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Stukas D, Jasukaitiene A, Bartkeviciene A, Matthews J, Maimets T, Teino I, Jaudzems K, Gulbinas A, Dambrauskas Z. Targeting AHR Increases Pancreatic Cancer Cell Sensitivity to Gemcitabine through the ELAVL1-DCK Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13155. [PMID: 37685961 PMCID: PMC10487468 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713155] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a transcription factor that is commonly upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). AHR hinders the shuttling of human antigen R (ELAVL1) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it stabilises its target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and enhances protein expression. Among these target mRNAs are those induced by gemcitabine. Increased AHR expression leads to the sequestration of ELAVL1 in the nucleus, resulting in chemoresistance. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between AHR and ELAVL1 in the pathogenesis of PDAC in vitro. AHR and ELAVL1 genes were silenced by siRNA transfection. The RNA and protein were extracted for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) analysis. Direct binding between the ELAVL1 protein and AHR mRNA was examined through immunoprecipitation (IP) assay. Cell viability, clonogenicity, and migration assays were performed. Our study revealed that both AHR and ELAVL1 inter-regulate each other, while also having a role in cell proliferation, migration, and chemoresistance in PDAC cell lines. Notably, both proteins function through distinct mechanisms. The silencing of ELAVL1 disrupts the stability of its target mRNAs, resulting in the decreased expression of numerous cytoprotective proteins. In contrast, the silencing of AHR diminishes cell migration and proliferation and enhances cell sensitivity to gemcitabine through the AHR-ELAVL1-deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) molecular pathway. In conclusion, AHR and ELAVL1 interaction can form a negative feedback loop. By inhibiting AHR expression, PDAC cells become more susceptible to gemcitabine through the ELAVL1-DCK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius Stukas
- Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory, Institute for Digestive Research, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.J.); (A.B.); (A.G.); (Z.D.)
| | - Aldona Jasukaitiene
- Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory, Institute for Digestive Research, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.J.); (A.B.); (A.G.); (Z.D.)
| | - Arenida Bartkeviciene
- Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory, Institute for Digestive Research, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.J.); (A.B.); (A.G.); (Z.D.)
| | - Jason Matthews
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 1046 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Toivo Maimets
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Riia 23, 51010 Tartu, Estonia; (T.M.); (I.T.)
| | - Indrek Teino
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Riia 23, 51010 Tartu, Estonia; (T.M.); (I.T.)
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia;
| | - Antanas Gulbinas
- Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory, Institute for Digestive Research, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.J.); (A.B.); (A.G.); (Z.D.)
| | - Zilvinas Dambrauskas
- Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory, Institute for Digestive Research, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.J.); (A.B.); (A.G.); (Z.D.)
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