Neuropeptide Y inhibits vasoactive intestinal peptide- and dopamine-induced cyclic AMP formation in human Ewing's sarcoma WE-68 cells

Neuropeptide Y Peptide Family and Cancer: Antitumor Therapeutic Strategies

Currently available data on the involvement of neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide YY (PYY), and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and their receptors (YRs) in cancer are updated. The structure and dynamics of YRs and their intracellular signaling pathways are also studied. The roles played by these peptides in 22 different cancer types are reviewed (e.g., breast cancer, colorectal cancer, Ewing sarcoma, liver cancer, melanoma, neuroblastoma, pancreatic cancer, pheochromocytoma, and prostate cancer). YRs could be used as cancer diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. A high Y1R expression has been correlated with lymph node metastasis, advanced stages, and perineural invasion; an increased Y5R expression with survival and tumor growth; and a high serum NPY level with relapse, metastasis, and poor survival. YRs mediate tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis; YR antagonists block the previous actions and promote the death of cancer cells. NPY favors tumor cell growth, migration, and metastasis and promotes angiogenesis in some tumors (e.g., breast cancer, colorectal cancer, neuroblastoma, pancreatic cancer), whereas in others it exerts an antitumor effect (e.g., cholangiocarcinoma, Ewing sarcoma, liver cancer). PYY or its fragments block tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion in breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. Current data show the peptidergic system's high potential for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and support using Y2R/Y5R antagonists and NPY or PYY agonists as promising antitumor therapeutic strategies. Some important research lines to be developed in the future will also be suggested.

Correlation of Transcriptomics and FDG-PET SUVmax Indicates Reciprocal Expression of Stemness-Related Transcription Factor and Neuropeptide Signaling Pathways in Glucose Metabolism of Ewing Sarcoma

BACKGROUND

In Ewing sarcoma (EwS), long-term treatment effects and poor survival rates for relapsed or metastatic cases require individualization of therapy and the discovery of new treatment methods. Tumor glucose metabolic activity varies significantly between patients, and FDG-PET signals have been proposed as prognostic factors. However, the biological basis for the generally elevated but variable glucose metabolism in EwS is not well understood.

METHODS

We retrospectively included 19 EwS samples (17 patients). Affymetrix gene expression was correlated with maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) using machine learning, linear regression modelling, and gene set enrichment analyses for functional annotation.

RESULTS

Expression of five genes correlated (MYBL2, ELOVL2, NETO2) or anticorrelated (FAXDC2, PLSCR4) significantly with SUVmax (adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05). Additionally, we identified 23 genes with large SUVmax effect size, which were significantly enriched for "neuropeptide Y receptor activity (GO:0004983)" (adjusted p-value = 0.0007). The expression of the members of this signaling pathway (NPY, NPY1R, NPY5R) anticorrelated with SUVmax. In contrast, three transcription factors associated with maintaining stemness displayed enrichment of their target genes with higher SUVmax: RNF2, E2F family, and TCF3.

CONCLUSION

Our large-scale analysis examined comprehensively the correlations between transcriptomics and tumor glucose utilization. Based on our findings, we hypothesize that stemness may be associated with increased glucose uptake, whereas neuroectodermal differentiation may anticorrelate with glucose uptake.

Identification of aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes and potential agents for Ewing sarcoma

Background

Human DNA methylation is a common epigenetic regulatory mechanism, and it plays a critical role in various diseases. However, the potential role of DNA methylation in Ewing sarcoma (ES) is not clear. This study aimed to explore the regulatory roles of DNA methylation in ES.

Methods

The microarray data of gene expression and methylation were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and analyzed via GEO2R. Venn analysis was then applied to identify aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequently, function and pathway enrichment analysis was conducted, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and hub genes were determined. Besides, a connectivity map (CMap) analysis was performed to screen bioactive compounds for ES treatment.

Results

A total of 135 hypomethylated high expression genes and 523 hypermethylated low expression genes were identified. The hypomethylated high expression genes were enriched in signal transduction and the apoptosis process. Meanwhile, hypermethylated low expression genes were related to DNA replication and transcription regulation. The PPI network analysis indicated C3, TF, and TCEB1 might serve as diagnostic and therapeutic targets of ES. Furthermore, CMap analysis revealed 6 chemicals as potential options for ES treatment.

Conclusions

The introduction of DNA methylation characteristics over DEGs is helpful to understand the pathogenesis of ES. The identified hub aberrantly methylated DEGs and chemicals might provide some novel insights on ES treatment.

Neuropeptide Y Inhibits β-Adrenergic Agonist- and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Induced Cyclic AMP Accumulation in Rat Pinealocytes Through Pertussis Toxin-Sensitive G Protein

The effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on pineal gland cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation were investigated using dispersed pinealocytes from rats. NPY inhibited the intracellular cAMP accumulation stimulated by isoproterenol and norepinephrine in a dose-dependent manner during a 10-min incubation of pinealocytes. NPY (1 x 10(-7) M) also inhibited vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)- and cholera toxin-induced cAMP accumulation. The inhibitory effect of NPY on isoproterenol-induced cAMP accumulation was completely abolished by a 5-h pretreatment of pinealocytes with 1 microgram/ml of pertussis toxin (PT). These results suggest that NPY participates in modulation of cAMP production in the rat pineal gland through PT-sensitive G protein. Yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist, blocked NPY inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation. On the other hand, the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist clonidine by itself did not affect cAMP accumulation stimulated by isoproterenol but significantly potentiated NPY action. The present study demonstrates that NPY inhibits beta-adrenergic or VIPergic stimulation of the pineal gland cAMP accumulation. The inhibitory effect of NPY is mediated through PT-sensitive G protein. Our results also suggest that NPY exerts its action to affect alpha 2-adrenoceptor function.

High-dose chemoradiotherapy (HDC) in the Ewing family of tumors (EFT)

EFT is defined by the expression of ews/ets fusion genes. The type of the fusion transcript impacts on the clinical biology. EFT requires risk adapted treatment. A risk-adapted treatment is determined by tumor localisation, tumor stage and volume. For metastatic and relapsed disease the pattern of spread and the time of relapse are the determinants of risk stratification. Staging of Ewing tumors has been considerably improved by magnetic resonance imaging and modern isotope scanning techniques. However, the determination of the extent of the metastatic spread in particular number of involved bones remains an unresolved issue. The prognosis for high-risk Ewing tumors has been improved by multimodal and high-dose radio/chemotherapy (HDC). The concepts for high-dose therapy in Ewing tumors are based on dose response and dose intensity relationships. In single agent HDC most experience exists with Melphalan. Several chemotherapeutic agents have been used in combination HDC with or without TBI such as Adriamycin, BCNU, Busulphan, Carboplatin, Cyclophosphamide, Etoposide, Melphalan, Thiotepa Procarbazin and Vincristine. To date, superiority of any high-dose chemotherapy regimen has not been established. However, the clinical biology, the pattern of spread and the time of relapse determine the prognosis of patient who are eligible for HDC. In particular, patients with multifocal bone or bone marrow metastases have a poorer prognosis than patients with lung metastases. In addition, patients with a relapse within 24 months have a poorer prognosis than patients with a relapse later than 24 months after diagnosis. This review will analyze the results of single- and multi-agent chemotherapy with respect to agent combination, dose and risk stratum of patient population. Future therapeutic modalities for the treatment of EFT might encompass immunotherapeutic and genetic strategies including allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Neuropeptide Y inhibits vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated adenylyl cyclase in rat ventral prostate

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a peptide present in the prostate gland, was found to inhibit vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in isolated rat prostatic epithelial cells as well as VIP-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in rat prostatic membranes. The inhibitory effect of NPY was selective for the VIP receptor/effector system since it was also observed when using pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide (PACAP-27) which presumably recognizes VIP receptors in this gland, but not when using unrelated substances such as isoproterenol or forskolin. NPY did not modify either the general lipid membrane microviscosity or the VIP-receptor binding. The inhibitory effect of VIP was blocked by pretreatment of the prostatic membranes with pertussis toxin. These results suggest the presence of NPY receptors in rat ventral prostate coupled in an inhibitory manner to adenylyl cyclase through a guanine nucleotide regulatory Gi protein.

Identification of neuropeptide Y receptors in cultured astrocytes from neonatal rat brain

Specific binding sites for neuropeptide Y could be demonstrated in primary cultures of astrocytes from neonatal rat brain. Neuropeptide Y binding was saturable, reversible, and temperature dependent as revealed by saturation studies and kinetic experiments. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data indicated a single population of high-affinity binding sites with respective KD and Bmax values of 0.43 nM and 6.9 fmol/2.7 x 10(5) cells. Physiological responses induced by neuropeptide Y could be detected in a distinct subpopulation of cultured astrocytes on the basis of two criteria: 1) electrophysiological responses and 2) single cell measurements of changes in [Ca2+]i. In that fraction of cells responding (20-70%, varying among cultures from different preparations), brief application of neuropeptide Y led to a membrane potential depolarization, lasting several minutes. When the membrane was clamped close to the resting membrane potential using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, neuropeptide Y induced an inward current with a similar time course as the neuropeptide Y-induced membrane depolarization. As detected by single cell microfluorimetric (fura-2) measurements neuropeptide Y induced an increase of [Ca2+]i which was caused by the entry of extracellular Ca2+. Both the [Ca2+]i increase and the electrophysiological responses were unaffected by pretreatment of the astrocytes with pertussis toxin.

Expression of functional Y1 receptors for neuropeptide Y in human Ewing's sarcoma cell lines

In the human Ewing's sarcoma cell line WE-68, saturation analysis using 3H-labelled neuropeptide Y ([3H]NPY) as the radioligand disclosed a homogeneous population of binding sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 4.5 nM and maximal binding capacity (B(max)) of 712 fmol/mg cell protein. Besides the WE-68 cell line, ten other human Ewing's sarcoma cell lines (FM-62, HS-80, HT-78, HT-M1-78, NT-68, RM-82, RS-63, VH-64, WE-M1-68, WE-M2-68) were also found to display NPY receptors with Kd varying from 3.5 nM to 10.7 nM and B(max) = 247-3744 fmol/mg cell protein. NPY, its natural analogues and the Y1-receptor-specific peptide ligand [Leu31,Pro34]NPY inhibited [3H]NPY binding in the potency order: [Leu31,Pro34]NPY greater than or equal to human NPY greater than or equal to peptide YY (PYY) greater than salmon pancreatic polypeptide (PP) greater than human PP greater than porcine NPY13-36 much greater than NPY22-36. In the Ewing's sarcoma cell lines NPY provoked inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP formation by up to 98%. Pertussis toxin alleviated the cyclic-AMP-inhibitory response to NPY. In isolated Ewing's sarcoma plasma membranes pertussis toxin [32P]ADP-ribosylated a 41-kDa protein. The ability of NPY and analogues to inhibit cyclic AMP accumulation paralleled their potencies in displacing radioligand binding. By contrast, a cell line derived from an atypical form of Ewing's sarcoma did not express specific and functional NPY receptors. These results demonstrate that conventional Ewing's sarcoma cells possess Gi-protein-coupled NPY receptors of the Y1 type, which upon interaction with NPY, PYY, and PP mediate inhibition of cyclic AMP generation.

Identification of a receptor protein for neuropeptide Y in rabbit kidney. G-protein association and inhibition of adenylate cyclase

We previously identified the receptor for neuropeptide Y (NPY) on rabbit kidney membranes as a 100 kDa protein [(1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 18142-18143]. It is demonstrated in this study that the stable guanine nucleotide analogue, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), is capable of decreasing the labeling of the 100 kDa protein in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 50 microM. This suggests that the 100 kDa protein represents a G-protein coupled receptor type. In isolated proximal tubules from rabbit kidney NPY decreases the parathyroid hormone stimulated cAMP production in a dose-dependent fashion. This indicates that the NPY receptor in rabbit kidney is negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase by a G1-like protein.

Effects of neuropeptide Y on alpha 1-and beta-adrenoceptor-stimulated second messenger systems in rat frontal cortex

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) (1 microM) significantly reduced the basal cAMP concentration in slices of rat frontal cortex. However, NPY (10(-9)-10(-6)M) did not alter the isoproterenol-stimulated (10(-9)-10(-5) M) accumulation of cAMP in the frontal cortical slices, showing that Y2 NPY receptors do not modulate the beta-adrenoceptor-stimulated adenylase cyclase activity. NPY (10(-8)-2.5 x 10(-5) M) was also demonstrated to stimulate inositol phosphate accumulation in rat frontal cortex slices in a dose-dependent manner. However, NPY (1 microM) did not potentiate the ability of phenylephrine (5 X 10(-8)-10(-4) M), an alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, to stimulate inositol phosphate hydrolysis. The combined effects of phenylephrine and NPY (1 microM) on inositol phosphate hydrolysis were additive, suggesting that the alpha 1-adrenoceptor and NPY Y1 receptor sites are located on different postsynaptic sites in rat frontal cortex. This study demonstrates the existence of both Y2 and Y1 NPY receptors in the rat frontal cortex based on second messenger systems, but there does not appear to be an interaction of NPY with either alpha 1- or beta-adrenoceptors.

Functional characteristics of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors in human Ewing's sarcoma WE-68 cells

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor activity was studied in WE-68 human Ewing's sarcoma cells. 125I-human CGRP bound in a time-dependent, reversible and saturable manner. Scatchard plots were compatible with the presence of a homogenous population of CGRP receptors with high affinity (Kd = 15 pM, and Bmax = 1.9 fmol/mg protein). The potency order of unlabeled peptides in the presence of radioligand, was: human CGRP-II greater than human CGRP = chick CGRP greater than rat CGRP = rat [Tyr0]CGRP greater than human [Tyr0] CGRP much greater than salmon calcitonin (CT) greater than rat [Tyr0]CGRP-(28-37). Each peptide except CT and [Tyr0]CGRP-(28-37) stimulated cyclic AMP generation in a concentration-dependent manner, and the relative potencies paralleled their relative ability in inhibiting 125I-human CGRP binding. We conclude that WE-68 Ewing's sarcoma cells express genuine CGRP receptors which upon activation lead to stimulation of cyclic AMP formation