RESUMO
Metabolic abnormalities play a pivotal role in various pathological conditions, necessitating the quantification of specific metabolites for diagnosis. While mass spectrometry remains the primary method for metabolite measurement, its limited throughput underscores the need for biosensors capable of rapid detection. Previously, we reported that pillar[6]arene with 12 carboxylate groups (P6AC) forms host-guest complexes with 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA), which is produced in vivo by nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). P6AC acts as a biosensor by measuring the fluorescence quenching caused by photoinduced electron transfer upon 1-MNA binding. However, the low sensitivity of P6AC makes it impractical for detecting 1-MNA in unpurified biological samples. In this study, we found that P6A with 12 sulfonate groups (P6AS) is a specific and potent supramolecular host for 1-MNA interactions even in biological samples. The 1-MNA binding affinity of P6AS in water was found to be (5.68 ± 1.02) × 106 M-1, which is approximately 700-fold higher than that of P6AC. Moreover, the 1-MNA detection limit of P6AS was determined to be 2.84 × 10-7 M, which is substantially lower than that of P6AC. Direct addition of P6AS to culture medium was sufficient to quantify 1-MNA produced by cancer cells. Furthermore, this sensor was able to specifically detect 1-MNA even in unpurified human urine. P6AS therefore enables rapid and high-throughput quantification of 1-MNA, and further improvement of our strategy will contribute to the establishment of high-throughput screening of NNMT inhibitors, diagnosis of liver diseases, and imaging of human cancer cells in vivo.
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Lysosomes function as the digestive system of a cell and are involved in macromolecular recycling, vesicle trafficking, metabolic reprogramming, and progrowth signaling. Although quality control of lysosome biogenesis is thought to be a potential target for cancer therapy, practical strategies have not been established. Here, we show that lysosomal membrane integrity supported by lysophagy, a selective autophagy for damaged lysosomes, is a promising therapeutic target for glioblastoma (GBM). In this study, we found that ifenprodil, an FDA-approved drug with neuromodulatory activities, efficiently inhibited spheroid formation of patient-derived GBM cells in a combination with autophagy inhibition. Ifenprodil increased intracellular Ca2+ level, resulting in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-mediated cytotoxicity. The ifenprodil-induced Ca2+ elevation was due to Ca2+ release from lysosomes, but not endoplasmic reticulum, associated with galectin-3 punctation as an indicator of lysosomal membrane damage. As the Ca2+ release was enhanced by ATG5 deficiency, autophagy protected against lysosomal membrane damage. By comparative analysis of 765 FDA-approved compounds, we identified another clinically available drug for central nervous system (CNS) diseases, amoxapine, in addition to ifenprodil. Both compounds promoted degradation of lysosomal membrane proteins, indicating a critical role of lysophagy in quality control of lysosomal membrane integrity. Importantly, a synergistic inhibitory effect of ifenprodil and chloroquine, a clinically available autophagy inhibitor, on spheroid formation was remarkable in GBM cells, but not in nontransformed neural progenitor cells. Finally, chloroquine dramatically enhanced effects of the compounds inducing lysosomal membrane damage in a patient-derived xenograft model. These data demonstrate a therapeutic advantage of targeting lysosomal membrane integrity in GBM.
Assuntos
Glioblastoma , Glioma , Autofagia , Cloroquina/uso terapêutico , Glioblastoma/tratamento farmacológico , Glioblastoma/metabolismo , Glioma/tratamento farmacológico , Glioma/metabolismo , Humanos , Lisossomos/metabolismo , MacroautofagiaRESUMO
T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy of immature T lymphocytes. Although various therapeutic approaches have been developed, refractoriness of chemotherapy and relapse cause a poor prognosis of the disease and further therapeutic strategies are required. Here, we report that Ras homolog enriched in brain (RHEB), a critical regulator of mTOR complex 1 activity, is a potential target for T-ALL therapy. In this study, we established an sgRNA library that comprehensively targeted mTOR upstream and downstream pathways, including autophagy. CRISPR/Cas9 dropout screening revealed critical roles of mTOR-related molecules in T-ALL cell survival. Among the regulators, we focused on RHEB because we previously found that it is dispensable for normal hematopoiesis in mice. Transcriptome and metabolic analyses revealed that RHEB deficiency suppressed de novo nucleotide biosynthesis, leading to human T-ALL cell death. Importantly, RHEB deficiency suppressed tumor growth in both mouse and xenograft models. Our data provide a potential strategy for efficient therapy of T-ALL by RHEB-specific inhibition.
Assuntos
Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células T Precursoras , Proteína Enriquecida em Homólogo de Ras do Encéfalo , Animais , Humanos , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/metabolismo , Camundongos , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células T Precursoras/tratamento farmacológico , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células T Precursoras/genética , Proteína Enriquecida em Homólogo de Ras do Encéfalo/genética , Proteína Enriquecida em Homólogo de Ras do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/metabolismoRESUMO
Nutrients are converted by the body to smaller molecules, which are utilized for both anabolic and catabolic metabolic reactions. Cooperative regulation of these processes is critical for life-sustaining activities. In this review, we focus on how the regulation of nutrient-driven metabolism maintains healthy hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). For this purpose, we have examined the metabolic regulation of HSCs from two perspectives: (1) the control of intracellular metabolism by the balance of anabolic and catabolic reactions; and (2) the control of organismal metabolic status and hematopoiesis by dietary intake of nutrients. Critical roles of catabolic regulators in stem cell homeostasis are conserved in several types of tissues, including hematopoiesis. These catabolic signals are also major regulators of organismal lifespan in multiple species. In parallel, changes to nutrients via alterations to dietary intake affect not only an organism's metabolic state but also the behavior of its stem cells. While the molecular mechanisms involved in these two aspects of nutrient function may not necessarily overlap, a deeper understanding of these phenomena will point to new avenues of medical research and may furnish new agents for improving human health care.
Assuntos
Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/fisiologia , Nutrientes/farmacologia , Animais , Diferenciação Celular , Hematopoese , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Autophagy plays a critical role in tumorigenesis, but how autophagy contributes to cancer cells' responses to chemotherapeutics remains controversial. To investigate the roles of autophagy in malignant gliomas, we used CRISPR/CAS9 to knock out the ATG5 gene, which is essential for autophagosome formation, in tumor cells derived from patients with glioblastoma. While ATG5 disruption inhibited autophagy, it did not change the phenotypes of glioma cells and did not alter their sensitivity to temozolomide, an agent used for glioblastoma patient therapy. Screening of an anticancer drug library identified compounds that showed greater efficacy to ATG5-knockout glioma cells compared to control. While several selected compounds, including nigericin and salinomycin, remarkably induced autophagy, potent autophagy inducers by mTOR inhibition did not exhibit the ATG5-dependent cytoprotective effects. Nigericin in combination with ATG5 deficiency synergistically suppressed spheroid formation by glioma cells in a manner mitigated by Ca2+ chelation or CaMKK inhibition, indicating that, in combination with autophagy inhibition, calcium-mobilizing compounds contribute to efficient anticancer therapeutics. ATG5-knockout cells treated with nigericin showed increased mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species and apoptosis compared to controls, indicating that autophagy protects glioma cells from mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-mediated damage. Finally, using a patient-derived xenograft model, we demonstrated that chloroquine, a pharmacological autophagy inhibitor, dramatically enhanced the efficacy of compounds selected in this study. Our findings propose a novel therapeutic strategy in which calcium-mobilizing compounds are combined with autophagy inhibitors to treat patients with glioblastoma.
Assuntos
Autofagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Cálcio/metabolismo , Glioma/tratamento farmacológico , Glioma/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteína 5 Relacionada à Autofagia/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Cloroquina/uso terapêutico , Dacarbazina/análogos & derivados , Dacarbazina/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Glioblastoma/tratamento farmacológico , Glioblastoma/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Nus , Mitocôndrias/efeitos dos fármacos , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , TemozolomidaRESUMO
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) senses a cell's energy status and environmental levels of nutrients and growth factors. In response, mTORC1 mediates signaling that controls protein translation and cellular metabolism. Although mTORC1 plays a critical role in hematopoiesis, it remains unclear which upstream stimuli regulate mTORC1 activity in the context of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) maintenance in vivo. In this study, we investigated the function of Rheb, a critical regulator of mTORC1 activity controlled by the PI3K-AKT-TSC axis, both in HSC maintenance in mice at steady-state and in HSC-derived hematopoiesis post-transplantation. In contrast to the severe hematopoietic dysfunction caused by Raptor deletion, which completely inactivates mTORC1, Rheb deficiency in adult mice did not show remarkable hematopoietic failure. Lack of Rheb caused abnormalities in myeloid cells but did not have impact on hematopoietic regeneration in mice subjected to injury by irradiation. As previously reported, Rheb deficiency resulted in defective HSC-derived hematopoiesis post-transplantation. However, while Raptor is essential for HSC competitiveness in vivo, Rheb is dispensable for HSC maintenance under physiological conditions, indicating that the PI3K-AKT-TSC pathway does not contribute to mTORC1 activity for sustaining HSC self-renewal activity at steady-state. Thus, the various regulatory elements that impinge upstream of mTORC1 activation pathways are differentially required for HSC homeostasis in vivo.
Assuntos
Autorrenovação Celular/fisiologia , Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/citologia , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/fisiologia , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/metabolismo , Proteína Enriquecida em Homólogo de Ras do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Proteína Regulatória Associada a mTOR/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
Various types of stresses account for the dysregulation of the self-renewal activity of stem cells, resulting in the functional failure of tissues or tumorigenesis promotion. Although diets also affect our health, the effect of harmful dietary stresses on the tissue or stem cell homeostasis remains unclear. Recent research has revealed that Spred1, which negatively regulates RAS-MAPK signaling, protects hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homeostasis against high-fat diet (HFD) -induced systemic stress. In steady-state conditions, Spred1 negatively regulates HSC self-renewal in a manner supported by the Rho kinase (ROCK) activity. In addition, Spred1 deficiency in mice mitigates HSC dysfunction induced by aging or lipopolysaccharide treatment, enhances the HSC self-renewal capacity, and prolongs HSC lifespan, but does not induce leukemia because of the compensatory upregulation of Spred2-the other Spred family member. Conversely, HFD triggers ERK hyperactivation and aberrant self-renewal in Spred1-deficient HSCs, resulting in HSC dysfunction, severe anemia, and the development of lethal myeloproliferative neoplasm-like disease. The depletion of the gut microbiota by antibiotics restored myeloproliferation, anemia, and HSC reconstitution ability in HFD-fed Spred1-deficient mice, suggesting that HFD-induced hematopoietic abnormalities were partially because of alterations in the gut microbiota composition. Thus, HFD-induced systemic stress affects the regulation of HSC self-renewal, and Spred1 safeguards HSC homeostasis against the diet-induced systemic stress.
Assuntos
Autorrenovação Celular , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal , Animais , Diferenciação Celular , Proliferação de Células , Homeostase , Camundongos , Proteínas Repressoras , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
Although abnormal metabolic regulation is a critical determinant of cancer cell behavior, it is still unclear how an altered balance between ATP production and consumption contributes to malignancy. Here we show that disruption of this energy balance efficiently suppresses aggressive malignant gliomas driven by mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) hyperactivation. In a mouse glioma model, mTORC1 hyperactivation induced by conditional Tsc1 deletion increased numbers of glioma-initiating cells (GICs) in vitro and in vivo Metabolic analysis revealed that mTORC1 hyperactivation enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis, as evidenced by elevations in oxygen consumption rate and ATP production. Inhibition of mitochondrial ATP synthetase was more effective in repressing sphere formation by Tsc1-deficient glioma cells than that by Tsc1-competent glioma cells, indicating a crucial function for mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity in GIC expansion. To translate this observation into the development of novel therapeutics targeting malignant gliomas, we screened drug libraries for small molecule compounds showing greater efficacy in inhibiting the proliferation/survival of Tsc1-deficient cells compared with controls. We identified several compounds able to preferentially inhibit mitochondrial activity, dramatically reducing ATP levels and blocking glioma sphere formation. In human patient-derived glioma cells, nigericin, which reportedly suppresses cancer stem cell properties, induced AMPK phosphorylation that was associated with mTORC1 inactivation and induction of autophagy and led to a marked decrease in sphere formation with loss of GIC marker expression. Furthermore, malignant characteristics of human glioma cells were markedly suppressed by nigericin treatment in vivo Thus, targeting mTORC1-driven processes, particularly those involved in maintaining a cancer cell's energy balance, may be an effective therapeutic strategy for glioma patients.
Assuntos
Metabolismo Energético , Glioma/metabolismo , Glioma/terapia , ATPases Mitocondriais Próton-Translocadoras/metabolismo , Complexos Multiproteicos/metabolismo , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/metabolismo , Proteínas Supressoras de Tumor/metabolismo , Trifosfato de Adenosina/genética , Trifosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Animais , Glioma/genética , Humanos , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Knockout , Camundongos Nus , ATPases Mitocondriais Próton-Translocadoras/genética , Complexos Multiproteicos/genética , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/genética , Proteína 1 do Complexo Esclerose Tuberosa , Proteínas Supressoras de Tumor/genéticaRESUMO
mTOR is an evolutionarily conserved kinase that plays a critical role in sensing and responding to environmental determinants. Recent studies have shown that fine-tuning of the activity of mTOR complexes contributes to organogenesis and tumorigenesis. Although rapamycin, an allosteric mTOR inhibitor, is an effective immunosuppressant, the precise roles of mTOR complexes in early T-cell development remain unclear. Here we show that mTORC1 plays a critical role in the development of both early T-cell progenitors and leukemia. Deletion of Raptor, an essential component of mTORC1, produced defects in the earliest development of T-cell progenitors in vivo and in vitro. Deficiency of Raptor resulted in cell cycle abnormalities in early T-cell progenitors that were associated with instability of the Cyclin D2/D3-CDK6 complexes; deficiency of Rictor, an mTORC2 component, did not have the same effect, indicating that mTORC1 and -2 control T-cell development in different ways. In a model of myeloproliferative neoplasm and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) evoked by Kras activation, Raptor deficiency dramatically inhibited the cell cycle in oncogenic Kras-expressing T-cell progenitors, but not myeloid progenitors, and specifically prevented the development of T-ALL. Although rapamycin treatment significantly prolonged the survival of recipient mice bearing T-ALL cells, rapamycin-insensitive leukemia cells continued to propagate in vivo. In contrast, Raptor deficiency in the T-ALL model resulted in cell cycle arrest and efficient eradication of leukemia. Thus, understanding the cell-context-dependent role of mTORC1 illustrates the potential importance of mTOR signals as therapeutic targets.
Assuntos
Linfopoese/fisiologia , Modelos Imunológicos , Complexos Multiproteicos/fisiologia , Células Precursoras de Linfócitos T/fisiologia , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células T Precursoras/imunologia , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/metabolismo , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/fisiologia , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/deficiência , Animais , Proteínas de Transporte/metabolismo , Ciclo Celular/imunologia , Ciclo Celular/fisiologia , Primers do DNA , Citometria de Fluxo , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Immunoblotting , Imuno-Histoquímica , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 2 de Rapamicina , Camundongos , Complexos Multiproteicos/deficiência , Proteína Companheira de mTOR Insensível à Rapamicina , Proteína Regulatória Associada a mTOR , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Sirolimo/farmacologia , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/antagonistas & inibidores , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/deficiênciaRESUMO
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is caused by a defined genetic abnormality that generates BCR-ABL, a constitutively active tyrosine kinase. It is widely believed that BCR-ABL activates Akt signalling that suppresses the forkhead O transcription factors (FOXO), supporting the proliferation or inhibiting the apoptosis of CML cells. Although the use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib is a breakthrough for CML therapy, imatinib does not deplete the leukaemia-initiating cells (LICs) that drive the recurrence of CML. Here, using a syngeneic transplantation system and a CML-like myeloproliferative disease mouse model, we show that Foxo3a has an essential role in the maintenance of CML LICs. We find that cells with nuclear localization of Foxo3a and decreased Akt phosphorylation are enriched in the LIC population. Serial transplantation of LICs generated from Foxo3a(+/+) and Foxo3a(-/-) mice shows that the ability of LICs to cause disease is significantly decreased by Foxo3a deficiency. Furthermore, we find that TGF-beta is a critical regulator of Akt activation in LICs and controls Foxo3a localization. A combination of TGF-beta inhibition, Foxo3a deficiency and imatinib treatment led to efficient depletion of CML in vivo. Furthermore, the treatment of human CML LICs with a TGF-beta inhibitor impaired their colony-forming ability in vitro. Our results demonstrate a critical role for the TGF-beta-FOXO pathway in the maintenance of LICs, and strengthen our understanding of the mechanisms that specifically maintain CML LICs in vivo.
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Leucemia Mielogênica Crônica BCR-ABL Positiva/metabolismo , Leucemia Mielogênica Crônica BCR-ABL Positiva/patologia , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/patologia , Transdução de Sinais , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta/metabolismo , Animais , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Apoptose , Benzamidas , Diferenciação Celular , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ativação Enzimática , Proteína Forkhead Box O3 , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/deficiência , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Humanos , Mesilato de Imatinib , Leucemia Mielogênica Crônica BCR-ABL Positiva/tratamento farmacológico , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/efeitos dos fármacos , Fosforilação , Piperazinas/uso terapêutico , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/uso terapêutico , Transporte Proteico , Proteínas Tirosina Quinases/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismo , Pirimidinas/uso terapêutico , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta/antagonistas & inibidores , Ensaio Tumoral de Célula-TroncoRESUMO
The Notch signal regulates both cell viability and apoptosis, and maintains stemness of various cancers including glioblastoma (GBM). Although Notch signal inhibition may be an effective strategy in treating GBM initiating cells (GICs), its applicability to the different subtypes of GBM remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the effectiveness of MRK003, a preclinical γ-secretase inhibitor, on GICs. Nine patient-derived GICs were treated by MRK003, and its efficacy on cell viability, apoptosis, sphere forming ability and Akt expression level which might be related to Notch downstream and be greatly important signals in GBM was evaluated. MRK003 suppressed viability and sphere-formation ability, and induced apoptosis in all GICs in varying doses of MRK003. Based on their sensitivities to MRK003, the nine GICs were divided into "relatively sensitive" and "relatively resistant" GICs. Sensitivity to MRK003 was associated with its inhibitory effect on Akt pathway. Transgenic expression of the myristoylated Akt vector in relatively sensitive GICs partially rescued the effect of MRK003, suggesting that the effect of MRK003 was, at least in part, mediated through inhibition of the Akt pathway. These GICs were differentiated by the expression of CD44 and CD133 with flow cytometric analysis. The relatively sensitive GICs are CD44-high and CD133-low. The IC50 of MRK003 in a set of GICs exhibited a negative correlation with CD44 and positive correlation with CD133. Collectively, MRK003 is partially mediated by the Akt pathway and has strong therapeutic potential for CD44-high and CD133-low GICs.
Assuntos
Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Óxidos S-Cíclicos/farmacologia , Glioblastoma/tratamento farmacológico , Glicoproteínas/metabolismo , Receptores de Hialuronatos/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/efeitos dos fármacos , Peptídeos/metabolismo , Tiadiazóis/farmacologia , Antígeno AC133 , Secretases da Proteína Precursora do Amiloide/antagonistas & inibidores , Secretases da Proteína Precursora do Amiloide/metabolismo , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Apoptose/fisiologia , Biomarcadores Tumorais/metabolismo , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Sobrevivência Celular/fisiologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Glioblastoma/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/fisiologia , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , Esferoides Celulares/efeitos dos fármacos , Esferoides Celulares/fisiologia , Células Tumorais CultivadasRESUMO
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous neoplastic disorder in which a subset of cells function as leukaemia-initiating cells (LICs). In this study, we prospectively evaluated the leukaemia-initiating capacity of AML cells fractionated according to the expression of a nucleolar GTP binding protein, nucleostemin (NS). To monitor NS expression in living AML cells, we generated a mouse AML model in which green fluorescent protein (GFP) is expressed under the control of a region of the NS promoter (NS-GFP). In AML cells, NS-GFP levels were correlated with endogenous NS mRNA. AML cells with the highest expression of NS-GFP were very immature blast-like cells, efficiently formed leukaemia colonies in vitro, and exhibited the highest leukaemia-initiating capacity in vivo. Gene expression profiling analysis revealed that cell cycle regulators and nucleotide metabolism-related genes were highly enriched in a gene set associated with leukaemia-initiating capacity that we termed the 'leukaemia stem cell gene signature'. This gene signature stratified human AML patients into distinct clusters that reflected prognosis, demonstrating that the mouse leukaemia stem cell gene signature is significantly associated with the malignant properties of human AML. Further analyses of gene regulation in leukaemia stem cells could provide novel insights into diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to AML.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP/genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/genética , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/patologia , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/patologia , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Animais , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/metabolismo , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/patologia , Marcadores Genéticos/genética , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , PrognósticoRESUMO
Nucleostemin (NS) is a nucleolar GTP-binding protein that is involved in ribosomal biogenesis and protection of telomeres. We investigated the expression of NS in human germ cell tumors and its function in a mouse germ cell tumor model. NS was abundantly expressed in undifferentiated, but not differentiated, types of human testicular germ cell tumors. NS was expressed concomitantly with OCT3/4, a critical regulator of the undifferentiated status of pluripotent stem cells in primordial germ cells and embryonal carcinomas. To investigate the roles of NS in tumor growth in vivo, we used a mouse teratoma model. Analysis of teratomas derived from embryonic stem cells in which the NS promoter drives GFP expression showed that cells highly expressing NS were actively proliferating and exhibited the characteristics of tumor-initiating cells, including the ability to initiate and propagate tumor cells in vivo. NS-expressing cells exhibited higher levels of GTP than non-NS-expressing cells. Because NS protein is stabilized by intracellular GTP, metabolic changes may contribute to abundant NS expression in the undifferentiated cells. OCT3/4 deficiency in teratomas led to loss of NS expression, resulting in growth retardation. Finally, we found that teratomas deficient in NS lost their undifferentiated characteristics, resulting in defective tumor proliferation. These data indicate that abundant expression of NS supports the undifferentiated properties of germ cell tumors.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Transporte/metabolismo , Proteínas Nucleares/metabolismo , Teratoma/metabolismo , Neoplasias Testiculares/metabolismo , Animais , Proliferação de Células , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP , Células Germinativas/patologia , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA , Teratoma/patologia , Neoplasias Testiculares/patologia , Células Tumorais CultivadasRESUMO
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification essential for development. The DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b execute de novo DNA methylation in gastrulating embryos and differentiating germline cells. It has been assumed that these enzymes generally play a role in regulating cell differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we examined the role of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in adult stem cells. CD34(-/low), c-Kit(+), Sca-1(+), lineage marker(-) (CD34(-) KSL) cells, a fraction of mouse bone marrow cells highly enriched in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), expressed both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b. Using retroviral Cre gene transduction, we conditionally disrupted Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, or both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b (Dnmt3a/Dnmt3b) in CD34(-) KSL cells purified from mice in which the functional domains of these genes are flanked by two loxP sites. We found that Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b function as de novo DNA methyltransferases during differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Unexpectedly, in vitro colony assays and in vivo transplantation assays showed that both myeloid and lymphoid lineage differentiation potentials were maintained in Dnmt3a-, Dnmt3b-, and Dnmt3a/Dnmt3b-deficient HSCs. However, Dnmt3a/Dnmt3b-deficient HSCs, but not Dnmt3a- or Dnmt3b-deficient HSCs, were incapable of long-term reconstitution in transplantation assays. These findings establish a critical role for DNA methylation by Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in HSC self-renewal.
Assuntos
DNA (Citosina-5-)-Metiltransferases/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/citologia , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/enzimologia , Animais , Diferenciação Celular , Divisão Celular , DNA (Citosina-5-)-Metiltransferases/genética , Metilação de DNA , Deleção de Genes , Camundongos , Camundongos TransgênicosRESUMO
Differentiation therapy has been proposed as a promising therapeutic strategy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML); thus, the development of more versatile methodologies that are applicable to a wide range of AML subtypes is desired. Although the FOXOs transcription factor represents a promising drug target for differentiation therapy, the efficacy of FOXO inhibitors is limited in vivo. Here, we show that pharmacological inhibition of a common cis-regulatory element of forkhead box O (FOXO) family members successfully induced cell differentiation in various AML cell lines. Through gene expression profiling and differentiation marker-based CRISPR/Cas9 screening, we identified TRIB1, a complement of the COP1 ubiquitin ligase complex, as a functional FOXO downstream gene maintaining an undifferentiated status. TRIB1 is direct target of FOXO3 and the FOXO-binding cis-regulatory element in the TRIB1 promoter, referred to as the FOXO-responsive element in the TRIB1 promoter (FRE-T), played a critical role in differentiation blockade. Thus, we designed a DNA-binding pharmacological inhibitor of the FOXO-FRE-T interface using pyrrole-imidazole polyamides (PIPs) that specifically bind to FRE-T (FRE-PIPs). The FRE-PIPs conjugated to chlorambucil (FRE-chb) inhibited transcription of TRIB1, causing differentiation in various AML cell lines. FRE-chb suppressed the formation of colonies derived from AML cell lines but not from normal counterparts. Administration of FRE-chb inhibited tumor progression in vivo without remarkable adverse effects. In conclusion, targeting cis-regulatory elements of the FOXO family is a promising therapeutic strategy that induces AML cell differentiation.
RESUMO
Although the concept of a leukemic stem cell system has recently been well accepted, its nature and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Constitutive activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT5 is frequently detected in various hematopoietic tumors. To evaluate their role in normal and leukemic stem cells, we took advantage of constitutively active STAT mutants to activate STAT signaling selectively in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Activation of STAT5 in CD34- c-Kit+ Sca-1+ lineage marker- (CD34- KSL) HSCs led to a drastic expansion of multipotential progenitors and promoted HSC self-renewal ex vivo. In sharp contrast, STAT3 was demonstrated to be dispensable for the HSC maintenance in vivo, and its activation facilitated lineage commitment of HSCs in vitro. In a mouse model of myeloproliferative disease (MPD), sustained STAT5 activation in CD34- KSL HSCs but not in CD34+ KSL multipotential progenitors induced fatal MPD, indicating that the capacity of STAT5 to promote self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells is crucial to MPD development. Our findings collectively establish a specific role for STAT5 in self-renewal of normal as well as leukemic stem cells.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/metabolismo , Leucemia Experimental/metabolismo , Proteínas do Leite/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Transativadores/metabolismo , Animais , Sequência de Bases , DNA Complementar/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Hematopoese , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/citologia , Técnicas In Vitro , Leucemia Experimental/patologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Proteínas do Leite/genética , Mutação , Transtornos Mieloproliferativos/etiologia , Transtornos Mieloproliferativos/metabolismo , Transtornos Mieloproliferativos/patologia , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/patologia , Fator de Transcrição STAT3 , Fator de Transcrição STAT5 , Transativadores/genéticaRESUMO
Recent improvements in cell purification and transplantation techniques have contributed to the identification of cell populations known as tumor-initiating cells (TIC). This discovery has led to the 'cancer stem cell hierarchy' concept, which holds that tumors are organized as a hierarchy of malignant tissues sustained by such TIC. However, this concept remains controversial. In this review, we examine recent advances in cancer stem cell research that have been generated from studies of Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-positive leukemia. The abnormal Ph chromosome, which arises from a translocation creating the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene, is most commonly associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Examination of the pathophysiology of these diseases has provided interesting insights into not only the hierarchy of leukemia stem cells but also their clonal evolution. Both shared and unique regulatory mechanisms affecting normal and CML stem cell behavior have been identified. On the other hand, genetic diversity in specific clones of Ph(+) B-ALL that drive clonal evolution has recently come to light. Our expanding knowledge of the biology of TIC contributes to the progress of cancer research, and may open the door to new concepts in cancer therapy.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Fusão bcr-abl/genética , Leucemia Mielogênica Crônica BCR-ABL Positiva/patologia , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/patologia , Cromossomo Filadélfia , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras B/patologia , Doença Aguda , Evolução Clonal/genética , Variação Genética/genética , Humanos , Leucemia Mielogênica Crônica BCR-ABL Positiva/genética , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/fisiologia , Patologia MolecularRESUMO
Autophagy is a cellular degradation system contributing to homeostasis of tissue stem cells including haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). It plays pleiotropic roles in HSC characteristics throughout life, but its stage-specific roles in HSC self-renewal are unclear. To investigate the effects of Atg5 deletion on stage-specific HSC functions, we compared the repopulating capacity of HSCs in Atg5f/f;Vavi-cre mice from postnatal day (P) 0-7 weeks of age. Interestingly, Atg5 deficiency led to no remarkable abnormality in the HSC self-renewal capacity at P0, but significant defects at P7, followed by severe defects. Induction of Atg5 deletion at P5 by tamoxifen administration to Atg5f/f;Rosa26-Cre-ERT2 mice resulted in normal haematopoiesis, including the HSC population, until around 1 year, suggesting that Atg5 in the early neonatal period was critical for haematopoiesis in adults. Mitochondrial oxidative stress was increased by Atg5 loss in neonatal HSC/progenitor cells. Although p62 had accumulated in immature bone marrow cells of Atg5f/f;Vavi-cre mice, p62 deletion did not restore defective HSC functions, indicating that Atg5-dependent haematopoietic regulation in the developmental period was independent of p62. This study proposes a critical role of autophagy in HSC protection against harsh environments in the early neonatal stage, which is essential for healthy long-term haematopoiesis.
Assuntos
Proteína 5 Relacionada à Autofagia/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/citologia , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/metabolismo , Proteína Sequestossoma-1/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Autofagia/fisiologia , Proteína 5 Relacionada à Autofagia/genética , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/patologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologiaRESUMO
Metabolic syndrome is associated with obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, and increased cardiovascular risk. Therefore, quick and accurate measurements of specific metabolites are critical for diagnosis; however, detection methods are limited. Here we describe the synthesis of pillar[n]arenes to target 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA), which is one metabolite of vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) produced by the cancer-associated nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). We found that water-soluble pillar[5]arene (P5A) forms host-guest complexes with both 1-MNA and nicotinamide, and water-soluble pillar[6]arene (P6A) selectively binds to 1-MNA at the micromolar level. P6A can be used as a "turn-off sensor" by photoinduced electron transfer (detection limit is 4.38 × 10-6 M). In our cell-free reaction, P6A is used to quantitatively monitor the activity of NNMT. Moreover, studies using NNMT-deficient mice reveal that P6A exclusively binds to 1-MNA in crude urinary samples. Our findings demonstrate that P6A can be used as a biosensor to quantify 1-MNA in crude biological samples.
RESUMO
Xenopus laevis is an excellent animal for analyzing early vertebrate development. Various effects of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on growth factor-related cellular events during embryogenesis have been demonstrated in Xenopus. To elucidate the relationship between alterations in fine structure and changes in the specificity of growth factor binding during Xenopus development, heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) chains were isolated at four different embryonic stages and their structure and growth factor-binding capacities were compared. The total amounts of both HS and CS/DS chains decreased from the pre-midblastula transition to the gastrula stage, but increased exponentially during the following developmental stages. The length of HS chains was not significantly affected by development, whereas that of CS/DS chains increased with development. The disaccharide composition of GAGs in embryos also changed during development. The degree of sulfation of the HS chains gradually decreased with development. The predominant sulfation position in the CS/DS chains shifted from C4 to C6 of GalNAc during embryogenesis. Growth factor-binding experiments using a BIAcore system demonstrated that GAGs bound growth factors including fibroblast growth factors-1 and -2, midkine, and pleiotrophin, with comparable affinities. These affinities significantly varied during development, although the correlation between the structural alterations of GAGs and the change in the ability to bind growth factors remains to be clarified. The expression of saccharide sequences, which specifically interact with a growth factor, might be regulated during development.