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Current Opportunities for Targeting Dysregulated Neurodevelopmental Signaling Pathways in Glioblastoma. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162530. [PMID: 36010607 PMCID: PMC9406959 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and highly lethal type of brain tumor, with poor survival despite advances in understanding its complexity. After current standard therapeutic treatment, including tumor resection, radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy with temozolomide, the median overall survival of patients with this type of tumor is less than 15 months. Thus, there is an urgent need for new insights into GBM molecular characteristics and progress in targeted therapy in order to improve clinical outcomes. The literature data revealed that a number of different signaling pathways are dysregulated in GBM. In this review, we intended to summarize and discuss current literature data and therapeutic modalities focused on targeting dysregulated signaling pathways in GBM. A better understanding of opportunities for targeting signaling pathways that influences malignant behavior of GBM cells might open the way for the development of novel GBM-targeted therapies.
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Verploegh ISC, Conidi A, Brouwer RWW, Balcioglu HE, Karras P, Makhzami S, Korporaal A, Marine JC, Lamfers M, Van IJcken WFJ, Leenstra S, Huylebroeck D. Comparative single-cell RNA-sequencing profiling of BMP4-treated primary glioma cultures reveals therapeutic markers. Neuro Oncol 2022; 24:2133-2145. [PMID: 35639831 PMCID: PMC9713526 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor. Its cellular composition is very heterogeneous, with cells exhibiting stem-cell characteristics (GSCs) that co-determine therapy resistance and tumor recurrence. Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP)-4 promotes astroglial and suppresses oligodendrocyte differentiation in GSCs, processes associated with superior patient prognosis. We characterized variability in cell viability of patient-derived GBM cultures in response to BMP4 and, based on single-cell transcriptome profiling, propose predictive positive and early-response markers for sensitivity to BMP4. METHODS Cell viability was assessed in 17 BMP4-treated patient-derived GBM cultures. In two cultures, one highly-sensitive to BMP4 (high therapeutic efficacy) and one with low-sensitivity, response to treatment with BMP4 was characterized. We applied single-cell RNA-sequencing, analyzed the relative abundance of cell clusters, searched for and identified the aforementioned two marker types, and validated these results in all 17 cultures. RESULTS High variation in cell viability was observed after treatment with BMP4. In three cultures with highest sensitivity for BMP4, a substantial new cell subpopulation formed. These cells displayed decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Neuronal differentiation was reduced most in cultures with little sensitivity for BMP4. OLIG1/2 levels were found predictive for high sensitivity to BMP4. Activation of ribosomal translation (RPL27A, RPS27) was up-regulated within one day in cultures that were very sensitive to BMP4. CONCLUSION The changes in composition of patient-derived GBM cultures obtained after treatment with BMP4 correlate with treatment efficacy. OLIG1/2 expression can predict this efficacy, and upregulation of RPL27A and RPS27 are useful early-response markers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rutger W W Brouwer
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Biomics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hayri E Balcioglu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus Medical Center Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Samira Makhzami
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne Korporaal
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martine Lamfers
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wilfred F J Van IJcken
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sieger Leenstra
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danny Huylebroeck
- Corresponding Author: Danny Huylebroeck, Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Building Ee, room Ee-1040b, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands ()
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Tanabe R, Miyazono K, Todo T, Saito N, Iwata C, Komuro A, Sakai S, Raja E, Koinuma D, Morikawa M, Westermark B, Heldin CH. PRRX1 induced by BMP signaling decreases tumorigenesis by epigenetically regulating glioma-initiating cell properties via DNA methyltransferase 3A. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:269-288. [PMID: 34214250 PMCID: PMC8732353 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma‐initiating cells (GICs), a major source of glioblastoma recurrence, are characterized by the expression of neural stem cell markers and the ability to grow by forming nonadherent spheres under serum‐free conditions. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), members of the transforming growth factor‐β family, induce differentiation of GICs and suppress their tumorigenicity. However, the mechanisms underlying the BMP‐induced loss of GIC stemness have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) induced by BMPs decreases the CD133‐positive GIC population and inhibits tumorigenic activity of GICs in vivo. Of the two splice isoforms of PRRX1, the longer isoform, pmx‐1b, but not the shorter isoform, pmx‐1a, induces GIC differentiation. Upon BMP stimulation, pmx‐1b interacts with the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3A and induces promoter methylation of the PROM1 gene encoding CD133. Silencing DNMT3A maintains PROM1 expression and increases the CD133‐positive GIC population. Thus, pmx‐1b promotes loss of stem cell‐like properties of GICs through region‐specific epigenetic regulation of CD133 expression by recruiting DNMT3A, which is associated with decreased tumorigenicity of GICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Tanabe
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Kohei Miyazono
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Tomoki Todo
- Division of Innovative Cancer Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhito Saito
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Caname Iwata
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Komuro
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Sakai
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Erna Raja
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daizo Koinuma
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Morikawa
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Bengt Westermark
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Carl-Henrik Heldin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
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4
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A new glioma grading model based on histopathology and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 mRNA expression. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18420. [PMID: 33116227 PMCID: PMC7595142 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75574-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma, the most common form of primary malignant brain tumors, is graded based solely on histopathological appearance, which has led to prognostic discrepancies. This study aimed to establish a new glioma grading model by analyzing the expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) mRNA in patients with gliomas as well, named the Histopathological-BMP2 (HB) system. Clinical information was collected from 692 patients from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas database. According to pathological glioma subtypes and the expression of BMP2 mRNA in tumor tissues, the new subtypes HBs, HBh, HBm and HB1 were established, with BMP2 expression highest in HBs and lowest in HB1. Survival periods were analyzed. Based on this, the expression of three BMP2 receptors (BMPR1A, BMPR1B, and BMPR2) was also analyzed, which was related to the prognosis of patients. This new classification model was validated in further groups of patients from the CGGA database (n = 291) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (n = 625). A new glioma grade (HB grade) based on histopathology and BMP2 expression can predict the prognosis of glioma patients, with BMPR1B and BMPR2 expression indicating a different prognosis in different types of gliomas. The higher the concentration of BMP2, the better the prognosis of patients.
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5
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Han HJ, Jain P, Resnick AC. Shared ACVR1 mutations in FOP and DIPG: Opportunities and challenges in extending biological and clinical implications across rare diseases. Bone 2018; 109:91-100. [PMID: 28780023 PMCID: PMC7888549 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Gain-of-function mutations in the Type I Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) receptor ACVR1 have been identified in two diseases: Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by genetically driven heterotopic ossification, and in 20-25% of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPGs), a pediatric brain tumor with no effective therapies and dismal median survival. While the ACVR1 mutation is causal for FOP, its role in DIPG tumor biology remains under active investigation. Here, we discuss cross-fertilization between the FOP and DIPG fields, focusing on the biological mechanisms and principles gleaned from FOP that can be applied to DIPG biology. We highlight our current knowledge of ACVR1 in both diseases, and then describe the growing opportunities and barriers to effectively investigate ACVR1 in DIPG. Importantly, learning from other seemingly unrelated diseases harboring similar mutations may uncover novel mechanisms or processes for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry J Han
- Division of Neurosurgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Building Room 4052, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Room 4052, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States
| | - Payal Jain
- Division of Neurosurgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Building Room 4052, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States; Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Building Room 4052, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Room 4052, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States
| | - Adam C Resnick
- Division of Neurosurgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Building Room 4052, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States; Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Building Room 4052, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States; Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Building Room 4052, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States; Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Building Room 4052, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, Room 4052, Philadelphia 19104, PA, United States.
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6
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Johnson MD. Transforming Growth Factor Beta Family in the Pathogenesis of Meningiomas. World Neurosurg 2017; 104:113-119. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.03.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Bone morphogenetic protein signaling mediated by ALK-2 and DLX2 regulates apoptosis in glioma-initiating cells. Oncogene 2017; 36:4963-4974. [PMID: 28459464 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling exerts antitumor activities in glioblastoma; however, its precise mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that the BMP type I receptor ALK-2 (encoded by the ACVR1 gene) has crucial roles in apoptosis induction of patient-derived glioma-initiating cells (GICs), TGS-01 and TGS-04. We also characterized a BMP target gene, Distal-less homeobox 2 (DLX2), and found that DLX2 promoted apoptosis and neural differentiation of GICs. The tumor-suppressive effects of ALK-2 and DLX2 were further confirmed in a mouse orthotopic transplantation model. Interestingly, valproic acid (VPA), an anti-epileptic compound, induced BMP2, BMP4, ACVR1 and DLX2 mRNA expression with a concomitant increase in phosphorylation of Smad1/5. Consistently, we showed that treatment with VPA induced apoptosis of GICs, whereas silencing of ALK-2 or DLX2 expression partially suppressed it. Our study thus reveals BMP-mediated inhibitory mechanisms for glioblastoma, which explains, at least in part, the therapeutic effects of VPA.
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8
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Leng L, Zhong X, Sun G, Qiu W, Shi L. Demethoxycurcumin was superior to temozolomide in the inhibition of the growth of glioblastoma stem cells in vivo. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:10.1007/s13277-016-5399-x. [PMID: 27757851 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5399-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Temozolomide (TMZ) is widely used in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) as it can effectively inhibit the growth of GBM for some months; however, this cancer type is still incurable. The existence of glioma stem cells (GSCs) is thought to be responsible for the invariable recurrence of GBM after treatment, but GSCs are insensitive to TMZ. Our recent research showed that demethoxycurcumin (DMC), a component of curcumin, was superior to TMZ in its ability to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of GSCs in vitro. In addition, the combined treatment of TMZ + DMC induced more obvious anti-GSC effects. However, in this study, no obvious synergistic anti-GSC effects of TMZ + DMC were found in vivo, while DMC was still superior to TMZ with respect to growth inhibition of GSCs in vivo. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed that such inhibitory effects were mainly related to the inhibition of cell proliferation rather than to apoptosis. However, a high concentration of DMC (50 mg/kg) alone or combined with TMZ could also induce approximately 10 % of the cells to undergo apoptosis according to a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Finally, an investigation of the underlying mechanism revealed that the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 3 signaling pathway played an important role in the anti-GSC effects. When the JAK inhibitor AG490 was applied, the anti-GSC effects of DMC were enhanced. Taken together, the present work reveals that DMC is superior to TMZ with respect to its anti-GSC effects in vivo, which are mediated through the inhibition of the activation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway; however, DMC demonstrated no synergistic effects with TMZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Leng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Liyang People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Liyang, 213300, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojun Zhong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Liyang People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Liyang, 213300, People's Republic of China
| | - Guan Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fourth Affiliated Yancheng Hospital of Nantong University, Yancheng, 224000, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Qiu
- Department of Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Suzhou, 215300, People's Republic of China.
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9
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Lee G, Hall RR, Ahmed AU. Cancer Stem Cells: Cellular Plasticity, Niche, and its Clinical Relevance. JOURNAL OF STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY 2016; 6:363. [PMID: 27891292 PMCID: PMC5123595 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7633.1000363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer handles an estimated 7.6 million deaths worldwide per annum. A recent theory focuses on the role Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) in driving tumorigenesis and disease progression. This theory hypothesizes that a population of the tumor cell with similar functional and phenotypic characteristics as normal tissue stem cells are responsible for formation and advancement of many human cancers. The CSCs subpopulation can differentiate into non-CSC tumor cells and promote phenotypic and functional heterogeneity within the tumor. The presence of CSCs has been reported in a number of human cancers including blood, breast, brain, colon, lung, pancreas prostate and liver. Although the origin of CSCs remains a mystery, recent reports suggest that the phenotypic characteristics of CSCs may be plastic and are influenced by the microenvironment specific for the individual tumor. Such factors unique to each tumor preserve the dynamic balance between CSCs to non-CSCs cell fate, as well as maintain the proper equilibrium. Alternating such equilibrium via dedifferentiation can result in aggressiveness, as CSCs are considered to be more resistant to the conventional cancer treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. Understanding how the tumoral microenvironment affects the plasticity driven CSC niche will be critical for developing a more effective treatment for cancer by eliminating its aggressive and recurring nature that now is believed to be perpetuated by CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Robert R Hall
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Atique U Ahmed
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Controlled release microspheres loaded with BMP7 suppress primary tumors from human glioblastoma. Oncotarget 2016; 6:10950-63. [PMID: 25860932 PMCID: PMC4484431 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma tumor initiating cells are believed to be the main drivers behind tumor recurrence, and therefore therapies that specifically manage this population are of great medical interest. In a previous work, we synthesized controlled release microspheres optimized for intracranial delivery of BMP7, and showed that these devices are able to stop the in vitro growth of a glioma cell line. Towards the translational development of this technology, we now explore these microspheres in further detail and characterize the mechanism of action and the in vivo therapeutic potential using tumor models relevant for the clinical setting: human primary glioblastoma cell lines. Our results show that BMP7 can stop the proliferation and block the self-renewal capacity of those primary cell lines that express the receptor BMPR1B. BMP7 was encapsulated in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres in the form of a complex with heparin and Tetronic, and the formulation provided effective release for several weeks, a process controlled by carrier degradation. Data from xenografts confirmed reduced and delayed tumor formation for animals treated with BMP7-loaded microspheres. This effect was coincident with the activation of the canonical BMP signaling pathway. Importantly, tumors treated with BMP7-loaded microspheres also showed downregulation of several markers that may be related to a malignant stem cell-like phenotype: CD133(+), Olig2, and GFAPδ. We also observed that tumors treated with BMP7-loaded microspheres showed enhanced expression of cell cycle inhibitors and reduced expression of the proliferation marker PCNA. In summary, BMP7-loaded controlled release microspheres are able to inhibit GBM growth and reduce malignancy markers. We envisage that this kind of selective therapy for tumor initiating cells could have a synergistic effect in combination with conventional cytoreductive therapy (chemo-, radiotherapy) or with immunotherapy.
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Shi L, Fei X, Wang Z. Demethoxycurcumin was prior to temozolomide on inhibiting proliferation and induced apoptosis of glioblastoma stem cells. Tumour Biol 2015; 36:7107-19. [PMID: 25877753 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3427-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Temozolomide (TMZ) is widely used for treating glioblastoma (GBM), which can effectively inhibit the GBM growth for some months; however, it still could not prevent the invariable recurrence of GBM. The existence of glioma stem cells (GSCs) was considered to be a key factor. But TMZ has poor effects on GSCs. Recently, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) has been shown to display anti-tumor activities in malignant gliomas. However, its effects and the potential mechanisms on GSCs were still unclear. Our study showed that DMC was prior to TMZ on resulting in a significant increase in GSC apoptosis and a marked inhibition of cell growth in vitro. And combined treatment of DMC and TMZ showed more significant anti-GSC effects. Further research into the underlying mechanism demonstrated that this novel combinatorial regimen leads to changes of multiple cell signaling pathways including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and caspase-3 signaling mitochondria-related apoptosis activation as well as inactivation of JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the anti-GSC effects of DMC are better than TMZ, and combined treatment of DMC and TMZ has much stronger effects on GSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Suzhou, 215300, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xifeng Fei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Suzhou Kowloon Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Suzhou, 215021, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhimin Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Suzhou Kowloon Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Suzhou, 215021, People's Republic of China.
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Hover LD, Abel TW, Owens P. Genomic Analysis of the BMP Family in Glioblastomas. TRANSLATIONAL ONCOGENOMICS 2015; 7:1-9. [PMID: 25987829 PMCID: PMC4406393 DOI: 10.4137/tog.s22256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a grade IV glioma with a median survival of 15 months. Recently,
bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling has been shown to promote survival in xenograft murine
models. To gain a better understanding of the role of BMP signaling in human GBMs, we examined the
genomic alterations of 90 genes associated with BMP signaling in GBM patient samples. We completed
this analysis using publically available datasets compiled through The Cancer Genome Atlas and the
Glioma Molecular Diagnostic Initiative. Here we show how mRNA expression is altered in GBM samples
and how that is associated with patient survival, highlighting both known and novel associations
between BMP signaling and GBM biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D Hover
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ty W Abel
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Philip Owens
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Li X, Liu Y, Granberg KJ, Wang Q, Moore LM, Ji P, Gumin J, Sulman EP, Calin GA, Haapasalo H, Nykter M, Shmulevich I, Fuller GN, Lang FF, Zhang W. Two mature products of MIR-491 coordinate to suppress key cancer hallmarks in glioblastoma. Oncogene 2015; 34:1619-1628. [PMID: 24747968 PMCID: PMC4205227 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
MIR-491 is commonly co-deleted with its adjacent CDKN2A on chromosome 9p21.3 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, it is not known whether deletion of MIR-491 is only a passenger event or has an important role. Small-RNA sequencing of samples from GBM patients demonstrated that both mature products of MIR-491 (miR-491-5p and -3p) are downregulated in tumors compared with the normal brain. The integration of GBM data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), miRNA target prediction and reporter assays showed that miR-491-5p directly targets EGFR, CDK6 and Bcl-xL, whereas miR-491-3p targets IGFBP2 and CDK6. Functionally, miR-491-3p inhibited glioma cell invasion; overexpression of both miR-491-5p and -3p inhibited proliferation of glioma cell lines and impaired the propagation of glioma stem cells (GSCs), thereby prolonging survival of xenograft mice. Moreover, knockdown of miR-491-5p in primary Ink4a-Arf-null mouse glial progenitor cells exacerbated cell proliferation and invasion. Therefore, MIR-491 is a tumor suppressor gene that, by utilizing both mature forms, coordinately controls the key cancer hallmarks: proliferation, invasion and stem cell propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuexin Liu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kirsi J. Granberg
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Signal Processing, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Fimlab Laboratories and University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Qinhao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lynette M. Moore
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ping Ji
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Joy Gumin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Erik P. Sulman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - George A. Calin
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Non-coding RNA center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hannu Haapasalo
- Department of Pathology, Fimlab Laboratories and University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Matti Nykter
- Department of Signal Processing, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Gregory N. Fuller
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Frederick F. Lang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Non-coding RNA center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Iacopino F, Angelucci C, Piacentini R, Biamonte F, Mangiola A, Maira G, Grassi C, Sica G. Isolation of cancer stem cells from three human glioblastoma cell lines: characterization of two selected clones. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105166. [PMID: 25121761 PMCID: PMC4133365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) were isolated via a non-adherent neurosphere assay from three glioma cell lines: LI, U87, and U373. Using a clonal assay, two clones (D2 and F11) were selected from spheres derived from LI cells and were characterized for the: expression of stem cell markers (CD133, Nestin, Musashi-1 and Sox2); proliferation; differentiation capability (determined by the expression of GalC, βIII-Tubulin and GFAP); Ca2+ signaling and tumorigenicity in nude mice. Both D2 and F11 clones expressed higher levels of all stem cell markers with respect to the parental cell line. Clones grew more slowly than LI cells with a two-fold increase in duplication time. Markers of differentiation (βIII-Tubulin and GFAP) were expressed at high levels in both LI cells and in neurospheres. The expression of Nestin, Sox2, and βIII-Tubulin was down-regulated in D2 and F11 when cultured in serum-containing medium, whereas Musashi-1 was increased. In this condition, duplication time of D2 and F11 increased without reaching that of LI cells. D2, F11 and parental cells did not express voltage-dependent Ca2+-channels but they exhibited increased intracellular Ca2+ levels in response to ATP. These Ca2+ signals were larger in LI cells and in spheres cultured in serum-containing medium, while they were smaller in serum-free medium. The ATP treatment did not affect cell proliferation. Both D2 and F11 induced the appearance of tumors when ortotopically injected in athymic nude mice at a density 50-fold lower than that of LI cells. All these data indicate that both clones have characteristics of CSC and share the same stemness properties. The findings regarding the expression of differentiation markers and Ca2+-channels show that both clones are unable to reach the terminal differentiation. Both D2 and F11 might represent a good model to improve the knowledge on CSC in glioblastoma and to identify new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fortunata Iacopino
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Cristiana Angelucci
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Piacentini
- Institute of Human Physiology, Medical School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Biamonte
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Annunziato Mangiola
- Institute of Neurosurgery, Medical School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Maira
- Institute of Neurosurgery, Medical School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Grassi
- Institute of Human Physiology, Medical School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Gigliola Sica
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
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15
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BMPs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in astrocytic glioma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:549742. [PMID: 24877113 PMCID: PMC4022209 DOI: 10.1155/2014/549742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytic glioma is the most common brain tumor. The glioma initiating cell (GIC) fraction of the tumor is considered as highly chemoresistant, suggesting that GICs are responsible for glioma relapse. A potential treatment for glioma is to induce differentiation of GICs to a more benign and/or druggable cell type. Given BMPs are among the most potent inducers of GIC differentiation, they have been considered as noncytotoxic therapeutic compounds that may be of use to prevent growth and recurrence of glioma. We herein summarize advances made in the understanding of the role of BMP signaling in astrocytic glioma, with a particular emphasis on the effects exerted on GICs. We discuss the prognostic value of BMP signaling components and the implications of BMPs in the differentiation of GICs and in their sensitization to alkylating drugs and oncolytic therapy/chemotherapy. This mechanistic insight may provide new opportunities for therapeutic intervention of brain cancer.
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16
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Adult neurogenesis and glial oncogenesis: when the process fails. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:438639. [PMID: 24738058 PMCID: PMC3971505 DOI: 10.1155/2014/438639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are known for their high degree of invasiveness, aggressiveness, and lethality. These tumors are made up of heterogeneous cell populations and only a small part of these cells (known as cancer stem cells) is responsible for the initiation and recurrence of the tumor. The biology of cancer stem cells and their role in brain tumor growth and therapeutic resistance has been extensively investigated. Recent work suggests that glial tumors arise from neural stem cells that undergo a defective process of differentiation. The understanding of this process might permit the development of novel treatment strategies targeting cancer stem cells. In the present review, we address the mechanisms underlying glial tumor formation, paying special attention to cancer stem cells and the role of the microenvironment in preserving them and promoting tumor growth. Recent advancements in cancer stem cell biology, especially regarding tumor initiation and resistance to chemo- or radiotherapy, have led to the development of novel treatment strategies that focus on the niche of the stem cells that make up the tumor. Encouraging results from preclinical studies predict that these findings will be translated into the clinical field in the near future.
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Ampuja M, Jokimäki R, Juuti-Uusitalo K, Rodriguez-Martinez A, Alarmo EL, Kallioniemi A. BMP4 inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells and induces an MMP-dependent migratory phenotype in MDA-MB-231 cells in 3D environment. BMC Cancer 2013; 13:429. [PMID: 24053318 PMCID: PMC3848934 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) belongs to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family of proteins. BMPs regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and motility, and have also been reported to be involved in cancer pathogenesis. We have previously shown that BMP4 reduces breast cancer cell proliferation through G1 cell cycle arrest and simultaneously induces migration in a subset of these cell lines. Here we examined the effects of BMP4 in a more physiological environment, in a 3D culture system. Methods We used two different 3D culture systems; Matrigel, a basement membrane extract from mouse sarcoma cells, and a synthetic polyethylene glycol (PEG) gel. AlamarBlue reagent was used for cell proliferation measurements and immunofluorescence was used to determine cell polarity. Expression of cell cycle regulators was examined by Western blot and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression by qRT-PCR. Results The MCF-10A normal breast epithelial cells formed round acini with correct apicobasal localization of α6 integrin in Matrigel whereas irregular structures were seen in PEG gel. The two 3D matrices also supported dissimilar morphology for the breast cancer cells. In PEG gel, BMP4 inhibited the growth of MCF-10A and the three breast cancer cell lines examined, thus closely resembling the 2D culture conditions, but in Matrigel, no growth inhibition was observed in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-361 cells. Furthermore, BMP4 induced the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 both in 2D and 3D culture, thereby partly explaining the growth arrest. Interestingly, MDA-MB-231 cells formed large branching, stellate structures in response to BMP4 treatment in Matrigel, suggestive of increased cell migration or invasion. This effect was reversed by Batimastat, a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor, and subsequent analyses showed BMP4 to induce the expression of MMP3 and MMP14, that are thus likely to be responsible for the stellate phenotype. Conclusions Taken together, our results show that Matrigel provides a more physiological environment for breast epithelial cells than PEG gel. Moreover, BMP4 partly recapitulates in 3D culture the growth suppressive abilities previously seen in 2D culture and induces an MMP-dependent migratory phenotype in MDA-MB-231 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Ampuja
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Tampere and BioMediTech, Tampere, Finland.
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18
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BMP4/Thrombospondin-1 loop paracrinically inhibits tumor angiogenesis and suppresses the growth of solid tumors. Oncogene 2013; 33:3803-11. [PMID: 24013228 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Revised: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) has potential as an anticancer agent. Recent studies have suggested that BMP4 inhibits the survival of cancer stem cells (CSCs) of neural and colon cancers. Here, we showed that BMP4 paracrinically inhibited tumor angiogenesis via the induction of Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1), and consequently suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Although HeLa (human cervical cancer), HCI-H460-LNM35 (highly metastatic human lung cancer) and B16 (murine melanoma) cells did not respond to the BMP4 treatment in vitro, the growth of xeno- and allografts of these cells was suppressed via reductions in tumor angiogenesis after intraperitoneal treatment with BMP4. When we assessed the mRNA expression of major angiogenesis-related factors in grafted tumors, we found that the expression of TSP1 was significantly upregulated by BMP4 administration. We then confirmed that BMP4 was less effective in suppressing the tumor growth of TSP1-knockdown cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that BMP4 reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in vivo in a TSP1-dependent manner, which indicates that BMP4 interfered with the stabilization of tumor angiogenesis. In conclusion, the BMP4/TSP1 loop paracrinically suppressed tumor angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment, which subsequently reduced the growth of tumors. BMP4 may become an antitumor agent and open a new field of antiangiogenic therapy.
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19
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Brain tumor stem cells: Molecular characteristics and their impact on therapy. Mol Aspects Med 2013; 39:82-101. [PMID: 23831316 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2013.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent primary brain tumor and ranks among the most lethal of human cancers with conventional therapy offering only palliation. Great strides have been made in understanding brain cancer genetics and modeling these tumors with new targeted therapies being tested, but these advances have not translated into substantially improved patient outcomes. Multiple chemotherapeutic agents, including temozolomide, the first-line treatment for glioblastoma, have been developed to kill cancer cells. However, the response to temozolomide in GBM is modest. Radiation is also moderately effective but this approach is plagued by limitations due to collateral radiation damage to healthy brain tissue and development of radioresistance. Therapeutic resistance is attributed at least in part to a cell population within the tumor that possesses stem-like characteristics and tumor propagating capabilities, referred to as cancer stem cells. Within GBM, the intratumoral heterogeneity is derived from a combination of regional genetic variance and a cellular hierarchy often regulated by distinct cancer stem cell niches, most notably perivascular and hypoxic regions. With the recent emergence as a key player in tumor biology, cancer stem cells have symbiotic relationships with the tumor microenvironment, oncogenic signaling pathways, and epigenetic modifications. The origins of cancer stem cells and their contributions to brain tumor growth and therapeutic resistance are under active investigation with novel anti-cancer stem cell therapies offering potential new hope for this lethal disease.
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Bao Z, Zhang C, Yan W, Liu Y, Li M, Zhang W, Jiang T. BMP4, a strong better prognosis predictor, has a subtype preference and cell development association in gliomas. J Transl Med 2013; 11:100. [PMID: 23590708 PMCID: PMC3637580 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-11-100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The bone morphogenetic family proteins (BMP) are phytogenetically conserved proteins, which are essential for embryonic development. The key regulatory subunit, the bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), is overexpressed and associated with tumor metastasis in a variety of cancers. However, the prognostic and molecular features of gliomas with BMP4 expression is still unclear. Methods We obtained whole genome mRNA expression microarray data of 220 glioma samples of all grades from Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database (http://www.cgga.org.cn) as discovery set. Of the 123 high-grade gliomas in this set, 33 Grade III tumors and 88 GBMs were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Immunohistochemistry was used for validating the expression of BMP4 in another 77 glioma samples. Three additional datasets were obtained as validation sets. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were used for functional annotation of BMP4. Results In the discovery set, BMP4 overexpression was significantly associated with low grade as well as the lower mortality of high-grade gliomas in survival analysis (log-rank, p<0.05 in GBM patients and p<0.01 in anaplastic gliomas, respectively). BMP4 also showed a Proneural subtype, G1 subtype and Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation preference and cell development association. The results of validation 4 datasets showed similar findings. The overexpression of BMP4 was also detected in low grade gliomas compared to the high grade ones by immunohistochemistry (p<0.05, chi-square test). Conclusion BMP4 expression was independently associated with grade and good prognosis in grade III and grade IV gliomas, suggesting BMP4 as a novel biomarker with potential important therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoshi Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
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21
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Liu B, Chen Q, Tian D, Wu L, Dong H, Wang J, Ji B, Zhu X, Cai Q, Wang L, Zhang S. BMP4 reverses multidrug resistance through modulation of BCL-2 and GDNF in glioblastoma. Brain Res 2013; 1507:115-24. [PMID: 23466456 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Patients with glioblastoma are commonly treated with chemotherapy. But a significant proportion of patients develop disease progression after an initial response to chemotherapy. Presently, there is no standard of care for such patients. The bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) has been reported to play a tumor-suppressing role in glioblastoma, but its role in glioblastoma multidrug resistance (MDR) is not clear. We reported that BMP4 can reverse MDR of glioblastoma through the inhibition of B-cell lymphoma 2(BCL-2) and glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). We showed that the expression level of BMP4 was lower in glioblastoma compared to normal brain tissue, and also showed that BMP4 expression decreased in multidrug resistance cell line U251/TMZ compared to U251 cells. Our research demonstrated that over-expression of BMP4 can reverse the multidrug resistance. BCL-2 and GDNF were inhibited when BMP4 was over-expressed, and this data were consistent with the negative relationship in human samples; analysis of 40 patient's glioblastoma and brain samples revealed a significant negative correlation between BMP4 and BCL-2, GDNF. When BCL-2 and GDNF were knocked down, the effect of BMP4 in regulating MDR was partially lost. This novel result showed, for the first time, that BMP4 can reverse MDR in glioblastoma, which involved negative inhibition of BCL-2 and GDNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohui Liu
- Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Street, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
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Ma W, Ma J, Xu J, Qiao C, Branscum A, Cardenas A, Baron AT, Schwartz P, Maihle NJ, Huang Y. Lin28 regulates BMP4 and functions with Oct4 to affect ovarian tumor microenvironment. Cell Cycle 2012; 12:88-97. [PMID: 23255092 DOI: 10.4161/cc.23028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in regulating cancer stem cells (CSCs) and tumor progression through both autocrine and paracrine signaling. Elevated production of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) from human ovarian cancer cells and stroma has been shown to increase CSC proliferation and tumor growth. Here, we report that Lin28, a stem cell factor, binds to BMP4 mRNA in epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells, thereby promoting BMP4 expression at the post-transcriptional level. As co-expression of Lin28 and Oct4 (another stem cell factor) has been implicated in ovarian cancer CSCs, we also determined that high levels of Lin28 are associated with an unfavorable prognosis when co-expressed with high levels of Oct4. Together, these findings uncover a new level of regulation of BMP4 expression and imply a novel Lin28/Oct4/BMP4-mediated mechanism of regulating ovarian tumor cell growth, thus holding potential for the development of new strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ma
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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BMP2 sensitizes glioblastoma stem-like cells to Temozolomide by affecting HIF-1α stability and MGMT expression. Cell Death Dis 2012; 3:e412. [PMID: 23076220 PMCID: PMC3481140 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2012.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common brain tumour, characterized by a central and partially necrotic (i.e., hypoxic) core enriched in cancer stem cells (CSCs). We previously showed that the most hypoxic and immature (i.e., CSCs) GBM cells were resistant to Temozolomide (TMZ) in vitro, owing to a particularly high expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT), the most important factor associated to therapy resistance in GBM. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and in particular BMP2, are known to promote differentiation and growth inhibition in GBM cells. For this reason, we investigated whether a BMP2-based treatment would increase TMZ response in hypoxic drug-resistant GBM-derived cells. Here we show that BMP2 induced strong differentiation of GBM stem-like cells and subsequent addition of TMZ caused dramatic increase of apoptosis. Importantly, we correlated these effects to a BMP2-induced downregulation of both hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and MGMT. We report here a novel mechanism involving the HIF-1α-dependent regulation of MGMT, highlighting the existence of a HIF-1α/MGMT axis supporting GBM resistance to therapy. As confirmed from this evidence, over-stabilization of HIF-1α in TMZ-sensitive GBM cells abolished their responsiveness to it. In conclusion, we describe a HIF-1α-dependent regulation of MGMT and suggest that BMP2, by down-modulating the HIF-1α/MGMT axis, should increase GBM responsiveness to chemotherapy, thus opening the way to the development of future strategies for GBM treatment.
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Bone morphogenetic protein 4-a fascinating regulator of cancer cell behavior. Cancer Genet 2012; 205:267-77. [PMID: 22749032 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2012.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Revised: 05/17/2012] [Accepted: 05/18/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are extracellular signaling molecules that belong to the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily and are well-known for their indispensable roles in vertebrate development. In recent years, important new information has been generated on the contribution of BMP family members, such as BMP4, in cancer pathogenesis. First of all, BMP4 gene variants have been shown to predispose to colorectal cancer. In sporadic cancer, BMP4 expression levels are commonly altered in many tumor types and have been linked to patient prognosis in hepatocellular and ovarian cancer. In terms of BMP4 function in cancer cells, the majority of studies demonstrate that BMP4 suppresses cell growth both in vitro and in vivo, and at the same time is able to induce migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These latter phenotypes are typically associated with cancer metastasis and progression, and thus BMP4 seems to elicit effects that are both detrimental and beneficial for the cancer cells. The functional effects of BMP4 are not restricted to the control of cell proliferation and mobility, since it also contributes to the regulation of differentiation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. The latter is especially intriguing since the formation of new blood vessels is a prerequisite for sustained tumor growth and cancer progression. Mainly due to its growth suppressive abilities, BMP4 has been suggested as a possible therapeutic target in cancer cells. However, the other functional characteristics of BMP4, especially the promotion of cell mobility, make such strategies less appealing. Improved knowledge of the downstream mediators of BMP4 effects in cancer cells may allow dissection of the different BMP4-induced phenotypes and thereby generation of specific targeted therapies.
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Cathepsin H indirectly regulates morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) in various human cell lines. Radiol Oncol 2011; 45:259-66. [PMID: 22933963 PMCID: PMC3423750 DOI: 10.2478/v10019-011-0034-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cathepsin H is a cysteine protease considered to play a major role in tumor progression, however, its precise function in tumorigenesis is unclear. Cathepsin H was recently proposed to be involved in processing of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) in mice. In order to clarify whether cathepsin H also regulates BMP-4 in humans, its impact on BMP-4 expression, processing and degradation was investigated in prostate cancer (PC-3), osteosarcoma (HOS) and pro-monocytic (U937) human cell lines. Materials and methods BMP-4 expression was founded to be regulated by cathepsin H using PCR array technology and confirmed by real time PCR. Immunoassays including Western blot and confocal microscopy were used to evaluate the influence of cathepsin H on BMP-4 processing. Results In contrast to HOS, the expression of BMP-4 mRNA in U937 and PC3 cells was significantly decreased by cathepsin H. The different regulation of BMP-4 synthesis could be associated with the absence of the mature 28 kDa cathepsin H form in HOS cells, where only the intermediate 30 kDa form was observed. No co-localization of BMP-4 and cathepsin H was observed in human cell lines and the multistep processing of BMP-4 was not altered in the presence of specific cathepsin H inhibitor. Isolated cathepsin H does not cleave mature recombinant BMP-4, neither with its amino- nor its endopeptidase activity. Conclusions Our results exclude direct proteolytic processing of BMP-4 by cathepsin H, however, they provide support for its involvement in the regulation of BMP-4 expression.
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