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Ncube KN, Jurgens T, Steenkamp V, Cromarty AD, van den Bout I, Cordier W. Comparative Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Doxorubicin in BT-20 Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma Monolayer and Spheroid Cultures. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051484. [PMID: 37239157 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051484] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional cell culture models are increasingly adopted as preferred pre-clinical drug testing platforms, as they circumvent limitations associated with traditional monolayer cell cultures. However, many of these models are not fully characterized. This study aimed to characterize a BT-20 triple-negative breast carcinoma spheroid model and assess its susceptibility to doxorubicin in comparison to a monolayer model. Spheroids were developed using the liquid overlay method. Phenotypic attributes were analyzed by characterizing changes in size, gross morphology, protein content, metabolic activity, hypoxic status, and cell-cell junctions. The cytotoxic range of doxorubicin in monolayers was determined using the sulforhodamine B assay, and the comparative effect of toxic and sub-toxic concentrations was assessed in both spheroids and monolayers. Similar to the in vivo microenvironment, spheroids had a heterogeneous spatial cytoarchitecture, inherent hypoxia and strong adherens junctions. Doxorubicin induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity in monolayers (IC25: 130 nM, IC50: 320 nM and IC75: 1580 nM); however, these concentrations did not alter the spheroid size or acid phosphatase activity. Only concentrations ≥6 µM had any effect on spheroid integrity. In comparison to monolayers, the BT-20 spheroid model has decreased sensitivity to doxorubicin and could serve as a better model for susceptibility testing in triple-negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith N Ncube
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0007, South Africa
| | - Tamarin Jurgens
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0007, South Africa
| | - Vanessa Steenkamp
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0007, South Africa
| | - Allan D Cromarty
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0007, South Africa
| | - Iman van den Bout
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0007, South Africa
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0007, South Africa
| | - Werner Cordier
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0007, South Africa
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van Vuuren RJ, Botes M, Jurgens T, Joubert AM, van den Bout I. Correction to: Novel sulphamoylated 2-methoxy estradiol derivatives inhibit breast cancer migration by disrupting microtubule turnover and organization. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:308. [PMID: 32684845 PMCID: PMC7359456 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01408-3] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mandie Botes
- Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa.,Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
| | - Tamarin Jurgens
- Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
| | | | - Iman van den Bout
- Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa.,Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
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van Vuuren RJ, Botes M, Jurgens T, Joubert AM, van den Bout I. Novel sulphamoylated 2-methoxy estradiol derivatives inhibit breast cancer migration by disrupting microtubule turnover and organization. Cancer Cell Int 2019; 19:1. [PMID: 30622437 PMCID: PMC6317210 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0719-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [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: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The estrogen metabolite 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) and a number of synthesised derivatives have been shown to bind to microtubules thereby arresting cancer cells in mitosis which leads to apoptosis. In interphase cells, microtubules play an important role in the delivery of proteins to subcellular locations including the focal adhesions. In fact, focal adhesion dynamics and cell migration are in part regulated by microtubules. We hypothesised that novel 2ME2 derivatives can alter cell migration by influencing microtubule dynamics in interphase cells. In this report we describe 2ME2 derivatives that display anti-migratory capabilities in a metastatic breast cancer cell line through their effects on the microtubule network resulting in altered focal adhesion signalling and RhoA activity. METHODS Cell migration was assayed using wound healing assays. To eliminate mitosis blockage and cell rounding as a confounding factor cell migration was also assessed in interphase blocked cells. Fluorescence confocal microscopy was used to visualise microtubule dynamics and actin cytoskeleton organisation while western blot analysis was performed to analyse focal adhesion signalling and RhoA activation. RESULTS 2ME2 derivatives, ESE-one and ESE-15-one, inhibited cell migration in cycling cells as expected but equally diminished migration in cells blocked in interphase. While no significant effects were observed on the actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesion kinase activity was increased while RhoA GTPase activity was inhibited after exposure to either compound. Microtubule stability was increased as evidenced by the increased length and number of detyrosinated microtubules while at the same time clear disorganisation of the normal radial microtubule organisation was observed including multiple foci. CONCLUSIONS ESE-15-one and ESE-one are potent migration inhibitors of metastatic breast cancer cells. This ability is coupled to alterations in focal adhesion signalling but more importantly is associated with severe disorganisation of microtubule dynamics and polarity. Therefore, these compounds may offer potential as anti-metastatic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mandie Botes
- Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
| | - Tamarin Jurgens
- Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
| | | | - Iman van den Bout
- Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
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Botes M, Jurgens T, Riahi Z, Visagie M, Janse van Vuuren R, Joubert AM, van den Bout I. A novel non-sulphamoylated 2-methoxyestradiol derivative causes detachment of breast cancer cells by rapid disassembly of focal adhesions. Cancer Cell Int 2018; 18:188. [PMID: 30479567 PMCID: PMC6245879 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0688-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2) is an estradiol metabolite with well documented antiproliferative properties in many cancer cell lines. However, it is rapidly metabolised in vivo which limits its clinical application. Therefore, more stable derivatives with potentially improved clinical features have been designed by our group. Here we describe an estrone-like derivative of 2ME2, namely EE-15-one, that unlike other derivatives which induce cell cycle arrest, induces a rapid loss of cell–substrate adhesion through the inactivation and disassembly of focal adhesions. Methods To assess the effect of 2-ethyl-estra-1,3,5 (10),15-tetraen-3-ol-17-one (EE-15-one) on breast cancer cell lines, cell survival was quantified. The effect of EE-15-one on cell attachment was assessed by measuring cell adhesion and cell rounding via light microscopy. Effects on focal adhesion dynamics and actin cytoskeleton organisation were visualised by immunofluorescence while focal adhesion signalling was assessed by western blot. Cell death was quantified using a lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) assay. To investigate specificity towards cell–substrate over cell–cell contact inhibition, EE-15-one effects on 3D cell cultures were assessed. Results Cell survival assays show an almost complete loss of cells within 24 h of EE-15-one exposure in contrast to published sulphamoylated 2ME2 derivatives. Cell loss is linked to rapid detachment and adhesion inhibition. Focal adhesion size and number are rapidly diminished while actin fibres became severed and disappeared within 2 h post exposure. These changes were not due to cell necrosis as LDH activity only slightly increased after 24 h. Cells grown in cell–cell adhesion dependent spheroids did not respond to EE-15-one exposure suggesting that EE-15-one specifically inhibits cell–substrate adhesions but not cell–cell adhesions and does not directly impact the actin cytoskeleton. Conclusion We show that a novel 2ME2 derivative, EE-15-one, induces rapid loss of focal adhesion function leading to cell–substrate detachment through interference with integrin-based cell–substrate adhesions, but not cadherin dependent cell–cell adhesions. Therefore, EE-15-one is the first 2ME2 derivative that has an alternative mode of action to the antimitotic activity of 2ME2. As such EE-15-one shows potential as a lead compound for further development as an inhibitor of cell–substrate adhesion which is essential for metastatic dissemination. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12935-018-0688-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandie Botes
- 1Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa.,2Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
| | - Tamarin Jurgens
- 1Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa.,2Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
| | - Zohreh Riahi
- 1Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
| | - Michelle Visagie
- 1Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
| | | | | | - Iman van den Bout
- 1Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa.,2Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084 South Africa
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de la Mare JA, Jurgens T, Edkins AL. Extracellular Hsp90 and TGFβ regulate adhesion, migration and anchorage independent growth in a paired colon cancer cell line model. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:202. [PMID: 28302086 PMCID: PMC5356307 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3190-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Tumour metastasis remains the major cause of death in cancer patients and, to date, the mechanism and signalling pathways governing this process are not completely understood. The TGF-β pathway is the most commonly mutated pathway in cancer, however its role in cancer progression is controversial as it can function as both a promoter and a suppressor of metastasis. Although previous studies have suggested a role for the molecular chaperone Hsp90 in regulating the TGF-β pathway, the level at which this occurs as well as the consequences in terms of colon cancer metastasis are unknown. Methods The paired SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cell lines, derived from a primary tumour and its lymph node metastasis, respectively, were used as an in vitro model to study key cellular processes required for metastasis. The status of the TGF-β pathway was examined in these cells using ELISA, flow cytometry, western blot analysis and confocal microscopy. Furthermore, the effect of addition or inhibition of the TGF-β pathway and Hsp90 on adhesion, migration and anchorage-independent growth, was determined in the cell lines. Results When comparing the canonical TGF-β1 pathway in the genetically paired cell lines our data suggests that this pathway may be constitutively active in the SW620 metastasis-derived cell line and not the SW480 primary tumour-derived line. In addition, we report that, when present in combination, TGF-β1 and Hsp90β stimulate anchorage-independent growth, reduce adhesion and stimulate migration. This effect is potentiated by inhibition of the TGF-β1 receptor and occurs via an alternate TGF-β1 pathway, mediated by αvβ6 integrin. Interestingly, in the SW620 cells, activation of this alternate TGF-β1 signalling machinery does not appear to require inhibition of the canonical TGF-β1 receptor, which would allow them to respond more effectively to the pro-metastasis stimulus of a combination of Hsp90β and TGF-β1 and this could account for the increased migratory capacity of these cells. Conclusions In this study we report an apparent synergy between TGF-β1 and Hsp90β in stimulating migratory behaviour of colon cancer cells when signalling occurs via αvβ6 integrin as opposed to the canonical TGF-β1 pathway. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-017-3190-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo-Anne de la Mare
- The Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6139, South Africa
| | - Tamarin Jurgens
- The Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6139, South Africa
| | - Adrienne L Edkins
- The Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6139, South Africa.
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Hillerup S, Rostgaard J, Assaf A, Jurgens T, Barlose M, Lainez M, Bigazzi O, Goodman A, Caparso A, Jensen R, May A. EHMTI-0398. Long term safety of the ATI neurostimulation system for the treatment of cluster headache. J Headache Pain 2014. [PMCID: PMC4181991 DOI: 10.1186/1129-2377-15-s1-i4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Kwan D, Boon H, Hirschkorn K, Jurgens T, Welsh S, Cohen J, Heschuk S, Eccott LM. The professional responsibilities of pharmacists with respect to natural health products: Focus group discussions with pharmacists and consumers. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2007. [DOI: 10.3821/1913-701x(2007)140[377:tpropw]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Jurgens T. Who should be providing information to patients about herbal medicine? Can J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 8:186-7. [PMID: 11743590] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T Jurgens
- College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Elbrecht A, Chen Y, Jurgens T, Hensens OD, Zink DL, Beck HT, Balick MJ, Borris R. 8-O-acetylharpagide is a nonsteroidal ecdysteroid agonist. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 1996; 26:519-523. [PMID: 8969463 DOI: 10.1016/0965-1748(95)00103-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
We have identified a novel nonsteroidal ecdysteroid agonist. This compound was isolated from a methanol extract of Ajuga reptans L. (Lamiaceae) and the structure was identified by spectroscopic methods as 8-O-acetylharpagide. We have characterised this compound as an ecdysteroid agonist in a transactivation assay using beta-galactosidase as the reporter gene regulated by ecdysteroid response elements. In this assay, 8-O-acetylharpagide has an EC50 of 22 microM. The compound also competes with tritiated-ponasterone A for binding to the Drosophila ecdysteroid receptor. Finally, it induces differentiation of Drosophila Kc cells as would be expected of an ecdysteroid agonist. This iridoid glycoside is common to several plant species and may play a role in the natural defense mechanisms of plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Elbrecht
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA
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