Anti-Proliferative and Apoptotic Activities of Müllerian Inhibiting Substance Combined with Calcitriol in Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines

Cholecalciferol induces apoptosis via autocrine metabolism in epidermoid cervical cancer cells

The anti-cancer effects of vitamin D are of fundamental interest. Cholecalciferol is sequentially hydroxylated endogenously to calcidiol and calcitriol. Here, SiHa epidermoid cervical cancer cells were treated with cholecalciferol (10 - 2600 nM). Cell count and viability were assayed using crystal violet and trypan blue, respectively. Apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry for early and late biomarkers along with brightfield microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Autocrine vitamin D metabolism was analysed by qPCR and immunoblotting for activating enzymes; 25-hydroxylases (CYP2R1 and CYP27A1) and 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1); the catabolic 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1); and the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test, and p<0.05 was considered significant. After cholecalciferol, cell count (p=0.011) and viability (p<0.0001) decreased, apoptotic biomarkers were positive, mitochondrial membrane potential decreased (p=0.0145), and phosphatidylserine externalisation (p=0.0439); terminal caspase activity (p=0.0025) and nuclear damage (p=0.004) increased. Microscopy showed classical features of apoptosis. Gene and protein expression were concordant. Immunoblots revealed increased CYP2R1 (p = 0.021), VDR (p=0.04) and CYP24A1 (p=0.0274) and decreased CYP27B1 (p=0.031). We conclude that autocrine activation of cholecalciferol to calcidiol may mediate VDR signalling of growth inhibition and apoptosis in SiHa cells.

Translational Physiology of Anti-Müllerian Hormone: Clinical Applications in Female Fertility Preservation and Cancer Treatment

Background

Whilst the ability of AMH to induce the regression of the Müllerian ducts in the male fetus is well appreciated, AMH has additional biological actions in relation to steroid biosynthesis and ovarian follicle dynamics. An understanding of the physiology of AMH illuminates the potential therapeutic utility of AMH to protect the ovarian reserve during chemotherapy and in the treatment of female malignancies. The translation of the biological actions of AMH into clinical applications is an emerging focus of research, with promising preliminary results.

Objective and Rationale

Studies indicate AMH restrains primordial follicle development, thus administration of AMH during chemotherapy may protect the ovarian reserve by preventing the mass activation of primordial follicles. As AMH induces regression of tissues expressing the AMH receptor (AMHRII), administration of AMH may inhibit growth of malignancies expressing AMHR II. This review evaluates the biological actions of AMH in females and appraises human clinical applications.

Search Methods

A comprehensive search of the Medline and EMBASE databases seeking articles related to the physiological functions and therapeutic applications of AMH was conducted in July 2021. The search was limited to studies published in English.

Outcomes

AMH regulates primordial follicle recruitment and moderates sex steroid production through the inhibition of transcription of enzymes in the steroid biosynthetic pathway, primarily aromatase and 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase. Preliminary data indicates that administration of AMH to mice during chemotherapy conveys a degree of protection to the ovarian reserve. Administration of AMH at the time of ovarian tissue grafting has the potential to restrain uncontrolled primordial follicle growth during revascularization. Numerous studies demonstrate AMH induced regression of AMHR II expressing malignancies. As this action occurs via a different mechanism to traditional chemotherapeutic agents, AMH has the capacity to inhibit proliferation of chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells and cancer stem cells.

Wider Implications

To date, AMH has not been administered to humans. Data identified in this review suggests administration of AMH would be safe and well tolerated. Administration of AMH during chemotherapy may provide a synchronistic benefit to women with an AMHR II expressing malignancy, protecting the ovarian reserve whilst the cancer is treated by dual mechanisms.

Progesterone induces apoptosis by activation of caspase-8 and calcitriol via activation of caspase-9 pathways in ovarian and endometrial cancer cells in vitro

Previously we have shown inhibition of endometrial cancer cell growth with progesterone and calcitriol. However, the mechanisms by which the two agents attenuate proliferation have not been well characterized yet. Herein, we investigated how progesterone and calcitriol induce apoptosis in cancer cells. DNA fragmentation was upregulated by progesterone and calcitriol in ovarian and endometrial cancer cells. Time-dependent treatment of ovarian cancer cells, ES-2, and TOV-21G with progesterone enhanced caspase -8 activity after 12 h, whereas OV-90, TOV-112D, HEC-1A, and HEC-59 cells showed increased activity after 24 h. Caspase 9 activity was increased in all cell lines after 24 h treatment with calcitriol. Pretreatment of cancer cells with a caspase-8 inhibitor (z-IETD-fmk) or caspase-9 inhibitor (Z-LEHD-fmk) significantly attenuated progesterone and calcitriol induced caspase-8 and caspase-9 expression, respectively. The expression of FasL, Fas, FAD, and pro-caspase-8, which constitute the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), was upregulated in progesterone treated cancer cells. Knockdown of FAS or FADD with specific siRNAs significantly blocked progesterone-induced caspase-8. Cleavage of the BID was not affected by caspase-8 activation suggesting the absence of cross-talk between caspase-8 and caspase-9 pathways. Calcitriol treatment decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the release of cancer cytochrome C. These findings indicate that progesterone induces apoptosis through activation of caspase-8 and calcitriol through caspase-9 activation in cancer cells. A combination of progesterone-calcitriol activates both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in cancer cells.

Association between vitamin D and ovarian cancer development in BRCA1 mutation carriers

OBJECTIVE

Women with inherited mutations in BRCA1 gene have a high (40-70%) genetic risk of developing ovarian cancer. Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse correlation between serum vitamin D (VD) levels and the risk of ovarian cancer, but there is a lack of data from BRCA1 mutation (BRCA1 ^mut) carriers. Therefore, we investigated VD levels and actions in cancer free women with BRCA1 mutations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood, ovary and fallopian tube samples were collected from healthy pre-menopausal women with BRCA1 ^mut and without BRCA1 mutations (BRCA ^wt). Serum calcifediol (major circulating form of VD) concentrations were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded ovarian and fallopian tube sections to determine vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression. Ovarian surface epithelial cells (OSEs) from BRCA1 ^mut carriers were cultured with or without calcitriol supplementation for 72 hrs. VDR protein levels, cell proliferation and cell viability were analyzed.

RESULTS

BRCA1 ^mut women had lower serum calcifediol levels compared to BRCA ^wt women (p = 0.003). VDR protein expression was evident in ovarian and the fallopian tube epithelium of BRCA ^wt patients, but was reduced in BRCA1 ^mut women. Calcitriol (biologically active VD) supplementation elevated VDR expression in cultured BRCA1 ^mut OSEs (p = 0.005) and decreased cell proliferation rates in a dose-dependent manner without inducing apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

VD biosynthesis and signaling via VDR in the ovarian and fallopian tube epithelium are impaired in BRCA1 ^mut women. VD treatment may limit BRCA1 ^mut epithelial cell proliferation without affecting cell viability, providing a rationale for exploring the potential for VD in ovarian cancer prevention in BRCA1 ^mut carriers.

Vitamin D and Ovarian Cancer: Systematic Review of the Literature with a Focus on Molecular Mechanisms

Vitamin D is a lipid soluble vitamin involved primarily in calcium metabolism. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that lower circulating vitamin D levels are associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer and that vitamin D supplementation is associated with decreased cancer mortality. A vast amount of research exists on the possible molecular mechanisms through which vitamin D affects cancer cell proliferation, cancer progression, angiogenesis, and inflammation. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on the effects of vitamin D on ovarian cancer cell.

[Mullerian inhibiting substance type II receptor as a potential target for antineoplastic therapy]

The review considers properties of the type II anti-Mullerian hormone receptor (mullerian inhibiting substance receptor type II, MISRII), a transmembrane sensor with its own serine/threonine protein kinase activity, triggering apoptosis of the Mullerian ducts in mammalian embryogenesis and providing formation of the male type reproductive system. According to recent data, MISRII overexpression in the postnatal period is found in cells of a number of ovarian, mammary gland, and prostate tumors, and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) has a pro-apoptotic effect on MISRII-positive tumor cells. This fact makes MISRII a potential target for targeted anti-cancer therapy. Treatment based on targeting MISRII seems to be a much more effective alternative to the traditional one and will significantly reduce the drug dose. However, the mechanism of MISRII-AMH interaction is still poorly understood, so the development of new anticancer drugs is complicated. The review analyzes MISRII molecular structure and expression levels in various tissues and cell lines, as well as current understanding of the AMH binding mechanisms and data on the possibility of using MISRII as a target for the action of AMH-based antineoplastic drugs.

Anti-Müllerian hormone inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells by regulating the cell cycle and decreasing the secretion of stem cell factor

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been demonstrated to exhibit an inhibitory effect on the proliferation, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance of ovarian cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In the present study, 10 µg/ml recombinant human AMH (rhAMH) was administered to human OVCAR3 and OVCAR8 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cell lines. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed. The level of stem cell factor (SCF) was detected using a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and an ELISA, respectively. The exogenous addition of rhAMH significantly reduced the proliferation of OVCAR3 and OVCAR8 cell lines compared with the control group (P<0.01). The apoptosis rate in the rhAMH treated group (48 h) significantly increased compared with in the control group (OVCAR3, P=0.035; OVCAR8, P=0.020). The apoptosis rate increased at 72 h but did not exhibit a significant difference when compared with the 48 h group (OVCAR3, P=0.145; OVCAR8, P=0.296). The percentage of cells in the G₁ phase in the rhAMH treated group (48 h) increased but was not significantly different compared with the control group (OVCAR3, P=0.070; OVCAR8, P=0.051). However, there was a significant difference at 72 h compared with the control group (OVCAR3, P=0.016; OVCAR8, P=0.019). At 48 h, the rhAMH-treated group exhibited a statistically significant inhibition of SCF mRNA expression levels (P=0.008), but no significant difference in the protein expression levels (P=0.101) compared with the control, though a significant inhibition was exhibited at 72 h (mRNA expression levels, P=0.005; protein expression levels, P=0.036). The present study revealed that rhAMH may be able to inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of EOC cells via G₁/S-phase cell cycle arrest and the decreased secretion of SCF.

MiR-514 attenuates proliferation and increases chemoresistance by targeting ATP binding cassette subfamily in ovarian cancer

Cisplatin is one of the most popular chemotherapeutic drugs in treating ovarian cancer. Resistance to cisplatin is a common clinical challenge that needs to be solved to increase its anti-tumor effects. The relation of miR-514 expression with prognosis in ovarian cancer patients was analyzed based on GSE73584 datasets. The regulation of miR-514 on proliferation and cisplatin chemosensitivity of ovarian cells was examined by MTT assay, colony-formation assay and soft-agar colony-formation assay. Dual luciferase assay was performed to detect the direct interaction of miR-514 with its downstream targets. Immunobloting and qRT-PCR were performed for target gene expression analysis. Low expression of miR-514 was related to poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. MiR-514 repressed proliferation and decreased cisplatin chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer cells by targeting ATP binding cassette subfamily. MiR-514 is of clinically significance in ovarian cancer by attenuating proliferation of ovarian cancer cells and decreasing chemoresistance of cisplatin by targeting ATP binding cassette subfamily.