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Cyran AM, Kleinegger F, Nass N, Naumann M, Haybaeck J, Arens C. Inhibition of EIF2α Dephosphorylation Decreases Cell Viability and Synergizes with Standard-of-Care Chemotherapeutics in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5350. [PMID: 38001610 PMCID: PMC10670742 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is a common cause of therapy failure in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). One approach to tackling it is by targeting fundamental cellular processes, such as translation. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (EIF2α) is a key player in canonical translation initiation and integrates diverse stress signals; when phosphorylated, it curbs global protein synthesis. This study evaluates EIF2α expression and phosphorylation in HNSCC. A small-molecule inhibitor of EIF2α dephosphorylation, salubrinal, was tested in vitro, followed by viability assays, flow cytometry, and immunoblot analyses. Patient-derived 3D tumor spheres (PD3DS) were cultured with salubrinal and their viability assessed. Lastly, salubrinal was evaluated with standard-of-care chemotherapeutics. Our analysis of RNA and proteomics data shows elevated EIF2α expression in HNSCC. Immunohistochemical staining reveals increasing EIF2α abundance from premalignant lesions to invasive and metastatic carcinoma. In immunoblots from intraoperative samples, EIF2α expression and steady-state phosphorylation are higher in HNSCC than in neighboring normal tissue. Inhibition of EIF2α dephosphorylation decreases HNSCC cell viability and clonogenic survival and impairs the G1/S transition. Salubrinal also decreases the viability of PD3DS and acts synergistically with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, bleomycin, and proteasome inhibitors. Our results indicate that pharmacological inhibition of EIF2α dephosphorylation is a potential therapeutic strategy for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Cyran
- Legorreta Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Florian Kleinegger
- Diagnostic & Research Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria (J.H.)
| | - Norbert Nass
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany;
| | - Michael Naumann
- Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany;
| | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Diagnostic & Research Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria (J.H.)
| | - Christoph Arens
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Giessen and Marburg University Hospitals, Campus Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
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Lokau J, Kleinegger F, Garbers Y, Waetzig GH, Grötzinger J, Rose-John S, Haybaeck J, Garbers C. Tocilizumab does not block interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling in murine cells. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232612. [PMID: 32365119 PMCID: PMC7197771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that is approved for the treatment of different human inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and cytokine release syndrome. Tocilizumab binds to the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) and thereby blocks signaling of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Initial studies and all authority assessment reports state that tocilizumab is effective in humans, but cannot bind to the murine or rat IL-6R and thus not block IL-6 signaling in the mouse. However, several recent studies described the use of tocilizumab in mice and reported biological effects that were attributed to IL-6 blockade. In this study, we investigate the capability of tocilizumab to block IL-6 signaling using different human and murine cell lines. Our results unequivocally confirm the original state of the art that tocilizumab blocks signaling via the human IL-6R, but does not block IL-6 signaling in murine cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Lokau
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Florian Kleinegger
- Diagnostic & Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Diagnostic & Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Pathology, Neuropathology and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Garbers
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Stallinger A, Kretschmer N, Kleinegger F, Brvar L, Liegl-Atzwanger B, Prokesch A, Durchschein C, Bauer R, Deutsch A, Rinner B. β,β-Dimethylacrylshikonin Induces Apoptosis in Melanoma Cell Lines by NOXA Upregulation. J Nat Prod 2020; 83:305-315. [PMID: 31961147 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, with high metastasis rates and poor prognosis. Survival rates and possible therapies depend on the state of the tumor and its mutational profile. BRAF and NRAS are the most frequent driver mutations. Currently, there is no efficient therapy for NRAS-mutated or late-stage melanoma. In this study, the therapeutic potential of β,β-dimethylacrylshikonin (DMAS) was investigated on melanoma. The influence of DMAS was determined in five different melanoma cell lines with different mutational profiles. The effects of this compound on cell viability, apoptosis, and gene and protein expression were examined. The results obtained were validated in vivo. DMAS significantly reduced the viability of several melanoma cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, DMAS induced caspase-3-dependent apoptosis via NOXA upregulation, as confirmed by NOXA knockdown experiments. This is the first time that NOXA-dependent apoptosis was shown with respect to a shikonin derivative and melanoma. Additionally, tumor regression and necrosis under DMAS treatment were demonstrated in vivo. Importantly, BRAF as well as NRAS-mutated metastatic human melanoma cell lines were treated successfully in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, DMAS showed promising results and is worthy of further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Stallinger
- Division of Biomedical Research , Medical University of Graz , 8036 Graz , Austria
| | - Nadine Kretschmer
- Division of Biomedical Research , Medical University of Graz , 8036 Graz , Austria
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy , University of Graz , 8010 Graz , Austria
| | - Florian Kleinegger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology , Medical University of Graz , 8010 Graz , Austria
| | - Luka Brvar
- Division of Biomedical Research , Medical University of Graz , 8036 Graz , Austria
| | | | - Andreas Prokesch
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism & Aging , Medical University of Graz , 8010 Graz , Austria
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology , Medical University of Graz , 8010 Graz , Austria
| | - Christin Durchschein
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy , University of Graz , 8010 Graz , Austria
| | - Rudolf Bauer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy , University of Graz , 8010 Graz , Austria
| | - Alexander Deutsch
- Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz , 8036 Graz , Austria
| | - Beate Rinner
- Division of Biomedical Research , Medical University of Graz , 8036 Graz , Austria
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Golob-Schwarzl N, Wodlej C, Kleinegger F, Gogg-Kamerer M, Birkl-Toeglhofer AM, Petzold J, Aigelsreiter A, Thalhammer M, Park YN, Haybaeck J. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 6 overexpression plays a major role in the translational control of gallbladder cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019; 145:2699-2711. [PMID: 31586263 PMCID: PMC6800842 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-03030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare neoplasia of the biliary tract with high mortality rates and poor prognosis. Signs and symptoms of GBC are not specific and often arise at late stage of disease. For this reason, diagnosis is typically made when the cancer is already in advanced stages, and prognosis for survival is less than 5 years in 90% of cases. Biomarkers to monitor disease progression and novel therapeutic alternative targets for these tumors are strongly required. Commonly, dysregulated protein synthesis contributes to carcinogenesis and cancer progression. In this case, protein synthesis directs translation of specific mRNAs, and, in turn, promotes cell survival, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis of tumors. In eukaryotes, protein synthesis is regulated at its initiation, which is a rate-limiting step involving eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs). We hypothesize that eIFs represent crossroads in the development of GBC, and might serve as potential biomarkers. The study focus was the role of eIF6 (an anti-association factor for the ribosomal subunits) in GBC. METHODS In human GBC samples, the expression of eIF6 was analyzed biochemically at the protein (immunohistochemistry, immunoblot analyses) and mRNA levels (qRT-PCR). RESULTS High levels of eIF6 correlated with shorter overall survival in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients (n = 28). Immunohistochemical data from tissue microarrays (n = 114) demonstrated significantly higher expression levels of eIF6 in GBC compared to non-neoplastic tissue. Higher eIF6 expression on protein (immunoblot) and mRNA (qRT-PCR) level was confirmed by analyzing fresh frozen GBC patient samples (n = 14). Depletion of eIF6 (using specific siRNA-mediated knockdown) in Mz-ChA-2 and TFK-1 cell lines inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION Our data indicates that eIF6 overexpression plays a major role in the translational control of GBC, and indicates its potential as a new biomarker and therapeutic target in GBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Golob-Schwarzl
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Dermatology and Venerology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christina Wodlej
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Graz, Austria
| | - Florian Kleinegger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department for Biomedical Research, Core Facility Alternative Biomodels and Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Margit Gogg-Kamerer
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Johannes Petzold
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ariane Aigelsreiter
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Thalhammer
- Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Young Nyun Park
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine Soul, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Graz, Austria.
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Leipziger Straße 44, 39210, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Department of Neuropathology and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Sele M, Wernitznig S, Lipovšek S, Radulović S, Haybaeck J, Birkl-Toeglhofer AM, Wodlej C, Kleinegger F, Sygulla S, Leoni M, Ropele S, Leitinger G. Optimization of ultrastructural preservation of human brain for transmission electron microscopy after long post-mortem intervals. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:144. [PMID: 31481118 PMCID: PMC6724377 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0794-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron microscopy (EM) provides the necessary resolution to visualize the finer structures of nervous tissue morphology, which is important to understand healthy and pathological conditions in the brain. However, for the interpretation of the micrographs the tissue preservation is crucial. The quality of the tissue structure is mostly influenced by the post mortem interval (PMI), the time of death until the preservation of the tissue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to optimize the preparation-procedure for the human frontal lobe to preserve the ultrastructure as well as possible despite the long PMIs. Combining chemical pre- and post-fixation with cryo-fixation and cryo-substitution ("hybrid freezing"), it was possible to improve the preservation of the neuronal profiles of human brain samples compared to the "standard" epoxy resin embedding method. In conclusion short PMIs are generally desirable but up to a PMI of 16 h the ultrastructure can be preserved on an acceptable level with a high contrast using the "hybrid freezing" protocol described here.
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Wernitznig S, Reichmann F, Sele M, Birkl C, Haybäck J, Kleinegger F, Birkl-Töglhofer A, Krassnig S, Wodlej C, Holzer P, Kummer D, Bock E, Leitinger G. An Unbiased Approach of Sampling TEM Sections in Neuroscience. J Vis Exp 2019. [PMID: 31033944 DOI: 10.3791/58745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigations of the ultrastructural features of neurons and their synapses are only possible with electron microscopy. Especially for comparative studies of the changes in densities and distributions of such features, an unbiased sampling protocol is vital for reliable results. Here, we present a workflow for the image acquisition of brain samples. The workflow allows systematic uniform random sampling within a defined brain region, and the images can be analyzed using a disector. This technique is much faster than extensive examination of serial sections but still presents a feasible approach to estimate the densities and distributions of ultrastructure features. Before embedding, stained vibratome sections were used as a reference to identify the brain region under investigation, which helped speed up the overall specimen preparation process. This approach was used for comparative studies investigating the effect of an enriched-housing environment on several ultrastructural parameters in the mouse brain. Based on the successful use of the workflow, we adapted it for the purpose of elemental analysis of brain samples. We optimized the protocol in terms of the time of user-interaction. Automating all the time-consuming steps by compiling a script for the open source software SerialEM helps the user to focus on the main work of acquiring the elemental maps. As in the original workflow, we paid attention to the unbiased sampling approach to guarantee reliable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Wernitznig
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz
| | - Florian Reichmann
- Department of Pharmacology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz
| | - Mariella Sele
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz
| | - Christoph Birkl
- Division of General Neurology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz
| | - Johannes Haybäck
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz; Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter Holzer
- Department of Pharmacology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz
| | - Daniel Kummer
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz
| | - Elisabeth Bock
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz
| | - Gerd Leitinger
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz;
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Kleinegger F, Hofer E, Wodlej C, Golob-Schwarzl N, Birkl-Toeglhofer AM, Stallinger A, Petzold J, Orlova A, Krassnig S, Reihs R, Niedrist T, Mangge H, Park YN, Thalhammer M, Aigelsreiter A, Lax S, Garbers C, Fickert P, Rose-John S, Moriggl R, Rinner B, Haybaeck J. Pharmacologic IL-6Rα inhibition in cholangiocarcinoma promotes cancer cell growth and survival. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1865:308-321. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Jahanafrooz Z, Stallinger A, Anders I, Kleinegger F, Lohberger B, Durchschein C, Bauer R, Deutsch A, Rinner B, Kretschmer N. Influence of silibinin and β-β-dimethylacrylshikonin on chordoma cells. Phytomedicine 2018; 49:32-40. [PMID: 30217260 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chordoma, slow growing bone tumours originating from remnants of the notochord, leave affected patients with a median survival of six years. The high recurrence rate of chordoma, together with limited treatment options and bad overall prognosis, make the development of new treatment options urgently necessary. PURPOSE In this study, the potential of two natural products, silibinin and β-β-dimethylacrylshikonin (DMAS), was tested on clival (MUG-CC1 and UM-Chor1) as well as sacral (MUG-Chor1 and U-CH2) chordoma cell lines. The treatment was administered both as single- and combined therapy. METHODS For investigation of cell viability, the Cell Titer 96 Aqueous Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay Kit was used. Apoptosis induction was studied by flow cytometry, (Annexin V/SYTOX Green, caspase-3) and RT-qPCR. Pathway analyses were performed by western blot. RESULTS Both drugs were found to reduce cell viability alone as well as in combination in a dose dependent manner, with DMAS being more efficient than silibinin. The mode of cell death was mainly apoptosis in DMAS treated samples, while the combination therapy led to apoptosis as well as late-apoptosis/necrosis. Silibinin therapy alone, although reducing cell viability, did not lead to significant apoptotic effects in the performed assays. Focussing on the molecular mechanism of DMAS induced apoptosis, it was found that major genes of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, like NOXA and PUMA were overexpressed. Additionally, western blot experiments showed a decrease of ERK/pERK, STAT3/pSTAT3 (Tyr705) and AKT/pAKT expression/activation levels under DMAS treatment. CONCLUSION DMAS is a promising new candidate for chordoma therapy, while silibinin or a combination of both is less favourable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Jahanafrooz
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Biotechnology, Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Ines Anders
- Division of Biomedical Research, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Birgit Lohberger
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christin Durchschein
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Rudolf Bauer
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Alexander Deutsch
- CBmed Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Beate Rinner
- Division of Biomedical Research, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Nadine Kretschmer
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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