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Hoard TM, Liu K, Cadigan KM, Giger RJ, Allen BL. Semaphorin Receptors Antagonize Wnt Signaling Through Beta-Catenin Degradation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596372. [PMID: 38854152 PMCID: PMC11160715 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Precise control of morphogen signaling levels is essential for proper development. An outstanding question is: what mechanisms ensure proper morphogen activity and correct cellular responses? Previous work has identified Semaphorin (SEMA) receptors, Neuropilins (NRPs) and Plexins (PLXNs), as positive regulators of the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway. Here, we provide evidence that NRPs and PLXNs antagonize Wnt signaling in both fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Further, Nrp1/2 deletion in fibroblasts results in elevated baseline Wnt pathway activity and increased maximal responses to Wnt stimulation. Notably, and in contrast to HH signaling, SEMA receptor-mediated Wnt antagonism is independent of primary cilia. Mechanistically, PLXNs and NRPs act downstream of Dishevelled (DVL) to destabilize β-catenin (CTNNB1) in a proteosome-dependent manner. Further, NRPs, but not PLXNs, act in a GSK3β/CK1-dependent fashion to antagonize Wnt signaling, suggesting distinct repressive mechanisms for these SEMA receptors. Overall, this study identifies SEMA receptors as novel Wnt pathway antagonists that may also play larger roles integrating signals from multiple inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler M Hoard
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Katie Liu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Kenneth M Cadigan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Roman J Giger
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Benjamin L Allen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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2
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Toledano S, Neufeld G. Plexins as Regulators of Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasivity. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4046. [PMID: 37627074 PMCID: PMC10452846 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Plexins are a family of nine single-pass transmembrane receptors with a conserved GTPase activating protein (GAP) domain. The plexin family is divided into four subfamilies: Type-A, type-B, type-C, and type-D plexins. Plexins function as receptors for axon guidance factors of the semaphorin family. The semaphorin gene family contains 22 genes that are divided into eight subclasses of which subclasses three to seven represent vertebrate semaphorins. The plexins and their semaphorin ligands have important roles as regulators of angiogenesis, cancer proliferation, and metastasis. Class 3 semaphorins, with the exception of sema3E, are the only semaphorins that do not bind directly to plexins. In order to transduce their signals, they bind instead to complexes consisting of receptors of the neuropilin family and various plexins. Some plexins also form complexes with tyrosine-kinase receptors such as the epidermal growth factor receptor ErbB2, the mesenchymal epithelial transition factor receptor (MET), and the Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and, as a result, can modulate cell proliferation and tumor progression. This review focuses on the roles of the different plexins in the control of cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness. Plexins also affect tumor progression and tumor metastasis by indirect mechanisms, such as modulation of angiogenesis and immune responses. However, these topics are not covered in the present review.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gera Neufeld
- The Cancer Research Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3109602, Israel;
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3
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Vannucchi M, Pennati V, Mencaroni C, Defraia C, Bardhi L, Castiglione F, Bellan C, Comin CE. KRAS Mutations Are Associated with Shortened Survival in Patients with Epithelioid Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072072. [PMID: 37046732 PMCID: PMC10093256 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy of the pleural surface that includes three major histologic subtypes, epitheliod, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Epithelioid mesothelioma is usually associated with better prognosis. The genetic mechanisms driving MPM, the possible target mutations and the correlation with overall survival remain largely unsettled. We performed target exome sequencing in 29 cases of MPM aimed at identifying somatic mutations and, eventually, their correlation with phenotypic traits and prognostic significance. We found that KRAS mutations, occurring in 13.7% of cases, were associated with shortened median survival (7.6 versus 32.6 months in KRAS wild-type; p = 0.005), as it was the occurrence of any ≥3 mutations (7.6 versus 37.6 months; p = 0.049). Conversely, the presence of KDR single nucleotide polymorphism p.V297I (rs2305948) resulted in a favorable variable for survival (NR versus 23.4 months; p = 0.026). With the intrinsic limitations of a small number of cases and patient heterogeneity, results of this study contribute to the characterization of the mutation profile of MPM and the impact of selected somatic mutations, and possibly KDR polymorphism, on prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Vannucchi
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Veronica Pennati
- Division of Pathological anatomy, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Clelia Mencaroni
- Division of Pathological anatomy, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Defraia
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Ledi Bardhi
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Castiglione
- Division of Pathological anatomy, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Cristiana Bellan
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Camilla Eva Comin
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Surgery, Histopathology and Molecular Pathology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
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Lyttle BD, Vaughn AE, Bardill JR, Apte A, Gallagher LT, Zgheib C, Liechty KW. Effects of microRNAs on angiogenesis in diabetic wounds. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1140979. [PMID: 37020673 PMCID: PMC10067680 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1140979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a morbid condition affecting a growing number of the world population, and approximately one third of diabetic patients are afflicted with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), which are chronic non-healing wounds that frequently progress to require amputation. The treatments currently used for DFU focus on reducing pressure on the wound, staving off infection, and maintaining a moist environment, but the impaired wound healing that occurs in diabetes is a constant obstacle that must be faced. Aberrant angiogenesis is a major contributor to poor wound healing in diabetes and surgical intervention is often necessary to establish peripheral blood flow necessary for healing wounds. Over recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the dysregulation of angiogenesis in multiple pathologies including diabetes. This review explores the pathways of angiogenesis that become dysregulated in diabetes, focusing on miRNAs that have been identified and the mechanisms by which they affect angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey D. Lyttle
- Laboratory for Fetal and Regenerative Biology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver—Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- *Correspondence: Bailey D. Lyttle,
| | - Alyssa E. Vaughn
- Laboratory for Fetal and Regenerative Biology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver—Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - James R. Bardill
- Laboratory for Fetal and Regenerative Biology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver—Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Anisha Apte
- Laboratory for Fetal and Regenerative Biology, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lauren T. Gallagher
- Laboratory for Fetal and Regenerative Biology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver—Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Carlos Zgheib
- Laboratory for Fetal and Regenerative Biology, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Kenneth W. Liechty
- Laboratory for Fetal and Regenerative Biology, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, AZ, United States
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5
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Duan J, Jin M, Qiao B. Semaphorin 6D as an independent predictor for better prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Transl Oncol 2022; 22:101453. [PMID: 35605459 PMCID: PMC9124703 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of SEMA6D in clear cell renal cell carcinoma remains unexplored. SEMA6D expression was markedly lower in ccRCC tissues compared to normal tissues. SEMA6D may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ccRCC.
Introduction Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of RCC and is associated with poor survival. However, the mechanisms underlying its development have not been thoroughly investigated. Semaphorin 6D (SEMA6D) is differentially expressed in various cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma and colorectal cancer. However, the role and mechanism of SEMA6D in ccRCC remain unexplored. Materials and methods We obtained 25 pairs of ccRCC tissue samples and 57 urine samples from patients with ccRCC and 52 urine samples from healthy volunteers. We performed RNA sequencing and compared the results with data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to identify our gene of interest, SEMA6D. To verify the differential expression of SEMA6D, we used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, we conducted in vitro proliferation, migration and invasion experiments. Results SEMA6D expression was significantly lower in ccRCC tissue compared to that in normal tissue. Comparative analysis of our results with data from online databases revealed that the expression level of SEMA6D in ccRCC tissue correlated with the clinical stage and pathological grade of ccRCC. Furthermore, higher SEMA6D expression was associated with improved quality of life of patients with ccRCC. In addition, the diagnostic value of SEMA6D was confirmed using data from two Gene Expression Omnibus ccRCC databases. The results showed that SEMA6D can be used as a predictor for ccRCC diagnosis, with an area under the curve of 0.9642. Conclusion SEMA6D may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ccRCC.
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Gunyuz Z, Sahi-Ilhan E, Kucukkose C, Ipekgil D, Tok G, Mese G, Ozcivici E, Yalcin-Ozuysal O. SEMA6D Differentially Regulates Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Breast Cell Lines. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:15769-15778. [PMID: 35571788 PMCID: PMC9097209 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Semaphorin 6D (SEMA6D), a member of the class 6 semaphorin family, is a membrane-associated protein that plays a key role in the development of cardiac and neural tissues. A growing body of evidence suggests that SEMA6D is also involved in tumorigenesis. In breast cancer, high SEMA6D levels are correlated with better survival rates. However, very little is known about the functional significance of SEMA6D in breast tumorigenesis. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of SEMA6D expression on the normal breast cell line MCF10A and the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA MB 231. We demonstrated that SEMA6D expression increases the proliferation of MCF10A cells, whereas the opposite effect was observed in MCF7 cells. SEMA6D expression induced anchorage-independent growth in both cancer cell lines. Furthermore, migration of MCF10A and MCF7 cells and invasion of MDA MB 231 cells were elevated in response to SEMA6D overexpression. Accordingly, the genes related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were altered by SEMA6D expression in MCF10A and MCF7 cell lines. Finally, we provided evidence that SEMA6D levels were associated with the expression of the cell cycle, EMT, and Notch signaling pathway-related genes in breast cancer patients' data. We showed for the first time that SEMA6D overexpression has cell-specific effects on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of normal and cancer breast cell lines, which agrees with the gene expression data of clinical samples. This study lays the groundwork for future research into understanding the functional importance of SEMA6D in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehra
Elif Gunyuz
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir
Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ece Sahi-Ilhan
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir
Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Cansu Kucukkose
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir
Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Dogac Ipekgil
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir
Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gunes Tok
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir
Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gulistan Mese
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir
Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Engin Ozcivici
- Department
of Bioengineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ozden Yalcin-Ozuysal
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir
Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
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7
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Cheng Z, Vermeulen M, Rollins-Green M, DeVeale B, Babak T. Cis-regulatory mutations with driver hallmarks in major cancers. iScience 2021; 24:102144. [PMID: 33665563 PMCID: PMC7903341 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the recent availability of complete genome sequences of tumors from thousands of patients, isolating disease-causing (driver) non-coding mutations from the plethora of somatic variants remains challenging, and only a handful of validated examples exist. By integrating whole-genome sequencing, genetic data, and allele-specific gene expression from TCGA, we identified 320 somatic non-coding mutations that affect gene expression in cis (FDR<0.25). These mutations cluster into 47 cis-regulatory elements that modulate expression of their subject genes through diverse molecular mechanisms. We further show that these mutations have hallmark features of non-coding drivers; namely, that they preferentially disrupt transcription factor binding motifs, are associated with a selective advantage, increased oncogene expression and decreased tumor suppressor expression. Enrichment of functional non-coding somatic mutations predicts drivers Elevated variant allele frequencies are consistent with roles in tumorigenesis Putative non-coding drivers disrupt transcription factor binding motifs Predicted drivers associate with increased oncogene and decreased TSG expression
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongshan Cheng
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Michael Vermeulen
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | | | - Brian DeVeale
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Tomas Babak
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
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8
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Ding H, Li L, Gu B, Ni Y, Chen S. MicroRNA-564 inhibits the progression of non-small cell lung cancer via targeting plexin A4. Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:358. [PMID: 33732331 PMCID: PMC7903456 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.9789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Νon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer, and the most prevalent cause of cancer-associated mortality. The present study aimed to investigate whether microRNA (miR)-564 influences NSCLC progression by regulating NSCLC cell growth and migration, via targeting plexin A4. Therefore, the expression levels of miR-564 and plexin A4 were evaluated in NSCLC specimens or cells using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Furthermore, colony formation and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays were performed to determine the proliferative ability of NSCLC cells. The cell migration capacity was assessed using a Transwell assay. In addition, to examine the binding ability of miR-564 on the plexin A4 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR), a dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed. A mouse xenograft model was established to evaluate the effect of miR-564 knockdown on tumor growth in vivo, whereas the expression of plexin A4 and Ki67 in NSCLC tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry. Notably, miR-564 was downregulated in both NSCLC cell lines and tissues, while its overexpression, following transfection with miR-564 mimics, attenuated the proliferation and proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. By contrast, silencing of miR-564 using a miR-564 inhibitor promoted NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The luciferase assay revealed that miR-564 directly targeted the plexin A4 3'UTR in A549 and H460 cells. Additionally, the overexpression of plexin A4 rescued the effect of miR-564 on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion abilities. Further in vivo studies demonstrated that miR-564 knockdown promoted NSCLC growth, while miR-564 overexpression resulted in the opposite effect in nude mice. Overall, the results of the present study revealed that miR-564 promotes the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells, both in vitro and in vivo, via targeting plexin A4. Therefore, miR-564 may be considered as a possible therapeutic target for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ding
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huai'an First People's Hospital, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223300, P.R. China
| | - Liangpeng Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, P.R. China
| | - Biao Gu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huai'an First People's Hospital, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223300, P.R. China
| | - Yaojun Ni
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huai'an First People's Hospital, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223300, P.R. China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huai'an First People's Hospital, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223300, P.R. China
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9
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Ahammad I. A comprehensive review of tumor proliferative and suppressive role of semaphorins and therapeutic approaches. Biophys Rev 2020; 12:1233-1247. [PMID: 32577918 PMCID: PMC7575654 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-020-00709-1] [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: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Semaphorins have been traditionally known as axon guidance proteins that negatively regulate axonal growth. However, in the past couple of decades, their versatile role in so many other biological processes has come to prominence as well. One such example is their role in cancer. In this review article, the focus was on the tumor proliferative and tumor suppressive role of all 20 semaphorin family members under the 7 semaphorin classes found in vertebrates and invertebrates as well as the ongoing and emerging therapeutic approaches to combat semaphorin-mediated cancers. Except sema6C, 19 of the 20 non-viral semaphorin family members have been discovered to be associated with cancer in one way or another. Eleven semaphorin family members have been discovered to be tumor proliferative and 8 to be tumor suppressive. Six therapeutic avenues and their safety profiles have been discussed which are currently at use or at the various stages of development. Finally, perspectives on which approach is the best for treating cancers associated with semaphorins have been given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishtiaque Ahammad
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.
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10
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Abstract
Semaphorins are extracellular signaling proteins that are essential for the development and maintenance of many organs and tissues. The more than 20-member semaphorin protein family includes secreted, transmembrane and cell surface-attached proteins with diverse structures, each characterized by a single cysteine-rich extracellular sema domain, the defining feature of the family. Early studies revealed that semaphorins function as axon guidance molecules, but it is now understood that semaphorins are key regulators of morphology and motility in many different cell types including those that make up the nervous, cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, hepatic, renal, reproductive, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems, as well as in cancer cells. Semaphorin signaling occurs predominantly through Plexin receptors and results in changes to the cytoskeletal and adhesive machinery that regulate cellular morphology. While much remains to be learned about the mechanisms underlying the effects of semaphorins, exciting work has begun to reveal how semaphorin signaling is fine-tuned through different receptor complexes and other mechanisms to achieve specific outcomes in various cellular contexts and physiological systems. These and future studies will lead to a more complete understanding of semaphorin-mediated development and to a greater understanding of how these proteins function in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Taylor Alto
- Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jonathan R Terman
- Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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11
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Lu Y, Xu Q, Zuo Y, Liu L, Liu S, Chen L, Wang K, Lei Y, Zhao X, Li Y. Isoprenaline/β2-AR activates Plexin-A1/VEGFR2 signals via VEGF secretion in gastric cancer cells to promote tumor angiogenesis. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:875. [PMID: 29262812 PMCID: PMC5738852 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3894-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The role of stress signals in regulating gastric cancer initiation and progression is not quite clear. It is known that stress signals modulate multiple processes such as immune function, cell migration and angiogenesis. However, few studies have investigated the mechanisms of how stress signals contribute to gastric cancer angiogenesis. Methods Here, we used β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) agonist isoprenaline to imitate a stress signal and demonstrated the molecular mechanism underlying stress’s influence on tumor angiogenesis. Results We found that isoprenaline stimulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion in gastric cancer cells and plexin-A1 expression was induced by human recombinant VEGF165 in both gastric cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, interfere with plexin-A1 expression in gastric cancer cells influence HUVEC tube formation, migration and tumor growth in vivo. Conclusions These findings suggest that isoprenaline stimulate VGEF secretion and subsequently up-regulate the expression of plexin-A1 and VEGFR2 in gastric cancer cells, which form a positive impetus to promote tumor angiogenesis. This study reveals a novel molecular mechanism that a stress signal like isoprenaline may enhance angiogenesis via activating plexin-A1/VEGFR2 signaling pathway in gastric cancer, which may be a potential target in development of an anti-angiogenic therapy for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Lu
- Department of Pathology; Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Shangerdaohezi Avenue, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Xu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, 067000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanzhen Zuo
- Department of Pharmacology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, 067000, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Microorganism, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, 067000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaochen Liu
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, 067000, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of General Surgery, the 266th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Puning Avenue, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People's Republic of China
| | - Kang Wang
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, 067000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuntao Lei
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, 067000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyang Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, the 266th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Puning Avenue, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuhong Li
- Department of Pathology; Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Shangerdaohezi Avenue, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People's Republic of China.
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12
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St Clair RM, Emerson SE, D'Elia KP, Weir ME, Schmoker AM, Ebert AM, Ballif BA. Fyn-dependent phosphorylation of PlexinA1 and PlexinA2 at conserved tyrosines is essential for zebrafish eye development. FEBS J 2017; 285:72-86. [PMID: 29091353 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Plexins (Plxns) are semaphorin (Sema) receptors that play important signaling roles, particularly in the developing nervous system and vasculature. Sema-Plxn signaling regulates cellular processes such as cytoskeletal dynamics, proliferation, and differentiation. However, the receptor-proximal signaling mechanisms driving Sema-Plxn signal transduction are only partially understood. Plxn tyrosine phosphorylation is thought to play an important role in these signaling events as receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases have been shown to interact with Plxn receptors. The Src family kinase Fyn can induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of PlxnA1 and PlxnA2. However, the Fyn-dependent phosphorylation sites on these receptors have not been identified. Here, using mass spectrometry-based approaches, we have identified highly conserved, Fyn-induced PlexinA (PlxnA) tyrosine phosphorylation sites. Mutation of these sites to phenylalanine results in significantly decreased Fyn-dependent PlxnA tyrosine phosphorylation. Furthermore, in contrast to wild-type human PLXNA2 mRNA, mRNA harboring these point mutations cannot rescue eye developmental defects when coinjected with a plxnA2 morpholino in zebrafish embryos. Together these data suggest that Fyn-dependent phosphorylation at two critical tyrosines is a key feature of vertebrate PlxnA1 and PlxnA2 signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley M St Clair
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Sarah E Emerson
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Kristen P D'Elia
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Marion E Weir
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Anna M Schmoker
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Alicia M Ebert
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Bryan A Ballif
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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Zhang C, Xiao C, Dang E, Cao J, Zhu Z, Fu M, Yao X, Liu Y, Jin B, Wang G, Li W. CD100-Plexin-B2 Promotes the Inflammation in Psoriasis by Activating NF-κB and the Inflammasome in Keratinocytes. J Invest Dermatol 2017; 138:375-383. [PMID: 28927892 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
PlxnB2 and its ligand, CD100, were originally identified as axon-guidance molecules that function during neuronal development; however, studies also showed that CD100-plexins participate in various immune responses. In this study, we found that the expression of PlxnB2 on keratinocytes was specifically increased in lesional skin of psoriasis patients but not atopic dermatitis. Levels of soluble CD100 and membrane-bound CD100 were elevated in sera of psoriasis patients and on keratinocytes of psoriatic skin, respectively. By binding to PlxnB2, soluble CD100 promoted the production of CXCL-1, CCL-20, IL-1β, and IL-18 by keratinocytes and activated the NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, CD100-PlxnB2 stimulated the NF-κB signaling pathway in keratinocytes through activation of small GTPase RhoA and Rac1. Our data showed that cooperation of CD100 and PlxnB2 promoted the inflammatory responses in keratinocytes by activating NF-κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome and participated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. CD100/PlxnB2 might be a potential therapeutic target for psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chunying Xiao
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Erle Dang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiao Cao
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhenlai Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Meng Fu
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xu Yao
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Yufeng Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Boquan Jin
- Department of Immunology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China; Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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14
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Hanna JA, Drummond CJ, Garcia MR, Go JC, Finkelstein D, Rehg JE, Hatley ME. Biallelic Dicer1 Loss Mediated by aP2-Cre Drives Angiosarcoma. Cancer Res 2017; 77:6109-6118. [PMID: 28916654 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Angiosarcoma is an aggressive vascular sarcoma with an extremely poor prognosis. Because of the relative rarity of this disease, its molecular drivers and optimal treatment strategies are obscure. DICER1 is an RNase III endoribonuclease central to miRNA biogenesis, and germline DICER1 mutations result in a cancer predisposition syndrome, associated with an increased risk of many tumor types. Here, we show that biallelic Dicer1 deletion with aP2-Cre drives aggressive and metastatic angiosarcoma independent of other genetically engineered oncogenes or tumor suppressor loss. Angiosarcomas in aP2-Cre;Dicer1Flox/- mice histologically and genetically resemble human angiosarcoma. miR-23 target genes, including the oncogenes Ccnd1 as well as Adam19, Plau, and Wsb1 that promote invasiveness and metastasis, were enriched in mouse and human angiosarcoma. These studies illustrate that Dicer1 can function as a traditional loss-of-function tumor suppressor gene, and they provide a fully penetrant animal model for the study of angiosarcoma development and metastasis. Cancer Res; 77(22); 6109-18. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Hanna
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology Division, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Catherine J Drummond
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology Division, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Matthew R Garcia
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology Division, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jonathan C Go
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology Division, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - David Finkelstein
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jerold E Rehg
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Mark E Hatley
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology Division, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
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15
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Neufeld G, Mumblat Y, Smolkin T, Toledano S, Nir-Zvi I, Ziv K, Kessler O. The role of the semaphorins in cancer. Cell Adh Migr 2016; 10:652-674. [PMID: 27533782 PMCID: PMC5160032 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2016.1197478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The semaphorins were initially characterized as axon guidance factors, but have subsequently been implicated also in the regulation of immune responses, angiogenesis, organ formation, and a variety of additional physiological and developmental functions. The semaphorin family contains more then 20 genes divided into 7 subfamilies, all of which contain the signature sema domain. The semaphorins transduce signals by binding to receptors belonging to the neuropilin or plexin families. Additional receptors which form complexes with these primary semaphorin receptors are also frequently involved in semaphorin signaling. Recent evidence suggests that semaphorins also fulfill important roles in the etiology of multiple forms of cancer. Some semaphorins have been found to function as bona-fide tumor suppressors and to inhibit tumor progression by various mechanisms while other semaphorins function as inducers and promoters of tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gera Neufeld
- Cancer Research and Vascular Biology Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yelena Mumblat
- Cancer Research and Vascular Biology Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tatyana Smolkin
- Cancer Research and Vascular Biology Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shira Toledano
- Cancer Research and Vascular Biology Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Inbal Nir-Zvi
- Cancer Research and Vascular Biology Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Keren Ziv
- Cancer Research and Vascular Biology Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ofra Kessler
- Cancer Research and Vascular Biology Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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16
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Neufeld G, Mumblat Y, Smolkin T, Toledano S, Nir-Zvi I, Ziv K, Kessler O. The semaphorins and their receptors as modulators of tumor progression. Drug Resist Updat 2016; 29:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2016] [Revised: 07/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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17
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Characterization of Semaphorin 6A-Mediated Effects on Angiogenesis Through Regulation of VEGF Signaling. Methods Mol Biol 2016. [PMID: 27787863 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6448-2_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Angiogenesis identifies the process of endothelial cell sprouting and remodeling leading to the formation of new and functional blood vessels. Vascular expansion during development and in the adult mammal provides nutrients and oxygen to areas with increased need. Although many molecules and pathways have been identified as regulators of angiogenesis, aspects of this complex process remain unclear. Particularly undefined are the signals that orchestrate vessel survival and pruning once new blood vessels have sprouted. These poorly characterized aspects of angiogenesis need exploration. This chapter describes the experiments and methods enabling the characterization of Semaphorin 6A as a critical regulator of endothelial cell survival and vessel function.
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18
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Lu Y, Xu Q, Chen L, Zuo Y, Liu S, Hu Y, Li X, Li Y, Zhao X. Expression of semaphorin 6D and its receptor plexin-A1 in gastric cancer and their association with tumor angiogenesis. Oncol Lett 2016; 12:3967-3974. [PMID: 27895757 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.5208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The semaphorin and plexin family of ligands and receptor proteins provides important axon growth and guidance cues required for development. In recent years, studies have expanded their role in the regulation of cardiac morphogenesis and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism responsible for their role in regulating cancer development and progression has not been clarified. In the present study, semaphorin 6D (Sema6D) and its receptor plexin-A1 were identified to be expressed at high levels in vascular epithelial cells within gastric cancer, and were positively correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). These findings verify our hypothesis that Sema6D and plexin-A1 may be closely associated with tumor angiogenesis. Combined with experimental observations in the MGC803 gastric cancer cell line, it was observed that knocking down plexin-A1 signaling led to a decreased expression of VEGFR2 at the messenger RNA and protein levels. Sema6D recognized and activated plexin-A1, which subsequently activated its downstream target, VEGFR2. The activation of VEGFR2 functioned as a positive regulator of tumor angiogenesis. Our data provided an understanding of the complex signaling cascades involved in the angiogenesis-related pathway in tumor cells. In light of our observations, pharmacological interventions targeting Sema6D/plexin-A1/VEGFR2 signaling may potentially be used as a target for the development of novel anti-angiogenic drugs in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Lu
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China; Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
| | - Qian Xu
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The 266th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
| | - Yanzhen Zuo
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China; Department of Pharmacology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
| | - Shaochen Liu
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China; Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
| | - Yatao Hu
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China; Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoru Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Central Hospital of Chengde City, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China; Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
| | - Xiangyang Zhao
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China; Department of General Surgery, The 266th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China
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19
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Walline HM, Komarck CM, McHugh JB, Bellile EL, Brenner JC, Prince ME, McKean EL, Chepeha DB, Wolf GT, Worden FP, Bradford CR, Carey TE. Genomic Integration of High-Risk HPV Alters Gene Expression in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Mol Cancer Res 2016; 14:941-952. [PMID: 27422711 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-16-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
High-risk HPV (hrHPV) is the leading etiologic factor in oropharyngeal cancer. HPV-positive oropharyngeal tumors generally respond well to therapy, with complete recovery in approximately 80% of patients. However, it remains unclear why some patients are nonresponsive to treatment, with 20% of patients recurring within 5 years. In this study, viral factors were examined for possible clues to differences in tumor behavior. Oropharynx tumors that responded well to therapy were compared with those that persisted and recurred. Viral oncogene alternate transcripts were assessed, and cellular sites of viral integration were mapped and sequenced. Effects of integration on gene expression were assessed by transcript analysis at the integration sites. All of the tumors demonstrated active viral oncogenesis, indicated by expression of HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes and alternate E6 splicing. In the responsive tumors, HPV integration occurred exclusively in intergenic chromosome regions, except for one tumor with viral integration into TP63. Each recurrent tumor exhibited complex HPV integration patterns into cancer-associated genes, including TNFRSF13B, SCN2A, SH2B1, UBE2V2, SMOC1, NFIA, and SEMA6D Disrupted cellular transcripts were identified in the region of integration in four of the seven affected genes. IMPLICATIONS Integration of transcriptionally active hrHPV into cellular intergenic regions associates with tumor behavior by altering gene expression. Mol Cancer Res; 14(10); 941-52. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Walline
- Cancer Biology Program, Program in the Biomedical Sciences, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Christine M Komarck
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jonathan B McHugh
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Emily L Bellile
- Biostatistics, University of Michigan Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - J Chad Brenner
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mark E Prince
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Erin L McKean
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Douglas B Chepeha
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Gregory T Wolf
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Francis P Worden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Carol R Bradford
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Thomas E Carey
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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20
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Gurrapu S, Tamagnone L. Transmembrane semaphorins: Multimodal signaling cues in development and cancer. Cell Adh Migr 2016; 10:675-691. [PMID: 27295627 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2016.1197479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Semaphorins constitute a large family of membrane-bound and secreted proteins that provide guidance cues for axon pathfinding and cell migration. Although initially discovered as repelling cues for axons in nervous system, they have been found to regulate cell adhesion and motility, angiogenesis, immune function and tumor progression. Notably, semaphorins are bifunctional cues and for instance can mediate both repulsive and attractive functions in different contexts. While many studies focused so far on the function of secreted family members, class 1 semaphorins in invertebrates and class 4, 5 and 6 in vertebrate species comprise around 14 transmembrane semaphorin molecules with emerging functional relevance. These can signal in juxtacrine, paracrine and autocrine fashion, hence mediating long and short range repulsive and attractive guidance cues which have a profound impact on cellular morphology and functions. Importantly, transmembrane semaphorins are capable of bidirectional signaling, acting both in "forward" mode via plexins (sometimes in association with receptor tyrosine kinases), and in "reverse" manner through their cytoplasmic domains. In this review, we will survey known molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of transmembrane semaphorins in development and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeharsha Gurrapu
- a Department of Oncology , University of Torino c/o IRCCS , Candiolo ( TO ), Italy.,b Candiolo Cancer Institute, IRCCS-FPO , Candiolo ( TO ), Italy
| | - Luca Tamagnone
- a Department of Oncology , University of Torino c/o IRCCS , Candiolo ( TO ), Italy.,b Candiolo Cancer Institute, IRCCS-FPO , Candiolo ( TO ), Italy
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21
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Battistini C, Tamagnone L. Transmembrane semaphorins, forward and reverse signaling: have a look both ways. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:1609-22. [PMID: 26794845 PMCID: PMC11108563 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2137-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Semaphorins are signaling molecules playing pivotal roles not only as axon guidance cues, but are also involved in the regulation of a range of biological processes, such as immune response, angiogenesis and invasive tumor growth. The main functional receptors for semaphorins are plexins, which are large single-pass transmembrane molecules. Semaphorin signaling through plexins-the "classical" forward signaling-affects cytoskeletal remodeling and integrin-dependent adhesion, consequently influencing cell migration. Intriguingly, semaphorins and plexins can interact not only in trans, but also in cis, leading to differentiated and highly regulated signaling outputs. Moreover, transmembrane semaphorins can also mediate a so-called "reverse" signaling, by acting not as ligands but rather as receptors, and initiate a signaling cascade through their own cytoplasmic domains. Semaphorin reverse signaling has been clearly demonstrated in fruit fly Sema1a, which is required to control motor axon defasciculation and target recognition during neuromuscular development. Sema1a invertebrate semaphorin is most similar to vertebrate class-6 semaphorins, and examples of semaphorin reverse signaling in mammalians have been described for these family members. Reverse signaling is also reported for other vertebrate semaphorin subsets, e.g. class-4 semaphorins, which bear potential PDZ-domain interaction motifs in their cytoplasmic regions. Therefore, thanks to their various signaling abilities, transmembrane semaphorins can play multifaceted roles both in developmental processes and in physiological as well as pathological conditions in the adult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Battistini
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino c/o IRCCS, Str. Prov. 142, 10060, Candiolo (TO), Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, IRCCS-FPO, Str. Prov. 142, 10060, Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Luca Tamagnone
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino c/o IRCCS, Str. Prov. 142, 10060, Candiolo (TO), Italy.
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, IRCCS-FPO, Str. Prov. 142, 10060, Candiolo (TO), Italy.
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22
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Sorber R, Teper Y, Abisoye-Ogunniyan A, Waterfall JJ, Davis S, Killian JK, Pineda M, Ray S, McCord MR, Pflicke H, Burkett SS, Meltzer PS, Rudloff U. Whole Genome Sequencing of Newly Established Pancreatic Cancer Lines Identifies Novel Somatic Mutation (c.2587G>A) in Axon Guidance Receptor Plexin A1 as Enhancer of Proliferation and Invasion. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149833. [PMID: 26962861 PMCID: PMC4786220 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic profile of human pancreatic cancers harbors considerable heterogeneity, which suggests a possible explanation for the pronounced inefficacy of single therapies in this disease. This observation has led to a belief that custom therapies based on individual tumor profiles are necessary to more effectively treat pancreatic cancer. It has recently been discovered that axon guidance genes are affected by somatic structural variants in up to 25% of human pancreatic cancers. Thus far, however, some of these mutations have only been correlated to survival probability and no function has been assigned to these observed axon guidance gene mutations in pancreatic cancer. In this study we established three novel pancreatic cancer cell lines and performed whole genome sequencing to discover novel mutations in axon guidance genes that may contribute to the cancer phenotype of these cells. We discovered, among other novel somatic variants in axon guidance pathway genes, a novel mutation in the PLXNA1 receptor (c.2587G>A) in newly established cell line SB.06 that mediates oncogenic cues of increased invasion and proliferation in SB.06 cells and increased invasion in 293T cells upon stimulation with the receptor's natural ligand semaphorin 3A compared to wild type PLXNA1 cells. Mutant PLXNA1 signaling was associated with increased Rho-GTPase and p42/p44 MAPK signaling activity and cytoskeletal expansion, but not changes in E-cadherin, vimentin, or metalloproteinase 9 expression levels. Pharmacologic inhibition of the Rho-GTPase family member CDC42 selectively abrogated PLXNA1 c.2587G>A-mediated increased invasion. These findings provide in-vitro confirmation that somatic mutations in axon guidance genes can provide oncogenic gain-of-function signals and may contribute to pancreatic cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Sorber
- Thoracic & GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Yaroslav Teper
- Thoracic & GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Abisola Abisoye-Ogunniyan
- Thoracic & GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
- Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama 36088, United States of America
| | - Joshua J. Waterfall
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Sean Davis
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - J. Keith Killian
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Marbin Pineda
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Satyajit Ray
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Matt R. McCord
- Thoracic & GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Holger Pflicke
- Thoracic & GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Sandra Sczerba Burkett
- Molecular Cytogenetic Section, MCGP, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States of America
| | - Paul S. Meltzer
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
| | - Udo Rudloff
- Thoracic & GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States of America
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23
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Moriarity BS, Otto GM, Rahrmann EP, Rathe SK, Wolf NK, Weg MT, Manlove LA, LaRue RS, Temiz NA, Molyneux SD, Choi K, Holly KJ, Sarver AL, Scott MC, Forster CL, Modiano JF, Khanna C, Hewitt SM, Khokha R, Yang Y, Gorlick R, Dyer MA, Largaespada DA. A Sleeping Beauty forward genetic screen identifies new genes and pathways driving osteosarcoma development and metastasis. Nat Genet 2015; 47:615-24. [PMID: 25961939 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Osteosarcomas are sarcomas of the bone, derived from osteoblasts or their precursors, with a high propensity to metastasize. Osteosarcoma is associated with massive genomic instability, making it problematic to identify driver genes using human tumors or prototypical mouse models, many of which involve loss of Trp53 function. To identify the genes driving osteosarcoma development and metastasis, we performed a Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon-based forward genetic screen in mice with and without somatic loss of Trp53. Common insertion site (CIS) analysis of 119 primary tumors and 134 metastatic nodules identified 232 sites associated with osteosarcoma development and 43 sites associated with metastasis, respectively. Analysis of CIS-associated genes identified numerous known and new osteosarcoma-associated genes enriched in the ErbB, PI3K-AKT-mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. Lastly, we identified several oncogenes involved in axon guidance, including Sema4d and Sema6d, which we functionally validated as oncogenes in human osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branden S Moriarity
- 1] Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [3] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - George M Otto
- 1] Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [3] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [4] Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eric P Rahrmann
- 1] Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [3] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [4] Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Susan K Rathe
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Natalie K Wolf
- 1] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Madison T Weg
- 1] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Luke A Manlove
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Rebecca S LaRue
- 1] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nuri A Temiz
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Kwangmin Choi
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Kevin J Holly
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Aaron L Sarver
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Milcah C Scott
- 1] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Colleen L Forster
- BioNet, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jaime F Modiano
- 1] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. [3] Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Chand Khanna
- Tumor and Metastasis Biology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephen M Hewitt
- Tissue Array Research Program (TARP), Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rama Khokha
- Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Richard Gorlick
- 1] Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York, USA. [2] Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Michael A Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - David A Largaespada
- 1] Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [2] Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [3] Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. [4] Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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SEMA6D Expression and Patient Survival in Breast Invasive Carcinoma. Int J Breast Cancer 2015; 2015:539721. [PMID: 25973277 PMCID: PMC4417987 DOI: 10.1155/2015/539721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer diagnosed in American women and is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Research has focused heavily on BC metastasis. Multiple signaling pathways have been implicated in regulating BC metastasis. Our knowledge of regulation of BC metastasis is, however, far from complete. Identification of new factors during metastasis is an essential step towards future therapy. Our labs have focused on Semaphorin 6D (SEMA6D), which was implicated in immune responses, heart development, and neurogenesis. It will be interesting to know SEMA6D-related genomic expression profile and its implications in clinical outcome. In this study, we examined the public datasets of breast invasive carcinoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We analyzed the expression of SEMA6D along with its related genes, their functions, pathways, and potential as copredictors for BC patients' survival. We found 6-gene expression profile that can be used as such predictors. Our study provides evidences for the first time that breast invasive carcinoma may contain a subtype based on SEMA6D expression. The expression of SEMA6D gene may play an important role in promoting patient survival, especially among triple negative breast cancer patients.
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Cagnoni G, Tamagnone L. Semaphorin receptors meet receptor tyrosine kinases on the way of tumor progression. Oncogene 2013; 33:4795-802. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Revised: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 09/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Chen EY, Dobrinski KP, Brown KH, Clagg R, Edelman E, Ignatius MS, Chen JYH, Brockmann J, Nielsen GP, Ramaswamy S, Keller C, Lee C, Langenau DM. Cross-species array comparative genomic hybridization identifies novel oncogenic events in zebrafish and human embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003727. [PMID: 24009521 PMCID: PMC3757044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cancer genomes are highly complex, making it challenging to identify specific drivers of cancer growth, progression, and tumor maintenance. To bypass this obstacle, we have applied array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) to zebrafish embryonal rhabdomyosaroma (ERMS) and utilized cross-species comparison to rapidly identify genomic copy number aberrations and novel candidate oncogenes in human disease. Zebrafish ERMS contain small, focal regions of low-copy amplification. These same regions were commonly amplified in human disease. For example, 16 of 19 chromosomal gains identified in zebrafish ERMS also exhibited focal, low-copy gains in human disease. Genes found in amplified genomic regions were assessed for functional roles in promoting continued tumor growth in human and zebrafish ERMS – identifying critical genes associated with tumor maintenance. Knockdown studies identified important roles for Cyclin D2 (CCND2), Homeobox Protein C6 (HOXC6) and PlexinA1 (PLXNA1) in human ERMS cell proliferation. PLXNA1 knockdown also enhanced differentiation, reduced migration, and altered anchorage-independent growth. By contrast, chemical inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling reduced angiogenesis and tumor size in ERMS-bearing zebrafish. Importantly, VEGFA expression correlated with poor clinical outcome in patients with ERMS, implicating inhibitors of the VEGF pathway as a promising therapy for improving patient survival. Our results demonstrate the utility of array CGH and cross-species comparisons to identify candidate oncogenes essential for the pathogenesis of human cancer. Cancer is a complex genetic disease that is often associated with regional gains and losses of genomic DNA segments. These changes result in aberrant gene expression and drive continued tumor growth. Because amplified and deleted DNA segments tend to span large regions of chromosomes, it has been challenging to identify the genes that are required for continued tumor growth and progression. Array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) is an effective technology in identifying abnormal copy number variations in cancer genomes. In this study, array CGH was used in a zebrafish model of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma - a pediatric muscle tumor. Our work shows that the zebrafish cancer genome contains a small number of recurrent DNA copy number changes, which are also commonly amplified in the human disease. Moreover, these chromosomal regions are small, facilitating rapid identification of candidate oncogenes. A subset of genes identified in zebrafish array CGH was prioritized for functional characterization in human ERMS, identifying evolutionarily conserved pathways that regulate proliferation, migration, differentiation, and neovascularization. Our results demonstrate the broad utility of cross-species array CGH comparisons of human and zebrafish cancer and provide a much needed discovery platform for identifying critical cancer-causing genes in a wide range of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Y. Chen
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kimberly P. Dobrinski
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Southern Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kim H. Brown
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Ryan Clagg
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elena Edelman
- Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Myron S. Ignatius
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jin Yun Helen Chen
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jillian Brockmann
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - G. Petur Nielsen
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sridhar Ramaswamy
- Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Charles Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Charles Lee
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David M. Langenau
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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27
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The role of immune semaphorins in cancer progression. Exp Cell Res 2013; 319:1635-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2013.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Expression of VEGF and semaphorin genes define subgroups of triple negative breast cancer. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61788. [PMID: 23667446 PMCID: PMC3648524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are difficult to treat due to a lack of targets and heterogeneity. Inhibition of angiogenesis is a promising therapeutic strategy, but has had limited effectiveness so far in breast cancer. To quantify heterogeneity in angiogenesis-related gene expression in breast cancer, we focused on two families – VEGFs and semaphorins – that compete for neuropilin co-receptors on endothelial cells. We compiled microarray data for over 2,600 patient tumor samples and analyzed the expression of VEGF- and semaphorin-related ligands and receptors. We used principal component analysis to identify patterns of gene expression, and clustering to group samples according to these patterns. We used available survival data to determine whether these clusters had prognostic as well as therapeutic relevance. TNBC was highly associated with dysregulation of VEGF- and semaphorin-related genes; in particular, it appeared that expression of both VEGF and semaphorin genes were altered in a pro-angiogenesis direction. A pattern of high VEGFA expression with low expression of secreted semaphorins was associated with 60% of triple-negative breast tumors. While all TNBC groups demonstrated poor prognosis, this signature also correlated with lower 5-year survival rates in non-TNBC samples. A second TNBC pattern, including high VEGFC expression, was also identified. These pro-angiogenesis signatures may identify cancers that are more susceptible to VEGF inhibition.
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29
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Rehman M, Tamagnone L. Semaphorins in cancer: biological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2013; 24:179-89. [PMID: 23099250 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The hallmarks of cancer include multiple alterations in the physiological processes occurring in normal tissues, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and restricted cell migration. These aberrant behaviors are due to genetic and epigenetic changes that affect signaling pathways controlling cancer cells, as well as the surrounding "normal" cells in the tumor microenvironment. Semaphorins and their receptors (mainly plexins and neuropilins) are aberrantly expressed in human tumors, and multiple family members are emerging as pivotal signals deregulated in cancer. Notably, different semaphorins can promote or inhibit tumor progression, depending on the implicated receptor complexes and responsive cell type. The important role of semaphorin signals in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis has initiated multiple experimental approaches aimed at targeting these pathways to inhibit cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Rehman
- Institute for Cancer Research at Candiolo (IRC@C), University of Torino-Dept. of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo, Italy
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Gu C, Giraudo E. The role of semaphorins and their receptors in vascular development and cancer. Exp Cell Res 2013; 319:1306-16. [PMID: 23422037 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2013.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Semaphorins (Semas) are a large family of traditional axon guidance molecules. Through interactions with their receptors, Plexins and Neuropilins, Semas play critical roles in a continuously growing list of diverse biological systems. In this review, we focus on their function in regulating vascular development. In addition, over the past few years a number of findings have shown the crucial role that Semas and their receptors play in the regulation of cancer progression and tumor angiogenesis. In particular, Semas control tumor progression by directly influencing the behavior of cancer cells or, indirectly, by modulating angiogenesis and the function of other cell types in the tumor microenvironment (i.e., inflammatory cells and fibroblasts). Some Semas can activate or inhibit tumor progression and angiogenesis, while others may have the opposite effect depending on specific post-translational modifications. Here we will also discuss the diverse biological effects of Semas and their receptor complexes on cancer progression as well as their impact on the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghua Gu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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31
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Hota PK, Buck M. Plexin structures are coming: opportunities for multilevel investigations of semaphorin guidance receptors, their cell signaling mechanisms, and functions. Cell Mol Life Sci 2012; 69:3765-805. [PMID: 22744749 PMCID: PMC11115013 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-012-1019-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Revised: 04/09/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Plexin transmembrane receptors and their semaphorin ligands, as well as their co-receptors (Neuropilin, Integrin, VEGFR2, ErbB2, and Met kinase) are emerging as key regulatory proteins in a wide variety of developmental, regenerative, but also pathological processes. The diverse arenas of plexin function are surveyed, including roles in the nervous, cardiovascular, bone and skeletal, and immune systems. Such different settings require considerable specificity among the plexin and semaphorin family members which in turn are accompanied by a variety of cell signaling networks. Underlying the latter are the mechanistic details of the interactions and catalytic events at the molecular level. Very recently, dramatic progress has been made in solving the structures of plexins and of their complexes with associated proteins. This molecular level information is now suggesting detailed mechanisms for the function of both the extracellular as well as the intracellular plexin regions. Specifically, several groups have solved structures for extracellular domains for plexin-A2, -B1, and -C1, many in complex with semaphorin ligands. On the intracellular side, the role of small Rho GTPases has been of particular interest. These directly associate with plexin and stimulate a GTPase activating (GAP) function in the plexin catalytic domain to downregulate Ras GTPases. Structures for the Rho GTPase binding domains have been presented for several plexins, some with Rnd1 bound. The entire intracellular domain structure of plexin-A1, -A3, and -B1 have also been solved alone and in complex with Rac1. However, key aspects of the interplay between GTPases and plexins remain far from clear. The structural information is helping the plexin field to focus on key questions at the protein structural, cellular, as well as organism level that collaboratoria of investigations are likely to answer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanta K. Hota
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
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Abstract
Formation of new vessels during development and in the mature mammal generally proceeds through angiogenesis. Although a variety of molecules and signaling pathways are known to underlie endothelial cell sprouting and remodeling during angiogenesis, many aspects of this complex process remain unexplained. Here we show that the transmembrane semaphorin6A (Sema6A) is expressed in endothelial cells, and regulates endothelial cell survival and growth by modulating the expression and signaling of VEGFR2, which is known to maintain endothelial cell viability by autocrine VEGFR signaling. The silencing of Sema6A in primary endothelial cells promotes cell death that is not rescued by exogenous VEGF-A or FGF2, attributable to the loss of prosurvival signaling from endogenous VEGF. Analyses of mouse tissues demonstrate that Sema6A is expressed in angiogenic and remodeling vessels. Mice with null mutations of Sema6A exhibit significant defects in hyaloid vessels complexity associated with increased endothelial cell death, and in retinal vessels development that is abnormally reduced. Adult Sema6A-null mice exhibit reduced tumor, matrigel, and choroidal angiogenesis compared with controls. Sema6A plays important roles in development of the nervous system. Here we show that it also regulates vascular development and adult angiogenesis.
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Neufeld G, Sabag AD, Rabinovicz N, Kessler O. Semaphorins in angiogenesis and tumor progression. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2012; 2:a006718. [PMID: 22315716 PMCID: PMC3253028 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a006718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The semaphorins were initially described as axon guidance factors, but have recently been implicated in a variety of physiological and developmental functions, including regulation of immune response, angiogenesis, and migration of neural crest cells. The semaphorin family contains more than 30 genes divided into seven subfamilies, all of which are characterized by the presence of a sema domain. The semaphorins transduce their signals by binding to one of the nine receptors belonging to the plexin family, or, in the case of the class 3 semaphorins, by binding to one of the two neuropilin receptors. Additional receptors, which form complexes with these primary semaphorin receptors, are also frequently involved in semaphorin signaling. Recent evidence suggests that some semaphorins can act as antiangiogenic and/or antitumorigenic agents whereas other semaphorins promote tumor progression and/or angiogenesis. Furthermore, loss of endogenous inhibitory semaphorin expression or function on one hand, and overexpression of protumorigenic semaphorins on the other hand, is associated with the progression of some tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gera Neufeld
- Cancer and Vascular Biology Research Center, Rappaport Research Institute in the Medical Sciences, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel.
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Yang YH, Zhou H, Binmadi NO, Proia P, Basile JR. Plexin-B1 activates NF-κB and IL-8 to promote a pro-angiogenic response in endothelial cells. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25826. [PMID: 22028792 PMCID: PMC3196529 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 09/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The semaphorins and their receptors, the plexins, are proteins related to c-Met and the scatter factors that have been implicated in an expanding signal transduction network involving co-receptors, RhoA and Ras activation and deactivation, and phosphorylation events. Our previous work has demonstrated that Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) acts through its receptor, Plexin-B1, on endothelial cells to promote angiogenesis in a RhoA and Akt-dependent manner. Since NF-κB has been linked to promotion of angiogenesis and can be activated by Akt in some contexts, we wanted to examine NF-κB in Sema4D treated cells to determine if there was biological significance for the pro-angiogenic phenotype observed in endothelium. Methods/Principal Findings Using RNA interference techniques, gel shifts and NF-κB reporter assays, we demonstrated NF-κB translocation to the nucleus in Sema4D treated endothelial cells occurring downstream of Plexin-B1. This response was necessary for endothelial cell migration and capillary tube formation and protected endothelial cells against apoptosis as well, but had no effect on cell proliferation. We dissected Plexin-B1 signaling with chimeric receptor constructs and discovered that the ability to activate NF-κB was dependent upon Plexin-B1 acting through Rho and Akt, but did not involve its role as a Ras inhibitor. Indeed, inhibition of Rho by C3 toxin and Akt by LY294002 blocked Sema4D-mediated endothelial cell migration and tubulogenesis. We also observed that Sema4D treatment of endothelial cells induced production of the NF-κB downstream target IL-8, a response necessary for angiogenesis. Finally, we could show through co-immunofluorescence for p65 and CD31 that Sema4D produced by tumor xenografts in nude mice activated NF-κB in vessels of the tumor stroma. Conclusion/Significance These findings provide evidence that Sema4D/Plexin-B1-mediated NF-κB activation and IL-8 production is critical in the generation a pro-angiogenic phenotype in endothelial cells and suggests a new therapeutic target for the anti-angiogenic treatment of some cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hua Yang
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hua Zhou
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nada O. Binmadi
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Patrizia Proia
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Sports Science (DISMOT), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - John R. Basile
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Marlene and Stuart Greenebaum Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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35
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Plexin-A4 promotes tumor progression and tumor angiogenesis by enhancement of VEGF and bFGF signaling. Blood 2011; 118:4285-96. [PMID: 21832283 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2011-03-341388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Plexin-A4 is a receptor for sema6A and sema6B and associates with neuropilins to transduce signals of class-3 semaphorins. We observed that plexin-A1 and plexin-A4 are required simultaneously for transduction of inhibitory sema3A signals and that they form complexes. Unexpectedly, inhibition of plexin-A1 or plexin-A4 expression in endothelial cells using specific shRNAs resulted in prominent plexin type specific rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton that were accompanied by inhibition of bFGF and VEGF-induced cell proliferation. The two responses were not interdependent since silencing plexin-A4 in U87MG glioblastoma cells inhibited cell proliferation and strongly inhibited the formation of tumors from these cells without affecting cytoskeletal organization. Plexin-A4 formed stable complexes with the FGFR1 and VEGFR-2 tyrosine-kinase receptors and enhanced VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 phosphorylation in endothelial cells as well as bFGF-induced cell proliferation. We also obtained evidence suggesting that some of the pro-proliferative effects of plexin-A4 are due to transduction of autocrine sema6B-induced pro-proliferative signals, since silencing sema6B expression in endothelial cells and in U87MG cells mimicked the effects of plexin-A4 silencing and also inhibited tumor formation from the U87MG cells. Our results suggest that plexin-A4 may represent a target for the development of novel anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic drugs.
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Gay CM, Zygmunt T, Torres-Vázquez J. Diverse functions for the semaphorin receptor PlexinD1 in development and disease. Dev Biol 2011; 349:1-19. [PMID: 20880496 PMCID: PMC2993764 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2010] [Revised: 09/14/2010] [Accepted: 09/18/2010] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Plexins are a family of single-pass transmembrane proteins that serve as cell surface receptors for Semaphorins during the embryonic development of animals. Semaphorin-Plexin signaling is critical for many cellular aspects of organogenesis, including cell migration, proliferation and survival. Until recently, little was known about the function of PlexinD1, the sole member of the vertebrate-specific PlexinD (PlxnD1) subfamily. Here we review novel findings about PlxnD1's roles in the development of the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems and salivary gland branching morphogenesis and discuss new insights concerning the molecular mechanisms of PlxnD1 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl M Gay
- Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, 540 First Avenue, 4th floor, lab 14, New York, NY 10016, USA
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37
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Segura I, De Smet F, Hohensinner PJ, Ruiz de Almodovar C, Carmeliet P. The neurovascular link in health and disease: an update. Trends Mol Med 2009; 15:439-51. [PMID: 19801203 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2009.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2009] [Revised: 08/07/2009] [Accepted: 08/07/2009] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Although the nervous and vascular systems are functionally different, they show a high degree of anatomic parallelism and cross-talk. They also share similar mechanisms and molecular cues that regulate their development and maintenance. Malfunctioning of this cross-talk can cause or influence several vascular and neuronal disorders. In this review, we first provide a brief overview of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern the neurovascular link. Second, we focus on two neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, to illustrate how a defective neurovascular link might contribute to their pathogenesis. Finally, we briefly discuss some therapeutic implications of the neurovascular link for designing strategies to treat these diseases.
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