1
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Wang JM, Zhang FH, Liu ZX, Tang YJ, Li JF, Xie LP. Cancer on motors: How kinesins drive prostate cancer progression? Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 224:116229. [PMID: 38643904 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer causes numerous male deaths annually. Although great progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer during the past several decades, much about this disease remains unknown, especially its pathobiology. The kinesin superfamily is a pivotal group of motor proteins, that contains a microtubule-based motor domain and features an adenosine triphosphatase activity and motility characteristics. Large-scale sequencing analyses based on clinical samples and animal models have shown that several members of the kinesin family are dysregulated in prostate cancer. Abnormal expression of kinesins could be linked to uncontrolled cell growth, inhibited apoptosis and increased metastasis ability. Additionally, kinesins may be implicated in chemotherapy resistance and escape immunologic cytotoxicity, which creates a barrier to cancer treatment. Here we cover the recent advances in understanding how kinesins may drive prostate cancer progression and how targeting their function may be a therapeutic strategy. A better understanding of kinesins in prostate cancer tumorigenesis may be pivotal for improving disease outcomes in prostate cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Ming Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng-Hao Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Xiang Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Jie Tang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang-Feng Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li-Ping Xie
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Varela YR, Iriondo MN, Goñi FM, Alonso A, Montes LR. Ceramide regulation of autophagy: A biophysical approach. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2024; 1869:159444. [PMID: 38056762 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Specific membrane lipids play unique roles in (macro)autophagy. Those include phosphatidylethanolamine, to which LC3/GABARAP autophagy proteins become covalently bound in the process, or cardiolipin, an important effector in mitochondrial autophagy (or mitophagy). Ceramide (Cer), or N-acyl sphingosine, is one of the simplest sphingolipids, known as a stress signal in the apoptotic pathway. Moreover, Cer is increasingly being recognized as an autophagy activator, although its mechanism of action is unclear. In the present review, the proposed Cer roles in autophagy are summarized, together with some biophysical properties of Cer in membranes. Possible pathways for Cer activation of autophagy are discussed, including specific protein binding of the lipid, and Cer-dependent perturbation of bilayer properties. Cer generation of lateral inhomogeneities (domain formation) is given special attention. Recent biophysical results, including fluorescence and atomic force microscopy data, show Cer-promoted enhanced binding of LC3/GABARAP to lipid bilayers. These observations could be interpreted in terms of the putative formation of Cer-rich nanodomains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaiza R Varela
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Marina N Iriondo
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Félix M Goñi
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Alicia Alonso
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain.
| | - L Ruth Montes
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940 Leioa, Spain
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3
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Lemos G, Fernandes CMADS, Silva FH, Calmasini FB. The role of autophagy in prostate cancer and prostatic diseases: a new therapeutic strategy. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2024:10.1038/s41391-024-00793-4. [PMID: 38297152 DOI: 10.1038/s41391-024-00793-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autophagy is a well-conserved catabolic process that plays a key role in cell homeostasis. In the prostate, defective autophagy has been implicated in the genesis and progression of several pathological conditions. AIM The present review explored the autophagy pathway in prostate-related dysfunctions, focusing on prostate cancer (PCa), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. RESULTS Impaired autophagy activity has been shown in animal models of BPH and prostatitis. Moreover, autophagy activation by specific and non-specific drugs improved both conditions in pre-clinical studies. Conversely, the efficacy of autophagy inducers in PCa remains controversial, depending on intrinsic PCa characteristics and stage of progression. Intriguingly, autophagy inhibitors have shown beneficial effects in PCa suppression or even to overcome chemotherapy resistance. However, there are still open questions regarding the upstream mechanisms by which autophagy is deregulated in the prostate and the exact role of autophagy in PCa. The lack of specificity and increased toxicity associated with the currently autophagy inhibitors limits its use clinically, reflecting in reduced number of clinical data. CONCLUSION New therapeutic strategies to treat prostatic diseases involving new autophagy modulators, combination therapy and new drug formulations should be explored. Understanding the autophagy signaling in each prostatic disease is crucial to determine the best pharmacological approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Lemos
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio Henrique Silva
- Laboratory of Multidisciplinary Research, Sao Francisco University (USF), Bragança Paulista, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Beraldi Calmasini
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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4
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Norouzi A, Davodabadi F, Noorbakhsh Varnosfaderani SM, Zalpoor H. The potential role of acid ceramidase in oral squamous cell carcinoma chemo-resistance by inducing autophagy. Hum Cell 2023; 36:2273-2275. [PMID: 37515715 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00960-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Norouzi
- Department of Oral Medicine, Dental Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Davodabadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
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5
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Afrin F, Mateen S, Oman J, Lai JCK, Barrott JJ, Pashikanti S. Natural Products and Small Molecules Targeting Cellular Ceramide Metabolism to Enhance Apoptosis in Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4645. [PMID: 37760612 PMCID: PMC10527029 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular targeting strategies have been used for years in order to control cancer progression and are often based on targeting various enzymes involved in metabolic pathways. Keeping this in mind, it is essential to determine the role of each enzyme in a particular metabolic pathway. In this review, we provide in-depth information on various enzymes such as ceramidase, sphingosine kinase, sphingomyelin synthase, dihydroceramide desaturase, and ceramide synthase which are associated with various types of cancers. We also discuss the physicochemical properties of well-studied inhibitors with natural product origins and their related structures in terms of these enzymes. Targeting ceramide metabolism exhibited promising mono- and combination therapies at preclinical stages in preventing cancer progression and cemented the significance of sphingolipid metabolism in cancer treatments. Targeting ceramide-metabolizing enzymes will help medicinal chemists design potent and selective small molecules for treating cancer progression at various levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farjana Afrin
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Sameena Mateen
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Jordan Oman
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - James C. K. Lai
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Jared J. Barrott
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;
| | - Srinath Pashikanti
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
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6
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Alizadeh J, da Silva Rosa SC, Weng X, Jacobs J, Lorzadeh S, Ravandi A, Vitorino R, Pecic S, Zivkovic A, Stark H, Shojaei S, Ghavami S. Ceramides and ceramide synthases in cancer: Focus on apoptosis and autophagy. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151337. [PMID: 37392580 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Different studies corroborate a role for ceramide synthases and their downstream products, ceramides, in modulation of apoptosis and autophagy in the context of cancer. These mechanisms of regulation, however, appear to be context dependent in terms of ceramides' fatty acid chain length, subcellular localization, and the presence or absence of their downstream targets. Our current understanding of the role of ceramide synthases and ceramides in regulation of apoptosis and autophagy could be harnessed to pioneer the development of new treatments to activate or inhibit a single type of ceramide synthase, thereby regulating the apoptosis induction or cross talk of apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. Moreover, the apoptotic function of ceramide suggests that ceramide analogues can pave the way for the development of novel cancer treatments. Therefore, in the current review paper we discuss the impact of ceramide synthases and ceramides in regulation of apoptosis and autophagy in context of different types of cancers. We also briefly introduce the latest information on ceramide synthase inhibitors, their application in diseases including cancer therapy, and discuss approaches for drug discovery in the field of ceramide synthase inhibitors. We finally discussed strategies for developing strategies to use lipids and ceramides analysis in biological fluids for developing early biomarkers for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Alizadeh
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Simone C da Silva Rosa
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Xiaohui Weng
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College, Fullerton, CA 92834, United States
| | - Joadi Jacobs
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Shahrokh Lorzadeh
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Amir Ravandi
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Rui Vitorino
- UnIC, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Stevan Pecic
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College, Fullerton, CA 92834, United States
| | - Aleksandra Zivkovic
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetstrasse 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Holger Stark
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetstrasse 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Shahla Shojaei
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; Faculty of Medicine in Zabrze, University of Technology in Katowice, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland; Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
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7
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Li G, Huang D, Zou Y, Kidd J, Gehr TWB, Li N, Ritter JK, Li PL. Impaired autophagic flux and dedifferentiation in podocytes lacking Asah1 gene: Role of lysosomal TRPML1 channel. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119386. [PMID: 36302466 PMCID: PMC9869931 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Podocytopathy and associated nephrotic syndrome have been reported in a mouse strain (Asah1fl/fl/Podocre) with a podocyte-specific deletion of α subunit (the main catalytic subunit) of acid ceramidase (Ac). However, the pathogenesis of podocytopathy in these mice remains unclear. The present study tested whether Ac deficiency impairs autophagic flux in podocytes through blockade of transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 (TRPML1) channel as a potential pathogenic mechanism of podocytopathy in Asah1fl/fl/Podocre mice. We first demonstrated that impairment of autophagic flux occurred in podocytes lacking Asah1 gene, which was evidenced by autophagosome accumulation and reduced lysosome-autophagosome interaction. TRPML1 channel agonists recovered lysosome-autophagosome interaction and attenuated autophagosome accumulation in podocytes from Asah1fl/fl/Podocre mice, while TRPML1 channel inhibitors impaired autophagic flux in WT/WT podocytes and worsened autophagic deficiency in podocytes lacking Asah1 gene. The effects of TRPML1 channel agonist were blocked by dynein inhibitors, indicating a critical role of dynein activity in the control of lysosome movement due to TRPML1 channel-mediated Ca2+ release. It was also found that there is an enhanced phenotypic transition to dedifferentiation status in podocytes lacking Asah1 gene in vitro and in vivo. Such podocyte phenotypic transition was inhibited by TRPML1 channel agonists but enhanced by TRPML1 channel inhibitors. Moreover, we found that TRPML1 gene silencing induced autophagosome accumulation and dedifferentiation in podocytes. Based on these results, we conclude that Ac activity is essential for autophagic flux and maintenance of differentiated status of podocytes. Dysfunction or deficiency of Ac may impair autophagic flux and induce podocyte dedifferentiation, which may be an important pathogenic mechanism of podocytopathy and associated nephrotic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangbi Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Dandan Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Yao Zou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jason Kidd
- Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Todd W B Gehr
- Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Ningjun Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Joseph K Ritter
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Pin-Lan Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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8
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Zalpoor H, Bakhtiyari M, Akbari A, Aziziyan F, Shapourian H, Liaghat M, Zare-Badie Z, Yahyazadeh S, Tarhriz V, Ganjalikhani-Hakemi M. Potential role of autophagy induced by FLT3-ITD and acid ceramidase in acute myeloid leukemia chemo-resistance: new insights. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:172. [PMCID: PMC9620650 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00956-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of leukemia with a poor prognosis and survival characterized by abnormal cell proliferation and differentiation. Despite advances in treatment, AML still has a low complete remission rate, particularly in elderly patients, and recurrences are frequently seen even after complete remissions. The major challenge in treating AML is the resistance of leukemia cells to chemotherapy drugs. Thus, to overcome this issue, it can be crucial to conduct new investigations to explore the mechanisms of chemo-resistance in AML and target them. In this review, the potential role of autophagy induced by FLT3-ITD and acid ceramidase in chemo-resistance in AML patients are analyzed. With regard to the high prevalence of FLT3-ITD mutation (about 25% of AML cases) and high level of acid ceramidase in these patients, we hypothesized that both of these factors could lead to chemo-resistance by inducing autophagy. Therefore, pharmacological targeting of autophagy, FLT3-ITD, and acid ceramidase production could be a promising therapeutic approach for such AML patients to overcome chemo-resistance.
Video abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Zalpoor
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Bakhtiyari
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.412606.70000 0004 0405 433XDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Abdullatif Akbari
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aziziyan
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.412266.50000 0001 1781 3962Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hooriyeh Shapourian
- grid.411036.10000 0001 1498 685XDepartment of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahsa Liaghat
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.472315.60000 0004 0494 0825Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Zahra Zare-Badie
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sheida Yahyazadeh
- grid.411036.10000 0001 1498 685XDepartment of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Vahideh Tarhriz
- grid.412888.f0000 0001 2174 8913Molecular Medicine Research Center, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mazdak Ganjalikhani-Hakemi
- grid.411036.10000 0001 1498 685XDepartment of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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9
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Ashrafizadeh M, Paskeh MDA, Mirzaei S, Gholami MH, Zarrabi A, Hashemi F, Hushmandi K, Hashemi M, Nabavi N, Crea F, Ren J, Klionsky DJ, Kumar AP, Wang Y. Targeting autophagy in prostate cancer: preclinical and clinical evidence for therapeutic response. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:105. [PMID: 35317831 PMCID: PMC8939209 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02293-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and new estimates revealed prostate cancer as the leading cause of death in men in 2021. Therefore, new strategies are pertinent in the treatment of this malignant disease. Macroautophagy/autophagy is a “self-degradation” mechanism capable of facilitating the turnover of long-lived and toxic macromolecules and organelles. Recently, attention has been drawn towards the role of autophagy in cancer and how its modulation provides effective cancer therapy. In the present review, we provide a mechanistic discussion of autophagy in prostate cancer. Autophagy can promote/inhibit proliferation and survival of prostate cancer cells. Besides, metastasis of prostate cancer cells is affected (via induction and inhibition) by autophagy. Autophagy can affect the response of prostate cancer cells to therapy such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, given the close association between autophagy and apoptosis. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that upstream mediators such as AMPK, non-coding RNAs, KLF5, MTOR and others regulate autophagy in prostate cancer. Anti-tumor compounds, for instance phytochemicals, dually inhibit or induce autophagy in prostate cancer therapy. For improving prostate cancer therapy, nanotherapeutics such as chitosan nanoparticles have been developed. With respect to the context-dependent role of autophagy in prostate cancer, genetic tools such as siRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 can be utilized for targeting autophagic genes. Finally, these findings can be translated into preclinical and clinical studies to improve survival and prognosis of prostate cancer patients. • Prostate cancer is among the leading causes of death in men where targeting autophagy is of importance in treatment; • Autophagy governs proliferation and metastasis capacity of prostate cancer cells; • Autophagy modulation is of interest in improving the therapeutic response of prostate cancer cells; • Molecular pathways, especially involving non-coding RNAs, regulate autophagy in prostate cancer; • Autophagy possesses both diagnostic and prognostic roles in prostate cancer, with promises for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Mahshid Deldar Abad Paskeh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.,Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, 34396, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Farid Hashemi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1417466191, Iran
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology & Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.,Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Noushin Nabavi
- Department of Urological Sciences and Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, V6H3Z6, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Francesco Crea
- Cancer Research Group-School of Life Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Jun Ren
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.,Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Daniel J Klionsky
- Life Sciences Institute & Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore. .,NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- Department of Urological Sciences and Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, V6H3Z6, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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10
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Acid ceramidase controls apoptosis and increases autophagy in human melanoma cells treated with doxorubicin. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11221. [PMID: 34045496 PMCID: PMC8159975 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90219-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (AC) is a lysosomal hydrolase encoded by the ASAH1 gene, which cleaves ceramides into sphingosine and fatty acid. AC is expressed at high levels in most human melanoma cell lines and may confer resistance against chemotherapeutic agents. One such agent, doxorubicin, was shown to increase ceramide levels in melanoma cells. Ceramides contribute to the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis. Here we investigated the impact of AC ablation via CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing on the response of A375 melanoma cells to doxorubicin. We found that doxorubicin activates the autophagic response in wild-type A375 cells, which effectively resist apoptotic cell death. In striking contrast, doxorubicin fails to stimulate autophagy in A375 AC-null cells, which rapidly undergo apoptosis when exposed to the drug. The present work highlights changes that affect melanoma cells during incubation with doxorubicin, in A375 melanoma cells lacking AC. We found that the remarkable reduction in recovery rate after doxorubicin treatment is strictly associated with the impairment of autophagy, that forces the AC-inhibited cells into apoptotic path.
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11
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Ablation of Acid Ceramidase Impairs Autophagy and Mitochondria Activity in Melanoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063247. [PMID: 33806766 PMCID: PMC8004726 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is often resistant to therapy due to its high plasticity, as well as its ability to metabolise chemotherapeutic drugs. Sphingolipid signalling plays a pivotal role in its progression and metastasis. One of the ways melanoma alters sphingolipid rheostat is via over-expression of lysosomal acid ceramidase (AC), which catalyses the hydrolysis of pro-apoptotic long-chain ceramides into sphingosine and fatty acid. In this report, we examine the role of acid ceramidase in maintaining cellular homeostasis through the regulation of autophagy and mitochondrial activity in melanoma cell lines. We show that under baseline conditions, wild-type melanoma cells had 3-fold higher levels of the autophagy marker, microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3 II), compared to AC-null cells. This difference was further magnified after cell starvation. Moreover, we noticed autophagy impairment in A375 AC-null cells, possibly due to local accumulation of non-metabolized ceramides. Nonetheless, we observed that AC-null cells exhibited a significant increase in mitochondrial membrane potential compared to control cells. Consistent with this observation, we found that, after total starvation, ~30% of AC-null cells undergo apoptosis compared to ~6% of wild-type cells. As expected, AC transfection restored viability in A375 AC-null cells. Together, these findings suggest that AC-null melanoma cells change and adapt their metabolism to survive in the absence of AC, although in a way that does not allow them to cope with the stress of nutrient deprivation.
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12
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Autophagy: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential of Flavonoids in Cancer. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020135. [PMID: 33494431 PMCID: PMC7911475 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy, which is a conserved biological process and essential mechanism in maintaining homeostasis and metabolic balance, enables cells to degrade cytoplasmic constituents through lysosomes, recycle nutrients, and survive during starvation. Autophagy exerts an anticarcinogenic role in normal cells and inhibits the malignant transformation of cells. On the other hand, aberrations in autophagy are involved in gene derangements, cell metabolism, the process of tumor immune surveillance, invasion and metastasis, and tumor drug-resistance. Therefore, autophagy-targeted drugs may function as anti-tumor agents. Accumulating evidence suggests that flavonoids have anticarcinogenic properties, including those relating to cellular proliferation inhibition, the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis, cell cycle arrest, senescence, the impairment of cell migration, invasion, tumor angiogenesis, and the reduction of multidrug resistance in tumor cells. Flavonoids, which are a group of natural polyphenolic compounds characterized by multiple targets that participate in multiple pathways, have been widely studied in different models for autophagy modulation. However, flavonoid-induced autophagy commonly interacts with other mechanisms, comprehensively influencing the anticancer effect. Accordingly, targeted autophagy may become the core mechanism of flavonoids in the treatment of tumors. This paper reviews the flavonoid-induced autophagy of tumor cells and their interaction with other mechanisms, so as to provide a comprehensive and in-depth account on how flavonoids exert tumor-suppressive effects through autophagy.
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13
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Alkaline ceramidase family: The first two decades. Cell Signal 2020; 78:109860. [PMID: 33271224 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Ceramidases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of ceramide, dihydroceramide, and phytoceramide into sphingosine (SPH), dihydrosphingosine (DHS), and phytosphingosine (PHS), respectively, along with a free fatty acid. Ceramidases are classified into the acid, neutral, and alkaline ceramidase subtypes according to the pH optima for their catalytic activity. YPC1 and YDC1 were the first alkaline ceramidase genes to be identified and cloned from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae two decades ago. Subsequently, alkaline ceramidase genes were identified from other species, including one Drosophila melanogaster ACER gene (Dacer), one Arabidopsis thaliana ACER gene (AtACER), three Mus musculus ACER genes (Acer1, Acer2, and Acer3), and three Homo sapiens ACER genes (ACER1, ACER2, and ACER3). The protein products of these genes constitute a large protein family, termed the alkaline ceramidase (ACER) family. All the biochemically characterized members of the ACER family are integral membrane proteins with seven transmembrane segments in the Golgi complex or endoplasmic reticulum, and they each have unique substrate specificity. An increasing number of studies suggest that the ACER family has diverse roles in regulating sphingolipid metabolism and biological processes. Here we discuss the discovery of the ACER family, the biochemical properties, structures, and catalytic mechanisms of its members, and its role in regulating sphingolipid metabolism and biological processes in yeast, insects, plants, and mammals.
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Vijayan Y, Lankadasari MB, Harikumar KB. Acid Ceramidase: A Novel Therapeutic Target in Cancer. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:1512-1520. [PMID: 30827244 DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190227222930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are important constituents of the eukaryotic cell membrane which govern various signaling pathways related to different aspects of cell survival. Ceramide and Sphingosine are interconvertible sphingolipid metabolites, out of which Ceramide is pro-apoptotic and sphingosine is anti-apoptotic in nature. The conversion of ceramide to sphingosine is mediated by Acid Ceramidase (ASAH1) thus maintaining a rheostat between a tumor suppressor and a tumor promoter. This rheostat is completely altered in many tumors leading to uncontrolled proliferation. This intriguing property of ASAH1 can be used by cancer cells to their advantage, by increasing the expression of the tumor promoter, sphingosine inside cells, thus creating a favorable environment for cancer growth. The different possibilities through which this enzyme serves its role in formation, progression and resistance of different types of cancers will lead to the possibility of making Acid Ceramidase a promising drug target. This review discusses the current understanding of the role of acid ceramidase in cancer progression, metastasis and resistance, strategies to develop novel natural and synthetic inhibitors of ASAH1 and their usefulness in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadu Vijayan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Manendra Babu Lankadasari
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India
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15
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Lai M, La Rocca V, Amato R, Freer G, Pistello M. Sphingolipid/Ceramide Pathways and Autophagy in the Onset and Progression of Melanoma: Novel Therapeutic Targets and Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20143436. [PMID: 31336922 PMCID: PMC6678284 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a malignant tumor deriving from neoplastic transformation of melanocytes. The incidence of melanoma has increased dramatically over the last 50 years. It accounts for most cases of skin cancer deaths. Early diagnosis leads to remission in 90% of cases of melanoma; conversely, for melanoma at more advanced stages, prognosis becomes more unfavorable also because dvanced melanoma is often resistant to pharmacological and radiological therapies due to genetic plasticity, presence of cancer stem cells that regenerate the tumor, and efficient elimination of drugs. This review illustrates the role of autophagy in tumor progression and resistance to therapy, focusing on molecular targets for future drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Lai
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Veronica La Rocca
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Rachele Amato
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Freer
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
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16
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Sakamoto W, Canals D, Salamone S, Allopenna J, Clarke CJ, Snider J, Obeid LM, Hannun YA. Probing compartment-specific sphingolipids with targeted bacterial sphingomyelinases and ceramidases. J Lipid Res 2019; 60:1841-1850. [PMID: 31243119 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m094722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids contribute to the regulation of cell and tissue homeostasis, and disorders of sphingolipid metabolism lead to diseases such as inflammation, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Sphingolipid metabolic pathways involve an array of enzymes that reside in specific subcellular organelles, resulting in the formation of many diverse sphingolipids with distinct molecular species based on the diversity of the ceramide (Cer) structure. In order to probe compartment-specific metabolism of sphingolipids in this study, we analyzed the Cer and SM species preferentially produced in the inner plasma membrane (PM), Golgi apparatus, ER, mitochondria, nucleus, and cytoplasm by using compartmentally targeted bacterial SMases and ceramidases. The results showed that the length of the acyl chain of Cer becomes longer according to the progress of Cer from synthesis in the ER to the Golgi apparatus, then to the PM. These findings suggest that each organelle shows different properties of SM-derived Cers consistent with its emerging distinct functions in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Sakamoto
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Ono Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. Oncology Research Laboratories, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daniel Canals
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Silvia Salamone
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Janet Allopenna
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Christopher J Clarke
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Justin Snider
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Lina M Obeid
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY .,Departments of Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
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17
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Govindarajah N, Clifford R, Bowden D, Sutton PA, Parsons JL, Vimalachandran D. Sphingolipids and acid ceramidase as therapeutic targets in cancer therapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019; 138:104-111. [PMID: 31092365 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sphingolipids have been shown to play a key part in cancer cell growth and death and have increasingly become the subject of novel anti-cancer therapies. Acid ceramidase, a sphingolipid enzyme, has an important role in the regulation of apoptosis. In this review we aim to assess the current evidence supporting the role of sphingolipids in cancer and the potential role that acid ceramidase may play in cancer treatment. METHODS A literature search was performed for published full text articles using the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases using the search criteria string "acid ceramidase", "sphingolipid", "cancer". Additional papers were detected by scanning the references of relevant papers. A summary of the evidence for each cancer subgroup was then formed. Given the nature of the data extracted, no meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS Over expression of acid ceramidase has been demonstrated in a number of human cancers. In vitro data demonstrate that manipulation of acid ceramidase may present a useful therapeutic target. In the clinical setting, a number of drugs have been investigated with the ability to target acid ceramidase, with the most promising of those being small molecular inhibitors, such as LCL521. CONCLUSION The role of the sphingolipid pathway in cancer is becoming very clearly established by promoting ceramide accumulation in response to cancer or cellular stress. Acid ceramidase is over expressed in a variety of cancers and has a role as a potential target for inhibition by novel specific inhibitors or off-target effects of traditional anti-cancer agents. Further work is required to develop acid ceramidase inhibitors safe for progression to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Govindarajah
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - R Clifford
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - D Bowden
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - P A Sutton
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - J L Parsons
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - D Vimalachandran
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom.
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18
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Sakamoto W, Coant N, Canals D, Obeid LM, Hannun YA. Functions of neutral ceramidase in the Golgi apparatus. J Lipid Res 2018; 59:2116-2125. [PMID: 30154232 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m088187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramidases hydrolyze ceramides into sphingosine and fatty acids, with sphingosine being further metabolized into sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P); thus, ceramidases control the levels of these bioactive sphingolipids in cells and tissues. Neutral ceramidase (nCDase) is highly expressed in colorectal tissues, and a recent report showed that nCDase activity is involved in Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In addition, the inhibition of nCDase decreases the development and progression of colorectal tumor growth. Here, to determine the action of nCDase in colorectal cancer cells, we focused on the subcellular localization and metabolic functions of this enzyme in HCT116 cells. nCDase was found to be located in both the plasma membrane and in the Golgi apparatus, but it had minimal effects on basal levels of ceramide, sphingosine, or S1P. Cells overexpressing nCDase were protected from the cell death and Golgi fragmentation induced by C6-ceramide, and they showed reduced levels of C6-ceramide and higher levels of S1P and sphingosine. Furthermore, compartment-specific metabolic functions of the enzyme were probed using C6-ceramide and Golgi-targeted bacterial SMase (bSMase) and bacterial ceramidase (bCDase). The results showed that Golgi-specific bCDase also demonstrated resistance against the cell death stimulated by C6-ceramide, and it catalyzed the metabolism of ceramides and produced sphingosine in the Golgi. Targeting bSMase to the Golgi resulted in increased levels of ceramide that were attenuated by the expression of nCDase, also supporting its ability to metabolize Golgi-generated ceramide. These results are critical in understanding the functions of nCDase actions in colorectal cancer cells as well as the compartmentalized pathways of sphingolipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Sakamoto
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Exploratory Research Laboratories, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Nicolas Coant
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Daniel Canals
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Lina M Obeid
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY .,Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Department of Biochemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Department of Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.,Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
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19
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Voelkel-Johnson C, Norris JS, White-Gilbertson S. Interdiction of Sphingolipid Metabolism Revisited: Focus on Prostate Cancer. Adv Cancer Res 2018; 140:265-293. [PMID: 30060812 PMCID: PMC6460930 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipid metabolism is known to play a role in cell death, survival, and therapy resistance in cancer. Sphingolipids, particularly dihydroceramide and ceramide, are associated with antiproliferative or cell death responses, respectively, and are central to effective cancer therapy. Within the last decade, strides have been made in elucidating many intricacies of sphingolipid metabolism. New information has emerged on the mechanisms by which sphingolipid metabolism is dysregulated during malignancy and how cancer cells survive and/or escape therapeutic interventions. This chapter focuses on three main themes: (1) sphingolipid enzymes that are dysregulated in cancer, particularly in prostate cancer; (2) inhibitors of sphingolipid metabolism that antagonize prosurvival responses; and (3) sphingolipid-driven escape mechanisms that allow cancer cells to evade therapies. We explore clinical and preclinical approaches to interdict sphingolipid metabolism and provide a rationale for combining strategies to drive the generation of antiproliferative ceramides with prevention of ceramide clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Voelkel-Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - James S. Norris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Shai White-Gilbertson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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20
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Ren J, Liu T, Han Y, Wang Q, Chen Y, Li G, Jiang L. GSK-3β inhibits autophagy and enhances radiosensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer. Diagn Pathol 2018; 13:33. [PMID: 29793508 PMCID: PMC5968472 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-018-0708-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Radiotherapy is one of the most common and effective treatment methods for cancer, and improving the radiosensitivity of tumor tissues during the treatment process is vital. We report the mechanisms of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) β-regulated autophagy and the effects of autophagy on radiosensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Method Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine GSK-3β tissue expression in 89 NSCLC patients with follow-up data and the expression status of GSK-3β and autophagy in NSCLC tissues after X-ray radiotherapy. Western blots were used to quantitate changes in autophagy-related protein expression after A549 cells were treated with GSK-3β inhibitors and after H460 cells were transfected with GSK-3β mutants with different activities and X-ray irradiated. Clonogenic assays were used to measure the effect of autophagy on cellular proliferation. Results GSK-3β expression positively correlated with NSCLC differentiation (P < 0.05), and GSK-3β negativity was associated with a better prognosis in 89 NSCLC patients. After X-ray irradiation, the expression levels of GSK-3β and p62 were decreased in NSCLC tissues, and the expression levels of the autophagy-related protein LC3 were increased. A549 and H460 cells were selected as representative GSK-3β-high and GSK-3β-low expression cell lines. After transfecting H460 cells with different GSK-3β mutants [wild type GSK-3β (GSK-3β-WT), constitutively active GSK-3β (GSK-3β-S9A), and catalytically inactive GSK-3β (GSK-3β-K85R)] and subjecting these cells to X-ray irradiation, AMPK and LC3 expression levels decreased, and p62 expression levels increased. These effects were particularly significant for the GSK-3β-S9A mutant. In A549 cells, after GSK-3β inhibition and X-ray irradiation, AMPK and LC3 protein expression levels increased. Moreover, when autophagy was inhibited, cell proliferation decreased. Conclusion Our studies revealed that GSK-3β expression is associated with NSCLC differentiation, and patients with GSK-3β-negative tumors had a better prognosis. X-ray irradiation inhibited GSK-3β expression and promoted autophagy. Therefore, GSK-3β inhibits autophagy and enhances the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Ren
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yang Han
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China.
| | - Qiongzi Wang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Yanzhi Chen
- Department of Radiotherapy, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guang Li
- Department of Radiotherapy, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lihong Jiang
- Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Liaohe Oilfield, Panjin, China
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21
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Abstract
Macroautophagy (herein referred to as autophagy) is a highly conserved stress response that engulfs damaged proteins, lipids, and/or organelles within double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes for lysosomal degradation. Dysregulated autophagy is a hallmark of cancer; and thus, there is great interest in modulating autophagy for cancer therapy. Sphingolipids regulate each step of autophagosome biogenesis with roles for sphingolipid metabolites and enzymes spanning from the initial step of de novo ceramide synthesis to the sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase 1-mediated exit from the sphingolipid pathway. Notably, sphingolipid metabolism occurs at several of the organelles that contribute to autophagosome biogenesis to suggest that local changes in sphingolipids may regulate autophagy. As sphingolipid metabolism is frequently dysregulated in cancer, a molecular understanding of sphingolipids in stress-induced autophagy may provide insight into the mechanisms driving tumor development and progression. On the contrary, modulation of sphingolipid metabolites and/or enzymes can induce autophagy-dependent cell death for cancer therapy. This chapter will overview the major steps in mammalian autophagy, discuss the regulation of each step by sphingolipid metabolites, and describe the functions of sphingolipid-mediated autophagy in cancer. While our understanding of the signaling and biophysical properties of sphingolipids in autophagy remains in its infancy, the unique cross talk between the two pathways is an exciting area for further development, particularly in the context of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Young
- Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
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22
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Complete Acid Ceramidase ablation prevents cancer-initiating cell formation in melanoma cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7411. [PMID: 28785021 PMCID: PMC5547127 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07606-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (AC) is a lysosomal cysteine hydrolase that catalyzes the conversion of ceramide into fatty acid and sphingosine. This reaction lowers intracellular ceramide levels and concomitantly generates sphingosine used for sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) production. Since increases in ceramide and consequent decreases of S1P reduce proliferation of various cancers, AC might offer a new target for anti-tumor therapy. Here we used CrispR-Cas9-mediated gene editing to delete the gene encoding for AC, ASAH1, in human A375 melanoma cells. ASAH1-null clones show significantly greater accumulation of long-chain saturated ceramides that are substrate for AC. As seen with administration of exogenous ceramide, AC ablation blocks cell cycle progression and accelerates senescence. Importantly, ASAH1-null cells also lose the ability to form cancer-initiating cells and to undergo self-renewal, which is suggestive of a key role for AC in maintaining malignancy and self-renewal of invasive melanoma cells. The results suggest that AC inhibitors might find therapeutic use as adjuvant therapy for advanced melanoma.
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23
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Ceramidases, roles in sphingolipid metabolism and in health and disease. Adv Biol Regul 2016; 63:122-131. [PMID: 27771292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Over the past three decades, extensive research has been able to determine the biologic functions for the main bioactive sphingolipids, namely ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) (Hannun, 1996; Hannun et al., 1986; Okazaki et al., 1989). These studies have managed to define the metabolism, regulation, and function of these bioactive sphingolipids. This emerging body of literature has also implicated bioactive sphingolipids, particularly S1P and ceramide, as key regulators of cellular homeostasis. Ceramidases have the important role of cleaving fatty acid from ceramide and producing sphingosine, thereby controlling the interconversion of these two lipids. Thus far, five human ceramidases encoded by five different genes have been identified: acid ceramidase (AC), neutral ceramidase (NC), alkaline ceramidase 1 (ACER1), alkaline ceramidase 2 (ACER2), and alkaline ceramidase 3 (ACER3). These ceramidases are classified according to their optimal pH for catalytic activity. AC, which is localized to the lysosomal compartment, has been associated with Farber's disease and is involved in the regulation of cell viability. Neutral ceramidase, which is localized to the plasma membrane and primarily expressed in the small intestine and colon, is involved in digestion, and has been implicated in colon carcinogenesis. ACER1 which can be found in the endoplasmic reticulum and is highly expressed in the skin, plays an important role in keratinocyte differentiation. ACER2, localized to the Golgi complex and highly expressed in the placenta, is involved in programed cell death in response to DNA damage. ACER3, also localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex, is ubiquitously expressed, and is involved in motor coordination-associated Purkinje cell degeneration. This review seeks to consolidate the current knowledge regarding these key cellular players.
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24
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Abstract
The topic of ceramidases has experienced an enormous boost during the last few years. Ceramidases catalyze the degradation of ceramide to sphingosine and fatty acids. Ceramide is not only the central hub of sphingolipid biosynthesis and degradation, it is also a key molecule in sphingolipid signaling, promoting differentiation or apoptosis. Acid ceramidase inhibition sensitizes certain types of cancer to chemo- and radio-therapy and this is suggestive of a role of acid ceramidase inhibitors as chemo-sensitizers which can act synergistically with chemo-therapeutic drugs. In this review, we summarize the development of ceramide analogues as first-generation ceramidase inhibitors together with data on their activity in cells and disease models. Furthermore, we describe the recent developments that have led to highly potent second-generation ceramidase inhibitors that act at nanomolar concentrations. In the third part, various assays of ceramidases are described and their relevance for accurately measuring ceramidase activities and for the development of novel inhibitors is highlighted. Besides potential clinical implications, the recent improvements in ceramidase inhibition and assaying may help to better understand the mechanisms of ceramide biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essa M Saied
- Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institute for Chemistry, Berlin, Germany; Suez Canal University, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Christoph Arenz
- Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institute for Chemistry, Berlin, Germany.
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25
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Tirodkar TS, Lu P, Bai A, Scheffel MJ, Gencer S, Garrett-Mayer E, Bielawska A, Ogretmen B, Voelkel-Johnson C. Expression of Ceramide Synthase 6 Transcriptionally Activates Acid Ceramidase in a c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK)-dependent Manner. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:13157-67. [PMID: 25839235 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.631325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A family of six ceramide synthases with distinct but overlapping substrate specificities is responsible for generation of ceramides with acyl chains ranging from ∼14-26 carbons. Ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6) preferentially generates C14- and C16-ceramides, and we have previously shown that down-regulation of this enzyme decreases apoptotic susceptibility. In this study, we further evaluated how increased CerS6 expression impacts sphingolipid composition and metabolism. Overexpression of CerS6 in HT29 colon cancer cells resulted in increased apoptotic susceptibility and preferential generation of C16-ceramide, which occurred at the expense of very long chain, saturated ceramides. These changes were also reflected in sphingomyelin composition. HT-CerS6 cells had increased intracellular levels of sphingosine, which is generated by ceramidases upon hydrolysis of ceramide. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that only expression of acid ceramidase (ASAH1) was increased. The increase in acid ceramidase was confirmed by expression and activity analyses. Pharmacological inhibition of JNK (SP600125) or curcumin reduced transcriptional up-regulation of acid ceramidase. Using an acid ceramidase promoter driven luciferase reporter plasmid, we demonstrated that CerS1 has no effect on transcriptional activation of acid ceramidase and that CerS2 slightly but significantly decreased the luciferase signal. Similar to CerS6, overexpression of CerS3-5 resulted in an ∼2-fold increase in luciferase reporter gene activity. Exogenous ceramide failed to induce reporter activity, while a CerS inhibitor and a catalytically inactive mutant of CerS6 failed to reduce it. Taken together, these results suggest that increased expression of CerS6 can mediate transcriptional activation of acid ceramidase in a JNK-dependent manner that is independent of CerS6 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ping Lu
- From the Departments of Microbiology and Immunology
| | | | | | - Salih Gencer
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey
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26
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Li Y, Li S, Qin X, Hou W, Dong H, Yao L, Xiong L. The pleiotropic roles of sphingolipid signaling in autophagy. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1245. [PMID: 24853423 PMCID: PMC4047895 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Revised: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The autophagic process involves encompassing damaged proteins and organelles within double- or multi-membraned structures and delivering these molecules to the lytic compartments of vacuoles. Sphingolipids (SLs), which are ubiquitous membrane lipids in eukaryotes, participate in the generation of various membrane structures, including rafts, caveolae, and cytosolic vesicles. SLs are a complex family of molecules that have a growing number of members, including ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate, and dihydroceramide, which have been associated with the essential cellular process of autophagy. This review highlights recent studies focusing on the regulation and function of SL-associated autophagy and its role in cell fate, diseases, and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Li
- 1] The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China [2] Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - S Li
- 1] The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China [2] Department of Oral Biology, Stomatology School, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - X Qin
- Department of Chemistry, Pharmacy School, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - W Hou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - H Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - L Yao
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - L Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
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27
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Costanzi E, Urbanelli L, Bellezza I, Magini A, Emiliani C, Minelli A. Hypermethylation contributes to down-regulation of lysosomal β-hexosaminidase α subunit in prostate cancer cells. Biochimie 2014; 101:75-82. [PMID: 24389457 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
β-Hexosaminidase, involved in degradation of glycoproteins and glycosphingolipids, is altered in several tumours leading to enhanced migration capacity. To date, the expression of the β-hexosaminidase isoenzymes in prostate cancer cells has not been elucidated. By using PC3, LNCaP, DUCaP, MDAPCa 2b, and hyperplasic prostate (BPH-1) cell lines, we analysed the β-hexosaminidase activity in each cell line and determined β-hexosaminidase α subunit gene expression in PC3, LNCaP, and BPH-1. We then investigated the methylation status of the gene promoter and determined the cellular responses of PC3 and LNCaP after transfection with β-hexosaminidase α subunit. We found that each prostate cancer cell line had a decrease in total hexosaminidase activity and that the lack of hexosaminidase A activity, observed in PC3 and LNCaP cells, was associated with mRNA disappearance. The HEXA promoter region in LNCaP and PC3 cell lines had methylated CpG islands, as confirmed by 5'-Aza-2'-deoxycitidine treatment, in PC3 cells, used as cell cancer model. We also tested, the involvement of hexosaminidase A in the migration capacity by migration assay using Hex α subunit-transfected PC3. Finally, we found that, after Hex α subunit transfection, both PC3 and LNCaP were less susceptible to exogenous ceramide treatment. Results indicate a likely contribution of the lysosomal enzyme to the acquisition of cancerous features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egidia Costanzi
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Lorena Urbanelli
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bellezza
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Magini
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy
| | - Carla Emiliani
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy
| | - Alba Minelli
- Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy
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28
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Abstract
Non-surgical therapies for human malignancies must negotiate complex cell signaling pathways to impede cancer cell growth, ideally promoting death of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. For most of the past half century, medical approaches for treating cancer have relied primarily on cytotoxic chemotherapeutics that interfere with DNA replication and cell division, susceptibilities of rapidly dividing cancer cells. As a consequence, these therapies exert considerable cell stress, promoting the generation of ceramide through de novo synthesis and recycling of complex glycosphingolipids and sphingomyelin into apoptotic ceramide. Radiotherapy of cancer exerts similar geno- and cytotoxic cell stresses, and generation of ceramide following ionizing radiation therapy is a well-described feature of radiation-induced cell death. Emerging evidence now describes sphingolipids as mediators of death in response to newer targeted therapies, cementing ceramide generation as a common mechanism of cell death in response to cancer therapy. Many studies have now shown that dysregulation of ceramide accumulation-whether by reduced generation or accelerated metabolism-is a common mechanism of resistance to standard cancer therapies. The aims of this chapter will be to discuss described mechanisms of cancer resistance to therapy related to dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism and to explore clinical and preclinical approaches to interdict sphingolipid metabolism to improve outcomes of standard cancer therapies.
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29
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Hage-Sleiman R, Esmerian MO, Kobeissy H, Dbaibo G. p53 and Ceramide as Collaborators in the Stress Response. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:4982-5012. [PMID: 23455468 PMCID: PMC3634419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms14034982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2012] [Revised: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/01/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The sphingolipid ceramide mediates various cellular processes in response to several extracellular stimuli. Some genotoxic stresses are able to induce p53-dependent ceramide accumulation leading to cell death. However, in other cases, in the absence of the tumor suppressor protein p53, apoptosis proceeds partly due to the activity of this "tumor suppressor lipid", ceramide. In the current review, we describe ceramide and its roles in signaling pathways such as cell cycle arrest, hypoxia, hyperoxia, cell death, and cancer. In a specific manner, we are elaborating on the role of ceramide in mitochondrial apoptotic cell death signaling. Furthermore, after highlighting the role and mechanism of action of p53 in apoptosis, we review the association of ceramide and p53 with respect to apoptosis. Strikingly, the hypothesis for a direct interaction between ceramide and p53 is less favored. Recent data suggest that ceramide can act either upstream or downstream of p53 protein through posttranscriptional regulation or through many potential mediators, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouba Hage-Sleiman
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh, 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon; E-Mails: (M.O.E.); (G.D.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh, 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon; E-Mail:
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +961-1-350-000 (ext. 4883)
| | - Maria O. Esmerian
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh, 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon; E-Mails: (M.O.E.); (G.D.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh, 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon; E-Mail:
| | - Hadile Kobeissy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh, 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon; E-Mail:
| | - Ghassan Dbaibo
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh, 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon; E-Mails: (M.O.E.); (G.D.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh, 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon; E-Mail:
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30
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Abstract
One crucial barrier to progress in the treatment of cancer has been the inability to control the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis: enter ceramide. Discoveries over the past 15 years have elevated this sphingolipid to the lofty position of a regulator of cell fate. Ceramide, it turns out, is a powerful tumour suppressor, potentiating signalling events that drive apoptosis, autophagic responses and cell cycle arrest. However, defects in ceramide generation and metabolism in cancer cells contribute to tumour cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. This Review focuses on ceramide signalling and the targeting of specific metabolic junctures to amplify the tumour suppressive activities of ceramide. The potential of ceramide-based therapeutics in the treatment of cancer is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy A F Morad
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center, 2200 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90404, USA.
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31
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Ouyang DY, Xu LH, He XH, Zhang YT, Zeng LH, Cai JY, Ren S. Autophagy is differentially induced in prostate cancer LNCaP, DU145 and PC-3 cells via distinct splicing profiles of ATG5. Autophagy 2012; 9:20-32. [PMID: 23075929 PMCID: PMC3542215 DOI: 10.4161/auto.22397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagic responses to chemotherapeutic agents may vary greatly among different prostate cancer cells and have not been well characterized. In this study, we showed that valproic acid (VPA) induced conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and formation of LC3 puncta, the typical markers of autophagy, in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. However, these markers were undetectable in DU145 cells upon autophagic stimulation, indicating a defect of autophagy in this cell line. Among several critical autophagy-related proteins, ATG5 and ATG12-ATG5 conjugates, which are essential for autophagy induction, were absent in DU145 cells. No canonical transcripts for full-length ATG5 but only two alternatively spliced ATG5 transcripts were identified in DU145 cells. These alternative transcripts lack one or two exons, leading to premature termination of ATG5 translation. Transfection of the wild-type ATG5 gene into DU145 cells rescued the production of ATG5 and ATG12-ATG5 conjugates, resulting in formation of LC3-II conjugates and LC3 puncta. Moreover, the levels of the SQSTM1 protein, which should be degradable as an autophagy adaptor, were much higher in DU145 than in LNCaP and PC-3 cells, but were significantly decreased after ATG5 restoration in DU145 cells. However, expression of wild-type ATG5 in DU145 or knockdown of ATG5 in LNCaP and PC-3 cells did not change the inhibitory effects of VPA on these cells. Collectively, these results indicated that VPA-induced autophagy in prostate cancer cells depended on ATG5 and more importantly, that the autophagy pathway was genetically impaired in DU145 cells, suggesting caution in interpreting autophagic responses in this cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Yun Ouyang
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Tissue Transplantation and Immunology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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32
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Abstract
Cannabinoids, their receptors and their metabolizing enzymes are emerging as a new regulatory system, which is involved in multiple physiological functions. Normal prostate tissue expresses several constituents of the endocannabinoid system including the CB(1) receptor, receptors belonging to the transient receptor potential family and fatty acid amide hydrolase, a hydrolyzing enzyme, all of which have been localized in the glandular epithelia. Accumulating evidence indicate that the endocannabinoid system is dysregulated in prostate cancer, suggesting that it has a role in prostate homeostasis. Overexpression of several components of the endocannabinoid system correlate with prostate cancer grade and progression, potentially providing a new therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Moreover, several cannabinoids exert antitumoral properties against prostate cancer, reducing xenograft prostate tumor growth, prostate cancer cell proliferation and cell migration. Although the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids against prostate cancer is very promising, future research using animal models is needed to evaluate the influence of systemic networks in their antitumoral action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Díaz-Laviada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain.
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33
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Jung HR, Sylvänne T, Koistinen KM, Tarasov K, Kauhanen D, Ekroos K. High throughput quantitative molecular lipidomics. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2011; 1811:925-34. [PMID: 21767661 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2011.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2011] [Revised: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Applications in biomedical research increasingly demand detailed lipid molecule information acquired at high throughput. Although the recent advances in lipidomics offer to delineate the lipidomes in detail, the challenge remains in performing such analyses at the requested quality and to maintain the quality also in a high throughput setting. In this review we describe a high throughput molecular lipidomic solution based on robotic assisted sample preparation and lipid extraction and multiple lipidomic platforms integrated with a sophisticated bioinformatics system. As demonstrated, the virtue of this lipidomic toolkit lies in its high throughput delivery of comprehensive quantitative lipidomic outputs at the molecular lipid level, its ease of scalability and its capability to serve in a regulatory setting. We anticipate that this toolkit will contribute to basic research, nutritional research and promote the discovery of new disease biomarkers, disease related mechanisms of actions and drug targets.
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