The Role of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase as a Potential Target of Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Jiang X
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6562911 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundResistin, adipocyte-secreting adipokine, may play critical role in modulating cancer pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of resistin on HCC adhesion to the endothelium, and the mechanism underlying these resistin effects.MethodsHuman SK-Hep1 cells were used to study the effect of resistin on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expressions as well as NF-?B activation, and hence cell adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-?-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, was used to determine the regulatory role of AMPK on HCC adhesion to the endothelium in regard to the resistin effects.ResultsTreatment with resistin increased the adhesion of SK-Hep1 cells to HUVECs and concomitantly induced NF-?B activation, as well as ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions in SK-Hep1 cells. Using specific blocking antibodies and siRNAs, we found that resistin-induced SK-Hep1 cell adhesion to HUVECs was through NF-?B-regulated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions. Moreover, treatment with AICAR demonstrated that AMPK activation in SK-Hep1 cells significantly attenuates the resistin effect on SK-Hep1 cell adhesion to HUVECs.ConclusionsThese results clarify the role of resistin in inducing HCC adhesion to the endothelium and demonstrate the inhibitory effect of AMPK activation under the resistin stimulation. Our findings provide a notion that resistin play an important role to promote HCC metastasis and implicate AMPK may be a therapeutic target to against HCC metastasis.
| S-EPMC3936704 | biostudies-literature
Project description:To improve the outcome of cancer chemotherapy, strategies to enhance the efficacy of anticancer drugs are required. Sorafenib is the only drug to prolong overall survival of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, the outcome is still not satisfactory. Retinoids, vitamin A derivatives, have been known to exhibit inhibitory effects on various cancers including HCC. In this study, we investigated the effects of combined treatment using sorafenib and retinoids including all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), NIK-333, and Am80 on HCC cells. Cell viability assays in six HCC cell lines, HepG2, PLC/PRF/5, HuH6, HLE, HLF, and Hep3B, revealed that 5 and 10 ?M ATRA, concentrations that do not exert cytotoxic effects, enhanced the cytotoxicity of sorafenib, being much more effective than NIK-333 and Am80. We found that ATRA induced AMP-activated protein kinase activation, which was followed by reduced intracellular ATP level. Gene expression analysis revealed that ATRA decreased the expression of glycolytic genes such as GLUT-1 and LDHA. In the combination treatment using ATRA and sorafenib, increased apoptosis, followed by the activation of p38 MAPK and JNK, the upregulation and translocation of Bax to mitochondria, and the activation of caspase-3, was observed. Suppression of AMP-activated protein kinase by siRNA restored the viability of the cells treated with ATRA and sorafenib. Our results thus indicate that ATRA is useful for enhancing the cytotoxicity of sorafenib against HCC cells by regulating the energy metabolism of HCC cells.
| S-EPMC4452157 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Depletion of cellular energy activates the AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) to favor energy-producing catabolic processes during tumorigenesis. Using a panel of in vitro cell lines and resected tumors, we investigated the therapeutic value of manipulating AMPK in prostate cancer (PC). Phospho-AMPK expression was significantly elevated in human PC cells and clinical PC samples. In clinical PC, we observed a trend for increasing phospho-AMPK with increasing Gleason sum score; Phospho-AMPK expression was associated with phospho-ACC (p=0.0023). Using the paired PC3 and PC3M cells to model progressive androgen-independent PC, treatment with either 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) or A-769662 suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion in both cell lines, and down-regulated mTOR and P70S6Ki levels regardless of the Akt status. Involvement of AMPK was confirmed by Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) and siRNA-mediated AMPK silencing. Despite similar functional responses in PC3 and PC3M cells, AMPK activation resulted in sustained phospho-Akt activation in PC3M cells, but not in PC3 cells. This prompted the addition of the PI3K inhibitor LY-294002 to AICAR treatment of PC3M cells in a proliferation assay. Interestingly, we found no synergistic effects upon combined treatment. Collectively, these findings support AMPK as a potential therapeutic target independent of PI3K/Akt signalling.
| S-EPMC4284621 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Mutations in human N-glycanase 1 (NGLY1) cause the first known congenital disorder of deglycosylation (CDDG). Patients with this rare disease, which is also known as NGLY1 deficiency, exhibit global developmental delay and other phenotypes including neuropathy, movement disorder, and constipation. NGLY1 is known to regulate proteasomal and mitophagy gene expression through activation of a transcription factor called "nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 1" (NFE2L1). Loss of NGLY1 has also been shown to impair energy metabolism, but the molecular basis for this phenotype and its in vivo consequences are not well understood. Using a combination of genetic studies, imaging, and biochemical assays, here we report that loss of NGLY1 in the visceral muscle of the Drosophila larval intestine results in a severe reduction in the level of AMP-activated protein kinase ? (AMPK?), leading to energy metabolism defects, impaired gut peristalsis, failure to empty the gut, and animal lethality. Ngly1-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts and NGLY1 deficiency patient fibroblasts also show reduced AMPK? levels. Moreover, pharmacological activation of AMPK signaling significantly suppressed the energy metabolism defects in these cells. Importantly, the reduced AMPK? level and impaired energy metabolism observed in NGLY1 deficiency models are not caused by the loss of NFE2L1 activity. Taken together, these observations identify reduced AMPK signaling as a conserved mediator of energy metabolism defects in NGLY1 deficiency and suggest AMPK signaling as a therapeutic target in this disease.
| S-EPMC7769621 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of energy homeostasis under conditions of energy stress. Though heart is one of the most energy requiring organs and depends on a perfect match of energy supply with high and fluctuating energy demand to maintain its contractile performance, the role of AMPK in this organ is still not entirely clear, in particular in a non-pathological setting. In this work, we characterized cardiomyocyte-specific, inducible AMPKα1 and α2 knockout mice (KO), where KO was induced at the age of 8 weeks, and assessed their phenotype under physiological conditions. In the heart of KO mice, both AMPKα isoforms were strongly reduced and thus deleted in a large part of cardiomyocytes already 2 weeks after tamoxifen administration, persisting during the entire study period. AMPK KO had no effect on heart function at baseline, but alterations were observed under increased workload induced by dobutamine stress, consistent with lower endurance exercise capacity observed in AMPK KO mice. AMPKα deletion also induced a decrease in basal metabolic rate (oxygen uptake, energy expenditure) together with a trend to lower locomotor activity of AMPK KO mice 12 months after tamoxifen administration. Loss of AMPK resulted in multiple alterations of cardiac mitochondria: reduced respiration with complex I substrates as measured in isolated mitochondria, reduced activity of complexes I and IV, and a shift in mitochondrial cristae morphology from lamellar to mixed lamellar-tubular. A strong tendency to diminished ATP and glycogen level was observed in older animals, 1 year after tamoxifen administration. Our study suggests important roles of cardiac AMPK at increased cardiac workload, potentially limiting exercise performance. This is at least partially due to impaired mitochondrial function and bioenergetics which degrades with age.
| S-EPMC8558539 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of mouse ventricular tissue comparing WT control mice with mice invalidated (KO) for AMPK-alpha 2 gene. Goal was to identify new biological targets of AMPK in heart, through a global gene expression approach.
2015-02-24 | GSE18843 | GEO
Project description:BACKGROUND:Activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an attractive approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. AMPK activation reduces glucose levels in animal models of type 2 diabetes by increasing glucose uptake in skeletal muscles and reducing hepatic glucose production. Furthermore, AMPK activation ameliorates hepatic steatosis in animal models. For the clinical development of AMPK activators it is essential to have a reliable target engagement marker for appropriate dose finding and to support proof of clinical principle. While the activation of AMPK by quantification of the phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr172 in target tissues can be assessed pre-clinically, this is not feasible in clinical studies. Therefore, we attempted to identify and translate a peripheral target engagement biomarker downstream of AMPK activation for clinical use in blood samples. METHODS:For pharmacological activation of AMPK, two AMPK activators were synthesized (compound 1 and 2). A compound with structural similarities but no pharmacological effect on AMPK phosphorylation was synthesized as negative control (compound 3). Whole blood from healthy volunteers was incubated with an AMPK activator for up to 6 hours and mRNA sequencing was performed. Additionally, human PBMCs were isolated to evaluate Thr172-phosphorylation of AMPK in Western blots. In order to enable identification of translatable biomarker candidates, blood samples from HanWistar rats treated for two weeks with an AMPK activator were also subjected to mRNA sequencing. Furthermore, concentration-response curves for four biomarker candidates were recorded in human blood samples using Nanostring nCounter technology. Finally, ZDF rats were treated with increasing doses of compound 2 for five weeks to investigate the glucose-lowering efficacy. To investigate changes of mRNA expression of two selected biomarker candidates in this ZDF rat study, qRT-PCR was performed. RESULTS:Pharmacological activation of AMPK in human PBMCs revealed an increase in Thr172-phosphorylation of AMPK, confirming target engagement in these blood cells. RNA sequencing of human blood samples identified 608 deregulated genes after AMPK activation. Additionally, AMPK activation led to deregulation of 367 genes in whole blood from HanWistar rats which mapped to the respective human genes. 22 genes out of the intersection of genes deregulated in both species are proposed as potential translatable target engagement biomarker candidates. The most prominent genes were transmembrane glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB, osteoactivin), calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9), peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGLYRP1) and Ras homolog gene family, member B (RHOB). Specificity for AMPK was shown by testing inactive compound 3 in HanWistar rats. The exposure-effect relationship for GPNMB was investigated in a subchronic study in diabetic ZDF rats. GPNMB showed a dose-dependent up-regulation both acutely and after subchronic dosing. GPNMB up-regulation correlated with an increased Thr172-phosphorylation of AMPK in liver and quadriceps muscle in rats. CONCLUSION:GPNMB has been identified as a translatable target engagement biomarker for use in clinical studies.
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Project description:Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are transforming the treatment of patients with malignancies. One such agent, sunitinib (Sutent, Pfizer), has demonstrated activity against a variety of solid tumors. Sunitinib is "multi-targeted," inhibiting growth factor receptors that regulate both tumor angiogenesis and tumor cell survival. However cardiac dysfunction has been associated with its use. Identification of the target of sunitinib associated cardiac dysfunction could guide future drug design to reduce toxicity while preserving anti-cancer activity. Herein we identify severe mitochondrial structural abnormalities in the heart of a patient with sunitinib-induced heart failure. In cultured cardiomyocytes, sunitinib induces loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and energy rundown. Despite the latter, AMPK activity, which should be increased in the setting of energy compromise, is reduced in hearts of sunitinib-treated mice and cardiomyocytes in culture and this is due to direct inhibition of AMPK by sunitinib. Critically, we find that adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of an actived mutant of AMPK reduces sunitinib-induced cell death. Our findings suggest AMPK inhibition plays a central role in sunitinib cardiomyocyte toxicity, highlighting the potential of off-target effects of TKIs contributing to cardiotoxicity. While multi-targeting can enhance tumor cell killing, this must be balanced against the potential increased risk of cardiac dysfunction.
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Project description:Obesity is now a widespread disorder, and its prevalence has become a critical concern worldwide, due to its association with common co-morbidities like cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ and therefore plays a critical role in the survival of an individual, but its dysfunction or excess is directly linked to obesity. The journey from multipotent mesenchymal stem cells to the formation of mature adipocytes is a well-orchestrated program which requires the expression of several genes, their transcriptional factors, and signaling intermediates from numerous pathways. Understanding all the intricacies of adipogenesis is vital if we are to counter the current epidemic of obesity because the limited understanding of these intricacies is the main barrier to the development of potent therapeutic strategies against obesity. In particular, AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) plays a crucial role in regulating adipogenesis - it is arguably the central cellular energy regulation protein of the body. Since AMPK promotes the development of brown adipose tissue over that of white adipose tissue, special attention has been given to its role in adipose tissue development in recent years. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms involved in adipogenesis, the role of signaling pathways and the substantial role of activated AMPK in the inhibition of adiposity, concluding with observations which will support the development of novel chemotherapies against obesity epidemics.
| S-EPMC7226927 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. HCC treatment is hindered by the frequent emergence of chemoresistance to the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib, which has been related to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that self-renew and often escape therapy. The key metabolic sensor AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) has recently been recognized as a tumour growth regulator. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of AMPK in the development of a stem cell phenotype in HCC cells. To this end, we enriched the CSC population in HCC cell lines that showed increased expression of drug resistance (ALDH1A1, ABCB1A) and stem cell (CD133, Nanog, Oct4, alpha fetoprotein) markers and demonstrated their stemness phenotype. These cells were refractory to sorafenib-induced cell death. We report that sorafenib-resistant cells had lower levels of total and phosphorylated AMPK as well as its downstream substrate, ACC, compared with the parental cells. Interestingly, AMPK knockdown with siRNA or inhibition with dorsomorphin increased the expression of stem cell markers in parental cells and blocked sorafenib-induced cell death. Conversely, the upregulation of AMPK, either by transfection or by pharmacological activation with A-769662, decreased the expression of ALDH1A1, ABCB1A, CD133, Nanog, Oct4, and alpha fetoprotein, and restored sensitivity to sorafenib. Analysis of the underlying mechanism points to hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α as a regulator of stemness. In vivo studies in a xenograft mouse model demonstrated that stem-like cells have greater tumourigenic capacity. AMPK activation reduced xenograft tumour growth and decreased the expression of stem cell markers. Taken together, these results indicate that AMPK may serve as a novel target to overcome chemoresistance in HCC.
| S-EPMC6487713 | biostudies-literature