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Cecchi M, Anceschi C, Silvano A, Coniglio ML, Chinnici A, Magnelli L, Lapucci A, Laurenzana A, Parenti A. Unveiling the Role of Tryptophan 2,3-Dioxygenase in the Angiogenic Process. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:558. [PMID: 38794128 PMCID: PMC11124529 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050558] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) are the two principals enzymes involved in the catabolization of tryptophan (Trp) into kynurenine (Kyn). Despite their well-established role in the immune escape, their involvement in angiogenesis remains uncertain. We aimed to characterize TDO and IDO1 in human umbilical venular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs). METHODS qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence were used for TDO and IDO1 expression while their activity was measured using ELISA assays. Cell proliferation was examined via MTT tests and in in vitro angiogenesis by capillary morphogenesis. RESULTS HUVECs and ECFCs expressed TDO and IDO1. Treatment with the selective TDO inhibitor 680C91 significantly impaired HUVEC proliferation and 3D-tube formation in response to VEGF-A, while IDO1 inhibition showed no effect. VEGF-induced mTor phosphorylation and Kyn production were hindered by 680C91. ECFC morphogenesis was also inhibited by 680C91. Co-culturing HUVECs with A375 induced TDO up-regulation in both cell types, whose inhibition reduced MMP9 activity and prevented c-Myc and E2f1 upregulation. CONCLUSIONS HUVECs and ECFCs express the key enzymes of the kynurenine pathway. Significantly, TDO emerges as a pivotal player in in vitro proliferation and capillary morphogenesis, suggesting a potential pathophysiological role in angiogenesis beyond its well-known immunomodulatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cecchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, (NEUROFARBA) Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (M.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Cecilia Anceschi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy; (C.A.); (L.M.); (A.L.)
| | - Angela Silvano
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Maria Luisa Coniglio
- Centre of Excellence, Division of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Aurora Chinnici
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, (NEUROFARBA) Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (M.C.); (A.C.)
- Centre of Excellence, Division of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Lucia Magnelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy; (C.A.); (L.M.); (A.L.)
| | - Andrea Lapucci
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, V. le G. Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Laurenzana
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy; (C.A.); (L.M.); (A.L.)
| | - Astrid Parenti
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, V. le G. Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
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León-Letelier RA, Dou R, Vykoukal J, Sater AHA, Ostrin E, Hanash S, Fahrmann JF. The kynurenine pathway presents multi-faceted metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1256769. [PMID: 37876966 PMCID: PMC10591110 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1256769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) and associated catabolites play key roles in promoting tumor progression and modulating the host anti-tumor immune response. To date, considerable focus has been on the role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and its catabolite, kynurenine (Kyn). However, increasing evidence has demonstrated that downstream KP enzymes and their associated metabolite products can also elicit tumor-microenvironment immune suppression. These advancements in our understanding of the tumor promotive role of the KP have led to the conception of novel therapeutic strategies to target the KP pathway for anti-cancer effects and reversal of immune escape. This review aims to 1) highlight the known biological functions of key enzymes in the KP, and 2) provide a comprehensive overview of existing and emerging therapies aimed at targeting discrete enzymes in the KP for anti-cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A. León-Letelier
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rongzhang Dou
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jody Vykoukal
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ali Hussein Abdel Sater
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Edwin Ostrin
- Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Samir Hanash
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Johannes F. Fahrmann
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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Azimnasab-Sorkhabi P, Soltani-Asl M, Yoshinaga TT, Zaidan Dagli ML, Massoco CDO, Kfoury Junior JR. Indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase: a fate-changer of the tumor microenvironment. Mol Biol Rep 2023:10.1007/s11033-023-08469-3. [PMID: 37217614 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08469-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase is a rate-limiting enzyme in the tryptophan catabolism in kynurenine pathways that has an immunosuppressive effect and supports cancer cells to evade the immune system in different cancer types. Diverse cytokines and pathways upregulate the production of indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase enzymes in the tumor microenvironment and cause more production and activity of this enzyme. Ultimately, this situation results in anti-tumor immune suppression which is in favor of tumor growth. Several inhibitors such as 1-methyl-tryptophan have been introduced for indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase enzyme and some of them are widely utilized in pre-clinical and clinical trials. Importantly at the molecular level, indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase is positioned in a series of intricate signaling and molecular networks. Here, the main objective is to provide a focused view of indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase enhancer pathways and propose further studies to cover the gap in available information on the function of indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase enzyme in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parviz Azimnasab-Sorkhabi
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Maryam Soltani-Asl
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Túlio Teruo Yoshinaga
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Lucia Zaidan Dagli
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristina de Oliveira Massoco
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jose Roberto Kfoury Junior
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Cecchi M, Mannini A, Lapucci A, Silvano A, Lulli M, Luceri C, D’Ambrosio M, Chiarugi A, Eid AH, Parenti A. Dexamethasone Promotes a Stem-Like Phenotype in Human Melanoma Cells via Tryptophan 2,3 Dioxygenase. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:911019. [PMID: 35847038 PMCID: PMC9280025 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.911019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to its well-established immunosuppressive actions, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) appears to elicit direct effects on tumor cell function. Although TDO has been associated with cancer stemness, its involvement in melanoma stem cell biology remains largely unknown. Since we showed that by upregulating TDO, dexamethasone (dex) promotes proliferation and migration of SK-Mel-28 human melanoma cells, we sought to investigate dex effects on melanoma spherogenesis and stemness, and whether these events are mediated by TDO. We demonstrate here that dex significantly upregulates TDO in A375, a more aggressive melanoma cell line, confirming that dex effects are not limited to SK-Mel-28 cells. Moreover, dex stimulates spherogenesis of both cell lines, which is mediated by TDO, evident by its suppression with 680C91, a TDO inhibitor. The formed melanospheres appear to be enriched with embryonic stem cell marker mRNAs, the expression of which is potentiated by dex. Expression of cancer stem cell markers (CD133, CD44, ganglioside GD2) was significantly increased in A375 spheres, as detected by flow cytometry. Taken together, our results suggest that TDO could represent a promising target in the management of melanoma and that dex, routinely used as a co-medication also in advanced melanoma, may stimulate melanoma cell function/tumor-supporting properties, a rather debilitating and undesired side effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cecchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Neurofarba, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Antonella Mannini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Internal Medicine Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Lapucci
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Angela Silvano
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Lulli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Luceri
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Neurofarba, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mario D’Ambrosio
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Neurofarba, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Chiarugi
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ali H. Eid
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qatar University, QU Health, Doha, Qatar
- *Correspondence: Ali H. Eid, ; Astrid Parenti,
| | - Astrid Parenti
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- *Correspondence: Ali H. Eid, ; Astrid Parenti,
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Advantages and drawbacks of dexamethasone in glioblastoma multiforme. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2022; 172:103625. [PMID: 35158070 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The most widespread, malignant, and deadliest type of glial tumor is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Despite radiation, chemotherapy, and radical surgery, the median survival of afflicted individuals is about 12 months. Unfortunately, existing therapeutic interventions are abysmal. Dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid, has been used for many years to treat brain edema and inflammation caused by GBM. Several investigations have recently shown that Dex also exerts antitumoral effects against GBM. On the other hand, more recent disputed findings have questioned the long-held dogma of Dex treatment for GBM. Unfortunately, steroids are associated with various undesirable side effects, including severe immunosuppression and metabolic changes like hyperglycemia, which may impair the survival of GBM patients. Current ideas and concerns about Dex's effects on GBM cerebral edema, cell proliferation, migration, and its clinical outcomes were investigated in this study.
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Boros FA, Vécsei L. Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, a novel therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:877-888. [PMID: 34720020 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1999928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alterations in the activity of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) cause imbalances in the levels of serotonin and other neuroactive metabolites which can contribute to motor, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, and other dysfunctions often seen in Parkinson's disease (PD). TDO is a key enzyme of tryptophan metabolism at the entry of the kynurenine pathway (KP) which moderates production of neuroactive compounds primarily outside the central nervous system (CNS). Recent data from experimental models indicate that TDO modulation could have beneficial effects on PD symptoms not targeted by traditional dopamine substitution therapies. AREAS COVERED Based on data available in PubMed and ClinicalTrials databases up until 1 August 2021, we summarize current knowledge of KP alterations in relation to PD. We overview effects of TDO inhibition in preclinical models of neurodegeneration and discuss findings of the impact of enzyme inhibition on motor, memory and gastrointestinal dysfunctions, and neuronal cell loss. EXPERT OPINION TDO inhibition potentially alleviates motor and non-motor dysfunctions of PD. However, data suggesting harmful effects of long-term TDO inhibition raise concerns. To exploit possibilities of TDO inhibitory treatment, development of further selective TDO inhibitor compounds with good bioavailability features and models adequately replicating PD symptoms of systemic origin should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanni Annamária Boros
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Vécsei
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,MTA-SZTE, Neuroscience Research Group Szeged Hungary.,Interdisciplinary Excellence Center, Department of Neurology, Szeged, Hungary
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Silvano A, Seravalli V, Strambi N, Cecchi M, Tartarotti E, Parenti A, Di Tommaso M. Tryptophan metabolism and immune regulation in the human placenta. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 147:103361. [PMID: 34365162 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The placenta represents the maternal-fetal vascular interface. It is capable of supplying the bioenergetic needs of the developing conceptus. It is composed of different cell types that engage in highly varied functions, ranging from attachment, invasion and vascular remodeling to cell fusion, hormone production, and nutrient transport. A deep knowledge of the immunological mechanisms responsible for maintaining an active tolerance towards an allogeneic fetus and the anti-inflammatory properties of the placenta can be useful to clarify the pathogenesis of adverse events in pregnancy. While the systemic mechanisms of this immunological regulation in pregnancy have been well studied, the metabolic processes involved in the placental immune response are still poorly understood. The aim of this review is to summarize the most important information concerning the immune regulation in pregnancy, focusing on the role of tryptophan (Trp) catabolism performed by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) in the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Silvano
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Viola Seravalli
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Noemi Strambi
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marta Cecchi
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Tartarotti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Italy
| | - Astrid Parenti
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Italy.
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Italy.
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