Role of HIF-1 and NRF2 in Pancreatic Cancer1: Comparison
View Latest Version
Please note this is a comparison between Version 2 by Conner Chen and Version 1 by Atsushi Masamune.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 and KEAP1-NRF2, stress response mechanisms for hypoxia and oxidative stress, respectively, contribute to the aggressive behaviors of pancreatic cancer. These key molecules for stress response mechanisms are activated, both in pancreatic cancer cells and in pancreatic stellate cells. Both factors are involved in the mutual activation of cancer cells and stellate cells, by inducing cancer-promoting signals and their mediators. Therapeutic interventions targeting these pathways are promising approaches for novel therapies.

  • HIF-1
  • KEAP1
  • NRF2

1. Dense Fibrotic Stroma in Pancreatic Cancer

Dense fibrotic stroma, known as desmoplasia, is a characteristic feature of pancreatic cancer [5][1]. Desmoplasia develops through the interactions between pancreatic cancer cells and stromal cells, including pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) [6][2]. PSCs play critical roles in the development of pancreatic fibrosis by producing extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as collagen and fibronectin [6][2]. Interaction between cancer cells and PSCs enhances the malignant potential of pancreatic cancer cells, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [7][3] and cancer stem cell-related marker expression [8][4]. Due to the limited formation of an efficient vascular network, dense stroma forms harsh tumor microenvironments for pancreatic cancer cells and PSCs, characterized by hypoxia, few nutrients, oxidative stress, and acidic extracellular pH [13,14][5][6]. ECM proteins such as fibronectin and laminin stimulated ROS production in cancer cells, leading to an increase of oxidative stress [18][7]. Different concentrations of ROS exert biphasic biological effects on cancer progression [19,20][8][9]. Activation of multiple signaling pathways by adequate levels of ROS promotes cancer progression via EMT induction and growth promotion. However, a higher level of ROS triggers cell death via apoptosis, necrosis, and ferroptosis. This severe microenvironment gives continuous stresses to both pancreatic cancer cells and PSCs. Pancreatic cancer cells as well as PSCs survive in the harsh microenvironments through the altered expression of signaling molecules, transporters, and metabolic enzymes governed by various stress response mechanisms. Several stress response mechanisms enable adaptation to the microenvironment and cancer cell survival. Hypoxia and oxidative stress are two major stressors that directly lead to cell death. The adaptation mechanisms for these conditions have been studied, and the central regulators of hypoxia and oxidative stress responses have been identified: hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and NRF2, respectively [22,23][10][11]. These mechanisms also yield growth advantages, metabolic reprogramming, and malignant phenotypes of cancer cells. Furthermore, these mechanisms play pivotal roles in PSCs, contributing to the formation of a cancer-promoting microenvironment. 

2. Effects of Hypoxia on Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Hypoxia affects metabolism, cellular phenotype, grouwth factor production and expression of regulatory molecule in cancer cells. Glucose-deprived hypoxic conditions induce glucose transporters and the angiogenic factor VEGF in pancreatic cancer cells [30][12]. Another study that identified transcriptional induction of hepatocyte growth factor activator by HIF-1 led to the activation of the hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met signaling pathway and invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells [31][13]. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) plays a pivotal role in angioinvasion to establish distant metastasis. The promoter region of the uPAR gene contains a HIF-1 binding site, and hypoxic treatment upregulated uPAR expression and the invasive capacity of pancreatic cancer cells [32][14]. Hypoxia-induced repression of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity was mediated by pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 in pancreatic cancer cells [35][15]. This metabolic reprogramming led to glycolysis dependence, and knockdown of HIF-1α or pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 restored pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and repressed xenografted tumor growth in immunodeficient mice, suggesting a contribution of pyruvate dehydrogenase repression in pancreatic cancer progression [35][15]. Hypoxia-induced HIF-1 activation affected the migratory ability of cancer cells. Treatment of human pancreatic cancer cells with hypoxia changed cellular morphology as spindle-like cells with less cell-to-cell adhesion, compatible to EMT [36][16]. Along with the HIF-1α accumulation, the EMT-inducing transcriptional factor TWIST expression was observed. Knockdown of HIF-1α led to the loss of TWIST induction and EMT induction by hypoxia. Hypoxia induced pro-fibrogenic factors such as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) via HIF-1. CTGF plays a pivotal role in renal fibrosis and skin fibrosis [37,38][17][18]. CTGF protected pancreatic cancer cells from hypoxia-mediated apoptosis [39][19]. CTGF also contributed to gemcitabine-resistant phenotype in cancer cells [40][20]. Furthermore, HIF-1 mediated immune evasion and enhanced cancer stem cell properties and autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells [41][21]. In addition to these conventional growth factors and signaling molecules, hypoxia also affects the expression of microRNAs such as miR-21 and miR-210 [42,43][22][23].  Elevated expression of miR-210 was associated with poor survival of patients with pancreatic cancer, suggesting its cancer-promoting role [45][24]. In addition to hypoxia, PSCs by themselves induced miR-210 expression in pancreatic cancer cells [46][25]. Inhibition of miR-210 in pancreatic cancer cells suppressed PSC-induced EMT, suggesting a role of miR-210 in the cancer-promoting interactions between PSCs and cancer cells. MiR-21 regulated migration, invasion, and chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells [47][26]. The cancer-promoting miR-21 expression was also increased by hypoxia in a HIF-1α-dependent manner [42][22]. 

3. Effects of Hypoxia on PSCs

Hypoxia also affects the cellular functions of PSCs. Hypoxia induced migration, type I collagen production, and VEGF production in PSCs [50][27]. Conditioned media of PSCs increased the tube formation on Matrigel in vitro and directed vessel formation in nude mice in vivo. [50][27]. ECM proteins, such as periostin, deposits around the capillaries of pancreatic cancer, and hypoxia increased periostin expression in PSCs [51][28]. Similarly, hypoxia-treated PSCs secreted significant amounts of CTGF, which promoted the invasive potential of pancreatic cancer cells [52][29]. Knockdown of CTGF by RNA interference blunted this effect. CTGF expression was observed in PSCs within surgically resected pancreatic cancer tissue, along with the marker of hypoxia, carbonic anhydrase 9 [52][29]. Hypoxia altered the ECM fiber organization produced by PSCs. A gelatin-based 3D matrix culture enabled the recapitulation of cell-free 3D matrices produced by PSCs. Hypoxia altered ECM fiber organization as a parallel pattern of fibronectin, which promoted the directional migration of pancreatic cancer cells [53][30]. Despite the cancer-promoting roles of PSCs, other types of cells, such as islet cells, are damaged by PSCs. A previous study showed that PSCs reduced insulin expression and induced β-cell apoptosis [54][31]. Diphenylene iodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of PSC activation, protected islet cells in WBN/Kob rats, an experimental model of chronic pancreatitis [54][31]. Hypoxia-activated PSCs increased β-cell death via elevated ROS production in PSCs [55][32]. Interestingly, hypoxia also affects the cancer-suppressing effects of PSCs. PSCs produce lumican, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, which inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth via EGFR reduction and reduction of Akt activity [56][33]. Expression of stromal lumican was correlated with reduced metastatic recurrence and longer survival [56][33]. Hypoxia repressed lumican production from PSCs through the increased autophagic flux supported by HIF-1α and activation of AMP-regulated protein kinase. Reduction of lumican production was reversed by autophagy inhibition [57][34]. The hypoxic microenvironment itself recruited macrophages by chemical chemokines 2 production, which activated PSCs [58][35]. Chemical chemokines 2 derived from hypoxic cancer cells recruited macrophages, and these macrophages increased αSMA expression in PSCs. Compared to cancer cells, hypoxia-regulated microRNAs are few in PSCs. Hypoxia increased miR-4465 and miR-616-3p in PSCs, leading to increased proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells via exosomal transmission [59][36]. These effects were mediated by PTEN reduction, which was a direct target of miR-4465 and miR-616-3p [59][36]. 

4. Effects of NRF2 Activation in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

NRF2 activation contributes to malignant phenotype of pancreatic cancer cells. The human pancreatic cancer cell line MIAPaCa-2 was exposed to low-dose gemcitabine for 6 months, and a gemcitabine-resistant cell line was established. This cell line showed increased intracellular ROS and NRF2 accumulation and elevated the expression of NRF2 target genes [69][37]. NRF2 knockdown by RNA interference sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine, suggesting that NRF2 activation is essential for acquiring resistance. Crosstalk between NRF2 and other cancer-promoting signals also contributes to the malignant phenotype. The inducer of EMT, transforming growth factor-β1 signaling, was attenuated by knockdown of NRF2 in pancreatic cancer cells [70][38]. PanIN lesions of surgically resected human pancreas tissue showed increased expression of nuclear NRF2 and decreased expression of E-cadherin, compared to normal pancreatic duct epithelium [70][38]. Accumulation of p62 also activated NRF2 in pancreatic cancer, leading to accelerated carcinogenesis. Pancreas-specific mutant K-ras expression and deletion of IκB kinase α promoted pancreatic cancer by increasing inflammation. The inflamed pancreatic parenchyma revealed p62 accumulation, and the deletion of p62 attenuated cancer progression [71][39]. The major oncogene K-ras, frequently mutated in pancreatic cancer, also activated Nrf2. Pancreas-specific expression of K-ras, together with other oncogenic B-raf mutations or Myc overexpression, resulted in the activation of Nrf2, which reduced intracellular ROS and increased cellular proliferation [72][40]. Introduction of Nrf2-null background into the KPC mouse, a pancreatic cancer model driven by pancreas-specific mutant K-ras/p53 expression [73][41], delayed pancreatic cancer development via the attenuation of mRNA translation [74][42]. In this study, pancreatic organoids from KPC mice and Nrf2-null KPC mice were established, and Nrf2-null organoids showed vulnerability to AKT inhibition. Another study compared the development of precancerous lesions, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm (PanIN), and progression to invasive cancer between KPC mice and Nrf2-null KPC mice [75][43]. 

5. Oxidative Stress and PSC Activation

In addition to hypoxia, oxidative stress activates PSCs. Stimulation of isolated PSCs with inducers of oxidative stress, such hydrogen peroxide, activated multiple signaling pathways [81][44]. This treatment increased collagen production, thereby promoting fibrosis. The key components of the ROS-producing enzyme NADPH oxidase were expressed in PSCs. DPI treatment attenuated platelet-derived growth factor-BB, interleulin-1β, and angiotensin II-induced ROS production, leading to the inhibition of PSC activation [82][45]. A wide variety of stimuli increase oxidative stress in PSCs, leading to their activation. Oxidative stress-inducing treatments such as ethanol, acetaldehyde, and high glucose activated PSCs [83[46][47],84], which were blocked by N-acetylcysteine treatment, suggesting that ROS plays a central role in PSC activation. Another free radical scavenger, edaravone, decreased inflammatory cytokine production and PSC activation in a dibutylin dichloride-induced chronic pancreatitis rat model [85][48]. PSCs also affected the oxidative stress response of cancer cells. PSC-derived interleukin-6 and stromal-derived factor-1 α activated NRF2 in pancreatic cancer cells, leading to increased proliferation and ROS detoxification [86][49]. These lines of evidence suggested that oxidative stress responses in PSCs substantially contribute to cancer progression. In a previous study, a global Nrf2 knockout was introduced into KPC mice [75][43]. The Nrf2-null KPC mouse also lacked Nrf2 in PSCs. There were less stromal cells surrounding PanINs in Nrf2-null KPC mice, suggesting attenuation of the cancer-promoting effects of PSCs. Indeed, PSCs isolated from Nrf2-null mice showed less proliferation, migration, and activation by serum stimulation [87][50]. Nrf2-null PSC-derived conditioned medium did not increase cancer cell proliferation in vivo. Furthermore, co-injection of Nrf2-null PSCs with cancer cells into the dorsal flank of immunodeficient mice failed to increase subcutaneous tumor size, compared to wild-type PSCs. 

References

  1. Masamune, A.; Shimosegawa, T. Pancreatic stellate cells: A dynamic player of the intercellular communication in pancreatic cancer. Clin. Res. Hepatol. Gastroenterol. 2015, 39, S98–S103.
  2. Erkan, M.; Adler, G.; Apte, M.V.; Bachem, M.G.; Buchholz, M.; Detlefsen, S.; Esposito, I.; Friess, H.; Gress, T.M.; Habisch, H.J.; et al. StellaTUM: Current consensus and discussion on pancreatic stellate cell research. Gut 2012, 61, 172–178.
  3. Kikuta, K.; Masamune, A.; Watanabe, T.; Ariga, H.; Itoh, H.; Hamada, S.; Satoh, K.; Egawa, S.; Unno, M.; Shimosegawa, T. Pancreatic stellate cells promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2010, 403, 380–384.
  4. Hamada, S.; Masamune, A.; Takikawa, T.; Suzuki, N.; Kikuta, K.; Hirota, M.; Hamada, H.; Kobune, M.; Satoh, K.; Shimosegawa, T. Pancreatic stellate cells enhance stem cell-like phenotypes in pancreatic cancer cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2012, 421, 349–354.
  5. Guillaumond, F.; Iovanna, J.L.; Vasseur, S. Pancreatic tumor cell metabolism: Focus on glycolysis and its connected metabolic pathways. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 2014, 545, 69–73.
  6. Carvalho, T.M.A.; Di Molfetta, D.; Greco, M.R.; Koltai, T.; Alfarouk, K.O.; Reshkin, S.J.; Cardone, R.A. Tumor microenvironment features and chemoresistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Insights into targeting physicochemical barriers and metabolism as therapeutic approaches. Cancers 2021, 13, 6135.
  7. Edderkaoui, M.; Hong, P.; Vaquero, E.; Lee, J.; Fischer, L.; Friess, H.; Buchler, M.; Lerch, M.; Pandol, S.J.; Gukovskaya, A. Extracellular matrix stimulates reactive oxygen species production and increases pancreatic cancer cell survival through 5-lipoxygenase and NADPH oxidase. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 2005, 289, G1137–G1147.
  8. Wang, Y.; Qi, H.; Liu, Y.; Duan, C.; Liu, X.; Xia, T.; Chen, D.; Piao, H.L.; Liu, H.X. The double-edged roles of ROS in cancer prevention and therapy. Theranostics 2021, 11, 4839–4857.
  9. Zhang, L.; Li, J.; Zong, L.; Chen, X.; Chen, K.; Jiang, Z.; Nan, L.; Li, X.; Li, W.; Shan, T.; et al. Reactive oxygen species and targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev. 2016, 2016, 1616781.
  10. Infantino, V.; Santarsiero, A.; Convertini, P.; Todisco, S.; Iacobazzi, V. Cancer cell metabolism in hypoxia: Role of HIF-1 as key regulator and therapeutic target. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 5703.
  11. Baird, L.; Yamamoto, M. The molecular mechanisms regulating the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway. Mol. Cell Biol. 2020, 40, e00099-20.
  12. Natsuizaka, M.; Ozasa, M.; Darmanin, S.; Miyamoto, M.; Kondo, S.; Kamada, S.; Shindoh, M.; Higashino, F.; Suhara, W.; Koide, H.; et al. Synergistic up-regulation of Hexokinase-2, glucose transporters and angiogenic factors in pancreatic cancer cells by glucose deprivation and hypoxia. Exp. Cell Res. 2007, 313, 3337–3348.
  13. Kitajima, Y.; Ide, T.; Ohtsuka, T.; Miyazaki, K. Induction of hepatocyte growth factor activator gene expression under hypoxia activates the hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met system via hypoxia inducible factor-1 in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Sci. 2008, 99, 1341–1347.
  14. Buchler, P.; Reber, H.A.; Tomlinson, J.S.; Hankinson, O.; Kallifatidis, G.; Friess, H.; Herr, I.; Hines, O.J. Transcriptional regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor by hypoxia-inducible factor 1 is crucial for invasion of pancreatic and liver cancer. Neoplasia 2009, 11, 196–206.
  15. Golias, T.; Papandreou, I.; Sun, R.; Kumar, B.; Brown, N.V.; Swanson, B.J.; Pai, R.; Jaitin, D.; Le, Q.T.; Teknos, T.N.; et al. Hypoxic repression of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity is necessary for metabolic reprogramming and growth of model tumours. Sci. Rep. 2016, 6, 31146.
  16. Chen, S.; Chen, J.Z.; Zhang, J.Q.; Chen, H.X.; Yan, M.L.; Huang, L.; Tian, Y.F.; Chen, Y.L.; Wang, Y.D. Hypoxia induces TWIST-activated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in nude mice. Cancer Lett. 2016, 383, 73–84.
  17. Higgins, D.F.; Biju, M.P.; Akai, Y.; Wutz, A.; Johnson, R.S.; Haase, V.H. Hypoxic induction of Ctgf is directly mediated by Hif-1. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 2004, 287, F1223–F1232.
  18. Hong, K.H.; Yoo, S.A.; Kang, S.S.; Choi, J.J.; Kim, W.U.; Cho, C.S. Hypoxia induces expression of connective tissue growth factor in scleroderma skin fibroblasts. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2006, 146, 362–370.
  19. Bennewith, K.L.; Huang, X.; Ham, C.M.; Graves, E.E.; Erler, J.T.; Kambham, N.; Feazell, J.; Yang, G.P.; Koong, A.; Giaccia, A.J. The role of tumor cell-derived connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) in pancreatic tumor growth. Cancer Res. 2009, 69, 775–784.
  20. Maity, G.; Ghosh, A.; Gupta, V.; Haque, I.; Sarkar, S.; Das, A.; Dhar, K.; Bhavanasi, S.; Gunewardena, S.S.; Von Hoff, D.D.; et al. CYR61/CCN1 regulates dCK and CTGF and causes gemcitabine-resistant phenotype in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mol. Cancer Ther. 2019, 18, 788–800.
  21. Jin, X.; Dai, L.; Ma, Y.; Wang, J.; Liu, Z. Implications of HIF-1alpha in the tumorigenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Cell Int. 2020, 20, 273.
  22. Mace, T.A.; Collins, A.L.; Wojcik, S.E.; Croce, C.M.; Lesinski, G.B.; Bloomston, M. Hypoxia induces the overexpression of microRNA-21 in pancreatic cancer cells. J. Surg. Res. 2013, 184, 855–860.
  23. Greco, S.; Martelli, F. MicroRNAs in hypoxia response. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 2014, 21, 1164–1166.
  24. Greither, T.; Grochola, L.F.; Udelnow, A.; Lautenschlager, C.; Wurl, P.; Taubert, H. Elevated expression of microRNAs 155, 203, 210 and 222 in pancreatic tumors is associated with poorer survival. Int. J. Cancer 2010, 126, 73–80.
  25. Takikawa, T.; Masamune, A.; Hamada, S.; Nakano, E.; Yoshida, N.; Shimosegawa, T. miR-210 regulates the interaction between pancreatic cancer cells and stellate cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2013, 437, 433–439.
  26. Giovannetti, E.; Funel, N.; Peters, G.J.; Del Chiaro, M.; Erozenci, L.A.; Vasile, E.; Leon, L.G.; Pollina, L.E.; Groen, A.; Falcone, A.; et al. MicroRNA-21 in pancreatic cancer: Correlation with clinical outcome and pharmacologic aspects underlying its role in the modulation of gemcitabine activity. Cancer Res. 2010, 70, 4528–4538.
  27. Masamune, A.; Kikuta, K.; Watanabe, T.; Satoh, K.; Hirota, M.; Shimosegawa, T. Hypoxia stimulates pancreatic stellate cells to induce fibrosis and angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 2008, 295, G709–G717.
  28. Erkan, M.; Reiser-Erkan, C.; Michalski, C.W.; Deucker, S.; Sauliunaite, D.; Streit, S.; Esposito, I.; Friess, H.; Kleeff, J. Cancer-stellate cell interactions perpetuate the hypoxia-fibrosis cycle in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Neoplasia 2009, 11, 497–508.
  29. Eguchi, D.; Ikenaga, N.; Ohuchida, K.; Kozono, S.; Cui, L.; Fujiwara, K.; Fujino, M.; Ohtsuka, T.; Mizumoto, K.; Tanaka, M. Hypoxia enhances the interaction between pancreatic stellate cells and cancer cells via increased secretion of connective tissue growth factor. J. Surg. Res. 2013, 181, 225–233.
  30. Sada, M.; Ohuchida, K.; Horioka, K.; Okumura, T.; Moriyama, T.; Miyasaka, Y.; Ohtsuka, T.; Mizumoto, K.; Oda, Y.; Nakamura, M. Hypoxic stellate cells of pancreatic cancer stroma regulate extracellular matrix fiber organization and cancer cell motility. Cancer Lett. 2016, 372, 210–218.
  31. Kikuta, K.; Masamune, A.; Hamada, S.; Takikawa, T.; Nakano, E.; Shimosegawa, T. Pancreatic stellate cells reduce insulin expression and induce apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2013, 433, 292–297.
  32. Kim, J.J.; Lee, E.; Ryu, G.R.; Ko, S.H.; Ahn, Y.B.; Song, K.H. Hypoxia increases beta-cell death by activating pancreatic stellate cells within the islet. Diabetes Metab. J. 2020, 44, 919–927.
  33. Li, X.; Truty, M.A.; Kang, Y.; Chopin-Laly, X.; Zhang, R.; Roife, D.; Chatterjee, D.; Lin, E.; Thomas, R.M.; Wang, H.; et al. Extracellular lumican inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth and is associated with prolonged survival after surgery. Clin. Cancer Res. 2014, 20, 6529–6540.
  34. Li, X.; Lee, Y.; Kang, Y.; Dai, B.; Perez, M.R.; Pratt, M.; Koay, E.J.; Kim, M.; Brekken, R.A.; Fleming, J.B. Hypoxia-induced autophagy of stellate cells inhibits expression and secretion of lumican into microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cell Death Differ. 2019, 26, 382–393.
  35. Li, N.; Li, Y.; Li, Z.; Huang, C.; Yang, Y.; Lang, M.; Cao, J.; Jiang, W.; Xu, Y.; Dong, J.; et al. Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) recruits macrophage to activate pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17, 799.
  36. Cao, W.; Zeng, Z.; He, Z.; Lei, S. Hypoxic pancreatic stellate cell-derived exosomal mirnas promote proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer through the PTEN/AKT pathway. Aging 2021, 13, 7120–7132.
  37. Ju, H.Q.; Gocho, T.; Aguilar, M.; Wu, M.; Zhuang, Z.N.; Fu, J.; Yanaga, K.; Huang, P.; Chiao, P.J. Mechanisms of overcoming intrinsic resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through the redox modulation. Mol. Cancer Ther. 2015, 14, 788–798.
  38. Arfmann-Knubel, S.; Struck, B.; Genrich, G.; Helm, O.; Sipos, B.; Sebens, S.; Schafer, H. The crosstalk between Nrf2 and TGF-beta1 in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of pancreatic duct epithelial cells. PLoS ONE 2015, 10, e0132978.
  39. Todoric, J.; Antonucci, L.; Di Caro, G.; Li, N.; Wu, X.; Lytle, N.K.; Dhar, D.; Banerjee, S.; Fagman, J.B.; Browne, C.D.; et al. Stress-activated NRF2-MDM2 cascade controls neoplastic progression in pancreas. Cancer Cell 2017, 32, 824–839 e8.
  40. DeNicola, G.M.; Karreth, F.A.; Humpton, T.J.; Gopinathan, A.; Wei, C.; Frese, K.; Mangal, D.; Yu, K.H.; Yeo, C.J.; Calhoun, E.S.; et al. Oncogene-induced Nrf2 transcription promotes ROS detoxification and tumorigenesis. Nature 2011, 475, 106–109.
  41. Hingorani, S.R.; Wang, L.; Multani, A.S.; Combs, C.; Deramaudt, T.B.; Hruban, R.H.; Rustgi, A.K.; Chang, S.; Tuveson, D.A. Trp53R172H and KrasG12D cooperate to promote chromosomal instability and widely metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in mice. Cancer Cell 2005, 7, 469–483.
  42. Chio, I.I.C.; Jafarnejad, S.M.; Ponz-Sarvise, M.; Park, Y.; Rivera, K.; Palm, W.; Wilson, J.; Sangar, V.; Hao, Y.; Ohlund, D.; et al. NRF2 promotes tumor maintenance by modulating mRNA translation in pancreatic cancer. Cell 2016, 166, 963–976.
  43. Hamada, S.; Taguchi, K.; Masamune, A.; Yamamoto, M.; Shimosegawa, T. Nrf2 promotes mutant K-ras/p53-driven pancreatic carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis 2017, 38, 661–670.
  44. Yan, B.; Cheng, L.; Jiang, Z.; Chen, K.; Zhou, C.; Sun, L.; Cao, J.; Qian, W.; Li, J.; Shan, T.; et al. Resveratrol inhibits ROS-promoted activation and glycolysis of pancreatic stellate cells via suppression of miR-21. Oxid. Med. Cell Longev. 2018, 2018, 1346958.
  45. Masamune, A.; Watanabe, T.; Kikuta, K.; Satoh, K.; Shimosegawa, T. NADPH oxidase plays a crucial role in the activation of pancreatic stellate cells. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 2008, 294, G99–G108.
  46. Masamune, A.; Kikuta, K.; Satoh, M.; Satoh, A.; Shimosegawa, T. Alcohol activates activator protein-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinases in rat pancreatic stellate cells. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2002, 302, 36–42.
  47. Ryu, G.R.; Lee, E.; Chun, H.J.; Yoon, K.H.; Ko, S.H.; Ahn, Y.B.; Song, K.H. Oxidative stress plays a role in high glucose-induced activation of pancreatic stellate cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2013, 439, 258–263.
  48. Zhou, C.H.; Lin, L.; Zhu, X.Y.; Wen, T.; Hu, D.M.; Dong, Y.; Li, L.Y.; Wang, S.F. Protective effects of edaravone on experimental chronic pancreatitis induced by dibutyltin dichloride in rats. Pancreatology 2013, 13, 125–132.
  49. Wu, Y.S.; Looi, C.Y.; Subramaniam, K.S.; Masamune, A.; Chung, I. Soluble factors from stellate cells induce pancreatic cancer cell proliferation via Nrf2-activated metabolic reprogramming and ROS detoxification. Oncotarget 2016, 7, 36719–36732.
  50. Tanaka, Y.; Hamada, S.; Matsumoto, R.; Taguchi, K.; Yamamoto, M.; Masamune, A. Nrf2 expression in pancreatic stellate cells promotes progression of cancer. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 2021, 321, G378–G388.
More
© Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
ScholarVision Creations
Feedback