Enhancement of endothelial cell migration by constitutively active LPA1-expressing tumor cells

Reduction of LPAR1 Expression in Neuroblastoma Promotes Tumor Cell Migration

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Tumor metastasis in high-risk NB patients is an essential problem that impairs the survival of patients. In this study, we aimed to use a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis to identify differentially expressed genes between NB and control cells, and to explore novel prognostic markers or treatment targets in tumors. In this way, FN1, PIK3R5, LPAR6 and LPAR1 were screened out via KEGG, GO and PPI network analysis, and we verified the expression and function of LPAR1 experimentally. Our research verified the decreased expression of LPAR1 in NB cells, and the tumor migration inhibitory effects of LPA on NB cells via LPAR1. Moreover, knockdown of LPAR1 promoted NB cell migration and abolished the migration-inhibitory effects mediated by LPA-LPAR1. The tumor-suppressing effects of the LPA-LPAR1 axis suggest that LPAR1 might be a potential target for future treatment of NB.

Endogenous Anti-Cancer Candidates in GPCR, ER Stress, and EMT

The majority of cellular responses to external stimuli are mediated by receptors such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and systems including endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress). Since GPCR signalling is pivotal in numerous malignancies, they are widely targeted by a number of clinical drugs. Cancer cells often negatively modulate GPCRs in order to survive, proliferate and to disseminate. Similarly, numerous branches of the unfolded protein response (UPR) act as pro-survival mediators and are involved in promoting cancer progression via mechanisms such as epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, there are a few proteins among these groups which impede deleterious effects by orchestrating the pro-apoptotic phenomenon and paving a therapeutic pathway. The present review exposes and discusses such critical mechanisms and some of the key processes involved in carcinogenesis.

LPA signaling through LPA receptors regulates cellular functions of endothelial cells treated with anticancer drugs

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling via LPA receptors provides a variety of cellular functions, including angiogenesis. In this study, to assess an involvement of LPA receptors in cell motile activities of endothelial cells during chemotherapy, F-2 cells were treated with cisplatin (CDDP) and doxorubicin (DOX) at a concentration of 0.01 μM every 24 h for at least 1 month. The treatment of CDDP and DOX inhibited the expression levels of the LPA receptor-1 (Lpar1), Lpar2, and Lpar3 genes in F-2 cells. The cell motile activities of CDDP and DOX treated cells were relatively lower than those of untreated cells. Next, we investigated whether cancer cells could stimulate the cell motile activities of F-2 cells treated with CDDP and DOX. For cell motility assay, CDDP- and DOX-treated cells were co-cultured with pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells. The cell motile activities of CDDP- and DOX-treated cells were significantly enhanced by the existence of PANC-1 cells, correlating with the LPA receptor expressions. In addition, the elevated cell motile activities were suppressed by the pretreatment of an autotaxin inhibitor S32826. These results suggest that LPA signaling via LPA receptors may regulate the cell motile activities of F-2 cells treated with anticancer drugs.

Diverse effects of LPA4, LPA5 and LPA6 on the activation of tumor progression in pancreatic cancer cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an extracellular biological lipid which interacts with G protein-coupled LPA receptors (LPA1 to LPA6). LPA signaling via LPA receptors mediates several cellular responses. In the present study, to assess the roles of LPA4, LPA5 and LPA6 in cellular functions of pancreatic cancer cells, we generated LPA receptor knockdown cells from PANC-1 cells (PANC-sh4, PANC-sh5 and PANC-sh6 cells, respectively). In cell motility assay, PANC-sh4 and PANC-sh5 cells enhanced the cell motile activities, compared with control cells. In contrast, the cell motile activity of PANC-sh6 cells was suppressed. The invasive activities of PANC-sh4 and PANC-sh5 cells were markedly stimulated, while PANC-sh6 cells showed the low invasive activity. In colony assay, PANC-sh4 and PANC-sh5 cells formed the large sized colonies, but not PANC-sh6 cells. When endothelial cells were incubated with supernatants from PANC-sh4 and PANC-sh5 cells, the cell motility and tube formation of endothelial cells were significantly induced, but not PANC-sh6 cells. These results suggest that the diverse roles of LPA4, LPA5 and LPA6 are involved in the activation of tumor progression in pancreatic cancer cells.

Inhibitory effects of lysophosphatidic acid receptor-5 on cellular functions of sarcoma cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid that interacts with G protein-coupled LPA receptors (LPA receptor-1 (LPA1) to LPA6). Here, we investigated the effects of LPA signaling via LPA5 on cellular functions of sarcoma cells by generating Lpar5 overexpressing and Lpar5 knockdown cells from rat osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma cells, respectively. The cell motility activity of Lpar5 overexpressing cells was significantly lower, while Lpar5 knockdown cells showed high cell motility, compared with respective controls. Gelatin zymography showed that LPA5 suppressed the activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2. LPA5 also inhibited the cell motility activity of endothelial cells, correlating with the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor genes. These results suggest that LPA signaling via LPA5 negatively regulates the cellular functions of rat sarcoma cells.

Downregulation of activation factors of endothelia and fibroblasts via lysophosphatidic acid signaling in a mouse lung cancer LL/2 cell line

Angiogenesis stimulates the invasive and metastatic process of cancer cells. It is also known that activated fibroblasts promote cancer cell growth and enhance invasive and metastatic potential. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a biological mediator and interacts with G protein-coupled transmembrane LPA receptors (LPA1 to LPA6). In this study, to assess an involvement of LPA3 on angiogenesis and fibroblast activation, the Lpar3-expressing cells were generated from mouse lung cancer LL/2 cells, which unexpressed LPA3. The Lpar3-expressing cells were maintained in serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium for 48 h, and cell motility assay was performed with a cell culture Insert. When endothelial F-2 cells and 3T3 fibroblasts were cultured with conditioned medium from the Lpar3-expressing cells, their cell motile activities were significantly lower than the Lpar3-unexpressing (control) cells. Expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) and fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) genes in the Lpar3-expressing cells were measured by quantitative real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. The expressions of Vegf-A. Fgfa and Fgfb genes in the Lpar3-expressing cells were significantly lower than those in control cells, correlating with the effects on cell motile activities of F-2 and 3T3 cells. These results suggest that LPA signaling through LPA3 may inhibit angiogenesis and fibroblast activation in mouse lung cancer cells.

Osteosarcoma cells induce endothelial cell proliferation during neo-angiogenesis

Understanding the mechanisms inducing endothelial cell (EC) proliferation following tumor microenvironment stimuli may be important for the development of antiangiogenic therapies. Here, we show that cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and 5 (Cdk2, Cdk5) are important mediators of neoangiogenesis in in vitro and in vivo systems. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a specific Yin Yang 1 (YY1) protein-dependent signal from osteosarcoma (SaOS) cells determines proliferation of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Following tumor cell stimuli, HAECs overexpress Cdk2 and Cdk5, display increased Cdk2 activity, undergo enhanced proliferation, and form capillary-like structures. Moreover, Roscovitine, an inhibitor of Cdks, blunted overexpression of Cdk2 and Cdk5 and Cdk2 activity induced by the YY1-dependent signal secreted by SaOS cells. Furthermore, Roscovitine decreased HAEC proliferation and angiogenesis (the latter by 70% in in vitro and 50% in in vivo systems; P < 0.01 vs. control). Finally, the finding that Roscovitine triggers apoptosis in SaOS cells as well as in HAECs by activating caspase-3/7 indicates multiple mechanisms for the potential antitumoral effect of Roscovitine. Present work suggests that Cdk2 and Cdk5 might be pharmacologically accessible targets for both antiangiogenic and antitumor therapy.

Involvement of oncogenic K-ras on cell migration stimulated by lysophosphatidic acid receptor-2 in pancreatic cancer cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) mediates a variety of cellular responses with atleast six G protein-coupled transmembrane receptors (LPA receptor-1 (LPA(1)-LPA(6))). The interaction between LPA receptors and other cellular molecules on the biological function is not fully understood. Recently, we have reported that LPA(1) suppressed and LPA(3) stimulated cell migration of pancreatic cancer cells. In the present study, to evaluate the function of LPA(2) on motile and invasive activities of pancreatic cancer cells, we generated Lpar2 knockdown (HPD-sh2) cells from hamster pancreatic cancer cells and measured their cell migration ability. In cell motility and invasive assays with an uncoated Cell Culture Insert, HPD-sh2 cells showed significantly lower intrinsic activity than control (HPD-GFP) cells. Since K-ras mutations were frequently detected in pancreatic cancer, we next investigated whether oncogenic K-ras is involved in cell migration induced by LPA(2) using K-ras knockdown (HPD-K2) cells. The cell motile ability of HPD-K2 cells was significantly lower than that of control cells. To confirm LPA(2) increases cell migration activity, cells were pretreated with dioctylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) which is the antagonist of LPA(1)/LPA(3). The cell motile and invasive abilities of DGPP -treated HPD-GFP cells were markedly higher than those of untreated cells, but DGPP did not stimulate cell migration of HPD-K2 cells. These results suggest that cell migration activity of pancreatic cancer cells stimulated by LPA(2) may be enhanced by oncogenic K-ras.