Specific cellular microenvironments for spatiotemporal regulation of StAR and steroid synthesis.

For many years, research in the field of steroid synthesis has aimed to understand the regulation of the rate-limiting step of steroid synthesis, i.e. the transport of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane, and identify the protein involved in the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone. The extraordinary work by B Clark, J Wells, S R King, and D M Stocco eventually identified this protein and named it steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). The group's finding was also one of the milestones in understanding the mechanism of nonvesicular lipid transport between organelles. A notable feature of StAR is its high degree of phosphorylation. In fact, StAR phosphorylation in the acute phase is required for full steroid biosynthesis. As a contribution to this subject, our work has led to the characterization of StAR as a substrate of kinases and phosphatases and as an integral part of a mitochondrion-associated multiprotein complex, essential for StAR function and cholesterol binding and mitochondrial transport to yield maximum steroid production. Results allow us to postulate the existence of a specific cellular microenvironment where StAR protein synthesis and activation, along with steroid synthesis and secretion, are performed in a compartmentalized manner, at the site of hormone receptor stimulation, and involving the compartmentalized formation of the steroid molecule-synthesizing complex.

Exposure to anticancer drugs modulates the expression of ACSL4 and ABCG2 proteins in adrenocortical carcinoma cells.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and malignant disease, with more than 50 % of patients developing hormone-secreting tumors. These tumors are genetically heterogeneous and potentially lethal, as metastasis is often underway at the time of diagnosis. While chemoresistance can be multifactorial, Acyl CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4) is known to contribute to the generation of highly aggressive cellular phenotypes, while increased expression and activity of multidrug transporters such as ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) are known to play a key role. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine changes in the expression of ACSL4 and ABCG2 in ACC cell lines after exposure to antitumor drugs. Bioinformatics analysis of public database GSE140818 revealed higher ACSL4 and ABCG2 expression in HAC15 cells resistant to mitotane when compared to wild type cells. In addition, our studies revealed an increase in ACSL4 and ABCG2 expression in lowly aggressive H295R cells undergoing early treatment with non-lethal concentrations of mitotane, doxorubicin and cisplatin. Comparable results were obtained in lowly aggressive breast cancer cells MCF-7. The increase in ACSL4 and ABCG2 expression favored tumor cell viability, proliferation and compound efflux, an effect partially offset by ACSL4 and ABCG2 inhibitors. These results provide relevant data on the undesired molecular effects of antitumor drugs and may fuel future studies on patients' early response to antitumor treatment.

Acyl-CoA synthetase-4 is implicated in drug resistance in breast cancer cell lines involving the regulation of energy-dependent transporter expression.

Acyl-CoA synthetase-4 (ACSL4) is an enzyme implicated in estrogen receptor α (ERα) negative regulation and hormone therapy resistance in breast cancer. In addition, ACSL4 has been associated to certain types of hormone resistance in prostate cancer. Chemotherapeutic treatment of disseminated breast cancer is usually faced with therapy resistance associated to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter expression, which detect and eject anti-cancer drugs from cells. In this context, the aim of the present work was to study the role of ACSL4 in anti-cancer drug resistance and the involvement of ABC transporters in the underlying mechanisms. To this end, we used MCF-7 Tet-Off/ACSL4 and MDA-MB-231 mock cells, which overexpress ACSL4, and control line MCF-7 Tet-Off empty vector, MDA-MB-231 shRNA ACSL4 and MDA-MB-231 wild type cells. Assays were conducted on cell viability (MTT), cell proliferation (BrdU), drug efflux (flow cytometry), ACSL4-responsive drug resistance ABC transporter genes (RNA-Seq), transporter mRNA expression, protein levels and signaling pathway participation (real-time PCR and Western blot). Higher survival rates upon chemotherapeutic treatment were obtained in MCF-7 Tet-Off/ACSL4 and MDA-MB-231 mock cells, an effect counteracted by doxycycline- or shRNA-induced ACSL4 inhibition, respectively. A synergic effect of ACSL4 inhibitor triacsin C and chemotherapeutic drugs was observed on the inhibition of MDA-MB-231 wild type cell proliferation. MCF-7 Tet-Off/ACSL4 cells showed greater doxorubicin, Hoechst 33342 and calcein AM efflux. In contrast, MDA-MB-231 shRNA ACSL4 cells evidenced inhibition of chemotherapeutic drug efflux. ABCG2, ABCC4, and ABCC8 were identified as ACSL4-responsive drug resistance genes whose expression was increased in MCF-7 Tet-Off/ACSL4 cells but inhibited in MDA-MB-231 shRNA ACSL4 cells. Further cell survival assays in the presence of Ko 143 and Ceefourin 1, inhibitors of ABCG2 and ABCC4, respectively, upon chemotherapeutic treatment showed greater participation of ABCG2 in anti-cancer drug resistance in cells overexpressing ACSL4. In addition, ACSL4 inhibition and chemotherapeutic treatment combined with rapamycin-induced mTOR inhibition synergically inhibited proliferation and reduced ABCG2 expression in cells overexpressing ACSL4. In sum, ACSL4 may be regarded as a novel therapeutic target regulating the expression of transporters involved in anticancer drug resistance through the mTOR pathway to restore drug sensitivity in tumors with poor prognosis for disease-free and overall survival.

Sulfates are main targets of immune responses to cruzipain and are involved in heart damage in BALB/c immunized mice.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease contains a major cysteine proteinase, cruzipain (Cz), with an unusual carboxyl-terminal extension (C-T). We have previously reported the presence of sulfate groups in the N-linked oligosaccharide chains of this domain. In order to evaluate the immune responses to sulfated moieties on Cz, BALB/c mice were immunized with purified Cz and C-T prior and after desulfation treatment. The humoral immune response to sulfates on Cz or C-T was mainly IgG2b. Interestingly, the abolishment of IgG2b reactivity when desulfated antigens were used as immunogens demonstrates that esterified sulfate groups are absolutely required for eliciting IgG2b response to Cz. Sera from chronically T. cruzi-infected subjects with mild disease displayed higher levels of total IgG and IgG2 antibodies specific for sulfated epitopes compared with those in more severe forms of the disease. A significant reduction of C-T-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in C-T-immunized mice was observed when desulfated C-T was challenged, suggesting the involvement of sulfate groups in the generation of memory T-cell responses. Moreover, immunization with C-T in the absence of infection elicited ultrastructural abnormalities in heart tissue. Surprisingly, hearts from sulfate-depleted C-T-immunized mice did not present pathological alterations. This is the first report showing that sulfate-bearing glycoproteins from trypanosomatids are able to elicit specific humoral and cellular immune responses and appeared to be involved in the generation of heart tissue damage. These results represent a further step in the understanding of the role of Cz in the course of T. cruzi infection.