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Alam S, Giri PK. Novel players in the development of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer: ovarian cancer stem cells, non-coding RNA and nuclear receptors. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2024; 7:6. [PMID: 38434767 PMCID: PMC10905178 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) ranks as the fifth leading factor for female mortality globally, with a substantial burden of new cases and mortality recorded annually. Survival rates vary significantly based on the stage of diagnosis, with advanced stages posing significant challenges to treatment. OC is primarily categorized as epithelial, constituting approximately 90% of cases, and correct staging is essential for tailored treatment. The debulking followed by chemotherapy is the prevailing treatment, involving platinum-based drugs in combination with taxanes. However, the efficacy of chemotherapy is hindered by the development of chemoresistance, both acquired during treatment (acquired chemoresistance) and intrinsic to the patient (intrinsic chemoresistance). The emergence of chemoresistance leads to increased mortality rates, with many advanced patients experiencing disease relapse shortly after initial treatment. This review delves into the multifactorial nature of chemoresistance in OC, addressing mechanisms involving transport systems, apoptosis, DNA repair, and ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs). While previous research has identified genes associated with these mechanisms, the regulatory roles of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and nuclear receptors in modulating gene expression to confer chemoresistance have remained poorly understood and underexplored. This comprehensive review aims to shed light on the genes linked to different chemoresistance mechanisms in OC and their intricate regulation by ncRNA and nuclear receptors. Specifically, we examine how these molecular players influence the chemoresistance mechanism. By exploring the interplay between these factors and gene expression regulation, this review seeks to provide a comprehensive mechanism driving chemoresistance in OC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pankaj Kumar Giri
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, New Delhi 110068, India
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Liu W, Zhao Y, Fan J, Shen J, Tang H, Tang W, Wu D, Huang W, Ding Y, Qiao P, Lin J, Li Z, Li Q, Cui Q, Liu Y, Chen Y, Pu R, Han X, Yin J, Tan X, Cao G. Smoke and Spike: Benzo[a]pyrene Enhances SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Boosting NR4A2-Induced ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Expression. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2300834. [PMID: 37428471 PMCID: PMC10502855 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202300834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette smoke aggravates severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, they show that benzo[a]pyrene in cigarette smoke extract facilitates SARS-CoV-2 infection via upregulating angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Benzo[a]pyrene trans-activates the promoters of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 by upregulating nuclear receptor subfamily 4 A number 2 (NR4A2) and promoting its binding of NR4A2 to their promoters, which is independent of functional genetic polymorphisms in ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Benzo[a]pyrene increases the susceptibility of lung epithelial cells to SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses and facilitates the infection of authentic Omicron BA.5 in primary human alveolar type II cells, lung organoids, and lung and testis of hamsters. Increased expression of Nr4a2, Ace2, and Tmprss2, as well as decreased methylation of CpG islands at the Nr4a2 promoter are observed in aged mice compared to their younger counterparts. NR4A2 knockdown or interferon-λ2/λ3 stimulation downregulates the expression of NR4A2, ACE2, and TMPRSS2, thereby inhibiting the infection. In conclusion, benzo[a]pyrene enhances SARS-CoV-2 infection by boosting NR4A2-induced ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression. This study elucidates the mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking on SARS-CoV-2 infection and provides prophylactic options for coronavirus disease 2019, particularly for the elderly population.
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García-Yagüe ÁJ, Cuadrado A. Mechanisms of NURR1 Regulation: Consequences for Its Biological Activity and Involvement in Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12280. [PMID: 37569656 PMCID: PMC10419244 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
NURR1 (Nuclear receptor-related 1 protein or NR4A2) is a nuclear protein receptor transcription factor with an essential role in the development, regulation, and maintenance of dopaminergic neurons and mediates the response to stressful stimuli during the perinatal period in mammalian brain development. The dysregulation of NURR1 activity may play a role in various diseases, including the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and several other pathologies. NURR1 is regulated by multiple mechanisms, among which phosphorylation by kinases or SUMOylation are the best characterized. Both post-translational modifications can regulate the activity of NURR1, affecting its stability and transcriptional activity. Other non-post-translational regulatory mechanisms include changes in its subcellular distribution or interaction with other protein partners by heterodimerization, also affecting its transcription activity. Here, we summarize the currently known regulatory mechanisms of NURR1 and provide a brief overview of its participation in pathological alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Juan García-Yagüe
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” (CSIC-UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), 28027 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBER-CIBERNED), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Cuadrado
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” (CSIC-UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), 28027 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBER-CIBERNED), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Liu X, Peng S, Tang G, Xu G, Xie Y, Shen D, Zhu M, Huang Y, Wang X, Yu H, Huang M, Luo Y. Fasting-mimicking diet synergizes with ferroptosis against quiescent, chemotherapy-resistant cells. EBioMedicine 2023; 90:104496. [PMID: 36863257 PMCID: PMC9996234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND More than ten randomized clinical trials are being tested to evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) combined with different antitumor agents. METHODS UMI-mRNA sequencing, Cell-cycle analysis, Label retention, metabolomics, Multilabeling et al. were used to explore mechanisms. A tandem mRFP-GFP-tagged LC3B, Annexin-V-FITC Apoptosis, TUNEL, H&E, Ki-67 and animal model was used to search for synergistic drugs. FINDINGS Here we showed that fasting or FMD retards tumor growth more effectively but does not increase 5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin (5-FU/OXA) sensitivity to apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CRC cells would switch from an active proliferative to a slow-cycling state during fasting. Furthermore, metabolomics shows cell proliferation was decreased to survive nutrient stress in vivo, as evidenced by a low level of adenosine and deoxyadenosine monophosphate. CRC cells would decrease proliferation to achieve increased survival and relapse after chemotherapy. In addition, these fasting-induced quiescent cells were more prone to develop drug-tolerant persister (DTP) tumor cells postulated to be responsible for cancer relapse and metastasis. Then, UMI-mRNA sequencing uncovered the ferroptosis pathway as the pathway most influenced by fasting. Combining fasting with ferroptosis inducer treatment leads to tumor inhibition and eradication of quiescent cells by boosting autophagy. INTERPRETATION Our results suggest that ferroptosis could improve the antitumor activity of FMD + chemotherapy and highlight a potential therapeutic opportunity to avoid DTP cells-driven tumor relapse and therapy failure. FUNDING A full list of funding bodies can be found in the Acknowledgements section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China.
| | - Shaoyong Peng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guannan Tang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China
| | - Gaopo Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China
| | - Yumo Xie
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China
| | - Dingcheng Shen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China
| | - Mingxuan Zhu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China
| | - Yaoyi Huang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China
| | - Huichuan Yu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China
| | - Meijin Huang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanxin Luo
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China.
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Liu W, Hao Y, Tian X, Jiang J, Qiu Q. The Role of NR4A1 in the Pathophysiology of Osteosarcoma: A Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis of the Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Dataset. Front Oncol 2022; 12:879288. [PMID: 35965537 PMCID: PMC9371594 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.879288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is a kind of aggressive human malignancy, and the prognosis of the patients with osteosarcoma remains low. Studies have demonstrated that the tumor microenvironment plays a key role in regulating osteosarcoma progression. Recent studies have also shown that scRNA-seq plays an essential role in understanding the tumor heterogeneity and distinct subpopulations of tumors. In order to further understand the scRNA-seq data of osteosarcoma tissues, the present study further analyzed the scRNA-seq dataset (GSE152048) and explored the potential role of nuclear receptor-related genes in the pathophysiology of osteosarcoma. In our analysis, we identified 11 cell types in all the osteosarcoma tissues and nuclear receptors (NRs) were distributed in all types of cells. Further stratification analysis showed that NRs were mainly detected in “TIL” and “Osteoblastic” of the metastasis osteosarcoma, in “TIL”, “Myoblast”, “Endothelial”, and “Myeloid” of the primary osteosarcoma, and in “Chondroblastic”, “Osteoblast”, and “Pericyte” of the recurrent osteosarcoma. The NRs were also differentially expressed in different cell types among the metastasis, primary, and recurrent osteosarcoma. Furthermore, several NRs such as NR4A2, NR4A1, and NR3C1 have been found to be differentially expressed in most types of DEGs among metastasis, primary, and recurrent osteosarcoma. A high expression of NR4A1 in the osteosarcoma tissues was significantly correlated with a shorter 5-year overall survival of patients with osteosarcoma. On the other hand, there was no significant association between NR4A2 expression and the 5-year overall survival of patients with osteosarcoma. The expression of NR4A1 was significantly higher in the metastasis osteosarcoma tissues than in the primary osteosarcoma tissues as validated from GSE32981 and GSE154540. The expression of NR4A1 was significantly higher in osteosarcoma tissues from patients with poor chemosensitivity than that from patients with good chemosensitivity as validated from GSE154540. Further analysis of the scRNA-seq data revealed that the percentage of osteoblasts with a high NR4A1 expression was higher in the recurrent osteosarcoma tissues than that with a low NR4A1 expression. In conclusion, the present study may suggest that NR4A1 may be an important prognostic biomarker for osteosarcoma progression. However, further validation studies should be performed to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Liu
- Department of Orthopedic, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, China
| | - Yuedong Hao
- Department of Orthopedic, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, China
| | - Xiao Tian
- Department of Orthopedic, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Quanhe Qiu, ; Jing Jiang,
| | - Quanhe Qiu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Quanhe Qiu, ; Jing Jiang,
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Ou D, Wu Y. The prognostic and clinical significance of IFI44L aberrant downregulation in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:1327. [PMID: 34903206 PMCID: PMC8667451 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-09058-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It is a basic task in high-throughput gene expression profiling studies to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two phenotypes. RankComp, an algorithm, could analyze the highly stable within-sample relative expression orderings (REOs) of gene pairs in a particular type of human normal tissue that are widely reversed in the cancer condition, thereby detecting DEGs for individual disease samples measured by a particular platform. Methods In the present study, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Series (GSE) GSE75540, GSE138206 were downloaded from GEO, by analyzing DEGs in oral squamous cell carcinoma based on online datasets using the RankComp algorithm, using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis to survival analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying. Results We identified 6 reverse gene pairs with stable REOs. All the 12 genes in these 6 reverse gene pairs have been reported to be associated with cancers. Notably, lower Interferon Induced Protein 44 Like (IFI44L) expression was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and Disease-free survival (DFS) in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients, and IFI44L expression showed satisfactory predictive efficiency by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Moreover, low IFI44L expression was identified as risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients’ OS. IFI44L downregulation would lead to the activation of the FRS-mediated FGFR1, FGFR3, and downstream signaling pathways, and might play a role in the PI3K-FGFR cascades. Conclusions Collectively, we identified 6 reverse gene pairs with stable REOs in oral squamous cell carcinoma, which might serve as gene signatures playing a role in the diagnosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, high expression of IFI44L, one of the DEGs in the 6 reverse gene pairs, might be associated with favorable prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and serve as a tumor suppressor by acting on the FRS-mediated FGFR signaling. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-09058-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deming Ou
- Department of Stomatology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China.
| | - Ying Wu
- Department of Stomatology, Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Foshan, 528000, China
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Zarei M, Shrestha R, Johnson S, Yu Z, Karki K, Vaziri-Gohar A, Epps J, Du H, Suva L, Zarei M, Safe S. Nuclear Receptor 4A2 (NR4A2/NURR1) Regulates Autophagy and Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 1:65-78. [PMID: 35582016 PMCID: PMC9109828 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with poor prognosis and chemotherapy with gemcitabine has limited effects and is associated with development of drug resistance. Treatment of Panc1 and MiaPaca2 pancreatic cancer cells with gemcitabine induced expression of the orphan nuclear receptor 4A2 (NURR1) and analysis of the cancer genome atlas indicated the NURR1 is overexpressed in pancreatic tumors and is a negative prognostic factor for patient survival. Results of NURR1 knockdown or treatment with the NURR1 antagonist 1,1-bis(3΄-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)methane (C-DIM 12) demonstrated that NURR1 was pro-oncogenic in pancreatic cancer cells and regulated cancer cell and tumor growth and survival. NURR1 is induced by gemcitabine and serves as a key drug-resistance factor and is also required for gemcitabine-induced cytoprotective autophagy. NURR1 regulated genes were determined by RNA sequencing of mRNAs expressed in MiaPaCa2 cells expressing NURR1 and in CRISPR/Cas9 gene edited cells for NURR1 knockdown and KEGG enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that autophagy was the major pathway regulated by NURR1. Moreover, NURR1 regulated expression of two major autophagic genes ATG7 and ATG12 which are also overexpressed in pancreatic tumors and like NURR1 are negative prognostic factors for patient survival. Thus, gemcitabine-induced cytoprotective autophagy is due to the NURR1 - ATG7/ATG12 axis and this can be targeted and disrupted by NURR1 antagonist C-DIM12 demonstrating the potential clinical applications for combination therapies with gemcitabine and NURR1 antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Zarei
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals; Case Western University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Rupesh Shrestha
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Sneha Johnson
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Zuhua Yu
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
- Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan Province, China, P.R
| | - Keshav Karki
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Ali Vaziri-Gohar
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals; Case Western University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Jessica Epps
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Heng Du
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Larry Suva
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Mahsa Zarei
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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Wang Y, Li C, Zhang Y, Zha X, Zhang H, Hu Z, Wu C. Aberrant mTOR/autophagy/Nurr1 signaling is critical for TSC-associated tumor development. Biochem Cell Biol 2021; 99:570-577. [PMID: 34463540 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2021-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), an inherited neurocutaneous disease, is caused by mutations in either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene. This genetic disorder is characterized by the growth of benign tumors in the brain, kidneys, and other organs. As a member of the orphan nuclear receptor family, nuclear receptor related 1 (Nurr1) plays a vital role in some neuropathological diseases and several types of benign or malignant tumors. Here, we explored the potential regulatory role of TSC1/2 signaling in Nurr1 and the effect of Nurr1 in TSC-related tumors. We found that Nurr1 expression was drastically decreased by the disruption of the TSC1/2 complex in Tsc2-null cells, genetically modified mouse models of TSC, cortical tubers of TSC patients, and kidney tumor tissue obtained from a TSC patient. Deficient TSC1/2 complex downregulated Nurr1 expression in an mTOR-dependent manner. Moreover, hyperactivation of mTOR reduced Nurr1 expression via suppression of autophagy. In addition, Nurr1 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and suppressed cell cycle progression. Therefore, TSC/mTOR/autophagy/Nurr1 signaling is partially responsible for the tumorigenesis of TSC. Taken together, Nurr1 may be a novel therapeutic target for TSC-associated tumors, and Nurr1 agonists or reagents that induce Nurr1 expression may be used for the treatment of TSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Molecular Orthopaedics, Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - Chunjia Li
- Department of Rheumatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yanzhuo Zhang
- Department of Molecular Orthopaedics, Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - Xiaojun Zha
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Hongbing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Zhongdong Hu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Chengai Wu
- Department of Molecular Orthopaedics, Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
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Hepatic stellate cells promote intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression via NR4A2/osteopontin/Wnt signaling axis. Oncogene 2021; 40:2910-2922. [PMID: 33742120 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01705-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly fatal malignancy characterized by a vast amount of intra-tumoral fibroblasts. These fibroblasts are potentially implicated in maintaining the high aggressiveness of ICC, whereas its pro-cancer mechanisms remain scarcely reported. Here, by establishing co-culture models of ICC cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), we identified that HSCs triggered the expression of nuclear receptor family 4 subgroup A member 2 (NR4A2), a transcription factor previously reported as a molecular switch between inflammation and cancer, in ICC cells. Functionally, NR4A2 promotes tumor proliferation, metastatic potentiality and represents an independent prognostic indicator for overall survival in ICC patients. Mechanistically, NR4A2 upregulates osteopontin (OPN) expression through transcriptional activation and thereby augments the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Intriguingly, in the context of co-culture, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a previously proved NR4A2 stimulus, not only enhances NR4A2 expression, but also can be blunted by the interference of the NR4A2-OPN axis. Altogether, this study suggests the NR4A2/OPN/Wnt signaling axis to be a pivotal executor of HSC-instigated cancer-promoting roles in ICC, and the NR4A2/OPN/VEGF positive feedback loop may help to reinforce the effect.
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Chen L, Fan F, Wu L, Zhao Y. The nuclear receptor 4A family members: mediators in human disease and autophagy. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2020; 25:48. [PMID: 33292165 PMCID: PMC7640683 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-020-00241-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) subfamily, which belongs to the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily, has three members: NR4A1 (Nur77), NR4A2 (Nurr1) and NR4A3 (Nor1). They are gene regulators with broad involvement in various signaling pathways and human disease responses, including autophagy. Here, we provide a concise overview of the current understanding of the role of the NR4A subfamily members in human diseases and review the research into their regulation of cell autophagy. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms has potential to improve drug development processes and disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Chen
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
| | - Fengtian Fan
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Lingjuan Wu
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Yiyi Zhao
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
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11
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Safe S, Karki K. The Paradoxical Roles of Orphan Nuclear Receptor 4A (NR4A) in Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 19:180-191. [PMID: 33106376 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The three-orphan nuclear receptor 4A genes are induced by diverse stressors and stimuli, and there is increasing evidence that NR4A1 (Nur77), NR4A2 (Nurr1), and NR4A3 (Nor1) play an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and in pathophysiology. In blood-derived tumors (leukemias and lymphomas), NR4A expression is low and NR4A1-/-/NR4A3-/- double knockout mice rapidly develop acute myelocytic leukemia, suggesting that these receptors exhibit tumor suppressor activity. Treatment of leukemia and most lymphoma cells with drugs that induce expression of NR4A1and NR4A3 enhances apoptosis, and this represents a potential clinical application for treating this disease. In contrast, most solid tumor-derived cell lines express high levels of NR4A1 and NR4A2, and both receptors exhibit pro-oncogenic activities in solid tumors, whereas NR4A3 exhibits tumor-specific activities. Initial studies with retinoids and apoptosis-inducing agents demonstrated that their cytotoxic activity is NR4A1 dependent and involved drug-induced nuclear export of NR4A1 and formation of a mitochondrial proapoptotic NR4A1-bcl-2 complex. Drug-induced nuclear export of NR4A1 has been reported for many agents/biologics and involves interactions with multiple mitochondrial and extramitochondrial factors to induce apoptosis. Synthetic ligands for NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3 have been identified, and among these compounds, bis-indole derived (CDIM) NR4A1 ligands primarily act on nuclear NR4A1 to inhibit NR4A1-regulated pro-oncogenic pathways/genes and similar results have been observed for CDIMs that bind NR4A2. Based on results of laboratory animal studies development of NR4A inducers (blood-derived cancers) and NR4A1/NR4A2 antagonists (solid tumors) may be promising for cancer therapy and also for enhancing immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
| | - Keshav Karki
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
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Role of Nurr1 in Carcinogenesis and Tumor Immunology: A State of the Art Review. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12103044. [PMID: 33086676 PMCID: PMC7590204 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12103044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Nuclear receptor related-1 protein (Nurr1) emerges as a therapeutic target in multiple malignancies and immunotherapies. Previous studies have highlighted its association with clinicopathological parameters, tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance in cancers. In addition, recent studies unraveled its contribution to the suppression of antitumor immunity, suggesting that inhibition of Nurr1 is a potential method to repress cancer aggressiveness and disrupt tumor immune tolerance. In line with this evidence, the present review provides the roles of Nurr1 in tumor progression and the associated underlying molecular mechanisms. Moreover, the significance of Nurr1 in promoting immune tolerance and potential strategies for Nurr1 inhibition are highlighted. Abstract Nuclear receptor related-1 protein (Nurr1), coded by an early response gene, is involved in multiple cellular and physiological functions, including proliferation, survival, and self-renewal. Dysregulation of Nurr1 has been frequently observed in many cancers and is attributed to multiple transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Besides, Nurr1 exhibits extensive crosstalk with many oncogenic and tumor suppressor molecules, which contribute to its potential pro-malignant behaviors. Furthermore, Nurr1 is a key player in attenuating antitumor immune responses. It not only potentiates immunosuppressive functions of regulatory T cells but also dampens the activity of cytotoxic T cells. The selective accessibility of chromatin by Nurr1 in T cells is closely associated with cell exhaustion and poor efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the reported findings of Nurr1 in different malignancies, the mechanisms that regulate Nurr1 expression, and the downstream signaling pathways that Nurr1 employs to promote a wide range of malignant phenotypes. We also give an overview of the association between Nurr1 and antitumor immunity and discuss the inhibition of Nurr1 as a potential immunotherapeutic strategy.
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13
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Mora-Lagos B, Cartas-Espinel I, Riquelme I, Parker AC, Piccolo SR, Viscarra T, Reyes ME, Zanella L, Buchegger K, Ili C, Brebi P. Functional and transcriptomic characterization of cisplatin-resistant AGS and MKN-28 gastric cancer cell lines. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228331. [PMID: 31990955 PMCID: PMC6986722 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a significant cancer-related cause of death worldwide. The most used chemotherapeutic regimen in GC is based on platinum drugs such as cisplatin (CDDP). However, CDDP resistance reduces advanced GC survival. In vitro drug-resistant cell model would help in the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying this drug-resistance phenomenon. The aim of this study was to characterize new models of CDDP-resistant GC cell lines (AGS R-CDDP and MKN-28 R-CDDP) obtained through a stepwise increasing drug doses method, in order to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying chemoresistance as well as identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of GC. Cell viability assays, cell death assays and the expression of resistance molecular markers confirmed that AGS R-CDDP and MKN-28 R-CDDP are reliable CDDP-resistant models. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses identified a total of 189 DEGs, including 178 up-regulated genes and 11 down-regulated genes, associated mainly to molecular functions involved in CDDP-resistance. DEGs were enriched in 23 metabolic pathways, among which the most enriched was the inflammation mediated by chemokine and cytokine signaling pathway. Finally, the higher mRNA expression of SERPINA1, BTC and CCL5, three up-regulated DEGs associated to CDDP resistance found by RNA-seq analysis was confirmed. In summary, this study showed that AGS R-CDDP and MKN-28 R-CDDP are reliable models of CDDP resistance because resemble many of resistant phenotype in GC, being also useful to assess potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of gastric cancers resistant to CDDP. In addition, we identified several DEGs associated with molecular functions such as binding, catalytic activity, transcription regulator activity and transporter activity, as well as signaling pathways associated with inflammation process, which could be involved in the development of CDDP resistance in GC. Further studies are necessary to clarify the role of inflammatory processes in GC resistant to CDDP and these models could be useful for these purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Mora-Lagos
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus- Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine (BIOREN-CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- Dirección de Investigación, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile
| | - Irene Cartas-Espinel
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus- Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine (BIOREN-CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Ismael Riquelme
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile
| | - Alyssa C. Parker
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Stephen R. Piccolo
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Tamara Viscarra
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus- Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine (BIOREN-CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - María Elena Reyes
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus- Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine (BIOREN-CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Louise Zanella
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus- Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine (BIOREN-CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Kurt Buchegger
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus- Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine (BIOREN-CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Carmen Ili
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus- Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine (BIOREN-CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- * E-mail: (CI); (PB)
| | - Priscilla Brebi
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology (LIBi), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus- Center for Excellence in Translational Medicine (BIOREN-CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- * E-mail: (CI); (PB)
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Karki K, Li X, Jin UH, Mohankumar K, Zarei M, Michelhaugh SK, Mittal S, Tjalkens R, Safe S. Nuclear receptor 4A2 (NR4A2) is a druggable target for glioblastomas. J Neurooncol 2019; 146:25-39. [PMID: 31754919 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-019-03349-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The orphan nuclear receptor 4A2 (NR4A2) has been extensively characterized in subcellular regions of the brain and is necessary for the function of dopaminergic neurons. The NR4A2 ligand, 1,1-bis (31-indoly1)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)methane (DIM-C-pPhCl) inhibits markers of neuroinflammation and degeneration in mouse models and in this study we investigated expression and function of NR4A2 in glioblastoma (GBM). METHODS Established and patient-derived cell lines were used as models and the expression and functions of NR4A2 were determined by western blots and NR4A2 gene silencing by antisense oligonucleotides respectively. Effects of NR4A2 knockdown and DIM-C-pPhCl on cell growth, induction of apoptosis (Annexin V Staining) and migration/invasion (Boyden chamber and spheroid invasion assay) and transactivation of NR4A2-regulated reporter genes were determined. Tumor growth was investigated in athymic nude mice bearing U87-MG cells as xenografts. RESULTS NR4A2 knockdown and DIM-C-pPhCl inhibited GBM cell and tumor growth, induced apoptosis and inhibited migration and invasion of GBM cells. DIM-C-pPhCl and related analogs also inhibited NR4A2-regulated transactivation (luciferase activity) confirming that DIM-C-pPhCl acts as an NR4A2 antagonist and blocks NR4A2-dependent pro-oncogenic responses in GBM. CONCLUSION We demonstrate for the first time that NR4A2 is pro-oncogenic in GBM and thus a potential druggable target for patients with tumors expressing this receptor. Moreover, our bis-indole-derived NR4A2 antagonists represent a novel class of anti-cancer agents with potential future clinical applications for treating GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshav Karki
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Un-Ho Jin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Kumaravel Mohankumar
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Mahsa Zarei
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | | | - Sandeep Mittal
- Department of Surgery, Virginia Tech University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Ronald Tjalkens
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA. .,Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4466 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-4466, USA.
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Genovese S, Epifano F, Preziuso F, Slater J, Nangia-Makker P, Majumdar APN, Fiorito S. Gercumin synergizes the action of 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin against chemoresistant human cancer colon cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 522:95-99. [PMID: 31740005 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.11.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Advanced colon cancer is extremely difficult to cure, underscoring the need to develop novel therapeutic agents. Prenylated curcumins that are semisynthetic curcumin derivatives with significant anti-cancer potential have been studied herein to assess their therapeutic potential for colon cancer and tested to this aim in vitro for their growth inhibitory properties against 5-fluorouracil + oxaliplatin resistant human colon cancer CR-HT29 and HCT-116 cells. The resulting most active product, gercumin (mono-O-geranylcurcumin), has been further tested for its synergistic effects with FOLFOX (a combination of 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin) on the same cell lines. Activity of this combination on colonosphere formation was also investigated. Gercumin was able to suppress the growth of cancer cells with a potency similar to that of curcumin. A synergistic effect of this compound and FOLFOX was also observed. doses tested for synergy in the colonosphere assays did not show greater suppression of colonosphere formation than independent treatment with either reagent alone. Only one of the combinations was shown to be more effective at suppressing colonosphere formation [gercumin 5 μM + FOLFOX (2x)]. Thus, the growth inhibitory effects of curcumin against human cancer cells can be modulated and enhanced by the introduction of hydrophobic chains, normally found in several natural compounds, like the geranyl one. Such compounds are also able to synergize with known chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Genovese
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università"G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Epifano
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università"G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
| | - Francesca Preziuso
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università"G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Jill Slater
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint, Michigan, USA
| | - Pratima Nangia-Makker
- VA Medical Center, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Adhip P N Majumdar
- VA Medical Center, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Serena Fiorito
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università"G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
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16
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Orphan Nuclear Receptors in Colorectal Cancer. Pathol Oncol Res 2018; 24:815-819. [DOI: 10.1007/s12253-018-0440-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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17
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Zhu B, Sun L, Luo W, Li M, Coy DH, Yu L, Yu W. Activated Notch signaling augments cell growth in hepatocellular carcinoma via up-regulating the nuclear receptor NR4A2. Oncotarget 2017; 8:23289-23302. [PMID: 28423575 PMCID: PMC5410304 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant cancers. Conventional therapies are limited due to the human liver being such a unique organ and easily showing side-effects. The unclear molecular mechanisms are tough challenges for scientists searching for new and effective anti-HCC targeting drugs. We identified that the nuclear receptor NR4A2 is a novel oncogene in HCC progression. In this study, we show that NR4A2 and the notch recceptor Notch1 were expressed highly in primary HCC tissues and immortal HCC cells by using qPCR, western blot and immuno-histochemistry assays. Both genes were observed to stimulate HCC cell proliferation, anti-apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by using cell proliferation assays and FACS assays. We also observed that the four notch receptor subtypes (Notch1-4) displayed different effects on HCC cell growth. The over-expression of Notch1 by transiently transfecting the intracellular domain of Notch1 (ICN1, Notch1 active form) increased the expression of NR4A2, with the knockdown of Notch1 decreasing NR4A2. This indicates that NR4A2 is one of the Notch-mediated downstream genes. Moreover, both NR4A2 and Notch1 suppressed the expression of tumor suppressors p21 and p63. These findings support that Notch1/NR4A2 co-regulate HCC cell functions by playing oncogenic roles and regulating the associated downstream signaling pathways. Novel Notch1/NR4A2-mediated oncogenic signaling may provide us a great opportunity for anti-HCC drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Lichun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.,Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699, USA
| | - Wei Luo
- Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - David H Coy
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699, USA
| | - Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Wenbo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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18
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Komiya T, Yamamoto S, Roy A, McDonald P, Perez RP. Drug screening to target nuclear orphan receptor NR4A2 for cancer therapeutics. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2017; 6:600-610. [PMID: 29114475 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr.2017.07.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Our previous study suggested NR4A2, a subfamily member of orphan nuclear receptors, is essential for survival of human cancer cells such as mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). Methods We conducted high throughput drug screening for NR4A2 inhibitors as a novel therapeutic modality. Positive screening was performed using a luciferase reporter vector containing NR4A2 binding sequence, and a CRE-reporter control vector was used to eliminate false positives. In vitro assays for positive hits were conducted. Results A total of 23 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and 43 Life Science Library compounds were identified, including several epidermal growth factor inhibitors and Src inhibitors. Subsequent in vitro assays confirmed that identified compounds were preferentially active in NR4A2+ cancer cells. Several candidate compounds appeared to suppress NR4A2 via inhibition of p-ERK, whereas a novel compound KU0171309 may act as a more direct inhibitor. Conclusions Further research should focus on homologue selectivity, in vivo activity, and definitively deciphering the mechanism of action of KU0171309.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takefumi Komiya
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Fairway, KS, USA.,Section of Hematology/Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Satomi Yamamoto
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Fairway, KS, USA
| | - Anuradha Roy
- High Throughput Screening Facility, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Peter McDonald
- High Throughput Screening Facility, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Raymond P Perez
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Fairway, KS, USA
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Xu X, Chang W, Yuan J, Han X, Tan X, Ding Y, Luo Y, Cai H, Liu Y, Gao X, Liu Q, Yu Y, Du Y, Wang H, Ma L, Wang J, Chen K, Ding Y, Fu C, Cao G. Periostin expression in intra-tumoral stromal cells is prognostic and predictive for colorectal carcinoma via creating a cancer-supportive niche. Oncotarget 2016; 7:798-813. [PMID: 26556874 PMCID: PMC4808034 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Periostin (POSTN) expression in cancer cells and circulation has been related to poor prognosis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, the role of POSTN expressed in intra-tumoral stroma on CRC progression remains largely unknown. This study enrolled 1098 CRC patients who received surgical treatment in Shanghai and Guangzhou, Mainland China. In Shanghai cohort, immunohistochemistry score of stromal POSTN expression increased consecutively from adjacent mucosa, primary CRC tissues, to metastatic CRC tissues (P < 0.001), while medium- and high-stromal POSTN expression, rather than epithelial POSTN expression, independently predicted unfavorable prognoses of CRC, adjusted for covariates including TNM stage and postoperative chemotherapy in multivariate Cox models. The results in Shanghai cohort were faithfully replicated in Guangzhou cohort. Stromal POSTN expression dose-dependently predicted an unfavorable prognosis of stage III CRC patients with postoperative chemotherapy in both cohorts. POSTN derived from colonic fibroblasts or recombinant POSTN significantly promoted proliferation, anchorage independent growth, invasion, and chemo-resistance of CRC cells; whereas these effects were counteracted via targeting to PI3K/Akt or Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. CRC cell RKO-derived factor(s) significantly induced POSTN production in colonic fibroblasts and autocrine POSTN promoted proliferation, migration, and anchorage independent growth of fibroblasts. Conclusively, stromal POSTN is prognostic and predictive for CRC via creating a niche to facilitate cancer progression. Targeting POSTN-induced signaling pathways may be therapeutic options for metastatic or chemoresistant CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The 1st Affilaited Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjun Chang
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Yuan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The 1st Affilaited Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue Han
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Center for Diseases Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Tan
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yibo Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanxin Luo
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Cai
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianhua Gao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The 1st Affilaited Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qizhi Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The 1st Affilaited Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongwei Yu
- Department of Pathology, The 1st Affilaited Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Du
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The 1st Affilaited Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liye Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The 1st Affilaited Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianping Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kun Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanqing Ding
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuangang Fu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The 1st Affilaited Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangwen Cao
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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20
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The orphan nuclear receptor NR4A2 is part of a p53-microRNA-34 network. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25108. [PMID: 27121375 PMCID: PMC4848494 DOI: 10.1038/srep25108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 2 (NR4A2) is an orphan nuclear receptor that is over-expressed in cancer and promotes cell proliferation, migration, transformation, and chemoresistance. Increased expression and function of NR4A2 have been attributed to various signaling pathways, but little is known about microRNA (miRNA) regulation of NR4A2 in cancer. To investigate the posttranscriptional regulation of NR4A2, we used a 3′ untranslated region (UTR) reporter screen and identified miR-34 as a putative regulator of NR4A2. By using computer predictions, we identified and confirmed an miRNA recognition element in the 3′ UTR of NR4A2 that was responsible for miR-34–mediated suppression. We next demonstrated that overexpression of exogenous miR-34 or activation of the p53 pathway, which regulates endogenous miR-34 expression, decreased NR4A2 expression. Consistent with previous reports, overexpression of NR4A2 blocked the induction of p53 target genes, including mir-34a. This was a phenotypic effect, as NR4A2 overexpression could rescue cells from p53-induced inhibition of proliferation. In summary, our results are the first characterization of a cancer-related miRNA capable of regulating NR4A2 and suggest a network and possible feedback mechanism involving p53, miR-34, and NR4A2.
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Safe S, Jin UH, Morpurgo B, Abudayyeh A, Singh M, Tjalkens RB. Nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) family - orphans no more. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 157:48-60. [PMID: 25917081 PMCID: PMC4618773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The orphan nuclear receptors NR4A1, NR4A2 and NR4A3 are immediate early genes induced by multiple stressors, and the NR4A receptors play an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and disease. There is increasing evidence for the role of these receptors in metabolic, cardiovascular and neurological functions and also in inflammation and inflammatory diseases and in immune functions and cancer. Despite the similarities of NR4A1, NR4A2 and NR4A3 and their interactions with common cis-genomic elements, they exhibit unique activities and cell-/tissue-specific functions. Although endogenous ligands for NR4A receptors have not been identified, there is increasing evidence that structurally-diverse synthetic molecules can directly interact with the ligand binding domain of NR4A1 and act as agonists or antagonists, and ligands for NR4A2 and NR4A3 have also been identified. Since NR4A receptors are key factors in multiple diseases, there are opportunities for the future development of NR4A ligands for clinical applications in treating multiple health problems including metabolic, neurologic and cardiovascular diseases, other inflammatory conditions, and cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Arthritis/metabolism
- Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism
- DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Homeostasis
- Humans
- Immunity, Cellular
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Ligands
- Metabolic Diseases/genetics
- Metabolic Diseases/metabolism
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/metabolism
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2/metabolism
- Receptors, Steroid/metabolism
- Receptors, Thyroid Hormone/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Un-Ho Jin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Benjamin Morpurgo
- Texas A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine, Texas A&M University, 670 Raymond Stotzer Pkwy, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Ala Abudayyeh
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mandip Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| | - Ronald B Tjalkens
- Department of Toxicology and Neuroscience, Colorado State University, 1680Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1680, USA
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22
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O'Callaghan G, Houston A. Prostaglandin E2 and the EP receptors in malignancy: possible therapeutic targets? Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:5239-50. [PMID: 26377664 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated expression of COX-2 and increased levels of PGE2 are found in numerous cancers and are associated with tumour development and progression. Although epidemiological, clinical and preclinical studies have shown that the inhibition of PGE2 synthesis through the use of either non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or specific COX-2 inhibitors (COXibs) has the potential to prevent and treat malignant disease, toxicities due to inhibition of COX-2 have limited their use. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of strategies whereby COX-2 activity may be reduced without inducing any side effects. The biological effects of PGE2 are mediated by signalling through four distinct E-type prostanoid (EP) receptors - EP1 , EP2 , EP3 and EP4 . In recent years, extensive effort has gone into elucidating the function of PGE2 and the EP receptors in health and disease, with the goal of creating selective inhibitors as a means of therapy. In this review, we focus on PGE2 , and in particular on the role of the individual EP receptors and their signalling pathways in neoplastic disease. As knowledge concerning the role of the EP receptors in cancer grows, so does the potential for exploiting the EP receptors as therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer and metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- G O'Callaghan
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,HRB Clinical Research Facility, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - A Houston
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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23
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Rusan M, Li YY, Hammerman PS. Genomic landscape of human papillomavirus-associated cancers. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 21:2009-19. [PMID: 25779941 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-1101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent next-generation sequencing studies have generated a comprehensive overview of the genomic landscape of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. This review summarizes these findings to provide insight into the tumor biology of these cancers and potential therapeutic opportunities for HPV-driven malignancies. In addition to the tumorigenic properties of the HPV oncoproteins, integration of HPV DNA into the host genome is suggested to be a driver of the neoplastic process. Integration may confer a growth and survival advantage via enhanced expression of viral oncoproteins, alteration of critical cellular genes, and changes in global promoter methylation and transcription. Alteration of cellular genes may lead to loss of function of tumor suppressor genes, enhanced oncogene expression, loss of function of DNA repair genes, or other vital cellular functions. Recurrent integrations in RAD51B, NR4A2, and TP63, leading to aberrant forms of these proteins, are observed in both HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and cervical carcinoma. Additional genomic alterations, independent of integration events, include recurrent PIK3CA mutations (and aberrations in other members of the PI3K pathway), alterations in receptor tyrosine kinases (primarily FGFR2 and FGFR3 in HPV-positive HNSCC, and ERBB2 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma), and genes in pathways related to squamous cell differentiation and immune responses. A number of the alterations identified are potentially targetable, which may lead to advances in the treatment of HPV-associated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rusan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Aarhus University, Denmark. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Yvonne Y Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Peter S Hammerman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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24
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Safe S, Jin UH, Hedrick E, Reeder A, Lee SO. Minireview: role of orphan nuclear receptors in cancer and potential as drug targets. Mol Endocrinol 2013; 28:157-72. [PMID: 24295738 DOI: 10.1210/me.2013-1291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The nuclear orphan receptors for which endogenous ligands have not been identified include nuclear receptor (NR)0B1 (adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on chromosome X gene), NR0B2 (small heterodimer partner), NR1D1/2 (Rev-Erbα/β), NR2C1 (testicular receptor 2), NR2C2 (testicular receptor 4), NR2E1 (tailless), NR2E3 (photoreceptor-specific NR [PNR]), NR2F1 chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 1 (COUP-TFI), NR2F2 (COUP-TFII), NR2F6 (v-erbA-related protein), NR4A1 (Nur77), NR4A2 (Nurr1), NR4A3 (Nor1), and NR6A1 (GCNF). These receptors play essential roles in development, cellular homeostasis, and disease including cancer where over- or underexpression of some receptors has prognostic significance for patient survival. Results of receptor knockdown or overexpression in vivo and in cancer cell lines demonstrate that orphan receptors exhibit tumor-specific pro-oncogenic or tumor suppressor-like activity. For example, COUP-TFII expression is both a positive (ovarian) and negative (prostate and breast) prognostic factor for cancer patients; in contrast, the prognostic activity of adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on chromosome X gene for the same tumors is the inverse of COUP-TFII. Functional studies show that Nur77 is tumor suppressor like in acute leukemia, whereas silencing Nur77 in pancreatic, colon, lung, lymphoma, melanoma, cervical, ovarian, gastric, and some breast cancer cell lines induces one or more of several responses including growth inhibition and decreased survival, migration, and invasion. Although endogenous ligands for the orphan receptors have not been identified, there is increasing evidence that different structural classes of compounds activate, inactivate, and directly bind several orphan receptors. Thus, the screening and development of selective orphan receptor modulators will have important clinical applications as novel mechanism-based agents for treating cancer patients overexpressing one or more orphan receptors and also for combined drug therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology (S.S., E.H., A.R.), Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77808; and Institute of Biosciences and Technology (S.S., U.-H.J., S.-O.L.), Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030
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