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Du R, Wen L, Niu M, Zhao L, Guan X, Yang J, Zhang C, Liu H. Activin receptors in human cancer: Functions, mechanisms, and potential clinical applications. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 222:116061. [PMID: 38369212 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Activins are members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily and act as key regulators in various physiological processes, such as follicle and embryonic development, as well as in multiple human diseases, including cancer. They have been established to signal through three type I and two type II serine/threonine kinase receptors, which, upon ligand binding, form a final signal-transducing receptor complex that activates downstream signaling and governs gene expression. Recent research highlighted the dysregulation of the expression or activity of activin receptors in multiple human cancers and their critical involvement in cancer progression. Furthermore, expression levels of activin receptors have been associated with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes across different cancers. However, there is currently a paucity of comprehensive systematic reviews of activin receptors in cancer. Thus, this review aimed to consolidate existing knowledge concerning activin receptors, with a primary emphasis on their signaling cascade and emerging biological functions, regulatory mechanisms, and potential clinical applications in human cancers in order to provide novel perspectives on cancer prognosis and targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Du
- First Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Liqi Wen
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Min Niu
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Liting Zhao
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Xiaoya Guan
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Jiao Yang
- Department of Anatomy, the Basic Medical School of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Chunming Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China.
| | - Hongliang Liu
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; First Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, the Basic Medical School of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, PR China.
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Ciriello G, Magnani L, Aitken SJ, Akkari L, Behjati S, Hanahan D, Landau DA, Lopez-Bigas N, Lupiáñez DG, Marine JC, Martin-Villalba A, Natoli G, Obenauf AC, Oricchio E, Scaffidi P, Sottoriva A, Swarbrick A, Tonon G, Vanharanta S, Zuber J. Cancer Evolution: A Multifaceted Affair. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:36-48. [PMID: 38047596 PMCID: PMC10784746 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells adapt and survive through the acquisition and selection of molecular modifications. This process defines cancer evolution. Building on a theoretical framework based on heritable genetic changes has provided insights into the mechanisms supporting cancer evolution. However, cancer hallmarks also emerge via heritable nongenetic mechanisms, including epigenetic and chromatin topological changes, and interactions between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Recent findings on tumor evolutionary mechanisms draw a multifaceted picture where heterogeneous forces interact and influence each other while shaping tumor progression. A comprehensive characterization of the cancer evolutionary toolkit is required to improve personalized medicine and biomarker discovery. SIGNIFICANCE Tumor evolution is fueled by multiple enabling mechanisms. Importantly, genetic instability, epigenetic reprogramming, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment are neither alternative nor independent evolutionary mechanisms. As demonstrated by findings highlighted in this perspective, experimental and theoretical approaches must account for multiple evolutionary mechanisms and their interactions to ultimately understand, predict, and steer tumor evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Ciriello
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luca Magnani
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Breast Epigenetic Plasticity and Evolution Laboratory, Division of Breast Cancer Research, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J. Aitken
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Leila Akkari
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sam Behjati
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas Hanahan
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dan A. Landau
- New York Genome Center, New York, New York
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Nuria Lopez-Bigas
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Darío G. Lupiáñez
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ana Martin-Villalba
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna C. Obenauf
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisa Oricchio
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paola Scaffidi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Cancer Epigenetic Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Sottoriva
- Computational Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Alexander Swarbrick
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Giovanni Tonon
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Sakari Vanharanta
- Translational Cancer Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johannes Zuber
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
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Zheng Y, Lebid A, Chung L, Fu J, Wang X, Otrocol A, Zarif JC, Yu H, Llosa NJ, Pardoll DM. Targeting the activin receptor 1C on CD4+ T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2297503. [PMID: 38235319 PMCID: PMC10793694 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2297503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Activins, members of the TGF-beta superfamily, have been isolated and identified in the endocrine system, but have not been substantially investigated in the context of the immune system and endocrine-unrelated cancers. Here, we demonstrated that tumor-bearing mice had elevated systemic activin levels, which correlated directly with tumor burden. Likewise, cancer patients have elevated plasma activin levels compared to healthy controls. We observed that both tumor and immune cells could be sources of activins. Importantly, our in vitro studies suggest that activins promote differentiation of naïve CD4+ cells into Foxp3-expressing induced regulatory T cells (Tregs), particularly when TGF-beta was limited in the culture medium. Database and qRT-PCR analysis of sorted major immune cell subsets in mice revealed that activin receptor 1c (ActRIC) was uniquely expressed on Tregs and that both ActRIC and ActRIIB (activin receptor 2b) were highly upregulated during iTreg differentiation. ActRIC-deficient naïve CD4+ cells were found to be defective in iTreg generation both in vitro and in vivo. Treg suppression assays were also performed, and ActRIC deficiency did not change the function or stability of iTregs. Mice lacking ActRIC or mice treated with monoclonal anti-ActRIC antibody were more resistant to tumor progression than wild-type controls. This phenotype was correlated with reduced expression of Foxp3 in CD4+ cells in the tumor microenvironment. In light of the information presented above, blocking activin-ActRIC signaling is a promising and disease-specific strategy to impede the accumulation of immunosuppressive iTregs in cancer. Therefore, it is a potential candidate for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zheng
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andriana Lebid
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Liam Chung
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Juan Fu
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoxu Wang
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrea Otrocol
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jelani C. Zarif
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hong Yu
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicolas J. Llosa
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Drew M. Pardoll
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Lee E, O’Keefe S, Leong A, Park HR, Varadarajan J, Chowdhury S, Hiner S, Kim S, Shiva A, Friedman RA, Remotti H, Fojo T, Yang HW, Thurston G, Kim M. Angiopoietin-2 blockade suppresses growth of liver metastases from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors by promoting T cell recruitment. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e167994. [PMID: 37843277 PMCID: PMC10575726 DOI: 10.1172/jci167994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Improving the management of metastasis in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) is critical, as nearly half of patients with PanNETs present with liver metastases, and this accounts for the majority of patient mortality. We identified angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) as one of the most upregulated angiogenic factors in RNA-Seq data from human PanNET liver metastases and found that higher ANGPT2 expression correlated with poor survival rates. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that ANGPT2 was localized to the endothelial cells of blood vessels in PanNET liver metastases. We observed an association between the upregulation of endothelial ANGPT2 and liver metastatic progression in both patients and transgenic mouse models of PanNETs. In human and mouse PanNET liver metastases, ANGPT2 upregulation coincided with poor T cell infiltration, indicative of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Notably, both pharmacologic inhibition and genetic deletion of ANGPT2 in PanNET mouse models slowed the growth of PanNET liver metastases. Furthermore, pharmacologic inhibition of ANGPT2 promoted T cell infiltration and activation in liver metastases, improving the survival of mice with metastatic PanNETs. These changes were accompanied by reduced plasma leakage and improved vascular integrity in metastases. Together, these findings suggest that ANGPT2 blockade may be an effective strategy for promoting T cell infiltration and immunostimulatory reprogramming to reduce the growth of liver metastases in PanNETs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tito Fojo
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Gavin Thurston
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Minah Kim
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology
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ALK7 Knockdown Plays a Protective Role on HG-Stimulated MCs through Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:4064733. [PMID: 36199821 PMCID: PMC9529459 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4064733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objective Activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) is a member of the ALK family that has a key role in diabetes. However, the role of ALK7 in diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains unclear. Methods Herein, we evaluated the effects of ALK7 on mesangial cells (MCs). MCs were transfected with si-ALK7 or pcDNA3.0-ALK7, and then stimulated with 40 mM glucose for 24 h. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Relative ROS level was detected using DCFH-DA staining. The contents of inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression levels of FN, Col IV, Nrf2, and HO-1 in MCs. Results Our results showed that ALK7 expression was induced by HG in MCs. Knockdown of ALK7 inhibited HG-induced cell proliferation. The HG-induced ROS was mitigated by si-ALK7 with decreased ROS level and NOX activity. In addition, ALK7 knockdown exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in HG-stimulated MCs. Moreover, ALK7 knockdown attenuated fibronectin (FN) and collagen IV (Col IV) expression in MCs. Knockdown of ALK7 enhanced Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in MCs. Inhibition of Nrf2 reversed the protective effects of ALK7 knockdown on HG-stimulated MCs. Conclusion ALK7 knockdown exerted protective effects on HG-stimulated MCs through activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Thus, targeting ALK7 might be a therapeutic approach for the treatment of DN.
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Goebel EJ, Ongaro L, Kappes EC, Vestal K, Belcheva E, Castonguay R, Kumar R, Bernard DJ, Thompson TB. The orphan ligand, activin C, signals through activin receptor-like kinase 7. eLife 2022; 11:78197. [PMID: 35736809 PMCID: PMC9224996 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin ligands are formed from two disulfide-linked inhibin β (Inhβ) subunit chains. They exist as homodimeric proteins, as in the case of activin A (ActA; InhβA/InhβA) or activin C (ActC; InhβC/InhβC), or as heterodimers, as with activin AC (ActAC; InhβA:InhβC). While the biological functions of ActA and activin B (ActB) have been well characterized, little is known about the biological functions of ActC or ActAC. One thought is that the InhβC chain functions to interfere with ActA production by forming less active ActAC heterodimers. Here, we assessed and characterized the signaling capacity of ligands containing the InhβC chain. ActC and ActAC activated SMAD2/3-dependent signaling via the type I receptor, activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7). Relative to ActA and ActB, ActC exhibited lower affinity for the cognate activin type II receptors and was resistant to neutralization by the extracellular antagonist, follistatin. In mature murine adipocytes, which exhibit high ALK7 expression, ActC elicited a SMAD2/3 response similar to ActB, which can also signal via ALK7. Collectively, these results establish that ActC and ActAC are active ligands that exhibit a distinct signaling receptor and antagonist profile compared to other activins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich J Goebel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Emily C Kappes
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Kylie Vestal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States
| | | | | | | | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Thomas B Thompson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States
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Wang D, Xiu J, Zhao J, Luo J. miR‐AB, a miRNA‐based shRNA viral toolkit for multicolor‐barcoded multiplex RNAi at a single‐cell level. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e53691. [PMID: 35201651 PMCID: PMC8982575 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202153691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Wang
- Department of Immunology Binzhou Medical University Shandong China
| | - Jianbo Xiu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jiangyue Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology The 4th Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang China
| | - Junli Luo
- Department of Molecular Medicine The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter FL USA
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Inoue M, Kim M, Inoue T, Tait M, Byrne T, Nitschké M, Murer P, Cha H, Subramanian A, De Silva N, Chiaverotti T, McDonald DM. Oncolytic vaccinia virus injected intravenously sensitizes pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and metastases to immune checkpoint blockade. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 24:299-318. [PMID: 35118189 PMCID: PMC8783073 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This study determined the influence of intravenous (i.v.) oncolytic vaccinia virus mpJX-594 (mpJX) on antitumor activity of anti-programmed death receptor-1 antibody (aPD1) in functional and metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs). One i.v. dose of mpJX, engineered for mice with the same plasmid design as clinical virus Pexa-Vec, was administered alone or with repeated dosing of aPD1 (mpJX+aPD1) to two contrasting genetic models of PanNET: one developing benign insulin-secreting tumors (RIP1-Tag2;C57BL/6J mice) and the other developing liver metastases (RIP1-Tag2;AB6F1 mice). Experiments revealed that aPD1 had synergistic actions with mpJX on CD8+ T cell and natural killer (NK) cell influx, apoptosis, and suppression of proliferation in PanNETs. After mpJX+aPD1, the 53-fold increase in apoptosis (5 days) and 85% reduction in proliferation (20 days) exceeded the sum of mpJX and aPD1 given separately. mpJX+aPD1 also stabilized blood insulin and glucose in mice with functional PanNETs, regressed liver metastases in mice with aggressive PanNETs, and prolonged survival of both. The findings revealed that mpJX+aPD1 converted “cold” PanNETs into immunogenic tumors with widespread cytotoxic T cell influx, tumor cell killing, and suppression of proliferation. Reduction of tumor insulin secretion from functional PanNETs prolonged survival, and anti-metastatic actions on aggressive PanNETs reduced the metastatic burden to less than before treatment. The findings support the efficacy of the vaccinia virus with aPD1 for functional and metastatic PanNETs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuko Inoue
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Minah Kim
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Tomoyoshi Inoue
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Madeline Tait
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Thomas Byrne
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Maximilian Nitschké
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Patrizia Murer
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Howard Cha
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Aishwarya Subramanian
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
| | - Naomi De Silva
- SillaJen Biotherapeutics Inc., San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
| | | | - Donald M McDonald
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S1349, San Francisco, CA 94143-0452, USA
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Tobar LE, Farnsworth RH, Stacker SA. Brain Vascular Microenvironments in Cancer Metastasis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030401. [PMID: 35327593 PMCID: PMC8945804 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary tumours, particularly from major solid organs, are able to disseminate into the blood and lymphatic system and spread to distant sites. These secondary metastases to other major organs are the most lethal aspect of cancer, accounting for the majority of cancer deaths. The brain is a frequent site of metastasis, and brain metastases are often fatal due to the critical role of the nervous system and the limited options for treatment, including surgery. This creates a need to further understand the complex cell and molecular biology associated with the establishment of brain metastasis, including the changes to the environment of the brain to enable the arrival and growth of tumour cells. Local changes in the vascular network, immune system and stromal components all have the potential to recruit and foster metastatic tumour cells. This review summarises our current understanding of brain vascular microenvironments, fluid circulation and drainage in the context of brain metastases, as well as commenting on current cutting-edge experimental approaches used to investigate changes in vascular environments and alterations in specialised subsets of blood and lymphatic vessel cells during cancer spread to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas E. Tobar
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (L.E.T.); (R.H.F.)
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Rae H. Farnsworth
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (L.E.T.); (R.H.F.)
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Steven A. Stacker
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (L.E.T.); (R.H.F.)
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-3-8559-7106
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Sun Y, Cai H, Ge J, Shao F, Huang Z, Ding Z, Dong L, Chen J, Zhang J, Zang Y. Tubule-derived INHBB promotes interstitial fibroblast activation and renal fibrosis. J Pathol 2022; 256:25-37. [PMID: 34543458 DOI: 10.1002/path.5798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Upstream stimuli for myofibroblast activation are of considerable interest for understanding the mechanisms underlying renal fibrosis. Activin B, a member of the TGF-β family, exists as a homodimer of inhibin subunit beta B (INHBB), but its role in renal fibrosis remains unknown. We found that INHBB expression was significantly increased in various renal fibrosis models and human chronic kidney disease specimens with renal fibrosis. Notably, the increase of INHBB occurred mainly in the tubular epithelial cells (TECs). In vivo, inhibiting INHBB blocked the activation of interstitial fibroblasts and ameliorated the renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction or ischemia-reperfusion injury, while ectopic expression of INHBB in the TECs was able to activate interstitial fibroblasts and initiate interstitial fibrosis. In vitro, overexpression of INHBB in TECs led to the secretion of activin B, thereby promoting the proliferation and activation of interstitial fibroblasts through activin B/Smad signaling. Furthermore, inhibition of activin B/Smad signaling attenuated the fibrotic response caused by tubular INHBB. Mechanistically, the upregulation of INHBB depended on the transcription factor Sox9 in the injured TECs. Clinical analyses also identified a positive correlation between Sox9 and INHBB expression in human specimens, suggesting the Sox9/INHBB axis as a positive regulator of renal fibrosis. In conclusion, tubule-derived INHBB is implicated in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis by activating the surrounding fibroblasts in a paracrine manner, thereby exhibiting as a potential therapeutic target. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Huimin Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Jia Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Fang Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Zhen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Zhi Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Jiangning Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Yuhui Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
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11
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Zhao Z, Lu Y, Wang H, Gu X, Zhu L, Guo H, Li N. ALK7 Inhibition Protects Osteoblast Cells Against High Glucoseinduced ROS Production via Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway. Curr Mol Med 2022; 22:354-364. [PMID: 34126915 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666210614144337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some studies demonstrated that under high-glucose (HG) condition, osteoblasts develop oxidative stress, which will impair their normal functions. The effects of activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) silencing on HG-induced osteoblasts remained unclear. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the effect of ALK7 on HG-induced osteoblasts. METHODS MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with different concentrations of HG (0, 50, 100, 200 and 300mg/dL), and the cell viability was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). HG-treated MC3T3-E1 cells were transfected with siALK7 or ALK7 overexpression plasmid or siNrf2, and then the viability and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 and flow cytometry. The levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), collagen I and calcification nodule were determined by oxidative stress kits, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Alizarin red staining. The expressions of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and osteoblast-associated genes were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. RESULTS Cell viability was reduced with HG treatment. Silencing ALK7 inhibited the effect of HG on increasing cell apoptosis and ROS production, reduced cell viability, mineralized nodules, and downregulated collagen I and osteoblast-associated genes expression in MC3T3-E1 cells. ALK7 silencing activated the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by affecting expressions of HO-1 and Nrf2. ALK7 overexpression had the opposite effects. In addition, siNrf2 partially reversed the effects of ALK7 silencing on HG-induced MC3T3-E1 cells. CONCLUSION ALK7 silencing protected osteoblasts under HG condition possibly through activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhao
- Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xiang Gu
- Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Luting Zhu
- Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Hong Guo
- Department of Geriatrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Medical Center & National Clinical Research Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, 100853, China
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12
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Refaat B, Zekri J, Aslam A, Ahmad J, Baghdadi MA, Meliti A, Idris S, Sultan S, Alardati H, Saimeh HA, Alsaegh A, Alhadrami M, Hamid T, Naeem ME, Elsamany SA. Profiling Activins and Follistatin in Colorectal Cancer According to Clinical Stage, Tumour Sidedness and Smad4 Status. Pathol Oncol Res 2021; 27:1610032. [PMID: 34867090 PMCID: PMC8634429 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2021.1610032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the roles of activins and follistatin in colorectal cancers. Paired malignant and normal colonic tissues were collected from archived paraffin-embedded (n = 90 patients) alongside fresh (n = 40 patients) specimen cohorts. Activin β-subunits, follistatin and Smad4 mRNAs and proteins were measured by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Mature activin-A, -B, -AB and follistatin proteins were measured by ELISA. Cancer tissues having ≤ the 20th percentile of the Smad4 IHC score were considered as low (L-S4) group. The Smad4-intact SW480 and Smad4-null HT29 colon cancer cell lines were treated with activins and follistatin, and cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The cell cycle inducing (CCND1/CCND3) and inhibitory (p21/p27) proteins alongside the survival (survivin/BCL2) and pro-apoptosis (Casp-8/Casp-3) markers were measured by immunofluorescence. Thirty-nine patients had right-sided cancers (30%) and showed higher rates of L-S4 tumours (n = 17; 13.1%) alongside worse clinicopathological characteristics relative to left-sided cancers. The βA-subunit and activin-A increased, whilst βB-subunit and activin-AB decreased, in malignant sites and the late-stage cancers revealed the greatest abnormalities. Interestingly, follistatin declined markedly in early-stage malignant tissues, whilst increased significantly in the advanced stages. All activin molecules were comparable between the early stage right- and left-sided tumours, whereas the late-stage right-sided cancers and L-S4 tumours showed more profound deregulations. In vitro, activin-A increased the numbers of the SW480 cells in sub-G1 and G0/G1-phases, whereas reduced the HT29 cell numbers in the sub-G1 phase with simultaneous increases in the G0/G1 and S phases. The p21/p27/Casp-8/Casp-3 proteins escalated, whilst CCND1/CCND3/BCL2/survivin declined in the SW480 cells following activin-A, whereas activin-A only promoted p21 and p27 alongside reduced CCND3 in the HT29 cells. By contrast, activin-AB increased the numbers of SW480 and HT29 cells in Sub-G1 and G0/G1-phases and promoted the anti-cancer and reduced the oncogenic proteins in both cell lines. In conclusion, activins and follistatin displayed stage-dependent dysregulations and were markedly altered during the advanced stages of right-sided and L-S4 cancers. Moreover, the activin-A actions in CRC could be Smad4-dependent, whereas activin-AB may act as a Smad4-independent tumour suppressor protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamal Zekri
- Oncology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A Baghdadi
- Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelrazak Meliti
- Pathology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sufian Sultan
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hosam Alardati
- Pathology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haitham Akram Saimeh
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahira Hamid
- Histopathology Department, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed E Naeem
- Histopathology Department, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shereef Ahmed Elsamany
- Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Centre, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.,Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Centre, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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13
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Saghafinia S, Homicsko K, Di Domenico A, Wullschleger S, Perren A, Marinoni I, Ciriello G, Michael IP, Hanahan D. Cancer Cells Retrace a Stepwise Differentiation Program during Malignant Progression. Cancer Discov 2021; 11:2638-2657. [PMID: 33910926 PMCID: PMC7611766 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-1637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET) comprise two molecular subtypes, relatively benign islet tumors (IT) and invasive, metastasis-like primary (MLP) tumors. Until now, the origin of aggressive MLP tumors has been obscure. Herein, using multi-omics approaches, we revealed that MLP tumors arise from IT via dedifferentiation following a reverse trajectory along the developmental pathway of islet β cells, which results in the acquisition of a progenitor-like molecular phenotype. Functionally, the miR-181cd cluster induces the IT-to-MLP transition by suppressing expression of the Meis2 transcription factor, leading to upregulation of a developmental transcription factor, Hmgb3. Notably, the IT-to-MLP transition constitutes a distinct step of tumorigenesis and is separable from the classic proliferation-associated hallmark, temporally preceding accelerated proliferation of cancer cells. Furthermore, patients with PanNET with elevated HMGB3 expression and an MLP transcriptional signature are associated with higher-grade tumors and worse survival. Overall, our results unveil a new mechanism that modulates cancer cell plasticity to enable malignant progression. SIGNIFICANCE: Dedifferentiation has long been observed as a histopathologic characteristic of many cancers, albeit inseparable from concurrent increases in cell proliferation. Herein, we demonstrate that dedifferentiation is a mechanistically and temporally separable step in the multistage tumorigenesis of pancreatic islet cells, retracing the developmental lineage of islet β cells.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2355.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Saghafinia
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Krisztian Homicsko
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Stephan Wullschleger
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aurel Perren
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ilaria Marinoni
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Ciriello
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Iacovos P Michael
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Douglas Hanahan
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Lausanne Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland
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14
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Luo WJ, He SW, Zou WQ, Zhao Y, He QM, Yang XJ, Guo R, Mao YP. Epstein-Barr virus microRNA BART10-3p promotes dedifferentiation and proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by targeting ALK7. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:2618-2629. [PMID: 34424090 DOI: 10.1177/15353702211037261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the major subtype of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, is characterized by low differentiation and a close relation to Epstein-Barr virus infection, which indicates a link between Epstein-Barr virus oncogenesis and loss of differentiation, and raises our interest in investigating the involvement of Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma dedifferentiation. Our previous study showed abundant expression of an Epstein-Barr virus-encoded microRNA, BART10-3p, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, but the association between BART10-3p and nasopharyngeal carcinoma differentiation remains unknown. Here, we examined the expression and prognostic value of BART10-3p, and undertook bioinformatics analysis and functional assays to investigate the influence of BART10-3p on nasopharyngeal carcinoma differentiation and proliferation and the underpinning mechanism. Microarray analysis identified BART10-3p as the most significantly upregulated Epstein-Barr virus-encoded microRNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and the upregulation was confirmed in two public datasets. The expression of BART10-3p was an independent unfavorable prognosticator in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its integration with the clinical stage showed improved prognosis predictive performance. Bioinformatics analysis suggested a potential role of BART10-3p in tumor differentiation and progression. Functional assays demonstrated that BART10-3p could promote nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell dedifferentiation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and proliferation in vitro, and tumorigenicity in vivo. Mechanistically, BART10-3p directly targeted the 3'UTR of ALK7 and suppressed its expression. Reconstitution of ALK7 rescued BART10-3p-induced malignant phenotypes. Overall, our study demonstrates that BART10-3p promotes dedifferentiation and proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by targeting ALK7, suggesting a promising therapeutic opportunity to reverse the malignant phenotypes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Jie Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Shi-Wei He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Wen-Qing Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Qing-Mei He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Rui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yan-Ping Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
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15
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Ibáñez CF. Regulation of metabolic homeostasis by the TGF-β superfamily receptor ALK7. FEBS J 2021; 289:5776-5797. [PMID: 34173336 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
ALK7 (Activin receptor-like kinase 7) is a member of the TGF-β receptor superfamily predominantly expressed by cells and tissues involved in endocrine functions, such as neurons of the hypothalamus and pituitary, pancreatic β-cells and adipocytes. Recent studies have begun to delineate the processes regulated by ALK7 in these tissues and how these become integrated with the homeostatic regulation of mammalian metabolism. The picture emerging indicates that ALK7's primary function in metabolic regulation is to limit catabolic activities and preserve energy. Aside of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, the function of ALK7 elsewhere in the brain, particularly in the cerebellum, where it is abundantly expressed, remains to be elucidated. Although our understanding of the basic molecular events underlying ALK7 signaling has benefited from the vast knowledge available on TGF-β receptor mechanisms, how these connect to the physiological functions regulated by ALK7 in different cell types is still incompletely understood. Findings of missense and nonsense variants in the Acvr1c gene, encoding ALK7, of some mouse strains and human subjects indicate a tolerance to ALK7 loss of function. Recent discoveries suggest that specific inhibitors of ALK7 may have therapeutic applications in obesity and metabolic syndrome without overt adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos F Ibáñez
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University School of Life Sciences and Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.,Department of Physiology and Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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16
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Hong X, Wen B, Zhang H, Li Y, Wu H, Zhao W, Luo X. Biological effects of NODAL on endometrial cancer cells and its underlying mechanisms. Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:402. [PMID: 33717261 PMCID: PMC7938447 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.9833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A receptor type 1C (ALK7) and its ligand nodal growth differentiation factor (NODAL) serve numerous roles in cancer cells, including regulating cancer invasion, migration and apoptosis. NODAL promotes breast cancer cell apoptosis by activating ALK7; however, ALK7 and NODAL expression in endometrial cancer (EC), as well as their effects and underlying mechanisms in EC cells, are not completely understood. The present study aimed to characterize the expression of NODAL and ALK7 in EC, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The expression levels of ALK7 and NODAL were detected via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Cell transfection was performed to overexpress NODAL or interfere ALK7. Cell proliferation, invasion and migration were detected via Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. Flow cytometry was performed to detect cell apoptosis and western blotting was conducted to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins. NODAL and ALK7 expression levels were significantly decreased in EC cell lines compared with normal endometrial cells. NODAL overexpression inhibited EC cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and promoted EC cell apoptosis compared with the overexpression-negative control (Ov-NC) group. Moreover, NODAL overexpression significantly increased ALK7 expression levels in EC cells compared with the Ov-NC group. ALK7 reversed NODAL overexpression-mediated inhibition of EC cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and promotion of EC cell apoptosis. The present study indicated that NODAL inhibited EC cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and promoted EC cell apoptosis by activating ALK7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshan Hong
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510010, P.R. China
| | - Bin Wen
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510010, P.R. China
| | - Huaming Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510010, P.R. China
| | - Yuhan Li
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510010, P.R. China
| | - Hengying Wu
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510010, P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, P.R. China
| | - Xiping Luo
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510010, P.R. China
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17
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Tian YD, Chung MH, Quan QL, Lee DH, Kim EJ, Chung JH. UV-Induced Reduction of ACVR1C Decreases SREBP1 and ACC Expression by the Suppression of SMAD2 Phosphorylation in Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031101. [PMID: 33499275 PMCID: PMC7865598 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Activin A receptor type 1C (ACVR1C), a type I transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor, has been implicated in sensitive skin and psoriasis and is involved in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis as well as cell proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we identified a novel role of ACVR1C in the ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation-induced reduction of epidermal lipogenesis in human skin. UV irradiation decreased ACVR1C expression and epidermal triglyceride (TG) synthesis in human skin in vivo and in primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) in vitro. Lipogenic genes, including genes encoding acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1), were significantly downregulated in UV-irradiated NHEK. ACVR1C knockdown by shRNA resulted in greater decreases in SREBP1 and ACC in response to UV irradiation. Conversely, the overexpression of ACVR1C attenuated the UV-induced decreases in SREBP1 and ACC. Further mechanistic study revealed that SMAD2 phosphorylation mediated the ACVR1C-induced lipogenic gene modulation. Taken together, a decrease in ACVR1C may cause UV-induced reductions in SREBP1 and ACC as well as epidermal TG synthesis via the suppression of SMAD2 phosphorylation. ACVR1C may be a target for preventing or treating UV-induced disruptions in lipid metabolism and associated skin disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Dan Tian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (Q.-L.Q.); (D.H.L.)
- Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Min Hwa Chung
- Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | - Qing-Ling Quan
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (Q.-L.Q.); (D.H.L.)
- Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Dong Hun Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (Q.-L.Q.); (D.H.L.)
- Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Eun Ju Kim
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Correspondence: (E.J.K.); (J.H.C.)
| | - Jin Ho Chung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (Q.-L.Q.); (D.H.L.)
- Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Institute on Aging, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Correspondence: (E.J.K.); (J.H.C.)
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18
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Chen Y, Qian B, Sun X, Kang Z, Huang Z, Ding Z, Dong L, Chen J, Zhang J, Zang Y. Sox9/INHBB axis-mediated crosstalk between the hepatoma and hepatic stellate cells promotes the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2020; 499:243-254. [PMID: 33246092 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver fibrosis in the peri-tumoral tissue contributes to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between hepatoma and peri-tumoral HSCs remain elusive. We found that the Sox9/INHBB axis is upregulated in HCC and is associated with tumor metastasis. Using gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we revealed that the Sox9/INHBB axis promotes the growth and metastasis of an orthotopic HCC tumor by activating the peri-tumoral HSCs. Mechanistically, Sox9 induces INHBB expression by directly binding to its enhancer, thus aiding in the secretion of activin B from hepatoma cells, and in turn, promoting the activation of the surrounding HSCs through activin B/Smad signaling. Furthermore, inhibition of activin B/Smad singaling attenuates the fibrotic response in the peri-tumoral tissue and decreases the incidence of metastasis. Finally, clinical analyses indicated a positive correlation between Sox9 and INHBB expression in HCC specimens and identified the Sox9/INHBB axis as a positive regulator of liver fibrosis. In conclusion, Sox9/INHBB axis-mediated crosstalk between hepatoma cells and HSCs induces a fertile environment favoring HCC metastasis, thereby exhibiting as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China
| | - Baowei Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China
| | - Zhiqian Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China
| | - Zhen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China
| | - Zhi Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China
| | - Jiangning Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Nanjing, 210093, PR China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China.
| | - Yuhui Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China.
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Ries A, Schelch K, Falch D, Pany L, Hoda MA, Grusch M. Activin A: an emerging target for improving cancer treatment? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:985-996. [PMID: 32700590 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1799350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Activin A is involved in the regulation of a surprisingly broad number of processes that are relevant for cancer development and treatment; it is implicated in cell autonomous functions and multiple regulatory functions in the tumor microenvironment. AREAS COVERED This article summarizes the current knowledge about activin A in cell growth and death, migration and metastasis, angiogenesis, stemness and drug resistance, regulation of antitumor immunity, and cancer cachexia. We explore the role of activin A as a biomarker and discuss strategies for using it as target for cancer therapy. Literature retrieved from Medline until 25 June 2020 was considered. EXPERT OPINION While many functions of activin A were investigated in preclinical models, there is currently limited experience from clinical trials. Activin A has growth- and migration-promoting effects, contributes to immune evasion and cachexia and is associated with shorter survival in several cancer types. Targeting activin A could offer the chance to simultaneously limit tumor growth and spreading, improve drug response, boost antitumor immune responses and improve cancer-associated or treatment-associated cachexia, bone loss, and anemia. Nevertheless, defining which patients have the highest likelihood of benefiting from these effects is challenging and will require further work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ries
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Schelch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - David Falch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Pany
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - Mir Alireza Hoda
- Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Grusch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
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Cheng WL, Zhang Q, Cao JL, Chen XL, Li W, Zhang L, Chao SP, Zhao F. ALK7 Acts as a Positive Regulator of Macrophage Activation through Down-Regulation of PPARγ Expression. J Atheroscler Thromb 2020; 28:375-384. [PMID: 32641645 PMCID: PMC8147563 DOI: 10.5551/jat.54445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) acts as a key receptor for TGF-β family members, which play important roles in regulating cardiovascular activity. However, ALK7's potential role, and underlying mechanism, in the macrophage activation involved in atherogenesis remain unexplored. Methods: ALK7 expression in macrophages was tested by RT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence co-staining. The loss-of-function strategy using AdshALK7 was performed for functional study. Oil Red O staining was used to observe the foam cell formation, while inflammatory mediators and genes related to cholesterol efflux and influx were determined by RT-PCR and western blot. A PPARγ inhibitor (G3335) was used to reveal whether PPARγ was required for ALK7 to affect macrophage activation. Results: The results exhibited upregulated ALK7 expression in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) induced bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) and mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs), isolated from ApoE-deficient mice, while ALK7's strong immunoreactivity in BMDMs was observed. ALK7 knockdown significantly attenuated pro-inflammatory, but promoted anti-inflammatory, macrophage markers expression. Additionally, ALK7 silencing decreased foam cell formation, accompanied by the up-regulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 involved in cholesterol efflux but the down-regulation of CD36 and SR-A implicated in cholesterol influx. Mechanistically, ALK7 knockdown upregulated PPARγ expression, which was required for the ameliorated effect of ALK7 silencing macrophage activation. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that ALK7 was a positive regulator for macrophage activation, partially through down-regulation of PPARγ expression, which suggested that neutralizing ALK7 might be promising therapeutic strategy for treating atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Lin Cheng
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan hospital, Wuhan University
| | - Quan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | - Jian-Lei Cao
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan hospital, Wuhan University
| | - Xi-Lu Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital,Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | - Wenyan Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Hospital of Nanchang
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan hospital, Wuhan University
| | - Sheng-Ping Chao
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan hospital, Wuhan University
| | - Fang Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan hospital, Wuhan University
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ALK7 Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Phenotypic Modulation by Negative Regulating PPARγ Expression. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2020; 76:237-245. [PMID: 32467530 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000000857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
As a receptor for transforming growth factor-β, nodal and activin, activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) previously acts as a suppressor of tumorigenesis and metastasis, which has emerged to play a key role in cardiovascular diseases. However, the potential effect and molecular mechanism of ALK7 on vascular smooth muscle cells' (VSMCs) phenotypic modulation have not been investigated. Using cultured mouse VSMCs with platelet-derived growth factor-BB administration, we observed that ALK7 showed a significantly increased expression in VSMCs accompanied by decreased VSMCs differentiation marker genes. Loss-of-function study demonstrated that ALK7 knockdown inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-BB-induced VSMCs phenotypic modulation characterized by increased VSMCs differentiation markers, reduced proliferation, and migration of VSMCs. Such above effects were reversed by ALK7 overexpression. Notably, we noticed that ALK7 silencing dramatically enhanced PPARγ expression, which was required for the attenuated effect of ALK7 knockdown on VSMCs phenotypic modulation. Collected, we identified that ALK7 acted as a novel and positive regulator for VSMCs phenotypic modulation partially through inactivation of PPARγ, which suggested that neutralization of ALK7 might act as a promising therapeutic strategy of intimal hyperplasia.
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Maya-Ramos L, Mikawa T. Programmed cell death along the midline axis patterns ipsilaterality in gastrulation. Science 2020; 367:197-200. [PMID: 31919222 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw2731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Bilateral symmetry is the predominant body plan in the animal kingdom. Cells on the left and right sides remain compartmentalized on their ipsilateral side throughout life, but with occasional variation, as evidenced by gynandromorphs and human disorders. How this evolutionarily conserved body plan is programmed remains a fundamental yet unanswered question. Here, we show that germ-layer patterning in avian gastrulation is ipsilateral despite cells undergoing highly invasive mesenchymal transformation and cell migration. Contralateral invasion is suppressed by extracellular matrix (ECM) and programmed cell death (PCD) along the embryonic midline. Ipsilateral gastrulation was lost by midline ECM and PCD inhibition but restored with exogenously induced PCD. Our data support ipsilaterality as an integral component of bilaterality and highlight a positive functional role of PCD in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisandro Maya-Ramos
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Takashi Mikawa
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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A Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of the Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Cell Lines BON-1 and QGP-1. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030691. [PMID: 32183367 PMCID: PMC7140066 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental models of neuroendocrine tumor disease are scarce, with only a few existing neuroendocrine tumor cell lines of pancreatic origin (panNET). Their molecular characterization has so far focused on the neuroendocrine phenotype and cancer-related mutations, while a transcription-based assessment of their developmental origin and malignant potential is lacking. In this study, we performed immunoblotting and qPCR analysis of neuroendocrine, epithelial, developmental endocrine-related genes as well as next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of microRNAs (miRs) on three panNET cell lines, BON-1, QGP-1, and NT-3. All three lines displayed a neuroendocrine and epithelial phenotype; however, while insulinoma-derived NT-3 cells preferentially expressed markers of mature functional pancreatic β-cells (i.e., INS, MAFA), both BON-1 and QGP-1 displayed high expression of genes associated with immature or non-functional β/δ-cells genes (i.e., NEUROG3), or pancreatic endocrine progenitors (i.e., FOXA2). NGS-based identification of miRs in BON-1 and QGP-1 cells revealed the presence of all six members of the miR-17–92 cluster, which have been implicated in β-cell function and differentiation, but also have roles in cancer being both oncogenic or tumor suppressive. Notably, both BON-1 and QGP-1 cells expressed several miRs known to be negatively associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition, invasion or metastasis. Moreover, both cell lines failed to exhibit migratory activity in vitro. Taken together, NT-3 cells resemble mature functional β-cells, while both BON-1 and QGP-1 are more similar to immature/non-functional pancreatic β/δ-cells or pancreatic endocrine progenitors. Based on the recent identification of three transcriptional subtypes in panNETs, NT-3 cells resemble the “islet/insulinoma tumors” (IT) subtype, while BON-1 and QGP-1 cells were tentatively classified as “metastasis-like/primary” (MLP). Our results provide a comprehensive characterization of three panNET cell lines and demonstrate their relevance as neuroendocrine tumor models.
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Fingolimod inhibits proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in sacral chordoma by inactivating IL-6/STAT3 signalling. Biosci Rep 2020; 40:222049. [PMID: 32027356 PMCID: PMC7029154 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20200221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To explore the sensitivity of the immunosuppressive agent fingolimod (FTY720) in chordoma and determine whether it can serve as an appropriate alternate treatment for unresectable tumours in patients after incomplete surgery. Methods: Cell viability assays, colony formation assays and EdU assays were performed to evaluate the sensitivity of chordoma cell lines to FTY720. Transwell invasion assays, wound healing assays, flow cytometry, cell cycle analysis, immunofluorescence analysis, Western blotting analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were performed to evaluate cell invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activation of related pathways after treatment with FTY720. The effect of FTY720 was also evaluated in vivo in a xenograft model. Results: We found that FTY720 inhibited the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of sacral chordoma cells (P < 0.01). FTY720 also inhibited the proliferation of tumour cells in a xenograft model using sacral chordoma cell lines (P < 0.01). The mechanism was related to the EMT and apoptosis of chordoma cells and inactivation of IL-6/STAT3 signalling in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that FTY720 may be an effective therapeutic agent against chordoma. These findings suggest that FTY720 is a novel agent that can treat locally advanced and metastatic chordoma.
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Abstract
Overcoming intrinsic and extrinsic tumor-suppressive barriers is an essential feature of tumor progression. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Michael et al. (2019) use the RIP-Tag mouse model to show that pro-apoptotic signals mediated by the Activin B-ALK7 axis suppress ectopic proliferation and metastasis during pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Li
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Andrea Ventura
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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26
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Abstract
The capabilities for invasion and metastasis underlie the mortality and morbidity of most forms of human cancer. Currently, there are no effective therapies specifically targeting these cancer phenotypes, in part due to the paucity of dominant mutations that induce them, and indeed losses of suppressors of invasion and metastasis are increasingly recognized as determinants, posing challenges for drug development. Our results implicate epigenetic gene regulation mediated by elevated expression of distinct microRNAs in orchestrating invasion and metastasis, evidently by abrogating distinctive suppressor mechanisms. Therefore, targeting such microRNAs holds promise as a strategy to combat malignant cancers with epigenetically disrupted tumor suppressor mechanisms. MicroRNA-mediated gene regulation has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer. This study examined the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) during tumorigenesis and malignant progression of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) in a genetically engineered mouse model. Previously, a set of miRNAs was observed to be specifically up-regulated in a highly invasive and metastatic subtype of mouse and human PanNET. Using functional assays, we now implicate different miRNAs in distinct phenotypes: miR-137 stimulates tumor growth and local invasion, whereas the miR-23b cluster enables metastasis. An algorithm, Bio-miRTa, has been developed to facilitate the identification of biologically relevant miRNA target genes and applied to these miRNAs. We show that a top-ranked miR-137 candidate gene, Sorl1, has a tumor suppressor function in primary PanNETs. Among the top targets for the miR-23b cluster, Acvr1c/ALK7 has recently been described to be a metastasis suppressor, and we establish herein that it is down-regulated by the miR-23b cluster, which is crucial for its prometastatic activity. Two other miR-23b targets, Robo2 and P2ry1, also have demonstrable antimetastatic effects. Finally, we have used the Bio-miRTa algorithm in reverse to identify candidate miRNAs that might regulate activin B, the principal ligand for ALK7, identifying thereby a third family of miRNAs—miRNA-130/301—that is congruently up-regulated concomitant with down-regulation of activin B during tumorigenesis, suggestive of functional involvement in evasion of the proapoptotic barrier. Thus, dynamic up-regulation of miRNAs during multistep tumorigenesis and malignant progression serves to down-regulate distinctive suppressor mechanisms of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
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Synaptic proximity enables NMDAR signalling to promote brain metastasis. Nature 2019; 573:526-531. [PMID: 31534217 PMCID: PMC6837873 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1576-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 289] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis - the disseminated growth of tumours in distant organs – underlies cancer mortality. Breast-to-brain metastasis (B2BM) is disconcertingly common and disruptive, being prevalent in the aggressive basal-like subtype, albeit evident at varying frequencies in all subtypes. Previous studies revealed parameters of breast cancer metastasis to brain, but its preference for this site remains an enigma. Herein we show that B2BM cells co-opt a neuronal signaling pathway recently implicated in invasive tumour growth, involving activation by glutamate ligand of an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), whose signaling is demonstrably instrumental in model systems for metastatic colonization of the brain, and associated with poor prognosis. While NMDAR receptor activation is autocrine in some primary tumour types, human and mouse B2BM cells express receptors but secrete insufficient glutamate to activate signaling, which is instead supplied via the formation of pseudo-tripartite synapses between cancer cells and glutamatergic neurons, presenting an insidious rationale for brain metastasis.
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