Nicol Straková

Interaction of Dietary Fatty Acids with Tumour Necrosis Factor Family Cytokines during Colon Inflammation and Cancer

Intestinal homeostasis is precisely regulated by a number of endogenous regulatory molecules but significantly influenced by dietary compounds. Malfunction of this system may result in chronic inflammation and cancer. Dietary essential n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and short-chain fatty acid butyrate produced from fibre display anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. Both compounds were shown to modulate the production and activities of TNF family cytokines. Cytokines from the TNF family (TNF-α, TRAIL, and FasL) have potent inflammatory activities and can also regulate apoptosis, which plays an important role in cancer development. The results of our own research showed enhancement of apoptosis in colon cancer cells by a combination of either docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or butyrate with TNF family cytokines, especially by promotion of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and modulation of NFκB activity. This review is focused mainly on the interaction of dietary PUFAs and butyrate with these cytokines during colon inflammation and cancer development. We summarised recent knowledge about the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in such effects and outcomes for intestinal cell behaviour and pathologies. Finally, the possible application for the prevention and therapy of colon inflammation and cancer is also outlined.

Activation of autophagy and PPARγ protect colon cancer cells against apoptosis induced by interactive effects of butyrate and DHA in a cell type-dependent manner: The role of cell differentiation

The short-chain and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids exhibit anticancer properties, and they may mutually interact within the colon. However, the molecular mechanisms of their action in colon cancer cells are still not fully understood. Our study focused on the mechanisms responsible for the diverse effects of sodium butyrate (NaBt), in particular when interacting with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in distinct colon cancer cell types, in which NaBt either induces cell differentiation or activates programmed cell death involving mitochondrial pathway. NaBt activated autophagy both in HT-29 cells, which are sensitive to induction of differentiation, and in nondifferentiating HCT-116 cells. However, autophagy supported cell survival only in HT-29 cells. Combination of NaBt with DHA-promoted cell death, especially in HCT-116 cells and after longer time intervals. The inhibition of autophagy both attenuated differentiation and enhanced apoptosis in HT-29 cells treated with NaBt and DHA, but it had no effect in HCT-116 cells. NaBt, especially in combination with DHA, activated PPARγ in both cell types. PPARγ silencing decreased differentiation and increased apoptosis only in HT-29 cells, therefore we verified the role of caspases in apoptosis, differentiation and also PPARγ activity using a pan-caspase inhibitor. In summary, our data suggest that diverse responses of colon cancer cells to fatty acids may rely on their sensitivity to differentiation, which may in turn depend on distinct engagement of autophagy, caspases and PPARγ. These results contribute to understanding of mechanisms underlying differential effects of NaBt, when interacting with other dietary fatty acids, in colon cancer cells.

Automatic cell cloning assay for determining the clonogenic capacity of cancer and cancer stem-like cells

The clonogenic assay is a well‐established in vitro method for testing the survival and proliferative capability of cells. It can be used to determine the cytotoxic effects of various treatments including chemotherapeutics and ionizing radiation. However, this approach can also characterize cells with different phenotypes and biological properties, such as stem cells or cancer stem cells. In this study, we implemented a faster and more precise method for assessing the cloning efficiency of cancer stem‐like cells that were characterized and separated using a high‐speed cell sorter. Cell plating onto a microplate using an automatic cell deposition unit was performed in a single‐cell or dilution rank mode by the fluorescence‐activated cell sorting method. We tested the new automatic cell‐cloning assay (ACCA) on selected cancer cell lines and compared it with the manual approach. The obtained results were also compared with the results of the limiting dilution assay for different cell lines. We applied the ACCA to analyze the cloning capacity of different subpopulations of prostate and colon cancer cells based on the expression of the characteristic markers of stem (CD44 and CD133) and cancer stem cells (TROP‐2, CD49f, and CD44). Our results revealed that the novel ACCA is a straightforward approach for determining the clonogenic capacity of cancer stem‐like cells identified in both cell lines and patient samples.

Opposite regulation of MDM2 and MDMX expression in acquisition of mesenchymal phenotype in benign and cancer cells

Plasticity of cancer cells, manifested by transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, represents a challenging issue in the treatment of neoplasias. Both epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) are implicated in the processes of metastasis formation and acquisition of stem cell-like properties. Mouse double minute (MDM) 2 and MDMX are important players in cancer progression, as they act as regulators of p53, but their function in EMT and metastasis may be contradictory. Here, we show that the EMT phenotype in multiple cellular models and in clinical prostate and breast cancer samples is associated with a decrease in MDM2 and increase in MDMX expression. Modulation of EMT-accompanying changes in MDM2 expression in benign and transformed prostate epithelial cells influences their migration capacity and sensitivity to docetaxel. Analysis of putative mechanisms of MDM2 expression control demonstrates that in the context of defective p53 function, MDM2 expression is regulated by EMT-inducing transcription factors Slug and Twist. These results provide an alternative context-specific role of MDM2 in EMT, cell migration, metastasis, and therapy resistance.

Dietary fatty acids specifically modulate phospholipid pattern in colon cells with distinct differentiation capacities.

PurposeAlthough beneficial effects of the dietary n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or butyrate in colon carcinogenesis have been implicated, the mechanisms of their action are not fully clear. Here, we investigated modulations of composition of individual phospholipid (PL) classes, with a particular emphasis on cardiolipins (CLs), in colon cells treated with DHA, sodium butyrate (NaBt), or their combination (DHA/NaBt), and we evaluated possible associations between lipid changes and cell fate after fatty acid treatment.MethodsIn two distinct human colon cell models, foetal colon (FHC) and adenocarcinoma (HCT-116) cells, we compared patterns and composition of individual PL classes following the fatty acid treatment by HPLC-MS/MS. In parallel, we measured the parameters reflecting cell proliferation, differentiation and death.ResultsIn FHC cells, NaBt induced primarily differentiation, while co-treatment with DHA shifted their response towards cell death. In contrast, NaBt induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells, which was not further affected by DHA. DHA was incorporated in all main PL types, increasing their unsaturation, while NaBt did not additionally modulate these effects in either cell model. Nevertheless, we identified an unusually wide range of CL species to be highly increased by NaBt and particularly by DHA/NaBt, and these effects were more pronounced in HCT-116 cells. DHA and DHA/NaBt enhanced levels of high molecular weight and more unsaturated CL species, containing DHA, which was specific for either differentiation or apoptotic responses.ConclusionsWe identified a wide range of CL species in the colon cells which composition was significantly modified after DHA and NaBt treatment. These specific CL modulations might contribute to distinct cellular differentiation or apoptotic responses.

Butyrate and docosahexaenoic acid interact in alterations of specific lipid classes in differentiating colon cancer cells.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and sodium butyrate (NaBt) exhibit a number of interactive effects on colon cancer cell growth, differentiation, or apoptosis; however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these interactions and their impact on cellular lipidome are still not fully clear. Here, we show that both dietary agents together induce dynamic alterations of lipid metabolism, specific cellular lipid classes, and fatty acid composition. In HT‐29 cell line, a model of differentiating colon carcinoma cells, NaBt supported incorporation of free DHA into non‐polar lipids and their accumulation in cytoplasmic lipid droplets. DHA itself was not incorporated into sphingolipids; however, it significantly altered representation of individual ceramide (Cer) classes, in particular in combination with NaBt (DHA/NaBt). We observed altered expression of enzymes involved in Cer metabolism in cells treated with NaBt or DHA/NaBt, and exogenous Cer 16:0 was found to promote induction of apoptosis in differentiating HT‐29 cells. NaBt, together with DHA, increased n‐3 fatty acid synthesis and attenuated metabolism of monounsaturated fatty acids. Finally, DHA and/or NaBt altered expression of proteins involved in synthesis of fatty acids, including elongase 5, stearoyl CoA desaturase 1, or fatty acid synthase, with NaBt increasing expression of caveolin‐1 and CD36 transporter, which may further promote DHA incorporation and its impact on cellular lipidome. In conclusion, our results indicate that interactions of DHA and NaBt exert complex changes in cellular lipidome, which may contribute to the alterations of colon cancer cell differentiation/apoptotic responses. The present data extend our knowledge about the nature of interactive effects of dietary fatty acids.

Synthesis and profiling of a novel potent selective inhibitor of CHK1 kinase possessing unusual N-trifluoromethylpyrazole pharmacophore resistant to metabolic N-dealkylation

Checkpoint-mediated dependency of tumor cells can be deployed to selectively kill them without substantial toxicity to normal cells. Specifically, loss of CHK1, a serine threonine kinase involved in the surveillance of the G2–M checkpoint in the presence of replication stress inflicted by DNA-damaging drugs, has been reported to dramatically influence the viability of tumor cells. CHK1′s pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability offers attractive opportunity for increasing the selectivity, effectivity, and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy. Some recently identified CHK1 inhibitors entered clinical trials in combination with DNA antimetabolites. Herein, we report synthesis and profiling of MU380, a nontrivial analogue of clinically profiled compound SCH900776 possessing the highly unusual N-trifluoromethylpyrazole motif, which was envisioned not to undergo metabolic oxidative dealkylation and thereby provide greater robustness to the compound. MU380 is a selective and potent inhibitor of CHK1 which sensitizes a variety of tumor cell lines to hydroxyurea or gemcitabine up to 10 times. MU380 shows extended inhibitory effects in cells, and unlike SCH900776, does not undergo in vivo N-dealkylation to the significantly less selective metabolite. Compared with SCH900776, MU380 in combination with GEM causes higher accumulation of DNA damage in tumor cells and subsequent enhanced cell death, and is more efficacious in the A2780 xenograft mouse model. Overall, MU380 represents a novel state-of-the-art CHK1 inhibitor with high potency, selectivity, and improved metabolic robustness to oxidative N-dealkylation. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(9); 1831–42. ©2017 AACR.