1
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Mierke CT. Extracellular Matrix Cues Regulate Mechanosensing and Mechanotransduction of Cancer Cells. Cells 2024; 13:96. [PMID: 38201302 PMCID: PMC10777970 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular biophysical properties have particular implications for a wide spectrum of cellular behaviors and functions, including growth, motility, differentiation, apoptosis, gene expression, cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion, and signal transduction including mechanotransduction. Cells not only react to unambiguously mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM), but can occasionally manipulate the mechanical features of the matrix in parallel with biological characteristics, thus interfering with downstream matrix-based cues in both physiological and pathological processes. Bidirectional interactions between cells and (bio)materials in vitro can alter cell phenotype and mechanotransduction, as well as ECM structure, intentionally or unintentionally. Interactions between cell and matrix mechanics in vivo are of particular importance in a variety of diseases, including primarily cancer. Stiffness values between normal and cancerous tissue can range between 500 Pa (soft) and 48 kPa (stiff), respectively. Even the shear flow can increase from 0.1-1 dyn/cm2 (normal tissue) to 1-10 dyn/cm2 (cancerous tissue). There are currently many new areas of activity in tumor research on various biological length scales, which are highlighted in this review. Moreover, the complexity of interactions between ECM and cancer cells is reduced to common features of different tumors and the characteristics are highlighted to identify the main pathways of interaction. This all contributes to the standardization of mechanotransduction models and approaches, which, ultimately, increases the understanding of the complex interaction. Finally, both the in vitro and in vivo effects of this mechanics-biology pairing have key insights and implications for clinical practice in tumor treatment and, consequently, clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Biological Physics Division, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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2
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Baqai U, Kurimchak AM, Trachtenberg IV, Purwin TJ, Haj JI, Han A, Luo K, Pachon NF, Jeon A, Chua V, Davies MA, Gutkind JS, Benovic JL, Duncan JS, Aplin AE. Kinome profiling identifies MARK3 and STK10 as potential therapeutic targets in uveal melanoma. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105418. [PMID: 37923138 PMCID: PMC10716579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105418] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Most uveal melanoma cases harbor activating mutations in either GNAQ or GNA11. Despite activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway downstream of Gαq/11, there are no effective targeted kinase therapies for metastatic uveal melanoma. The human genome encodes numerous understudied kinases, also called the "dark kinome". Identifying additional kinases regulated by Gαq/11 may uncover novel therapeutic targets for uveal melanoma. In this study, we treated GNAQ-mutant uveal melanoma cell lines with a Gαq/11 inhibitor, YM-254890, and conducted a kinase signaling proteomic screen using multiplexed-kinase inhibitors followed by mass spectrometry. We observed downregulated expression and/or activity of 22 kinases. A custom siRNA screen targeting these kinases demonstrated that knockdown of microtubule affinity regulating kinase 3 (MARK3) and serine/threonine kinase 10 (STK10) significantly reduced uveal melanoma cell growth and decreased expression of cell cycle proteins. Additionally, knockdown of MARK3 but not STK10 decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Analysis of RNA-sequencing and proteomic data showed that Gαq signaling regulates STK10 expression and MARK3 activity. Our findings suggest an involvement of STK10 and MARK3 in the Gαq/11 oncogenic pathway and prompt further investigation into the specific roles and targeting potential of these kinases in uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman Baqai
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alison M Kurimchak
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Isabella V Trachtenberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Timothy J Purwin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jelan I Haj
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anna Han
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kristine Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nikole Fandino Pachon
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Angela Jeon
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vivian Chua
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Benovic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James S Duncan
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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3
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Kalli M, Poskus MD, Stylianopoulos T, Zervantonakis IK. Beyond matrix stiffness: targeting force-induced cancer drug resistance. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:937-954. [PMID: 37558577 PMCID: PMC10592424 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.07.006] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
During tumor progression, mechanical abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment (TME) trigger signaling pathways in cells that activate cellular programs, resulting in tumor growth and drug resistance. In this review, we describe mechanisms of action for anti-cancer therapies and mechanotransduction programs that regulate cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, survival and phenotype switching. We discuss how the therapeutic response is impacted by the three main mechanical TME abnormalities: high extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and stiffness; interstitial fluid pressure (IFP); and elevated mechanical forces. We also review drugs that normalize these abnormalities or block mechanosensors and mechanotransduction pathways. Finally, we discuss current challenges and perspectives for the development of new strategies targeting mechanically induced drug resistance in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kalli
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Matthew D Poskus
- Department of Bioengineering and Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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4
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Lu J, Shi T, Shi C, Chen F, Yang C, Xie X, Wang Z, Shen H, Xu J, Leong KW, Shao D. Thiol-Disulfide Exchange Coordinates the Release of Nitric Oxide and Dexamethasone for Synergistic Regulation of Intestinal Microenvironment in Colitis. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 6:0204. [PMID: 37533463 PMCID: PMC10393581 DOI: 10.34133/research.0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The cell-specific functions of nitric oxide (NO) in the intestinal microenvironment orchestrate its therapeutic effects in ulcerative colitis. While most biomaterials show promise by eliciting the characteristics of NO, the insufficient storage, burst release, and pro-inflammatory side effects of NO remain as challenges. Herein, we report the development of thiol-disulfide hybrid mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MONs) that improve the storage and sustained release of NO, broadening the therapeutic window of NO-based therapy against colitis. The tailored NO-storing nanomaterials coordinated the release of NO and the immunoregulator dexamethasone (Dex) in the intestinal microenvironment, specifically integrating the alleviation of oxidative stress in enterocytes and the reversal of NO-exacerbated macrophage activation. Mechanistically, such a synchronous operation was achieved by a self-motivated process wherein the thiyl radicals produced by NO release cleaved the disulfide bonds to degrade the matrix and release Dex via thiol-disulfide exchange. Specifically, the MON-mediated combination of NO and Dex greatly ameliorated intractable colitis compared with 5-aminosalicylic acid, even after delayed treatment. Together, our results reveal a key contribution of synergistic modulation of the intestinal microenvironment in NO-based colitis therapy and introduce thiol-disulfide hybrid nanotherapeutics for the management of inflammatory diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junna Lu
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Tongfei Shi
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Chengxin Shi
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Fangman Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Chao Yang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Xiaochun Xie
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and NanoBionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - He Shen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and NanoBionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jiaqi Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Kam W Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Dan Shao
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangdong 510006, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangdong 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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5
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Cao L, Chen S, Sun R, Ashby CR, Wei L, Huang Z, Chen ZS. Darovasertib, a novel treatment for metastatic uveal melanoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1232787. [PMID: 37576814 PMCID: PMC10419210 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1232787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The FDA granted orphan drug designation to darovasertib, a first-in-class oral, small molecular inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), for the treatment of uveal melanoma, on 2 May 2022. Primary uveal melanoma has a high risk of progressing to metastatic uveal melanoma, with a poor prognosis. The activation of the PKC and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways play an essential role in the pathogenesis of uveal melanoma, and mutations in the G protein subunit alpha q (GNAQ), and G protein subunit alpha11 (GNA11) genes are considered early events in the development of uveal melanoma. Compared to other PKC inhibitors, such as sotrastaurin and enzastaurin, darovasertib is significantly more potent in inhibiting conventional (α, β) and novel (δ, ϵ, η, θ) PKC proteins and has a better tolerability and safety profile. Current Phase I/II clinical trials indicated that darovasertib, combined with the Mitogen-activated protein kinase/Extracellular (MEK) inhibitors, binimetinib or crizotinib, produced a synergistic effect of uveal melanoma. In this article, we summarize the development of drugs for treating uveal melanomas and discuss problems associated with current treatments. We also discuss the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic profile, adverse effects, and clinical trial for darovasertib, and future research directions for treating uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Cao
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Shuzhen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Rainie Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, United States
- Stuyvesant High School, New York, NY, United States
| | - Charles R Ashby
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Liuya Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zoufang Huang
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, United States
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6
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Carvajal RD, Sacco JJ, Jager MJ, Eschelman DJ, Olofsson Bagge R, Harbour JW, Chieng ND, Patel SP, Joshua AM, Piperno-Neumann S. Advances in the clinical management of uveal melanoma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:99-115. [PMID: 36600005 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-022-00714-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Melanomas arising in the uveal tract of the eye are a rare form of the disease with a biology and clinical phenotype distinct from their more common cutaneous counterparts. Treatment of primary uveal melanoma with radiotherapy, enucleation or other modalities achieves local control in more than 90% of patients, although 40% or more ultimately develop distant metastases, most commonly in the liver. Until January 2022, no systemic therapy had received regulatory approval for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma, and these patients have historically had a dismal prognosis owing to the limited efficacy of the available treatments. A series of seminal studies over the past two decades have identified highly prevalent early, tumour-initiating oncogenic genomic aberrations, later recurring prognostic alterations and immunological features that characterize uveal melanoma. These advances have driven the development of a number of novel emerging treatments, including tebentafusp, the first systemic therapy to achieve regulatory approval for this disease. In this Review, our multidisciplinary and international group of authors summarize the biology of uveal melanoma, management of primary disease and surveillance strategies to detect recurrent disease, and then focus on the current standard and emerging regional and systemic treatment approaches for metastatic uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Carvajal
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Joseph J Sacco
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Martine J Jager
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - David J Eschelman
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - J William Harbour
- Department of Ophthalmology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nicholas D Chieng
- Medical Imaging Services, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sapna P Patel
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony M Joshua
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney and Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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7
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Aumiller JL, Wedegaertner PB. Disruption of the interaction between mutationally activated Gα q and Gβγ attenuates aberrant signaling. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102880. [PMID: 36626984 PMCID: PMC9926304 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterotrimeric G protein stimulation via G protein-coupled receptors promotes downstream proliferative signaling. Mutations can occur in Gα proteins which prevent GTP hydrolysis; this allows the G proteins to signal independently of G protein-coupled receptors and can result in various cancers, such as uveal melanoma (UM). Most UM cases harbor Q209L, Q209P, or R183C mutations in Gαq/11 proteins, rendering the proteins constitutively active (CA). Although it is generally thought that active, GTP-bound Gα subunits are dissociated from and signal independently of Gβγ, accumulating evidence indicates that some CA Gα mutants, such as Gαq/11, retain binding to Gβγ, and this interaction is necessary for signaling. Here, we demonstrate that disrupting the interaction between Gβγ and Gαq is sufficient to inhibit aberrant signaling driven by CA Gαq. Introduction of the I25A point mutation in the N-terminal α helical domain of CA Gαq to inhibit Gβγ binding, overexpression of the G protein Gαo to sequester Gβγ, and siRNA depletion of Gβ subunits inhibited or abolished CA Gαq signaling to the MAPK and YAP pathways. Moreover, in HEK 293 cells and in UM cell lines, we show that Gαq-Q209P and Gαq-R183C are more sensitive to the loss of Gβγ interaction than Gαq-Q209L. Our study challenges the idea that CA Gαq/11 signals independently of Gβγ and demonstrates differential sensitivity between the Gαq-Q209L, Gαq-Q209P, and Gαq-R183C mutants.
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8
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Lapadula D, Lam B, Terai M, Sugase T, Tanaka R, Farias E, Kadamb R, Lopez-Anton M, Heine CC, Modasia B, Aguirre-Ghiso JA, Aplin AE, Sato T, Benovic JL. IGF1R Inhibition Enhances the Therapeutic Effects of Gq/11 Inhibition in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma Progression. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:63-74. [PMID: 36223548 PMCID: PMC9812929 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular tumor in adults, and up to 50% of patients develop metastatic disease, which remains uncurable. Because patients with metastatic UM have an average survival of less than 1 year after diagnosis, there is an urgent need to develop new treatment strategies. Although activating mutations in Gαq or Gα11 proteins are major drivers of pathogenesis, the therapeutic intervention of downstream Gαq/11 targets has been unsuccessful in treating UM, possibly due to alternative signaling pathways and/or resistance mechanisms. Activation of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling pathway promotes cell growth, metastasis, and drug resistance in many types of cancers, including UM, where expression of the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) correlates with a poor prognosis. In this article, we show that direct inhibition of Gαq/11 by the cyclic depsipeptide YM-254890 in combination with inhibition of IGF1R by linsitinib cooperatively inhibits downstream signaling and proliferation of UM cells. We further demonstrate that a 2-week combination treatment of 0.3 to 0.4 mg/kg of YM-254890 administered by intraperitoneal injection and 25 to 40 mg/kg linsitinib administered by oral gavage effectively inhibits the growth of metastatic UM tumors in immunodeficient NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice and identifies the IGF1 pathway as a potential resistance mechanism in response to Gαq/11 inhibition in UM. These data suggest that the combination of Gαq/11 and IGF1R inhibition provides a promising therapeutic strategy to treat metastatic UM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Lapadula
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Bao Lam
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mizue Terai
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Takahito Sugase
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ryota Tanaka
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Eduardo Farias
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rama Kadamb
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NewYork, United States
| | | | - Christian C Heine
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | | | | | - Andrew E Aplin
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Takami Sato
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jeffrey L Benovic
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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9
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Marwari S, Kowalski C, Martemyanov KA. Exploring pharmacological inhibition of G q/11 as an analgesic strategy. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:5196-5208. [PMID: 35900909 PMCID: PMC9633401 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Misuse of opioids has greatly affected our society. One potential solution is to develop analgesics that act at targets other than opioid receptors. These can be used either as stand-alone therapeutics or to improve the safety profile of opioid drugs. Previous research showed that activation of Gq/11 proteins by G-protein coupled receptors has pro-nociceptive properties, suggesting that blockade of Gq/11 signalling could be beneficial for pain control. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis pharmacologically by using potent and selective Gq/11 inhibitor YM-254890. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used a series of behavioural assays to evaluate the acute responses of mice to painful thermal stimulation while administering YM-254890 alone and in combination with morphine. We then used electrophysiological recordings to evaluate the effects of YM-254890 on the excitability of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) nociceptor neurons. KEY RESULTS We found that systemic administration of YM-254890 produced anti-nociceptive effects and also augmented morphine analgesia in both hotplate and tail flick paradigms. However, it also caused substantial inhibition of locomotion, which may limit its therapeutic utility. To circumvent these issues, we explored the local administration of YM-254890. Intrathecal injections of YM-254890 produced lasting analgesia in a tail flick test and greatly augmented the anti-nociceptive effects of morphine without any significant effects on locomotor behaviour. Electrophysiological studies showed that YM-254890 reduced the excitability of DRG nociceptors and augmented their opioid-induced inhibition. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS These findings indicate that pharmacological inhibition of Gq/11 could be explored as an analgesic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhi Marwari
- Department of NeuroscienceThe Scripps Research InstituteJupiterFloridaUSA
| | - Cody Kowalski
- Department of NeuroscienceThe Scripps Research InstituteJupiterFloridaUSA
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10
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Caksa S, Baqai U, Aplin AE. The future of targeted kinase inhibitors in melanoma. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 239:108200. [PMID: 35513054 PMCID: PMC10187889 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment-producing cells of the body and its incidence is rising. Targeted inhibitors that act against kinases in the MAPK pathway are approved for BRAF-mutant metastatic cutaneous melanoma and increase patients' survival. Response to these therapies is limited by drug resistance and is less durable than with immune checkpoint inhibition. Conversely, rare melanoma subtypes have few therapeutic options for advanced disease and MAPK pathway targeting agents show minimal anti-tumor effects. Nevertheless, there is a future for targeted kinase inhibitors in melanoma: in new applications such as adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy and in novel combinations with immunotherapies or other targeted therapies. Pre-clinical studies continue to identify tumor dependencies and their corresponding actionable drug targets, paving the way for rational targeted kinase inhibitor combinations as a personalized medicine approach for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Caksa
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Usman Baqai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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11
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Park JJ, Stewart A, Irvine M, Pedersen B, Ming Z, Carlino MS, Diefenbach RJ, Rizos H. Protein kinase inhibitor responses in uveal melanoma reflects a diminished dependency on PKC-MAPK signaling. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:1384-1393. [PMID: 35352024 PMCID: PMC9576594 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-022-00457-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare cancer arising from melanocytes in the uveal tract of the eye. Despite effective primary treatment, there is no approved therapy for metastatic UM and prognosis and survival remain poor. Over 90% of UM are driven by mutations affecting the Gα subunits encoded by the GNAQ and GNA11 genes. These mutations activate downstream and targetable signaling pathways, including the protein kinase C (PKC) cascade. PKC inhibitors have been used in clinical trials for metastatic UM but have shown limited efficacy. In this study, we examined the signaling and functional effects of two PKC inhibitors (AEB071 and IDE196) in a panel of UM cell models. In response to PKC inhibition, all UM cell lines showed potent suppression of PKC activity, but this was not sufficient to predict PKC inhibitor sensitivity and only two UM cell lines showed substantial PKC inhibitor-induced cell death. The differences in UM cell responses to PKC inhibition were not attributable to the degree or timing of PKC suppression or inhibition of the downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. Instead, UM cell show complex, PKC-independent signaling pathways that contribute to their survival and resistance to targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Park
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ashleigh Stewart
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mal Irvine
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bernadette Pedersen
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Zizhen Ming
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matteo S Carlino
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, Sydney, Australia
| | - Russell J Diefenbach
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Helen Rizos
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.
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12
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Randolph CE, Dwyer MB, Aumiller JL, Dixon AJ, Inoue A, Osei-Owusu P, Wedegaertner PB. Enhanced membrane binding of oncogenic G protein αqQ209L confers resistance to inhibitor YM-254890. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102538. [PMID: 36174676 PMCID: PMC9626947 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102538] [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: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterotrimeric G proteins couple activated G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) to intracellular signaling pathways. They can also function independently of GPCR activation upon acquiring mutations that prevent GTPase activity and result in constitutive signaling, as occurs with the αqQ209L mutation in uveal melanoma. YM-254890 (YM) can inhibit signaling by both GPCR-activated WT αq and GPCR-independent αqQ209L. Although YM inhibits WT αq by binding to αq-GDP and preventing GDP/GTP exchange, the mechanism of YM inhibition of cellular αqQ209L remains to be fully understood. Here, we show that YM promotes a subcellular redistribution of αqQ209L from the plasma membrane (PM) to the cytoplasm. To test if this loss of PM localization could contribute to the mechanism of inhibition of αqQ209L by YM, we developed and examined N-terminal mutants of αqQ209L, termed PM-restricted αqQ209L, in which the addition of membrane-binding motifs enhanced PM localization and prevented YM-promoted redistribution. Treatment of cells with YM failed to inhibit signaling by these PM-restricted αqQ209L. Additionally, pull-down experiments demonstrated that YM promotes similar conformational changes in both αqQ209L and PM-restricted αqQ209L, resulting in increased binding to βγ and decreased binding to regulator RGS2, and effectors p63RhoGEF-DH/PH and phospholipase C-β. GPCR-dependent signaling by PM-restricted WT αq is strongly inhibited by YM, demonstrating that resistance to YM inhibition by membrane-binding mutants is specific to constitutively active αqQ209L. Together, these results indicate that changes in membrane binding impact the ability of YM to inhibit αqQ209L and suggest that YM contributes to inhibition of αqQ209L by promoting its relocalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinita E Randolph
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Morgan B Dwyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jenna L Aumiller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Alethia J Dixon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Patrick Osei-Owusu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Philip B Wedegaertner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
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13
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Leyvraz S, Konietschke F, Peuker C, Schütte M, Kessler T, Ochsenreither S, Ditzhaus M, Sprünken ED, Dörpholz G, Lamping M, Rieke DT, Klinghammer K, Burock S, Ulrich C, Poch G, Schäfer R, Klauschen F, Joussen A, Yaspo ML, Keilholz U. Biomarker-driven therapies for metastatic uveal melanoma: A prospective precision oncology feasibility study. Eur J Cancer 2022; 169:146-155. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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14
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Mukherjee N, Dart CR, Amato CM, Honig-Frand A, Lambert JR, Lambert KA, Robinson WA, Tobin RP, McCarter MD, Couts KL, Fujita M, Norris DA, Shellman YG. Expression Differences in BCL2 Family Members between Uveal and Cutaneous Melanomas Account for Varying Sensitivity to BH3 Mimetics. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:1912-1922.e7. [PMID: 34942200 PMCID: PMC9635014 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a subtype of melanoma. Although they share a melanocytic origin with cutaneous melanoma (CM), patients with UM have few treatment options. BCL2 homologous 3 mimetics are small-molecule drugs that mimic proapoptotic BCL2 family members. We compared BCL2 family member expression between UM and CM using immunoblot and The Cancer Genome Atlas transcriptomic analysis. UM has a unique signature of low BFL1 and high PUMA proteins compared with CM and 30 other cancer types, making them an attractive candidate for BCL2 homologous 3 protein mimetics. We tested the efficacy of a BCL2 inhibitor and MCL1 inhibitor (MCL1i) in UM, with viability assays, live-cell imaging, sphere assays, and mouse xenograft models. UM had a higher sensitivity to MCL1i than CM. Overexpression of BFL1 or knockdown of PUMA made the UM more resistant to MCL1i. In contrast, MAPK/extracellular signal‒regulated kinase inhibitor treatment in CM made them more sensitive to MCL1i. However, MCL1i-alone treatment was not very effective to reduce the UM initiating cells; to overcome this, we employed a combination of MCL1i with BCL2 inhibitor that synergistically inhibited UM initiating cell's capacity to expand. Overall, we identify a distinct expression profile of BCL2 family members for UM that makes them susceptible to BCL2 homologous 3 mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Chiara R Dart
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA; Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Carol M Amato
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Adam Honig-Frand
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - James R Lambert
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Karoline A Lambert
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - William A Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Richard P Tobin
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Martin D McCarter
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kasey L Couts
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA; Dermatology Section, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, USA; Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - David A Norris
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA; Dermatology Section, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Yiqun G Shellman
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA; Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
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15
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GNAQ and GNA11 Genes: A Comprehensive Review on Oncogenesis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Opportunities in Uveal Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133066. [PMID: 35804836 PMCID: PMC9264989 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The GNAQ and GNA11 genes are mutated in almost 80–90% of uveal melanomas in a mutually exclusive pattern. These genes encode the alpha subunits of the heterotrimeric G proteins, Gq and G11; thus, mutations of these genes result in the activation of several important signaling pathways, including phospholipase C, and activation of the transcription factor YAP. It is well known that both of them act as driver genes in the oncogenic process and it has been assumed that they do not play a role in the prognosis of these tumours. However, it has been hypothesised that mutations in these genes could give rise to molecularly and clinically distinct types of uveal melanomas. It has also been questioned whether the type and location of mutation in the GNAQ and GNA11 genes may affect the progression of these tumours. All of these questions, except for their implications in carcinogenesis, remain controversial. Uveal melanoma has a distinctive genetic profile, and specific recurrent mutations, which make it a potential candidate for treatment with targeted therapy. Given that the most frequent mutations are those observed in the GNAQ and GNA11 genes, and that both genes are involved in oncogenesis, these molecules, as well as the downstream signalling pathways in which they are involved, have been proposed as promising potential therapeutic targets. Therefore, in this review, special attention is paid to the current data related to the possible prognostic implications of both genes from different perspectives, as well as the therapeutic options targeting them.
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Deng JJ, Liu L, Ge Y, Song Z, Huang J, Fan G, Xiong XF. Synthesis and evaluation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivatives as small molecule Gαq/11 inhibitors against uveal melanoma. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 239:114520. [PMID: 35716516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is an aggressive malignancy with high mortality in adults and lacks effective systemic therapies. Activating gene mutations related to the Gαq/11 signaling pathway are prevalent in UM, and Gαq/11 inhibitors have shown anti-UM activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivatives as Gαq/11 inhibitors, and discovered GQ352 with the selective antiproliferative activity against UM cells. Importantly, GQ352 directly binds to the Gαq and inhibits the dissociation of Gαβγ heterotrimers with the IC50 value of 8.9 μM. GQ352 inhibits UM tumorigenesis by suppressing Gαq/11 downstream ERK phosphorylation and YAP dephosphorylation, as shown in Western blot analysis. In addition, GQ352 displayed reasonable physiochemical properties and human liver microsome stability, indicating the potential application in UM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jie Deng
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Lu Liu
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yang Ge
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Zhendong Song
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jie Huang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Lung Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Guangjin Fan
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Xiao-Feng Xiong
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510006, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
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17
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Bendall ML, Francis JH, Shoushtari AN, Nixon DF. Specific human endogenous retroviruses predict metastatic potential in uveal melanoma. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e147172. [PMID: 35349481 PMCID: PMC9090245 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.147172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a unique disease in that patients with primary UM are well stratified based on their risk of developing metastasis, yet there are limited effective treatments once metastases occur. There is an urgent need to better understand the distinct molecular pathogenesis of UM and the characteristics of patients at high risk for metastasis to identify neoantigenic targets that can be used in immunotherapy and to develop novel therapeutic strategies that may effectively target this lethal transition. An important and overlooked area of molecular pathogenesis and neoantigenic targets in UM comes from human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). We investigated the HERV expression landscape in primary UM and found that tumors were stratified into 4 HERV-based subsets that provide clear delineation of risk outcome and support subtypes identified by other molecular indicators. Specific HERV loci are associated with the risk of uveal melanoma metastasis and may offer mechanistic insights into this process, including dysregulation of HERVs on chromosomes 3 and 8. A HERV signature composed of 17 loci was sufficient to classify tumors according to subtype with greater than 95% accuracy, including at least 1 intergenic HERV with coding potential (HERVE_Xp11.23) that could represent a potential HERV E target for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Bendall
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Alexander N. Shoushtari
- Melanoma Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Douglas F. Nixon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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18
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Cooke M, Kazanietz MG. Overarching roles of diacylglycerol signaling in cancer development and antitumor immunity. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabo0264. [PMID: 35412850 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abo0264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Diacylglycerol (DAG) is a lipid second messenger that is generated in response to extracellular stimuli and channels intracellular signals that affect mammalian cell proliferation, survival, and motility. DAG exerts a myriad of biological functions through protein kinase C (PKC) and other effectors, such as protein kinase D (PKD) isozymes and small GTPase-regulating proteins (such as RasGRPs). Imbalances in the fine-tuned homeostasis between DAG generation by phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes and termination by DAG kinases (DGKs), as well as dysregulation in the activity or abundance of DAG effectors, have been widely associated with tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. DAG is also a key orchestrator of T cell function and thus plays a major role in tumor immunosurveillance. In addition, DAG pathways shape the tumor ecosystem by arbitrating the complex, dynamic interaction between cancer cells and the immune landscape, hence representing powerful modifiers of immune checkpoint and adoptive T cell-directed immunotherapy. Exploiting the wide spectrum of DAG signals from an integrated perspective could underscore meaningful advances in targeted cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Cooke
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Department of Medicine, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA
| | - Marcelo G Kazanietz
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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19
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Targeting GPCRs and Their Signaling as a Therapeutic Option in Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030706. [PMID: 35158973 PMCID: PMC8833576 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Sixteen G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been involved in melanogenesis or melanomagenesis. Here, we review these GPCRs, their associated signaling, and therapies. Abstract G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) serve prominent roles in melanocyte lineage physiology, with an impact at all stages of development, as well as on mature melanocyte functions. GPCR ligands are present in the skin and regulate melanocyte homeostasis, including pigmentation. The role of GPCRs in the regulation of pigmentation and, consequently, protection against external aggression, such as ultraviolet radiation, has long been established. However, evidence of new functions of GPCRs directly in melanomagenesis has been highlighted in recent years. GPCRs are coupled, through their intracellular domains, to heterotrimeric G-proteins, which induce cellular signaling through various pathways. Such signaling modulates numerous essential cellular processes that occur during melanomagenesis, including proliferation and migration. GPCR-associated signaling in melanoma can be activated by the binding of paracrine factors to their receptors or directly by activating mutations. In this review, we present melanoma-associated alterations of GPCRs and their downstream signaling and discuss the various preclinical models used to evaluate new therapeutic approaches against GPCR activity in melanoma. Recent striking advances in our understanding of the structure, function, and regulation of GPCRs will undoubtedly broaden melanoma treatment options in the future.
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20
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Onken MD, Noda SE, Kaltenbronn KM, Frankfater C, Makepeace CM, Fettig N, Piggott KD, Custer PL, Ippolito JE, Blumer KJ. Oncogenic Gq/11 signaling acutely drives and chronically sustains metabolic reprogramming in uveal melanoma. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101495. [PMID: 34919964 PMCID: PMC8761705 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming has been shown to occur in uveal melanoma (UM), the most common intraocular tumor in adults. Mechanisms driving metabolic reprogramming in UM are poorly understood. Elucidation of these mechanisms could inform development of new therapeutic strategies for metastatic UM, which has poor prognosis because existing therapies are ineffective. Here, we determined whether metabolic reprogramming is driven by constitutively active mutant α-subunits of the heterotrimeric G proteins Gq or G11 (Gq/11), the oncogenic drivers in ∼90% of UM patients. Using PET-computed tomography imaging, microphysiometry, and GC/MS, we found that inhibition of oncogenic Gq/11 with the small molecule FR900359 (FR) attenuated glucose uptake by UM cells in vivo and in vitro, blunted glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in UM cell lines and tumor cells isolated from patients, and reduced levels of several glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. FR acutely inhibited glycolysis and respiration and chronically attenuated expression of genes in both metabolic processes. UM therefore differs from other melanomas that exhibit a classic Warburg effect. Metabolic reprogramming in UM cell lines and patient samples involved protein kinase C and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 signaling downstream of oncogenic Gq/11. Chronic administration of FR upregulated expression of genes involved in metabolite scavenging and redox homeostasis, potentially as an adaptive mechanism explaining why FR does not efficiently kill UM tumor cells or regress UM tumor xenografts. These results establish that oncogenic Gq/11 signaling is a crucial driver of metabolic reprogramming in UM and lay a foundation for studies aimed at targeting metabolic reprogramming for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Onken
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sarah E Noda
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kevin M Kaltenbronn
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Cheryl Frankfater
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Carol M Makepeace
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nikki Fettig
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kisha D Piggott
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Philip L Custer
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Joseph E Ippolito
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kendall J Blumer
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
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21
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Phan HTN, Kim NH, Wei W, Tall GG, Smrcka AV. Uveal melanoma-associated mutations in PLCβ4 are constitutively activating and promote melanocyte proliferation and tumorigenesis. Sci Signal 2021; 14:eabj4243. [PMID: 34905385 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abj4243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa T N Phan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nam Hoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Wenhui Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Gregory G Tall
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alan V Smrcka
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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22
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Lapadula D, Benovic JL. Targeting Oncogenic Gα q/11 in Uveal Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6195. [PMID: 34944815 PMCID: PMC8699590 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular cancer in adults and arises from the transformation of melanocytes in the uveal tract. While treatment of the primary tumor is often effective, 36-50% of patients develop metastatic disease primarily to the liver. While various strategies have been used to treat the metastatic disease, there remain no effective treatments that improve survival. Significant insight has been gained into the pathways that are altered in uveal melanoma, with mutually exclusive activating mutations in the GNAQ and GNA11 genes being found in over 90% of patients. These genes encode the alpha subunits of the hetetrotrimeric G proteins, Gq and G11, and mutations result in activation of several important signaling pathways, including phospholipase C and activation of the transcription factor YAP. In this review, we discuss current efforts to target various signaling pathways in the treatment of uveal melanoma including recent efforts to target Gq and G11 in mouse models. While selective targeting of Gq and G11 provides a potential therapeutic strategy to treat uveal melanoma, it is evident that improved inhibitors and methods of delivery are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey L. Benovic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA;
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23
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Rossi E, Croce M, Reggiani F, Schinzari G, Ambrosio M, Gangemi R, Tortora G, Pfeffer U, Amaro A. Uveal Melanoma Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5684. [PMID: 34830841 PMCID: PMC8616038 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is characterized by relatively few, highly incident molecular alterations and their association with metastatic risk is deeply understood. Nevertheless, this knowledge has so far not led to innovative therapies for the successful treatment of UM metastases or for adjuvant therapy, leaving survival after diagnosis of metastatic UM almost unaltered in decades. The driver mutations of UM, mainly in the G-protein genes GNAQ and GNA11, activate the MAP-kinase pathway as well as the YAP/TAZ pathway. At present, there are no drugs that target the latter and this likely explains the failure of mitogen activated kinase kinase inhibitors. Immune checkpoint blockers, despite the game changing effect in cutaneous melanoma (CM), show only limited effects in UM probably because of the low mutational burden of 0.5 per megabase and the unavailability of antibodies targeting the main immune checkpoint active in UM. The highly pro-tumorigenic microenvironment of UM also contributes to therapy resistance. However, T-cell redirection by a soluble T-cell receptor that is fused to an anti-CD3 single-chain variable fragment, local, liver specific therapy, new immune checkpoint blockers, and YAP/TAZ specific drugs give new hope to repeating the success of innovative therapy obtained for CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Rossi
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.R.); (G.S.); (G.T.)
| | - Michela Croce
- Laboratory of Biotherapies, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (M.C.); (R.G.)
| | - Francesco Reggiani
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (F.R.); (M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.R.); (G.S.); (G.T.)
- Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Ambrosio
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (F.R.); (M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Rosaria Gangemi
- Laboratory of Biotherapies, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (M.C.); (R.G.)
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.R.); (G.S.); (G.T.)
- Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Ulrich Pfeffer
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (F.R.); (M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Adriana Amaro
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy; (F.R.); (M.A.); (A.A.)
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Hermes C, König GM, Crüsemann M. The chromodepsins - chemistry, biology and biosynthesis of a selective Gq inhibitor natural product family. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:2276-2292. [PMID: 33998635 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00005e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to April 2021The bacterial cyclic depsipeptides FR900359 (FR) and YM-254890 (YM) were shown to selectively inhibit Gαq proteins with high potency and selectivity and have recently emerged as valuable pharmacological tools due to their effective mechanism of action. Here, we summarize important aspects of this small and specialized natural product family, for which we propose the name chromodepsins, starting from their discovery, producing organisms and structural variety. We then review biosynthesis, structure-activity relationships and ecological and evolutionary aspects of the chromodepsins. Lastly, we discuss their mechanism of action, potential medicinal applications and future opportunities and challenges for further use and development of these complex inhibitor molecules from nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Hermes
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Gabriele M König
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Max Crüsemann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
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Neelature Sriramareddy S, Smalley KSM. MEK-ing the Most of It: Strategies to Co-target Gαq and MAPK in Uveal Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:1217-1219. [PMID: 33355300 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-4530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Most uveal melanomas harbor mutations in Gαq and show constitutive MAPK activation. Although MEK inhibition has some efficacy against uveal melanoma, clinical responses are typically poor. The Gαq inhibitor-MEK inhibitor combination showed prolonged suppression of MAPK signaling in preclinical uveal melanoma models and led to improved therapeutic responses.See related article by Hitchman et al., p. 1476.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida. .,Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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Targeting primary and metastatic uveal melanoma with a G protein inhibitor. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100403. [PMID: 33577798 PMCID: PMC7948511 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular tumor in adults. Nearly half of UM patients develop metastatic disease and often succumb within months because effective therapy is lacking. A novel therapeutic approach has been suggested by the discovery that UM cell lines driven by mutant constitutively active Gq or G11 can be targeted by FR900359 (FR) or YM-254890, which are bioavailable, selective inhibitors of the Gq/11/14 subfamily of heterotrimeric G proteins. Here, we have addressed the therapeutic potential of FR for UM. We found that FR inhibited all oncogenic Gq/11 mutants reported in UM. FR arrested growth of all Gq/11-driven UM cell lines tested, but induced apoptosis only in a few. Similarly, FR inhibited growth of, but did not efficiently kill, UM tumor cells from biopsies of primary or metastatic tumors. FR evoked melanocytic redifferentiation of UM tumor cells with low (class 1), but not high (class 2), metastatic potential. FR administered systemically below its LD50 strongly inhibited growth of PDX-derived class 1 and class 2 UM tumors in mouse xenograft models and reduced blood pressure transiently. FR did not regress xenografted UM tumors or significantly affect heart rate, liver function, hematopoiesis, or behavior. These results indicated the existence of a therapeutic window in which FR can be explored for treating UM and potentially other diseases caused by constitutively active Gq/11.
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Ceraudo E, Horioka M, Mattheisen JM, Hitchman TD, Moore AR, Kazmi MA, Chi P, Chen Y, Sakmar TP, Huber T. Direct evidence that the GPCR CysLTR2 mutant causative of uveal melanoma is constitutively active with highly biased signaling. J Biol Chem 2020; 296:100163. [PMID: 33288675 PMCID: PMC7948404 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.015352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma is the most common eye cancer in adults and is clinically and genetically distinct from skin cutaneous melanoma. In a subset of cases, the oncogenic driver is an activating mutation in CYSLTR2, the gene encoding the G protein-coupled receptor cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor 2 (CysLTR2). The mutant CYSLTR2 encodes for the CysLTR2-L129Q receptor, with the substitution of Leu to Gln at position 129 (3.43). The ability of CysLTR2-L129Q to cause malignant transformation has been hypothesized to result from constitutive activity, but how the receptor could escape desensitization is unknown. Here, we characterize the functional properties of CysLTR2-L129Q. We show that CysLTR2-L129Q is a constitutively active mutant that strongly drives Gq/11 signaling pathways. However, CysLTR2-L129Q only poorly recruits β-arrestin. Using a modified Slack-Hall operational model, we quantified the constitutive activity for both pathways and conclude that CysLTR2-L129Q displays profound signaling bias for Gq/11 signaling pathways while escaping β-arrestin-mediated downregulation. CYSLTR2 is the first known example of a G protein-coupled receptor driver oncogene that encodes a highly biased constitutively active mutant receptor. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of CysLTR2-L129Q oncoprotein signaling and suggest CYSLTR2 as a promising potential therapeutic target in uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Ceraudo
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mizuho Horioka
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA; Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jordan M Mattheisen
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA; Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tyler D Hitchman
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amanda R Moore
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Manija A Kazmi
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ping Chi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA; Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA; Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Thomas P Sakmar
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA; Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
| | - Thomas Huber
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.
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