Sodium butyrate induces cellular senescence in neuroblastoma and prostate cancer cells

HDAC2 and 7 down-regulation induces senescence in dermal fibroblasts

Originally simply reported to be in a stable and irreversible growth arrest in vitro, senescent cells are now clearly associated with normal and pathological ageing in vivo. They are characterized by several biomarkers and changes in gene expression that may depend on epigenetic factors, such as histone acetylation, involving a balance between histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). In this study, we investigate the expression and the role of HDACs on the senescent phenotype of dermal fibroblasts. We report that during replicative senescence, most canonical HDACs are less expressed. Moreover, treatment with SAHA, a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) also known as Vorinostat, or the specific downregulation of HDAC2 or HDAC7 by siRNA, induces the appearance of senescence biomarkers of dermal fibroblasts. Conversely, the ectopic re-expression of HDAC7 by lentiviral transduction in pre-senescent dermal fibroblasts extends their proliferative lifespan. These results demonstrate that HDACs expression can modulate the senescent phenotype, highlighting their pharmaceutical interest in the context of healthy ageing.

Histone Deacetylases and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Neuroblastoma

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that play a key role in regulating gene expression by remodeling chromatin structure. An imbalance of histone acetylation caused by deregulated HDAC expression and activity is known to promote tumor progression in a number of tumor types, including neuroblastoma, the most common solid tumor in children. Consequently, the inhibition of HDACs has emerged as a potential strategy to reverse these aberrant epigenetic changes, and several classes of HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) have been shown to inhibit tumor proliferation, or induce differentiation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in neuroblastoma. Further, the combined use of HDACi with other chemotherapy agents, or radiotherapy, has shown promising pre-clinical results and various HDACi have progressed to different stages in clinical trials. Despite this, the effects of HDACi are multifaceted and more work needs to be done to unravel their specific mechanisms of actions. In this review, we discuss the functional role of HDACs in neuroblastoma and the potential of HDACi to be optimized for development and use in the clinic for treatment of patients with neuroblastoma.

Sodium Butyrate Abrogates the Growth and Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium bovis via Regulation of Cathelicidin (LL37) Expression and NF-κB Signaling

Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, has been identified a serious threat to human population. It has been found that sodium butyrate (NaB), the inhibitor of histone deacetylase, can promote the expression of cathelicidin (LL37) and help the body to resist a variety of injuries. In the current study, we investigate the therapeutic effect of NaB on the regulation of host defense mechanism against M. bovis infection. We found an increased expression of LL37 in M. bovis infected THP-1 cells after NaB treatment. In contrast, NaB treatment significantly down-regulated the expression of Class I HDAC in THP-1 cells infected with M. bovis. Additionally, NaB reduced the expression of phosphorylated P65 (p-P65) and p-IκBα, indicating the inhibition of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. Furthermore, we found that NaB treatment reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10) and a key anti-apoptotic marker protein Bcl-2 in THP-1 cell infected with M. bovis. Notably, mice showed high resistance to M. bovis infection after NaB treatment. The reduction of viable M. bovis bacilli indicates that NaB-induced inhibition of M. bovis infection mediated by upregulation of LL37 and inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway. These observations illustrate that NaB mediate protective immune responses against M. bovis infection. Overall, these results suggest that NaB can be exploited as a therapeutic strategy for the control of M. bovis in animals and human beings.

From molecular promise to preclinical results: HDAC inhibitors in the race for healthy aging drugs

Reversing or slowing the aging process brings great promise to treat or prevent age‐related disease, and targeting the hallmarks of aging is a strategy to achieve this. Epigenetics affects several if not all of the hallmarks of aging and has therefore emerged as a central target for intervention. One component of epigenetic regulation involves histone deacetylases (HDAC), which include the “classical” histone deacetylases (of class I, II, and IV) and sirtuin deacetylases (of class III). While targeting sirtuins for healthy aging has been extensively reviewed elsewhere, this review focuses on pharmacologically inhibiting the classical HDACs to promote health and longevity. We describe the theories of how classical HDAC inhibitors may operate to increase lifespan, supported by studies in model organisms. Furthermore, we explore potential mechanisms of how HDAC inhibitors may have such a strong grasp on health and longevity, summarizing their links to other hallmarks of aging. Finally, we show the wide range of age‐related preclinical disease models, ranging from neurodegeneration to heart disease, diabetes to sarcopenia, which show improvement upon HDAC inhibition.

Targeted elimination of senescent Ras-transformed cells by suppression of MEK/ERK pathway

The Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway plays a central role in tumorigenesis and is a target for anticancer therapy. The successful strategy based on the activation of cell death in Ras-expressing cells is associated with the suppression of kinases involved in Ras pathway. However, activation of cytoprotective autophagy overcomes antiproliferative effect of the inhibitors and develops drug resistance. We studied whether cellular senescence induced by HDAC inhibitor sodium butyrate in E1a+cHa-Ras-transformed rat embryo fibroblasts (ERas) and A549 human Ki-Ras mutated lung adenocarcinoma cells would enhance the tumor suppressor effect of MEK/ERK inhibition. Treatment of control ERas cells with PD0325901 for 24 h results in mitochondria damage and apoptotic death of a part of cellular population. However, the activation of AMPK-dependent autophagy overcomes pro-apoptotic effects of MEK/ERK inhibitor and results in restoration of the mitochondria and rescue of viability. Senescent ERas cells do not develop cytoprotective autophagy upon inhibition of MEK/ERK pathway due to spatial dissociation of lysosomes and autophagosomes in the senescent cells. Senescent cells are unable to form the autophagolysosomes and to remove the damaged mitochondria resulting in apoptotic death. Our data show that suppression of MEK/ERK pathway in senescent cells provides a new strategy for elimination of Ras-expressing cells.

Targeting Histone Deacetylase Activity to Arrest Cell Growth and Promote Neural Differentiation in Ewing Sarcoma

There is an urgent need for advances in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive childhood tumor with possible neuroectodermal origin. Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC) can revert aberrant epigenetic states and reduce growth in different experimental cancer types. Here, we investigated whether the potent HDAC inhibitor, sodium butyrate (NaB), has the ability to reprogram EWS cells towards a more differentiated state and affect their growth and survival. Exposure of two EWS cell lines to NaB resulted in rapid and potent inhibition of HDAC activity (1 h, IC₅₀ 1.5 mM) and a significant arrest of cell cycle progression (72 h, IC₅₀ 0.68-0.76 mM), marked by G0/G1 accumulation. Delayed cell proliferation and reduced colony formation ability were observed in EWS cells after long-term culture. NaB-induced effects included suppression of cell proliferation accompanied by reduced transcriptional expression of the EWS-FLI1 fusion oncogene, decreased expression of key survival and pluripotency-associated genes, and re-expression of the differentiation neuronal marker βIII-tubulin. Finally, NaB reduced c-MYC levels and impaired survival in putative EWS cancer stem cells. Our findings support the use of HDAC inhibition as a strategy to impair cell growth and survival and to reprogram EWS tumors towards differentiation. These results are consistent with our previous studies indicating that HDis can inhibit the growth and modulate differentiation of cells from other types of childhood pediatric tumors possibly originating from neural stem cells.

ZBP-89 function in colonic stem cells and during butyrate-induced senescence

ZBP-89 (Zfp148, ZNF148) is a Kruppel-type zinc-finger family transcription factor that binds to GC-rich DNA elements. Earlier studies in cell lines demonstrated that ZBP-89 cooperates with Wnt β-catenin signaling by inducing β-catenin gene expression. Since β-catenin levels are normally highest at the crypt base, we examined whether ZBP-89 is required for stem cell maintenance. Lineage-tracing using a Zfp148Cre^ERT2 transgenic line demonstrated expression in both intestine and colonic stem cells. Deleting the Zfp148 locus in the colon using the Cdx2NLSCre^ERT2 transgene, reduced the size and number of polyps formed in the Apc-deleted mice. Since colon polyps form in the presence of butyrate, a short chain fatty acid that suppresses cell growth, we examined the direct effect of butyrate on colon organoid survival. Butyrate induced senescence of colon organoids carrying the Apc deletion, only when Zfp148 was deleted. Using quantitative PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation, we determined that butyrate treatment of colon cell lines suppressed ZNF148 gene expression, inducing CDKN2a (p16^Ink4a ) gene expression. Collectively, Zfp148 mRNA is expressed in CBCs, and is required for stem cell maintenance and colonic transformation. Butyrate induces colonic cell senescence in part through suppression of ZBP-89 gene expression and its subsequent occupancy of the CDKN2A promoter.

Teng-Long-Bu-Zhong-Tang induces p21-dependent cell senescence in colorectal carcinoma LS174T cells via histone acetylation

Teng-Long-Bu-Zhong-Tang (TLBZT) is a Chinese herbal formula for colorectal carcinoma treatment. TLBZT effectively induces cell senescence in colorectal carcinoma, accompanied by p21 upregulation. In this study, we further explored the role of p21 in TLBZT-induced cell senescence, as well as the mechanism by which TLBZT upregulates p21. Specific knockdown of p21 expression by small interfering RNA significantly attenuated TLBZT-induced cell senescence in human colorectal carcinoma LS174T cells. Silencing of p53 by small interfering RNA did not affect TLBZT-induced p21 upregulation. Meanwhile, TLBZT inhibited histone deacetylase activity. Furthermore, TLBZT increased acetylation levels of histone H3 and H4, enhancing their binding to the p21 promoter. These data suggested that TLBZT induces cell senescence in LS174T cells through a mechanism involving p21 upregulation via histone H3 and H4 acetylation. This study provides new insights into the application of TLBZT for colorectal carcinoma treatment.

Supraphysiological androgen levels induce cellular senescence in human prostate cancer cells through the Src-Akt pathway

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality of men in Western countries. The androgen receptor (AR) and AR-agonists (androgens) are required for the development and progression of the normal prostate as well as PCa. However, it is discussed that in addition to their tumor promoting activity, androgens may also exhibit tumor suppressive effects. A biphasic growth response to androgens a growth-promoting and -inhibition has been observed that suggests that administration of supraphysiological androgen levels mediates growth reduction in AR expressing PCa cells.

METHODS

Detection of senescence markers, three dimensional interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D-iFISH), qRT-PCR, Western blotting, detection of GFP fusions, prostatectomy, ex vivo culturing.

RESULTS

Here, we describe that supraphysiological levels of androgens induce cell cycle arrest and markers of cellular senescence in human PCa cells, which may in part explain the growth inhibitory role of androgens. The expression of the senescence associated beta galactosidase is observed by treatment with the natural androgen DHT or the less metabolized synthetic androgen R1881. The induction of senescence marker was detected in human PCa cell lines as well as in human primary PCa tissue derived from prostatectomy treated ex vivo. Using interphase FISH (iFISH) suggests that the androgen-induced cellular senescence is associated with localizing the genomic E2F1 locus to senescence associated heterochromatic foci. Analysis of different signaling pathways in LNCaP cells suggest that the p16-Rb-E2F1 pathway is essential for the induction of cellular senescence since treatment with siRNA directed against p16 reduces the level of androgen-induced cellular senescence. Based on the rapid induction of androgen-mediated cellular senescence we identified the Src-PI3K-Akt-signaling pathway and autophagy being in part involved in androgen regulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our data suggest that AR-agonists at supraphysiological levels mediate induction of cellular senescence in human PCa cells, which may have a protective anti-cancer role. These results provide also new insights for understanding androgen-mediated regulation of PCa growth.

A natural androgen receptor antagonist induces cellular senescence in prostate cancer cells

We have previously identified a natural occurring, androgen receptor-specific antagonist. Atraric acid (AA) inhibits the transactivation of the androgen receptor (AR) and androgen-mediated growth of AR-expressing human prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines. Here we show that AA treatment of living cells provokes molecular changes of AR signaling. In addition to a deceleration of nuclear translocation a block of the intramolecular amino/carboxy (N/C)-terminal interaction of the AR was observed. Furthermore, using high-resolution confocal fluorescence microscopy, a reduced speckle formation of the AR was observed in line with an increased intranuclear mobility of the receptor. This suggests decreased DNA binding of the AR, which is further indicated by an impaired chromatin recruitment of the AR to the prostate-specific antigen promoter and enhancer shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments. Using inhibitors of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src or Akt, known interaction partners of AR, reduced the level of androgen-induced cellular senescence suggesting a partly non-genomic pathway to induce cellular senescence by AA. Using PP2 (4-Amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine) pyrimidine or Akt inhibitors, inhibitors of the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Src or Akt, known interaction partners of AR, reduced the level of androgen-induced cellular senescence, suggesting a partly nongenomic pathway to induce cellular senescence by AA. Treatment of LNCaP cells with AA is associated with hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor and an increase of p16 expression, whereas the p53-p21 signaling pathway seems not be affected by AA treatment. Analyzing human PCa tissue samples treated with AA ex vivo also indicates an induction of cellular senescence associated with an increase of p16 expression but not p21. Taken together, these data indicate that AA exhibits novel features to inhibit AR amino/carboxy-terminal interaction, the AR-mediated nuclear activities and growth of PCa cells.