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Doi T, Takahashi S, Aoki D, Yonemori K, Hara H, Hasegawa K, Takehara K, Harano K, Yunokawa M, Nomura H, Shimoi T, Horie K, Ogasawara A, Okame S. A first-in-human phase I study of TAS-117, an allosteric AKT inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2024; 93:605-616. [PMID: 38411735 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04631-7] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE TAS-117 is a highly potent and selective, oral, allosteric pan-AKT inhibitor under development for advanced/metastatic solid tumors. The safety, clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenomics and efficacy were investigated. METHODS This phase I, open-label, non-randomized, dose-escalating, first-in-human study enrolled patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors and comprised three phases (dose escalation phase [DEP], regimen modification phase [RMP], and safety assessment phase [SAP]). The SAP dose and regimen were determined in the DEP and RMP. Once-daily and intermittent dosing (4 days on/3 days off, 21-day cycles) were investigated. The primary endpoints were dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in Cycle 1 of the DEP and RMP and incidences of adverse events (AEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the SAP. Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, and antitumor activity. RESULTS Of 66 enrolled patients, 65 received TAS-117 (DEP, n = 12; RMP, n = 10; SAP, n = 43). No DLTs were reported with 24-mg/day intermittent dosing, which was selected as a recommended dose in SAP. In the SAP, 98.5% of patients experienced both AEs and ADRs (grade ≥ 3, 67.7% and 60.0%, respectively). In the dose range tested (8 to 32 mg/day), TAS-117 pharmacokinetics were dose proportional, and pharmacodynamic analysis showed a reduction of phosphorylated PRAS40, a direct substrate of AKT. Four patients in the SAP had confirmed partial response. CONCLUSION Oral doses of TAS-117 once daily up to 16 mg/day and intermittent dosing of 24 mg/day were well tolerated. TAS-117 pharmacokinetics were dose proportional at the doses evaluated. Antitumor activity may occur through AKT inhibition. TRIAL REGISTRATION jRCT2080222728 (January 29, 2015).
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Doi
- National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
| | - Shunji Takahashi
- Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Aoki
- Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Akasaka Sannou Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
- International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Kosei Hasegawa
- Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka, Japan
| | | | | | - Mayu Yunokawa
- Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nomura
- Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | | | - Koji Horie
- Saitama Cancer Center, Kita-Adachi, Japan
| | - Aiko Ogasawara
- Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka, Japan
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Pervanidis KA, D'Angelo GD, Weisner J, Brandherm S, Rauh D. Akt Inhibitor Advancements: From Capivasertib Approval to Covalent-Allosteric Promises. J Med Chem 2024; 67:6052-6063. [PMID: 38592948 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00075] [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: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Akt kinase is vital in cell growth, survival, metabolism, and migration. Dysregulation of Akt signaling is implicated in cancer and metabolic disorders. In the context of cancer, overactive Akt promotes cell survival and proliferation. This has spurred extensive research into developing Akt inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents to disrupt aberrant Akt signaling. Akt inhibitors are classified into three main types: ATP-competitive, allosteric, and covalent-allosteric inhibitors (CAAIs). ATP-competitive inhibitors compete with ATP for binding to Akt, allosteric inhibitors interact with the Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, and covalent-allosteric inhibitors form covalent bonds, making them more potent and selective. Notably, capivasertib (AZD5363), a potent ATP-competitive Akt inhibitor, received FDA approval in November 2023 for use in combination with the estrogen receptor degrader fulvestrant to treat breast cancer. Challenges remain, including improving selectivity, identifying biomarkers to tailor treatments, and enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. Particularly covalent-allosteric inhibitors hold promise for future more effective and personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosmas Alexandros Pervanidis
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University and Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD), Zentrum für Integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Giovanni Danilo D'Angelo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University and Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD), Zentrum für Integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jörn Weisner
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University and Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD), Zentrum für Integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
- KyDo Therapeutics, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sven Brandherm
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University and Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD), Zentrum für Integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
- KyDo Therapeutics, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Daniel Rauh
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University and Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD), Zentrum für Integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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Wei R, Zhao F, Kong L, Pu Y, Li Y, Zang C. The antagonistic effect of FTO on METTL14 promotes AKT3 m 6A demethylation and the progression of esophageal cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:131. [PMID: 38491196 PMCID: PMC10943165 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05660-2] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the most abundant modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs), N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays vital roles in many biological processes. METHODS Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and transcriptomic RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were used to screen for m6A targets in esophageal cancer cells and patients. The role of m6A RNA methylase in esophageal cancer was also analyzed using bioinformatics. In vitro and in vivo experiments were used to analyze gene expression and function. CCK-8, colony formation, cell apoptosis and immunofluorescence staining assays were performed to evaluate the proliferation, migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells, respectively. Western blot analysis, RNA stability, RIP and luciferase reporter assays were performed to elucidate the underlying mechanism involved. RESULTS We found that the m6A demethylase FTO was significantly upregulated in esophageal cancer cell lines and patient tissues. In vivo and in vitro assays demonstrated that FTO was involved in the proliferation and apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells. Moreover, we found that the m6A methyltransferase METTL14 negatively regulates FTO function in esophageal cancer progression. FTO alone is not related to the prognosis of esophageal cancer, and its function is antagonized by METTL14. By using transcriptome-wide m6A-seq and RNA-seq assays, we revealed that AKT3 is a downstream target of FTO and acts in concert to regulate the tumorigenesis and metastasis of esophageal cancer. Taken together, these findings provide insight into m6A-mediated tumorigenesis in esophageal cancer and could lead to the design of new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangfang Zhao
- Department of Cancer Epigenetics Program, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingsuo Kong
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Youguang Pu
- Department of Cancer Epigenetics Program, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanhai Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chunbao Zang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Wylaź M, Kaczmarska A, Pajor D, Hryniewicki M, Gil D, Dulińska-Litewka J. Exploring the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors in hormone-related cancers: A focus on breast and prostate cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115676. [PMID: 37832401 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) and prostate cancer (PC) are at the top of the list when it comes to the most common types of cancers worldwide. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is important, in that it strongly influences the development and progression of these tumors. Previous studies have emphasized the key role of inhibitors of the PIK3/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the treatment of BC and PC, and it remains to be a crucial method of treatment. In this review, the inhibitors of these signaling pathways are compared, as well as their effectiveness in therapy and potential as therapeutic agents. The use of these inhibitors as polytherapy is evaluated, especially with the use of hormonal therapy, which has shown promising results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Wylaź
- Student Scientific Group at Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biochemistry, ul. Mikołaja Kopernika Street 7C, 31-034 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Kaczmarska
- Student Scientific Group at Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biochemistry, ul. Mikołaja Kopernika Street 7C, 31-034 Krakow, Poland
| | - Dawid Pajor
- Student Scientific Group at Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biochemistry, ul. Mikołaja Kopernika Street 7C, 31-034 Krakow, Poland
| | - Matthew Hryniewicki
- Student Scientific Group at Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biochemistry, ul. Mikołaja Kopernika Street 7C, 31-034 Krakow, Poland
| | - Dorota Gil
- Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Mikołaja Kopernika Street 7C, 31-034 Krakow, Poland
| | - Joanna Dulińska-Litewka
- Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Mikołaja Kopernika Street 7C, 31-034 Krakow, Poland.
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Wang S, Liu X, Zhou T, Li J, Lin Y, Zhou A, Huang J, Zhao J, Cai J, Cai X, Huang Y, Li X. PKMYT1 inhibits lung adenocarcinoma progression by abrogating AKT1 activity. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2023; 46:195-209. [PMID: 36350496 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00744-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE AKT hyperactivation drives malignant phenotypes in lung cancer via promoting tumor cell proliferation and survival. However, the relationship between dysregulation of cell cycle progression and AKT1 kinase activity is still not clear. METHODS Following the expression level of PKMYT1 in lung cancer, we performed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and xenograft assays to determine the function of PKMYT1. We used RNA-seq to explore the anti-tumor mechanism of PKMYT1 and examined the effect of PKMYT1 on AKT1 activity. RESULTS In this study, we report that PKMYT1 is downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues and its low expression predicts a poor prognosis in LUAD patients. PKMYT1 exerts potent tumor-suppressive functions in LUAD cells by inhibiting AKT1 activation and thereby repressing cell cycle progression, which depends on its tyrosine and threonine protein kinase activity. Interestingly, PKMYT1 could directly bind AKT1 to abrogate AKT1 activation. Moreover, silencing AKT1 and inhibitors targeting the AKT pathway effectively reverse the promoting effects of PKMYT1 knockdown on proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells. CONCLUSION This work reveals the anti-tumor effect of PKMYT1 in LUAD and provides evidence to clarify the dual roles of PKMYT1 in tumor progression. Moreover, our findings broaden the current understandings on AKT1 activation and identify PKMYT1 as a potential negative regulator of AKT1 kinase activity, providing further insights into targeting the AKT pathway in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ximeng Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- Department of Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jinling Li
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ying Lin
- Department of Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Anni Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jiamin Huang
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jingjing Zhao
- Department of Cardiac Surgery Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Junchao Cai
- Department of Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiuyu Cai
- Department of General Internal Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yongbo Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Xu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
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6
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Wehling L, Keegan L, Fernández-Palanca P, Hassan R, Ghallab A, Schmitt J, Tang Y, Le Marois M, Roessler S, Schirmacher P, Kummer U, Hengstler JG, Sahle S, Breuhahn K. Spatial modeling reveals nuclear phosphorylation and subcellular shuttling of YAP upon drug-induced liver injury. eLife 2022; 11:78540. [PMID: 36255405 PMCID: PMC9578710 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78540] [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: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hippo signaling pathway controls cell proliferation and tissue regeneration via its transcriptional effectors yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). The canonical pathway topology is characterized by sequential phosphorylation of kinases in the cytoplasm that defines the subcellular localization of YAP and TAZ. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the nuclear/cytoplasmic shuttling dynamics of both factors under physiological and tissue-damaging conditions are poorly understood. By implementing experimental in vitro data, partial differential equation modeling, as well as automated image analysis, we demonstrate that nuclear phosphorylation contributes to differences between YAP and TAZ localization in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Treatment of hepatocyte-derived cells with hepatotoxic acetaminophen (APAP) induces a biphasic protein phosphorylation eventually leading to nuclear protein enrichment of YAP but not TAZ. APAP-dependent regulation of nuclear/cytoplasmic YAP shuttling is not an unspecific cellular response but relies on the sequential induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT, synonym: protein kinase B), as well as elevated nuclear interaction between YAP and AKT. Mouse experiments confirm this sequence of events illustrated by the expression of ROS-, AKT-, and YAP-specific gene signatures upon APAP administration. In summary, our data illustrate the importance of nuclear processes in the regulation of Hippo pathway activity. YAP and TAZ exhibit different shuttling dynamics, which explains distinct cellular responses of both factors under physiological and tissue-damaging conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilija Wehling
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Modeling of Biological Processes, COS Heidelberg/BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Liam Keegan
- Department of Modeling of Biological Processes, COS Heidelberg/BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paula Fernández-Palanca
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, León, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Reham Hassan
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Department of Toxicology, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Ghallab
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Department of Toxicology, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Jennifer Schmitt
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yingyue Tang
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maxime Le Marois
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Roessler
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Schirmacher
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ursula Kummer
- Department of Modeling of Biological Processes, COS Heidelberg/BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Department of Toxicology, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sven Sahle
- Department of Modeling of Biological Processes, COS Heidelberg/BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kai Breuhahn
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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7
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Tsai PJ, Lai YH, Manne RK, Tsai YS, Sarbassov D, Lin HK. Akt: a key transducer in cancer. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:76. [PMID: 36180910 PMCID: PMC9526305 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00860-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth factor signaling plays a pivotal role in diverse biological functions, such as cell growth, apoptosis, senescence, and migration and its deregulation has been linked to various human diseases. Akt kinase is a central player transmitting extracellular clues to various cellular compartments, in turn executing these biological processes. Since the discovery of Akt three decades ago, the tremendous progress towards identifying its upstream regulators and downstream effectors and its roles in cancer has been made, offering novel paradigms and therapeutic strategies for targeting human diseases and cancers with deregulated Akt activation. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms for Akt signaling networks paves the way for developing selective inhibitors targeting Akt and its signaling regulation for the management of human diseases including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Jane Tsai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsin Lai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Rajesh Kumar Manne
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Yau-Sheng Tsai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Clinical Medicine Research Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Dos Sarbassov
- Biology Department, School of Sciences and Humanities, and National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan City, 010000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Hui-Kuan Lin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
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8
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Page N, Wappett M, O'Dowd CR, O'Rourke M, Gavory G, Zhang L, Rountree JSS, Jordan L, Barker O, Gibson H, Boyd C, Feutren-Burton S, McLean E, Trevitt G, Harrison T. Identification and development of a subtype-selective allosteric AKT inhibitor suitable for clinical development. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15715. [PMID: 36127435 PMCID: PMC9489722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20208-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The serine/threonine protein kinase AKT plays a pivotal role within the PI3K pathway in regulating cellular proliferation and apoptotic cellular functions, and AKT hyper-activation via gene amplification and/or mutation has been implicated in multiple human malignancies. There are 3 AKT isoenzymes (AKT1-3) which mediate critical, non-redundant functions. We present the discovery and development of ALM301, a novel, allosteric, sub-type selective inhibitor of AKT1/2. ALM301 binds in an allosteric pocket created by the combined movement of the PH domain and the catalytic domain, resulting in a DFG out conformation. ALM301 was shown to be highly selective against a panel of over 450 kinases and potently inhibited cellular proliferation. These effects were particularly pronounced in MCF-7 cells containing a PI3KCA mutation. Subsequent cellular downstream pathway analysis in this sensitive cell line revealed potent inhibition of pAKT signalling up to 48 h post dosing. ALM301 treatment was well tolerated in an MCF-7 xenograft model and led to a dose-dependent reduction in tumour growth. Enhanced efficacy was observed in combination with tamoxifen. In summary, ALM301 is a highly specific AKT 1/2 inhibitor with an excellent pharmacological profile suitable for further clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Page
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Mark Wappett
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Colin R O'Dowd
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Martin O'Rourke
- Amphista Therapeutics, BioCity, Bo'Ness Rd, Newhouse, Chapelhall, Motherwell, ML1 5UH, UK
| | - Gerald Gavory
- Ridgeline Therapeutics GmbH, Technologiepark, Hochbergerstrasse 60C, 4057, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lixin Zhang
- Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, China
| | - J S Shane Rountree
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Linda Jordan
- Globachem, Alderley Park, 2 BioHub, Mereside, Macclesfield, SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Oliver Barker
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Hayley Gibson
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Caroline Boyd
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Stephanie Feutren-Burton
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Estelle McLean
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Graham Trevitt
- Sygnature Discovery, BioCity, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham, NG1 1GR, UK
| | - Timothy Harrison
- Almac Discovery Ltd, Health Sciences Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK. .,Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK.
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9
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AKT1 Transcriptomic Landscape in Breast Cancer Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11152290. [PMID: 35892586 PMCID: PMC9332453 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression and hyperactivation of the serine/threonine protein kinase B (AKT) pathway is one of the most common cellular events in breast cancer progression. However, the nature of AKT1-specific genome-wide transcriptomic alterations in breast cancer cells and breast cancer remains unknown to this point. Here, we delineate the impact of selective AKT1 knock down using gene-specific siRNAs or inhibiting the AKT activity with a pan-AKT inhibitor VIII on the nature of transcriptomic changes in breast cancer cells using the genome-wide RNA-sequencing analysis. We found that changes in the cellular levels of AKT1 lead to changes in the levels of a set of differentially expressed genes and, in turn, imply resulting AKT1 cellular functions. In addition to an expected positive relationship between the status of AKT1 and co-expressed cellular genes, our study unexpectedly discovered an inherent role of AKT1 in inhibiting the expression of a subset of genes in both unstimulated and growth factor stimulated breast cancer cells. We found that depletion of AKT1 leads to upregulation of a subset of genes—many of which are also found to be downregulated in breast tumors with elevated high AKT1 as well as upregulated in breast tumors with no detectable AKT expression. Representative experimental validation studies in two breast cancer cell lines showed a reasonable concurrence between the expression data from the RNA-sequencing and qRT-PCR or data from ex vivo inhibition of AKT1 activity in cancer patient-derived cells. In brief, findings presented here provide a resource for further understanding of AKT1-dependent modulation of gene expression in breast cancer cells and broaden the scope and significance of AKT1 targets and their functions.
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10
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Ferrer-Bonsoms JA, Gimeno M, Olaverri D, Sacristan P, Lobato C, Castilla C, Carazo F, Rubio A. EventPointer 3.0: flexible and accurate splicing analysis that includes studying the differential usage of protein-domains. NAR Genom Bioinform 2022; 4:lqac067. [PMID: 36128425 PMCID: PMC9477077 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqac067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) plays a key role in cancer: all its hallmarks have been associated with different mechanisms of abnormal AS. The improvement of the human transcriptome annotation and the availability of fast and accurate software to estimate isoform concentrations has boosted the analysis of transcriptome profiling from RNA-seq. The statistical analysis of AS is a challenging problem not yet fully solved. We have included in EventPointer (EP), a Bioconductor package, a novel statistical method that can use the bootstrap of the pseudoaligners. We compared it with other state-of-the-art algorithms to analyze AS. Its performance is outstanding for shallow sequencing conditions. The statistical framework is very flexible since it is based on design and contrast matrices. EP now includes a convenient tool to find the primers to validate the discoveries using PCR. We also added a statistical module to study alteration in protein domain related to AS. Applying it to 9514 patients from TCGA and TARGET in 19 different tumor types resulted in two conclusions: i) aberrant alternative splicing alters the relative presence of Protein domains and, ii) the number of enriched domains is strongly correlated with the age of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A Ferrer-Bonsoms
- Biomedical Engineering and Science Department, TECNUN, Universidad de Navarra , San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Marian Gimeno
- Biomedical Engineering and Science Department, TECNUN, Universidad de Navarra , San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Danel Olaverri
- Biomedical Engineering and Science Department, TECNUN, Universidad de Navarra , San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Pablo Sacristan
- Biomedical Engineering and Science Department, TECNUN, Universidad de Navarra , San Sebastián , Spain
| | - César Lobato
- Biomedical Engineering and Science Department, TECNUN, Universidad de Navarra , San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Carlos Castilla
- Biomedical Engineering and Science Department, TECNUN, Universidad de Navarra , San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Fernando Carazo
- Biomedical Engineering and Science Department, TECNUN, Universidad de Navarra , San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Angel Rubio
- Biomedical Engineering and Science Department, TECNUN, Universidad de Navarra , San Sebastián , Spain
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11
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Distinct resistance mechanisms arise to allosteric vs. ATP-competitive AKT inhibitors. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2057. [PMID: 35440108 PMCID: PMC9019088 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29655-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The AKT kinases have emerged as promising therapeutic targets in oncology and both allosteric and ATP-competitive AKT inhibitors have entered clinical investigation. However, long-term efficacy of such inhibitors will likely be challenged by the development of resistance. We have established prostate cancer models of acquired resistance to the allosteric inhibitor MK-2206 or the ATP-competitive inhibitor ipatasertib following prolonged exposure. While alterations in AKT are associated with acquired resistance to MK-2206, ipatasertib resistance is driven by rewired compensatory activity of parallel signaling pathways. Importantly, MK-2206 resistance can be overcome by treatment with ipatasertib, while ipatasertib resistance can be reversed by co-treatment with inhibitors of pathways including PIM signaling. These findings demonstrate that distinct resistance mechanisms arise to the two classes of AKT inhibitors and that combination approaches may reverse resistance to ATP-competitive inhibition. How resistance to different classes of AKT inhibitors can emerge is unclear. Here, the authors show that resistance to allosteric inhibitors is mainly due to mutation of AKT1 while the ATP competitive resistance is driven by activation of PIM kinases in prostate cancer models.
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12
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aPC/PAR1 confers endothelial anti-apoptotic activity via a discrete, β-arrestin-2-mediated SphK1-S1PR1-Akt signaling axis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2106623118. [PMID: 34873055 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106623118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial dysfunction is associated with vascular disease and results in disruption of endothelial barrier function and increased sensitivity to apoptosis. Currently, there are limited treatments for improving endothelial dysfunction. Activated protein C (aPC), a promising therapeutic, signals via protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) and mediates several cytoprotective responses, including endothelial barrier stabilization and anti-apoptotic responses. We showed that aPC-activated PAR1 signals preferentially via β-arrestin-2 (β-arr2) and dishevelled-2 (Dvl2) scaffolds rather than G proteins to promote Rac1 activation and barrier protection. However, the signaling pathways utilized by aPC/PAR1 to mediate anti-apoptotic activities are not known. aPC/PAR1 cytoprotective responses also require coreceptors; however, it is not clear how coreceptors impact different aPC/PAR1 signaling pathways to drive distinct cytoprotective responses. Here, we define a β-arr2-mediated sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1)-sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1PR1)-Akt signaling axis that confers aPC/PAR1-mediated protection against cell death. Using human cultured endothelial cells, we found that endogenous PAR1 and S1PR1 coexist in caveolin-1 (Cav1)-rich microdomains and that S1PR1 coassociation with Cav1 is increased by aPC activation of PAR1. Our study further shows that aPC stimulates β-arr2-dependent SphK1 activation independent of Dvl2 and is required for transactivation of S1PR1-Akt signaling and protection against cell death. While aPC/PAR1-induced, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation is also dependent on β-arr2, neither SphK1 nor S1PR1 are integrated into the ERK1/2 pathway. Finally, aPC activation of PAR1-β-arr2-mediated protection against apoptosis is dependent on Cav1, the principal structural protein of endothelial caveolae. These studies reveal that different aPC/PAR1 cytoprotective responses are mediated by discrete, β-arr2-driven signaling pathways in caveolae.
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13
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Kueffer LE, Joseph RE, Andreotti AH. Reining in BTK: Interdomain Interactions and Their Importance in the Regulatory Control of BTK. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:655489. [PMID: 34249912 PMCID: PMC8260988 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.655489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Since Dr. Ogden Bruton's 1952 paper describing the first human primary immunodeficiency disease, the peripheral membrane binding signaling protein, aptly named Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), has been the target of intense study. Dr. Bruton's description of agammaglobulinemia set the stage for ultimately understanding key signaling steps emanating from the B cell receptor. BTK is a multidomain tyrosine kinase and in the decades since Dr. Bruton's discovery it has become clear that genetic defects in the regulatory domains or the catalytic domain can lead to immunodeficiency. This finding underscores the intricate regulatory mechanisms within the BTK protein that maintain appropriate levels of signaling both in the resting B cell and during an immune challenge. In recent decades, BTK has become a target for clinical intervention in treating B cell malignancies. The survival reliance of B cell malignancies on B cell receptor signaling has allowed small molecules that target BTK to become essential tools in treating patients with hematological malignancies. The first-in-class Ibrutinib and more selective second-generation inhibitors all target the active site of the multidomain BTK protein. Therapeutic interventions targeting BTK have been successful but are plagued by resistance mutations that render drug treatment ineffective for some patients. This review will examine the molecular mechanisms that drive drug resistance, the long-range conformational effects of active site inhibitors on the BTK regulatory apparatus, and emerging opportunities to allosterically target the BTK kinase to improve therapeutic interventions using combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amy H. Andreotti
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
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14
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Robles P, Turner A, Zuco G, Adams S, Paganopolou P, Winton M, Hill B, Kache V, Bateson C, Pires-daSilva A. Parental energy-sensing pathways control intergenerational offspring sex determination in the nematode Auanema freiburgensis. BMC Biol 2021; 19:102. [PMID: 34001117 PMCID: PMC8130380 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01032-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental stimuli experienced by the parental generation influence the phenotype of subsequent generations (Demoinet et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E2689-E2698, 2017; Burton et al., Nat Cell Biol 19:252-257, 2017; Agrawal et al., Nature 401:60-63, 1999). The effects of these stimuli on the parental generation may be passed through the germline, but the mechanisms at the basis of this non-Mendelian type of inheritance, their level of conservation, how they lead to adaptive vs non-adaptive, and intergenerational vs transgenerational inheritance are poorly understood. Here we show that modulation of nutrient-sensing pathways in the parental generation of the nematode Auanema freiburgensis regulates phenotypic plasticity of its offspring. RESULTS In response to con-specific pheromones indicative of stress, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), and insulin signaling regulate stress resistance and sex determination across one generation, and these effects can be mimicked by pathway modulators. The effectors of these pathways are closely associated with the chromatin, and their regulation affects the chromatin acetylation status in the germline. CONCLUSION These results suggest that highly conserved metabolic sensors regulate phenotypic plasticity through regulation of subcellular localization of their effectors, leading to changes in chromatin acetylation and epigenetic status of the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Robles
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Anisa Turner
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Giusy Zuco
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Sally Adams
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Michael Winton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Beth Hill
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Vikas Kache
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Christine Bateson
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Andre Pires-daSilva
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA.
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15
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Wiechmann S, Ruprecht B, Siekmann T, Zheng R, Frejno M, Kunold E, Bajaj T, Zolg DP, Sieber SA, Gassen NC, Kuster B. Chemical Phosphoproteomics Sheds New Light on the Targets and Modes of Action of AKT Inhibitors. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:631-641. [PMID: 33755436 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Due to its important roles in oncogenic signaling, AKT has been subjected to extensive drug discovery efforts leading to small molecule inhibitors investigated in advanced clinical trials. To better understand how these drugs exert their therapeutic effects at the molecular level, we combined chemoproteomic target affinity profiling using kinobeads and phosphoproteomics to analyze the five clinical AKT inhibitors AZD5363 (Capivasertib), GSK2110183 (Afuresertib), GSK690693, Ipatasertib, and MK-2206 in BT-474 breast cancer cells. Kinobead profiling identified between four and 29 nM targets for these compounds and showed that AKT1 and AKT2 were the only common targets. Similarly, measuring the response of the phosphoproteome to the same inhibitors identified ∼1700 regulated phosphorylation sites, 276 of which were perturbed by all five compounds. This analysis expanded the known AKT signaling network by 119 phosphoproteins that may represent direct or indirect targets of AKT. Within this new network, 41 regulated phosphorylation sites harbor the AKT substrate motif, and recombinant kinase assays validated 16 as novel AKT substrates. These included CEP170 and FAM83H, suggesting a regulatory function of AKT in mitosis and cytoskeleton organization. In addition, a specific phosphorylation pattern on the ULK1-FIP200-ATG13-VAPB complex was found to determine the active state of ULK1, leading to elevated autophagy in response to AKT inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Wiechmann
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Ruprecht
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Theresa Siekmann
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Runsheng Zheng
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Martin Frejno
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Elena Kunold
- Organic Chemistry II, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Thomas Bajaj
- Department of Psychiatry, Bonn Clinical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniel P. Zolg
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Stephan A. Sieber
- Organic Chemistry II, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Nils C. Gassen
- Department of Psychiatry, Bonn Clinical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Bernhard Kuster
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry, 85354 Freising, Germany
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16
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Jiang X, Zhi X, Zhang P, Zhou Z, Ye J, Gao Y, Wang X, Yang C, Chen H, Liu R, Chen C. Isochromanoindolenines suppress triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation partially via inhibiting Akt activation. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:986-994. [PMID: 33867823 PMCID: PMC8040301 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.48170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
As the most malignant subtype of breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks effective targeted therapeutics clinically to date. In this study, one lead compound FZU-0025-065 with isochromanoindolenine scaffold was identified by a cell-based screening. Among nine breast cancer cell lines tested, TNBC are the most sensitive cell lines to FZU-0025-065. FZU-0025-065 inhibits TNBC cell growth in a time- and dosage-dependent manner. FZU-0025-065 suppresses the expression of cell cycle dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), Cyclin D1 and Cyclin B1; meanwhile, elevates the expression of cell cycle dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and p27. Importantly, we found that FZU-0025-065 suppresses AKT activation in a time- and dosage-dependent manner. Over-expression of constitutive active AKT partially rescues FZU-0025-065 induced cell growth inhibition in MDA-MB-468 cells, indicating FZU-0025-065 suppresses TNBC cell growth partially via inhibiting AKT activation. Finally, FZU-0025-065 suppresses TNBC cell growth in a xenograft mouse model. Taken together, our findings suggested that isochromanoindolenine derivative FZU-0025-065 inhibits TNBC via suppressing the AKT signaling and that FZU-0025-065 may be useful for TNBC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Jiang
- Medical Faculty of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Xu Zhi
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Peixia Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
| | - Zhongmei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Jinxiang Ye
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
| | - Yu Gao
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
| | - Xinye Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Chuanyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Haijun Chen
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
| | - Rong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
- Translational Cancer Research Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
- Institute of Translation Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518035, China
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17
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Hinz N, Baranowsky A, Horn M, Kriegs M, Sibbertsen F, Smit DJ, Clezardin P, Lange T, Schinke T, Jücker M. Knockdown of AKT3 Activates HER2 and DDR Kinases in Bone-Seeking Breast Cancer Cells, Promotes Metastasis In Vivo and Attenuates the TGFβ/CTGF Axis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020430. [PMID: 33670586 PMCID: PMC7922044 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone metastases frequently occur in breast cancer patients and lack appropriate treatment options. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the multistep process of breast cancer bone metastasis and tumor-induced osteolysis is of paramount interest. The serine/threonine kinase AKT plays a crucial role in breast cancer bone metastasis but the effect of individual AKT isoforms remains unclear. Therefore, AKT isoform-specific knockdowns were generated on the bone-seeking MDA-MB-231 BO subline and the effect on proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemotaxis was analyzed by live-cell imaging. Kinome profiling and Western blot analysis of the TGFβ/CTGF axis were conducted and metastasis was evaluated by intracardiac inoculation of tumor cells into NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice. MDA-MB-231 BO cells exhibited an elevated AKT3 kinase activity in vitro and responded to combined treatment with AKT- and mTOR-inhibitors. Knockdown of AKT3 significantly increased migration, invasion, and chemotaxis in vitro and metastasis to bone but did not significantly enhance osteolysis. Furthermore, knockdown of AKT3 increased the activity and phosphorylation of pro-metastatic HER2 and DDR1/2 but lowered protein levels of CTGF after TGFβ-stimulation, an axis involved in tumor-induced osteolysis. We demonstrated that AKT3 plays a crucial role in bone-seeking breast cancer cells by promoting metastatic potential without facilitating tumor-induced osteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Hinz
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (N.H.); (F.S.); (D.J.S.)
| | - Anke Baranowsky
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (A.B.); (T.S.)
- Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Horn
- University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany;
- Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Kriegs
- Department of Radiotherapy & Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany;
- UCCH Kinomics Core Facility, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Freya Sibbertsen
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (N.H.); (F.S.); (D.J.S.)
| | - Daniel J. Smit
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (N.H.); (F.S.); (D.J.S.)
| | - Philippe Clezardin
- INSERM, Research Unit UMR S1033, LyOS, Faculty of Medicine Lyon-Est, University of Lyon 1, 69372 Lyon, France;
| | - Tobias Lange
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Thorsten Schinke
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (A.B.); (T.S.)
| | - Manfred Jücker
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (N.H.); (F.S.); (D.J.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)-40-7410-56339
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18
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Avoiding or Co-Opting ATP Inhibition: Overview of Type III, IV, V, and VI Kinase Inhibitors. NEXT GENERATION KINASE INHIBITORS 2020. [PMCID: PMC7359047 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-48283-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
As described in the previous chapter, most kinase inhibitors that have been developed for use in the clinic act by blocking ATP binding; however, there is growing interest in identifying compounds that target kinase activities and functions without interfering with the conserved features of the ATP-binding site. This chapter will highlight alternative approaches that exploit unique kinase structural features that are being targeted to identify more selective and potent inhibitors. The figure below, adapted from (Sammons et al., Molecular Carcinogenesis 58:1551–1570, 2019), provides a graphical description of the various approaches to manipulate kinase activity. In addition to the type I and II inhibitors, type III kinase inhibitors have been identified to target sites adjacent to the ATP-binding site in the catalytic domain. New information on kinase structure and substrate-binding sites has enabled the identification of type IV kinase inhibitor compounds that target regions outside the catalytic domain. The combination of targeting unique allosteric sites outside the catalytic domain with ATP-targeted compounds has yielded a number of novel bivalent type V kinase inhibitors. Finally, emerging interest in the development of irreversible compounds that form selective covalent interactions with key amino acids involved in kinase functions comprise the class of type VI kinase inhibitors.
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19
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Uko NE, Güner OF, Matesic DF, Bowen JP. Akt Pathway Inhibitors. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:883-900. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200224101808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a devastating disease that has plagued humans from ancient times to this day. After
decades of slow research progress, promising drug development, and the identification of new targets,
the war on cancer was launched, in 1972. The P13K/Akt pathway is a growth-regulating cellular signaling
pathway, which in many human cancers is over-activated. Studies have demonstrated that a decrease
in Akt activity by Akt inhibitors is associated with a reduction in tumor cell proliferation. There have
been several promising drug candidates that have been studied, including but not limited to ipatasertib
(RG7440), 1; afuresertib (GSK2110183), 2; uprosertib (GSK2141795), 3; capivasertib (AZD5363), 4;
which reportedly bind to the ATP active site and inhibit Akt activity, thus exerting cytotoxic and antiproliferative
activities against human cancer cells. For most of the compounds discussed in this review,
data from preclinical studies in various cancers suggest a mechanistic basis involving hyperactivated
Akt signaling. Allosteric inhibitors are also known to alter the activity of kinases. Perifosine (KRX-
0401), 5, an alkylphospholipid, is known as the first allosteric Akt inhibitor to enter clinical development
and is mechanistically characterized as a PH-domain dependent inhibitor, non-competitive with
ATP. This results in a reduction in Akt enzymatic and cellular activities. Other small molecule (MK-
2206, 6, PHT-427, Akti-1/2) inhibitors with a similar mechanism of action, alter Akt activity through the
suppression of cell growth mediated by the inhibition of Akt membrane localization and subsequent activation.
The natural product solenopsin has been identified as an inhibitor of Akt. A few promising solenopsin
derivatives have emerged through pharmacophore modeling, energy-based calculations, and
property predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nne E. Uko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
| | - Osman F. Güner
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA, United States
| | - Diane F. Matesic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
| | - J. Phillip Bowen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
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20
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Iida M, Harari PM, Wheeler DL, Toulany M. Targeting AKT/PKB to improve treatment outcomes for solid tumors. Mutat Res 2020; 819-820:111690. [PMID: 32120136 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2020.111690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The serine/threonine kinase AKT, also known as protein kinase B (PKB), is the major substrate to phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and consists of three paralogs: AKT1 (PKBα), AKT2 (PKBβ) and AKT3 (PKBγ). The PI3K/AKT pathway is normally activated by binding of ligands to membrane-bound receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) as well as downstream to G-protein coupled receptors and integrin-linked kinase. Through multiple downstream substrates, activated AKT controls a wide variety of cellular functions including cell proliferation, survival, metabolism, and angiogenesis in both normal and malignant cells. In human cancers, the PI3K/AKT pathway is most frequently hyperactivated due to mutations and/or overexpression of upstream components. Aberrant expression of RTKs, gain of function mutations in PIK3CA, RAS, PDPK1, and AKT itself, as well as loss of function mutation in AKT phosphatases are genetic lesions that confer hyperactivation of AKT. Activated AKT stimulates DNA repair, e.g. double strand break repair after radiotherapy. Likewise, AKT attenuates chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. These observations suggest that a crucial link exists between AKT and DNA damage. Thus, AKT could be a major predictive marker of conventional cancer therapy, molecularly targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for solid tumors. In this review, we summarize the current understanding by which activated AKT mediates resistance to cancer treatment modalities, i.e. radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and RTK targeted therapy. Next, the effect of AKT on response of tumor cells to RTK targeted strategies will be discussed. Finally, we will provide a brief summary on the clinical trials of AKT inhibitors in combination with radiochemotherapy, RTK targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Iida
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - P M Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - D L Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - M Toulany
- Division of Radiobiology and Molecular Environmental Research, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tuebingen, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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21
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Schmitt M, Schewe M, Sacchetti A, Feijtel D, van de Geer WS, Teeuwssen M, Sleddens HF, Joosten R, van Royen ME, van de Werken HJG, van Es J, Clevers H, Fodde R. Paneth Cells Respond to Inflammation and Contribute to Tissue Regeneration by Acquiring Stem-like Features through SCF/c-Kit Signaling. Cell Rep 2020; 24:2312-2328.e7. [PMID: 30157426 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
IBD syndromes such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis result from the inflammation of specific intestinal segments. Although many studies have reported on the regenerative response of intestinal progenitor and stem cells to tissue injury, very little is known about the response of differentiated lineages to inflammatory cues. Here, we show that acute inflammation of the mouse small intestine is followed by a dramatic loss of Lgr5+ stem cells. Instead, Paneth cells re-enter the cell cycle, lose their secretory expression signature, and acquire stem-like properties, thus contributing to the tissue regenerative response to inflammation. Stem cell factor secretion upon inflammation triggers signaling through the c-Kit receptor and a cascade of downstream events culminating in GSK3β inhibition and Wnt activation in Paneth cells. Hence, the plasticity of the intestinal epithelium in response to inflammation goes well beyond stem and progenitor cells and extends to the fully differentiated and post-mitotic Paneth cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Schmitt
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matthias Schewe
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrea Sacchetti
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Danny Feijtel
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wesley S van de Geer
- Cancer Computational Biology Center and Department of Urology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Miriam Teeuwssen
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hein F Sleddens
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rosalie Joosten
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martin E van Royen
- Erasmus Optical Imaging Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Harmen J G van de Werken
- Cancer Computational Biology Center and Department of Urology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johan van Es
- Hubrecht Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht and Princess Maxima Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht and Princess Maxima Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Riccardo Fodde
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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22
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Wong CK, Lambert AW, Ozturk S, Papageorgis P, Lopez D, Shen N, Sen Z, Abdolmaleky HM, Győrffy B, Feng H, Thiagalingam S. Targeting RICTOR Sensitizes SMAD4-Negative Colon Cancer to Irinotecan. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 18:414-423. [PMID: 31932471 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering molecular targets to enhance sensitivity to chemotherapy is becoming a priority for effectively treating cancers. Loss of function mutations of SMAD4 in colon cancer are associated with metastatic progression and resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the most extensively used drug of almost all chemotherapy combinations used in the treatment of metastatic colon cancer. Here, we report that SMAD4 deficiency also confers resistance to irinotecan, another common chemotherapeutic frequently used alone or in combination with 5-FU against colon cancer. Mechanistically, we find that SMAD4 interacts with and inhibits RICTOR, a component of the mTORC2 complex, resulting in suppression of downstream effector phosphorylation of AKT at Serine 473. In silico meta-analysis of publicly available gene expression datasets derived from tumors indicates that lower levels of SMAD4 or higher levels of RICTOR/AKT, irrespective of the SMAD4 status, correlate with poor survival, suggesting them as strong prognostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, we find that overexpression of SMAD4 or depletion of RICTOR suppresses AKT signaling and increases sensitivity to irinotecan in SMAD4-deficient colon cancer cells. Consistent with these observations, pharmacologic inhibition of AKT sensitizes SMAD4-negative colon cancer cells to irinotecan in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our study suggests that hyperactivation of the mTORC2 pathway is a therapeutic vulnerability that could be exploited to sensitize SMAD4-negative colon cancer to irinotecan. IMPLICATIONS: Hyperactivation of the mTORC2 pathway in SMAD4-negative colon cancer provides a mechanistic rationale for targeted inhibition of mTORC2 or AKT as a distinctive combinatorial therapeutic opportunity with chemotherapy for colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Khuan Wong
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Biomedical Genetics Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Arthur W Lambert
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sait Ozturk
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Panagiotis Papageorgis
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Delia Lopez
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ning Shen
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Zaina Sen
- Biomedical Genetics Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hamid M Abdolmaleky
- Biomedical Genetics Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- MTA TTK Lendület Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Budapest, Hungary.,Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hui Feng
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sam Thiagalingam
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Biomedical Genetics Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Graduate Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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23
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa Toxin ExoU as a Therapeutic Target in the Treatment of Bacterial Infections. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7120707. [PMID: 31888268 PMCID: PMC6955817 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7120707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa employs the type III secretion system (T3SS) and four effector proteins, ExoS, ExoT, ExoU, and ExoY, to disrupt cellular physiology and subvert the host’s innate immune response. Of the effector proteins delivered by the T3SS, ExoU is the most toxic. In P. aeruginosa infections, where the ExoU gene is expressed, disease severity is increased with poorer prognoses. This is considered to be due to the rapid and irreversible damage exerted by the phospholipase activity of ExoU, which cannot be halted before conventional antibiotics can successfully eliminate the pathogen. This review will discuss what is currently known about ExoU and explore its potential as a therapeutic target, highlighting some of the small molecule ExoU inhibitors that have been discovered from screening approaches.
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24
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Nussinov R, Tsai C, Jang H. Autoinhibition can identify rare driver mutations and advise pharmacology. FASEB J 2019; 34:16-29. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901341r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section Basic Science Program Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Frederick MD USA
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel
| | - Chung‐Jung Tsai
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel
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25
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Hinz N, Jücker M. Distinct functions of AKT isoforms in breast cancer: a comprehensive review. Cell Commun Signal 2019; 17:154. [PMID: 31752925 PMCID: PMC6873690 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-019-0450-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AKT, also known as protein kinase B, is a key element of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, AKT regulates the hallmarks of cancer, e.g. tumor growth, survival and invasiveness of tumor cells. After AKT was discovered in the early 1990s, further studies revealed that there are three different AKT isoforms, namely AKT1, AKT2 and AKT3. Despite their high similarity of 80%, the distinct AKT isoforms exert non-redundant, partly even opposing effects under physiological and pathological conditions. Breast cancer as the most common cancer entity in women, frequently shows alterations of the PI3K/AKT signaling. MAIN CONTENT A plethora of studies addressed the impact of AKT isoforms on tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of breast cancer as well as on therapy response and overall survival in patients. Therefore, this review aimed to give a comprehensive overview about the isoform-specific effects of AKT in breast cancer and to summarize known downstream and upstream mechanisms. Taking account of conflicting findings among the studies, the majority of the studies reported a tumor initiating role of AKT1, whereas AKT2 is mainly responsible for tumor progression and metastasis. In detail, AKT1 increases cell proliferation through cell cycle proteins like p21, p27 and cyclin D1 and impairs apoptosis e.g. via p53. On the downside AKT1 decreases migration of breast cancer cells, for instance by regulating TSC2, palladin and EMT-proteins. However, AKT2 promotes migration and invasion most notably through regulation of β-integrins, EMT-proteins and F-actin. Whilst AKT3 is associated with a negative ER-status, findings about the role of AKT3 in regulation of the key properties of breast cancer are sparse. Accordingly, AKT1 is mutated and AKT2 is amplified in some cases of breast cancer and AKT isoforms are associated with overall survival and therapy response in an isoform-specific manner. CONCLUSIONS Although there are several discussed hypotheses how isoform specificity is achieved, the mechanisms behind the isoform-specific effects remain mostly unrevealed. As a consequence, further effort is necessary to achieve deeper insights into an isoform-specific AKT signaling in breast cancer and the mechanism behind it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Hinz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Jücker
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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26
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Shariati M, Meric-Bernstam F. Targeting AKT for cancer therapy. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2019; 28:977-988. [PMID: 31594388 PMCID: PMC6901085 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1676726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Targeted therapies in cancer aim to inhibit specific molecular targets responsible for enhanced tumor growth. AKT/PKB (protein kinase B) is a serine threonine kinase involved in several critical cellular pathways, including survival, proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Although phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) is the key regulator of AKT activation, numerous stimuli and kinases initiate pro-proliferative AKT signaling which results in the activation of AKT pathway to drive cellular growth and survival. Activating mutations and amplification of components of the AKT pathway are implicated in the pathogenesis of many cancers including breast and ovarian. Given its importance, AKT, it has been validated as a promising therapeutic target.Areas covered: This article summarizes AKT's biological function and different classes of AKT inhibitors as anticancer agents. We also explore the efficacy of AKT inhibitors as monotherapies and in combination with cytotoxic and other targeted therapies.Expert opinion: The complex mechanism following AKT inhibition requires the addition of other therapies to prevent resistance and improve clinical response. Further studies are necessary to determine additional rational combinations that can enhance efficacy of AKT inhibitors, potentially by targeting compensatory mechanisms, and/or enhancing apoptosis. The identification of biomarkers of response is essential for the development of successful therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Shariati
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Funda Meric-Bernstam
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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27
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Kim HJ, Jang JH, Zhang YH, Yoo HY, Kim SJ. Fast relaxation and desensitization of angiotensin II contraction in the pulmonary artery via AT1R and Akt-mediated phosphorylation of muscular eNOS. Pflugers Arch 2019; 471:1317-1330. [PMID: 31468138 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-019-02305-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Angiotensin II (AngII) triggers a transient contraction of pulmonary arteries (PAs) followed by protracted desensitization. Based on the unconventional eNOS expression in PA smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), we hypothesized that activation of smooth muscle eNOS by AngII might be responsible for fast relaxation and tachyphylaxis. Using dual-wire myograph, mechanically endothelium-denuded rat PA [E(-)PA] showed AngII concentration-dependent transient contractions (ΔTAngII, 95% decay within 1 min), which were abolished by losartan (AT1R antagonist). Neither PD123319 (AT2R antagonist) nor A779 (MasR antagonist) affected ΔTAngII. When the vessels were pretreated with L-NAME (NOS inhibitor), ODQ (guanylate cyclase inhibitor), or KT5823 (PKG inhibitor), ΔTAngII of E(-)PA became larger and sustained, whereas nNOS or iNOS inhibitors had no such effect. Immunoblotting of human PASMCs (hPASMCs) also showed eNOS expression, and AngII treatment induced activating phosphorylations of Ser1177 in eNOS and of Ser473 in Akt (Ser/Thr protein kinase B), an upstream signal of eNOS phosphorylation. In addition, L-NAME co-treatment promoted AngII-induced Ser19 phosphorylation of myosin light chain. In hPASMCs, AngII abolished plasma membrane expression of AT1R, and recovery by washout took more than 1 h. Consistent with the data from hPASMCs, the second application of AngII to E(-)PA did not induce contraction, and significant recovery of ΔTAngII required prolonged washout (> 2 h) in the myography study. L-NAME treatment before the second application facilitated recovery of ΔTAngII. Muscular eNOS plays an auto-inhibitory role in ΔTAngII of PAs. The molecular changes investigated in hPASMCs revealed eNOS phosphorylation and internalization of AT1R by AngII. We propose that the rat PA smooth muscle eNOS-induced lusitropy and slow recovery of AT1R from tachyphylaxis might counterbalance the excessive contractile response to AngII, contributing to the distinctive low-pressure pulmonary circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae Jin Kim
- Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Jang
- Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Yin Hua Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.,Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Hae Young Yoo
- Chung-Ang University Red Cross College of Nursing, Seoul, 100-031, South Korea
| | - Sung Joon Kim
- Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea. .,Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.
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28
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Bjune K, Wierød L, Naderi S. Inhibitors of AKT kinase increase LDL receptor mRNA expression by two different mechanisms. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218537. [PMID: 31216345 PMCID: PMC6583949 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase B (AKT) is a serine/threonine kinase that functions as an important downstream effector of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. We have recently shown that MK-2206 and triciribine, two highly selective AKT inhibitors increase the level of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mRNA which leads to increased amount of cell-surface LDLRs. However, whereas MK-2206 induces transcription of the LDLR gene, triciribine stabilizes LDLR mRNA, raising the possibility that the two inhibitors may actually affect other kinases than AKT. In this study, we aimed to ascertain the role of AKT in regulation of LDLR mRNA expression by examining the effect of five additional AKT inhibitors on LDLR mRNA levels. Here we show that in cultured HepG2 cells, AKT inhibitors ARQ-092, AKT inhibitor VIII, perifosine, AT7867 and CCT128930 increase LDLR mRNA levels by inducing the activity of LDLR promoter. CCT128930 also increased the stability of LDLR mRNA. To study the role of AKT isoforms on LDLR mRNA levels, we examined the effect of siRNA-mediated knockdown of AKT1 or AKT2 on LDLR promoter activity and LDLR mRNA stability. Whereas knockdown of either AKT1 or AKT2 led to upregulation of LDLR promoter activity, only knockdown of AKT2 had a stabilizing effect on LDLR mRNA. Taken together, these results provide strong evidence for involvement of AKT in regulation of LDLR mRNA expression, and point towards the AKT isoform specificity for upregulation of LDLR mRNA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine Bjune
- Unit for Cardiac and Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Lene Wierød
- Unit for Cardiac and Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Soheil Naderi
- Unit for Cardiac and Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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29
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Slotkin EK, Diolaiti D, Shukla NN, Dela Cruz FS, Clark JJ, Gundem G, Yellapantula VD, Levine MF, You D, Ma P, Pachhal S, Ibanez Sanchez G, Benayed R, Jungbluth AA, Smyth LM, Mauguen A, Gushterova I, Ding H, Spraggon L, Darnell R, Califano A, Ladanyi M, Papaemmanuil E, Kung AL, Hyman DM, Roberts SS. Patient-Driven Discovery, Therapeutic Targeting, and Post-Clinical Validation of a Novel AKT1 Fusion-Driven Cancer. Cancer Discov 2019; 9:605-616. [PMID: 30877085 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-18-0953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the important role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis in the pathogenesis of cancer, to date there have been few functional oncogenic fusions identified involving the AKT genes. A 12-year-old female with a histopathologically indeterminate epithelioid neoplasm was found to harbor a novel fusion between the LAMTOR1 and AKT1 genes. Through expanded use access, she became the first pediatric patient to be treated with the oral ATP-competitive pan-AKT inhibitor ipatasertib. Treatment resulted in dramatic tumor regression, demonstrating through patient-driven discovery that the fusion resulted in activation of AKT1, was an oncogenic driver, and could be therapeutically targeted with clinical benefit. Post-clinical validation using patient-derived model systems corroborated these findings, confirmed a membrane-bound and constitutively active fusion protein, and identified potential mechanisms of resistance to single-agent treatment with ipatasertib. SIGNIFICANCE: This study describes the patient-driven discovery of the first AKT1 fusion-driven cancer and its treatment with the AKT inhibitor ipatasertib. Patient-derived in vitro and in vivo model systems are used to confirm the LAMTOR1-AKT1 fusion as a tumorigenic driver and identify potential mechanisms of resistance to AKT inhibition.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 565.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Slotkin
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
| | - Daniel Diolaiti
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Neerav N Shukla
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Filemon S Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Gunes Gundem
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Venkata D Yellapantula
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Max F Levine
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Daoqi You
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Peilin Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sagarika Pachhal
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Ryma Benayed
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Achim A Jungbluth
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Lillian M Smyth
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Audrey Mauguen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Hongxu Ding
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | | | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Elli Papaemmanuil
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Andrew L Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - David M Hyman
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Stephen S Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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30
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Uhlenbrock N, Smith S, Weisner J, Landel I, Lindemann M, Le TA, Hardick J, Gontla R, Scheinpflug R, Czodrowski P, Janning P, Depta L, Quambusch L, Müller MP, Engels B, Rauh D. Structural and chemical insights into the covalent-allosteric inhibition of the protein kinase Akt. Chem Sci 2019; 10:3573-3585. [PMID: 30996949 PMCID: PMC6430017 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc05212c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Structure-based driven synthesis and biological evaluation provide innovative novel covalent-allosteric Akt inhibitors.
The Ser/Thr kinase Akt (Protein Kinase B/PKB) is a master switch in cellular signal transduction pathways. Its downstream signaling influences cell proliferation, cell growth, and apoptosis, rendering Akt a prominent drug target. The unique activation mechanism of Akt involves a change of the relative orientation of its N-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) and the kinase domain and makes this kinase suitable for highly specific allosteric modulation. Here we present a unique set of crystal structures of covalent-allosteric interdomain inhibitors in complex with full-length Akt and report the structure-based design, synthesis, biological and pharmacological evaluation of a focused library of these innovative inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Uhlenbrock
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Steven Smith
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Jörn Weisner
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Ina Landel
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Marius Lindemann
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Thien Anh Le
- Faculty for Chemistry and Pharmacy , Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie , Universität Würzburg , Emil-Fischer-Strasse 42 , 97074 Würzburg , Germany
| | - Julia Hardick
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Rajesh Gontla
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Rebekka Scheinpflug
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Paul Czodrowski
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Petra Janning
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie , Abteilung Chemische Biologie , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 , 44227 Dortmund , Germany
| | - Laura Depta
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Lena Quambusch
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Matthias P Müller
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
| | - Bernd Engels
- Faculty for Chemistry and Pharmacy , Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie , Universität Würzburg , Emil-Fischer-Strasse 42 , 97074 Würzburg , Germany
| | - Daniel Rauh
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University , Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW) , Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany . ; http://www.ddhdortmund.de ; www.twitter.com/DDHDortmund
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Toulany M. Targeting DNA Double-Strand Break Repair Pathways to Improve Radiotherapy Response. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10010025. [PMID: 30621219 PMCID: PMC6356315 DOI: 10.3390/genes10010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
More than half of cancer patients receive radiotherapy as a part of their cancer treatment. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are considered as the most lethal form of DNA damage and a primary cause of cell death and are induced by ionizing radiation (IR) during radiotherapy. Many malignant cells carry multiple genetic and epigenetic aberrations that may interfere with essential DSB repair pathways. Additionally, exposure to IR induces the activation of a multicomponent signal transduction network known as DNA damage response (DDR). DDR initiates cell cycle checkpoints and induces DSB repair in the nucleus by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). The canonical DSB repair pathways function in both normal and tumor cells. Thus, normal-tissue toxicity may limit the targeting of the components of these two pathways as a therapeutic approach in combination with radiotherapy. The DSB repair pathways are also stimulated through cytoplasmic signaling pathways. These signaling cascades are often upregulated in tumor cells harboring mutations or the overexpression of certain cellular oncogenes, e.g., receptor tyrosine kinases, PIK3CA and RAS. Targeting such cytoplasmic signaling pathways seems to be a more specific approach to blocking DSB repair in tumor cells. In this review, a brief overview of cytoplasmic signaling pathways that have been reported to stimulate DSB repair is provided. The state of the art of targeting these pathways will be discussed. A greater understanding of the underlying signaling pathways involved in DSB repair may provide valuable insights that will help to design new strategies to improve treatment outcomes in combination with radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Toulany
- Division of Radiobiology and Molecular Environmental Research, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tuebingen, Roentgenweg 11, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
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Astl L, Tse A, Verkhivker GM. Interrogating Regulatory Mechanisms in Signaling Proteins by Allosteric Inhibitors and Activators: A Dynamic View Through the Lens of Residue Interaction Networks. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1163:187-223. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-8719-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Vanaja KG, Timp W, Feinberg AP, Levchenko A. A Loss of Epigenetic Control Can Promote Cell Death through Reversing the Balance of Pathways in a Signaling Network. Mol Cell 2018; 72:60-70.e3. [PMID: 30244832 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic control of regulatory networks is only partially understood. Expression of Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF2) is controlled by genomic imprinting, mediated by silencing of the maternal allele. Loss of imprinting of IGF2 (LOI) is linked to intestinal and colorectal cancers, causally in murine models and epidemiologically in humans. However, the molecular underpinnings of the LOI phenotype are not clear. Surprisingly, in LOI cells, we find a reversal of the relative activities of two canonical signaling pathways triggered by IGF2, causing further rebalancing between pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling. A predictive mathematical model shows that this network rebalancing quantitatively accounts for the effect of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition in both WT and LOI cells. This mechanism also quantitatively explains both the stable LOI phenotype and the therapeutic window for selective killing of LOI cells, and thus prevention of epigenetically controlled cancers. These findings suggest a framework for understanding epigenetically modified cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran G Vanaja
- Yale Systems Biology Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Winston Timp
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrew P Feinberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Andre Levchenko
- Yale Systems Biology Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Phosphorylation-Dependent Inhibition of Akt1. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9090450. [PMID: 30205513 PMCID: PMC6162393 DOI: 10.3390/genes9090450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase B (Akt1) is a proto-oncogene that is overactive in most cancers. Akt1 activation requires phosphorylation at Thr308; phosphorylation at Ser473 further enhances catalytic activity. Akt1 activity is also regulated via interactions between the kinase domain and the N-terminal auto-inhibitory pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. As it was previously difficult to produce Akt1 in site-specific phosphorylated forms, the contribution of each activating phosphorylation site to auto-inhibition was unknown. Using a combination of genetic code expansion and in vivo enzymatic phosphorylation, we produced Akt1 variants containing programmed phosphorylation to probe the interplay between Akt1 phosphorylation status and the auto-inhibitory function of the PH domain. Deletion of the PH domain increased the enzyme activity for all three phosphorylated Akt1 variants. For the doubly phosphorylated enzyme, deletion of the PH domain relieved auto-inhibition by 295-fold. We next found that phosphorylation at Ser473 provided resistance to chemical inhibition by Akti-1/2 inhibitor VIII. The Akti-1/2 inhibitor was most effective against pAkt1T308 and showed four-fold decreased potency with Akt1 variants phosphorylated at Ser473. The data highlight the need to design more potent Akt1 inhibitors that are effective against the doubly phosphorylated and most pathogenic form of Akt1.
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CK2 inhibition protects white matter from ischemic injury. Neurosci Lett 2018; 687:37-42. [PMID: 30125643 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Strokes occur predominantly in the elderly and white matter (WM) is injured in most strokes, contributing to the disability associated with clinical deficits. Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is expressed in neuronal cells and was reported to be neuroprotective during cerebral ischemia. Recently, we reported that CK2 is abundantly expressed by glial cells and myelin. However, in contrast to its role in cerebral (gray matter) ischemia, CK2 activation during ischemia mediated WM injury via the CDK5 and AKT/GSK3β signaling pathways (Bastian et al., 2018). Subsequently, CK2 inhibition using the small molecule inhibitor CX-4945 correlated with preservation of oligodendrocytes as well as conservation of axon structure and axonal mitochondria, leading to improved functional recovery. Notably, CK2 inhibition promoted WM function when applied before or after ischemic injury by differentially regulating the CDK5 and AKT/GSK3β pathways. Specifically, blockade of the active conformation of AKT conferred post-ischemic protection to young, aging, and old WM, suggesting a common therapeutic target across age groups. CK2 inhibitors are currently being used in clinical trials for cancer patients; therefore, it is important to consider the potential benefits of CK2 inhibitors during an ischemic attack.
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Zhang N, Prasad S, Huyghues Despointes CE, Young J, Kima PE. Leishmania parasitophorous vacuole membranes display phosphoinositides that create conditions for continuous Akt activation and a target for miltefosine in Leishmania infections. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20:e12889. [PMID: 29993167 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Miltefosine is an important drug for the treatment of leishmaniasis; however, its mechanism of action is still poorly understood. In these studies, we tested the hypothesis that like in cancer cells, miltefosine's efficacy in leishmaniasis is due to its inhibition of Akt activation in host cells. We show using pharmacologic agents that block Akt activation by different mechanisms and also using an inducible knockdown approach that miltefosine loses its efficacy when its access to Akt1 is limited. Interestingly, limitation of Akt activation results in clearance of established Leishmania infections. We then show, using fluorophore-tagged probes that bind to phosphoinositides, that Leishmania parasitophorous vacuole membranes (LPVMs) display the relevant phosphoinositides to which Akt can be recruited and activated continuously. Taken together, we propose that the acquisition of PI(4) P and the display of PI (3,4)P2 on LPVMs initiate the machinery that supports continuous Akt activation and sensitivity to miltefosine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naixin Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Samiksha Prasad
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Young
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Peter E Kima
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Bastian C, Quinn J, Tripathi A, Aquila D, McCray A, Dutta R, Baltan S, Brunet S. CK2 inhibition confers functional protection to young and aging axons against ischemia by differentially regulating the CDK5 and AKT signaling pathways. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 126:47-61. [PMID: 29944965 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
White matter (WM) is injured in most strokes, which contributes to functional deficits during recovery. Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a protein kinase that is expressed in brain, including WM. To assess the impact of CK2 inhibition on axon recovery following oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD), mouse optic nerves (MONs), which are pure WM tracts, were subjected to OGD with or without the selective CK2 inhibitor CX-4945. CX-4945 application preserved axon function during OGD and promoted axon function recovery when applied before or after OGD. This protective effect of CK2 inhibition correlated with preservation of oligodendrocytes and conservation of axon structure and axonal mitochondria. To investigate the pertinent downstream signaling pathways, siRNA targeting the CK2α subunit identified CDK5 and AKT as downstream molecules. Consequently, MK-2206 and roscovitine, which are selective AKT and CDK5 inhibitors, respectively, protected young and aging WM function only when applied before OGD. However, a novel pan-AKT allosteric inhibitor, ARQ-092, which targets both the inactive and active conformations of AKT, conferred protection to young and aging axons when applied before or after OGD. These results suggest that AKT and CDK5 signaling contribute to the WM functional protection conferred by CK2 inhibition during ischemia, while inhibition of activated AKT signaling plays the primary role in post-ischemic protection conferred by CK2 inhibition in WM independent of age. CK2 inhibitors are currently being used in clinical trials for cancer patients; therefore, our results will provide rationale for repurposing these drugs as therapeutic options for stroke patients by adding novel targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinthasagar Bastian
- Departments of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America
| | - John Quinn
- Departments of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America
| | - Ajai Tripathi
- Departments of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America
| | - Danielle Aquila
- Departments of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America
| | - Andrew McCray
- Departments of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America
| | - Ranjan Dutta
- Departments of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America
| | - Selva Baltan
- Departments of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America.
| | - Sylvain Brunet
- Departments of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America.
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Li L, Zhao SL, Yue GGL, Wong TP, Pu JX, Sun HD, Fung KP, Leung PC, Han QB, Lau CBS, Leung PS. Isodon eriocalyx and its bioactive component Eriocalyxin B enhance cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2018; 44:56-64. [PMID: 29895493 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer, associated with poor prognosis and low survival rate, has been the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. Although gemcitabine (Gem) is the first-line chemotherapeutic drug in the management of pancreatic cancer, the median survival extension is only 1.5 months, indicating unsatisfactory clinical results. Therefore, exploring agents that can enhance the anti-cancer activity of Gem would be an attractive strategy. PURPOSE Our previous studies have demonstrated that eriocalyxin b (EriB), an ent‑kaurane diterpenoid isolated from Isodon eriocalyx (Dunn.) Hara, possesses anti-pancreatic cancer effects, thus acting as a potential therapeutic agent. In this study, we further investigated whether EriB or the ethanol extract of I. eriocalyx (Isodon) could potentiate the cytotoxic activity of Gem in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. In addition, the mechanism associated with their effects was also studied. METHODS The anti-proliferation effect was assessed by MTT assay and Ki-67 immunostaining. The combination effect (addition, synergism and antagonism) of various agents was calculated by the Calcusyn software (Biosoft), utilizing the T.C. Chou Method. Apoptosis was detected using Annexin V and PI double staining followed by quantitative flow cytometry. Protein expression regulated by various treatments was analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS The combination index revealed that Gem and EriB (or Isodon extract) had synergistic anti-proliferative effect. Both cellular apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of Gem were significantly increased after combination with EriB (or Isodon extract). The underlying mechanisms involved in the combination effects were elucidated, which include: (1) increased activation of the caspase cascade; (2) reduction of PDK1 and AKT phosphorylation; (3) induction of JNK phosphorylation by Isodon and Gem combination. CONCLUSION Gem and EriB (or Isodon extract) taken together in combination regulated PDK1/AKT1/caspase and JNK signaling and promoted apoptosis synergistically, which may contribute to the much increased anti-proliferative activity compared to either agent alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - S L Zhao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - G G L Yue
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - T P Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - J X Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS, Yunnan, China
| | - H D Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS, Yunnan, China
| | - K P Fung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - P C Leung
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Q B Han
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - C B S Lau
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - P S Leung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Dual Roles of Serine-Threonine Kinase Receptor-Associated Protein (STRAP) in Redox-Sensitive Signaling Pathways Related to Cancer Development. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2018; 2018:5241524. [PMID: 29849900 PMCID: PMC5933018 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5241524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein (STRAP) is a transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) receptor-interacting protein that has been implicated in both cell proliferation and cell death in response to various stresses. However, the precise roles of STRAP in these cellular processes are still unclear. The mechanisms by which STRAP controls both cell proliferation and cell death are now beginning to be unraveled. In addition to its biological roles, this review also focuses on the dual functions of STRAP in cancers displaying redox dysregulation, where it can behave as a tumor suppressor or an oncogene (i.e., it can either inhibit or promote tumor formation), depending on the cellular context. Further studies are needed to define the functions of STRAP and the redox-sensitive intracellular signaling pathways that enhance either cell proliferation or cell death in human cancer tissues, which may help in the development of effective treatments for cancer.
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Bhullar KS, Lagarón NO, McGowan EM, Parmar I, Jha A, Hubbard BP, Rupasinghe HPV. Kinase-targeted cancer therapies: progress, challenges and future directions. Mol Cancer 2018; 17:48. [PMID: 29455673 PMCID: PMC5817855 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-018-0804-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 672] [Impact Index Per Article: 112.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human genome encodes 538 protein kinases that transfer a γ-phosphate group from ATP to serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues. Many of these kinases are associated with human cancer initiation and progression. The recent development of small-molecule kinase inhibitors for the treatment of diverse types of cancer has proven successful in clinical therapy. Significantly, protein kinases are the second most targeted group of drug targets, after the G-protein-coupled receptors. Since the development of the first protein kinase inhibitor, in the early 1980s, 37 kinase inhibitors have received FDA approval for treatment of malignancies such as breast and lung cancer. Furthermore, about 150 kinase-targeted drugs are in clinical phase trials, and many kinase-specific inhibitors are in the preclinical stage of drug development. Nevertheless, many factors confound the clinical efficacy of these molecules. Specific tumor genetics, tumor microenvironment, drug resistance, and pharmacogenomics determine how useful a compound will be in the treatment of a given cancer. This review provides an overview of kinase-targeted drug discovery and development in relation to oncology and highlights the challenges and future potential for kinase-targeted cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushwant S Bhullar
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Naiara Orrego Lagarón
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eileen M McGowan
- Chronic Disease Solutions Team, School of Life Science, University of Technology, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Indu Parmar
- Division of Product Development, Radient Technologies, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Amitabh Jha
- Department of Chemistry, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
| | - Basil P Hubbard
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - H P Vasantha Rupasinghe
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada.
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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Holdgate GA, Meek TD, Grimley RL. Mechanistic enzymology in drug discovery: a fresh perspective. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2017; 17:115-132. [PMID: 29192286 DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2017.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Given the therapeutic and commercial success of small-molecule enzyme inhibitors, as exemplified by kinase inhibitors in oncology, a major focus of current drug-discovery and development efforts is on enzyme targets. Understanding the course of an enzyme-catalysed reaction can help to conceptualize different types of inhibitor and to inform the design of screens to identify desired mechanisms. Exploiting this information allows the thorough evaluation of diverse compounds, providing the knowledge required to efficiently optimize leads towards differentiated candidate drugs. This review highlights the rationale for conducting high-quality mechanistic enzymology studies and considers the added value in combining such studies with orthogonal biophysical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey A Holdgate
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Building 310, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, UK
| | - Thomas D Meek
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Rachel L Grimley
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Building 310, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, UK
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Akt1 and Akt3 but not Akt2 through interaction with DNA-PKcs stimulate proliferation and post-irradiation cell survival of K-RAS-mutated cancer cells. Cell Death Discov 2017; 3:17072. [PMID: 29090098 PMCID: PMC5661268 DOI: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2017.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Akt1 through the C-terminal domain interacts with the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and stimulates the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in K-RAS-mutated (K-RASmut) cells. We investigated the interactions of distinct domain(s) of DNA-PKcs in binding to full-length Akt1. Similarly, we analyzed potential interactions of DNA-PKcs with Akt2 and Akt3. Finally the effect of Akt isoforms in cell proliferation and tumor growth was tested. We demonstrated that Akt1 preferentially binds to the N-terminal domain of DNA-PKcs using pull-down studies with distinct eGFP-tagged DNA-PKcs fragments that were expressed by plasmids in combination with mCherry-tagged full-length Akt isoforms. These binding studies also indicated an interaction with the intermediate and C-terminal domains of DNA-PKcs. In contrast, Akt3 interacted with all four DNA-PKcs fragments without a marked preference for any specific domain. Notably, we could not see binding of Akt2 to any of the tested DNA-PKcs fragments. In subsequent studies, we demonstrated that Akt inhibition interferes with binding of Akt1 to the N-terminal domain of DNA-PKcs. This indicated a correlation between Akt1 activity and the Akt1/DNA-PKcs complex formation. Finally, knockdown studies revealed that the depletion of endogenous Akt1 and Akt3, but not Akt2, inhibit clonogenic activity and repair of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DNA DSBs, leading to radiosensitization. Furthermore, in a xenograft study the expression of shAkt1 or shAkt3, but not shAkt2 in K-RASmut breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 showed major tumor growth delay. Together, these data indicate that Akt1 and Akt3, but not Akt2, physically interact with DNA-PKcs, thus stimulating the repair of DSBs and therefore protecting K-RASmut cells against IR. Likewise, interaction of Akt isoforms with DNA-PKcs could be crucial for their role in regulating tumor growth.
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Brown Lobbins ML, Shivakumar BR, Postlethwaite AE, Hasty KA. Chronic exposure of interleukin-13 suppress the induction of matrix metalloproteinase-1 by tumour necrosis factor α in normal and scleroderma dermal fibroblasts through protein kinase B/Akt. Clin Exp Immunol 2017; 191:84-95. [PMID: 28884475 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells taken from patients with scleroderma express increased levels of interleukin (IL)-13. Moreover, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) from involved scleroderma skin fibroblasts is refractory to stimulation by tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. To elucidate the mechanism(s) involved, we examined the effect of IL-13 on TNF-α-induced MMP-1 expression in normal and scleroderma human dermal fibroblast lines and studied the involvement of serine/threonine kinase B/protein kinase B (Akt) in this response. Dermal fibroblast lines were stimulated with TNF-α in the presence of varying concentrations of IL-13. Total Akt and pAkt were quantitated using Western blot analyses. Fibroblasts were treated with or without Akt inhibitor VIII in the presence of IL-13 followed by TNF-α stimulation. MMP-1 expression was analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (anova) or Student's t-test. Upon TNF-α stimulation, normal dermal fibroblasts secrete more MMP-1 than systemic sclerosis (SSc) fibroblasts. This increase in MMP-1 is lost when fibroblasts are co-incubated with IL-13 and TNF-α. IL-13 induced a significant increase in levels of pAkt in dermal fibroblasts, while Akt inhibitor VIII reversed the suppressive effects of IL-13 on the response of cultured fibroblasts to TNF-α, increasing their expression of MMP-1. We show that IL-13 suppresses MMP-1 in TNF-α-stimulated normal and scleroderma dermal fibroblast. Akt inhibitor VIII is able to reverse the suppressive effect of IL-13 on MMP-1 expression and protein synthesis. Our data suggest that IL-13 regulates MMP-1 expression in response to TNF-α through an Akt-mediated pathway and may play a role in fibrotic diseases such as scleroderma.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Brown Lobbins
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Division of Connective Tissue Diseases
| | - B R Shivakumar
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - A E Postlethwaite
- Department of Medicine, Division of Connective Tissue Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center
| | - K A Hasty
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Connective Tissue Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center
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Huang BX, Newcomer K, Kevala K, Barnaeva E, Zheng W, Hu X, Patnaik S, Southall N, Marugan J, Ferrer M, Kim HY. Identification of 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one as a specific allosteric inhibitor of Akt. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11673. [PMID: 28916818 PMCID: PMC5601486 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11870-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Akt plays a major role in tumorigenesis and the development of specific Akt inhibitors as effective cancer therapeutics has been challenging. Here, we report the identification of a highly specific allosteric inhibitor of Akt through a FRET-based high-throughput screening, and characterization of its inhibitory mechanism. Out of 373,868 compounds screened, 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one specifically decreased Akt phosphorylation at both T308 and S473, and inhibited Akt kinase activity (IC50 = 6 µM) and downstream signaling. 4-Phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one did not alter the activity of upstream kinases including PI3K, PDK1, and mTORC2 as well as closely related kinases that affect cell proliferation and survival such as SGK1, PKA, PKC, or ERK1/2. This compound inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells but displayed less toxicity compared to inhibitors of PI3K or mTOR. Kinase profiling efforts revealed that 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one does not bind to the kinase active site of over 380 human kinases including Akt. However, 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one interacted with the PH domain of Akt, apparently inducing a conformation that hinders S473 and T308 phosphorylation by mTORC2 and PDK1. In conclusion, we demonstrate that 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one is an exquisitely selective Akt inhibitor with a distinctive molecular mechanism, and a promising lead compound for further optimization toward the development of novel cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill X Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Kenny Newcomer
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Karl Kevala
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Elena Barnaeva
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Xin Hu
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Samarjit Patnaik
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Noel Southall
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Juan Marugan
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Marc Ferrer
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Hee-Yong Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
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Bossmann M, Ackermann BW, Thome UH, Laube M. Signaling Cascade Involved in Rapid Stimulation of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) by Dexamethasone. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081807. [PMID: 28825630 PMCID: PMC5578194 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairment of mucociliary clearance with reduced airway fluid secretion leads to chronically inflamed airways. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is crucially involved in airway fluid secretion and dexamethasone (dexa) has previously been shown to elevate CFTR activity in airway epithelial cells. However, the pathway by which dexa increases CFTR activity is largely unknown. We aimed to determine whether the increase of CFTR activity by dexa is achieved by non-genomic signaling and hypothesized that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is involved in CFTR stimulation. Primary rat airway epithelial cells and human bronchial submucosal gland-derived Calu-3 cells were analyzed in Ussing chambers and kinase activation was determined by Western blots. Results demonstrated a critical involvement of PI3K and protein kinase B (AKT) signaling in the dexa-induced increase of CFTR activity, while serum and glucocorticoid dependent kinase 1 (SGK1) activity was not essential. We further demonstrated a reduced neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 4-like (NEDD4L) ubiquitin E3 ligase activity induced by dexa, possibly responsible for the elevated CFTR activity. Finally, increases of CFTR activity by dexa were demonstrated within 30 min accompanied by rapid activation of AKT. In conclusion, dexa induces a rapid stimulation of CFTR activity which depends on PI3K/AKT signaling in airway epithelial cells. Glucocorticoids might thus represent, in addition to their immunomodulatory actions, a therapeutic strategy to rapidly increase airway fluid secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Bossmann
- Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig, Division of Neonatology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Benjamin W Ackermann
- Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig, Division of Neonatology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Ulrich H Thome
- Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig, Division of Neonatology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Mandy Laube
- Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig, Division of Neonatology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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46
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Luo Y, He J, Yang C, Orange M, Ren X, Blair N, Tan T, Yang JM, Zhu H. UCH-L1 promotes invasion of breast cancer cells through activating Akt signaling pathway. J Cell Biochem 2017. [PMID: 28636190 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
As a de-ubiquitin enzyme, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (UCH)-L1 has been shown to be overexpressed in several human cancers. However, the function of UCH-L1 in invasion of breast cancers is still unclear. Here we report that the expression of UCH-L1 is significantly higher in cancer cells with higher invasive ability. While ectopic UCH-L1 expression failed to alter cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells, it caused a significant upregulation of cellular invasion. Furthermore, siRNA mediated knockdown of UCH-L1 led to suppression of invasion in UCH-L1 overexpressing MCF-7 cells. In order to identify molecular mechanisms underlying these observations, a novel in vitro proximity-dependent biotin identification method was developed by fusing UCH-L1 protein with a bacterial biotin ligase (Escherichia coli BirA R118G, BioID). Streptavidin magnetic beads pulldown assay revealed that UCH-L1 can interact with Akt in MCF-7 cells. Pulldown assay with His tagged recombinant UCH-L1 protein and cell lysate from MCF-7 cells further demonstrated that UCH-L1 preferentially binds to Akt2 for Akt activation. Finally, we demonstrated that overexpression of UCH-L1 led to activation of Akt as evidenced by upregulation of phosphorylated Akt. Thus, these findings demonstrated that UCH-L1 promotes invasion of breast cancer cells and might serve as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of human patients with breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Luo
- Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, P.R.China
| | - Jianfeng He
- Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, P.R.China
| | - Chunlin Yang
- Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Matthew Orange
- Department of Physical Education and Human Performance, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut
| | - Xingcong Ren
- Department of Pharmacology, The Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Nick Blair
- Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Tao Tan
- Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jin-Ming Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, The Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
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47
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AKT/PKB Signaling: Navigating the Network. Cell 2017; 169:381-405. [PMID: 28431241 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2207] [Impact Index Per Article: 315.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The Ser and Thr kinase AKT, also known as protein kinase B (PKB), was discovered 25 years ago and has been the focus of tens of thousands of studies in diverse fields of biology and medicine. There have been many advances in our knowledge of the upstream regulatory inputs into AKT, key multifunctional downstream signaling nodes (GSK3, FoxO, mTORC1), which greatly expand the functional repertoire of AKT, and the complex circuitry of this dynamically branching and looping signaling network that is ubiquitous to nearly every cell in our body. Mouse and human genetic studies have also revealed physiological roles for the AKT network in nearly every organ system. Our comprehension of AKT regulation and functions is particularly important given the consequences of AKT dysfunction in diverse pathological settings, including developmental and overgrowth syndromes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and neurological disorders. There has also been much progress in developing AKT-selective small molecule inhibitors. Improved understanding of the molecular wiring of the AKT signaling network continues to make an impact that cuts across most disciplines of the biomedical sciences.
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EMP2 is a novel therapeutic target for endometrial cancer stem cells. Oncogene 2017; 36:5793-5807. [PMID: 28604744 PMCID: PMC5648618 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that overexpression of the oncogenic protein epithelial membrane protein-2 (EMP2) correlates with endometrial carcinoma progression and ultimately poor survival from disease. To understand the role of EMP2 in the etiology of disease, gene analysis was performed to show transcripts that are reciprocally regulated by EMP2 levels. In particular, EMP2 expression correlates with and helps regulate the expression of several cancer stem cell associated markers including aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1). ALDH expression significantly promotes tumor initiation and correlates with the levels of EMP2 expression in both patient samples and tumor cell lines. As therapy against CSCs in endometrial cancer is lacking, the ability of anti-EMP2 IgG1 therapy to reduce primary and secondary tumor formation using xenograft HEC1A models was determined. Anti-EMP2 IgG1 reduced the expression and activity of ALDH and correspondingly reduced both primary and secondary tumor load. Our results collectively suggest that anti-EMP2 therapy may be a novel method of reducing endometrial cancer stem cells.
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Xiang RF, Wang Y, Zhang N, Xu WB, Cao Y, Tong J, Li JM, Wu YL, Yan H. MK2206 enhances the cytocidal effects of bufalin in multiple myeloma by inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2776. [PMID: 28492559 PMCID: PMC5520709 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite the development of promising cancer therapeutic drugs, multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease. Bufalin is a bufanolide steroid compound of the traditional Chinese medicine Chan Su that was previously shown to exert growth suppression effects on myeloma cell lines. Previous studies conducted by our group demonstrated that bufalin activated the AKT/mTOR pathway in myeloma cells, which is considered an essential pathway to disease progression and is related to drug resistance in MM. In view of the significant role of AKT in MM, the allosteric AKT inhibitor MK2206 was selected in order to enhance the antitumor effects of bufalin in different MM cell lines (NCI-H929, U266, LP-1 and RPMI8226). The data indicated that MK2206 enhanced the cytotoxicity of bufalin in MM cells, via the suppression of cellular proliferation and the induction of apoptosis, as demonstrated by cleavage of apoptosis-related proteins. This effect was further noted in the presence of exogenous interleukin-6 and/or following the co-culture of MM cells with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC). This process was associated with the inhibition of the AKT/mTOR pathway. The combination of bufalin with MK2206 reduced the secretion of IL-6 in U266 cells. The combined treatment exhibited similar anti-MM effects in bortezomib-resistant cell lines (NCI-H929R, U266R). In addition to the in vitro cell line models, the synergistic effect was noted in primary MM cells and in MM xenografts of BALB-c and NOD-SCID mice. In conclusion, the data suggested that MK2206 significantly enhanced the cytocidal effects of bufalin in MM cells, regardless of the sensitivity to bortezomib, via the inhibition of the AKT/mTOR pathway. The study provided the basis of a promising treatment approach for MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru-Fang Xiang
- Department of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wen-Bin Xu
- Department of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jia Tong
- Department of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jun-Min Li
- Department of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Ying-Li Wu
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Basic Medicine, Chemical Biology Division of Shanghai Universities E-Institutes, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hua Yan
- Department of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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50
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Navrátilová J, Karasová M, Kohutková Lánová M, Jiráková L, Budková Z, Pacherník J, Šmarda J, Beneš P. Selective elimination of neuroblastoma cells by synergistic effect of Akt kinase inhibitor and tetrathiomolybdate. J Cell Mol Med 2017; 21:1859-1869. [PMID: 28244639 PMCID: PMC5571524 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumour of infancy. Pathological activation of glucose consumption, glycolysis and glycolysis‐activating Akt kinase occur frequently in neuroblastoma cells, and these changes correlate with poor prognosis of patients. Therefore, several inhibitors of glucose utilization and the Akt kinase activity are in preclinical trials as potential anti‐cancer drugs. However, metabolic plasticity of cancer cells might undermine efficacy of this approach. In this work, we identified oxidative phosphorylation as compensatory mechanism preserving viability of neuroblastoma cells with inhibited glucose uptake/Akt kinase. It was oxidative phosphorylation that maintained intracellular level of ATP and proliferative capacity of these cells. The oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors (rotenone, tetrathiomolybdate) synergized with inhibitor of the Akt kinase/glucose uptake in down‐regulation of both viability of neuroblastoma cells and clonogenic potential of cells forming neuroblastoma spheroids. Interestingly, tetrathiomolybdate acted as highly specific inhibitor of oxygen consumption and activator of lactate production in neuroblastoma cells, but not in normal fibroblasts and neuronal cells. Moreover, the reducing effect of tetrathiomolybdate on cell viability and the level of ATP in the cells with inhibited Akt kinase/glucose uptake was also selective for neuroblastoma cells. Therefore, efficient elimination of neuroblastoma cells requires inhibition of both glucose uptake/Akt kinase and oxidative phosphorylation activities. The use of tetrathiomolybdate as a mitochondrial inhibitor contributes to selectivity of this combined treatment, preferentially targeting neuroblastoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarmila Navrátilová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Center for Biological and Cellular Engineering, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Karasová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Kohutková Lánová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ludmila Jiráková
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Budková
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Pacherník
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Šmarda
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Beneš
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Center for Biological and Cellular Engineering, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
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