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Tocci P, Roman C, Sestito R, Caprara V, Sacconi A, Molineris I, Tonon G, Blandino G, Bagnato A. The endothelin-1-driven tumor-stroma feed-forward loops in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Clin Sci (Lond) 2024; 138:851-862. [PMID: 38884602 PMCID: PMC11230866 DOI: 10.1042/cs20240346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HG-SOC) tumor microenvironment (TME) is constellated by cellular elements and a network of soluble constituents that contribute to tumor progression. In the multitude of the secreted molecules, the endothelin-1 (ET-1) has emerged to be implicated in the tumor/TME interplay; however, the molecular mechanisms induced by the ET-1-driven feed-forward loops (FFL) and associated with the HG-SOC metastatic potential need to be further investigated. The tracking of the patient-derived (PD) HG-SOC cell transcriptome by RNA-seq identified the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene and its associated signature among those mostly up-regulated by ET-1 and down-modulated by the dual ET-1R antagonist macitentan. Within the ligand-receptor pairs concurrently expressed in PD-HG-SOC cells, endothelial cells and activated fibroblasts, we discovered two intertwined FFL, the ET-1/ET-1R and VEGF/VEGF receptors, concurrently activated by ET-1 and shutting-down by macitentan, or by the anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab. In parallel, we observed that ET-1 fine-tuned the tumoral and stromal secretome toward a pro-invasive pattern. Into the fray of the HG-SOC/TME double and triple co-cultures, the secretion of ET-1 and VEGF, that share a common co-regulation, was inhibited upon the administration of macitentan. Functionally, macitentan, mimicking the effect of bevacizumab, interfered with the HG-SOC/TME FFL-driven communication that fuels the HG-SOC invasive behavior. The identification of ET-1 and VEGF FFL as tumor and TME actionable vulnerabilities, reveals how ET-1R blockade, targeting the HG-SOC cells and the TME simultaneously, may represent an effective therapeutic option for HG-SOC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piera Tocci
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Celia Roman
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosanna Sestito
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Caprara
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCCS, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivan Molineris
- Department of Life Science and System Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tonon
- Center for Omics Sciences (COSR) and Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Blandino
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCCS, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Bagnato
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Arndt P, Turkowski K, Cekay M, Eul B, Grimminger F, Savai R. Endothelin and the tumor microenvironment: a finger in every pie. Clin Sci (Lond) 2024; 138:617-634. [PMID: 38785410 PMCID: PMC11130555 DOI: 10.1042/cs20240426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a central role in the development of cancer. Within this complex milieu, the endothelin (ET) system plays a key role by triggering epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, causing degradation of the extracellular matrix and modulating hypoxia response, cell proliferation, composition, and activation. These multiple effects of the ET system on cancer progression have prompted numerous preclinical studies targeting the ET system with promising results, leading to considerable optimism for subsequent clinical trials. However, these clinical trials have not lived up to the high expectations; in fact, the clinical trials have failed to demonstrate any substantiated benefit of targeting the ET system in cancer patients. This review discusses the major and recent advances of the ET system with respect to TME and comments on past and ongoing clinical trials of the ET system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp F. Arndt
- Lung Microenvironmental Niche in Cancerogenesis, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre (UGMLC), Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the DZL, Member of the CPI, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Kati Turkowski
- Lung Microenvironmental Niche in Cancerogenesis, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the DZL, Member of the CPI, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Michael J. Cekay
- Lung Microenvironmental Niche in Cancerogenesis, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre (UGMLC), Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Bastian Eul
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre (UGMLC), Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Friedrich Grimminger
- Lung Microenvironmental Niche in Cancerogenesis, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre (UGMLC), Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Rajkumar Savai
- Lung Microenvironmental Niche in Cancerogenesis, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre (UGMLC), Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the DZL, Member of the CPI, Bad Nauheim, Germany
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Del Rio D, Masi I, Caprara V, Ottavi F, Albertini Petroni G, Salvati E, Trisciuoglio D, Giannitelli SM, Bagnato A, Mauri E, Spadaro F, Rosanò L. The β-arrestin1/endothelin axis bolsters ovarian fibroblast-dependent invadosome activity and cancer cell metastatic potential. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:358. [PMID: 38777849 PMCID: PMC11111729 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06730-6] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Recruitment of fibroblasts to tumors and their activation into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is a strategy used by tumor cells to direct extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, invasion, and metastasis, highlighting the need to investigate the molecular mechanisms driving CAF function. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) regulates the communication between cancer and stroma and facilitates the progression of serous ovarian cancer (SOC). By binding to Endothelin A (ETA) and B (ETB) receptors, ET-1 enables the recruitment of β-arrestin1 (β-arr1) and the formation of signaling complexes that coordinate tumor progression. However, how ET-1 receptors might "educate" human ovarian fibroblasts (HOFs) to produce altered ECM and promote metastasis remains to be elucidated. This study identifies ET-1 as a pivotal factor in the activation of CAFs capable of proteolytic ECM remodeling and the generation of heterotypic spheroids containing cancer cells with a propensity to metastasize. An autocrine/paracrine ET-1/ETA/BR/β-arr1 loop enhances HOF proliferation, upregulates CAF marker expression, secretes pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increases collagen contractility, and cell motility. Furthermore, ET-1 facilitates ECM remodeling by promoting the lytic activity of invadosome and activation of integrin β1. In addition, ET-1 signaling supports the formation of heterotypic HOF/SOC spheroids with enhanced ability to migrate through the mesothelial monolayer, and invade, representing metastatic units. The blockade of ETA/BR or β-arr1 silencing prevents CAF activation, invadosome function, mesothelial clearance, and the invasive ability of heterotypic spheroids. In vivo, therapeutic inhibition of ETA/BR using bosentan (BOS) significantly reduces the metastatic potential of combined HOFs/SOC cells, associated with enhanced apoptotic effects on tumor cells and stromal components. These findings support a model in which ET-1/β-arr1 reinforces tumor/stroma interaction through CAF activation and fosters the survival and metastatic properties of SOC cells, which could be counteracted by ETA/BR antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danila Del Rio
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Ilenia Masi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Valentina Caprara
- Unit of Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Flavia Ottavi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Gabriele Albertini Petroni
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Erica Salvati
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Daniela Trisciuoglio
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Sara Maria Giannitelli
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, University Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, 00128, Italy
| | - Anna Bagnato
- Unit of Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Emanuele Mauri
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering, University Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Spadaro
- Confocal Microscopy Unit, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Laura Rosanò
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy.
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Huang J, Tang Y, Li Y, Wei W, Kang F, Tan S, Lin L, Lu X, Wei H, Wang N. ALDH1A3 contributes to tumorigenesis in high-grade serous ovarian cancer by epigenetic modification. Cell Signal 2024; 116:111044. [PMID: 38211842 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111044] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most lethal histotype of ovarian cancer due to its unspecific symptoms in part. ALDH1A3 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A3) is a key enzyme for acetyl-CoA production involving aggressive behaviors of cancers. However, ALDH1A3's effects and molecular mechanisms in HGSOC remain to be clarified. Using RNA-seq and publicly available datasets, ALDH1A3 was found to be highly expressed in HGSOC, and associated with poor survival. Knockdown of ALDH1A3 prevented HGSOC tumorigenesis and enhanced cell sensitivity to paclitaxel or cisplatin. ALDH1A3 expression in HGSOC cells was found to be increased by hypoxia, but decreased by HIF-1α inhibitor KC7F2. The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that the increased transcriptional activity of ALDH1A3 induced by HIF-1α overexpression was reduced by KC7F2. In addition, PITX1 (paired like homeodomain 1) was identified to be inhibited by ALDH1A3 knockdown, and PITX1 depletion inhibited cell proliferation. The mechanistic studies showed that ALDH1A3 knockdown reduced the acetylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac). Treatment of exogenous acetate with NaOAc or inhibition of histone deacetylase with Pracinostat increased H3K27ac and PITX1 levels. CHIP assay demonstrated a significant enrichment of H3K27ac at the PITX1 promoter, and ALDH1A3 knockdown reduced the binding between H3K27ac and PITX1. Taken together, our data suggest that ALDH1A3, transcriptional activated by HIF-1α, promotes tumorigenesis and decreases chemosensitivity by increasing H3K27ac of PITX1 promoter in HGSOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhen Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Pathology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
| | - Yibing Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
| | - Fuli Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
| | - Shuang Tan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
| | - Lin Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
| | - Xiaohang Lu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
| | - Heng Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China.
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Liu H, Xu Q, Wufuer H, Li Z, Sun R, Jiang Z, Dou X, Fu Q, Campisi J, Sun Y. Rutin is a potent senomorphic agent to target senescent cells and can improve chemotherapeutic efficacy. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e13921. [PMID: 37475161 PMCID: PMC10776113 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor for most chronic disorders, for which cellular senescence is one of the central hallmarks. Senescent cells develop the pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which significantly contributes to organismal aging and age-related disorders. Development of senotherapeutics, an emerging class of therapeutic agents to target senescent cells, allows to effectively delay aging and alleviate chronic pathologies. Here we report preliminary outputs from screening of a natural medicinal agent (NMA) library for senotherapeutic candidates and validated several agents with prominent potential as senomorphics. Rutin, a phytochemical constituent found in a number of plants, showed remarkable capacity in targeting senescent cells by dampening expression of the full spectrum SASP. Further analysis indicated that rutin restrains the acute stress-associated phenotype (ASAP) by specifically interfering with the interactions of ATM with HIF1α, a master regulator of cellular and systemic homeostasis activated during senescence, and of ATM with TRAF6, part of a key signaling axis supporting the ASAP development toward the SASP. Conditioned media produced by senescent stromal cells enhanced the malignant phenotypes of prostate cancer cells, including in vitro proliferation, migration, invasion, and more importantly, chemoresistance, while rutin remarkably downregulated these gain-of-functions. Although classic chemotherapy reduced tumor progression, the treatment outcome was substantially improved upon combination of a chemotherapeutic agent with rutin. Our study provides a proof of concept for rutin as an emerging natural senomorphic agent, and presents an effective therapeutic avenue for alleviating age-related pathologies including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanxin Liu
- Department of PharmacologyInstitute of Aging Medicine, Binzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Qixia Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and TumorShanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Halidan Wufuer
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and TumorShanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Zi Li
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Rong Sun
- Department of Discovery BiologyBioduro‐Sundia, Zhangjiang Hi‐Tech ParkShanghaiChina
| | - Zhirui Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and TumorShanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Xuefeng Dou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and TumorShanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Qiang Fu
- Department of PharmacologyInstitute of Aging Medicine, Binzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Judith Campisi
- Buck Institute for Research on AgingNovatoCaliforniaUSA
- Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Yu Sun
- Department of PharmacologyInstitute of Aging Medicine, Binzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and TumorShanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- Department of Medicine and VAPSHCSUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
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Hautiere M, Maffucci I, Costa N, Herbet A, Essono S, Padiolleau-Lefevre S, Boquet D. The functionality of a therapeutic antibody candidate restored by a single mutation from proline to threonine in the variable region. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2279867. [PMID: 38012091 PMCID: PMC10760395 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2279867] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
mAbs play an essential role in the therapeutic arsenal. Our laboratory has patented the Rendomab-B49 mAb targeting the endothelin B receptor (ETB). This G protein-coupled receptor plays a driving role in the progression of numerous cancers. We chimerized our mAb (xiRB49) to evaluate its preclinical therapeutic efficacy in different ETB+ tumor models with an antibody drug conjugate approach. As previously reported, the chimerization process of an antibody can alter its functionality. In this article, we present the chimerization of RB49. xiRB49 purified by Protein A remained perfectly soluble and did not aggregate, but it lost all its ability to recognize ETB. A detailed analysis of its variable region using IMGT tools allowed us to identify an unusual proline at position 125. In silico mAb modeling and in vitro experiments were performed for a better understanding of xiRB49 structure-function relationships. Our results show that the proline in position 125 on the heavy chain alters the xiRB49 CDR3 light chain conformation and its mutation to threonine allows complete functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Hautiere
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Irene Maffucci
- Centre de Recherche de Royallieu, CNRS UMR 7025, Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire, Compiègne Cedex, France
- Centre de Recherche de Royallieu, Sorbonne Universités, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire, Compiègne Cedex, France
| | - Narciso Costa
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Amaury Herbet
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Séverine Padiolleau-Lefevre
- Centre de Recherche de Royallieu, CNRS UMR 7025, Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire, Compiègne Cedex, France
- Centre de Recherche de Royallieu, Sorbonne Universités, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire, Compiègne Cedex, France
| | - Didier Boquet
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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