Downregulation of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor through inhibition of translation by antisense oligonucleotide suppresses invasion of human glioblastoma cells

Inhibition of NF- κ B by Dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin Suppresses Invasion and Synergistically Potentiates Temozolomide and γ -Radiation Cytotoxicity in Glioblastoma Cells

Despite advances in neurosurgery and aggressive treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation, the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains poor. Vast evidence has indicated that the nuclear factor NF-κB is constitutively activated in cancer cells, playing key roles in growth and survival. Recently, Dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) has shown to be a selective NF-κB inhibitor with antiproliferative properties in GBM. In the present study, the ability of DHMEQ to surmount tumor's invasive nature and therapy resistance were further explored. Corroborating results showed that DHMEQ impaired cell growth in dose- and time-dependent manners with G2/M arrest when compared with control. Clonogenicity was also significantly diminished with increased apoptosis, though necrotic cell death was also observed at comparable levels. Notably, migration and invasion were inhibited accordingly with lowered expression of invasion-related genes. Moreover, concurrent combination with TMZ synergistically inhibited cell growth in all cell lines, as determined by proliferation and caspase-3 activation assays, though in those that express O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, the synergistic effects were schedule dependent. Pretreatment with DHMEQ equally sensitized cells to ionizing radiation. Taken together, our results strengthen the potential usefulness of DHMEQ in future therapeutic strategies for tumors that do not respond to conventional approaches.

uPA and uPAR shRNA inhibit angiogenesis via enhanced secretion of SVEGFR1 independent of GM-CSF but dependent on TIMP-1 in endothelial and glioblastoma cells

The uPA/uPAR system is known to play a critical role in angiogenesis of glioblastoma. Previously, we have shown that shRNA against uPA and uPAR attenuates angiogenesis by blocking nuclear translocation of angiogenin, inhibition of angiopoietin/Tie2 signaling, and regulating several other pro-angiogenic, angiostatic and anti-angiogenic molecules. Further analysis revealed that GM-CSF, a pleiotropic cytokine, was significantly inhibited in U87MG and 4910 co-cultures with endothelial cells transfected with shRNA against uPA and uPAR. The role of the uPA/uPAR system in this process is not completely understood. Analysis of tumor conditioned medium of U87MG, 4910 and HMECs transfected with shRNA against uPA or uPAR alone or in combination (pU2) revealed inhibition of GM-CSF-enhanced secretion of SVEGFR1 as shown by Western blotting and ELISA. Moreover, phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT5, the downstream effectors of GM-CSF signaling, was also inhibited in all three cell lines. Phosphorylation at Tyr 166 position of the GM-CSFRβ subunit, the signal activating subunit of the GM-CSF receptor, was inhibited in HMEC, U87MG and 4910 cells. Further analysis revealed that shRNA against uPA and/or uPAR increased secretion of TIMP-1, which is known to enhance SVEGFR1 secretion in endothelial cells. Moreover, addition of purified uPA (with and without GM-CSF) activated JAK2/STAT5 signaling in HMEC. Exogenous addition of SVEGFR1 to pU2 tumor conditioned medium enhanced inhibition of VEGF-induced endothelial capillary tube formation as assessed by an in vitro angiogenesis assay. To determine the significance of these events in vivo, nude mice with pre-established tumors treated with shRNA against uPA and/or uPAR showed decreased levels of GM-CSF and increased levels of SVEGFR1 and TIMP-1 when compared with controls. Enhanced secretion of SVEGFR1 by puPA, puPAR and pU2 in endothelial and GBM cells was mediated indirectly by MMP-7 and augmented by ectodomain shedding of VEGFr1 by tyrosine phosphorylation at the 1213 position. Taken together, these results suggest that the uPA/uPAR system could prove beneficial as an indirect target for inhibition of angiogenesis in glioblastoma.

Downregulation of uPARAP mediates cytoskeletal rearrangements and decreases invasion and migration properties in glioma cells

To identify molecular therapeutic targets for glioma, we performed gene expression profiling by using a complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray method and identified the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-associated protein (uPARAP/Endo180) as a gene expressed highly in glioma tissue compared with the normal brain tissue. The uPARAP is an endocytic receptor for collagen. In certain cell types, uPARAP occurs in a complex with the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) where it fulfills other functions in addition to collagenolysis. Quantitative PCR analysis using a cDNA panel revealed higher expression levels of uPARAP in glioma tissue compared with normal brain tissue. Western blot analysis revealed that the uPARAP protein was expressed in glioma samples and two glioma cell lines, KNS42 and KNS81, but not expressed in control tissue from the normal brain. Introduction of small interfering RNA-targeted uPARAP into the two different glioma cell lines, KNS42 and KNS81, resulted in downregulation of uPARAP expression, and it significantly suppressed glioma cell migration and invasion in vitro. Control glioma cells showed small cell bodies, whereas uPARAP siRNA-treated glioma cells exhibited large and flat morphology. Most of the polymeric actin in the control glioma cells was concentrated in the lamellipodia that are observed in mobile cells. In contrast, in the uPARAP siRNA-treated glioma cells, polymeric actin became organized in stress fibers and the lamellipodia disappeared, characteristic of immobile cells. Our present study suggests that uPARAP may be involved in glioma cell invasiveness through actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. downregulation of uPARAP may be a novel anti-invasion therapeutic strategy for malignant gliomas.

Suppression of uPA and uPAR attenuates angiogenin mediated angiogenesis in endothelial and glioblastoma cell lines

Background

In our earlier reports, we showed that downregulation of uPA and uPAR inhibited glioma tumor angiogenesis in SNB19 cells, and intraperitoneal injection of a hairpin shRNA expressing plasmid targeting uPA and uPAR inhibited angiogenesis in nude mice. The exact mechanism by which inhibition of angiogenesis takes place is not clearly understood.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In the present study, we have attempted to investigate the mechanism by which uPA/uPAR downregulation by shRNA inhibits angiogenesis in endothelial and glioblastoma cell lines. uPA/uPAR downregulation by shRNA in U87 MG and U87 SPARC co-cultures with endothelial cells inhibited angiogenesis as assessed by in vitro angiogenesis assay and in vivo dorsal skin-fold chamber model in nude mice. Protein antibody array analysis of co-cultures of U87 and U87 SPARC cells with endothelial cells treated with pU2 (shRNA against uPA and uPAR) showed decreased angiogenin secretion and angiopoietin-1 as well as several other pro-angiogenic molecules. Therefore, we investigated the role of angiogenin and found that nuclear translocation, ribonucleolytic and 45S rRNA synthesis, which are all critical for angiogenic function of angiogenin, were significantly inhibited in endothelial cells transfected with uPA, uPAR and uPA/uPAR when compared with controls. Moreover, uPA and uPAR downregulation significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of Tie-2 receptor and also down regulated FKHR activation in the nucleus of endothelial cells via the GRB2/AKT/BAD pathway. Treatment of endothelial cells with ruPA increased angiogenin secretion and angiogenin expression as determined by ELISA and western blotting in a dose-dependent manner. The amino terminal fragment of uPA down regulated ruPA-induced angiogenin in endothelial cells, thereby suggesting that uPA plays a critical role in positively regulating angiogenin in glioblastoma cells.

Conclusions/Significance

Taken together, our results suggest that uPA/uPAR downregulation suppresses angiogenesis in endothelial cells induced by glioblastoma cell lines partially by downregulation of angiogenin and by inhibition of the angiopoietin-1/AKT/FKHR pathway.

Co-depletion of cathepsin B and uPAR induces G0/G1 arrest in glioma via FOXO3a mediated p27 upregulation

Background

Cathepsin B and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) are both known to be overexpressed in gliomas. Our previous work and that of others strongly suggest a relationship between the infiltrative phenotype of glioma and the expression of cathepsin B and uPAR. Though their role in migration and adhesion are well studied the effect of these molecules on cell cycle progression has not been thoroughly examined.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Cathespin B and uPAR single and bicistronic siRNA plasmids were used to downregulate these molecules in SNB19 and U251 glioma cells. FACS analysis and BrdU incorporation assay demonstrated G0/G1 arrest and decreased proliferation with the treatments, respectively. Immunoblot and immunocyto analysis demonstrated increased expression of p27^Kip1 and its nuclear localization with the knockdown of cathepsin B and uPAR. These effects could be mediated by αVβ3/PI3K/AKT/FOXO pathway as observed by the decreased αVβ3 expression, PI3K and AKT phosphorylation accompanied by elevated FOXO3a levels. These results were further confirmed with the increased expression of p27^Kip1 and FOXO3a when treated with Ly294002 (10 µM) and increased luciferase expression with the siRNA and Ly294002 treatments when the FOXO binding promoter region of p27^Kip1 was used. Our treatment also reduced the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, p-Rb and cyclin E while the expression of Cdk2 was unaffected. Of note, the Cdk2-cyclin E complex formation was reduced significantly.

Conclusion/Significance

Our study indicates that cathepsin B and uPAR knockdown induces G0/G1 arrest by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and further increases expression of p27^Kip1 accompanied by the binding of FOXO3a to its promoter. Taken together, our findings provide molecular mechanism for the G0/G1 arrest induced by the downregulation of cathepsin B and uPAR in SNB19 and U251 glioma cells.

Tyrosine-kinase inhibition results in EGFR clustering at focal adhesions and consequent exocytosis in uPAR down-regulated cells of head and neck cancers

Background

Antisense (AS) induced down-regulation of uPAR in ACCS adenoid-cyctic carcinoma cells decreased the cellular adhesion and invasion on various extracellular matrices. Additionally, ACCS-AS cells showed an increased EGFR expression and other behavioral similarities to NA-SCC, a typical highly proliferative but less invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell line of the head and neck. ACCS, ACCS-AS and NA-SCC cells were used to elucidate the relationships between uPAR down-regulation and EGFR inhibition.

Results

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor Gefitinib (IRESSA, ZD 1839) significantly reduced the chemotactic cell migration and adhesion. This was associated with reduced EGFR and ERK activation. In addition, anti-proliferative effect of gefitinib in uPAR down-regulated ACCS-AS was significantly higher than parental ACCS, to levels comparable to gefitinib-sensitive NA-SCC cells. This was evidenced by both reduced dosage and duration of treatment. Furthermore, time-lapse videography showed that treatment with gefitinib was also associated with cell rounding and loss of pseudopodia, mostly in ACCS-AS rather than parental ACCS cells. There were also evidences of formation and exocytosis of vacuole-like structures in ACCS-AS, as well as NA-SCC, but not in parental ACCS cells. Interestingly, immunocytochemistry showed that the exocytotic vacuoles actually contained de-activated EGFR.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that down-regulation of uPAR affected the fate of EGFR in high EGFR expressing cells. Furthermore, combining the uPAR down-regulation with EGFR inhibition showed a synergistic anti-tumor effect and might provide an alternative method to increase anti-proliferative effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors with lower doses and duration to reduce their side effects during cancer control.

RNA interference-mediated simultaneous down-regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and cathepsin B induces caspase-8-mediated apoptosis in SNB19 human glioma cells

The invasive character of gliomas depends on proteolytic cleavage of the surrounding extracellular matrix. Cathepsin B and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) together are known to be overexpressed in gliomas and, as such, are attractive targets for gene therapy. In the present study, we used plasmid constructs to induce the RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated down-regulation of uPAR and cathepsin B in SNB19 human glioma cells. We observed that the simultaneous down-regulation of uPAR and cathepsin B induces the up-regulation of proapoptotic genes and initiates a collapse in mitochondrial Deltapsi. Cathepsin B and uPAR down-regulated cells showed increases in the expression of activated caspase-8 and DFF40/caspase-activated DNase. Nuclear translocation of AIF and Fas ligand translocation to the cell membrane were also observed. Ki67 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein levels decreased, thereby indicating apoptosis. These results suggest the involvement of uPAR-cathepsin B complex on the cell surface and its role in maintaining the viability of SNB19 glioma cells. In conclusion, RNAi-mediated down-regulation of uPAR and cathepsin B initiates a partial extrinsic apoptotic cascade accompanied by the nuclear translocation of AIF. Our study shows the potential of RNAi-mediated down-regulation of uPAR and cathepsin B in developing new therapeutics for gliomas.

Specific Interference of Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Gene Expression Induced by Double-stranded RNA Results in Decreased Invasion, Tumor Growth, and Angiogenesis in Gliomas

We have previously demonstrated the effectiveness of adenovirus-mediated expression of antisense urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in inhibiting tumor invasion in vitro and ex vivo. However, the therapeutic effect of the adenovirus-mediated antisense approach was shown to be transient and required potentially toxic, high viral doses. In contrast, RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene targeting may be superior to the traditional antisense approach, because the target mRNA is completely degraded and the molar ratio of siRNA required to degrade the target mRNA is very low. Here, we have examined the siRNA-mediated target RNA degradation of uPAR and MMP-9 in human glioma cell lines. Using RNAi directed toward uPAR and MMP-9, we achieved specific inhibition of uPAR and MMP-9. This bicistronic construct (pUM) inhibited the formation of capillary-like structures in both in vitro and in vivo models of angiogenesis. We demonstrated that blocking the expression of these genes results in significant inhibition of glioma tumor invasion in Matrigel and spheroid invasion assay models. RNAi for uPAR and MMP-9 inhibited cell proliferation, and significantly reduced the levels of phosphorylated forms of MAPK, ERK, and AKT signaling pathway molecules when compared with parental and empty vector/scrambled vector-transfected SNB19 cells. Furthermore, using RNAi to simultaneously target two proteases resulted in total regression of pre-established intracerebral tumor growth. Our results provide evidence that the use of hairpin siRNA expression vectors for uPAR and MMP-9 may provide an effective tool for cancer therapy.

Downregulation of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression inhibits Erk signalling with concomitant suppression of invasiveness due to loss of uPAR-beta1 integrin complex in colon cancer cells

Cancer invasion is regulated by cell surface proteinases and adhesion molecules. Interaction between specific cell surface molecules such as urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and integrins is crucial for tumour invasion and metastasis. In this study, we examined whether uPAR and beta1 integrin form a functional complex to mediate signalling required for tumour invasion. We assessed the expression of uPAR/beta1 integrin complex, Erk signalling pathway, adhesion, uPA and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, migration/invasion and matrix degradation in a colon cancer cell line in which uPAR expression was modified. Antisense inhibition of the cell surface expression of uPAR by 50% in human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells (A/S) suppressed Erk-MAP kinase activity by two-fold. Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor antisense treatment of HCT116 cells was associated with a 1.3-fold inhibition of adhesion, approximately four-fold suppression of HMW-uPA secretion and inhibition of pro-MMP-9 secretion. At a functional level, uPAR antisense resulted in a four-fold decline in migration/invasion and abatement of plasmin-mediated matrix degradation. In empty vector-transfected cells (mock), uPA strongly elevated basal Erk activation. In contrast, in A/S cells, uPA induction of Erk activation was not observed. Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor associated with beta1 integrin in mock-transfected cells. Disruption of uPAR-beta1 integrin complex in mock-transfected cells with a specific peptide (P25) inhibited uPA-mediated Erk-MAP kinase pathway and inhibited migration/invasion and plasmin-dependent matrix degradation through suppression of pro-MMP-9/MMP-2 expression. This novel paradigm of uPAR-integrin signalling may afford opportunities for alternative therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer.

The role of the plasminogen activation cascade in glioma cell invasion: a review

Tumour cell invasion is a dynamic process that depends on a co-ordinated series of biochemical events. This review discusses the role of the proteolytic enzyme system, the plasminogen activation cascade, in glioma cell invasion.

Adenovirus-mediated expression of antisense MMP-9 in glioma cells inhibits tumor growth and invasion

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is known to play a major role in cell migration and invasion in both physiological and pathological processes. Our previous work has shown that increased MMP-9 levels are associated with human glioma tumor progression. In this study, we evaluated the ability of an adenovirus containing a 528 bp cDNA sequence in antisense orientation to the 5' end of the human MMP-9 gene (Ad-MMP-9AS) to inhibit the invasiveness and migratory capacity of the human glioblastoma cell line SBN19 in in vitro and in vivo models. Infection of glioma cells with Ad-MMP-9AS reduced MMP-9 enzyme activity by approximately 90% compared with mock- or Ad-CMV-infected cells. Migration and invasion of glioblastoma cells infected with Ad-MMP-9AS were significantly inhibited relative to Ad-CMV-infected controls in spheroid and Matrigel assays. Intracranial injections of SNB19 cells infected with Ad-MMP-9AS did not produce tumors in nude mice. However, injecting the Ad-MMP-9AS construct into subcutaneous U87MG tumors in nude mice caused regression of tumor growth. These results support the theory that adenoviral-mediated delivery of the MMP-9 gene in the antisense orientation has therapeutic potential for treating gliomas.

Antisense MBD2 gene therapy inhibits tumorigenesis

BACKGROUND

Aberration in the pattern of DNA methylation is one of the hallmarks of cancer. We present data suggesting that dysregulation of MBD2, a recently characterized member of a novel family of methylated DNA binding proteins, is involved in tumorigenesis. Two functions were ascribed to MBD2, DNA demethylase activity and repression of methylated genes.

METHODS

Multiple antisense expression and delivery systems, transfection, electrotransfer and adenoviral were employed to demonstrate that MBD2 is essential in tumorigenesis, both ex vivo and in vivo.

RESULTS

Inhibition of MBD2 by antisense expression resulted in inhibition of anchorage-independent growth of antisense transfected cancer cells or cells infected with an adenoviral vector expressing MBD2 antisense. Xenograft tumors treated with an adenoviral vector expressing MBD2 antisense or xenografts treated with electrotransferred plasmids expressing MBD2 antisense showed reduced growth.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the hypothesis that one or both of the functions described for MBD2 are critical in tumorigenesis and that MBD2 is a potential anticancer target.

Biological mechanisms of glioma invasion and potential therapeutic targets

The current understanding of glioma biology reveals targets for anti-invasive therapy which include manipulations of extracellular matrix and receptors, growth factors and cytokines, proteases, cytoskeletal components, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. A better understanding of the complex regulation and the signalling molecules involved in glioma invasion is still needed in order to design new and effective treatment modalities towards invasive tumor cells. Representative and valid in vitro experimental systems and animal models of gliomas are necessary for the characterization of the invasive phenotype and further development of anti-invasive therapy. In the future, it will probably be important to move from comparative genomic modelling through protein characterization based on advanced proteomic techniques to analyse tissue samples, where the aim for gliomas should be to compare invaded and non-invaded tissue. This will hopefully render promising new therapeutic targets for gliomas.