1
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Yadav RK, Johnson AO, Peeples ES. The dynamic duo: Decoding the roles of hypoxia-inducible factors in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2025; 386:115170. [PMID: 39884332 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115170] [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: 09/21/2024] [Revised: 01/22/2025] [Accepted: 01/27/2025] [Indexed: 02/01/2025]
Abstract
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) results in considerable mortality and neurodevelopmental disability, with a particularly high disease burden in low- and middle-income countries. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology underlying this injury could allow for improved diagnostic and therapeutic options. Specifically, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1α and HIF-2α) likely play a key role, but that role is complex and remains understudied. This review analyses the recent findings seeking to uncover the impacts of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI), focusing on their cell specific expression, time-dependant activities, and potential therapeutic implications. Recent findings have revealed temporal patterns of HIF-1α and HIF-2α expression following hypoxic-ischemic injury, with distinct functions for HIF-1α versus HIF-2α within the neonatal brain. Ongoing studies aimed at further revealing the relationship between HIF isoforms and developing targeted interventions offer promising avenues for therapeutic management which could improve long-term neurological outcomes in affected newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajnish Kumar Yadav
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America; Child Health Research Institute, Omaha, NE, United States of America
| | - Amanda O Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America; Child Health Research Institute, Omaha, NE, United States of America
| | - Eric S Peeples
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America; Child Health Research Institute, Omaha, NE, United States of America; Division of Neonatology, Children's Nebraska, Omaha, NE, United States of America.
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2
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Vanhooren J, Deneweth L, Pagliaro L, Ren Z, Giaimo M, Zamponi R, Roti G, Depreter B, Hofmans M, De Moerloose B, Lammens T. Nidogen-1, a Player in KMT2A-Rearranged Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:3011. [PMID: 40243655 PMCID: PMC11988693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26073011] [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: 02/08/2025] [Revised: 03/17/2025] [Accepted: 03/22/2025] [Indexed: 04/18/2025] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in outcome, one third of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relapse, and less than half will achieve long-term survival. Relapse in AML has been shown to be driven in part by leukemic stem cells (LSCs), highlighting the unmet medical need to better characterize and target this therapy-resistant cell population. Micro-array profiling of pediatric AML subpopulations (LSCs and leukemic myeloblasts) and their healthy counterparts revealed nidogen-1 (NID1) as expressed in both leukemic subpopulations while absent in the hematopoietic stem cell. Using the TARGET dataset including pediatric AML patients (n = 1025), NID1 expression showed a correlation with worse event-free survival and KMT2A rearrangements. Drug response profiling of a NID1 knockdown model demonstrated differential sensitivity to HSP90 inhibition. RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis between NID1high and NID1low phenotypes showed involvement of NID1 in mitochondrial metabolic pathways known to be enriched in LSCs. Altogether, this study highlights NID1 as a novel oncogene associated with worse EFS and metabolic LSC phenotype in AML. NID1 could serve as a biomarker and aid in further mapping LSCs to establish therapeutic strategies tackling the high relapse rates in pediatric AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien Vanhooren
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.V.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Larissa Deneweth
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.V.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luca Pagliaro
- Translational Hematology and Chemogenomics (THEC), University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Hematology and BMT Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
| | - Zhiyao Ren
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.V.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mariateresa Giaimo
- Translational Hematology and Chemogenomics (THEC), University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Hematology and BMT Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
| | - Rafaella Zamponi
- Translational Hematology and Chemogenomics (THEC), University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Hematology and BMT Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Roti
- Translational Hematology and Chemogenomics (THEC), University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Hematology and BMT Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
| | - Barbara Depreter
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, AZ Delta General Hospital, 8800 Roeselare, Belgium
- Department of Haematology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mattias Hofmans
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Moerloose
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.V.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim Lammens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.V.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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3
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Wang Y, Liang ZJ, Gale RP, Liao HZ, Ma J, Gong TJ, Shao YQ, Liang Y. Chronic myeloid leukaemia: Biology and therapy. Blood Rev 2024; 65:101196. [PMID: 38604819 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2024.101196] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is caused by BCR::ABL1. Tyrosine kinase-inhibitors (TKIs) are the initial therapy. Several organizations have reported milestones to evaluate response to initial TKI-therapy and suggest when a change of TKI should be considered. Achieving treatment-free remission (TFR) is increasingly recognized as the optimal therapy goal. Which TKI is the best initial therapy for which persons and what depth and duration of molecular remission is needed to achieve TFR are controversial. In this review we discuss these issues and suggest future research directions.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/etiology
- Remission Induction
- Biology
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zhi-Jian Liang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Robert Peter Gale
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; Centre for Haematology, Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Hua-Ze Liao
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Harbin Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Harbin First Hospital, Harbin 150010, China
| | - Tie-Jun Gong
- Harbin Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Harbin First Hospital, Harbin 150010, China.
| | - Ying-Qi Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China.
| | - Yang Liang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China.
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4
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Slezak AJ, Chang K, Beckman TN, Refvik KC, Alpar AT, Lauterbach AL, Solanki A, Kwon JW, Gomes S, Mansurov A, Hubbell JA. Cysteine-binding adjuvant enhances survival and promotes immune function in a murine model of acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Adv 2024; 8:1747-1759. [PMID: 38324726 PMCID: PMC10985806 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023012529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Therapeutic vaccination has long been a promising avenue for cancer immunotherapy but is often limited by tumor heterogeneity. The genetic and molecular diversity between patients often results in variation in the antigens present on cancer cell surfaces. As a result, recent research has focused on personalized cancer vaccines. Although promising, this strategy suffers from time-consuming production, high cost, inaccessibility, and targeting of a limited number of tumor antigens. Instead, we explore an antigen-agnostic polymeric in situ cancer vaccination platform for treating blood malignancies, in our model here with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Rather than immunizing against specific antigens or targeting adjuvant to specific cell-surface markers, this platform leverages a characteristic metabolic and enzymatic dysregulation in cancer cells that produces an excess of free cysteine thiols on their surfaces. These thiols increase in abundance after treatment with cytotoxic agents such as cytarabine, the current standard of care in AML. The resulting free thiols can undergo efficient disulfide exchange with pyridyl disulfide (PDS) moieties on our construct and allow for in situ covalent attachment to cancer cell surfaces and debris. PDS-functionalized monomers are incorporated into a statistical copolymer with pendant mannose groups and TLR7 agonists to target covalently linked antigen and adjuvant to antigen-presenting cells in the liver and spleen after IV administration. There, the compound initiates an anticancer immune response, including T-cell activation and antibody generation, ultimately prolonging survival in cancer-bearing mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Slezak
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Kevin Chang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Taryn N. Beckman
- Committee on Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Kirsten C. Refvik
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Aaron T. Alpar
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Ani Solanki
- Animal Resource Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Jung Woo Kwon
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Suzana Gomes
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Aslan Mansurov
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Jeffrey A. Hubbell
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Committee on Cancer Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
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5
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Semenza GL. Mechanisms of Breast Cancer Stem Cell Specification and Self-Renewal Mediated by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1. Stem Cells Transl Med 2023; 12:783-790. [PMID: 37768037 PMCID: PMC10726407 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szad061] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Many advanced human cancers contain regions of intratumoral hypoxia, with O2 gradients extending to anoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are activated in hypoxic cancer cells and drive metabolic reprogramming, vascularization, invasion, and metastasis. Hypoxia induces breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) specification by inducing the expression and/or activity of the pluripotency factors KLF4, NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2. Recent studies have identified HIF-1-dependent expression of PLXNB3, NARF, and TERT in hypoxic breast cancer cells. PLXNB3 binds to and activates the MET receptor tyrosine kinase, leading to activation of the SRC non-receptor tyrosine kinase and subsequently focal adhesion kinase, which promotes cancer cell migration and invasion. PLXNB3-MET-SRC signaling also activates STAT3, a transcription factor that mediates increased NANOG gene expression. Hypoxia-induced NARF binds to OCT4 and serves as a coactivator by stabilizing OCT4 binding to the KLF4, NANOG, and SOX2 genes and by stabilizing the interaction of OCT4 with KDM6A, a histone demethylase that erases repressive trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27, thereby increasing KLF4, NANOG, and SOX2 gene expression. In addition to increasing pluripotency factor expression by these mechanisms, HIF-1 directly activates expression of the TERT gene encoding telomerase, the enzyme required for maintenance of telomeres, which is required for the unlimited self-renewal of BCSCs. HIF-1 binds to the TERT gene and recruits NANOG, which serves as a coactivator by promoting the subsequent recruitment of USP9X, a deubiquitinase that inhibits HIF-1α degradation, and p300, a histone acetyltransferase that mediates acetylation of H3K27, which is required for transcriptional activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg L Semenza
- Armstrong Oxygen Biology Research Center, Institute for Cell Engineering, and Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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6
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Ung J, Tan SF, Fox TE, Shaw JJP, Taori M, Horton BJ, Golla U, Sharma A, Szulc ZM, Wang HG, Chalfant CE, Cabot MC, Claxton DF, Loughran TP, Feith DJ. Acid Ceramidase Inhibitor LCL-805 Antagonizes Akt Signaling and Promotes Iron-Dependent Cell Death in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5866. [PMID: 38136410 PMCID: PMC10742122 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy requiring urgent treatment advancements. Ceramide is a cell-death-promoting signaling lipid that plays a central role in therapy-induced cell death. We previously determined that acid ceramidase (AC), a ceramide-depleting enzyme, is overexpressed in AML and promotes leukemic survival and drug resistance. The ceramidase inhibitor B-13 and next-generation lysosomal-localizing derivatives termed dimethylglycine (DMG)-B-13 prodrugs have been developed but remain untested in AML. Here, we report the in vitro anti-leukemic efficacy and mechanism of DMG-B-13 prodrug LCL-805 across AML cell lines and primary patient samples. LCL-805 inhibited AC enzymatic activity, increased total ceramides, and reduced sphingosine levels. A median EC50 value of 11.7 μM was achieved for LCL-805 in cell viability assays across 32 human AML cell lines. As a single agent tested across a panel of 71 primary AML patient samples, a median EC50 value of 15.8 μM was achieved. Exogenous ceramide supplementation with C6-ceramide nanoliposomes, which is entering phase I/II clinical trial for relapsed/refractory AML, significantly enhanced LCL-805 killing. Mechanistically, LCL-805 antagonized Akt signaling and led to iron-dependent cell death distinct from canonical ferroptosis. These findings elucidated key factors involved in LCL-805 cytotoxicity and demonstrated the potency of combining AC inhibition with exogenous ceramide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnson Ung
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Todd E. Fox
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jeremy J. P. Shaw
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
| | - Maansi Taori
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
| | - Bethany J. Horton
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Translational Research and Applied Statistics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA;
| | - Upendarrao Golla
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; (U.G.); (D.F.C.)
| | - Arati Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
| | - Zdzislaw M. Szulc
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
| | - Charles E. Chalfant
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Research Service, Richmond Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
| | - Myles C. Cabot
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - David F. Claxton
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; (U.G.); (D.F.C.)
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
| | - Thomas P. Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - David J. Feith
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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7
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Ung J, Tan SF, Fox TE, Shaw JJ, Taori M, Horton BJ, Golla U, Sharma A, Szulc ZM, Wang HG, Chalfant CE, Cabot MC, Claxton DF, Loughran TP, Feith DJ. Acid Ceramidase Inhibitor LCL-805 Antagonizes Akt Signaling and Promotes Iron-Dependent Cell Death in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.21.563437. [PMID: 37961314 PMCID: PMC10634704 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.21.563437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy requiring urgent treatment advancements. Ceramide is a cell death-promoting signaling lipid that plays a central role in therapy-induced cell death. Acid ceramidase (AC), a ceramide-depleting enzyme, is overexpressed in AML and promotes leukemic survival and drug resistance. The ceramidase inhibitor B-13 and next-generation lysosomal-localizing derivatives termed dimethylglycine (DMG)-B-13 prodrugs have been developed but remain untested in AML. Here, we report the in vitro anti-leukemic efficacy and mechanism of DMG-B-13 prodrug, LCL-805, across AML cell lines and primary patient samples. LCL-805 inhibited AC enzymatic activity, increased total ceramides, and reduced sphingosine levels. A median EC50 value of 11.7 μM was achieved for LCL-805 in cell viability assays across 32 human AML cell lines. As a single agent tested across a panel of 71 primary AML patient samples, a median EC50 value of 15.8 μM was achieved. Exogenous ceramide supplementation with C6-ceramide nanoliposomes, which is entering phase I/II clinical trial for relapsed/refractory AML, significantly enhanced LCL-805 killing. Mechanistically, LCL-805 antagonized Akt signaling and led to iron-dependent cell death distinct from canonical ferroptosis. These findings elucidated key factors involved in LCL-805 cytotoxicity and demonstrated the potency of combining AC inhibition with exogenous ceramide.
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8
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Jaśkiewicz M, Moszyńska A, Gebert M, Collawn JF, Bartoszewski R. EPAS1 resistance to miRNA-based regulation contributes to prolonged expression of HIF-2 during hypoxia in human endothelial cells. Gene 2023; 868:147376. [PMID: 36934786 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
The cellular adaptation to hypoxia is regulated by hypoxia inducible factors: HIF-1 and HIF-2. HIF-1 mediates response to acute hypoxia, whereas HIF-2 allows adaptation to chronic oxygen deprivation. The hypoxic transition from HIF-1 to HIF-2 is possible due to the low stability of HIF-1α subunit transcript (HIF1A) and the stable mRNA of HIF-2α (EPAS1). Notably, although many micro-RNAs (miRNAs) that regulate endothelial HIF-1 levels during hypoxia have been identified, in case of HIF-2, no analogous ones have been found so far. In this work, using different methods, we tested 23 microRNA that were predicted to interact with the EPAS1 transcript (18 of which were induced during prolonged hypoxia), and we demonstrated that none of them were functional in vitro. This suggests that HIF-2α transcript is much less prone to miRNA-related destabilization during hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Jaśkiewicz
- International Research Agenda 3P- Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
| | | | - Magdalena Gebert
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics - Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - James F Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
| | - Rafał Bartoszewski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.
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