Pharmacological Modulation of Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathways in Oncogenic Signaling

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is involved in regulating several biological functions, including cell cycle control, apoptosis, DNA damage response, and apoptosis. It is widely known for its role in degrading abnormal protein substrates and maintaining physiological body functions via ubiquitinating enzymes (E1, E2, E3) and the proteasome. Therefore, aberrant expression in these enzymes results in an altered biological process, including transduction signaling for cell death and survival, resulting in cancer. In this review, an overview of profuse enzymes involved as a pro-oncogenic or progressive growth factor in tumors with their downstream signaling pathways has been discussed. A systematic literature review of PubMed, Medline, Bentham, Scopus, and EMBASE (Elsevier) databases was carried out to understand the nature of the extensive work done on modulation of ubiquitin-proteasome pathways in oncogenic signaling. Various in vitro, in vivo studies demonstrating the involvement of ubiquitin-proteasome systems in varied types of cancers and the downstream signaling pathways involved are also discussed in the current review. Several inhibitors of E1, E2, E3, deubiquitinase enzymes and proteasome have been applied for treating cancer. Some of these drugs have exhibited successful outcomes in in vivo studies on different cancer types, so clinical trials are going on for these inhibitors. This review mainly focuses on certain ubiquitin-proteasome enzymes involved in developing cancers and certain enzymes that can be targeted to treat cancer.

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Tip60 Suppresses Cholangiocarcinoma Proliferation and Metastasis via PI3k-AKT

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000494183 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 612-628 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yaodong Zhang ◽

Guwei Ji ◽

Sheng Han ◽

Zicheng Shao ◽

Zefa Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Venous Invasion ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Akt Pathway ◽

Rank Test ◽

Aberrant Expression ◽

Proliferation And Metastasis

Background/Aims: Aberrant expression of Tip60 is associated with progression in many cancers. However, the role of Tip60 in cancer progression remains contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance, biological functions and underlying mechanisms of Tip60 deregulation in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) for the first time. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining (IHC) were carried out to measure Tip60 expression in CCA tissues and cell lines. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log-rank test were used for survival analysis. In vitro, cell proliferation was evaluated by flow cytometry and CCK-8, colony formation, and EDU assays. Migration/ invasion was evaluated by trans-well assays. Phosphokinase array was used to confirm the dominant signal regulated by Tip60. Tumor growth and metastasis were demonstrated in vivo using a mouse model. Results: Tip60 was notably downregulated in CCA tissues, which was associated with greater tumor size, venous invasion, and TNM stage. Down-regulation of Tip60 was associated with tumor progression and poorer survival in CCA patients. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that Tip60 suppressed growth and metastasis throughout the progression of CCA. We further identified the PI3K/AKT pathway as a dominant signal of Tip60 and suggested that Tip60 regulated CCA cell proliferation and metastasis via PT3K-AKT pathway. Pearson analysis revealed that PTEN was positively correlated with the Tip60 level in CCA tissues. Conclusion: Tip60, as a tumor suppressor in CCA via the PI3K/AKT pathway, might be a promising therapeutic target or prognostic marker for CCA.

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Receptor Tyrosine Kinases and Their Signaling Pathways as Therapeutic Targets of Curcumin in Cancer

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2021.772510 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Sareshma Sudhesh Dev ◽

Syafiq Asnawi Zainal Abidin ◽

Reyhaneh Farghadani ◽

Iekhsan Othman ◽

Rakesh Naidu

Keyword(s):

Signaling Pathways ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Surface Proteins ◽

Downstream Signaling ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Rtk Inhibitors

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane cell-surface proteins that act as signal transducers. They regulate essential cellular processes like proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and metabolism. RTK alteration occurs in a broad spectrum of cancers, emphasising its crucial role in cancer progression and as a suitable therapeutic target. The use of small molecule RTK inhibitors however, has been crippled by the emergence of resistance, highlighting the need for a pleiotropic anti-cancer agent that can replace or be used in combination with existing pharmacological agents to enhance treatment efficacy. Curcumin is an attractive therapeutic agent mainly due to its potent anti-cancer effects, extensive range of targets and minimal toxicity. Out of the numerous documented targets of curcumin, RTKs appear to be one of the main nodes of curcumin-mediated inhibition. Many studies have found that curcumin influences RTK activation and their downstream signaling pathways resulting in increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation and decreased migration in cancer both in vitro and in vivo. This review focused on how curcumin exhibits anti-cancer effects through inhibition of RTKs and downstream signaling pathways like the MAPK, PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, and NF-κB pathways. Combination studies of curcumin and RTK inhibitors were also analysed with emphasis on their common molecular targets.

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Nutraceutical Activity in Osteoarthritis Biology: A Focus on the Nutrigenomic Role

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9051232 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 1232

Author(s):

Stefania D’Adamo ◽

Silvia Cetrullo ◽

Veronica Panichi ◽

Erminia Mariani ◽

Flavio Flamigni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Signaling Pathways ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

National Health System ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Joint Disease ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Wide Range

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease associated to age or conditions that precipitate aging of articular cartilage, a post-mitotic tissue that remains functional until the failure of major homeostatic mechanisms. OA severely impacts the national health system costs and patients’ quality of life because of pain and disability. It is a whole-joint disease sustained by inflammatory and oxidative signaling pathways and marked epigenetic changes responsible for catabolism of the cartilage extracellular matrix. OA usually progresses until its severity requires joint arthroplasty. To delay this progression and to improve symptoms, a wide range of naturally derived compounds have been proposed and are summarized in this review. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies have provided proof of principle that many of these nutraceuticals are able to exert pleiotropic and synergistic effects and effectively counteract OA pathogenesis by exerting both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and by tuning major OA-related signaling pathways. The latter are the basis for the nutrigenomic role played by some of these compounds, given the marked changes in the transcriptome, miRNome, and methylome. Ongoing and future clinical trials will hopefully confirm the disease-modifying ability of these bioactive molecules in OA patients.

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Role of long non-coding RNA TP73-AS1 in cancer

Bioscience Reports ◽

10.1042/bsr20192274 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Caizhi Chen ◽

Long Shu ◽

Wen Zou

Keyword(s):

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽

Aberrant Expression ◽

Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽

Early Diagnosis Of Cancer ◽

Cause Of Deaths

Abstract Cancer incidence rate has increased so much that it is the second leading cause of deaths worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. Sensitive and specific biomarkers are needed for an early diagnosis of cancer and in-time treatment. Recent studies have found that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in cancer tumorigenesis. LncRNA P73 antisense RNA 1T (TP73-AS1), also known as KIAA0495 and p53-dependent apoptosis modulator (PDAM), is located in human chromosomal band 1p36.32 and plays a crucial role in many different carcinomas. This review summarizes current findings on the role of TP73-AS1 and its signaling pathways in various cancers, including glioma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), colorectal cancer (CRC), osteosarcoma, gastric cancer (GC), clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), breast cancer (BC), bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Its aberrant expression generally correlates with clinicopathological characterization of patients. Moreover, TP73-AS1 regulates proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and chemoresistance cancer mechanisms, both in vivo and in vitro, through different signaling pathways. Therefore, TP73-AS1 may be considered as a marker for diagnosis and prognosis, also as a target for cancer treatment.

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MicroRNA Expression and Regulation of Hematopoiesis in CD34+ Cells: A Bioinformatic Circuit Diagram of the Hematopoietic Differentiation Control.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v108.11.1334.1334 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 108 (11) ◽

pp. 1334-1334

Author(s):

Robert W. Georgantas ◽

Richard Hildreth ◽

Jonathan Alder ◽

Carlo M. Croce ◽

George A. Calin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein Expression ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Hematopoietic Differentiation ◽

Aberrant Expression ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Cd34 Cells

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRs) are a recently realized class of epigenetic elements which block translation of mRNA to protein. MicroRNAs have been shown to control cellular metabolism, apoptosis, differentiation and development in numerous organisms including drosophila, rat, mouse, and humans. Recently, miRs have been implicated in the control of hematopoiesis. Importantly, both aberrant expression and deletion of miRs are have been associated with the development of various cancers. In a previous study, we determined the gene expression profiles of HSC-enriched, HPC-enriched, and total CD34+ cells from human PBSC, BM, and CB. One rather surprising finding from this study was that virtually all of “hematopoietic important” genes were expressed at virtually identical levels within all populations examined. One of our hypotheses to explain this phenomena was that miRs may control differentiation by controlling protein expression from these “hematopoietic” RNAs. To examine the possible role of miRs in normal hematopoiesis and their relation to the HSPC transcriptome, we used mir-miroarrays to determine the miR expression profile of primary normal human mobilized blood and bone marrow CD34+ hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs). We have combined this miR data with (1) our extensive mRNA expression data obtained previously for CD34+ HSPCs, CD34+/CD38−/Lin- stem cell-enriched, CD34+/CD38+/Lin+ progenitor-enriched populations, and total CD34+ HSPC (Georgantas, Cancer Research 64:4434) and (2) miR target predictions from various published algorithms. Combining these datasets into one integrated database allowed us to bioinformaticly examine the global interaction of HSPC mRNAs and miRs during hematopoiesis. The 3′UTR sequences from many of these “hematopoietic” mRNA were cloned behind a luciferase reporter. K562 cells were transfected with these luc-3′UTR constructs, confirmating that expression of many important hematopoietic proteins are controlled by miRs. Based on our bioinformatic and protein expression studies, we present a global in silico model by which microRNAs control and direct hematopoietic differentiation. Actual in vitro and in vivo studies addressing the action of specific miRs in hematopoietic differentiation are presented in separate abstracts.

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Attenuation of Pancreatic Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo via Modulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways by Natural Compounds

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10123556 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 3556

Author(s):

Marta Cykowiak ◽

Robert Kleszcz ◽

Małgorzata Kucińska ◽

Jarosław Paluszczak ◽

Hanna Szaefer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Cell Line ◽

Target Genes ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line ◽

Cancer Cell Line ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Phenethyl Isothiocyanate

Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which deregulation of signaling pathways plays a key role, thus searching for their novel modulators is a promising therapeutic strategy. Hence, in this study, the effect of phytochemical combinations on the canonical and non-canonical activation of Nrf2 and its interaction with the NF-κB pathway was evaluated in extensively proliferating pancreatic cancer cell line, PSN-1, in comparison to non-cancerous MS1 cells. The activation of Nrf2 and NF-κB, expression of their target genes, and effect on cell survival were assessed in PSN-1 cells. The tumor burden was evaluated in mice carrying xenografts. PSN-1 cells were more sensitive to the tested compounds as compared to the MS1 cell line. Combination of xanthohumol and phenethyl isothiocyanate was more effective than single compounds at decreasing the canonical and non-canonical activation of Nrf2 in PSN-1 cancer cells. Decreased activation of NF-κB, and subsequent reduced cytosolic COX-2 and nuclear STAT3 level indicated their anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic activities. In vivo studies showed the partial response in groups treated with xanthohumol or the combination of xanthohumol and phenethyl isothiocyanate. Overall, these results suggest that the combination of xanthohumol and phenethyl isothiocyanate may be a promising therapeutic candidate against pancreatic cancer.

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Metformin alters signaling induced crosstalk and homeostasis in the carcinogenesis paradigm “Epistemology of the origin of cancer”

4open ◽

10.1051/fopen/2019006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 12

Author(s):

Björn L.D.M. Brücher ◽

Ijaz S. Jamall

Keyword(s):

Cancer Therapy ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Anti Inflammatory

The anti-hyperglycemic drug, Metformin, is effective in treating early stages of diabetes and has been associated with a 37% decrease in cancer incidence. While the precise mechanisms for the anti-cancer effects of Metformin remain to be elucidated, this review shows the multiplicity of its effects on interdicting signaling and crosstalk, anti-inflammatory effects and in restoring homeostasis, which, taken together, go beyond its well-known anti-hyperglycemic effect that serves as the basis for its use in type 2 diabetes. Metformin is much more than a one-trick pony. The recent discovery of several signaling pathways influenced by Metformin appears to have potential value in cancer therapy. Based on what we know at present, Metformin promotes beneficial effects attributed to its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects largely demonstrated in vitro. Metformin activates or upregulates while it simultaneously inhibits or downregulates multiple signaling pathways of cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis accompanied by oxidative stress, which are in accordance with the 6-step sequence of carcinogenesis. Furthermore, in vivo studies in laboratory animals and in cancer patients are beginning to address the magnitude of the anti-cancer effects and delineate its anti-cancer effects. In this context, results from prior pancreatic and non-pancreatic cancer trials, which contained a significant proportion of the patient population treated with Metformin, will have to be reexamined in light of the observed anti-cancerous effects to gain additional insights. The detailed exploration of Metformin in the context of the “Disruption of signaling homeostasis induced crosstalk in the carcinogenesis paradigm Epistemology of the origin of cancer” can provide helpful insights into the anti-proliferative mechanisms and could play a relevant role in anti-cancer therapy in the future.

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CSIG-29. TRIBBLES-1 (TRIB1) INCREASES TUMOR FORMATION IN AN ORTHOTOPIC MOUSE MODELS BY PROMOTING SURVIVAL OF GBM CELLS AND TREATMENT RESISTANCE

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noab196.155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi39-vi39

Author(s):

Karnika Singh ◽

Chunhua Han ◽

Jessica Fleming ◽

Joseph McElroy ◽

Ashok Kumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Tumor Volume ◽

Tumor Model ◽

Tumor Formation ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Oncogenic Signaling ◽

Novel Therapeutic

Abstract INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive CNS tumor with an average survival of about 15 months after diagnosis. The current gold standard therapy comprises radiation therapy (RT) and concurrent and adjuvant temozolamide (TMZ). Due to poor prognosis, novel therapeutic targets need to be identified for drug development. To this end, we identified TRIB1 through correlative studies using patient derived methylation data from an institutional cohort as a novel therapeutic target. TRIB1 is a Ser/Thr pseudokinase that functions as a scaffold for the degradation of its substrates and activates Akt and MEK oncogenic pathways. In this study, we show that TRIB1 promoted GBM progression by upregulating survival pathways and reducing RT/TMZ-induced cell death. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro functional validation was performed by overexpression and knockdown approaches. GBM patient derived (PDX) cell lines overexpressing the TRIB1 transgene were used to create an orthotopic tumor model for in vivo studies. Mice were monitored for changes in tumor volume and overall survival. Stable cell lines were generated by puromycin selection. Western blotting was utilized to detect protein levels. RESULTS Mice inoculated with PDX cells overexpressing TRIB1 transgene had increased tumor volume and worse overall survival compared to the empty vector control. We also observed that TRIB1 overexpression caused decreased apoptosis of PDX cell lines after RT/TMZ treatment. Additionally, an increase in the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt was also noted after TRIB1 overexpression. Consistent with these observations, TRIB1 knockdown sensitized the cells towards radiation and caused decreased Akt phosphorylation/activation as well. CONCLUSION TRIB1 overexpression decreases overall survival of xenograft bearing mice and promotes GBM cell survival by upregulating survival signaling pathways. This compromises the effects of RT/TMZ therapy, which is reversed after TRIB1 knockdown. Targeting of TRIB1 may reduce oncogenic signaling in GBM cells and therefore would sensitize them towards RT/TMZ therapy.

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Intracellular targeting of the oncogenic MUC1-C protein with a GO-203 nanoparticle formulation overcomes MCL-1- and BFL-1-mediated resistance in human carcinoma cells.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.e14053 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e14053-e14053

Author(s):

Masayuki Hiraki ◽

Caining Jin ◽

Maroof Alam ◽

Takahiro Maeda ◽

Masaru Murata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Polymeric Nanoparticles ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Parental Cancer ◽

Mucin 1 ◽

Aberrant Expression ◽

Human Carcinoma ◽

Resistant Cells

e14053 Background: Aberrant expression of MCL-1 and BFL-1, the pro-survival members of the Bcl-2 family, is a major cause of drug resistance in human cancers. Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a heterodimeric oncoprotein that is aberrantly expressed in most human carcinomas. Notably, there is no known relationship between the oncogenic MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) and these anti-apoptotic proteins. Methods: MUC1-C was targeted in breast, lung and colon cancer cells by a stable shRNA, a tetracycline-inducible shRNA, or a pharmacologic peptide inhibitor GO-203. MCL-1 was inhibited by siRNA or the MS-1 peptide. In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted using our polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) for intracellular delivery of peptide cargos. Cells were selected for resistance to ABT-737 or ABT-263, which target BCL-2, BCL-XL and BCL-w, but not MCL-1 and BFL-1. Results: Targeting MCL-1 with MS-1/NPs inhibited the survival of parental cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and was associated with upregulation of BFL-1 levels. In addition, MS-1/NPs treatment had limited effects on ABT-resistant cells because of increased BFL-1 expression. Importantly, we found that targeting MUC1-C is associated with suppression of both MCL-1 and BFL-1. Mechanistically, MUC1-C (i) stabilizes MCL-1 by activating the MEK→ERK and PI3K→AKT pathways, and (ii) induces BFL-1 through the NF-κB p65 pathway. Treatment with GO-203/NPs suppressed proliferation of parental and ABT-resistant cells. In addition, we show that combining GO-203 with ABT-737 is synergistic in inhibiting survival of parental and ABT-resistant cells. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that targeting MUC1-C with GO-203/NPs is a potential strategy for abrogating MCL-1- and BFL-1-mediated resistance.

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Promising Anticancer Activities of Alismatis rhizome and Its Triterpenes via p38 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathways

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072455 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2455

Author(s):

Eungyeong Jang ◽

Jang-Hoon Lee

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Experimental Models ◽

Mtor Signaling ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Anticancer Activities

The flowering plant genus Alisma, which belongs to the family Alismataceae, comprises 11 species, including Alisma orientale, Alisma canaliculatum, and Alisma plantago-aquatica. Alismatis rhizome (Ze xie in Chinese, Takusha in Japanese, and Taeksa in Korean, AR), the tubers of medicinal plants from Alisma species, have long been used to treat inflammatory diseases, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, bacterial infection, edema, oliguria, diarrhea, and dizziness. Recent evidence has demonstrated that its extract showed pharmacological activities to effectively reverse cancer-related molecular targets. In particular, triterpenes naturally isolated from AR have been found to exhibit antitumor activity. This study aimed to describe the biological activities and plausible signaling cascades of AR and its main compounds in experimental models representing cancer-related physiology and pathology. Available in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that AR extract possesses anticancer activity against various cancer cells, and the efficacy might be attributed to the cytotoxic and antimetastatic effects of its alisol compounds, such as alisol A, alisol B, and alisol B 23-acetate. Several beneficial functions of triterpenoids found in AR might be due to p38 activation and inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. Moreover, AR and its triterpenes inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells that are resistant to chemotherapy. Thus, AR and its triterpenes may play potential roles in tumor attack, as well as a therapeutic remedy alone and in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs.

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