bims-nurfca 2024-05-19 papers

bims-nurfca

Biomed News

on NRF2 and Cancer

Issue of 2024–05–19
ten papers selected by
Caner Geyik, Istinye University

Effect of Pyridoxine Derivative B6NO on Transcription Factor Nrf2 Activity and Cytotoxic Properties of Doxorubicin In Vitro.
Opposing Interplay between Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 and Forkhead BoxO 1/3 is Responsible for Sepantronium Bromide's Poor Efficacy and Resistance in Cancer cells: Opportunity for Combination Therapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
Mapping the tumor stress network reveals dynamic shifts in the stromal oxidative stress response.
Identification of ROS and KEAP1-related genes and verified targets of α-hederin induce cell death for CRC.
FGFR2-triggered autophagy and activation of Nrf-2 reduce breast cancer cell response to anti-ER drugs.
Arginine deprivation enriches lung cancer proteomes with cysteine by inducing arginine-to-cysteine substitutants.
Tertiary Lymphoid Structures Gene Signature Predicts Prognosis and Immune Infiltration Analysis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Melatonin ameliorates 10-hydroxycamptothecin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis via autophagy-regulated p62/Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in mouse testicular cells.
Role of oxidative stress-induced ferroptosis in cancer therapy.
Benzo[a]pyrene evokes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and pulmonary fibrosis through AhR-mediated Nrf2-p62 signaling.

Bull Exp Biol Med. 2024 Mar;176(5): 687-696

Effect of Pyridoxine Derivative B6NO on Transcription Factor Nrf2 Activity and Cytotoxic Properties of Doxorubicin In Vitro.

A A Balakina, V I Amozova, T R Prikhodchenko, T S Stupina, D V Mishchenko.

  The effect of a new pyridoxine derivative B6NO on doxorubicin cytotoxicity and Nrf2-dependent cellular processes in vitro was studied. Antioxidant B6NO enhances the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin on tumor cells, which is associated with G2/M cell division arrest and an increase in activity of proapoptotic enzyme caspase-3. The antioxidant promotes intracellular accumulation and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 transcription factor in non-tumor and tumor cells. In non-tumor cells, B6NO increases the expression of antioxidant system proteins and reduces ROS generation in the presence of doxorubicin. In tumor cells, no activation of Nrf2-dependent processes occurs under the action of the antioxidant. Our findings demonstrate the prospect of further studies of pyridoxine derivatives as antioxidants to reduce adverse reactions during chemotherapy.

Keywords:  Nrf2; antioxidants; doxorubicin; pyridoxine; reactive oxygen species

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-024-06091-2
ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2024 May 10. 7(5): 1237-1251

Opposing Interplay between Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 and Forkhead BoxO 1/3 is Responsible for Sepantronium Bromide's Poor Efficacy and Resistance in Cancer cells: Opportunity for Combination Therapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Shaista Haider, Shayantani Chakraborty, Goutam Chowdhury, Anindita Chakrabarty.

Survivin, a cancer-cell-specific multifunctional protein, is regulated by many oncogenic signaling pathways and an effective therapeutic target. Although, several types of survivin-targeting agents have been developed over the past few decades, none of them received clinical approval. This could be because survivin expression is tightly controlled by the feedback interaction between different signaling molecules. Of the several signaling pathways that are known to regulate survivin expression, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT serine-threonine kinase/forkhead boxO (PI3K/AKT/FoxO) pathway is well-known for feedback loops constructed by cross-talk among different molecules. Using sepantronium bromide (YM155), the first of its class of survivin-suppressant, we uncovered the existence of an interesting cross-talk between Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2) and FoxO transcription factors that also contributes to YM155 resistance in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Pharmacological manipulation to interrupt this interaction not only helped restore/enhance the drug-sensitivity but also prompted effective immune clearance of cancer cells. Because the YM155-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) initiates this feedback, we believe that it will be occurring for many ROS-producing chemotherapeutic agents. Our work provides a rational explanation for the poor efficacy of YM155 compared to standard chemotherapy in clinical trials. Finally, the triple drug combination approach used herein might help reintroducing YM155 into the clinical pipeline, and given the high survivin expression in TNBC cells in general, it could be effective in treating this subtype of breast cancer.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.3c00279
Cell Rep. 2024 May 16. pii: S2211-1247(24)00564-3. [Epub ahead of print]43(5): 114236

Mapping the tumor stress network reveals dynamic shifts in the stromal oxidative stress response.

Chen Lior, Debra Barki, Coral Halperin, Christine A Iacobuzio-Donahue, David Kelsen, Ruth Scherz- Shouval.

  The tumor microenvironment (TME) presents cells with challenges such as variable pH, hypoxia, and free radicals, triggering stress responses that affect cancer progression. In this study, we examine the stress response landscape in four carcinomas-breast, pancreas, ovary, and prostate-across five pathways: heat shock, oxidative stress, hypoxia, DNA damage, and unfolded protein stress. Using a combination of experimental and computational methods, we create an atlas of stress responses across various types of carcinomas. We find that stress responses vary within the TME and are especially active near cancer cells. Focusing on the non-immune stroma we find, across tumor types, that NRF2 and the oxidative stress response are distinctly activated in immune-regulatory cancer-associated fibroblasts and in a unique subset of cancer-associated pericytes. Our study thus provides an interactome of stress responses in cancer, offering ways to intersect survival pathways within the tumor, and advance cancer therapy.

Keywords:  CP: Cancer; NRF2; cancer; cancer-associated fibroblasts; fibroblasts; oxidative stress; pericytes; scRNA-seq; stress responses; stroma; tumor microenvrionemnt

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114236
Drug Dev Res. 2024 May;85(3): e22200

Identification of ROS and KEAP1-related genes and verified targets of α-hederin induce cell death for CRC.

Gang Wang, Zhi-Min Zhu, Kun Wang.

  In this study, we analyzed and verified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ROS and KEAP1 crosstalk in oncogenic signatures using GEO data sets (GSE4107 and GSE41328). Multiple pathway enrichment analyses were finished based on DEGs. The genetic signature for colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) was identified by using the Cox regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to explore the prognosis value of specific genes in COAD. The potential immune signatures and drug sensitivity prediction were also analyzed. Promising small-molecule agents were identified and predicted targets of α-hederin in SuperPred were validated by molecular docking. Also, expression levels of genes and Western blot analysis were conducted. In total, 48 genes were identified as DEGs, and the hub genes such as COL1A1, CXCL12, COL1A2, FN1, CAV1, TIMP3, and IGFBP7 were identified. The ROS and KEAP1-associated gene signatures comprised of hub key genes were developed for predicting the prognosis and evaluating the immune cell responses and immune infiltration in COAD. α-hederin, a potential anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) agent, was found to enhance the sensitivity of HCT116 cells, regulate CAV1 and COL1A1, and decrease KEAP1, Nrf2, and HO-1 expression significantly. KEAP1-related genes could be an essential mediator of ROS in CRC, and KEAP1-associated genes were effective in predicting prognosis and evaluating individualized CRC treatment. Therefore, α-hederin may be an effective chemosensitizer for CRC treatments in clinical settings.

Keywords:  KEAP1‐related genes; ROS; colorectal cancer; predicted targets; α‐hederin

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.22200
Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2024 May 14. 29(1): 71

FGFR2-triggered autophagy and activation of Nrf-2 reduce breast cancer cell response to anti-ER drugs.

Monika Gorska-Arcisz, Marta Popeda, Marcin Braun, Dominika Piasecka, Joanna I Nowak, Kamila Kitowska, Grzegorz Stasilojc, Marcin Okroj, Hanna M Romanska, Rafal Sadej.

   BACKGROUND: Genetic abnormalities in the FGFR signalling occur in 40% of breast cancer (BCa) patients resistant to anti-ER therapy, which emphasizes the potential of FGFR-targeting strategies. Recent findings indicate that not only mutated FGFR is a driver of tumour progression but co-mutational landscapes and other markers should be also investigated. Autophagy has been recognized as one of the major mechanisms underlying the role of tumour microenvironment in promotion of cancer cell survival, and resistance to anti-ER drugs. The selective autophagy receptor p62/SQSTM1 promotes Nrf-2 activation by Keap1/Nrf-2 complex dissociation. Herein, we have analysed whether the negative effect of FGFR2 on BCa cell response to anti-ER treatment involves the autophagy process and/or p62/Keap1/Nrf-2 axis.
METHODS: The activity of autophagy in ER-positive MCF7 and T47D BCa cell lines was determined by analysis of expression level of autophagy markers (p62 and LC3B) and monitoring of autophagosomes' maturation. Western blot, qPCR and proximity ligation assay were used to determine the Keap1/Nrf-2 interaction and Nrf-2 activation. Analysis of 3D cell growth in Matrigel® was used to assess BCa cell response to applied treatments. In silico gene expression analysis was performed to determine FGFR2/Nrf-2 prognostic value.
RESULTS: We have found that FGFR2 signalling induced autophagy in AMPKα/ULK1-dependent manner. FGFR2 activity promoted dissociation of Keap1/Nrf-2 complex and activation of Nrf-2. Both, FGFR2-dependent autophagy and activation of Nrf-2 were found to counteract the effect of anti-ER drugs on BCa cell growth. Moreover, in silico analysis showed that high expression of NFE2L2 (gene encoding Nrf-2) combined with high FGFR2 expression was associated with poor relapse-free survival (RFS) of ER+ BCa patients.
CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the unknown role of FGFR2 signalling in activation of autophagy and regulation of the p62/Keap1/Nrf-2 interdependence, which has a negative impact on the response of ER+ BCa cells to anti-ER therapies. The data from in silico analyses suggest that expression of Nrf-2 could act as a marker indicating potential benefits of implementation of anti-FGFR therapy in patients with ER+ BCa, in particular, when used in combination with anti-ER drugs.

Keywords:  Autophagy; FGFR2; Keap1; Luminal breast cancer; Nrf-2; p62

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s11658-024-00586-6
Mol Cell. 2024 May 16. pii: S1097-2765(24)00327-7. [Epub ahead of print]84(10): 1904-1916.e7

Arginine deprivation enriches lung cancer proteomes with cysteine by inducing arginine-to-cysteine substitutants.

Chao Yang, Abhijeet Pataskar, Xiaodong Feng, Jasmine Montenegro Navarro, Inés Paniagua, Jacqueline J L Jacobs, Esther A Zaal, Celia R Berkers, Onno B Bleijerveld, Reuven Agami.

  Many types of human cancers suppress the expression of argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1), a rate-limiting enzyme for arginine production. Although dependency on exogenous arginine can be harnessed by arginine-deprivation therapies, the impact of ASS1 suppression on the quality of the tumor proteome is unknown. We therefore interrogated proteomes of cancer patients for arginine codon reassignments (substitutants) and surprisingly identified a strong enrichment for cysteine (R>C) in lung tumors specifically. Most R>C events did not coincide with genetically encoded R>C mutations but were likely products of tRNA misalignments. The expression of R>C substitutants was highly associated with oncogenic kelch-like epichlorohydrin (ECH)-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)-pathway mutations and suppressed by intact-KEAP1 in KEAP1-mutated cancer cells. Finally, functional interrogation indicated a key role for R>C substitutants in cell survival to cisplatin, suggesting that regulatory codon reassignments endow cancer cells with more resilience to stress. Thus, we present a mechanism for enriching lung cancer proteomes with cysteines that may affect therapeutic decisions.

Keywords:  aberrant mRNA translation; amino acid shortage; arginine deprivation; chemotherapy; cysteine; ferroptosis; lung cancer; substitutants

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2024.04.012
Curr Genomics. 2024 Apr 08. 25(2): 88-104

Tertiary Lymphoid Structures Gene Signature Predicts Prognosis and Immune Infiltration Analysis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Aiyan Xing, Dongxiao Lv, Changshun Wu, Kai Zhou, Tianhui Zhao, Lihua Zhao, Huaqing Wang, Hong Feng.

   Objectives: This study aims to assess the prognostic implications of gene signature of the tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and scrutinize the influence of TLS on immune infiltration.
Methods: Patients with HNSCC from the Cancer Genome Atlas were categorized into high/low TLS signature groups based on the predetermined TLS signature threshold. The association of the TLS signature with the immune microenvironment, driver gene mutation status, and tumor mutational load was systematically analyzed. Validation was conducted using independent datasets (GSE41613 and GSE102349).
Results: Patients with a high TLS signature score exhibited better prognosis compared to those with a low TLS signature score. The group with a high TLS signature score had significantly higher immune cell subpopulations compared to the group with a low TLS signature score. Moreover, the major immune cell subpopulations and immune circulation characteristics in the tumor immune microenvironment were positively correlated with the TLS signature. Mutational differences in driver genes were observed between the TLS signature high/low groups, primarily in the cell cycle and NRF2 signaling pathways. Patients with TP53 mutations and high TLS signature scores demonstrated a better prognosis compared to those with TP53 wild-type. In the independent cohort, the relationship between TLS signatures and patient prognosis and immune infiltration was also confirmed. Additionally, immune-related biological processes and signaling pathways were activated with elevated TLS signature.
Conclusion: High TLS signature is a promising independent prognostic factor for HNSCC patients. Immunological analysis indicated a correlation between TLS and immune cell infiltration in HNSCC. These findings provide a theoretical basis for future applications of TLS signature in HNSCC prognosis and immunotherapy.

Keywords:  TP53 mutation; Tertiary lymphoid structure signature; driver mutations; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; immune microenvironment; prognosis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2174/0113892029278082240118053857
J Pineal Res. 2024 May;76(4): e12959

Melatonin ameliorates 10-hydroxycamptothecin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis via autophagy-regulated p62/Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in mouse testicular cells.

Jinmei Cheng, Junjie Xu, Yimin Gu, Yueming Wang, Jianyu Wang, Fei Sun.

  10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is a widely used clinical anticancer drug but has a significant side effect profile. Melatonin has a beneficial impact on the chemotherapy of different cancer cells and reproductive processes, but the effect and underlying molecular mechanism of melatonin's involvement in the HCPT-induced side effects in cells, especially in the testicular cells, are poorly understood. In this study, we found that melatonin therapy significantly restored HCPT-induced testicular cell damage and did not affect the antitumor effect of HCPT. Further analysis found that melatonin therapy suppressed HCPT-induced DNA damage associated with ataxia-telangiectasia mutated- and Rad3-related and CHK1 phosphorylation levels in the testis. Changes in apoptosis-associated protein levels (Bax, Bcl-2, p53, and Cleaved caspase-3) and in reactive oxygen species-associated proteins (Nrf2 and Keap1) and index (malondialdehyde and glutathione) suggested that melatonin treatment relieved HCPT-induced cell apoptosis and oxidative damage, respectively. Mechanistically, melatonin-activated autophagy proteins (ATG7, Beclin1, and LC3bII/I) may induce p62-dependent autophagy to degrade Keap1, eliciting Nrf2 from Keap1-Nrf2 interaction to promote antioxidant enzyme expression such as HO-1, which would salvage HCPT-induced ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction. Collectively, this study reveals that melatonin therapy may protect testicular cells from HCPT-induced damage via the activation of autophagy, which alleviates oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell apoptosis.

Keywords:  HCPT; apoptosis; autophagy; melatonin; oxidative damage

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12959
J Cell Mol Med. 2024 May;28(10): e18399

Role of oxidative stress-induced ferroptosis in cancer therapy.

Keqing Li, Chengjiang Fan, Jianing Chen, Xin Xu, Chuwei Lu, Hanjie Shao, Yang Xi.

  Ferroptosis is a distinct mode of cell death, distinguishing itself from typical apoptosis by its reliance on the accumulation of iron ions and lipid peroxides. Cells manifest an imbalance between oxidative stress and antioxidant equilibrium during certain pathological contexts, such as tumours, resulting in oxidative stress. Notably, recent investigations propose that heightened intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to oxidative stress can heighten cellular susceptibility to ferroptosis inducers or expedite the onset of ferroptosis. Consequently, comprehending role of ROS in the initiation of ferroptosis has significance in elucidating disorders related to oxidative stress. Moreover, an exhaustive exploration into the mechanism and control of ferroptosis might offer novel targets for addressing specific tumour types. Within this context, our review delves into recent fundamental pathways and the molecular foundation of ferroptosis. Four classical ferroptotic molecular pathways are well characterized, namely, glutathione peroxidase 4-centred molecular pathway, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 molecular pathway, mitochondrial molecular pathway, and mTOR-dependent autophagy pathway. Furthermore, we seek to elucidate the regulatory contributions enacted by ROS. Additionally, we provide an overview of targeted medications targeting four molecular pathways implicated in ferroptosis and their potential clinical applications. Here, we review the role of ROS and oxidative stress in ferroptosis, and we discuss opportunities to use ferroptosis as a new strategy for cancer therapy and point out the current challenges persisting within the domain of ROS-regulated anticancer drug research and development.

Keywords:  ferroptosis; molecular pathways; oxidative stress; reactive oxygen species; targeted drugs; tumours

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.18399
J Hazard Mater. 2024 May 08. pii: S0304-3894(24)01139-7. [Epub ahead of print]473 134560

Benzo[a]pyrene evokes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and pulmonary fibrosis through AhR-mediated Nrf2-p62 signaling.

Meng-Die Li, Li-Hong Chen, Hui-Xian Xiang, Ya-Lin Jiang, Bian-Bian Lv, De-Xiang Xu, Hui Zhao, Lin Fu.

  Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and its metabolic end product benzo(a)pyren-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), are known toxic environmental pollutants. This study aimed to analyze whether sub-chronic BPDE exposure initiated pulmonary fibrosis and the potential mechanisms. In this work, male C57BL6/J mice were exposed to BPDE by dynamic inhalation exposure for 8 weeks. Our results indicated that sub-chronic BPDE exposure evoked pulmonary fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mice. Both in vivo and in vitro, BPDE exposure promoted nuclear translocation of Snail. Further experiments indicated that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and p62 were upregulated in BPDE-exposed alveolar epithelial cells. Moreover, Nrf2 siRNA transfection evidently attenuated BPDE-induced p62 upregulation. Besides, p62 shRNA inhibited BPDE-incurred Snail nuclear translocation and EMT. Mechanically, BPDE facilitated physical interaction between p62 and Snail in the nucleus, then repressed Snail protein degradation by p62-dependent autophagy-lysosome pathway, and finally upregulated transcriptional activity of Snail. Additionally, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was activated in BPDE-treated alveolar epithelial cells. Dual-luciferase assay indicated activating AhR could bind to Nrf2 gene promoter. Moreover, pretreatment with CH223191 or α-naphthoflavone (α-NF), AhR antagonists, inhibited BPDE-activated Nrf2-p62 signaling, and alleviated BPDE-induced EMT and pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Taken together, AhR-mediated Nrf2-p62 signaling contributes to BaP-induced EMT and pulmonary fibrosis.

Keywords:  AhR; Benzo[a]pyrene; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Nrf2-p62 signaling; Pulmonary fibrosis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134560