scholarly journals GSK3-beta as a candidate therapeutic target in soft tissue sarcomas

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Verbeke ◽  
R. Perret ◽  
V. Chaire ◽  
E. Richard ◽  
V. Velasco ◽  
...  

AbstractSoft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a predominantly fatal rare malignancy with inadequate treatment options. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is an emerging target in human malignancies. Its therapeutic relevance in STS is unknown. We analyzed the prognostic impact of GSK-3β gene and protein expression in two independent cohorts of patients with STS. We then treated STS cell lines and mice xenografts with a novel GSK-3 inhibitor 9-ING-41 alone or in combination with chemotherapy. We demonstrated that 9-ING-41 treatment induced significant STS cells apoptosis and was synergistic in vivo when combined with chemotherapy. Mechanistically, 9-ING-41 induces significant apoptosis of STS cells via suppression of NF-κB-mediated X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) expression. These data support the inclusion of patients with STS in clinical studies of 9-ING-41 alone and in combination with chemotherapy.

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 610
Author(s):  
Robin Park ◽  
Andrew L. Coveler ◽  
Ludimila Cavalcante ◽  
Anwaar Saeed

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta is a ubiquitously and constitutively expressed molecule with pleiotropic function. It acts as a protooncogene in the development of several solid tumors including pancreatic cancer through its involvement in various cellular processes including cell proliferation, survival, invasion and metastasis, as well as autophagy. Furthermore, the level of aberrant glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta expression in the nucleus is inversely correlated with tumor differentiation and survival in both in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer. Small molecule inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta have demonstrated therapeutic potential in pre-clinical models and are currently being evaluated in early phase clinical trials involving pancreatic cancer patients with interim results showing favorable results. Moreover, recent studies support a rationale for the combination of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inhibitors with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, warranting the evaluation of novel combination regimens in the future.


2008 ◽  
Vol 197 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia Frangioudakis ◽  
Gregory J Cooney

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an acute, physiological increase in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) on initial signalling events in rat red quadriceps muscle (RQ). Male Wistar rats received a 7% glycerol (GLYC) or 7% Intralipid/heparin (LIP) infusion for 3 h, after which they were either killed or infused with insulin at a rate of 0.5 U/kg per h for 5 min, before RQ collection. Plasma FFAs were elevated to ∼2 mM in the LIP rats only. Insulin-stimulated insulin receptor (IR) Tyr1162/Tyr1163 phosphorylation and IR substrate (IRS)-1 Tyr612 phosphorylation were increased at least twofold over basal in GLYC rats with insulin and this increase was not significantly impaired in the LIP rats. However, there was no insulin-stimulated protein kinase B (PKB) Ser473 or glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β Ser9 phosphorylation in the LIP rats, compared with at least a twofold increase over basal in GLYC rats for both proteins. c-Jun N-terminal kinase, inhibitor of κ kinase β and inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB phosphorylation and total protein expression, as well as Ser307-IRS-1 phosphorylation, were not altered by lipid infusion compared with GLYC infusion. These data indicate that acute, physiological elevation in FFA has a greater impact on insulin signalling downstream of IR and IRS-1, at the level of PKB and GSK-3β, and that under these conditions stress signalling pathways are not significantly stimulated. Decreased PKB and GSK-3β phosphorylation in RQ may therefore be primary determinants of the reduced insulin action observed in situations of acute FFA oversupply.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (22) ◽  
pp. 5391
Author(s):  
Zheng Liu ◽  
Ming Bian ◽  
Qian-Qian Ma ◽  
Zhuo Zhang ◽  
Huan-Huan Du ◽  
...  

A series of novel synthetic substituted benzo[d]oxazole-based derivatives (5a–5v) exerted neuroprotective effects on β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced PC12 cells as a potential approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In vitro studies show that most of the synthesized compounds were potent in reducing the neurotoxicity of Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cells at 5 μg/mL. We found that compound 5c was non-neurotoxic at 30 μg/mL and significantly increased the viability of Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cells at 1.25, 2.5 and 5 μg/mL. Western blot analysis showed that compound 5c promoted the phosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3β) and decreased the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cells. In addition, our findings demonstrated that compound 5c protected PC12 cells from Aβ25-35-induced apoptosis and reduced the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, and decreased the expression of receptor for AGE (RAGE), β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and Bcl-2-associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bax/Bcl-2) via Akt/GSK-3β/NF-κB signaling pathway. In vivo studies suggest that compound 5c shows less toxicity than donepezil in the heart and nervous system of zebrafish.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eytan Ben-Ami ◽  
Raul Perret ◽  
Ying Huang ◽  
Félicie Courgeon ◽  
Prafulla C. Gokhale ◽  
...  

Background: LRRC15 is a member of the LRR (leucine-rich repeat) superfamily present on tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and stromal cells. The expression of LRRC15 is upregulated by the pro-inflammatory cytokine TGFβ. ABBV-085 is a monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE)-containing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designed to target LRRC15, and which has shown significant anti-tumor activity in several tumor models. This is the first focused examination of LRRC15 expression and ABBV-085 activity in soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). Methods: We analyzed the LRRC15 expression profile by immunohistochemistry in 711 STS cases, covering a broad spectrum of STS histologies and sub-classifications. In vivo experiments were carried out by using LRRC15-positive and LRRC15-negative patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of STS. Results: In contrast to patterns observed in epithelial tumors, LRRC15 was expressed not only by stromal cells but also by cancer cells in multiple subsets of STS with significant variations noted between histological subtypes. Overexpression of LRRC15 is positively correlated with grade and independently associated with adverse outcome. ABBV-085 has robust preclinical efficacy against LRRC15 positive STS patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Conclusion: We provide the first preclinical evidence that LRRC15 targeting with an antibody-drug conjugate is a promising strategy in LRRC15-positive STS. ABBV-085 is being evaluated in an ongoing clinical trial in STS and other malignancies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jikui Sun ◽  
Quanfeng Ma ◽  
Banban Li ◽  
Chen Wang ◽  
Lidong Mo ◽  
...  

Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that the dysregulation of the miRNAs/mRNA-mediated carcinogenic signaling pathway network is intimately involved in glioma initiation and progression. In the present study, by performing experiments and bioinformatics analysis, we found that RPN2 was markedly elevated in glioma specimens compared with normal controls, and its upregulation was significantly linked to WHO grade and poor prognosis. Knockdown of RPN2 inhibited tumor proliferation and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and enhanced temozolomide (TMZ) sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic investigation revealed that RPN2 deletion repressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 transcription activity partly through functional activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Furthermore, we showed that RPN2 is a direct functional target of miR-181c. Ectopic miR-181c expression suppressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 activity, while restoration of RPN2 partly reversed this inhibitory effect mediated by miR-181c, implying a molecular mechanism in which TMZ sensitivity is mediated by miR-181c. Taken together, our data revealed a new miR-181c/RPN2/wnt/β-catenin signaling axis that plays significant roles in glioma tumorigenesis and TMZ resistance, and it represents a potential therapeutic target, especially in GBM.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (6) ◽  
pp. H2587-H2595 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G. Ryall ◽  
Jonathan D. Schertzer ◽  
Kate T. Murphy ◽  
Andrew M. Allen ◽  
Gordon S. Lynch

We determined the cardiovascular effects of chronic β2-adrenoceptor (β2-AR) stimulation in vivo and examined the mechanism for the previously observed prolonged diastolic relaxation. Rats (3 mo old; n = 6), instrumented with implantable radiotelemeters, received the selective β2-AR agonist formoterol (25 μg·kg−1·day−1 ip) for 4 wk, with selected cardiovascular parameters measured daily throughout this period, and for a further 7 days after cessation of treatment. Chronic β2-AR stimulation was associated with an increase in heart rate (HR) of 17% ( days 1– 14) and 5% ( days 15–28); a 11% ( days 1– 14) and 6% ( days 15– 28) decrease in mean arterial blood pressure; and a 24% ( days 1– 14) increase in the rate of cardiac relaxation (−dP/d t) compared with initial values ( P < 0.05). Cessation of β2-AR stimulation resulted in an 8% decrease in HR and a 7% decrease in −dP/d t, compared with initial values ( P < 0.05). The prolonged cardiac relaxation with chronic β2-AR stimulation was associated with a 30% decrease in the maximal rate ( Vmax) of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity, likely attributed to a 50% decrease in SERCA2a protein ( P < 0.05). glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) has been implicated as a negative regulator of SERCA2 gene transcription, and we observed a ∼60% decrease ( P < 0.05) in phosphorylated GSK-3β protein after chronic β2-AR stimulation. Finally, we found a 40% decrease ( P < 0.05) in the mRNA expression of the novel A kinase anchoring protein AKAP18, also implicated in β2-AR-mediated cardiac relaxation. These findings highlight some detrimental cardiovascular effects of chronic β2-AR agonist administration and identify concerns for their current and future use for treating asthma or for conditions where muscle wasting and weakness are indicated.


Sarcoma ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Karsten Kilvaer ◽  
Andrej Valkov ◽  
Sveinung W. Sorbye ◽  
Tom Donnem ◽  
Eivind Smeland ◽  
...  

Background. Optimal treatment of nongastrointestinal stromal tumor soft-tissue sarcomas (non-GIST STSs) is resection with wide margins. This study investigates the prognostic impact of the angiogenesis-associated platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors (PDGFRs) in non-GIST STS patients with wide and nonwide resection margins.Method. Tumor samples and clinical data from 249 patients with non-GIST STS were obtained, and tissue microarrays were constructed for each specimen. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of PDGF-A, -B, -C, and -D and PDGFR-αand -β.Results. In the multivariate analysis of patients with wide resection margins, high expression of PDGF-B (, HR = 2.954, and 95% CI = 1.255–6.956) and the coexpression of PDGF-B and PDGFR-α(overall; , high-low/low-high; , HR = 2.678, 95% CI = 0.996–7.200, high/high; , HR = 3.930, 95% CI = 1.542–10.015) were independent negative prognostic markers for disease-specific survival.Conclusion.PDGF-B and the coexpression of PDGF-B and PDGFR-αare strong and independent prognostic factors in non-GIST STSs with wide resection margins.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 6198-6204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Hui Weng ◽  
Jan Åhlén ◽  
Kristina Åström ◽  
Weng-Onn Lui ◽  
Catharina Larsson

2013 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 160-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Hassan ◽  
J Gale ◽  
AGB Perks ◽  
A Raurell ◽  
RU Ashford

Soft tissue sarcomas are relatively uncommon, with approximately 3,200 new cases per year in the UK, accounting for 1% of all malignancies. They are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that occur anywhere in the body, and arise from the mesenchyme inclusive of muscle, endothelial cells, cartilage and supporting elements. Diagnosis is based on triple assessment with clinical history, imaging and diagnostic biopsy. Histological stage and grade is based on the Trojani classification. Owing to their complex nature, a specialist sarcoma multidisciplinary team (MDT) manages patients. Treatment options include one or more of surgery with wide or planned marginal excision, isolated limb perfusion, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Long-term follow-up to rule out recurrence of disease is mandatory.


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