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Zhou W, Hu Z, Wu J, Liu Q, Jie Z, Sun H, Zhang W. Integrated analysis of single‑cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to construct a risk assessment model based on plasma cell immune‑related genes for predicting patient prognosis and therapeutic response in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncol Lett 2025; 29:271. [PMID: 40235679 PMCID: PMC11998079 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2025.15017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/17/2025] Open
Abstract
Plasma cells serve a crucial role in the human immune system and are important in tumor progression. However, the specific role of plasma cell immune-related genes (PCIGs) in tumor progression remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish a risk assessment model for patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) based on PCIGs. The data used in the present study were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus databases. After identifying nine PCIGs, a risk assessment model was constructed and a nomogram was developed for predicting patient prognosis. To explore the molecular mechanism and clinical significance, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), tumor mutational burden (TMB) analysis, tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis and drug sensitivity prediction were performed. Furthermore, the accuracy of the model was validated using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The present study constructed a risk assessment model consisting of nine PCIGs. Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated a worse prognosis in the high-risk subgroup (risk score ≥0.982) compared with that in the low-risk subgroup. The nomogram exhibited predictive value for survival prediction (area under the curve=0.727). GSEA enrichment analysis revealed enrichment of the focal adhesion and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathways in the high-risk group. Moreover, the high-risk group exhibited a higher TMB, as demonstrated by the TME analysis showing lower ESTIMATE scores. Drug sensitivity prediction facilitated potential drug selection. Subsequently, differential gene expression was validated in multiple LUAD cell lines using RT-qPCR. In conclusion, the risk assessment model based on nine PCIGs may be used to predict the prognosis and drug selection in patients with LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijun Zhou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Zhuozheng Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Jiajun Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Qinghua Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341099, P.R. China
| | - Zhangning Jie
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341099, P.R. China
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341099, P.R. China
| | - Wenxiong Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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2
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Sekine H, Akaike T, Motohashi H. Oxygen needs sulfur, sulfur needs oxygen: a relationship of interdependence. EMBO J 2025:10.1038/s44318-025-00464-7. [PMID: 40394395 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-025-00464-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2025] [Accepted: 04/30/2025] [Indexed: 05/22/2025] Open
Abstract
Oxygen and sulfur, both members of the chalcogen group (group 16 elements), play fundamental roles in life. Ancient organisms primarily utilized sulfur for energy metabolism, while the rise in atmospheric oxygen facilitated the evolution of aerobic organisms, enabling highly efficient energy production. Nevertheless, all modern organisms, both aerobes and anaerobes, must protect themselves from oxygen toxicity. Interestingly, aerobes still rely on sulfur for survival. This dependence has been illuminated by the recent discovery of supersulfides, a novel class of biomolecules, made possible through advancements in technology and analytical methods. These breakthroughs are reshaping our understanding of biological processes and emphasizing the intricate interplay between oxygen and sulfur in regulating essential redox reactions. This review summarizes the latest insights into the biological roles of sulfur and oxygen, their interdependence in key processes, and their contributions to adaptive responses to environmental stressors. By exploring these interactions, we aim to provide a comprehensive perspective on how these elements drive survival strategies across diverse life forms, highlighting their indispensable roles in both human health and the sustenance of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Sekine
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Takaaki Akaike
- Department of Redox Molecular Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
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3
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Conrad RJ, Mondo JA, Wang ML, Liu PS, Lai Z, Choudhury FK, Li Q, Wong WR, Lee J, Shanahan F, Lin E, Martin S, Rudolph J, Moffat JG, Sangaraju D, Sandoval W, Sterne-Weiler T, Foster SA. NRF2 supports non-small cell lung cancer growth independently of CBP/p300-enhanced glutathione synthesis. EMBO Rep 2025:10.1038/s44319-025-00463-z. [PMID: 40369363 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-025-00463-z] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2025] [Accepted: 04/07/2025] [Indexed: 05/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a stress responsive transcription factor that is mutationally activated in a subset (~25%) of clinically-aggressive non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Mechanistic insight into drivers of the NRF2 dependency remains poorly understood. Here, we defined a novel NRF2 target gene set linked to NRF2-dependency in cancer cell lines, and observed that a significant portion of these genes is devoid of promoter-proximal NRF2 occupancy. Using integrated genomic analyses, we characterized extensive NRF2-dependent enhancer RNA (eRNA) synthesis and NRF2-mediated H3K27ac deposition at proximal and distal enhancer regions regulating these genes. While CBP/p300 is a well-validated direct interaction partner of NRF2 with prominent functions at enhancers, we report that this interaction is not required for NRF2-dependent NSCLC cell growth, indicating that NRF2 can sustain sufficient transcriptional activity in the absence of CBP/p300 coactivation. Broad metabolic profiling established a primary role for CBP/p300 in NRF2-dependent accumulation of glutathione and glutathione-related metabolites. While redox homeostasis via enhanced glutathione production is commonly associated with the normal physiological role of NRF2, collectively our results suggest that NRF2-dependent cancer cell growth does not require this enhanced glutathione production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Conrad
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - James A Mondo
- Roche Informatics, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Mike Lingjue Wang
- Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Peter S Liu
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics & Lipidomics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Zijuan Lai
- Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Feroza K Choudhury
- Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Qingling Li
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics & Lipidomics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Weng Ruh Wong
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics & Lipidomics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - James Lee
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Frances Shanahan
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Eva Lin
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Scott Martin
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Joachim Rudolph
- Department of Discovery Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - John G Moffat
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Dewakar Sangaraju
- Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Wendy Sandoval
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics & Lipidomics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Timothy Sterne-Weiler
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
- Department of Oncology Bioinformatics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
| | - Scott A Foster
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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4
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Yang X, Liu Y, Cao J, Wu C, Tang L, Bian W, Chen Y, Yu L, Wu Y, Li S, Shen Y, Xia J, Du J. Targeting epigenetic and post-translational modifications of NRF2: key regulatory factors in disease treatment. Cell Death Discov 2025; 11:189. [PMID: 40258841 PMCID: PMC12012105 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-025-02491-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2025] [Revised: 04/07/2025] [Accepted: 04/10/2025] [Indexed: 04/23/2025] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a key transcription factor involved in regulating cellular antioxidant defense and detoxification mechanisms. It mitigates oxidative stress and xenobiotic-induced damage by inducing the expression of cytoprotective enzymes, including HO-1 and NQO1. NRF2 also modulates inflammatory responses by inhibiting pro-inflammatory genes and mediates cell death pathways, including apoptosis and ferroptosis. Targeting NRF2 offers potential therapeutic avenues for treating various diseases. NRF2 is regulated through two principal mechanisms: post-translational modifications (PTMs) and epigenetic alterations. PTMs, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation, play a pivotal role in modulating NRF2's stability, activity, and subcellular localization, thereby precisely controlling its function in the antioxidant response. For instance, ubiquitination can lead to NRF2 degradation and reduced antioxidant activity, while deubiquitination enhances its stability and function. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and interactions with non-coding RNAs (e.g., MALAT1, PVT1, MIR4435-2HG, and TUG1), are essential for regulating NRF2 expression by modulating chromatin architecture and gene accessibility. This paper systematically summarizes the molecular mechanisms by which PTMs and epigenetic alterations regulate NRF2, and elucidates its critical role in cellular defense and disease. By analyzing the impact of PTMs, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation, as well as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA interactions on NRF2 stability, activity, and expression, the study reveals the complex cellular protection network mediated by NRF2. Furthermore, the paper explores how these regulatory mechanisms affect NRF2's roles in oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death, identifying novel therapeutic targets and strategies. This provides new insights into the treatment of NRF2-related diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic syndrome. This research deepens our understanding of NRF2's role in cellular homeostasis and lays the foundation for the development of NRF2-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Yang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Yingchao Liu
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Jinghao Cao
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Cuiyun Wu
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lusheng Tang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Wenxia Bian
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Yuhan Chen
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Lingyan Yu
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Yunyi Wu
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Sainan Li
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Yuhuan Shen
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China.
| | - Jun Xia
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China.
| | - Jing Du
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China.
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5
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Cuadrado A, Cazalla E, Bach A, Bathish B, Naidu SD, DeNicola GM, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Fernández-Ginés R, Grochot-Przeczek A, Hayes JD, Kensler TW, León R, Liby KT, López MG, Manda G, Shivakumar AK, Hakomäki H, Moerland JA, Motohashi H, Rojo AI, Sykiotis GP, Taguchi K, Valverde ÁM, Yamamoto M, Levonen AL. Health position paper and redox perspectives - Bench to bedside transition for pharmacological regulation of NRF2 in noncommunicable diseases. Redox Biol 2025; 81:103569. [PMID: 40059038 PMCID: PMC11970334 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2025.103569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2025] [Accepted: 02/24/2025] [Indexed: 03/22/2025] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a redox-activated transcription factor regulating cellular defense against oxidative stress, thereby playing a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Its dysregulation is implicated in the progression of a wide array of human diseases, making NRF2 a compelling target for therapeutic interventions. However, challenges persist in drug discovery and safe targeting of NRF2, as unresolved questions remain especially regarding its context-specific role in diseases and off-target effects. This comprehensive review discusses the dualistic role of NRF2 in disease pathophysiology, covering its protective and/or destructive roles in autoimmune, respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, as well as diseases of the digestive system and cancer. Additionally, we also review the development of drugs that either activate or inhibit NRF2, discuss main barriers in translating NRF2-based therapies from bench to bedside, and consider the ways to monitor NRF2 activation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Cuadrado
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Eduardo Cazalla
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anders Bach
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Boushra Bathish
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cancer Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Sharadha Dayalan Naidu
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cancer Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Gina M DeNicola
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, H. Lee. Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Albena T Dinkova-Kostova
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cancer Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Raquel Fernández-Ginés
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Grochot-Przeczek
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - John D Hayes
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cancer Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Thomas W Kensler
- Translational Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Rafael León
- Instituto de Química Médica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQM-CSIC), 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Karen T Liby
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Manuela G López
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitario (IIS-IP), Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gina Manda
- Radiobiology Laboratory, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Henriikka Hakomäki
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jessica A Moerland
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ana I Rojo
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Keiko Taguchi
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ángela M Valverde
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Sols-Morreale" UAM-CSIC, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Anna-Liisa Levonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
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6
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Zhu L, Niu Q, Li D, Li M, Guo W, Han Z, Yang Y. Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells-derived Exosomes Promote Survival of Random Flaps in Rats through Nrf2-mediated Antioxidative Stress. J Reconstr Microsurg 2025; 41:177-190. [PMID: 38782030 DOI: 10.1055/a-2331-8046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Random flaps are the most used defect repair method for head and neck tumors and trauma plastic surgery. The distal part of the flap often undergoes oxidative stress (OS), ultimately leading to flap necrosis. Stem cells' exosomes exhibit potential effects related to anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and antioxidant properties. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an important factor in regulating oxidative balance. Exosomes have been reported to monitor its transcription to alleviate OS. This study examined the impacts and underlying mechanisms of antioxidant actions of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs-Exo) on random flaps. METHODS BMSCs-Exo were injected into the tail veins of rats on days 0, 1, and 2 after surgery of random flaps. The rats were euthanized on day 3 to calculate the survival rate. Immunohistochemical staining, western blotting, dihydroethidium probe, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde assay kits were used to detect the OS level. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cocultured with BMSCs-Exo and ML385 (an inhibitor of Nrf2) in vitro. RESULTS BMSCs-Exo may significantly improve the survival rate of the random flaps by reducing apoptosis, inflammation, and OS while increasing angiogenesis. Besides, BMSCs-Exo can also increase mitochondrial membrane potential and reduce reactive oxygen species levels in vitro. These therapeutic effects might stem from the activation of the Kelch-like enyol-CoA hydratase (ECH)-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/Nrf2 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION BMSCs-Exo improved the tissue antioxidant capacity by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. BMSCs-Exo may be a new strategy to solve the problem of random flap necrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qifang Niu
- Department of Stomatology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Delong Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Mozi Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenwen Guo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Beijing Xing Ye Stomatological Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengxue Han
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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7
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Hashimoto H, Okazaki T, Honkura Y, Ren Y, Ngamsnae P, Hisaoka T, Koshiba Y, Suzuki J, Ebihara S, Katori Y. Nrf2 Deficiency Exacerbates the Decline in Swallowing and Respiratory Muscle Mass and Function in Mice with Aspiration Pneumonia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:11829. [PMID: 39519380 PMCID: PMC11546094 DOI: 10.3390/ijms252111829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2024] [Revised: 10/29/2024] [Accepted: 10/30/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Aspiration pneumonia exacerbates swallowing and respiratory muscle atrophy. It induces respiratory muscle atrophy through three steps: proinflammatory cytokine production, caspase-3 and calpain, and then ubiquitin-proteasome activations. In addition, autophagy induces swallowing muscle atrophy. Nrf2 is the central detoxifying and antioxidant gene whose function in aspiration pneumonia is unclear. We explored the role of Nrf2 in aspiration pneumonia by examining swallowing and respiratory muscle mass and function using wild-type and Nrf2-knockout mice. Pepsin and lipopolysaccharide aspiration challenges caused aspiration pneumonia. The swallowing (digastric muscles) and respiratory (diaphragm) muscles were isolated. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to assess their proteolysis cascade. Pathological and videofluoroscopic examinations evaluated atrophy and swallowing function, respectively. Nrf2-knockouts showed exacerbated aspiration pneumonia compared with wild-types. Nrf2-knockouts exhibited more persistent and intense proinflammatory cytokine elevation than wild-types. In both mice, the challenge activated calpains and caspase-3 in the diaphragm but not in the digastric muscles. The digastric muscles showed extended autophagy activation in Nrf2-knockouts compared to wild-types. The diaphragms exhibited autophagy activation only in Nrf2-knockouts. Nrf2-knockouts showed worsened muscle atrophies and swallowing function compared with wild-types. Thus, activation of Nrf2 may alleviate inflammation, muscle atrophy, and function in aspiration pneumonia, a major health problem for the aging population, and may become a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Hashimoto
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; (H.H.)
| | - Tatsuma Okazaki
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan (S.E.)
- Center for Dysphagia of Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Yohei Honkura
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; (H.H.)
- Center for Dysphagia of Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Yuzhuo Ren
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan (S.E.)
| | - Peerada Ngamsnae
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan (S.E.)
| | - Takuma Hisaoka
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; (H.H.)
- Center for Dysphagia of Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Yasutoshi Koshiba
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; (H.H.)
- Center for Dysphagia of Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Jun Suzuki
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; (H.H.)
- Center for Dysphagia of Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Satoru Ebihara
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan (S.E.)
- Center for Dysphagia of Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Yukio Katori
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; (H.H.)
- Center for Dysphagia of Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
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8
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Hayashi M, Okazaki K, Papgiannakopoulos T, Motohashi H. The Complex Roles of Redox and Antioxidant Biology in Cancer. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041546. [PMID: 38772703 PMCID: PMC11529857 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Redox reactions control fundamental biochemical processes, including energy production, metabolism, respiration, detoxification, and signal transduction. Cancer cells, due to their generally active metabolism for sustained proliferation, produce high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to normal cells and are equipped with antioxidant defense systems to counteract the detrimental effects of ROS to maintain redox homeostasis. The KEAP1-NRF2 system plays a major role in sensing and regulating endogenous antioxidant defenses in both normal and cancer cells, creating a bivalent contribution of NRF2 to cancer prevention and therapy. Cancer cells hijack the NRF2-dependent antioxidant program and exploit a very unique metabolism as a trade-off for enhanced antioxidant capacity. This work provides an overview of redox metabolism in cancer cells, highlighting the role of the KEAP1-NRF2 system, selenoproteins, sulfur metabolism, heme/iron metabolism, and antioxidants. Finally, we describe therapeutic approaches that can be leveraged to target redox metabolism in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Hayashi
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Keito Okazaki
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | | | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
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9
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Jin X, Lou X, Qi H, Zheng C, Li B, Siwu X, Liu R, Lv Q, Zhao A, Ruan J, Jiang M. NRF2 signaling plays an essential role in cancer progression through the NRF2-GPX2-NOTCH3 axis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncogenesis 2024; 13:35. [PMID: 39333079 PMCID: PMC11437035 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-024-00536-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 09/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) has been observed in various cancers. Yet its exact contribution to the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains undetermined. We previously found that NRF2 signaling is critical for the differentiation of squamous basal progenitor cells, while disruption of NRF2 causes basal cell hyperplasia. In this study, we revealed a correlation between elevated NRF2 activity and poor outcomes in HNSCC patients. We demonstrated that NRF2 facilitates tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion, as evidenced by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Significantly, NRF2 augments the expression of the antioxidant enzyme GPX2, thereby enhancing the proliferative, migratory, and invasive properties of HNSCC cells. Activation of GPX2 is critical for sustaining cancer stem cells (CSCs) by up-regulating NOTCH3, a key driver of cancer progression. These results elucidate that NRF2 regulates HNSCC progression through the NRF2-GPX2-NOTCH3 axis. Our findings proposed that pharmacological targeting of the NRF2-GPX2-NOTCH3 axis could be a potential therapeutic approach against HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoye Jin
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University International School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic & Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiayuan Lou
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University International School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic & Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haoxiang Qi
- School of Pharmacy and Department of Hepatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Zheng
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University International School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic & Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bo Li
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University International School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic & Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuerong Siwu
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University International School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic & Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ren Liu
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University International School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic & Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoli Lv
- Institute of Cancer Research, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - An Zhao
- Institute of Cancer Research, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Ruan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University and Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ming Jiang
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University International School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic & Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, China.
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10
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Shao L, Yu H, Wang M, Chen L, Ji B, Wu T, Teng X, Su M, Han X, Shi W, Hu X, Wang Z, He H, Han G, Zhang Y, Wu Q. DKK1-SE recruits AP1 to activate the target gene DKK1 thereby promoting pancreatic cancer progression. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:566. [PMID: 39107271 PMCID: PMC11303742 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06915-z] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Super-enhancers are a class of DNA cis-regulatory elements that can regulate cell identity, cell fate, stem cell pluripotency, and even tumorigenesis. Increasing evidence shows that epigenetic modifications play an important role in the pathogenesis of various types of cancer. However, the current research is far from enough to reveal the complex mechanism behind it. This study found a super-enhancer enriched with abnormally active histone modifications in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), called DKK1-super-enhancer (DKK1-SE). The major active component of DKK1-SE is component enhancer e1. Mechanistically, AP1 induces chromatin remodeling in component enhancer e1 and activates the transcriptional activity of DKK1. Moreover, DKK1 was closely related to the malignant clinical features of PDAC. Deletion or knockdown of DKK1-SE significantly inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, motility, migration, and invasion of PDAC cells in vitro, and these phenomena were partly mitigated upon rescuing DKK1 expression. In vivo, DKK1-SE deficiency not only inhibited tumor proliferation but also reduced the complexity of the tumor microenvironment. This study identifies that DKK1-SE drives DKK1 expression by recruiting AP1 transcription factors, exerting oncogenic effects in PDAC, and enhancing the complexity of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Shao
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Haoran Yu
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Mengyun Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Boshu Ji
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Tong Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Xiangqi Teng
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Mu Su
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Xiao Han
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Weikai Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Ziwen Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Hongjuan He
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Guiping Han
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.
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11
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Bhat KP, Vijay J, Vilas CK, Asundi J, Zou J, Lau T, Cai X, Ahmed M, Kabza M, Weng J, Fortin JP, Lun A, Durinck S, Hafner M, Costa MR, Ye X. CRISPR activation screens identify the SWI/SNF ATPases as suppressors of ferroptosis. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114345. [PMID: 38870012 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114345] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death mechanism characterized by the accumulation of toxic lipid peroxides and cell membrane rupture. GPX4 (glutathione peroxidase 4) prevents ferroptosis by reducing these lipid peroxides into lipid alcohols. Ferroptosis induction by GPX4 inhibition has emerged as a vulnerability of cancer cells, highlighting the need to identify ferroptosis regulators that may be exploited therapeutically. Through genome-wide CRISPR activation screens, we identify the SWI/SNF (switch/sucrose non-fermentable) ATPases BRM (SMARCA2) and BRG1 (SMARCA4) as ferroptosis suppressors. Mechanistically, they bind to and increase chromatin accessibility at NRF2 target loci, thus boosting NRF2 transcriptional output to counter lipid peroxidation and confer resistance to GPX4 inhibition. We further demonstrate that the BRM/BRG1 ferroptosis connection can be leveraged to enhance the paralog dependency of BRG1 mutant cancer cells on BRM. Our data reveal ferroptosis induction as a potential avenue for broadening the efficacy of BRM degraders/inhibitors and define a specific genetic context for exploiting GPX4 dependency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamakoti P Bhat
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jinchu Vijay
- Roche Canada, Mississauga, Ontario L5N 5M8, Canada
| | - Caroline K Vilas
- Oncology Bioinformatics, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jyoti Asundi
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jun Zou
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Ted Lau
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Cai
- Regenerative Medicine, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Michal Kabza
- 7N Sp. Z O. O. by order of Roche Polska, 02-670 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Julie Weng
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Fortin
- Data Science and Statistical Computing, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Aaron Lun
- Data Science and Statistical Computing, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Steffen Durinck
- Oncology Bioinformatics, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Marc Hafner
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; Oncology Bioinformatics, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Michael R Costa
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Xin Ye
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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12
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Singh AK, Ruiz D, Rasheed MSU, Avery TD, Turner DJL, Abell AD, Grace PM. Systemic and targeted activation of Nrf2 reverses doxorubicin-induced cognitive impairments and sensorimotor deficits in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.10.598291. [PMID: 38915544 PMCID: PMC11195070 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.10.598291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
While cancer survivorship has increased due to advances in treatments, chemotherapy often carries long-lived neurotoxic side effects which reduce quality of life. Commonly affected domains include memory, executive function, attention, processing speed and sensorimotor function, colloquially known as chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) or "chemobrain". Oxidative stress and neuroimmune signaling in the brain have been mechanistically linked to the deleterious effects of chemotherapy on cognition and sensorimotor function. With this in mind, we tested if activation of the master regulator of antioxidant response nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) alleviates cognitive and sensorimotor impairments induced by doxorubicin. The FDA-approved systemic Nrf2 activator, diroximel fumarate (DRF) was used, along with our recently developed prodrug 1c which has the advantage of specifically releasing monomethyl fumarate at sites of oxidative stress. DRF and 1c both reversed doxorubicin-induced deficits in executive function, spatial and working memory, as well as decrements in fine motor coordination and grip strength, across both male and female mice. Both treatments reversed doxorubicin-induced loss of synaptic proteins and microglia phenotypic transition in the hippocampus. Doxorubicin-induced myelin damage in the corpus callosum was reversed by both Nrf2 activators. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Nrf2 activators to reverse doxorubicin-induced cognitive impairments, motor incoordination, and associated structural and phenotypic changes in the brain. The localized release of monomethyl fumarate by 1c has the potential to diminish unwanted effects of fumarates while retaining efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Kumar Singh
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, and the MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - David Ruiz
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, and the MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Mohd Sami Ur Rasheed
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, and the MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Thomas D Avery
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP), Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), Department of Chemistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Dion J L Turner
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP), Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), Department of Chemistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Andrew D Abell
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP), Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), Department of Chemistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Peter M Grace
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, and the MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
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13
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Sekine H, Takeda H, Takeda N, Kishino A, Anzawa H, Isagawa T, Ohta N, Murakami S, Iwaki H, Kato N, Kimura S, Liu Z, Kato K, Katsuoka F, Yamamoto M, Miura F, Ito T, Takahashi M, Izumi Y, Fujita H, Yamagata H, Bamba T, Akaike T, Suzuki N, Kinoshita K, Motohashi H. PNPO-PLP axis senses prolonged hypoxia in macrophages by regulating lysosomal activity. Nat Metab 2024; 6:1108-1127. [PMID: 38822028 PMCID: PMC11599045 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01053-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Oxygen is critical for all metazoan organisms on the earth and impacts various biological processes in physiological and pathological conditions. While oxygen-sensing systems inducing acute hypoxic responses, including the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway, have been identified, those operating in prolonged hypoxia remain to be elucidated. Here we show that pyridoxine 5'-phosphate oxidase (PNPO), which catalyses bioactivation of vitamin B6, serves as an oxygen sensor and regulates lysosomal activity in macrophages. Decreased PNPO activity under prolonged hypoxia reduced an active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), and inhibited lysosomal acidification, which in macrophages led to iron dysregulation, TET2 protein loss and delayed resolution of the inflammatory response. Among PLP-dependent metabolism, supersulfide synthesis was suppressed in prolonged hypoxia, resulting in the lysosomal inhibition and consequent proinflammatory phenotypes of macrophages. The PNPO-PLP axis creates a distinct layer of oxygen sensing that gradually shuts down PLP-dependent metabolism in response to prolonged oxygen deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Sekine
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Haruna Takeda
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Norihiko Takeda
- Division of Cardiology and Metabolism, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Kishino
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, IDAC, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hayato Anzawa
- Department of System Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takayuki Isagawa
- Division of Cardiology and Metabolism, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
- Data Science Center, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Nao Ohta
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shohei Murakami
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hideya Iwaki
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, IDAC, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Nobufumi Kato
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, IDAC, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shu Kimura
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, IDAC, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Zun Liu
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, IDAC, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Koichiro Kato
- Division of Oxygen Biology, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Fumiki Katsuoka
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Fumihito Miura
- Department of Biochemistry, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takashi Ito
- Department of Biochemistry, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masatomo Takahashi
- Division of Metabolomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Izumi
- Division of Metabolomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Fujita
- Advanced Research Laboratory, Canon Medical Systems Corporation, Otawara, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Yamagata
- Advanced Research Laboratory, Canon Medical Systems Corporation, Otawara, Japan
| | - Takeshi Bamba
- Division of Metabolomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takaaki Akaike
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Norio Suzuki
- Division of Oxygen Biology, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kengo Kinoshita
- Department of System Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Advanced Research Laboratory, Canon Medical Systems Corporation, Otawara, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, IDAC, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
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14
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Jose E, March-Steinman W, Wilson BA, Shanks L, Parkinson C, Alvarado-Cruz I, Sweasy JB, Paek AL. Temporal coordination of the transcription factor response to H 2O 2 stress. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3440. [PMID: 38653977 PMCID: PMC11039679 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47837-w] [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: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress from excess H2O2 activates transcription factors that restore redox balance and repair oxidative damage. Although many transcription factors are activated by H2O2, it is unclear whether they are activated at the same H2O2 concentration, or time. Dose-dependent activation is likely as oxidative stress is not a singular state and exhibits dose-dependent outcomes including cell-cycle arrest and cell death. Here, we show that transcription factor activation is both dose-dependent and coordinated over time. Low levels of H2O2 activate p53, NRF2 and JUN. Yet under high H2O2, these transcription factors are repressed, and FOXO1, NF-κB, and NFAT1 are activated. Time-lapse imaging revealed that the order in which these two groups of transcription factors are activated depends on whether H2O2 is administered acutely by bolus addition, or continuously through the glucose oxidase enzyme. Finally, we provide evidence that 2-Cys peroxiredoxins control which group of transcription factors are activated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Jose
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | | | - Bryce A Wilson
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Lisa Shanks
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Chance Parkinson
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Isabel Alvarado-Cruz
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Joann B Sweasy
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Andrew L Paek
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
- Program in Applied Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.
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15
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Wadgaonkar P, Wang Z, Chen F. Endoplasmic reticulum stress responses and epigenetic alterations in arsenic carcinogenesis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123565. [PMID: 38373625 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Arsenic is a well-known human carcinogen whose environmental exposure via drinking water, food, and air impacts millions of people across the globe. Various mechanisms of arsenic carcinogenesis have been identified, ranging from damage caused by excessive production of free radicals and epigenetic alterations to the generation of cancer stem cells. A growing body of evidence supports the critical involvement of the endoplasmic stress-activated unfolded protein response (UPR) in promoting as well as suppressing cancer development/progression. Various in vitro and in vivo models have also demonstrated that arsenic induces the UPR via activation of the PERK, IRE1α, and ATF6 proteins. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of arsenic-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and the role of each UPR pathway in the various cancer types with a focus on the epigenetic regulation and function of the ATF6 protein. The importance of UPR in arsenic carcinogenesis and cancer stem cells is a relatively new area of research that requires additional investigations via various omics-based and computational tools. These approaches will provide interesting insights into the mechanisms of arsenic-induced cancers for prospective target identification and development of novel anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Wadgaonkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Ziwei Wang
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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16
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Wu CQ, Wu RY, Zhang QL, Wang LL, Wang Y, Dai C, Zhang CX, Xu L. Harnessing Catalytic RNA Circuits for Construction of Artificial Signaling Pathways in Mammalian Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319309. [PMID: 38298112 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319309] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Engineering of genetic networks with artificial signaling pathways (ASPs) can reprogram cellular responses and phenotypes under different circumstances for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, construction of ASPs between originally independent endogenous genes in mammalian cells is highly challenging. Here we report an amplifiable RNA circuit that can theoretically build regulatory connections between any endogenous genes in mammalian cells. We harness the system of catalytic hairpin assembly with combination of controllable CRISPR-Cas9 function to transduce the signals from distinct messenger RNA expression of trigger genes into manipulation of target genes. Through introduction of these RNA-based genetic circuits, mammalian cells are endowed with autonomous capabilities to sense the changes of RNA expression either induced by ligand stimuli or from various cell types and control the cellular responses and fates via apoptosis-related ASPs. Our design provides a generalized platform for construction of ASPs inside the genetic networks of mammalian cells based on differentiated RNA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Qun Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Ruo-Yue Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Qiu-Long Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Technology, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Laboratory Medicine of Fujian Province, Putian University, Putian, 351100, China
| | - Liang-Liang Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yang Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chu Dai
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chen-Xi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Liang Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
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17
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Ahn SH, Jang SK, Kim YJ, Kim G, Park KS, Park IC, Jin HO. Amino acid deprivation induces TXNIP expression by NRF2 downregulation. IUBMB Life 2024; 76:212-222. [PMID: 38054509 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2792] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is sensitive to oxidative stress and is involved in the pathogenesis of various metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, several studies have suggested that TXNIP is a promising therapeutic target for several diseases, particularly cancer and diabetes. However, the regulation of TXNIP expression under amino acid (AA)-restricted conditions is not well understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that TXNIP expression was promoted by the deprivation of AAs, especially arginine, glutamine, lysine, and methionine, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Interestingly, we determined that increased TXNIP expression induced by AA deprivation was associated with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) downregulation, but not with activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) activation. Furthermore, N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suppressed TXNIP expression in NSCLC cells deprived of AA. Collectively, the induction of TXNIP expression by AA deprivation was mediated by ROS production, potentially through NRF2 downregulation. Our findings suggest that TXNIP expression may be associated with the redox homeostasis of AA metabolism and provide a possible rationale for a therapeutic strategy to treat cancer with AA restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Hee Ahn
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Kyeong Jang
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Jin Kim
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeongmi Kim
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Soo Park
- Department of Biological Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Chul Park
- Division of Fusion Radiology Research, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon-Ok Jin
- KIRAMS Radiation Biobank, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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18
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Sekine H, Motohashi H. Unique and overlapping roles of NRF2 and NRF1 in transcriptional regulation. J Clin Biochem Nutr 2024; 74:91-96. [PMID: 38510688 PMCID: PMC10948342 DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.23-106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription is regulated by specific transcription factors that mediate signaling in response to extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli such as nutrients, hormones, and oxidative stresses. Many transcription factors are grouped based on their highly conserved DNA binding domains. Consequently, transcription factors within the same family often exhibit functional redundancy and compensation. NRF2 (NFE2L2) and NRF1 (NFE2L1) belong to the CNC family transcription factors, which are responsible for various stress responses. Although their DNA binding properties are strikingly similar, NRF2 and NRF1 are recognized to play distinct roles in a cell by mediating responses to oxidative stress and proteotoxic stress, respectively. In this review, we here overview the distinct and shared roles of NRF2 and NRF1 in the transcriptional regulation of target genes, with a particular focus on the nuclear protein binding partners associated with each factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Sekine
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
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19
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Bae T, Hallis SP, Kwak MK. Hypoxia, oxidative stress, and the interplay of HIFs and NRF2 signaling in cancer. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:501-514. [PMID: 38424190 PMCID: PMC10985007 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01180-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxygen is crucial for life and acts as the final electron acceptor in mitochondrial energy production. Cells adapt to varying oxygen levels through intricate response systems. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), including HIF-1α and HIF-2α, orchestrate the cellular hypoxic response, activating genes to increase the oxygen supply and reduce expenditure. Under conditions of excess oxygen and resulting oxidative stress, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activates hundreds of genes for oxidant removal and adaptive cell survival. Hypoxia and oxidative stress are core hallmarks of solid tumors and activated HIFs and NRF2 play pivotal roles in tumor growth and progression. The complex interplay between hypoxia and oxidative stress within the tumor microenvironment adds another layer of intricacy to the HIF and NRF2 signaling systems. This review aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes and functions of the HIF and NRF2 signaling pathways in response to conditions of hypoxia and oxidative stress, emphasizing their implications within the tumor milieu. Additionally, this review explored the elaborate interplay between HIFs and NRF2, providing insights into the significance of these interactions for the development of novel cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taegeun Bae
- Integrated Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Steffanus Pranoto Hallis
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School of The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Kyoung Kwak
- Integrated Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School of The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
- College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi‑do, 14662, Republic of Korea.
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20
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Liu M, Guo J, Zhao J, Li H, Feng X, Liu H, Zhang H, Jia X, Wei R, Li F, Chen C, Hou M, Lv N, Xu H. Activation of NRF2 by celastrol increases antioxidant functions and prevents the progression of osteoarthritis in mice. Chin J Nat Med 2024; 22:137-145. [PMID: 38342566 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(24)60586-8] [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: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Excessive oxidative stress impairs cartilage matrix metabolism balance, significantly contributing to osteoarthritis (OA) development. Celastrol (CSL), a drug derived from Tripterygium wilfordii, has recognized applications in the treatment of cancer and immune system disorders, yet its antioxidative stress mechanisms in OA remain underexplored. This study aimed to substantiate CSL's chondroprotective effects and unravel its underlying mechanisms. We investigated CSL's impact on chondrocytes under both normal and inflammatory conditions. In vitro, CSL mitigated interleukin (IL)-1β-induced activation of proteinases and promoted cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. In vivo, intra-articular injection of CSL ameliorated cartilage degeneration and mitigated subchondral bone lesions in OA mice. Mechanistically, it was found that inhibiting nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) abrogated CSL-mediated antioxidative functions and exacerbated the progression of OA. This study is the first to elucidate the role of CSL in the treatment of OA through the activation of NRF2, offering a novel therapeutic avenue for arthritis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Liu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Jiatian Guo
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Hongye Li
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Feng
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Haojun Liu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Xuejun Jia
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Rushuai Wei
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China
| | - Chong Chen
- Institute of Hematology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Mingzhuang Hou
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Afliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| | - Nanning Lv
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Lianyungang Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University (The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222003, China.
| | - Haiyan Xu
- Department of human anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China.
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21
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Jin G, Xu W, Tang H, Cui Y, Zhang H. Bisdemethoxycurcumin, a curcumin, protects chondrocytes, and reduces cartilage inflammation via the NRF2/HO-1/NLRP3 pathway. Immun Inflamm Dis 2024; 12:e1195. [PMID: 38411358 PMCID: PMC10898200 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1195] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) on osteoarthritis (OA) and comprehensively evaluate the role of the Nuclear Factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) signalling pathway in chondrocytes. METHOD In our study, we treated chondrocytes with BDMC in an in vitro chondrocyte assay and measured its influence on extracellular matrix (ECM) expression, downstream heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) levels. RESULTS Our study indicates that BDMC significantly activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway in chondrocytes in vitro. Furthermore, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3, interleukin 1β, recombinant a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)4 and (ADAMTS)5 was significantly suppressed by BDMC. CONCLUSION This study confirms the potential for BDMC to activate the Nrf2/HO-1/NLRP3 signalling pathway and alleviate OA symptoms. Therefore, BDMC is a promising therapeutic agent for OA that offers new insights and treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Jin
- Department of OrthopedicsTaizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, LinhaiZhejiangChina
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of OrthopedicsTaizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, LinhaiZhejiangChina
| | - Huilin Tang
- Department of OrthopedicsTaizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, LinhaiZhejiangChina
| | - Yaying Cui
- Department of OrthopedicsTaizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, LinhaiZhejiangChina
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of OrthopedicsTaizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, LinhaiZhejiangChina
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22
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Bi W, Xu Z, Liu F, Xie Z, Liu H, Zhu X, Zhong W, Zhang P, Tang X. Genome-wide analyses reveal the contribution of somatic variants to the immune landscape of multiple cancer types. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011134. [PMID: 38241355 PMCID: PMC10829993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been well established that cancer cells can evade immune surveillance by mutating themselves. Understanding genetic alterations in cancer cells that contribute to immune regulation could lead to better immunotherapy patient stratification and identification of novel immune-oncology (IO) targets. In this report, we describe our effort of genome-wide association analyses across 22 TCGA cancer types to explore the associations between genetic alterations in cancer cells and 74 immune traits. Results showed that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is shaped by different gene mutations in different cancer types. Out of the key genes that drive multiple immune traits, top hit KEAP1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) was selected for validation. It was found that KEAP1 mutations can explain more than 10% of the variance for multiple immune traits in LUAD. Using public scRNA-seq data, further analysis confirmed that KEAP1 mutations activate the NRF2 pathway and promote a suppressive TME. The activation of the NRF2 pathway is negatively correlated with lower T cell infiltration and higher T cell exhaustion. Meanwhile, several immune check point genes, such as CD274 (PD-L1), are highly expressed in NRF2-activated cancer cells. By integrating multiple RNA-seq data, a NRF2 gene signature was curated, which predicts anti-PD1 therapy response better than CD274 gene alone in a mixed cohort of different subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) including LUAD, highlighting the important role of KEAP1-NRF2 axis in shaping the TME in NSCLC. Finally, a list of overexpressed ligands in NRF2 pathway activated cancer cells were identified and could potentially be targeted for TME remodeling in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjian Bi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Medicine Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Major Immunology-related Diseases, Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiyu Xu
- Regor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Feng Liu
- Regor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Zhi Xie
- Regor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hao Liu
- Regor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xiaotian Zhu
- Regor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Wenge Zhong
- Regor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Peipei Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xing Tang
- Regor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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23
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Qian H, Zhu M, Tan X, Zhang Y, Liu X, Yang L. Super-enhancers and the super-enhancer reader BRD4: tumorigenic factors and therapeutic targets. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:470. [PMID: 38135679 PMCID: PMC10746725 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01775-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional super-enhancers and the BET bromodomain protein BRD4 are emerging as critical drivers of tumorigenesis and therapeutic targets. Characterized by substantial accumulation of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) signals at the loci of cell identity genes and critical oncogenes, super-enhancers are recognized, bound and activated by BRD4, resulting in considerable oncogene over-expression, malignant transformation, cancer cell proliferation, survival, tumor initiation and progression. Small molecule compound BRD4 BD1 and BD2 bromodomain inhibitors block BRD4 binding to super-enhancers, suppress oncogene transcription and expression, reduce cancer cell proliferation and survival, and repress tumor progression in a variety of cancer types. Like other targeted therapy agents, BRD4 inhibitors show moderate anticancer effects on their own, and exert synergistic anticancer effects in vitro and in preclinical models, when combined with other anticancer agents including CDK7 inhibitors, CBP/p300 inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors. More recently, BRD4 BD2 bromodomain selective inhibitors, proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) BRD4 protein degraders, and dual BRD4 and CBP/p300 bromodomain co-inhibitors have been developed and shown better anticancer efficacy and/or safety profile. Importantly, more than a dozen BRD4 inhibitors have entered clinical trials in patients with cancer of various organ origins. In summary, super-enhancers and their reader BRD4 are critical tumorigenic drivers, and BRD4 BD1 and BD2 bromodomain inhibitors, BRD4 BD2 bromodomain selective inhibitors, PROTAC BRD4 protein degraders, and dual BRD4 and CBP/p300 bromodomain co-inhibitors are promising novel anticancer agents for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihong Qian
- Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, China
| | - Min Zhu
- Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, China
| | - Xinyu Tan
- Department of Dentistry, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Yixing Zhang
- Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, China
| | - Xiangning Liu
- Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, China
| | - Li Yang
- Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, China.
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24
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LaPak KM, Saeidi S, Bok I, Wamsley NT, Plutzer IB, Bhatt DP, Luo J, Ashrafi G, Major MB. Proximity proteomic analysis of the NRF family reveals the Parkinson's disease protein ZNF746/PARIS as a co-complexed repressor of NRF2. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eadi9018. [PMID: 38085818 PMCID: PMC10760916 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adi9018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) transcription factor activates cytoprotective and metabolic gene expression in response to various electrophilic stressors. Constitutive NRF2 activity promotes cancer progression, whereas decreased NRF2 function contributes to neurodegenerative diseases. We used proximity proteomic analysis to define protein networks for NRF2 and its family members NRF1, NRF3, and the NRF2 heterodimer MAFG. A functional screen of co-complexed proteins revealed previously uncharacterized regulators of NRF2 transcriptional activity. We found that ZNF746 (also known as PARIS), a zinc finger transcription factor implicated in Parkinson's disease, physically associated with NRF2 and MAFG, resulting in suppression of NRF2-driven transcription. ZNF746 overexpression increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in a neuronal cell model of Parkinson's disease, phenotypes that were reversed by chemical and genetic hyperactivation of NRF2. This study presents a functionally annotated proximity network for NRF2 and suggests a link between ZNF746 overexpression in Parkinson's disease and inhibition of NRF2-driven neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M. LaPak
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Soma Saeidi
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ilah Bok
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Nathan T. Wamsley
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Isaac B. Plutzer
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Dhaval P. Bhatt
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jingqin Luo
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, WUSM and Siteman Cancer Center Biostatistics and Qualitative Research Shared Resource, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ghazaleh Ashrafi
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - M. Ben Major
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University; St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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25
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Baird L, Yamamoto M. Immunoediting of KEAP1-NRF2 mutant tumours is required to circumvent NRF2-mediated immune surveillance. Redox Biol 2023; 67:102904. [PMID: 37839356 PMCID: PMC10590843 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In human cancer, activating mutations in the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway are frequently observed, and positively selected for, as they confer the cytoprotective functions of the transcription factor NRF2 on the cancer cells. This results in the development of aggressive tumours which are resistant to treatment with chemotherapeutic compounds. Recent clinical developments have also revealed that NRF2-activated cancers are similarly resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs. As the mechanism of action of these immune modulating therapies is tangential to the classical cytoprotective function of NRF2, it is unclear how aberrant NRF2 activity could impact the anti-cancer functionality of the immune system. In this context, we found that in human cancer, NRF2-activated cells are highly immunoedited, which allows the cancer cells to escape immune surveillance and develop into malignant tumours. This immunoediting takes the form of reduced antigen presentation by the MHC-I complex, coupled with reduced expression of activating ligands for NK cells. Together, these modifications to the immunogenicity of NRF2-activated cancers inhibit immune effector cell infiltration and engagement, and contribute to the formation of the immunologically cold tumour microenvironment which is a characteristic feature of NRF2-activated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Baird
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8573, Japan; Advanced Research Center for Innovations in Next-Generation Medicine (INGEM), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8573, Japan; Advanced Research Center for Innovations in Next-Generation Medicine (INGEM), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
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26
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Niu Y, Yao F, Yang H. "Keaping" an Eye on the NRF2 Signature Score: Expanding Its Applicability in Lung Cancer. J Thorac Oncol 2023; 18:e126-e128. [PMID: 37879768 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yongliang Niu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, No. 2 People's Hospital of Fuyang City and Fuyang Infectious Disease Clinical College of Anhui Medical University, Fuyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Yao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Haitang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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Baird L, Taguchi K, Zhang A, Takahashi Y, Suzuki T, Kensler TW, Yamamoto M. A NRF2-induced secretory phenotype activates immune surveillance to remove irreparably damaged cells. Redox Biol 2023; 66:102845. [PMID: 37597423 PMCID: PMC10458321 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
While it is well established that the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway regulates the main inducible cellular response to oxidative stress, this cytoprotective function of NRF2 could become deleterious to the host if it confers survival onto irreparably damaged cells. In this regard, we have found that in diseased states, NRF2 promotes the transcriptional activation of a specific subset of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) gene program, which we have named the NRF2-induced secretory phenotype (NISP). In two models of hepatic disease using Pten::Keap1 and Keap1::Atg7 double knockout mice, we found that the NISP functions in the liver to recruit CCR2 expressing monocytes, which function as immune system effector cells to directly remove the damaged cells. Through activation of this immune surveillance pathway, in non-transformed cells, NRF2 functions as a tumour suppressor to mitigate the long-term survival of damaged cells which otherwise would be detrimental for host survival. This pathway represents the final stage of the oxidative stress response, as it allows cells to be safely removed if the macromolecular damage caused by the original stressor is so extensive that it is beyond the repair capacity of the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Baird
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8573, Japan; Advanced Research Center for Innovations in Next-Generation Medicine (INGEM), Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Keiko Taguchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8573, Japan
| | - Anqi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8573, Japan
| | - Yushi Takahashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8573, Japan
| | - Takafumi Suzuki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8573, Japan
| | - Thomas W Kensler
- Translational Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, United States
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8573, Japan; Advanced Research Center for Innovations in Next-Generation Medicine (INGEM), Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
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28
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Hung CN, Chen M, DeArmond DT, Chiu CHL, Limboy CA, Tan X, Kusi M, Chou CW, Lin LL, Zhang Z, Wang CM, Chen CL, Mitsuya K, Osmulski PA, Gaczynska ME, Kirma NB, Vadlamudi RK, Gibbons DL, Warner S, Brenner AJ, Mahadevan D, Michalek JE, Huang THM, Taverna JA. AXL-initiated paracrine activation of pSTAT3 enhances mesenchymal and vasculogenic supportive features of tumor-associated macrophages. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113067. [PMID: 37659081 PMCID: PMC10577802 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are integral to the development of complex tumor microenvironments (TMEs) and can execute disparate cellular programs in response to extracellular cues. However, upstream signaling processes underpinning this phenotypic plasticity remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that concordant AXL-STAT3 signaling in TAMs is triggered by lung cancer cells or cancer-associated fibroblasts in the cytokine milieu. This paracrine action drives TAM differentiation toward a tumor-promoting "M2-like" phenotype with upregulation of CD163 and putative mesenchymal markers, contributing to TAM heterogeneity and diverse cellular functions. One of the upregulated markers, CD44, mediated by AXL-IL-11-pSTAT3 signaling cascade, enhances macrophage ability to interact with endothelial cells and facilitate formation of primitive vascular networks. We also found that AXL-STAT3 inhibition can impede the recruitment of TAMs in a xenograft mouse model, thereby suppressing tumor growth. These findings suggest the potential application of AXL-STAT3-related markers to quantitatively assess metastatic potential and inform therapeutic strategies in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Nung Hung
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Meizhen Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daniel T DeArmond
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Cheryl H-L Chiu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Catherine A Limboy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Xi Tan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Meena Kusi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chih-Wei Chou
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Li-Ling Lin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Zhao Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chiou-Miin Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chun-Liang Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Office of Nursing Research & Scholarship, School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kohzoh Mitsuya
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Pawel A Osmulski
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Maria E Gaczynska
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nameer B Kirma
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ratna K Vadlamudi
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Don L Gibbons
- Department of Thoracic, Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Brenner
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daruka Mahadevan
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Joel E Michalek
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Tim H-M Huang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Josephine A Taverna
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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29
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Zhang H, Zhang H, Wang J, Fan L, Mu W, Jin Y, Wang Z. Small-molecular cyclic peptide exerts viability suppression effects on HepG2 cells via triggering p53 apoptotic pathways. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 382:110633. [PMID: 37451662 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110633] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides have become an attractive modality for drug development due to their high specificity, metabolic stability and higher cell permeability. In an effort to explore novel antitumor compounds based on natural cyclopeptide from the phakellistatin family, we found an isoindolinone-containing analog (S-PK6) of phakellistatin 6 capable of suppressing the viability and proliferation of HepG2 cells. The aim of the present study is to shed light on the mechanism of action of this novel compound. We have detected differences in gene expression before and after treatment with S-PK6 in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line by transcriptome sequencing. To further investigate biological effects, we have also extensively investigated the tumor cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration after S-PK6 treatment. Based on the finding that the apoptosis was associated with the p53 signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway, western blotting tests were used to assess the expression level of p53 protein and its degenerative regulator MDM2 protein, which showed that S-PK6 could increase p53 levels efficiently. In summary, our results demonstrate the mechanism of action of a small-molecule cyclopeptide, which could be very useful for examining of the possible mechanisms of natural cyclopeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics and Genetic Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China
| | - Huanli Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Photonic and Electronic Bandgap Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China
| | - Jingchun Wang
- Institute of Medicine and Drug Research, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Li Fan
- Institute of Medicine and Drug Research, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Weijie Mu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics and Genetic Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China.
| | - Yingxue Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics and Genetic Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China; Key Laboratory for Photonic and Electronic Bandgap Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Key Laboratory for Photonic and Electronic Bandgap Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China.
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Liu L, Deng P, Liu S, Hong JH, Xiao R, Guan P, Wang Y, Wang P, Gao J, Chen J, Sun Y, Chen J, Mai HQ, Tan J. Enhancer remodeling activates NOTCH3 signaling to confer chemoresistance in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:513. [PMID: 37563118 PMCID: PMC10415329 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06028-z] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Acquired resistance to chemotherapy is one of the major causes of mortality in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, effective strategies are limited and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, through transcriptomic profiling analysis of 23 tumor tissues, we found that NOTCH3 was aberrantly highly expressed in chemoresistance NPC patients, with NOTCH3 overexpression being positively associated with poor clinical outcome. Mechanistically, using an established NPC cellular model, we demonstrated that enhancer remodeling driven aberrant hyperactivation of NOTCH3 in chemoresistance NPC. We further showed that NOTCH3 upregulates SLUG to induce chemo-resistance of NPC cells and higher expression of SLUG have poorer prognosis. Genetic or pharmacological perturbation of NOTCH3 conferred chemosensitivity of NPC in vitro and overexpression of NOTCH3 enhanced chemoresistance of NPC in vivo. Together, these data indicated that genome-wide enhancer reprogramming activates NOTCH3 to confer chemoresistance of NPC, suggesting that targeting NOTCH3 may provide a potential therapeutic strategy to effectively treat advanced chemoresistant NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhen Liu
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sailan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Han Hong
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Rong Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiyong Guan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yali Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peili Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiuping Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinghong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yichen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Qiang Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
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31
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Paek A, Jose E, March-Steinman W, Wilson B, Shanks L. Temporal Coordination of the Transcription Factor Response to H 2O 2 stress. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2791121. [PMID: 37205449 PMCID: PMC10187433 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2791121/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Oxidative stress from excess H2O2 activates transcription factors (TFs) that restore redox balance and repair oxidative damage. Though many TFs are activated by H2O2, it is unknown whether they are activated at the same H2O2 concentration or time after H2O2 stress. We found TF activation is tightly coordinated over time and dose dependent. We first focused on p53 and FOXO1 and found that in response to low H2O2, p53 is activated rapidly while FOXO1 remains inactive. In contrast, cells respond to high H2O2 in two temporal phases. In the first phase FOXO1 rapidly shuttles to the nucleus while p53 remains inactive. In the second phase FOXO1 shuts off and p53 levels rise. Other TFs are activated in the first phase with FOXO1 (NF-κB, NFAT1), or the second phase with p53 (NRF2, JUN), but not both. The two phases result in large differences in gene expression. Finally, we provide evidence that 2-Cys peroxiredoxins control which TF are activated and the timing of TF activation.
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Osman AA, Arslan E, Bartels M, Michikawa C, Lindemann A, Tomczak K, Yu W, Sandulache V, Ma W, Shen L, Wang J, Singh AK, Frederick MJ, Spencer ND, Kovacs J, Heffernan T, Symmans WF, Rai K, Myers JN. Dysregulation and Epigenetic Reprogramming of NRF2 Signaling Axis Promote Acquisition of Cisplatin Resistance and Metastasis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:1344-1359. [PMID: 36689560 PMCID: PMC10068451 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-2747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapy is a first-line treatment for patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), despite a high rate of treatment failures, acquired resistance, and subsequent aggressive behavior. The purpose of this study was to study the mechanism of CDDP resistance and metastasis in HNSCC. We investigated the role of NRF2 pathway activation as a driven event for tumor progression and metastasis of HNSCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Human HNSCC cell lines that are highly resistant to CDDP were generated. Clonogenic survival assays and a mouse model of oral cancer were used to examine the impact of NRF2 activation in vitro and in vivo on CDDP sensitivity and development of metastasis. Western blotting, immunostaining, whole-exome sequencing, single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling platforms were performed to dissect clonal evolution and molecular mechanisms. RESULTS Implantation of CDDP-resistant HNSCC cells into the tongues of nude mice resulted in a very high rate of distant metastases. The CDDP-resistant cells had significantly higher expression of NRF2 pathway genes in the presence of newly acquired KEAP1 mutations, or via epigenomic activation of target genes. Knockdown of NRF2 or restoration of the wild-type KEAP1 genes resensitized resistant cells to CDDP and decreased distant metastasis (DM). Finally, treatment with inhibitor of glutaminase-1, a NRF2 target gene, alleviated CDDP resistance. CONCLUSIONS CDDP resistance and development of DM are associated with dysregulated and epigenetically reprogrammed KEAP1-NRF2 signaling pathway. A strategy targeting KEAP1/NRF2 pathway or glutamine metabolism deserves further clinical investigation in patients with CDDP-resistant head and neck tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah A. Osman
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Emre Arslan
- Department of Genomic Medicine and MDACC Epigenomics Therapy Initiative, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mason Bartels
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Chieko Michikawa
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Antje Lindemann
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Katarzyna Tomczak
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Wangjie Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Vlad Sandulache
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Wencai Ma
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Anand K. Singh
- Department of Genomic Medicine and MDACC Epigenomics Therapy Initiative, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mitchell J. Frederick
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Nakia D. Spencer
- TRACTION Platform, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jeffery Kovacs
- TRACTION Platform, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Timothy Heffernan
- TRACTION Platform, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - William F. Symmans
- Department of Pathology, Division of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Kunal Rai
- Department of Genomic Medicine and MDACC Epigenomics Therapy Initiative, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jeffrey N. Myers
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Hallis SP, Kim JM, Kwak MK. Emerging Role of NRF2 Signaling in Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype. Mol Cells 2023; 46:153-164. [PMID: 36994474 PMCID: PMC10070166 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2023.2196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of tumor cells characterized by self-renewal and differentiation capacity. CSCs are currently postulated as the driving force that induces intra-tumor heterogeneity leading to tumor initiation, metastasis, and eventually tumor relapse. Notably, CSCs are inherently resistant to environmental stress, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy due to high levels of antioxidant systems and drug efflux transporters. In this context, a therapeutic strategy targeting the CSC-specific pathway holds a promising cure for cancer. NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2; NFE2L2) is a master transcription factor that regulates an array of genes involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species/electrophiles. Accumulating evidence suggests that persistent NRF2 activation, observed in multiple types of cancer, supports tumor growth, aggressive malignancy, and therapy resistance. Herein, we describe the core properties of CSCs, focusing on treatment resistance, and review the evidence that demonstrates the roles of NRF2 signaling in conferring unique properties of CSCs and the associated signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffanus P. Hallis
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 14662, Korea
| | - Jin Myung Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 14662, Korea
| | - Mi-Kyoung Kwak
- Department of Pharmacy, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 14662, Korea
- College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 14662, Korea
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34
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Occhiuto CJ, Moerland JA, Leal AS, Gallo KA, Liby KT. The Multi-Faceted Consequences of NRF2 Activation throughout Carcinogenesis. Mol Cells 2023; 46:176-186. [PMID: 36994476 PMCID: PMC10070161 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2023.2191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The oxidative balance of a cell is maintained by the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway. This cytoprotective pathway detoxifies reactive oxygen species and xenobiotics. The role of the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway as pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic throughout stages of carcinogenesis (including initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis) is complex. This mini review focuses on key studies describing how the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway affects cancer at different phases. The data compiled suggest that the roles of KEAP1/NRF2 in cancer are highly dependent on context; specifically, the model used (carcinogen-induced vs genetic), the tumor type, and the stage of cancer. Moreover, emerging data suggests that KEAP1/NRF2 is also important for regulating the tumor microenvironment and how its effects are amplified either by epigenetics or in response to co-occurring mutations. Further elucidation of the complexity of this pathway is needed in order to develop novel pharmacological tools and drugs to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Occhiuto
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jessica A. Moerland
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Ana S. Leal
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Kathleen A. Gallo
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Karen T. Liby
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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35
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Lin DW, Hsu YC, Chang CC, Hsieh CC, Lin CL. Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of NRF2 in Kidney Injury and Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:6053. [PMID: 37047024 PMCID: PMC10094034 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Redox is a constant phenomenon in organisms. From the signaling pathway transduction to the oxidative stress during the inflammation and disease process, all are related to reduction-oxidation (redox). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor targeting many antioxidant genes. In non-stressed conditions, NRF2 maintains the hemostasis of redox with housekeeping work. It expresses constitutively with basal activity, maintained by Kelch-like-ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)-associated ubiquitination and degradation. When encountering stress, it can be up-regulated by several mechanisms to exert its anti-oxidative ability in diseases or inflammatory processes to protect tissues and organs from further damage. From acute kidney injury to chronic kidney diseases, such as diabetic nephropathy or glomerular disease, many results of studies have suggested that, as a master of regulating redox, NRF2 is a therapeutic option. It was not until the early termination of the clinical phase 3 trial of diabetic nephropathy due to heart failure as an unexpected side effect that we renewed our understanding of NRF2. NRF2 is not just a simple antioxidant capacity but has pleiotropic activities, harmful or helpful, depending on the conditions and backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Wei Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, St. Martin de Porres Hospital, Chiayi 600, Taiwan;
| | - Yung-Chien Hsu
- Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 613, Taiwan
- Kidney and Diabetic Complications Research Team (KDCRT), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 613, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chih Chang
- Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 613, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (C.-C.H.)
| | - Ching-Chuan Hsieh
- Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 613, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (C.-C.H.)
| | - Chun-Liang Lin
- Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 613, Taiwan
- Kidney and Diabetic Complications Research Team (KDCRT), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 613, Taiwan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Kidney Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan
- Center for Shockwave Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
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Dinkova-Kostova AT, Copple IM. Advances and challenges in therapeutic targeting of NRF2. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:137-149. [PMID: 36628798 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is emerging as an attractive therapeutic approach to counteract oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic imbalances. These processes underpin many chronic pathologies with unmet therapeutic needs, including neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic diseases. As the NRF2 field transitions into the clinical phase of its evolution, the need for an understanding of the factors influencing NRF2 pharmacology has never been greater. In this opinion article we describe the rationale for targeting NRF2, summarise the recent advances in drug development of NRF2 modulators, and reflect on the remaining challenges in realising the full clinical potential of NRF2 as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albena T Dinkova-Kostova
- Division of Cellular and Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Ian M Copple
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK.
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Targeting Transcription Factors ATF5, CEBPB and CEBPD with Cell-Penetrating Peptides to Treat Brain and Other Cancers. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040581. [PMID: 36831248 PMCID: PMC9954556 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing novel therapeutics often follows three steps: target identification, design of strategies to suppress target activity and drug development to implement the strategies. In this review, we recount the evidence identifying the basic leucine zipper transcription factors ATF5, CEBPB, and CEBPD as targets for brain and other malignancies. We describe strategies that exploit the structures of the three factors to create inhibitory dominant-negative (DN) mutant forms that selectively suppress growth and survival of cancer cells. We then discuss and compare four peptides (CP-DN-ATF5, Dpep, Bpep and ST101) in which DN sequences are joined with cell-penetrating domains to create drugs that pass through tissue barriers and into cells. The peptide drugs show both efficacy and safety in suppressing growth and in the survival of brain and other cancers in vivo, and ST101 is currently in clinical trials for solid tumors, including GBM. We further consider known mechanisms by which the peptides act and how these have been exploited in rationally designed combination therapies. We additionally discuss lacunae in our knowledge about the peptides that merit further research. Finally, we suggest both short- and long-term directions for creating new generations of drugs targeting ATF5, CEBPB, CEBPD, and other transcription factors for treating brain and other malignancies.
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Alam MM, Kishino A, Sung E, Sekine H, Abe T, Murakami S, Akaike T, Motohashi H. Contribution of NRF2 to sulfur metabolism and mitochondrial activity. Redox Biol 2023; 60:102624. [PMID: 36758466 PMCID: PMC9941419 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis by regulating various enzymes and proteins that are involved in the redox reactions utilizing sulfur. While substantial impacts of NRF2 on mitochondrial activity have been described, the precise mechanism by which NRF2 regulates mitochondrial function is still not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that NRF2 increased intracellular persulfides by upregulating the cystine transporter xCT encoded by Slc7a11, a well-known NRF2 target gene. Persulfides have been shown to play an important role in mitochondrial function. Supplementation with glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG), which is a form of persulfide, elevated the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), increased the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and promoted ATP production. Persulfide-mediated mitochondrial activation was shown to require the mitochondrial sulfur oxidation pathway, especially sulfide quinone oxidoreductase (SQOR). Consistently, NRF2-mediated mitochondrial activation was also dependent on SQOR activity. This study clarified that the facilitation of persulfide production and sulfur metabolism in mitochondria by increasing cysteine availability is one of the mechanisms for NRF2-dependent mitochondrial activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Morshedul Alam
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan,Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Mirpur 12, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh
| | - Akihiro Kishino
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Eunkyu Sung
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hiroki Sekine
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takaaki Abe
- Department of Medical Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Shohei Murakami
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takaaki Akaike
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
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Xu K, Ma J, Hall SRR, Peng RW, Yang H, Yao F. Battles against aberrant KEAP1-NRF2 signaling in lung cancer: intertwined metabolic and immune networks. Theranostics 2023; 13:704-723. [PMID: 36632216 PMCID: PMC9830441 DOI: 10.7150/thno.80184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (KEAP1/NRF2) pathway is well recognized as a key regulator of redox homeostasis, protecting cells from oxidative stress and xenobiotics under physiological circumstances. Cancer cells often hijack this pathway during initiation and progression, with aberrant KEAP1-NRF2 activity predominantly observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), suggesting that cell/tissue-of-origin is likely to influence the genetic selection during malignant transformation. Hyperactivation of NRF2 confers a multi-faceted role, and recently, increasing evidence shows that a close interplay between metabolic reprogramming and tumor immunity remodelling contributes to its aggressiveness, treatment resistance (radio-/chemo-/immune-therapy) and susceptibility to metastases. Here, we discuss in detail the special metabolic and immune fitness enabled by KEAP1-NRF2 aberration in NSCLC. Furthermore, we summarize the similarities and differences in the dysregulated KEAP1-NRF2 pathway between two major histo-subtypes of NSCLC, provide mechanistic insights on the poor response to immunotherapy despite their high immunogenicity, and outline evolving strategies to treat this recalcitrant cancer subset. Finally, we integrate bioinformatic analysis of publicly available datasets to illustrate the new partners/effectors in NRF2-addicted cancer cells, which may provide new insights into context-directed treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Anhui Chest Hospital, Hefei, 230000, China
| | - Sean R. R. Hall
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University; Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ren-Wang Peng
- Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of BioMedical Research (DBMR), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern; Bern, 3010, Switzerland
| | - Haitang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.,✉ Corresponding author: Haitang Yang (, +86 18217015189), Feng Yao (, +86 13636354837), Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. West Huaihai 241, 200030, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Yao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China
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Kitamura H, Oishi T, Murakami S, Yamada-Kato T, Okunishi I, Yamamoto M, Katori Y, Motohashi H. Establishment of Neh2-Cre:tdTomato reporter mouse for monitoring the exposure history to electrophilic stress. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 193:610-619. [PMID: 36368569 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cells are often exposed to exogenous and endogenous redox disturbances and exert their protective mechanisms in response to stimuli. The KEAP1-NRF2 system plays pivotal roles in counteracting oxidative damage. Due to the transient nature of NRF2 activation, the identification of cells in which NRF2 is activated in response to systemic stimuli is sometimes not easy. To examine the electrophilic stress response at a single-cell resolution, we aimed to develop a new reporter mouse in this study. A cell-tracing strategy exploiting Cre recombinase-mediated activation of a reporter gene was chosen for stable detection of reporter expression instead of real-time monitoring of the cellular response. We established a transgenic mouse line expressing the Neh2-Cre recombinase fusion protein. As Neh2 is an amino-terminal domain of NRF2 that serves as a degron and mediates KEAP1-dependent degradation and electrophile-inducible stabilization, Neh2-Cre was expected to be activated in response to electrophiles. The Neh2-Cre transgenic mouse was crossed with the ROSA26-loxP-stop-loxP-tdTomato reporter mouse (ROSA-LSL-tdTomato mouse). The compound mutant reporter mice exhibited accumulation of tdTomato-positive cells in various organs after repeated administration of CDDO-Im, one of the NRF2-inducing electrophiles. The mice were also successfully used for the detection of cells that experienced a cisplatin-induced electrophilic stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kitamura
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Oishi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Shohei Murakami
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Tomoe Yamada-Kato
- Kinjirushi Co., Ltd., 2-61 Yahata-hontori, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya, 454-8526, Japan
| | - Isao Okunishi
- Kinjirushi Co., Ltd., 2-61 Yahata-hontori, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya, 454-8526, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yukio Katori
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
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Xiao Q, Xiao Y, Li LY, Chen MK, Wu M. Multifaceted regulation of enhancers in cancer. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2022; 1865:194839. [PMID: 35750313 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2022.194839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Enhancer is one kind of cis-elements regulating gene transcription, whose activity is tightly controlled by epigenetic enzymes and histone modifications. Active enhancers are classified into typical enhancers, super-enhancers and over-active enhancers, according to the enrichment and location of histone modifications. Epigenetic factors control the level of histone modifications on enhancers to determine their activity, such as histone methyltransferases and acetylases. Transcription factors, cofactors and mediators co-operate together and are required for enhancer functions. In turn, abnormalities in these trans-acting factors affect enhancer activity. Recent studies have revealed enhancer dysregulation as one of the important features for cancer. Variations in enhancer regions and mutations of enhancer regulatory genes are frequently observed in cancer cells, and altering the activity of onco-enhancers is able to repress oncogene expression, and suppress tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here we summarize the recent discoveries about enhancer regulation in cancer and discuss their potential application in diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Xiao
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Hubei Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Yong Xiao
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Hubei Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Lian-Yun Li
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Hubei Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Ming-Kai Chen
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Hubei Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.
| | - Min Wu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Hubei Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.
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Kitamura H, Takeda H, Motohashi H. Genetic, Metabolic and Immunological Features of Cancers with NRF2 Addiction. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:1981-1993. [PMID: 35899372 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) is a master transcription factor that coordinately regulates the expression of many cytoprotective genes and plays a central role in defense mechanisms against oxidative and electrophilic insults. Although increased NRF2 activity is principally beneficial for our health, NRF2 activation in cancer cells is detrimental. Many human cancers exhibit persistent NRF2 activation and such cancer cells rely on NRF2 for most of their malignant characteristics, such as therapeutic resistance and aggressive tumorigenesis, and thus fall into NRF2 addiction. The persistent activation of NRF2 confers great advantages on cancer cells, whereas it is not tolerated by normal cells, suggesting that certain requirements are necessary for a cell to exploit NRF2 and evolve into malignant a cancer cell. In this review, recent reports and data on the genetic, metabolic and immunological features of NRF2-activated cancer cells are summarized, and prerequisites for NRF2 addiction in cancer cells and their therapeutic applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kitamura
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Haruna Takeda
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
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Heurtaux T, Bouvier DS, Benani A, Helgueta Romero S, Frauenknecht KBM, Mittelbronn M, Sinkkonen L. Normal and Pathological NRF2 Signalling in the Central Nervous System. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:1426. [PMID: 35892629 PMCID: PMC9394413 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) was originally described as a master regulator of antioxidant cellular response, but in the time since, numerous important biological functions linked to cell survival, cellular detoxification, metabolism, autophagy, proteostasis, inflammation, immunity, and differentiation have been attributed to this pleiotropic transcription factor that regulates hundreds of genes. After 40 years of in-depth research and key discoveries, NRF2 is now at the center of a vast regulatory network, revealing NRF2 signalling as increasingly complex. It is widely recognized that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in human physiological and pathological processes such as ageing, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. The high oxygen consumption associated with high levels of free iron and oxidizable unsaturated lipids make the brain particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress. A good stability of NRF2 activity is thus crucial to maintain the redox balance and therefore brain homeostasis. In this review, we have gathered recent data about the contribution of the NRF2 pathway in the healthy brain as well as during metabolic diseases, cancer, ageing, and ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases. We also discuss promising therapeutic strategies and the need for better understanding of cell-type-specific functions of NRF2 in these different fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Heurtaux
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; (S.H.R.); (M.M.); (L.S.)
- Luxembourg Center of Neuropathology (LCNP), 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg; (D.S.B.); (K.B.M.F.)
| | - David S. Bouvier
- Luxembourg Center of Neuropathology (LCNP), 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg; (D.S.B.); (K.B.M.F.)
- National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg
- Luxembourg Centre of Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Alexandre Benani
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRAE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France;
| | - Sergio Helgueta Romero
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; (S.H.R.); (M.M.); (L.S.)
- Luxembourg Center of Neuropathology (LCNP), 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg; (D.S.B.); (K.B.M.F.)
| | - Katrin B. M. Frauenknecht
- Luxembourg Center of Neuropathology (LCNP), 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg; (D.S.B.); (K.B.M.F.)
- National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Michel Mittelbronn
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; (S.H.R.); (M.M.); (L.S.)
- Luxembourg Center of Neuropathology (LCNP), 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg; (D.S.B.); (K.B.M.F.)
- National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg
- Luxembourg Centre of Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
- Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 1526 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Lasse Sinkkonen
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; (S.H.R.); (M.M.); (L.S.)
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Zhang L, Zhao S, Liu Y, Lv F, Geng X. Identification and validation of transcription factor-driven enhancers of genes related to lipid metabolism in metastatic oral squamous cell carcinomas. BMC Oral Health 2022; 22:126. [PMID: 35428233 PMCID: PMC9013160 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02157-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The role and mechanisms of lipid metabolism in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) metastasis have not been clarified. This study aims to identify lipid metabolism-related genes and transcription factors regulated by metastasis-associated enhancers (MAEs) in OSCC. Methods Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) were performed for lipid metabolism enrichment. TCGA data were used to analyze the differentially expressed lipid metabolism-related genes. MAEs were analyzed using GSE120634. Overlapping analysis was used to screen the MAE-regulated lipid metabolism-related genes, and the prognosis of these genes was analyzed. Transcription factor prediction was performed for the MAE-regulated lipid metabolism-related genes with prognostic value. Validation of the metastatic specificity of MAEs at ACAT1, OXSM and VAPA locus was performed using GSE88976 and GSE120634. ChIP-qPCR, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to verify the regulation of ACAT1, OXSM and VAPA expression by CBFB. Effects of CBFB knockdown on proliferation, invasion and lipid synthesis in metastatic OSCC cells were analyzed. Results Lipid metabolism was significantly enhanced in metastatic OSCC compared to non-metastatic OSCC. The expression of 276 lipid metabolism-related genes was significantly upregulated in metastatic OSCC, which were functionally related to lipid uptake, triacylglycerols, phospholipids and sterols metabolism. A total of 6782 MAEs and 176 MAE-regulated lipid metabolism-related genes were filtered. Three MAE-regulated lipid metabolism-related genes, ACAT1, OXSM and VAPA, were associated with a poor prognosis in OSCC patients. Enhancers at ACAT1, OXSM and VAPA locus were metastasis-specific enhancers. CBFB regulated ACAT1, OXSM and VAPA expression by binding to the enhancers of these genes. Knockdown of CBFB inhibited proliferation, invasion and lipid synthesis in metastatic OSCC cells. Conclusion The MAE-regulated lipid metabolism-related genes (ACAT1, OXSM and VAPA) and the key transcription factor (CBFB) were identified. CBFB knockdown inhibited proliferation, invasion and lipid synthesis of OSCC cells. These findings provide novel candidates for the development of therapeutic targets for OSCC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-022-02157-7.
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Zhao M, Murakami S, Matsumaru D, Kawauchi T, Nabeshima YI, Motohashi H. NRF2 Pathway Activation Attenuates Aging-Related Renal Phenotypes due to α-Klotho Deficiency. J Biochem 2022; 171:579-589. [DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvac014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Summary
Oxidative stress is one of the major causes of the age-related functional decline in cells and tissues. The KEAP1-NRF2 system plays a central role in the regulation of redox balance, and NRF2 activation exerts antiaging effects by controlling oxidative stress in aged tissues. α-Klotho was identified as an aging suppressor protein based on the premature aging phenotypes of its mutant mice, and its expression is known to gradually decrease during aging. Because α-Klotho has been shown to possess antioxidant function, aging-related phenotypes of α-Klotho mutant mice seem to be attributable to increased oxidative stress at least in part. To examine whether NRF2 activation antagonizes aging-related phenotypes caused by α-Klotho deficiency, we crossed α-Klotho-deficient (Kl–/–) mice with a Keap1-knockdown background, in which the NRF2 pathway is constitutively activated in the whole body. NRF2 pathway activation in Kl–/– mice extended the lifespan and dramatically improved aging-related renal phenotypes. With elevated expression of antioxidant genes accompanied by an oxidative stress decrease, the antioxidant effects of NRF2 seem to make a major contribution to the attenuation of aging-related renal phenotypes of Kl–/– mice. Thus, NRF2 is expected to exert an antiaging function by partly compensating for the functional decline of α-Klotho during physiological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Zhao
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Shohei Murakami
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Daisuke Matsumaru
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kawauchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Yo-ichi Nabeshima
- Laboratory of Molecular Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
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Okazaki K, Anzawa H, Katsuoka F, Kinoshita K, Sekine H, Motohashi H. CEBPB is Required for NRF2-Mediated Drug Resistance in NRF2-Activated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. J Biochem 2022; 171:567-578. [PMID: 35137113 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
NRF2 is a transcription activator that plays a key role in cytoprotection against oxidative stress. While increased NRF2 activity is principally beneficial for our health, NRF2 activation in cancer cells is detrimental, as it drives their malignant progression. We previously found that CEBPB cooperates with NRF2 in NRF2-activated lung cancer and enhances tumor-initiating activity by promoting NOTCH3 expression. However, the general contribution of CEBPB in lung cancer is rather controversial, probably because the role of CEBPB depends on cooperating transcription factors in each cellular context. To understand how NRF2 shapes the function of CEBPB in NRF2-activated lung cancers and its biological consequence, we comprehensively explored NRF2-CEBPB-coregulated genes and found that genes involved in drug metabolism and detoxification were characteristically enriched. Indeed, CEBPB and NRF2 cooperatively contribute to the drug resistance. We also found that CEBPB is directly regulated by NRF2, which is likely to be advantageous for the coexpression and cooperative function of NRF2 and CEBPB. These results suggest that drug resistance of NRF2-activated lung cancers is achieved by the cooperative function of NRF2 and CEBPB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keito Okazaki
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation and 6Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hayato Anzawa
- Department of System Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University Sendai 980-8579, Japan
| | - Fumiki Katsuoka
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8573, Japan
| | - Kengo Kinoshita
- Department of System Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University Sendai 980-8579, Japan.,Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8573, Japan
| | - Hiroki Sekine
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation and 6Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation and 6Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
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AlSudais H, Rajgara R, Saleh A, Wiper-Bergeron N. C/EBPβ promotes the expression of atrophy-inducing factors by tumours and is a central regulator of cancer cachexia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022; 13:743-757. [PMID: 35014202 PMCID: PMC8818591 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is a transcription factor whose high expression in human cancers is associated with tumour aggressiveness and poor outcomes. Most advanced cancer patients will develop cachexia, characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass. In response to secreted factors from cachexia-inducing tumours, C/EBPβ is stimulated in muscle, leading to both myofibre atrophy and the inhibition of muscle regeneration. Involved in the regulation of immune responses, C/EBPβ induces the expression of many secreted factors, including cytokines. Because tumour-secreted factors drive cachexia and aggressive tumours have higher expression of C/EBPβ, we examined a potential role for C/EBPβ in the expression of tumour-derived cachexia-inducing factors. METHODS We used gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the role of tumour C/EBPβ expression on the secretion of cachexia-inducing factors. RESULTS We report that C/EBPβ overexpression up-regulates the expression of 260 secreted protein genes, resulting in a secretome that inhibits myogenic differentiation (-31%, P < 0.05) and myotube maturation [-38% (fusion index) and -25% (myotube diameter), P < 0.05]. We find that knockdown of C/EBPβ in cachexia-inducing Lewis lung carcinoma cells restores myogenic differentiation (+25%, P < 0.0001) and myotube diameter (+90%, P < 0.0001) in conditioned medium experiments and, in vivo, prevents muscle wasting (-51% for small myofibres vs. controls, P < 0.01; +140% for large myofibres, P < 0.01). Conversely, overexpression of C/EBPβ in non-cachectic tumours converts their secretome into a cachexia-inducing one, resulting in reduced myotube diameter (-41%, P < 0.0001, EL4 model) and inhibition of differentiation in culture (-26%, P < 0.01, EL4 model) and muscle wasting in vivo (+98% small fibres, P < 0.001; -76% large fibres, P < 0.001). Comparison of the differently expressed transcripts coding for secreted proteins in C/EBPβ-overexpressing myoblasts with the secretome from 27 different types of human cancers revealed ~18% similarity between C/EBPβ-regulated secreted proteins and those secreted by highly cachectic tumours (brain, pancreatic, and stomach cancers). At the protein level, we identified 16 novel secreted factors that are present in human cancer secretomes and are up-regulated by C/EBPβ. Of these, we tested the effect of three factors (SERPINF1, TNFRSF11B, and CD93) on myotubes and found that all had atrophic potential (-33 to -36% for myotube diameter, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS We find that C/EBPβ is necessary and sufficient to induce the secretion of cachexia-inducing factors by cancer cells and loss of C/EBPβ in tumours attenuates muscle atrophy in an animal model of cancer cachexia. Our findings establish C/EBPβ as a central regulator of cancer cachexia and an important therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamood AlSudais
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rashida Rajgara
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aisha Saleh
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nadine Wiper-Bergeron
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Alam MM, Chakma K, Mahmud S, Hossain MN, Karim MR, Amin MA. Multiomics analysis of altered NRF3 expression reveals poor prognosis in cancer. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2022.100892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Folic Acid Protects Melanocytes from Oxidative Stress via Activation of Nrf2 and Inhibition of HMGB1. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:1608586. [PMID: 34917229 PMCID: PMC8670940 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1608586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Vitiligo is a cutaneous depigmentation disease due to loss of epidermal melanocytes. Accumulating evidence has indicated that oxidative stress plays a vital role in vitiligo via directly destructing melanocytes and triggering inflammatory response that ultimately undermines melanocytes. Folic acid (FA), an oxidized form of folate with high bioavailability, exhibits potent antioxidant properties and shows therapeutic potential in multiple oxidative stress-related diseases. However, whether FA safeguards melanocytes from oxidative damages remains unknown. In this study, we first found that FA relieved melanocytes from H2O2-induced abnormal growth and apoptosis. Furthermore, FA enhanced the activity of antioxidative enzymes and remarkably reduced intracellular ROS levels in melanocytes. Subsequently, FA effectively activated nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, and Nrf2 knockdown blocked the protective effects of FA on H2O2-treated melanocytes. Additionally, FA inhibited the production of proinflammatory HMGB1 in melanocytes under oxidative stress. Taken together, our findings support the protective effects of FA on human melanocytes against oxidative injury via the activation of Nrf2 and the inhibition of HMGB1, thus indicating FA as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of vitiligo.
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50
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Wang Y, Yu Z, Fan Z, Fang Y, He L, Peng M, Chen Y, Hu Z, Zhao K, Zhang H, Liu C. Cardiac developmental toxicity and transcriptome analyses of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos exposed to Mancozeb. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 226:112798. [PMID: 34592528 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mancozeb (MZ), an antibacterial pesticide, has been linked to reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. However, whether MZ has cardiactoxicity is unclear. In this study, the cardiotoxic effects of exposure to environment-related MZ concentrations ranging from 1.88 μM to 7.52 μM were evaluated at the larval stage of zebrafish. Transcriptome sequencing predicted the mechanism of MZ-induced cardiac developmental toxicity in zebrafish by enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO). Consistent with morphological changes, the osm, pfkfb3, foxh1, stc1, and nrarpb genes may effect normal development of zebrafish heart by activating NOTCH signaling pathways, resulting in pericardial edema, myocardial fibrosis, and congestion in the heart area. Moreover, differential gene expression analysis indicated that cyp-related genes (cyp1c2 and cyp3c3) were significantly upregulated after MZ treatment, which may be related to apoptosis of myocardial cells. These results were verified by real-time quantitative RT-qPCR and acridine orange staining. Our findings suggest that MZ-mediated cardiotoxic development of zebrafish larvae may be related to the activation of Notch and apoptosis-related signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Zhiquan Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Zunpan Fan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Yiwei Fang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Liting He
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Meili Peng
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Yuanyao Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Zhiyong Hu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Kai Zhao
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Huiping Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei 430030, PR China.
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