1
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Li XF, Selli C, Zhou HL, Cao J, Wu S, Ma RY, Lu Y, Zhang CB, Xun B, Lam AD, Pang XC, Fernando A, Zhang Z, Unciti-Broceta A, Carragher NO, Ramachandran P, Henderson NC, Sun LL, Hu HY, Li GB, Sawyers C, Qian BZ. Macrophages promote anti-androgen resistance in prostate cancer bone disease. J Exp Med 2023; 220:213858. [PMID: 36749798 PMCID: PMC9948761 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PC) is the final stage of PC that acquires resistance to androgen deprivation therapies (ADT). Despite progresses in understanding of disease mechanisms, the specific contribution of the metastatic microenvironment to ADT resistance remains largely unknown. The current study identified that the macrophage is the major microenvironmental component of bone-metastatic PC in patients. Using a novel in vivo model, we demonstrated that macrophages were critical for enzalutamide resistance through induction of a wound-healing-like response of ECM-receptor gene expression. Mechanistically, macrophages drove resistance through cytokine activin A that induced fibronectin (FN1)-integrin alpha 5 (ITGA5)-tyrosine kinase Src (SRC) signaling cascade in PC cells. This novel mechanism was strongly supported by bioinformatics analysis of patient transcriptomics datasets. Furthermore, macrophage depletion or SRC inhibition using a novel specific inhibitor significantly inhibited resistant growth. Together, our findings elucidated a novel mechanism of macrophage-induced anti-androgen resistance of metastatic PC and a promising therapeutic approach to treat this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Feng Li
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Cigdem Selli
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Han-Lin Zhou
- Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Henan, BGI-Shenzhen, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jian Cao
- Department of Urology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya Medicine School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuiqing Wu
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ruo-Yu Ma
- Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Lu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Henan, BGI-Shenzhen, Xinxiang, China
| | - Cheng-Bin Zhang
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bijie Xun
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alyson D. Lam
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Xiao-Cong Pang
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Anu Fernando
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zeda Zhang
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Asier Unciti-Broceta
- Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil O. Carragher
- Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Prakash Ramachandran
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil C. Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ling-Ling Sun
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Yan Hu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Gui-Bo Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Henan, BGI-Shenzhen, Xinxiang, China
| | - Charles Sawyers
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Charles Sawyers:
| | - Bin-Zhi Qian
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Correspondence to Bin-Zhi Qian:
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2
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Wu Y, Clark KC, Niranjan B, Chüeh AC, Horvath LG, Taylor RA, Daly RJ. Integrative characterisation of secreted factors involved in intercellular communication between prostate epithelial or cancer cells and fibroblasts. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:469-486. [PMID: 36608258 PMCID: PMC9980303 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Reciprocal interactions between prostate cancer cells and carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) mediate cancer development and progression; however, our understanding of the signalling pathways mediating these cellular interactions remains incomplete. To address this, we defined secretome changes upon co-culture of prostate epithelial or cancer cells with fibroblasts that mimic bi-directional communication in tumours. Using antibody arrays, we profiled conditioned media from mono- and co-cultures of prostate fibroblasts, epithelial and cancer cells, identifying secreted proteins that are upregulated in co-culture compared to mono-culture. Six of these (CXCL10, CXCL16, CXCL6, FST, PDGFAA, IL-17B) were functionally screened by siRNA knockdown in prostate cancer cell/fibroblast co-cultures, revealing a key role for follistatin (FST), a secreted glycoprotein that binds and bioneutralises specific members of the TGF-β superfamily, including activin A. Expression of FST by both cell types was required for the fibroblasts to enhance prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration, whereas FST knockdown in co-culture grafts decreased tumour growth in mouse xenografts. This study highlights the complexity of prostate cancer cell-fibroblast communication, demonstrates that co-culture secretomes cannot be predicted from individual cultures, and identifies FST as a tumour-microenvironment-derived secreted factor that represents a candidate therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjian Wu
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Kimberley C. Clark
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Birunthi Niranjan
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Anderly C. Chüeh
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Lisa G. Horvath
- Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNew South WalesAustralia
- University of SydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Chris O'Brien LifehouseSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Renea A. Taylor
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of PhysiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreThe University of MelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Roger J. Daly
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
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3
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Manini C, López-Fernández E, López JI, Angulo JC. Advances in Urological Cancer in 2022, from Basic Approaches to Clinical Management. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051422. [PMID: 36900214 PMCID: PMC10000370 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This Special Issue includes 12 articles and 3 reviews dealing with several basic and clinical aspects of prostate, renal, and urinary tract cancer published during 2022 in Cancers, and intends to serve as a multidisciplinary chance to share the last advances in urological neoplasms [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Manini
- Department of Pathology, San Giovanni Bosco Hospital, 10154 Turin, Italy
- Department of Sciences of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Estíbaliz López-Fernández
- FISABIO Foundation, 46020 Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Health Sciences, European University of Valencia, 46023 Valencia, Spain
| | - José I. López
- Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Javier C. Angulo
- Clinical Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, European University of Madrid, 28005 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Urology, University Hospital of Getafe, 28907 Madrid, Spain
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4
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Cambuli F, Foletto V, Alaimo A, De Felice D, Gandolfi F, Palumbieri MD, Zaffagni M, Genovesi S, Lorenzoni M, Celotti M, Bertossio E, Mazzero G, Bertossi A, Bisio A, Berardinelli F, Antoccia A, Gaspari M, Barbareschi M, Fiorentino M, Shen MM, Loda M, Romanel A, Lunardi A. Intra-epithelial non-canonical Activin A signaling safeguards prostate progenitor quiescence. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54049. [PMID: 35253958 PMCID: PMC9066067 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202154049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The healthy prostate is a relatively quiescent tissue. Yet, prostate epithelium overgrowth is a common condition during aging, associated with urinary dysfunction and tumorigenesis. For over thirty years, TGF-β ligands have been known to induce cytostasis in a variety of epithelia, but the intracellular pathway mediating this signal in the prostate, and its relevance for quiescence, have remained elusive. Here, using mouse prostate organoids to model epithelial progenitors, we find that intra-epithelial non-canonical Activin A signaling inhibits cell proliferation in a Smad-independent manner. Mechanistically, Activin A triggers Tak1 and p38 ΜAPK activity, leading to p16 and p21 nuclear import. Spontaneous evasion from this quiescent state occurs upon prolonged culture, due to reduced Activin A secretion, a condition associated with DNA replication stress and aneuploidy. Organoids capable to escape quiescence in vitro are also able to implant with increased frequency into immunocompetent mice. This study demonstrates that non-canonical Activin A signaling safeguards epithelial quiescence in the healthy prostate, with potential implications for the understanding of cancer initiation, and the development of therapies targeting quiescent tumor progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Cambuli
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly,Department of Medicine, Genetics and DevelopmentUrologySystems BiologyHerbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA,Present address:
Molecular Pharmacology ProgramSloan Kettering InstituteMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Veronica Foletto
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Alessandro Alaimo
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Dario De Felice
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Francesco Gandolfi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational GenomicsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Maria Dilia Palumbieri
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Michela Zaffagni
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Sacha Genovesi
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Marco Lorenzoni
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Martina Celotti
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Emiliana Bertossio
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | | | - Arianna Bertossi
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Alessandra Bisio
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Francesco Berardinelli
- Department of ScienceUniversity of Roma TreRomaItaly,Laboratory of Neurodevelopment, Neurogenetics and Molecular Neurobiology UnitIRCCS Santa Lucia FoundationRomaItaly
| | | | - Marco Gaspari
- Department of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of CatanzaroCatanzaroItaly
| | | | - Michelangelo Fiorentino
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty MedicineUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Michael M Shen
- Department of Medicine, Genetics and DevelopmentUrologySystems BiologyHerbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Massimo Loda
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineWeill Medical College of Cornell UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Alessandro Romanel
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational GenomicsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Andrea Lunardi
- The Armenise‐Harvard Laboratory of Cancer Biology & GeneticsDepartment of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
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5
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Refaat B, Zekri J, Aslam A, Ahmad J, Baghdadi MA, Meliti A, Idris S, Sultan S, Alardati H, Saimeh HA, Alsaegh A, Alhadrami M, Hamid T, Naeem ME, Elsamany SA. Profiling Activins and Follistatin in Colorectal Cancer According to Clinical Stage, Tumour Sidedness and Smad4 Status. Pathol Oncol Res 2021; 27:1610032. [PMID: 34867090 PMCID: PMC8634429 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2021.1610032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the roles of activins and follistatin in colorectal cancers. Paired malignant and normal colonic tissues were collected from archived paraffin-embedded (n = 90 patients) alongside fresh (n = 40 patients) specimen cohorts. Activin β-subunits, follistatin and Smad4 mRNAs and proteins were measured by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Mature activin-A, -B, -AB and follistatin proteins were measured by ELISA. Cancer tissues having ≤ the 20th percentile of the Smad4 IHC score were considered as low (L-S4) group. The Smad4-intact SW480 and Smad4-null HT29 colon cancer cell lines were treated with activins and follistatin, and cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The cell cycle inducing (CCND1/CCND3) and inhibitory (p21/p27) proteins alongside the survival (survivin/BCL2) and pro-apoptosis (Casp-8/Casp-3) markers were measured by immunofluorescence. Thirty-nine patients had right-sided cancers (30%) and showed higher rates of L-S4 tumours (n = 17; 13.1%) alongside worse clinicopathological characteristics relative to left-sided cancers. The βA-subunit and activin-A increased, whilst βB-subunit and activin-AB decreased, in malignant sites and the late-stage cancers revealed the greatest abnormalities. Interestingly, follistatin declined markedly in early-stage malignant tissues, whilst increased significantly in the advanced stages. All activin molecules were comparable between the early stage right- and left-sided tumours, whereas the late-stage right-sided cancers and L-S4 tumours showed more profound deregulations. In vitro, activin-A increased the numbers of the SW480 cells in sub-G1 and G0/G1-phases, whereas reduced the HT29 cell numbers in the sub-G1 phase with simultaneous increases in the G0/G1 and S phases. The p21/p27/Casp-8/Casp-3 proteins escalated, whilst CCND1/CCND3/BCL2/survivin declined in the SW480 cells following activin-A, whereas activin-A only promoted p21 and p27 alongside reduced CCND3 in the HT29 cells. By contrast, activin-AB increased the numbers of SW480 and HT29 cells in Sub-G1 and G0/G1-phases and promoted the anti-cancer and reduced the oncogenic proteins in both cell lines. In conclusion, activins and follistatin displayed stage-dependent dysregulations and were markedly altered during the advanced stages of right-sided and L-S4 cancers. Moreover, the activin-A actions in CRC could be Smad4-dependent, whereas activin-AB may act as a Smad4-independent tumour suppressor protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamal Zekri
- Oncology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A Baghdadi
- Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelrazak Meliti
- Pathology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sufian Sultan
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hosam Alardati
- Pathology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haitham Akram Saimeh
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahira Hamid
- Histopathology Department, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed E Naeem
- Histopathology Department, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shereef Ahmed Elsamany
- Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Centre, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.,Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Centre, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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6
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Cancer cachexia: molecular mechanism and pharmacological management. Biochem J 2021; 478:1663-1688. [PMID: 33970218 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20201009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cachexia often occurs in malignant tumors and is a multifactorial and complex symptom characterized by wasting of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, resulting in weight loss, poor life quality and shorter survival. The pathogenic mechanism of cancer cachexia is complex, involving a variety of molecular substrates and signal pathways. Advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer cachexia have provided a platform for the development of new targeted therapies. Although recent outcomes of early-phase trials have showed that several drugs presented an ideal curative effect, monotherapy cannot be entirely satisfactory in the treatment of cachexia-associated symptoms due to its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Therefore, the lack of definitive therapeutic strategies for cancer cachexia emphasizes the need to develop a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Increasing evidences show that the progression of cachexia is associated with metabolic alternations, which mainly include excessive energy expenditure, increased proteolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this review, we provided an overview of the key mechanisms of cancer cachexia, with a major focus on muscle atrophy, adipose tissue wasting, anorexia and fatigue and updated the latest progress of pharmacological management of cancer cachexia, thereby further advancing the interventions that can counteract cancer cachexia.
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7
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Chen WF, Yang ZB, Peng AX, Huang XQ, Su H, Chen TT, Huang YP. Effect of Kangquan Recipe () on BAMBI Expression in Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Prostate in Rats with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Chin J Integr Med 2020; 27:361-368. [PMID: 32975759 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-020-3481-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Kangquan Recipe (, KQR) on bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI) expression and its mechanism in rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups using a random number table, with 8 in each group: the normal group (normal saline 10 mL/kg), the model group (normal saline 10 mL/kg), the finasteride group (0.5 mg/kg), the low-dose KQR group (3.5 g/kg), the middle-dose KQR group (7 g/kg), and the high-dose KQR group (14 g/kg). The 40 rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate after castration for 30 days to establish the BPH rat model except for those in the normal group. At the same time, the corresponding drugs were administered by gavage for 30 consecutive days. The effects of different doses of KQR on the protate wet weight, prostate volume and prostate index (PI) were observed. The changes in histopathology were monitored with hematoxylin-eosin staining. BAMBI protein and mRNA expression contents were determined by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS All doses of KQR could decrease prostatic epithelial tissue proliferation. Compared to the model group, the high and middle-dose KQR significantly reduced prostate wet weight, prostate volume and PI; increased BAMBI protein expression in the hypothalamus, pituitary and prostate tissue; all doses of KQR up-regulated BAMBI mRNA expression in serum, prostatic fluid and prostate tissue (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS KQR could inhibit the proliferation of rat prostatic tissue, promote BAMBI protein expression in the hypothalamic-pituitary-prostate of rats with BPH; and increase BAMBI mRNA expression in the blood, prostatic fluid and prostate tissue of rats with BPH, showing a dose-effect relationship. KQR can be used as a potential drug for the treatment of BPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Fan Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361001, China
| | - Zong-Bao Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361101, China
| | - A-Xiang Peng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361001, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Huang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361101, China
| | - Hui Su
- Department of Internal Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361009, China
| | - Ting-Ting Chen
- Department of Internal Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361009, China
| | - Yuan-Peng Huang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361001, China. .,Department of Internal Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361009, China.
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8
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Ervolino De Oliveira C, Dourado MR, Sawazaki-Calone Í, Costa De Medeiros M, Rossa Júnior C, De Karla Cervigne N, Esquiche León J, Lambert D, Salo T, Graner E, Coletta RD. Activin A triggers angiogenesis via regulation of VEGFA and its overexpression is associated with poor prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2020; 57:364-376. [PMID: 32377747 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.5058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor prognosis associated with the dysregulated expression of activin A in a number of malignancies has been related to with numerous aspects of tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis. The present study investigated the prognostic significance of activin A immunoexpression in blood vessels and cancer cells in a number of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases and applied in vitro strategies to determine the impact of activin A on angiogenesis. In a cohort of 95 patients with OSCC, immunoexpression of activin A in both blood vessels and tumor cells was quantified and the association with clinicopathological parameters and survival was analyzed. Effects of activin A on the tube formation, proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated in gain‑of‑function (treatment with recombinant activin A) or loss‑of‑function [treatment with activin A‑antagonist follistatin or by stable transfection with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting activin A] conditions. Conditioned medium from an OSCC cell line with shRNA‑mediated depletion of activin A was also tested. The profile of pro‑ and anti‑angiogenic factors regulated by activin A was assessed with a human angiogenesis quantitative PCR (qPCR) array. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and its major isoforms were evaluated by reverse transcription‑qPCR and ELISA. Activin A expression in blood vessels demonstrated an independent prognostic value in the multivariate analysis with a hazard ratio of 2.47 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30‑4.71; P=0.006) for disease‑specific survival and 2.09 (95% CI, 1.07‑4.08l: P=0.03) for disease‑free survival. Activin A significantly increased tubular formation of HUVECs concomitantly with an increase in proliferation. This effect was validated by reduced proliferation and tubular formation of HUVECs following inhibition of activin A by follistatin or shRNA, as well as by treatment of HUVECs with conditioned medium from activin A‑depleted OSCC cells. Activin A‑knockdown increased the migration of HUVECs. In addition, activin A stimulated the phosphorylation of SMAD2/3 and the expression and production of total VEGFA, significantly enhancing the expression of its pro‑angiogenic isoform 121. The present findings suggest that activin A is a predictor of the prognosis of patients with OSCC, and provide evidence that activin A, in an autocrine and paracrine manner, may contribute to OSCC angiogenesis through differential expression of the isoform 121 of VEGFA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maurício Rocha Dourado
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP 13414‑018, Brazil
| | - Íris Sawazaki-Calone
- Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Dentistry School, Western Paraná State University, Cascavel, PR 85819‑170, Brazil
| | - Marcell Costa De Medeiros
- Departament of Diagnosis and Surgery, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, Araraquara, SP 14801‑385, Brazil
| | - Carlos Rossa Júnior
- Departament of Diagnosis and Surgery, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, Araraquara, SP 14801‑385, Brazil
| | | | - Jorge Esquiche León
- Departament of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040‑904, Brazil
| | - Daniel Lambert
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry and Sheffield Cancer Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TG, UK
| | - Tuula Salo
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Edgard Graner
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP 13414‑018, Brazil
| | - Ricardo D Coletta
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP 13414‑018, Brazil
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9
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Chen L, De Menna M, Groenewoud A, Thalmann GN, Kruithof-de Julio M, Snaar-Jagalska BE. A NF-ĸB-Activin A signaling axis enhances prostate cancer metastasis. Oncogene 2019; 39:1634-1651. [PMID: 31740783 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-1103-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is a main cause of death in prostate cancer (PCa). To dissect the molecular cues from cancer cell-microenvironment interaction that drive metastatic cascade, bone metastatic PCa cells were intravenously implanted into zebrafish embryos and mice tibia forming metastatic lesions. Transcriptomic analysis showed an elevated expression of stemness genes, pro-inflammatory cytokines and TGF-β family member Activin A in the cancer cells at metastatic onset in both animal models. Consistently, analysis of clinical datasets revealed that the expression of Activin A is specifically elevated in metastases and correlates with poor prognosis in stratified high-risk PCa patients. It is further unveiled that the microenvironment induced Activin A expression by NF-κB activation. The elevated level of Activin A enhanced the invasive ALDHhi CSC-like phenotypes and PCa proliferation by activation of Smad and ERK1/2 signaling driving metastasis. Suppression of Activin A or Activin receptor significantly reduced the CSC-like subpopulation, invasion, metastatic growth, and bone lesion formation in zebrafish and mice xenografts, suggesting a functional role of NF-κB-dependent Activin A in PCa metastasis. Overall, our study demonstrates that human PCa cells can display a comparable response with the microenvironment in zebrafish and mice xenografts. Combining both animal models, we uncovered the microenvironment-dependent activin signaling as an essential driver in PCa metastasis with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanpeng Chen
- Institute of Biology, University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marta De Menna
- Department of BioMedical Research, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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10
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Kangquan Recipe Regulates the Expression of BAMBI Protein via the TGF- β/Smad Signaling Pathway to Inhibit Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 2019:6281819. [PMID: 31186664 PMCID: PMC6521302 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6281819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Kangquan Recipe (KQR) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound made by our research group for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Whether KQR can treat BPH as a single drug or play a role in the treatment of BPH in combination therapy needs further study. Aim of the Study To investigate the effect of KQR on the expression of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related factors in rats with BPH. In-depth analysis revealed the relevant signal transduction mechanism by which KQR acts to treat BPH. Materials and Methods Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups of 8 rats each. In addition to the control group, 40 rats were castrated and then injected with testosterone propionate to form a prostatic hyperplasia model. After 30 days, three groups received different concentrations of KQR (14 g/kg, 7 g/kg, and 3.5 g/kg), and the finasteride group received 0.5 mg/kg finasteride. The BPH group and the control group received the same volume of saline. All groups were treated for a total of 30 days. Rat body weight, prostate volume, wet weight, index, histology, and the mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β, TGF-βR1, TGF-βR2, p-Smad2, p-Smad3, BAMBI, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in the prostate tissue were measured after the end of treatment. Results Compared with the control group, the BPH group had increased prostate wet weight, volume, and index, and the histology showed significant BPH. Compared with the BPH group, the three KQR groups and the finasteride group all had varying levels of reduction in the prostate wet weight, volume, and index of the prostate and varying degrees of improvement in the histological manifestations of BPH. KQR downregulates the mRNA and/or protein expression of TGF-β, TGF-βR1, TGF-βR2, p-Smad2, p-Smad3, and N-cadherin protein in prostate tissue and increases the mRNA and protein expression of BAMBI and E-cadherin protein. Conclusions In the model of BPH induced by testosterone propionate after castration, KQR can inhibit the conduction of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway by upregulating the expression of BAMBI protein and reversing EMT in rat prostate tissue.
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11
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Tsai CN, Tsai CL, Yi JS, Kao HK, Huang Y, Wang CI, Lee YS, Chang KP. Activin A regulates the epidermal growth factor receptor promoter by activating the PI3K/SP1 pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5197. [PMID: 30914776 PMCID: PMC6435638 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41396-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and activin A are both overexpressed in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We evaluated their clinical correlation and activin A-mediated EGFR regulation in this study. Overexpression of both transcripts/proteins indicated a poorer prognosis in OSCC patients. Knockdown of endogenous INHBA repressed the expression of EGFR and inhibited activin A-mediated canonical Smads, noncanonical phosphorylation of AKT (ser473) (p-AKT ser473) and SP1. Inhibition of PI3K signaling via its inhibitor attenuated p-AKT ser473 and in turn reduced SP1 and EGFR expression in the presence of recombinant activin A (rActivin A) in OSCC cells, as revealed via a luciferase assay and western blotting. However, canonical Smad signaling repressed the EGFR promoter, as revealed by a luciferase assay. The transcription factor SP1, its coactivator CBP/p300, and Smad proteins were recruited to the EGFR proximal promoter following rActivin A treatment, as revealed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Smad2/3/4 dramatically outcompeted SP1 binding to the EGFR proximal promoter following mithramycin A treatment. Activin A activates the PI3K and Smad pathways to compete for binding to overlapping SP1 consensus sequences on the EGFR proximal promoter. Nevertheless, canonical p-Smad2 was largely repressed in OSCC tumor tissues, suggesting that the activin A-mediated noncanonical pathway is essential for the carcinogenesis of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Neu Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang-Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan.,Department of Surgery, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lung Tsai
- Genomic Medicine Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Shan Yi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan.,Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Kai Kao
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Yenlin Huang
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Chun-I Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Shien Lee
- Genomic Medicine Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan.,Department of Biotechnology, Ming-Chuan University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33348, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Ping Chang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan. .,Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan.
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12
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Zhang Y, Qi Y, Zhao Y, Sun H, Ge J, Liu Z. Activin A induces apoptosis of mouse myeloma cells via the mitochondrial pathway. Oncol Lett 2017; 15:2590-2594. [PMID: 29434978 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the transforming growth factor β superfamily. Abnormal expression of activin A is associated with tumorigenesis. Multiple myeloma is characterized by the development of osteolytic disease, which ultimately leads to cachexia. However, the involvement of activin A in myeloma cell viability and apoptosis remains to be fully elucidated. For this purpose, mouse myeloma NS-1 cells were treated with activin A, and subsequently subjected to 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine analysis, Hoechst 33342 staining, flow cytometry and western blot analysis. The results revealed that activin A significantly suppressed NS-1 cell viability, and induced NS-1 cell apoptosis. In addition, activin A-induced promotion of NS-1 cell apoptosis was accompanied by upregulated expression of BCL2 associated X, apoptosis regulator (Bax), but downregulated expression of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), resulting in an increase of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Furthermore, cytochrome c and caspase-3 protein expression also increased following treatment with activin A. These data suggest that activin A induces apoptosis in mouse myeloma NS-1 cells via the mitochondrial pathway, providing a novel insight into multiple myeloma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyi Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Yan Qi
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Hongyan Sun
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Jingyan Ge
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Zhonghui Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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13
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Ottley EC, Reader KL, Lee K, Marino FE, Nicholson HD, Risbridger GP, Gold E. Over-Expression of Activin-β C Is Associated with Murine and Human Prostate Disease. Discov Oncol 2017; 8:100-107. [PMID: 28116672 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-017-0283-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Activins are members of the TGF-β superfamily and have been linked to prostate cancer. There are four mammalian activin subunits (βA, βB, βC, and βE) that dimerize to form functional proteins. The role of activin-A (βA-βA) has been relatively well characterized and has been shown to generally inhibit growth in the prostate. In contrast, little is known about the biological function of the βC and βE subunits. Previous work indicated activin-C (βC-βC) to be an antagonist of activin-A. This is important because resistance to activin-A growth inhibition occurs during prostate cancer progression. This paradox is not currently well understood. Hence, we hypothesize that local expression of the activin-βC subunit antagonizes activin-A-dependent growth inhibition and represents a key factor contributing to acquired insensitivity to activin-A observed in prostate cancer progression. To test our hypothesis, we characterized the ventral prostate lobes of 9-month-old transgenic mice over-expressing activin-βC and examined the expression of activin-βA, activin-βC, and the activin intracellular signaling factor, Smad-2, in human prostate diseases. Prostate epithelial cell hyperplasia, low-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions, alterations in cell proliferation, and reduced Smad-2 nuclear localization were evident in mice over-expressing activin-βC. Increased activin-βA and -βC subunit immunoreactive scores and decreased Smad-2 nuclear localization were also evident in human prostate cancer. This study suggests that over-expression of activin-βC is associated with murine and human prostate pathologies. We conclude that the activin-βC subunit may have therapeutic and/or diagnostic implications in human prostate disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward C Ottley
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Karen L Reader
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
| | - Kailun Lee
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Francesco E Marino
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Helen D Nicholson
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Gail P Risbridger
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Elspeth Gold
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
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14
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Shi L, Resaul J, Owen S, Ye L, Jiang WG. Clinical and Therapeutic Implications of Follistatin in Solid Tumours. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2017; 13:425-435. [PMID: 27807065 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (FST), as a single-chain glycosylated protein, has two major isoforms, FST288 and FST315. The FST315 isoform is the predominant form whilst the FST288 variant accounts for less than 5% of the encoded mRNA. FST is differentially expressed in human tissues and aberrant expression has been observed in a variety of solid tumours, including gonadal, gastric and lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. Based on the current evidence, FST is an antagonist of transforming growth factor beta family members, such as activin and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). FST plays a role in tumourigenesis, metastasis and angiogenesis of solid tumours through its interaction with activin and BMPs, thus resulting in pathophysiological function. In terms of diagnosis, prognosis and therapy, FST has shown strong promise. Through a better understanding of its biological functions, potential clinical applications may yet emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shi
- Urology Department, Yantai Yu Huang Ding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong Province, P.R. China.,Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K
| | - Jeyna Resaul
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K
| | - Sioned Owen
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K
| | - Lin Ye
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K
| | - Wen G Jiang
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K.
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15
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Refaat B, El-Shemi AG, Mohamed AM, Kensara OA, Ahmad J, Idris S. Activins and their related proteins in colon carcinogenesis: insights from early and advanced azoxymethane rat models of colon cancer. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:879. [PMID: 27835986 PMCID: PMC5106801 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2914-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Activin-A may exert pro- or anti-tumorigenic activities depending on cellular context. However, little is known about its role, or the other mature activin proteins, in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). This study measured the expression of activin βA- & βB-subunits, activin type IIA & IIB receptors, smads 2/3/4/6/7 and follistatin in CRC induced by azoxymethane (AOM) in rats. The results were compared with controls and disseminated according to the characteristics of histopathological lesions. Methods Eighty male Wistar rats were allocated into 20 controls and the remaining were equally divided between short ‘S-AOM’ (15 weeks) and long ‘L-AOM’ (35 weeks) groups following injecting AOM for 2 weeks. Subsequent to gross and histopathological examinations and digital image analysis, the expression of all molecules was measured by immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR. Activin-A, activin-B, activin-AB and follistatin were measured by ELISA in serum and colon tissue homogenates. Results Colonic pre-neoplastic and cancerous lesions were identified in both AOM groups and their numbers and sizes were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the L-AOM group. All the molecules were expressed in normal colonic epithelial cells. There was a significantly (P < 0.05) greater expression of βA-subunit, IIB receptor and follistatin in both pre-neoplastic and cancerous tissues. Oppositely, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the remaining molecules was detected in both AOM groups. Metastatic lesions were only observed within the L-AOM group and were associated with the most significant alterations of all molecules. Significantly higher concentrations of activin-A and follistatin and lower activin-AB were also detected in both groups of AOM. Tissue and serum concentrations of activin-A and follistatin correlated positively, while tissue activin-AB inversely, and significantly with the numbers and sizes of colonic lesions. Conclusions Normal rat colon epithelial cells are capable of synthesising, controlling as well as responding to activins in a paracrine/autocrine manner. Colonic activin systems are pathologically altered during tumorigenesis and appear to be time and lesion-dependent. Activins could also be potential sensitive markers and/or molecular targets for the diagnosis and/or treatment of CRC. Further studies are required to illustrate the clinical value of activins and their related proteins in colon cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2914-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Adel Galal El-Shemi
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Amr Mohamed Mohamed
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, 71526, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Osama Adnan Kensara
- Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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16
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Leto G, Incorvaia L, Flandina C, Ancona C, Fulfaro F, Crescimanno M, Sepporta MV, Badalamenti G. Clinical Impact of Cystatin C/Cathepsin L and Follistatin/Activin A Systems in Breast Cancer Progression: A Preliminary Report. Cancer Invest 2016; 34:415-423. [DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2016.1222416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Leto
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lorena Incorvaia
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Carla Flandina
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Ancona
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Fulfaro
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marilena Crescimanno
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Badalamenti
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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17
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Ottley EC, Nicholson HD, Gold EJ. Activin A regulates microRNAs and gene expression in LNCaP cells. Prostate 2016; 76:951-63. [PMID: 27018851 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PCa) is an increasing health issue worldwide. For patients with advanced castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) treatment options are limited and overall survival is relatively short. Paired with this, non-invasive diagnostic options are yet to be established. Activins are members of the TGF-β superfamily and have been linked to prostate physiology. For instance, activin A is an inhibitor of growth in the prostate. A novel class of non-coding RNA, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been intrinsically linked to a range of cellular processes and carcinogenesis. No studies have investigated the impact of activin A on miRNA expression in PCa cell lines. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of activin A on miRNA expression and downstream target genes in PCa. METHODS Activin-sensitive (LNCaP) and insensitive (PC3) prostate cells were treated with 50 ng/ml of activin A for 72 hr. To examine miRNA expression following treatment, SYBR RT-qPCR miRNA arrays were used in conjunction with TaqMan RT-qPCR. MiRPath-TarBase analysis was conducted using the miRNAs that were significantly altered following activin A treatment of LNCaP cells to highlight enriched target genes within biological pathways. Highlighted target genes were assessed using pathway-focused TGF-β and cell cycle SYBR RT-qPCR arrays. RESULTS Activin A treatment altered nine miRNAs in LNCaP cells: miR-222-3p, miR-15b-5p, miR-93-5p, miR-18a-5p, and let-7i-5p were significantly decreased, while miR-30a/30d-5p, let-7c, and miR-196b-5p were significantly increased versus media control. In PC3 cells five miRNAs were altered: miR-130a-3p, miR-7-5p, and miR-140-3p were significantly decreased while miR-191-5p and miR-26a-5p were significantly increased versus media control. MiRPath-TarBase analysis highlighted that the miRNAs significantly altered in LNCaP cells targeted genes contained in activin A-related KEGG pathways. Furthermore, when LNCaP cells were treated with activin A the expression of the targeted genes was the inverse of the expression of activin A-mediated miRNAs. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the ability of activin A to modulate miRNA expression in PCa cell lines and suggests a correlative relationship between miRNA expression and downstream target genes in LNCaP cells. This study provides impetus for further studies into activin A and miRNAs in PCa. Prostate 76:951-963, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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18
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Activin A programs the differentiation of human TFH cells. Nat Immunol 2016; 17:976-84. [PMID: 27376469 PMCID: PMC4955732 DOI: 10.1038/ni.3494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Follicular helper T (TFH) cells are CD4+ T cells specialized in helping B cells and are associated both with protective antibody responses and autoimmune diseases. The promise of targeting TFH cells therapeutically has been limited by fragmentary understanding of extrinsic signals regulating human TFH cell differentiation. A screen of a human protein library identified activin A as new regulator of TFH cell differentiation. Activin A orchestrated expression of multiple TFH-associated genes, independently or in concert with additional signals. TFH programming by activin A was antagonized by the cytokine IL-2. Activin A’s capacity to drive TFH cell differentiation in vitro was conserved for non-human primates but not mice. Finally, activin A-induced TFH programming was dependent on SMAD2 and SMAD3 signaling and blocked by pharmacological inhibitors.
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19
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Mangé A, Dimitrakopoulos L, Soosaipillai A, Coopman P, Diamandis EP, Solassol J. An integrated cell line-based discovery strategy identified follistatin and kallikrein 6 as serum biomarker candidates of breast carcinoma. J Proteomics 2016; 142:114-21. [PMID: 27168011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Secreted proteins constitute a relevant source of putative cancer biomarkers. Here, we compared the secretome of a series of four genetically-related breast cancer cell lines as a model of aggressiveness using quantitative mass spectrometry. 537 proteins (59.5% of the total identified proteins) predicted to be released or shed from cells were identified. Using a scoring system based on i) iTRAQ value, ii) breast cancer tissue mRNA expression levels, and iii) immunohistochemical staining (public database), a short list of 10 candidate proteins was selected. Using specific ELISA assays, the expression level of the top five proteins was measured in a verification set of 56 patients. The four significantly differentially expressed proteins were then validated in a second independent set of 353 patients. Finally, follistatin (FST) and kallikrein 6 (KLK6) in serum were significantly higher (p-value < 0.0001) in invasive breast cancer patients compared with non-cancerous controls. Using specific cut-off values, FST distinguished breast cancer samples from healthy controls with a sensitivity of 65% and an accuracy of 68%, whereas KLK6 achieved a sensitivity of 55% and an accuracy of 61%. Therefore, we concluded that FST and KLK6 may have significance in breast cancer detection. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE Discovery of new serum biomarkers that exhibit increased sensitivity and specificity compared to current biomarkers appears to be an essential field of research in cancer. Most biological markers show insufficient diagnostic sensitivity for early breast cancer detection and, for the majority of them, their concentrations are elevated only in metastatic forms of the disease. It is therefore essential to identify clinically reliable biomarkers and develop effective approaches for cancer diagnosis. One promising approach in this field is the study of secreted proteins through proteomic analysis of in vitro progression breast cancer models. Here we have shown that FST and KLK6 are elevated in breast cancer patient serum compared to healthy controls. We expect that our discovery strategy will help to identify cancer-specific and body-fluid-accessible biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Mangé
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34298, France; INSERM, U1194, Montpellier, F-34298, France; Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34090, France; Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34298, France
| | - Lampros Dimitrakopoulos
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Antoninus Soosaipillai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Coopman
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34298, France; INSERM, U1194, Montpellier, F-34298, France; Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34090, France; Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34298, France
| | - Eleftherios P Diamandis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jérôme Solassol
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34298, France; INSERM, U1194, Montpellier, F-34298, France; Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34090, France; Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, F-34298, France.
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Wijayarathna R, de Kretser DM. Activins in reproductive biology and beyond. Hum Reprod Update 2016; 22:342-57. [PMID: 26884470 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activins are members of the pleiotrophic family of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily of cytokines, initially isolated for their capacity to induce the release of FSH from pituitary extracts. Subsequent research has demonstrated that activins are involved in multiple biological functions including the control of inflammation, fibrosis, developmental biology and tumourigenesis. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the roles of activin in reproductive and developmental biology. It also discusses interesting advances in the field of modulating the bioactivity of activins as a therapeutic target, which would undoubtedly be beneficial for patients with reproductive pathology. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was carried out using PUBMED and Google Scholar databases to identify studies in the English language which have contributed to the advancement of the field of activin biology, since its initial isolation in 1987 until July 2015. 'Activin', 'testis', 'ovary', 'embryonic development' and 'therapeutic targets' were used as the keywords in combination with other search phrases relevant to the topic of activin biology. RESULTS Activins, which are dimers of inhibin β subunits, act via a classical TGF-β signalling pathway. The bioactivity of activin is regulated by two endogenous inhibitors, inhibin and follistatin. Activin is a major regulator of testicular and ovarian development. In the ovary, activin A promotes oocyte maturation and regulates granulosa cell steroidogenesis. It is also essential in endometrial repair following menstruation, decidualization and maintaining pregnancy. Dysregulation of the activin-follistatin-inhibin system leads to disorders of female reproduction and pregnancy, including polycystic ovary syndrome, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and pre-term birth. Moreover, a rise in serum activin A, accompanied by elevated FSH, is characteristic of female reproductive aging. In the male, activin A is an autocrine and paracrine modulator of germ cell development and Sertoli cell proliferation. Disruption of normal activin signalling is characteristic of many tumours affecting reproductive organs, including endometrial carcinoma, cervical cancer, testicular and ovarian cancer as well as prostate cancer. While activin A and B aid the progression of many tumours of the reproductive organs, activin C acts as a tumour suppressor. Activins are important in embryonic induction, morphogenesis of branched glandular organs, development of limbs and nervous system, craniofacial and dental development and morphogenesis of the Wolffian duct. CONCLUSIONS The field of activin biology has advanced considerably since its initial discovery as an FSH stimulating agent. Now, activin is well known as a growth factor and cytokine that regulates many aspects of reproductive biology, developmental biology and also inflammation and immunological mechanisms. Current research provides evidence for novel roles of activins in maintaining the structure and function of reproductive and other organ systems. The fact that activin A is elevated both locally as well as systemically in major disorders of the reproductive system makes it an important biomarker. Given the established role of activin A as a pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic agent, studies of its involvement in disorders of reproduction resulting from these processes should be examined. Follistatin, as a key regulator of the biological actions of activin, should be evaluated as a therapeutic agent in conditions where activin A overexpression is established as a contributing factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Wijayarathna
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31, Wright Street, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - D M de Kretser
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31, Wright Street, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
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Expression profiling of prostate cancer tissue delineates genes associated with recurrence after prostatectomy. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16018. [PMID: 26522007 PMCID: PMC4629186 DOI: 10.1038/srep16018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death amongst males. The main clinical dilemma in treating prostate cancer is the high number of indolent cases that confer a significant risk of overtreatment. In this study, we have performed gene expression profiling of tumor tissue specimens from 36 patients with prostate cancer to identify transcripts that delineate aggressive and indolent cancer. Key genes were validated using previously published data and by tissue microarray analysis. Two molecular subgroups were identified with a significant overrepresentation of tumors from patients with biochemical recurrence in one of the groups. We successfully validated key transcripts association with recurrence using two publically available datasets totaling 669 patients. Twelve genes were found to be independent predictors of recurrence in multivariate logistical regression analysis. SFRP4 gene expression was consistently up regulated in patients with recurrence in all three datasets. Using an independent cohort of 536 prostate cancer patients we showed SFRP4 expression to be an independent predictor of recurrence after prostatectomy (HR = 1.35; p = 0.009). We identified SFRP4 to be associated with disease recurrence. Prospective studies are needed in order to assess the clinical usefulness of the identified key markers in this study.
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Bufalino A, Cervigne NK, de Oliveira CE, Fonseca FP, Rodrigues PC, Macedo CCS, Sobral LM, Miguel MC, Lopes MA, Leme AFP, Lambert DW, Salo TA, Kowalski LP, Graner E, Coletta RD. Low miR-143/miR-145 Cluster Levels Induce Activin A Overexpression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Which Contributes to Poor Prognosis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136599. [PMID: 26317418 PMCID: PMC4552554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulated expression of activin A is reported in several tumors, but its biological functions in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are unknown. Here, we investigate whether activin A can play a causal role in OSCCs. Activin A expression was assessed by qPCR and immunohistochemistry in OSCC tissues. Low activin A-expressing cells were treated with recombinant activin A and assessed for apoptosis, proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Those phenotypes were also evaluated in high activin A-expressing cells treated with follistatin (an activin A antagonist) or stably expressing shRNA targeting activin A. Transfections of microRNA mimics were performed to determine whether the overexpression of activin A is regulated by miR-143/miR-145 cluster. Activin A was overexpressed in OSCCs in comparison with normal oral mucosa, and high activin A levels were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation and poor survival. High activin A levels promoted multiple properties associated with malignant transformation, including decreased apoptosis and increased proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT. Both miR-143 and miR-145 were markedly downregulated in OSCC cell lines and in clinical specimens, and inversely correlated to activin A levels. Forced expression of miR-143 and miR-145 in OSCC cells significantly decreased the expression of activin A. Overexpression of activin A in OSCCs, which is controlled by downregulation of miR-143/miR-145 cluster, regulates apoptosis, proliferation and invasiveness, and it is clinically correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Bufalino
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | - Nilva K. Cervigne
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe Paiva Fonseca
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Lays Martin Sobral
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | - Marcia Costa Miguel
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
- Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Marcio Ajudarte Lopes
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel W. Lambert
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry and Sheffield Cancer Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Tuula A. Salo
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
- Department of Diagnostics and Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry and Oulu University Hospital and Medical Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu and Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Luiz Paulo Kowalski
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, A. C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Edgard Graner
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo D. Coletta
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Wang Z, Zhang N, Song R, Fan R, Yang L, Wu L. Activin A expression in esophageal carcinoma and its association with tumor aggressiveness and differentiation. Oncol Lett 2015; 10:143-148. [PMID: 26170990 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of activin A in esophageal carcinoma and its association with tumor differentiation and metastasis. A total of 57 esophageal carcinoma patients and 36 controls were included in the current study. The mRNA and protein expression levels of activin A in esophageal tumors or normal esophageal tissues were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis. In addition, the association of activin A expression with esophageal carcinoma differentiation, metastasis and recurrence postoperatively was analyzed. The mRNA and protein expression levels of activin A in esophageal carcinoma were significantly higher compared with those in normal esophageal tissues (P<0.05). The expression of activin A was higher in poorly-/moderately-differentiated esophageal tumor tissues compared with that of well-differentiated or control tissues (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of activin A in poorly-differentiated esophageal tumor tissues was higher compared with that of moderately-differentiated tissues (P<0.05). A positive correlation was also observed between differentiation degree and activin A expression. The expression of activin A was higher in patients with lymph node metastasis compared with those without metastasis (P<0.05). The cumulative survival rate of patients with a high expression of activin A at 1, 2 and 3 years postoperatively was significantly decreased compared with that of patients with a lower expression of activin A (P<0.05); by contrast, the cumulative recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with a lower activin A expression (P<0.05). In conclusion, abnormal expression of activin A was detected in esophageal tumor tissues, which was correlated with the tumor differentiation, metastasis, survival and recurrence. In conclusion, activin A may be used as an auxiliary index in the diagnosis and prognosis of clinical esophageal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Xinxiang Central Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, P.R. China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xinxiang Central Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, P.R. China
| | - Ruifeng Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Ruitai Fan
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Liuqin Yang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Xinxiang Central Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, P.R. China
| | - Liping Wu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Xinxiang Central Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, P.R. China
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Horvath L, Bodmer D, Radojevic V, Monge Naldi A. Activin Signaling Disruption in the Cochlea Does Not Influence Hearing in Adult Mice. Audiol Neurootol 2014; 20:51-61. [DOI: 10.1159/000366152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin, a member of the TGF-F superfamily, was found to play an important role in the development, repair and apoptosis of different tissues and organs. Accordingly, activin signaling is involved in the development of the cochlea. Activin binds to its receptor ActRII, then dimerizes with ActRI and induces a signaling pathway resulting in gene expression. A study reported a case of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva with an unusual mutation in the ActRI gene leading to sensorineural hearing loss. This draws attention to the role of activin and its receptors in the developed cochlea. To date, only the expression of ActRII is known in the adult mammalian cochlea. In this study, we present for the first time the presence of activin A and ActRIB in the adult cochlea. Transgenic mice with postnatal dominant-negative ActRIB expression causing disruption of activin signaling in vivo were used for assessing cochlear morphology and hearing ability through the auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold. Nonfunctioning ActRIB did not affect the ABR thresholds and did not alter the microscopic anatomy of the cochlea. We conclude, therefore, that activin signaling is not necessary for hearing in adult mice under physiological conditions but may be important during and after damaging events in the inner ear. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
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Engineering TGF-β superfamily ligands for clinical applications. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2014; 35:648-57. [PMID: 25458539 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2014.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
TGF-β superfamily ligands govern normal tissue development and homeostasis, and their dysfunction is a hallmark of many diseases. These ligands are also well defined both structurally and functionally. This review focuses on TGF-β superfamily ligand engineering for therapeutic purposes, in particular for regenerative medicine and musculoskeletal disorders. We describe the key discovery that structure-guided mutation of receptor-binding epitopes, especially swapping of these epitopes between ligands, results in new ligands with unique functional properties that can be harnessed clinically. Given the promising results with prototypical engineered TGF-β superfamily ligands, and the vast number of such molecules that remain to be produced and tested, this strategy is likely to hold great promise for the development of new biologics.
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Blaauw B, Schiaffino S, Reggiani C. Mechanisms modulating skeletal muscle phenotype. Compr Physiol 2014; 3:1645-87. [PMID: 24265241 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c130009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian skeletal muscles are composed of a variety of highly specialized fibers whose selective recruitment allows muscles to fulfill their diverse functional tasks. In addition, skeletal muscle fibers can change their structural and functional properties to perform new tasks or respond to new conditions. The adaptive changes of muscle fibers can occur in response to variations in the pattern of neural stimulation, loading conditions, availability of substrates, and hormonal signals. The new conditions can be detected by multiple sensors, from membrane receptors for hormones and cytokines, to metabolic sensors, which detect high-energy phosphate concentration, oxygen and oxygen free radicals, to calcium binding proteins, which sense variations in intracellular calcium induced by nerve activity, to load sensors located in the sarcomeric and sarcolemmal cytoskeleton. These sensors trigger cascades of signaling pathways which may ultimately lead to changes in fiber size and fiber type. Changes in fiber size reflect an imbalance in protein turnover with either protein accumulation, leading to muscle hypertrophy, or protein loss, with consequent muscle atrophy. Changes in fiber type reflect a reprogramming of gene transcription leading to a remodeling of fiber contractile properties (slow-fast transitions) or metabolic profile (glycolytic-oxidative transitions). While myonuclei are in postmitotic state, satellite cells represent a reserve of new nuclei and can be involved in the adaptive response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Blaauw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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27
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Kelner N, Rodrigues PC, Bufalino A, Fonseca FP, Santos-Silva ARD, Miguel MCC, Pinto CAL, Leme AFP, Graner E, Salo T, Kowalski LP, Coletta RD. Activin A immunoexpression as predictor of occult lymph node metastasis and overall survival in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck 2014; 37:479-86. [PMID: 24677273 DOI: 10.1002/hed.23627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of regional lymph node metastasis has an important impact on clinical management and prognostication of patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Approximately 30% to 50% of patients with oral tongue SCC have regional metastasis at diagnosis, but the limited sensibility of the current diagnostic methods used for neck staging does not allow detection of all cases, leaving a significant number of undiagnosed metastasis (occult lymph node metastasis). In this study, we evaluated whether clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical detection of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and activin A could be predictive markers for occult lymph node metastasis in oral tongue SCC. METHODS One hundred ten patients with primary oral tongue SCC, who were classified with early stage tumor (stage I and II) and received surgical treatment with elective neck dissection, were enrolled in the study. RESULTS Among all examined features, only high immunohistochemical expression of activin A was significantly associated with presence of occult lymph node metastasis (p = .006). Multivariate survival analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model showed that the expression of activin A was an independent marker of reduced overall survival with a 5-year survival of 89.7% for patients with low expression compared to 76.5% for those with high expression (hazard ratio [HR], 2.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55-3.85; p = .012). CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that immunodetection of activin A can be useful for prognostication of oral tongue SCC, revealing patients with occult lymph node metastasis and lower overall survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Kelner
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The balance between the rates of protein synthesis and protein degradation governs the maintenance of muscle mass in the body. The main purpose of this review is to highlight the latest understanding of the various pathways that maintain this balance between muscle atrophy and hypertrophy. RECENT FINDINGS The maintenance of muscle mass is an interplay between anabolic and catabolic pathways that are interconnected at several junctures. The insulin-like growth factor 1/IRS1/PI3K/Akt pathway along with the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, lysosomal/autophagy pathway and myostatin pathway maintain this homeostasis with the aid of various transcriptional and genetic factors, many of which continue to be discovered and studied in an ongoing fashion. SUMMARY We tried to present, in this short review, a holistic view of the various players, old and new, responsible for the maintenance of this delicate equilibrium between muscle gain and loss. The development of novel therapeutics aimed at the activation or suppression of these described mediators may help the field of medicine in the management of a myriad of clinical conditions, thereby improving mobility and quality of life of affected patients.
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Sepporta MV, Tumminello FM, Flandina C, Crescimanno M, Giammanco M, La Guardia M, di Majo D, Leto G. Follistatin as potential therapeutic target in prostate cancer. Target Oncol 2013; 8:215-23. [PMID: 23456439 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-013-0268-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2012] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Follistatin is a single-chain glycosylated protein whose primary function consists in binding and neutralizing some members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily such as activin and bone morphogenic proteins. Emerging evidence indicates that this molecule may also play a role in the malignant progression of several human tumors including prostate cancer. In particular, recent findings suggest that, in this tumor, follistatin may also contribute to the formation of bone metastasis through multiple mechanisms, some of which are not related to its specific activin or bone morphogenic proteins' inhibitory activity. This review provides insight into the most recent advances in understanding the role of follistatin in the prostate cancer progression and discusses the clinical and therapeutic implications related to these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vittoria Sepporta
- Operative Unit of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Palermo, via Augusto Elia, 3, 90127, Palermo, Italy
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Antsiferova M, Werner S. The bright and the dark sides of activin in wound healing and cancer. J Cell Sci 2012; 125:3929-37. [PMID: 22991378 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.094789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Activin was initially described as a protein that stimulates release of follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary, and it is well known for its important roles in different reproductive functions. In recent years, this multifunctional factor has attracted the attention of researchers in other fields, as new functions of activin in angiogenesis, inflammation, immunity, fibrosis and cancer have been discovered. Studies from our laboratory have identified activin as a crucial regulator of wound healing and skin carcinogenesis. On the one hand, it strongly accelerates the healing process of skin wounds but, on the other hand, it enhances scar formation and the susceptibility to skin tumorigenesis. Finally, results from several laboratories have revealed that activin enhances tumour formation and/or progression in some other organs, in particular through its effect on the tumour microenvironment, and that it also promotes cancer-induced bone disruption and muscle wasting. These findings provide the basis for the use of activin or its downstream targets for the improvement of impaired wound healing, and of activin antagonists for the prevention and treatment of fibrosis and of malignant tumours that overexpress activin. Here, we summarize the previously described roles of activin in wound healing and scar formation and discuss functional studies that revealed different functions of activin in the pathogenesis of cancer. The relevance of these findings for clinical applications will be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antsiferova
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Honggerberg, HPL E12, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Cancer cachexia is characterized by a significant reduction in body weight resulting predominantly from loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Cachexia causes reduced cancer treatment tolerance and reduced quality and length of life, and remains an unmet medical need. Therapeutic progress has been impeded, in part, by the marked heterogeneity of mediators, signaling, and metabolic pathways both within and between model systems and the clinical syndrome. Recent progress in understanding conserved, molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy/hypertrophy has provided a downstream platform for circumventing the variations and redundancy in upstream mediators and may ultimately translate into new targeted therapies.
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