Reposicionamiento de drogas efectos de la combinación de metformina y propanolol sobre modelos de cáncer colorrectal

El reposicionamiento de drogas en oncología se refiere al uso de fármacos originalmente formulados para otras indicaciones que mostraron potencial antitumoral. En este trabajo, se seleccionó un grupo de drogas en reposicionamiento que incluyen metformina (M, utilizada en el tratamiento de la diabetes), propranolol (P, indicado para tratar la hipertensión), cloroquina (CQ, se usa en el tratamiento o prevención de la malaria), DHEA (un precursor de hormonas sexuales), orlistat (empleado en el tratamiento de la obesidad), atorvastatina (utilizado para tratar niveles altos de colesterol) y dicloroacetato (un inhibidor de la piruvato deshidrogenasa cinasa). El potencial antitumoral de estos fármacos se evaluó in vitro en células de cáncer de colon humano HCT116 y HT29 a través de ensayos de viabilidad estándar, individualmente o de forma combinada. Todos los fármacos probados inhibieron significativamente la proliferación de células HCT116 y HT29 de una manera dependiente de la dosis. De las combinaciones probadas, M+P resultó la más atractiva en ambas líneas celulares, ya que mostró una fuerte inhibición del crecimiento incluso combinando dosis bajas de ambos fármacos (P <0,001). Adicionalmente, el tratamiento mostro efectos significativos tanto sobre la capacidad migratoria celular, aumentando el número de adhesiones focales en células tratadas, como en los niveles de apoptosis que también se vieron incrementados por el tratamiento. Los datos preliminares de un modelo in vivo con ratones BALB/c bajo un protocolo de carcinogénesis estándar de azoximetano (carcinógeno iniciador)/sulfato de dextrano (agente promotor) indicaron un beneficio potencial de la combinación M+P en la prevención del desarrollo de tumores de colon, sin síntomas asociados de toxicidad. A través de la tinción inmunohistoquímica para el antígeno Ki67 se detectó un menor número de células proliferativas en tumores tratados, lo que confirmó el efecto del tratamiento in vivo. En conjunto, nuestros resultados sugieren que la terapia con medicamentos reposicionados podría ser de interés para el tratamiento del cáncer de colon y, en particular, la combinación de M+P podría inhibir su desarrollo y potencialmente el desarrollo de metástasisFil: Anselmino L.E.. Universidad Nacional de RosarioFil: Baglioni M.V.. Universidad Nacional de RosarioFil: Rico M.J.. Universidad Nacional de RosarioFil: Rozados V.R.. Universidad Nacional de RosarioFil: Scharovsky O.G.. Universidad Nacional de RosarioFil: Fernández C.O.. Universidad Nacional de RosarioFil: Martínez-Marignac V.. Universidad Nacional de RosarioFil: Menacho-Márquez M.. Universidad Nacional de Rosari

Vav proteins are key regulators of Card9 signaling for innate antifungal immunity

Fungal infections are major causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The innate immune system senses fungal pathogens through Syk-coupled C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), which signal through the conserved immune adaptor Card9. Although Card9 is essential for antifungal defense, the mechanisms that couple CLR-proximal events to Card9 control are not well defined. Here, we identify Vav proteins as key activators of the Card9 pathway. Vav1, Vav2, and Vav3 cooperate downstream of Dectin-1, Dectin-2, and Mincle to engage Card9 for NF-κB control and proinflammatory gene transcription. Although Vav family members show functional redundancy, Vav1/2/3(-/-) mice phenocopy Card9(-/-) animals with extreme susceptibility to fungi. In this context, Vav3 is the single most important Vav in mice, and a polymorphism in human VAV3 is associated with susceptibility to candidemia in patients. Our results reveal a molecular mechanism for CLR-mediated Card9 regulation that controls innate immunity to fungal infections

Immunosuppression-independent role of regulatory T cells against hypertension-driven renal dysfunctions

Hypertension-associated cardiorenal diseases represent one of the heaviest burdens for current health systems. In addition to hemodynamic damage, recent results have revealed that hematopoietic cells contribute to the development of these diseases by generating proinflammatory and profibrotic environments in the heart and kidney. However, the cell subtypes involved remain poorly characterized. Here we report that CD39+ regulatory T (TREG) cells utilize an immunosuppression-independent mechanism to counteract renal and possibly cardiac damage during angiotensin II (AngII)-dependent hypertension. This mechanism relies on the direct apoptosis of tissue-resident neutrophils by the ecto-ATP diphosphohydrolase activity of CD39. In agreement with this, experimental and genetic alterations in TREG/TH cell ratios have a direct impact on tissue-resident neutrophil numbers, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, cardiorenal fibrosis, and, to a lesser extent, arterial pressure elevation during AngII-driven hypertension. These results indicate that TREG cells constitute a first protective barrier against hypertension-driven tissue fibrosis and, in addition, suggest new therapeutic avenues to prevent hypertension-linked cardiorenal diseases.This work has been supported by grants from the Castilla-León Autonomous Government (CSI101U13), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2012-31371, RD12/0036/0002), Worldwide Cancer Research, the Solórzano Foundation, and the Ramón Areces Foundation to X.R.B. P.M. is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2011-27330). S.F., M.M.-M., J.R.-V., and A.M.-M. were supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through BES-2010-031386, CSIC JAE-Doc, Juan de la Cierva, and BES-2009-016103 contracts, respectively. Spanish government-sponsored funding to X.R.B. is partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund.Peer Reviewe

Differential role of the RasGEFs Sos1 and Sos2 in mouse skin homeostasis and carcinogenesis

Using Sos1 knockout (Sos1-KO), Sos2-KO, and Sos1/2 double-knockout (Sos1/2-DKO) mice, we assessed the functional role of Sos1 and Sos2 in skin homeostasis under physiological and/or pathological conditions. Sos1 depletion resulted in significant alterations of skin homeostasis, including reduced keratinocyte proliferation, altered hair follicle and blood vessel integrity in dermis, and reduced adipose tissue in hypodermis. These defects worsened significantly when both Sos1 and Sos2 were absent. Simultaneous Sos1/2 disruption led to severe impairment of the ability to repair skin wounds, as well as to almost complete ablation of the neutrophil-mediated inflammatory response in the injury site. Furthermore, Sos1 disruption delayed the onset of tumor initiation, decreased tumor growth, and prevented malignant progression of papillomas in a DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene)/TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-induced skin carcinogenesis model. Finally, Sos1 depletion in preexisting chemically induced papillomas resulted also in decreased tumor growth, probably linked to significantly reduced underlying keratinocyte proliferation. Our data unveil novel, distinctive mechanistic roles of Sos 1 and Sos2 in physiological control of skin homeostasis and wound repair, as well as in pathological development of chemically induced skin tumors. These observations underscore the essential role of Sos proteins in cellular proliferation and migration and support the consideration of these RasGEFs as potential biomarkers/therapy targets in Ras-driven epidermal tumors.This study was supported by grants FIS PI16/02137 from ISCIII (MINECO), SA043U16 (UIC 076) from JCyL, and AECC Spain (to E.S.); by MINECO grant SAF2015-66015-R; and by MSyC grants ISCIII-RETIC RD12/0036/0009, PIE 15/00076, and CB/16/00228 (to J.M.P.). This research was cofinanced by FEDER fund

VAV2 signaling promotes regenerative proliferation in both cutaneous and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Regenerative proliferation capacity and poor differentiation are histological features usually linked to poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (hnSCC). However, the pathways that regulate them remain ill-characterized. Here, we show that those traits can be triggered by the RHO GTPase activator VAV2 in keratinocytes present in the skin and oral mucosa. VAV2 is also required to maintain those traits in hnSCC patient-derived cells. This function, which is both catalysis- and RHO GTPase-dependent, is mediated by c-Myc- and YAP/TAZ-dependent transcriptomal programs associated with regenerative proliferation and cell undifferentiation, respectively. High levels of VAV2 transcripts and VAV2-regulated gene signatures are both associated with poor hnSCC patient prognosis. These results unveil a druggable pathway linked to the malignancy of specific SCC subtypes. The Rho signalling pathway is frequently activated in squamous carcinomas. Here, the authors find that the Rho GEF VAV2 is over expressed in both cutaneous and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and that at the molecular level VAV2 promotes a pro-tumorigenic stem cell-like signalling programme

Binding modes of phthalocyanines of amyloid β peptide and their effects on amyloid fibril formation

The inherent tendency of proteins to convert from their native states into amyloid aggregates is associated with a range of human disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In that sense, the use of small molecules as probes for the structural and toxic mechanism related to amyloid aggregation has become an active area of research. Compared with other compounds, the structural and molecular basis behind the inhibitory interaction of phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (PcTS) with proteins such as αS and tau has been well established, contributing to a better understanding of the amyloid aggregation process in these proteins. We present here the structural characterization of the binding of PcTS and its Cu(II) and Zn(II)-loaded forms to the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) and the impact of these interactions on the peptide amyloid fibril assembly. Elucidation of the PcTS binding modes to Aβ40 revealed the involvement of specific aromatic and hydrophobic interactions in the formation of the Aβ40-PcTS complex, ascribed to a binding mode in which the planarity and hydrophobicity of the aromatic ring system in the phthalocyanine act as main structural determinants for the interaction. Our results demonstrated that formation of the Aβ40-PcTS complex does not interfere with the progression of the peptide toward the formation of amyloid fibrils. On the other hand, conjugation of Zn(II) but not Cu(II) at the center of the PcTS macrocyclic ring modified substantially the binding profile of this phthalocyanine to Aβ40 and became crucial to reverse the effects of metal-free PcTS on the fibril assembly of the peptide. Overall, our results provide a firm basis to understand the structural rules directing phthalocyanine-protein interactions and their implications on the amyloid fibril assembly of the target proteins; in particular, our results contradict the hypothesis that PcTS might have similar mechanisms of action in slowing the formation of a variety of pathological aggregates

The dioxin receptor has tumor suppressor activity in melanoma growth and metastasis

et al.Melanoma is a highly metastatic and malignant skin cancer having poor rates of patient survival. Since the incidence of melanoma is steadily increasing in the population, finding prognostic and therapeutic targets are crucial tasks in cancer. The dioxin receptor (AhR) is required for xenobiotic-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis and for cell physiology and organ homeostasis. Yet, the mechanisms by which AhR affects tumor growth and dissemination are largely uncharacterized. We report here that AhR contributes to the tumor-stroma interaction, blocking melanoma growth and metastasis when expressed in the tumor cell but supporting melanoma when expressed in the stroma. B16F10 cells engineered to lack AhR (small hairpin RNA for AhR) exacerbated melanoma primary tumorigenesis and lung metastasis when injected in AhR+/+ recipient mice but not when injected in AhR-/- mice or when co-injected with AhR-/- fibroblasts in an AhR+/+ stroma. Contrary, B16F10 cells expressing a constitutively active AhR had reduced tumorigenicity and invasiveness in either AhR genetic background. The tumor suppressor role of AhR in melanoma cells correlated with reduced migration and invasion, with lower numbers of cancer stem-like cells and with altered levels of β1-integrin and caveolin1. Human melanoma cell lines with highest AHR expression also had lowest migration and invasion. Moreover, AHR expression was reduced in human melanomas with respect to nevi lesions. We conclude that AhR knockdown in melanoma cells requires stromal AhR for maximal tumor progression and metastasis. Thus, AhR can be a molecular marker in melanoma and its activity in both tumor and stromal compartments should be considered.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO; SAF2008-00462, BFU2011-22678, RD06/0020/1016 and RD12/ 0036/0032) and Junta de Extremadura (GR10008) to P.M.F.-S.; Spanish MINECO (SAF2009-07172, RD06/0020/0001 and RD12/0036/0002) and Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) to X.R.B. M.C.-T. was a FPI fellow from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. All Spanish funding is cosponsored by the European Union FEDER program.Peer Reviewe

The Rho Exchange Factors Vav2 and Vav3 Favor Skin Tumor Initiation and Promotion by Engaging Extracellular Signaling Loops

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.The catalytic activity of GDP/GTP exchange factors (GEFs) is considered critical to maintain the typically high activity of Rho GTPases found in cancer cells. However, the large number of them has made it difficult to pinpoint those playing proactive, nonredundant roles in tumors. In this work, we have investigated whether GEFs of the Vav subfamily exert such specific roles in skin cancer. Using genetically engineered mice, we show here that Vav2 and Vav3 favor cooperatively the initiation and promotion phases of skin tumors. Transcriptomal profiling and signaling experiments indicate such function is linked to the engagement of, and subsequent participation in, keratinocyte-based autocrine/paracrine programs that promote epidermal proliferation and recruitment of pro-inflammatory cells. This is a pathology-restricted mechanism because the loss of Vav proteins does not cause alterations in epidermal homeostasis. These results reveal a previously unknown Rho GEF-dependent pro-tumorigenic mechanism that influences the biology of cancer cells and their microenvironment. They also suggest that anti-Vav therapies may be of potential interest in skin tumor prevention and/or treatment. © 2013 Menacho-Márquez et al.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2009-07172, SAF2012-3171, RD06/0020/ 0001 and RD12/0036/0002); BA (RD06/0020/1002, RD12/0036/0075); JMP (SAF2011-26122-C02-01, RD06/0020/0029, RD12/0036/0009); XRB and BA from the Spanish Cancer Association; Madrid Autonomous Government to JMP (S2006/BIO-0232)Peer Reviewe

Repositioning metformin and propranolol for colorectal and triple negative breast cancers treatment

Drug repositioning refers to new uses for existing drugs outside the scope of the original medical indications. This approach fastens the process of drug development allowing fnding efective drugs with reduced side efects and lower costs. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is often diagnosed at advanced stages, when the probability of chemotherapy resistance is higher. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive type of breast cancer, highly metastatic and difcult to treat. For both tumor types, available treatments are generally associated to severe side efects. In our work, we explored the efect of combining metformin and propranolol, two repositioned drugs, in both tumor types. We demonstrate that treatment afects viability, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migratory potential of CRC cells as we described before for TNBC. We show that combined treatment afects diferent steps leading to metastasis in TNBC. Moreover, combined treatment is also efective preventing the development of 5-FU resistant CRC. Our data suggest that combination of metformin and propranolol could be useful as a putative adjuvant treatment for both TNBC and CRC and an alternative for chemo-resistant CRC, providing a low-cost alternative therapy without associated toxicity.Fil: Anselmino, L. E. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Anselmino, L. E. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Baglioni, M. V. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Baglioni, M. V. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Genética Experimental; Argentina.Fil: Malizia, Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Malizia, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Cesatti Laluce, N. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Cesatti Laluce, N. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Borini Etichetti, C. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Rico, M. J. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Rico, M. J. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Genética Experimental; Argentina.Fil: Menacho Márquez, M. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Menacho Márquez, M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Menacho Márquez, M. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB); Argentina