bims-istrec 2022-12-04 papers

bims-istrec

Biomed News

on Integrated stress response in cancer

Issue of 2022–12–04
six papers selected by
the Vincenzo Ciminale lab, Istituto Oncologico Veneto

System analysis based on the ER stress-related genes identifies WFS1 as a novel therapy target for colon cancer.
Targeting proteasome enhances anticancer activity of oncolytic HSV-1 in colorectal cancer.
The antitumor activity of a novel GCN2 inhibitor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.
Chromomycin A5 induces bona fide immunogenic cell death in melanoma.
Targeting integrated stress response with ISRIB combined with imatinib treatment attenuates RAS/RAF/MAPK and STAT5 signaling and eradicates chronic myeloid leukemia cells.
Progesterone regulates the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation and Unfolded Protein Response axis by mimicking the androgenic stimulation in prostate cancer cells.

Aging (Albany NY). 2022 Nov 28. 14

System analysis based on the ER stress-related genes identifies WFS1 as a novel therapy target for colon cancer.

Xianguang Yang, Chaoyang Zhang, Cheng Yan, Liukai Ma, Jiahao Ma, Xiaoke Meng.

   BACKGROUND: Colon cancer (COAD) is the third-largest common malignant tumor and the fourth major cause of cancer death in the world. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has a great influence on cell growth, migration, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance of massive tumors. Although ER stress is known to play an important role in various types of cancer, the prognostic model based on ER stress-related genes (ERSRGs) in colon cancer has not been constructed yet. In this study, we established an ERSRGs prognostic risk model to assess the survival of COAD patients.
METHODS: The COAD gene expression profile and clinical information data of the training set were obtained from the GEO database (GSE40967) and the test set COAD gene expression profile and clinical informative data were downloaded from the TCGA database. The endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (ERSRGs) were obtained from Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) website. Differentially expressed ERSRGs between normal samples and COAD samples were identified by R "limma" package. Based on the univariate, lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analysis, we developed an ERSRGs prognostic risk model to predict survival in COAD patients. Finally, we verified the function of WFS1 in COAD through in vitro experiments.
RESULTS: We built a 9-gene prognostic risk model based on the univariate, lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that the prognostic risk model has good predictive performance. Subsequently, we screened 60 compounds with significant differences in the estimated half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) between high-risk and low-risk groups. In addition, we found that the ERSRGs prognostic risk model was related to immune cell infiltration and the expression of immune checkpoint molecules. Finally, we determined that knockdown of the expression of WFS1 inhibits the proliferation of colon cancer cells.
CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic risk model we built may help clinicians accurately predict the survival of patients with COAD. Our findings provide valuable insights into the role of ERSRGs in COAD and may provide new targets for COAD therapy.

Keywords:  COAD; ERSRGs; WFS1; prognostic models; sensitive drugs

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204404
Virology. 2022 Nov 11. pii: S0042-6822(22)00192-1. [Epub ahead of print]578 13-21

Targeting proteasome enhances anticancer activity of oncolytic HSV-1 in colorectal cancer.

Xiaxi Li, Wei Hu, Jiangang Shen, Mingsong Li, Wei Gong.

  Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) has been widely used to treat various cancers, but its efficacy is limited. Studies indicated that combining HSV-1 and chemotherapy drugs can effectively improve the lethality of HSV-1 in tumor cells, which has a synergistic effect. Here, we explored the oncolytic effect and mechanism of bortezomib and HSV-1 on colorectal cancer cells, HCT116 and Caco-2. First, we selected four drugs to detect cell viability and found that the strongest HSV-1-promoting effect was achieved using bortezomib + HSV-1 treatment. Bortezomib combined with HSV-1 treatment significantly upregulated the expression of heat shock proteins, endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins, while Bcl-2 was downregulated. JC-1 staining revealed that combining bortezomib and HSV-1 promotes cell apoptosis. In addition, bortezomib + oHSV-1 treatment effectively inhibit tumor growth. These results indicate that bortezomib combined with HSV-1 induce intense endoplasmic reticulum stress and activate the caspase-12 apoptosis pathway, killing tumor cells.

Keywords:  Bortezomib; Colorectal cancer cells; Drug combination; HSV-1; Oncolysis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2022.11.002
Transl Oncol. 2022 Nov 24. pii: S1936-5233(22)00251-0. [Epub ahead of print]27 101592

The antitumor activity of a novel GCN2 inhibitor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Jeongjae Lee, Bhumsuk Keam, Soyeon Kim, Jung-Nyoung Heo, Eunkyo Joung, Miso Kim, Tae Min Kim, Dong-Wan Kim, Dae Seog Heo.

   BACKGROUND: General control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) senses amino acid deprivation and activates activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), which regulates many adaptive genes. We evaluated the impact of AST-0513, a novel GCN2 inhibitor, on the GCN2-ATF4 pathway. Additionally, we evaluated the antitumor effects of AST-0513 in amino acid deprivation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines.
METHODS: GCN2 expression in HNSCC patient tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry. Five HNSCC cell lines (SNU-1041, SNU-1066, SNU-1076, Detroit-562, FaDu) grown under amino acid deprivation conditions, were treated with AST-0513. After AST-0513 treatment, cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptosis and cell cycle phase. In addition, immunoblotting was performed to evaluate the effect of AST-0513 on the GCN2-ATF4 pathway, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis.
RESULTS: We demonstrated that GCN2 was highly expressed in HNSCC patient tissues. AST-0513 inhibited the GCN2-ATF4 pathway in all five HNSCC cell lines. Inhibiting the GCN2-ATF4 pathway during amino acid deprivation reduced HNSCC cell proliferation and prevented adaptation to nutrient stress. Moreover, AST-0513 treatment led to p21 and Cyclin B1 accumulation and G2/M phase cycle arrest. Also, apoptosis was increased, consistent with increased bax expression, increased bcl-xL phosphorylation, and decreased bcl-2 expression.
CONCLUSION: A novel GCN2 inhibitor, AST-0513, inhibited the GCN2-ATF4 pathway and has antitumor activity that inhibits proliferation and promotes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Considering the high expression of GCN2 in HNSCC patients, these results suggest the potential role of GCN2 inhibitor for the treatment of HNSCC.

Keywords:  AST-0513; ATF4; Amino acid deprivation; GCN2; Integrated stress response; Nutrient stress

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101592
Front Immunol. 2022 ;13 941757

Chromomycin A5 induces bona fide immunogenic cell death in melanoma.

Katharine Gurgel Dias Florêncio, Evelline Araújo Edson, Keilla Santana da Silva Fernandes, João Paulo Mesquita Luiz, Francisco das Chagas Lima Pinto, Otília Deusdênia Loiola Pessoa, Fernando de Queiroz Cunha, João Agostinho Machado-Neto, Diego Veras Wilke.

   Purpose: Some first-line cytotoxic chemotherapics, e.g. doxorubicin, paclitaxel and oxaliplatin, induce activation of the immune system through immunogenic cell death (ICD). Tumor cells undergoing ICD function as a vaccine, releasing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which act as adjuvants, and neoantigens of the tumor are recognized as antigens. ICD induction is rare, however it yields better and long-lasting antitumor responses to chemotherapy. Advanced metastatic melanoma (AMM) is incurable for more than half of patients. The discovery of ICD inducers against AMM is an interesting drug discovery strategy with high translational potential. Here we evaluated ICD induction of four highly cytotoxic chromomycins A (CA5-8).
Methods: ICD features and DAMPs were evaluated using several in vitro techniques with metastatic melanoma cell line (B16-F10) exposed to chromomcins A5-8 such as flow cytometry, western blot, RT-PCR and luminescence. Additionally in vivo vaccination assays with CA5-treated cells in a syngeneic murine model (C57Bl/6) were performed to confirm ICD evaluating the immune cells activation and their antitumor activity.
Results: B16-F10 treated with CA5-8 and doxorubicin exhibited ICD features such as autophagy and apoptosis, externalization of calreticulin, and releasing of HMGB1. However, CA5-treated cells had the best profile, also inducing ATP release, ERp57 externalization, phosphorylation of eIF2α and altering expression of transcription of genes related to autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis. Bona fide ICD induction by CA5 was confirmed by vaccination of C57BL/6 mice with CA5-treated cells which activated antigen-presenting cells and T lymphocytes and stimulated antitumor activity.
Conclusion: CA5 induces bona fide immunogenic cell death on melanoma.

Keywords:  anticancer; autophagy; cancer immunotherapy; chromomycin; drug discovery; immunogenic cell death; marine natural products; metastatic melanoma

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.941757
BMC Cancer. 2022 Dec 02. 22(1): 1254

Targeting integrated stress response with ISRIB combined with imatinib treatment attenuates RAS/RAF/MAPK and STAT5 signaling and eradicates chronic myeloid leukemia cells.

Wioleta Dudka, Grazyna Hoser, Shamba S Mondal, Laura Turos-Korgul, Julian Swatler, Monika Kusio-Kobialka, Magdalena Wołczyk, Agata Klejman, Marta Brewinska-Olchowik, Agata Kominek, Milena Wiech, Marcin M Machnicki, Ilona Seferynska, Tomasz Stoklosa, Katarzyna Piwocka.

  The integrated stress response (ISR) facilitates cellular adaptation to unfavorable conditions by reprogramming the cellular response. ISR activation was reported in neurological disorders and solid tumors; however, the function of ISR and its role as a possible therapeutic target in hematological malignancies still remain largely unexplored. Previously, we showed that the ISR is activated in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells and correlates with blastic transformation and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance. Moreover, the ISR was additionally activated in response to imatinib as a type of protective internal signaling. Here, we show that ISR inhibition combined with imatinib treatment sensitized and more effectively eradicated leukemic cells both in vitro and in vivo compared to treatment with single agents. The combined treatment specifically inhibited the STAT5 and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathways, which are recognized as drivers of resistance. Mechanistically, this drug combination attenuated both interacting signaling networks, leading to BCR-ABL1- and ISR-dependent STAT5 activation. Consequently, leukemia engraftment in patient-derived xenograft mice bearing CD34+ TKI-resistant CML blasts carrying PTPN11 mutation responsible for hyperactivation of the RAS/RAF/MAPK and JAK/STAT5 pathways was decreased upon double treatment. This correlated with the downregulation of genes related to the RAS/RAF/MAPK, JAK/STAT5 and stress response pathways and was associated with lower expression of STAT5-target genes regulating proliferation, viability and the stress response. Collectively, these findings highlight the effect of imatinib plus ISRIB in the eradication of leukemic cells resistant to TKIs and suggest potential clinical benefits for leukemia patients with TKI resistance related to RAS/RAF/MAPK or STAT5 signaling. We propose that personalized treatment based on the genetic selection of patients carrying mutations that cause overactivation of the targeted pathways and therefore make their sensitivity to such treatment probable should be considered as a possible future direction in leukemia treatment.

Keywords:  CML; ISR; ISRIB; Myeloid leukemia; PTPN11; RAS/RAF/MAPK; STAT5; TKI resistance

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-10289-w
Mol Biol Rep. 2022 Nov 29.

Progesterone regulates the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation and Unfolded Protein Response axis by mimicking the androgenic stimulation in prostate cancer cells.

Yalcin Erzurumlu, Hatice Kubra Dogan, Deniz Catakli.

   BACKGROUND: Today, androgen receptor (AR)-mediated signaling mechanisms in prostate cancer are intensively studied. However, the roles of other steroid hormones in prostate cancer and their effects on androgenic signaling still remain a mystery. Recent studies focused on the androgen-mediated regulation of protein quality control mechanisms such as endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) and unfolded protein response (UPR) in prostate cancer cells. Present study, we investigated the action of progesterone signaling on ERAD and UPR mechanisms and analyzed the crosstalk of progesterone signaling with androgenic signal in prostate cancer cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS: The mode of action of progesterone on ERAD, UPR and AR signaling in prostate cancer was investigated by cell culture studies using LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells. To this aim qRT-PCR, western-blotting assay, immunofluorescent microscopy, nuclear fractionation and bioinformatic analysis were used. Our results indicated that progesterone positively regulates mRNA and protein levels of ERAD components in LNCaP cells. Also, it induced the IRE⍺ and PERK branches of UPR signaling. Progesterone receptor antagonist effectively antagonized the progesterone-induced responses. We also had similar results in 22Rv1 cells. Also, we tested the effect of the pharmacologically reducing of IRE⍺ and PERK signaling on progesterone-induced ERAD. Additionally, we determined the presence of putative progesterone response elements (PREs) in the promoter regions of ERAD members by bioinformatic tool. More strikingly, we found progesterone regulates AR signaling by modulating the nuclear transactivation of AR.
CONCLUSION: Herein, we defined that progesterone hormone positively regulates ERAD and UPR mechanisms in prostate cancer cells and that progesterone contributes to the molecular biology of prostate cancer by regulating androgenic signaling. Mode of Action of Progesteron on Androgen sensitive prostate cancer cells.

Keywords:  Androgen; Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation; Progesterone; Prostate cancer; Unfolded Protein Response

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-022-08065-x