scholarly journals A uracil auxotroph Toxoplasma gondii exerting immunomodulation to inhibit breast cancer growth and metastasis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Qing Xu ◽  
Li-Jie Yao ◽  
Dan Jiang ◽  
Li-Juan Zhou ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Lung Metastasis ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Tumor Bearing ◽  
Uracil Auxotroph

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among women, and prognosis is especially poor for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); therefore, there is an urgent need for new effective therapies. Recent studies have demonstrated that the uracil auxotroph Toxoplasma gondii vaccine displays anti-tumor effects. Here, we examined the immunotherapy effects of an attenuated uracil auxotroph strain of T. gondii against 4T1 murine breast cancer. Methods We constructed a uracil auxotroph T. gondii RH strain via orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase gene deletion (RH-Δompdc) with CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The strain’s virulence in the T. gondii-infected mice was determined in vitro and in vivo by parasite replication assay, plaque assay, parasite burden detection in mice peritoneal fluids and survival analysis. The immunomodulation ability of the strain was evaluated by cytokine detection. Its anti-tumor effect was evaluated after its in situ inoculation into 4T1 tumors in a mouse model; the tumor volume was measured, and the 4T1 lung metastasis was detected by hematoxylin and eosin and Ki67 antibody staining, and the cytokine levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The RH-Δompdc strain proliferated normally when supplemented with uracil, but it was unable to propagate without the addition of uracil and in vivo, which suggested that it was avirulent to the hosts. This mutant showed vaccine characteristics that could induce intense immune responses both in vitro and in vivo by significantly boosting the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Inoculation of RH-Δompdc in situ into the 4T1 tumor inhibited tumor growth, reduced lung metastasis, promoted the survival of the tumor-bearing mice and increased the secretion of Th1 cytokines, including interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (INF-δ), in both the serum and tumor microenvironment (TME). Conclusion Inoculation of the uracil auxotroph RH-Δompdc directly into the 4T1 tumor stimulated anti-infection and anti-tumor immunity in mice, and resulted in inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis, promotion of the survival of the tumor-bearing mice and increased secretion of IL-12 and IFN-γ in both the serum and TME. Our findings suggest that the immunomodulation caused by RH-Δompdc could be a potential anti-tumor strategy. Graphical abstract

A Uracil Auxotroph Toxoplasma gondii Exerting Immunomodulation to Inhibit Breast Cancer Growth and Metastasis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Qing Xu ◽  
Li-Jie Yao ◽  
Dan Jiang ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
Wen-Zhong Liao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Lung Metastasis ◽  
Tumor Bearing ◽  
Uracil Auxotroph ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among women, and patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have poor prognosis, so it is necessary to develop new effective therapies urgently. Recent studies have demonstrated that uracil auxotroph Toxoplasma gondii vaccine displays antitumor effects. Here, we examined the immunotherapy effects of an attenuated uracil auxotroph strain of T. gondii against 4T1 murine breast cancer.Methods: We constructed a uracil auxotroph strain, the orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase gene deleted strain of T. gondii (RH-Δompdc) with the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Its virulence in vitro and in vivo was determined by parasite replication assay, plaque assay, the parasite burden detection in mice peritoneal fluids and the survival analysis of T. gondii infection mice. Its immune modulation ability was evaluated by cytokines detection. Its antitumor effect was evaluated after its in situ inoculation to 4T1 tumors in mouse model, the tumor volume was measured, the 4T1 lung metastasis was detected by H&E and Ki67 antibody staining, and the cytokines levels were measured by ELISA.Results: RH-Δompdc strain could proliferate normally with uracil supplement, however, it was unable to propagate without uracil and in vivo, which implicated that it is avirulent to the hosts. This mutant showed vaccine characteristics that it could induce intense immune responses both in vitro and in vivo by boosting the expression of inflammatory cytokines significantly. RH-Δompdc in situ inoculation to the 4T1 tumors in mice could inhibit the tumor growth, reduce the lung metastasis, promote the survival of the tumor-bearing mice, and also increase the secretion of Th1 cytokines IL-12 and IFN-γ both in serum and in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Conclusion: The uracil auxotroph RH-Δompdc inoculation to the 4T1 tumors stimulated the anti-infection and antitumor immunity in mice, resulted in the inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis, the promotion in survival of the tumor-bearing mice, and the increasing secretion of IL-12 and IFN-γ both in serum and in the TME. Our findings implied that the immunomodulation resulted by RH-Δompdc could be a potential antitumor strategy.

scholarly journals Chondroitin Sulfate-Modified Liposomes for Targeted Co-Delivery of Doxorubicin and Retinoic Acid to Suppress Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 406
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Zhang ◽  
Lixin Ma ◽  
Jingwen Luo
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Chondroitin Sulfate ◽  
Lung Metastasis ◽  
Hydrophilic Interactions ◽  
Cell Metastasis ◽  
Metastatic Activity

Breast cancer treatment remains challenging due to high levels of cell metastasis. Chemotherapy drug combinations can inhibit both tumor growth in situ and metastasis to distant organs. Therefore, here, we developed chondroitin sulfate liposomes (CSLs) as a carrier for the co-delivery of retinoic acid (RA) and doxorubicin (DOX) and examined their efficiency in suppressing lung metastasis of breast cancer. CSLs were prepared using CS–deoxycholic acid conjugates and found to encapsulate both RA and DOX via hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. The resulting DOX+RA-CSLs were uniformly spherical and showed good serum stability and encapsulation efficiency of 98.7% ± 1.3% for RA and 90.8% ± 2.9% for DOX. Pharmacodynamic experiments in vitro and in vivo also revealed that DOX+RA-CSLs had better anticancer and anti-metastatic activity than CS-free liposomes, single drug-loaded liposomes, and free drug solutions at the same dose (2 mg/kg DOX or RA). Our results suggest that this liposomal delivery system can effectively suppress lung metastasis of breast cancer.

Melatonin modifies tumor hypoxia and metabolism by inhibiting HIF-1α and energy metabolic pathway in the in vitro and in vivo models of breast cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 83-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
André De Lima Mota ◽  
Bruna Vitorasso Jardim-Perassi ◽  
Tialfi Bergamin De Castro ◽  
Jucimara Colombo ◽  
Nathália Martins Sonehara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Carbonic Anhydrases ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Ca Ix ◽  
Gene And Protein Expression

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and has a high mortality rate. Adverse conditions in the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia and acidosis, may exert selective pressure on the tumor, selecting subpopulations of tumor cells with advantages for survival in this environment. In this context, therapeutic agents that can modify these conditions, and consequently the intratumoral heterogeneity need to be explored. Melatonin, in addition to its physiological effects, exhibits important anti-tumor actions which may associate with modification of hypoxia and Warburg effect. In this study, we have evaluated the action of melatonin on tumor growth and tumor metabolism by different markers of hypoxia and glucose metabolism (HIF-1α, glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT3 and carbonic anhydrases CA-IX and CA-XII) in triple negative breast cancer model. In an in vitro study, gene and protein expressions of these markers were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively. The effects of melatonin were also tested in a MDA-MB-231 xenograft animal model. Results showed that melatonin treatment reduced the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells and tumor growth in Balb/c nude mice (p <0.05). The treatment significantly decreased HIF-1α gene and protein expression concomitantly with the expression of GLUT1, GLUT3, CA-IX and CA-XII (p <0.05). These results strongly suggest that melatonin down-regulates HIF-1α expression and regulates glucose metabolism in breast tumor cells, therefore, controlling hypoxia and tumor progression. 

scholarly journals Edelfosine nanoemulsions inhibit tumor growth of triple negative breast cancer in zebrafish xenograft model

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia M. Saraiva ◽  
Carlha Gutiérrez-Lovera ◽  
Jeannette Martínez-Val ◽  
Sainza Lores ◽  
Belén L. Bouzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Xenograft Model ◽  
Skin Barrier ◽  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Biorelevant Media

AbstractTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known for being very aggressive, heterogeneous and highly metastatic. The standard of care treatment is still chemotherapy, with adjacent toxicity and low efficacy, highlighting the need for alternative and more effective therapeutic strategies. Edelfosine, an alkyl-lysophospholipid, has proved to be a promising therapy for several cancer types, upon delivery in lipid nanoparticles. Therefore, the objective of this work was to explore the potential of edelfosine for the treatment of TNBC. Edelfosine nanoemulsions (ET-NEs) composed by edelfosine, Miglyol 812 and phosphatidylcholine as excipients, due to their good safety profile, presented an average size of about 120 nm and a neutral zeta potential, and were stable in biorelevant media. The ability of ET-NEs to interrupt tumor growth in TNBC was demonstrated both in vitro, using a highly aggressive and invasive TNBC cell line, and in vivo, using zebrafish embryos. Importantly, ET-NEs were able to penetrate through the skin barrier of MDA-MB 231 xenografted zebrafish embryos, into the yolk sac, leading to an effective decrease of highly aggressive and invasive tumoral cells’ proliferation. Altogether the results demonstrate the potential of ET-NEs for the development of new therapeutic approaches for TNBC.

scholarly journals Resveratrol Enhances Inhibition Effects of Cisplatin on Cell Migration and Invasion and Tumor Growth in Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cell Models In Vivo and In Vitro

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2204
Author(s):  
Meng-Die Yang ◽  
Yang Sun ◽  
Wen-Jun Zhou ◽  
Xiao-Zheng Xie ◽  
Qian-Mei Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Cell Viability ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Cell Migration And Invasion ◽  
Tgf Β1

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a refractory type of breast cancer that does not yet have clinically effective drugs. The aim of this study is to investigate the synergistic effects and mechanisms of resveratrol combined with cisplatin on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 (MDA231) cell viability, migration, and invasion in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, MTS assays showed that resveratrol combined with cisplatin inhibits cell viability as a concentration-dependent manner, and produced synergistic effects (CI < 1). Transwell assay showed that the combined treatment inhibits TGF-β1-induced cell migration and invasion. Immunofluorescence assays confirmed that resveratrol upregulated E-cadherin expression and downregulated vimentin expression. Western blot assay demonstrated that resveratrol combined with cisplatin significantly reduced the expression of fibronectin, vimentin, P-AKT, P-PI3K, P-JNK, P-ERK, Sma2, and Smad3 induced by TGF-β1 (p < 0.05), and increased the expression of E-cadherin (p < 0.05), respectively. In vivo, resveratrol enhanced tumor growth inhibition and reduced body weight loss and kidney function impairment by cisplatin in MDA231 xenografts, and significantly reduced the expressions of P-AKT, P-PI3K, Smad2, Smad3, P-JNK, P-ERK, and NF-κB in tumor tissues (p < 0.05). These results indicated that resveratrol combined with cisplatin inhibits the viability of breast cancer MDA231 cells synergistically, and inhibits MDA231 cells invasion and migration through Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) approach, and resveratrol enhanced anti-tumor effect and reduced side of cisplatin in MDA231 xenografts. The mechanism may be involved in the regulations of PI3K/AKT, JNK, ERK and NF-κB expressions.

scholarly journals MNAT1 promotes proliferation and the chemo-resistance of osteosarcoma cell to cisplatin through regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

BMC Cancer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chensheng Qiu ◽  
Weiliang Su ◽  
Nana Shen ◽  
Xiaoying Qi ◽  
Xiaolin Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Xenograft Model ◽  
Mtor Pathway ◽  
Regulation Mechanism ◽  
Osteosarcoma Cell ◽  
Migration Ability ◽  
Mouse Xenograft Model

Abstract Background MNAT1 (menage a trois 1, MAT1), a cyclin-dependent kinase-activating kinase (CAK) complex, highly expressed in diverse cancers and was involved in cancer molecular pathogenesis. However, its deliverance profile and biological function in osteosarcoma (OS) remain unclear. Methods The expression of MNAT1 in OS was detected by western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The potential relationship between MNAT1 molecular level expression and OS clinical expectations were analyzed according to tissues microarray (TMA). Proliferation potential of OS cells was evaluated in vitro based on CCK8 and OS cells colony formation assays, while OS cells transwell and in situ tissue source wound healing assays were employed to analyze the OS cells invasion and migration ability in vitro. A nude mouse xenograft model was used to detect tumor growth in vivo. In addition, ordinary bioinformatics analysis and experimental correlation verification were performed to investigate the underlying regulation mechanism of OS by MNAT1. Results In this research, we found and confirmed that MNAT1 was markedly over-expressed in OS tissue derived in situ, also, highly MNAT1 expression was closely associated with bad clinical expectations. Functional studies had shown that MNAT1 silencing could weaken the invasion, migration and proliferation of OS cells in vitro, and inhibit OS tumor growth in vivo. Mechanism study indicated that MNAT1 contributed to the progression of OS via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. We further verified that the MNAT1 was required in the regulation of OS chemo-sensitivity to cisplatin (DDP). Conclusions Taken together, the data of the present study demonstrate a novel molecular mechanism of MNAT1 involved in the formation of DDP resistance of OS cells.

scholarly journals Regulation of Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide by Estradiol: Effect on Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Vitro and in Vivo

Endocrinology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 146 (7) ◽  
pp. 2885-2894 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Rabbani ◽  
P. Khalili ◽  
A. Arakelian ◽  
H. Pizzi ◽  
G. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Promoting Effect ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Tumor Bearing ◽  
Tumor Growth And Metastasis

Abstract We evaluated the capacity of estradiol (E2) to regulate PTHrP production, cell growth, tumor growth, and metastasis to the skeleton in breast cancer. In estrogen receptor (ER)-negative human breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, and cells transfected with full-length cDNA encoding ER (S-30), E2 caused a marked decrease in cell growth and PTHrP production, effects that were abrogated by anti-E2 tamoxifen. E2 also inhibited PTHrP promoter activity in S-30 cells. For in vivo studies, MDA-MB-231 and S-30 cells were inoculated into the mammary fat pad of female BALB/c nu.nu mice. Animals receiving S-30 cells developed tumors of significantly smaller volume compared with MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing animals. This change in tumor volume was reversed when S-30 cells were inoculated into ovariectomized (OVX) hosts. Inoculation of MDA-MB-231 cells into the left ventricle resulted in the development of lesions in femora and tibia as determined by x-ray analysis. In contrast, these lesions were significantly smaller in volume and number in animals inoculated with S-30, and this lower incidence was reversed in OVX animals. Bone histological analysis showed that the tumor volume to tissue volume ratio was comparable with that seen by x-ray. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that PTHrP production was inhibited in S-30 group and restored to levels comparable to that seen in MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing animals when S-30 cells were inoculated in OVX animals. Collectively these studies show that E2 production is inversely correlated with PTHrP production and that the growth-promoting effect of PTHrP has a direct impact on tumor growth at both nonskeletal and skeletal sites.

scholarly journals Interfering MSN-NONO complex–activated CREB signaling serves as a therapeutic strategy for triple-negative breast cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. eaaw9960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Qin ◽  
Weilong Chen ◽  
Guojuan Jiang ◽  
Lei Zhou ◽  
Xiaoli Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Cancer Cell Proliferation ◽  
Poor Overall Survival ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Life Threatening

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is life-threatening because of limited therapies and lack of effective therapeutic targets. Here, we found that moesin (MSN) was significantly overexpressed in TNBC compared with other subtypes of breast cancer and was positively correlated with poor overall survival. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of MSN in TNBC. We found that MSN significantly stimulated breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, requiring the phosphorylation of MSN and a nucleoprotein NONO-assisted nuclear localization of phosphorylated MSN with protein kinase C (PKC) and then the phosphorylation activation of CREB signaling by PKC. Our study also demonstrated that targeting MSN, NONO, or CREB significantly inhibited breast tumor growth in vivo. These results introduce a new understanding of MSN function in breast cancer and provide favorable evidence that MSN or its downstream molecules might serve as new targets for TNBC treatment.

Estrogen receptor β represses breast tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10101-10101
Author(s):  
J. Hartman ◽  
K. Lindberg ◽  
J. Inzunza ◽  
J. Wan ◽  
A. Ström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Breast Tumor ◽  
Breast Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Cell Growth ◽  
Breast Cancer Cell Growth ◽  
Angiogenic Effect

10101 Background: Estrogens are well known stimulators of breast cancer cell growth in vitro as well as in vivo. Two different estrogen receptors exist, namely estrogen receptor (ER) α and β. ERα mediates the proliferative effect of estrogen in breast cancer cells and we have earlier shown that ERβ inhibits cell-cycle progression in vitro. Estrogens are well known stimulators of in vivo breast cancer cell growth as well as angiogenesis, and the effect is mediated through ERα. The function of ERβ in this context is not well understood. Methods: We have used ERα-positive T47D breast cancer cells stably transfected with a Tet/Off regulated ERβ expression vector system. The ERβ-inducible tumor cells are studied in vitro as well as in vivo. Results: By transplanting ERβ-inducible breast cancer cells into SCID-mice, we show that ERβ inhibits tumor growth and reduces the volume of established tumors. Furthermore, we show by immunohistochemistry, that the number of blood microvessels in the tumor periphery is decreased by ERβ expression, counteracting the well-known pro-angiogenic effect of ERα. By Western blot analysis on tumor extracts, we show that the concentration of the important pro-angiogenic growth factors VEGF and bFGF, normally expressed by breast tumor cells, is decreased in the ERβ-expressing tumors compared to the normal tumors. To exclude that the observed anti-angiogenic effect is just a result of reduced tumor growth, we incubated Tet/Off regulated ERβ expressing cells in vitro, during non-hypoxic conditions. We found that the expression of ERβ leads to decreased expression of VEGF and PDGFβ at the mRNA and protein-levels. In transient transfection assays, we found estrogen-ERα mediated up regulation of VEGF, PDGFβ and bFGF-promoter activities in T47D cells, and these activities were all suppressed following co-transfection with an ERβ-expression vector. Conclusions: We conclude that ERβ inhibits growth factor expression at transcriptional level in breast cancer cells; taken together, our data indicates that ERβ inhibits growth and angiogenesis of tumors formed by T47D breast cancer cells. This makes ERβ an interesting therapeutic target in breast cancer and perhaps treatment with the newly designed ERβ-selective ligands might work as a new anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic therapy. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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