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Granato G, Gesmundo I, Pedrolli F, Kasarla R, Begani L, Banfi D, Bruno S, Lopatina T, Brizzi MF, Cai R, Sha W, Ghigo E, Schally AV, Granata R. Growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist MIA-602 inhibits inflammation induced by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and bacterial lipopolysaccharide synergism in macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1231363. [PMID: 37649486 PMCID: PMC10462983 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1231363] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response and macrophage hyperactivation, leading, in severe cases, to alveolar epithelial injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Recent studies have reported that SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein interacts with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to boost inflammatory responses in vitro, in macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and in vivo. The hypothalamic hormone growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), in addition to promoting pituitary GH release, exerts many peripheral functions, acting as a growth factor in both malignant and non-malignant cells. GHRH antagonists, in turn, display potent antitumor effects and antinflammatory activities in different cell types, including lung and endothelial cells. However, to date, the antinflammatory role of GHRH antagonists in COVID-19 remains unexplored. Here, we examined the ability of GHRH antagonist MIA-602 to reduce inflammation in human THP-1-derived macrophages and PBMCs stimulated with S protein and LPS combination. Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis revealed the presence of GHRH receptor and its splice variant SV1 in both THP-1 cells and PBMCs. Exposure of THP-1 cells to S protein and LPS combination increased the mRNA levels and protein secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β, as well as IL-8 and MCP-1 gene expression, an effect hampered by MIA-602. Similarly, MIA-602 hindered TNF-α and IL-1β secretion in PBMCs and reduced MCP-1 mRNA levels. Mechanistically, MIA-602 blunted the S protein and LPS-induced activation of inflammatory pathways in THP-1 cells, such as NF-κB, STAT3, MAPK ERK1/2 and JNK. MIA-602 also attenuated oxidative stress in PBMCs, by decreasing ROS production, iNOS and COX-2 protein levels, and MMP9 activity. Finally, MIA-602 prevented the effect of S protein and LPS synergism on NF-кB nuclear translocation and activity. Overall, these findings demonstrate a novel antinflammatory role for GHRH antagonists of MIA class and suggest their potential development for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as COVID-19 and related comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Granato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Iacopo Gesmundo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Pedrolli
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ramesh Kasarla
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Begani
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Dana Banfi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Stefania Bruno
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Tatiana Lopatina
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Renzhi Cai
- Endocrine, Polypeptide, and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
- South Florida VA Foundation for Research and Education, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Wei Sha
- Endocrine, Polypeptide, and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Ezio Ghigo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrew V. Schally
- Endocrine, Polypeptide, and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
- South Florida VA Foundation for Research and Education, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Medicine, Divisions of Medical/Oncology and Endocrinology, and the Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Riccarda Granata
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Wu HM, Chen LH, Schally AV, Huang HY, Soong YK, Leung PCK, Wang HS. Impact of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonist on Decidual stromal cell growth and apoptosis in vitro. Biol Reprod 2021; 106:145-154. [PMID: 34792103 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial stromal cells remodeling is critical during human pregnancy. GHRH and its functional receptor have been shown to be expressed in gynecological cancer cells and eutopic endometrial stromal cells. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential clinical uses of antagonists of GHRH as effective antitumor agents because of its directly antagonistic effect on the locally produced GHRH in gynecological tumors. However, the impact of GHRH antagonists on normal endometrial stromal cell growth remained to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a GHRH antagonist (JMR-132) on cell proliferation and apoptosis of human decidual stromal cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that GHRH and the splice variant 1 (SV1) of GHRH receptor (GHRH-R SV1) are expressed in human decidual stromal cells isolated from the decidual tissues of early pregnant women receiving surgical abortion. In addition, treatment of stroma cells with JMR-132 induced cell apoptosis with increasing cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities, and decrease cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Using a dual inhibition approach (pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA-mediated knockdown), we showed that JMR-132-induced activation of apoptotic signals are mediated by the activation of ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways and the subsequent upregulation of GADD45α. Taken together, JMR-132 suppresses cell survival of decidual stromal cells by inducing apoptosis through the activation of ERK1/2- and JNK-mediated upregulation of GADD45α in human endometrial stromal cells. Our findings provide new insights into the potential impact of GHRH antagonist on the decidual programming in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Ming Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan R.O.C. 333
| | - Liang-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan R.O.C. 333
| | - Andrew V Schally
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - Hong-Yuan Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan R.O.C. 333
| | - Yung-Kuei Soong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan R.O.C. 333
| | - Peter C K Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H3V5
| | - Hsin-Shih Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan R.O.C. 333
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Zhang C, Tian R, Dreifus EM, Hashemi Shahraki A, Holt G, Cai R, Griswold A, Bejarano P, Jackson R, V Schally A, Mirsaeidi M. Activity of the growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist MIA602 and its underlying mechanisms of action in sarcoidosis-like granuloma. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1310. [PMID: 34257968 PMCID: PMC8256670 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is a potent stimulator of growth hormone (GH) secretion from the pituitary gland. Although GHRH is essential for the growth of immune cells, the regulatory effects of its antagonist in granulomatous disease remain unknown. METHODS Here, we report expression of GHRH receptor (R) in human tissue with sarcoidosis granuloma and demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of MIA602 (a GHRH antagonist) in two in vitro human granuloma models and an in vivo granuloma model using different methods including ELISA, immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq analysis and flow cytometry. RESULTS MIA602 decreases the levels of IL-2, IL-2R, IL-7, IL-12, IL-17A and TNF-α in an in vitro granuloma model. Further, we show that the anti-inflammatory effect of MIA602 appears to be mediated by a reduction in CD45+CD68+ cells in granulomatous tissue and upregulation in PD-1 expression in macrophages. Analysis of the expression of proteins involved in the mitochondrial stage of apoptosis showed that MIA602 increases the levels of caspase-3, BCL-xL/BAK dimer and MCl-1/Bak dimer in the granuloma. These findings indicate that MIA602 may not induce apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our findings further suggest that GHRH-R is potentially a clinical target for the treatment of granulomatous disease and that MIA602 may be used as a novel therapeutic agent for sarcoidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongxu Zhang
- Section of PulmonaryMiami VA Healthcare SystemMiamiFLUSA
| | - Runxia Tian
- Section of PulmonaryMiami VA Healthcare SystemMiamiFLUSA
| | | | | | - Gregory Holt
- Section of PulmonaryMiami VA Healthcare SystemMiamiFLUSA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical CareUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | - Renzhi Cai
- Section of PulmonaryMiami VA Healthcare SystemMiamiFLUSA
| | - Anthony Griswold
- School of MedicineJohn P. Hussman Institute for Human GenomicsUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | | | - Robert Jackson
- Section of PulmonaryMiami VA Healthcare SystemMiamiFLUSA
- School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
| | - Andrew V Schally
- Polypeptide and Cancer InstituteVeterans Affairs Medical CenterMiamiFLUSA
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Miami Miller School of MedicineMiamiFLUSA
| | - Mehdi Mirsaeidi
- Section of PulmonaryMiami VA Healthcare SystemMiamiFLUSA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical CareUniversity of MiamiMiamiFLUSA
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Wu HM, Huang HY, Schally AV, Chao A, Chou HH, Leung PCK, Wang HS. Growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist inhibits the invasiveness of human endometrial cancer cells by down-regulating twist and N-cadherin expression. Oncotarget 2018; 8:4410-4421. [PMID: 28032599 PMCID: PMC5354842 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 25% of patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma have invasive primary cancer accompanied by metastases. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) plays an important role in reproduction. Here, we examined the effect of a GHRH antagonist on the motility of endometrial cancer cells and the mechanisms of action of the antagonist in endometrial cancer. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to determine the expression of the GHRH receptor protein. The activity of Twist and N-cadherin was determined by Western blotting. Cell motility was assessed by an invasion and migration assay. GHRH receptor siRNA was applied to knockdown the GHRH receptor in endometrial cancer cells. The GHRH antagonist inhibited cell motility in a dose-dependent manner. The GHRH antagonist inhibited cell motility and suppressed the expression of Twist and N-cadherin, and the suppression was abolished by GHRH receptor siRNA pretreatment. Moreover, the inhibition of Twist and N-cadherin with Twist siRNA and N-cadherin siRNA, respectively, suppressed cell motility. Our study indicates that the GHRH antagonist inhibited the cell motility of endometrial cancer cells through the GHRH receptor via the suppression of Twist and N-cadherin. Our findings represent a new concept in the mechanism of GHRH antagonist-suppressed cell motility in endometrial cancer cells and suggest the possibility of exploring GHRH antagonists as potential therapeutics for the treatment of human endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Ming Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Hong-Yuan Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Andrew V Schally
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - Angel Chao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Hung-Hsueh Chou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Peter C K Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H3V5, Canada
| | - Hsin-Shih Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan R.O.C
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Vacas E, Muñoz-Moreno L, Valenzuela PL, Prieto JC, Schally AV, Carmena MJ, Bajo AM. Growth hormone-releasing hormone induced transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor in human triple-negative breast cancer cells. Peptides 2016; 86:153-161. [PMID: 27816751 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subset of breast cancers which is negative for expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). Chemotherapy is currently the only form of treatment for women with TNBC. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are autocrine/paracrine growth factors in breast cancer and a substantial proportion of TNBC expresses receptors for GHRH and EGF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interrelationship between both these signaling pathways in MDA-MB-468 human TNBC cells. We evaluated by Western blot assays the effect of GHRH on transactivation of EGF receptor (EGFR) as well as the elements implicated. We assessed the effect of GHRH on migration capability of MDA-MB-468 cells as well as the involvement of EGFR in this process by means of wound-healing assays. Our findings demonstrate that in MDA-MB-468 cells the stimulatory activity of GHRH on tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR is exerted by two different molecular mechanisms: i) through GHRH receptors, GHRH stimulates a ligand-independent activation of EGFR involving at least cAMP/PKA and Src family signaling pathways; ii) GHRH also stimulates a ligand-dependent activation of EGFR implicating an extracellular pathway with an important role for metalloproteinases. The cross-talk between EGFR and GHRHR may be impeded by combining drugs acting upon GHRH receptors and EGFR family members. This combination of GHRH receptors antagonists with inhibitors of EGFR signalling could enhance the efficacy of both types of agents as well as reduce their doses increasing therapeutic benefits in management of human breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Vacas
- Department of Systems of Biology, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Laura Muñoz-Moreno
- Department of Systems of Biology, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Pedro L Valenzuela
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Principe de Asturias Hospital, Alcalá de Henares University, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan C Prieto
- Department of Systems of Biology, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Andrew V Schally
- Veterans Administration Medical Center and Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Division of Oncology and Hematology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education, Miami, FL, USA
| | - María J Carmena
- Department of Systems of Biology, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Ana M Bajo
- Department of Systems of Biology, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.
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