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Zhu N, Li T, Bai Y, Sun J, Guo J, Yuan H, Shan Z. Targeting myocardial inflammation: investigating the therapeutic potential of atrial natriuretic peptide in atrial fibrosis. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:506. [PMID: 38622341 PMCID: PMC11018689 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09393-w] [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: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a prevalent arrhythmic condition, is intricately associated with atrial fibrosis, a major pathological contributor. Central to the development of atrial fibrosis is myocardial inflammation. This study focuses on Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) and its role in mitigating atrial fibrosis, aiming to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which ANP exerts its effects, with an emphasis on fibroblast dynamics. METHODS AND RESULTS The study involved forty Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four groups: control, Angiotensin II (Ang II), Ang II + ANP, and ANP only. The administration of 1 µg/kg/min Ang II was given to Ang II and Ang II + ANP groups, while both Ang II + ANP and ANP groups received 0.1 µg/kg/min ANP intravenously for a duration of 14 days. Cardiac fibroblasts were used for in vitro validation of the proposed mechanisms. The study observed that rats in the Ang II and Ang II + ANP groups showed an increase in blood pressure and a decrease in body weight, more pronounced in the Ang II group. Diastolic dysfunction, a characteristic of the Ang II group, was alleviated by ANP. Additionally, ANP significantly reduced Ang II-induced atrial fibrosis, myofibroblast proliferation, collagen overexpression, macrophage infiltration, and the elevated expression of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Tenascin-C (TN-C). Transcriptomic sequencing indicated enhanced PI3K/Akt signaling in the Ang II group. Furthermore, in vitro studies showed that ANP, along with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, effectively reduced PI3K/Akt pathway activation and the expression of TN-C, collagen-I, and collagen-III, which were induced by Ang II. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrates ANP's potential in inhibiting myocardial inflammation and reducing atrial fibrosis. Notably, ANP's effect in countering atrial fibrosis seems to be mediated through the suppression of the Ang II-induced PI3K/Akt-Tenascin-C signaling pathway. These insights enhance our understanding of AF pathogenesis and position ANP as a potential therapeutic agent for treating atrial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Zhu
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Tianlun Li
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yili Bai
- Southern Medical Branch, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiao Sun
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Guo
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Sixth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongtao Yuan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Sixth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoliang Shan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Sixth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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2
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Ji L, Yang X, Jin Y, Li L, Yang B, Zhu W, Xu M, Wang Y, Wu G, Luo W, Lee K, Liang G. Blockage of DCLK1 in cardiomyocytes suppresses myocardial inflammation and alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:166900. [PMID: 37778481 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166900] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a pathophysiological condition triggered by diabetes mellitus and can lead to heart failure. Doublecortin-like kinase protein 1 (DCLK1) is a multifunctional protein kinase involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and migration. Current studies on DCLK1 mainly focus on cancer development; however, its role in non-tumor diseases such as DCM is yet to be deciphered. Our analysis revealed that DCLK1 was upregulated in cardiomyocytes of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mouse, suggesting a correlation between DCLK1 and DCM progression. It was further demonstrated that either cardiomyocyte-specific DCLK1 knockout or pharmacological DCLK1 inhibitor DCLK1-IN-1 significantly alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in STZ-induced diabetic mice. RNA-seq analysis of heart tissues revealed that DCLK1 regulated the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated inflammatory response in DCM. In vitro, DCLK1 activated NF-κB and the inflammatory response by inducing the IKKβ phosphorylation in high-concentration glucose (HG)-challenged cardiomyocytes. DCLK1-IN-1 also prevented HG-induced IKKβ/NF-κB activation and inflammatory injuries in cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, this study highlights the novel role of cardiomyocyte DCLK1 in regulating IKKβ/NF-κB, which aggravates inflammation to promote the pathogenesis of DCM. DCLK1 may serve as a new target for DCM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Ji
- Department of Cardiology and Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Yiyi Jin
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Li Li
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Weiwei Zhu
- Department of Cardiology and Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Mingjiang Xu
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Gaojun Wu
- Department of Cardiology and Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
| | - Wu Luo
- Department of Cardiology and Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
| | - Kwangyoul Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Guang Liang
- Department of Cardiology and Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, the Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China.
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3
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Ye L, Liu B, Huang J, Zhao X, Wang Y, Xu Y, Wang S. DCLK1 and its oncogenic functions: A promising therapeutic target for cancers. Life Sci 2024; 336:122294. [PMID: 38007147 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122294] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1), a significant constituent of the protein kinase superfamily and the doublecortin family, has been recognized as a prooncogenic factor that exhibits a strong association with the malignant progression and clinical prognosis of various cancers. DCLK1 serves as a stem cell marker that governs tumorigenesis, tumor cell reprogramming, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Multiple studies have indicated the capable of DCLK1 in regulating the DNA damage response and facilitating DNA damage repair. Additionally, DCLK1 is involved in the regulation of the immune microenvironment and the promotion of tumor immune evasion. Recently, DCLK1 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for a multitude of cancers. Several small-molecule inhibitors of DCLK1 have been identified. Nevertheless, the biological roles of DCLK1 are mainly ambiguous, particularly with the disparities between its α- and β-form transcripts in the malignant progression of cancers, which impedes the development of more precisely targeted drugs. This article focuses on tumor stem cells, tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the DNA damage response, and the tumor microenvironment to provide a comprehensive overview of the association between DCLK1 and tumor malignant progression, address unsolved questions and current challenges, and project future directions for targeting DCLK1 for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Beibei Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Jingling Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Yungen Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Shuping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
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4
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Dogra S, Elayapillai SP, Qu D, Pitts K, Filatenkov A, Houchen CW, Berry WL, Moxley K, Hannafon BN. Targeting doublecortin-like kinase 1 reveals a novel strategy to circumvent chemoresistance and metastasis in ovarian cancer. Cancer Lett 2023; 578:216437. [PMID: 37838282 PMCID: PMC10872611 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OvCa) has a dismal prognosis because of its late-stage diagnosis and the emergence of chemoresistance. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase known to regulate cancer cell "stemness", epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and drug resistance. Here we show that DCLK1 is a druggable target that promotes chemoresistance and tumor progression of high-grade serous OvCa (HGSOC). Importantly, high DCLK1 expression significantly correlates with poor overall and progression-free survival in OvCa patients treated with platinum chemotherapy. DCLK1 expression was elevated in a subset of HGSOC cell lines in adherent (2D) and spheroid (3D) cultures, and the expression was further increased in cisplatin-resistant (CPR) spheroids relative to their sensitive controls. Using cisplatin-sensitive and resistant isogenic cell lines, pharmacologic inhibition (DCLK1-IN-1), and genetic manipulation, we demonstrate that DCLK1 inhibition was effective at re-sensitizing cells to cisplatin, reducing cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Using kinase domain mutants, we demonstrate that DCLK1 kinase activity is critical for mediating CPR. The combination of cisplatin and DCLK1-IN-1 showed a synergistic cytotoxic effect against OvCa cells in 3D conditions. Targeted gene expression profiling revealed that DCLK1 inhibition in CPR OvCa spheroids significantly reduced TGFβ signaling, and EMT. We show in vivo efficacy of combined DCLK1 inhibition and cisplatin in significantly reducing tumor metastases. Our study shows that DCLK1 is a relevant target in OvCa and combined targeting of DCLK1 in combination with existing chemotherapy could be a novel therapeutic approach to overcome resistance and prevent OvCa recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samrita Dogra
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Sugantha Priya Elayapillai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Dongfeng Qu
- Department of Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kamille Pitts
- Department of Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Alexander Filatenkov
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Pathology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Courtney W Houchen
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - William L Berry
- Department of Surgery, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Katherine Moxley
- Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Bethany N Hannafon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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5
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Wen J, Liu G, Liu M, Wang H, Wan Y, Yao Z, Gao N, Sun Y, Zhu L. Transforming growth factor-β and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Cell Cycle 2023; 22:2467-2484. [PMID: 38179789 PMCID: PMC10802212 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2023.2293595] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathological cardiac hypertrophy (referred to as cardiac hypertrophy) is a maladaptive response of the heart to a variety of pathological stimuli, and cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for heart failure and sudden death. Currently, the treatments for cardiac hypertrophy are limited to improving symptoms and have little effect. Elucidation of the developmental process of cardiac hypertrophy at the molecular level and the identification of new targets for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy are crucial. In this review, we summarize the research on multiple active substances related to the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and the signaling pathways involved and focus on the role of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and the identification of potential targets for molecular intervention. We aim to identify important signaling molecules with clinical value and hope to help promote the precise treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and thus improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guixiang Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Mingjie Liu
- Department of Lung Function, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Huarui Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yunyan Wan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhouhong Yao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Nannan Gao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ling Zhu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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6
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Chen W, Liu R, Yu Y, Wei D, Chen Q, Xu Q. Molecular Mechanism of Mutational Disruption of DCLK1 Autoinhibition Provides a Rationale for Inhibitor Screening. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14020. [PMID: 37762326 PMCID: PMC10531055 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a prominent kinase involved in carcinogenesis, serving as a diagnostic marker for early cancer detection and prevention, as well as a target for cancer therapy. Extensive research efforts have been dedicated to understanding its role in cancer development and designing selective inhibitors. In our previous work, we successfully determined the crystal structure of DCLK1 while it was bound to its autoinhibitory domain (AID) at the active site. By analyzing this structure, we were able to uncover the intricate molecular mechanisms behind specific cancer-causing mutations in DCLK1. Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, we discovered that these mutations disrupt the smooth assembly of the AID, particularly affecting the R2 helix, into the kinase domain (KD). This disruption leads to the exposure of the D533 residue of the DFG (Asp-Phe-Gly) motif in the KD, either through steric hindrance, the rearrangement of electrostatic interactions, or the disruption of local structures in the AID. With these molecular insights, we conducted a screening process to identify potential small-molecule inhibitors that could bind to DCLK1 through an alternative binding mode. To assess the binding affinity of these inhibitors to the KD of DCLK1, we performed calculations on their binding energy and conducted SPR experiments. We anticipate that our study will contribute novel perspectives to the field of drug screening and optimization, particularly in targeting DCLK1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism & Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; (W.C.); (D.W.)
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (R.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yamei Yu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (R.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Dongqing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism & Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; (W.C.); (D.W.)
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (R.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Qin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism & Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; (W.C.); (D.W.)
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