Downregulation of ROCK2 through nanocomplex sensitizes the cytotoxic effect of temozolomide in U251 glioma cells

The role of KDM4A-mediated histone methylation on temozolomide resistance in glioma cells through the HUWE1/ROCK2 axis

Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance presents a significant challenge in the treatment of gliomas. Although lysine demethylase 4A (KDM4A) has been implicated in various cancer-related processes, its role in TMZ resistance remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the contribution of KDM4A to TMZ resistance in glioma cells and its potential implications for glioma prognosis. We assessed the expression of KDM4A in glioma cells (T98G and U251MG) using qRT-PCR and Western blot assays. To explore the role of KDM4A in TMZ resistance, we transfected siRNA targeting KDM4A into drug-resistant glioma cells. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay and the TMZ IC50 value was determined. ChIP assays were conducted to investigate KDM4A, H3K9me3, and H3K36me3 enrichment on the promoters of ROCK2 and HUWE1. Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed the interaction between HUWE1 and ROCK2, and we examined the levels of ROCK2 ubiquitination following MG132 treatment. Notably, T98G cells exhibited greater resistance to TMZ than U251MG cells, and KDM4A displayed high expression in T98G cells. Inhibiting KDM4A resulted in decreased cell viability and a reduction in the TMZ IC50 value. Mechanistically, KDM4A promoted ROCK2 transcription by modulating H3K9me3 levels. Moreover, disruption of the interaction between HUWE1 and ROCK2 led to reduced ROCK2 ubiquitination. Inhibition of HUWE1 or overexpression of ROCK2 counteracted the sensitization effect of si-KDM4A on TMZ responsiveness in T98G cells. Our findings highlight KDM4A's role in enhancing TMZ resistance in glioma cells by modulating ROCK2 and HUWE1 transcription and expression through H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 removal.

LPPR5 Expression in Glioma Affects Growth, Vascular Architecture, and Sunitinib Resistance

Despite intensive research, glioblastoma remains almost invariably fatal. Various promising drugs targeting specific aspects of glioma biology, in addition to or as an alternative to antiproliferative chemotherapy, were not successful in larger clinical trials. Further insights into the biology of glioma and the mechanisms behind the evasive-adaptive response to targeted therapies is needed to help identify new therapeutic targets, prognostics, or predictive biomarkers. As a modulator of the canonically oncogenic Rho-GTPase pathway, Lipid phosphate phosphatase-related protein type 5 (LPPR5) is pivotal in influencing growth, angiogenesis, and therapeutic resistance. We used a GL261 murine orthotopic allograft glioma model to quantify the tumor growth and to obtain tissue for histological and molecular analysis. Epicortical intravital epi-illumination fluorescence video microscopy of the tumor cell spheroids was used to characterize the neovascular architecture and hemodynamics. GL261-glioma growth was delayed and decelerated after LPPR5 overexpression (LPPR5^OE). We observed increased tumor cell apoptosis and decreased expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor A in LPPR5^OE glioma. Hence, an altered micro-angioarchitecture consisting of dysfunctional small blood vessels was discovered in the LPPR5^OE tumors. Sunitinib therapy eliminated these vessels but had no effect on tumor growth or apoptosis. In general, LPPR5 overexpression generated a more benign, proapoptotic glioma phenotype with delayed growth and a dysfunctional vascular architecture.

LncRNA ZFAS1 promotes pancreatic adenocarcinoma metastasis via the RHOA/ROCK2 pathway by sponging miR-3924

Background

The mortality and morbidity rates of pancreatic adenocarcinoma have been increasing over the past two decades, and an understanding of the mechanisms underlying pancreatic adenocarcinoma progression is urgently needed. The long non-coding RNA ZFAS1 has been demonstrated to be an oncogene in some cancers, but its function and mechanism in pancreatic adenocarcinoma remain unclear.

Methods

The ZFAS1 expression level in pancreatic adenocarcinoma was predicted by bioinformatic analysis, and the expression level of ZFAS1 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissue samples and cell lines was further detected by quantitative real-time PCR and in situ hybridization. The functions of ZFAS1 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo were investigated by further bioinformatic analysis. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the binding of ZFAS1/miR-3924 and miR-3924/ROCK2, and rescue assays were performed to further investigate the underlying mechanism.

Results

ZFAS1 overexpression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma was predicted and experimentally verified. ZFAS1 silencing inhibited pancreatic adenocarcinoma metastasis in vitro and in vivo. The competing endogenous RNA mechanism of ZFAS1 was also identified.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated the promotive effect of ZFAS1 on pancreatic adenocarcinoma metastasis and suggested its potential role as a novel regulator of ROCK2.

RHO GTPases in cancer: known facts, open questions, and therapeutic challenges

RHO GTPases have been traditionally associated with protumorigenic functions. While this paradigm is still valid in many cases, recent data have unexpectedly revealed that RHO proteins can also play tumor suppressor roles. RHO signaling elements can also promote both pro- and antitumorigenic effects using GTPase-independent mechanisms, thus giving an extra layer of complexity to the role of these proteins in cancer. Consistent with these variegated roles, both gain- and loss-of-function mutations in RHO pathway genes have been found in cancer patients. Collectively, these observations challenge long-held functional archetypes for RHO proteins in both normal and cancer cells. In this review, I will summarize these data and discuss new questions arising from them such as the functional and clinical relevance of the mutations found in patients, the mechanistic orchestration of those antagonistic functions in tumors, and the pros and cons that these results represent for the development of RHO-based anticancer drugs.

Fasudil increases temozolomide sensitivity and suppresses temozolomide-resistant glioma growth via inhibiting ROCK2/ABCG2

Resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) is a major clinical challenge in glioma treatment, but the mechanisms of TMZ resistance are poorly understood. Here, we provided evidence that ROCK2 acted redundantly to maintain resistance of TMZ in TMZ-resistant gliomas, and as a ROCK2 phosphorylation inhibitor, fasudil significantly suppressed proliferation of TMZ-resistant gliomas in vivo and vitro via enhancing the chemosensitivity of TMZ. Additionally, the membrane translocation of ABCG2 was decreased with fasudil by ROCK2/moesin pathway. We also showed that fasudil suppressed the expression of ABCG2 via ROCK2/moesin/β-catenin pathway. Our results reveal an indispensable role for ROCK2 and provide strong evidence for the therapeutic use of fasudil in the clinical setting for TMZ-resistant gliomas.

Function of neuronal nitric oxide synthase enzyme in temozolomide-induced damage of astrocytic tumor cells

Astrocytic tumors, including astrocytomas and glioblastomas, are the most common type of primary brain tumors. Treatment for glioblastomas includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) and surgical ablation. Despite certain therapeutic advances, the survival time of patients is no longer than 12-14 months. Cancer cells overexpress the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). In the present study, it was examined whether the nNOS enzyme serves a role in the damage of astrocytoma (U251MG and U138MG) and glioblastoma (U87MG) cells caused by TMZ. First, TMZ (250 µM) triggered an increase in oxidative stress at 2, 48 and 72 h in the U87MG, U251MG and U138MG cell lines, as revealed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin-diacetate assay. The drug also reduced cell viability, as measured by MTT assay. U87MG cells presented a more linear decline in cell viability at time-points 2, 48 and 72 h, compared with the U251MG and U138MG cell lines. The peak of oxidative stress occurred at 48 h. To examine the role of NOS enzymes in the cell damage caused by TMZ, N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) were used. L-NAME increased the cell damage caused by TMZ while reducing the oxidative stress at 48 h. The preferential nNOS inhibitor 7-NI also improved the TMZ effects. It caused a 12.8% decrease in the viability of TMZ-injured cells. Indeed, 7-NI was more effective than L-NAME in restraining the increase in oxidative stress triggered by TMZ. Silencing nNOS with a synthetic small interfering (si)RNA (siRNAnNOShum_4400) increased by 20% the effects of 250 µM of TMZ on cell viability (P<0.05). Hoechst 33342 nuclear staining confirmed that nNOS knock-down enhanced TMZ injury. In conclusion, our data reveal that nNOS enzymes serve a role in the damage produced by TMZ on astrocytoma and glioblastoma cells. RNA interference with nNOS merits further studies in animal models to disclose its potential use in brain tumor anticancer therapy.

Novel Insights into the Roles of Rho Kinase in Cancer

Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) is a major downstream effector of the small GTPase RhoA. The ROCK family, consisting of ROCK1 and ROCK2, plays a central role in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, and is involved in a wide range of fundamental cellular functions such as contraction, adhesion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Since the discovery of effective inhibitors such as fasudil and Y27632, the biological roles of ROCK have been extensively explored in numerous diseases, including cancer. Accumulating evidence supports the concept that ROCK plays important roles in tumor development and progression through regulating many key cellular functions associated with malignancy, including tumorigenicity, tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, tumor cell apoptosis/survival and chemoresistance as well. This review focuses on the new advances of the most recent 5 years from the studies on the roles of ROCK in cancer development and progression; the discussion is mainly focused on the potential value of ROCK inhibitors in cancer therapy.

Securin promotes migration and invasion via matrix metalloproteinases in glioma cells

Human securin, encoded by pituitary tumor transforming gene 1, is implicated in several oncogenic processes in the pathogenesis of brain tumors, including glioma. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of securin on the migration and invasion of glioma cells. The results revealed that the overexpression of securin in glioma LN-229 cells significantly increased the invasion and transmigration abilities. By contrast, these abilities were significantly reduced by the downregulation of securin in glioma U373 cells. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that securin overexpression and downregulation significantly increased and decreased the levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9, respectively. These findings indicate a promotive role for securin in glioma migration and invasion, which may involve the action of matrix metalloproteinases.