scholarly journals Inhibition of histone methyltransferase DOT1L silences ERα gene and blocks proliferation of antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. eaav5590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Nassa ◽  
Annamaria Salvati ◽  
Roberta Tarallo ◽  
Valerio Gigantino ◽  
Elena Alexandrova ◽  
...  

Breast cancer (BC) resistance to endocrine therapy results from constitutively active or aberrant estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling, and ways to block ERα pathway in these tumors are sought after. We identified the H3K79 methyltransferase DOT1L as a novel cofactor of ERα in BC cell chromatin, where the two proteins colocalize to regulate estrogen target gene transcription. DOT1L blockade reduces proliferation of hormone-responsive BC cells in vivo and in vitro, consequent to cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, with widespread effects on ER-dependent gene transcription, including ERα and FOXA1 gene silencing. Antiestrogen-resistant BC cells respond to DOT1L inhibition also in mouse xenografts, with reduction in ERα levels, H3K79 methylation, and tumor growth. These results indicate that DOT1L is an exploitable epigenetic target for treatment of endocrine therapy–resistant ERα-positive BCs.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmin M. Attia ◽  
Samia A. Shouman ◽  
Salama A. Salama ◽  
Cristina Ivan ◽  
Abdelrahman M. Elsayed ◽  
...  

Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-7 inhibitors are emerging as promising drugs for the treatment of different types of cancer that show chemotherapy resistance. Evaluation of the effects of CDK7 inhibitor, THZ1, alone and combined with tamoxifen is of paramount importance. Thus, in the current work, we assessed the effects of THZ1 and/or tamoxifen in two estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cell lines (MCF7) and its tamoxifen resistant counterpart (LCC2) in vitro and in xenograft mouse models of breast cancer. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression of CDK7 in clinical samples from breast cancer patients. Cell viability, apoptosis, and genes involved in cell cycle regulation and tamoxifen resistance were determined. Tumor volume and weight, proliferation marker (Ki67), angiogenic marker (CD31), and apoptotic markers were assayed. Bioinformatic data indicated CDK7 expression was associated with negative prognosis, enhanced pro-oncogenic pathways, and decreased response to tamoxifen. Treatment with THZ1 enhanced tamoxifen-induced cytotoxicity, while it inhibited genes involved in tumor progression in MCF-7 and LCC2 cells. In vivo, THZ1 boosted the effect of tamoxifen on tumor weight and tumor volume, reduced Ki67 and CD31 expression, and increased apoptotic cell death. Our findings identify CDK7 as a possible therapeutic target for breast cancer whether it is sensitive or resistant to tamoxifen therapy.


Oncotarget ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (68) ◽  
pp. 33050-33050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhimashankar Gurushidhappa Utage ◽  
Milind Shivajirao Patole ◽  
Punam Vasudeo Nagvenkar ◽  
Sonali Shankar Kamble ◽  
Rajesh Nivarti Gacche

Oncotarget ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (54) ◽  
pp. 30304-30323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhimashankar Gurushidhappa Utage ◽  
Milind Shivajirao Patole ◽  
Punam Vasudeo Nagvenkar ◽  
Sonali Shankar Kamble ◽  
Rajesh Nivarti Gacche

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixia Cao ◽  
Shaorong Zhao ◽  
Qianxi Yang ◽  
Zhendong Shi ◽  
Jingjing Liu ◽  
...  

The multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype is usually accompanied by an abnormal expression of histone deacetylase (HDAC). Given that HDAC is vital in chromatin remodeling and epigenetics, inhibiting the role of HDAC has become an important approach for tumor treatment. However, the effect of HDAC inhibitors on MDR breast cancer has not been elucidated. This study aim to demonstrate the potential of chidamide (CHI) combined with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (DOX) to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance of breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, laying the experimental foundation for the next clinical application. The results showed that, CHI combined with DOX showed significant cytotoxicity to MDR breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo compared with the CHI monotherapy. The cell cycle distribution results showed that CHI caused G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell growth regardless of the addition of DOX. At the same time, annexin V staining and TUNEL staining results showed that CHI enhanced the number of cell apoptosis in drug-resistant cells. The western blot analysis found that p53 was activated in the CHI-treated group and combined treatment group, and then the activated p53 up-regulated p21, apoptosis regulator recombinant protein (Puma), and pro-apoptotic protein Bax, down-regulated the apoptotic proteins Bcl-xL and Bcl-2, and activated the caspase cascade to induce apoptosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tsuyoshi Hiramatsu Castro ◽  
Jaqueline Ferreira Campos ◽  
Marcio José Damião ◽  
Heron Fernandes Vieira Torquato ◽  
Edgar Julian Paredes-Gamero ◽  
...  

Cutaneous melanoma is among the most aggressive types of cancer, and its rate of occurrence increases every year. Current pharmacological treatments for melanoma are not completely effective, requiring the identification of new drugs. As an alternative, plant-derived natural compounds are described as promising sources of new anticancer drugs. In this context, the objectives of this study were to identify the chemical composition of the ethanolic extract of Senna velutina roots (ESVR), to assess its in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects on melanoma cells, and to characterize its mechanisms of action. For these purposes, the chemical constituents were identified by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. The in vitro activity of the extract was assessed in the B16F10-Nex2 melanoma cell line using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and based on the apoptotic cell count; DNA fragmentation; necrostatin-1 inhibition; intracellular calcium, pan-caspase, and caspase-3 activation; reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels; and cell cycle arrest. The in vivo activity of the extract was assessed in models of tumor volume progression and pulmonary nodule formation in C57Bl/6 mice. The chemical composition results showed that ESVR contains flavonoid derivatives of the catechin, anthraquinone, and piceatannol groups. The extract reduced B16F10-Nex2 cell viability and promoted apoptotic cell death as well as caspase-3 activation, with increased intracellular calcium and ROS levels as well as cell cycle arrest at the sub-G0/G1 phase. In vivo, the tumor volume progression and pulmonary metastasis of ESVR-treated mice decreased over 50%. Combined, these results show that ESVR had in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects, predominantly by apoptosis, thus demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of melanoma and other types of cancer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 645-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelina M. Fuzer ◽  
Ana C.B.M. Martin ◽  
Amanda B. Becceneri ◽  
James A. da Silva ◽  
Paulo C. Vieira ◽  
...  

Background: Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) represents the approximately 15% of breast cancers that lack expression of Estrogen (ER) and Progesterone Receptors (PR) and do not exhibit amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene, imposing difficulties to treatment. Interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment facilitate tumor cell invasion in the surrounding tissues, intravasation through newly formed vessels, and dissemination to form metastasis. To treat metastasis from breast and many other cancer types, chemotherapy is one of the most extensively used methods. However, its efficacy and safety remain a primary concern, as well as its toxicity and other side effects. Thus, there is increasing interest in natural antitumor agents. In a previous work, we have demonstrated that [10]-gingerol is able to revert malignant phenotype in breast cancer cells in 3D culture and, moreover, to inhibit the dissemination of TNBC to multiple organs including lung, bone and brain, in spontaneous and experimental in vivo metastasis assays in mouse model. Objective: This work aims to investigate the in vitro effects of [10]-gingerol, using human MDA-MB-231TNBC cells, in comparison to non-tumor MCF-10A breast cells, in order to understand the antitumor and antimetastatic effects found in vivo and in a 3D environment. Methods: We investigated different steps of the metastatic process in vitro, such as cell migration, invasion, adhesion and MMP activity. In addition, we analyzed the anti-apoptotic and genotoxic effects of [10]-gingerol using PEAnnexin, DNA fragmentation, TUNEL and comet assays, respectively. Results: [10]-gingerol was able to inhibit cell adhesion, migration, invasion and to induce apoptosis more effectively in TNBC cells, when compared to non-tumor cells, demonstrating that these mechanisms can be involved in the antitumor and antimetastatic effects of [10]-gingerol, found both in 3D culture and in vivo. Conclusion: Taken together, results found here are complementary to previous studies of our group and others and demonstrate that additional mechanisms, besides apoptotic cell death, is used by [10]-gingerol to accomplish its antitumor and antimetastatic effects. Our results indicate a potential for this natural compound as an antitumor molecule or as an adjuvant for chemotherapeutics already used in the clinic.


2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (23) ◽  
pp. 8667-8682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiying Zhou ◽  
Seokjoong Kim ◽  
Shunsuke Ishii ◽  
Thomas G. Boyer

ABSTRACT The physiological and pathological manifestations of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling arise from the specification of unique transcriptional programs dependent upon key nuclear effectors of the Ci/Gli family of transcription factors. However, the underlying mechanism by which Gli proteins regulate target gene transcription in the nucleus remains poorly understood. Here, we identify and characterize a physical and functional interaction between Gli3 and the MED12 subunit within the RNA polymerase II transcriptional Mediator. We show that Gli3 binds to MED12 and intact Mediator both in vitro and in vivo through a Gli3 transactivation domain (MBD; MED12/Mediator-binding domain) whose activity derives from concerted functional interactions with both Mediator and the histone acetyltransferase CBP. Analysis of MBD truncation mutants revealed an excellent correlation between the in vivo activation strength of an MBD derivative and its ability to bind MED12 and intact Mediator in vitro, indicative of a critical functional interaction between the Gli3 MBD and the MED12 interface in Mediator. Disruption of the Gli3-MED12 interaction through dominant-negative interference inhibited, while RNA interference-mediated MED12 depletion enhanced, both MBD transactivation function and Gli3 target gene induction in response to Shh signaling. We propose that activated Gli3 physically targets the MED12 interface within Mediator in order to functionally reverse Mediator-dependent suppression of Shh target gene transcription. These findings thus link MED12 to the modulation of Gli3-dependent Shh signaling and further implicate Mediator in a broad range of developmental and pathological processes driven by Shh signal transduction.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (25) ◽  
pp. 12452-12461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Morotti ◽  
Esther Bridges ◽  
Alessandro Valli ◽  
Hani Choudhry ◽  
Helen Sheldon ◽  
...  

Tumor hypoxia is associated with poor patient outcomes in estrogen receptor-α–positive (ERα+) breast cancer. Hypoxia is known to affect tumor growth by reprogramming metabolism and regulating amino acid (AA) uptake. Here, we show that the glutamine transporter, SNAT2, is the AA transporter most frequently induced by hypoxia in breast cancer, and is regulated by hypoxia both in vitro and in vivo in xenografts. SNAT2 induction in MCF7 cells was also regulated by ERα, but it became predominantly a hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)–dependent gene under hypoxia. Relevant to this, binding sites for both HIF-1α and ERα overlap in SNAT2’s cis-regulatory elements. In addition, the down-regulation of SNAT2 by the ER antagonist fulvestrant was reverted in hypoxia. Overexpression of SNAT2 in vitro to recapitulate the levels induced by hypoxia caused enhanced growth, particularly after ERα inhibition, in hypoxia, or when glutamine levels were low. SNAT2 up-regulation in vivo caused complete resistance to antiestrogen and, partially, anti-VEGF therapies. Finally, high SNAT2 expression levels correlated with hypoxia profiles and worse outcome in patients given antiestrogen therapies. Our findings show a switch in the regulation of SNAT2 between ERα and HIF-1α, leading to endocrine resistance in hypoxia. Development of drugs targeting SNAT2 may be of value for a subset of hormone-resistant breast cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 11855
Author(s):  
Przemysław Sołek ◽  
Jennifer Mytych ◽  
Anna Tabęcka-Łonczyńska ◽  
Marek Koziorowski

The incidence of depression among humans is growing worldwide, and so is the use of antidepressants. However, our fundamental understanding regarding the mechanisms by which these drugs function and their off-target effects against human sexuality remains poorly defined. The present study aimed to determine their differential toxicity on mouse spermatogenic cells and provide mechanistic data of cell-specific response to antidepressant and neuroleptic drug treatment. To directly test reprotoxicity, the spermatogenic cells (GC-1 spg and GC-2 spd cells) were incubated for 48 and 96 h with amitriptyline (hydrochloride) (AMI), escitalopram (ESC), fluoxetine (hydrochloride) (FLU), imipramine (hydrochloride) (IMI), mirtazapine (MIR), olanzapine (OLZ), reboxetine (mesylate) (REB), and venlafaxine (hydrochloride) (VEN), and several cellular and biochemical features were assessed. Obtained results reveal that all investigated substances showed considerable reprotoxic potency leading to micronuclei formation, which, in turn, resulted in upregulation of telomeric binding factor (TRF1/TRF2) protein expression. The TRF-based response was strictly dependent on p53/p21 signaling and was followed by irreversible G2/M cell cycle arrest and finally initiation of apoptotic cell death. In conclusion, our findings suggest that antidepressants promote a telomere-focused DNA damage response in germ cell lines, which broadens the established view of antidepressants’ and neuroleptic drugs’ toxicity and points to the need for further research in this topic with the use of in vivo models and human samples.


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