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Slominski RM, Sarna T, Płonka PM, Raman C, Brożyna AA, Slominski AT. Melanoma, Melanin, and Melanogenesis: The Yin and Yang Relationship. Front Oncol 2022; 12:842496. [PMID: 35359389 PMCID: PMC8963986 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.842496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanin pigment plays a critical role in the protection against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and other environmental stressors. It is produced by the enzymatic transformation of L-tyrosine to dopaquinone and subsequent chemical and biochemical reactions resulting in the formation of various 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) and 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) oligomers-main constituents of eumelanin, and benzothiazine and benzothiazole units of pheomelanin. The biosynthesis of melanin is regulated by sun exposure and by many hormonal factors at the tissue, cellular, and subcellular levels. While the presence of melanin protects against the development of skin cancers including cutaneous melanoma, its presence may be necessary for the malignant transformation of melanocytes. This shows a complex role of melanogenesis in melanoma development defined by chemical properties of melanin and the nature of generating pathways such as eu- and pheomelanogenesis. While eumelanin is believed to provide radioprotection and photoprotection by acting as an efficient antioxidant and sunscreen, pheomelanin, being less photostable, can generate mutagenic environment after exposure to the short-wavelength UVR. Melanogenesis by itself and its highly reactive intermediates show cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities, and it can stimulate glycolysis and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) activation, which, combined with their immunosuppressive effects, can lead to melanoma progression and resistance to immunotherapy. On the other hand, melanogenesis-related proteins can be a target for immunotherapy. Interestingly, clinicopathological analyses on advanced melanomas have shown a negative correlation between tumor pigmentation and diseases outcome as defined by overall survival and disease-free time. This indicates a "Yin and Yang" role for melanin and active melanogenesis in melanoma development, progression, and therapy. Furthermore, based on the clinical, experimental data and diverse effects of melanogenesis, we propose that inhibition of melanogenesis in advanced melanotic melanoma represents a realistic adjuvant strategy to enhance immuno-, radio-, and chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radomir M Slominski
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Tadeusz Sarna
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Przemysław M Płonka
- Department of Biophysics and Cancer Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Chander Raman
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Anna A Brożyna
- Department of Human Biology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | - Andrzej T Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,Pathology Laboratory Service, Veteran Administration Medical Center at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Pawlikowska M, Jędrzejewski T, Slominski AT, Brożyna AA, Wrotek S. Pigmentation Levels Affect Melanoma Responses to Coriolus versicolor Extract and Play a Crucial Role in Melanoma-Mononuclear Cell Crosstalk. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115735. [PMID: 34072104 PMCID: PMC8198516 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma, the malignancy originating from pigment-producing melanocytes, is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and has a poor prognosis once the disease starts to metastasize. The process of melanin synthesis generates an immunosuppressive and mutagenic environment, and can increase melanoma cell resistance to different treatment modalities, including chemo-, radio- or photodynamic therapy. Recently, we have shown that the presence of melanin pigment inhibits the melanoma cell response to bioactive components of Coriolus versicolor (CV) Chinese fungus. Herein, using the same human melanoma cell line in which the level of pigmentation can be controlled by the L-tyrosine concentration in culture medium, we tested the effect of suppression of melanogenesis on the melanoma cell response to CV extract and investigated the cell death pathway induced by fungus extract in sensitized melanoma cells. Our data showed that susceptibility to CV-induced melanoma cell death is significantly increased after cell depigmentation. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to demonstrate that CV extract can induce RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL-mediated necroptosis in depigmented melanoma cells. Moreover, using the co-culture system, we showed that inhibition of the tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells modulates cytokine expression in co-cultured mononuclear cells, indicating that depigmentation of melanoma cells may activate immune cells and thereby influence a host anticancer response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Pawlikowska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, Poland; (T.J.); (S.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-(56)-611-25-15
| | - Tomasz Jędrzejewski
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, Poland; (T.J.); (S.W.)
| | - Andrzej T. Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Chemoprevention Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- Laboratory Service of the VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Anna A. Brożyna
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Biology and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, Poland;
| | - Sylwia Wrotek
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, Poland; (T.J.); (S.W.)
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Cichorek M, Ronowska A, Dzierzbicka K, Gensicka-Kowalewska M, Deptula M, Pelikant-Malecka I. Chloroacridine derivatives as potential anticancer agents which may act as tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme inhibitors. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 130:110515. [PMID: 34321163 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This paper concerns the cytotoxicity of 9-chloro-1-nitroacridine (1a) and 9-chloro-4-methyl-1-nitroacridine (1b) against two biologically different melanoma forms: melanotic and amelanotic. Melanomas are tumors characterized by high heterogeneity and poor susceptibility to chemotherapies. Among new analogs synthesized by us, compound 1b exhibited the highest anticancer potency. Because of that, in this study, we analyzed the mechanism of action for 1a and its 4-methylated derivative, 1b, against a pair of biological melanoma forms, with regard to proliferation, cell death mechanism and energetic state. METHODS Cytotoxicity was evaluated by XTT assay. Cell death was estimated by plasma membrane structure changes (phosphatidylserine externalization), caspase activation, and ROS presence. The energetic state of cells was estimated based on NAD and ATP levels, and the activity of tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes (pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase). RESULTS The chloroacridines affect biological forms of melanoma in different ways. Amelanotic (Ab) melanoma (with inhibited melanogenesis and higher malignancy) was particularly sensitive to the action of the chloroacridines. The Ab melanoma cells died through apoptosis and through death without caspase activation. Diminished activity of TAC enzymes was noticed among Ab melanoma cells together with ATP/NAD depletion, especially in the case of 1b. CONCLUSION Our data show that the biological forms of the tumors responded to 1a and its 4-methylated analog in different ways. 1a and 1b could be inducers of regulated melanoma cell death, especially the amelanotic form. Although the mechanism of the cell death is not fully understood, 1b may act by interfering with the TAC enzymes and blocking specific pathways leading to tumor growth. This could encourage further investigation of its anticancer activity, especially against the amelanotic form of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslawa Cichorek
- Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St. PL, 80-210, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Anna Ronowska
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 7 St. PL, 80-211, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Krystyna Dzierzbicka
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza St. 11/12. PL, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Monika Gensicka-Kowalewska
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza St. 11/12. PL, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Milena Deptula
- Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St. PL, 80-210, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Iwona Pelikant-Malecka
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St. PL, 80-210, Gdansk, Poland; Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, Central Bank of Frozen Tissues and Genetic Specimens, Medical University of Gdansk, Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure Poland, Debinki 7 St. PL, 80-211, Gdansk, Poland
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Pawlikowska M, Piotrowski J, Jędrzejewski T, Kozak W, Slominski AT, Brożyna AA. Coriolus versicolor-derived protein-bound polysaccharides trigger the caspase-independent cell death pathway in amelanotic but not melanotic melanoma cells. Phytother Res 2019; 34:173-183. [PMID: 31515931 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We have investigated the potential cell death mechanism promoted by Coriolus versicolor fungus-derived protein-bound polysaccharides (PBPs) in melanoma cells. Knowing that melanogenesis has the potential to affect the tumor behavior and melanoma therapy outcome, the cytotoxic effects of PBPs were evaluated in human SKMel-188 melanoma cell line, whose phenotype, amelanotic versus pigmented, depends on the concentration of melanin precursors in the culture medium. Our results showed that inhibitory effect of PBPs (100 and 200 μg/ml) towards melanoma cells is inversely associated with the pigmentation level. This cytotoxicity induced in nonpigmented melanoma cells by PBPs was caspase-independent; however, it was accompanied by an increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The ROS production was controlled by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) because SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, significantly reduced ROS generation and protected cells against PBPs-induced death. We also found that PBPs-induced lactate dehydrogenase release in amelanotic melanoma cells was abolished by co-treatment with receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 inhibitor, implying engagement of this kinase in PBPs-induced death pathway. The results suggest that PBPs induce an alternative programmed cell death, regulated by receptor-interacting protein-1 and ROS and that this process is modified by melanin content in melanoma cells. These findings are remarkable when considering the use of commercially available Coriolus versicolor by patients who suffer from melanoma cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Pawlikowska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | - Jakub Piotrowski
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | - Tomasz Jędrzejewski
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | - Wiesław Kozak
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | - Andrzej T Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Chemoprevention Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.,Laboratory Service of the VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Anna A Brożyna
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
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Radiobiological Characterization of Canine Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines with Different Types of Ionizing Radiation and Efficacy Evaluation with Cytotoxic Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20040841. [PMID: 30781345 PMCID: PMC6413050 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20040841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine malignant melanoma (CMM) is a locally and systemically aggressive cancer that shares many biological and clinical characteristics with human mucosal melanoma. Hypofractionated radiation protocols have been used to treat CMM but little is known about its radiation biology. This pilot study is designed to investigate response of CMM cell lines to various ionizing radiations and cytotoxic agents to better understand this canine cancer. Four CMM cell lines were evaluated by clonogenic survival assay under aerobic and hypoxic conditions and parameters such as alpha beta (α/β) ratio, oxygen enhancement ratio (OER), and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) were calculated after 137Cs, 6 megavoltage (MV) photon, or carbon ion irradiation. Six cytotoxic agents (cisplatin, camptothecin, mitomycin C, bleomycin, methtyl methanesulfonate and etoposide) were also assessed for their efficacy. Under aerobic condition with 6 MV photon, the α/β ratio of the four cell lines ranged from 0.3 to >100, indicating a wide variation of cellular sensitivity. The ratio increased under hypoxic condition compared to aerobic condition and this was more dramatic in 137Cs and 6 MV photon treatments. OER of carbon was lower than 137Cs at D10 in 3 of the 4 cell lines. The RBE values generally increased with the increase of LET. Different cell lines showed sensitivity/resistance to different cytotoxic agents. This study revealed that CMM has a wide range of radiosensitivity and that hypoxia can reduce it, indicating that widely used hypofractionated protocols may not be optimal for all CMM patients. Several cytotoxic agents that have never been clinically assessed can improve treatment outcome.
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Cichorek M, Ronowska A, Gensicka-Kowalewska M, Deptula M, Pelikant-Malecka I, Dzierzbicka K. Novel therapeutic compound acridine-retrotuftsin action on biological forms of melanoma and neuroblastoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2018; 145:165-179. [PMID: 30367436 PMCID: PMC6326014 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-018-2776-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE As a continuation of our search for anticancer agents, we have synthesized a new acridine-retrotuftsin analog HClx9-[Arg(NO2)-Pro-Lys-Thr-OCH3]-1-nitroacridine (named ART) and have evaluated its activity against melanoma and neuroblastoma lines. Both tumors develop from cells (melanocytes, neurons) of neuroectodermal origin, and both are tumors with high heterogeneity and unsatisfactory susceptibility to chemotherapies. Thus, we analyzed the action of ART on pairs of biological forms of melanoma (amelanotic and melanotic) and neuroblastoma (dopaminergic and cholinergic) with regard to proliferation, mechanism of cell death, and effect on the activity of tricarboxylic acid cycle (TAC) enzymes. METHODS The cytotoxicity of ART was evaluated by XTT and trypan blue tests. Cell death was estimated by plasma membrane structure changes (phosphatidylserine and calreticulin externalization), caspase activation, presence of ROS (reactive oxygen species), activity of tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes (pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, aconitase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase), NAD level, and ATP level. RESULTS ART influences the biological forms of melanoma and neuroblastoma in different ways. Amelanotic (Ab) melanoma (with the inhibited melanogenesis, higher malignancy) and SHSY5Y neuroblastoma (with cholinergic DC cells) were especially sensitive to ART action. The Ab melanoma cells died through apoptosis, while, with SH-SY5Y-DC neuroblastoma, the number of cells decreased but not as a result of apoptosis. With Ab melanoma and SH-SY5Y-DC cells, a diminished activity of TAC enzymes was noticed, along with ATP/NAD depletion. CONCLUSION Our data show that the biological forms of certain tumors responded in different ways to the action of ART. As a combination of retrotuftsin and acridine, the compound can be an inducer of apoptotic cell death of melanoma, especially the amelanotic form. Although the mechanism of the interrelationships between energy metabolism and cell death is not fully understood, interference of ART with TAC enzymes could encourage the further investigation of its anticancer action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslawa Cichorek
- Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St, 80-210, Gdansk, PL, Poland.
| | - Anna Ronowska
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 7 St, 80-211, Gdansk, PL, Poland
| | - Monika Gensicka-Kowalewska
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza St 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, PL, Poland
| | - Milena Deptula
- Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St, 80-210, Gdansk, PL, Poland
| | - Iwona Pelikant-Malecka
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St, 80-210, Gdansk, PL, Poland
| | - Krystyna Dzierzbicka
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza St 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, PL, Poland
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Śniegocka M, Podgórska E, Płonka PM, Elas M, Romanowska-Dixon B, Szczygieł M, Żmijewski MA, Cichorek M, Markiewicz A, Brożyna AA, Słominski AT, Urbańska K. Transplantable Melanomas in Hamsters and Gerbils as Models for Human Melanoma. Sensitization in Melanoma Radiotherapy-From Animal Models to Clinical Trials. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E1048. [PMID: 29614755 PMCID: PMC5979283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The focus of the present review is to investigate the role of melanin in the radioprotection of melanoma and attempts to sensitize tumors to radiation by inhibiting melanogenesis. Early studies showed radical scavenging, oxygen consumption and adsorption as mechanisms of melanin radioprotection. Experimental models of melanoma in hamsters and in gerbils are described as well as their use in biochemical and radiobiological studies, including a spontaneously metastasizing ocular model. Some results from in vitro studies on the inhibition of melanogenesis are presented as well as radio-chelation therapy in experimental and clinical settings. In contrast to cutaneous melanoma, uveal melanoma is very successfully treated with radiation, both using photon and proton beams. We point out that the presence or lack of melanin pigmentation should be considered, when choosing therapeutic options, and that both the experimental and clinical data suggest that melanin could be a target for radiosensitizing melanoma cells to increase efficacy of radiotherapy against melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Śniegocka
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 31-007 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Ewa Podgórska
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 31-007 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Przemysław M Płonka
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 31-007 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Martyna Elas
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 31-007 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Bożena Romanowska-Dixon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ocular Oncology, Medical College of Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 31-007 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Szczygieł
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 31-007 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Michał A Żmijewski
- Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Mirosława Cichorek
- Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Anna Markiewicz
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ocular Oncology, Medical College of Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 31-007 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Anna A Brożyna
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
- Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Chemoprevention Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Andrzej T Słominski
- Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Chemoprevention Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
- VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Krystyna Urbańska
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 31-007 Kraków, Poland.
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Sidor-Kaczmarek J, Cichorek M, Spodnik JH, Wójcik S, Moryś J. Proteasome inhibitors against amelanotic melanoma. Cell Biol Toxicol 2017; 33:557-573. [PMID: 28281027 PMCID: PMC5658467 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-017-9390-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of malignant melanoma, the most aggressive skin cancer, is increasing constantly. Despite new targeted therapies, the prognosis for patients with metastatic disease remains poor. Thus, there is a need for new combinational treatments, and antineoplastic agents potentially valuable in this approach are inhibitors of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). In this work, we analyze the cytotoxicity mechanisms of proteasome inhibitors (MG-132, epoxomicin, and lactacystin) in a specific form of melanoma which does not synthesize melanin-the amelanotic melanoma (Ab cells). We found that the most cytotoxic of the compounds tested was epoxomicin. Caspase-9 activation as well as cytochrome C and AIF release from mitochondria indicated that exposure to epoxomicin induced the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Epoxomicin treatment also resulted in accumulation of Bcl-2 family members-proapoptotic Noxa and antiapoptotic Mcl-1, which were postulated as the targets for bortezomib in melanoma. Inhibition of caspases by BAF revealed that cell death was partially caspase-independent. We observed no cell cycle arrest preceding the apoptosis of Ab cells, even though cdk inhibitors p21Cip1/Waf1 and p27Kip1 were up-regulated. The cell cycle was blocked only after inactivation of caspases by the pan-caspase inhibitor BAF. In summary, this is the first study exploring molecular mechanisms of cell death induced by epoxomicin in melanoma. We found that Ab cells died on the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and also partially by the caspase-independent way of death. Apoptosis induction was fast and efficient and was not preceded by cell cycle arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan Henryk Spodnik
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Sławomir Wójcik
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Janusz Moryś
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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Brożyna AA, Jóźwicki W, Roszkowski K, Filipiak J, Slominski AT. Melanin content in melanoma metastases affects the outcome of radiotherapy. Oncotarget 2017; 7:17844-53. [PMID: 26910282 PMCID: PMC4951254 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin possess radioprotective and scavenging properties, and its presence can affect the behavior of melanoma cells, its surrounding environment and susceptibility to the therapy, as showed in vitro experiments. To determine whether melanin presence in melanoma affects the efficiency of radiotherapy (RTH) we evaluated the survival time after RTH treatment in metastatic melanoma patients (n = 57). In another cohort of melanoma patients (n = 84), the relationship between melanin level and pT and pN status was determined. A significantly longer survival time was found in patients with amelanotic metastatic melanomas in comparison to the melanotic ones, who were treated with either RTH or chemotherapy (CHTH) and RTH. These differences were more significant in a group of melanoma patients treated only with RTH. A detailed analysis of primary melanomas revealed that melanin levels were significantly higher in melanoma cells invading reticular dermis than the papillary dermis. A significant reduction of melanin pigmentation in pT3 and pT4 melanomas in comparison to pT1 and T2 tumors was observed. However, melanin levels measured in pT3-pT4 melanomas developing metastases (pN1-3, pM1) were higher than in pN0 and pM0 cases. The presence of melanin in metastatic melanoma cells decreases the outcome of radiotherapy, and melanin synthesis is related to higher disease advancement. Based on our previous cell-based and clinical research and present research we also suggest that inhibition of melanogenesis can improve radiotherapy modalities. The mechanism of relationship between melanogenesis and efficacy of RTH requires additional studies, including larger melanoma patients population and orthotopic, imageable mouse models of metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Brożyna
- Department of Tumour Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland.,Department of Tumour Pathology and Pathomorphology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Wojciech Jóźwicki
- Department of Tumour Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland.,Department of Tumour Pathology and Pathomorphology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Roszkowski
- Department of Oncology, Radiotherapy and Gynecologic Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Jan Filipiak
- Department of Chemotherapy, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Andrzej T Slominski
- Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.,Laboratory Service of The VA Medical Center at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Wasiewicz T, Szyszka P, Cichorek M, Janjetovic Z, Tuckey RC, Slominski AT, Zmijewski MA. Antitumor effects of vitamin D analogs on hamster and mouse melanoma cell lines in relation to melanin pigmentation. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:6645-67. [PMID: 25811927 PMCID: PMC4424981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16046645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulated melanogenesis is involved in melanomagenesis and melanoma progression and resistance to therapy. Vitamin D analogs have anti-melanoma activity. While the hypercalcaemic effect of the active form of Vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) limits its therapeutic use, novel Vitamin D analogs with a modified side chain demonstrate low calcaemic activity. We therefore examined the effect of secosteroidal analogs, both classic (1,25(OH)2D3 and 25(OH)D3), and novel relatively non-calcemic ones (20(OH)D3, calcipotriol, 21(OH)pD, pD and 20(OH)pL), on proliferation, colony formation in monolayer and soft-agar, and mRNA and protein expression by melanoma cells. Murine B16-F10 and hamster Bomirski Ab cell lines were shown to be effective models to study how melanogenesis affects anti-melanoma treatment. Novel Vitamin D analogs with a short side-chain and lumisterol-like 20(OH)pL efficiently inhibited rodent melanoma growth. Moderate pigmentation sensitized rodent melanoma cells towards Vitamin D analogs, and altered expression of key genes involved in Vitamin D signaling, which was opposite to the effect on heavily pigmented cells. Interestingly, melanogenesis inhibited ligand-induced Vitamin D receptor translocation and ligand-induced expression of VDR and CYP24A1 genes. These findings indicate that melanogenesis can affect the anti-melanoma activity of Vitamin D analogs in a complex manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Wasiewicz
- Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1a, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Paulina Szyszka
- Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1a, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1a, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Miroslawa Cichorek
- Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1a, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Zorica Janjetovic
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama Birmingham, VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Robert C Tuckey
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Andrzej T Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama Birmingham, VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Michal A Zmijewski
- Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1a, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
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Park ES, Kang SI, Yoo KD, Lee MY, Yoo HS, Hong JT, Shin HS, Kim B, Yun YP. Camptothecin inhibits platelet-derived growth factor-BB-induced proliferation of rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells through inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Exp Cell Res 2013; 319:982-91. [PMID: 23328306 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2012] [Revised: 12/27/2012] [Accepted: 12/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in arterial wall is a major cause of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. In this study, we investigated not only the inhibitory effects of camptothecin (CPT) on PDGF-BB-induced VSMC proliferation, but also its molecular mechanism of this inhibition. CPT significantly inhibited proliferation with IC50 value of 0.58 μM and the DNA synthesis of PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner (0.5-2 μM ) without any cytotoxicity. CPT induced the cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Also, CPT decreased the expressions of G0/G1-specific regulatory proteins including cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)2, cyclin D1 and PCNA in PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs. Pre-incubation of VSMCs with CPT significantly inhibited PDGF-BB-induced Akt activation, whereas CPT did not affect PDGF-receptor beta phosphorylation, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation and phospholipase C (PLC)-γ1 phosphorylation in PDGF-BB signaling pathway. Our data showed that CPT pre-treatment inhibited VSMC proliferation, and that the inhibitory effect of CPT was enhanced by LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, on PDGF-BB-induced VSMC proliferation. In addition, inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway by LY294002 significantly enhanced the suppression of PCNA expression and Akt activation by CPT. These results suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of CPT is mediated in part by downregulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Seok Park
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Division of Life Science, College of Health and Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk, South Korea
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