Opposite effects of nanocrystalline fullerene (C60) on tumour cell growth in vitro and in vivo and a possible role of immunosupression in the cancer-promoting activity of C60

Ajuba has been found to be mutated or aberrantly regulated in several human cancers and plays important roles in cancer progression via different signaling pathways. However, little is known about the role of Ajuba in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we found an upregulation of Ajuba expression in HCC tissues compared with normal liver tissues, while a poor prognosis was observed in HCC patients with high Ajuba expression. Knockout of Ajuba in HCC cells inhibited cell growth in vitro and in vivo, suppressed cell migration, and enhanced the cell apoptosis under stress. Moreover, re-expression of Ajuba in Ajuba-deficient cells could restore the phenotype of Ajuba-deficient cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that Ajuba is upregulated in HCC and promotes cell growth and migration of HCC cells, suggesting that Ajuba could possibly be a new target for HCC diagnosis and treatment.

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PEAK1 promotes invasion and metastasis and confers drug resistance in breast cancer

10.21203/rs.3.rs-549884/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

xingang wang ◽

YAN ZHENG ◽

YU WANG

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Drug Resistance ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Multi Drug Resistance ◽

Cancer Tissues

Abstract Background and AimsPseudopodium-enriched atypical kinase 1 (PEAK1) has reported to be upregulated in human malignancies and related with poor prognosis. Enhanced PEAK1 expression facilitates tumor cell survival, invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance. However, the role of PEAK1 in breast cancer is not clear. Here, we investigated the PEAK1 expression in breast cancer and analyzed its relation with clinicopathological status and chemotherapy resistance to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We also investigated the role of PEAK1 on breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. MethodsImmunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed in 112 surgical resected breast cancer tissues. The associations between clinicopathological status, multi-drug resistance and PEAK1 expression were determined. Effect of PEAK1 overexpression or down-expression on proliferation, colony formation, invasion, migration, metastasis and Doxorubicin sensitivity in the MCF-7 cells in vitro and in vivo was detected. ResultsPEAK1 was overexpressed in breast cancer tissues and NAC -resistant breast cancer tissues. High PEAK1 expression was related with tumor size, high tumor grade, T stage, LN metastasis, recurrence, Ki-67 expression, Her-2 expression and multi-drug resistance. Targeting PEAK1 inhibited cell growth, invasion, metastasis and reversed chemoresistance to Doxorubicin in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. ConclusionHigh PEAK1 expression was associated with invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance of breast cancers. Furthermore, targeting PEAK1 could inhibit cell growth and metastasis, and reverse chemoresistance in breast cancer cells, which provides an effective treatment strategies for breast cancer.

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Knockdown Of Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) In 5TGM1 Multiple Myeloma Cells Inhibits Development Of Lytic Bone Lesions In Vivo

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v122.21.879.879 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 122 (21) ◽

pp. 879-879

Author(s):

Jing Fu ◽

Shirong Li ◽

Huihui Ma ◽

G. David Roodman ◽

Markus Y. Mapara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Trabecular Bone ◽

Research Funding ◽

Bone Lesions ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Lytic Bone Lesions

Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) cells secrete osteoclastogenic factors that activate osteoclasts (OCL) and contribute to development of pure lytic bone lesions in MM patients. We have recently shown that i) MMP13 is highly expressed by MM cells and ii) exogenous MMP13 increases OCL fusion and bone resorption (Feng et al, 2009). Further, MMP13 mediates these effects by upregulating dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP), which is critical for OCL fusion and activation (Fu et al, 2012). Here, we investigated the role of MMP13 in MM-related bone disease (MMBD) in vivo and the underlying osteoclastogenic mechanisms. Methods and Results The role of MMP13 in MMBD was examined in vivo by the intratibial 5TGM1-GFP mouse MMBD model. Mouse MM cell line 5TGM1-GFP cells were transduced by pLKO.1-puro empty vector (EV) or sh-MMP13 (MMP13-KD) lentivirus followed by puromycin selection for 2 weeks. MMP13 knockdown in 5TGM1-MMP13-KD cells were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. 1×105 5TGM1-GFP-EV and 5TGM1-GFP-MMP13-KD cells were bilaterally intratibially injected into Recombination Activating Gene 2 (Rag2) knockout mice (n=9). After 4 weeks of tumor growth, tibiae were separated for micro quantitative computed tomography (micro-QCT) followed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. Following 5TGM1-GFP-EV injection, micro-QCT analysis of the tibiae and adjacent femurs indicated severe bone erosions, especially within trabecular bone. By contrast MMP13 KD inhibited the development of MM-induced bone lesions. Bone histomorphologic analysis showed that compared to 5TGM1-GFP-EV, MMP13-KD significantly reduced the MM induced trabecular bone loss with increased relative bone volume (0.069 ± 0.018 vs 0.0499 ± 0.016%; P=0.001), connective density (54.94 ± 33.03 vs 27.33 ± 18.97mm3; P=0.002), trabecular bone numbers (3.26 ± 0.29 vs 3.06 ± 0.33mm-1; P=0.032) and bone mineral density (159.1 ± 20.7 vs 134.2 ± 18.6mg/cm3; P=6E-04); as well as decreased triangulation bone surface to volume ratio (66.12 ± 6.67 vs 73.28 ± 10.07; P=0.017) and triangulation structure model index (3.05 ± 0.36 vs 3.42 ± 0.35 mm-1; P=0.002). In accordance with our finding that MMP13 induced OCL fusion, IHC results confirmed the presence of smaller TRAP+OCLs adjacent to the tumor in mice injected with 5TGM1-GFP-MMP13-KD cells compared with 5TGM1-GFP-EV cells. Although MMP13 knockdown showed no effects on 5TGM1-GFP cell growth in vitro, in vivo tumor progression represented by fluorescence imaging and sera immunoglobin 2G level (0.96 ± 0.12 vs 1.10 ± 0.11 mg/ml) was significantly inhibited (P=0.009 and 0.03 respectively), indicating MMP13 depletion in MM cells impaired OCL activation which, in turn, failed to support MM cell growth in bone marrow microenvironment as effectively in EV control group. In vitro studies demonstrated that MMP13 directly induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in pre-osteoclasts. Consistent with a critical role for ERK1/2 phosphorylation in regulating OCL formation, U0126 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) blocked MMP13-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, ERK1/2-dependent DC-STAMP upregulation and MMP13-induced OCL fusion (P<0.01). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that silencing MMP13 expression in MM cells inhibits MM cell-induced OCL fusion and development of lytic bone lesions in vivo, indicating that MMP13 is essential for MM-induced bone diseases. Further, MMP13 upregulates DC-STAMP expression and OCL fusion via the activation of ERK1/2 signaling. Our data suggest that targeting MMP13 may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of MMBD. Disclosures: Roodman: Amgen: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Lilly: Research Funding. Lentzsch:Celgene: Research Funding.

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Biologic consequences of androgen receptor (AR) activity in MDV3100-resistant LNCaP cells and dependence on AR full length.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2014.32.4_suppl.74 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (4_suppl) ◽

pp. 74-74

Author(s):

Yoshiaki Yamamoto ◽

Yohann Loriot ◽

Eliana Beraldi ◽

Tianyuan Zhou ◽

Youngsoo Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Androgen Receptor ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Functional Role ◽

Full Length ◽

Lncap Cells ◽

Exon 1

74 Background: While recent reports link androgen receptor (AR) variants (AR-Vs) to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the biological significance of AR-Vs in AR-regulated cell survival and proliferation, independent of AR full length (AR-FL), remains controversial. To define the functional role of AR-FL and AR-Vs in MDV3100-resistant (MDV-R), we designed antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting exon 1 and exon 8 in AR to knockdown AR-FL alone or in combination with AR-Vs and examined these effects in MDV-R LNCaP-derived cells in vitro and in vivo. Methods: We generated by selection MDV-R LNCaP-derived sub-lines that uniformly expressed high levels of both AR-FL and AR-V7 compared to CRPC LNCaP xenografts. Cell growth rates, protein and gene expression were analyzed using crystal violet assay, western blotting and real-time PCR, respectively. Exon 1 and 8 AR-ASO were evaluated in MDV-R49F CRPC LNCaP xenografts. Results: AR-V7 was transiently transfected in MDV-R49F cells and differential knockdown of AR-V7 and/or AR-FL by exon 1 versus exon 8 AR-ASO was used to evaluate relative biologic contributions of AR-FL versus AR-V7 in MDV-R LNCaP AR-V7 overexpressing cells. Exon 1 and 8 AR-ASO treatment in these cells similarly decreased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression and induced apoptosis as measured by caspase-3 and PARP cleavage and cell growth inhibition. To further define the functional role of AR-Vs in MDV-R LNCaP cells, we used a CE3 siRNA that specifically silenced AR-V7, but not AR-FL in MDV-R LNCaP cells. AR-V7 knockdown did not decrease PSA levels, did not induce apoptosis, and did not inhibit cell growth. In MDV-R LNCaP cells, exon 1 and 8 ASO similarly suppressed cell growth and AR-regulated gene expression in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: These results indicate that the AR remains an important driver of MDV3100 resistance and, the biologic consequences mainly driven by AR-FL in MDV-R LNCaP models.

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EZH1/2 inhibition augments the anti-tumor effects of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-00889-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yuko Kusakabe ◽

Tetsuhiro Chiba ◽

Motohiko Oshima ◽

Shuhei Koide ◽

Ola Rizq ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Target Genes ◽

Antitumor Effects ◽

Sorafenib Treatment ◽

Ezh2 Expression ◽

Combined Use

AbstractBoth EZH2 and its homolog EZH1 function as histone H3 Lysine 27 (H3K27) methyltransferases and repress the transcription of target genes. Dysregulation of H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) plays an important role in the development and progression of cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the relationship between the expression of EZH1/2 and the level of H3K27me3 in HCC. Additionally, the role of EZH1/2 in cell growth, tumorigenicity, and resistance to sorafenib were also analyzed. Both the lentiviral knockdown and the pharmacological inhibition of EZH1/2 (UNC1999) diminished the level of H3K27me3 and suppressed cell growth in liver cancer cells, compared with EZH1 or EZH2 single knockdown. Although a significant association was observed between EZH2 expression and H3K27me3 levels in HCC samples, overexpression of EZH1 appeared to contribute to enhanced H3K27me3 levels in some EZH2lowH3K27me3high cases. Akt suppression following sorafenib treatment resulted in an increase of the H3K27me3 levels through a decrease in EZH2 phosphorylation at serine 21. The combined use of sorafenib and UNC1999 exhibited synergistic antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Combination treatment canceled the sorafenib-induced enhancement in H3K27me3 levels, indicating that activation of EZH2 function is one of the mechanisms of sorafenib-resistance in HCC. In conclusion, sorafenib plus EZH1/2 inhibitors may comprise a novel therapeutic approach in HCC.

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