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Shamir I, Tsarfaty I, Paret G, Nevo-Caspi Y. Differential silencing of STAT3 isoforms leads to changes in STAT3 activation. Oncotarget 2023; 14:366-376. [PMID: 37097001 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor involved in multiple fundamental biological processes and a key player in cancer development and progression. STAT3 is activated upon tyrosine phosphorylation and is constitutively active in various malignancies; therefore, the expression of pSTAT3 has been recognized as a predictor of poor survival. STAT3 encodes two alternatively-spliced STAT3 isoforms: the full-length STAT3α isoform and the truncated STAT3β isoform. These isoforms have been suggested as the reason for the occasionally observed opposing roles of STAT3 in cancer: an oncogene, on one hand, and a tumor suppressor on the other. To investigate their roles in aggressive breast cancer, we separately silenced each isoform and found that they affect each other's activation, impacting cell viability, cytokine expression, and migration. Silencing specific isoforms can lead to a more favorable balance of activated STAT3 proteins in the cell. Distinguishing between the two isoforms and their active forms is crucial for STAT3-related cancer diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Shamir
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Ilan Tsarfaty
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gidi Paret
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Yael Nevo-Caspi
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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2
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Shih PC. The role of the STAT3 signaling transduction pathways in radioresistance. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 234:108118. [PMID: 35085605 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of radiotherapy has long known to be limited by the emergence of resistance. The four Rs of radiotherapy (DNA damage repair, reoxygenation, redistribution of the cell cycle, and repopulation) are generally accepted concepts in radiobioolgy. Recent studies have strongly linked signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) to the regulation of cancer stemness and radioresistance. In particular, a STAT3 pathway inhibitor napabucasin, claimed to be the first cancer stemness antagonist in clinical trials, strengthens the link. However, no reviews connect STAT3 with the four Rs of radiotherapy. Herein, the evidence-based role of STAT3 in radioresistance is discussed in relation to the four Rs of radiotherapy. The proposed mechanisms include upstream and downstream effector proteins of STAT3, including FOXM1, MELK, NEK2, AKT, EZH2, and HIF1α. Downstream transcriptional products of the mechanistically-related proteins are involved in cancer stemness, anti-apoptosis, and the four Rs of radiotherapy. Utilizing selective inhibitors of the mechanistically-related proteins has shown promising antagonism of radioresistance, suggesting that the expression levels of these proteins may be biomarkers for the prediction of radiotherapeutic outcomes, and that this molecular mechanism may provide a rational axis through which to treat radioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Chang Shih
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1AX, UK; Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
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Zheng ZY, Yang PL, Li RY, Liu LX, Xu XE, Liao LD, Li X, Chu MY, Peng L, Huang QF, Heng JH, Wang SH, Wu ZY, Chang ZJ, Li EM, Xu LY. STAT3β disrupted mitochondrial electron transport chain enhances chemosensitivity by inducing pyroptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2021; 522:171-183. [PMID: 34571081 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The clinical efficacy of cisplatin in the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is undesirable. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3β (STAT3β), a splice variant of STAT3, restrains STAT3α activity and enhances chemosensitivity in ESCC. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we found that high expression of STAT3β contributes to cisplatin sensitivity and enhances Gasdermin E (GSDME) dependent pyroptosis in ESCC cells after exposure to cisplatin. Mechanistically, STAT3β was located into the mitochondria and its high expression disrupts the activity of the electron transport chain, resulting in an increase of ROS in cisplatin treatment cells. While high levels of ROS caused activation of caspase-3 and GSDME, and induced cell pyroptosis. STAT3β blocked the phosphorylation of STAT3α S727 in mitochondria by interacting with ERK1/2 following cisplatin treatment, disrupting electron transport chain and inducing activation of GSDME. Clinically, high expression of both STAT3β and GSDME was strongly associated with better overall survival and disease-free survival of ESCC patients. Overall, our study reveals that STAT3β sensitizes ESCC cells to cisplatin by disrupting mitochondrial electron transport chain and enhancing pyroptosis, which demonstrates the prognostic significance of STAT3β in ESCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Yuan Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Research Institute, Shantou Sub-center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Ping-Lian Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Rong-Yao Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Research Institute, Shantou Sub-center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu-Xin Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Research Institute, Shantou Sub-center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiu-E Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Lian-Di Liao
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiang Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Man-Yu Chu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Liu Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Research Institute, Shantou Sub-center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Qing-Feng Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing-Hua Heng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Shao-Hong Wang
- Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Wu
- Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Chang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - En-Min Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Research Institute, Shantou Sub-center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China.
| | - Li-Yan Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Research Institute, Shantou Sub-center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China.
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Novel STAT3 small-molecule inhibitors identified by structure-based virtual ligand screening incorporating SH2 domain flexibility. Pharmacol Res 2021; 169:105637. [PMID: 33932608 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to develop STAT3 inhibitors have focused on its SH2 domain starting with short phosphotyrosylated peptides based on STAT3 binding motifs, e.g. pY905LPQTV within gp130. Despite binding to STAT3 with high affinity, issues regarding stability, bioavailability, and membrane permeability of these peptides, as well as peptidomimetics such as CJ-887, have limited their further clinical development and led to interest in small-molecule inhibitors. Some small molecule STAT3 inhibitors, identified using structure-based virtual ligand screening (SB-VLS); while having favorable drug-like properties, suffer from weak binding affinities, possibly due to the high flexibility of the target domain. We conducted molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of the SH2 domain in complex with CJ-887, and used an averaged structure from this MD trajectory as an "induced-active site" receptor model for SB-VLS of 110,000 compounds within the SPEC database. Screening was followed by re-docking and re-scoring of the top 30% of hits, selection for hit compounds that directly interact with pY + 0 binding pocket residues R609 and S613, and testing for STAT3 targeting in vitro, which identified two lead hits with good activity and favorable drug-like properties. Unlike most small-molecule STAT3 inhibitors previously identified, which contain negatively-charged moieties that mediate binding to the pY + 0 binding pocket, these compounds are uncharged and likely will serve as better candidates for anti-STAT3 drug development. IMPLICATIONS: SB-VLS, using an averaged structure from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of STAT3 SH2 domain in a complex with CJ-887, a known peptidomimetic binder, identify two highly potent, neutral, low-molecular weight STAT3-inhibitors with favorable drug-like properties.
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Zheng ZY, Yang PL, Luo W, Yu SX, Xu HY, Huang Y, Li RY, Chen Y, Xu XE, Liao LD, Wang SH, Huang HC, Li EM, Xu LY. STAT3β Enhances Sensitivity to Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy by Inducing Cellular Necroptosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040901. [PMID: 33670049 PMCID: PMC7926856 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), especially platinum plus radiotherapy, is considered to be one of the most promising treatment modalities for patients with advanced esophageal cancer. STAT3β regulates specific target genes and inhibits the process of tumorigenesis and development. It is also a good prognostic marker and a potential marker for response to adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (ACRT). We aimed to investigate the relationship between STAT3β and CCRT. We examined the expression of STAT3α and STAT3β in pretreatment tumor biopsies of 105 ESCC patients who received CCRT by immunohistochemistry. The data showed that ESCC patients who demonstrate both high STAT3α expression and high STAT3β expression in the cytoplasm have a significantly better survival rate, and STAT3β expression is an independent protective factor (HR = 0.424, p = 0.003). Meanwhile, ESCC patients with high STAT3β expression demonstrated a complete response to CCRT in 65 patients who received platinum plus radiation therapy (p = 0.014). In ESCC cells, high STAT3β expression significantly inhibits the ability of colony formation and cell proliferation, suggesting that STAT3β enhances sensitivity to CCRT (platinum plus radiation therapy). Mechanistically, through RNA-seq analysis, we found that the TNF signaling pathway and necrotic cell death pathway were significantly upregulated in highly expressed STAT3β cells after CCRT treatment. Overall, our study highlights that STAT3β could potentially be used to predict the response to platinum plus radiation therapy, which may provide an important insight into the treatment of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Yuan Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (P.-L.Y.); (W.L.); (S.-X.Y.); (R.-Y.L.); (Y.C.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Ping-Lian Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (P.-L.Y.); (W.L.); (S.-X.Y.); (R.-Y.L.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (X.-E.X.); (L.-D.L.)
| | - Wei Luo
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (P.-L.Y.); (W.L.); (S.-X.Y.); (R.-Y.L.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (X.-E.X.); (L.-D.L.)
| | - Shuai-Xia Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (P.-L.Y.); (W.L.); (S.-X.Y.); (R.-Y.L.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (X.-E.X.); (L.-D.L.)
| | - Hong-Yao Xu
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou 515041, China; (H.-Y.X.); (H.-C.H.)
| | - Ying Huang
- Departments of Pathology, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou 515041, China; (Y.H.); (S.-H.W.)
| | - Rong-Yao Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (P.-L.Y.); (W.L.); (S.-X.Y.); (R.-Y.L.); (Y.C.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Yang Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (P.-L.Y.); (W.L.); (S.-X.Y.); (R.-Y.L.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (X.-E.X.); (L.-D.L.)
| | - Xiu-E Xu
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (X.-E.X.); (L.-D.L.)
| | - Lian-Di Liao
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (X.-E.X.); (L.-D.L.)
| | - Shao-Hong Wang
- Departments of Pathology, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou 515041, China; (Y.H.); (S.-H.W.)
| | - He-Cheng Huang
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou 515041, China; (H.-Y.X.); (H.-C.H.)
| | - En-Min Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (P.-L.Y.); (W.L.); (S.-X.Y.); (R.-Y.L.); (Y.C.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- Correspondence: (E.-M.L.); (L.-Y.X.)
| | - Li-Yan Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (P.-L.Y.); (W.L.); (S.-X.Y.); (R.-Y.L.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (X.-E.X.); (L.-D.L.)
- Correspondence: (E.-M.L.); (L.-Y.X.)
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Shamir I, Abutbul-Amitai M, Abbas-Egbariya H, Pasmanik-Chor M, Paret G, Nevo-Caspi Y. STAT3 isoforms differentially affect ACE2 expression: A potential target for COVID-19 therapy. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:12864-12868. [PMID: 32949179 PMCID: PMC7646643 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS‐coronavirus 2 is the aetiologic agent COVID‐19. ACE2 has been identified as a cell entry receptor for the virus. Therefore, trying to understand how the gene is controlled has become a major goal. We silenced the expression of STAT3α and STAT3β, and found that while silencing STAT3α causes an increase in ACE2 expression, silencing STAT3β causes the opposite effect. Studying the role of STAT3 in ACE2 expression will shed light on the molecular events that contribute to the progression of the disease and that the different roles of STAT3α and STAT3β in that context must be taken in consideration. Our results place STAT3 in line with additional potential therapeutic targets for treating COVID‐19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Shamir
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Mor Abutbul-Amitai
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Haya Abbas-Egbariya
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Metsada Pasmanik-Chor
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Science, Bioinformatics Unit, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gideon Paret
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.,Sackler Medical School, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yael Nevo-Caspi
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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STAT3 isoforms: Alternative fates in cancer? Cytokine 2019; 118:27-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Zhang HX, Yang PL, Li EM, Xu LY. STAT3beta, a distinct isoform from STAT3. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2019; 110:130-139. [PMID: 30822557 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
STAT3β is an isoform of STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) that differs from the STAT3α isoform by the replacement of the C-terminal 55 amino acid residues with 7 specific residues. The constitutive activation of STAT3α plays a pivotal role in the activation of oncogenic pathways, such as cell proliferation, maturation and survival, while STAT3β is often referred to as a dominant-negative regulator of cancer. STAT3β reveals a "spongy cushion" effect through its cooperation with STAT3α or forms a ternary complex with other co-activators. Especially in tumour cells, relatively high levels of STAT3β lead to some favourable changes. However, there are still many mechanisms that have not been clearly explained in contrast to STAT3α, such as STAT3β nuclear retention, more stable heterodimers and the prolonged Y705 phosphorylation. In addition to its transcriptional activities, STAT3β may also function in the cytosol with respect to the mitochondria, cytoskeleton rearrangements and metastasis of cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms that underlie the unique roles of STAT3β combined with total STAT3 to enlighten and draw the attention of researchers studying STAT3 and discuss some interesting questions that warrant answers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Xiang Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, PR China; Institute of Oncological Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Ping-Lian Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, PR China; Institute of Oncological Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - En-Min Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, PR China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, PR China.
| | - Li-Yan Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, PR China; Institute of Oncological Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, PR China.
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Pipicz M, Demján V, Sárközy M, Csont T. Effects of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Cardiac STAT3. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113572. [PMID: 30424579 PMCID: PMC6274853 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear, mitochondrial and cytoplasmic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) regulates many cellular processes, e.g., the transcription or opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, and its activity depends on the phosphorylation of Tyr705 and/or Ser727 sites. In the heterogeneous network of cardiac cells, STAT3 promotes cardiac muscle differentiation, vascular element formation and extracellular matrix homeostasis. Overwhelming evidence suggests that STAT3 is beneficial for the heart, plays a role in the prevention of age-related and postpartum heart failure, protects the heart against cardiotoxic doxorubicin or ischaemia/reperfusion injury, and is involved in many cardioprotective strategies (e.g., ischaemic preconditioning, perconditioning, postconditioning, remote or pharmacological conditioning). Ischaemic heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide, and many cardiovascular risk factors contribute to the development of the disease. This review focuses on the effects of various cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, aging, obesity, smoking, alcohol, depression, gender, comedications) on cardiac STAT3 under non-ischaemic baseline conditions, and in settings of ischaemia/reperfusion injury with or without cardioprotective strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Pipicz
- Metabolic Diseases and Cell Signaling (MEDICS) Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Dóm tér. 9., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
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Rijal G, Li W. 3D scaffolds in breast cancer research. Biomaterials 2016; 81:135-156. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 12/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Zhang HF, Chen Y, Wu C, Wu ZY, Tweardy DJ, Alshareef A, Liao LD, Xue YJ, Wu JY, Chen B, Xu XE, Gopal K, Gupta N, Li EM, Xu LY, Lai R. The Opposing Function of STAT3 as an Oncoprotein and Tumor Suppressor Is Dictated by the Expression Status of STAT3β in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 22:691-703. [PMID: 26405196 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-1253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE STAT3 is known to have both oncogenic and tumor suppressive effects, but the regulation of these opposing effects is elusive. We hypothesized that STAT3β, one of the two STAT3 isoforms, is the key determinant in this context. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The prognostic significance of STAT3β and phospho-STAT3α(Y705) (pSTAT3α(Y705)) was evaluated in 286 cases of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). STAT3β-induced changes in the chemosensitivity to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. STAT3β-induced changes in the frequency of cancer stem cells were evaluated using Hoechst and CD44 staining. How STAT3β regulates STAT3α was determined using immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, DNA-binding, and chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR. RESULTS STAT3β expression is an independent protective prognostic marker in patients with ESCC, which strongly correlated with longer overall survival (P = 0.0009) and recurrence-free survival (P = 0.0001). STAT3β significantly decreased the cancer stem cell population, and sensitized ESCC cells to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in tumor xenografts. Mechanistically, STAT3β markedly attenuated the transcription activity of STAT3α via inducing STAT3α:STAT3β heterodimers. However, the heterodimer formation decreased the binding between STAT3α and PTPN9 (better known as PTP-MEG2), a protein tyrosine phosphatase, thereby promoting the phosphorylation of STAT3α(Y705) and enhancing its nuclear translocation and DNA binding. Correlating with this, high STAT3β expression converts the prognostic value of pSTAT3α(Y705) from unfavorable to favorable in patients with ESCC. CONCLUSIONS STAT3β suppresses chemoresistance and cancer stemness by blocking the transcriptional activity of STAT3α. The paradoxical increase in pSTAT3α(Y705) induced by STAT3β carries important implications as to how the biologic and prognostic significance of STAT3 in cancers should be interpreted.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnosis
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Esophageal Neoplasms/diagnosis
- Esophageal Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Esophageal Neoplasms/genetics
- Esophageal Neoplasms/metabolism
- Esophageal Neoplasms/mortality
- Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Models, Biological
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Oncogene Proteins
- Phosphorylation
- Prognosis
- Protein Multimerization
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases/metabolism
- STAT3 Transcription Factor/chemistry
- STAT3 Transcription Factor/genetics
- STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism
- Transcriptional Activation
- Tumor Suppressor Proteins
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Feng Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ye Chen
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chengsheng Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zhi-Yong Wu
- Department of Tumor Surgery, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - David J Tweardy
- Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Abdulraheem Alshareef
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lian-Di Liao
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu-Jie Xue
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian-Yi Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiu-E Xu
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Keshav Gopal
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nidhi Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - En-Min Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Li-Yan Xu
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Raymond Lai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. DynaLIFEDX Medical Laboratories, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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12
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Zheng M, Turton KB, Zhu F, Li Y, Grindle KM, Annis DS, Lu L, Drennan AC, Tweardy DJ, Bharadwaj U, Mosher DF, Rui L. A mix of S and ΔS variants of STAT3 enable survival of activated B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells in culture. Oncogenesis 2016; 4:e184. [PMID: 26727576 PMCID: PMC4728674 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2015.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Activated B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ABC DLBCL) is characterized by increased expression and activator of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). ABC DLBCL cells require STAT3 for growth in culture. In ABC DLBCL cells, eosinophils and perhaps all cells, four variant STAT3 mRNAs (Sα, ΔSα, Sβ and ΔSβ) are present as a result of two alternative splicing events, one that results in the inclusion of a 55-residue C-terminal transactivation domain (α) or a truncated C-terminal domain with 7 unique residues (β) and a second that includes (S) or excludes (ΔS) the codon for Ser-701 in the linker between the SH2 and C-terminal domains. A substantial literature indicates that both α and β variants are required for optimal STAT3 function, but nothing is known about functions of ΔS variants. We used a knockdown/re-expression strategy to explore whether survival of ABC DLBCL cells requires that the four variants be in an appropriate ratio. No single variant rescued survival as well as STAT3Sα-C, Sα with activating mutations (A661C and N663C) in the SH2 domain. Better rescue was achieved when all four variants were re-expressed or Sα and ΔSα or Sβ and ΔSβ were re-expressed in pairs. Rescue correlated with expression of STAT3-sensitive genes NFKBIA and NFKBIZ. We consider a variety of explanations why a mix of S and ΔS variants of STAT3 should enable survival of ABC DLBCL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zheng
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - K B Turton
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - F Zhu
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Y Li
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - K M Grindle
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - D S Annis
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - L Lu
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - A C Drennan
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - D J Tweardy
- Department of Internal Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - U Bharadwaj
- Department of Internal Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - D F Mosher
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - L Rui
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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13
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Lewis KM, Bharadwaj U, Eckols TK, Kolosov M, Kasembeli MM, Fridley C, Siller R, Tweardy DJ. Small-molecule targeting of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 to treat non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer 2015; 90:182-90. [PMID: 26410177 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2015.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has an overall 5-year survival rate of 15%. While aberrant STAT3 activation has previously been observed in NSCLC, the scope of its contribution is uncertain and agents that target STAT3 for treatment are not available clinically. METHODS We determined levels of activated STAT3 (STAT3 phosphorylated on Y705, pSTAT3) and the two major isoforms of STAT3 (α and β) in protein extracts of 8 NSCLC cell lines, as well as the effects of targeting STAT3 in vitro and in vivo in NSCLC cells using short hairpin (sh) RNA and two novel small-molecule STAT3 inhibitors, C188-9 and piperlongumine (PL). RESULTS Levels of pSTAT3, STAT3α, and STATβ were increased in 7 of 8 NSCLC cell lines. Of note, levels of pSTAT3 were tightly correlated with levels of STAT3β, but not STAT3α. Targeting of STAT3 in A549 cells using shRNA decreased tSTAT3 by 75%; this was accompanied by a 47-78% reduction in anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth and a 28-45% reduction in mRNA levels for anti-apoptotic STAT3 gene targets. C188-9 and PL (@30 μM) each reduced pSTAT3 levels in all NSCLC cell lines tested by ≥50%, reduced anti-apoptotic protein mRNA levels by 25-60%, and reduced both anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth of NSCLC cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 3.06 to 52.44 μM and 0.86 to 11.66 μM, respectively. Treatment of nude mice bearing A549 tumor xenografts with C188-9 or PL blocked tumor growth and reduced levels of pSTAT3 and mRNA encoding anti-apoptotic proteins. CONCLUSION STAT3 is essential for growth of NSCLC cell lines and tumors and its targeting using C188-9 or PL may be a useful strategy for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Lewis
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Uddalak Bharadwaj
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - T Kris Eckols
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mikhail Kolosov
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Moses M Kasembeli
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Colleen Fridley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ricardo Siller
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David J Tweardy
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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14
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Zhu H, Ding Q. Lower expression level of two RAGE alternative splicing isoforms in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurosci Lett 2015; 597:66-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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