Salvatore Condello

Epigenetic targeting of ovarian cancer stem cells

Emerging results indicate that cancer stem-like cells contribute to chemoresistance and poor clinical outcomes in many cancers, including ovarian cancer. As epigenetic regulators play a major role in the control of normal stem cell differentiation, epigenetics may offer a useful arena to develop strategies to target cancer stem-like cells. Epigenetic aberrations, especially DNA methylation, silence tumor-suppressor and differentiation-associated genes that regulate the survival of ovarian cancer stem-like cells (OCSC). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that DNA-hypomethylating agents may be able to reset OCSC toward a differentiated phenotype by evaluating the effects of the new DNA methytransferase inhibitor SGI-110 on OCSC phenotype, as defined by expression of the cancer stem-like marker aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). We demonstrated that ALDH(+) ovarian cancer cells possess multiple stem cell characteristics, were highly chemoresistant, and were enriched in xenografts residual after platinum therapy. Low-dose SGI-110 reduced the stem-like properties of ALDH(+) cells, including their tumor-initiating capacity, resensitized these OCSCs to platinum, and induced reexpression of differentiation-associated genes. Maintenance treatment with SGI-110 after carboplatin inhibited OCSC growth, causing global tumor hypomethylation and decreased tumor progression. Our work offers preclinical evidence that epigenome-targeting strategies have the potential to delay tumor progression by reprogramming residual cancer stem-like cells. Furthermore, the results suggest that SGI-110 might be administered in combination with platinum to prevent the development of recurrent and chemoresistant ovarian cancer.

β-Catenin-regulated ALDH1A1 is a target in ovarian cancer spheroids

Cancer cells form three-dimensional (3D) multicellular aggregates (or spheroids) under non-adherent culture conditions. In ovarian cancer (OC), spheroids serve as a vehicle for cancer cell dissemination in the peritoneal cavity, protecting cells from environmental stress-induced anoikis. To identify new targetable molecules in OC spheroids, we investigated gene expression profiles and networks upregulated in 3D vs traditional monolayer culture conditions. We identified ALDH1A1, a cancer stem cell marker as being overexpressed in OC spheroids and directly connected to key elements of the β-catenin pathway. β-Catenin function and ALDH1A1 expression were increased in OC spheroids vs monolayers and in successive spheroid generations, suggesting that 3D aggregates are enriched in cells with stem cell characteristics. β-Catenin knockdown decreased ALDH1A1 expression levels and β-catenin co-immunoprecipitated with the ALDH1A1 promoter, suggesting that ALDH1A1 is a direct β-catenin target. Both short interfering RNA-mediated β-catenin knockdown and A37 ((ethyl-2-((4-oxo-3-(3-(pryrrolidin-1-yl)propyl)-3,4-dihydrobenzo [4,5]thioeno [3,2-d]pyrimidin-2-yl)thio)acetate)), a novel ALDH1A1 small-molecule enzymatic inhibitor described here for the first time, disrupted OC spheroid formation and cell viability (P<0.001). β-Catenin knockdown blocked tumor growth and peritoneal metastasis in an OC xenograft model. These data strongly support the role of β-catenin-regulated ALDH1A1 in the maintenance of OC spheroids and propose new ALDH1A1 inhibitors targeting this cell population.

Agmatine effects on mitochondrial membrane potential andNF‐κB activation protect against rotenone‐induced cell damage in human neuronal‐like SH‐SY5Y cells

J. Neurochem. (2011) 116, 67–75.

Oxidative stress induced by crude venom from the jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca in neuronal-like differentiated SH-SY5Y cells

Marine toxins are a suitable research model and their mechanism of action is intriguing and still under debate. Either a pore formation mechanism or oxidative stress phenomena may explain the damage induced by toxins. The effect of crude venom from isolated nematocysts of the jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca on neuronal-like cells derived from human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y has been here studied. To prove the possible oxidative stress events, cell viability, assessed by MTT quantitative colorimetric assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantified by the non-fluorescent probe H2DCF-DA and changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) measured by the incorporation of a cationic fluorescent dye rhodamine-123 were verified on venom-treated cells (0.05-0.5μg/ml doses). A dose- and time-dependent reduction of all parameters was observed after venom treatment. NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), antioxidant applied before crude venom application, significantly counteracted the decrease in cell viability and ROS production, while ΔΨm was only partially restored. The disruption of mitochondrial membrane by P. noctiluca crude venom may thus induce oxidative stress by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration and uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation, sensitizing mitochondria in SH-SY5H cells and facilitating membrane permeability. In sum, our findings suggest that P. noctiluca crude venom directly induces ΔΨm collapse with further generation of ROS and add novel information to the understanding of such toxins, still not completely clarified.

Screening for C677T and A1298C MTHFR polymorphisms in patients with epilepsy and risk of hyperhomocysteinemia.

Hyperhomocysteinemia can result from decreased methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme activity, owing to genetic polymorphisms and/or inadequate folate intake. This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of C677T and A1298C MTHFR polymorphisms, and their impact on hyperhomocysteinemia in 95 epileptic patients and 98 controls. Double gradient-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis screening revealed that the frequency of T677 polymorphic allele was similar between cases and controls (46.3% vs 42.3%), whereas that of C1298 allele was significantly higher in patients (30.5% vs 19.4%, p<0.05). Significant differences between the two groups were also found for the frequencies of genotypes AA1298 (46.3% in cases vs 67.3% in controls, p<0.01) and AC1298 (46.3% in cases vs 26.6% in controls, p<0.01). Other genotype frequencies did not show any statistically significant differences. Haplotype frequencies significantly differed between the two groups. The CT677/AC1298 diplotype was significantly more frequent in epileptic patients than in controls (32.6% vs 18.4%, p<0.05). Patients treated with enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs, having this diplotype and concomitant low folate concentration (i.e., <3.4 nmol/L), exhibited plasma homocysteine levels significantly higher than normal values (27.1±2.44 µmol/L, p<0.001). This increase, however, was lower than that observed in folate-deficient patients with diplotype TT677/AA1298 (41.3±3.41 µmol/L, p<0.001). Indeed, these two diplotypes could be regarded as risk factors for hyperhomocysteinemia. Conversely, we found that the CC677/AA1298 diplotype was significantly more frequentin controls (p<0.01), suggesting a protective role. Our study suggests that both C677T and A1298C MTHFR polymorphisms should be examined when assessing genetic risk factors of hyperhomocysteinemia in epilepsy.

Modulation of heat shock protein response in SH-SY5Y by mobile phone microwaves.

AIM To investigate putative biological damage caused by GSM mobile phone frequencies by assessing electromagnetic fields during mobile phone working. METHODS Neuron-like cells, obtained by retinoic-acid-induced differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, were exposed for 2 h and 4 h to microwaves at 1800 MHz frequency bands. RESULTS Cell stress response was evaluated by MTT assay as well as changes in the heat shock protein expression (Hsp20, Hsp27 and Hsp70) and caspase-3 activity levels, as biomarkers of apoptotic pathway. Under our experimental conditions, neither cell viability nor Hsp27 expression nor caspase-3 activity was significantly changed. Interestingly, a significant decrease in Hsp20 expression was observed at both times of exposure, whereas Hsp70 levels were significantly increased only after 4 h exposure. CONCLUSION The modulation of the expression of Hsps in neuronal cells can be an early response to radiofrequency microwaves.

Monitoring of transglutaminase2 under different oxidative stress conditions

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a multifunctional calcium-dependent enzyme which catalyzes the post-translational protein crosslinking with formation of intra- or inter-molecular epsilon(gamma-glutamyl)lysine bonds or polyamine incorporation. The up-regulation and activation of TG2 have been reported in a variety of physiological events, including cell differentiation, signal transduction, apoptosis, and wound healing, as well as in cell response to stress evoked by different internal and external stimuli. Here we review TG2 role in cell response to redox state imbalance both under physiological and pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative disorders, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cataractogenesis, in which oxidative stress plays a pathogenetic role and also accelerates disease progression. The increase in TG activity together with mitochondrial impairment and collapse of antioxidant enzymatic cell defences have been reported to be the prominent biochemical alterations becoming evident prior to neurodegeneration. Moreover, oxidative stress-induced TG2 pathway is involved in autophagy inhibition and aggresome formation, and TG2 has been suggested to function as a link between oxidative stress and inflammation by driving the decision as to whether a protein should undergo SUMO-mediated regulation or proteasomal degradation. Literature data suggest a strong association between oxidative stress and TG2 up-regulation, which in turn may result in cell survival or apoptosis, depending on cell type, kind of stressor, duration of insult, as well as TG2 intracellular localization and activity state. In particular, it may be suggested that TG2 plays a pro-survival role when the alteration of cell redox state homeostasis is not associated with intracellular calcium increase triggering TG2 transamidation activity.

Effects of low intensity static magnetic field on FTIR spectra and ROS production in SH-SY5Y neuronal-like cells

Biological effects of man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been studied so far by experimental approaches exposing animals and cell cultures to EMFs. However, the evidence for cell toxicity induced by static magnetic field (SMF) is still uncertain. We investigated the effects produced by the exposure of human SH-SY5Y neuronal-like cells to a uniform magnetic field at intensities of 2.2 mT, which is less than the recommended public exposure limits set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). A decrease of membrane mitochondrial potential up to 30% was measured after 24 h of exposure to SMF in SH-SY5Y cells, and this effect was associated with reactive oxygen species production increase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that exposure to a static magnetic intensity around 2.2 mT changed the secondary structure of cellular proteins and lipid components. The vibration bands relative to the methylene group increased significantly after 4 h of exposure, whereas further exposure up to 24 h produced evident shifts of amide I and II modes and a relative increase in β-sheet contents with respect to α-helix components. Our study demonstrated that a moderate SMF causes alteration in cell homeostasis, as indicated by FTIR spectroscopy observations of changes in protein structures that are part of cell response to magnetic field exposure.

NF-kappaB activation is associated with homocysteine-induced injury in Neuro2a cells

BackgroundPerinatal exposure to hyperhomocysteinemia might disturb neurogenesis during brain development and growth. Also, high levels of homocysteine trigger neurodegeneration in several experimental models. However, the putative mechanisms of homocysteine-induced toxicity in the developing nervous system have poorly been elucidated. This study was aimed to investigate homocysteine effects in undifferentiated neuroblastoma cells, Neuro2a.ResultsA 4 h exposure to homocysteine in a concentration range of 10–100 μM did not affect cell viability and ROS production in Neuro2a cell cultures. Instead, ROS levels were increased by two-three folds in cells treated with 250 μM and 500 μM homocysteine, respectively, in comparison with control cells. Also, the highest homocysteine dose significantly reduced the viable cell number by 40%. Notably, the treatment with homocysteine (250 μM–500 μM) in the presence of antioxidants, such as N-acetylcysteine and IRFI 016, a synthetic α-tocopherol analogue, recovered cell viability and significantly reduced homocysteine-evoked increases in ROS production. Moreover, antioxidants, particularly IRFI 016, were able to counteract NF-κB activation induced by 250 μM homocysteine.Cell treatment with 250 μM homocysteine also triggered the onset of apoptosis, as demonstrated by the increased expression of early apoptotic markers such as Bax, caspase-3 and p53. In contrast, Bcl2 expression was not affected by homocysteine exposure. Interestingly, the specific inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation by the synthetic peptide SN50 was able to almost completely suppress the homocysteine-evoked rises in pro-apoptotic protein expression as well as in caspase-3 activity. Further, also IRFI 016 and N-acetylcysteine were able to significantly reduce caspase-3 activation induced by homocysteine treatment.ConclusionThese observations suggest an involvement of redox state alterations and activated NF-κB in apoptosis onset triggered by homocysteine in neuroblastoma cells Neuro2a. However, further investigations are needed to characterize molecular events involved in the NF-κB activation induced by homocysteine.

Tissue transglutaminase regulates β-catenin signaling through a c-Src-dependent mechanism

Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) is a multifunctional enzyme involved in protein cross‐linking and cell adhesion to fibronectin (FN). In cancer, TG2 induces an epithelial to mesenchymal transition, contributing to metastasis. Because cadherins bind β‐catenin at cell‐cell junctions, disruption of adherens junctions destabilizes cadherin‐catenin complexes. The goal of the present study was to analyze whether and how TG2 interacts with and regulates β‐catenin signaling in ovarian cancer (OC) cells. We observed a significant correlation between TG2 and β‐catenin expression levels in OC cells and tumors. TG2 augmented Wnt/P‐catenin signaling, as evidenced by enhanced β‐catenin transcriptional activity, inducing transcription of target genes cyclin D1 and c‐Myc. By promoting integrin‐mediated cell adhesion to FN, TG2 physically associates with and recruits c‐Src, which in turn phosphorylates β‐catenin at Tyr654, releasing it from E‐cadherin and rendering it available for transcriptional regulation. By interacting with FN and enhancing β‐catenin signaling, complexed TG2 stimulates OC cell proliferation. In summary, our data demonstrate that TG2 regulates β‐catenin expression and function in OC cells and define the c‐Src‐dependent mechanism through which this occurs.—Condello, S., Cao, L., Matei, D., Tissue transglutaminase regulates β‐catenin signaling through a c‐Src‐dependent mechanism. FASEB J. 27, 3100–3112 (2013). www.fasebj.org