ABSTRACT
AIM: Resistance to platinum-based therapeutic agents is the major contributor to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) mortality. There is an urgent need to better understand the underlying mechanisms. Here we investigated the role of serpins in EOC chemoresistance and related mechanisms, and found that SERPINE1 played an important role in chemoresistance in A2780cp cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A2780cp and A2780s cells were used in our study. Microarray screening was used to identify the gene expression change under carboplatin treatment. A cell-counting kit-8 was used to detect the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells after treatment. The expression of SERPINE1 was silenced by siRNA. The levels of SERPINE1 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were confirmed by Western blot. MassArray EpiTYPER quantitative DNA methylation analysis was introduced to evaluate the methylation of the promoter of SERPINE1. RESULTS: Microarray data showed that SERPINE1 and SERPINE2 increased most dramatically under carboplatin treatment in A2780cp cells. Carboplatin treatment could significantly increase the expression of SERPINE1 and induce the EMT process, with decreased expression of E-cadherin and increased expression of Vimentin, Snail and Twist. Knockdown of SERPINE1, but not SERPINE2, in A2780cp cells could inhibit the EMT process. We also found that hypomethylation in the promoter of SERPINE1 might result in the increased expression of SERPINE1 and subsequent EMT process in A2780cp cells. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that SERPINE1 may be a promising therapeutic target for chemoresistance.
Subject(s)
Carboplatin/pharmacology , DNA Methylation , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects , Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/drug therapy , Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/metabolism , Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy , Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism , Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1/genetics , Antigens, CD , Antineoplastic Agents , Cadherins/metabolism , Carboplatin/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Humans , Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/genetics , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Serpin E2ABSTRACT
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a prevalent reproductive disorder in women of reproductive age, features androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries. Despite its high prevalence, specific pharmacologic intervention for PCOS is challenging. In this study, we identified artemisinins as anti-PCOS agents. Our finding demonstrated the efficacy of artemisinin derivatives in alleviating PCOS symptoms in both rodent models and human patients, curbing hyperandrogenemia through suppression of ovarian androgen synthesis. Artemisinins promoted cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1 (CYP11A1) protein degradation to block androgen overproduction. Mechanistically, artemisinins directly targeted lon peptidase 1 (LONP1), enhanced LONP1-CYP11A1 interaction, and facilitated LONP1-catalyzed CYP11A1 degradation. Overexpression of LONP1 replicated the androgen-lowering effect of artemisinins. Our data suggest that artemisinin application is a promising approach for treating PCOS and highlight the crucial role of the LONP1-CYP11A1 interaction in controlling hyperandrogenism and PCOS occurrence.