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Gao X, Zhang C, Wang Y, Zhang P, Zhang J, Hong T. Berberine and Cisplatin Exhibit Synergistic Anticancer Effects on Osteosarcoma MG-63 Cells by Inhibiting the MAPK Pathway. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061666. [PMID: 33802664 PMCID: PMC8002572 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Berberine (BBR) has been reported to have potent anticancer activity and can increase the anticancer effects of chemotherapy drugs. The present study aims to investigate whether BBR and cisplatin (DDP) exert synergistic effects on the osteosarcoma (OS) MG-63 cell line. In the present study, MG-63 cells were treated with BBR and DDP alone or in combination. The effects of these therapeutics on cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, nuclear morphology, apoptosis, and the cell cycle, as well as their role in regulating the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, the cell cycle, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, were determined. The results demonstrated that BBR or DDP significantly inhibited the proliferation of MG-63 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The combination treatment of BBR and DDP exerted a prominent inhibitory effect on proliferation and colony formation. Furthermore, the results showed that the combination treatment of BBR and DDP enhanced the inhibition of cell migration and invasion and reversed the changes in nuclear morphology. The results showed that the combination treatment of BBR and DDP induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Mechanistically, the combination treatment of BBR and DDP inhibited the expression of MMP-2/9, Bcl-2, CyclinD1, and CDK4, enhanced the expression of Bax and regulated the activity of the MAPK pathway. Collectively, our data suggest that the combination therapy of BBR and DDP markedly enhanced OS cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tie Hong
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-431-8561-9705
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Meurer SK, Tezcan O, Lammers T, Weiskirchen R. Differential regulation of Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) in doxorubicin-resistant 4T1 triple negative breast cancer cells. Cell Signal 2020; 74:109731. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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3
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Lin YS, Chiu YC, Tsai YH, Tsai YF, Wang JY, Tseng LM, Chiu JH. Different mechanisms involved in the berberine-induced antiproliferation effects in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:13531-13544. [PMID: 30957305 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Berberine (BBR) is known to be effective at inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in various cancer cells. However, the effects of BBR on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the cell inhibition effects of BBR on different subtypes of TNBC cells. METHODS Using human TNBC cell lines of different subtypes, namely, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-453, and BT-549 as in vitro models, antiproliferative effects of BBR were investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, trypan blue exclusion assay, and clonogenic assay. Furthermore, cell apoptosis and autophagy were analyzed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, and LC3 I/II-targeted Western blotting. Various cell growth-related signaling pathways (AKT/ERK/p38) and the expression of proteins present in various cell cycle kinase complexes were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS BBR concentration-dependently suppressed cell proliferation in MDA-MB-468 (0, 3, 6, and 12 μM) and MDA-MB-231 (0, 6.25, 12.5, and 25 μM). The inhibitory effect was not brought about by inducing cell apoptosis, necrosis, or autophagy. Cell cycle analysis disclosed an increased S+G2/M fraction among the BBR-treated MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells; while with the BBR-treated MDA-MB-468 and BT-549 lines, an increased G0/G1 fraction was found. In MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells, by Western blotting, BBR decreased the expression of Cyclin A and CDK1, On the other hand, in BBR-treated MDA-MB-468 and BT-549 cells, there was a decrease in Cyclin D and CDK4 expression. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that the antiproliferation effects of BBR occur via different mechanisms in different subtypes of TNBC cells, which suggests that BBR has potential as a personalized treatment for TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Shu Lin
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Chou Chiu
- Division of General Surgery, Cheng-Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Hsiu Tsai
- School of Medicine, Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Fang Tsai
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.,School of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jir-You Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ling-Ming Tseng
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.,Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jen-Hwey Chiu
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.,Division of General Surgery, Cheng-Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.,School of Medicine, Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Chappell WH, Candido S, Abrams SL, Russo S, Ove R, Martelli AM, Cocco L, Ramazzotti G, Cervello M, Montalto G, Steelman LS, Leng X, Arlinghaus RB, Libra M, McCubrey JA. Roles of p53, NF-κB and the androgen receptor in controlling NGAL expression in prostate cancer cell lines. Adv Biol Regul 2018; 69:43-62. [PMID: 29861174 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL a.k.a lipocalin 2, lnc2) is a secreted protein which can form a complex with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9). This MMP9/NGAL complex has been associated with metastasis. MMP9 and NGAL are detected in the urine of patients afflicted with many different types of cancer, including prostate cancer. The effects of p53, NF-κB and the androgen receptor (AR) on the expression of NGAL was examined in four prostate cancer cell lines. Prostate cancer cell lines that are AR negative and expressed either mutant or no p53 (DU145 and PC3) displayed higher levels of NGAL expression compared to the prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP and 22Rv-1) which are AR positive and express wild type (WT) p53. Introduction of WT-p53 into the PC3 prostate cancer cell line, resulted in reduction of the levels of NGAL expression. Conversely, introduction of dominant negative (DN) p53 or a retroviral construct expressing NF-κB into LNCaP cells increased NGAL expression. NGAL expression had functional effects on the ability of the cells to form colonies in soft agar. Whereas suppression of WT-53 in LNCaP cells increased NGAL expression, the introduction of WT-p53 suppressed NGAL transcription activity in PC3 prostate cells which normally express high level of NGAL. NF-κB and p53 were determined to regulate NGAL expression by positive and negative mechanisms, respectively. Our data indicate that prostate cancer growth, progression and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs are regulated in part by NGAL and may involve complex interactions between NGAL, MMP9, NF-κB and p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Chappell
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA; Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), BD Diagnostics, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA
| | - Saverio Candido
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA
| | - Suzanne Russo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA; Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Roger Ove
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA; Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Ramazzotti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Montalto
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy; Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Linda S Steelman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA
| | - Xiaohong Leng
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas Medical Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ralph B Arlinghaus
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas Medical Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA.
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Candido S, Abrams SL, Steelman L, Lertpiriyapong K, Martelli AM, Cocco L, Ratti S, Follo MY, Murata RM, Rosalen PL, Lombardi P, Montalto G, Cervello M, Gizak A, Rakus D, Suh PG, Libra M, McCubrey JA. Metformin influences drug sensitivity in pancreatic cancer cells. Adv Biol Regul 2018; 68:13-30. [PMID: 29482945 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive, highly metastatic malignancy and accounts for 85% of pancreatic cancers. PDAC patients have poor prognosis with a five-year survival of only 5-10% after diagnosis and treatment. Pancreatic cancer has been associated with type II diabetes as the frequency of recently diagnosed diabetics that develop pancreatic cancer within a 10-year period of initial diagnosis of diabetes in increased in comparison to non-diabetic patients. Metformin is a very frequently prescribed drug used to treat type II diabetes. Metformin acts in part by stimulating AMP-kinase (AMPK) and results in the suppression of mTORC1 activity and the induction of autophagy. In the following studies, we have examined the effects of metformin in the presence of various chemotherapeutic drugs, signal transduction inhibitors and natural products on the growth of three different PDAC lines. Metformin, by itself, was not effective at suppressing growth of the pancreatic cancer cell lines at concentration less than 1000 nM, however, in certain PDAC lines, a suboptimal dose of metformin (250 nM) potentiated the effects of various chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat pancreatic cancer (e.g., gemcitabine, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil) and other cancer types (e.g., doxorubicin, docetaxel). Furthermore, metformin could increase anti-proliferative effects of mTORC1 and PI3K/mTOR inhibitors as well as natural products such as berberine and the anti-malarial drug chloroquine in certain PDAC lines. Thus, metformin can enhance the effects of certain drugs and signal transduction inhibitors which are used to treat pancreatic and various other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saverio Candido
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences - Pathology & Oncology Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Linda Steelman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Kvin Lertpiriyapong
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, USA
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Ratti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matilde Y Follo
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ramiro M Murata
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; Department of Foundational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, East Carolina University, USA
| | - Pedro L Rosalen
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Paolo Lombardi
- Naxospharma, Via Giuseppe Di Vittorio 70, Novate Milanese 20026, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Montalto
- Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy
| | - Agnieszka Gizak
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dariusz Rakus
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Pann-Gill Suh
- School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences - Pathology & Oncology Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
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Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Lertpiriyapong K, Fitzgerald TL, Martelli AM, Cocco L, Rakus D, Gizak A, Terrian D, Steelman LS, McCubrey JA. Novel roles of androgen receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, TP53, regulatory RNAs, NF-kappa-B, chromosomal translocations, neutrophil associated gelatinase, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in prostate cancer and prostate cancer stem cells. Adv Biol Regul 2015; 60:64-87. [PMID: 26525204 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2015.10.001] [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: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with some form of prostate cancer in their lifetime. Over 250,000 men worldwide die annually due to complications from prostate cancer. While advancements in prostate cancer screening and therapies have helped in lowering this statistic, better tests and more effective therapies are still needed. This review will summarize the novel roles of the androgen receptor (AR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the EGFRvIII variant, TP53, long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRs), NF-kappa-B, chromosomal translocations, neutrophil associated gelatinase, (NGAL), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells (CSC) have on the diagnosis, development and treatment of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Chappell
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Kvin Lertpiriyapong
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Timothy L Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dariusz Rakus
- Department of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gizak
- Department of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - David Terrian
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Linda S Steelman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
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Wang J, Peng Y, Liu Y, Yang J, Ding N, Tan W. Berberine, a natural compound, suppresses Hedgehog signaling pathway activity and cancer growth. BMC Cancer 2015; 15:595. [PMID: 26296751 PMCID: PMC4546096 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-015-1596-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Berberine (BBR), a natural alkaloid compound, is used as a non-prescription drug in China for treating diarrhea and gastroenteritis. Many studies have revealed that BBR possesses anticancer effect. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer action is far from being fully elucidated. This study is aimed to determine the effect of BBR on the hedgehog (Hh) activity and the growth of cancers addiction to Hh activity. Methods The Hh activity was determined by dual luciferase assays and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. The growth inhibition of BBR on medulloblastoma which was obtained from ptch+/−;p53−/− mice was analyzed by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (Brdu) assays and by allografting the medulloblastoma into nude mice. The data were statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple comparison between the groups was performed using Dunnett’s method. Results In this study, we found that BBR significantly inhibited the Hh pathway activity. Meanwhile, we observed that BBR failed to affect the transcriptional factors activities provoked by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thus suggesting its unique property against Hh pathway activity. Further studies revealed that BBR inhibited the Hh pathway activity by potentially targeting the critical component Smoothened (Smo) and most likely shared the same binding site on Smo with cyclopamine, a classical Smo inhibitor. Finally, we demonstrated that BBR obviously suppressed the Hh-dependent medulloblastoma growth in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion Collectively, our study uncovered a novel molecular mechanism responsible for the anticancer action of BBR, thus opening the way for the usage of BBR for therapeutics of cancers addiction to aberrant Hh pathway activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China.
| | - Yuanqiu Peng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China.
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China.
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China.
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Rd, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China. .,State key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Wenfu Tan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China.
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Roles of NGAL and MMP-9 in the tumor microenvironment and sensitivity to targeted therapy. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2015; 1863:438-448. [PMID: 26278055 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2015.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 08/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Various, diverse molecules contribute to the tumor microenvironment and influence invasion and metastasis. In this review, the roles of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the tumor microenvironment and sensitivity to therapy will be discussed. The lipocalin family of proteins has many important functions. For example when NGAL forms a complex with MMP-9 it increases its stability which is important in cancer metastasis. Small hydrophobic molecules are bound by NGAL which can alter their entry into and efflux from cells. Iron transport and storage are also influenced by NGAL activity. Regulation of iron levels is important for survival in the tumor microenvironment as well as metastasis. Innate immunity is also regulated by NGAL as it can have bacteriostatic properties. NGAL and MMP-9 expression may also affect the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy as well as targeted therapy. Thus NGAL and MMP-9 play important roles in key processes involved in metastasis as well as response to therapy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Tumor Microenvironment Regulation of Cancer Cell Survival, Metastasis, Inflammation, and Immune Surveillance edited by Peter Ruvolo and Gregg L. Semenza.
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Evangelisti C, Evangelisti C, Teti G, Chiarini F, Falconi M, Melchionda F, Pession A, Bertaina A, Locatelli F, McCubrey JA, Beak DJ, Bittman R, Pyne S, Pyne NJ, Martelli AM. Assessment of the effect of sphingosine kinase inhibitors on apoptosis,unfolded protein response and autophagy of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells; indications for novel therapeutics. Oncotarget 2015; 5:7886-901. [PMID: 25226616 PMCID: PMC4202168 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that is formed by the phosphorylation of sphingosine and catalysed by sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) or sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2). Sphingosine kinases play a fundamental role in many signaling pathways associated with cancer, suggesting that proteins belonging to this signaling network represent potential therapeutic targets. Over the last years, many improvements have been made in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL); however, novel and less toxic therapies are still needed, especially for relapsing and chemo-resistant patients. Here, we analyzed the therapeutic potential of SKi and ROMe, a sphingosine kinase 1 and 2 inhibitor and SK2-selective inhibitor, respectively. While SKi induced apoptosis, ROMe initiated an autophagic cell death in our in vitro cell models. SKi treatment induced an increase in SK1 protein levels in Molt-4 cells, whereas it activated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway in Jurkat and CEM-R cells as protective mechanisms in a sub-population of T-ALL cells. Interestingly, we observed a synergistic effect of SKi with the classical chemotherapeutic drug vincristine. In addition, we reported that SKi affected signaling cascades implicated in survival, proliferation and stress response of cells. These findings indicate that SK1 or SK2 represent potential targets for treating T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Evangelisti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Camilla Evangelisti
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council-Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bologna, Italy. Muscoloskeletal Cell Biology Laboratory, IOR, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gabriella Teti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Chiarini
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council-Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bologna, Italy. Muscoloskeletal Cell Biology Laboratory, IOR, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mirella Falconi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fraia Melchionda
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit 'Lalla Seragnoli', S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Pession
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit 'Lalla Seragnoli', S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alice Bertaina
- Oncoematologia Pediatrica, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Oncoematologia Pediatrica, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Dong Jae Beak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College, The City University of New York, Flushing, New York, United States
| | - Robert Bittman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College, The City University of New York, Flushing, New York, United States
| | - Susan Pyne
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral St, Glasgow, G4 0RE, Scotland, UK
| | - Nigel J Pyne
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral St, Glasgow, G4 0RE, Scotland, UK
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Deregulation of the EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1 pathway in breast cancer: possibilities for therapeutic intervention. Oncotarget 2015; 5:4603-50. [PMID: 25051360 PMCID: PMC4148087 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathway plays prominent roles in malignant transformation, prevention of apoptosis, drug resistance and metastasis. The expression of this pathway is frequently altered in breast cancer due to mutations at or aberrant expression of: HER2, ERalpha, BRCA1, BRCA2, EGFR1, PIK3CA, PTEN, TP53, RB as well as other oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In some breast cancer cases, mutations at certain components of this pathway (e.g., PIK3CA) are associated with a better prognosis than breast cancers lacking these mutations. The expression of this pathway and upstream HER2 has been associated with breast cancer initiating cells (CICs) and in some cases resistance to treatment. The anti-diabetes drug metformin can suppress the growth of breast CICs and herceptin-resistant HER2+ cells. This review will discuss the importance of the EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathway primarily in breast cancer but will also include relevant examples from other cancer types. The targeting of this pathway will be discussed as well as clinical trials with novel small molecule inhibitors. The targeting of the hormone receptor, HER2 and EGFR1 in breast cancer will be reviewed in association with suppression of the EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathway.
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McCubrey JA, Steelman LS, Bertrand FE, Davis NM, Sokolosky M, Abrams SL, Montalto G, D'Assoro AB, Libra M, Nicoletti F, Maestro R, Basecke J, Rakus D, Gizak A, Demidenko ZN, Cocco L, Martelli AM, Cervello M. GSK-3 as potential target for therapeutic intervention in cancer. Oncotarget 2015; 5:2881-911. [PMID: 24931005 PMCID: PMC4102778 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 367] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was initially identified and studied in the regulation of glycogen synthesis. GSK-3 functions in a wide range of cellular processes. Aberrant activity of GSK-3 has been implicated in many human pathologies including: bipolar depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and others. In some cases, suppression of GSK-3 activity by phosphorylation by Akt and other kinases has been associated with cancer progression. In these cases, GSK-3 has tumor suppressor functions. In other cases, GSK-3 has been associated with tumor progression by stabilizing components of the beta-catenin complex. In these situations, GSK-3 has oncogenic properties. While many inhibitors to GSK-3 have been developed, their use remains controversial because of the ambiguous role of GSK-3 in cancer development. In this review, we will focus on the diverse roles that GSK-3 plays in various human cancers, in particular in solid tumors. Recently, GSK-3 has also been implicated in the generation of cancer stem cells in various cell types. We will also discuss how this pivotal kinase interacts with multiple signaling pathways such as: PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1, Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK, Wnt/beta-catenin, Hedgehog, Notch and others.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Greenville, NC 27858 USA
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12
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Candido S, Maestro R, Polesel J, Catania A, Maira F, Signorelli SS, McCubrey JA, Libra M. Roles of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in human cancer. Oncotarget 2015; 5:1576-94. [PMID: 24742531 PMCID: PMC4039233 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the major cause of death in the Western world. Although, it has been demonstrated that new therapies can improve the outcome of cancer patients, still many patients relapse after treatment. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel factors involved in cancer development and/or progression. Recently, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been suggested as a key player in different cancer types. Its oncogenic effect may be related to the complex NGAL/MMP-9. In the present study, NGAL was analyzed at both transcript and protein levels in different cancer types by analysing 38 public available microarray datasets and the Human Protein Atlas tool. NGAL transcripts were significantly higher in the majority of solid tumors compared to the relative normal tissues for every dataset analyzed. Furthermore, concordance of NGAL at both mRNA and protein levels was observed for 6 cancer types including bladder, colorectal, liver, lung, ovarian, and pancreatic. All metastatic tumors showed a decrease of NGAL expression when compared to matched primary lesions. According to these results, NGAL is a candidate marker for tumor growth in a fraction of solid tumors. Further investigations are required to elucidate the function of NGAL in tumor development and metastatic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saverio Candido
- Department of Bio-medical Sciences, Section of Pathology and Oncology, Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Functional Genomics, University of Catania, Catania, (Italy)
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13
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Lu W, Du S, Wang J. Berberine inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and induces G₀/G₁ or G₂/M phase arrest at different concentrations. Mol Med Rep 2014; 11:3920-4. [PMID: 25572870 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.3139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most common disease of the male reproductive system. Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt that is extracted from plants. The aim of the current study was to explore the antitumor activity of berberine in prostate cancer cells and identify the underlying mechanism of its effects. PC3 human and RM‑1 mouse prostate cancer cells were treated with increasing concentrations of berberine, followed by analysis of the cell viability with an MTT assay. The results demonstrated that berberine markedly inhibited the proliferation of PC3 and RM‑1 cells, and that the inhibitory effects to PC3 and RM‑1 were enhanced in a concentration‑ and time‑dependent manner. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle of PC3 human prostate cancer cells, and the results demonstrated that G0/G1 phase arrest was induced following treatment with 10 µM berberine (P<0.05). However, with an increased concentration of berberine (50 µM) the survival rate of PC3 cells at the G2/M phase was significantly increased compared with the cells treated with 10 µM berberine, which suggests that different cell cycle signaling pathways were activated when PC3 cells were treated with low and high concentrations of berberine. Thus, clarifying the mechanism underlying these effects in prostate cancer may provide novel molecular targets for prostate cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lu
- Department of Urology, Jilin Province People's Hospital, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Shanshan Du
- Department of Urology, Jilin Province People's Hospital, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Jiaqiang Wang
- Department of Urology, Jilin Province People's Hospital, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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14
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Ren-Ping Z, Sen-Sen L, Yuan ST, Yu BY, Bai XS, Sun L, Zhang LY. DT-13, a saponin of dwarf lilyturf tuber, exhibits anti-cancer activity by down-regulating C-C chemokine receptor type 5 and vascular endothelial growth factor in MDA-MB-435 cells. Chin J Nat Med 2014; 12:24-9. [PMID: 24484593 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(14)60005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the anticancer activity of DT-13 under normoxia and determine the underlying mechanisms of action. METHODS MDA-MB-435 cell proliferation, migration, and adhesion were performed to assess the anticancer activity of DT-13, a saponin from Ophiopogon japonicus, in vitro. In addition, the effects of DT-13 on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo were evaluated by orthotopic implantation of MDA-MB-435 cells into nude mice; mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR; and CCR5 protein levels were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS At 0.01 to 1 μmol·L(-1), DT-13 inhibited MDA-MB-435 cell proliferation, migration, and adhesion significantly in vitro. DT-13 reduced VEGF and CCR5 mRNAs, and decreased CCR5 protein expression by down-regulating HIF-1α. In addition, DT-13 inhibited MDA-MB-435 cell lung metastasis, and restricted tumor growth slightly in vivo. CONCLUSION DT-13 inhibited MDA-MB-435 cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration in vitro, and lung metastasis in vivo by reducing VEGF, CCR5, and HIF-1α expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Ren-Ping
- Jiangsu Center for Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lin Sen-Sen
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Sheng-Tao Yuan
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Complex Prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Material Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Bo-Yang Yu
- Department of Complex Prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Material Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xian-Shu Bai
- Department of Molecular Physiology, University of Saarland, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Li Sun
- Jiangsu Center for Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Lu-Yong Zhang
- Jiangsu Center for Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, China.
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15
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McCubrey JA, Davis NM, Abrams SL, Montalto G, Cervello M, Libra M, Nicoletti F, D'Assoro AB, Cocco L, Martelli AM, Steelman LS. Targeting breast cancer initiating cells: advances in breast cancer research and therapy. Adv Biol Regul 2014; 56:81-107. [PMID: 24913694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2014.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 10 years there have been significant advances in our understanding of breast cancer and the important roles that breast cancer initiating cells (CICs) play in the development and resistance of breast cancer. Breast CICs endowed with self-renewing and tumor-initiating capacities are believed to be responsible for the relapses which often occur after various breast cancer therapies. In this review, we will summarize some of the key developments in breast CICs which will include discussion of some of the key genes implicated: estrogen receptor (ER), HER2, BRCA1, TP53, PIK3CA, RB, P16INK1 and various miRs as well some drugs which are showing promise in targeting CICs. In addition, the concept of combined therapies will be discussed. Basic and clinical research is resulting in novel approaches to improve breast cancer therapy by targeting the breast CICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Brody Building 5N98C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
| | - Nicole M Davis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Brody Building 5N98C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Brody Building 5N98C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Giuseppe Montalto
- Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Antonino B D'Assoro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Linda S Steelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Brody Building 5N98C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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16
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Lippi G, Meschi T, Nouvenne A, Mattiuzzi C, Borghi L. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in cancer. Adv Clin Chem 2014; 64:179-219. [PMID: 24938019 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800263-6.00004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), also known as lipocalin-2, is a 178-amino acid protein which exists in three molecular forms, including a 25-kDa monomer, a 45-kDa homodimer, and a 135-kDa heterodimer complexed with matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). Polymorphonuclear neutrophils and tubular cells of the kidney are the most representative cellular sources. As such, NGAL is now considered the biochemical gold standard for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury. Recent evidence suggests, however, that ectopic or enhanced expression of NGAL may occur in many other pathologic conditions including cancer. Several epidemiologic studies, as reviewed in this chapter, showed that a variety of malignant tumors consistently overexpressed NGAL with increased concentration in blood, urine, and other biologic fluids. In addition, NGAL was frequently associated with tumor size, stage, and invasiveness. These features thus make it a potential biomarker for malignancy. A number of experimental studies also demonstrated that the ability to bind MMP-9, to scavenge iron into cancer cells along with the effect on subcellular localization of transmembrane proteins such as cadherins and catenins, confers this protein the potential to enhance can cer aggressiveness and makes it an appealing target of future anticancer research.
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17
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The AKT inhibitor MK-2206 is cytotoxic in hepatocarcinoma cells displaying hyperphosphorylated AKT-1 and synergizes with conventional chemotherapy. Oncotarget 2014; 4:1496-506. [PMID: 24036604 PMCID: PMC3824526 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common potentially lethal human malignancies worldwide. Advanced or recurrent HCC is frequently resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Therefore, targeted agents with tolerable toxicity are mandatory to improve HCC therapy and prognosis. In this neoplasia, the PI3K/Akt signaling network has been frequently shown to be aberrantly up-regulated. To evaluate whether Akt could represent a target for treatment of HCC, we studied the effects of the allosteric Akt inhibitor, MK-2206, on a panel of HCC cell lines characterized by different levels of Akt-1 activation. The inhibitor decreased cell viability and induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, with a higher efficacy in cells with hyperphosphorylated Akt-1. Moreover, MK-2206 induced apoptosis, as documented by Annexin V labeling, and also caused autophagy, as evidenced by increased levels of the autophagy marker LC3A/B. Autophagy was shown to be a protective mechanism against MK-2206 cytotoxicity. MK-2206 down-regulated, in a concentration-dependent manner, the phosphorylation levels of Akt-1 synergizedand its downstream targets, GSK3 α/β and FOXO3A. MK-2206 synergized with doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic drug widely used for HCC treatment. Our findings suggest that the use of Akt inhibitors, either alone or in combination with doxorubicin, may be considered as an attractive therapeutic regimen for the treatment of HCC.
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18
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Sokolosky M, Chappell WH, Stadelman K, Abrams SL, Davis NM, Steelman LS, McCubrey JA. Inhibition of GSK-3β activity can result in drug and hormonal resistance and alter sensitivity to targeted therapy in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cell Cycle 2014; 13:820-33. [PMID: 24407515 DOI: 10.4161/cc.27728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 pathway plays prominent roles in malignant transformation, prevention of apoptosis, drug resistance, and metastasis. One molecule regulated by this pathway is GSK-3β. GSK-3β is phosphorylated by Akt on S9, which leads to its inactivation; however, GSK-3β also can regulate the activity of the PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 pathway by phosphorylating molecules such as PTEN, TSC2, p70S6K, and 4E-BP1. To further elucidate the roles of GSK-3β in chemotherapeutic drug and hormonal resistance of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, we transfected MCF-7 breast cancer cells with wild-type (WT), kinase-dead (KD), and constitutively activated (A9) forms of GSK-3β. MCF-7/GSK-3β(KD) cells were more resistant to doxorubicin and tamoxifen compared with either MCF-7/GSK-3β(WT) or MCF-7/GSK-3β(A9) cells. In the presence and absence of doxorubicin, the MCF-7/GSK-3β(KD) cells formed more colonies in soft agar compared with MCF-7/GSK-3β(WT) or MCF-7/GSK-3β(A9) cells. In contrast, MCF-7/GSK-3β(KD) cells displayed an elevated sensitivity to the mTORC1 blocker rapamycin compared with MCF-7/GSK-3β(WT) or MCF-7/GSK-3β(A9) cells, while no differences between the 3 cell types were observed upon treatment with a MEK inhibitor by itself. However, resistance to doxorubicin and tamoxifen were alleviated in MCF-7/GSK-3β(KD) cells upon co-treatment with an MEK inhibitor, indicating regulation of this resistance by the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway. Treatment of MCF-7 and MCF-7/GSK-3β(WT) cells with doxorubicin eliminated the detection of S9-phosphorylated GSK-3β, while total GSK-3β was still detected. In contrast, S9-phosphorylated GSK-3β was still detected in MCF-7/GSK-3β(KD) and MCF-7/GSK-3β(A9) cells, indicating that one of the effects of doxorubicin on MCF-7 cells was suppression of S9-phosphorylated GSK-3β, which could result in increased GSK-3β activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that introduction of GSK-3β(KD) into MCF-7 breast cancer cells promotes resistance to doxorubicin and tamoxifen, but sensitizes the cells to mTORC1 blockade by rapamycin. Therefore GSK-3β is a key regulatory molecule in sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chemo-, hormonal, and targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Sokolosky
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Greenville, NC USA
| | - William H Chappell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Greenville, NC USA
| | - Kristin Stadelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Greenville, NC USA
| | - Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Greenville, NC USA
| | - Nicole M Davis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Greenville, NC USA
| | - Linda S Steelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Greenville, NC USA
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Greenville, NC USA
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19
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Zhao H, Halicka HD, Li J, Darzynkiewicz Z. Berberine suppresses gero-conversion from cell cycle arrest to senescence. Aging (Albany NY) 2013; 5:623-36. [PMID: 23974852 PMCID: PMC3796215 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Berberine (BRB), a natural alkaloid, has a long history of medicinal use in both Ayurvedic and old Chinese medicine. Recently, available as a dietary supplement, Berberine is reported to have application in treatment of variety diseases. Previously we observed that BRB inhibited mTOR/S6 signaling concurrently with reduction of the level of endogenous oxidants and constitutive DNA damage response. We currently tested whether Berberine can affect premature, stress-induced cellular senescence caused by mitoxantrone. The depth of senescence was quantitatively measured by morphometric parameters, senescence-associated β-galactosidase, induction of p21WAF1, replication stress (γH2AX expression), and mTOR signaling; the latter revealed by ribosomal S6 protein (rpS6) phosphorylation. All these markers of senescence were distinctly diminished, in a concentration-dependent manner, by Berberine. In view of the evidence that BRB localizes in mitochondria, inhibits respiratory electron chain and activates AMPK, the observed attenuation of the replication stress-induced cellular senescence most likely is mediated by AMPK that leads to inhibition of mTOR signaling. In support of this mechanism is the observation that rhodamine123, the cationic probe targeting mitochondrial electron chain, also suppressed rpS6 phosphorylation. The present findings reveal that: (a) in cells induced to senescence BRB exhibits gero-suppressive properties by means of mTOR/S6 inhibition; (b) in parallel, BRB reduces the level of constitutive DNA damage response, previously shown to report oxidative DNA damage by endogenous ROS; (c) there appears to a causal linkage between the (a) and (b) activities; (d) the in vitro model of premature stress-induced senescence can be used to assess effectiveness of potential gero-suppressive agents targeting mTOR/S6 and ROS signaling; (e) since most of the reported beneficial effects of BRB are in age-relate diseases, it is likely that gero-suppression is the primary activity of this traditional medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhao
- Brander Cancer Research Institute and Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
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20
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McCubrey JA, Steelman LS, Chappell WH, Sun L, Davis NM, Abrams SL, Franklin RA, Cocco L, Evangelisti C, Chiarini F, Martelli AM, Libra M, Candido S, Ligresti G, Malaponte G, Mazzarino MC, Fagone P, Donia M, Nicoletti F, Polesel J, Talamini R, Bäsecke J, Mijatovic S, Maksimovic-Ivanic D, Michele M, Tafuri A, Dulińska-Litewka J, Laidler P, D'Assoro AB, Drobot L, Umezawa D, Montalto G, Cervello M, Demidenko ZN. Advances in targeting signal transduction pathways. Oncotarget 2012; 3:1505-21. [PMID: 23455493 PMCID: PMC3681490 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Accepted: 12/28/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few years, significant advances have occurred in both our understanding of the complexity of signal transduction pathways as well as the isolation of specific inhibitors which target key components in those pathways. Furthermore critical information is being accrued regarding how genetic mutations can affect the sensitivity of various types of patients to targeted therapy. Finally, genetic mechanisms responsible for the development of resistance after targeted therapy are being discovered which may allow the creation of alternative therapies to overcome resistance. This review will discuss some of the highlights over the past few years on the roles of key signaling pathways in various diseases, the targeting of signal transduction pathways and the genetic mechanisms governing sensitivity and resistance to targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, USA.
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Poling A, Sewell RG, Gallus JA, Nearchou NI. Lethality of opioid and antihistaminic combinations in mice. Oncol Lett 1985; 13:4173-4179. [PMID: 28588704 PMCID: PMC5452875 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.5996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ell3 is an RNA polymerase II transcription elongation factor that acts as a negative regulator of p53 expression, and regulates cell proliferation and survival. Recent studies by our group have demonstrated that ectopic expression of Ell3 in breast cancer cell lines enhances cell proliferation, potentiates cancer stem cell properties, and promotes 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance. In the present study, the underlying mechanism for the induction of 5-FU resistance was investigated in Ell3 over-expressing MCF-7 cells (Ell3 OE cells). By comparing the gene expression profiles of Ell3 OE cells with control cells, the present data revealed that Lipocalin2 (LCN2) and Wnt signaling activity are associated with 5-FU resistance of Ell3 OE. siRNA-mediated suppression of LCN2 reversed 5-FU resistance in Ell3 OE cells. Chemical inhibition of Wnt signaling also reversed 5-FU resistance in Ell3 OE cells. Furthermore, the expression levels of survivin, which is a direct transcriptional target of Wnt/β-catenin and an inhibitor of apoptosis, were markedly elevated when Ell3 OE cells were treated with 5-FU, as detected by western blot analysis. These findings suggest that enhanced expression of LCN2 and activation of the Wnt signaling pathway may induce 5-FU resistance in Ell3 OE cells as a means of evading apoptosis.
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