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Nakanishi M, Ibe A, Morishita K, Shinagawa K, Yamamoto Y, Takahashi H, Ikemori K, Muragaki Y, Ehata S. Acid-sensing receptor GPR4 plays a crucial role in lymphatic cancer metastasis. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:1551-1563. [PMID: 38410865 PMCID: PMC11093208 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer tissues exhibit an acidic microenvironment owing to the accumulation of protons and lactic acid produced by cancer and inflammatory cells. To examine the role of an acidic microenvironment in lymphatic cancer metastasis, gene expression profiling was conducted using human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (HDLECs) treated with a low pH medium. Microarray and gene set enrichment analysis revealed that acid treatment induced the expression of inflammation-related genes in HDLECs, including genes encoding chemokines and adhesion molecules. Acid treatment-induced chemokines C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 6 (CXCL6) autocrinally promoted the growth and tube formation of HDLECs. The expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) increased in HDLECs after acid treatment in a time-dependent manner, which, in turn, enhanced their adhesion to melanoma cells. Among various acid-sensing receptors, HDLECs basally expressed G protein-coupled receptor 4 (GPR4), which was augmented under the acidic microenvironment. The induction of chemokines or VCAM-1 under acidic conditions was attenuated by GPR4 knockdown in HDLECs. In addition, lymph node metastases in a mouse melanoma model were suppressed by administering an anti-VCAM-1 antibody or a GPR4 antagonist. These results suggest that an acidic microenvironment modifies the function of lymphatic endothelial cells via GPR4, thereby promoting lymphatic cancer metastasis. Acid-sensing receptors and their downstream molecules might serve as preventive or therapeutic targets in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masako Nakanishi
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Akiya Ibe
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Kiyoto Morishita
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Kazutaka Shinagawa
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Yushi Yamamoto
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Hibiki Takahashi
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Kyoka Ikemori
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Yasuteru Muragaki
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Shogo Ehata
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
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Stock C. pH-regulated single cell migration. Pflugers Arch 2024; 476:639-658. [PMID: 38214759 PMCID: PMC11006768 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-024-02907-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, extra- and intracellular pH have emerged as fundamental regulators of cell motility. Fundamental physiological and pathological processes relying on appropriate cell migration, such as embryonic development, wound healing, and a proper immune defense on the one hand, and autoimmune diseases, metastatic cancer, and the progression of certain parasitic diseases on the other, depend on surrounding pH. In addition, migrating single cells create their own localized pH nanodomains at their surface and in the cytosol. By this means, the migrating cells locally modulate their adhesion to, and the re-arrangement and digestion of, the extracellular matrix. At the same time, the cytosolic nanodomains tune cytoskeletal dynamics along the direction of movement resulting in concerted lamellipodia protrusion and rear end retraction. Extracellular pH gradients as found in wounds, inflamed tissues, or the periphery of tumors stimulate directed cell migration, and long-term exposure to acidic conditions can engender a more migratory and invasive phenotype persisting for hours up to several generations of cells after they have left the acidic milieu. In the present review, the different variants of pH-dependent single cell migration are described. The underlying pH-dependent molecular mechanisms such as conformational changes of adhesion molecules, matrix protease activity, actin (de-)polymerization, and signaling events are explained, and molecular pH sensors stimulated by H+ signaling are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Stock
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectiology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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Ji R, Chang L, An C, Zhang J. Proton-sensing ion channels, GPCRs and calcium signaling regulated by them: implications for cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1326231. [PMID: 38505262 PMCID: PMC10949864 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1326231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular acidification of tumors is common. Through proton-sensing ion channels or proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), tumor cells sense extracellular acidification to stimulate a variety of intracellular signaling pathways including the calcium signaling, which consequently exerts global impacts on tumor cells. Proton-sensing ion channels, and proton-sensing GPCRs have natural advantages as drug targets of anticancer therapy. However, they and the calcium signaling regulated by them attracted limited attention as potential targets of anticancer drugs. In the present review, we discuss the progress in studies on proton-sensing ion channels, and proton-sensing GPCRs, especially emphasizing the effects of calcium signaling activated by them on the characteristics of tumors, including proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, angiogenesis. In addition, we review the drugs targeting proton-sensing channels or GPCRs that are currently in clinical trials, as well as the relevant potential drugs for cancer treatments, and discuss their future prospects. The present review aims to elucidate the important role of proton-sensing ion channels, GPCRs and calcium signaling regulated by them in cancer initiation and development. This review will promote the development of drugs targeting proton-sensing channels or GPCRs for cancer treatments, effectively taking their unique advantage as anti-cancer drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renhui Ji
- Foundational and Translational Medical Research Center, Department of Allergy and General Surgery, Hohhot First Hospital, Hohhot, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, Basic Medicine College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Li Chang
- Foundational and Translational Medical Research Center, Department of Allergy and General Surgery, Hohhot First Hospital, Hohhot, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, Basic Medicine College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Caiyan An
- Foundational and Translational Medical Research Center, Department of Allergy and General Surgery, Hohhot First Hospital, Hohhot, China
| | - Junjing Zhang
- Foundational and Translational Medical Research Center, Department of Allergy and General Surgery, Hohhot First Hospital, Hohhot, China
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Zhang H, Liu Y, Liu J, Chen J, Wang J, Hua H, Jiang Y. cAMP-PKA/EPAC signaling and cancer: the interplay in tumor microenvironment. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:5. [PMID: 38233872 PMCID: PMC10792844 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01524-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease resulting from abnormal cell growth that is induced by a number of genetic and environmental factors. The tumor microenvironment (TME), which involves extracellular matrix, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), tumor-infiltrating immune cells and angiogenesis, plays a critical role in tumor progression. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a second messenger that has pleiotropic effects on the TME. The downstream effectors of cAMP include cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), exchange protein activated by cAMP (EPAC) and ion channels. While cAMP can activate PKA or EPAC and promote cancer cell growth, it can also inhibit cell proliferation and survival in context- and cancer type-dependent manner. Tumor-associated stromal cells, such as CAF and immune cells, can release cytokines and growth factors that either stimulate or inhibit cAMP production within the TME. Recent studies have shown that targeting cAMP signaling in the TME has therapeutic benefits in cancer. Small-molecule agents that inhibit adenylate cyclase and PKA have been shown to inhibit tumor growth. In addition, cAMP-elevating agents, such as forskolin, can not only induce cancer cell death, but also directly inhibit cell proliferation in some cancer types. In this review, we summarize current understanding of cAMP signaling in cancer biology and immunology and discuss the basis for its context-dependent dual role in oncogenesis. Understanding the precise mechanisms by which cAMP and the TME interact in cancer will be critical for the development of effective therapies. Future studies aimed at investigating the cAMP-cancer axis and its regulation in the TME may provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms of tumorigenesis and lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongying Zhang
- Cancer Center, Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yongliang Liu
- Cancer Center, Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jieya Liu
- Cancer Center, Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jinzhu Chen
- Cancer Center, Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Hui Hua
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Yangfu Jiang
- Cancer Center, Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Koch A, Hofschröer V, Schwab A. Na + /H + exchanger NHE1 is active at cell-cell contacts and facilitates cell dissemination during collective migration of melanoma cells. Exp Dermatol 2024; 33:e14983. [PMID: 38009253 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Tumour cell detachment from the primary tumour is an early and crucial step of the metastatic cascade. At the single cell level, it was already shown that migrating melanoma cells establish both intra- and extracellular pH gradients and that the Na+ /H+ exchanger NHE1 accumulates at the leading edges to strengthen cell-matrix interactions. However, less is known about the role of NHE1 in collective cell migration and the specific pH microenvironment at tumour cell-cell contacts. We used MV3 melanoma cells transfected with a NHE1-expressing vector or a control vector. NHE1 localization at cell-cell contacts was assessed via immunofluorescence imaging. Collective migration was analysed by live-cell imaging. The NHE1 activity and the perimembranous pH were measured both intra- and extracellularly by ratiometric fluorescence microscopy. NHE1 clearly localizes at cell-cell contacts. Its overexpression further increases migratory speed and translocation in multidirectional pathway analyses. NHE1 overexpressing MV3 cells also move further away from their neighbouring cells during wound closure assays. pH measurements revealed that the NHE1 is highly active at cell-cell contacts of melanoma cells. NHE1-mediated pH dynamics at such contact sites are more prominent in NHE1-overexpressing melanoma cells. Our findings highlight the contribution of the NHE1 towards modulation and plasticity of melanoma cell-cell contacts. We propose that its localization and functional activity at cell-cell contacts promotes evasion of single melanoma cells from the primary tumour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Koch
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Albrecht Schwab
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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