Jeffrey A. Canter

Overexpression of Akt converts radial growth melanoma to vertical growth melanoma

Melanoma is the cancer with the highest increase in incidence, and transformation of radial growth to vertical growth (i.e., noninvasive to invasive) melanoma is required for invasive disease and metastasis. We have previously shown that p42/p44 MAP kinase is activated in radial growth melanoma, suggesting that further signaling events are required for vertical growth melanoma. The molecular events that accompany this transformation are not well understood. Akt, a signaling molecule downstream of PI3K, was introduced into the radial growth WM35 melanoma in order to test whether Akt overexpression is sufficient to accomplish this transformation. Overexpression of Akt led to upregulation of VEGF, increased production of superoxide ROS, and the switch to a more pronounced glycolytic metabolism. Subcutaneous implantation of WM35 cells overexpressing Akt led to rapidly growing tumors in vivo, while vector control cells did not form tumors. We demonstrated that Akt was associated with malignant transformation of melanoma through at least 2 mechanisms. First, Akt may stabilize cells with extensive mitochondrial DNA mutation, which can generate ROS. Second, Akt can induce expression of the ROS-generating enzyme NOX4. Akt thus serves as a molecular switch that increases angiogenesis and the generation of superoxide, fostering more aggressive tumor behavior. Targeting Akt and ROS may be of therapeutic importance in treatment of advanced melanoma.

Mitochondrial DNA G10398A Polymorphism and Invasive Breast Cancer in African-American Women

Mitochondria generate oxygen-derived free radicals that damage mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as well as nuclear DNA and in turn promote carcinogenesis. The mtDNA G10398A polymorphism alters the structure of Complex I in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, an important site of free radical production. This polymorphism is associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. We hypothesized that the 10398A allele is also associated with breast cancer susceptibility. African mitochondria harbor the 10398A allele less frequently than Caucasian mitochondria, which predominantly carry this allele. Mitochondrial genotypes at this locus were therefore determined in two separate populations of African-American women with invasive breast cancer and in controls. A preliminary study at Vanderbilt University (48 cases, 54 controls) uncovered an association between the 10398A allele and invasive breast cancer in African-American women, [odds ratio (OR), 2.90; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.61-18.3; P = 0.11]. We subsequently validated this finding in a large, population-based, case-control study of breast cancer, the Carolina Breast Cancer Study at the University of North Carolina (654 cases, 605 controls). African-American women in this study with the 10398A allele had a significantly increased risk of invasive breast cancer (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.10-2.31; P = 0.013). The 10398A allele remained an independent risk factor after adjustment for other well-accepted breast cancer risk factors. No association was detectable in white women (879 cases, 760 controls; OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.81-1.31; P = 0.81). This study provides novel epidemiologic evidence that the mtDNA 10398A allele influences breast cancer susceptibility in African-American women. mtDNA polymorphisms may be underappreciated factors in breast carcinogenesis.

Mitochondrial haplogroups and peripheral neuropathy during antiretroviral therapy: an adult AIDS clinical trials group study.

Objective:HIV nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) can cause peripheral neuropathy that is a result of mitochondrial injury. Polymorphisms in the mitochondrial genome define haplogroups that may have functional implications. The objective of this study was to determine if NRTI-associated peripheral neuropathy is associated with European mitochondrial haplogroups. Design:Case–control study of Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) study 384 and ACTG Human DNA Repository participants. Methods:ACTG study 384 was a treatment strategy trial of antiretroviral therapy with didanosine (ddI) plus stavudine (d4T) or zidovudine plus lamivudine given with efavirenz, nelfinavir, or both. Subjects were followed for up to 3 years. Peripheral neuropathy was ascertained based on signs and symptoms. For this analysis, polymorphisms that define European mitochondrial haplogroups were characterized in a majority of ACTG 384 participants, and associations with peripheral neuropathy were assessed using logistic regression. Results:A total of 509 subjects were included in this analysis of whom 250 (49%) were self-identified as white, non-Hispanic. Mitochondrial haplogroup T was more frequent in subjects who developed peripheral neuropathy. Among 137 white subjects randomized to receive ddI plus d4T, 20.8% of those who developed peripheral neuropathy belonged to mitochondrial haplogroup T compared to 4.5% of control subjects (odds ratio, 5.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–25.1; P = 0.009). Independent predictors of peripheral neuropathy were randomization to receive ddI plus d4T, older age, and mitochondrial haplogroup T. Conclusions:A common European mitochondrial haplogroup may predict NRTI-associated peripheral neuropathy. Future studies should validate this relationship, and evaluate non-European mitochondrial haplogroups and other NRTI toxicities.

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism A4917G is independently associated with age-related macular degeneration.

The objective of this study was to determine if MTND2*LHON4917G (4917G), a specific non-synonymous polymorphism in the mitochondrial genome previously associated with neurodegenerative phenotypes, is associated with increased risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A preliminary study of 393 individuals (293 cases and 100 controls) ascertained at Vanderbilt revealed an increased occurrence of 4917G in cases compared to controls (15.4% vs.9.0%, p = 0.11). Since there was a significant age difference between cases and controls in this initial analysis, we extended the study by selecting Caucasian pairs matched at the exact age at examination. From the 1547 individuals in the Vanderbilt/Duke AMD population association study (including 157 in the preliminary study), we were able to match 560 (280 cases and 280 unaffected) on exact age at examination. This study population was genotyped for 4917G plus specific AMD-associated nuclear genome polymorphisms in CFH, LOC387715 and ApoE. Following adjustment for the listed nuclear genome polymorphisms, 4917G independently predicts the presence of AMD (OR = 2.16, 95%CI 1.20–3.91, p = 0.01). In conclusion, a specific mitochondrial polymorphism previously implicated in other neurodegenerative phenotypes (4917G) appears to convey risk for AMD independent of recently discovered nuclear DNA polymorphisms.

Mitochondrial haplogroup H and Alzheimer's disease--is there a connection?

We evaluated the involvement of the major Caucasian-specific mitochondrial haplogroups (H, I, J, K, T, U, V, W and X), haplogroup clusters (HV, UK, TJ, IWX) and two functional mtSNPs (4216, 4917) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease (AD) in the Polish population. The frequency distribution of mtDNA haplogroups was non-randomly associated with APOE4 status (chi(2)=73.17, df=1, p<0.0001, OR=5.97, 95% CI 3.90-9.12), however, no haplogroup-specific neutralizing of the APOE4 allele influence was detected. Multivariate analysis suggested the opposite-APOE4 status could modulate the effect of mtDNA haplogroups. We found that HV cluster is significantly associated with the risk of AD, regardless of the APOE4 status (OR=1.59, 95% CI, 1.04-2.44, p=0.032). Contrary to the previous studies, we report no evidence for the involvement of haplogroup U, K, J or T in AD risk. We conclude that further analysis of subtypes of haplogroup H would be necessary to decipher the relation of HV cluster with AD.

Hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutations and peripheral neuropathy during antiretroviral therapy

Objective:Peripheral neuropathy (PN) often complicates nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) therapy of HIV infection and may involve mitochondrial dysfunction. Since iron deficiency is associated with some types of PN, and iron is essential for mitochondrial function, we tested the hypothesis that hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutations influence susceptibility to NRTI-induced PN. Design:Case-control study involving multicenter, AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) protocol 384 and ACTG Human DNA Repository specimens. Methods:Study participants were randomized to receive three- or four-drug antiretroviral therapy with didanosine (ddI) plus stavudine (d4T) or zidovudine plus lamivudine, given with efavirenz, nelfinavir, or both, with up to three years of follow-up. PN was ascertained based on signs and symptoms. HFE C282Y and H63D genotypes were determined, and associations with PN were assessed using logistic regression. Results:Of 509 participants, 147 (29%) developed PN, 73% of whom had been randomized to receive ddI plus d4T. Among ddI/d4T-ever-treated individuals, HFE C282Y heterozygotes developed PN on ddI/d4T significantly less often than C282Y non-carriers, adjusting for age, CD4 lymphocyte count and viral load at baseline, and concomitant antiretroviral drugs [6% vs. 35%, respectively, in whites; adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03-0.83; P = 0.021]. Regardless of race/ethnicity, ddI/d4T-associated PN was uncommon in C282Y heterozygotes [race-adjusted OR, 0.30; 95% CI 0.09–0.96); P = 0.042]. Conclusions:Iron-loading HFE mutations such as C282Y are associated with a decreased risk of PN during antiretroviral therapy. This finding has potential implications for the prediction and prevention of NRTI-associated PN, particularly in populations at risk of iron deficiency.

Hemochromatosis Gene Polymorphisms, Mitochondrial Haplogroups, and Peripheral Lipoatrophy during Antiretroviral Therapy

BACKGROUND Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-associated lipoatrophy involves mitochondrial dysfunction. Iron metabolism impacts mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. Mitochondrial haplogroups and hemochromatosis gene (HFE) polymorphisms have been associated with ART-induced neuropathy. We assessed relationships between these variants and lipoatrophy. METHODS The AIDS Clinical Trials Group 384 study randomized ART-naive individuals to receive didanosine-stavudine or zidovudine-lamivudine, combined with efavirenz and/or nelfinavir. Substudy A5005s evaluated fat distribution by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). We characterized HFE polymorphisms 845G>A and 187C>G and European mitochondrial haplogroups in A5005s participants who consented to genetic analyses. RESULTS Among 96 participants (58% were white, and 10% were female) with baseline and 48 or 64 week DEXA data, the median limb fat change was -8.8% (interquartile range, -28.7% to +15.6%). HFE 187C/G heterozygotes (n = 23) had less limb fat loss than 187C/C homozygotes (n = 71) (+6.1% vs. -12.5%; P = .02) and were less likely to develop lipoatrophy after adjustment for age, sex, race, and ART randomization (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.95; P = .04). Among non-Hispanic white participants, median limb fat change was +26.1% among 5 participants with mitochondrial haplogroup J, compared with -9.7% among 49 participants with other mitochondrial haplogroups (P = .07). CONCLUSIONS HFE 187C>G and, possibly, mitochondrial haplogroup J gave relative protection against lipoatrophy during ART in A5005s. These associations should be replicated in other studies.

Cyclosporine A suppresses keratinocyte cell death through MPTP inhibition in a model for skin cancer in organ transplant recipients

Transplant recipients have an elevated risk of skin cancer, with a 65- to 250-fold increase in squamous cell carcinoma. Usage of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CsA) is associated with the development of skin cancer. We hypothesized that the increased incidence of skin cancer was due to the action of CsA within keratinocyte mitochondria where it can inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening. Normally, MPTP opening is induced by oxidative stress such as that caused by UV light and leads to cell death, thereby eliminating a cell that has been exposed to genotoxic insult. However, in the presence of CsA, damaged cells may survive and consequently form tumors. To test this hypothesis, we treated keratinocytes with levels of CsA used therapeutically in transplant patients and assessed their viability following UVA-irradiation. CsA prevented cell death by inhibiting MPTP opening, even though the levels of oxidative stress were increased markedly. Nim811, a non-immunosuppressive drug that can block the MPTP had a similar effect while the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus that does not interact with the mitochondria had no effect. These findings suggest that CsA may promote skin cancer in transplant patients by allowing keratinocyte survival under conditions of increased genotoxic stress.

The mitochondrial pharmacogenomics of haplogroup T: MTND2*LHON4917G and antiretroviral therapy-associated peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) due to mitochondrial injury complicates HIV therapy with some nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Variation in the mitochondrial genome may influence susceptibility to NRTI toxicities. Two non-synonymous mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms, MTND1*LHON4216C (4216C) and MTND2*LHON4917G (4917G) were characterized in HIV-infected participants exposed to NRTIs in a randomized clinical trial. Among 250 self-identified white, non-Hispanic participants, symptomatic PN (⩾ grade 1) developed in 70 (28%). Both 4216C (odds ratio (OR)=1.98 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–3.75); P=0.04) and 4917G (OR=2.93 (95% CI 1.25–6.89); P=0.01) were more frequent in PN cases. These two polymorphisms remained independently associated with PN after adjusting for age, baseline CD4 count, plasma HIV RNA level, and NRTI randomization arm; 4216C (OR=2.0 (95% CI 1.1–4.0) P=0.04) and 4917G (OR=5.5 (95% CI 1.6–18.7) P<0.01). When 4917G individuals were excluded from the analysis, the association with 4216C was no longer seen. The mitochondrial 4917G polymorphism may increase susceptibility to NRTI-associated PN.

Mitochondrial transcription factor A variants and the risk of Parkinson's disease.

The mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) has been recently shown to decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. It is also known that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups might confer different coupling properties, resulting in different ROS levels. We hypothesized that potentially functional TFAM variants could influence PD risk depending on haplogroup background. To test this we assessed the role of six TFAM variants on PD risk in 326 PD patients and 316 controls, and correlated it with mtDNA haplogroup clusters (HV, JTKU and a putative functionally different group U4U5a1KJ1cJ2, connected previously with partial uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation). Both genotype and haplotype analysis showed that intronic variant rs2306604 modifies PD risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that rs2306604 G/G genotype is an independent risk factor for PD (OR 1.789, 95% CI 1.162-2.755, p=0.008). There was a borderline interaction between G/G genotype and HV haplogroup (p=0.075). Haplotype analysis showed that all three haplotypes containing rs2306604 allele A occurred at higher frequencies in controls, but only one of them reached statistical significance (chi(2) 4.523, p=0.0334). Conversely, four of five haplotypes containing allele G had higher frequencies in PD group, with no statistical significance.