Heregulin-mediated ErbB2-ERK signaling activates hyaluronan synthases leading to CD44-dependent ovarian tumor cell growth and migration

Roles of miRNAs in regulating ovarian cancer stemness

Ovarian cancer is one of the gynaecology malignancies with the highest mortality rate. Ovarian cancer stem cell (CSC) is a subpopulation of ovarian cancer cells with increased self-renewability, aggression, metastatic potentials, and resistance to conventional anti-cancer therapy. The emergence of ovarian CSC is a critical factor that promotes treatment resistance and frequent relapse among ovarian cancer patients, leading to poor clinical outcomes. MicroRNA (miRNA) is a short, non-protein-coding RNA that regulates ovarian CSC development. Although multiple original research articles have discussed the CSC-regulatory roles of different miRNAs in ovarian cancer, there is a deficiency of a review article that can summarize the findings from different research papers. To narrow the gap in the literature, this review aimed to provide an up-to-date summary of the CSC-regulatory roles of various miRNAs in modulating ovarian cancer cell stemness. This review will begin by giving an overview of ovarian CSC and the pathways responsible for driving its appearance. Next, the CSC-regulatory roles of miRNAs in controlling ovarian CSC development will be discussed. Overall, more than 60 miRNAs have been reported to play CSC-regulatory roles in the development and progression of ovarian cancer. By targeting various downstream targets, these miRNAs can control the signaling activities of PI3K/AKT, EGFR/ERK, WNT/ß-catenin, NF-kß, Notch, Hippo/YAP, EMT, and DNA repair pathways. Hence, these CSC-modulatory miRNAs have the potential to be used as prognostic biomarkers in predicting the clinical outcomes of ovarian cancer patients. Targeting CSC-promoting miRNAs or increasing the expressions of CSC-repressing miRNAs can help slow ovarian cancer progression. However, more in-depth functional and clinical trials must be carried out to evaluate the suitability, safety, sensitivity, and specificity of these CSC-regulating miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

What is the Reason That the Pharmacological Future of Chemotherapeutics in the Treatment of Lung Cancer Could Be Most Closely Related to Nanostructures? Platinum Drugs in Therapy of Non-Small and Small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Unexpected, Possible Interactions. The Review

Over the course of several decades, anticancer treatment with chemotherapy drugs for lung cancer has not changed significantly. Unfortunately, this treatment prolongs the patient's life only by a few months, causing many side effects in the human body. It has also been proven that drugs such as Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Oxaliplatin and others can react with other substances containing an aromatic ring in which the nitrogen atom has a free electron group in its structure. Thus, such structures may have a competitive effect on the nucleobases of DNA. Therefore, scientists are looking not only for new drugs, but also for new alternative ways of delivering the drug to the cancer site. Nanotechnology seems to be a great hope in this matter. Creating a new nanomedicine would reduce the dose of the drug to an absolute minimum, and thus limit the toxic effect of the drug; it would allow for the exclusion of interactions with competitive compounds with a structure similar to nucleobases; it would also permit using the so-called targeted treatment and bypassing healthy cells; it would allow for the introduction of other treatment options, such as radiotherapy directly to the cancer site; and it would provide diagnostic possibilities. This article is a review that aims to systematize the knowledge regarding the anticancer treatment of lung cancer, but not only. It shows the clear possibility of interactions of chemotherapeutics with compounds competitive to the nitrogenous bases of DNA. It also shows the possibilities of using nanostructures as potential Platinum drug carriers, and proves that nanomedicine can easily become a new medicinal product in personalized medicine.

Low-frequency ERK and Akt activity dynamics are predictive of stochastic cell division events

Understanding the dynamics of intracellular signaling pathways, such as ERK1/2 (ERK) and Akt1/2 (Akt), in the context of cell fate decisions is important for advancing our knowledge of cellular processes and diseases, particularly cancer. While previous studies have established associations between ERK and Akt activities and proliferative cell fate, the heterogeneity of single-cell responses adds complexity to this understanding. This study employed a data-driven approach to address this challenge, developing machine learning models trained on a dataset of growth factor-induced ERK and Akt activity time courses in single cells, to predict cell division events. The most predictive models were developed by applying discrete wavelet transforms (DWTs) to extract low-frequency features from the time courses, followed by using Ensemble Integration, a data integration and predictive modeling framework. The results demonstrated that these models effectively predicted cell division events in MCF10A cells (F-measure=0.524, AUC=0.726). ERK dynamics were found to be more predictive than Akt, but the combination of both measurements further enhanced predictive performance. The ERK model`s performance also generalized to predicting division events in RPE cells, indicating the potential applicability of these models and our data-driven methodology for predicting cell division across different biological contexts. Interpretation of these models suggested that ERK dynamics throughout the cell cycle, rather than immediately after growth factor stimulation, were associated with the likelihood of cell division. Overall, this work contributes insights into the predictive power of intra-cellular signaling dynamics for cell fate decisions, and highlights the potential of machine learning approaches in unraveling complex cellular behaviors.

CD44: A New Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Cancer?

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a non-kinase cell surface glycoprotein. It is overexpressed in several cell types, including cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cells overexpressing CD44 exhibit several CSC traits, such as self-renewal, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) capability, and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. The role of CD44 in maintaining stemness and the CSC function in tumor progression is accomplished by binding to its main ligand, hyaluronan (HA). The HA-CD44 complex activates several signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion. The CD44 gene regularly undergoes alternative splicing, resulting in the standard (CD44s) and variant (CD44v) isoforms. The different functional roles of CD44s and specific CD44v isoforms still need to be fully understood. The clinicopathological impact of CD44 and its isoforms in promoting tumorigenesis suggests that CD44 could be a molecular target for cancer therapy. Furthermore, the recent association observed between CD44 and KRAS-dependent carcinomas and the potential correlations between CD44 and tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) open new research scenarios for developing new strategies in cancer treatment. This review summarises current research regarding the different CD44 isoform structures, their roles, and functions in supporting tumorigenesis and discusses its therapeutic implications.

Hyaluronan-Induced CD44-iASPP Interaction Affects Fibroblast Migration and Survival

In the present study, we show that the inhibitor of the apoptosis-stimulating protein of p53 (iASPP) physically interacts with the hyaluronan receptor CD44 in normal and transformed cells. We noticed that the CD44 standard isoform (CD44s), but not the variant isoform (CD44v), bound to iASPP via the ankyrin-binding domain in CD44s. The formation of iASPP-CD44s complexes was promoted by hyaluronan stimulation in fibroblasts but not in epithelial cells. The cellular level of p53 affected the amount of the iASPP-CD44 complex. iASPP was required for hyaluronan-induced CD44-dependent migration and adhesion of fibroblasts. Of note, CD44 altered the sub-cellular localization of the iASPP-p53 complex; thus, ablation of CD44 promoted translocation of iASPP from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, resulting in increased formation of a cytoplasmic iASPP-p53 complex in fibroblasts. Overexpression of iASPP decreased, but CD44 increased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Knock-down of CD44s, in the presence of p53, led to increased cell growth and cell density of fibroblasts by suppression of p27 and p53. Our observations suggest that the balance of iASPP-CD44 and iASPP-p53 complexes affect the survival and migration of fibroblasts.

Absorption, metabolism, and functions of hyaluronic acid and its therapeutic prospects in combination with microorganisms: A review

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is key to the stability of the internal environment of tissues. HA content in tissues gradually decreases with age, causing age-related health problems. Exogenous HA supplements are used to prevent or treat these problems including skin dryness and wrinkles, intestinal imbalance, xerophthalmia, and arthritis after absorption. Moreover, some probiotics are able to promote endogenous HA synthesis and alleviate symptoms caused by HA loss, thus introducing potential preventative or therapeutic applications of HA and probiotics. Here, we review the oral absorption, metabolism, and biological function of HA as well as the potential role of probiotics and HA in increasing the efficacy of HA supplements.

Chemotherapy induces feedback up-regulation of CD44v6 in colorectal cancer initiating cells through β-catenin/MDR1 signaling to sustain chemoresistance

Chemoresistance in colorectal cancer initiating cells (CICs) involves the sustained activation of multiple drug resistance (MDR) and WNT/β-catenin signaling pathways, as well as of alternatively spliced-isoforms of CD44 containing variable exon-6 (CD44v6). In spite of its importance, mechanisms underlying the sustained activity of WNT/β-catenin signaling have remained elusive. The presence of binding elements of the β-catenin-interacting transcription factor TCF4 in the MDR1 and CD44 promoters suggests that crosstalk between WNT/β-catenin/TCF4-activation and the expression of the CD44v6 isoform mediated by FOLFOX, a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer, could be a fundamental mechanism of FOLFOX resistance. Our results identify that FOLFOX treatment induced WNT3A secretion, which stimulated a positive feedback loop coupling β-catenin signaling and CD44v6 splicing. In conjunction with FOLFOX induced WNT3A signal, specific CD44v6 variants produced by alternative splicing subsequently enhance the late wave of WNT/β-catenin activation to facilitate cell cycle progression. Moreover, we revealed that FOLFOX-mediated sustained WNT signal requires the formation of a CD44v6-LRP6-signalosome in caveolin microdomains, which leads to increased FOLFOX efflux. FOLFOX-resistance in colorectal CICs occurs in the absence of tumor-suppressor disabled-2 (DAB2), an inhibitor of WNT/β-catenin signaling. Conversely, in sensitive cells, DAB2 inhibition of WNT-signaling requires interaction with a clathrin containing CD44v6-LRP6-signalosome. Furthermore, full-length CD44v6, once internalized through the caveolin-signalosome, is translocated to the nucleus where in complex with TCF4, it binds to β-catenin/TCF4-regulated MDR1, or to CD44 promoters, which leads to FOLFOX-resistance and CD44v6 transcription through transcriptional-reprogramming. These findings provide evidence that targeting CD44v6-mediated LRP6/β-catenin-signaling and drug efflux may represent a novel approach to overcome FOLFOX resistance and inhibit tumor progression in colorectal CICs. Thus, sustained drug resistance in colorectal CICs is mediated by overexpression of CD44v6, which is both a functional biomarker and a therapeutic target in colorectal cancer.

The Role of Neuregulin-1 in Steatotic and Non-Steatotic Liver Transplantation from Brain-Dead Donors

Background. Brain death (BD) and steatosis are key risk factors to predict adverse post-transplant outcomes. We investigated the role of Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) in rat steatotic and non-steatotic liver transplantation (LT) from brain death donors (DBD). Methods: NRG1 pathways were characterized after surgery. Results: NRG1 and p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) levels increased in steatotic and non-steatotic grafts from DBDs. The abolishment of NRG1 effects reduced PAK1. When the effect of either NRG1 nor PAK1 was inhibited, injury and regenerative failure were exacerbated. The benefits of the NRG-1-PAK1 axis in liver grafts from DBDs were associated with increased vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF1) levels, respectively. Indeed, VEGFA administration in non-steatotic livers and IGF1 treatment in steatotic grafts prevented damage and regenerative failure resulting from the inhibition of either NRG1 or PAK-1 activity in each type of liver. Exogenous NRG1 induced greater injury than BD induction. Conclusions: This study indicates the benefits of endogenous NRG1 in liver grafts from DBDs and underscores the specificity of the NRG1 signaling pathway depending on the type of liver: NRG1-PAK1-VEGFA in non-steatotic livers and NRG1-PAK1-IGF1 in steatotic livers. Exogenous NRG1 is not an appropriate strategy to apply to liver grafts from DBD.

Application of Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Lung Cancer With Emphasis on Receptors

Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors that has seen the most rapid growth in terms of morbidity and mortality in recent years, posing the biggest threat to people’s health and lives. In recent years, the nano-drug loading system has made significant progress in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer. Nanomaterials are used to specifically target tumor tissue to minimize therapeutic adverse effects and increase bioavailability. It is achieved primarily through two mechanisms: passive targeting, which entails the use of enhanced penetration and retention (EPR) effect, and active targeting, which entails the loading recognition ligands for tumor marker molecules onto nanomaterials. However, it has been demonstrated that the EPR effect is effective in rodents but not in humans. Taking this into consideration, researchers paid significant attention to the active targeting nano-drug loading system. Additionally, it has been demonstrated to have a higher affinity and specificity for tumor cells. In this review, it describes the development of research into active targeted nano-drug delivery systems for lung cancer treatment from the receptors’ or targets’ perspective. We anticipate that this study will help biomedical researchers use nanoparticles (NPs) to treat lung cancer by providing more and novel drug delivery strategies or solid ligands.

Epidermal Hyaluronan in Barrier Alteration-Related Disease

In skin, although the extracellular matrix (ECM) is highly developed in dermis and hypodermis, discrete intercellular spaces between cells of the living epidermal layers are also filled with ECM components. Herein, we review knowledge about structure, localization and role of epidermal hyaluronan (HA), a key ECM molecule. HA is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan non-covalently bound to proteins or lipids. Components of the basal lamina maintain some segregation between the epidermis and the underlying dermis, and all epidermal HA is locally synthesized and degraded. Functions of HA in keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation are still controversial. However, through interactions with partners, such as the TSG-6 protein, HA is involved in the formation, organization and stabilization of the epidermal ECM. In addition, epidermal HA is involved in the formation of an efficient epidermal barrier made of cornified keratinocytes. In atopic dermatitis (AD) with profuse alterations of the epidermal barrier, HA is produced in larger amounts by keratinocytes than in normal skin. Epidermal HA inside AD lesional skin is located in enlarged intercellular spaces, likely as the result of disease-related modifications of HA metabolism.

Interfering with hyaluronic acid metabolism suppresses glioma cell proliferation by regulating autophagy

The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumor progression. Hyaluronic acid (HA), an important component of the extracellular matrix in the tumor microenvironment, abnormally accumulates in a variety of tumors. However, the role of abnormal HA accumulation in glioma remains unclear. The present study indicated that HA, hyaluronic acid synthase 3 (HAS3), and a receptor of HA named CD44 were expressed at high levels in human glioma tissues and negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients with glioma. Silencing HAS3 expression or blocking CD44 inhibited glioma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanism was attributed to the inhibition of autophagy flux and maintaining glioma cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. More importantly, 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), a small competitive inhibitor of Uridine diphosphate (UDP) with the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), also inhibited glioma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Thus, approaches that interfere with HA metabolism by altering the expression of HAS3 and CD44 and the administration of 4-MU potentially represent effective strategies for glioma treatment.

Dendritic cell entry to lymphatic capillaries is orchestrated by CD44 and the hyaluronan glycocalyx

CD44 anchors the hyaluronan glycocalyx on migrating dendritic cells to permit docking to the endothelial receptor LYVE-1, thus orchestrating lymphatic trafficking through modulating glycocalyx density.

DCs play a vital role in immunity by conveying antigens from peripheral tissues to draining lymph nodes, through afferent lymphatic vessels. Critical to the process is initial docking to the lymphatic endothelial receptor LYVE-1 via its ligand hyaluronan on the DC surface. How this relatively weak binding polymer is configured for specific adhesion to LYVE-1, however, is unknown. Here, we show that hyaluronan is anchored and spatially organized into a 400–500 nm dense glycocalyx by the leukocyte receptor CD44. Using gene knockout and by modulating CD44-hyaluronan interactions with monoclonal antibodies in vitro and in a mouse model of oxazolone-induced skin inflammation, we demonstrate that CD44 is required for DC adhesion and transmigration across lymphatic endothelium. In addition, we present evidence that CD44 can dynamically control the density of the hyaluronan glycocalyx, regulating the efficiency of DC trafficking to lymph nodes. Our findings define a previously unrecognized role for CD44 in lymphatic trafficking and highlight the importance of the CD44:HA:LYVE-1 axis in its regulation.

FOLFOX Therapy Induces Feedback Upregulation of CD44v6 through YB-1 to Maintain Stemness in Colon Initiating Cells

Cancer initiating cells (CICs) drive tumor formation and drug-resistance, but how they develop drug-resistance characteristics is not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that chemotherapeutic agent FOLFOX, commonly used for drug-resistant/metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment, induces overexpression of CD44v6, MDR1, and oncogenic transcription/translation factor Y-box-binding protein-1 (YB-1). Our study revealed that CD44v6, a receptor for hyaluronan, increased the YB-1 expression through PGE2/EP1-mTOR pathway. Deleting CD44v6, and YB-1 by the CRISPR/Cas9 system attenuates the in vitro and in vivo tumor growth of CICs from FOLFOX resistant cells. The results of DNA:CD44v6 immunoprecipitated complexes by ChIP (chromatin-immunoprecipitation) assay showed that CD44v6 maintained the stemness traits by promoting several antiapoptotic and stemness genes, including cyclin-D1,BCL2,FZD1,GINS-1, and MMP9. Further, computer-based analysis of the clones obtained from the DNA:CD44v6 complex revealed the presence of various consensus binding sites for core stemness-associated transcription factors “CTOS” (c-Myc, TWIST1, OCT4, and SOX2). Simultaneous expressions of CD44v6 and CTOS in CD44v6 knockout CICs reverted differentiated CD44v6-knockout CICs into CICs. Finally, this study for the first time describes a positive feedback loop that couples YB-1 induction and CD44 alternative splicing to sustain the MDR1 and CD44v6 expressions, and CD44v6 is required for the reversion of differentiated tumor cells into CICs.

Co-localization and crosstalk between CD44 and RHAMM depend on hyaluronan presentation

CD44 and the receptor for hyaluronic acid-mediated motility (RHAMM) are the main hyaluronan (HA) receptors. They are commonly overexpressed in different cancers activating signaling pathways related to tumor progression, metastasis and chemoresistance. Besides their involvement in signal transduction via interaction with HA, currently, there is a little information about the possible crosstalk between CD44 and RHAMM and the role of HA in this process. In the present work, we used immunocytochemistry combined with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation to elucidate the involvement of HA in CD44 and RHAMM expression, co-localization and crosstalk. We studied breast cancer cells lines with different degrees of invasiveness and expression of these receptors in the absence of exogenous HA and compared the data with the results obtained for cultures supplemented with either soluble HA or seeded on substrates with end-on immobilized HA. Our results demonstrated that cells response depends on the HA presentation: CD44/RHAMM complexation was upregulated in all cell lines upon interaction with immobilized HA, but not with its soluble form. Moreover, the results showed that the expression of both CD44 and RHAMM is regulated via interactions with HA indicating cell-specific feedback loop(s) in the signaling cascade.

Recent advances in the anti-aging effects of phytoestrogens on collagen, water content, and oxidative stress

Skin undergoes degenerative changes as it ages, which include the loss of elasticity, reductions in the epidermal thickness and collagen content, elastic fiber degeneration, and increased wrinkling and dryness. Skin aging can be significantly delayed by the administration of estrogen. Estrogen deficiency following menopause results in atrophic skin changes and the acceleration of skin aging. Estrogen administration has positive effects on human skin by delaying or preventing skin aging manifestations, but the use of estrogen replacement is a risk factor for breast and uterine cancer. Phytoestrogens are a large family of plant‐derived molecules possessing various degrees of estrogen‐like activity; they exhibit agonist or antagonist estrogenic properties depending on the tissue. These molecules could be ideal candidates to combat skin aging and other detrimental effects of hypoestrogenism. In this paper, we review the effects of phytoestrogens on human skin and the mechanisms by which phytoestrogens can alleviate the changes due to aging.

Matrix Hyaluronan-CD44 Interaction Activates MicroRNA and LncRNA Signaling Associated With Chemoresistance, Invasion, and Tumor Progression

Tumor malignancies involve cancer cell growth, issue invasion, metastasis and often drug resistance. A great deal of effort has been placed on searching for unique molecule(s) overexpressed in cancer cells that correlate(s) with tumor cell-specific behaviors. Hyaluronan (HA), one of the major ECM (extracellular matrix) components have been identified as a physiological ligand for surface CD44 isoforms which are frequently overexpressed in malignant tumor cells during cancer progression. The binding interaction between HA and CD44 isoforms often stimulates aberrant cellular signaling processes and appears to be responsible for the induction of multiple oncogenic events required for cancer-specific phenotypes and behaviors. In recent years, both microRNAs (miRNAs) (with ~20–25 nucleotides) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) (with ~200 nucleotides) have been found to be abnormally expressed in cancer cells and actively participate in numerous oncogenic signaling events needed for tumor cell-specific functions. In this review, I plan to place a special emphasis on HA/CD44-induced signaling pathways and the presence of several novel miRNAs (e.g., miR-10b/miR-302/miR-21) and lncRNAs (e.g., UCA1) together with their target functions (e.g., tumor cell migration, invasion, and chemoresistance) during cancer development and progression. I believe that important information can be obtained from these studies on HA/CD44-activated miRNAs and lncRNA that may be very valuable for the future development of innovative therapeutic drugs for the treatment of matrix HA/CD44-mediated cancers.

ΔNp63 in squamous cell carcinoma: defining the oncogenic routes affecting epigenetic landscape and tumour microenvironment

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a treatment‐refractory tumour which arises from the epithelium of diverse anatomical sites such as oesophagus, head and neck, lung and skin. Accumulating evidence has revealed a number of genomic, clinical and molecular features commonly observed in SCC of distinct origins. Some of these genetic events culminate in fostering the activity of ΔNp63, a potent oncogene which exerts its pro‐tumourigenic effects by regulating specific transcriptional programmes to sustain malignant cell proliferation and survival. In this review, we will describe the genetic and epigenetic determinants underlying ΔNp63 oncogenic activities in SCC, and discuss some relevant transcriptional effectors of ΔNp63, emphasizing their impact in modulating the crosstalk between tumour cells and tumour microenvironment (TME).

Hyaluronan-CD44/RHAMM interaction-dependent cell proliferation and survival in lung cancer cells

Although members of the hyaluronan (HA)-CD44/HA-mediated motility receptor (RHAMM) signaling pathway have been shown to be overexpressed in lung cancer, their role in lung tumorigenesis is unclear. In the present study, we first determined levels of HA and its receptors CD44 and RHAMM in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and stromal cells as well as mouse lung tumors. Subsequently, we examined the role of HA-CD44/RHAMM signaling pathway in mediating the proliferation and survival of NSCLC cells and the cross-talk between NSCLC cells and normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs)/lung cancer-associated fibroblasts (LCAFs). The highest levels of HA and CD44 were observed in NHLFs/LCAFs followed by NSCLC cells, whereas THP-1 monocytes/macrophages showed negligible levels of both HA and CD44. Simultaneous silencing of HA synthase 2 (HAS2) and HAS3 or CD44 and RHAMM suppressed cell proliferation and survival as well as the EGFR/AKT/ERK signaling pathway. Exogenous HA partially rescued the defect in cell proliferation and survival. Moreover, conditioned media (CM) generated by NHLFs/LCAFs enhanced the proliferation of NSCLC cells in a HA-dependent manner as treatment of NHLFs and LCAFs with HAS2 siRNA, 4-methylumbelliferone, an inhibitor of HASs, LY2228820, an inhibitor of p38MAPK, or treatment of A549 cells with CD44 blocking antibody suppressed the effects of the CM. Upon incubation in CM generated by A549 cells or THP-1 macrophages, NHLFs/LCAFs secreted higher concentrations of HA. Overall, our findings indicate that targeting the HA-CD44/RHAMM signaling pathway could be a promising approach for the prevention and therapy of lung cancer.

Hyaluronic acid, CD44 and RHAMM regulate myoblast behavior during embryogenesis

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) component that has been shown to play a significant role in regulating muscle cell behavior during repair and regeneration. For instance, ECM remodeling after muscle injury involves an upregulation in HA expression that is coupled with skeletal muscle precursor cell recruitment. However, little is known about the role of HA during skeletal muscle development. To gain insight into the way in which HA mediates embryonic myogenesis, we first determined the spatial distribution and gene expression of CD44, RHAMM and other HA related proteins in embryonic day (E)10.5 to E12.5 murine forelimbs. While HA and CD44 expression remained high, RHAMM decreased at both the protein (via immunohistochemistry) and RNA (via qPCR) levels. Next, we determined that 4-methylumbelliferone-mediated knockdown of HA synthesis inhibited the migration and proliferation of E11.5/E12.5 forelimb-derived cells. Then, the influence of CD44 and RHAMM on myoblast and connective tissue cell behavior was investigated using antibodies against these receptors. Anti-RHAMM, but not anti-CD44, significantly decreased the total distance myogenic progenitors migrated over 24 h, whereas both inhibited connective tissue cell migration. In contrast, anti-CD44 inhibited the proliferation of connective tissue cells and muscle progenitors, but anti-RHAMM had no effect. However, when myoblasts and connective tissue cells were depleted of CD44 and RHAMM by shRNA, motility and proliferation were significantly inhibited in both cells indicating that blocking cell surface-localized CD44 and RHAMM does not have as pronounced effect as global shRNA-mediated depletion of these receptors. These results show, for the first time, the distribution and activity of RHAMM in the context of skeletal muscle. Furthermore, our data indicate that HA, through interactions with CD44 and RHAMM, promotes myogenic progenitor migration and proliferation. Confirmation of the role of HA and its receptors in directing myogenesis will be useful for the design of regenerative therapies that aim to promote the restoration of damaged or diseased muscle.

Identifying key genes, pathways and screening therapeutic agents for manganese-induced Alzheimer disease using bioinformatics analysis

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, the etiology of which remains largely unknown. Accumulating evidence indicates that elevated manganese (Mn) in brain exerts toxic effects on neurons and contributes to AD development. Thus, we aimed to explore the gene and pathway variations through analysis of high through-put data in this process.To screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that may play critical roles in Mn-induced AD, public microarray data regarding Mn-treated neurocytes versus controls (GSE70845), and AD versus controls (GSE48350), were downloaded and the DEGs were screened out, respectively. The intersection of the DEGs of each datasets was obtained by using Venn analysis. Then, gene ontology (GO) function analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were carried out. For screening hub genes, protein-protein interaction network was constructed. At last, DEGs were analyzed in Connectivity Map (CMAP) for identification of small molecules that overcome Mn-induced neurotoxicity or AD development.The intersection of the DEGs obtained 140 upregulated and 267 downregulated genes. The top 5 items of biological processes of GO analysis were taxis, chemotaxis, cell-cell signaling, regulation of cellular physiological process, and response to wounding. The top 5 items of KEGG pathway analysis were cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, apoptosis, oxidative phosphorylation, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and insulin signaling pathway. Afterwards, several hub genes such as INSR, VEGFA, PRKACB, DLG4, and BCL2 that might play key roles in Mn-induced AD were further screened out. Interestingly, tyrphostin AG-825, an inhibitor of tyrosine phosphorylation, was predicted to be a potential agent for overcoming Mn-induced neurotoxicity or AD development.The present study provided a novel insight into the molecular mechanisms of Mn-induced neurotoxicity or AD development and screened out several small molecular candidates that might be critical for Mn neurotoxicity prevention and Mn-induced AD treatment.

Synaptic Remodeling Depends on Signaling between Serotonin Receptors and the Extracellular Matrix

Rewiring of synaptic circuitry pertinent to memory formation has been associated with morphological changes in dendritic spines and with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Here, we mechanistically link these processes by uncovering a signaling pathway involving the serotonin 5-HT7 receptor (5-HT7R), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), the hyaluronan receptor CD44, and the small GTPase Cdc42. We highlight a physical interaction between 5-HT7R and CD44 (identified as an MMP-9 substrate in neurons) and find that 5-HT7R stimulation increases local MMP-9 activity, triggering dendritic spine remodeling, synaptic pruning, and impairment of long-term potentiation (LTP). The underlying molecular machinery involves 5-HT7R-mediated activation of MMP-9, which leads to CD44 cleavage followed by Cdc42 activation. One important physiological consequence of this interaction includes an increase in neuronal outgrowth and elongation of dendritic spines, which might have a positive effect on complex neuronal processes (e.g., reversal learning and neuronal regeneration).

Nanotechnology and Glycosaminoglycans: Paving the Way Forward for Ovarian Cancer Intervention

Ovarian cancer (OC) has gained a great deal of attention due to its aggressive proliferative capabilities, high death rates and poor treatment outcomes, rendering the disease the ultimate lethal gynaecological cancer. Nanotechnology provides a promising avenue to combat this malignancy by the niche fabrication of optimally-structured nanomedicines that ensure potent delivery of chemotherapeutics to OC, employing nanocarriers to act as "intelligent" drug delivery vehicles, functionalized with active targeting approaches for precision delivery of chemotherapeutics to overexpressed biomarkers on cancer cells. Recently, much focus has been implemented to optimize these active targeting mechanisms for treatment/diagnostic purposes employing nanocarriers. This two-part article aims to review the latest advances in active target-based OC interventions, where the impact of the newest antibody, aptamer and folate functionalization on OC detection and treatment is discussed in contrast to the limitations of this targeting mechanism. Furthermore, we discuss the latest advances in nanocarrier based drug delivery in OC, highlighting their commercial/clinical viability of these systems beyond the realms of research. Lastly, in the second section of this review, we comprehensively discussed a focus shift in OC targeting from the well-studied OC cells to the vastly neglected extracellular matrix and motivate the potential for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) as a more focused extracellular molecular target.

Filamin A expression predicts early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy is very high. A predictive marker of early recurrence (ER) capable of personalizing follow-up and developing a new target therapy would be beneficial. The overexpression of Filamin-A (FLNA), a cytoskeleton protein with scaffolding properties, has recently been associated with progression in tumours. The aim of this study was to test the expression of FLNA in a cohort of patients operated for HCC.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort of patients who underwent hepatic resection at Humanitas Clinical and Research Center between January 2004 and December 2014 was analysed. FLNA was tested, using a tissue microarray, in the HCC and in the surrounding tissues. The endpoint was the role of FLNA expression in predicting ER of HCC after hepatectomy. Analyses were performed following the REMARK guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 113 patients were considered. FLNA was expressed only in the tumoral tissue. Several variables, including T stage, tumour number, tumour size, type of viral hepatitis, type of hepatectomy and intra and peritumoral immune-reactivity to FLNA were significantly associated with ER by univariate analysis. With multivariate analysis, only T stage (HR=2.108; P=.002), tumour number (HR=1.586; P=.023), intra-tumoral (HR=2.672; P<.001) and peritumoral immune-reactivity to FLNA (HR=2.569; P<.001), significantly correlated with ER. The logistic regression analysis revealed that advanced T stage (OR=2.985; P=.001), HCV-infection (OR=1.219; P=.008) and advanced tumour grading (OR=2.781; P=.002) were associated with intratumoral FLNA immune-reactivity.

CONCLUSIONS

FLNA expression predicts recurrence of HCC after hepatectomy. This finding provides important insights that would help physicians to personalize follow-up strategies.

CD44/CD44v6 a Reliable Companion in Cancer-Initiating Cell Maintenance and Tumor Progression

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer death, tumor progression proceeding through emigration from the primary tumor, gaining access to the circulation, leaving the circulation, settling in distant organs and growing in the foreign environment. The capacity of a tumor to metastasize relies on a small subpopulation of cells in the primary tumor, so called cancer-initiating cells (CIC). CIC are characterized by sets of markers, mostly membrane anchored adhesion molecules, CD44v6 being the most frequently recovered marker. Knockdown and knockout models accompanied by loss of tumor progression despite unaltered primary tumor growth unraveled that these markers are indispensable for CIC. The unexpected contribution of marker molecules to CIC-related activities prompted research on underlying molecular mechanisms. This review outlines the contribution of CD44, particularly CD44v6 to CIC activities. A first focus is given to the impact of CD44/CD44v6 to inherent CIC features, including the crosstalk with the niche, apoptosis-resistance, and epithelial mesenchymal transition. Following the steps of the metastatic cascade, we report on supporting activities of CD44/CD44v6 in migration and invasion. These CD44/CD44v6 activities rely on the association with membrane-integrated and cytosolic signaling molecules and proteases and transcriptional regulation. They are not restricted to, but most pronounced in CIC and are tightly regulated by feedback loops. Finally, we discuss on the engagement of CD44/CD44v6 in exosome biogenesis, loading and delivery. exosomes being the main acteurs in the long-distance crosstalk of CIC with the host. In brief, by supporting the communication with the niche and promoting apoptosis resistance CD44/CD44v6 plays an important role in CIC maintenance. The multifaceted interplay between CD44/CD44v6, signal transducing molecules and proteases facilitates the metastasizing tumor cell journey through the body. By its engagement in exosome biogenesis CD44/CD44v6 contributes to disseminated tumor cell settlement and growth in distant organs. Thus, CD44/CD44v6 likely is the most central CIC biomarker.

ΔNp63-mediated regulation of hyaluronic acid metabolism and signaling supports HNSCC tumorigenesis

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and several molecular pathways that underlie the molecular tumorigenesis of HNSCC have been identified. Among them, amplification or overexpression of ΔNp63 isoforms is observed in the majority of HNSCCs. Here, we unveiled a ΔNp63-dependent transcriptional program able to regulate the metabolism and the signaling of hyaluronic acid (HA), the major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We found that ∆Np63 is capable of sustaining the production of HA levels in cell culture and in vivo by regulating the expression of the HA synthase HAS3 and two hyaluronidase genes, HYAL-1 and HYAL-3. In addition, ∆Np63 directly regulates the expression of CD44, the major HA cell membrane receptor. By controlling this transcriptional program, ∆Np63 sustains the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGF-R) activation and the expression of ABCC1 multidrug transporter gene, thus contributing to tumor cell proliferation and chemoresistance. Importantly, p63 expression is positively correlated with CD44, HAS3, and ABCC1 expression in squamous cell carcinoma datasets and p63-HA pathway is a negative prognostic factor of HNSCC patient survival. Altogether, our data shed light on a ∆Np63-dependent pathway functionally important to the regulation of HNSCC progression.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha is required for the tumourigenic and aggressive phenotype associated with Rab25 expression in ovarian cancer

The small GTPase Rab25 has been functionally linked to tumour progression and aggressiveness in ovarian cancer and promotes invasion in three-dimensional environments. This type of migration has been shown to require the expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α). In this report we demonstrate that Rab25 regulates HIF-1α protein expression in an oxygen independent manner in a panel of cancer cell lines. Regulation of HIF-1α protein expression by Rab25 did not require transcriptional upregulation, but was dependent on de novo protein synthesis through the Erbb2/ERK1/2 and p70S6K/mTOR pathways. Rab25 expression induced HIF-1 transcriptional activity, increased cisplatin resistance, and conferred intraperitoneal growth to the A2780 cell line in immunocompromised mice. Targeting HIF1 activity by silencing HIF-1β re-sensitised cells to cisplatin in vitro and reduced tumour formation of A2780-Rab25 expressing cells in vivo in a mouse ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis model. Similar effects on cisplatin resistance in vitro and intraperitoneal tumourigenesis in vivo were obtained after HIF1b knockdown in the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3, which expresses endogenous Rab25 and HIF-1α at atmospheric oxygen concentrations. Our results suggest that Rab25 tumourigenic potential and chemoresistance relies on HIF1 activity in aggressive and metastatic ovarian cancer. Targeting HIF-1 activity may potentially be effective either alone or in combination with standard chemotherapy for aggressive metastatic ovarian cancer.

KLF5 promotes cervical cancer proliferation, migration and invasion in a manner partly dependent on TNFRSF11a expression

Although the transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) plays important roles in both inflammation and cancer, the mechanism by which this factor promotes cervical carcinogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated a potential role for tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11a (TNFRSF11a), the corresponding gene of which is a direct binding target of KLF5, in tumour cell proliferation and invasiveness. Coexpression of KLF5 and TNFRSF11a correlated significantly with tumorigenesis in cervical tissues (P < 0.05) and manipulation of KLF5 expression positively affected TNFRSF11a mRNA and protein expression. Functionally, KLF5 promoted cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness in a manner dependent partly on TNFRSF11a expression. Moreover, in vivo functional TNFRSF11a-knockdown mouse studies revealed suppression of tumorigenicity and liver metastatic potential. Notably, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced KLF5 expression by activating the p38 signalling pathway and high KLF5 and TNFRSF11a expression increased the risk of death in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Our results demonstrate that KLF5 and TNFRSF11a promote cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness.

A single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals precise pathways and regulatory mechanisms underlying hepatoblast differentiation

How bipotential hepatoblasts differentiate into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes remains unclear. Here, using single-cell transcriptomic analysis of hepatoblasts, hepatocytes, and cholangiocytes sorted from embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) to E17.5 mouse embryos, we found that hepatoblast-to-hepatocyte differentiation occurred gradually and followed a linear default pathway. As more cells became fully differentiated hepatocytes, the number of proliferating cells decreased. Surprisingly, proliferating and quiescent hepatoblasts exhibited homogeneous differentiation states at a given developmental stage. This unique feature enabled us to combine single-cell and bulk-cell analyses to define the precise timing of the hepatoblast-to-hepatocyte transition, which occurs between E13.5 and E15.5. In contrast to hepatocyte development at almost all levels, hepatoblast-to-cholangiocyte differentiation underwent a sharp detour from the default pathway. New cholangiocyte generation occurred continuously between E11.5 and E14.5, but their maturation states at a given developmental stage were heterogeneous. Even more surprising, the number of proliferating cells increased as more progenitor cells differentiated into mature cholangiocytes. Based on an observation from the single-cell analysis, we also discovered that the protein kinase C/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway promoted cholangiocyte maturation.

CONCLUSION

Our studies have defined distinct pathways for hepatocyte and cholangiocyte development in vivo, which are critically important for understanding basic liver biology and developing effective strategies to induce stem cells to differentiate toward specific hepatic cell fates in vitro. (Hepatology 2017;66:1387-1401).

ADP-ribosylation factor-like 4C binding to filamin-A modulates filopodium formation and cell migration

Filamin-A plays a key role in tumorigenesis as well as the metastatic progression of prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and gastric carcinoma. In this study, we identified filamin-A as a novel effector of Arl4C and showed that binding between Arl4C and FLNa modulates the formation of filopodia and cell migration by promoting activation of Cdc42.

Changes in cell morphology and the physical forces that occur during migration are generated by a dynamic filamentous actin cytoskeleton. The ADP-ribosylation factor–like 4C (Arl4C) small GTPase acts as a molecular switch to regulate morphological changes and cell migration, although the mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. Here we report that Arl4C functions with the actin regulator filamin-A (FLNa) to modulate filopodium formation and cell migration. We found that Arl4C interacted with FLNa in a GTP-dependent manner and that FLNa IgG repeat 22 is both required and sufficient for this interaction. We also show that interaction between FLNa and Arl4C is essential for Arl4C-induced filopodium formation and increases the association of FLNa with Cdc42-GEF FGD6, promoting cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) GTPase activation. Thus our study revealed a novel mechanism, whereby filopodium formation and cell migration are regulated through the Arl4C-FLNa–mediated activation of Cdc42.

The deubiquitinating enzymes USP4 and USP17 target hyaluronan synthase 2 and differentially affect its function

The levels of hyaluronan, a ubiquitous glycosaminoglycan prominent in the extracellular matrix, is balanced through the actions of hyaluronan-synthesizing enzymes (HAS1, 2 and 3) and degrading hyaluronidases (Hyal 1, 2, 3 and PH20). Hyaluronan accumulates in rapidly remodeling tissues, such as breast cancer, due to deregulated expression of the HAS2 gene and/or alterations of HAS2 activity. The activity of HAS2 is regulated by post-translational modifications, including ubiquitination. In order to identify deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that are involved in de-ubiquitination of HAS2, a complementary (cDNA) library of 69 Flag-HA-tagged human DUBs cloned into retroviral vectors was screened in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells for their ability to de-ubiquitinate myc-tagged HAS2. Several DUBs were found to decrease the ubiquitination of 6myc-HAS2, among which, the most effective were USP17 and USP4. USP17 efficiently removed polyubiquitination, whereas USP4 preferentially removed monoubiquitination of 6myc-HAS2. Co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed interactions between HAS2 and USP17, as well as between HAS2 and USP4, in membrane preparations of HEK293T cells. USP17 significantly stabilized 6myc-HAS2 protein levels, whereas USP4 did not. The silencing of USP17 led to decreased hyaluronan production, whereas the suppression of USP4 increased hyaluronan synthesis. Importantly, high levels of USP17 and HAS2 were detected in a panel of cancer cell lines compared to normal cells, and immunohistochemical stainings revealed higher expression of USP17 and HAS2 in tissues of lung cancer patients compared to normal tissue. In conclusion, USP17 and USP4 differently affect HAS2 ubiquitination, and the stability and function of HAS2.

miR 1296-5p Inhibits the Migration and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells by Repressing ERBB2 Expression

The metastasis of gastric cancer, one of the most common tumors, has a molecular mechanism that is still largely unclear. Here we investigated the role of possible tumor-suppressor miR-1296-5p in the cell migration and invasion of ERBB2-positive gastric cancer. It found that miR-1296-5p was significantly down-regulated in gastric cancer tissues. Moreover, it was down-regulated in lymph node metastatic gastric cancer tissues compared with non-metastatic gastric cancer tissues. The luciferase activity of ERBB2 3'-untranslated region-based reporters constructed in SNU-216 and NUGC-4 gastric cancer cells suggested that ERBB2 was the target gene of miR-1296-5p. Overexpressed miR-1296-5p reduced its target protein level and Rac1 activation, and inhibited the migration and invasion of SNU-216 and NUGC-4 gastric cancer cells. MiR-1296-5p was down-regulated in ERBB2-positive gastric cancer tissues compared with ERBB2-negative gastric cancer tissues. In ERBB2-positive gastric cancers, the miR-1296-5p expression was suppressed in a majority of metastatic lymph node tissues compared to non-metastatic gastric cancer samples. The migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells was inhibited by miR-1296-5p overexpression or herceptin treatment, and rescued by the overexpression of constitutively active Rac1-Q61L or ERBB2. Taken together, our findings first suggest that miR-1296-5p might be involved in the regulation on the migration and invasion of human gastric cancer cells at least in part via targeting ERBB2/Rac1 signaling pathway.

Versican Deficiency Significantly Reduces Lung Inflammatory Response Induced by Polyinosine-Polycytidylic Acid Stimulation

Viral infection is an exacerbating factor contributing to chronic airway diseases, such as asthma, via mechanisms that are still unclear. Polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist used as a mimetic to study viral infection, has been shown to elicit inflammatory responses in lungs and to exacerbate pulmonary allergic reactions in animal models. Previously, we have shown that poly(I:C) stimulates lung fibroblasts to accumulate an extracellular matrix (ECM), enriched in hyaluronan (HA) and its binding partner versican, which promotes monocyte adhesion. In the current study, we aimed to determine the in vivo role of versican in mediating inflammatory responses in poly(I:C)-induced lung inflammation using a tamoxifen-inducible versican-deficient mouse model (Vcan^-/- mice). In C57Bl/6 mice, poly(I:C) instillation significantly increased accumulation of versican and HA, especially in the perivascular and peribronchial regions, which were enriched in infiltrating leukocytes. In contrast, versican-deficient (Vcan^-/-) lungs did not exhibit increases in versican or HA in these regions and had strikingly reduced numbers of leukocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lower expression of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. Poly(I:C) stimulation of lung fibroblasts isolated from control mice generated HA-enriched cable structures in the ECM, providing a substrate for monocytic cells in vitro, whereas lung fibroblasts from Vcan^-/- mice did not. Moreover, increases in proinflammatory cytokine expression were also greatly attenuated in the Vcan^-/- lung fibroblasts. These findings provide strong evidence that versican is a critical inflammatory mediator during poly(I:C)-induced acute lung injury and, in association with HA, generates an ECM that promotes leukocyte infiltration and adhesion.

Effects of anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody IM7 carried with chitosan polylactic acid-coated nano-particles on the treatment of ovarian cancer

Failure in early diagnosis and ineffective treatment are the major causes of ovarian cancer mortality. Hyaluronan and its receptor, cluster of differentiation (CD)44, have been considered to be valid targets for treating cancer. The anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody IM7 is effective in treating ovarian cancer; however, its toxicity should not be ignored. The present study has developed a new drug carrier system composed of chitosan nano-particles coated with polylactic acid (PLA) to improve the treatment efficacy and reduce toxicity. An ionic crosslinking method and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide were used to prepare the IM7 antibody, which was loaded with chitosan nano-particles. The surfaces of the nano-particles were coated with PLA to generate PLA-chitosan-IM7. Subsequently, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the size and zeta potential of the nano-particles. In addition, a spectrophotometer was used to calculate the loading rate and release rate of the nano-particles in acidic and neutral environments. MTT assay was used to evaluate the anti-proliferative effect of PLA-chitosan-IM7 on the human ovarian cancer cell line HO-8910PM. In addition, an in vivo imaging system was used to further investigate the effect of PLA-chitosan-IM7 on the treatment of mice with ovarian cancer. A total of 35 days subsequent to PLA-chitosan-IM7 treatment, all animals were sacrificed by CO₂, and the tumors were removed and weighted. The PLA-chitosan-IM7 nano-particles were successfully prepared, since TEM revealed that their size was 300–400 nm and their zeta potential was +25 mV. According to the spectrophotometry results, the loading rate was 52%, and PLA-chitosan-IM7 exhibited good resistance to acids. MTT assay demonstrated that PLA-chitosan-IM7 could suppress the proliferation of HO-8910PM cells in vitro. The in vivo imaging system revealed that PLA-chitosan-IM7 was effective in controlling the development of human ovarian cancer cells and the tumor weight. These results suggest that PLA-chitosan-IM7 could be effective in treating cancers in vitro and in vivo, which may provide a novel approach to enhance the effectiveness of anti-CD44 treatment while reducing its toxicity.

Roles and targeting of the HAS/hyaluronan/CD44 molecular system in cancer

Synthesis, deposition, and interactions of hyaluronan (HA) with its cellular receptor CD44 are crucial events that regulate the onset and progression of tumors. The intracellular signaling pathways initiated by HA interactions with CD44 leading to tumorigenic responses are complex. Moreover, HA molecules may perform dual functions depending on their concentration and size. Overexpression of variant isoforms of CD44 (CD44v) is most commonly linked to cancer progression, whereas their loss is associated with inhibition of tumor growth. In this review, we highlight that the regulation of HA synthases (HASes) by post-translational modifications, such as O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination, environmental factors and the action of microRNAs is important for HA synthesis and secretion in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, we focus on the roles and interactions of CD44 with various proteins that reside extra- and intracellularly, as well as on cellular membranes with particular reference to the CD44-HA axis in cancer stem cell functions, and the importance of CD44/CD44v6 targeting to inhibit tumorigenesis.

PP2B and ERK1/2 regulate hyaluronan synthesis of HT168 and WM35 human melanoma cell lines

Hyaluronan (HA) is the major glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix in either normal or malignant tissues and it may affect proliferation, motility and differentiation of various cell types. Three isoforms of plasma membrane-bound hyaluronan synthases (HAS 1, 2 and 3) secrete and simultaneously bind pericellular HA. HAS enzymes are subjects of post-translational protein phosphorylation which is believed to regulate their enzymatic activity. In this study, we investigated the HA homeostasis of normal human epidermal melanocytes, HT168 and WM35 human melanoma cell lines and melanoma metastases. HAS2 and HAS3 were detected in all the samples, while the expression of HAS1 was not detectable in any case. Malignant tissue samples and melanoma cell lines contained extra- and intracellular HA abundantly but not normal melanocytes. Applying HA as a chemoattractant facilitated the migration of melanoma cells in Boyden chamber. The amount of HA was reduced upon the inhibition of calcineurin with cyclosporine A (CsA), while the inhibition of ERK1/2 with PD098059 elevated it in both cell lines. The signals of Ser/Thr phosphoproteins at 57 kD were stronger after CsA treatment, while a markedly weaker signal was detected upon inhibition of the MAPK pathway. Our results suggest opposing effects of the two investigated enzymes on the HA homeostasis of melanoma cells. We propose that the dephosphorylation of HAS enzymes targeted by PP2B augments HA production, while their phosphorylation by the activity of MAPK pathway reduces HA synthesis. As the expression of the HA receptor RHAMM was also significantly enhanced by PD098059, the MAPK pathway exerted a complex attenuating effect on HA signalling in the investigated melanoma cells. This observation suggests that the application of MAPK-ERK pathway inhibitors requires a careful therapeutic design in melanoma treatment.

The immunological effect of hyaluronan in tumor angiogenesis

The relationship between the immune system and angiogenesis has been described in several contexts, both in physiological and pathological conditions, as pregnancy and cancer. In fact, different types of immune cells, such as myeloid, macrophages and denditric cells, are able to modulate tumor neovascularization. On the other hand, tumor microenvironment also includes extracellular matrix components like hyaluronan, which has a deregulated synthesis in different tumors. Hyaluronan is a glycosaminoglycan, normally present in the extracellular matrix of tissues in continuous remodeling (embryogenesis or wound healing processes) and acts as an important modulator of cell behavior by different mechanisms, including angiogenesis. In this review, we discuss hyaluronan as a modulator of tumor angiogenesis, focusing in intracellular signaling mediated by its receptors expressed on different immune cells. Recent observations suggest that the immune system is an important component in tumoural angiogenesis. Therefore, immune modulation could have an impact in anti-angiogenic therapy as a new therapeutic strategy, which in turn might improve effectiveness of treatment in cancer patients.

Hyaluronan, Inflammation, and Breast Cancer Progression

Breast cancer-induced inflammation in the tumor reactive stroma supports invasion and malignant progression and is contributed to by a variety of host cells including macrophages and fibroblasts. Inflammation appears to be initiated by tumor cells and surrounding host fibroblasts that secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM) to create a pro-inflammatory “cancerized” or tumor reactive microenvironment that supports tumor expansion and invasion. The tissue polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) is an example of an ECM component within the cancerized microenvironment that promotes breast cancer progression. Like many ECM molecules, the function of native high-molecular weight HA is altered by fragmentation, which is promoted by oxygen/nitrogen free radicals and release of hyaluronidases within the tumor microenvironment. HA fragments are pro-inflammatory and activate signaling pathways that promote survival, migration, and invasion within both tumor and host cells through binding to HA receptors such as CD44 and RHAMM/HMMR. In breast cancer, elevated HA in the peri-tumor stroma and increased HA receptor expression are prognostic for poor outcome and are associated with disease recurrence. This review addresses the critical issues regarding tumor-induced inflammation and its role in breast cancer progression focusing specifically on the changes in HA metabolism within tumor reactive stroma as a key factor in malignant progression.

CD44, Hyaluronan, the Hematopoietic Stem Cell, and Leukemia-Initiating Cells

CD44 is an adhesion molecule that varies in size due to glycosylation and insertion of so-called variant exon products. The CD44 standard isoform (CD44s) is highly expressed in many cells and most abundantly in cells of the hematopoietic system, whereas expression of CD44 variant isoforms (CD44v) is more restricted. CD44s and CD44v are known as stem cell markers, first described for hematopoietic stem cells and later on confirmed for cancer- and leukemia-initiating cells. Importantly, both abundantly expressed CD44s as well as CD44v actively contribute to the maintenance of stem cell features, like generating and embedding in a niche, homing into the niche, maintenance of quiescence, and relative apoptosis resistance. This is surprising, as CD44 is not a master stem cell gene. I here will discuss that the functional contribution of CD44 relies on its particular communication skills with neighboring molecules, adjacent cells and, last not least, the surrounding matrix. In fact, it is the interaction of the hyaluronan receptor CD44 with its prime ligand, which strongly assists stem cells to fulfill their special and demanding tasks. Recent fundamental progress in support of this “old” hypothesis, which may soon pave the way for most promising new therapeutics, is presented for both hematopoietic stem cell and leukemia-initiating cell. The contribution of CD44 to the generation of a stem cell niche, to homing of stem cells in their niche, to stem cell quiescence and apoptosis resistance will be in focus.

Hyaluronan - a functional and structural sweet spot in the tissue microenvironment

Transition from homeostatic to reactive matrix remodeling is a fundamental adaptive tissue response to injury, inflammatory disease, fibrosis, and cancer. Alterations in architecture, physical properties, and matrix composition result in changes in biomechanical and biochemical cellular signaling. The dynamics of pericellular and extracellular matrices, including matrix protein, proteoglycan, and glycosaminoglycan modification are continually emerging as essential regulatory mechanisms underlying cellular and tissue function. Nevertheless, the impact of matrix organization on inflammation and immunity in particular and the consequent effects on tissue healing and disease outcome are arguably under-studied aspects of adaptive stress responses. Herein, we review how the predominant glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (HA) contributes to the structure and function of the tissue microenvironment. Specifically, we examine the evidence of HA degradation and the generation of biologically active smaller HA fragments in pathological settings in vivo. We discuss how HA fragments versus nascent HA via alternate receptor-mediated signaling influence inflammatory cell recruitment and differentiation, resident cell activation, as well as tumor growth, survival, and metastasis. Finally, we discuss how HA fragmentation impacts restoration of normal tissue function and pathological outcomes in disease.

Hyaluronan synthases posttranslational regulation in cancer

Hyaluronan (HA) is a critical component of cancer microenvironment that is known to increase tumor progression and aggressiveness. The synthesis of HA starts from the cytosolic precursors UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and UDP-glucuronic acid. These two sugar nucleotides have several functions in addition to glycoconjugate synthesis and glucuronidation reactions, each of which can have a critical role in cancer. HA is synthesized by a family of three HA synthase (HAS) enzymes and, in this review, we described the main posttranslational modifications that are known to regulate HA metabolism. In particular, as the main HAS in adult tissues is HAS2, we focused on the role of AMPK-mediated phosphorylation and glycosylation by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAcylation) of HAS2 which mediate HAS2 inactivation and activation, respectively. HA catabolism, furnishing glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, can represent for a cancer cell a valid source of substrates to sustain complex tumor metabolism, and we highlight a presumable metabolic fate of such sugars in tumor cells.

4-methylumbelliferone treatment and hyaluronan inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer

Hyaluronan (HA) is a prominent component of the extracellular matrix at many sites of chronic inflammation, including type 1 diabetes (T1D), multiple sclerosis, and numerous malignancies. Recent publications have demonstrated that when HA synthesis is inhibited using 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), beneficial effects are observed in several animal models of these diseases. Notably, 4-MU is an already approved drug in Europe and Asia called "hymecromone" where it is used to treat biliary spasm. However, there is uncertainty regarding how 4-MU treatment provides benefit in these animal models and the potential long-term consequences of HA inhibition. Here, we review what is known about how HA contributes to immune dysregulation and tumor progression. Then, we review what is known about 4-MU and hymecromone in terms of mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and safety. Finally, we review recent studies detailing the use of 4-MU to treat animal models of cancer and autoimmunity.

Analysis of hyaluronan synthase activity

Hyaluronan (HA) is a component of the extracellular matrix that is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. As HA modulates several functions (i.e., cell proliferation and migration, inflammation), its presence in the tissues can have positive or negative effects. HA synthases (HAS) are a family of three isoenzymes located on the plasma membrane that are responsible for the production of such polysaccharide and, therefore, their activity is critical to determine the accumulation of HA in tissues. Here, we describe a nonradioactive method to quantify the HAS enzymatic activity in crude cellular membrane preparation.