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Hu P, Armato U, Freddi G, Chiarini A, Dal Prà I. Human Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts Co-Cultured on Silk Fibroin Scaffolds Exosomally Overrelease Angiogenic and Growth Factors. Cells 2023; 12:1827. [PMID: 37508492 PMCID: PMC10378127 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The optimal healing of skin wounds, deep burns, and chronic ulcers is an important clinical problem. Attempts to solve it have been driving the search for skin equivalents based on synthetic or natural polymers. Methods: Consistent with this endeavor, we used regenerated silk fibroin (SF) from Bombyx mori to produce a novel compound scaffold by welding a 3D carded/hydroentangled SF-microfiber-based nonwoven layer (C/H-3D-SFnw; to support dermis engineering) to an electrospun 2D SF nanofiber layer (ESFN; a basal lamina surrogate). Next, we assessed-via scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, mono- and co-cultures of HaCaT keratinocytes and adult human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), dsDNA assays, exosome isolation, double-antibody arrays, and angiogenesis assays-whether the C/H-3D-SFnws/ESFNs would allow the reconstitution of a functional human skin analog in vitro. Results: Physical analyses proved that the C/H-3D-SFnws/ESFNs met the requirements for human soft-tissue-like implants. dsDNA assays revealed that co-cultures of HaCaTs (on the 2D ESFN surface) and HDFs (inside the 3D C/H-3D-SFnws) grew more intensely than did the respective monocultures. Double-antibody arrays showed that the CD9+/CD81+ exosomes isolated from the 14-day pooled growth media of HDF and/or HaCaT mono- or co-cultures conveyed 35 distinct angiogenic/growth factors (AGFs). However, versus monocultures' exosomes, HaCaT/HDF co-cultures' exosomes (i) transported larger amounts of 15 AGFs, i.e., PIGF, ANGPT-1, bFGF, Tie-2, Angiogenin, VEGF-A, VEGF-D, TIMP-1/-2, GRO-α/-β/-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9, and MCP-1, and (ii) significantly more strongly stimulated human dermal microvascular endothelial cells to migrate and assemble tubes/nodes in vitro. Conclusions: Our results showed that both cell-cell and cell-SF interactions boosted the exosomal release of AGFs from HaCaTs/HDFs co-cultured on C/H-3D-SFnws/ESFNs. Hence, such exosomes are an asset for prospective clinical applications as they advance cell growth and neoangiogenesis and consequently graft take and skin healing. Moreover, this new integument analog could be instrumental in preclinical and translational studies on human skin pathophysiology and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Hu
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics & Gynecology, University of Verona Medical School, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Ubaldo Armato
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics & Gynecology, University of Verona Medical School, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | | | - Anna Chiarini
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics & Gynecology, University of Verona Medical School, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Dal Prà
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics & Gynecology, University of Verona Medical School, 37134 Verona, Italy
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2
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Stefanova V, Crowley VM, Weckman AM, Kain KC. suPAR to Risk-Stratify Patients With Malaria. Front Immunol 2022; 13:931321. [PMID: 35757694 PMCID: PMC9226448 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.931321] [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: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe malaria (SM) is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, particularly in children in sub-Saharan Africa. However, existing malaria diagnostic tests do not reliably identify children at risk of severe and fatal outcomes. Dysregulated host immune and endothelial activation contributes to the pathogenesis of SM. Current research suggests that measuring markers of these pathways at presentation may have clinical utility as prognostic indicators of disease progression and risk of death. In this review, we focus on the available evidence implicating soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) as a novel and early predictor of severe and fatal malaria and discuss its potential utility for malaria triage and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veselina Stefanova
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Valerie M Crowley
- Sandra A. Rotman (SAR) Laboratories, Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea M Weckman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Sandra A. Rotman (SAR) Laboratories, Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin C Kain
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Sandra A. Rotman (SAR) Laboratories, Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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3
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Zhai BT, Tian H, Sun J, Zou JB, Zhang XF, Cheng JX, Shi YJ, Fan Y, Guo DY. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) as a therapeutic target in cancer. J Transl Med 2022; 20:135. [PMID: 35303878 PMCID: PMC8932206 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03329-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is an attractive target for the treatment of cancer, because it is expressed at low levels in healthy tissues but at high levels in malignant tumours. uPAR is closely related to the invasion and metastasis of malignant tumours, plays important roles in the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), tumour angiogenesis, cell proliferation and apoptosis, and is associated with the multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumour cells, which has important guiding significance for the judgement of tumor malignancy and prognosis. Several uPAR-targeted antitumour therapeutic agents have been developed to suppress tumour growth, metastatic processes and drug resistance. Here, we review the recent advances in the development of uPAR-targeted antitumor therapeutic strategies, including nanoplatforms carrying therapeutic agents, photodynamic therapy (PDT)/photothermal therapy (PTT) platforms, oncolytic virotherapy, gene therapy technologies, monoclonal antibody therapy and tumour immunotherapy, to promote the translation of these therapeutic agents to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Tao Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, China
| | - Huan Tian
- Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Jing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, China
| | - Jun-Bo Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, China
| | - Xiao-Fei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, China
| | - Jiang-Xue Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, China
| | - Ya-Jun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, China
| | - Yu Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, China
| | - Dong-Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, China.
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4
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Lv T, Zhao Y, Jiang X, Yuan H, Wang H, Cui X, Xu J, Zhao J, Wang J. uPAR: An Essential Factor for Tumor Development. J Cancer 2021; 12:7026-7040. [PMID: 34729105 PMCID: PMC8558663 DOI: 10.7150/jca.62281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumorigenesis is closely related to the loss of control of many genes. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a glycolipid-anchored protein on the cell surface, is controlled by many factors in tumorigenesis and is expressed in many tumor tissues. In this review, we summarize the regulatory effects of the uPAR signaling pathway on processes and factors related to tumor progression, such as tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, metastasis, glycolysis, tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis. Overall, the evidence accumulated to date suggests that uPAR induction by tumor progression may be one of the most important factors affecting therapeutic efficacy. An improved understanding of the interactions between uPAR and its coreceptors in cancer will provide critical biomolecular information that may help to better predict the disease course and response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Lv
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011.,Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province Universities of the Diversity and Ecological Adaptive Evolution for Animals and Plants on YunGui Plateau, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, China 655011
| | - Ying Zhao
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Xinni Jiang
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China 610500
| | - Hemei Yuan
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Haibo Wang
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011.,Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province Universities of the Diversity and Ecological Adaptive Evolution for Animals and Plants on YunGui Plateau, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, China 655011
| | - Xuelin Cui
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Jiashun Xu
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Jingye Zhao
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Jianlin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
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5
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Isola G, Polizzi A, Alibrandi A, Williams RC, Leonardi R. Independent impact of periodontitis and cardiovascular disease on elevated soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels. J Periodontol 2021; 92:896-906. [PMID: 33091149 DOI: 10.1002/jper.20-0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated that a soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) plays an essential function in leukocytes and endothelial homeostasis and, therefore, in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) and periodontitis. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of gingival health, periodontitis, and CHD on suPAR levels in plasma and saliva and to evaluate suPAR as a biomarker of periodontitis and CHD. METHODS Healthy controls (n = 33), patients with periodontitis (n = 31), CHD (n = 29), and a combination of periodontitis + CHD (n = 29) were enrolled in the present study. All patients were clinically and periodontally evaluated and regularly assessed for socioeconomic status, serum lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and for plasma and salivary suPAR levels. RESULTS Patients with periodontitis (P <.001) and with periodontitis + CHD (P <.001) presented higher median plasma and salivary suPAR levels compared with CHD and healthy controls. Moreover, univariate regression analysis demonstrated that hs-CRP (P <.001) and periodontitis (P <.001) had a significant negative direct effect on both plasma and salivary suPAR levels. The multivariate regression analysis showed that periodontitis was the only significant predictor of plasma suPAR (P = .035) while hs-CRP was the only significant predictor of salivary suPAR (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study demonstrated that patients with periodontitis and periodontitis + CHD presented higher suPAR levels in both plasma and saliva in comparison with healthy controls and CHD. Moreover, periodontitis and hs-CRP were the only significant predictors of the augmented suPAR levels in plasma and saliva, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Isola
- Department of General Surgery and Surgical-Medical Specialties, Unit of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alessandro Polizzi
- Department of General Surgery and Surgical-Medical Specialties, Unit of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Angela Alibrandi
- Department of Economics, Unit of Statistical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Ray C Williams
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rosalia Leonardi
- Department of General Surgery and Surgical-Medical Specialties, Unit of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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6
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Hu P, Chiarini A, Wu J, Freddi G, Nie K, Armato U, Prà ID. Exosomes of adult human fibroblasts cultured on 3D silk fibroin nonwovens intensely stimulate neoangiogenesis. BURNS & TRAUMA 2021; 9:tkab003. [PMID: 34212056 PMCID: PMC8240536 DOI: 10.1093/burnst/tkab003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background Bombyx mori silk fibroin is a biomacromolecule that allows the assembly of scaffolds for tissue engineering and regeneration purposes due to its cellular adhesiveness, high biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. Earlier work showed that two types of 3D silk fibroin nonwovens (3D-SFnws) implanted into mouse subcutaneous tissue were promptly vascularized via undefined molecular mechanisms. The present study used nontumorigenic adult human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) adhering to a third type of 3D-SFnws to assess whether HDFs release exosomes whose contents promote neoangiogenesis. Methods Electron microscopy imaging and physical tests defined the features of the novel carded/hydroentangled 3D-SFnws. HDFs were cultured on 3D-SFnws and polystyrene plates in an exosome-depleted medium. DNA amounts and D-glucose consumption revealed the growth and metabolic activities of HDFs on 3D-SFnws. CD9-expressing total exosome fractions were from conditioned media of 3D-SFnws and 2D polystyrene plates HDF cultures. Angiogenic growth factors (AGFs) in equal amounts of the two groups of exosomal proteins were analysed via double-antibody arrays. A tube formation assay using human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMVECs) was used to evaluate the exosomes’ angiogenic power. Results The novel features of the 3D-SFnws met the biomechanical requirements typical of human soft tissues. By experimental day 15, 3D-SFnws-adhering HDFs had increased 4.5-fold in numbers and metabolized 5.4-fold more D-glucose than at day 3 in vitro. Compared to polystyrene-stuck HDFs, exosomes from 3D-SFnws-adhering HDFs carried significantly higher amounts of AGFs, such as interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-4 and IL-8; angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2; angiopoietin-1 receptor (or Tie-2); growth-regulated oncogene (GRO)-α, GRO-β and GRO-γ; matrix metalloproteinase-1; tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1; and urokinase-type plasminogen activator surface receptor, but lesser amounts of anti-angiogenic tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 and pro-inflammatory monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. At concentrations from 0.62 to 10 μg/ml, the exosomes from 3D-SFnws-cultured HDFs proved their angiogenic power by inducing HDMVECs to form significant amounts of tubes in vitro. Conclusions The structural and mechanical properties of carded/hydroentangled 3D-SFnws proved their suitability for tissue engineering and regeneration applications. Consistent with our hypothesis, 3D-SFnws-adhering HDFs released exosomes carrying several AGFs that induced HDMVECs to promptly assemble vascular tubes in vitro. Hence, we posit that once implanted in vivo, the 3D-SFnws/HDFs interactions could promote the vascularization and repair of extended skin wounds due to burns or other noxious agents in human and veterinary clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Hu
- Human Histology & Embryology Section, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics & Gynaecology, University of Verona Medical School, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134, Verona, Venetia, Italy.,Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of ZunYi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, ZunYi City, 563003 Guizhou Province, China
| | - Anna Chiarini
- Human Histology & Embryology Section, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics & Gynaecology, University of Verona Medical School, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134, Verona, Venetia, Italy
| | - Jun Wu
- Human Histology & Embryology Section, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics & Gynaecology, University of Verona Medical School, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134, Verona, Venetia, Italy.,Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Second People's Hospital, University of Shenzhen, 3002 Sungang West Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Giuliano Freddi
- Silk Biomaterials S.r.l., Via Cavour 2, I-22074, Lomazzo, Lombardy, Italy
| | - Kaiyu Nie
- Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of ZunYi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, ZunYi City, 563003 Guizhou Province, China
| | - Ubaldo Armato
- Human Histology & Embryology Section, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics & Gynaecology, University of Verona Medical School, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134, Verona, Venetia, Italy.,Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Second People's Hospital, University of Shenzhen, 3002 Sungang West Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ilaria Dal Prà
- Human Histology & Embryology Section, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics & Gynaecology, University of Verona Medical School, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134, Verona, Venetia, Italy.,Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Second People's Hospital, University of Shenzhen, 3002 Sungang West Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong Province, China
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7
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The Urokinase Receptor: A Multifunctional Receptor in Cancer Cell Biology. Therapeutic Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084111. [PMID: 33923400 PMCID: PMC8073738 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis is a key event in several biological processes; proteolysis must be tightly controlled because its improper activation leads to dramatic consequences. Deregulation of proteolytic activity characterizes many pathological conditions, including cancer. The plasminogen activation (PA) system plays a key role in cancer; it includes the serine-protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). uPA binds to a specific cellular receptor (uPAR), which concentrates proteolytic activity at the cell surface, thus supporting cell migration. However, a large body of evidence clearly showed uPAR involvement in the biology of cancer cell independently of the proteolytic activity of its ligand. In this review we will first describe this multifunctional molecule and then we will discuss how uPAR can sustain most of cancer hallmarks, which represent the biological capabilities acquired during the multistep cancer development. Finally, we will illustrate the main data available in the literature on uPAR as a cancer biomarker and a molecular target in anti-cancer therapy.
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8
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Loosen SH, Gorgulho J, Jördens MS, Schulze-Hagen M, Beier F, Vucur M, Schneider AT, Koppe C, Mertens A, Kather JN, Tacke F, Keitel V, Brümmendorf TH, Roderburg C, Luedde T. Serum Levels of Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Predict Tumor Response and Outcome to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:646883. [PMID: 33869041 PMCID: PMC8047604 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.646883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have led to a paradigm shift in cancer therapy, improving outcomes in the treatment of various malignancies. However, not all patients benefit to the same extend from ICI. Reliable tools to predict treatment response and outcome are missing. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a marker of immune activation, whose levels are prognostic in various cancers. We evaluated circulating suPAR levels as a novel predictive and prognostic biomarker in patients receiving ICI therapy for solid tumors. Methods A total of n = 87 patients receiving ICI therapy for different solid malignancies as well as 32 healthy controls were included into this study. Serum levels of suPAR were measured by ELISA prior to and sequentially at two time points during ICI therapy. Results Baseline suPAR serum levels were significantly higher in solid tumor patients compared to healthy controls. Importantly, patients with low suPAR levels both before or during ICI treatment were more likely to have a favorable response to treatment at three and six months, respectively. This finding was confirmed by multivariate binary logistic regression analysis including several clinicopathological parameters. Moreover, circulating suPAR levels before and during therapy were an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). As such, patients with initial suPAR levels above our ideal prognostic cut-off value (4.86 ng/ml) had a median OS of only 160 days compared to 705 days for patients with suPAR levels below this cut-off value. Finally, low baseline suPAR levels identified a subgroup of patients who experienced ICI-related side effects which in turn were associated with favorable treatment response and outcome. Conclusion Our data suggest that measurements of suPAR serum levels are a previously unknown, easily accessible tool to predict individual treatment response and outcome to ICI therapy. Circulating suPAR might therefore be implemented into stratification algorithms to identify the ideal candidates for ICI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven H Loosen
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Joao Gorgulho
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus S Jördens
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schulze-Hagen
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabian Beier
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anne T Schneider
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christiane Koppe
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexander Mertens
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jakob N Kather
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Keitel
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tim H Brümmendorf
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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9
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Loosen SH, Tacke F, Püthe N, Binneboesel M, Wiltberger G, Alizai PH, Kather JN, Paffenholz P, Ritz T, Koch A, Bergmann F, Trautwein C, Longerich T, Roderburg C, Neumann UP, Luedde T. High baseline soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) serum levels indicate adverse outcome after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Carcinogenesis 2020; 40:947-955. [PMID: 30805627 PMCID: PMC6735890 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgz033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgical resection represents the only potentially curative therapy for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), an aggressive malignancy with a very limited 5-year survival rate. However, even after complete tumor resection, many patients are still facing an unfavorable prognosis underlining the need for better preoperative stratification algorithms. Here, we explored the role of the secreted glycoprotein soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) as a novel circulating biomarker for patients undergoing resection of PDAC. Serum levels of suPAR were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in an exploratory as well as a validation cohort comprising a total of 127 PDAC patients and 75 healthy controls. Correlating with a cytoplasmic immunohistochemical expression of uPAR in PDAC tumor cells, serum levels of suPAR were significantly elevated in PDAC patients compared to healthy controls and patient with PDAC precursor lesions. Importantly, patients with high preoperative suPAR levels above a calculated cutoff value of 5.956 ng/ml showed a significantly reduced overall survival after tumor resection. The prognostic role of suPAR was further corroborated by uni- and multivariate Cox-regression analyses including parameters of systemic inflammation, liver and kidney function as well as clinico-pathological patients’ characteristics. Moreover, high baseline suPAR levels identified those patients particularly susceptible to acute kidney injury and surgical complications after surgery. In conclusion, our data suggest that circulating suPAR represents a novel prognostic marker in PDAC patients undergoing tumor resection that might be a useful addition to existing preoperative stratification algorithms for identifying patients that particularly benefit from extended tumor resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven H Loosen
- Department of Medicine III, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Medicine III, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Niklas Püthe
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marcel Binneboesel
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany.,Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Klinikum Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Georg Wiltberger
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick H Alizai
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jakob N Kather
- Department of Medicine III, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Pia Paffenholz
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straße, Germany
| | - Thomas Ritz
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Koch
- Department of Medicine III, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Bergmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Medicine III, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Department of Medicine III, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf P Neumann
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Medicine III, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany.,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, Pauwelsstrasse, Aachen, Germany
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10
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Loosen SH, Breuer A, Tacke F, Kather JN, Gorgulho J, Alizai PH, Bednarsch J, Roeth AA, Lurje G, Schmitz SM, Brozat JF, Paffenholz P, Vucur M, Ritz T, Koch A, Trautwein C, Ulmer TF, Roderburg C, Longerich T, Neumann UP, Luedde T. Circulating levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor predict outcome after resection of biliary tract cancer. JHEP Rep 2020; 2:100080. [PMID: 32140677 PMCID: PMC7049662 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2020.100080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Surgical resection is the only potentially curative therapy for patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC), but 5-year survival rates after tumor resection have remained below 30%, corroborating the need for better stratification tools to identify the ideal surgical candidates. The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) represents a mediator of inflammation and has been associated with distinct types of cancer. In this study, we evaluated a potential role of suPAR as a novel biomarker in patients undergoing BTC resection. Methods Tumor expression of uPAR was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 108 BTC samples. Serum levels of suPAR were analyzed by ELISA in a training and validation cohort comprising a total of 117 patients with BTC and 76 healthy controls. Results High tumoral uPAR expression was associated with an adverse outcome after BTC resection. Accordingly, circulating levels of suPAR were significantly elevated in patients with BTC compared to healthy controls, as well as in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Using a small training set, we established an optimal prognostic suPAR cut-off value of 3.72 ng/ml for patients with BTC. Importantly, preoperative suPAR serum levels above this cut-off value were associated with significantly impaired overall survival in both the training and validation cohort. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis including various clinicopathological parameters such as tumor stage, markers of inflammation and organ dysfunction, as well as tumor markers, revealed circulating suPAR levels as an independent prognostic marker following BTC resection. Finally, high preoperative suPAR levels were indicative of acute kidney injury after tumor resection. Conclusion Circulating suPAR represents a previously unrecognized biomarker in patients with resectable BTC, which might help to preoperatively identify the ideal candidates for liver surgery. Lay summary Surgical resection represents the only curative treatment option for patients with biliary tract cancer, but not all patients benefit to the same extent in terms of overall survival. Here, we provide evidence that serum levels of an inflammatory mediator (suPAR) are indicative of a patient's postoperative outcome and might thus help to identify the ideal surgical candidates. Biliary tract cancer is associated with poor outcomes and increasing incidence. Surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment option for patients with biliary tract cancer. The identification of ideal surgical candidates has remained challenging. Circulating suPAR represents a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in resectable patients. SuPAR might be useful to identify patients with biliary tract cancer who will benefit most from tumor resection.
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Key Words
- AKI, acute kidney injury
- ALP, alkaline phosphatase
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- BMI, body mass index
- BTC
- BTC, biliary tract cancer
- CA19-9
- CA19-9, carbohydrate antigen 19-9
- CCA
- CEA
- CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen
- CRP, C-reactive protein
- ECOG PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status
- HR, hazard ratio
- IRS, immunoreactive score
- OR, odds ratio
- OS, overall survival
- PSC, primary sclerosing cholangitis
- acute kidney injury
- biomarker
- cholangiocarcinoma
- suPAR
- suPAR, soluble uPAR
- uPAR, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven H. Loosen
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Annemarie Breuer
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jakob N. Kather
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Joao Gorgulho
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick H. Alizai
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Anjali A. Roeth
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Georg Lurje
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sophia M. Schmitz
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jonathan F. Brozat
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Pia Paffenholz
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Straβe 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Ritz
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Koch
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom F. Ulmer
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulf P. Neumann
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Corresponding author. Addresses: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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11
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Ahn SB, Mohamedali A, Pascovici D, Adhikari S, Sharma S, Nice EC, Baker MS. Proteomics Reveals Cell‐Surface Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Expression Impacts Most Hallmarks of Cancer. Proteomics 2019; 19:e1900026. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201900026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seong Beom Ahn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Science Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Abidali Mohamedali
- Department of Molecular Sciences Faculty of Science and Engineering Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Dana Pascovici
- Australian Proteome Analysis Facility Macquarie University Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Subash Adhikari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Science Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Samridhi Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Science Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Edouard C. Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Monash University Melbourne VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Mark S. Baker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Science Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
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12
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Low Long Noncoding RNA Growth Arrest-Specific Transcript 5 Expression in the Exosomes of Lung Cancer Cells Promotes Tumor Angiogenesis. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:2476175. [PMID: 31186629 PMCID: PMC6521541 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2476175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis plays a key role in the development and progression of lung cancer. Recent studies have found that tumor cells can stimulate angiogenesis by secreting exosomes, which contain many long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), some of which are important for the development of lung cancer. However, the roles and mechanisms of exosomal lncRNAs in lung cancer angiogenesis have not yet been reported. In this study, lung cancer in mice was induced by urethane; we found that growth arrest specific 5 (GAS5) was lowly expressed in the serum exosomes and lung cancer tissues of mice with lung cancer. And there was a significant positive correlation between GAS5 expression in serum exosomes and lung cancer tissues. Furthermore, GAS5 was lowly expressed in human lung cancer tissues, lung cancer cells, and cells culture supernatant exosomes. The exosomes of lung cancer cells promoted human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation and tube formation and inhibited their apoptosis. GAS5 overexpression in lung cancer cells increased GAS5 level in cell culture supernatant exosomes. And the exosomes of lung cancer cells containing high GAS5 level inhibited HUVECs proliferation and tube formation and increased their apoptosis. In addition, we found that GAS5 competitively bound miRNA-29-3p with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), upregulating PTEN mRNA and protein expression, and inhibited level of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PI3K) and serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) phosphorylation in HUVECs. Overall, our results suggest that exosomal GAS5 could be a new therapeutic target for lung cancer which inhibits angiogenesis.
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13
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Gu X, Wang XQ, Lin MJ, Liang H, Fan SY, Wang L, Yan X, Liu W, Shen FX. Molecular interplay between microRNA-130a and PTEN in palmitic acid-mediated impaired function of endothelial progenitor cells: Effects of metformin. Int J Mol Med 2019; 43:2187-2198. [PMID: 30896786 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2019.4140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin serves an important role in improving the functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non‑coding RNAs, have been investigated as significant regulators of EPC vascular functions. The present study investigated the molecular crosstalk between metformin and miRNA‑130a (miR‑130a) in the functions of EPCs exposed to palmitic acid (PA). Isolated EPCs were treated with metformin, PA, and metformin + PA, respectively. Cell Counting Kit‑8, Transwell and Matrigel assays were performed to detect the proliferation, migration and tube formation ability of EPCs following different treatments. The expression of miR‑130a, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and phosphorylated‑AKT was analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The specific mechanism underlying the function of metformin in EPCs was further elucidated by transfecting miR‑130a mimics and inhibitor to overexpress and inhibit the expression of miR‑130a in EPCs, respectively. EPCs exhibited impaired functions of proliferation (P<0.01 compared with the control), migration (P<0.01 compared with the control) and tube formation (P<0.01 compared with the control) following treatment with PA, and the expression levels of miR‑130a and PTEN were decreased and increased, respectively. However, the presence of metformin, or the overexpression of miR‑130a using miR‑130a mimic alleviated the impairment of angiogenesis and proliferation, decreased the expression of PTEN and activated the phosphoinositide‑3 kinase/AKT pathway in EPCs exposed to PA. By contrast, downregulating the expression of miR‑130a with a miR‑130a inhibitor reversed the metformin‑mediated protection. These results demonstrate the beneficial effect of miR‑130a/PTEN on EPC functions, which can be regulated by metformin. The effects of metformin on improving PA‑induced EPC dysfunction are mediated by miR‑130a and PTEN, which may assist in the prevention and/or treatment of diabetic vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Gu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Qian Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Min-Jie Lin
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Haili Liang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Shi-Yan Fan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Luyin Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoqing Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Wenyue Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Fei-Xia Shen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
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14
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Xue L, Huang J, Zhang T, Wang X, Fu J, Geng Z, Zhao Y, Chen H. PTEN inhibition enhances angiogenesis in an in vitro model of ischemic injury by promoting Akt phosphorylation and subsequent hypoxia inducible factor-1α upregulation. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:1679-1688. [PMID: 29936638 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-018-0276-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is an important pathophysiological response to cerebral ischemia. PTEN is a lipid phosphatase whose loss activates PI3K/Akt signaling, which is related to HIF-1α upregulation and enhanced angiogenesis in human cancer cells. However, the specific roles of PTEN in endothelial cell functions and angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia remain unknown. Therefore, we sought to examine the potential effects of PTEN inhibition on post-ischemic angiogenesis in human blood vessel cells and to determine the underlying mechanism. In this present study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis, in vitro tube formation and expression of PTEN/Akt pathway and angiogenic factors were examined in HUVECs after treatment with PTEN inhibitor bisperoxovanadium (bpV) at different doses. The results showed that bpV significantly increased the cell proliferation and reduced cell apoptosis indicating that the drug exerts a cytoprotective effect on HUVECs with OGD exposure. bpV also enhanced cell migration and tube formation in HUVECs following OGD, and upregulated HIF-1α and VEGF expressions, but attenuated endostatin expression. Additionally, western blotting analysis demonstrated that Akt phosphorylation in HUVECs was significantly increased after bpV treatment. These findings suggest that PTEN inhibition promotes post-ischemic angiogenesis in HUVECs after exposure to OGD and this enhancing effect might be achieved through activation of the Akt signal cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Xue
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiankang Huang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuzhe Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianliang Fu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Geng
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuwu Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 20033, China.
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15
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Loosen SH, Tacke F, Binnebosel M, Leyh C, Vucur M, Heitkamp F, Schoening W, Ulmer TF, Alizai PH, Trautwein C, Koch A, Longerich T, Roderburg C, Neumann UP, Luedde T. Serum levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) predict outcome after resection of colorectal liver metastases. Oncotarget 2018; 9:27027-27038. [PMID: 29930748 PMCID: PMC6007468 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In colorectal cancer (CRC), the liver is the most common site of metastasis. Surgical resection represents the standard therapy for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). However, 5-year survival rates after resection do not exceed 50%, and despite existing preoperative stratification algorithms it is still debated which patients benefit most from surgical treatment. The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has recently evolved as a promising biomarker for distinct clinical conditions. Here, we examined a potential role of suPAR as a biomarker in patients undergoing resection of CRLM. Results Correlating with upregulated uPAR tissue expression in resected metastases, serum concentrations of suPAR were significantly elevated in CRLM patients compared to healthy controls. Importantly, patients with preoperative suPAR serum levels above the identified ideal cut-off value of 4.83 ng/ml showed a significantly reduced overall survival after resection of CRLM, both in right- and left-sided primary CRC. Moreover, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed preoperative suPAR serum levels as a prognostic factor for mortality. Additionally, elevated preoperative suPAR but not creatinine levels were a predictor of acute kidney injury (AKI) after CRLM resection, correlating with a longer postoperative hospitalization. Conclusion SuPAR represents a promising novel biomarker in CRLM patients that might help to guide preoperative treatment decisions regarding patients' outcome and to identify patients particularly susceptible to AKI. Methods Expression levels of uPAR were analyzed in CRLM tissue using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. SuPAR serum levels were measured by ELISA in 104 CRC patients undergoing hepatic resection for CRLM and 50 healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven H Loosen
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Marcel Binnebosel
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Catherine Leyh
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Florian Heitkamp
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Wenzel Schoening
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom F Ulmer
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick H Alizai
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexander Koch
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Division of Translational Gastrointestinal Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf P Neumann
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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16
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Mahmood N, Mihalcioiu C, Rabbani SA. Multifaceted Role of the Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) and Its Receptor (uPAR): Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Applications. Front Oncol 2018; 8:24. [PMID: 29484286 PMCID: PMC5816037 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The plasminogen activator (PA) system is an extracellular proteolytic enzyme system associated with various physiological and pathophysiological processes. A large body of evidence support that among the various components of the PA system, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and -2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2) play a major role in tumor progression and metastasis. The binding of uPA with uPAR is instrumental for the activation of plasminogen to plasmin, which in turn initiates a series of proteolytic cascade to degrade the components of the extracellular matrix, and thereby, cause tumor cell migration from the primary site of origin to a distant secondary organ. The components of the PA system show altered expression patterns in several common malignancies, which have identified them as ideal diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets to reduce cancer-associated morbidity and mortality. This review summarizes the various components of the PA system and focuses on the role of uPA-uPAR in different biological processes especially in the context of malignancy. We also discuss the current state of knowledge of uPA-uPAR-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for various malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niaz Mahmood
- Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Catalin Mihalcioiu
- Department of Oncology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Shafaat A. Rabbani
- Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Oncology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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17
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Shen J, Niu W, Zhang H, Jun M, Zhang H. Downregulation of MicroRNA-147 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Increases the Chemosensitivity of Gastric Cancer Cells to 5-Fluorouracil by Directly Targeting PTEN. Oncol Res 2017; 26:901-911. [PMID: 28950928 PMCID: PMC7844761 DOI: 10.3727/096504017x15061902533715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns, biological roles, and underlying mechanisms of microRNA-147 (miR-147) in gastric cancer. The present study demonstrated that miR-147 was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Downregulation of miR-147 decreased cell proliferation and enhanced the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) through the cell apoptosis pathway. In addition, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was mechanically identified as the direct target of miR-147 in gastric cancer. PTEN knockdown reversed the effects of miR-147 downregulation on the proliferation, chemosensitivity, and 5-FU-induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. Moreover, miR-147 regulated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in gastric cancer by targeting PTEN. In conclusion, miR-147 suppressed the proliferation and enhanced the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer cells to 5-FU by promoting cell apoptosis through directly targeting PTEN and regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This study provides important insight into the molecular mechanism that underlies the chemoresistance of gastric cancer cells. The results of this study could aid the development of a novel therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Weina Niu
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Cancer Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Ma Jun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
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