| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Aftab, Obaid, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Label-free detection and dynamic monitoring of drug-induced intracellular vesicle formation enabled using a 2-dimensional matched filter
- 2014
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Ingår i: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8627 .- 1554-8635. ; 10:1, s. 57-69
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Analysis of vesicle formation and degradation is a central issue in autophagy research and microscopy imaging is revolutionizing the study of such dynamic events inside living cells. A limiting factor is the need for labeling techniques that are labor intensive, expensive, and not always completely reliable. To enable label-free analyses we introduced a generic computational algorithm, the label-free vesicle detector (LFVD), which relies on a matched filter designed to identify circular vesicles within cells using only phase-contrast microscopy images. First, the usefulness of the LFVD is illustrated by presenting successful detections of autophagy modulating drugs found by analyzing the human colorectal carcinoma cell line HCT116 exposed to each substance among 1266 pharmacologically active compounds. Some top hits were characterized with respect to their activity as autophagy modulators using independent in vitro labeling of acidic organelles, detection of LC3-II protein, and analysis of the autophagic flux. Selected detection results for 2 additional cell lines (DLD1 and RKO) demonstrate the generality of the method. In a second experiment, label-free monitoring of dose-dependent vesicle formation kinetics is demonstrated by recorded detection of vesicles over time at different drug concentrations. In conclusion, label-free detection and dynamic monitoring of vesicle formation during autophagy is enabled using the LFVD approach introduced.
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| 3. |
- Brnjic, Slavica, et al.
(författare)
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Induction of Tumor Cell Apoptosis by a Proteasome Deubiquitinase Inhibitor Is Associated with Oxidative Stress
- 2014
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Ingår i: Antioxidants and Redox Signaling. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1523-0864 .- 1557-7716. ; 21:17, s. 2271-2285
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: b-AP15 is a recently described inhibitor of the USP14/UCHL5 deubiquitinases (DUBs) of the 19S proteasome. Exposure to b-AP15 results in blocking of proteasome function and accumulation of polyubiquitinated protein substrates in cells. This novel mechanism of proteasome inhibition may potentially be exploited for cancer therapy, in particular for treatment of malignancies resistant to currently used proteasome inhibitors. The aim of the present study was to characterize the cellular response to b-AP15-mediated proteasome DUB inhibition. Results: We report that b-AP15 elicits a similar, but yet distinct, cellular response as the clinically used proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. b-AP15 induces a rapid apoptotic response, associated with enhanced induction of oxidative stress and rapid activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK)/activating protein-1 signaling. Scavenging of reactive oxygen species and pharmacological inhibition of JNK reduced b-AP15-induced apoptosis. We further report that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is induced by b-AP15 and is involved in apoptosis induction. In contrast to bortezomib, ER stress is associated with induction of alpha-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 phosphorylation. Innovation: The findings establish that different modes of proteasome inhibition result in distinct cellular responses, a finding of potential therapeutic importance. Conclusion: Our data show that enhanced oxidative stress and ER stress are major determinants of the strong apoptotic response elicited by the 19S DUB inhibitor b-AP15. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 21, 2271-2285.
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| 4. |
- Chen, Jialin, et al.
(författare)
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Characterization and comparison of post-natal rat Achilles tendon-derived stem cells at different development stages
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) are a potential cell source for tendon tissue engineering. The striking morphological and structural changes of tendon tissue during development indicate the complexity of TSPCs at different stages. This study aims to characterize and compare post-natal rat Achilles tendon tissue and TSPCs at different stages of development. The tendon tissue showed distinct differences during development: the tissue structure became denser and more regular, the nuclei became spindle-shaped and the cell number decreased with time. TSPCs derived from 7 day Achilles tendon tissue showed the highest self-renewal ability, cell proliferation, and differentiation potential towards mesenchymal lineage, compared to TSPCs derived from 1 day and 56 day tissue. Microarray data showed up-regulation of several groups of genes in TSPCs derived from 7 day Achilles tendon tissue, which may account for the unique cell characteristics during this specific stage of development. Our results indicate that TSPCs derived from 7 day Achilles tendon tissue is a superior cell source as compared to TSPCs derived from 1 day and 56 day tissue, demonstrating the importance of choosing a suitable stem cell source for effective tendon tissue engineering and regeneration.
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| 5. |
- Fryknäs, Mårten, et al.
(författare)
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Iron chelators target both proliferating and quiescent cancer cells
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Poorly vascularized areas of solid tumors contain quiescent cell populations that are resistant to cell cycle-active cancer drugs. The compound VLX600 was recently identified to target quiescent tumor cells and to inhibit mitochondrial respiration. We here performed gene expression analysis in order to characterize the cellular response to VLX600. The compound-specific signature of VLX600 revealed a striking similarity to signatures generated by compounds known to chelate iron. Validation experiments including addition of ferrous and ferric iron in excess, EXAFS measurements, and structure activity relationship analyses showed that VLX600 chelates iron and supported the hypothesis that the biological effects of this compound is due to iron chelation. Compounds that chelate iron possess anti-cancer activity, an effect largely attributed to inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase in proliferating cells. Here we show that iron chelators decrease mitochondrial energy production, an effect poorly tolerated by metabolically stressed tumor cells. These pleiotropic features make iron chelators an attractive option for the treatment of solid tumors containing heterogeneous populations of proliferating and quiescent cells.
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| 6. |
- Habicht, Juri, et al.
(författare)
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UNC-45A Breaks MT Lattice Independent of its Effect on Non-Muscle Myosin II
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Cell Science. - : The Company of Biologists. - 0021-9533 .- 1477-9137.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In invertebrates, UNC-45 regulates myosin stability and functions. Vertebrates have two distinct isoforms of the protein: UNC-45B, expressed in muscle cells only and UNC-45A, expressed in all cells and implicated in regulating both Non-Muscle Myosin II (NMII)- and microtubule (MT)-associated functions. Here we show that both, in vitro and in cells, UNC-45A binds to the MT lattice leading to MT bending, breakage and depolymerization. Furthermore, we show that UNC-45A destabilizes MTs independent of its NMII C-terminal binding domain and even in presence of the NMII inhibitor blebbistatin. These findings identified UNC-45A as a novel type of MT-severing protein with a not mutually exclusive but rather dual role in regulating NMII activity and MT stability. Because many human diseases, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases, are caused by or associated with deregulation of MT stability our findings have profound implications in both, the biology of MTs as well as the biology of human diseases and possible therapeutic implications for their treatment.
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| 7. |
- Hernlund, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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The phosphoinositide 3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 is effective in inhibiting regrowth of tumour cells after cytotoxic therapy
- 2012
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 48:3, s. 396-406
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE:Regrowth of tumour cells between cycles of chemotherapy is a significant clinical problem. Treatment strategies where antiproliferative agents are used to inhibit tumour regrowth between chemotherapy cycles are attractive, but such strategies are difficult to test using conventional monolayer culture systems.METHODS:We used the in vitro tumour spheroid model to study regrowth of 3-D colon carcinoma tissue after cytotoxic therapy. Colon carcinoma cells with wild-type or mutant phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit (PI3KCA) or KRAS alleles were allowed to form multicellular spheroids and the effects of different pharmacological compounds were studied after sectioning and staining for relevant markers of cell proliferation and apoptosis.RESULTS:Studies using colon cancer cells with gene disruptions suggested that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway was essential for proliferation in 3-D culture. The dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235, currently in clinical trials, was found to inhibit phosphorylation of the mTOR target 4EBP1 in 3-D cultured cells. The ability of NVP-BEZ235 to inhibit tumour cell proliferation and to induce apoptosis was markedly more pronounced in 3-D cultures compared to monolayer cultures. It was subsequently found that NVP-BEZ235 was effective in inhibiting regrowth of 3-D cultured cells after treatment with two cytotoxic inhibitors of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), methyl-13-hydroxy-15-oxokaurenoate (MHOK) and bortezomib (Velcade®).CONCLUSIONS:The dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 was found to reduce cell proliferation and to induce apoptosis in 3-D cultured colon carcinoma cells, NVP-BEZ235 is a promising candidate for use in sequential treatment modalities together with cytotoxic drugs to reduce the cell mass of solid tumours.
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| 8. |
- Hillert, Ellin-Kristina, et al.
(författare)
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Proteasome inhibitor b-AP15 induces enhanced proteotoxicity by inhibiting cytoprotective aggresome formation
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cancer Letters. - : ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD. - 0304-3835 .- 1872-7980. ; 448, s. 70-83
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteasome inhibitors have been shown to induce cell death in cancer cells by triggering an acute proteotoxic stress response characterized by accumulation of poly-ubiquitinated proteins, ER stress and the production of reactive oxygen species. The aggresome pathway has been described as an escape mechanism from proteotoxicity by sequestering toxic cellular aggregates. Here we show that b-AP15, a small-molecule inhibitor of proteasomal deubiquitinase activity, induces poly-ubiquitin accumulation in absence of aggresome formation. b-AP15 was found to affect organelle transport in treated cells, raising the possibility that microtubule-transport of toxic protein aggregates is inhibited, leading to enhanced cytotoxicity. In contrast to the antiproliferative effects of the clinically used proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, the effects of b-AP15 are not further enhanced by the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). Our results suggest an inhibitory effect of b-AP15 on the transport of misfolded proteins, resulting in a lack of aggresome formation, and a strong proteotoxic stress response.
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| 9. |
- Li, Ze, et al.
(författare)
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Modulated-Virtual-Vector-Based Predictive Current Control for Dual Three-Phase PMSM With Enhanced Steady-State Performance
- 2023
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Ingår i: IECON 2023 - 49th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous machine (DTP-PMSM) has attracted great attention due to its high reliability and high-power output capacities. However, the conventional single-voltage-vector-based predictive current control (SV-PCC) for DTP-PMSM presents high torque ripple and current harmonics, and high computational burden. To solve those issues, a modulated-virtual-vector-based PCC (MVV-PCC) for DTP-PMSM is proposed in this paper. Wherein, twenty-four VVs are synthesized by the inherent voltage vectors, and two VVs and one zero voltage vector with optimal duty cycles are determined and applied in each sampling period to improve the steady-state performance. The selection of optimal VVs and the calculation of the optimal duty cycles are simplified by integrating the deadbeat control and modulation scheme. Various comparisons are carried out to validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed MVV-PCC strategy.
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| 10. |
- Li, Ze, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-Virtual-Vector-Based Predictive Current Control for Fault-Tolerant Inverter-Fed Dual Three-Phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines
- 2023
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Ingår i: 2023 IEEE International Conference on Predictive Control of Electrical Drives and Power Electronics, PRECEDE 2023. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous machine (DTP-PMSM) has received extensive interests due to its inherent fault-tolerant capability. However, conventional single-virtual-vector-based predictive current control (SVV-PCC) for DTP-PMSM with open-phase fault (OPF) presents poor steady-state performance and high computational burden. To address these issues, a multi-virtual-vector-based PCC (MVV-PCC) for DTP-PMSM with OPF is proposed in this paper. Therein, two virtual vectors and one zero vector with optimal duty cycles are determined in each sampling period to improve the steady-state performance. A simplification strategy for selecting the optimal virtual vectors and calculating the optimal duty cycles is established to reduce the computational burden in digital implementation. Extensive comparisons are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed MVV-PCC scheme.
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| 11. |
- Lindell, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring the Enigma : The Role of the Epithelial Protein Lost in Neoplasm in Normal Physiology and Cancer Pathogenesis
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 25:9
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The cytoskeleton plays a pivotal role in maintaining the epithelial phenotype and is vital to several hallmark processes of cancer. Over the past decades, researchers have identified the epithelial protein lost in neoplasm (EPLIN, also known as LIMA1) as a key regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics, cytoskeletal organization, motility, as well as cell growth and metabolism. Dysregulation of EPLIN is implicated in various aspects of cancer progression, such as tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Its altered expression levels or activity can disrupt cytoskeletal dynamics, leading to aberrant cell motility and invasiveness characteristic of malignant cells. Moreover, the involvement of EPLIN in cell growth and metabolism underscores its significance in orchestrating key processes essential for cancer cell survival and proliferation. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of the intricate roles of EPLIN across diverse cellular processes in both normal physiology and cancer pathogenesis. Additionally, this review discusses the possibility of EPLIN as a potential target for anticancer therapy in future studies.
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| 12. |
- Lindell, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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Quiescent Cancer Cells : A Potential Therapeutic Target to Overcome Tumor Resistance and Relapse
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 24:4
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Quiescent cancer cells (QCCs) are nonproliferating cells arrested in the G0 phase, characterized by ki67low and p27high. QCCs avoid most chemotherapies, and some treatments could further lead to a higher proportion of QCCs in tumors. QCCs are also associated with cancer recurrence since they can re-enter a proliferative state when conditions are favorable. As QCCs lead to drug resistance and tumor recurrence, there is a great need to understand the characteristics of QCCs, decipher the mechanisms that regulate the proliferative–quiescent transition in cancer cells, and develop new strategies to eliminate QCCs residing in solid tumors. In this review, we discussed the mechanisms of QCC-induced drug resistance and tumor recurrence. We also discussed therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance and relapse by targeting QCCs, including (i) identifying reactive quiescent cancer cells and removing them via cell-cycle-dependent anticancer reagents; (ii) modulating the quiescence-to-proliferation switch; and (iii) eliminating QCCs by targeting their unique features. It is believed that the simultaneous co-targeting of proliferating and quiescent cancer cells may ultimately lead to the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid tumors.
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| 13. |
- Lu, Xi, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of ATF3 as a novel protective signature of quiescent colorectal tumor cells
- 2023
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Ingår i: Cell Death and Disease. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-4889. ; 14:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of death in the world. In most cases, drug resistance and tumor recurrence are ultimately inevitable. One obstacle is the presence of chemotherapy-insensitive quiescent cancer cells (QCCs). Identification of unique features of QCCs may facilitate the development of new targeted therapeutic strategies to eliminate tumor cells and thereby delay tumor recurrence. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing, we classified proliferating and quiescent cancer cell populations in the human colorectal cancer spheroid model and identified ATF3 as a novel signature of QCCs that could support cells living in a metabolically restricted microenvironment. RNA velocity further showed a shift from the QCC group to the PCC group indicating the regenerative capacity of the QCCs. Our further results of epigenetic analysis, STING analysis, and evaluation of TCGA COAD datasets build a conclusion that ATF3 can interact with DDIT4 and TRIB3 at the transcriptional level. In addition, decreasing the expression level of ATF3 could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU on CRC MCTS models. In conclusion, ATF3 was identified as a novel marker of QCCs, and combining conventional drugs targeting PCCs with an option to target QCCs by reducing ATF3 expression levels may be a promising strategy for more efficient removal of tumor cells.
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| 14. |
- Ma, Ran, et al.
(författare)
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Estrogen Receptor β as a Therapeutic Target in Breast Cancer Stem Cells.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. - : Oxford University Press. - 0027-8874 .- 1460-2105. ; 109:3, s. 1-14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Breast cancer cells with tumor-initiating capabilities (BSCs) are considered to maintain tumor growth and govern metastasis. Hence, targeting BSCs will be crucial to achieve successful treatment of breast cancer.Methods: We characterized mammospheres derived from more than 40 cancer patients and two breast cancer cell lines for the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) and stem cell markers. Mammosphere formation and proliferation assays were performed on cells from 19 cancer patients and five healthy individuals after incubation with ER-subtype selective ligands. Transcriptional analysis was performed to identify pathways activated in ERβ-stimulated mammospheres and verified using in vitro experiments. Xenograft models (n = 4 or 5 per group) were used to study the role of ERs during tumorigenesis.Results: We identified an absence of ERα but upregulation of ERβ in BSCs associated with phenotypic stem cell markers and responsible for the proliferative role of estrogens. Knockdown of ERβ caused a reduction of mammosphere formation in cell lines and in patient-derived cancer cells (40.7%, 26.8%, and 39.1%, respectively). Gene set enrichment analysis identified glycolysis-related pathways (false discovery rate < 0.001) upregulated in ERβ-activated mammospheres. We observed that tamoxifen or fulvestrant alone was insufficient to block proliferation of patient-derived BSCs while this could be accomplished by a selective inhibitor of ERβ (PHTPP; 53.7% in luminal and 45.5% in triple-negative breast cancers). Furthermore, PHTPP reduced tumor initiation in two patient-derived xenografts (75.9% and 59.1% reduction in tumor volume, respectively) and potentiated tamoxifen-mediated inhibition of tumor growth in MCF7 xenografts.Conclusion: We identify ERβ as a mediator of estrogen action in BSCs and a novel target for endocrine therapy.
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| 15. |
- Mao, Yumeng, et al.
(författare)
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IL-15 activates mTOR and primes stress-activated gene expression leading to prolonged antitumor capacity of NK cells
- 2016
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Ingår i: Blood. - : AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. - 0006-4971 .- 1528-0020. ; 128:11, s. 1475-1489
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Treatment of hematological malignancies by adoptive transfer of activated natural killer (NK) cells is limited by poor postinfusion persistence. We compared the ability of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15 to sustain human NK-cell functions following cytokine withdrawal to model postinfusion performance. In contrast to IL-2, IL-15 mediated stronger signaling through the IL-2/15 receptor complex and provided cell function advantages. Genome-wide analysis of cytosolic and polysome-associated messenger RNA (mRNA) revealed not only cytokine-dependent differential mRNA levels and translation during cytokine activation but also that most gene expression differences were primed by IL-15 and only manifested after cytokine withdrawal. IL-15 augmented mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, which correlated with increased expression of genes related to cell metabolism and respiration. Consistently, mTOR inhibition abrogated IL-15-induced cell function advantages. Moreover, mTOR-independent STAT-5 signaling contributed to improved NK-cell function during cytokine activation but not following cytokine withdrawal. The superior performance of IL-15-stimulated NK cells was also observed using a clinically applicable protocol for NK-cell expansion in vitro and in vivo. Finally, expression of IL-15 correlated with cytolytic immune functions in patients with B-cell lymphoma and favorable clinical outcome. These findings highlight the importance of mTOR-regulated metabolic processes for immune cell functions and argue for implementation of IL-15 in adoptive NK-cell cancer therapy.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Pellegrini, Paola, 1986-, et al.
(författare)
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Induction of ER Stress in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells by the Deubiquitinase Inhibitor VLX1570
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 21:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The proteasome is a validated target of cancer therapeutics. Inhibition of proteasome activity results in the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) characterized by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2 alpha), global translational arrest, and increased expression of the proapoptotic CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein) protein. Defects in the UPR response has been reported to result in altered sensitivity of tumor cells to proteasome inhibitors. Here, we characterized the effects of the deubiquitinase (DUB) inhibitor VLX1570 on protein homeostasis, both at the level of the UPR and on protein translation, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Similar to the 20S inhibitor bortezomib, VLX1570 induced accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and increased expression of the chaperone Grp78/Bip in ALL cells. Both compounds induced cleavage of PARP (Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) in ALL cells, consistent with induction of apoptosis. However, and in contrast to bortezomib, VLX1570 treatment resulted in limited induction of the proapoptotic CHOP protein. Translational inhibition was observed by both bortezomib and VLX1570. We report that in distinction to bortezomib, suppression of translation by VXL1570 occurred at the level of elongation. Increased levels of Hsc70/Hsp70 proteins were observed on polysomes following exposure to VLX1570, possibly suggesting defects in nascent protein folding. Our findings demonstrate apoptosis induction in ALL cells that appears to be uncoupled from CHOP induction, and show that VLX1570 suppresses protein translation by a mechanism distinct from that of bortezomib.
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| 18. |
- Peng, Xuerun, et al.
(författare)
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Emetine, a small molecule natural product, displays potent anti-gastric cancer activity via regulation of multiple signaling pathways
- 2023
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Ingår i: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. - : Springer. - 0344-5704 .- 1432-0843. ; 91:4, s. 303-315
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Gastric cancer (GC) is a life-threatening malignant tumor with high incidence rate. Despite great progress, there are still many GC sufferers that cannot benefit from the existing anti-GC treatments. Therefore, it is still necessary to develop novel medicines against GC. Emetine, a natural small molecule isolated from Psychotria ipecacuanha, has been broadly used for medicinal purposes including cancer treatment. Here, we conducted a comprehensive study on the anti-GC effects of emetine and the related mechanisms of action.Methods The cell viability was evaluated by MTT and colony formation assay. Cellular proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed by edu incorporation assay and Annexin V-PI staining, respectively. Moreover, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay were conducted to detect cell migration and invasion after treatment with emetine. To elucidate the molecular mechanism involved in the anti-GC effects of emetine, RNA sequencing and functional enrichment analysis were carried out on MGC803 cells. Then, the western blot analysis was performed to further verify the anti-GC mechanism of emetine. In vivo anti-tumor efficacy of emetine was evaluated in the MGC803 xenograft model.Results MTT and colony formation assay exhibited a strong potency of emetine against GC cell growth, with IC50 values of 0.0497 μM and 0.0244 μM on MGC803 and HGC-27 cells, respectively. Further pharmacodynamic studies revealed that emetine restrained the growth of GC cells mainly via proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction. Meanwhile, emetine also had the ability to block GC cell migration and invasion. The results of RNA sequencing and western blot showed that emetine acted through regulating multiple signaling pathways, including not only MAPKs and Wnt/β-catenin signaling axes, but also PI3K/AKT and Hippo/YAP signaling cascades that were not found in other tumor types. Notably, the antitumor efficacy of emetine could also be observed in MGC803 xenograft models.Conclusion Our data demonstrate that emetine is a promising lead compound and even a potential drug candidate for GC treatment, deserving further structural optimization and development.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Senkowski, Wojciech, et al.
(författare)
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Three-Dimensional Cell Culture-Based Screening Identifies the Anthelmintic Drug Nitazoxanide as a Candidate for Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
- 2015
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Ingår i: Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. - : American Association for Cancer Research. - 1535-7163 .- 1538-8514. ; 14:6, s. 1504-1516
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Because dormant cancer cells in hypoxic and nutrient-deprived regions of solid tumors provide a major obstacle to treatment, compounds targeting those cells might have clinical benefits. Here, we describe a high-throughput drug screening approach, using glucose-deprived multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) with inner hypoxia, to identify compounds that specifically target this cell population. We used a concept of drug repositioning-using known molecules for new indications. This is a promising strategy to identify molecules for rapid clinical advancement. By screening 1,600 compounds with documented clinical history, we aimed to identify candidates with unforeseen potential for repositioning as anticancer drugs. Our screen identified five molecules with pronounced MCTS-selective activity: nitazoxanide, niclosamide, closantel, pyrvinium pamoate, and salinomycin. Herein, we show that all five compounds inhibit mitochondrial respiration. This suggests that cancer cells in low glucose concentrations depend on oxidative phosphorylation rather than solely glycolysis. Importantly, continuous exposure to the compounds was required to achieve effective treatment. Nitazoxanide, an FDA-approved antiprotozoal drug with excellent pharmacokinetic and safety profile, is the only molecule among the screening hits that reaches high plasma concentrations persisting for up to a few hours after single oral dose. Nitazoxanide activated the AMPK pathway and downregulated c-Myc, mTOR, and Wnt signaling at clinically achievable concentrations. Nitazoxanide combined with the cytotoxic drug irinotecan showed anticancer activity in vivo. We here report that the FDA-approved anthelmintic drug nitazoxanide could be a potential candidate for advancement into cancer clinical trials. (C) 2015 AACR.
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| 22. |
- Stafford, William C., et al.
(författare)
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Irreversible inhibition of cytosolic thioredoxin reductase 1 as a mechanistic basis for anticancer therapy
- 2018
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Ingår i: Science Translational Medicine. - : AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE. - 1946-6234 .- 1946-6242. ; 10:428
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cancer cells adapt to their inherently increased oxidative stress through activation of the glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin (TXN) systems. Inhibition of both of these systems effectively kills cancer cells, but such broad inhibition of antioxidant activity also kills normal cells, which is highly unwanted in a clinical setting. We therefore evaluated targeting of the TXN pathway alone and, more specifically, selective inhibition of the cytosolic selenocysteine-containing enzyme TXN reductase 1 (TXNRD1). TXNRD1 inhibitors were discovered in a large screening effort and displayed increased specificity compared to pan-TXNRD inhibitors, such as auranofin, that also inhibit the mitochondrial enzyme TXNRD2 and additional targets. For our lead compounds, TXNRD1 inhibition correlated with cancer cell cytotoxicity, and inhibitor-triggered conversion of TXNRD1 from an antioxidant to a pro-oxidant enzyme correlated with corresponding increases in cellular production of H2O2. In mice, the most specific TXNRD1 inhibitor, here described as TXNRD1 inhibitor 1 (TRi-1), impaired growth and viability of human tumor xenografts and syngeneic mouse tumors while having little mitochondrial toxicity and being better tolerated than auranofin. These results display the therapeutic anticancer potential of irreversibly targeting cytosolic TXNRD1 using small molecules and present potent and selective TXNRD1 inhibitors. Given the pronounced up-regulation of TXNRD1 in several metastatic malignancies, it seems worthwhile to further explore the potential benefit of specific irreversible TXNRD1 inhibitors for anticancer therapy.
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| 23. |
- Wang, Xin, et al.
(författare)
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The 19S Deubiquitinase Inhibitor b-AP15 Is Enriched in Cells and Elicits Rapid Commitment to Cell Death
- 2014
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Ingår i: Molecular Pharmacology. - 0026-895X .- 1521-0111. ; 85:6, s. 932-945
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- b-AP15 [(3E, 5E)-3,5-bis[(4-nitrophenyl) methylidene]-1-(prop-2enoyl) piperidin-4-one] is a small molecule inhibitor of the ubiquitin specific peptidase (USP) 14/ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase (UCH) L5 deubiquitinases of the 19S proteasome that shows antitumor activity in a number of tumor models, including multiple myeloma. b-AP15 contains an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl unit that is likely to react with intracellular nucleophiles such as cysteine thiolates by Michael addition. We found that binding of b-AP15 to USP14 is partially reversible, and that inhibition of proteasome function is reversible in cells. Despite reversible binding, tumor cells are rapidly committed to apoptosis/cell death after exposure to b-AP15. We show that b-AP15 is rapidly taken up from the medium and enriched in cells. Enrichment provides an explanation of the stronger potency of the compound in cellular assays compared with in vitro biochemical assays. Cellular uptake was impaired by 30-minute pretreatment of cells with low concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide (10 mu M), suggesting that enrichment was thiol dependent. We report that in addition to inhibition of deubiquitinases, b-AP15 inhibits the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Whereas proteasome inhibition was closely associated with cell death induction, inhibition of TrxR was not. TrxR inhibition is, however, likely to contribute to triggering of oxidative stress observed with b-AP15. Furthermore, we present structure-activity, in vivo pharmacokinetic, and hepatocyte metabolism data for b-AP15. We conclude that the strong enrichment of b-AP15 in cells and a rapid commitment to apoptosis/cell death are factors that likely contribute to the strong antitumor activity of this compound.
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| 24. |
- Westergren Jakobsson, Amanda, et al.
(författare)
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Iron Chelator VLX600 Inhibits Mitochondrial Respiration and Promotes Sensitization of Neuroblastoma Cells in Nutrition-Restricted Conditions
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 14:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- MYC proteins are essential regulators which could affect more than 15% of all genes through an interaction with other transcription factors. High-risk neuroblastoma associated with treatment failure is characterized by amplification of the MYCN proto-oncogene. Here, we show for the first time that the iron chelator VLX600 inhibits mitochondrial activity and induces cell death, regardless of MYCN status in neuroblastoma cells. Blocking glucose uptake enhances the effect of VLX600, indicating that targeting pathways or cellular activities related to energy supply/metabolism may help to find better therapeutic strategy for neuroblastoma.Neuroblastoma, the most common solid tumor in children, is characterized by amplification of the MYCN proto-oncogene, a high-risk aggressive clinical marker associated with treatment failure. MYCN plays an important role in cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, and chemoresistance. Here, we show for the first time that in neuroblastoma, iron chelator VLX600 inhibits mitochondrial respiration, decreases expression levels of MYCN/LMO1, and induces an efficient cell death regardless of MYCN status in both 2D and 3D culture conditions. Moreover, insufficient induction of autophagy was observed in cells treated with VLX600, which is essential as a protective response in the event of ATP synthesis disruption. Further inhibition of glucose uptake using DRB18, a pan-GLUT (glucose transporter) inhibitor, synergized the effect of VLX600 and no significant cell death was found in immortalized epithelial cells under this combination treatment. Our results demonstrate that inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by iron chelator VLX600 accompanied by autophagy deficiency promotes sensitivity of neuroblastoma cells in a nutrition-restricted microenvironment regardless of MYCN status, indicating that MYCN expression level is an essential clinical marker but might not be a necessary target for the treatment of neuroblastoma which warrants further investigation. VLX600 has been studied in Phase I clinical trials; combining VLX600 with conventional chemotherapy could be an innovative therapeutic strategy for neuroblastoma.
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- Zhang, Xiaonan
(författare)
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Development of therapeutic strategies for quiescent tumor cell populations
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Phenotypic screening is an effective approach to the discovery of small-molecule drugs. In this thesis, I have used cancer cells grown as 3D microtissues (multicellular spheroids) to study the effect of anticancer drugs and as drug discovery tools. Most clinically used cytotoxic drugs have only modest efficacy on spheroids, possibly explaining their limited efficacy on many solid tumors. We therefore used spheroids as targets for screening campaigns aimed to discover novel anti-cancer drugs. This work resulted in the identification of compounds that showed preferential cytotoxicity to spheroids compared to monolayer cultures. We also used multicellular spheroids to study regrowth of cells after cytotoxic therapy. The compound VLX600 was identified in our spheroid screening work. This drug was found to induce autophagy and upregulation of glycolysis in tumor cells. Further work showed that VLX600 is an inhibitor of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The work has lead to the hypothesis that cells in the deep tumor parenchyme are sensitive to disturbances of energy metabolism due to lack of metabolic plasticity. Our studies demonstrated that VLX600 also decreased the levels of c-MYC. This phenomenon was also observed after treatment with other mitochondrial inhibitors. An additional screen was performed using glucose-deprived spheroids. This screen identified five molecules that showed selectivity to spheroids. All five drugs were found to inhibit mitochondrial respiration. The FDA-approved antiprotozoal drug nitazoxanide was chosen for further studies and may be a candidate for future clinical trials. Increased glycolysis in tumor cells leads to the generation of metabolic acids and a subsequent acidification of the microenvironment of solid tumors. We found that tumor acidosis leads to induction of autophagy and present evidence that autophagy is a mechanism for cancer cells to adapt to an acidic environment. We conclude from this work that multicellular spheroids can be used to screen for novel anticancer agents. Several drugs identified by this approach were found to be inhibitors of mitochondrial function. This finding suggests a therapeutic strategy to target quiescent tumor cells in metabolically compromised microenvironments.
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