Multiple studies indicate that iron chelators enhance their anti-cancer properties by inducing NDRG1, a known tumor and metastasis suppressor. However, the exact role of NDRG1 remains controversial, as newer studies have shown that NDRG1 can also act as an oncogene. Our group recently introduced mitochondrially targeted iron chelators deferoxamine (mitoDFO) and deferasirox (mitoDFX) as effective anti-cancer agents. In this study, we evaluated the ability of these modified chelators to induce NDRG1 and the role of NDRG1 in breast cancer. We demonstrated that both compounds specifically increase NDRG1 without inducing other NDRG family members. We have documented that the effect of mitochondrially targeted chelators is at least partially mediated by GSK3α/β, leading to phosphorylation of NDRG1 at Thr346 and to a lesser extent on Ser330. Loss of NDRG1 increases cell death induced by mitoDFX. Notably, MDA-MB-231 cells lacking NDRG1 exhibit reduced extracellular acidification rate and grow slower than parental cells, while the opposite is true for ER+ MCF7 cells. Moreover, overexpression of full-length NDRG1 and the N-terminally truncated isoform (59112) significantly reduced sensitivity towards mitoDFX in ER+ cells. Furthermore, cells overexpressing full-length NDRG1 exhibited a significantly accelerated tumor formation, while its N-terminally truncated isoforms showed significantly impaired capacity to form tumors. Thus, overexpression of full-length NDRG1 promotes tumor growth in highly aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.

• Klíčová slova
• GSK3α/β, NDRG1, breast cancer, mitoDFO, mitoDFX, mitochondrial iron chelation, oncogene, tumor suppressor,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The mitochondrion has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for novel cancer treatments because of its essential role in tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapy. Previously, we described a natural compound, 10-((2,5-dihydroxybenzoyl)oxy)decyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide (GA-TPP+C10), with a hydroquinone scaffold that selectively targets the mitochondria of breast cancer (BC) cells by binding to the triphenylphosphonium group as a chemical chaperone; however, the mechanism of action remains unclear. In this work, we showed that GA-TPP+C10 causes time-dependent complex inhibition of the mitochondrial bioenergetics of BC cells, characterized by (1) an initial phase of mitochondrial uptake with an uncoupling effect of oxidative phosphorylation, as previously reported, (2) inhibition of Complex I-dependent respiration, and (3) a late phase of mitochondrial accumulation with inhibition of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (αKGDHC) activity. These events led to cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and cell death at 24 and 48 h of exposure, and the cells were rescued by the addition of the cell-penetrating metabolic intermediates l-aspartic acid β-methyl ester (mAsp) and dimethyl α-ketoglutarate (dm-KG). In addition, this unexpected blocking of mitochondrial function triggered metabolic remodeling toward glycolysis, AMPK activation, increased expression of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (pgc1α) and electron transport chain (ETC) component-related genes encoded by mitochondrial DNA and downregulation of the uncoupling proteins ucp3 and ucp4, suggesting an AMPK-dependent prosurvival adaptive response in cancer cells. Consistent with this finding, we showed that inhibition of mitochondrial translation with doxycycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that inhibits the 28 S subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome, in the presence of GA-TPP+C10 significantly reduces the mt-CO1 and VDAC protein levels and the FCCP-stimulated maximal electron flux and promotes selective and synergistic cytotoxic effects on BC cells at 24 h of treatment. Based on our results, we propose that this combined strategy based on blockage of the adaptive response induced by mitochondrial bioenergetic inhibition may have therapeutic relevance in BC.

• Klíčová slova
• decyl polyhydroxybenzoate triphenylphosphonium derivatives, doxycycline, inhibition of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, inhibition of the electron transport chain, mitochondrial ribosome inhibition, mitochondrially targeted,
• MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• doxycyklin farmakologie   MeSH
• gentisáty chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• heterocyklické sloučeniny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• ketoglutarátdehydrogenasový komplex antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   MeSH
• kinasy AMP aktivovaných proteinkinas MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• nádory prsu farmakoterapie   genetika   patologie   MeSH
• organofosforové sloučeniny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• oxidativní fosforylace účinky léků   MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• proteinkinasy genetika   MeSH
• proteosyntéza účinky léků   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• ribozomy účinky léků   MeSH
• synergismus léků MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• doxycyklin MeSH
• gentisáty MeSH
• heterocyklické sloučeniny MeSH
• ketoglutarátdehydrogenasový komplex MeSH
• kinasy AMP aktivovaných proteinkinas MeSH
• organofosforové sloučeniny MeSH
• proteinkinasy MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH
• tris(o-phenylenedioxy)cyclotriphosphazene MeSH Prohlížeč

Cellular senescence is a form of cell cycle arrest that limits the proliferative potential of cells, including tumour cells. However, inability of immune cells to subsequently eliminate senescent cells from the organism may lead to tissue damage, inflammation, enhanced carcinogenesis and development of age-related diseases. We found that the anticancer agent mitochondria-targeted tamoxifen (MitoTam), unlike conventional anticancer agents, kills cancer cells without inducing senescence in vitro and in vivo. Surprisingly, it also selectively eliminates both malignant and non-cancerous senescent cells. In naturally aged mice treated with MitoTam for 4 weeks, we observed a significant decrease of senescence markers in all tested organs compared to non-treated animals. Mechanistically, we found that the susceptibility of senescent cells to MitoTam is linked to a very low expression level of adenine nucleotide translocase-2 (ANT2), inherent to the senescent phenotype. Restoration of ANT2 in senescent cells resulted in resistance to MitoTam, while its downregulation in non-senescent cells promoted their MitoTam-triggered elimination. Our study documents a novel, translationally intriguing role for an anticancer agent targeting mitochondria, that may result in a new strategy for the treatment of age-related diseases and senescence-associated pathologies.

• MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   genetika   MeSH
• genový knockdown MeSH
• hormonální protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• MFC-7 buňky MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední NOD MeSH
• myši SCID MeSH
• myši transgenní MeSH
• myši MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• stárnutí buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• tamoxifen farmakologie   MeSH
• transfekce MeSH
• translokátor adeninových nukleotidů 2 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   genetika   MeSH
• xenogenní modely - testy protinádorové aktivity MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hormonální protinádorové látky MeSH
• tamoxifen MeSH
• translokátor adeninových nukleotidů 2 MeSH

AIMS: Expression of the HER2 oncogene in breast cancer is associated with resistance to treatment, and Her2 may regulate bioenergetics. Therefore, we investigated whether disruption of the electron transport chain (ETC) is a viable strategy to eliminate Her2high disease. RESULTS: We demonstrate that Her2high cells and tumors have increased assembly of respiratory supercomplexes (SCs) and increased complex I-driven respiration in vitro and in vivo. They are also highly sensitive to MitoTam, a novel mitochondrial-targeted derivative of tamoxifen. Unlike tamoxifen, MitoTam efficiently suppresses experimental Her2high tumors without systemic toxicity. Mechanistically, MitoTam inhibits complex I-driven respiration and disrupts respiratory SCs in Her2high background in vitro and in vivo, leading to elevated reactive oxygen species production and cell death. Intriguingly, higher sensitivity of Her2high cells to MitoTam is dependent on the mitochondrial fraction of Her2. INNOVATION: Oncogenes such as HER2 can restructure ETC, creating a previously unrecognized therapeutic vulnerability exploitable by SC-disrupting agents such as MitoTam. CONCLUSION: We propose that the ETC is a suitable therapeutic target in Her2high disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 26, 84-103.

• Klíčová slova
• HER2, breast cancer, mitochondria, mitochondrially targeted tamoxifen, respirasome,
• MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• buněčná smrt účinky léků   MeSH
• buněčné dýchání účinky léků   MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie MeSH
• elektronový transportní řetězec antagonisté a inhibitory   chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• inhibiční koncentrace 50 MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární konformace MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory prsu farmakoterapie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• protinádorové látky chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• receptor erbB-2 antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• respirační komplex I antagonisté a inhibitory   chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• tamoxifen farmakologie   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH
• elektronový transportní řetězec MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku MeSH
• receptor erbB-2 MeSH
• respirační komplex I MeSH
• tamoxifen MeSH

Respiratory complex II (CII, succinate dehydrogenase, SDH) inhibition can induce cell death, but the mechanistic details need clarification. To elucidate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation upon the ubiquinone-binding (Qp) site blockade, we substituted CII subunit C (SDHC) residues lining the Qp site by site-directed mutagenesis. Cell lines carrying these mutations were characterized on the bases of CII activity and exposed to Qp site inhibitors MitoVES, thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) and Atpenin A5. We found that I56F and S68A SDHC variants, which support succinate-mediated respiration and maintain low intracellular succinate, were less efficiently inhibited by MitoVES than the wild-type (WT) variant. Importantly, associated ROS generation and cell death induction was also impaired, and cell death in the WT cells was malonate and catalase sensitive. In contrast, the S68A variant was much more susceptible to TTFA inhibition than the I56F variant or the WT CII, which was again reflected by enhanced ROS formation and increased malonate- and catalase-sensitive cell death induction. The R72C variant that accumulates intracellular succinate due to compromised CII activity was resistant to MitoVES and TTFA treatment and did not increase ROS, even though TTFA efficiently generated ROS at low succinate in mitochondria isolated from R72C cells. Similarly, the high-affinity Qp site inhibitor Atpenin A5 rapidly increased intracellular succinate in WT cells but did not induce ROS or cell death, unlike MitoVES and TTFA that upregulated succinate only moderately. These results demonstrate that cell death initiation upon CII inhibition depends on ROS and that the extent of cell death correlates with the potency of inhibition at the Qp site unless intracellular succinate is high. In addition, this validates the Qp site of CII as a target for cell death induction with relevance to cancer therapy.

• MeSH
• buněčná smrt fyziologie   MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• mutageneze cílená MeSH
• respirační komplex II chemie   genetika   metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• ubichinon chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• vazebná místa MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• respirační komplex II MeSH
• respiratory complex II MeSH Prohlížeč
• ubichinon MeSH