MDM2-Mediated p21 Proteasomal Degradation Promotes Fluoride Toxicity in Ameloblasts

Fluoride overexposure is an environmental health hazard and can cause enamel and skeletal fluorosis. Previously we demonstrated that fluoride increased acetylated-p53 and its downstream target p21 in ameloblast-derived LS8 cells. However, p21 function in fluoride toxicity is not well characterized. This study seeks to gain a better understanding of how p53 down-stream mediators, p21 and MDM2, respond to fluoride toxicity. LS8 cells were treated with NaF with/without MG-132 (proteasome inhibitor) or Nutlin-3a (MDM2 antagonist). NaF treatment for 2–6 h increased phospho-p21, which can inhibit apoptosis. However, phospho-p21 and p21 were decreased by NaF at 24 h, even though p21 mRNA was significantly increased at this time point. MG-132 reversed the fluoride-mediated p21 decrease, indicating that fluoride facilitates p21 proteasomal degradation. MG-132 suppressed fluoride-induced caspase-3 cleavage, suggesting that the proteasome plays a pro-apoptotic role in fluoride toxicity. NaF increased phospho-MDM2 in vitro and in mouse ameloblasts in vivo. Nutlin-3a suppressed NaF-mediated MDM2-p21 binding to reverse p21 degradation which increased phospho-p21. This suppressed apoptosis after 24 h NaF treatment. These results suggest that MDM2-mediated p21 proteasomal degradation with subsequent phospho-p21 attenuation contributes to fluoride-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of MDM2-mediated p21 degradation may be a potential therapeutic target to mitigate fluoride toxicity.

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P11.17 Splicing dysregulation drives glioblastoma malignancy: SRSF3 as a potential therapeutic target to impair glioblastoma progression

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noz126.163 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. iii46-iii46

Author(s):

A C Fuentes-Fayos ◽

M C Vázquez-Borrego ◽

J M Jiménez-Vacas ◽

L Bejarano ◽

C Blanco-Acevedo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Target ◽

Tumor Development ◽

Microarray Dataset ◽

Oncogenic Signaling ◽

Potential Therapeutic Target ◽

Induced Apoptosis ◽

Perfect Discrimination ◽

Control Samples

Abstract Glioblastomas (GBMs) remain the deadliest human brain tumors, with poor prognosis despite years of research. Currently, standard therapeutic strategies to treat GBM are not efficient and common survival from diagnosis is ~12–16 months. Thus, identification of new diagnostic/prognostic/therapeutic tools to tackle GBMs is crucial. Emerging evidence indicates that the cellular machinery controlling alternative splicing is altered in tumor pathologies, leading to oncogenic splicing events linked to tumor progression. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the expression pattern of the spliceosome components (SCs) and splicing factors (SFs) in high-grade astrocytomas (HGAs), mostly GBMs, and to ascertain the potential consequences of its dysregulation on GBM development. To this end, expression levels of SCs core and selected SFs were measured using a customized-microfluidic qPCR array in a well-characterized cohort of HGAs (n=33). Our results unveiled a profound alteration in the expression of multiple SCs and SFs in HGAs compared to healthy brain control-samples, wherein levels of particular elements (SRSF3/RBM22/PTBP1/RBM3) enabled perfect discrimination between non-pathological vs. tumor human-tissues, and between proneural and mesenchymal-like GBMs vs. control samples in mouse-models. Results were confirmed in an independent validation-cohort (n=49) and available Microarray dataset (Murat), which revealed that the expression of these splicing elements was correlated with relevant tumor markers and with survival. Remarkably, SRSF3/RBM22/PTBP1/RBM3 silencing (using specific siRNAs) decreased several aggressiveness parameters in vitro (e.g. proliferation, migration, tumorsphere formation, VEGFA secretion, etc.) and induced apoptosis, being SRSF3 the most relevant element affecting these parameters. Hence, a preclinical mouse model (U87MG-xenografts) with SRSF3 silencing drastically decreased in vivo tumor development/progression (i.e. tumor size, %MKI67, mitosis number, etc.) likely through a molecular/cellular mechanism involving the regulation of PDGFRB expression and its associated oncogenic signaling pathways. Overall, our results demonstrate that there is a profound dysregulation of the splicing machinery (spliceosome core and SFs) in HGAs/GBMs, which is directly associated to the development/progression of GBMs. Furthermore, this study reveals that SRSF3 can be a novel biomarker of malignancy and a potential therapeutic target to impair GBMs progression.

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ARF Differentially Modulates Apoptosis Induced by E2F1 and Myc

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.22.5.1360-1368.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 1360-1368 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Jamie L. Russell ◽

John T. Powers ◽

Robert J. Rounbehler ◽

Pamela M. Rogers ◽

Claudio J. Conti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tumor Suppressor ◽

S Phase ◽

Negative Regulator ◽

Mouse Embryo Fibroblast ◽

Apoptotic Pathway ◽

Downstream Target ◽

Induced Apoptosis ◽

Active Can

ABSTRACT The ARF tumor suppressor participates in a p53-dependent apoptotic pathway that is stimulated in response to some oncogenic stimuli. The E2F1 transcription factor is a critical downstream target of the Rb tumor suppressor and, when active, can promote proliferation as well as apoptosis. The finding that E2F1 transcriptionally regulates the ARF gene has led to the suggestion that ARF contributes to E2F1-induced apoptosis. Counter to this hypothesis, this study demonstrates not only that ARF is unnecessary for E2F1 to induce apoptosis but also that inactivation of ARF actually enhances the ability of E2F1 to promote apoptosis. Inactivation of ARF also cooperates with E2F1 activity to promote entry into the S phase of the cell cycle. This relationship between ARF and E2F1 is demonstrated in transgenic epidermis in vivo and in mouse embryo fibroblast cultures in vitro. In contrast, the ability of Myc to induce apoptosis is diminished in the absence of ARF. E2F1 induces the accumulation of p53 in the absence of ARF, and this is associated with the phosphorylation of p53 on several residues. These findings demonstrate that ARF is a negative regulator of E2F1 activity and is not required for E2F1-induced apoptosis.

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The long non-coding RNA lnc-HLX-2-7 is oncogenic in group 3 medulloblastomas

10.1101/2020.06.08.140251 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Keisuke Katsushima ◽

Bongyong Lee ◽

Haritha Kunhiraman ◽

Cuncong Zhong ◽

Rabi Murath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rna Sequencing ◽

Therapeutic Target ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Potential Therapeutic Target ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Group 3 ◽

Induced Apoptosis ◽

Long Non Coding Rna

AbstractBackgroundMedulloblastoma (MB) is an aggressive brain tumor that predominantly affects children. Recent high-throughput sequencing studies suggest that the non-coding RNA genome, in particular long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), contributes to MB sub-grouping. Here we report the identification of a novel lncRNA, lnc-HLX-2-7, as a potential molecular marker and therapeutic target in group 3 MBs.MethodsPublicly available RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data from 175 MB patients were interrogated to identify lncRNAs that differentiate between MB subgroups. After characterizing a subset of differentially expressed lncRNAs in vitro and in vivo, the group 3-enriched lncRNA lnc-HLX2-7 was deleted by CRISPR/Cas9 in the MB cell line D425 Med. Intracranially injected tumors were further characterized by bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing.Resultslnc-HLX-2-7 is highly upregulated in group 3 MB cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, and primary MBs compared to other MB sub-groups as assessed by qRT-PCR, RNA-seq, and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Depletion of lnc-HLX-2-7 with antisense oligonucleotides or CRISPR/Cas9 significantly reduced cell proliferation and 3D colony formation and induced apoptosis. lnc-HLX-2-7-deleted D425 Med cells injected into mouse cerebella produced smaller tumors than those derived from parental cells. Pathway analysis revealed that lnc-HLX2-7 modulated oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and sirtuin signaling pathways. The MYC oncogene regulated lnc-HLX-2-7, and the small molecule BET-bromodomain (BRD4) inhibitor JQ1 reduced lnc-HLX2-7 expression.Conclusionslnc-HLX-2-7 is oncogenic in MB and represents a promising novel molecular marker and a potential therapeutic target in group 3 MBs in children.Key pointslnc-HLX-2-7 is highly upregulated in group 3 medulloblastomas compared to other sub-groups.In vitro and in vivo studies strongly support an oncogenic role for lnc-HLX2-7 in group 3 medulloblastoma.lnc-HLX-2-7 may be a novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in group 3 medulloblastoma.Importance of the studyGroup 3 medulloblastomas are associated with poor clinical outcomes, are difficult to subtype clinically, and their biology is poorly understood. In an effort to address these problems, we identified a group 3-specific long non-coding RNA, lnc-HLX-2-7, in an in silico analysis of 175 medulloblastomas and confirmed its expression in group 3 medulloblastoma cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, and FFPE samples. CRISPR/Cas9 deletion and antisense oligonucleotide knockdown of lnc-HLX-2-7 significantly reduced cell growth and 3D colony formation and induced apoptosis. Deletion of lnc-HLX-2-7 in cells injected into mouse cerebellums reduced tumor growth compared to parental cells, and RNA sequencing of these tumors revealed lnc-HLX-2-7-associated modulation of cell viability and cell death signaling pathways. The oncogene MYC regulates lnc-HLX-2-7, and its expression can be controlled by the BET-bromodomain (BRD4) inhibitor JQ1. lnc-HLX-2-7 is a candidate biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in group 3 medulloblastomas in children.

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Par-4 Is an Essential Downstream Target of DAP-like Kinase (Dlk) in Dlk/Par-4–mediated Apoptosis

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.e09-02-0173 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 20 (18) ◽

pp. 4010-4020 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Meike Boosen ◽

Susanne Vetterkind ◽

Jan Kubicek ◽

Karl-Heinz Scheidtmann ◽

Susanne Illenberger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kinase Activity ◽

Phosphorylation Site ◽

Interacting Protein ◽

Downstream Target ◽

Zipper Interacting Protein Kinase ◽

Rat Fibroblasts ◽

Induced Apoptosis ◽

Mlc Phosphorylation

Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) was initially identified as a gene product up-regulated in prostate cancer cells undergoing apoptosis. In rat fibroblasts, coexpression of Par-4 and its interaction partner DAP-like kinase (Dlk, which is also known as zipper-interacting protein kinase [ZIPK]) induces relocation of the kinase from the nucleus to the actin filament system, followed by extensive myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and induction of apoptosis. Our analyses show that the synergistic proapoptotic effect of Dlk/Par-4 complexes is abrogated when either Dlk/Par-4 interaction or Dlk kinase activity is impaired. In vitro phosphorylation assays employing Dlk and Par-4 phosphorylation mutants carrying alanine substitutions for residues S154, T155, S220, or S249, respectively, identified T155 as the major Par-4 phosphorylation site of Dlk. Coexpression experiments in REF52.2 cells revealed that phosphorylation of Par-4 at T155 by Dlk was essential for apoptosis induction in vivo. In the presence of the Par-4 T155A mutant Dlk was partially recruited to actin filaments but resided mainly in the nucleus. Consequently, apoptosis was not induced in Dlk/Par-4 T155A–expressing cells. In vivo phosphorylation of Par-4 at T155 was demonstrated with a phospho-specific Par-4 antibody. Our results demonstrate that Dlk-mediated phosphorylation of Par-4 at T155 is a crucial event in Dlk/Par-4-induced apoptosis.

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Long noncoding RNA SNHG14 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating miR-876-5p/SSR2 axis

Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research ◽

10.1186/s13046-021-01838-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zhibin Liao ◽

Hongwei Zhang ◽

Chen Su ◽

Furong Liu ◽

Yachong Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Noncoding Rna ◽

Animal Experiments ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Western Blot Assay ◽

Downstream Target ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Elevated Expression ◽

Rna Immunoprecipitation

Abstract Background Aberrant expressions of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be related to the progress of HCC. The mechanisms that SNHG14 has participated in the development of HCC are obscure. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the lncRNA, microRNA and mRNA expression level. Cell migration, invasion and proliferation ability were evaluated by transwell and CCK8 assays. The ceRNA regulatory mechanism of SNHG14 was evaluated by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual luciferase reporter assay. Tumorigenesis mouse model was used to explore the roles of miR-876-5p in vivo. The protein levels of SSR2 were measured by western blot assay. Results In this study, we demonstrated that SNHG14 was highly expressed in HCC tissues, meanwhile, the elevated expression of SNHG14 predicted poor prognosis in patients with HCC. SNHG14 promoted proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. We further revealed that SNHG14 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-876-5p and that SSR2 was a downstream target of miR-876-5p in HCC. Transwell, CCK8 and animal experiments exhibited miR-876-5p inhibited HCC progression in vitro and in vivo. By conducting rescue experiments, we found the overexpression of SSR2 or knocking down the level of miR-876-5p could reverse the suppressive roles of SNHG14 depletion in HCC. Conclusion SNHG14 promotes HCC progress by acting as a sponge of miR-876-5p to regulate the expression of SSR2 in HCC.

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Exosomal Vimentin from Adipocyte Progenitors Protects Fibroblasts against Osmotic Stress and Inhibits Apoptosis to Enhance Wound Healing

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22094678 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. 4678

Author(s):

Sepideh Parvanian ◽

Hualian Zha ◽

Dandan Su ◽

Lifang Xi ◽

Yaming Jiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Osmotic Stress ◽

Mechanical Stress ◽

Impaired Wound Healing ◽

In Vivo Experiments ◽

Adipocyte Progenitors ◽

Osmotic Balance ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Mechanical stress following injury regulates the quality and speed of wound healing. Improper mechanotransduction can lead to impaired wound healing and scar formation. Vimentin intermediate filaments control fibroblasts’ response to mechanical stress and lack of vimentin makes cells significantly vulnerable to environmental stress. We previously reported the involvement of exosomal vimentin in mediating wound healing. Here we performed in vitro and in vivo experiments to explore the effect of wide-type and vimentin knockout exosomes in accelerating wound healing under osmotic stress condition. Our results showed that osmotic stress increases the size and enhances the release of exosomes. Furthermore, our findings revealed that exosomal vimentin enhances wound healing by protecting fibroblasts against osmotic stress and inhibiting stress-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that exosomes could be considered either as a stress modifier to restore the osmotic balance or as a conveyer of stress to induce osmotic stress-driven conditions.

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iPLA2β Contributes to ER Stress-Induced Apoptosis during Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10061446 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1446

Author(s):

Tingting Jin ◽

Jun Lin ◽

Yingchao Gong ◽

Xukun Bi ◽

Shasha Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Myocardial Ischemia ◽

Ischemic Heart Disease ◽

Er Stress ◽

Ischemia Reperfusion ◽

Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Both calcium-independent phospholipase A2 beta (iPLA2β) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress regulate important pathophysiological processes including inflammation, calcium homeostasis and apoptosis. However, their roles in ischemic heart disease are poorly understood. Here, we show that the expression of iPLA2β is increased during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, concomitant with the induction of ER stress and the upregulation of cell death. We further show that the levels of iPLA2β in serum collected from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and in samples collected from both in vivo and in vitro I/R injury models are significantly elevated. Further, iPLA2β knockout mice and siRNA mediated iPLA2β knockdown are employed to evaluate the ER stress and cell apoptosis during I/R injury. Additionally, cell surface protein biotinylation and immunofluorescence assays are used to trace and locate iPLA2β. Our data demonstrate the increase of iPLA2β augments ER stress and enhances cardiomyocyte apoptosis during I/R injury in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of iPLA2β ameliorates ER stress and decreases cell death. Mechanistically, iPLA2β promotes ER stress and apoptosis by translocating to ER upon myocardial I/R injury. Together, our study suggests iPLA2β contributes to ER stress-induced apoptosis during myocardial I/R injury, which may serve as a potential therapeutic target against ischemic heart disease.

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YAP inhibits autophagy and promotes progression of colorectal cancer via upregulating Bcl-2 expression

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-021-03722-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Lan Jin ◽

Yunhe Chen ◽

Dan Cheng ◽

Zhikai He ◽

Xinyi Shi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Cell Death ◽

Transcriptional Coactivator ◽

Inhibitory Protein ◽

Potential Therapeutic Target ◽

Related Cell ◽

Autophagy Inhibition

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers. The role of autophagy in the pathobiology of CRC is intricate, with opposing functions manifested in different cellular contexts. The Yes-associated protein (YAP), a transcriptional coactivator inactivated by the Hippo tumor-suppressor pathway, functions as an oncoprotein in a variety of cancers. In this study, we found that YAP could negatively regulate autophagy in CRC cells, and consequently, promote tumor progression of CRC in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, YAP interacts with TEAD forming a complex to upregulate the transcription of the apoptosis-inhibitory protein Bcl-2, which may subsequently facilitate cell survival by suppressing autophagy-related cell death; silencing Bcl-2 expression could alleviate YAP-induced autophagy inhibition without affecting YAP expression. Collectively, our data provide evidence for YAP/Bcl-2 as a potential therapeutic target for drug exploration against CRC.

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Discovery of vanoxerine dihydrochloride as a CDK2/4/6 triple-inhibitor for the treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma

Molecular Medicine ◽

10.1186/s10020-021-00269-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ying Zhu ◽

Kun-Bin Ke ◽

Zhong-Kun Xia ◽

Hong-Jian Li ◽

Rong Su ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Cell Cycle Progression ◽

G1 Arrest ◽

Huh7 Cells ◽

Synergistic Cytotoxicity ◽

Combination Study ◽

Experimental Approaches ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Abstract Background Cyclin-dependent kinases 2/4/6 (CDK2/4/6) play critical roles in cell cycle progression, and their deregulations are hallmarks of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods We used the combination of computational and experimental approaches to discover a CDK2/4/6 triple-inhibitor from FDA approved small-molecule drugs for the treatment of HCC. Results We identified vanoxerine dihydrochloride as a new CDK2/4/6 inhibitor, and a strong cytotoxicdrugin human HCC QGY7703 and Huh7 cells (IC50: 3.79 μM for QGY7703and 4.04 μM for Huh7 cells). In QGY7703 and Huh7 cells, vanoxerine dihydrochloride treatment caused G1-arrest, induced apoptosis, and reduced the expressions of CDK2/4/6, cyclin D/E, retinoblastoma protein (Rb), as well as the phosphorylation of CDK2/4/6 and Rb. Drug combination study indicated that vanoxerine dihydrochloride and 5-Fu produced synergistic cytotoxicity in vitro in Huh7 cells. Finally, in vivo study in BALB/C nude mice subcutaneously xenografted with Huh7 cells, vanoxerine dihydrochloride (40 mg/kg, i.p.) injection for 21 days produced significant anti-tumor activity (p < 0.05), which was comparable to that achieved by 5-Fu (10 mg/kg, i.p.), with the combination treatment resulted in synergistic effect. Immunohistochemistry staining of the tumor tissues also revealed significantly reduced expressions of Rb and CDK2/4/6in vanoxerinedihydrochloride treatment group. Conclusions The present study isthe first report identifying a new CDK2/4/6 triple inhibitor vanoxerine dihydrochloride, and demonstrated that this drug represents a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.

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N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO impairs hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury via inhibiting Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-021-03622-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Ying Dong Du ◽

Wen Yuan Guo ◽

Cong Hui Han ◽

Ying Wang ◽

Xiao Song Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reperfusion Injury ◽

Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽

Ischemia Reperfusion ◽

Mitochondrial Fragmentation ◽

Hepatic Ischemia ◽

Adeno Associated Virus ◽

Downstream Target ◽

Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion

AbstractDespite N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is functionally important in various biological processes, its role and the underlying regulatory mechanism in the liver remain largely unexplored. In the present study, we showed that fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO, an m6A demethylase) was involved in mitochondrial function during hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury (HIRI). We found that the expression of m6A demethylase FTO was decreased during HIRI. In contrast, the level of m6A methylated RNA was enhanced. Adeno-associated virus-mediated liver-specific overexpression of FTO (AAV8-TBG-FTO) ameliorated the HIRI, repressed the elevated level of m6A methylated RNA, and alleviated liver oxidative stress and mitochondrial fragmentation in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) was a downstream target of FTO in the progression of HIRI. FTO contributed to the hepatic protective effect via demethylating the mRNA of Drp1 and impairing the Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation. Collectively, our findings demonstrated the functional importance of FTO-dependent hepatic m6A methylation during HIRI and provided valuable insights into the therapeutic mechanisms of FTO.

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