scholarly journals Targeting the Redox Balance Pathway Using Ascorbic Acid in sdhb Zebrafish Mutant Larvae

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 5124
Author(s):  
Margo Dona ◽  
Maaike Lamers ◽  
Svenja Rohde ◽  
Marnix Gorissen ◽  
Henri J. L. M. Timmers
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Drug Screening ◽  
Redox Balance ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Zebrafish Model ◽  
High Throughput Drug Screening ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancer Agent

Patients with mutations in the β-subunit of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDHB) have the highest risk to develop incurable malignant phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). Therapy development is hindered by limited possibilities to test new therapeutic strategies in vivo. One possible molecular mechanism of SDHB-associated tumorigenesis originates in an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to mitochondrial dysfunction. Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) has already been shown to act as anti-cancer agent in several clinical trials for various types of cancer. In this study, the potential of the sdhbrmc200 zebrafish model to study SDHB-associated PPGLs using a drug screening approach was investigated. First, we identified increased basal ROS levels in homozygous sdhb larvae compared to heterozygous and wild-type siblings. Using a semi high-throughput drug screening, the effectiveness of different dosages of anti- and pro-oxidant Vitamin C were assessed to evaluate differences in survival, ROS levels, and locomotor activity. Low-dosage levels of Vitamin C induced a decrease of ROS levels but no significant effects on lifespan. In contrast, high-dosage levels of Vitamin C shortened the lifespan of the homozygous sdhbrmc200 larvae while not affecting the lifespan of heterozygous and wild-type siblings. These results validated the sdhbrmc200 zebrafish model as a powerful drug screening tool that may be used to identify novel therapeutic targets for SDHB-associated PPGLs.

scholarly journals Metformin induces Ferroptosis by inhibiting UFMylation of SLC7A11 in breast cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Yang ◽  
Yulu Zhou ◽  
Shuduo Xie ◽  
Ji Wang ◽  
Zhaoqing Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Tumor Model ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Regulated Cell Death ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancer Agent ◽  
Approved Drugs

Abstract Background Ferroptosis is a newly defined form of regulated cell death characterized by the iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxidation and is involved in various pathophysiological conditions, including cancer. Targeting ferroptosis is considered to be a novel anti-cancer strategy. The identification of FDA-approved drugs as ferroptosis inducers is proposed to be a new promising approach for cancer treatment. Despite a growing body of evidence indicating the potential efficacy of the anti-diabetic metformin as an anti-cancer agent, the exact mechanism underlying this efficacy has not yet been fully elucidated. Methods The UFMylation of SLC7A11 is detected by immunoprecipitation and the expression of UFM1 and SLC7A11 in tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The level of ferroptosis is determined by the level of free iron, total/lipid Ros and GSH in the cells and the morphological changes of mitochondria are observed by transmission electron microscope. The mechanism in vivo was verified by in situ implantation tumor model in nude mice. Results Metformin induces ferroptosis in an AMPK-independent manner to suppress tumor growth. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that metformin increases the intracellular Fe2+ and lipid ROS levels. Specifically, metformin reduces the protein stability of SLC7A11, which is a critical ferroptosis regulator, by inhibiting its UFMylation process. Furthermore, metformin combined with sulfasalazine, the system xc− inhibitor, can work in a synergistic manner to induce ferroptosis and inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Conclusions This study is the first to demonstrate that the ability of metformin to induce ferroptosis may be a novel mechanism underlying its anti-cancer effect. In addition, we identified SLC7A11 as a new UFMylation substrate and found that targeting the UFM1/SLC7A11 pathway could be a promising cancer treatment strategy.

scholarly journals High-throughput drug screening identifies the ATR-CHK1 pathway as a therapeutic vulnerability of CALR mutated hematopoietic cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruochen Jia ◽  
Leon Kutzner ◽  
Anna Koren ◽  
Kathrin Runggatscher ◽  
Peter Májek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Drug Screening ◽  
Synthetic Lethality ◽  
Myeloproliferative Neoplasms ◽  
Hematopoietic Cells ◽  
Replication Stress ◽  
Phase Cell ◽  
Nuclear Staining ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
High Throughput Drug Screening

AbstractMutations of calreticulin (CALR) are the second most prevalent driver mutations in essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis. To identify potential targeted therapies for CALR mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms, we searched for small molecules that selectively inhibit the growth of CALR mutated cells using high-throughput drug screening. We investigated 89 172 compounds using isogenic cell lines carrying CALR mutations and identified synthetic lethality with compounds targeting the ATR-CHK1 pathway. The selective inhibitory effect of these compounds was validated in a co-culture assay of CALR mutated and wild-type cells. Of the tested compounds, CHK1 inhibitors potently depleted CALR mutated cells, allowing wild-type cell dominance in the co-culture over time. Neither CALR deficient cells nor JAK2V617F mutated cells showed hypersensitivity to ATR-CHK1 inhibition, thus suggesting specificity for the oncogenic activation by the mutant CALR. CHK1 inhibitors induced replication stress in CALR mutated cells revealed by elevated pan-nuclear staining for γH2AX and hyperphosphorylation of RPA2. This was accompanied by S-phase cell cycle arrest due to incomplete DNA replication. Transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic analyses revealed a replication stress signature caused by oncogenic CALR, suggesting an intrinsic vulnerability to CHK1 perturbation. This study reveals the ATR-CHK1 pathway as a potential therapeutic target in CALR mutated hematopoietic cells.

scholarly journals Development of Small-Molecule STING Activators for Cancer Immunotherapy

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Hee Ra Jung ◽  
Seongman Jo ◽  
Min Jae Jeon ◽  
Hyelim Lee ◽  
Yeonjeong Chu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Immunotherapy ◽  
Cyclic Gmp ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Interferon Response ◽  
Type I ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancer Agent ◽  
Sting Pathway

In cancer immunotherapy, the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is an attractive target for switching the tumor immunophenotype from ‘cold’ to ‘hot’ through the activation of the type I interferon response. To develop a new chemical entity for STING activator to improve cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP)-induced innate immune response, we identified KAS-08 via the structural modification of DW2282, which was previously reported as an anti-cancer agent with an unknown mechanism. Further investigation revealed that direct STING binding or the enhanced phosphorylation of STING and downstream effectors were responsible for DW2282-or KAS-08-mediated STING activity. Furthermore, KAS-08 was validated as an effective STING pathway activator in vitro and in vivo. The synergistic effect of cGAMP-mediated immunity and efficient anti-cancer effects successfully demonstrated the therapeutic potential of KAS-08 for combination therapy in cancer treatment.

scholarly journals Berberine inhibits the proliferation of pancreatic cancer targeting pancreatic cancer stem cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengmeng Liu ◽  
Yue Pan ◽  
Xufeng Tao ◽  
Ning Li ◽  
Kun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Migration Assay ◽  
Medicinal Value ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancer Agent ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

Abstract BackgroundPDAC is universally acknowledged to be one of the highest mortality rate of cancer-related deaths. PCSCs, regulated by EMT, could promote the proliferation of PDAC. Berberine with high medicinal value has usually been used as an anti-cancer agent. Hence the purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-cancer effect of berberine in PDAC. MethodsMTT assay was used to verify berberine inhibiting the proliferation of PDAC. Immunofluorescence staining, stem cell sphere, wound healing and transwell migration assay were demonstrated the anti-proliferation and anti-stemness of PCSCs in vitro . PANC-02 cells were injected in C57BL/6 mice to establish the orthotopic pancreatic-cancer model in vivo . H&E and Ki67 immunohistogical staining assay were used to evaluated the effect of berberine in PDAC in vivo. q-PCR and Western blot methods were applied to detect the expression of EMT procedure.ResultsIn this study, berberine has selective anti-cancer effect in PDAC in vitro . Moreover, berberine suppressed the proliferation and stemness of PCSCs in PDAC. In vivo , berberine reduced the tumor size and decreased the expression of Ki67 in orthotopic pancreatic-cancer pancreases. In addition, berberine inhibit the EMT signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo . ConclusionsOur study indicates that berberine inhibit the proliferation of PDAC in vivo and vitro . The mechanism of anti-cancer effect on berberine may suppress the PCSCs through inhibiting EMT procedure. Therefore, berberine may be the novel antineoplastic drug with clinical effectiveness in PDAC. Keywords: Berberine, PDAC, PCSCs, EMT, berberine

scholarly journals Testing Tuberculosis Drug Efficacy in a Zebrafish High-Throughput Translational Medicine Screen

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 753-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Ordas ◽  
Robert-Jan Raterink ◽  
Fraser Cunningham ◽  
Hans J. Jansen ◽  
Malgorzata I. Wiweger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Drug Screening ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Drug Uptake ◽  
Spectrometric Analysis ◽  
Major Advance ◽  
Zebrafish Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Screening Platform

ABSTRACTThe translational value of zebrafish high-throughput screens can be improved when more knowledge is available on uptake characteristics of potential drugs. We investigated reference antibiotics and 15 preclinical compounds in a translational zebrafish-rodent screening system for tuberculosis. As a major advance, we have developed a new tool for testing drug uptake in the zebrafish model. This is important, because despite the many applications of assessing drug efficacy in zebrafish research, the current methods for measuring uptake using mass spectrometry do not take into account the possible adherence of drugs to the larval surface. Our approach combines nanoliter sampling from the yolk using a microneedle, followed by mass spectrometric analysis. To date, no single physicochemical property has been identified to accurately predict compound uptake; our method offers a great possibility to monitor how any novel compound behaves within the system. We have correlated the uptake data with high-throughput drug-screening data fromMycobacterium marinum-infected zebrafish larvae. As a result, we present an improved zebrafish larva drug-screening platform which offers new insights into drug efficacy and identifies potential false negatives and drugs that are effective in zebrafish and rodents. We demonstrate that this improved zebrafish drug-screening platform can complement conventional models ofin vivoMycobacterium tuberculosis-infected rodent assays. The detailed comparison of two vertebrate systems, fish and rodent, may give more predictive value for efficacy of drugs in humans.

scholarly journals From Omics to Drug Metabolism and High Content Screen of Natural Product in Zebrafish: A New Model for Discovery of Neuroactive Compound

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Wai Hung ◽  
Zai Jun Zhang ◽  
Shang Li ◽  
Benson Lei ◽  
Shuai Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Metabolism ◽  
Drug Screening ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Pharmacological Action ◽  
Zebrafish Model ◽  
Lead Compounds ◽  
Efficacy Parameters

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has recently become a common model in the fields of genetics, environmental science, toxicology, and especially drug screening. Zebrafish has emerged as a biomedically relevant model forin vivohigh content drug screening and the simultaneous determination of multiple efficacy parameters, including behaviour, selectivity, and toxicity in the content of the whole organism. A zebrafish behavioural assay has been demonstrated as a novel, rapid, and high-throughput approach to the discovery of neuroactive, psychoactive, and memory-modulating compounds. Recent studies found a functional similarity of drug metabolism systems in zebrafish and mammals, providing a clue with why some compounds are active in zebrafishin vivobut notin vitro, as well as providing grounds for the rationales supporting the use of a zebrafish screen to identify prodrugs. Here, we discuss the advantages of the zebrafish model for evaluating drug metabolism and the mode of pharmacological action with the emerging omics approaches. Why this model is suitable for identifying lead compounds from natural products for therapy of disorders with multifactorial etiopathogenesis and imbalance of angiogenesis, such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, cardiotoxicity, cerebral hemorrhage, dyslipidemia, and hyperlipidemia, is addressed.

Establishment of Bioluminescence Imaging Based Leukemia In Vivo Model for Preclinical Testing

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4879-4879
Author(s):  
Myoung Woo Lee ◽  
Hye Jin Kim ◽  
Dae Seong Kim ◽  
Meong Hi Son ◽  
Soo Hyun Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Drug Screening ◽  
Scid Mouse ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Screening System ◽  
Bioluminescent Signal ◽  
Anti Cancer

Abstract Abstract 4879 Background. A hematological malignant animal model is an essential tool for evaluating efficacy of anti-cancer drugs and elucidating underlying mechanism of leukemogenesis. Intraperitoneal (IP) and intravenous (IV) xenograft of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells have limited capacity as in vivo anti-cancer drug screening system. Purpose. In this study, we aimed to establish an ALL animal model using NOD/SCID mouse and evaluate efficiency and sensitivity of the model as a preclinical drug screening system. Materials and Methods. Firefly luciferase (fLuc)-gene introduced ALL (ALL/fLuc) cell line and patient-originated ALL cells were transplanted into a tibia of NOD/SCID mouse. We conducted a comparative analysis of intra-bone marrow (IBMT) transplanted leukemia model with IP and IV transplantation of leukemic cells. Results. IBMT of ALL/fLuc cells effectively established a bioluminescent leukemia NOD/SCID mouse model. Upon comparison of IBMT model with IP and IV transplantation models, infusing identical number of ALL/fLuc cells into NOD/SCID mice resulted in IBMT model with evaluable bioluminescent signal, but not in IP and IV models. In IBMT model, bioluminescent signals of ALL/fLuc cells emitted from peripheral blood, tibia and infiltrated organs indicated that leukemia model was established. The changes in these signals' strength reflected dose-dependent cytotoxic effects of vincristine, which allowed leukemia model with evaluable bioluminescent signal to be utilized as a preclinical drug screening system. IBMT leukemia model was also established using primary ALL cells that can provide additional insights for the development of leukemia therapeutics. Conclusion. IBMT of ALL/fLuc cells enables development of leukemia mouse model with the greater bioluminescent sensitivity than IP and IV in NOD/SCID to evaluate candidate for development of anti-cancer drug. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document