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Myo Min KK, Ffrench CB, McClure BJ, Ortiz M, Dorward EL, Samuel MS, Ebert LM, Mahoney MG, Bonder CS. Desmoglein-2 as a cancer modulator: friend or foe? Front Oncol 2023; 13:1327478. [PMID: 38188287 PMCID: PMC10766750 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1327478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Desmoglein-2 (DSG2) is a calcium-binding single pass transmembrane glycoprotein and a member of the large cadherin family. Until recently, DSG2 was thought to only function as a cell adhesion protein embedded within desmosome junctions designed to enable cells to better tolerate mechanical stress. However, additional roles for DSG2 outside of desmosomes are continuing to emerge, particularly in cancer. Herein, we review the current literature on DSG2 in cancer and detail its impact on biological functions such as cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, invasion, intracellular signaling, extracellular vesicle release and vasculogenic mimicry. An increased understanding of the diverse repertoire of the biological functions of DSG2 holds promise to exploit this cell surface protein as a potential prognostic biomarker and/or target for better patient outcomes. This review explores the canonical and non-canonical functions of DSG2, as well as the context-dependent impacts of DSG2 in the realm of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay K. Myo Min
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Charlie B. Ffrench
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Barbara J. McClure
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Michael Ortiz
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Emma L. Dorward
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Michael S. Samuel
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Basil Hetzel Institute, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, SA, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Lisa M. Ebert
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Mỹ G. Mahoney
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Claudine S. Bonder
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Ramirez-Velez I, Belardi B. Storming the gate: New approaches for targeting the dynamic tight junction for improved drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114905. [PMID: 37271282 PMCID: PMC10999255 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
As biologics used in the clinic outpace the number of new small molecule drugs, an important challenge for their efficacy and widespread use has emerged, namely tissue penetrance. Macromolecular drugs - bulky, high-molecular weight, hydrophilic agents - exhibit low permeability across biological barriers. Epithelial and endothelial layers, for example within the gastrointestinal tract or at the blood-brain barrier, present the most significant obstacle to drug transport. Within epithelium, two subcellular structures are responsible for limiting absorption: cell membranes and intercellular tight junctions. Previously considered impenetrable to macromolecular drugs, tight junctions control paracellular flux and dictate drug transport between cells. Recent work, however, has shown tight junctions to be dynamic, anisotropic structures that can be targeted for delivery. This review aims to summarize new approaches for targeting tight junctions, both directly and indirectly, and to highlight how manipulation of tight junction interactions may help usher in a new era of precision drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Ramirez-Velez
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Brian Belardi
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States.
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In vivo HSC transduction in rhesus macaques with an HDAd5/3+ vector targeting desmoglein 2 and transiently over-expressing cxcr4. Blood Adv 2022; 6:4360-4372. [PMID: 35679480 PMCID: PMC9636333 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a new in vivo hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy approach that involves only intravenous injections and does not require myeloablation/conditioning and HSC transplantation. In this approach, HSCs are mobilized from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood stream and transduced with intravenously injected helper-dependent adenovirus (HDAd) vectors. A fraction of transduced HSCs returns to the bone marrow and persists there long-term. Here, we report desmoglein 2 (DSG2) as a new receptor that can be employed for in in vivo HSC transduction. We developed HDAd5/3+ vectors that use DSG2 as a high-affinity attachment receptor and studied in vivo HSC transduction and safety after intravenous injection of an HDAd5/3+GFP vector in G-CSF/AMD3100(Plerixafor)-mobilized rhesus macaques. Unlike previously used CD46-targeting HDAd5/35++ vectors, HDAd5/3+ virions were not sequestered by rhesus erythrocytes and therefore mediated ~10-fold higher GFP marking rates in primitive HSCs (CD34+/CD45RA-/CD90+ cells) in the bone marrow at day 7 after vector injection. To further increase the return of in vivo transduced, mobilized HSCs to the bone marrow, we transiently expressed CXC motif chemokine receptor 4 (cxcr4) in mobilized HSCs from the HDAd5/3+ vector. In vivo transduction with a HDAd5/3+GFP/cxcr4 vector at a low dose of 0.4x1012vp/kg resulted in up to 7% of GFP-positive CD34+/CD45RA-/CD90+ cells in the bone marrow. This transduction rate is a solid basis for in vivo base or prime editing in combination with natural or drug-induced expansion of edited HSCs. Furthermore, our study provides new insights into HSC biology and trafficking after mobilization in non-human primates.
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