The Nitric Oxide Donor [Zn(PipNONO)Cl] Exhibits Antitumor Activity through Inhibition of Epithelial and Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions.
Valerio CicconeArianna FilippelliChiara BacchellaEnrico MonzaniLucia MorbidelliPublished in: Cancers (2022)
Exogenous nitric oxide appears a promising therapeutic approach to control cancer progression. Previously, a nickel-based nonoate, [Ni(SalPipNONO)], inhibited lung cancer cells, along with impairment of angiogenesis. The Zn(II) containing derivatives [Zn(PipNONO)Cl] exhibited a protective effect on vascular endothelium. Here, we have evaluated the antitumor properties of [Zn(PipNONO)Cl] in human lung cancer (A549) and melanoma (A375) cells. Metastasis initiates with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, consisting of the acquisition of invasive and migratory properties by tumor cells. At not cytotoxic levels, the nonoate significantly impaired A549 and A375 EMT induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Reduction of the mesenchymal marker vimentin, upregulated by TGF-β1, and restoration of the epithelial marker E-cadherin, reduced by TGF-β1, were detected in both tumor cell lines in the presence of Zn-nonoate. Further, the endothelial-mesenchymal transition achieved in a tumor-endothelial cell co-culture was assessed. Endothelial cells co-cultured with A549 or A375 acquired a mesenchymal phenotype with increased vimentin, alpha smooth muscle actin and Smad2/3, and reduced VE-cadherin. The presence of [Zn(PipNONO)Cl] maintained a typical endothelial phenotype. In conclusion, [Zn(PipNONO)Cl] appears a promising therapeutic tool to control tumor growth and metastasis, by acting on both tumor and endothelial cells, reprogramming the cells toward their physiologic phenotypes.
Keyphrases
- endothelial cells
- transforming growth factor
- epithelial mesenchymal transition
- nitric oxide
- heavy metals
- high glucose
- bone marrow
- stem cells
- induced apoptosis
- signaling pathway
- vascular endothelial growth factor
- smooth muscle
- cell cycle arrest
- hydrogen peroxide
- young adults
- gold nanoparticles
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- nitric oxide synthase
- squamous cell carcinoma
- cell proliferation
- metal organic framework
- carbon nanotubes
- squamous cell
- cell adhesion