Dedifferentiation of cancer cells following recovery from a potentially lethal damage is mediated by H2S-Nampt

The potential role of hydrogen sulfide in cancer cell apoptosis

For a long time, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been considered a toxic compound, but recent studies have found that H2S is the third gaseous signaling molecule which plays a vital role in physiological and pathological conditions. Currently, a large number of studies have shown that H2S mediates apoptosis through multiple signaling pathways to participate in cancer occurrence and development, for example, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, the regulation of the production and metabolism of H2S to mediate the apoptotic process of cancer cells may improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment. In this review, the role and mechanism of H2S in cancer cell apoptosis in mammals are summarized.

BRD9 status is a major contributor for cysteine metabolic remodeling through MST and EAAT3 modulation in malignant melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the most aggressive skin cancer, showing globally increasing incidence. Hereditary CM accounts for a significant percentage (5-15 %) of all CM cases. However, most familial cases remain without a known genetic cause. Even though, BRD9 has been associated to CM as a susceptibility gene. The molecular events following BRD9 mutagenesis are still not completely understood. In this study, we disclosed BRD9 as a key regulator in cysteine metabolism and associated altered BRD9 to increased cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness, as well as to altered melanin levels, inducing higher susceptibility to melanomagenesis. It is evident that BRD9 WT and mutated BRD9 (c.183G>C) have a different impact on cysteine metabolism, respectively by inhibiting and activating MPST expression in the metastatic A375 cell line. The effect of the mutated BRD9 variant was more evident in A375 cells than in the less invasive WM115 line. Our data point out novel molecular and metabolic mechanisms dependent on BRD9 status that potentially account for the increased risk of developing CM and enhancing CM aggressiveness. Moreover, our findings emphasize the role of cysteine metabolism remodeling in melanoma progression and open new queues to follow to explore the role of BRD9 as a melanoma susceptibility or cancer-related gene.

Targeting NAD+ metabolism: dual roles in cancer treatment

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is indispensable for various oxidation-reduction reactions in mammalian cells, particularly during energy production. Malignant cells increase the expression levels of NAD+ biosynthesis enzymes for rapid proliferation and biomass production. Furthermore, mounting proof has indicated that NAD-degrading enzymes (NADases) play a role in creating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Interestingly, both inhibiting NAD+ synthesis and targeting NADase have positive implications for cancer treatment. Here we summarize the detrimental outcomes of increased NAD+ production, the functions of NAD+ metabolic enzymes in creating an immunosuppressive TME, and discuss the progress and clinical translational potential of inhibitors for NAD+ synthesis and therapies targeting NADase.

Role of Cystathionine β-Synthase and 3-Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase in the Regulation of Proliferation, Migration, and Bioenergetics of Murine Breast Cancer Cells

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), CSE (cystathionine γ-lyase) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) have emerged as three significant sources of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in various forms of mammalian cancer. Here, we investigated the functional role of CBS’ and 3-MST’s catalytic activity in the murine breast cancer cell line EO771. The CBS/CSE inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) and the 3-MST inhibitor 2-[(4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidin-2-yl)sulfanyl]-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethan-1-one (HMPSNE) were used to assess the role of endogenous H2S in the modulation of breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, bioenergetics and viability in vitro. Methods included measurements of cell viability (MTT and LDH assays), cell proliferation and in vitro wound healing (IncuCyte) and cellular bioenergetics (Seahorse extracellular flux analysis). CBS and 3-MST, as well as expression were detected by Western blotting; H2S production was measured by the fluorescent dye AzMC. The results show that EO771 cells express CBS, CSE and 3-MST protein, as well as several enzymes involved in H2S degradation (SQR, TST, and ETHE1). Pharmacological inhibition of CBS or 3-MST inhibited H2S production, suppressed cellular bioenergetics and attenuated cell proliferation. Cell migration was only inhibited by the 3-MST inhibitor, but not the CBS/CSE inhibitor. Inhibition of CBS/CSE of 3-MST did not significantly affect basal cell viability; inhibition of 3-MST (but not of CBS/CSE) slightly enhanced the cytotoxic effects of oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide challenge). From these findings, we conclude that endogenous H2S, generated by 3-MST and to a lower degree by CBS/CSE, significantly contributes to the maintenance of bioenergetics, proliferation and migration in murine breast cancer cells and may also exert a minor role as a cytoprotectant.

Role of 3-Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase (3-MST) in Physiology and Disease

3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) plays the important role of producing hydrogen sulfide. Conserved from bacteria to Mammalia, this enzyme is localized in mitochondria as well as the cytoplasm. 3-MST mediates the reaction of 3-mercaptopyruvate with dihydrolipoic acid and thioredoxin to produce hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is also produced through cystathionine beta-synthase and cystathionine gamma-lyase, along with 3-MST, and is known to alleviate a variety of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and neurological conditions. The importance of cystathionine beta-synthase and cystathionine gamma-lyase in hydrogen sulfide biogenesis is well-described, but documentation of the 3-MST pathway is limited. This account compiles the current state of knowledge about the role of 3-MST in physiology and pathology. Attempts at targeting the 3-MST pathway for therapeutic benefit are discussed, highlighting the potential of 3-MST as a therapeutic target.

S-Propargyl-Cysteine Ameliorates Peripheral Nerve Injury through Microvascular Reconstruction

Microvascular reconstruction is essential for peripheral nerve repair. S-Propargyl-cysteine (SPRC), the endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) donor, has been reported to promote angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to utilize the pro-angiogenic ability of SPRC to support peripheral nerve repair and to explore the potential mechanisms. The effects and mechanisms of SPRC on angiogenesis and peripheral nerve repair were examined under hypoxic condition by establishing a sciatic nerve crushed injury model in mice and rats, and a hypoxia model in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. We found that SPRC accelerated the function recovery of the injured sciatic nerve and alleviated atrophy of the gastrocnemius muscle in mice. It facilitated the viability of Schwann cells (SCs), the outgrowth and myelination of regenerated axons, and angiogenesis in rats. It enhanced the viability, proliferation, adhesion, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs under hypoxic condition. SPRC activated sirtuin1 (SIRT1) expression by promoting the production of endogenous H₂S, and SIRT1 negatively regulated Notch signaling in endothelial cells (ECs), thereby promoting angiogenesis. Collectively, our study has provided important evidence that SPRC has an effective role in peripheral nerve repair through microvascular reconstruction, which could be a potentially effective medical therapy for peripheral nerve injury.

The Role of Hydrogen Sulfide in the Development and Progression of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in the world, which seriously affects the normal life and health of patients. According to the investigation report, the 3-year survival rate of patients with lung cancer is less than 20%. Heredity, the environment, and long-term smoking or secondhand smoke greatly promote the development and progress of the disease. The mechanisms of action of the occurrence and development of lung cancer have not been fully clarified. As a new type of gas signal molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has received great attention for its physiological and pathological roles in mammalian cells. It has been found that H₂S is widely involved in the regulation of the respiratory system and digestive system, and plays an important role in the occurrence and development of lung cancer. H₂S has the characteristics of dissolving in water and passing through the cell membrane, and is widely expressed in body tissues, which determines the possibility of its participation in the occurrence of lung cancer. Both endogenous and exogenous H₂S may be involved in the inhibition of lung cancer cells by regulating mitochondrial energy metabolism, mitochondrial DNA integrity, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B co-pathway hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). This article reviews and discusses the molecular mechanism of H₂S in the development of lung cancer, and provides novel insights for the prevention and targeted therapy of lung cancer.

Addressing the Enzyme-independent tumor-promoting function of NAMPT via PROTAC-mediated degradation

Aberrant overexpression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) has been reported in a variety of tumor cells and is a poor prognosis factor for patient survival. It plays an important role in tumor cell proliferation, acting concurrently as an nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) synthase and, unexpectedly, as an extracellular signaling molecule for several tumor-promoting pathways. Although previous efforts to modulate NAMPT activity were limited to enzymatic inhibitors with low success in clinical studies, protein degradation offers the possibility to simultaneously disrupt NAMPT's enzyme activity and ligand capabilities. Here we report the development of two highly selective proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that promote NAMPT degradation in a cereblon-dependent manner. Both PROTAC degraders outperform a clinical candidate, FK866, in killing effect on hematological tumor cells. These results emphasize the importance and feasibility of applying PROTACs as a superior strategy for targeting proteins with multiple tumor-promoting functions like NAMPT, which is not easily achieved by conventional enzymatic inhibitors.

Hydrogen Sulfide Biology and Its Role in Cancer

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenous biologically active gas produced in mammalian tissues. It plays a very critical role in many pathophysiological processes in the body. It can be endogenously produced through many enzymes analogous to the cysteine family, while the exogenous source may involve inorganic sulfide salts. H₂S has recently been well investigated with regard to the onset of various carcinogenic diseases such as lung, breast, ovaries, colon cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. H₂S is considered an oncogenic gas, and a potential therapeutic target for treating and diagnosing cancers, due to its role in mediating the development of tumorigenesis. Here in this review, an in-detail up-to-date explanation of the potential role of H₂S in different malignancies has been reported. The study summarizes the synthesis of H₂S, its roles, signaling routes, expressions, and H₂S release in various malignancies. Considering the critical importance of this active biological molecule, we believe this review in this esteemed journal will highlight the oncogenic role of H₂S in the scientific community.

3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase represses tumour progression and predicts prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND

AIMS: The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains dismal, and its molecular pathogenesis has not been completely defined. The enzyme 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) regulates endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂ S) biosynthesis. However, the role of MPST in HCC has never been intensively investigated.

METHODS

MPST protein expression was analysed in HCC tumour tissues and matched adjacent tissues. The effect of MPST on HCC progression was studied in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein expression of MPST was significantly downregulated in HCC samples compared with their paired nontumour counterparts. A low MPST expression was associated with larger tumour size and a worse overall survival. Overexpression of MPST in HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. MPST overexpression also significantly suppressed the growth of tumour xenografts in nude mice, whereas silencing MPST by intratumour delivery of siRNA substantially promoted tumour growth. Moreover, diethylnitrosamine-induced mouse HCC was aggravated by MPST gene knockout. Mechanistically, MPST suppressed the cell cycle associated with H₂ S production and inhibition of the AKT/FOXO3a/Rb signalling pathway in HCC development. In addition, MPST expression negatively correlated with that of pRb in HCC specimens and the combination of these two parameters is a more powerful predictor of poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

MPST may function as a tumour suppressor gene that plays an essential role in HCC proliferation and liver tumorigenesis. It is a candidate predictor of clinical outcome in patients with HCC and may be used as a biomarker and intervention target for new therapeutic strategies.

Emerging roles of cystathionine β-synthase in various forms of cancer

The expression of the reverse transsulfuration enzyme cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) is markedly increased in many forms of cancer, including colorectal, ovarian, lung, breast and kidney, while in other cancers (liver cancer and glioma) it becomes downregulated. According to the clinical database data in high-CBS-expressor cancers (e.g. colon or ovarian cancer), high CBS expression typically predicts lower survival, while in the low-CBS-expressor cancers (e.g. liver cancer), low CBS expression is associated with lower survival. In the high-CBS expressing tumor cells, CBS, and its product hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) serves as a bioenergetic, proliferative, cytoprotective and stemness factor; it also supports angiogenesis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the cancer microenvironment. The current article reviews the various tumor-cell-supporting roles of the CBS/H₂S axis in high-CBS expressor cancers and overviews the anticancer effects of CBS silencing and pharmacological CBS inhibition in various cancer models in vitro and in vivo; it also outlines potential approaches for biomarker identification, to support future targeted cancer therapies based on pharmacological CBS inhibition.

Role of Hydrogen Sulfide in Oral Disease

Oral diseases are among the most common human diseases yet less studied. These diseases affect both the physical, mental, and social health of the patients resulting in poor quality of life. They affect all ages, although severe stages are mostly observed in older individuals. Poor oral hygiene, genetics, and environmental factors contribute enormously to the development and progression of these diseases. Although there are available treatment options for these diseases, the recurrence of the diseases hinders their efficiency. Oral volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) are highly produced in oral cavity as a result of bacteria activities. Together with bacteria components such as lipopolysaccharides, VSCs participate in the progression of oral diseases by regulating cellular activities and interfering with the immune response. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous neurotransmitter primarily produced endogenously and is involved in the regulation of cellular activities. The gas is also among the VSCs produced by oral bacteria. In numerous diseases, H2S have been reported to have dual effects depending on the cell, concentration, and donor used. In oral diseases, high production and subsequent utilization of this gas have been reported. Also, this high production is associated with the progression of oral diseases. In this review, we will discuss the production of H2S in oral cavity, its interaction with cellular activities, and most importantly its role in oral diseases.

Sulfur Administration in Fe-S Cluster Homeostasis

Mitochondria are the key organelles of Fe–S cluster synthesis. They contain the enzyme cysteine desulfurase, a scaffold protein, iron and electron donors, and specific chaperons all required for the formation of Fe–S clusters. The newly formed cluster can be utilized by mitochondrial Fe–S protein synthesis or undergo further transformation. Mitochondrial Fe–S cluster biogenesis components are required in the cytosolic iron–sulfur cluster assembly machinery for cytosolic and nuclear cluster supplies. Clusters that are the key components of Fe–S proteins are vulnerable and prone to degradation whenever exposed to oxidative stress. However, once degraded, the Fe–S cluster can be resynthesized or repaired. It has been proposed that sulfurtransferases, rhodanese, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, responsible for sulfur transfer from donor to nucleophilic acceptor, are involved in the Fe–S cluster formation, maturation, or reconstitution. In the present paper, we attempt to sum up our knowledge on the involvement of sulfurtransferases not only in sulfur administration but also in the Fe–S cluster formation in mammals and yeasts, and on reconstitution-damaged cluster or restoration of enzyme’s attenuated activity.

Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation by Sulfide Quinone Oxidoreductase

Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) is an environmental toxin and a heritage of ancient microbial metabolism that has stimulated new interest following its discovery as a neuromodulator. While many physiological responses have been attributed to low H2 S levels, higher levels inhibit complex IV in the electron transport chain. To prevent respiratory poisoning, a dedicated set of enzymes that make up the mitochondrial sulfide oxidation pathway exists to clear H2 S. The committed step in this pathway is catalyzed by sulfide quinone oxidoreductase (SQOR), which couples sulfide oxidation to coenzyme Q10 reduction in the electron transport chain. The SQOR reaction prevents H2 S accumulation and generates highly reactive persulfide species as products; these can be further oxidized or can modify cysteine residues in proteins by persulfidation. Here, we review the kinetic and structural characteristics of human SQOR, and how its unconventional redox cofactor configuration and substrate promiscuity lead to sulfide clearance and potentially expand the signaling potential of H2 S. This dual role of SQOR makes it a promising target for H2 S-based therapeutics.

Hydrogen Sulfide, an Endogenous Stimulator of Mitochondrial Function in Cancer Cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has a long history as toxic gas and environmental hazard; inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase (mitochondrial Complex IV) is viewed as a primary mode of its cytotoxic action. However, studies conducted over the last two decades unveiled multiple biological regulatory roles of H₂S as an endogenously produced mammalian gaseous transmitter. Cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) are currently viewed as the principal mammalian H₂S-generating enzymes. In contrast to its inhibitory (toxicological) mitochondrial effects, at lower (physiological) concentrations, H₂S serves as a stimulator of electron transport in mammalian mitochondria, by acting as an electron donor—with sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) being the immediate electron acceptor. The mitochondrial roles of H₂S are significant in various cancer cells, many of which exhibit high expression and partial mitochondrial localization of various H₂S producing enzymes. In addition to the stimulation of mitochondrial ATP production, the roles of endogenous H₂S in cancer cells include the maintenance of mitochondrial organization (protection against mitochondrial fission) and the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA repair (via the stimulation of the assembly of mitochondrial DNA repair complexes). The current article overviews the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the mitochondrial functions of endogenously produced H₂S in cancer cells.

Pharmacological induction of mesenchymal-epithelial transition via inhibition of H2S biosynthesis and consequent suppression of ACLY activity in colon cancer cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an important endogenous gaseous transmitter mediator, which regulates a variety of cellular functions in autocrine and paracrine manner. The enzymes responsible for the biological generation of H₂S include cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST). Increased expression of these enzymes and overproduction of H₂S has been implicated in essential processes of various cancer cells, including the stimulation of metabolism, maintenance of cell proliferation and cytoprotection. Cancer cell identity is characterized by so-called "transition states". The progression from normal (epithelial) to transformed (mesenchymal) state is termed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) whereby epithelial cells lose their cell-to-cell adhesion capacity and gain mesenchymal characteristics. The transition process can also proceed in the opposite direction, and this process is termed mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). The current project was designed to determine whether inhibition of endogenous H₂S production in colon cancer cells affects the EMT/MET balance in vitro. Inhibition of H₂S biosynthesis in HCT116 human colon cancer cells was achieved either with aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) or 2-[(4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidin-2-yl)sulfanyl]-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethan-1-one (HMPSNE). These inhibitors induced an upregulation of E-cadherin and Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression and downregulation of fibronectin expression, demonstrating that H₂S biosynthesis inhibitors can produce a pharmacological induction of MET in colon cancer cells. These actions were functionally reflected in an inhibition of cell migration, as demonstrated in an in vitro "scratch wound" assay. The mechanisms involved in the action of endogenously produced H₂S in cancer cells in promoting (or maintaining) EMT (or tonically inhibiting MET) relate, at least in part, in the induction of ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) protein expression, which occurs via upregulation of ACLY mRNA (via activation of the ACLY promoter). ACLY in turn, regulates the Wnt-β-catenin pathway, an essential regulator of the EMT/MET balance. Taken together, pharmacological inhibition of endogenous H₂S biosynthesis in cancer cells induces MET. We hypothesize that this may contribute to anti-cancer / anti-metastatic effects of H₂S biosynthesis inhibitors.

NAD+ metabolism, stemness, the immune response, and cancer

NAD⁺ was discovered during yeast fermentation, and since its discovery, its important roles in redox metabolism, aging, and longevity, the immune system and DNA repair have been highlighted. A deregulation of the NAD⁺ levels has been associated with metabolic diseases and aging-related diseases, including neurodegeneration, defective immune responses, and cancer. NAD⁺ acts as a cofactor through its interplay with NADH, playing an essential role in many enzymatic reactions of energy metabolism, such as glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation, and the TCA cycle. NAD⁺ also plays a role in deacetylation by sirtuins and ADP ribosylation during DNA damage/repair by PARP proteins. Finally, different NAD hydrolase proteins also consume NAD⁺ while converting it into ADP-ribose or its cyclic counterpart. Some of these proteins, such as CD38, seem to be extensively involved in the immune response. Since NAD cannot be taken directly from food, NAD metabolism is essential, and NAMPT is the key enzyme recovering NAD from nicotinamide and generating most of the NAD cellular pools. Because of the complex network of pathways in which NAD⁺ is essential, the important role of NAD⁺ and its key generating enzyme, NAMPT, in cancer is understandable. In the present work, we review the role of NAD⁺ and NAMPT in the ways that they may influence cancer metabolism, the immune system, stemness, aging, and cancer. Finally, we review some ongoing research on therapeutic approaches.

Hydrogen sulfide facilitates reprogramming and trans-differentiation in 3D dermal fibroblast

The efficiency of cell reprogramming in two-dimensional (2D) cultures is limited. Given that cellular stemness is intimately related to microenvironmental changes, 3D cell cultures have the potential of overcoming this limited capacity by allowing cells to self-organize by aggregation. In 3D space, cells interact more efficiently, modify their cellular topology, gene expression, signaling, and metabolism. It is yet not clear as how 3D culture environments modify the reprogramming potential of fibroblasts. We demonstrate that 3D spheroids from dermal fibroblasts formed under ultra-low attachment conditions showed increased lactate production. This is a requisite for cell reprogramming, increase their expression of pluripotency genes, such as OCT4, NANOG and SOX2, and display upregulated cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production. Knockdown of CBS by RNAi suppresses lactic acid and H2S production and concomitantly decreases the expression of OCT4 and NANOG. On the contrary, H2S donors, NaHS and garlic-derived diallyl trisulfide (DATS), promote the expression of OCT4, and support osteogenic trans-differentiation of fibroblasts. These results demonstrate that CBS mediated release of H2S regulates the reprogramming of dermal fibroblasts grown in 3D cultures and supports their trans-differentiation.

Cysteine Aminotransferase (CAT): A Pivotal Sponsor in Metabolic Remodeling and an Ally of 3-Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase (MST) in Cancer

Metabolic remodeling is a critical skill of malignant cells, allowing their survival and spread. The metabolic dynamics and adaptation capacity of cancer cells allow them to escape from damaging stimuli, including breakage or cross-links in DNA strands and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, promoting resistance to currently available therapies, such as alkylating or oxidative agents. Therefore, it is essential to understand how metabolic pathways and the corresponding enzymatic systems can impact on tumor behavior. Cysteine aminotransferase (CAT) per se, as well as a component of the CAT: 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) axis, is pivotal for this metabolic rewiring, constituting a central mechanism in amino acid metabolism and fulfilling the metabolic needs of cancer cells, thereby supplying other different pathways. In this review, we explore the current state-of-art on CAT function and its role on cancer cell metabolic rewiring as MST partner, and its relevance in cancer cells' fitness.

Cysteine as a Carbon Source, a Hot Spot in Cancer Cells Survival

Cancer cells undergo a metabolic rewiring in order to fulfill the energy and biomass requirements. Cysteine is a pivotal organic compound that contributes for cancer metabolic remodeling at three different levels: (1) in redox control, free or as a component of glutathione; (2) in ATP production, via hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) production, serving as a donor to electron transport chain (ETC), and (3) as a carbon source for biomass and energy production. In the present review, emphasis will be given to the role of cysteine as a carbon source, focusing on the metabolic reliance on cysteine, benefiting the metabolic fitness and survival of cancer cells. Therefore, the interplay between cysteine metabolism and other metabolic pathways, as well as the regulation of cysteine metabolism related enzymes and transporters, will be also addressed. Finally, the usefulness of cysteine metabolic route as a target in cancer treatment will be highlighted.

Cystathionine-β-Synthase: Molecular Regulation and Pharmacological Inhibition

Cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), the first (and rate-limiting) enzyme in the transsulfuration pathway, is an important mammalian enzyme in health and disease. Its biochemical functions under physiological conditions include the metabolism of homocysteine (a cytotoxic molecule and cardiovascular risk factor) and the generation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous biological mediator with multiple regulatory roles in the vascular, nervous, and immune system. CBS is up-regulated in several diseases, including Down syndrome and many forms of cancer; in these conditions, the preclinical data indicate that inhibition or inactivation of CBS exerts beneficial effects. This article overviews the current information on the expression, tissue distribution, physiological roles, and biochemistry of CBS, followed by a comprehensive overview of direct and indirect approaches to inhibit the enzyme. Among the small-molecule CBS inhibitors, the review highlights the specificity and selectivity problems related to many of the commonly used "CBS inhibitors" (e.g., aminooxyacetic acid) and provides a comprehensive review of their pharmacological actions under physiological conditions and in various disease models.

Role of 3-Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase in the Regulation of Proliferation, Migration, and Bioenergetics in Murine Colon Cancer Cells

3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) has emerged as one of the significant sources of biologically active sulfur species in various mammalian cells. The current study was designed to investigate the functional role of 3-MST’s catalytic activity in the murine colon cancer cell line CT26. The novel pharmacological 3-MST inhibitor HMPSNE was used to assess cancer cell proliferation, migration and bioenergetics in vitro. Methods included measurements of cell viability (MTT and LDH assays), cell proliferation and in vitro wound healing (IncuCyte) and cellular bioenergetics (Seahorse extracellular flux analysis). 3-MST expression was detected by Western blotting; H₂S production was measured by the fluorescent dye AzMC. The results show that CT26 cells express 3-MST protein and mRNA, as well as several enzymes involved in H₂S degradation (TST, ETHE1). Pharmacological inhibition of 3-MST concentration-dependently suppressed H₂S production and, at 100 and 300 µM, attenuated CT26 proliferation and migration. HMPSNE exerted a bell-shaped effect on several cellular bioenergetic parameters related to oxidative phosphorylation, while other bioenergetic parameters were either unaffected or inhibited at the highest concentration of the inhibitor tested (300 µM). In contrast to 3-MST, the expression of CBS (another H₂S producing enzyme which has been previously implicated in the regulation of various biological parameters in other tumor cells) was not detectable in CT26 cells and pharmacological inhibition of CBS exerted no significant effects on CT26 proliferation or bioenergetics. In summary, 3-MST catalytic activity significantly contributes to the regulation of cellular proliferation, migration and bioenergetics in CT26 murine colon cancer cells. The current studies identify 3-MST as the principal source of biologically active H₂S in this cell line.

Beyond Energy Metabolism: Exploiting the Additional Roles of NAMPT for Cancer Therapy

Tumor cells have increased requirements for NAD⁺. Thus, many cancers exhibit an increased reliance on NAD⁺ production pathways. This dependence may be exploited therapeutically through pharmacological targeting of NAMPT, the rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD⁺ salvage pathway. Despite promising preclinical data using NAMPT inhibitors in cancer models, early NAMPT inhibitors showed limited efficacy in several early phase clinical trials, necessitating the identification of strategies, such as drug combinations, to enhance their efficacy. While the effect of NAMPT inhibitors on impairment of energy metabolism in cancer cells has been well-described, more recent insights have uncovered a number of additional targetable cellular processes that are impacted by inhibition of NAMPT. These include sirtuin function, DNA repair machinery, redox homeostasis, molecular signaling, cellular stemness, and immune processes. This review highlights the recent findings describing the effects of NAMPT inhibitors on the non-metabolic functions of malignant cells, with a focus on how this information can be leveraged clinically. Combining NAMPT inhibitors with other therapies that target NAD⁺-dependent processes or selecting tumors with specific vulnerabilities that can be co-targeted with NAMPT inhibitors may represent opportunities to exploit the multiple functions of this enzyme for greater therapeutic benefit.

Mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming: An important player in liver cancer progression

Mitochondria are known as essential biosynthetic, bioenergetic and signaling organelles, and play a critical role in cell differentiation, proliferation, and death. Nowadays, cancer is emergingly considered as a mitochondrial metabolic disease. Mitochondria also play an essential role in liver carcinogenesis. Liver cells are highly regenerative and require high energy. For that reason, a large number of mitochondria are present and functional in liver cells. Abnormalities in mitochondrial metabolism in human liver are known to be one of the carcinogenic factors. Interestingly, immune checkpoints regulate mitochondrial metabolic energetics of the tumor, the tumor microenvironment, as well as the tumor-specific immune response. This regulation forms a positive loop between the metabolic reprogramming of both cancer cells and immune cells. In this review, we discuss the evidence and mechanisms that mitochondria interplay with immune checkpoints to influence different steps of oncogenesis, as well as the potential of mitochondria as therapeutic targets for liver cancer therapy.

Subcellular compartmentalization of NAD+ and its role in cancer: A sereNADe of metabolic melodies

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential biomolecule involved in many critical processes. Its role as both a driver of energy production and a signaling molecule underscores its importance in health and disease. NAD+ signaling impacts multiple processes that are dysregulated in cancer, including DNA repair, cell proliferation, differentiation, redox regulation, and oxidative stress. Distribution of NAD+ is highly compartmentalized, with each subcellular NAD+ pool differentially regulated and preferentially involved in distinct NAD+-dependent signaling or metabolic events. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting NAD+ metabolism is likely to repress many specific mechanisms underlying tumor development and progression, including proliferation, survival, metabolic adaptations, invasive capabilities, heterotypic interactions with the tumor microenvironment, and stress response including notably DNA maintenance and repair. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of how compartmentalized NAD+ metabolism in mitochondria, nucleus, cytosol, and extracellular space impacts cancer formation and progression, along with a discussion of the therapeutic potential of NAD+-targeting drugs in cancer.

Hydrogen sulfide attenuates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury through SIRT3-dependent regulation of mitochondrial function in type 2 diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury is a complex pathophysiologic process associated with high morbidity and mortality. We have demonstrated elsewhere that diabetes mellitus aggravated ischemia-induced lung injury. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are drivers of diabetic lung ischemia-reperfusion injury; however, the pathways that mediate these events are unexplored. In this study using a high-fat diet-fed model of streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes in rats, we determined the effect of hydrogen sulfide on lung ischemia-reperfusion injury with a focus on Sirtuin3 signaling.

METHODS

Rats with type 2 diabetes were exposed to GYY4137, a slow release donor of hydrogen sulfide with or without administration of the Sirtuin3 short hairpin ribonucleic acid plasmid, and then subjected to a surgical model of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the lung (n = 8). Lung function, oxidative stress, inflammation, cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial function were measured.

RESULTS

Compared with nondiabetic rats, animals with type 2 diabetes at baseline exhibited significantly decreased Sirtuin3 signaling in lung tissue and increased oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction (P < .05 each). In addition, further impairment in Sirtuin3 signaling was found in diabetic rats subjected to this model of lung ischemia-reperfusion. Simultaneously, the indexes showed further aggravation. Treatment with hydrogen sulfide restored Sirtuin3 expression and decreased lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in animals with type 2 diabetes mellitus by improving lung functional recovery, decreasing oxidative damage, suppressing inflammation, ameliorating cell apoptosis, and preserving mitochondrial function (P < .05). Conversely, these protective effects were largely reversed in Sirtuin3 knockdown rats.

CONCLUSION

Impaired lung Sirtuin3 signaling associated with type 2 diabetic conditions was further attenuated by an ischemia-reperfusion insult. Hydrogen sulfide ameliorated reperfusion-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction via activation of Sirtuin3 signaling, thereby decreasing lung ischemia-reperfusion damage in rats with a model of type II diabetes.

Potential role of the 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST)-hydrogen sulfide (H2S) pathway in cancer cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), produced by various endogenous enzyme systems, serves various biological regulatory roles in mammalian cells in health and disease. Over recent years, a new concept emerged in the field of H₂S biology, showing that various cancer cells upregulate their endogenous H₂S production, and utilize this mediator in autocrine and paracrine manner to stimulate proliferation, bioenergetics and tumor angiogenesis. Initial work identified cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) in many tumor cells as the key source of H₂S. In other cells, cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) has been shown to play a pathogenetic role. However, until recently, less attention has been paid to the third enzymatic source of H₂S, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), even though several of its biological and biochemical features - e.g. its partial mitochondrial localization, its ability to produce polysulfides, which, in turn, can induce functionally relevant posttranslational protein modifications - makes it a potential candidate. Indeed, several lines of recent data indicate the potential role of the 3-MST system in cancer biology. In many cancers (e.g. colon adenocarcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, urothelial cell carcinoma, various forms of oral carcinomas), 3-MST is upregulated compared to the surrounding normal tissue. According to in vitro studies, 3-MST upregulation is especially prominent in cancer cells that recover from oxidative damage and/or develop a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Emerging data with newly discovered pharmacological inhibitors of 3-MST, as well as data using 3-MST silencing approaches suggest that the 3-MST/H₂S system plays a role in maintaining cancer cell proliferation; it may also regulate bioenergetic and cell-signaling functions. Many questions remain open in the field of 3-MST/cancer biology; the last section of current article highlights these open questions and lays out potential experimental strategies to address them.

Exogenous H2S switches cardiac energy substrate metabolism by regulating SIRT3 expression in db/db mice

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is involved in diverse physiological functions, such as anti-hypertension, anti-proliferation, regulating ATP synthesis, and reactive oxygen species production. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is a NAD ⁺ -dependent deacetylase that regulates mitochondrial energy metabolism. The role of H₂S in energy metabolism in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) may be related to regulate SIRT3 expression; however, this role remains to be elucidated. We hypothesized that exogenous H₂S could switch cardiac energy metabolic substrate preference by lysine acetylation through promoting the expression of SIRT3 in cardiac tissue of db/db mice. Db/db mice, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and H9c2 cell line with the treatment of high glucose, oleate, and palmitate were used as animal and cellular models of type 2 diabetes. Using LC-MS/MS, we identified 76 proteins that increased acetylation, including 8 enzymes related to fatty acid β-oxidation and 7 enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in the db/db mice hearts compared to those with the treatment of NaHS. Exogenous H₂S restored the expression of NAMPT and the ratio of NAD⁺/NADH enhanced the expression and activity of SIRT3. As a result of activation of SIRT3, the acetylation level and activity of fatty acid β-oxidation enzyme LCAD and the acetylation of glucose oxidation enzymes PDH, IDH2, and CS were reduced which resulted in activation of PDH, IDH2, and CS. Our finding suggested that H₂S induced a switch in cardiac energy substrate utilization from fatty acid β-oxidation to glucose oxidation in DCM through regulating SIRT3 pathway.

KEY MESSAGES

H₂S regulated the acetylation level and activities of enzymes in fatty acid oxidation and glucose oxidation in cardiac tissues of db/db mice. Exogenous H₂S decreased mitochondrial acetylation level through upregulating the expression and activity of SIRT3 in vivo and in vitro. H₂S induced a switch in cardiac energy substrate utilization from fatty acid oxidation to glucose.

The role of hydrogen sulfide in aging and age-related pathologies

When humans grow older, they experience inevitable and progressive loss of physiological function, ultimately leading to death. Research on aging largely focuses on the identification of mechanisms involved in the aging process. Several proposed aging theories were recently combined as the 'hallmarks of aging'. These hallmarks describe (patho-)physiological processes that together, when disrupted, determine the aging phenotype. Sustaining evidence shows a potential role for hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the regulation of aging. Nowadays, H₂S is acknowledged as an endogenously produced signaling molecule with various (patho-) physiological effects. H₂S is involved in several diseases including pathologies related to aging. In this review, the known, assumed and hypothetical effects of hydrogen sulfide on the aging process will be discussed by reviewing its actions on the hallmarks of aging and on several age-related pathologies.

Drug resistance induces the upregulation of H2S-producing enzymes in HCT116 colon cancer cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) production in colon cancer cells supports cellular bioenergetics and proliferation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations in H₂S homeostasis during the development of resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. A 5-FU-resistant HCT116 human colon cancer cell line was established by serial passage in the presence of increasing 5-FU concentrations. The 5-FU-resistant cells also demonstrated a partial resistance to an unrelated chemotherapeutic agent, oxaliplatin. Compared to parental cells, the 5-FU-resistant cells rely more on oxidative phosphorylation than glycolysis for bioenergetic function. There was a significant increase in the expression of the drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP1A2 and CYP2A6 in 5-FU-resistant cells. The CYP450 inhibitor phenylpyrrole enhanced 5-FU-induced cytotoxicity in 5-FU-resistant cells. Two major H₂S-generating enzymes, cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) were upregulated in the 5-FU-resistant cells. 5-FU-resistant cells exhibited decreased sensitivity to the CBS inhibitor aminooxyacetate (AOAA) in terms of suppression of cell viability, inhibition of cell proliferation and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. However, 5FU-resistant cells remained sensitive to the antiproliferative effect of benserazide (a recently identified, potentially repurposable CBS inhibitor). Taken together, the current data suggest that 5-FU resistance in HCT116 cells is associated with the upregulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes and an enhancement of endogenous H₂S production. The anticancer effect of prototypical H₂S biosynthesis inhibitor AOAA is impaired in 5-FU-resistant cells, but benserazide remains efficacious. Pharmacological approaches aimed at restoring the sensitivity of 5-FU-resistant cells to chemotherapeutic agents may be useful in the formulation of novel therapeutic strategies against colorectal cancer.

Increased Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase and Cystathionine-β-Synthase in Renal Oncocytomas, Renal Urothelial Carcinoma, and Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Renal oncocytomas (ROs), and clear cell (RCC) and urothelial carcinomas (UC), are common renal neoplasms. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of NAD⁺ synthesis and its expression is increased in several tumors. Nampt concomitantly regulates hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)-synthesizing enzyme levels, including cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used tissue microarrays to examine Nampt and the H₂S-synthesizing enzyme CBS protein levels in benign kidney, RCC, UC and ROs.

RESULTS

Compared to benign kidney, all three neoplasms showed increased Nampt and CBS protein levels, with the levels increasing in RCC at higher Fuhrman grades.

CONCLUSION

H₂S is known to ameliorate chronic renal failure but, as yet, no role for H₂S in renal neoplasia has been demonstrated. Here, we showed, for the first time, that Nampt, CBS and, likely, H₂S likely play a role in malignant and benign neoplastic renal disease.

Induced cancer stem cells generated by radiochemotherapy and their therapeutic implications

Local and distant recurrence of malignant tumors following radio- and/or chemotherapy correlates with poor prognosis of patients. Among the reasons for cancer recurrence, preexisting cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered the most likely cause due to their properties of self-renewal, pluripotency, plasticity and tumorigenicity. It has been demonstrated that preexisting cancer stem cells derive from normal stem cells and differentiated somatic cells that undergo transformation and dedifferentiation respectively under certain conditions. However, recent studies have revealed that cancer stem cells can also be induced from non-stem cancer cells by radiochemotherapy, constituting the subpopulation of induced cancer stem cells (iCSCs). These findings suggest that radiochemotherapy has the side effect of directly transforming non-stem cancer cells into induced cancer stem cells, possibly contributing to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, drugs targeting cancer stem cells or preventing dedifferentiation of non-stem cancer cells can be combined with radiochemotherapy to improve its antitumor efficacy. The current review is to investigate the mechanisms by which induced cancer stem cells are generated by radiochemotherapy and hence provide new strategies for cancer treatment.

Cancer stem-like cells can be induced through dedifferentiation under hypoxic conditions in glioma, hepatoma and lung cancer

Traditional studies have shown that transcription factors, including SOX-2, OCT-4, KLF-4, Nanog and Lin-28A, contribute to the dedifferentiation and reprogramming process in normal tissues. Hypoxia is a physiological phenomenon that exists in tumors and promotes the expression of SOX-2, OCT-4, KLF-4, Nanog and Lin-28A. Therefore, an interesting question is whether hypoxia as a stimulating factor promotes the process of dedifferentiation and induces the formation of cancer stem-like cells. Studies have shown that OCT-4 and Nanog overexpression induced the formation of cancer stem cell-like cells through dedifferentiation and enhanced malignancy in lung adenocarcinoma, and reprogramming SOX-2 in pancreatic cancer cells also promoted the dedifferentiation process. Therefore, we investigated this phenomenon in glioma, lung cancer and hepatoma cells and found that the transcription factors mentioned above were highly expressed under hypoxic conditions and induced the formation of spheres, which exhibited asymmetric division and cell cycle arrest. The dedifferentiation process induced by hypoxia highlights a new pattern of cancer development and recurrence, demonstrating that all kinds of cancer cells and the hypoxic microenvironment should be taken into consideration when developing tumor therapies.

Oxidative Stress, DNA Methylation, and Telomere Length Changes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells after Pulmonary Exposure to Metal-Rich Welding Nanoparticles

Welding fume is a complex mixture of different potentially cytotoxic and genotoxic metals, such as chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe). Documented health effects have been observed in workers exposed to welding fume. The objective of the study was to use an animal model to identify potential biomarkers of epigenetic changes (e.g., changes in telomere length, DNA methylation) in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after exposure to different welding fumes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed by intratracheal instillation (ITI) of 2.0 mg/rat of gas metal arc-mild steel (GMA-MS) or manual metal arc-stainless steel (MMA-SS) welding fume. Vehicle controls received sterile saline by ITI. At 4 h, 14 h, 1 d, 3 d, 10 d, and 30 d, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to assess lung inflammation. Whole blood was collected, and PBMCs were isolated. Dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescence and 4-hydroxylnonenal protein adduct (P-HNE) formation were measured in PBMCs to assess reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. DNA alterations in PBMCs were determined by evaluating changes in DNA methylation and telomere length. Metal composition of the two fumes was different: MMA-SS (41 % Fe, 29 % Cr, 17 % Mn, 3 % Ni) versus GMA-MS (85 % Fe, 14 % Mn). The more soluble and chemically complex MMA-SS sample induced a more persistent and greater inflammatory response compared to the other groups. Also, oxidative stress markers increased at 24 h in the PBMCs recovered from the MMA-SS group compared to other group. No significant differences were observed when comparing DNA methylation between the welding fume and control groups at any of the time points, whereas the MMA-SS sample significantly increased telomere length at 1 and 30 d after a single exposure compared to the other groups. These findings suggest that genotoxic metals in MMA-SS fume (e.g., Cr and Ni), that are absent in the GMA-MS fume, may enhance lung toxicity, as well as induce markers of oxidative stress and increase telomere length in PBMCs. Importantly, the measurement of telomere length in cells isolated from peripheral blood may serve as a potential biomarker of response in the assessment of toxicity associated with welding fumes.

Functional and Molecular Insights of Hydrogen Sulfide Signaling and Protein Sulfhydration

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a novel gasotransmitter, is endogenously synthesized by multiple enzymes that are differentially expressed in the peripheral tissues and central nervous systems. H2S regulates a wide range of physiological processes, namely cardiovascular, neuronal, immune, respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver, and endocrine systems, by influencing cellular signaling pathways and sulfhydration of target proteins. This review focuses on the recent progress made in H2S signaling that affects mechanistic and functional aspects of several biological processes such as autophagy, inflammation, proliferation and differentiation of stem cell, cell survival/death, and cellular metabolism under both physiological and pathological conditions. Moreover, we highlighted the cross-talk between nitric oxide and H2S in several bilogical contexts.

Replicative Senescence in Human Fibroblasts Is Delayed by Hydrogen Sulfide in a NAMPT/SIRT1 Dependent Manner

Recent evidence suggests that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has cytoprotective and anti-aging effects. However, the mechanisms for such properties are not fully understood. Here, we show that the expression of the main H2S producing enzyme, CBS, and production of H2S are coordinately diminished in replicative senescent adult human dermal fibroblasts. The reduced production of H2S falls within the same time-frame that the hallmarks of replicative senescence appear including accumulation of SA-β-Gal, enhanced expression of p16, p21, and RRM2B while the expression of RRM2, hTERT, SIRT1, NAMPT, and NAD/NADH ratio all fall. Exogenous H2S increases the expression of hTERT, NAMPT, SIRT1 and NAD/NADH ratio in treated cells. Moreover, H2S safeguards the expression of hTERT in a NAMPT and SIRT1 dependent manner and delays the onset of replicative senescence as evidenced by reduced accumulation of age associated SA-β-Gal and cessation of proliferation. Postponement of loss of cell proliferative capacity without risk of mutagenesis shows implications for use of H2S in delaying the adverse effects of senescence in organisms.

5-FU targets rpL3 to induce mitochondrial apoptosis via cystathionine-β-synthase in colon cancer cells lacking p53

Recent findings revealed in cancer cells novel stress response pathways, which in response to many chemotherapeutic drugs causing nucleolar stress, will function independently from tumor protein p53 (p53) and still lead to cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Since it is known that most cancers lack functional p53, it is of great interest to explore these emerging molecular mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that nucleolar stress induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in colon cancer cells devoid of p53 leads to the activation of ribosomal protein L3 (rpL3) as proapoptotic factor. rpL3, as ribosome-free form, is a negative regulator of cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) expression at transcriptional level through a molecular mechanism involving Sp1. The rpL3-CBS association affects CBS stability and, in addition, can trigger CBS translocation into mitochondria. Consequently apoptosis will be induced through the mitochondrial apoptotic cell death pathway characterized by an increased ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, cytochrome c release and subsequent caspase activation. It is noteworthy that silencing of CBS is associated to a strong increase of 5-FU-mediated inhibition of cell migration and proliferation. These data reveal a novel mechanism to accomplish p53-independent apoptosis and suggest a potential therapeutic approach aimed at upregulating rpL3 for treating cancers lacking p53.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) in carcinogenesis: new clinical opportunities

INTRODUCTION

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the mammalian nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) salvage pathway. Aberrant NAD metabolism was associated with oncogenic signal transduction, suggesting the critical roles of Nampt in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Additionally, Nampt can be secreted out of the cell, and this extracellular form of Nampt (eNampt) was shown to induce inflammation and angiogenesis due to its cytokine activity, which may also be involved in carcinogenesis.

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews recent advances in the studies of Nampt in carcinogenesis, with a special highlight on Nampt inhibitors and future clinical application, including cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Expert commentary: Nampt not only maintains the balance of cellular metabolism, but also has a profound influence on multiple aspects of carcinogenesis. Therefore, elucidation of these mechanisms opens the door for future clinical applications targeting this protein. Additional studies are needed to address important questions including the relationship between extracellular Nampt and carcinogenesis.

Organelle-Targeted H2S Probes Enable Visualization of the Subcellular Distribution of H2S Donors

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an essential biological signaling molecule in diverse biological regulatory pathways. To provide new chemical tools for H2S imaging, we report here a fluorescent H2S detection platform (HSN2-BG) that is compatible with subcellular localization SNAP-tag fusion protein methodologies and use appropriate fusion protein constructs to demonstrate mitochondrial and lysosomal localization. We also demonstrate the efficacy of this detection platform to image endogenous H2S in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and use the developed constructs to report on the subcellular H2S distributions provided by common H2S donor molecules AP39, ADT-OH, GYY4137, and diallyltrisulfide (DATS). The developed constructs provide a platform poised to provide new insights into the subcellular distribution of common H2S donors and a useful tool for investigating H2S biochemistry.

Electrochemical hydrogen sulfide biosensors

Biological application of electrochemical hydrogen sulfide sensors.

Gasotransmitters in cancer: from pathophysiology to experimental therapy

The three endogenous gaseous transmitters - nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) - regulate a number of key biological functions. Emerging data have revealed several new mechanisms for each of these three gasotransmitters in tumour biology. It is now appreciated that they show bimodal pharmacological character in cancer, in that not only the inhibition of their biosynthesis but also elevation of their concentration beyond a certain threshold can exert anticancer effects. This Review discusses the role of each gasotransmitter in cancer and the effects of pharmacological agents - some of which are in early-stage clinical studies - that modulate the levels of each gasotransmitter. A clearer understanding of the pharmacological character of these three gases and the mechanisms underlying their biological effects is expected to guide further clinical translation.

Inhibition of endogenous hydrogen sulfide production in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma cell lines and xenografts restricts their growth, survival and angiogenic potential

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-deficiency, resulting in pseudohypoxic, angiogenic and glycolytic tumours. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously-produced gasotransmitter that accumulates under hypoxia and has been shown to be pro-angiogenic and cytoprotective in cancer. It was hypothesized that H2S levels are elevated in VHL-deficient ccRCC, contributing to survival, metabolism and angiogenesis. Using the H2S-specific probe MeRhoAz, it was found that H2S levels were higher in VHL-deficient ccRCC cell lines compared to cells with wild-type VHL. Inhibition of H2S-producing enzymes could reduce the proliferation, metabolism and survival of ccRCC cell lines, as determined by live-cell imaging, XTT/ATP assay, and flow cytometry respectively. Using the chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis model, it was found that systemic inhibition of endogenous H2S production was able to decrease vascularization of VHL-deficient ccRCC xenografts. Endogenous H2S production is an attractive new target in ccRCC due to its involvement in multiple aspects of disease.