Thyroid hormones derivatives reduce proliferation and induce cell death and DNA damage in ovarian cancer

Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 28;7(1):16475. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-16593-x.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is a highly aggressive disease and novel treatments are required. Thyroid hormones binding to αvβ3 integrin produced growth-promoting activities in ovarian cancer and we hypothesized that natural thyroid hormone derivatives may antagonize these actions. The effect of three antagonists, tetraiodoacetic acid (tetrac), triiodothyroacetic acid (triac) and 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM), on cell proliferation, cell death and DNA damage was studied in two ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR3 and A2780), normal hamster ovary control cells (CHOK1) and αvβ3-deficient or transfected HEK293 cells. A differential inhibition of cell proliferation was observed in ovarian cancer cells compared to CHOK1. In OVCAR3, an induction of cell cycle regulators was further shown. Apoptosis was confirmed (annexin-PI, SubG1/cell-cycle, apoptotic genes, caspase-3 and poly ADP ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1) cleavage) and was reversed by a pan-caspase inhibitor. Induction in apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) was observed, suggesting a parallel caspase-independent mechanism. Integrin-involvement in triac/T1AM apoptotic action was shown in αvβ3-transfected HEK293 cells. Lastly, in ovarian cancer models, key proteins that coordinate recognition of DNA damage, ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and PARP-1, were induced. To conclude, the cytotoxic potential of thyroid hormone derivatives, tetrac, triac and T1AM, in ovarian cancer may provide a much-needed novel therapeutic approach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor / genetics
  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor / metabolism
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Death / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • DNA Damage / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Thyroid Hormones / chemistry
  • Thyroid Hormones / pharmacology*

Substances

  • AIFM1 protein, human
  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor
  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Caspases