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Dumitru CS, Raica M. A Splice Form of VEGF, a Potential Anti-Angiogenetic Form of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer Inhibition. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8855. [PMID: 39201541 PMCID: PMC11354464 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168855] [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: 07/20/2024] [Revised: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis, primarily mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is a fundamental step in the progression and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Traditional anti-angiogenic therapies that target the VEGF pathway have shown promise but are often associated with significant side effects and variable efficacy due to the complexity of the angiogenic signaling pathway. This review highlights the potential of a specific VEGF splice form, VEGF165b, as an innovative therapeutic target for HNSCC. VEGF165b, unlike standard VEGF, is a natural inhibitor that binds to VEGF receptors without triggering pro-angiogenic signaling. Its distinct molecular structure and behavior suggest ways to modulate angiogenesis. This concept is particularly relevant when studying HNSCC, as introducing VEGF165b's anti-angiogenic properties offers a novel approach to understanding and potentially influencing the disease's dynamics. The review synthesizes experimental evidence suggesting the efficacy of VEGF165b in inhibiting tumor-induced angiogenesis and provides insight into a novel therapeutic strategy that could better manage HNSCC by selectively targeting aberrant vascular growth. This approach not only provides a potential pathway for more targeted and effective treatment options but also opens the door to a new paradigm in anti-angiogenic therapy with the possibility of reduced systemic toxicity. Our investigation is reshaping the future of HNSCC treatment by setting the stage for future research on VEGF splice variants as a tool for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Stefania Dumitru
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
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Mangrum DS, Finley SD. Modeling the heterogeneous apoptotic response of caspase-mediated signaling in tumor cells. J Theor Biol 2024; 590:111857. [PMID: 38797470 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2024.111857] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Resisting apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer. For this reason, it may be possible to force cancer cells to die by targeting components along the apoptotic signaling pathway. However, apoptosis signaling is challenging to understand due to dynamic and complex behaviors of ligands, receptors, and intracellular signaling components in response to cancer therapy. In this work, we forecast the apoptotic response based on the combined impact of these features. We expanded a previously established mathematical model of caspase-mediated apoptosis to include extracellular activation and receptor dynamics. In addition, three potential threshold values of caspase-3 necessary for the activation of apoptosis were selected to forecast which cells become apoptotic over time. We first vary ligand and receptor levels with the number of intracellular signaling proteins remaining consistent. Then, we vary the intracellular protein molecules in each simulated tumor cell to forecast the response of a heterogeneous population. By leveraging the benefits of computational modeling, we investigate the combined effect of several factors on the onset of apoptosis. This work provides quantitative insights for how the apoptotic signaling response can be forecasted, and precisely triggered, amongst heterogeneous cells via extracellular activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diamond S Mangrum
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Stacey D Finley
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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3
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Fang Y, Reinl EL, Liu A, Prochaska TD, Malik M, Frolova AI, England SK, Imoukhuede PI. Quantification of surface-localized and total oxytocin receptor in myometrial smooth muscle cells. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25761. [PMID: 38384573 PMCID: PMC10878913 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin acts through the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) to modulate uterine contractility. We previously identified OXTR genetic variants and showed that, in HEK293T cells, two of the OXTR protein variants localized to the cell surface less than wild-type OXTR. Here, we sought to measure OXTR in the more native human myometrial smooth muscle cell (HMSMC) line on both the cell-surface and across the whole cell, and used CRISPR editing to add an HA tag to the endogenous OXTR gene for anti-HA measurement. Quantitative flow cytometry revealed that these cells possessed 55,000 ± 3200 total OXTRs and 4900 ± 390 cell-surface OXTRs per cell. To identify any differential wild-type versus variant localization, we transiently transfected HMSMCs to exogenously express wild-type or variant OXTR with HA and green fluorescent protein tags. Total protein expression of wild-type OXTR and all tested variants were similar. However, the two variants with lower surface localization in HEK293T cells also presented lower surface localization in HMSMCs. Overall, we confirm the differential surface localization of variant OXTR in a more native cell type, and further demonstrate that the quantitative flow cytometry technique is adaptable to whole-cell measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingye Fang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Erin L. Reinl
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Audrey Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Trinidi D. Prochaska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Manasi Malik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Antonina I. Frolova
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Sarah K. England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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Bibak B, Shakeri F, Keshavarzi Z, Mollazadeh H, Javid H, Jalili-Nik M, Sathyapalan T, Afshari AR, Sahebkar A. Anticancer mechanisms of Berberine: a good choice for glioblastoma multiforme therapy. Curr Med Chem 2022; 29:4507-4528. [PMID: 35209812 DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220224112811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The most typical malignant brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), seems to have a grim outcome, despite the intensive multi-modality interventions. Literature suggests that biologically active phytomolecules may exert anticancer properties by regulating several signaling pathways. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has various pharmacological applications to combat severe diseases like cancer. Mechanistically, Berberine inhibits cell proliferation and invasion, suppresses tumor angiogenesis, and induces cell apoptosis. The effect of the antitumoral effect of Berberine in GBM is increasingly recognized. This review sheds new light on the regulatory signaling mechanisms of Berberine in various cancer, proposing its potential role as a therapeutic agent for GBM. .
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Bibak
- Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Shakeri
- Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Zakieh Keshavarzi
- Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Hamid Mollazadeh
- Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Hossein Javid
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Jalili-Nik
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Thozhukat Sathyapalan
- Academic Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Amir R Afshari
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Zhang Y, Wang H, Oliveira RHM, Zhao C, Popel AS. Systems biology of angiogenesis signaling: Computational models and omics. WIREs Mech Dis 2021; 14:e1550. [PMID: 34970866 PMCID: PMC9243197 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a highly regulated multiscale process that involves a plethora of cells, their cellular signal transduction, activation, proliferation, differentiation, as well as their intercellular communication. The coordinated execution and integration of such complex signaling programs is critical for physiological angiogenesis to take place in normal growth, development, exercise, and wound healing, while its dysregulation is critically linked to many major human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular disorders; it is also crucial in regenerative medicine. Although huge efforts have been devoted to drug development for these diseases by investigation of angiogenesis‐targeted therapies, only a few therapeutics and targets have proved effective in humans due to the innate multiscale complexity and nonlinearity in the process of angiogenic signaling. As a promising approach that can help better address this challenge, systems biology modeling allows the integration of knowledge across studies and scales and provides a powerful means to mechanistically elucidate and connect the individual molecular and cellular signaling components that function in concert to regulate angiogenesis. In this review, we summarize and discuss how systems biology modeling studies, at the pathway‐, cell‐, tissue‐, and whole body‐levels, have advanced our understanding of signaling in angiogenesis and thereby delivered new translational insights for human diseases. This article is categorized under:Cardiovascular Diseases > Computational Models Cancer > Computational Models
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hanwen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebeca Hannah M Oliveira
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Chen Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Synergic fabrication of combination therapy of Irinotecan and 5-Fluorouracil encapsulated polymeric nanoparticles for the treatment of gastric cancer therapy. Process Biochem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Liu D, Zhang W, Liu X, Qiu R. Precise engineering of hybrid molecules-loaded macromolecular nanoparticles shows in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy toward the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer cells. Drug Deliv 2021; 28:776-786. [PMID: 33866910 PMCID: PMC8079022 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2021.1902022] [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] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers continue to be the second leading cause of death worldwide. Despite the development and improvement of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in cancer management, effective tumor ablation strategies are still in need due to high cancer patient mortality. Hence, we have established a new approach to achieve treatment-actuated modifications in a tumor microenvironment by using synergistic activity between two potential anticancer drugs. Dual drug delivery of gemcitabine (GEM) and cisplatin (PT) exhibits a great anticancer potential, as GEM enhances the effect of PT treatment of human cells by providing stability of the microenvironment. However, encapsulation of GEM and PT fanatical by methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D, L-lactic acid) (PEG-PLA in termed as NPs) is incompetent owing to unsuitability between the binary Free GEM and PT core and the macromolecular system. Now, we display that PT can be prepared by hydrophobic coating of the dual drug centers with dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA). The DOPA-covered PT can be co-encapsulated in PLGA NPs alongside GEM to stimulate excellent anticancer property. The occurrence of the PT suggestively enhanced the encapsulations of GEM into PLGA NPs (GEM-PT NPs). Further, the morphology of GEM NPs, PT NPs, and GEM-PT NPs and nanoparticle size was examined by transmission microscopy (TEM), respectively. Furthermore GEM-PT NPs induced significant apoptosis in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 and SUNE1 cancer cells by in vitro. The morphological observation and apoptosis were confirmed by the various biochemical assays (AO-EB, nuclear staining, and annexin V-FITC). In a xenograft model of nasopharyngeal cancer, this nanotherapy shows a durable inhibition of tumor progression upon the administration of a tolerable dose. Our results suggest that a macromolecular hydrophobic and highly toxic drug can be rationally converted into a pharmacologically efficient and self-deliverable of nanotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenguang Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinju Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Rongliang Qiu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Li D, Finley SD. Mechanistic insights into the heterogeneous response to anti‐VEGF treatment in tumors. COMPUTATIONAL AND SYSTEMS ONCOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/cso2.1013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ding Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Southern California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Stacey D. Finley
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Quantitative and Computational Biology, and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science University of Southern California Los Angeles California USA
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Precise engineering of dual drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles system to improve the treatment of glioma-specific targeting therapy. Process Biochem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2021.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Yang Y, Zhang J, Zou H, Shen Y, Deng S, Wu Y. Synthesis and evaluation of 68Ga-labeled dimeric cNGR peptide for PET imaging of CD13 expression with ovarian cancer xenograft. J Cancer 2021; 12:244-252. [PMID: 33391421 PMCID: PMC7738837 DOI: 10.7150/jca.49628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Previous studies have shown that peptides containing the asparagine-glycine-arginine (NGR) sequence can specifically bind to CD13 (aminopeptidase N) receptor, a tumor neovascular biomarker that is over-expressed on the surface of angiogenic blood vessels and various tumor cells, and it plays an important role in angiogenesis and tumor progression. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a gallium-68 (68Ga)-labeled dimeric cyclic NGR (cNGR) peptide as a new molecular probe that binds to CD13 in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: A dimeric cNGR peptide conjugated with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) was synthesized and labeled with 68Ga. In vitro uptake and binding analyses of the 68Ga- DOTA-c(NGR)2 were performed in two ovarian tumor cell lines, ES2 and SKOV3, which had different CD13 expression patterns. An in vivo biodistribution study was performed in normal mice, and micro positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was conducted in nude mice bearing ES2 and SKOV3 tumors. Results:68Ga-DOTA-c(NGR)2 was prepared with high radiochemical purity (>95%), and it was stable both in saline at room temperature and in bovine serum at 37°C for 3 h. In vitro studies showed that the uptake of 68Ga-DOTA-c(NGR)2 in ES2 cells was higher compared with SKOV3 cells, and such uptake could be blocked by the cold DOTA-c(NGR)2. Biodistribution studies demonstrated that 68Ga-DOTA-c(NGR)2 was rapidly cleared from blood and mainly excreted from the kidney. MicroPET imaging of ES2 tumor xenografts showed the focal uptake of 68Ga-DOTA-c(NGR)2 in tumors from 1 to 1.5 h post-injection. The high-contrast tumor visualization occurred at 1 h, corresponding to the highest tumor/background ratio of 10.30±0.26. The CD13-specific tumor targeting of the 68Ga-DOTA-c(NGR)2 was further supported by the reduced uptake of the probe in ES2 tumors by co-injection of the unlabeled cold peptide. In SKOV3 tumor models, the tumor was not obviously visible under the same imaging conditions. Conclusions:68Ga-DOTA-c(NGR)2 was easily synthesized, and it showed favorable CD13-specific targeting ability by in vitro data and microPET imaging with ovarian cancer xenografts. Collectively, 68Ga-DOTA-c(NGR)2 might be a potential PET imaging probe for non-invasive evaluation of the CD13 receptor expression in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Affiliated Suzhou Science & Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215153, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taizhou People's Hospital, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, China
| | - Huifeng Zou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Affiliated Suzhou Science & Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215153, China
| | - Yang Shen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Affiliated Suzhou Science & Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215153, China
| | - Shengming Deng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
| | - Yiwei Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
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Zhou Z. Co-drug delivery of regorafenib and cisplatin with amphiphilic copolymer nanoparticles: enhanced in vivo antitumor cancer therapy in nursing care. Drug Deliv 2020; 27:1319-1328. [PMID: 32936009 PMCID: PMC7534345 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2020.1815897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers continue to be the second leading cause of death worldwide. Despite the development and improvement of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer management, effective tumor ablation strategies are still in need due to high cancer patient mortality. Hence, we have established a new approach to achieve treatment-actuated modifications in a tumor microenvironment by using synergistic activity between two potential anticancer drugs. Dual drug delivery of Regorafenib (REGO) and Cisplatin (PT) exhibits a great anticancer potential, as REGO enhances the effect of PT treatment of human cells by providing stability of the microenvironment. However, encapsulation of REGO and PT fanatical by methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D, L-lactic acid) (PEG-PLA in termed as NPs) is incompetent owing to unsuitability between the binary Free REGO and PT core and the polymeric system. Now, we display that PT can be prepared by hydrophobic coating of the dual drug centers with dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA). The DOPA-covered PT can be co-encapsulated in PLGA NPs alongside REGO to stimulate excellent anticancer property. The occurrence of the PT suggestively enhanced the encapsulations of REGO into PLGA NPs (REGO-PT NPs). Further, the morphology of REGO NPs, PT NPs, and REGO-PT NPs and nanoparticle size was examined by transmission microscopy (TEM), respectively. Furthermore REGO-PT NPs induced significant apoptosis in human lung A549 and ovarian A2780 cancer cells by in vitro. The morphological observation and apoptosis were confirmed by the various biochemical assayes (AO-EB, Nuclear Staining and Annexin V-FITC). In a xenograft model of lung cancer, this nanotherapy shows a durable inhibition of tumor progression upon the administration of a tolerable dose. Our results suggest that a hydrophobic and highly toxic drug can be rationally converted into a pharmacologically efficient and self-deliverable nursing care of nanotherapy. Highlights Dual drug delivery of Regorafenib (REGO) and Cisplatin (PT) exhibits a great anticancer potential, as REGO enhances the effect of PT treatment of human cells by providing stability of the microenvironment. REGO-PT NPs induced significant apoptosis in human lung A549 and ovarian A2780 cancer cells by in vitro. The morphological observation and apoptosis were confirmed by the various biochemical assayes. In a xenograft model of lung cancer, this nanotherapy shows a durable inhibition of tumor progression upon the administration of a tolerable dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Huaihe Hospital of Henan
University, Kaifeng, China
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12
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Song M, Finley SD. ERK and Akt exhibit distinct signaling responses following stimulation by pro-angiogenic factors. Cell Commun Signal 2020; 18:114. [PMID: 32680529 PMCID: PMC7368799 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00595-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Angiogenesis plays an important role in the survival of tissues, as blood vessels provide oxygen and nutrients required by the resident cells. Thus, targeting angiogenesis is a prominent strategy in many different settings, including both tissue engineering and cancer treatment. However, not all of the approaches that modulate angiogenesis lead to successful outcomes. Angiogenesis-based therapies primarily target pro-angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) or fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in isolation, and there is a limited understanding of how these promoters combine together to stimulate angiogenesis. Targeting one pathway could be insufficient, as alternative pathways may compensate, diminishing the overall effect of the treatment strategy. Methods To gain mechanistic insight and identify novel therapeutic strategies, we have developed a detailed mathematical model to quantitatively characterize the crosstalk of FGF and VEGF intracellular signaling. The model focuses on FGF- and VEGF-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling to promote cell proliferation and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway, which promotes cell survival and migration. We fit the model to published experimental datasets that measure phosphorylated extracellular regulated kinase (pERK) and Akt (pAkt) upon FGF or VEGF stimulation. We validate the model with separate sets of data. Results We apply the trained and validated mathematical model to characterize the dynamics of pERK and pAkt in response to the mono- and co-stimulation by FGF and VEGF. The model predicts that for certain ranges of ligand concentrations, the maximum pERK level is more responsive to changes in ligand concentration compared to the maximum pAkt level. Also, the combination of FGF and VEGF indicates a greater effect in increasing the maximum pERK compared to the summation of individual effects, which is not seen for maximum pAkt levels. In addition, our model identifies the influential species and kinetic parameters that specifically modulate the pERK and pAkt responses, which represent potential targets for angiogenesis-based therapies. Conclusions Overall, the model predicts the combination effects of FGF and VEGF stimulation on ERK and Akt quantitatively and provides a framework to mechanistically explain experimental results and guide experimental design. Thus, this model can be utilized to study the effects of pro- and anti-angiogenic therapies that particularly target ERK and/or Akt activation upon stimulation with FGF and VEGF. Video Abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stacey D Finley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Wu Q, Finley SD. Mathematical Model Predicts Effective Strategies to Inhibit VEGF-eNOS Signaling. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9051255. [PMID: 32357492 PMCID: PMC7287924 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9051255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling pathway in endothelial cells has multiple physiological significances. It produces nitric oxide (NO), an important vasodilator, and enables a long-term proliferative response, contributing to angiogenesis. This signaling pathway is mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a pro-angiogenic species that is often targeted to inhibit tumor angiogenesis. However, inhibiting VEGF-mediated eNOS signaling can lead to complications such as hypertension. Therefore, it is important to understand the dynamics of eNOS signaling in the context of angiogenesis inhibitors. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is an important angiogenic inhibitor that, through interaction with its receptor CD47, has been shown to redundantly inhibit eNOS signaling. However, the exact mechanisms of TSP1's inhibitory effects on this pathway remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we established a molecular-detailed mechanistic model to describe VEGF-mediated eNOS signaling, and we used the model to identify the potential intracellular targets of TSP1. In addition, we applied the predictive model to investigate the effects of several approaches to selectively target eNOS signaling in cells experiencing high VEGF levels present in the tumor microenvironment. This work generates insights for pharmacologic targets and therapeutic strategies to inhibit tumor angiogenesis signaling while avoiding potential side effects in normal vasoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA;
| | - Stacey D. Finley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-213-740-8788
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Li D, Finley SD. Exploring the Extracellular Regulation of the Tumor Angiogenic Interaction Network Using a Systems Biology Model. Front Physiol 2019; 10:823. [PMID: 31379588 PMCID: PMC6656929 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor angiogenesis is regulated by pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. Anti-angiogenic agents target the interconnected network of angiogenic factors to inhibit neovascularization, which subsequently impedes tumor growth. Due to the complexity of this network, optimizing anti-angiogenic cancer treatments requires detailed knowledge at a systems level. In this study, we constructed a tumor tissue-based model to better understand how the angiogenic network is regulated by opposing mediators at the extracellular level. We consider the network comprised of two pro-angiogenic factors: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), and two anti-angiogenic factors: thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and platelet factor 4 (PF4). The model's prediction of angiogenic factors' distribution in tumor tissue reveals the localization of different factors and indicates the angiogenic state of the tumor. We explored how the distributions are affected by the secretion of the pro- and anti-angiogenic factors, illustrating how the angiogenic network is regulated in the extracellular space. Interestingly, we identified a counterintuitive result that the secretion of the anti-angiogenic factor PF4 can enhance pro-angiogenic signaling by elevating the levels of the interstitial and surface-level pro-angiogenic species. This counterintuitive situation is pertinent to the clinical setting, such as the release of anti-angiogenic factors in platelet activation or the administration of exogenous PF4 for anti-angiogenic therapy. Our study provides mechanistic insights into this counterintuitive result and highlights the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in regulating the interactions between angiogenic factors. This work complements previous studies aimed at understanding the formation of angiogenic complexes in tumor tissue and helps in the development of anti-cancer strategies targeting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Stacey D Finley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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