1
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Benedetti R, Romeo MA, Arena A, Gilardini Montani MS, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. ATF6 supports lysosomal function in tumor cells to enable ER stress-activated macroautophagy and CMA: impact on mutant TP53 expression. Autophagy 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38566314 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2024.2338577] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The inhibition of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which usually protects cancer cells from stress, may be exploited to potentiate the cytotoxic effect of drugs inducing ER stress. However, in this study, we found that ER stress and UPR activation by thapsigargin or tunicamycin promoted the lysosomal degradation of mutant (MUT) TP53 and that the inhibition of the UPR sensor ATF6, but not of ERN1/IRE1 or EIF2AK3/PERK, counteracted such an effect. ATF6 activation was indeed required to sustain the function of lysosomes, enabling the execution of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) as well as of macroautophagy, processes involved in the degradation of MUT TP53 in stressed cancer cells. At the molecular level, by pharmacological and genetic approaches, we demonstrated that the inhibition of ATF6 correlated with the activation of MTOR and with TFEB and LAMP1 downregulation in thapsigargin-treated MUT TP53 carrying cells. We hypothesize that the rescue of MUT TP53 expression by ATF6 inhibition, could further activate MTOR and maintain lysosomal dysfunction, further inhibiting MUT TP53 degradation, in a vicious circle. The findings of this study suggest that the presence of MUT TP53, which often exerts oncogenic properties, should be considered before approaching treatments combining ER stressors with ATF6 inhibitors against cancer cells, while it could represent a promising strategy against cancer cells that harbor WT TP53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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2
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Di Crosta M, Arena A, Benedetti R, Gilardini Montani MS, Cirone M. 5-AZA Upregulates SOCS3 and PTPN6/SHP1, Inhibiting STAT3 and Potentiating the Effects of AG490 against Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cells. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:2468-2479. [PMID: 38534772 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46030156] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications, including aberrant DNA methylation occurring at the promoters of oncogenes and oncosuppressor genes and histone modifications, can contribute to carcinogenesis. Aberrant methylation mediated by histone methylatransferases, alongside histones, can affect methylation of proteins involved in the regulation of pro-survival pathways such as JAK/STAT and contribute to their activation. In this study, we used DNA or histone demethylating agents, 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) or DS-3201 (valemetostat), respectively, to treat primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells, alone or in combination with AG490, a Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor. Cell viability was investigated by trypan blue assay and FACS analysis. The molecular changes induced by 5-AZA and/or AG490 treatments were investigated by Western blot analysis, while cytokine release by PEL cells treated by these drugs was evaluated by Luminex. Statistical analyses were performed with Graphpad Prism® software (version 9) and analyzed by Student's t test or a nonparametric one-way ANOVA test. The results obtained in this study suggest that 5-AZA upregulated molecules that inhibit STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation, namely Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3) and tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type (PTPN) 6/Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1), reducing STAT3 activation and downregulating several STAT3 pro-survival targets in PEL cells. As this lymphoma is highly dependent on the constitutive activation of STAT3, 5-AZA impaired PEL cell survival, and when used in combination with AG490 JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor, it potentiated its cytotoxic effect. Differently from 5-AZA, the inhibition of the EZH1/2 histone methyltransferase by DS-3201, reported to contribute to STAT3 activation in other cancers, slightly affected STAT3 phosphorylation or survival in PEL cells, either alone or in combination with AG490. This study suggests that 5-AZA, by upregulating the expression level of SOCS3 and PTPN6/SHP1, reduced STAT3 activation and improved the outcome of treatment targeting this transcription factor in PEL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Di Crosta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
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3
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Romeo MA, Focaccetti C, Arena A, Benedetti R, Di Crosta M, Palumbo C, Gilardini Montani MS, Santarelli R, Gonnella R, D'Orazi G, Bei R, Cirone M. New insights into the Bortezomib-induced cytotoxic and resistance mechanisms in a primary effusion lymphoma mouse model. Hematol Oncol 2024; 42:e3262. [PMID: 38450785 DOI: 10.1002/hon.3262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Di Crosta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Camilla Palumbo
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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4
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Arena A, Romeo MA, Po A, Benedetti R, Gilardini Montani MS, Gonnella R, Santarelli R, Gaeta A, De Smaele E, Cirone M. The inhibition of IRE1alpha/XBP1 axis prevents EBV-driven lymphomagenesis in NSG mice. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0263623. [PMID: 37882554 PMCID: PMC10715178 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02636-23] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The novelty of this study lies in the fact that it shows that IRE1 alpha endoribonuclease inhibition by 4μ8C was able to counteract Epstein-Barr virus-driven lymphomagenesis in NOD SCID gamma mice and prevent B-cell immortalization in vitro, unveiling that this drug may be a promising therapeutic approach to reduce the risk of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) onset in immune-deficient patients. This hypothesis is further supported by the fact that 4μ8C impaired the survival of PTLD-like cells derived from mice, meaning that it could be helpful also in the case in which there is the possibility that these malignancies have begun to arise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Gaeta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
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5
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Santarelli R, Evangelista L, Pompili C, Lo Presti S, Rossi A, Arena A, Gaeta A, Gonnella R, Gilardini Montani MS, Cirone M. EBV infection of primary colonic epithelial cells causes inflammation, DDR and autophagy dysregulation, effects that may predispose to IBD and carcinogenesis. Virus Res 2023; 338:199236. [PMID: 37797746 PMCID: PMC10582763 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199236] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
EBV is a gammaherpesvirus strongly associated to human cancer. The virus has been shown to play a role also in inflammatory diseases, including IBD, in the context of which colon cancer more frequently arise. In this study, we show for the first time that EBV infects primary colonic epithelial cells (HCoEpC), promotes pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and activates molecular pathways bridging inflammation and cancer, such as ERK1/2. These effects, occurring in the course of the lytic phase of the viral life cycle, led to DDR and autophagy dysregulation. Such cellular responses, playing a key role in the maintenance of proteostasis and genome integrity, are essential to prevent carcinogenesis. Interestingly, we found that the use of the demethylating agent 5-AZA could counteract most of the effects induced by EBV infection in HCoEpC, suggesting that DNA hyper-methylation may strongly contribute to viral-driven inflammation and colon cancer predisposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Evangelista
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Pompili
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Lo Presti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Rossi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Gaeta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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6
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Mardente S, Romeo MA, Asquino A, Po A, Gilardini Montani MS, Cirone M. HHV-6A Infection of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cells Induces Several Effects Related to Cancer Progression. Viruses 2023; 15:2122. [PMID: 37896899 PMCID: PMC10612057 DOI: 10.3390/v15102122] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that thyrocytes are permissive to HHV-6A infection and that the virus may contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis. Thyroid autoimmune diseases increase the risk of papillary cancer, which is not surprising considering that chronic inflammation activates pathways that are also pro-oncogenic. Moreover, in this condition, cell proliferation is stimulated as an attempt to repair tissue damage caused by the inflammatory process. Interestingly, it has been reported that the well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the less aggressive form of thyroid tumor, may progress to the more aggressive follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and eventually to the anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), and that to such progression contributes the presence of an inflammatory/immune suppressive tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated whether papillary tumor cells (BCPAP) could be infected by human herpes virus-6A (HHV-6A), and if viral infection could induce effects related to cancer progression. We found that the virus dysregulated the expression of several microRNAs, such as miR-155, miR-9, and the miR-221/222 cluster, which are involved in different steps of carcinogenesis, and increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6, which may also sustain thyroid tumor cell growth and promote cancer progression. Genomic instability and the expression of PTEN, reported to act as an oncogene in mutp53-carrying cells such as BCPAP, also increased following HHV-6A-infection. These findings suggest that a ubiquitous herpesvirus such as HHV-6A, which displays a marked tropism for thyrocytes, could be involved in the progression of PTC towards more aggressive forms of thyroid tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Mardente
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (M.S.G.M.)
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (M.S.G.M.)
| | - Angela Asquino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (M.S.G.M.)
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | | | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (M.S.G.M.)
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7
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Santarelli R, Benedetti R, Arena A, Cirone M. Acetylation increases expression, interaction with TRAPPC4 and surface localization of PD-L1. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:152. [PMID: 37603071 PMCID: PMC10442048 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00766-4] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
PD-L1 is an immune checkpoint inhibitor, whose surface expression may be exploited by cancer cells to escape T cell-mediated immune recognition. PD-L1 expression and nuclear localization can be affected by epigenetic modifications, such as acetylation. In this study, we showed that VPA, a class I/IIa HDAC inhibitor, upregulated PD-L1 expression on the surface of pancreatic cancer cells. To this effect contributed the increased transcription, in correlation with histone acetylation of the PD-L1 gene and the acetylation of PD-L1 protein, which led to an increased interaction with TRAPPC4, molecule involved in PD-L1 recycling to the cell membrane. Interestingly, the BRD4 inhibitor JQ-1, counteracted PD-L1 transcription and reduced its surface expression, suggesting that such a combination could improve the outcome of VPA treatment, also because it increased the cytotoxic effect of VPA. Also considering that this HDACi did not upregulate PD-L2 and that the supernatant of VPA-treated cancer cells did not increase PD-L1 expression on the surface of macrophages exposed to it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Arena A, Di Crosta M, Gonnella R, Zarrella R, Romeo MA, Benedetti R, Gilardini Montani MS, Santarelli R, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. NFE2L2 and STAT3 Converge on Common Targets to Promote Survival of Primary Lymphoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11598. [PMID: 37511362 PMCID: PMC10380615 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411598] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
NFE2L2 and STAT3 are key pro-survival molecules, and thus, their targeting may represent a promising anti-cancer strategy. In this study, we found that a positive feedback loop occurred between them and provided evidence that their concomitant inhibition efficiently impaired the survival of PEL cells, a rare, aggressive B cell lymphoma associated with the gammaherpesvirus KSHV and often also EBV. At the molecular level, we found that NFE2L2 and STAT3 converged in the regulation of several pro-survival molecules and in the activation of processes essential for the adaption of lymphoma cells to stress. Among those, STAT3 and NFE2L2 promoted the activation of pathways such as MAPK3/1 and MTOR that positively regulate protein synthesis, sustained the antioxidant response, expression of molecules such as MYC, BIRC5, CCND1, and HSP, and allowed DDR execution. The findings of this study suggest that the concomitant inhibition of NFE2L2 and STAT3 may be considered a therapeutic option for the treatment of this lymphoma that poorly responds to chemotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Di Crosta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Zarrella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio", 66013 Chieti, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
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9
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Arena A, Romeo MA, Benedetti R, Gilardini Montani MS, Santarelli R, Gonnella R, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. NRF2 and STAT3: friends or foes in carcinogenesis? Discov Oncol 2023; 14:37. [PMID: 37000324 PMCID: PMC10064365 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00644-z] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
NRF2 is a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis, also through the interaction with several pro-survival pathways. NRF2 controls the transcription of detoxification enzymes and a variety of other molecules impinging in several key biological processes. This perspective will focus on the complex interplay of NRF2 with STAT3, another transcription factor often aberrantly activated in cancer and driving tumorigenesis as well as immune suppression. Both NRF2 and STAT3 can be regulated by ER stress/UPR activation and their cross-talk influences and is influenced by autophagy and cytokines, contributing to shape the microenvironment, and both control the execution of DDR, also by regulating the expression of HSPs. Given the importance of these transcription factors, more investigations aimed at better elucidating the outcome of their networking could help to discover new and more efficacious strategies to fight cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio", 66013, Chieti, Italy
- School of Medicine, UniCamillus International University, 00131, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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10
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Arena A, Romeo MA, Benedetti R, Gilardini Montani MS, Cirone M. JQ-1/bortezomib combination strongly impairs MM and PEL survival by inhibiting c-Myc and mTOR despite the activation of prosurvival mechanisms. Exp Hematol 2023; 119-120:28-41. [PMID: 36623719 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2022.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) are two aggressive hematologic cancers against which bortezomib and JQ-1, proteasome and bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitors, respectively, have been shown to have a certain success. However, the combination of both seems to be more promising than the single treatments against several cancers, including MM. Indeed, in the latter, proteasome inhibition upregulated nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and such a prosurvival effect was counteracted by BET inhibitors. In the present study, we found that JQ-1/bortezomib induced a strong cytotoxic effect against PEL and discovered new insights into the cytotoxic mechanisms induced by such a drug combination in PEL and MM cells. In particular, a stronger c-Myc downregulation, leading to increased DNA damage, was observed in these cells after treatment with JQ-1/bortezomib than after treatment with the single drugs. Such an effect contributed to mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (p-4EBP1) axis inhibition, also occurring through c-Myc downregulation. However, besides the prodeath effects, JQ-1/bortezomib activated unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy as prosurvival mechanisms. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that JQ-1/bortezomib combination could be a promising treatment for MM and PEL, unveiling new molecular mechanisms underlying its cytotoxic effect, and suggested that UPR and autophagy inhibition could be exploited to further potentiate the cytotoxicity of JQ-1/bortezomib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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11
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Gonnella R, Arena A, Zarrella R, Gilardini Montani MS, Santarelli R, Cirone M. HSPs/STAT3 Interplay Sustains DDR and Promotes Cytokine Release by Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043933. [PMID: 36835344 PMCID: PMC9959463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043933] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare and aggressive B-cell lymphoma, against which current therapies usually fail. In the present study, we show that targeting HSPs, such as HSP27, HSP70 and HSP90, could be an efficient strategy to reduce PEL cell survival, as it induces strong DNA damage, which correlated with an impairment of DDR. Moreover, as HSP27, HSP70 and HSP90 cross talk with STAT3, their inhibition results in STAT3 de-phosphorylation and. On the other hand, the inhibition of STAT3 may downregulate these HSPs. These findings suggest that targeting HSPs has important implications in cancer therapy, as it can reduce the release of cytokines by PEL cells, which, besides affecting their own survival, could negatively influence anti-cancer immune response.
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12
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Arena A, Romeo MA, Focaccetti C, Anastasiadou E, Trivedi P, Cifaldi L, Gilardini Montani MS, Benedetti R, Santarelli R, Gonnella R, Benvenuto M, Marchese C, Masuelli L, Bei R, Cirone M. Different outcome of targeting ERN1/IRE1 alpha and EIF2AK3/PERK in NSG mice engrafted with primary effusion lymphoma. Br J Haematol 2023; 201:e12-e15. [PMID: 36775956 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Eleni Anastasiadou
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Pankaj Trivedi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Cifaldi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Marchese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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13
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Arena A, Benedetti R, D’Orazi G, Cirone M. c-Myc Sustains Pancreatic Cancer Cell Survival and mutp53 Stability through the Mevalonate Pathway. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102489. [PMID: 36289751 PMCID: PMC9599358 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102489] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been shown that wild-type (wt)p53 inhibits oncogene c-Myc while mutant (mut)p53 may transactivate it, with an opposite behavior that frequently occurs in the crosstalk of wt or mutp53 with molecules/pathways promoting carcinogenesis. Even if it has been reported that mutp53 sustains c-Myc, whether c-Myc could in turn influence mutp53 expression remains to be investigated. In this study, we found that pharmacological or genetic inhibition of c-Myc downregulated mutp53, impaired cell survival and increased DNA damage in pancreatic cancer cells. At the molecular level, we observed that c-Myc inhibition reduced the expression of mevalonate kinase (MVK), a molecule belonging to the mevalonate pathway that—according to previous findings—can control mutp53 stability, and thus contributes to cancer cell survival. In conclusion, this study unveils another criminal alliance between oncogenes, such as c-Myc and mutp53, that plays a key role in oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D’Orazi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D’Annunzio, Via dei Vestini 33, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Benedetti R, Romeo MA, Arena A, Gilardini Montani MS, Di Renzo L, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. ATF6 prevents DNA damage and cell death in colon cancer cells undergoing ER stress. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:295. [PMID: 35752616 PMCID: PMC9233702 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-01085-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Colon cancer represents one of the most common and aggressive cancers in its advanced state. Among the most innovative anti-cancer approaches, the manipulation of UPR is a promising one, effective also against cancers carrying dysfunctional p53. Interestingly, it is emerging that UPR cross-talks with DDR and that targeting the interplay between these two adaptive responses may be exploited to overcome the resistance to the single DDR- and UPR-targeting treatments. Previous studies have highlighted the role of IRE1 alpha and PERK UPR sensors on DDR, while the impact of ATF6 on this process remains under-investigated. This study shows for the first time that ATF6 sustains the expression level of BRCA-1 and protects colon cancer cells from the cytotoxic effect of ER stressors DPE and Thapsigargin. At molecular level, ATF6 activates mTOR to sustain the expression of HSP90, of which BRCA-1 is a client protein. Therefore, pharmacological or genetic inhibition of ATF6 promoted BRCA-1 degradation and increased DNA damage and cell death, particularly in combination with Adriamycin. All together this study suggests that targeting ATF6 may not only potentiate the cytotoxic effect of drugs triggering ER stress but may render colon cancer cells more sensitive to Adriamycin and possibly to other DNA damaging agents used to treat colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Di Renzo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via dei Vestini 33, 66100, Chieti, Italy.,Department of Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy. .,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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15
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Gonnella R, Zarrella R, Santarelli R, Germano CA, Gilardini Montani MS, Cirone M. Mechanisms of Sensitivity and Resistance of Primary Effusion Lymphoma to Dimethyl Fumarate (DMF). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126773. [PMID: 35743211 PMCID: PMC9223506 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126773] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
PEL is a rare B cell lymphoma associated with KSHV that mainly arises in immune-deficient individuals. The search for new drugs to treat this cancer is still ongoing given its aggressiveness and the poor response to chemotherapies. In this study, we found that DMF, a drug known for its anti-inflammatory properties which is registered for the treatment of psoriasis and relapsing–remitting MS, could be a promising therapeutic strategy against PEL. Indeed, although some mechanisms of resistance were induced, DMF activated NRF2, reduced ROS and inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the release of the pro-inflammatory and immune suppressive cytokines IL-6 and IL-10, which are known to sustain PEL survival. Interestingly, we observed that DMF displayed a stronger cytotoxic effect against fresh PEL cells in comparison to PEL cell lines, due to the activation of ERK1/2 and autophagy in the latter cells. This finding further encourages the possibility of using DMF for the treatment of PEL.
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16
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Romeo MA, Montani MSG, Benedetti R, Arena A, Gaeta A, Cirone M. The dysregulation of autophagy and ER stress induced by HHV-6A infection activates pro-inflammatory pathways and promotes the release of inflammatory cytokines and cathepsin S by CNS cells. Virus Res 2022; 313:198726. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Benedetti R, Arena A, D’Orazi G, Cirone M. VPA and TSA Interrupt the Interplay between mutp53 and HSP70, Leading to CHK1 and RAD51 Down-Regulation and Sensitizing Pancreatic Cancer Cells to AZD2461 PARP Inhibitor. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2268. [PMID: 35216385 PMCID: PMC8878079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) represent promising anti-cancer treatments, as the acetylation of histone and non-histone proteins is often dysregulated in cancer and contributes to cancer onset and progression. HDACi have been also reported to increase the cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging agents, such as radiation or cisplatin. In this study, we found that TSA and, even more effectively, VPA synergized with AZD2461, PARP1, 2 and 3 inhibitor (PARPi) to induce DNA damage and reduce pancreatic cancer cell survival. At a molecular level, VPA and TSA down-regulated CHK1 and RAD51, which is correlated with the interruption of the cross-talk between mutp53 and HSP70. Moreover, VPA and to a lesser extent TSA reactivated wtp53 in these cells, which contributed to CHK1 and RAD51 reduction. These findings suggest that the combination of HDACi and PARPi might improve the treatment of pancreatic cancer, which remains one of the most aggressive and therapy-resistant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D’Orazi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D’Annunzio, Via dei Vestini 33, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
- Department of Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Gilardini Montani MS, Tarquini G, Santarelli R, Gonnella R, Romeo MA, Benedetti R, Arena A, Faggioni A, Cirone M. p62/SQSTM1 promotes mitophagy and activates the NRF2-mediated anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory response restraining EBV-driven B lymphocyte proliferation. Carcinogenesis 2021; 43:277-287. [PMID: 34958370 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgab116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA repair respectively promote and limit oncogenic transformation of B cells driven by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We have previously shown that EBV infection reduced autophagy in primary B lymphocytes and enhanced ROS and interleukin 6 (IL-6) release, promoting B cell proliferation and immortalization. In this study, we explored the role of p62/SQSTM1, accumulated as a consequence of autophagy reduction in EBV-infected B lymphocytes, and found that it exerted a growth suppressive effect in these cells. At molecular level, we found that p62 counteracted IL-6 production and ROS increase by interacting with NRF2 and promoting mitophagy. Moreover, p62/NRF2 axis sustained the expression level of H2AX and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), whose activation has been shown to have growth-suppressive effects during the first steps of EBV-infection, before latency is established. In conclusion, this study shows for the first time that the accumulation of p62 and the activation of p62/axis counteracted EBV-driven proliferation of primary B lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Greta Tarquini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Benedetti R, Arena A, Maretto M, Bassetti E, Caiazzo R, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. Anticancer effect of AZD2461 PARP inhibitor against colon cancer cells carrying wt or dysfunctional p53. Exp Cell Res 2021; 408:112879. [PMID: 34653407 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers, currently treated with traditional chemotherapies or alternative therapies. However, these treatments are still not enough effective and induce several side effects, so that the search of new therapeutic strategies is needed. The use of Poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, although originally approved against BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 mutated cancers, has been extended, particularly in combination with other treatments, to cure cancers that do not display defects in DNA repair signaling pathways. The role of p53 oncosuppressor in the regulating the outcome of PARP inhibitor treatment remains an open issue. In this study, we addressed this topic by using a well-tolerated PARP 1/2/3 inhibitor, namely AZD2461, against colon cancer cell lines with different p53 status. We found that AZD2461 reduced cell proliferation in wtp53 and p53-/- cancer cells by increasing ROS and DNA damage, while R273H mutant (mut) p53 counteracted these effects. Moreover, AZD2461 improved the reduction of cell proliferation by low dose radiation (IR) in wtp53 cancer cells, in which a down-regulation of BRCA-1 occurred. AZD2461 did not affect cell proliferation of mutp53 colon cancer cells also in combination with low dose radiation, suggesting that only wt p53 or p53 null colon cancer cells could benefit AZD2461 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Mara Maretto
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy
| | - Erica Bassetti
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Caiazzo
- Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti, Italy; Department of Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy.
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Arena A, Gilardini Montani MS, Romeo MA, Benedetti R, Gaeta A, Cirone M. DNA damage triggers an interplay between wtp53 and c-Myc affecting lymphoma cell proliferation and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus replication. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2021; 1869:119168. [PMID: 34728235 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.119168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The induction of DNA damage together with the interference with DNA repair represents a promising strategy in cancer treatment. Here we show that the PARP-1/2/3 inhibitor AZD2461 in combination with the CHK1 inhibitor UCN-01 altered the DNA damage response and reduced cell proliferation in PEL cells, an aggressive B cell lymphoma highly resistant to chemotherapies. AZD2461/UCN-01 combination activated p53/p21 and downregulated c-Myc in these cells, leading to a reduced expression level of RAD51, molecule involved in DNA repair. The effect of AZD2461/UCN-01 on c-Myc and p53/p21 was inter-dependent and, besides impairing cell proliferation, contributed to the activation of the replicative cycle of KSHV, carried in a latent state in PEL cells. Finally, we found that the pharmacological or genetic inhibition of p21 counteracted the viral lytic cycle activation and further reduced PEL cell proliferation, suggesting that it could induce a double beneficial effect in this setting. This study unveils that, therapeutic approaches, based on the induction of DNA damage and the reduction of DNA repair, could be used to successfully treat this malignant lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Gaeta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy..
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Benedetti R, Gilardini Montani MS, Romeo MA, Arena A, Santarelli R, D’Orazi G, Cirone M. Role of UPR Sensor Activation in Cell Death-Survival Decision of Colon Cancer Cells Stressed by DPE Treatment. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1262. [PMID: 34572447 PMCID: PMC8466673 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyphenols have been shown to possess several beneficial properties, including properties involved in the prevention or treatment of cancer. Among these polyphenols, a leading role is played by dihydroxyphenylethanol (DPE), the most powerful antioxidant compound contained in the olive oil. DPE has been previously reported to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and to reduce cell survival in colon cancer, one of the most common and aggressive cancers in developed countries. In this study, we further investigated the activation of UPR by DPE and explored the roles of the three UPR sensors, inositol-requiring enzyme (IRE) 1 alpha, protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), and activating transcription factor (ATF6), in the cell death-survival decision of wt and mutp53 colon cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms involved. We also unveiled a new interplay between ATF6 and wt, as well as mutp53, which may have important implications in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00185 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00185 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00185 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00185 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00185 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D’Orazi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University “G. D’Annunzio”, 66013 Chieti, Italy;
- Unit of Cellular Networks, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00185 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (A.A.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Santarelli R, Pompili C, Gilardini Montani MS, Romeo MA, Gonnella R, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. Lovastatin reduces PEL cell survival by phosphorylating ERK1/2 that blocks the autophagic flux and engages a cross-talk with p53 to activate p21. IUBMB Life 2021; 73:968-977. [PMID: 33987937 PMCID: PMC8361952 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Statins are inhibitors of the mevalonate pathway that besides being cholesterol lowering agents, display anti‐cancer properties. This is because cholesterol is an essential component of cell membranes but also because the mevalonate pathway controls protein farnesylation and geranylation, processes essential for the activity of GTPase family proteins. In this study, we found that Lovastatin exerted a dose‐ and time‐dependent cytotoxic effect against PEL cells, an aggressive B cell lymphoma strictly associated with the gammaherpesvirus KSHV and characterized by a poor response to conventional chemotherapies. At molecular level, Lovastatin by dephosphorylating STAT3, induced ERK1/2 activation that inhibited autophagy and phosphorylated p53ser15 that in turn maintained ERK1/2 activated and up‐regulated p21. However, p21 played a pro‐survival role in this setting, as its inhibition by UC2288 further reduced cell survival in PEL cells undergoing Lovastatin treatment. In conclusion, this study suggests that Lovastatin may represent a valid therapeutic alternative against PEL cells, especially if used in combination with p21 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Pompili
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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23
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Garufi A, Giorno E, Gilardini Montani MS, Pistritto G, Crispini A, Cirone M, D’Orazi G. P62/SQSTM1/Keap1/NRF2 Axis Reduces Cancer Cells Death-Sensitivity in Response to Zn(II)-Curcumin Complex. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030348. [PMID: 33669070 PMCID: PMC7996602 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The hyperactivation of nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2), frequently found in many tumor types, can be responsible for cancer resistance to therapies and poor patient prognosis. Curcumin has been shown to activate NRF2 that has cytotprotective or protumorigenic roles according to tumor stage. The present study aimed at investigating whether the zinc–curcumin Zn(II)–curc compound, which we previously showed to display anticancer effects through multiple mechanisms, could induce NRF2 activation and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Biochemical studies showed that Zn(II)–curc treatment increased the NRF2 protein levels along with its targets, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and p62/SQSTM1, while markedly reduced the levels of Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1), the NRF2 inhibitor, in the cancer cell lines analyzed. The silencing of either NRF2 or p62/SQSTM1 with specific siRNA demonstrated the crosstalk between the two molecules and that the knockdown of either molecule increased the cancer cell sensitivity to Zn(II)–curc-induced cell death. This suggests that the crosstalk between p62/SQSTM1 and NRF2 could be therapeutically exploited to increase cancer patient response to therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Garufi
- Unit of Cellular Networks, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
- School of Medicine, University “G. D’Annunzio”, 66013 Chieti, Italy
| | - Eugenia Giorno
- Laboratory MAT_IN LAB, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, Calabria University, 87036 Rende, Italy; (E.G.); (A.C.)
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italy Foundation Cenci Bolognetti, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.S.G.M.); (M.C.)
| | - Giuseppa Pistritto
- Centralized Procedures Office, Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), 00187 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Crispini
- Laboratory MAT_IN LAB, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, Calabria University, 87036 Rende, Italy; (E.G.); (A.C.)
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italy Foundation Cenci Bolognetti, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.S.G.M.); (M.C.)
| | - Gabriella D’Orazi
- Unit of Cellular Networks, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University “G. D’Annunzio”, 66013 Chieti, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Gilardini Montani MS, Benedetti R, Piconese S, Pulcinelli FM, Timperio AM, Romeo MA, Masuelli L, Mattei M, Bei R, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. PGE2 Released by Pancreatic Cancer Cells Undergoing ER Stress Transfers the Stress to DCs Impairing Their Immune Function. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:934-945. [PMID: 33632872 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study shows that pancreatic cancer cells undergoing cell death by valproic acid (VPA) treatment activated dendritic cells (DCs) more efficiently than those treated with trichostatin A (TSA), as demonstrated by CD86 and CD80 surface expression. Surprisingly though, DCs cultured in the presence of supernatant derived from VPA-treated cancer cells showed a reduced allostimulatory capacity and an increased release of IL10 and IL8 cytokines in comparison with those exposed to TSA-treated cell culture supernatant. Searching for molecular mechanisms leading to such differences, we found that VPA treatment dysregulated choline metabolism and triggered a stronger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in pancreatic cancer cells than TSA, upregulating CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein, and activated cyclooxygenase-2, thus promoting the release of prostaglandin (PG) E2. Interestingly, dysfunctional DCs cultured in the presence of VPA-treated cells culture supernatant showed a higher level of intracellular reactive oxygen species, 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal protein adducts, and ER stress, as evidenced by the upregulation of spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s), effects that were reduced when DCs were exposed to supernatant of cancer cells treated with Celecoxib before VPA. Celecoxib prevented PGE2 release, restoring the function of DCs exposed to VPA-treated cells culture supernatant, and a similar effect was obtained by silencing XBP1s in DCs treated with VPA-treated cells culture supernatant. These results suggest that PGE2 could be one of the yet unidentified factors able to transfer the stress from cancer cells to DCs, resulting in an impairment of their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Piconese
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy.,Department of Internal Clinical, Anaesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Anna Maria Timperio
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mattei
- Centro di Servizi Interdipartimentale-Stazione per la Tecnologia Animale, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata,' Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio," Chieti, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. .,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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25
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Benedetti R, Arena A, D’Orazi G, Cirone M. p53-R273H Sustains ROS, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Release and mTOR Activation While Reducing Autophagy, Mitophagy and UCP2 Expression, Effects Prevented by wtp53. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030344. [PMID: 33668399 PMCID: PMC7996167 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
p53 is the most frequently mutated or inactivated gene in cancer, as its activity is not reconcilable with tumor onset and progression. Moreover, mutations in the p53 gene give rise to mutant proteins such as p53-R273H that, besides losing the wild type p53 (wtp53) capacity to safeguard genome integrity, may promote carcinogenesis, mainly due to its crosstalk with pro-oncogenic pathways. Interestingly, the activation of oncogenic pathways is interconnected with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to create an inflammatory/pro-tumorigenic milieu. In this study, based on experiments involving p53-R273H silencing and transfection, we showed that this mutant p53 (mutp53) promoted cancer cell survival by increasing intracellular ROS level and pro-inflammatory/immune suppressive cytokine release, activating mTOR, reducing autophagy and mitophagy and downregulating uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2). Interestingly, p53-R273H transfection into cancer cells carrying wtp53 induced none of these effects and resulted in p21 upregulation. This suggests that wtp53 may counteract several pro-tumorigenic activities of p53-R273H and this could explain the lower aggressiveness of cancers carrying heterozygous mutp53 in comparison to those harboring homozygous mutp53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Arena
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D’Orazi
- Department of Research, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Neurosciences, Images and Clinical Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio”, 66013 Chieti, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-4997-3319; Fax: + 39-064-456-229
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Gonnella R, Gilardini Montani MS, Guttieri L, Romeo MA, Santarelli R, Cirone M. IRE1 Alpha/XBP1 Axis Sustains Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cell Survival by Promoting Cytokine Release and STAT3 Activation. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020118. [PMID: 33513694 PMCID: PMC7912693 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL) is a highly aggressive B cell lymphoma associated with Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV). It is characterized by a high level of basal Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress, Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) activation and constitutive phosphorylation of oncogenic pathways such as the Signal Transducer and activator of Transcription (STAT3). In this study, we found that the inositol requiring kinase (IRE) 1alpha/X-box binding protein (XBP1) axis of UPR plays a key role in the survival of PEL cells, while double stranded RNA-activated protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK) and activating transcription factor (ATF) 6 slightly influence it, in correlation with the capacity of the IRE1alpha/XBP1 axis to induce the release of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and Vascular-Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Moreover, we found that IRE1alpha/XBP1 inhibition reduced STAT3 Tyr705 phosphorylation and induced a pro-survival autophagy in PEL cells. In conclusion, this study suggests that targeting the IRE1alpha/XBP1 axis represents a promising strategy against PEL cells and that the cytotoxic effect of this treatment may be potentiated by autophagy inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.G.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.G.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Luisa Guttieri
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.G.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.G.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.G.); (M.S.G.M.); (M.A.R.); (R.S.)
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Benedetti R, Giambelli L, D'Aprile R, Gaeta A, Faggioni A, Cirone M. The cross-talk between STAT1/STAT3 and ROS up-regulates PD-L1 and promotes the release of pro-inflammatory/immune suppressive cytokines in primary monocytes infected by HHV-6B. Virus Res 2020; 292:198231. [PMID: 33207265 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) up-regulation on antigen presenting cells induces T cell dysfunction, strongly impairing immune response. Human Herpesviruses (HHV) 6B is a β-herpesvirus that, although displays a higher tropism for T cells, can infect other immune cells including monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) and neuronal cells. We have previously shown that HHV-6B infection of primary monocytes reduced autophagy and induced Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress/ Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), impairing their survival and differentiation into DCs. In this study, we found that PD-L1 expression was up-regulated by HHV-6B on the surface of infected monocytes and that its extracellular release also increased, effects known to lead to an impairment of anti-viral immune response. At molecular level, PD-L1 up-regulation correlated with the activation of a positive regulatory circuit between the increase of intracellular ROS and the activation of STAT1 and STAT3 induced by HHV-6B, accompanied by a high release of pro-inflammatory/immune suppressive cytokines. In conclusion, this study unveils new strategies put in place by HHV-6B to induce immune dysfunction and the underlying molecular pathways that could be targeted to counteract such immune suppressive effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy; Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy; Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy; Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Giambelli
- UOC Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Aurelia Gaeta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy; Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy; Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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28
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Santarelli R, Arteni AMB, Gilardini Montani MS, Romeo MA, Gaeta A, Gonnella R, Faggioni A, Cirone M. KSHV dysregulates bulk macroautophagy, mitophagy and UPR to promote endothelial to mesenchymal transition and CCL2 release, key events in viral-driven sarcomagenesis. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:3500-3510. [PMID: 32559816 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent of KS, an aggressive neoplasm that mainly occurs in immune-compromised patients. Spindle cells represent the main feature of this aggressive malignancy and arise from KSHV-infected endothelial cells undergoing endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT), which changes their cytoskeletal composition and organization. As in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), EndMT is driven by transcription factors such as SNAI1 and ZEB1 and implies a cellular reprogramming mechanism regulated by several molecular pathways, particularly PI3K/AKT/MTOR. Here we found that KSHV activated MTOR and its targets 4EBP1 and ULK1 and reduced bulk macroautophagy and mitophagy to promote EndMT, activate ER stress/unfolded protein response (UPR), and increase the release of the pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory chemokine CCL2 by HUVEC cells. Our study suggests that the manipulation of macroautophagy, mitophagy and UPR and the interplay between the three could be a promising strategy to counteract EndMT, angiogenesis and inflammation, the key events of KSHV-driven sarcomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Ana Maria Brindusa Arteni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Gaeta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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29
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Benedetti R, Santarelli R, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. STAT3 and mutp53 Engage a Positive Feedback Loop Involving HSP90 and the Mevalonate Pathway. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1102. [PMID: 32754441 PMCID: PMC7367154 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncosuppressor TP53 and oncogene STAT3 have been shown to engage an interplay in which they negatively influence each other. Conversely, mutant (mut) p53 may sustain STAT3 phosphorylation by displacing SH2 phosphatase while whether STAT3 could influence mutp53 has not been clarified yet. In this study we found that pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of STAT3 in both glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer cells, carrying mutp53 protein, reduced mutp53 expression level by down-regulating chaperone HSP90 as well as molecules belonging to the mevalonate pathway. On the other hand, HSP90 and the mevalonate pathway were involved in sustaining STAT3 phosphorylation mediated by mutp53. In conclusion, this study unveils for the first time that mutp53 can establish with STAT3, similarly to what observed with other oncogenic pathways, a criminal alliance with a crucial role in promoting cancerogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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30
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Garufi A, Baldari S, Pettinari R, Gilardini Montani MS, D'Orazi V, Pistritto G, Crispini A, Giorno E, Toietta G, Marchetti F, Cirone M, D'Orazi G. A ruthenium(II)-curcumin compound modulates NRF2 expression balancing the cancer cell death/survival outcome according to p53 status. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:122. [PMID: 32605658 PMCID: PMC7325274 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01628-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract Background Tumor progression and tumor response to anticancer therapies may be affected by activation of oncogenic pathways such as the antioxidant one induced by NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) transcription factor and the pathways modified by deregulation of oncosuppressor p53. Often, oncogenic pathways may crosstalk between them increasing tumor progression and resistance to anticancer therapies. Therefore, understanding that interplay is critical to improve cancer cell response to therapies. In this study we aimed at evaluating NRF2 and p53 in several cancer cell lines carrying different endogenous p53 status, using a novel curcumin compound since curcumin has been shown to target both NRF2 and p53 and have anti-tumor activity. Methods We performed biochemical and molecular studies by using pharmacologic of genetic inhibition of NRF2 to evaluate the effect of curcumin compound in cancer cell lines of different tumor types bearing wild-type (wt) p53, mutant (mut) p53 or p53 null status. Results We found that the curcumin compound induced a certain degree of cell death in all tested cancer cell lines, independently of the p53 status. At molecular level, the curcumin compound induced NRF2 activation, mutp53 degradation and/or wtp53 activation. Pharmacologic or genetic NRF2 inhibition further increased the curcumin-induced cell death in both mutp53- and wtp53-carrying cancer cell lines while it did not increase cell death in p53 null cells, suggesting a cytoprotective role for NRF2 and a critical role for functional p53 to achieve an efficient cancer cell response to therapy. Conclusions These findings underline the prosurvival role of curcumin-induced NRF2 expression in cancer cells even when cells underwent mutp53 downregulation and/or wtp53 activation. Thus, NRF2 inhibition increased cell demise particularly in cancer cells carrying p53 either wild-type or mutant suggesting that p53 is crucial for efficient cancer cell death. These results may represent a paradigm for better understanding the cancer cell response to therapies in order to design more efficient combined anticancer therapies targeting both NRF2 and p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Garufi
- Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,University "G. D'Annunzio", School of Medicine, Chieti, Italy
| | - Silvia Baldari
- Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences, and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pettinari
- School of Pharmacy, Chemistry Section, University of Camerino, Camerino Macerata, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italy Foundation Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio D'Orazi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Pistritto
- Italian medicines agency-Aifa, centralized procedure office, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Crispini
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, laboratory MAT-IN LAB, Calabria University, Rende, Italy
| | - Eugenia Giorno
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, laboratory MAT-IN LAB, Calabria University, Rende, Italy
| | - Gabriele Toietta
- Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Marchetti
- School of Science and Technology, Chemistry Section, University of Camerino, Camerino Macerata, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italy Foundation Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Benedetti R, Garufi A, D’Orazi G, Cirone M. PBA Preferentially Impairs Cell Survival of Glioblastomas Carrying mutp53 by Reducing Its Expression Level, Stabilizing wtp53, Downregulating the Mevalonate Kinase and Dysregulating UPR. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10040586. [PMID: 32290231 PMCID: PMC7226434 DOI: 10.3390/biom10040586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenylbutyrate (PBA) is a derivative of Butyric Acid (BA), which has the characteristics of being a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor and acting as a chemical chaperone. It has the potential to counteract a variety of different diseases, from neurodegeneration to cancer. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of PBA against glioblastoma cells carrying wt or mutant (mut) p53 and found that it exerted a higher cytotoxic effect against the latter in comparison with the former. This could be due to the downregulation of mutp53, to whose pro-survival effects cancer cells become addicted. In correlation with mutp53 reduction and wtp53 activation, PBA downregulated the expression level of mevalonate kinase (MVK), a key kinase of the mevalonate pathway strongly involved in cancer cell survival. Here we differentiated the chaperoning function of PBA from the others anti-cancer potentiality by comparing its effects to those exerted by NaB, another HDACi that derives from BA but, lacking the phenyl group, cannot act as a chemical chaperone. Interestingly, we observed that PBA induced a stronger cytotoxic effect compared to NaB against U373 cells as it skewed the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) towards cell death induction, upregulating CHOP and downregulating BIP, and was more efficient in downregulating MVK. The findings of this study suggest that PBA represents a promising molecule against glioblastomas, especially those carrying mutp53, and its use, approved by FDA for urea cycle disorders, should be extended to the glioblastoma anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Rossella Benedetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Alessia Garufi
- Department of Research, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.D.)
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio”, 66013 Chieti, Italy
| | - Gabriella D’Orazi
- Department of Research, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.D.)
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.A.R.); (M.S.G.M.); (R.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-4997-3319; Fax: +39-06-4456-229
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Garufi A, Federici G, Gilardini Montani MS, Crispini A, Cirone M, D’Orazi G. Interplay between Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress and Autophagy Induces Mutant p53H273 Degradation. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10030392. [PMID: 32138264 PMCID: PMC7175121 DOI: 10.3390/biom10030392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an adaptive response to intrinsic and external stressors, and it is mainly activated by the accumulation of misfolded proteins at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen producing ER stress. The UPR signaling network is interconnected with autophagy, the proteolytic machinery specifically devoted to clearing misfolded proteins in order to survive bioenergetic stress and/or induce cell death. Oncosuppressor TP53 may undergo inactivation following missense mutations within the DNA-binding domain (DBD), and mutant p53 (mutp53) proteins may acquire a misfolded conformation, often due to the loss of the DBD-bound zinc ion, leading to accumulation of hyperstable mutp53 proteins that correlates with more aggressive tumors, resistance to therapies, and poorer outcomes. We previously showed that zinc supplementation induces mutp53 protein degradation by autophagy. Here, we show that mutp53 (i.e., Arg273) degradation following zinc supplementation is correlated with activation of ER stress and of the IRE1α/XBPI arm of the UPR. ER stress inhibition with chemical chaperone 4-phenyl butyrate (PBA) impaired mutp53 downregulation, which is similar to IRE1α/XBPI specific inhibition, reducing cancer cell death. Knockdown of mutp53 failed to induce UPR/autophagy activation indicating that the effect of zinc on mutp53 folding was likely the key event occurring in ER stress activation. Recently discovered small molecules targeting components of the UPR show promise as a novel anticancer therapeutic intervention. However, our findings showing UPR activation during mutp53 degradation indicate that caution is necessary in the design of therapies that inhibit UPR components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Garufi
- Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.F.)
- University “G. D’Annunzio”, School of Medicine, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Giulia Federici
- Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.F.)
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy (M.C.)
| | - Alessandra Crispini
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, laboratory MAT_IN LAB, Calabria University, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy (M.C.)
| | - Gabriella D’Orazi
- Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.F.)
- Correspondence:
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Romeo MA, Gilardini Montani MS, Gaeta A, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. HHV-6A infection dysregulates autophagy/UPR interplay increasing beta amyloid production and tau phosphorylation in astrocytoma cells as well as in primary neurons, possible molecular mechanisms linking viral infection to Alzheimer's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165647. [PMID: 31866416 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
HHV-6A and HHV-6B are neurotropic viruses able to dysregulate autophagy and activate ER stress/UPR in several cell types. The appropriate functioning of these processes is required for cell homeostasis, particularly in post-mitotic cells such as neuronal cells. Interestingly, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are often accompanied by autophagy dysregulation and abnormal UPR activation. This study demonstrated for the first time that HHV-6A infection of astrocytoma cells and primary neurons reduces autophagy, increases Aβ production and activates ER stress/UPR promoting tau protein hyper-phosphorylation. Our results support previous studies suggesting that HHV-6A infection may play a role in AD and unveil the possible underlying molecular mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Instituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Instituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Gaeta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy; Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio", 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Instituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Instituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy.
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Granato M, Gilardini Montani MS, Zompetta C, Santarelli R, Gonnella R, Romeo MA, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Quercetin Interrupts the Positive Feedback Loop Between STAT3 and IL-6, Promotes Autophagy, and Reduces ROS, Preventing EBV-Driven B Cell Immortalization. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9090482. [PMID: 31547402 PMCID: PMC6769872 DOI: 10.3390/biom9090482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The oncogenic gammaherpesvirus Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) immortalizes in vitro B lymphocytes into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), a model that gives the opportunity to explore the molecular mechanisms driving viral tumorigenesis. In this study, we addressed the potential of quercetin, a widely distributed flavonoid displaying antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, in preventing EBV-driven B cell immortalization. The results obtained indicated that quercetin inhibited thectivation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) induced by EBV infection and reduced molecules such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and reactive oxidative species (ROS) known to be essential for the immortalization process. Moreover, we found that quercetin promoted autophagy and counteracted the accumulation of sequestosome1/p62 (SQSTM1/p62), ultimately leading to the prevention of B cell immortalization. These findings suggest that quercetin may have the potential to be used to counteract EBV-driven lymphomagenesis, especially if its stability is improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Claudia Zompetta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00128 Rome, Italy.
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", 66013 Chieti, Italy.
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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35
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Garufi A, Traversi G, Gilardini Montani MS, D'Orazi V, Pistritto G, Cirone M, D'Orazi G. Reduced chemotherapeutic sensitivity in high glucose condition: implication of antioxidant response. Oncotarget 2019; 10:4691-4702. [PMID: 31384396 PMCID: PMC6659798 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapy represents a major obstacle to successful treatment. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been directly linked to the cytotoxic effects of several antitumor agents, including Adriamycin (ADR), and modulation of the oxidative balance has been implicated in the development and/or regulation of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. We recently showed that high glucose (HG) markedly diminished the cancer cell death induced by anticancer agents such as ADR. In the present study we attempted to evaluate the mechanism that impaired the cytotoxic effect of ADR in HG. We found that, in colon cancer cells, HG attenuated ADR-induced ROS production that consequently diminished ADR-induced H2AX phosphorylation and micronuclei (MN) formation. Mechanistically, HG attenuation of ADR-induced ROS production correlated with increased antioxidant response promoted by NRF2 activity. Thus, pharmacologic inhibition of NRF2 pathway by brusatol re-established the ADR cytotoxic effect impaired by HG. Together, the data provide new insights into chemotherapeutic-resistance mechanisms in HG condition dictated by increased NRF2-induced antioxidant response and how they may be overcome in order to restore chemosensitivity and ADR-induced cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Garufi
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Department of Research, Rome 00144, Italy.,University 'G. d'Annunzio', Department of Medical and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti 66013, Italy
| | - Gianandrea Traversi
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Department of Research, Rome 00144, Italy.,University 'G. d'Annunzio', Department of Medical and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti 66013, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppa Pistritto
- University Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Sapienza University, Department of Experimental Medicine, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Department of Research, Rome 00144, Italy.,University 'G. d'Annunzio', Department of Medical and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti 66013, Italy
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Cirone M, Gilardini Montani MS, Granato M, Garufi A, Faggioni A, D'Orazi G. Autophagy manipulation as a strategy for efficient anticancer therapies: possible consequences. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:262. [PMID: 31200739 PMCID: PMC6570888 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1275-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is a catabolic process whose activation may help cancer cells to adapt to cellular stress although, in some instances, it can induce cell death. Autophagy stimulation or inhibition has been considered an opportunity to treat cancer, especially in combination with anticancer therapies, although autophagy manipulation may be viewed as controversial. Thus, whether to induce or to inhibit autophagy may be the best option in the different cancer patients is still matter of debate. Her we will recapitulate the possible advantages or disadvantages of manipulating autophagy in cancer, not only with the aim to obtain cancer cell death and disable oncogenes, but also to evaluate its interplay with the immune response which is fundamental for the success of anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. .,Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Garufi
- Department of Medical Science, University 'G. D'Annunzio', 66013, Chieti, Italy.,Department of Research, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Medical Science, University 'G. D'Annunzio', 66013, Chieti, Italy. .,Department of Research, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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Gilardini Montani MS, Cecere N, Granato M, Romeo MA, Falcinelli L, Ciciarelli U, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Mutant p53, Stabilized by Its Interplay with HSP90, Activates a Positive Feed-Back Loop Between NRF2 and p62 that Induces Chemo-Resistance to Apigenin in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050703. [PMID: 31121848 PMCID: PMC6562395 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers whose prognosis is worsened by the poor response to the current chemotherapies. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of Apigenin, against two pancreatic cell lines, namely Panc1 and PaCa44, harboring different p53 mutations. Apigenin is a flavonoid widely distributed in nature that displays anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties against a variety of cancers. Here we observed that Apigenin exerted a stronger cytotoxic effect against Panc1 cell line in comparison to PaCa44. Searching for mechanisms responsible for such different effect, we found that the higher cytotoxicity of Apigenin correlated with induction of higher level of intracellular ROS, reduction of mutant (mut) p53 and HSP90 expression and mTORC1 inhibition. Interestingly, we found that mutp53 was stabilized by its interplay with HSP90 and activates a positive feed-back loop between NRF2 and p62, up-regulating the antioxidant response and reducing the cytotoxicity of Apigenin. These results suggest that targeting the molecules involved in the mTOR-HSP90-mutp53-p62-NRF2-antioxidant response axis could help to overcome the chemo-resistance of pancreatic cancer to Apigenin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Nives Cecere
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Luca Falcinelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Umberto Ciciarelli
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio", 66100 Chieti, Italy.
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Granato M, Gilardini Montani MS, Angiolillo C, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Cytotoxic Drugs Activate KSHV Lytic Cycle in Latently Infected PEL Cells by Inducing a Moderate ROS Increase Controlled by HSF1, NRF2 and p62/SQSTM1. Viruses 2018; 11:v11010008. [PMID: 30586869 PMCID: PMC6356381 DOI: 10.3390/v11010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that cytotoxic treatments may induce or not activate viral lytic cycle activation in cancer cells latently infected by Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). To investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for such an effect, we compared two cytotoxic treatments able to induce the viral lytic cycle, named 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) (T) in combination with sodium butyrate (B) and bortezomib (BZ), with two cytotoxic treatments that did not activate this process, named metformin (MET) and quercetin (Q). Our results indicated that TB and bortezomib increased levels of oxygen reactive species (ROS) while metformin and quercetin reduced them. The finding that N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a reactive oxigen species (ROS) scavenger, counteracted K-bZIP expression induced by TB or bortezomib, confirmed that an ROS increase played a role in KSHV lytic cycle activation. Moreover, we found that TB and bortezomib up-regulated p62/Sequestosome1(p62/SQSTM1) protein, while metformin and quercetin down-regulated it. p62/SQSTM1 silencing or the inhibition of NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) or Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1), that mediate p62/SQSTM1 transcription, also reduced KSHV lytic antigen expression induced by TB or bortezomib. Interestingly, such combination treatments further increased intracellular ROS and cytotoxicity induced by the single TB or bortezomib treatment, suggesting that NRF2, HSF1 and p62/SQSTM1 keep the ROS level under control, allowing primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells to continue to survive and KSHV to replicate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Camilla Angiolillo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", 66013 Chieti, Italy.
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Romeo MA, Masuelli L, Gaeta A, Nazzari C, Granato M, Gilardini Montani MS, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Impact of HHV-6A and HHV-6B lytic infection on autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress. J Gen Virol 2018; 100:89-98. [PMID: 30427305 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpesviruses are known to manipulate autophagy to optimize their replication, counteract immune response and probably to promote tumourigenesis. This study explored, for the first time, the impact of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 lytic infection on autophagy and demonstrated that HHV-6A and B (viruses sharing more than 80 % homology) differently affected this cellular process. Indeed, while HHV-6A (GS) infection of HSB2 cells promoted autophagy, HHV-6B (Z29) or the virus isolated from the serum of roseola infantum-affected patient-inhibited autophagy in Molt-3 cells or in PBMCs, respectively. Interestingly, the different behaviour of HHV-6A and B on the autophagic process was accompanied by different effects on endoplasmic reticulum stress, unfolded protein response and cell survival that was more strongly reduced by HHV-6B infection. We hypothesize that the ability to inhibit autophagy displayed by HHV-6B could be due to the fact that it contains gene homologues of those encoding for TRS1; the protein responsible for the block of autophagy by human cytomegalovirus. Understanding how HHV-6A/B infection regulates autophagy could be of particular interest, as it has been recently shown that this virus may be involved in Alzheimer's disease in which a dysregulation of autophagy may also play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anele Romeo
- 1Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Masuelli
- 1Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Gaeta
- 2Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Nazzari
- 2Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Marisa Granato
- 1Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Faggioni
- 1Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- 1Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
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Gilardini Montani MS, Santarelli R, Falcinelli L, Gonnella R, Granato M, Di Renzo L, Cuomo L, Vitillo M, Faggioni A, Cirone M. EBV up-regulates PD-L1 on the surface of primary monocytes by increasing ROS and activating TLR signaling and STAT3. J Leukoc Biol 2018; 104:821-832. [PMID: 30040158 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.2a0118-029rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) (also called B7-H1) is a membrane immune-modulatory protein whose overexpression on the surface of tumor cells as well as APCs impairs T-cell-mediated killing. Viruses that establish chronic infections have developed a number of strategies to escape from immune recognition including the up-regulation of PD-L1. This study shows for the first time that the human oncovirus EBV infects human primary monocytes using HLA-DR and induced a strong up-regulation of PD-L1 expression on their surface. Searching for the underlying mechanism/s leading to this immune suppressive effect, we found that EBV activated TLR signaling, increased intracellular ROS, and phosphorylated STAT3. Targeting these molecules partially reverted PD-L1 up-regulation that correlated with an altered cytokine production and a reduction of monocyte cell survival, strongly impairing the antiviral immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Saveria Gilardini Montani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Falcinelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Di Renzo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Cuomo
- San Filippo Neri Hospital, General Pathology, Asl Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Vitillo
- San Filippo Neri Hospital, General Pathology, Asl Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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Granato M, Gilardini Montani MS, Santarelli R, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Apigenin, by activating p53 and inhibiting STAT3, modulates the balance between pro-apoptotic and pro-survival pathways to induce PEL cell death. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2017; 36:167. [PMID: 29179721 PMCID: PMC5704516 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-017-0632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Apigenin is a flavonoid widely distributed in plant kingdom that exerts cytotoxic effects against a variety of solid and haematological cancers. In this study, we investigated the effect of apigenin against primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a KSHV-associated B cell lymphoma characterized by a very aggressive behavior, displaying constitutive activation of STAT3 as well as of other oncogenic pathways and harboring wtp53. Methods Cell death was assessed by trypan blue exclusion assay, FACS analysis as well as by biochemical studies. The latter were also utilized to detect the occurrence of autophagy and the molecular mechanisms leading to the activation of both processes by apigenin. FACS analysis was used to measure the intracellular ROS utilizing DCFDA. Results We show that apigenin induced PEL cell death and autophagy along with reduction of intracellular ROS. Mechanistically, apigenin activated p53 that induced catalase, a ROS scavenger enzyme, and inhibited STAT3, the most important pro-survival pathway in PEL, as assessed by p53 silencing. On the other hand, STAT3 inhibition by apigenin resulted in p53 activation, since STAT3 negatively influences p53 activity, highlighting a regulatory loop between these two pathways that modulates PEL cell death/survival. Conclusion The findings of this study demonstrate that apigenin may modulate pro-apoptotic and pro-survival pathways representing a valid therapeutic strategy against PEL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Tumor Biology Section, University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Gonnella R, Yadav S, Gilardini Montani MS, Granato M, Santarelli R, Garufi A, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Oxidant species are involved in T/B-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation that activates p53-p21 axis to promote KSHV lytic cycle in PEL cells. Free Radic Biol Med 2017; 112:327-335. [PMID: 28801242 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.08.005] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
KSHV is a gammaherpesvirus strongly associated to human cancers such as Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL) and Kaposi's Sarcoma. The naturally virus-infected tumor cells usually display latent infection since a minority of cells undergoes spontaneous viral replication. The lytic cycle can be induced in vitro upon appropriate stimuli such as TPA (T), alone or in combination with butyrate (B), (T/B). In previous studies, Protein Kinase C (PKC) δ, Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and p53-p21 axis have been separately reported to play a role in KSHV reactivation from latency. Here, we found that these pathways were interconnected to induce KSHV lytic cycle in PEL cells treated with T/B. T/B also increased H2O2 that played an important role in the activation of these pathways. Oxidant specie production correlated with PKC δ activation, as the PKC δ inhibitor rottlerin reduced both H2O2 and KSHV lytic antigen expression. H2O2 contributed to T/B-mediated ERK1/2 activation that mediated p53 phosphorylation at serine 15 (Ser15) and increased p21 expression. Oxidant specie inhibition by quercetin indeed strongly reduced the activation of these pathways, lytic antigen expression and interestingly it also increased T/B-induced cell death. The use of ERK inhibitor PD98059 or p53 silencing demonstrated the importance of p53Ser15 phosphorylation and of p53-p21 axis in KSHV lytic cycle activation. Understanding the role of oxidant species and the molecular mechanisms involved in KSHV lytic cycle induction is particularly important since oxidant species represent the most physiological stimulus for viral reactivation in vivo and it is known that viral production contributes to the maintenance/progression of KSHV associated malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy.
| | - Shivangi Yadav
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy.
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessia Garufi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; Department of Medical Sciences, University 'G. d'Annunzio', 66013 Chieti, Italy.
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy.
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Granato M, Gilardini Montani MS, Romeo MA, Santarelli R, Gonnella R, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Metformin triggers apoptosis in PEL cells and alters bortezomib-induced Unfolded Protein Response increasing its cytotoxicity and inhibiting KSHV lytic cycle activation. Cell Signal 2017; 40:239-247. [PMID: 28964970 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2017.09.020] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metformin, the most used drug for the treatment of diabetes type 2 patients, has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. In this study, we found that metformin induced apoptosis in Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL) cells, an aggressive B cell lymphoma associated with KSHV against which the conventional therapies usually fail. The cytotoxic effect of metformin correlated with intracellular reactive oxygen species reduction, activation of AMPK, the inhibition of pro-survival pathways such as mTOR and STAT3 and the down-regulation of v-FLIP, a latent viral antigen that also plays a pivotal role in PEL cell survival. Interestingly, we found that metformin could be used to potentiate the bortezomib-mediated cytotoxicity against PEL cells and to inhibit the activation of KSHV lytic cycle, a side effect of this treatment that resulted in a block of autophagy in these cells. Mechanistically, metformin altered UPR activated by bortezomib, leading to a reduced expression of BiP, up-regulation of CHOP and down-regulation of Bcl-2. In summary, this study suggests that metformin could represent a promising strategy for the treatment of PEL alone or in combination with bortezomib. In the latter case, besides exerting a stronger cytotoxic effect, it might be used to restrain bortezomib-induced viral replication that is involved in the maintenance and progression of KSHV-associated malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Anele Romeo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Tumor Biology Section, University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Gilardini Montani MS, Granato M, Santoni C, Del Porto P, Merendino N, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Histone deacetylase inhibitors VPA and TSA induce apoptosis and autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2017; 40:167-180. [PMID: 28160167 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-017-0314-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are anti-neoplastic agents that are known to affect the growth of different cancer types, but their underlying mechanisms are still incompletely understood. Here, we compared the effects of two HDACi, i.e., Trichostatin A (TSA) and Valproic Acid (VPA), on the induction of cell death and autophagy in pancreatic cancer-derived cells that exhibit a high metastatic capacity and carry KRAS/p53 double mutations. METHODS Cell viability and proliferation tests were carried out using Trypan blue dye exclusion, MTT and BrdU assays. FACS analyses were carried out to assess cell cycle progression, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial depolarization, while Western blot and immunoprecipitation analyses were employed to detect proteins involved in apoptosis and autophagy. RESULTS We found that both VPA and TSA can induce apoptosis in Panc1 and PaCa44 pancreatic cancer-derived cells by triggering mitochondrial membrane depolarization, Cytochrome c release and Caspase 3 activation, although VPA was more effective than TSA, especially in Panc1 cells. As underlying molecular events, we found that ERK1/2 was de-phosphorylated and that the c-Myc and mutant p53 protein levels were reduced after VPA and, to a lesser extent, after TSA treatment. Up-regulation of p21 and Puma was also observed, concomitantly with mutant p53 degradation. In addition, we found that in both cell lines VPA increased the pro-apoptotic Bim level, reduced the anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 level and increased ROS production and autophagy, while TSA was able to induce these effects only in PaCA44 cells. CONCLUSIONS From our results we conclude that both VPA and TSA can induce pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy. VPA appears have a stronger and broader cytotoxic effect than TSA and, thus, may represent a better choice for anti-pancreatic cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Santoni
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Paola Del Porto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Charles Darwin', La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolò Merendino
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medical Sciences, Tumor Biology Unit, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Granato M, Rizzello C, Gilardini Montani MS, Cuomo L, Vitillo M, Santarelli R, Gonnella R, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. Quercetin induces apoptosis and autophagy in primary effusion lymphoma cells by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and STAT3 signaling pathways. J Nutr Biochem 2017; 41:124-136. [PMID: 28092744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [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: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Quercetin, a bioflavonoid contained in several vegetables daily consumed, has been studied for long time for its antiinflammatory and anticancer properties. Quercetin interacts with multiple cancer-related pathways such as PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin and STAT3. These pathways are hyperactivated in primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), an aggressive B cell lymphoma whose pathogenesis is strictly linked to the oncogenic virus Kaposis' Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV). In this study, we found that quercetin inhibited PI3K/AKT/mTOR and STAT3 pathways in PEL cells, and as a consequence, it down-regulated the expression of the prosurvival cellular proteins such as c-FLIP, cyclin D1 and cMyc. It also reduced the release of IL-6 and IL-10 cytokines, leading to PEL cell death. Moreover, quercetin induced a prosurvival autophagy in these cells and increased the cytotoxic effect of bortezomib, a proteasomal inhibitor, against them. Interestingly, quercetin decreased also the expression of latent and lytic KSHV proteins involved in PEL tumorigenesis and up-regulated the surface expression of HLA-DR and calreticulin, rendering the dying cells more likely detectable by the immune system. The results obtained in this study indicate that quercetin, which does not exert any cytotoxicity against normal B cells, may represent a good candidate for the treatment of this aggressive B cell lymphoma, especially in combination with autophagy inhibitors or with bortezomib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Celeste Rizzello
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Cuomo
- U. O.C. Patologia Clinica, Ospedale San Filippo Neri, 00135 Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Vitillo
- U. O.C. Patologia Clinica, Ospedale San Filippo Neri, 00135 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Santarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonnella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy; Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", 66013, Chieti, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
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Gilardini Montani MS, Granato M, Cuomo L, Valia S, Di Renzo L, D'Orazi G, Faggioni A, Cirone M. High glucose and hyperglycemic sera from type 2 diabetic patients impair DC differentiation by inducing ROS and activating Wnt/β-catenin and p38 MAPK. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2016; 1862:805-813. [PMID: 26769359 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [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: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Type 2 is the type of diabetes with higher prevalence in contemporary time, representing about 90% of the global cases of diabetes. In the course of diabetes, several complications can occur, mostly due to hyperglycemia and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. One of them is represented by an increased susceptibility to microbial infections and by a reduced capacity to clear them. Therefore, knowing the impact of hyperglycemia on immune system functionality is of utmost importance for the management of the disease. In this study, we show that medium containing high glucose reduced the in-vitro differentiation of monocytes into functional DCs and their activation mediated by PAMPs or DAMPs. Most importantly, the same effects were mediated by the hyperglycemic sera derived by type 2 diabetic patients, mimicking a more physiologic condition. DC dysfunction caused by hyperglycemia may be involved in the inefficient control of infections observed in diabetic patients, given the pivotal role of these cells in both the innate and adaptive immune response. Searching for the molecular mechanisms underlying DC dysfunction, we found that canonical Wnt/β-catenin and p38 MAPK pathways were activated in the DCs differentiated either in the presence of high glucose or of hyper-glycemic sera. Interestingly, the activation of these pathways and the DC immune dysfunction were partially counteracted by the anti-oxidant quercetin, a flavonoid already known to exert several beneficial effects in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marisa Granato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Cuomo
- U.O.C. Patologia Clinica, A.C.O. San Filippo Neri, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandro Valia
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Di Renzo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Orazi
- Department of Translational Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy; Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", 66013, Chieti, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Bernini R, Gilardini Montani MS, Merendino N, Romani A, Velotti F. Hydroxytyrosol-Derived Compounds: A Basis for the Creation of New Pharmacological Agents for Cancer Prevention and Therapy. J Med Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Bernini
- Department
of Agriculture, Nature, Forests and Energy (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Via
S. Camillo De Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | | | - Nicolò Merendino
- Department
of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Annalisa Romani
- PHYTOLAB
(Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic, Food Supplement Technology and Analysis)—DISIA, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Velotti
- Department
of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
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Gilardini Montani MS, D'Eliseo D, Cirone M, Di Renzo L, Faggioni A, Santoni A, Velotti F. Capsaicin-mediated apoptosis of human bladder cancer cells activates dendritic cells via CD91. Nutrition 2014; 31:578-81. [PMID: 25220876 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 02/28/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Immunostimulation by anticancer cytotoxic drugs is needed for long-term therapeutic success. Activation of dendritic cells (DCs) is crucial to obtain effective and long-lasting anticancer T-cell mediated immunity. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of capsaicin-mediated cell death of bladder cancer cells on the activation of human monocyte-derived CD1a+ immature DCs. METHODS Immature DCs (generated from human peripheral blood-derived CD14+ monocytes cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin-4) were cocultured with capsaicin (CPS)-induced apoptotic bladder cancer cells. DC activation was investigated using immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis for key surface molecules. In some experiments, CD91 was silenced in immature DCs. RESULTS We found that capsaicin-mediated cancer cell apoptosis upregulates CD86 and CD83 expression on DCs, indicating the induction of DC activation. Moreover, silencing of CD91 (a common receptor for damage-associated molecular patterns, such as calreticulin and heat-shock protein-90/70) in immature DCs led to the inhibition of DC activation. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that CPS-mediated cancer cell apoptosis activates DCs via CD91, suggesting CPS as an attractive candidate for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Donatella D'Eliseo
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, La Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Di Renzo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Velotti
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, La Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy.
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Gilardini Montani MS, Prodosmo A, Stagni V, Merli D, Monteonofrio L, Gatti V, Gentileschi MP, Barilà D, Soddu S. ATM-depletion in breast cancer cells confers sensitivity to PARP inhibition. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2013; 32:95. [PMID: 24252502 PMCID: PMC4176289 DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-32-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Mutations in the DNA damage response (DDR) factors, breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and BRCA2, sensitize tumor cells to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase is a key DDR protein whose heterozygous germline mutation is a moderate–risk factor for developing breast cancer. In this study, we examined whether ATM inactivation in breast cancer cell lines confers sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. Methods Wild-type BRCA1/2 breast cancer cells (i.e., MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 lines) were genetically manipulated to downregulate ATM expression then assayed for cytostaticity/cytotoxicity upon treatment with PARP inhibitors, olaparib and iniparib. Results When ATM-depleted cells and their relative controls were treated with olaparib (a competitive PARP-1/2 inhibitor) and iniparib (a molecule originally described as a covalent PARP-1 inhibitor) a different response to the two compounds was observed. ATM-depletion sensitized both MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cells to olaparib-treatment, as assessed by short and long survival assays and cell cycle profiles. In contrast, iniparib induced only a mild, ATM-dependent cytostatic effect in MCF-7 cells whereas ZR-75-1 cells were sensitive to this drug, independently of ATM inactivation. These latest results might be explained by recent observations indicating that iniparib acts with mechanisms other than PARP inhibition. Conclusions These data indicate that ATM-depletion can sensitize breast cancer cells to PARP inhibition, suggesting a potential in the treatment of breast cancers low in ATM protein expression/activity, such as those arising in mutant ATM heterozygous carriers.
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Natoni F, Diolordi L, Santoni C, Gilardini Montani MS. Sodium butyrate sensitises human pancreatic cancer cells to both the intrinsic and the extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Biochim Biophys Acta 2006; 1745:318-29. [PMID: 16109447 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2005.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2005] [Revised: 07/11/2005] [Accepted: 07/12/2005] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is characterised by a highly malignant phenotype with a marked resistance to conventional therapies and to apoptotic activators. Here, we demonstrate that sodium butyrate (NaBt), an inhibitor of histone deacetylases, sensitises human pancreatic cancer cell lines to both mitochondria- and Fas-mediated apoptosis. The analysis of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family in untreated pancreatic cancer cell lines shows a generalised low expression of Bcl-2 and a strong expression of Bcl-xL. NaBt treatment results in a marked down-regulation of Bcl-xL expression, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, activation of caspase-9 and -3 and apoptosis induction. Furthermore, NaBt sensitises pancreatic cancer cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis as well. In fact, the combined treatment with NaBt and the agonistic antibody anti-Fas (CH11) is able to induce apoptosis at an early time, in which neither NaBt nor CH11 alone induce apoptosis. Down-regulation of FLIP and activation of caspase-8 allow apoptosis to occur. These findings suggest that sodium butyrate could represent a good candidate for the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at improving chemotherapy and immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Natoni
- Department of Environmental Science, University of La Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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