Mitochondrial NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase knockdown inhibits tumorigenicity of melanoma cells

The potent cytotoxicity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause various diseases but may also serve as a powerful weapon capable of destroying cancer cells. Although the balance between generation and elimination of ROS is maintained by the proper function of antioxidative systems, the severe disturbance of cellular redox status may cause various damages, leading to cell death. Mitochondrial NADP⁺-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH2), an NADPH-generating enzyme, is one of the major antioxidant and redox regulators in mitochondria. To assess the effect of IDH2 knockdown in the malignancy process, we generated B16F10 melanoma cells stably transfected either with the cDNA for mouse IDH2 cloned in antisense orientation or with a control vector. Mice injected with B16F10 cells harboring IDH2 downregulation showed a dramatic reduction in tumor progression in comparison to mice administered control cells. This effect might be secondary to a shift from a reducing to an oxidative state in tumor cells. The tumor tissue of mice administered B16F10 cells transfected with the IDH2 cDNA exhibited induction of apoptosis and downregulation of angiogenesis markers. These observations demonstrate that reduction of IDH2 levels in malignant cells has anti-tumorigenic effects and suggest that IDH2 is a potential target for cancer therapy.     

Downregulation of PPP2R5E expression by miR-23a suppresses apoptosis to facilitate the growth of gastric cancer cells

PPP2R5E belongs to the phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit B family and acts as a tumor suppressor in human cancer. However, the role of PPP2R5E in the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer is unclear. Here, we declare that PPP2R5E is downregulated by miR-23a and induces cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, ASO-miR-23a suppresses tumor growth derived from MGC803 cells in vivo. PPP2R5E is identified as a new target of miR-23a. Moreover, overexpression of PPP2R5E reversed the negative effects of miR-23a. We highlight the significance of miR-23a and PPP2R5E in the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.     

p53: The barrier to cancer stem cell formation

The role of p53 as the “guardian of the genome” in differentiated somatic cells, triggering various biological processes, is well established. Recent studies in the stem cell field have highlighted a profound role of p53 in stem cell biology as well. These studies, combined with basic data obtained 20 years ago, provide insight into how p53 governs the quantity and quality of various stem cells, ensuring a sufficient repertoire of normal stem cells to enable proper development, tissue regeneration and a cancer free life. In this review we address the role of p53 in genomically stable embryonic stem cells, a unique predisposed cancer stem cell model and adult stem cells, its role in the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells, as well as its role as the barrier to cancer stem cell formation.     

Exploiting tumor cell senescence in anticancer therapy

Cellular senescence is a physiological process of irreversible cell-cycle arrest that contributes to various physiological and pathological processes of aging. Whereas replicative senescence is associated with telomere attrition after repeated cell division, stress-induced premature senescence occurs in response to aberrant oncogenic signaling, oxidative stress, and DNA damage which is independent of telomere dysfunction. Recent evidence indicates that cellular senescence provides a barrier to tumorigenesis and is a determinant of the outcome of cancer treatment. However, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which contributes to multiple facets of senescent cancer cells, may influence both cancer-inhibitory and cancer-promoting mechanisms of neighboring cells. Conventional treatments, such as chemo- and radiotherapies, preferentially induce premature senescence instead of apoptosis in the appropriate cellular context. In addition, treatment-induced premature senescence could compensate for resistance to apoptosis via alternative signaling pathways. Therefore, we believe that an intensive effort to understand cancer cell senescence could facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for improving the efficacy of anticancer therapies. This review summarizes the current understanding of molecular mechanisms, functions, and clinical applications of cellular senescence for anticancer therapy. [BMB Reports 2014; 47(2): 51-59]     

AMPK:细胞能量中枢

腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMPactivated proteinkinase,AMPK)是真核细胞中高度保守的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,以异源三聚体的形式广泛存在于真核生物体内,是细胞的能量感受器,在能量代谢调控中起极其重要的作用。肝激酶B1(LKB1)、Ca2+/CaM-依赖蛋白激酶激酶β(CaMKKβ)、AMP/ATP或ADP/ATP比值升高以及诸如运动肌肉收缩等生理刺激均可以激活AMPK,进而调节细胞的能量代谢网络,提高其应对内外环境变化的能力,从而维持细胞水平乃至整个机体的稳定状态。活化的AMPK可以增强分解代谢,抑制合成代谢,上调ATP水平,参与细胞糖代谢、脂肪代谢、蛋白质代谢等能量代谢过程,增加细胞能量储备,应对能量缺乏。同时活化的AMPK参与细胞的生长、增殖、凋亡、自噬等基本生物学过程。AMPK是研究肥胖,糖尿病等能量代谢性疾病的核心。肿瘤细胞存在特殊的能量代谢方式,其发生,生长,转移与能量代谢失衡密切相关。AMPK与肿瘤细胞异常的能量代谢相关,为肿瘤发生、发展机制研究提供新的策略。本文主要探讨AMPK的结构、激活机制、参与的物质能量代谢和细胞的基本生物学过程以及与肿瘤发生的关联。     

Pin1 positively affects tumorigenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and correlates with poor survival of patients

Background

Pin1 promotes oncogenesis by regulating multiple oncogenic signaling. In this study, we investigated the involvement of Pin1 in tumor progression and in the prognosis of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Results

We observed that proliferation, clonogenicity and tumorigenesis of CE81T cells were inhibited by Pin1 knockdown. We next analyzed Pin1 expression in clinical ESCC specimens. When compared to the corresponding non-tumor part, Pin1 protein and mRNA levels in tumor part were higher in 84% and 62% patients, respectively. By immunohistochemistry, we identified that high Pin1 expression was associated with higher primary tumor stage (p = 0.035), higher overall cancer stage (p = 0.047) and poor overall survival (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the association between expression of Pin1 and levels of β-catenin and cyclin D in cell line and clinical specimens was evaluated. β-catenin and cyclin D1 were decreased in CE81T cells with Pin1 knockdown. Cyclin D1 level correlated with Pin1 expression in clinical ESCC specimens.

Conclusions

Pin1 upregulation was associated with advanced stage and poor prognosis of ESCC. Pin1 knockdown inhibited aggressiveness of ESCC cells. β-catenin and cyclin D1 were positively regulated by Pin1. These results indicated that targeting Pin1 pathway could represent a potential modality for treating ESCC.     

miR-429对乳腺癌干细胞干性维持和体内成瘤能力的影响

目的:探究miR-429在乳腺癌干性维持中所发挥的作用,并探索miR-429对乳腺癌干细胞体内成瘤能力的影响。方法:无血清悬浮培养法用于培养经流式细胞仪分选得到的CD44~+CD24~-表型乳腺癌细胞系干细胞MCF-7-S、SKBR3-S、MDA-MB-231-S及乳腺正常上皮干细胞MCF-10A-S,实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(qRT-PCR)用于检测miR-429在上述4株干细胞中的表达。将包含miR-429的重组慢病毒质粒及其阴性对照空载体质粒vector分别以病毒:细胞数量为15:1的比例感染MDA-MB-231细胞,经2.0μg/m L嘌呤霉素筛选,成功构建稳定表达miR-429或vector的MDA-MB-231细胞,经流式分选出上述两株稳转细胞株的CD44~+CD24~-表型干细胞MDA-MB-231-Svector和MDA-MB-231-SmiR-429。无血清悬浮培养后,镜下观察过表达miR-429对肿瘤球形成能力的影响,流式细胞术检测过表达miR-429对CD44~+CD24~-表型细胞亚群比例的影响,Western Blot检测过表达miR-429对乳腺癌干细胞干性相关因子ALDH1、SOX2和Bmi1蛋白表达的影响,将MDA-MB-231-Svector和MDA-MB-231-SmiR-429干细胞分别注射到BALB/c裸鼠右侧胸壁第二对乳腺脂肪垫中,构建乳腺癌干细胞裸鼠移植瘤模型,观察过表达miR-429对裸鼠体内成瘤能力的影响。结果:与MCF-10A-S相比,miR-429在MCF-7-S、SKBR3-S和MDA-MB-231-S细胞系中的表达水平均异常降低,其中,miR-429在MDA-MB-231-S细胞中表达最低(P0.05)。与MDA-MB-231-Svector细胞相比,经流式分选后的CD44~+CD24~-表型MDA-MB-231-SmiR-429干细胞形成的肿瘤球的大小和数量、分选时CD44~+CD24~-表型细胞亚群的比例、ALDH1、SOX2和Bmi1的蛋白表达水平以及裸鼠体内成瘤的体积和重量均显著降低(P0.05)。结论:miR-429可降低乳腺癌干细胞的干性和体内成瘤能力,其可能是抑制乳腺癌转移和耐药的关键分子。     

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 in cancer development and therapy: Deciphering its emerging and suppressive roles

The suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS6), an emerged important member of SOCS family, has attracted enhancing attention regarding its pivotal role in the development and progression of cancers. As part of negative feedback regulation, SOCS6 has been implicated in attenuating cytokine signal transduction via inhibiting the signaling cascade of activated cytokine receptors and multiple receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Decreased SOCS6 expression is involved in diverse tumorigenic processes, such as abnormal cell proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, cancer migration, and cancer stem cell maintenance. Herein, this review summarized the mechanisms of SOCS6 regulation underlying multiple pathways. In particular, we focus on the pathological processes of cancer targeted by SOCS6 and discuss its inhibitory role during tumor progression. Also, we focused on the clinical relevance of SOCS6 in cancer biomarker and prognosis, as well as its significance in chemoresistance and radioresistance. In all, this review pave a way to assist in experimental designs and emphasize the potential clinical value of SOCS6 for cancer.