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Chu LY, Wu FC, Guo HP, Xie JJ, Qu QQ, Li XH, Xu YW, Peng YH, Qiu B. Combined detection of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 as diagnostic biomarker for gastric cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15957. [PMID: 38987376 PMCID: PMC11237037 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65839-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We previously identified that serum EFNA1 and MMP13 were potential biomarker for early detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, our aim is to explore the diagnostic value of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 for gastric cancer. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the expression levels of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 in 210 GCs and 223 normal controls. The diagnostic value of EFNA1 and MMP13 was evaluated in an independent cohorts of GC patients and normal controls (n = 238 and 195, respectively). Receiver operating characteristics were used to calculate diagnostic accuracy. In training and validation cohorts, serum EFNA1 and MMP13 levels in the GC groups were significantly higher than those in the normal controls (P < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the combined detection of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 for GC was improved (0.794), compared with single biomarker used. Similar results were observed in the validation cohort. Importantly, the combined measurement of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 to detect early-stage GC also had acceptable diagnostic accuracy in training and validation cohort. Combined detection of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 could help identify early-stage GC, suggesting that it may be a promising tool for the early detection of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yu Chu
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Jiaying University, No. 146 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control Research Center, the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Fang-Cai Wu
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control Research Center, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Hai-Peng Guo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control Research Center, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jian-Jun Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Qi-Qi Qu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control Research Center, the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
- Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xin-Hao Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control Research Center, the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
- Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yi-Wei Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control Research Center, the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China.
- Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
| | - Yu-Hui Peng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control Research Center, the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China.
- Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
| | - Bo Qiu
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Jiaying University, No. 146 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, China.
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2
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Wirth D, Özdemir E, Wimley WC, Pasquale EB, Hristova K. Transmembrane helix interactions regulate oligomerization of the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107441. [PMID: 38838777 PMCID: PMC11263659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane helices of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) have been proposed to switch between two different dimeric conformations, one associated with the inactive RTK and the other with the active RTK. Furthermore, recent work has demonstrated that some full-length RTKs are associated into oligomers that are larger than dimers, raising questions about the roles of the TM helices in the assembly and function of these oligomers. Here we probe the roles of the TM helices in the assembly of EphA2 RTK oligomers in the plasma membrane. We employ mutagenesis to evaluate the relevance of a published NMR dimeric structure of the isolated EphA2 TM helix in the context of the full-length EphA2 in the plasma membrane. We use two fluorescence methods, Förster Resonance Energy Transfer and Fluorescence Intensity Fluctuations spectrometry, which yield complementary information about the EphA2 oligomerization process. These studies reveal that the TM helix mutations affect the stability, structure, and size of EphA2 oligomers. However, the effects are multifaceted and point to a more complex role of the TM helix than the one expected from the "TM dimer switch" model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Wirth
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ece Özdemir
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - William C Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Elena B Pasquale
- Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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3
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Ebrahim T, Ebrahim AS, Kandouz M. Diversity of Intercellular Communication Modes: A Cancer Biology Perspective. Cells 2024; 13:495. [PMID: 38534339 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
From the moment a cell is on the path to malignant transformation, its interaction with other cells from the microenvironment becomes altered. The flow of molecular information is at the heart of the cellular and systemic fate in tumors, and various processes participate in conveying key molecular information from or to certain cancer cells. For instance, the loss of tight junction molecules is part of the signal sent to cancer cells so that they are no longer bound to the primary tumors and are thus free to travel and metastasize. Upon the targeting of a single cell by a therapeutic drug, gap junctions are able to communicate death information to by-standing cells. The discovery of the importance of novel modes of cell-cell communication such as different types of extracellular vesicles or tunneling nanotubes is changing the way scientists look at these processes. However, are they all actively involved in different contexts at the same time or are they recruited to fulfill specific tasks? What does the multiplicity of modes mean for the overall progression of the disease? Here, we extend an open invitation to think about the overall significance of these questions, rather than engage in an elusive attempt at a systematic repertory of the mechanisms at play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanzeela Ebrahim
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Abdul Shukkur Ebrahim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Mustapha Kandouz
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
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4
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Pasquale EB. Eph receptors and ephrins in cancer progression. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:5-27. [PMID: 37996538 PMCID: PMC11015936 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00634-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Evidence implicating Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands (that together make up the 'Eph system') in cancer development and progression has been accumulating since the discovery of the first Eph receptor approximately 35 years ago. Advances in the past decade and a half have considerably increased the understanding of Eph receptor-ephrin signalling mechanisms in cancer and have uncovered intriguing new roles in cancer progression and drug resistance. This Review focuses mainly on these more recent developments. I provide an update on the different mechanisms of Eph receptor-ephrin-mediated cell-cell communication and cell autonomous signalling, as well as on the interplay of the Eph system with other signalling systems. I further discuss recent advances in elucidating how the Eph system controls tumour expansion, invasiveness and metastasis, supports cancer stem cells, and drives therapy resistance. In addition to functioning within cancer cells, the Eph system also mediates the reciprocal communication between cancer cells and cells of the tumour microenvironment. The involvement of the Eph system in tumour angiogenesis is well established, but recent findings also demonstrate roles in immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix. Lastly, I discuss strategies under evaluation for therapeutic targeting of Eph receptors-ephrins in cancer and conclude with an outlook on promising future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena B Pasquale
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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5
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Norouzi A, Liaghat M, Bakhtiyari M, Noorbakhsh Varnosfaderani SM, Zalpoor H, Nabi-Afjadi M, Molania T. The potential role of COVID-19 in progression, chemo-resistance, and tumor recurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Oral Oncol 2023; 144:106483. [PMID: 37421672 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have revealed that cancer patients are more likely to develop severe Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), which can cause mortality, as well as cancer progression and treatment failure. Among these patients who may be particularly vulnerable to severe COVID-19 and COVID-19-associated cancer progression are those with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this regard, therapeutic approaches must be developed to lower the risk of cancer development, chemo-resistance, tumor recurrence, and death in OSCC patients with COVID-19. It may be helpful to comprehend the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contributes to these problems. In this line, in this review, we described the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms that SARS-CoV-2 can exert its role and based on them pharmacological targeted therapies were suggested. However, in this study, we encourage more investigations in the future to uncover other cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of SARS-CoV-2 to develop beneficial therapeutic strategies for such patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Norouzi
- Department of Oral Medicine, Dental Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahsa Liaghat
- Department of Medical Laboratory sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Bakhtiyari
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | | | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of biological sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Tahereh Molania
- Department of Oral Medicine, Dental Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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6
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Lau A, Le N, Nguyen C, Kandpal RP. Signals transduced by Eph receptors and ephrin ligands converge on MAP kinase and AKT pathways in human cancers. Cell Signal 2023; 104:110579. [PMID: 36572189 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Eph receptors, the largest known family of receptor tyrosine kinases, and ephrin ligands have been implicated in a variety of human cancers. The novel bidirectional signaling events initiated by binding of Eph receptors to their cognate ephrin ligands modulate many cellular processes such as proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, invasion, and apoptosis. The relationships between the abundance of a unique subset of Eph receptors and ephrin ligands with associated cellular processes indicate a key role of these molecules in tumorigenesis. The combinatorial expression of these molecules converges on MAP kinase and/or AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. The intracellular target proteins of the initial signal may, however, vary in some cancers. Furthermore, we have also described the commonality of up- and down-regulation of individual receptors and ligands in various cancers. The current state of research in Eph receptors illustrates MAP kinase and mTOR pathways as plausible targets for therapeutic interventions in various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Lau
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, United States of America
| | - Nghia Le
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, United States of America
| | - Claudia Nguyen
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, United States of America
| | - Raj P Kandpal
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, United States of America.
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7
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Gomez-Soler M, Gehring MP, Lechtenberg BC, Zapata-Mercado E, Ruelos A, Matsumoto MW, Hristova K, Pasquale EB. Ligands with different dimeric configurations potently activate the EphA2 receptor and reveal its potential for biased signaling. iScience 2022; 25:103870. [PMID: 35243233 PMCID: PMC8858996 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase activates signaling pathways with different, and sometimes opposite, effects in cancer and other pathologies. Thus, highly specific and potent biased ligands that differentially control EphA2 signaling responses could be therapeutically valuable. Here, we use EphA2-specific monomeric peptides to engineer dimeric ligands with three different geometric configurations to combine a potential ability to differentially modulate EphA2 signaling responses with the high potency and prolonged receptor residence time characteristic of dimeric ligands. The different dimeric peptides readily induce EphA2 clustering, autophosphorylation and signaling, the best with sub-nanomolar potency. Yet, there are differences in two EphA2 signaling responses induced by peptides with different configurations, which exhibit distinct potency and efficacy. The peptides bias signaling when compared with the ephrinA1-Fc ligand and do so via different mechanisms. These findings provide insights into Eph receptor signaling, and proof-of-principle that different Eph signaling responses can be distinctly modulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricel Gomez-Soler
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Marina P. Gehring
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Bernhard C. Lechtenberg
- Ubiquitin Signalling Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville Victoria 3052, Australia and Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Elmer Zapata-Mercado
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Alyssa Ruelos
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mike W. Matsumoto
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Elena B. Pasquale
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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8
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Sanders S, Herpai DM, Rodriguez A, Huang Y, Chou J, Hsu FC, Seals D, Mott R, Miller LD, Debinski W. The Presence and Potential Role of ALDH1A2 in the Glioblastoma Microenvironment. Cells 2021; 10:2485. [PMID: 34572134 PMCID: PMC8468822 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant glioma. Therapeutic targeting of GBM is made more difficult due to its heterogeneity, resistance to treatment, and diffuse infiltration into the brain parenchyma. Better understanding of the tumor microenvironment should aid in finding more effective management of GBM. GBM-associated macrophages (GAM) comprise up to 30% of the GBM microenvironment. Therefore, exploration of GAM activity/function and their specific markers are important for developing new therapeutic agents. In this study, we identified and evaluated the expression of ALDH1A2 in the GBM microenvironment, and especially in M2 GAM, though it is also expressed in reactive astrocytes and multinucleated tumor cells. We demonstrated that M2 GAM highly express ALDH1A2 when compared to other ALDH1 family proteins. Additionally, GBM samples showed higher expression of ALDH1A2 when compared to low-grade gliomas (LGG), and this expression was increased upon tumor recurrence both at the gene and protein levels. We demonstrated that the enzymatic product of ALDH1A2, retinoic acid (RA), modulated the expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in macrophages, but not in GBM tumor cells. Thus, the expression of ALDH1A2 may promote the progressive phenotype of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Sanders
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (S.S.); (D.M.H.); (Y.H.); (J.C.); (L.D.M.)
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Denise M. Herpai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (S.S.); (D.M.H.); (Y.H.); (J.C.); (L.D.M.)
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Analiz Rodriguez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neuroscience Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA;
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Yue Huang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (S.S.); (D.M.H.); (Y.H.); (J.C.); (L.D.M.)
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Jeff Chou
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (S.S.); (D.M.H.); (Y.H.); (J.C.); (L.D.M.)
| | - Fang-Chi Hsu
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA;
| | - Darren Seals
- Biology Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA;
| | - Ryan Mott
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA;
| | - Lance D. Miller
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (S.S.); (D.M.H.); (Y.H.); (J.C.); (L.D.M.)
| | - Waldemar Debinski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (S.S.); (D.M.H.); (Y.H.); (J.C.); (L.D.M.)
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
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9
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Analysis of ADAM12-Mediated Ephrin-A1 Cleavage and Its Biological Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052480. [PMID: 33804570 PMCID: PMC7957476 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that an elevated ephrin-A1 expression is positively correlated with a worse prognosis in some cancers such as colon and liver cancer. The detailed mechanism of an elevated ephrin-A1 expression in a worse prognosis still remains to be fully elucidated. We previously reported that ADAM12-cleaved ephrin-A1 enhanced lung vascular permeability and thereby induced lung metastasis. However, it is still unclear whether or not cleaved forms of ephrin-A1 are derived from primary tumors and have biological activities. We identified the ADAM12-mediated cleavage site of ephrin-A1 by a Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and checked levels of ephrin-A1 in the serum and the urine derived from the primary tumors by using a mouse model. We found elevated levels of tumor-derived ephrin-A1 in the serum and the urine in the tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, inhibition of ADAM-mediated cleavage of ephrin-A1 or antagonization of the EphA receptors resulted in a significant reduction of lung metastasis. The results suggest that tumor-derived ephrin-A1 is not only a potential biomarker to predict lung metastasis from the primary tumor highly expressing ephrin-A1 but also a therapeutic target of lung metastasis.
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10
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EphrinA1-Fc Attenuates Ventricular Remodeling and Dysfunction in Chronically Nonreperfused WT but not EphA2-R-M mice. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165811. [PMID: 32823610 PMCID: PMC7461052 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: EphrinA1-Fc abolishes acute I/R injury and attenuates nonreperfused cardiac injury 4 days after permanent occlusion in mice. The goal of this study was to assess the capacity of a single intramyocardial administration of ephrinA1-Fc at the time of coronary artery ligation, to determine the degree to which early salvage effects translate to reduced adverse remodeling after 4 weeks of nonreperfused myocardial infarction (MI) in wild-type B6 and EphA2-R-M (EphA2 receptor null) mice. Methods: At 4 weeks post-MI, echocardiography, histologic and immunohistochemical analyses of B6 mouse hearts were performed. Primary mouse cardiac fibroblasts (FBs) isolated from B6 mice cultured in the presence of low and high dose ephrinA1-Fc, both with and without pro-fibrotic TGF-β stimulation and Western blots, were probed for relative expression of remodeling proteins MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, in addition to DDR2 and (p)SMAD2/3/totalSMAD2/3. Results: EphrinA1-Fc preserved a significant degree of contractile function, decreased adverse left ventricular remodeling, attenuated excessive compensatory hypertrophy, and decreased interstitial fibrosis in wild-type (WT) B6 mouse hearts. In contrast, most of these parameters were poorer in ephrinA1-Fc-treated EphA2-R-M mice. Of note, fibrosis was proportionately decreased, implying that other EphA receptor(s) are more important in regulating the pro-fibrotic response. Primary FBs showed disparate alteration of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, as well as DDR2 and p-SMAD2/3/totalSMAD2/3, which indicates that matrix remodeling and cardiac fibrosis in the injured heart are influenced by ephrinA1-Fc. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the capacity of a single administration of ephrinA1-Fc at the onset of injury to attenuate long-term nonreperfused post-MI ventricular remodeling that results in progressive heart failure, and the important role of EphA2 in mitigating the deleterious effects.
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11
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Hao Y, Li G. Role of EFNA1 in tumorigenesis and prospects for cancer therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 130:110567. [PMID: 32745910 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major threats to human health. It is of vital importance to reveal the mechanisms of tumorigenesis, identify effective biomarkers and develop novel treatments to improve patient outcome. EFNA1 (ephrinA1) is a member of the EFN family, and it has been studied extensively since its discovery in 1990. Increasing evidence indicates that EFNA1 plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of tumors. We provide a detailed overview of the expression and prognostic value of EFNA1 in different types of human malignancies. We briefly discuss the mechanisms of EFNA1 induction in hypoxic environments and its pro-angiogenic function in different cancer cells. We describe the effects of EFNA1 on tumor growth, invasiveness and metastasis. We summarize recent advances in EFNA1-associated cancer therapeutics with emphasis on the prospect of novel anti-tumor methods based on EFNA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongping Hao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, 110001, China.
| | - Guang Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, 110001, China.
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12
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Baudet S, Bécret J, Nicol X. Approaches to Manipulate Ephrin-A:EphA Forward Signaling Pathway. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:ph13070140. [PMID: 32629797 PMCID: PMC7407804 DOI: 10.3390/ph13070140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma A (EphA) receptors and their ephrin-A ligands are key players of developmental events shaping the mature organism. Their expression is mostly restricted to stem cell niches in adults but is reactivated in pathological conditions including lesions in the heart, lung, or nervous system. They are also often misregulated in tumors. A wide range of molecular tools enabling the manipulation of the ephrin-A:EphA system are available, ranging from small molecules to peptides and genetically-encoded strategies. Their mechanism is either direct, targeting EphA receptors, or indirect through the modification of intracellular downstream pathways. Approaches enabling manipulation of ephrin-A:EphA forward signaling for the dissection of its signaling cascade, the investigation of its physiological roles or the development of therapeutic strategies are summarized here.
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13
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Côté SC, Burke Schinkel SC, Berthoud TK, Barros PO, Sanchez‐Vidales M, Davidson AM, Crawley AM, Angel JB. IL-7 induces sCD127 release and mCD127 downregulation in human CD8 + T cells by distinct yet overlapping mechanisms, both of which are impaired in HIV infection. Eur J Immunol 2020; 50:1537-1549. [PMID: 32390135 PMCID: PMC7586945 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The IL‐7 receptor specific α chain, CD127, can be expressed both as a membrane‐associated (mCD127) and a soluble form (sCD127), however, the mechanisms involved in their regulation remain to be defined. We first demonstrated in primary human CD8+ T cells that IL‐7‐induced downregulation of mCD127 expression is dependent on JAK and PI3K signaling, whereas IL‐7‐induced sCD127 release is also mediated by STAT5. Following stimulation with IL‐7, expression of alternatively spliced variants of the CD127 gene, sCD127 mRNA, is reduced, but to a lesser degree than the full‐length gene. Evaluation of the role of proteases revealed that MMP‐9 was involved in sCD127 release, without affecting the expression of mCD127, suggesting it does not induce direct shedding from the cell surface. Since defects in the IL‐7/CD127 pathway occur in various diseases, including HIV, we evaluated CD8+ T cells derived from HAART‐treated HIV‐infected individuals and found that IL‐7‐induced (1) downregulation of mCD127, (2) release of sCD127, and (3) expression of the sCD127 mRNA were all impaired. Expression of mCD127 and sCD127 is, therefore, regulated by distinct, but overlapping, mechanisms and their impairment in HIV infection contributes to our understanding of the CD8+ T cell dysfunction that persists despite effective antiretroviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tamara K. Berthoud
- The Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawaONCanada
- Department of BiochemistryMicrobiology, and ImmunologyThe University of OttawaOttawaONCanada
| | - Priscila O. Barros
- The Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawaONCanada
- Department of BiochemistryMicrobiology, and ImmunologyThe University of OttawaOttawaONCanada
| | - Maria Sanchez‐Vidales
- The Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawaONCanada
- Department of BiochemistryMicrobiology, and ImmunologyThe University of OttawaOttawaONCanada
| | - April M. Davidson
- The Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawaONCanada
- Department of BiochemistryMicrobiology, and ImmunologyThe University of OttawaOttawaONCanada
| | - Angela M. Crawley
- The Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawaONCanada
- Department of BiochemistryMicrobiology, and ImmunologyThe University of OttawaOttawaONCanada
- Department of BiologyCarleton UniversityOttawaONCanada
| | - Jonathan B. Angel
- The Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawaONCanada
- Department of BiochemistryMicrobiology, and ImmunologyThe University of OttawaOttawaONCanada
- Division of Infectious DiseasesThe Ottawa HospitalOttawaONCanada
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14
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Giorgio C, Zanotti I, Lodola A, Tognolini M. Ephrin or not? Six tough questions on Eph targeting. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:403-415. [PMID: 32197575 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1745187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The Eph-ephrin is a cell-cell communication system generating a forward signal in cell expressing Eph receptors and a reverse signal in ephrin-ligand expressing cells. While clearly involved in the insurgence and progression of cancer, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulated by this system needs development; this is a hurdle to the development of therapeutic strategies that can target the Eph receptors and/or their ephrin ligands.Areas covered: We have taken the opportunity to share some key questions on the most effective strategies to target the Eph-ephrin system. This article is based on our experience of the field and therefore is a Perspective and not comprehensive examination of the literature.Expert opinion: Targeting of the Eph-ephrin system has emerged as a potentially valuable approach for cancer therapy. Pharmacological tools have been reported in the last 15 years and these include forward signaling blockers such as kinases inhibitors and antagonists of forward and reverse signaling. Also, biologics including antibodies and recombinant proteins have been developed and some have reached early clinical stages. Data deem the Eph-ephrin system as a signaling axis that is an elusive target. A better understanding of the basic pharmacology behind the activity of available agents and a comprehensive knowledge of the ephrin biology are necessary. We are looking forward to knowing the opinion of the readers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Giorgio
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Zanotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
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15
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Valenzuela JI, Perez F. Localized Intercellular Transfer of Ephrin-As by Trans-endocytosis Enables Long-Term Signaling. Dev Cell 2019; 52:104-117.e5. [PMID: 31866204 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2019.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ephrins can elicit either contact-mediated cell-cell adhesion or repulsion, depending on the efficiency of the removal of their ligand-receptor complexes from the cell surface, thus controlling tissue morphogenesis and oncogenic development. However, the dynamic of the turnover of newly assembled ephrin-Eph complexes during cell-cell interactions remains mostly unexplored. Here, we show that ephrin-A1-EphA2 complexes are locally formed at the tip of the filopodia, at cell-to-cell contacts. Clusters of ephrin-A1 from donor cells surf on filopodia associated to EphA2-bearing subdomains of acceptor cells. Full-length ephrin-A1 is transferred to acceptor cells by trans-endocytosis through a proteolysis-independent mechanism. Trans-endocytosed ephrin-A1 bound to its receptor enables signaling to be emitted from endo-lysosomes of acceptor cells. Localized trans-endocytosis of ephrin-A1 sustains contact-mediated repulsion on cancer cells. Our results uncover the essential role played by local concentration at the tip of filopodia and the trans-endocytosis of full-length ephrin to maintain long-lasting ephrin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Franck Perez
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR144, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.
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16
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Ma TT, Wang L, Wang JL, Liu YJ, Chen YC, He HJ, Song Y. Hypoxia-Induced Cleavage Of Soluble ephrinA1 From Cancer Cells Is Mediated By MMP-2 And Associates With Angiogenesis In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:8491-8499. [PMID: 31686863 PMCID: PMC6799903 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s213252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION ephrinA1 plays important roles in tumor angiogenesis. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) can cleave ephrinA1 from the cell membrane into extracellular environment. However, how soluble ephrinA1 is modulated by hypoxia and whether MMPs participate in this hypoxic process remains to be investigated in detail. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were included in the present study for HIF-1α, MMP-2, MMP-9 and ephrinA1 detection by immunohistochemistry. Serum samples from 35 patients were collected both preoperatively and postoperatively to confirm the existence of soluble ephrinA1 by ELISA. Block assay and Western blot analysis were further carried out to elucidate the proteolysis mechanism of ephrinA1 under hypoxic condition in vitro. RESULTS Our data demonstrated that HIF-1α, MMP-2, MMP-9 and ephrinA1 expressed positively, and correlated with microvessel density in OSCCs, except for MMP-9. The serum expression level of ephrinA1 in OSCC patients decreased significantly after surgical removal of the solid tumors. In vitro experiments indicated that GM6001, a MMP-specific inhibitor, could reduce hypoxia-induced soluble ephrinA1 secretion from SCC cells. Further Western blot analysis confirmed that both HIF-1α and MMP-2 were up-regulated by hypoxia in a similar time-dependent manner, with the MMP-9 expression unchanged during this course. CONCLUSION These results suggested a possible novel mechanism that ephrinA1 secretion is mediated by HIF-1α/MMP-2 signaling cascade which may play pivotal roles in OSCC neovascularization in a paracrine manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Ma
- Department of Stomatology, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun-Lin Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan-Jie Liu
- Department of Stomatology, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Cong Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hu-Jie He
- Department of Stomatology, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yong Song
- Department of Stomatology, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
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17
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Liu Y, Kaljunen H, Pavić A, Saarenpää T, Himanen JP, Nikolov DB, Goldman A. Binding of EphrinA5 to RET receptor tyrosine kinase: An in vitro study. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198291. [PMID: 29889908 PMCID: PMC5995387 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Eph/Ephrin signaling pathways are crucial in regulating a large variety of physiological processes during development, such as cell morphology, proliferation, migration and axonal guidance. EphrinA (efn-A) ligands, in particular, can be activated by EphA receptors at cell-cell interfaces and have been proposed to cause reverse signaling via RET receptor tyrosine kinase. Such association has been reported to mediate spinal motor axon navigation, but conservation of the interactive signaling pathway and the molecular mechanism of the interaction are unclear. Here, we found Danio rerio efn-A5b bound to Mus musculus EphA4 with high affinity, revealing structurally and functionally conserved EphA/efn-A signaling. Interestingly, we observed no interaction between efn-A5b and RET from zebrafish, unlike earlier cell-based assays. Their lack of association indicates how complex efn-A signaling is and suggests that there may be other molecules involved in efn-A5-induced RET signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Liu
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heidi Kaljunen
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ana Pavić
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuulia Saarenpää
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha P. Himanen
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States
| | - Dimitar B. Nikolov
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States
| | - Adrian Goldman
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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18
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Ventrella R, Kaplan N, Hoover P, Perez White BE, Lavker RM, Getsios S. EphA2 Transmembrane Domain Is Uniquely Required for Keratinocyte Migration by Regulating Ephrin-A1 Levels. J Invest Dermatol 2018; 138:2133-2143. [PMID: 29705292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is activated by ephrin-A1 ligand, which harbors a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor that enhances lipid raft localization. Although EphA2 and ephrin-A1 modulate keratinocyte migration and differentiation, the ability of this cell-cell communication complex to localize to different membrane regions in keratinocytes remains unknown. Using a combination of biochemical and imaging approaches, we provide evidence that ephrin-A1 and a ligand-activated form of EphA2 partition outside of lipid raft domains in response to calcium-mediated cell-cell contact stabilization in normal human epidermal keratinocytes. EphA2 transmembrane domain swapping with a shorter and molecularly distinct transmembrane domain of EphA1 resulted in decreased localization of this receptor tyrosine kinase at cell-cell junctions and increased expression of ephrin-A1, which is a negative regulator of keratinocyte migration. Accordingly, altered EphA2 membrane distribution at cell-cell contacts limited the ability of keratinocytes to seal linear scratch wounds in vitro in an ephrin-A1-dependent manner. Collectively, these studies highlight a key role for the EphA2 transmembrane domain in receptor-ligand membrane distribution at cell-cell contacts that modulates ephrin-A1 levels to allow for efficient keratinocyte migration with relevance for cutaneous wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Ventrella
- Department of Dermatology, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 9, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nihal Kaplan
- Department of Dermatology, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 9, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Paul Hoover
- Department of Dermatology, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 9, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Bethany E Perez White
- Department of Dermatology, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 9, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Robert M Lavker
- Department of Dermatology, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 9, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Spiro Getsios
- Department of Dermatology, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 9, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
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19
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The EphA2 receptor is activated through induction of distinct, ligand-dependent oligomeric structures. Commun Biol 2018; 1:15. [PMID: 30271902 PMCID: PMC6123813 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0017-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is capable of activating multiple diverse signaling pathways with roles in processes such as tissue homeostasis and cancer. EphA2 is known to form activated oligomers in the presence of ephrin-A ligands. Here, we characterize the lateral interactions between full-length EphA2 molecules in the plasma membrane in the presence of three types of ligands (dimeric ephrinA1-Fc, monomeric ephrinA1, and an engineered peptide ligand) as well as in the absence of ligand, using a quantitative FRET technique. The data show that EphA2 forms higher-order oligomers and two different types of dimers that all lead to increased EphA2 tyrosine phosphorylation, which is indicative of increased kinase-dependent signaling. We find that different ligands stabilize conformationally distinct oligomers that are assembled through two different interfaces. Our results suggest that these different oligomeric assemblies could have distinct signaling properties, contributing to the diverse activities of the EphA2 receptor. Deo Singh et al. use Fully Quantified Spectral Imaging-FRET to show that the EphA2 receptor forms dimers or higher order oligomers depending on the type of ligand, and that different ligands stabilize EphA2 dimers through distinct interfaces. These findings may explain how EphA2 activates diverse signaling pathways.
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20
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Koshikawa N, Minegishi T, Kiyokawa H, Seiki M. Specific detection of soluble EphA2 fragments in blood as a new biomarker for pancreatic cancer. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e3134. [PMID: 29072678 PMCID: PMC5680914 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Because membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MT1-MMP) and erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor 2 (EphA2) expression are upregulated by the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, they are frequently coexpressed in malignant tumors. MT1-MMP cleaves the N-terminal ligand-binding domain of EphA2 and inactivates its ligand-dependent tumor-suppressing activity. Therefore, specific detection of the cleaved N-terminal EphA2 fragment in blood might be an effective biomarker to diagnose malignant tumors. To evaluate this possibility, we developed three monoclonal antibodies against the soluble EphA2 fragment. One of them recognized this fragment specifically, with negligible cross-reactivity to the intact form. We used the cleaved form-specific antibody to develop a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed the linear reactivity to the recombinant fragment. We applied this assay on commercially available serum specimens obtained from patients with several types of cancer including gastric, pancreatic, esophageal, gastroesophageal, and head-and-neck cancers, and healthy donors. Soluble EphA2 fragment levels in cancer-patient sera were higher than those in healthy donors (n=50). In particular, levels of eight out of nine (89%) pancreatic cancer patients and ten out of seventeen (59%) gastric cancer patients significantly exceeded cutoff values obtained from the healthy donors, whereas those of esophageal and head-and-neck cancer-patient sera were low. The preliminary receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for pancreatic cancer demonstrated that the sensitivity and specificity were 89.0% and 90.0%, respectively, whereas those of the conventional digestive tumor marker CA19-9 were 88.9% and 72.0%, respectively. These results indicated that specific detection of soluble EphA2 fragment levels in serum could be potentially useful as a biomarker to diagnose pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naohiko Koshikawa
- Division of Cancer Cell Research, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan.,Division of Cancer Cell Research, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Minegishi
- Division of Cancer Cell Research, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan.,Division of Cancer Cell Research, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kiyokawa
- Division of Cancer Cell Research, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Motoharu Seiki
- Division of Cancer Cell Research, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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21
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Ferluga S, Tomé CML, Herpai DM, D'Agostino R, Debinski W. Simultaneous targeting of Eph receptors in glioblastoma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:59860-59876. [PMID: 27494882 PMCID: PMC5312354 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Eph tyrosine kinase receptors are frequently overexpressed and functional in many cancers, and they are attractive candidates for targeted therapy. Here, we analyzed the expression of Eph receptor A3, one of the most up-regulated factors in glioblastoma cells cultured under tumorsphere-forming conditions, together with EphA2 and EphB2 receptors. EphA3 was overexpressed in up to 60% of glioblastoma tumors tested, but not in normal brain. EphA3 was localized in scattered areas of the tumor, the invasive ring, and niches near tumor vessels. EphA3 co-localized with macrophage/leukocyte markers, suggesting EphA3 expression on tumor-infiltrating cells of bone marrow origin. We took advantage of the fact that ephrinA5 (eA5) is a ligand that binds EphA3, EphA2 and EphB2 receptors, and used it to construct a novel targeted anti-glioblastoma cytotoxin. The eA5-based cytotoxin potently and specifically killed glioblastoma cells with an IC50 of at least 10-11 M. This and similar cytotoxins will simultaneously target different compartments of glioblastoma tumors while mitigating tumor heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ferluga
- Department of Cancer Biology, Radiation Oncology and Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Carla Maria Lema Tomé
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Denise Mazess Herpai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Radiation Oncology and Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Ralph D'Agostino
- Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Section on Biostatistics, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Waldemar Debinski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Radiation Oncology and Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
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22
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Dong B, Moseley-Alldredge M, Schwieterman AA, Donelson CJ, McMurry JL, Hudson ML, Chen L. EFN-4 functions in LAD-2-mediated axon guidance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 2016; 143:1182-91. [PMID: 26903502 DOI: 10.1242/dev.128934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
During development of the nervous system, growing axons rely on guidance molecules to direct axon pathfinding. A well-characterized family of guidance molecules are the membrane-associated ephrins, which together with their cognate Eph receptors, direct axon navigation in a contact-mediated fashion. InC. elegans, the ephrin-Eph signaling system is conserved and is best characterized for their roles in neuroblast migration during early embryogenesis. This study demonstrates a role for the C. elegans ephrin EFN-4 in axon guidance. We provide both genetic and biochemical evidence that is consistent with the C. elegans divergent L1 cell adhesion molecule LAD-2 acting as a non-canonical ephrin receptor to EFN-4 to promote axon guidance. We also show that EFN-4 probably functions as a diffusible factor because EFN-4 engineered to be soluble can promote LAD-2-mediated axon guidance. This study thus reveals a potential additional mechanism for ephrins in regulating axon guidance and expands the repertoire of receptors by which ephrins can signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyun Dong
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Melinda Moseley-Alldredge
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alicia A Schwieterman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
| | - Cory J Donelson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
| | - Jonathan L McMurry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
| | - Martin L Hudson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
| | - Lihsia Chen
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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23
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Poitz DM, Ende G, Stütz B, Augstein A, Friedrichs J, Brunssen C, Werner C, Strasser RH, Jellinghaus S. EphrinB2/EphA4-mediated activation of endothelial cells increases monocyte adhesion. Mol Immunol 2015; 68:648-56. [PMID: 26552760 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2015.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The membrane anchored ligand ephrinB2 belongs to the broad Eph/ephrin system and is able to activate different Eph receptors. The Eph receptors belong to the huge group of receptor-tyrosine kinases. Eph receptors as well as their corresponding ephrin ligands are cell-membrane attached proteins. Therefore, direct cell-cell contact is essentially for interaction. It is known that ephrinB2 plays a pivotal role in developmental and in tumour angiogenesis. Previous studies point to a crucial role of the EphA4-receptor in the process of monocyte adhesion. Since ephrinB2 is known as an interaction partner of EphA4, the aim of the present study was to investigate a possible interplay of EphA4-receptor with ephrinB2 during monocyte adhesion to the endothelium. As verified by bulk adhesion assays and atomic-force microscopy based single-cell force spectroscopy, temporary stimulation of endothelial cells from different sources with the soluble ligand ephrinB2 increased monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. The proadhesive effect of ephrinB2 was independent of an active transcription, but is mediated via the Rho signaling pathway with subsequent modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, ephrinB2 mediated its impact on monocyte adhesion via the receptor EphA4 as shown by siRNA-mediated silencing. Interestingly, ephrinB2 was induced by TNF-α treatment. Silencing of ephrinB2 led to a lowering of the TNF-α mediated monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining of human atherosclerotic plaque revealed expression of ephrinB2 in macrophages. The results of the present study point to a crucial role of ephrinB2 induced EphA4 forward signaling in the context of monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. This transcription-independent effect is mediated by Rho signaling induced actin-filament polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Poitz
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, TU Dresden, Germany.
| | - Georg Ende
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Beryl Stütz
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Antje Augstein
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Friedrichs
- Institute for Biofunctional Polymer Materials Dresden, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, Germany
| | - Coy Brunssen
- Division of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Institute for Biofunctional Polymer Materials Dresden, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, Germany
| | - Ruth H Strasser
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, TU Dresden, Germany
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24
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Singh DR, Ahmed F, King C, Gupta N, Salotto M, Pasquale EB, Hristova K. EphA2 Receptor Unliganded Dimers Suppress EphA2 Pro-tumorigenic Signaling. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:27271-27279. [PMID: 26363067 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.676866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase promotes cell migration and cancer malignancy through a ligand- and kinase-independent distinctive mechanism that has been linked to high Ser-897 phosphorylation and low tyrosine phosphorylation. Here, we demonstrate that EphA2 forms dimers in the plasma membrane of HEK293T cells in the absence of ephrin ligand binding, suggesting that the current seeding mechanism model of EphA2 activation is incomplete. We also characterize a dimerization-deficient EphA2 mutant that shows enhanced ability to promote cell migration, concomitant with increased Ser-897 phosphorylation and decreased tyrosine phosphorylation compared with EphA2 wild type. Our data reveal a correlation between unliganded dimerization and tumorigenic signaling and suggest that EphA2 pro-tumorigenic activity is mediated by the EphA2 monomer. Thus, a therapeutic strategy that aims at the stabilization of EphA2 dimers may be beneficial for the treatment of cancers linked to EphA2 overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deo R Singh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Fozia Ahmed
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Christopher King
- Department of Program in Molecular Biophysics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 and
| | - Nisha Gupta
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Matt Salotto
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Elena B Pasquale
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92037
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218; Department of Program in Molecular Biophysics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 and.
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25
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Abstract
Epithelial cells are tightly coupled together through specialized intercellular junctions, including adherens junctions, desmosomes, tight junctions, and gap junctions. A growing body of evidence suggests epithelial cells also directly exchange information at cell-cell contacts via the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their membrane-associated ephrin ligands. Ligand-dependent and -independent signaling via Eph receptors as well as reverse signaling through ephrins impact epithelial tissue homeostasis by organizing stem cell compartments and regulating cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, differentiation, and survival. This review focuses on breast, gut, and skin epithelia as representative examples for how Eph receptors and ephrins modulate diverse epithelial cell responses in a context-dependent manner. Abnormal Eph receptor and ephrin signaling is implicated in a variety of epithelial diseases raising the intriguing possibility that this cell-cell communication pathway can be therapeutically harnessed to normalize epithelial function in pathological settings like cancer or chronic inflammation.
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Key Words
- ADAM, a disintegrin and metalloprotease
- Apc, adenomatous polyposis coli
- Breast
- ER, estrogen receptor
- Eph receptor
- Eph, erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular
- Erk, extracellular signal-regulated kinase
- GEF, guanine nucleotide exchange factor
- GPI, glycosylphosphatidylinositol
- HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
- HGF, hepatocyte growth factor
- IBD, inflammatory bowel disease
- KLF, Krüppel-like factor
- MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase
- MMTV-LTR, mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat
- MT1-MMP, membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase
- PDZ, postsynaptic density protein 95, discs large 1, and zonula occludens-1
- PTP, protein tyrosine phosphatase
- RTK, receptor tyrosine kinase
- SH2, Src homology 2
- SHIP2, SH2 inositol phosphatase 2
- SLAP, Src-like adaptor protein
- TCF, T-cell specific transcription factor
- TEB, terminal end bud
- TNFα, tumor necrosis factor α.
- cell-cell
- ephrin
- epithelial
- intestine
- receptor tyrosine kinase
- skin
- stem cell
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Abstract
Proteases regulate a myriad of cell functions, both in normal and disease states. In addition to protein turnover, they regulate a range of signaling processes, including those mediated by Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands. A variety of proteases is reported to directly cleave Ephs and/or ephrins under different conditions, to promote receptor and/or ligand shedding, and regulate receptor/ligand internalisation and signaling. They also cleave other adhesion proteins in response to Eph-ephrin interactions, to indirectly facilitate Eph-mediated functions. Proteases thus contribute to Eph/ephrin mediated changes in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, in cell morphology and in cell migration and invasion, in a manner which appears to be tightly regulated by, and co-ordinated with, Eph signaling. This review summarizes the current literature describing the function and regulation of protease activities during Eph/ephrin-mediated cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakmali Atapattu
- a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ; Monash University , Victoria ; Australia
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27
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EphB2 Promotes Progression of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Invest Dermatol 2015; 135:1882-1892. [PMID: 25789706 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2015.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Revised: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Keratinocyte-derived skin cancer, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), is the most common metastatic skin cancer. We have examined the role of Eph/ephrin signaling in the progression of cSCC. Analysis of the expression of EPH and EFN families in cSCC cells and normal epidermal keratinocytes revealed overexpression of EPHB2 mRNA in cSCC cells and cSCC tumors in vivo. Tumor cell-specific overexpression of EphB2 was detected in human cSCCs and in chemically induced mouse cSCCs with immunohistochemistry, whereas the expression of EphB2 was low in premalignant lesions and normal skin. Knockdown of EphB2 expression in cSCC cells suppressed growth and vascularization of cSCC xenografts in vivo and inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of cSCC cells in culture. EphB2 knockdown downregulated expression of genes associated with biofunctions cell viability, migration of tumor cells, and invasion of tumor cells. Among the genes most downregulated by EphB2 knockdown were MMP1 and MMP13. Moreover, activation of EphB2 signaling by ephrin-B2-Fc enhanced production of invasion proteinases matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13) and MMP1, and invasion of cSCC cells. These findings provide mechanistic evidence for the role of EphB2 in the early progression of cSCC to the invasive stage and identify EphB2 as a putative therapeutic target in this invasive skin cancer.
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Miao H, Gale NW, Guo H, Qian J, Petty A, Kaspar J, Murphy AJ, Valenzuela DM, Yancopoulos G, Hambardzumyan D, Lathia JD, Rich JN, Lee J, Wang B. EphA2 promotes infiltrative invasion of glioma stem cells in vivo through cross-talk with Akt and regulates stem cell properties. Oncogene 2015; 34:558-67. [PMID: 24488013 PMCID: PMC4119862 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse infiltrative invasion is a major cause for the dismal prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Using human glioma stem cells (GSCs) that recapitulate the invasive propensity of primary GBM, we find that EphA2 critically regulates GBM invasion in vivo. EphA2 was expressed in all seven GSC lines examined, and overexpression of EphA2 enhanced intracranial invasion. The effects required Akt-mediated phosphorylation of EphA2 on serine 897. In vitro the Akt-EphA2 signaling axis is maintained in the absence of ephrin-A ligands and is disrupted upon ligand stimulation. To test whether ephrin-As in tumor microenvironment can regulate GSC invasion, the newly established Efna1;Efna3;Efna4 triple knockout mice (TKO) were used in an ex vivo brain slice invasion assay. We observed significantly increased GSC invasion through the brain slices of TKO mice relative to wild-type (WT) littermates. Mechanistically EphA2 knockdown suppressed stem cell properties of GSCs, causing diminished self-renewal, reduced stem marker expression and decreased tumorigenicity. In a subset of GSCs, the reduced stem cell properties were associated with lower Sox2 expression. Overexpression of EphA2 promoted stem cell properties in a kinase-independent manner and increased Sox2 expression. Disruption of Akt-EphA2 cross-talk attenuated stem cell marker expression and neurosphere formation while having minimal effects on tumorigenesis. Taken together, the results show that EphA2 endows invasiveness of GSCs in vivo in cooperation with Akt and regulates glioma stem cell properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Miao
- Rammelkamp Center for Research, MetroHealth Campus, and Department of Pharmacology and Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA
- VelociGene Division, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
| | | | - Hong Guo
- Rammelkamp Center for Research, MetroHealth Campus, and Department of Pharmacology and Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA
- VelociGene Division, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
| | - Juan Qian
- Rammelkamp Center for Research, MetroHealth Campus, and Department of Pharmacology and Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA
- VelociGene Division, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
| | - Aaron Petty
- Rammelkamp Center for Research, MetroHealth Campus, and Department of Pharmacology and Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA
- VelociGene Division, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
| | - James Kaspar
- Rammelkamp Center for Research, MetroHealth Campus, and Department of Pharmacology and Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA
- VelociGene Division, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
| | | | | | | | - Dolores Hambardzumyan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland Ohio, 44106, USA
| | - Justin D. Lathia
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland Ohio, 44106, USA
| | - Jeremy N. Rich
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland Ohio, 44106, USA
| | - Jeongwu Lee
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland Ohio, 44106, USA
| | - Bingcheng Wang
- Rammelkamp Center for Research, MetroHealth Campus, and Department of Pharmacology and Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA
- VelociGene Division, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland Ohio, 44106, USA
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29
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Abstract
Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and the corresponding ephrin ligands play a pivotal role in the glioma development and progression. Aberrant protein expression levels of the Eph receptors and ephrins are often associated with higher tumor grade and poor prognosis. Their function in tumorigenesis is complex due to the intricate network of possible co-occurring interactions between neighboring tumor cells and tumor microenvironment. Both Ephs and ephrins localize on the surface of tumor cells, tumor vasculature, glioma stem cells, tumor cells infiltrating brain, and immune cells infiltrating tumors. They can both promote and inhibit tumorigenicity depending on the downstream forward and reverse signalling generated. All the above-mentioned features make the Ephs/ephrins system an intriguing candidate for the development of new therapeutic strategies in glioma treatment. This review will give a general overview on the structure and the function of Ephs and ephrins, with a particular emphasis on the state of the knowledge of their role in malignant gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ferluga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Waldemar Debinski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Waldemar Debinski, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Thomas K. Hearn Jr. Brain Tumor Research Center, Professor of Neurosurgery, Radiation Oncology, and Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, Phone: (336) 716-9712, Fax: (336) 713-7639,
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30
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Abstract
The erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma (Eph) receptor tyrosine kinase family plays important roles in developmental processes, adult tissue homeostasis, and various diseases. Interaction with Eph receptor-interacting protein (ephrin) ligands on the surface of neighboring cells triggers Eph receptor kinase-dependent signaling. The ephrins can also transmit signals, leading to bidirectional cell contact-dependent communication. Moreover, Eph receptors and ephrins can function independently of each other through interplay with other signaling systems. Given their involvement in many pathological conditions ranging from neurological disorders to cancer and viral infections, Eph receptors and ephrins are increasingly recognized as attractive therapeutic targets, and various strategies are being explored to modulate their expression and function. Eph receptor/ephrin upregulation in cancer cells, the angiogenic vasculature, and injured or diseased tissues also offer opportunities for Eph/ephrin-based targeted drug delivery and imaging. Thus, despite the challenges presented by the complex biology of the Eph receptor/ephrin system, exciting possibilities exist for therapies exploiting these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Barquilla
- Cancer Center, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037; ,
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31
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Gucciardo E, Sugiyama N, Lehti K. Eph- and ephrin-dependent mechanisms in tumor and stem cell dynamics. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:3685-710. [PMID: 24794629 PMCID: PMC11113620 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1633-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Revised: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (Eph) receptors comprise the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Initially regarded as axon-guidance and tissue-patterning molecules, Eph receptors have now been attributed with various functions during development, tissue homeostasis, and disease pathogenesis. Their ligands, ephrins, are synthesized as membrane-associated molecules. At least two properties make this signaling system unique: (1) the signal can be simultaneously transduced in the receptor- and the ligand-expressing cell, (2) the signaling outcome through the same molecules can be opposite depending on cellular context. Moreover, shedding of Eph and ephrin ectodomains as well as ligand-dependent and -independent receptor crosstalk with other RTKs, proteases, and adhesion molecules broadens the repertoire of Eph/ephrin functions. These integrated pathways provide plasticity to cell-microenvironment communication in varying tissue contexts. The complex molecular networks and dynamic cellular outcomes connected to the Eph/ephrin signaling in tumor-host communication and stem cell niche are the main focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Gucciardo
- Research Programs Unit, Genome-Scale Biology, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, P.O.B. 63, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nami Sugiyama
- Research Programs Unit, Genome-Scale Biology, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, P.O.B. 63, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biosystems Science and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kaisa Lehti
- Research Programs Unit, Genome-Scale Biology, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, P.O.B. 63, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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32
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Cissé M, Checler F. Eph receptors: new players in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 73:137-49. [PMID: 25193466 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is devastating and leads to permanent losses of memory and other cognitive functions. Although recent genetic evidences strongly argue for a causative role of Aβ in AD onset and progression (Jonsson et al., 2012), its role in AD etiology remains a matter of debate. However, even if not the sole culprit or pathological trigger, genetic and anatomical evidences in conjunction with numerous pharmacological studies, suggest that Aβ peptides, at least contribute to the disease. How Aβ contributes to memory loss remains largely unknown. Soluble Aβ species referred to as Aβ oligomers have been shown to be neurotoxic and induce network failure and cognitive deficits in animal models of the disease. In recent years, several proteins were described as potential Aβ oligomers receptors, amongst which are the receptor tyrosine kinases of Eph family. These receptors together with their natural ligands referred to as ephrins have been involved in a plethora of physiological and pathological processes, including embryonic neurogenesis, learning and memory, diabetes, cancers and anxiety. Here we review recent discoveries on Eph receptors-mediated protection against Aβ oligomers neurotoxicity as well as their potential as therapeutic targets in AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moustapha Cissé
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR7275 CNRS/UNS, "Labex Distalz", 660 route des Lucioles, 06560, Sophia-Antipolis, Valbonne, France..
| | - Frédéric Checler
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR7275 CNRS/UNS, "Labex Distalz", 660 route des Lucioles, 06560, Sophia-Antipolis, Valbonne, France..
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33
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Greene AC, Lord SJ, Tian A, Rhodes C, Kai H, Groves JT. Spatial organization of EphA2 at the cell-cell interface modulates trans-endocytosis of ephrinA1. Biophys J 2014; 106:2196-205. [PMID: 24853748 PMCID: PMC4052362 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
EphA2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that is sensitive to spatial and mechanical aspects of the cell's microenvironment. Misregulation of EphA2 occurs in many aggressive cancers. Although its juxtacrine signaling geometry (EphA2's cognate ligand ephrinA1 is expressed on the surface of an apposing cell) provides a mechanism by which the receptor may experience extracellular forces, this also renders the system challenging to decode. By depositing living cells on synthetic supported lipid membranes displaying ephrinA1, we have reconstituted key features of the juxtacrine EphA2-ephrinA1 signaling system while maintaining the ability to perturb the spatial and mechanical properties of the membrane-cell interface with precision. In addition, we developed a trans-endocytosis assay to monitor internalization of ephrinA1 from a supported membrane into the apposing cell using a quantitative three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy assay. Using this experimental platform to mimic a cell-cell junction, we found that the signaling complex is not efficiently internalized when lateral reorganization at the membrane-cell contact sites is physically hindered. This suggests that EphA2-ephrinA1 trans-endocytosis is sensitive to the mechanical properties of a cell's microenvironment and may have implications in physical aspects of tumor biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne C Greene
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California; Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | - Samuel J Lord
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California; Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | - Aiwei Tian
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California; Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | - Christopher Rhodes
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California; Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | - Hiroyuki Kai
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California; Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | - Jay T Groves
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California; Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California; Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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34
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Falivelli G, Lisabeth EM, de la Torre ER, Perez-Tenorio G, Tosato G, Salvucci O, Pasquale EB. Attenuation of eph receptor kinase activation in cancer cells by coexpressed ephrin ligands. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81445. [PMID: 24348920 PMCID: PMC3857839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eph receptor tyrosine kinases mediate juxtacrine signals by interacting “in trans” with ligands anchored to the surface of neighboring cells via a GPI-anchor (ephrin-As) or a transmembrane segment (ephrin-Bs), which leads to receptor clustering and increased kinase activity. Additionally, soluble forms of the ephrin-A ligands released from the cell surface by matrix metalloproteases can also activate EphA receptor signaling. Besides these trans interactions, recent studies have revealed that Eph receptors and ephrins coexpressed in neurons can also engage in lateral “cis” associations that attenuate receptor activation by ephrins in trans with critical functional consequences. Despite the importance of the Eph/ephrin system in tumorigenesis, Eph receptor-ephrin cis interactions have not been previously investigated in cancer cells. Here we show that in cancer cells, coexpressed ephrin-A3 can inhibit the ability of EphA2 and EphA3 to bind ephrins in trans and become activated, while ephrin-B2 can inhibit not only EphB4 but also EphA3. The cis inhibition of EphA3 by ephrin-B2 implies that in some cases ephrins that cannot activate a particular Eph receptor in trans can nevertheless inhibit its signaling ability through cis association. We also found that an EphA3 mutation identified in lung cancer enhances cis interaction with ephrin-A3. These results suggest a novel mechanism that may contribute to cancer pathogenesis by attenuating the tumor suppressing effects of Eph receptor signaling pathways activated by ephrins in trans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Falivelli
- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department Pharmacology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Erika Mathes Lisabeth
- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | | | - Gizeh Perez-Tenorio
- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Giovanna Tosato
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ombretta Salvucci
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Elena B. Pasquale
- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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35
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Song Y, Zhao XP, Song K, Shang ZJ. Ephrin-A1 is up-regulated by hypoxia in cancer cells and promotes angiogenesis of HUVECs through a coordinated cross-talk with eNOS. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74464. [PMID: 24040255 PMCID: PMC3767678 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, ephrin-A1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) have been proved to play critical roles in tumor angiogenesis. However, how ephrin-A1 is regulated by hypoxia and whether ephrin-A1 cooperates with eNOS in modulation of angiogenesis remain to be addressed in details. Here we demonstrated that both ephrin-A1 in squamous cell carcinoma cells (SCC-9) and especially soluble ephrin-A1 in the supernatants were up-regulated under hypoxic condition. An increased nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was observed in ephrin-A1-induced angiogenesis which was reversed after co-culture with eNOS specific inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME). Western blot analysis confirmed that both phosphorylation of AktSer473 and eNOSSer1177 were up-regulated in ephrin-A1-stimulated HUVECs, with the total eNOS expression unchanged. The specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), LY294002, significantly down-regulated ephrin-A1-induced expression of phosphorylated AktSer473 as well as phosphorylation of eNOSSer1177. These results revealed a possible novel mechanism whereby ephrin-A1 is regulated in tumor microenvironment and promotes angiogenesis through a coordinated cross-talk with PI3K/Akt-dependent eNOS activation which may relate to normal vascular development and tumor neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Song
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Song
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zheng-Jun Shang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail:
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36
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ADAM12-cleaved ephrin-A1 contributes to lung metastasis. Oncogene 2013; 33:2179-90. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2012] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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37
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Ferluga S, Hantgan R, Goldgur Y, Himanen JP, Nikolov DB, Debinski W. Biological and structural characterization of glycosylation on ephrin-A1, a preferred ligand for EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:18448-57. [PMID: 23661698 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.464008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in a number of malignancies and is activated by ephrin ligands, most commonly by ephrin-A1. The crystal structure of the ligand-receptor complex revealed a glycosylation on the Asn-26 of ephrin-A1. Here we report for the first time the significance of the glycosylation in the biology of EphA2 and ephrin-A1. Ephrin-A1 was enzymatically deglycosylated, and its activity was evaluated in several assays using glioblastoma (GBM) cells and recombinant EphA2. We found that deglycosylated ephrin-A1 does not efficiently induce EphA2 receptor internalization and degradation, and does not activate the downstream signaling pathways involved in cell migration and proliferation. Data obtained by surface plasmon resonance confirms that deglycosylated ephrin-A1 does not bind EphA2 with high affinity. Mutations in the glycosylation site on ephrin-A1 result in protein aggregation and mislocalization. Analysis of Eph/ephrin crystal structures reveals an interaction between the ligand's carbohydrates and two residues of EphA2: Asp-78 and Lys-136. These findings suggest that the glycosylation on ephrin-A1 plays a critical role in the binding and activation of the EphA2 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ferluga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA
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