Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species-Induced Protein Modifications: Implication in Carcinogenesis and Anticancer Therapy

Novel N,N'-Disubstituted Acylselenoureas as Potential Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Agents

Selenium compounds are pivotal in medicinal chemistry for their antitumoral and antioxidant properties. Forty seven acylselenoureas have been designed and synthesized following a fragment-based approach. Different scaffolds, including carbo- and hetero-cycles, along with mono- and bi-cyclic moieties, have been linked to the selenium containing skeleton. The dose- and time-dependent radical scavenging activity for all of the compounds were assessed using the in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Some of them showed a greater radical scavenging capacity at low doses and shorter times than ascorbic acid. Therefore, four compounds were evaluated to test their protective effects against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. One derivative protected cells against H₂O₂-induced damage, increasing cell survival by up to 3.6-fold. Additionally, in vitro cytotoxic activity of all compounds was screened against several cancer cells. Eight compounds were selected to determine their half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values towards breast and lung cancer cells, along with their selectivity indexes. The breast cancer cells turned out to be much more sensitive than the lung. Two compounds (5d and 10a) stood out with IC₅₀ values between 4.2 μM and 8.0 μM towards MCF-7 and T47D cells, with selectivity indexes greater than 22.9. In addition, compound 10b exhibited dual antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Although further evidence is needed, the acylselenourea scaffold could be a feasible frame to develop new dual agents.

PTPS Facilitates Compartmentalized LTBP1 S-Nitrosylation and Promotes Tumor Growth under Hypoxia

GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH), 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS), and sepiapterin reductase (SR) are sequentially responsible for de novo synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a known co-factor for nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The implication of BH4-biosynthesis process in tumorigenesis remains to be investigated. Here, we show that PTPS, which is highly expressed in early-stage colorectal cancer, is phosphorylated at Thr 58 by AMPK under hypoxia; this phosphorylation promotes PTPS binding to LTBP1 and subsequently drives iNOS-mediated LTBP1 S-nitrosylation through proximal-coupling BH4 production within the PTPS/iNOS/LTBP1 complex. In turn, LTBP1 S-nitrosylation results in proteasome-dependent LTBP1 protein degradation, revealing an inverse relationship between PTPS pT58 and LTBP1 stability. Physiologically, the repressive effect of PTPS on LTBP1 leads to impaired transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) secretion and thereby maintains tumor cell growth under hypoxia. Our findings illustrate a molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of LTBP1-TGF-β signaling by the BH4-biosynthesis pathway and highlight the specific requirement of PTPS for tumor growth.

Cetuximab enhances the efficiency of irinotecan through simultaneously inhibiting the MAPK signaling and ABCG2 in colorectal cancer cells

BACKGROUND

The present study sought to investigate the combined effects of cetuximab and irinotecan on colorectal cancer cells as well as the mechanisms underlying their anti-cancer effects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

High performance liquid chromatography, Hoechst staining assay, and western blotting analysis were used to detect intracellular drug concentrations, cell apoptosis, and protein expression in the presence of cetuximab, irinotecan, and the combination of both.

RESULTS

Cetuximab was found to increase intracellular concentrations of irinotecan as well as cytotoxicity by inhibiting the epidermal growth factor receptor and, by extension, the downstream RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Cetuximab therefore induced apoptosis and improved the effect of irinotecan in colorectal cancer cells. It was also shown that cetuximab inhibited the drug efflux activity of ABCG2. In combination with irinotecan, cetuximab can both significantly induce cell apoptosis by inhibiting the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway and improve the effects of irinotecan by decreasing drug efflux through the inhibition of ABCG2.

CONCLUSION

These features contribute to its anti-cancer potential.

Oncogenic pathways and the electron transport chain: a dangeROS liaison

Driver mutations in oncogenic pathways, rewiring of cellular metabolism and altered ROS homoeostasis are intimately connected hallmarks of cancer. Electrons derived from different metabolic processes are channelled into the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) to fuel the oxidative phosphorylation process. Electrons leaking from the ETC can prematurely react with oxygen, resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Several signalling pathways are affected by ROS, which act as second messengers controlling cell proliferation and survival. On the other hand, oncogenic pathways hijack the ETC, enhancing its ROS-producing capacity by increasing electron flow or by impinging on the structure and organisation of the ETC. In this review, we focus on the ETC as a source of ROS and its modulation by oncogenic pathways, which generates a vicious cycle that resets ROS levels to a higher homoeostatic set point, sustaining the cancer cell phenotype.

Extensive protein S-nitrosylation associated with human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma pathogenesis

NO (nitric oxide)-mediated protein S-nitrosylation has been established as one major signaling mechanism underlying cancer initiation and development, but its roles in PDAC (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma) pathogenesis still remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified 585 unique S-nitrosylation sites among 434 proteins in PDAC patients and PANC-1 cell line by a site-specific proteomics. Larger number of S-nitrosylated proteins were identified in PDAC tissues and PANC-1 cells than adjacent non-cancerous tissues. These S-nitrosylated proteins are significantly enriched in a multitude of biological processes associated with tumorigenesis, including carbohydrate metabolism, cytoskeleton regulation, cell cycle, focal adhesion, adherent junctions, and cell migration. Components of the pancreatic cancer pathway were extensively S-nitrosylated, such as v-raf-1 murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (Raf-1) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Moreover, NOS (NO synthase) inhibitor significantly repressed STAT3 S-nitrosylation in PANC-1 cells, which caused significant increase of STAT3 phosphorylation and PANC-1 cell viability, suggesting important roles of protein S-nitrosylation in PDAC development. These results revealed extensive protein S-nitrosylation associated with PDAC pathogenesis, which provided a basis for protein modification-based cancer diagnosis and targeted therapy.

The Relationship between the Concentration of Salivary Tyrosine and Antioxidants in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus

The diagnosis of oral lichen planus (OLP) is based on clinical examination and histopathological criteria. Noninvasive diagnostics of saliva may be considered as a confirmation of OLP diagnosis and a potential alternative to an invasive method. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the level of tyrosine (Tyr) as well as antioxidants like uric acid (UA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the saliva of patients with OLP in comparison with the control group (healthy subjects without any oral changes). A total of 40 patients with OLP and 40 healthy volunteers were selected for the study based on the modified WHO diagnostic (clinical and histopathological) criteria. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed for Tyr concentration, while GPx activity and uric acid levels were determined by a colorimetric method. The concentrations of Tyr, UA, and GPx activity were statistically lowered in OLP patients compared to the control group. All examined parameters correlated strongly and positively with each other. Mean values of salivary UA concentrations differed between the groups of OLP patients (reticular and erosive forms) and controls (206.66 vs. 196.54 vs. 218.49 μmol/L, respectively, p = 0.001). A similar trend was demonstrated in salivary Tyr concentration which differed statistically between the study and control groups (0.08 vs. 0.07 vs. 0.13 μmol/L, respectively, p = 0.001). Determining of a relationship between the concentrations of Tyr, UA, and GPx activity may be useful in the prognosis of OLP. The HPLC method may be employed, as an additional noninvasive diagnostic procedure to screen OLP patients, during the routine diagnostics of salivary biochemical parameters such as aromatic amino acids.

Piperlongumine Inhibits Akt Phosphorylation to Reverse Resistance to Cisplatin in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells via ROS Regulation

Resistance is a major concern when administering chemotherapy to patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Chemosensitizer are agents that can reverse resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, thereby enhancing the chemosensitivity of tumor cells. Thus, their development will improve therapeutic efficacy in cancer. However, few effective chemosensitizer have been identified to date. Piperlongumine (PL) has been shown to effectively reverse resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in several types of cancers. However, the mechanisms associated with the chemotherapy resistance reversal effect of PL and its regulation of target factors in chemotherapy resistance cells are still unclear. This study investigated the reversal effect of PL both in vitro and in vivo, and provided evidence that PL inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt via the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in chemotherapy resistance cells. Consequently, various Akt activation-dependent genes caused a reduction of drug efflux and induction of apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant A549 NSCLC cells. Our results indicate that Akt phosphorylation may play a functional role in the reversal effect of PL and contribute, at least in part, to the treatment outcomes of patients with chemotherapy resistance.

Targeting Heterogeneous Tumors Using a Multifunctional Molecular Prodrug

Reported here is a molecular construct (K1) designed to overcome hurdles associated with delivering active drugs to heterogeneous tumor environments. Construct K1 relies on two cancer environment triggers (GSH and H₂O₂) to induce prodrug activation. It releases an active drug form (SN-38) under conditions of both oxidative and reductive stress in vitro. Specific uptake of K1 in COX-2 positive aggressive colon cancer cells (SW620 and LoVo) was seen, along with enhanced anticancer activity compared with the control agent SN-38. These findings are attributed to environmentally triggered drug release, as well as simultaneous scavenging of species giving rise to intracellular redox stress. K1 serves to downregulate various cancer survival signaling pathways (AKT, p38, IL-6, VEGF, and TNF-α) and upregulate an anti-inflammatory response (IL-10). Compared with SN-38 and DMSO as controls, K1 also displayed an improved in vivo therapeutic efficacy in a xenograft tumor regrowth model with no noticeable systematic toxicity at the administrated dose. We believe that the strategy described here presents an attractive approach to addressing solid tumors characterized by intratumoral heterogeneity.

An Azo Coupling Strategy for Protein 3-Nitrotyrosine Derivatization

Herein, a strategy for the selective derivatization of 3-nitrotyrosine-containing proteins using the classic azo coupling reaction as the key step is described. This novel approach featured multiple advantages and was successfully applied to detect picomole levels of protein tyrosine nitration in biological samples.

Interleukin-8 Secreted by Glioblastoma Cells Induces Microvascular Hyperpermeability Through NO Signaling Involving S-Nitrosylation of VE-Cadherin and p120 in Endothelial Cells

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor, characterized by the formation of dysfunctional blood vessels and a permeable endothelial barrier. S-nitrosylation, a post-translational modification, has been identified as a regulator of endothelial function. In this work we explored whether S-nitrosylation induced by glioblastoma tumors regulates the endothelial function. As proof of concept, we observed that S-nitrosylation is present in the tumoral microenvironment of glioblastoma in two different animal models. Subsequently, we measured S nitrosylation and microvascular permeability in EAhy296 endothelial cells and in cremaster muscle. In vitro, conditioned medium from the human glioblastoma cell line U87 activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase, causes VE-cadherin- S-nitrosylation and induces hyperpermeability. Blocking Interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the conditioned medium inhibited S-nitrosylation of VE-cadherin and hyperpermeability. Recombinant IL-8 increased endothelial permeability by activating eNOS, S-nitrosylation of VE-cadherin and p120, internalization of VE-cadherin and disassembly of adherens junctions. In vivo, IL-8 induced S-nitrosylation of VE-cadherin and p120 and conditioned medium from U87 cells caused hyperpermeability in the mouse cremaster muscle. We conclude that eNOS signaling induced by glioma cells-secreted IL-8 regulates endothelial barrier function in the context of glioblastoma involving S-nitrosylation of VE-cadherin and p120. Our results suggest that inhibiting S-nitrosylation may be an effective way to control and/or block damage to the endothelial barrier and prevent cancer progression.

Xanthine oxidase-mediated oxidative stress promotes cancer cell-specific apoptosis

The natural compound Alternol was shown to induce profound oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death preferentially in cancer cells. In this study, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to understand the mechanism for Alternol-induced ROS accumulation responsible for apoptotic cell death. Our data revealed that Alternol treatment moderately increased mitochondrial superoxide formation rate, but it was significantly lower than the total ROS positive cell population. Pre-treatment with mitochondria-specific anti-oxidant MitoQ, NOX or NOS specific inhibitors had no protective effect on Alternol-induced ROS accumulation and cell death. However, XDH/XO inhibition by specific small chemical inhibitors or gene silencing reduced total ROS levels and protected cells from apoptosis induced by Alternol. Further analysis revealed that Alternol treatment significantly enhanced XDH oxidative activity and induced a strong protein oxidation-related damage in malignant but not benign cells. Interestingly, benign cells exerted a strong spike in anti-oxidant SOD and catalase activities compared to malignant cells after Alternol treatment. Cell-based protein-ligand engagement and in-silicon docking analysis showed that Alternol interacts with XDH protein on the catalytic domain with two amino acid residues away from its substrate binding sites. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Alternol treatment enhances XDH oxidative activity, leading to ROS-dependent apoptotic cell death.

Small-molecule fluorescent probes for specific detection and imaging of chemical species inside lysosomes

In the past few years, the preparation of novel small-molecule fluorescent probes for specific detection and imaging of chemical species inside lysosomes has attracted considerable attention because of their wide applications in chemistry, biology, and medical science. This feature article summarizes the recent advances in the design and preparation of small-molecule fluorescent probes for specific detection of chemical species inside lysosomes. In addition, their properties and applications for the detection and imaging of pH, H2O2, HOCl, O2˙-, lipid peroxidation, H2S, HSO3-, thiols, NO, ONOO-, HNO, Zn2+, Cu2+, enzymes, etc. in lysosomes are discussed as well.

Design of a Protein Motif Responsive to Tyrosine Nitration and an Encoded Turn-Off Sensor of Tyrosine Nitration

Tyrosine nitration is a protein post-translational modification that is predominantly non-enzymatic and is observed to be increased under conditions of nitrosative stress and in numerous disease states. A small protein motif (14-18 amino acids) responsive to tyrosine nitration has been developed. In this design, nitrotyrosine replaced the conserved Glu12 of an EF-hand metal-binding motif. Thus, the non-nitrated peptide bound terbium weakly. In contrast, tyrosine nitration resulted in a 45-fold increase in terbium affinity. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated direct binding of nitrotyrosine to the metal and EF-hand-like metal contacts in this designed peptide. Nitrotyrosine is an efficient quencher of fluorescence. To develop a sensor of tyrosine nitration, the initial design was modified to incorporate Glu residues at EF-hand positions 9 and 16 as additional metal-binding residues, to increase the terbium affinity of the peptide with unmodified tyrosine. This peptide with a tyrosine at residue 12 bound terbium and effectively sensitized terbium luminescence. Tyrosine nitration resulted in a 180-fold increase in terbium affinity ( Kd = 1.6 μM) and quenching of terbium luminescence. This sequence was incorporated as an encoded protein tag and applied as a turn-off fluorescent protein sensor of tyrosine nitration. The sensor was responsive to nitration by peroxynitrite, with fluorescence quenched upon nitration. The greater terbium affinity upon tyrosine nitration resulted in a large dynamic range and sensitivity to substoichiometric nitration. An improved approach for the synthesis of peptides containing nitrotyrosine was also developed, via the in situ silyl protection of nitrotyrosine. This work represents the first designed, encodable protein motif that is responsive to tyrosine nitration.

Regulation of ezrin tension by S-nitrosylation mediates non-small cell lung cancer invasion and metastasis

Cancer invasion and metastasis depend on accurate and rapid modulation of both chemical and mechanical activities. The S-nitrosylation (SNO) of membrane cytoskeletal cross-linker protein ezrin may regulate the malignant process in a tension-dependent manner. Methods: The level of nitrosylated ezrin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and A549 cell line were evaluated by biotin-switch assay. A few cysteine mutated plasmids of ezrin were used to identify active site for SNO. Newly designed ezrin or mutated-ezrin tension probes based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) theory were applied to visually observe real-time tension changes. Cytoskeleton depolymerizing and motor molecular inhibiting experiments were performed to reveal the alternation of the mechanical property of ezrin after SNO. Transwell assays and xenograft mouse model were used to assess aggressiveness of A549 cells in different groups. Fluorescent staining was also applied to examine cellular location and structures. Results: High inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels were observed to induce ezrin-SNO, and then promote malignant behaviors of NSCLC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Cys117 was identified as the only active site for ezrin-SNO. Meanwhile, an increased level of ezrin tension was observed after iNOS-induced SNO. Enhanced ezrin tension was positively correlated with aggressiveness of NSCLC. Moreover, Microfilament (MF) forces instead of microtubule (MT) forces played dominant roles in modulating ezrin tension, especially after ezrin nitrosylation. Conclusion: This study revealed a SNO-associated mechanism underlying the mechanical tension of ezrin. Ezrin-SNO promotes NSCLC cells invasion and metastasis through facilitating mechanical transduction from the cytoskeleton to the membrane. These studies implicate the therapeutic potential by targeting ezrin in the inhibition NSCLC invasion and metastasis.

NRF2 orchestrates the redox regulation induced by radiation therapy, sustaining embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells radioresistance

PURPOSE

Tumor cells generally exhibit higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), however, when stressed, tumor cells can undergo a process of 'Redox Resetting' to acquire a new redox balance with stronger antioxidant systems that enable cancer cells to become resistant to radiation therapy (RT). Here, we describe how RT affects the oxidant/antioxidant balance in human embryonal (RD) and alveolar (RH30) rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell lines, investigating on the molecular mechanisms involved.

METHODS

Radiations were delivered using an x-6 MV photon linear accelerator and their effects were assessed by vitality and clonogenic assays. The expression of specific antioxidant-enzymes, such as Superoxide Dismutases (SODs), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione Peroxidases 4 (GPx4), miRNAs (miR-22, -126, -210, -375, -146a, -34a) and the transcription factor NRF2 was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) and western blotting. RNA interference experiments were performed to evaluate the role of NRF2.

RESULTS

Doses of RT higher than 2 Gy significantly affected RMS clonogenic ability by increasing ROS production. RMS rapidly and efficiently brought back ROS levels by up-regulating the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, miRNAs as well as of NRF2. Silencing of NRF2 restrained the RMS ability to counteract RT-induced ROS accumulation, antioxidant enzyme and miRNA expression and was able to increase the abundance of γ-H2AX, a biomarker of DNA damage, in RT-treated cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our data suggest the strategic role of oxidant/antioxidant balance in restraining the therapeutic efficiency of RT in RMS treatment and identify NRF2 as a new potential molecular target whose inhibition might represent a novel radiosensitizing therapeutic strategy for RMS clinical management.

UVB-induced inactivation of manganese-containing superoxide dismutase promotes mitophagy via ROS-mediated mTORC2 pathway activation

Mitochondria are major sites of energy metabolism that influence numerous cellular events, including immunity and cancer development. Previously, we reported that the mitochondrion-specific antioxidant enzyme, manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), has dual roles in early- and late-carcinogenesis stages. However, how defective MnSOD impacts the chain of events that lead to cell transformation in pathologically normal epidermal cells that have been exposed to carcinogens is unknown. Here, we show that UVB radiation causes nitration and inactivation of MnSOD leading to mitochondrial injury and mitophagy. In keratinocytes, exposure to UVB radiation decreased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, increased glycolysis and the expression of autophagy-related genes, and enhanced AKT Ser/Thr kinase (AKT) phosphorylation and cell growth. Interestingly, UVB initiated a prosurvival mitophagy response by mitochondria-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling via the mammalian target of the mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) pathway. Knockdown of rictor but not raptor abrogated UVB-induced mitophagy responses. Furthermore, fractionation and proximity-ligation assays reveal that ROS-mediated mTOC2 activation in mitochondria is necessary for UVB-induced mitophagy. Importantly, pretreatment with the MnSOD mimic MnTnBuOE-2-PyP⁵⁺ (MnP) attenuates mTORC2 activation and suppresses UVB-induced mitophagy. UVB radiation exposure also increased cell growth as assessed by soft-agar colony survival and cell growth assays, and pretreatment with MnP or the known autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine abrogated UVB-induced cell growth. These results indicate that MnSOD is a major redox regulator that maintains mitochondrial health and show that UVB-mediated MnSOD inactivation promotes mitophagy and thereby prevents accumulation of damaged mitochondria.

Noxious Iron-Calcium Connections in Neurodegeneration

Iron and calcium share the common feature of being essential for normal neuronal function. Iron is required for mitochondrial function, synaptic plasticity, and the development of cognitive functions whereas cellular calcium signals mediate neurotransmitter exocytosis, axonal growth and synaptic plasticity, and control the expression of genes involved in learning and memory processes. Recent studies have revealed that cellular iron stimulates calcium signaling, leading to downstream activation of kinase cascades engaged in synaptic plasticity. The relationship between calcium and iron is Janus-faced, however. While under physiological conditions iron-mediated reactive oxygen species generation boosts normal calcium-dependent signaling pathways, excessive iron levels promote oxidative stress leading to the upsurge of unrestrained calcium signals that damage mitochondrial function, among other downstream targets. Similarly, increases in mitochondrial calcium to non-physiological levels result in mitochondrial dysfunction and a predicted loss of iron homeostasis. Hence, if uncontrolled, the iron/calcium self-feeding cycle becomes deleterious to neuronal function, leading eventually to neuronal death. Here, we review the multiple cell-damaging responses generated by the unregulated iron/calcium self-feeding cycle, such as excitotoxicity, free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation, and the oxidative modification of crucial components of iron and calcium homeostasis/signaling: the iron transporter DMT1, plasma membrane, and intracellular calcium channels and pumps. We discuss also how iron-induced dysregulation of mitochondrial calcium contributes to the generation of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).