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Lazarus KA, Hadi F, Zambon E, Bach K, Santolla MF, Watson JK, Correia LL, Das M, Ugur R, Pensa S, Becker L, Campos LS, Ladds G, Liu P, Evan GI, McCaughan FM, Le Quesne J, Lee JH, Calado D, Khaled WT. BCL11A interacts with SOX2 to control the expression of epigenetic regulators in lung squamous carcinoma. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3327. [PMID: 30127402 PMCID: PMC6102279 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05790-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) have limited targeted therapies. We report here the identification and characterisation of BCL11A, as a LUSC oncogene. Analysis of cancer genomics datasets revealed BCL11A to be upregulated in LUSC but not in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Experimentally we demonstrate that non-physiological levels of BCL11A in vitro and in vivo promote squamous-like phenotypes, while its knockdown abolishes xenograft tumour formation. At the molecular level we found that BCL11A is transcriptionally regulated by SOX2 and is required for its oncogenic functions. Furthermore, we show that BCL11A and SOX2 regulate the expression of several transcription factors, including SETD8. We demonstrate that shRNA-mediated or pharmacological inhibition of SETD8 selectively inhibits LUSC growth. Collectively, our study indicates that BCL11A is integral to LUSC pathology and highlights the disruption of the BCL11A-SOX2 transcriptional programme as a novel candidate for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyren A Lazarus
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, CB2 0XZ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fazal Hadi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, CB2 0XZ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elisabetta Zambon
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, CB2 0XZ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Karsten Bach
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, CB2 0XZ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria-Francesca Santolla
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| | - Julie K Watson
- WT-MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Lucia L Correia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Madhumita Das
- MRC Toxicology Unit, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HB, UK
| | - Rosemary Ugur
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, CB2 0XZ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sara Pensa
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, CB2 0XZ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lukas Becker
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Lia S Campos
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Graham Ladds
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Pentao Liu
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Gerard I Evan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Frank M McCaughan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - John Le Quesne
- MRC Toxicology Unit, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HB, UK
- Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
- University Hospitals Leicester NHS trust, Leicester, LE1 5WW, UK
| | - Joo-Hyeon Lee
- WT-MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Dinis Calado
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Walid T Khaled
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK.
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, CB2 0XZ, Cambridge, UK.
- WT-MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.
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Papalia T, Lappano R, Barattucci A, Pisano A, Bruno G, Santolla MF, Campagna S, De Marco P, Puntoriero F, De Francesco EM, Rosano C, Maggiolini M, Bonaccorsi P. A Bodipy as a luminescent probe for detection of the G protein estrogen receptor (GPER). Org Biomol Chem 2015; 13:10437-41. [PMID: 26400551 DOI: 10.1039/c5ob01827g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
We report the rational design, based on docking simulations, and synthesis of the first fluorescent and selective probe of GPER for bioimaging purposes and functional dissecting studies. It has been conceived as a Bodipy derivative and obtained by accessible and direct synthesis. Its optical properties have been measured in different solvents, showing insensitivity to their polarity. Its binding to GPER was achieved by competition assays with [3H]E2 and [5,6-3H] nicotinic acid in ER-negative and GPER-positive SkBr3 breast cancer cells. SkBr3 cells, transfected with a GPER expression vector containing a FLAG tag, were used to confirm that the fluorophore binds to GPER in a specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Papalia
- Department of "Scienze del Farmaco e Prodotti per la Salute", v. Annunziata, Università degli Studi di Messina, Polo Universitario, 98168 Messina, Italy
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Santolla MF, Avino S, Pellegrino M, De Francesco EM, De Marco P, Lappano R, Vivacqua A, Cirillo F, Rigiracciolo DC, Scarpelli A, Abonante S, Maggiolini M. SIRT1 is involved in oncogenic signaling mediated by GPER in breast cancer. Cell Death Dis 2015. [PMID: 26225773 PMCID: PMC4650744 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A number of tumors exhibit an altered expression of sirtuins, including NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) that may act as a tumor suppressor or tumor promoter mainly depending on the tumor types. For instance, in breast cancer cells SIRT1 was shown to exert an essential role toward the oncogenic signaling mediated by the estrogen receptor-α (ERα). In accordance with these findings, the suppression of SIRT1 led to the inhibition of the transduction pathway triggered by ERα. As the regulation of SIRT1 has not been investigated in cancer cells lacking ER, in the present study we ascertained the expression and function of SIRT1 by estrogens in ER-negative breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts obtained from breast cancer patients. Our results show that 17β-estradiol (E2) and the selective ligand of GPER, namely G-1, induce the expression of SIRT1 through GPER and the subsequent activation of the EGFR/ERK/c-fos/AP-1 transduction pathway. Moreover, we demonstrate that SIRT1 is involved in the pro-survival effects elicited by E2 through GPER, like the prevention of cell cycle arrest and cell death induced by the DNA damaging agent etoposide. Interestingly, the aforementioned actions of estrogens were abolished silencing GPER or SIRT1, as well as using the SIRT1 inhibitor Sirtinol. In addition, we provide evidence regarding the involvement of SIRT1 in tumor growth stimulated by GPER ligands in breast cancer cells and xenograft models. Altogether, our data suggest that SIRT1 may be included in the transduction network activated by estrogens through GPER toward the breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Santolla
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - S Avino
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - M Pellegrino
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - E M De Francesco
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - P De Marco
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - R Lappano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - A Vivacqua
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - F Cirillo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - D C Rigiracciolo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - A Scarpelli
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - S Abonante
- Breast Cancer Unit, Regional Hospital, Cosenza, Italy
| | - M Maggiolini
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
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Lappano R, Rosano C, Santolla MF, Pupo M, De Francesco EM, De Marco P, Ponassi M, Spallarossa A, Ranise A, Maggiolini M. Two novel GPER agonists induce gene expression changes and growth effects in cancer cells. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2012; 12:531-42. [PMID: 22414008 DOI: 10.2174/156800912800673284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2011] [Revised: 12/11/2011] [Accepted: 12/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although the action of estrogens has been traditionally explained by the binding to and transactivation of the nuclear estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ, recently the G protein-coupled receptor GPR30/GPER has been involved in the rapid estrogen signaling. We investigated the ability of two original molecules, which were named GPER-L1 and GPERL2, to bind to and activate the GPER transduction pathway in cancer cells. Competition assays, docking simulations, transfection experiments, real-time PCR, immunoblotting, gene silencing technology and growth assays were performed to ascertain the selective action of GPER-L1 and GPER-L2 in activating the GPER-mediated signaling. Both compounds, which did not show any ability to bind to and activate the classical ERs, were able to bind to GPER and to trigger the rapid activation of the GPER/EGFR/ERK transduction pathway which led to the up-regulation of GPER-target genes. Notably, GPER-L1 and GPER-L2 induced the proliferation of SkBr3 breast and Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells at nM concentrations through GPER, hence providing further evidence on their capability to elicit relevant biological responses mediated by GPER. The identification and characterization of these novel compounds as selective GPER agonists represent a valuable tool to further dissect the pharmacology of this novel estrogen receptor and to better differentiate the specific functions elicited by each estrogen receptor subtype in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lappano
- Dipartimento Farmaco- Biologico, Universita della Calabria, Rende, Italy
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Rosano C, Lappano R, Santolla MF, Ponassi M, Donadini A, Maggiolini M. Recent advances in the rationale design of GPER ligands. Curr Med Chem 2012; 19:6199-6206. [PMID: 23116143] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2012] [Revised: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) superfamily, which comprises approximately 900 members, is the largest family of protein targets with proven therapeutic value. Although at least 500 GPCRs have been identified as therapeutically relevant, only thirteen GPCRs have been structurally characterized in apo-form or in complex with ligands. GPCRs share relatively low sequence similarity making hard the process of homology modelling, nevertheless some successful hits have been determined. Recently, the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER, formerly known as GPR30) has attracted increasing interest due to its ability in mediating estrogen signaling in different normal and cancer tissues. In this regard, the identification of selective GPER ligands has provided valuable tools in order to differentiate the specific functions elicited by this novel estrogen receptor respect to those exerted by the classical estrogen receptors (ERs). In this review, we focus on GPER examining "in silico" docking simulations and evaluating the different binding modes of diverse natural and synthetic ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Rosano
- U.O.S. Biopolimeri e Proteomica. IRCCS A.O.U. San Martino - IST, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Largo R. Benzi 10, 16132 Genova Italy.
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