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Lilian Jara
- Programa de Genética Humana, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
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Riquelme I, Pérez-Moreno P, Letelier P, Brebi P, Roa JC. The Emerging Role of PIWI-Interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in Gastrointestinal Cancers: An Updated Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:202. [PMID: 35008366 PMCID: PMC8750603 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers produce ~3.4 million related deaths worldwide, comprising 35% of all cancer-related deaths. The high mortality among GI cancers is due to late diagnosis, the presence of metastasis and drug resistance development. Additionally, current clinical markers do not adequately guide patient management, thereby new and more reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets are still needed for these diseases. RNA-seq technology has allowed the discovery of new types of RNA transcripts including PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which have particular characteristics that enable these molecules to act via diverse molecular mechanisms for regulating gene expression. Cumulative evidence has described the potential role of piRNAs in the development of several tumor types as a likely explanation for certain genomic abnormalities and signaling pathways' deregulations observed in cancer. In addition, these piRNAs might be also proposed as promising diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers or as potential therapeutic targets in malignancies. This review describes important topics about piRNAs including their molecular characteristics, biosynthesis processes, gene expression silencing mechanisms, and the manner in which these transcripts have been studied in samples and cell lines of GI cancers to elucidate their implications in these diseases. Moreover, this article discusses the potential clinical usefulness of piRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Riquelme
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4810101, Chile;
| | - Pablo Pérez-Moreno
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile;
| | - Pablo Letelier
- Precision Health Research Laboratory, Departamento de Procesos Diagnósticos y Evaluación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Manuel Montt 56, Temuco 4813302, Chile;
| | - Priscilla Brebi
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine—Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT-BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4810296, Chile;
| | - Juan Carlos Roa
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile;
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Pérez-Moreno P, Riquelme I, Brebi P, Roa JC. Role of lncRNAs in the Development of an Aggressive Phenotype in Gallbladder Cancer. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10184206. [PMID: 34575316 PMCID: PMC8468232 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10184206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs are sequences longer than 200 nucleotides that are involved in different normal and abnormal biological processes exerting their effect on proliferation and differentiation, among other cell features. Functionally, lncRNAs can regulate gene expression within the cells by acting at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, or post-translational levels. However, in pathological conditions such as cancer, the expression of these molecules is deregulated, becoming elements that can help in the acquisition of tumoral characteristics in the cells that trigger carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Specifically, in gallbladder cancer (GBC), recent publications have shown that lncRNAs participate in the acquisition of an aggressive phenotype in cancer cells, allowing them to acquire increased malignant capacities such as chemotherapy resistance or metastasis, inducing a worse survival in these patients. Furthermore, lncRNAs are useful as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers since they have been shown to be differentially expressed in tumor tissues and serum of individuals with GBC. Therefore, this review will address different lncRNAs that could be promoting malignant phenotypic characteristics in GBC cells and lncRNAs that may be useful as markers due to their capability to predict a poor prognosis in GBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Pérez-Moreno
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile;
| | - Ismael Riquelme
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autoónoma de Chile, Temuco 4810101, Chile;
| | - Priscilla Brebi
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LiBi), Centro de Excelencia en Medicina Translacional (CEMT), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4810296, Chile;
| | - Juan Carlos Roa
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-22354-1061
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Pérez-Moreno P, Quezada-Meza C, Chavez-Almarza C, Niechi I, Silva-Pavez E, Trigo-Hidalgo C, Aguayo F, Jara L, Cáceres-Verschae A, Varas-Godoy M, Díaz VM, García de Herreros A, Burzio VA, Tapia JC. Phosphorylation of Endothelin-Converting Enzyme-1c at Serines 18 and 20 by CK2 Promotes Aggressiveness Traits in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1004. [PMID: 32850305 PMCID: PMC7406796 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01004] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE1) activates the endothelin-1 peptide, which upregulates pathways that are related to diverse hallmarks of cancer. ECE1 is expressed as four isoforms differing in their N-terminal domains. Protein kinase CK2 phosphorylates the N-terminus of isoform ECE1c, enhancing its stability and promoting invasiveness of colorectal cancer cells. However, the specific residues in ECE1c that are phosphorylated by CK2 and how this phosphorylation promotes invasiveness was unknown. Here we demonstrate that Ser-18 and Ser-20 are the bona fide residues phosphorylated by CK2 in ECE1c. Thus, biphospho-mimetic ECE1cDD and biphospho-resistant ECE1cAA mutants were constructed and stably expressed in different colorectal cancer cells through lentiviral transduction. Biphospho-mimetic ECE1cDD displayed the highest stability in cells, even in the presence of the specific CK2 inhibitor silmitasertib. Concordantly, ECE1cDD-expressing cells showed enhanced hallmarks of cancer, such as proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and self-renewal capacities. Conversely, cells expressing the less-stable biphospho-resistant ECE1cAA showed a reduction in these features, but also displayed an important sensitization to 5-fluorouracil, an antineoplastic agent traditionally used as therapy in colorectal cancer patients. Altogether, these findings suggest that phosphorylation of ECE1c at Ser-18 and Ser-20 by CK2 promotes aggressiveness in colorectal cancer cells. Therefore, phospho-ECE1c may constitute a novel biomarker of poor prognosis and CK2 inhibition may be envisioned as a potential therapy for colorectal cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Pérez-Moreno
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, ICBM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Quezada-Meza
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, ICBM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristopher Chavez-Almarza
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, ICBM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ignacio Niechi
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Eduardo Silva-Pavez
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - César Trigo-Hidalgo
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, ICBM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Aguayo
- Programa de Virología, Facultad de Medicina, ICBM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lilian Jara
- Programa de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, ICBM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Albano Cáceres-Verschae
- Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Manuel Varas-Godoy
- Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Víctor M Díaz
- Unidad Asociada CSIC, Programa de Recerca en Cáncer, Departament de Ciéncies Experimentals i de la Salut, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Médiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio García de Herreros
- Unidad Asociada CSIC, Programa de Recerca en Cáncer, Departament de Ciéncies Experimentals i de la Salut, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Médiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Verónica A Burzio
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile
| | - Julio C Tapia
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, ICBM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Pérez-Moreno P, Indo S, Niechi I, Huerta H, Cabello P, Jara L, Aguayo F, Varas-Godoy M, Burzio VA, Tapia JC. Endothelin-converting enzyme-1c promotes stem cell traits and aggressiveness in colorectal cancer cells. Mol Oncol 2019; 14:347-362. [PMID: 31788944 PMCID: PMC6998658 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelin-1 is a mitogenic peptide that activates several proliferation, survival, and invasiveness pathways. The effects of endothelin-1 rely on its activation by endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE1), which is expressed as four isoforms with different cytoplasmic N termini. Recently, isoform ECE1c has been suggested to have a role in cancer aggressiveness. The N terminus of ECE1c is phosphorylated by protein kinase CK2 (also known as casein kinase 2), and this enhances its stability and promotes invasiveness in colorectal cancer cells. However, it is not known how phosphorylation improves stability and why this is correlated with increased aggressiveness. We hypothesized that CK2 phosphorylation protects ECE1c from N-terminal ubiquitination and, consequently, from proteasomal degradation. Here, we show that lysine 6 is the bona fide residue involved in ubiquitination of ECE1c and its mutation to arginine (ECE1cK6R ) significantly impairs proteasomal degradation, thereby augmenting ECE1c stability, even in the presence of the CK2 inhibitor silmitasertib. Furthermore, colorectal cancer cells overexpressing ECE1cK6R displayed enhanced cancer stem cell (CSC) traits, including increased stemness gene expression, chemoresistance, self-renewal, and colony formation and spheroid formation in vitro, as well as enhanced tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. These findings suggest that CK2-dependent phosphorylation enhances ECE1c stability, promoting an increase in CSC-like traits. Therefore, phospho-ECE1c may be a biomarker of poor prognosis and a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Pérez-Moreno
- Departamento de Oncología Básico Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián Indo
- Departamento de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ignacio Niechi
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Hernán Huerta
- Departamento de Oncología Básico Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Cabello
- Departamento de Oncología Básico Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lilian Jara
- Programa de Genética Humana, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Aguayo
- Departamento de Oncología Básico Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Manuel Varas-Godoy
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica A Burzio
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile
| | - Julio C Tapia
- Departamento de Oncología Básico Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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