Synergism of small molecules targeting VDAC with sorafenib, regorafenib or lenvatinib on hepatocarcinoma cell proliferation and survival.

Voltage dependent anion channels (VDAC) in the outer mitochondrial membrane regulate the influx of metabolites that sustain mitochondrial metabolism and the efflux of ATP to the cytosol. Free tubulin and NADH close VDAC. The VDAC-binding small molecules X1 and SC18 modulate mitochondrial metabolism. X1 antagonizes the inhibitory effect of tubulin on VDAC. SC18 occupies an NADH-binding pocket in the inner wall of all VDAC isoforms. Here, we hypothesized that X1 and SC18 have a synergistic effect with sorafenib, regorafenib or lenvatinib to arrest proliferation and induce death in hepatocarcinoma cells. We used colony formation assays to determine cell proliferation, and a combination of calcein/propidium iodide, and trypan blue exclusion to assess cell death in the well differentiated Huh7 and the poorly differentiated SNU-449 cells. Synergism was assessed using the Chou-Talalay method. The inhibitory effect of X1, SC18, sorafenib, regorafenib and lenvatinib was concentration and time dependent. IC50s calculated from the inhibition of clonogenic capacity were lower than those determined from cell survival. At IC50s that inhibited cell proliferation, SC18 arrested cells in G0/G1. SC18 at 0.25-2 IC50s had a synergistic effect with sorafenib on clonogenic inhibition in Huh7 and SNU-449 cells, and with regorafenib or lenvatinib in SNU-449 cells. X1 or SC18 also had synergistic effects with sorafenib on promoting cell death at 0.5-2 IC50s for SC18 in Huh7 and SNU-449 cells. These results suggest that small molecules targeting VDAC represent a potential new class of drugs to treat liver cancer.

JNK activation and translocation to mitochondria mediates mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death induced by VDAC opening and sorafenib in hepatocarcinoma cells.

The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib, and opening of voltage dependent anion channels (VDAC) by the erastin-like compound X1 promotes oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocarcinoma cells. Here, we hypothesized that X1 and sorafenib induce mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and activating c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), leading to translocation of activated JNK to mitochondria. Both X1 and sorafenib increased production of ROS and activated JNK. X1 and sorafenib caused a drop in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ), a readout of mitochondrial metabolism, after 60 min. Mitochondrial depolarization after X1 and sorafenib occurred in parallel with JNK activation, increased superoxide (O2•-) production, decreased basal and oligomycin sensitive respiration, and decreased maximal respiratory capacity. Increased production of O2•- after X1 or sorafenib was abrogated by JNK inhibition and antioxidants. S3QEL 2, a specific inhibitor of site IIIQo, at Complex III, prevented depolarization induced by X1. JNK inhibition by JNK inhibitors VIII and SP600125 also prevented mitochondrial depolarization. After X1, activated JNK translocated to mitochondria as assessed by proximity ligation assays. Tat-Sab KIM1, a peptide selectively preventing the binding of JNK to the outer mitochondrial membrane protein Sab, blocked the depolarization induced by X1 and sorafenib. X1 promoted cell death mostly by necroptosis that was partially prevented by JNK inhibition. These results indicate that JNK activation and translocation to mitochondria is a common mechanism of mitochondrial dysfunction induced by both VDAC opening and sorafenib.

Interleukin 1beta induces gastric epithelial cell matrix metalloproteinase secretion and activation during Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: and aims: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases with roles in extracellular matrix remodelling, cell proliferation, and inflammatory processes. We showed previously that Helicobacter pylori infection of human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells increased epithelial secretion of epithelial MMP-1 and MMP-3 and bacterial secretion of MMP-3-like activity. In the present study, we sought to characterise the role of interleukin (IL)-1beta in H pylori induced secretion of epithelial MMPs. METHODS AND RESULTS: AGS cells were treated with H pylori and/or IL-1beta. Comparable IL-8 secretory responses (approximately 1700 ng/ml) measured by ELISA were induced by 2.0 ng/ml IL-1beta and by H pylori at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 50. The same IL-1beta and H pylori concentrations induced comparable increases in AGS cell caseinolytic activity at 60 kDa. MMP-3 monoclonal antibody immunoblots of AGS cell conditioned media detected immunoreactive bands at 71 kDa and 56 kDa. H pylori (MOI=50-100) induced dose dependent increases in both bands whereas IL-1beta (0.2-2 ng/ml) induced dose dependent increases only in the 71 kDa band, which was identified as a MMP-3/TIMP-3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3) heterodimer. AGS/H pylori conditioned media expressed 24 times more MMP-3 activity than AGS/IL-1beta conditioned media. There was a strong interaction between IL-1beta and H pylori on MMP-3 secretion. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that IL-1beta induces gastric epithelial cell MMP-3 secretion, contributing to epithelial tissue destruction during H pylori infection. However, other bacterial/host factors are needed to mediate the full gastric epithelial cell MMP-3 secretory response induced by H pylori infection.

Epithelial and bacterial metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in H. pylori infection of human gastric cells.

To test the hypothesis that Helicobacter pylori regulates gastric cell secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), culture media from infected and uninfected human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells were analyzed by zymography, MMP activity assays, and immunoblotting. AGS cells secreted gelatinolytic (prominently 90 kDa) and caseinolytic (110 kDa) activity together with MMP-1, MMP-3, and TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3 isoforms. H. pylori secreted caseinolytic activity (60 kDa), MMP-3-like enzyme activity, and TIMP-3 immunoreactivity. H. pylori infection increased the 110-kDa caseinolytic activity and induced new gelatinolytic (~35 kDa) and caseinolytic (22 kDa) activities. Infection also increased both basal secretion and activation of MMP-1 and MMP-3, enhanced TIMP-3 secretion, and increased the formation of MMP-3/TIMP-3 complexes. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 secretion were unchanged. Normal AGS cells showed a pancellular distribution of TIMP-3, with redistribution of immunoreactivity toward sites of bacterial attachment after H. pylori infection. The data indicate that MMP and TIMP secretion by AGS cells is modulated by H. pylori infection and that host MMP-3 and a TIMP-3 homolog expressed by H. pylori mediate at least part of the host cell response to infection.

Inhibition of human gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit gene expression by Helicobacter pylori.

Clinical studies and in vitro data from isolated parietal cells suggest that acute Helicobacter pylori infection inhibits acid secretion. Gastric acidification is mediated by H(+)-K(+)-ATPase, an integral protein of parietal cell apical membranes. To test the hypothesis that H. pylori downregulates H(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit (HKalpha) gene expression and to identify potential intracellular signaling pathways mediating such regulation, we transfected human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells with human and rat HKalpha 5'-flanking DNA fused to a luciferase reporter plasmid. Histamine caused dose-dependent, cimetidine-sensitive (10(-4) M) increases in cAMP, free intracellular Ca(2+), and HKalpha promoter activation in AGS cells. H. pylori infection of transfected AGS cells dose dependently inhibited basal and histamine-stimulated HKalpha promoter activity by 80% and 66%, respectively. H. pylori dose dependently inhibited phorbol myristate acetate-induced (10(-7) M) and staurosporine- (10(-7) M) and calphostin C-sensitive (5 x 10(-8) M) activation of HKalpha promoter. Also, H. pylori inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF) (10(-8) M), genistein-sensitive (5 x 10(-5) M) activation of HKalpha promoter, reducing activity to 60% of basal level. These data suggest that H. pylori inhibits HKalpha gene expression via intracellular pathways involving protein kinases A and C and protein tyrosine kinase, AGS cells have functional histamine H(2) and EGF receptors, and transiently transfected AGS cells are a useful model for studying regulation of HKalpha gene expression.