Valproic acid inhibits the proliferation of SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cancer cells by downregulating URG4/URGCP and CCND1 gene expression

Therapeutic and Toxic Effects of Valproic Acid Metabolites

Valproic acid (VPA) and its salts are psychotropic drugs that are widely used in neurological diseases (epilepsy, neuropathic pain, migraine, etc.) and psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, addiction diseases, etc.). In addition, the indications for the appointment of valproate have been expanding in recent years in connection with the study of new mechanisms of action of therapeutic and toxic metabolites of VPA in the human body. Thus, VPA is considered a component of disease-modifying therapy for multiple tumors, neurodegenerative diseases (Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Duchenne progressive dystrophy, etc.), and human immunodeficiency syndrome. The metabolism of VPA is complex and continues to be studied. Known pathways of VPA metabolism include: β-oxidation in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (acetylation); oxidation with the participation of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes (P-oxidation); and glucuronidation. The complex metabolism of VPA explains the diversity of its active and inactive metabolites, which have therapeutic, neutral, or toxic effects. It is known that some active metabolites of VPA may have a stronger clinical effect than VPA itself. These reasons explain the relevance of this narrative review, which summarizes the results of studies of blood (serum, plasma) and urinary metabolites of VPA from the standpoint of the pharmacogenomics and pharmacometabolomics. In addition, a new personalized approach to assessing the cumulative risk of developing VPA-induced adverse reactions is presented and ways for their correction are proposed depending on the patient's pharmacogenetic profile and the level of therapeutic and toxic VPA metabolites in the human body fluids (blood, urine).

From HDAC to Voltage-Gated Ion Channels: What's Next? The Long Road of Antiepileptic Drugs Repositioning in Cancer

Simple Summary

Although in the last decades the clinical outcome of cancer patients considerably improved, the major drawbacks still associated with chemotherapy are the unwanted side effects and the development of drug resistance. Therefore, a continuous effort in trying to discover new tumor markers, possibly of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value, is being made. This review is aimed at highlighting the anti-tumor activity that several antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) exert in breast, prostate and other types of cancers, mainly focusing on their ability to block the voltage-gated Na⁺ and Ca⁺⁺ channels, as well as to inhibit the activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs), all well-documented tumor markers and/or molecular targets. The existence of additional AEDs molecular targets is highly suspected. Therefore, the repurposing of already available drugs as adjuvants in cancer treatment would have several advantages, such as reductions in dose-related toxicity CVs will be sent in a separate mail to the indicated address of combined treatments, lower production costs, and faster approval for clinical use.

Abstract

Cancer is a major health burden worldwide. Although the plethora of molecular targets identified in the last decades and the deriving developed treatments, which significantly improved patients’ outcome, the occurrence of resistance to therapies remains the major cause of relapse and mortality. Thus, efforts in identifying new markers to be exploited as molecular targets in cancer therapy are needed. This review will first give a glance on the diagnostic and therapeutic significance of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and voltage gated ion channels (VGICs) in cancer. Nevertheless, HDAC and VGICs have also been reported as molecular targets through which antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) seem to exert their anticancer activity. This should be claimed as a great advantage. Indeed, due to the slowness of drug approval procedures, the attempt to turn to off-label use of already approved medicines would be highly preferable. Therefore, an updated and accurate overview of both preclinical and clinical data of commonly prescribed AEDs (mainly valproic acid, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin and gabapentin) in breast, prostate, brain and other cancers will follow. Finally, a glance at the emerging attempt to administer AEDs by means of opportunely designed drug delivery systems (DDSs), so to limit toxicity and improve bioavailability, is also given.

Whole Exome Sequencing Identifies Novel De Novo Variants Interacting with Six Gene Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable condition caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors such as de novo and inherited variants, as well as rare or common variants among hundreds of related genes. Previous genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility genes; however, most ASD-associated genes remain undiscovered. This study aimed to examine rare de novo variants to identify genetic risk factors of ASD using whole exome sequencing (WES), functional characterization, and genetic network analyses of identified variants using Korean familial dataset. We recruited children with ASD and their biological parents. The clinical best estimate diagnosis of ASD was made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5^TM), using comprehensive diagnostic instruments. The final analyses included a total of 151 individuals from 51 families. Variants were identified and filtered using the GATK Best Practices for bioinformatics analysis, followed by genome alignments and annotation to the reference genome assembly GRCh37 (liftover to GRCh38), and further annotated using dbSNP 154 build databases. To evaluate allele frequencies of de novo variants, we used the dbSNP, gnomAD exome v2.1.1, and genome v3.0. We used Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA, Qiagen) software to construct networks using all identified de novo variants with known autism-related genes to find probable relationships. We identified 36 de novo variants with potential relations to ASD; 27 missense, two silent, one nonsense, one splice region, one splice site, one 5′ UTR, and one intronic SNV and two frameshift deletions. We identified six networks with functional relationships. Among the interactions between de novo variants, the IPA assay found that the NF-κB signaling pathway and its interacting genes were commonly observed at two networks. The relatively small cohort size may affect the results of novel ASD genes with de novo variants described in our findings. We did not conduct functional experiments in this study. Because of the diversity and heterogeneity of ASD, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate probable causative relationships between novel de novo variants and known autism genes. Additionally, we based functional relationships with known genes on network analysis rather than on statistical analysis. We identified new variants that may underlie genetic factors contributing to ASD in Korean families using WES and genetic network analyses. We observed novel de novo variants that might be functionally linked to ASD, of which the variants interact with six genetic networks.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG7 promotes neuroblastoma progression through sponging miR-323a-5p and miR-342-5p

Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been known to be relevant to the progression of human cancers, including neuroblastoma (NB). Small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (SNHG7) has been identified as an oncogene in a series of human cancers. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the function and underlying mechanism of SNHG7 in NB progression. qRT-PCR was used to determine the levels of SNHG7, cyclin D1 (CCND1), miR-323a-5p and miR-342-5p. Cell migration and invasion abilities were detected by transwell assays. Glucose consumption and lactate production were assessed using the corresponding assay kits. The targeted interaction between SNHG7 and miR-323a-5p or miR-342-5p was verified by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Xenograft tumor assays were performed to observe the effect of SNHG7 silencing on tumor growth in vivo. We found that SNHG7 was upregulated in NB tissues and cell lines, and high SNHG7 level was relevant to poor prognosis of NB patients. SNHG7 silencing resulted in the repression of NB cell migration, invasion and glycolysis. SNHG7 directly targeted miR-323a-5p and miR-342-5p and negatively modulated their expression in NB cells. The overexpression of miR-323a-5p or miR-342-5p weakened NB cell migration, invasion and glycolysis. Moreover, miR-323a-5p or miR-342-5p mediated the suppressive effect of SNHG7 silencing on NB cell progression. CCND1 was a direct target of miR-323a-5p and miR-342-5p. Additionally, SNHG7 knockdown repressed tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, our study suggested that SNHG7 silencing hindered NB progression at least partly though sponging miR-323a-5p and miR-342-5p, illuminating its potential value as a therapeutic target.

Long noncoding RNA LINC01234 silencing exerts an anti-oncogenic effect in esophageal cancer cells through microRNA-193a-5p-mediated CCNE1 downregulation

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcribed pervasively in the genome and act to regulate chromatin remodeling and gene expression. Dysregulated lncRNA expression has been reported in many cancers, but the role of lncRNAs in esophageal cancer (EC) has so far remained poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to understand the effect of lncRNA LINC01234 on EC development through competitively binding to microRNA-193a-5p (miR-193a-5p).

METHODS

The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used for microarray-based EC expression profiling. Gain- and loss-of-function analyses were carried out in human EC-derived Eca-109 and EC9706 cells. Expression analyses of miR-193a-5p, LINC01234, CCNE1, caspase-3, p21, Bax, cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 were performed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation, colony formation and apoptosis analyses were carried out using MTT, Hoechst 33258 and flow cytometry assays. A xenograft EC model in nude mice was used to evaluate in vivo tumor growth and CCNE1 expression.

RESULTS

Microarray-based analyses revealed that LINC01234 expression was increased in primary EC samples, whereas that of miR-193a-5p was decreased. We found that CCNE1 was a target of miR-193a-5p and that LINC01234, in turn, sponges miR-193a-5p. After treatment with si-LINC01234 or miR-193a-5p mimic, EC cells (Eca-109 and EC9706) exhibited cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 downregulation, and caspase-3, p21, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 upregulation. LINC01234 silencing or miR-193a-5p upregulation resulted in decreased proliferation and colony formation, and increased apoptosis of EC cells. In addition, LINC01234 silencing or miR-193a-5p upregulation resulted in reduced in vivo EC tumor growth and CCNE1 expression in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that silencing of LINC01234 suppresses EC development by inhibiting CCNE1 through competitively binding to miR-193a-5p, which suggests that LINC01234 may represent a novel target for EC therapy.

Comparison of Cisplatin with Lipoplatin in Terms of Ototoxicity

OBJECTIVE

Cisplatin (CDDP) is an anti-neoplastic agent that has been used in treatments of both pediatric and adult cancers. It has many side effects, such as ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. Lipoplatin (LIPO) is a nanomolecule with 110 nm diameter and composed of lipids and CDDP. In this study, we aimed to compare the toxic effects of LIPO with CDDP in the cochlear cells with anti-tumoral doses determined in neuroblastoma cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

House Ear Institute Organ Corti 1 (HEI-OC1), MYC-N amplified KELLY, and MYC-N non-amplified SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells were used in this study. Firstly, anti-tumoral lethal dose 50 (LD50) of LIPO and CDDP were determined using the WST-1 assay in both neuroblastoma cells. Then anti-tumoral doses of CDDP and LIPO were applied on HEI-OC1 cells for evaluating the toxic effects. The apoptotic cell death was measured using flow cytometric analysis of annexin-V/7-amino-actinomycin (7-AAD) and cell cycle tests.

RESULTS

LIPO or CDDP inhibited cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner in both neuroblastoma and HEI-OC1 cells. LD50 values were selected as 20 mM for CDDP and 750 mM for LIPO in neuroblastoma cells. After the 48-hour incubation, KELLY cells treated with 20 mM CDDP and 750 mM LIPO had a 53% viability; SH-SY5Y cells treated 20 mM CDDP and 750 mM LIPO had a 45% and 58% viability, respectively; and HEI-OC1 cells treated with 20 mM CDDP and 750 mM LIPO had a 65% and 82% viability, respectively.

CONCLUSION

LIPO showed less toxic effects in the HEI-OC1 cells compared to CDDP at anti-tumoral doses.

Screening the Action Targets of Enterovirus 71 in Human SH-SY5Y Cells Using RNA Sequencing Data

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infection for children younger than the age of five. HFMD is mainly induced by coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71 (EV71). EV71-associated HFMD often has serious neurological disease complications. The purpose of this study was to reveal the mechanisms of action of EV71 on neurons. SH-SY5Y cells transfected or untransfected with EV71 were sequenced. After data preprocessing, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using the limma package in R, and clustering analysis was then performed using the ComplexHeatmap package in R. The DAVID tool was used for EDG enrichment analysis. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were predicted using the STRING database and PPI networks were then constructed using Cytoscape software. After pathways involved in the key PPI network nodes were enriched, pathway deviation scores were calculated. Clustering analysis was also conducted for these pathways. There were 978 DEGs in the transfected samples. Upregulated TNF was enriched in NF-kappa B signaling pathway. Among the top 20 nodes in the PPI network, CDK1, STAT3, CCND1, TNF, and MYC had the highest degrees. A total of 28 pathways were enriched for the top 20 nodes, including Epstein-Barr virus infection (p = 3.78E-06), proteoglycans in cancer (p = 4.96E-06), and melanoma (p = 1.99E-05). In addition, clustering analysis showed that these pathways could clearly differentiate the two groups of samples. EV71 may affect neurons by mediating CDK1, STAT3, CCND1, TNF, and MYC, indicating that these genes are promising targets for preventing the neuronal complications of HFMD.

The pharmacogenomics of valproic acid

Valproic acid is an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Adverse effects of valproic acid are rare, but hepatotoxicity is severe in particular in those younger than 2 years old and polytherapy. During valproic acid treatment, it is difficult for prescribers to predict its individual response. Recent advances in the field of pharmacogenomics have indicated variants of candidate genes that affect valproic acid efficacy and safety. In this review, a large number of candidate genes that influence valproic acid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are discussed, including metabolic enzymes, drug transporters, neurotransmitters and drug targets. Furthermore, pharmacogenomics is an important tool not only in further understanding of interindividual variability but also to assess the therapeutic potential of such variability in drug individualization and therapeutic optimization.

Assessment of Interactions between Cisplatin and Two Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in MCF7, T47D and MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines - An Isobolographic Analysis

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) are promising anticancer drugs, which inhibit proliferation of a wide variety of cancer cells including breast carcinoma cells. In the present study, we investigated the influence of valproic acid (VPA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA, vorinostat), alone or in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) on proliferation, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle progression in MCF7, T47D and MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cell lines. The type of interaction between HDIs and CDDP was determined by an isobolographic analysis. The isobolographic analysis is a very precise and rigorous pharmacodynamic method, to determine the presence of synergism, addition or antagonism between different drugs with using variety of fixed dose ratios. Our experiments show that the combinations of CDDP with SAHA or VPA at a fixed-ratio of 1:1 exerted additive interaction in the viability of MCF7 cells, while in T47D cells there was a tendency to synergy. In contrast, sub-additive (antagonistic) interaction was observed for the combination of CDDP with VPA in MDA-MB-231 “triple-negative” (i.e. estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative, and HER-2 negative) human breast cancer cells, whereas combination of CDDP with SAHA in the same MDA-MB-231 cell line yielded additive interaction. Additionally, combined HDIs/CDDP treatment resulted in increase in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in all tested breast cancer cell lines in comparison with a single therapy. In conclusion, the additive interaction of CDDP with SAHA or VPA suggests that HDIs could be combined with CDDP in order to optimize treatment regimen in some human breast cancers.

Investigation of the effects of a sulfite molecule on human neuroblastoma cells via a novel oncogene URG4/URGCP

AIM

The aim of this study is to determine the anticancer effect of sulfite on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in vitro conditions and elucidate underlying molecular mechanism of sulfite and explore its therapeutic activity.

MAIN METHODS

In this study, cytotoxic effects of sulfite in SH-SY5Y cels were detected over time in a dose dependent manner with the IC50 doses ranging from 0.5 to 10 mM. Genotoxic effect of sulfite was shown by comet assay. IC50 doses in the SH-SY5Y cells were detected as 5 mM. Expression profiles of the target genes related to apoptosis and cell cycle control were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Protein changes were determined by western blot analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

URG4/URGCP, CCND1, CCND2, CDK4, CDK6, E2F4 and BCL-2 gene expression levels were significantly reduced and RB1, TP53, BAX, BID, CASP2, CASP3, CASP9 and DIABLO gene expressions were significantly increased in dose group cells. The mechanism of this result may be related to sulfite dependent inhibition of cell cycle at the G1 phase by down-regulating URG4/URGCP or CCND1, CDK4, CDK6 gene expression and stimulating apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway. Sulfite suppressed invasion and colony formation in SH-SY5Y cell line using matrigel invasion chamber and colony formation assay, respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE

It is thought that sulfite demonstrates anticarcinogenesis activity by affecting cell cycle arrest, apoptosis s, invasion, and colony formation on SH-SY5Y cells. Sulfite may be an effective agent for treatment of neuroblastoma as a single agent or in combination with other agents.