1
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Silva KCS, Tambwe N, Mahfouz DH, Wium M, Cacciatore S, Paccez JD, Zerbini LF. Transcription Factors in Prostate Cancer: Insights for Disease Development and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:450. [PMID: 38674385 PMCID: PMC11050257 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040450] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins essential for the regulation of gene expression, and they regulate the genes involved in different cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. Although their expression is essential in normal physiological conditions, abnormal regulation of TFs plays critical role in several diseases, including cancer. In prostate cancer, the most common malignancy in men, TFs are known to play crucial roles in the initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy of the disease. Understanding the interplay between these TFs and their downstream targets provides insights into the molecular basis of prostate cancer pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the involvement of key TFs, including the E26 Transformation-Specific (ETS) Family (ERG and SPDEF), NF-κB, Activating Protein-1 (AP-1), MYC, and androgen receptor (AR), in prostate cancer while focusing on the molecular mechanisms involved in prostate cancer development. We also discuss emerging diagnostic strategies, early detection, and risk stratification using TFs. Furthermore, we explore the development of therapeutic interventions targeting TF pathways, including the use of small molecule inhibitors, gene therapies, and immunotherapies, aimed at disrupting oncogenic TF signaling and improving patient outcomes. Understanding the complex regulation of TFs in prostate cancer provides valuable insights into disease biology, which ultimately may lead to advancing precision approaches for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla C. S. Silva
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Nadine Tambwe
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
- Integrative Biomedical Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Dalia H. Mahfouz
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Martha Wium
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
- Integrative Biomedical Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Stefano Cacciatore
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
- Integrative Biomedical Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Luiz F. Zerbini
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
- Integrative Biomedical Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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2
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Vava A, Paccez JD, Wang Y, Gu X, Bhasin MK, Myers M, Soares NC, Libermann TA, Zerbini LF. DCUN1D1 Is an Essential Regulator of Prostate Cancer Proliferation and Tumour Growth That Acts through Neddylation of Cullin 1, 3, 4A and 5 and Deregulation of Wnt/Catenin Pathway. Cells 2023; 12:1973. [PMID: 37566052 PMCID: PMC10417424 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Defective in cullin neddylation 1 domain containing 1 (DCUN1D1) is an E3 ligase for the neddylation, a post-translational process similar to and occurring in parallel to ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Although established as an oncogene in a variety of squamous cell carcinomas, the precise role of DCUN1D1 in prostate cancer (PCa) has not been previously explored thoroughly. Here, we investigated the role of DCUN1D1 in PCa and demonstrated that DCUN1D1 is upregulated in cell lines as well as human tissue samples. Inhibition of DCUN1D1 significantly reduced PCa cell proliferation and migration and remarkably inhibited xenograft formation in mice. Applying both genomics and proteomics approaches, we provide novel information about the DCUN1D1 mechanism of action. We identified CUL3, CUL4B, RBX1, CAND1 and RPS19 proteins as DCUN1D1 binding partners. Our analysis also revealed the dysregulation of genes associated with cellular growth and proliferation, developmental, cell death and cancer pathways and the WNT/β-catenin pathway as potential mechanisms. Inhibition of DCUN1D1 leads to the inactivation of β-catenin through its phosphorylation and degradation which inhibits the downstream action of β-catenin, reducing its interaction with Lef1 in the Lef1/TCF complex that regulates Wnt target gene expression. Together our data point to an essential role of the DCUN1D1 protein in PCa which can be explored for potential targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhona Vava
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (A.V.); (J.D.P.)
- Division of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (A.V.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Yihong Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA;
| | - Xuesong Gu
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (X.G.); (T.A.L.)
| | - Manoj K. Bhasin
- Department of Pediatrics Bioinformatics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
| | - Michael Myers
- Protein Networks Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Nelson C. Soares
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates;
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
- Laboratory of Proteomics, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health, Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), NOVA/School/Faculdade de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Towia A. Libermann
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (X.G.); (T.A.L.)
| | - Luiz F. Zerbini
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (A.V.); (J.D.P.)
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3
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Wium M, Ajayi-Smith AF, Paccez JD, Zerbini LF. The Role of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Axl in Carcinogenesis and Development of Therapeutic Resistance: An Overview of Molecular Mechanisms and Future Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1521. [PMID: 33806258 PMCID: PMC8037968 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents by cancer cells has remained a major obstacle in the successful treatment of various cancers. Numerous factors such as DNA damage repair, cell death inhibition, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and evasion of apoptosis have all been implicated in the promotion of chemoresistance. The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl, a member of the TAM family (which includes TYRO3 and MER), plays an important role in the regulation of cellular processes such as proliferation, motility, survival, and immunologic response. The overexpression of Axl is reported in several solid and hematological malignancies, including non-small cell lung, prostate, breast, liver and gastric cancers, and acute myeloid leukaemia. The overexpression of Axl is associated with poor prognosis and the development of resistance to therapy. Reports show that Axl overexpression confers drug resistance in lung cancer and advances the emergence of tolerant cells. Axl is, therefore, an important candidate as a prognostic biomarker and target for anticancer therapies. In this review, we discuss the consequence of Axl upregulation in cancers, provide evidence for its role in cancer progression and the development of drug resistance. We will also discuss the therapeutic potential of Axl in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Wium
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
| | - Aderonke F. Ajayi-Smith
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz F. Zerbini
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
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Curcio JSD, Batista MP, Paccez JD, Novaes E, Soares CMDA. In silico characterization of microRNAs-like sequences in the genome of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Genet Mol Biol 2019; 42:95-107. [PMID: 30776047 PMCID: PMC6428129 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2018-0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells have different mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation.
Among these mechanisms, microRNAs promote regulation of targets by cleavage or
degradation of the mRNA. Fungi of the Paracoccidioides complex
are the etiological agents of the main systemic mycosis of Latin America. These
fungi present a plasticity to adapt and survive in different conditions, and the
presence of microRNAs-like molecules could be part of the mechanisms that
provide such plasticity. MicroRNAs produced by the host influence the
progression of this mycosis in the lungs besides regulating targets involved in
apoptosis in macrophage, activation of T and B cells and the production of
cytokines. Therefore, this work analyzed the presence of regions in the genome
of this fungus with a potential to encode microRNAs-like molecules. Here we show
by analysis of sequence similarity the presence of 18 regions, putatively coding
for microRNAs-like molecules in the Paracoccidioides
brasiliensis genome. We also described the conservation of dicer
and argonaut proteins and the cognate transcripts induced in the yeast parasitic
phase. This work represents a starting point for the analysis of the presence of
those molecules in the morphological stages of the fungus and their role in
fungal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana S de Curcio
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Mariana P Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Juliano D Paccez
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Evandro Novaes
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
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5
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de Curcio JS, Paccez JD, Novaes E, Brock M, Soares CMDA. Cell Wall Synthesis, Development of Hyphae and Metabolic Pathways Are Processes Potentially Regulated by MicroRNAs Produced Between the Morphological Stages of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:3057. [PMID: 30619144 PMCID: PMC6297277 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03057] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are molecules involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. In pathogenic fungi, microRNAs have been described at different morphological stages by regulating targets involved in processes such as morphogenesis and energy production. Members of the Paracoccidioides complex are the main etiological agents of a systemic mycosis in Latin America. Fungi of the Paracoccidioides complex present a wide range of plasticity to colonize different niches. In response to environmental changes these fungi undergo a morphological switch, remodel their cellular metabolism and modulate structural cell wall components. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating the gene expression is not well understood. By using high performance sequencing and bioinformatics analyses, this work characterizes microRNAs produced by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Here, we demonstrated that the transcript encoding proteins involved in microRNA biogenesis were differentially expressed in each morphological stage. In addition, 49 microRNAs were identified in cDNA libraries with 44 differentially regulated among the libraries. Sixteen microRNAs were differentially regulated in comparison to the mycelium in the mycelium-to-yeast transition phase. The yeast parasitic phase revealed a complete remodeling of the expression of these small RNAs. Analyses of targets of the induced microRNAs, from the different libraries, revealed that these molecules may potentially regulate in the cell wall, by repressing genes involved in the synthesis and degradation of glucans and chitin. Furthermore, mRNAs involved in cellular metabolism and development were predicted to be regulated by microRNAs. Therefore, this work describes a putative post transcriptional regulation, mediated by microRNAs in P. brasiliensis and its influence on the adaptive processes of thermal dimorphic fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana S. de Curcio
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Evandro Novaes
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mathias Brock
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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6
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Tamura RE, Paccez JD, Duncan KC, Morale MG, Simabuco FM, Dillon S, Correa RG, Gu X, Libermann TA, Zerbini LF. GADD45α and γ interaction with CDK11p58 regulates SPDEF protein stability and SPDEF-mediated effects on cancer cell migration. Oncotarget 2017; 7:13865-79. [PMID: 26885618 PMCID: PMC4924684 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelium-specific Ets transcription factor, SPDEF, plays a critical role in metastasis of prostate and breast cancer cells. While enhanced SPDEF expression blocks migration and invasion, knockdown of SPDEF expression enhances migration, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. SPDEF expression and activation is tightly regulated in cancer cells; however, the precise mechanism of SPDEF regulation has not been explored in detail. In this study we provide evidence that the cell cycle kinase CDK11p58, a protein involved in G2/M transition and degradation of several transcription factors, directly interacts with and phosphorylates SPDEF on serine residues, leading to subsequent ubiquitination and degradation of SPDEF through the proteasome pathway. As a consequence of CDK11p58 mediated degradation of SPDEF, this loss of SPDEF protein results in increased prostate cancer cell migration and invasion. In contrast, knockdown of CDK11p58 protein expression by interfering RNA or SPDEF overexpression inhibit migration and invasion of cancer cells. We demonstrate that CDK11p58 mediated degradation of SPDEF is attenuated by Growth Arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45 (GADD45) α and, two proteins inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest. We show that GADD45 α and γ, directly interact with CDK11p58 and thereby inhibit CDK11p58 activity, and consequentially SPDEF phosphorylation and degradation, ultimately reducing prostate cancer cell migration and invasion. Our findings provide new mechanistic insights into the complex regulation of SPDEF activity linked to cancer metastasis and characterize a previously unidentified SPDEF/CDK11p58/GADD45α/γ pathway that controls SPDEF protein stability and SPDEF-mediated effects on cancer cell migration and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo E Tamura
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Medical Biochemistry Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Juliano D Paccez
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Medical Biochemistry Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kristal C Duncan
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Medical Biochemistry Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mirian G Morale
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Medical Biochemistry Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Fernando M Simabuco
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Simon Dillon
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ricardo G Correa
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Xuesong Gu
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Towia A Libermann
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luiz F Zerbini
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Medical Biochemistry Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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7
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Santos AA, Cappellari AR, de Marchi FO, Gehring MP, Zaparte A, Brandão CA, Lopes TG, da Silva VD, Pinto LFR, Savio LEB, Moreira-Souza ACA, Coutinho-Silva R, Paccez JD, Zerbini LF, Morrone FB. Potential role of P2X7R in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma proliferation. Purinergic Signal 2017; 13:279-292. [PMID: 28397110 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-017-9559-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is an aggressive tumor and is the sixth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. ATP is well known to regulate cancer progression in a variety of models by different mechanisms, including P2X7R activation. This study aimed to evaluate the role of P2X7R in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) proliferation. Our results show that treatment with high ATP concentrations induced a decrease in cell number, cell viability, number of polyclonal colonies, and reduced migration of ESCC. The treatment with the selective P2X7R antagonist A740003 or siRNA for P2X7 reverted this effect in the KYSE450 cell line. In addition, results showed that P2X7R is highly expressed, at mRNA and protein levels, in KYSE450 lineage. Additionally, KYSE450, KYSE30, and OE21 cells express P2X3R, P2X4R, P2X5R, P2X6R, and P2X7R genes. P2X1R is expressed by KYSE30 and KYSE450, and only KYSE450 expresses the P2X2R gene. Furthermore, esophageal cancer cell line KYSE450 presented higher expression of E-NTPDases 1 and 2 and of Ecto-5'-NT/CD73 when compared to normal cells. This cell line also exhibits ATPase, ADPase, and AMPase activity, although in different levels, and the co-treatment of apyrase was able to revert the antiproliferative effects of ATP. Moreover, results showed high immunostaining for P2X7R in biopsies of patients with esophageal carcinoma, indicating the involvement of this receptor in the growth of this type of cancer. The results suggest that P2X7R may be a potential pharmacological target to treat ESCC and can lead us to further investigate the effect of this receptor in cancer cell progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- André A Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Angélica R Cappellari
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fernanda O de Marchi
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marina P Gehring
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Aline Zaparte
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Caroline A Brandão
- Faculdade de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Tiago Giuliani Lopes
- Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Vinicius D da Silva
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luis Felipe Ribeiro Pinto
- Programa de Carcinogênese Molecular, Coordenação de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiz Eduardo Baggio Savio
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Robson Coutinho-Silva
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliano D Paccez
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cancer Genomics Group, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Luiz F Zerbini
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cancer Genomics Group, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Fernanda B Morrone
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Faculdade de Farmácia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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8
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Adeola HA, Soares NC, Paccez JD, Kaestner L, Blackburn JM, Zerbini LF. Discovery of novel candidate urinary protein biomarkers for prostate cancer in a multiethnic cohort of South African patients via label-free mass spectrometry. Proteomics Clin Appl 2015; 9:597-609. [PMID: 25708745 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201400197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Improvement in diagnostic accuracy of prostate cancer (PCa) progression using MS-based methods to analyze biomarkers in our African, Caucasian, and Mixed Ancestry patients can advance early detection and treatment monitoring. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN MS-based proteomic analysis of pooled (N = 36) and individual samples (N = 45) of PCa, benign prostatic hyperplasia, normal healthy controls, and patients with other uropathies was used to identify differences in proteomics profile. Samples were analyzed for potential biomarkers and proteome coverage in African, Caucasian, and Mixed Ancestry PCa patients. RESULTS A total of 1102 and 5595 protein groups and nonredundant peptides, respectively, were identified in the pooling experiments (FDR = 0.01). Twenty potential biomarkers in PCa were identified and fold differences ± 2SD were observed in 17 proteins using intensity-based absolute quantification. Analysis of 45 individual samples yielded 1545 and 9991 protein groups and nonredundant peptides, respectively. Seventy-three (73) proteins groups, including existing putative PCa biomarkers, were found to be potential biomarkers of PCa by label-free quantification and demonstrated ethnic trends within our PCa cohort. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Urinary proteomics is a promising route to PCa biomarker discovery and may serve as source of ethnic-related biomarkers of PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry A Adeola
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Diseases & Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nelson C Soares
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Diseases & Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Juliano D Paccez
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Diseases & Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lisa Kaestner
- Urology Department, Grootes Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jonathan M Blackburn
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Diseases & Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Luiz F Zerbini
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Diseases & Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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9
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Paccez JD, Duncan K, Vava A, Correa RG, Libermann TA, Parker MI, Zerbini LF. Inactivation of GSK3β and activation of NF-κB pathway via Axl represents an important mediator of tumorigenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Biol Cell 2015; 26:821-31. [PMID: 25568334 PMCID: PMC4342020 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e14-04-0868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of Axl in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with potential therapeutic implications is described for the first time. This paper also sheds light on the understanding of how Axl regulates OSCC development in vitro and in vivo. Axl expression leads to an Akt-dependent regulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β activity and the nucluear factor kappaB (NF-κB) pathway, affecting the epithelial–mesenchymal transition. The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl has been described as an oncogene, and its deregulation has been implicated in the progression of several human cancers. While the role of Axl in esophageal adenocarcinoma has been addressed, there is no information about its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In the current report, we identified, for the first time, deregulation of Axl expression in OSCC. Axl is consistently overexpressed in OSCC cell lines and human tumor samples, mainly in advanced stages of the disease. Blockage of Axl gene expression by small interfering RNA inhibits cell survival, proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and esophageal tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, repression of Axl expression results in Akt-dependent inhibition of pivotal genes involved in the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway and in the induction of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) activity, resulting in loss of mesenchymal markers and induction of epithelial markers. Furthermore, treatment of esophageal cancer cells with the Akt inhibitor wortmannin inhibits NF-κB signaling, induces GSK3β activity, and blocks OSCC cell proliferation in an Axl-dependent manner. Taken together, our results establish a clear role for Axl in OSCC tumorigenesis with potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano D Paccez
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kristal Duncan
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Akhona Vava
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Towia A Libermann
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - M Iqbal Parker
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Luiz F Zerbini
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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10
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Vogelsang M, Paccez JD, Schäfer G, Dzobo K, Zerbini LF, Parker MI. Aberrant methylation of the MSH3 promoter and distal enhancer in esophageal cancer patients exposed to first-hand tobacco smoke. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2014; 140:1825-33. [PMID: 24934723 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-014-1736-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Polymorphisms in MSH3 gene confer risk of esophageal cancer when in combination with tobacco smoke exposure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the methylation status of MSH3 gene in esophageal cancer patients in order to further elucidate possible role of MSH3 in esophageal tumorigenesis. METHODS We applied nested methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction to investigate the methylation status of the MSH3 promoter in tumors and matching adjacent normal-looking tissues of 84 esophageal cancer patients from a high-risk South African population. The Cancer Genome Atlas data were used to examine DNA methylation profiles at 17 CpG sites located in the MSH3 locus. RESULTS Overall, promoter methylation was detected in 91.9 % of tumors, which was significantly higher compared to 76.0 % in adjacent normal-looking esophageal tissues (P = 0.008). When samples were grouped according to different demographics (including age, gender and ethnicity) and smoking status of patients, methylation frequencies were found to be significantly higher in tumor tissues of Black subjects (P = 0.024), patients of 55-65 years of age (P = 0.032), males (P = 0.037) and tobacco smokers (P = 0.015). Furthermore, methylation of the MSH3 promoter was significantly more frequent in tumor samples from smokers compared to tumor samples from non-smokers [odds ratio (OR) = 31.9, P = 0.031]. The TCGA data confirmed significantly higher DNA methylation level at the MSH3 promoter region in tumors (P = 0.0024). In addition, we found evidence of an aberrantly methylated putative MSH3-associated distal enhancer element. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that methylation of MSH3 together with exposure to tobacco smoke is involved in esophageal carcinogenesis. Due to the active role of the MSH3 protein in modulating chemosensitivity of cells, methylation of MSH3 should further be examined in association with the outcome of esophageal cancer treatment using anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matjaz Vogelsang
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, UCT Medical Campus, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
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11
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Zerbini LF, Bhasin MK, de Vasconcellos JF, Paccez JD, Gu X, Kung AL, Libermann TA. Computational repositioning and preclinical validation of pentamidine for renal cell cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2014; 13:1929-1941. [PMID: 24785412 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Although early stages of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are curable, survival outcome for metastatic ccRCC remains poor. We previously established a highly accurate signature of differentially expressed genes that distinguish ccRCC from normal kidney. The purpose of this study was to apply a new individualized bioinformatics analysis (IBA) strategy to these transcriptome data in conjunction with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of the Connectivity Map (C-MAP) database to identify and reposition FDA-approved drugs for anticancer therapy. Here, we demonstrate that one of the drugs predicted to revert the RCC gene signature toward normal kidney, pentamidine, is effective against RCC cells in culture and in a RCC xenograft model. ccRCC-specific gene expression signatures of individual patients were used to query the C-MAP software. Eight drugs with negative correlation and P-value <0.05 were analyzed for efficacy against RCC in vitro and in vivo. Our data demonstrate consistency across most patients with ccRCC for the set of high-scoring drugs. Most of the selected high-scoring drugs potently induce apoptosis in RCC cells. Several drugs also demonstrate selectivity for Von Hippel-Lindau negative RCC cells. Most importantly, at least one of these drugs, pentamidine, slows tumor growth in the 786-O human ccRCC xenograft mouse model. Our findings suggest that pentamidine might be a new therapeutic agent to be combined with current standard-of-care regimens for patients with metastatic ccRCC and support our notion that IBA combined with C-MAP analysis enables repurposing of FDA-approved drugs for potential anti-RCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Fernando Zerbini
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cancer Genomics Group and Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Manoj K Bhasin
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jaira F de Vasconcellos
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Juliano D Paccez
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cancer Genomics Group and Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Xuesong Gu
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Andrew L Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Towia A Libermann
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Paccez JD, Vogelsang M, Parker MI, Zerbini LF. The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl in cancer: biological functions and therapeutic implications. Int J Cancer 2013; 134:1024-33. [PMID: 23649974 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [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: 02/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl has been implicated in the malignancy of different types of cancer. Emerging evidence of Axl upregulation in numerous cancers, as well as reports demonstrating that its inhibition blocks tumor formation in animal models, highlight the importance of Axl as a new potential therapeutic target. Furthermore, recent data demonstrate that Axl plays a pivotal role in resistance to chemotherapeutic regimens. In this review we discuss the functions of Axl and its regulation and role in cancer development, resistance to therapy, and its importance as a potential drug target, focusing on acute myeloid leukemia, breast, prostate and non-small cell lung cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano D Paccez
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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13
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Zerbini LF, de Vasconcellos JF, Czibere A, Wang Y, Paccez JD, Gu X, Zhou JR, Libermann TA. JunD-mediated repression of GADD45α and γ regulates escape from cell death in prostate cancer. Cell Cycle 2011; 10:2583-91. [PMID: 21734453 DOI: 10.4161/cc.10.15.16057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The AP-1 transcription factor complex has been implicated in a variety of biological processes including cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and oncogenic transformation. We previously established that activation of the AP-1 family member JunD contributes to deregulated expression of the anti-apoptotic IL-6 gene in prostate cancer cells. We now show that inhibition of JunD in prostate cancer cells results in GADD45α- and γ-dependent induction of cell death and inhibition of tumor growth that is mediated at least partially via c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase activation. Apoptosis induction by dominant negative JunD and JNK and p38 kinase activation are impeded upon knock down of GADD45α and γ expression by small interfering RNA, most vividly demonstrating the central role of GADD45α and γ in JunD-mediated escape of prostate cancer cells from programmed cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Fernando Zerbini
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cancer Genomics Group, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Paccez JD, Vasquez G, Tamura RE, Duncan K, Vasconcellos J, Wiesner T, Libermann T, Zerbini LF. Abstract 3053: Receptor tyrosine kinase AXL as a new target for prostate cancer therapy. Cancer Res 2011. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2011-3053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Axl is a receptor tyrosine kinase of the family of TAM receptors (which includes TYRO3 and MER) and plays roles in different types of cancer. It is highly expressed in metastatic colon carcinoma, gastric, uterine endometrial and certain types of breast cancer, and sarcoma. As Axl is upregulated in several metastatic cell types it may play a role during invasion and metastasis. Tyrosine kinases (TKs) represent a major class of proto-oncogenes and are involved in tumor growth as well as progression and metastasis of cancer cells. TKs are being actively studied as targets for therapeutic intervention and several of this tyrosine kinase have shown efficacy in clinical trials. Prostate cancer has become the most common solid cancer in older men and is one of the most frequent causes of cancer deaths. Although androgen ablation therapy, surgery and radiation therapy are effective for the treatment of local prostate cancer, there is no effective treatment available for patients with the metastatic androgen-independent disease.
In this work we demonstrated the role of Axl in prostate cancer progression. Using real time PCR to access the level of several tyrosine kinase receptors expression in prostate cancer cell and human tissue, we have identified the tyrosine kinase receptor Axl as a potential target for prostate cancer therapy. Axl has consistent overexpression across prostate cancer cell lines and human prostate tumor tissue providing a model for testing the targeting of Axl. Preliminary data shows a significant increase of Axl expression was found in metastatic PCa cells and clinical samples (48% of adenocarcinomas of prostate when compared with normal prostate tissue). Interestingly, microarray analysis in addition to pathway analysis of PCa cells infected with lentivirus encoding siRNA against Axl revealed that some survival pathways are inhibited, but strikingly all members of the NF-κB pathway are down regulated. Furthermore, the blockage of Axl gene expression strongly inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of PCa cells. Pilot studies in animal models demonstrate that inhibition of Axl reduces dramatically tumor formation. since our xenograft subcutaneous model in MF5 nude mice demonstrate that blockage of Axl reduces tumor formation by 49.5%.
Taken together these data demonstrated that Axl plays role for migration, invasion and tumor development and can be used as marker for invasive and metastatic tumors. Our data also indicates that Axl can be used as a target for drug therapies since its inhibition leads to induction of apoptosis and blocks cell proliferation.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3053. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3053
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Tamura RE, Paccez JD, Morale MG, Gu X, Libermann T, Zerbini LF, Duncan K. cdk11p58 regulation of cell cycle progression in cancer development. Clin Cancer Res 2010. [DOI: 10.1158/diag-10-a37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The Cdk11 protein kinases are members of the cyclin-dependent kinase superfamily. There exist two distinct but closely related human CDK11 genes (p110 and p58). Cdk11p58 is a Ser/Thr kinase involved in cell cycle progression, promoting the centrosome maturation; apoptotic signaling and tumorigenesis.
Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry approaches we demonstrate that GADD45, PDEF and cdk11p58 interact in a complex that might be involved in cell cycle regulation in cancer. GADD45 protein family members (α, β, and γ) are involved in the induction or prevention of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and participate in the DNA repair machinery. Arrest at the G2/M phase mediated by GADD45 have been identified to rely on its capacity to inhibit the kinase activities such as the CDK1/cyclinB1 complex and the Aurora A, a serine/threonine kinase that play critical roles in the regulation of mitotic events. PDEF (prostate-derived ETS factor) is a transcriptional factor that plays a major role in cancer development and metastasis.
In this study, the kinase activity of cdk11p58 over PDEF as well as the importance of the cdk11p58 binding to the GADD45 family members were evaluated and we demonstate that cdk11p58 phosphorilate PDEF and the phosphorilation process is inhibited by GADD45.
Co-expression of PDEF and cdk11p58 in 293T cells leads to PDEF ubiquitination and degradation, which can be reverted by MG132, a proteasome inhibitor. Corroborating this data, confocal microscope analysis revealed that cdk11p58 co-localized with PDEF and ubiquitin into the nucleus. However, the process is partially blockage by the presence of GADD45 gene, which seems to prevent PDEF degradation mediated by cdk11p58. Deregulation of the ETS factors leads to altered expression of key genes required for cancer progression. PDEF acts as a negative regulator of tumor progression by modulating the expression of growth and migration promoting genes. The degradation of PDEF by cdk11p58 may be a critical step in cancer cell tumorigenesis and more experiments are under way to unravel the importance of this event in cancer cell migration and invasion.
In order to gain further insights about the role of cdk11p58 and GADD45 in cell cycle regulation of cancer cells, we developed DU145 cell lines overexpressing the GADD45α (DU145-GADD45+) and the cdk11p58 (DU145-p58+) proteins. Additionally, DU145 with the cdk11p58 knocked-down (DU145-p58si) was obtained by transduction of lentivirus containing siRNA against the cdk11p58 gene sequence (Sigma).
The biological effect of overexpression or know-down of the cdk11p58 gene in the cell cycle phase was assessed by flow cytometry (FACS) analysis of propidium iodide stained cells. FACS analysis revealed that DU145-p58+ cells progress faster when compared to a control DU145 cell line, while DU145-GADD45+ and DU145-p58si induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Furthemore, overexpression of GADD45 in the DU145-p58+ cell line induced an arrest at the G2/M phase, comparable to the control group. Preliminary result of transient transfection of PDEF indicates that ovexpression of PDEF in 293T cells leads to arrest at the G1/S phase.
Transient tranfections of cdk11p58 leads to induction of proliferation when compared with control cells while cells expressing the GADD45 α and PDEF genes demonstrate slower proliferation rates.
In conclusion, PDEF was identified to be a novel target for the kinase activity of cdk11p58. Cdk11p58 induced cell cycle progression and cell proliferation of a prostate cancer cell line that can be inhibited by GADD45 contributing to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo E. Tamura
- 1International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- 1International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mirian G. Morale
- 1International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Xuesong Gu
- 2Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | | | - Luiz F. Zerbini
- 1International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kristal Duncan
- 1International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
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Tavares MB, Silva BM, Cavalcante RCM, Souza RD, Luiz WB, Paccez JD, Crowley PJ, Brady LJ, Ferreira LCS, Ferreira RCC. Induction of neutralizing antibodies in mice immunized with an amino-terminal polypeptide of Streptococcus mutans P1 protein produced by a recombinant Bacillus subtilis strain. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 59:131-42. [PMID: 20402772 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2010.00669.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans expresses a surface protein, P1, which interacts with the salivary pellicle on the tooth surface or with fluid-phase saliva, resulting in bacterial adhesion or aggregation, respectively. P1 is a target of protective immunity. Its N-terminal region has been associated with adhesion and aggregation functions and contains epitopes recognized by efficacious antibodies. In this study, we used Bacillus subtilis, a gram-positive expression host, to produce a recombinant N-terminal polypeptide of P1 (P1(39-512)) derived from the S. mutans strain UA159. Purified P1(39-512) reacted with an anti-full-length P1 antiserum as well as one raised against intact S. mutans cells, indicating preserved antigenicity. Immunization of mice with soluble and heat-denatured P1(39-512) induced antibodies that reacted specifically with native P1 on the surface of S. mutans cells. The anti-P1(39-512) antiserum was as effective at blocking saliva-mediated aggregation of S. mutans cells and better at blocking bacterial adhesion to saliva-coated plastic surfaces compared with the anti-full-length P1 antiserum. In addition, adsorption of the anti-P1 antiserum with P1(39-512) eliminated its ability to block the adhesion of S. mutans cells to abiotic surfaces. The present results indicate that P1(39-512), expressed and purified from a recombinant B. subtilis strain, maintains important immunological features of the native protein and represents an additional tool for the development of anticaries vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milene B Tavares
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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17
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Gomes PADP, Bentancor LV, Paccez JD, Sbrogio-Almeida ME, Palermo MS, Ferreira RCC, Ferreira LCS. Antibody responses elicited in mice immunized with Bacillus subtilis vaccine strains expressing Stx2B subunit of enterohaemorragic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Braz J Microbiol 2009; 40:333-8. [PMID: 24031368 PMCID: PMC3769720 DOI: 10.1590/s1517-838220090002000023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2008] [Revised: 08/07/2008] [Accepted: 03/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
No effective vaccine or immunotherapy is presently available for patients with the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) induced by Shiga-like toxin (Stx) produced by enterohaemorragic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains, such as those belonging to the O157:H7 serotype. In this work we evaluated the performance of Bacillus subtilis strains, a harmless spore former gram-positive bacterium species, as a vaccine vehicle for the expression of Stx2B subunit (Stx2B). A recombinant B. subtilis vaccine strain expressing Stx2B under the control of a stress inducible promoter was delivered to BALB/c mice via oral, nasal or subcutaneous routes using both vegetative cells and spores. Mice immunized with vegetative cells by the oral route developed low but specific anti-Stx2B serum IgG and fecal IgA responses while mice immunized with recombinant spores developed anti-Stx2B responses only after administration via the parenteral route. Nonetheless, serum anti-Stx2B antibodies raised in mice immunized with the recombinant B. subtilis strain did not inhibit the toxic effects of the native toxin, both under in vitro and in vivo conditions, suggesting that either the quantity or the quality of the induced immune response did not support an effective neutralization of Stx2 produced by EHEC strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A D P Gomes
- Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Microbiologia , São Paulo, SP , Brasil
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18
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Luiz WB, Cavalcante RCM, Paccez JD, Souza RD, Sbrogio-Almeida ME, Ferreira RCC, Ferreira LCS. Boosting systemic and secreted antibody responses in mice orally immunized with recombinant Bacillus subtilis strains following parenteral priming with a DNA vaccine encoding the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) CFA/I fimbriae B subunit. Vaccine 2008; 26:3998-4005. [PMID: 18597902 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2008] [Revised: 05/05/2008] [Accepted: 05/12/2008] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant Bacillus subtilis strains, either spores or vegetative cells, may be employed as safe and low cost orally delivered live vaccine vehicles. In this study, we report the use of an orally delivered B. subtilis vaccine strain to boost systemic and secreted antibody responses in mice i.m. primed with a DNA vaccine encoding the structural subunit (CfaB) of the CFA/I fimbriae encoded by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), an important etiological agent of diarrhea among travelers and children living in endemic regions. DBA/2 female mice submitted to the prime-boost immunization regimen developed synergic serum (IgG) and mucosal (IgA) antibody responses to the target CfaB antigen. Moreover, in contrast to mice immunized only with one vaccine formulation, sera harvested from prime-boosted vaccinated individuals inhibited adhesion of ETEC cells to human red blood cells. Additionally, vaccinated dams conferred full passive protection to suckling newborn mice challenged with a virulent ETEC strain. Taken together the present results further demonstrate the potential use of recombinant B. subtilis strains as an alternative live vaccine vehicle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson B Luiz
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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19
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Paccez JD, Nguyen HD, Luiz WB, Ferreira RCC, Sbrogio-Almeida ME, Schuman W, Ferreira LCS. Evaluation of different promoter sequences and antigen sorting signals on the immunogenicity of Bacillus subtilis vaccine vehicles. Vaccine 2007; 25:4671-80. [PMID: 17498854 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2007] [Revised: 04/03/2007] [Accepted: 04/07/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant Bacillus subtilis strains, either in the form of spores or vegetative cells, may be employed as safe and low-cost vaccine vehicles. In this study, we studied the role of promoter sequences and antigen-sorting signals on the immunogenicity based on previously constructed B. subtilis episomal expression systems. Mice orally immunized with spores or cells encoding the B subunit of the heat labile toxin (LTB), originally expressed by some enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains, under control of the stress-inducible gsiB promoter developed higher anti-LTB serum IgG and fecal IgA responses with regard to vaccine strains transformed with plasmids encoding the antigen under control of IPTG-inducible (Pspac) or constitutive (PlepA) promoters. Moreover, surface expression of the vaccine antigen under the control of the PgsiB promoter enhanced the immunogenicity of vegetative cells, while intracellular accumulation of LTB led to higher antibody responses in mice orally immunized with recombinant B. subtilis spores. Specific anti-LTB antibodies raised in vaccinated mice recognized and neutralized in vitro the native toxin produced by ETEC strains. Nonetheless, only mice orally immunized with recombinant B. subtilis strains, either as vegetative cells or spores, expressing intracellular LTB under the control of the gsiB promoter conferred partial protection to lethal challenges with purified LT. The present report further demonstrates that B. subtilis plasmid-based heterologous protein expression systems are adequate for antigen delivery via the oral route.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis
- Antibodies, Bacterial/blood
- Antigens, Bacterial/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Bacterial/immunology
- Antigens, Bacterial/metabolism
- Antitoxins/analysis
- Antitoxins/blood
- Bacillus subtilis/genetics
- Bacillus subtilis/immunology
- Bacterial Proteins/genetics
- Bacterial Toxins/biosynthesis
- Bacterial Toxins/immunology
- Bacterial Toxins/metabolism
- Bacterial Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Bacterial Vaccines/genetics
- Bacterial Vaccines/immunology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Enterotoxins/biosynthesis
- Enterotoxins/immunology
- Enterotoxins/metabolism
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Escherichia coli Proteins/biosynthesis
- Escherichia coli Proteins/immunology
- Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism
- Female
- Immunoglobulin A/analysis
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neutralization Tests
- Plasmids/genetics
- Poisoning/immunology
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Protein Sorting Signals/genetics
- Protein Subunits/biosynthesis
- Protein Subunits/immunology
- Protein Subunits/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Spores, Bacterial/immunology
- Survival Analysis
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano D Paccez
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Paccez JD, Luiz WB, Sbrogio-Almeida ME, Ferreira RCC, Schumann W, Ferreira LCS. Stable episomal expression system under control of a stress inducible promoter enhances the immunogenicity of Bacillus subtilis as a vector for antigen delivery. Vaccine 2006; 24:2935-43. [PMID: 16503367 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2005] [Revised: 11/26/2005] [Accepted: 12/07/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis has been successfully engineered to express heterologous antigens genetically fused to surface-exposed spore coat proteins as a vaccine vehicle endowed with remarkable heat resistance and probiotic effects for both humans and animals. Nonetheless, the immunogenicity of passenger antigens expressed by B. subtilis spores is low particularly following oral delivery. In this work, we describe a new episomal expression system promoting enhanced immunogenicity of heterologous antigens carried by B. subtilis strains, either in the form of spores or vegetative cells, following oral or parenteral delivery to mice. Based on a bi-directional replicating multicopy plasmid, the gene encoding the B subunit of the heat-labile toxin (LTB), produced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains, was cloned under the control of the B. subtilis glucose starvation inducible (gsiB) gene promoter, active in vegetative cells submitted to heat and other stress conditions. The recombinant plasmid proved to be structurally and segregationally stable in both cells and spores under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Moreover, BALB/c mice orally immunized with B. subtilis cells or spores elicited enhanced anti-LTB systemic (serum IgG) and secreted (fecal IgA) antibody responses, thus, suggesting that antigen expression occurred during in vivo transit. These results indicate that the new episomal expression system may improve the performance of B. subtilis as a live orally-delivered vaccine carrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano D Paccez
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
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