Water-soluble variant of human Lynx1 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells via modulation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Targeting Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Lung Cancer: Insights, Challenges, and Therapeutic Strategies

Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) is an ion-gated calcium channel that plays a significant role in various aspects of cancer pathogenesis, particularly in lung cancer. Preclinical studies have elucidated the molecular mechanism underlying α7 nAChR-associated lung cancer proliferation, chemotherapy resistance, and metastasis. Understanding and targeting this mechanism are crucial for developing therapeutic interventions aimed at disrupting α7 nAChR-mediated cancer progression and improving treatment outcomes. Drug research and discovery have determined natural compounds and synthesized chemical antagonists that specifically target α7 nAChR. However, approved α7 nAChR antagonists for clinical use are lacking, primarily due to challenges related to achieving the desired selectivity, efficacy, and safety profiles required for effective therapeutic intervention. This comprehensive review provided insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with α7 nAChR and its role in cancer progression, particularly in lung cancer. Furthermore, it presents an update on recent evidence about α7 nAChR antagonists and addresses the challenges encountered in drug research and discovery in this field.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in cancer: Limitations and prospects

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have long been considered to solely mediate neurotransmission. However, their widespread distribution in the human body suggests a more diverse physiological role. Additionally, the expression of nAChRs is increased in certain cancers, such as lung cancer, and has been associated with cell proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transition, angiogenesis and apoptosis prevention. Several compounds that interact with these receptors have been identified as potential therapeutic agents. They have been tested as drugs for treating nicotine addiction, alcoholism, depression, pain and Alzheimer's disease. This review focuses on nAChR-mediated signalling in cancer, presenting opportunities for the development of innovative nAChR-based anticancer drugs. It displays the differences in expression of each nAChR subunit between normal and cancer cells for selected cancer types, highlighting their possible involvement in specific cases. Antagonists of nAChRs that could complement existing cancer therapies are summarised and critically discussed. We hope that this review will stimulate further research on the role of nAChRs in cancer potentially leading to innovative cancer therapies.

α9-Containing Nicotinic Receptors in Cancer

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing the α9 or the α9 and α10 subunits are expressed in various extra-neuronal tissues. Moreover, most cancer cells and tissues highly express α9-containing receptors, and a number of studies have shown that they are powerful regulators of responses that stimulate cancer processes such as proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and metastasis. It has also emerged that their modulation is a promising target for drug development. The aim of this review is to summarize recent data showing the involvement of these receptors in controlling the downstream signaling cascades involved in the promotion of cancer.

Differential Expression Patterns of Lynx Proteins and Involvement of Lynx1 in Prepulse Inhibition

Negative allosteric modulators, such as lynx1 and lynx2, directly interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The nAChRs are integral to cholinergic signaling in the brain and have been shown to mediate different aspects of cognitive function. Given the interaction between lynx proteins and these receptors, we examined whether these endogenous negative allosteric modulators are involved in cognitive behaviors associated with cholinergic function. We found both cell-specific and overlapping expression patterns of lynx1 and lynx2 mRNA in brain regions associated with cognition, learning, memory, and sensorimotor processing, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), cingulate cortex, septum, hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, and pontine nuclei. Since lynx proteins are thought to play a role in conditioned associations and given the expression patterns across brain regions, we first assessed whether lynx knockout mice would differ in a cognitive flexibility task. We found no deficits in reversal learning in either the lynx1^–/– or lynx2^–/– knockout mice. Thereafter, sensorimotor gating was examined with the prepulse inhibition (PPI) assessment. Interestingly, we found that both male and female lynx1^–/– mice exhibited a deficit in the PPI behavioral response. Given the comparable expression of lynx2 in regions involved in sensorimotor gating, we then examined whether removal of the lynx2 protein would lead to similar behavioral effects. Unexpectedly, we found that while male lynx2^–/– mice exhibited a decrease in the baseline startle response, no differences were found in sensorimotor gating for either male or female lynx2^–/– mice. Taken together, these studies provide insight into the expression patterns of lynx1 and lynx2 across multiple brain regions and illustrate the modulatory effects of the lynx1 protein in sensorimotor gating.

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Respiratory Tract

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are widely distributed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, where they play diverse physiological roles. In this review, we highlight the recent findings regarding the role of nAChR in the respiratory tract with a special focus on the involvement of nAChR in the regulation of multiple processes in health and disease. We discuss the role of nAChR in mucociliary clearance, inflammation, and infection and in airway diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. The subtype diversity of nAChR enables differential regulation, making them a suitable pharmaceutical target in many diseases. The stimulation of the α3β4 nAChR could be beneficial in diseases accompanied by impaired mucociliary clearance, and the anti-inflammatory effect due to an α7 nAChR stimulation could alleviate symptoms in diseases with chronic inflammation such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, while the inhibition of the α5 nAChR could potentially be applied in non-small cell lung cancer treatment. However, while clinical studies targeting nAChR in the airways are still lacking, we suggest that more detailed research into this topic and possible pharmaceutical applications could represent a valuable tool to alleviate the symptoms of diverse airway diseases.

Spleen proteome profiling of dairy goats infected with C. pseudotuberculosis by TMT-based quantitative proteomics approach

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (C.pseudotuberculosis) is a zoonotic pathogen that can cause cheese lymphadenitis in goats. In order to obtain detailed information about the pathogenesis and host immune response of goats infected with C.pseudotuberculosis, we used tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeling proteomic analysis to detect differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in dairy goats infected with C.pseudotuberculosis, and confirmed the altered proteins with western blot. A total of 6611 trusted proteins were identified, and 126 proteins were differentially abundant. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that all DEPs were annotated as biological processes, cell composition, and molecular functions. Biological processes mainly involve acute inflammation and immune response; cell components mainly involve extracellular areas and high-density lipoprotein particles; molecular functions are mainly antigen binding, ferric iron binding, and iron ion binding. KEGG analysis showed that a total of 102 pathways were significantly enriched, mainly lysosomes, phagosomes, and mineral absorption pathways. Our findings provided the relevant knowledge of spleen protein levels in goats infected with C.pseudotuberculosis and revealed the complex molecular pathways and immune response mechanisms in the process of C.pseudotuberculosis infection. SIGNIFICANCE: C.pseudotuberculosis is the most fatal infectious disease in dairy goats, causing huge economic losses. However, the molecular pathways and immune response mechanisms of C.pseudotuberculosis infection in goats remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a comparative quantitative proteomics study on dairy goats infected with C.pseudotuberculosis. The results provide a basis for better understanding the complexity of C.pseudotuberculosis infection, reveal the complex molecular pathways and immune response mechanisms in C.pseudotuberculosis infection, and provide some clues for identifying potential therapeutic targets. This is the first report to show that C.pseudotuberculosis infection in dairy goats can disrupt the immune response mechanism and lead to massive immune cell death. The study provided new findings on the interaction between C.pseudotuberculosis and the host.

SLURP-1 Controls Growth and Migration of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells, Forming a Complex With α7-nAChR and PDGFR/EGFR Heterodimer

Secreted Ly6/uPAR-related protein 1 (SLURP-1) is a secreted Ly6/uPAR protein that negatively modulates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of α7 type (α7-nAChR), participating in control of cancer cell growth. Previously we showed, that a recombinant analogue of human SLURP-1 (rSLURP-1) diminishes the lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell proliferation and abolishes the nicotine-induced growth stimulation. Here, using multiplex immunoassay, we demonstrated a decrease in PTEN and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase phosphorylation in A549 cells upon the rSLURP-1 treatment pointing on down-regulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Decreased phosphorylation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor type β (PDGFRβ) and arrest of the A549 cell cycle in the S and G2/M phases without apoptosis induction was also observed. Using a scratch migration assay, inhibition of A549 cell migration under the rSLURP-1 treatment was found. Affinity extraction demonstrated that rSLURP-1 in A549 cells forms a complex not only with α7-nAChR, but also with PDGFRα and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which are known to be involved in regulation of cancer cell growth and migration and are able to form a heterodimer. Knock-down of the genes encoding α7-nAChR, PDGFRα, and EGFR confirmed the involvement of these receptors in the anti-migration effect of SLURP-1. Thus, SLURP-1 can target the α7-nAChR complexes with PDGFRα and EGFR in the membrane of epithelial cells. Using chimeric proteins with grafted SLURP-1 loops we demonstrated that loop I is the principal active site responsible for the SLURP-1 interaction with α7-nAChR and its antiproliferative effect. Synthetic peptide mimicking the loop I cyclized by a disulfide bond inhibited ACh-evoked current at α7-nAChR, as well as A549 cell proliferation and migration. This synthetic peptide represents a promising prototype of new antitumor drug with the properties close to that of the native SLURP-1 protein.

Studies on the role of alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in K562 cell proliferation and signaling

The results we obtained from this study gave information about the determination of alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nACh) expression in human erythroleukemia cells, as well as whether it has a role in calcium release and cell proliferation in the presence of nicotinic agonist, antagonists. Determining the roles of α7 nicotinic receptors in erythroleukemia cells will also contribute to leukemia-related signal transduction studies. This study is primarily to determine the role of nicotinic agonists and antagonists in cell proliferation, α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression, and calcium release. The aim of this study, which is a continuation and an important part of our previous studies on the cholinergic system, has contributed to the literature on the human erythroleukemia cell signaling mechanism. Cell viability was evaluated by the trypan blue exclusion test and Bromodeoxyuridine/5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling. Acetylcholine, nicotinic alpha 7 receptor antagonist methyllycaconitine citrate, and cholinergic antagonist atropine were used to determine the role of α7-nACh in K562 cell proliferation. In our experiments, the fluorescence spectrophotometer was used in Ca²⁺ measurements. The expression of nicotinic alpha 7 receptor was evaluated by western blot. The stimulating effect of acetylcholine in K562 cell proliferation was reversed by both the α7 nicotinic antagonist methyllycaconitine citrate and the cholinergic antagonist, atropine. Methyllycaconitine citrate inhibited K562 cell proliferation partially explained the roles of nicotinic receptors in signal transduction. While ACh caused an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺, methyllycaconitine citrate decreased intracellular Ca²⁺ level in K562 cell. The effects of nicotinic agonists and/or antagonists on erythroleukemic cells on proliferation, calcium level contributed to the interaction of nicotinic receptors with different signaling pathways. Proliferation mechanisms in erythroleukemic cells are under the control of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor via calcium influx and different signalling pathway.

Stimulation of α7-nAChRs coordinates autophagy and apoptosis signaling in experimental knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint disease in the elderly population. Growing evidence indicates that a balance between autophagy and apoptosis in chondrocytes plays a key role in OA’s cartilage degradation. Thus, drugs targeting the balance between apoptosis and autophagy are potential therapeutic approaches for OA treatment. In previous studies, we found that the activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7-nAChRs) alleviated monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced joint degradation and osteoarthritis pain. To explore the potential functions of α7-nAChRs in autophagy and apoptosis signaling in knee OA, we compared the expression of α7-nAChRs in human knee articular cartilage tissues from normal humans and OA patients. We found that knee joint cartilage tissues of OA patients showed decreased α7-nAChRs and an imbalance between autophagy and apoptosis. Next, we observed that α7-nAChRs deficiency did not affect cartilage degradation in OA development but reversed the beneficial effects of nicotine on mechanical allodynia, cartilage degradation, and an MIA-induced switch from autophagy to apoptosis. Unlike in vivo studies, we found that primary chondrocytes from α7-nAChRs knockout (KO) mice showed decreased LC3 levels under normal conditions and were more sensitive toward MIA-induced apoptosis. Finally, we found that α7-nAChRs deficiency increased the phosphorylation of mTOR after MIA treatment, which can also be observed in OA patients’ tissues. Thus, our findings not only confirmed that nicotine alleviated MIA-induced pain behavior and cartilage degradation via stimulating the α7-nAChRs/mTOR signal pathway but found the potential role of α7-nAChRs in mediating the balance between apoptosis and autophagy.

EZH2 is a potential prognostic predictor of glioma

The enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is a histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferase that promotes tumorigenesis in a variety of human malignancies by altering the expression of tumour suppressor genes. To evaluate the prognostic value of EZH2 in glioma, we analysed gene expression data and corresponding clinicopathological information from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, the Cancer Genome Atlas and GTEx. Increased expression of EZH2 was significantly associated with clinicopathologic characteristics and overall survival as evaluated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis revealed an association of EZH2 expression with the cell cycle, DNA replication, mismatch repair, p53 signalling and pyrimidine metabolism. We constructed a nomogram for prognosis prediction with EZH2, clinicopathologic variables and significantly correlated genes. EZH2 was demonstrated to be significantly associated with several immune checkpoints and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. Furthermore, the ESTIMATE and Timer Database scores indicated correlation of EZH2 expression with a more immunosuppressive microenvironment for glioblastoma than for low grade glioma. Overall, our study demonstrates that expression of EZH2 is a potential prognostic molecular marker of poor survival in glioma and identifies signalling pathways and immune checkpoints regulated by EHZ2, suggesting a direction for future application of immune therapy in glioma.

Nicotine Changes Airway Epithelial Phenotype and May Increase the SARS-COV-2 Infection Severity

(1) Background: Nicotine is implicated in the SARS-COV-2 infection through activation of the α7-nAChR and over-expression of ACE2. Our objective was to clarify the role of nicotine in SARS-CoV-2 infection exploring its molecular and cellular activity. (2) Methods: HBEpC or si-mRNA-α7-HBEpC were treated for 1 h, 48 h or continuously with 10-7 M nicotine, a concentration mimicking human exposure to a cigarette. Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated by trypan blue dye exclusion and cell counting, migration by cell migration assay, senescence by SA-β-Gal activity, and anchorage-independent growth by cloning in soft agar. Expression of Ki67, p53/phospho-p53, VEGF, EGFR/pEGFR, phospho-p38, intracellular Ca2+, ATP and EMT were evaluated by ELISA and/or Western blotting. (3) Results: nicotine induced through α7-nAChR (i) increase in cell viability, (ii) cell proliferation, (iii) Ki67 over-expression, (iv) phospho-p38 up-regulation, (v) EGFR/pEGFR over-expression, (vi) increase in basal Ca2+ concentration, (vii) reduction of ATP production, (viii) decreased level of p53/phospho-p53, (ix) delayed senescence, (x) VEGF increase, (xi) EMT and consequent (xii) enhanced migration, and (xiii) ability to grow independently of the substrate. (4) Conclusions: Based on our results and on evidence showing that nicotine potentiates viral infection, it is likely that nicotine is involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity.

Spatial Structure and Activity of Synthetic Fragments of Lynx1 and of Nicotinic Receptor Loop C Models

Lynx1, membrane-bound protein co-localized with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and regulates their function, is a three-finger protein (TFP) made of three β-structural loops, similarly to snake venom α-neurotoxin TFPs. Since the central loop II of α-neurotoxins is involved in binding to nAChRs, we have recently synthesized the fragments of Lynx1 central loop, including those with the disulfide between Cys residues introduced at N- and C-termini, some of them inhibiting muscle-type nAChR similarly to the whole-size water-soluble Lynx1 (ws-Lynx1). Literature shows that the main fragment interacting with TFPs is the C-loop of both nAChRs and acetylcholine binding proteins (AChBPs) while some ligand-binding capacity is preserved by analogs of this loop, for example, by high-affinity peptide HAP. Here we analyzed the structural organization of these peptide models of ligands and receptors and its role in binding. Thus, fragments of Lynx1 loop II, loop C from the Lymnaea stagnalis AChBP and HAP were synthesized in linear and Cys-cyclized forms and structurally (CD and NMR) and functionally (radioligand assay on Torpedo nAChR) characterized. Connecting the C- and N-termini by disulfide in the ws-Lynx1 fragment stabilized its conformation which became similar to the loop II within the ¹H-NMR structure of ws-Lynx1, the activity being higher than for starting linear fragment but lower than for peptide with free cysteines. Introduced disulfides did not considerably change the structure of HAP and of loop C fragments, the former preserving high affinity for α-bungarotoxin, while, surprisingly, no binding was detected with loop C and its analogs.

Gene Panel of Persister Cells as a Prognostic Indicator for Tumor Repopulation After Radiation

Tumor repopulation during cycles of radiotherapy limits the radio-response in ensuing cycles and causes failure of treatment. It is thus of vital importance to unveil the mechanisms underlying tumor repopulating cells. Increasing evidence suggests that a subpopulation of drug-tolerant persister cancer cells (DTPs) could survive the cytotoxic treatment and resume to propagate. Whether these persister cells contribute to development of radio-resistance remains elusive. Based on the genetic profiling of DTPs by integrating datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus database, this study aimed to provide novel insights into tumor-repopulation mediated radio-resistance and identify predictive biomarkers for radio-response in clinic. A prognostic risk index, grounded on four persister genes (LYNX1, SYNPO, GADD45B, and PDLIM1), was constructed in non-small-cell lung cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) using stepwise Cox regression analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis further confirmed the interaction among persister-gene based risk score, radio-response and overall survival time. In addition, the predictive role of risk index was validated in vitro and in other types of TCGA patients. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to decipher the possible biological signaling, which indicated that two forces behind persister cells, stress response and survival adaptation, might fuel the tumor repopulation after radiation. Targeting these persister cells may represent a new prognostic and therapeutic approach to enhance radio-response and prevent radio-resistance induced by tumor repopulation.

Increased Expression of LYNX1 in Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma Predicts Poor Prognosis

Few studies have reported the function of LYNX1 in ovarian cancer. We retrieved LYNX1 gene expression data and clinical information of 376 patients with ovarian cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project website. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between clinical pathologic features and LYNX1 expression. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to draw survival curves of patients, and Cox regression was used to calculate the relationship between LYNX1 expression and survival rate or the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed, and the correlation between LYNX1 expression and cancer immune infiltrates was investigated via single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). High LYNX1 expression in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OVs) was associated with tumor residual disease (RD). In Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, patients with OVs who also displayed high LYNX1 expression had decreased overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) than those with low LYNX1 expression. Univariate analysis also supported that patients with high LYNX1 expression had lower OS than those with low LYNX1 expression. LYNX1 expression has the potential to be a prognostic molecular marker of poor survival in OVs.

Lynx1 prototoxins: critical accessory proteins of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Nicotinic receptors of the cholinergic system are ligand-gated ion channels, responding to the excitatory neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, and the addictive component of tobacco, nicotine. They help to transduce salient information in the environment by activating specific neural circuitry in normal and disease states. While nicotinic receptors are promising neurological and neuropsychiatric disorder targets, they have fallen out of favor after several late-stage clinical failures. Targeting the complex of the nicotinic receptor, including lynx1 accessory proteins, could be the key to unlocking the intractable nAChR for therapeutic development. Lynx1 binds to the extracellular face of the nAChR and acts as a critical modulator, suppressing memory, learning, and plasticity. Lynx1 removal in animal models leads to memory and plasticity enhancements, some of which have therapeutic relevance for neuropsychiatric and neurological disease. A review of the lynx1 accessory modulator and its role in modulating neuronal nAChRs will be discussed.

Structural Diversity and Dynamics of Human Three-Finger Proteins Acting on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Ly-6/uPAR or three-finger proteins (TFPs) contain a disulfide-stabilized β-structural core and three protruding loops (fingers). In mammals, TFPs have been found in epithelium and the nervous, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems. Here, using heteronuclear NMR, we determined the three-dimensional (3D) structure and backbone dynamics of the epithelial secreted protein SLURP-1 and soluble domains of GPI-anchored TFPs from the brain (Lynx2, Lypd6, Lypd6b) acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Results were compared with the data about human TFPs Lynx1 and SLURP-2 and snake α-neurotoxins WTX and NTII. Two different topologies of the β-structure were revealed: one large antiparallel β-sheet in Lypd6 and Lypd6b, and two β-sheets in other proteins. α-Helical segments were found in the loops I/III of Lynx2, Lypd6, and Lypd6b. Differences in the surface distribution of charged and hydrophobic groups indicated significant differences in a mode of TFPs/nAChR interactions. TFPs showed significant conformational plasticity: the loops were highly mobile at picosecond-nanosecond timescale, while the β-structural regions demonstrated microsecond-millisecond motions. SLURP-1 had the largest plasticity and characterized by the unordered loops II/III and cis-trans isomerization of the Tyr39-Pro40 bond. In conclusion, plasticity could be an important feature of TFPs adapting their structures for optimal interaction with the different conformational states of nAChRs.

Recombinant Analogue of the Human Protein SLURP-1 Inhibits the Growth of U251 MG and A172 Glioma Cells

The alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) is considered a promising pharmacological target for the carcinoma therapy. We have previously shown that the recombinant analogue of the human protein SLURP-1 (rSLURP-1) effectively inhibits the growth of carcinomas of various origins via the interaction with α7-nAChR and down-regulation of expression of this receptor. Expression of α7-nAChR is increased in gliomas compared to healthy human brain tissues; however, the role of this receptor in the gliomas development is poorly understood. It was shown for the first time that rSLURP-1 significantly inhibits the growth of glioma model cells U251 MG and A172 up to ∼70%, which is comparable with the effect of α-bungarotoxin, a selective α7-nAChR inhibitor. The half-maximum effective concentrations of rSLURP-1 for U251 MG and A172 cells were 2.82 ± 0.2 and 8.9 ± 0.3 nM, respectively. Coincubation of U251 MG cells with rSLURP-1 and the nAChR inhibitor mecamylamine attenuates the antiproliferative activity of rSLURP-1, indicating nAChR as a molecular target for the rSLURP-1 action in gliomas.

Three-finger proteins from snakes and humans acting on nicotinic receptors: Old and new

The first toxin to give rise to the three-finger protein (TFP) family was α-bungarotoxin (α-Bgt) from Bungarus multicinctus krait venom. α-Bgt was crucial for research on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), and in this Review article we focus on present data for snake venom TFPs and those of the Ly6/uPAR family from mammalians (membrane-bound Lynx1 and secreted SLURP-1) interacting with nAChRs. Recently isolated from Bungarus candidus venom, αδ-bungarotoxins differ from α-Bgt: they bind more reversibly and distinguish two binding sites in Torpedo californica nAChR. Naja kaouthia α-cobratoxin, classical blocker of nAChRs, was shown to inhibit certain GABA-A receptor subtypes, whereas α-cobratoxin dimer with 2 intermolecular disulfides has a novel type of 3D structure. Non-conventional toxin WTX has additional 5th disulfide not in the central loop, as α-Bgt, but in the N-terminal loop, like all Ly6/uPAR proteins, and inhibits α7 and Torpedo nAChRs. A water-soluble form of Lynx1, ws-Lynx1, was expressed in E. coli, its ¹ H-NMR structure and binding to several nAChRs determined. For SLURP-1, similar information was obtained with its recombinant analogue rSLURP-1. A common feature of ws-Lynx1, rSLURP-1, and WTX is their activity against nAChRs and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Synthetic SLURP-1, identical to the natural protein, demonstrated some differences from rSLURP-1 in distinguishing nAChR subtypes. The loop II fragment of the Lynx1 was synthesized having the same µM affinity for the Torpedo nAChR as ws-Lynx1. This review illustrates the productivity of parallel research of nAChR interactions with the two TFP groups.

Mambalgin-2 Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Glioma Cells via Interaction with ASIC1a

Gliomas are fast growing and highly invasive brain tumors, characterized by tumor microenvironment acidification that drives glioma cell growth and migration. Channels containing Acid-sensing Ion Channel 1a subunit (ASIC1a) mediate amiloride-sensitive cation influx in late stage glioma cells, but not in normal astrocytes. Thus, selective targeting of ASIC1a can be a perspective strategy for glioma treatment. Here, ASIC1a expression in U251 MG and A172 glioma cells, but not in normal astrocytes, was demonstrated. Recombinant analog of mambalgin-2 from black mamba Dendroaspis polylepis inhibited amiloride-sensitive currents at ASIC1a both in Xenopus laevis oocytes and in U251 MG cells, while its mutants with impaired activity towards this channel did not. Mambalgin-2 inhibited U251 MG and A172 glioma cells growth with EC₅₀ in the nanomolar range without affecting the proliferation of normal astrocytes. Notably, mambalgin-2 mutants did not affect glioma cell proliferation, pointing on ASIC1a as the main molecular target of mambalgin-2 in U251 MG and A172 cells. Mambalgin-2 induced a cell cycle arrest, inhibited Cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) phosphorylation and caused apoptosis in U251 MG and A172 cells. Moreover, mambalgin-2 inhibited the growth of low-passage primary cells from a patient with glioblastoma. Altogether, our data point to mambalgin-2 as a useful hit for the development of new drugs for glioma treatment.

αO-Conotoxin GeXIVA Inhibits the Growth of Breast Cancer Cells via Interaction with α9 Nicotine Acetylcholine Receptors

The α9-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is increasingly emerging as a new tumor target owing to its high expression specificity in breast cancer. αO-Conotoxin GeXIVA is a potent antagonist of α9α10 nAChR. Nevertheless, the anti-tumor effect of GeXIVA on breast cancer cells remains unclear. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to study the cell viability of breast cancer MDA-MD-157 cells and human normal breast epithelial cells, which were exposed to different doses of GeXIVA. Flow cytometry was adopted to detect the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of GeXIVA in breast cancer cells. Migration ability was analyzed by wound healing assay. Western blot (WB), quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) and flow cytometry were used to determine expression of α9-nAChR. Stable MDA-MB-157 breast cancer cell line, with the α9-nAChR subunit knocked out (KO), was established using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. GeXIVA was able to significantly inhibit the proliferation and promote apoptosis of breast cancer MDA-MB-157 cells. Furthermore, the proliferation of breast cancer MDA-MB-157 cells was inhibited by GeXIVA, which caused cell cycle arrest through downregulating α9-nAChR. GeXIVA could suppress MDA-MB-157 cell migration as well. This demonstrates that GeXIVA induced a downregulation of α9-nAChR expression, and the growth of MDA-MB-157 α9-nAChR KO cell line was inhibited as well, due to α9-nAChR deletion. GeXIVA inhibits the growth of breast cancer cell MDA-MB-157 cells in vitro and may occur in a mechanism abolishing α9-nAChR.

Human secreted protein SLURP-1 abolishes nicotine-induced proliferation, PTEN down-regulation and α7-nAChR expression up-regulation in lung cancer cells

Human Ly-6/uPAR-related protein-1 (SLURP-1) is an allosteric negative modulator of the α7-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR), one of the key receptors promoting nicotine-induced proliferation of lung cancer cells. Incubation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells with recombinant SLURP-1 (rSLURP-1) at concentrations >10 nM resulted in the significant decrease of the cell growth (~70%), while treatment of normal lung-derived WI-38 fibroblasts with rSLURP-1 did not influence the cell proliferation up to 1 μM of the protein. rSLURP-1 fully abolished the nicotine-induced increase of the cell proliferation, down-regulation of the expression of PTEN (the negative regulator of the AKT pathway, controlling the growth, survival, and proliferation of cancer cells), and up-regulation of the α7-nAChR expression in the A549 cells. Using the siRNA against α7-nAChR and inhibitors of different cell-surface receptors, we showed that rSLURP-1 antiproliferative effect in A549 cells is connected with α7-nAChR, epidermal growth factor receptors, and β-adrenergic receptors. Moreover, we found that downstream effectors of rSLURP-1 are IP3 receptors and the STAT3 transcription factor. Implication of the IP3 receptors and PTEN in the rSLURP-1 antiproliferative activity points on the AKT-mediated signaling pathway. Co-application of rSLURP-1 with gefitinib and bortezomib (currently used anticancer drugs) resulted in an additive suppression of the A549 cells proliferation up to ~44% and 35%, respectively. Thus, rSLURP-1 could be considered a promising prototype of drugs to prevent nicotine-induced pathologies and cancer treatment.

Differential Expression of Nicotine Acetylcholine Receptors Associates with Human Breast Cancer and Mediates Antitumor Activity of αO-Conotoxin GeXIVA

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are membrane receptors and play a major role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Here, we have investigated the differential expression of nAChR subunits in human breast cancer cell lines and breast epithelial cell lines at mRNA and protein levels and the effects of the αO-conotoxin GeXIVA, antagonist of α9α10 nAChR, on human breast cancer cells. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated that all nAChR subunits, except α6, were expressed in the 20 tested cell lines. Real time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) suggested that the mRNA of α5, α7, α9 and β4 nAChR subunits were overexpressed in all the breast cancer cell lines compared with the normal epithelial cell line HS578BST. α9 nAChR was highly expressed in almost all the breast cancer cell lines in comparison to normal cells. The different expression is prominent (p < 0.001) as determined by flow cytometry and Western blotting, except for MDA-MB-453 and HCC1395 cell lines. αO-conotoxin GeXIVA that targeted α9α10 nAChR were able to significantly inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and merits further investigation as potential agents for targeted therapy.