1
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Shahriar S, Biswas S, Zhao K, Akcan U, Tuohy MC, Glendinning MD, Kurt A, Wayne CR, Prochilo G, Price MZ, Stuhlmann H, Brekken RA, Menon V, Agalliu D. VEGF-A-mediated venous endothelial cell proliferation results in neoangiogenesis during neuroinflammation. Nat Neurosci 2024:10.1038/s41593-024-01746-9. [PMID: 39256571 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01746-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Newly formed leaky vessels and blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage are present in demyelinating acute and chronic lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, the endothelial cell subtypes and signaling pathways contributing to these leaky neovessels are unclear. Here, using single-cell transcriptional profiling and in vivo validation studies, we show that venous endothelial cells express neoangiogenesis gene signatures and show increased proliferation resulting in enlarged veins and higher venous coverage in acute and chronic EAE lesions in female adult mice. These changes correlate with the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) signaling. We also confirmed increased expression of neoangiogenic markers in acute and chronic human MS lesions. Treatment with a VEGF-A blocking antibody diminishes the neoangiogenic transcriptomic signatures and vascular proliferation in female adult mice with EAE, but it does not restore BBB function or ameliorate EAE pathology. Our data demonstrate that venous endothelial cells contribute to neoangiogenesis in demyelinating neuroinflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjid Shahriar
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Saptarshi Biswas
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kaitao Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Uğur Akcan
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Claire Tuohy
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael D Glendinning
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ali Kurt
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charlotte R Wayne
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Grace Prochilo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maxwell Z Price
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heidi Stuhlmann
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Vilas Menon
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dritan Agalliu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Cammarota AL, Falco A, Basile A, Molino C, Chetta M, D’Angelo G, Marzullo L, De Marco M, Turco MC, Rosati A. Pancreatic Cancer-Secreted Proteins: Targeting Their Functions in Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4825. [PMID: 37835519 PMCID: PMC10571538 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a ravaging disease with a poor prognosis, requiring a more detailed understanding of its biology to foster the development of effective therapies. The unsatisfactory results of treatments targeting cell proliferation and its related mechanisms suggest a shift in focus towards the inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we discuss the role of cancer-secreted proteins in the complex TME tumor-stroma crosstalk, shedding lights on druggable molecular targets for the development of innovative, safer and more efficient therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lisa Cammarota
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (A.L.C.); (A.F.); (A.B.); (L.M.); (M.C.T.)
| | - Antonia Falco
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (A.L.C.); (A.F.); (A.B.); (L.M.); (M.C.T.)
| | - Anna Basile
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (A.L.C.); (A.F.); (A.B.); (L.M.); (M.C.T.)
| | - Carlo Molino
- General Surgery Unit, A.O.R.N. Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Massimiliano Chetta
- Medical and Laboratory Genetics Unit, A.O.R.N., Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Gianni D’Angelo
- Department of Computer Science, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy;
| | - Liberato Marzullo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (A.L.C.); (A.F.); (A.B.); (L.M.); (M.C.T.)
- FIBROSYS s.r.l., University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Margot De Marco
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (A.L.C.); (A.F.); (A.B.); (L.M.); (M.C.T.)
- FIBROSYS s.r.l., University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Turco
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (A.L.C.); (A.F.); (A.B.); (L.M.); (M.C.T.)
- FIBROSYS s.r.l., University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rosati
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (A.L.C.); (A.F.); (A.B.); (L.M.); (M.C.T.)
- FIBROSYS s.r.l., University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
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Zhang Y, Brekken RA. Direct and indirect regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment by VEGF. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 111:1269-1286. [DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5ru0222-082r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Zhang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
- Department of Surgery UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
- Current affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
- Department of Surgery UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
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4
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Zhang Y, Huang H, Coleman M, Ziemys A, Gopal P, Kazmi SM, Brekken RA. VEGFR2 activity on myeloid cells mediates immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. JCI Insight 2021; 6:150735. [PMID: 34673569 PMCID: PMC8675197 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150735] [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: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis, a hallmark of cancer, is induced by vascular endothelial growth factor–A (hereafter VEGF). As a result, anti-VEGF therapy is commonly used for cancer treatment. Recent studies have found that VEGF expression is also associated with immune suppression in patients with cancer. This connection has been investigated in preclinical and clinical studies by evaluating the therapeutic effect of combining antiangiogenic reagents with immune therapy. However, the mechanisms of how anti-VEGF strategies enhance immune therapy are not fully understood. We and others have shown selective elevation of VEGFR2 expression on tumor-associated myeloid cells in tumor-bearing animals. Here, we investigated the function of VEGFR2+ myeloid cells in regulating tumor immunity and found VEGF induced an immunosuppressive phenotype in VEGFR2+ myeloid cells, including directly upregulating the expression of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1. Moreover, we found that VEGF blockade inhibited the immunosuppressive phenotype of VEGFR2+ myeloid cells, increased T cell activation, and enhanced the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. This study highlights the function of VEGFR2 on myeloid cells and provides mechanistic insight on how VEGF inhibition potentiates immune checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Zhang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern, Dallas, United States of America
| | - Huocong Huang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern, Dallas, United States of America
| | - Morgan Coleman
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern, Dallas, United States of America
| | - Arturas Ziemys
- Program of Mathematics in Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, United States of America
| | - Purva Gopal
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, United States of America
| | - Syed M Kazmi
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, United States of America
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern, Dallas, United States of America
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Heinrich MA, Mostafa AMRH, Morton JP, Hawinkels LJAC, Prakash J. Translating complexity and heterogeneity of pancreatic tumor: 3D in vitro to in vivo models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 174:265-293. [PMID: 33895214 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely aggressive type of cancer with an overall survival rate of less than 7-8%, emphasizing the need for novel effective therapeutics against PDAC. However only a fraction of therapeutics which seemed promising in the laboratory environment will eventually reach the clinic. One of the main reasons behind this low success rate is the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDAC, a highly fibrotic and dense stroma surrounding tumor cells, which supports tumor progression as well as increases the resistance against the treatment. In particular, the growing understanding of the PDAC TME points out a different challenge in the development of efficient therapeutics - a lack of biologically relevant in vitro and in vivo models that resemble the complexity and heterogeneity of PDAC observed in patients. The purpose and scope of this review is to provide an overview of the recent developments in different in vitro and in vivo models, which aim to recapitulate the complexity of PDAC in a laboratory environment, as well to describe how 3D in vitro models can be integrated into drug development pipelines that are already including sophisticated in vivo models. Hereby a special focus will be given on the complexity of in vivo models and the challenges in vitro models face to reach the same levels of complexity in a controllable manner. First, a brief introduction of novel developments in two dimensional (2D) models and ex vivo models is provided. Next, recent developments in three dimensional (3D) in vitro models are described ranging from spheroids, organoids, scaffold models, bioprinted models to organ-on-chip models including a discussion on advantages and limitations for each model. Furthermore, we will provide a detailed overview on the current PDAC in vivo models including chemically-induced models, syngeneic and xenogeneic models, highlighting hetero- and orthotopic, patient-derived tissues (PDX) models, and genetically engineered mouse models. Finally, we will provide a discussion on overall limitations of both, in vitro and in vivo models, and discuss necessary steps to overcome these limitations to reach an efficient drug development pipeline, as well as discuss possibilities to include novel in silico models in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel A Heinrich
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Section Targeted Therapeutics, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Ahmed M R H Mostafa
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Section Targeted Therapeutics, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research UK, Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Rd, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Rd, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Lukas J A C Hawinkels
- Department of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO-box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jai Prakash
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Section Targeted Therapeutics, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands.
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6
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Zhang Y, Kirane A, Huang H, Sorrelle NB, Burrows FJ, Dellinger MT, Brekken RA. Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition Potentiates the Efficacy of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Blockade and Promotes an Immune Stimulatory Microenvironment in Preclinical Models of Pancreatic Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:348-355. [PMID: 30333153 PMCID: PMC6359969 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-0427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to standard therapy remains a major challenge in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Although anti-VEGF therapy delays PDA progression, therapy-induced hypoxia results in a less differentiated mesenchymal-like tumor cell phenotype, which reinforces the need for effective companion therapies. COX-2 inhibition has been shown to promote tumor cell differentiation and improve standard therapy response in PDA. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of COX-2 inhibition and VEGF blockade in preclinical models of PDA. In vivo, the combination therapy was more effective in limiting tumor growth and metastasis than single-agent therapy. Combination therapy also reversed anti-VEGF-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and collagen deposition and altered the immune landscape by increasing tumor-associated CD8+ T cells while reducing FoxP3+ T cells and FasL expression on the tumor endothelium. IMPLICATIONS: Together, these findings demonstrate that COX-2 inhibition enhances the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy by reducing hypoxia-induced epithelial plasticity and promoting an immune landscape that might facilitate immune activation.Visual Overview: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanres/17/2/348/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Zhang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Amanda Kirane
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Huocong Huang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Noah B Sorrelle
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | | | - Michael T Dellinger
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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7
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Huang H, Salavaggione O, Rivera L, Mukherjee S, Brekken R, Tennant B, Iyer R, Adjei A. Woodchuck VEGF (wVEGF) characteristics: Model for angiogenesis and human hepatocellular carcinoma directed therapies. Arch Biochem Biophys 2018; 661:97-106. [PMID: 30439360 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates angiogenesis. Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a VEGF-driven tumor often associated with chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection. The woodchuck is a well-characterized model of hepatitis B virus related HCC and a valuable tool for translational studies of novel VEGF targeted agents. We cloned the cDNA encoding woodchuck VEGF (wVEGF), transiently expressed it in COS cells and functionally characterized the recombinant protein. The open reading frame of wVEGF contained 645 nucleotides encoding a protein of 214 amino acids. Two protein bands (17 and 25 kDa) were detected in conditioned media of wVEGF expressing COS-1 cells and a single band of 25 kDa was identified in cell lysates. Addition of recombinant wVEGF to COS cells enhanced cell proliferation and stimulated VEGFR2, Akt, ERK1/2, and FAK phosphorylation. Sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibited wVEGF- induced VEGFR2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, development of HCC in woodchucks was accompanied by increased laminin and PECAM1 expressing vessels, VEGFR2 expression, increased ligation of VEGF to VEGFR2, and a decrease in collagen IV-positive blood vessels. Our results suggest that woodchuck model can be used further to study angiogenesis and the effect of VEGF directed therapies in human HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huayi Huang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Oreste Salavaggione
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Lee Rivera
- Department of Surgery and Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sarbajit Mukherjee
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology-Oncology Division, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Rolf Brekken
- Department of Surgery and Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Bud Tennant
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Renuka Iyer
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Araba Adjei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
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Mulcrone PL, Campbell JP, Clément-Demange L, Anbinder AL, Merkel AR, Brekken RA, Sterling JA, Elefteriou F. Skeletal Colonization by Breast Cancer Cells Is Stimulated by an Osteoblast and β2AR-Dependent Neo-Angiogenic Switch. J Bone Miner Res 2017; 32:1442-1454. [PMID: 28300321 PMCID: PMC5489363 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The skeleton is a common site for breast cancer metastasis. Although significant progress has been made to manage osteolytic bone lesions, the mechanisms driving the early steps of the bone metastatic process are still not sufficiently understood to design efficacious strategies needed to inhibit this process and offer preventative therapeutic options. Progression and recurrence of breast cancer, as well as reduced survival of patients with breast cancer, are associated with chronic stress, a condition known to stimulate sympathetic nerve outflow. In this study, we show that stimulation of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) by isoproterenol, used as a pharmacological surrogate of sympathetic nerve activation, led to increased blood vessel density and Vegf-a expression in bone. It also raised levels of secreted Vegf-a in osteoblast cultures, and accordingly, the conditioned media from isoproterenol-treated osteoblast cultures promoted new vessel formation in two ex vivo models of angiogenesis. Blocking the interaction between Vegf-a and its receptor, Vegfr2, blunted the increase in vessel density induced by isoproterenol. Genetic loss of the β2AR globally, or specifically in type 1 collagen-expressing osteoblasts, diminished the increase in Vegf-positive osteoblast number and bone vessel density induced by isoproterenol, and reduced the higher incidence of bone metastatic lesions induced by isoproterenol after intracardiac injection of an osteotropic variant of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Inhibition of the interaction between Vegf-a and Vegfr2 with the blocking antibody mcr84 also prevented the increase in bone vascular density and bone metastasis triggered by isoproterenol. Together, these results indicate that stimulation of the β2AR in osteoblasts triggers a Vegf-dependent neo-angiogenic switch that promotes bone vascular density and the colonization of the bone microenvironment by metastatic breast cancer cells. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L Mulcrone
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | | | - Ana Lia Anbinder
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, São José dos Campos School of Dentistry, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Alyssa R Merkel
- Vanderbilt Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Department of Surgery and Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Julie A Sterling
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Florent Elefteriou
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Ronca R, Benkheil M, Mitola S, Struyf S, Liekens S. Tumor angiogenesis revisited: Regulators and clinical implications. Med Res Rev 2017. [PMID: 28643862 DOI: 10.1002/med.21452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Since Judah Folkman hypothesized in 1971 that angiogenesis is required for solid tumor growth, numerous studies have been conducted to unravel the angiogenesis process, analyze its role in primary tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenic diseases, and to develop inhibitors of proangiogenic factors. These studies have led in 2004 to the approval of the first antiangiogenic agent (bevacizumab, a humanized antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor) for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. This approval launched great expectations for the use of antiangiogenic therapy for malignant diseases. However, these expectations have not been met and, as knowledge of blood vessel formation accumulates, many of the original paradigms no longer hold. Therefore, the regulators and clinical implications of angiogenesis need to be revisited. In this review, we discuss recently identified angiogenesis mediators and pathways, new concepts that have emerged over the past 10 years, tumor resistance and toxicity associated with the use of currently available antiangiogenic treatment and potentially new targets and/or approaches for malignant and nonmalignant neovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ronca
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mohammed Benkheil
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sofie Struyf
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandra Liekens
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
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Salum GM, Bader El Din NG, Ibrahim MK, Anany MA, Dawood RM, Khairy A, El Awady MK. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression in Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Liver Fibrosis: A Potential Biomarker. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2017; 37:310-316. [PMID: 28472595 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2016.0127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The major complication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the induction of hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) at mRNA and protein levels and the progression of HCV-related liver fibrosis. One hundred twenty subjects were selected for this study: 15 controls and 105 chronic HCV patients with different fibrosis grades (44 F0-F1 and 61 F2-F4). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure VEGFA mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the secreted VEGFA protein in serum. Both qRT-PCR and ELISA results showed that HCV patients have significantly higher VEGFA expression than that of controls (P = 0.036 and 0.043, respectively). Moreover, patients with late fibrotic stages (F2-F4) exhibited the highest levels of VEGFA mRNA and protein (P = 0.008 and 0.041, respectively) when compared with controls. An area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC of the ROC) for the circulatory VEGFA protein between HCV patients with fibrosis and healthy controls was 0.92 (P = 0.043). Our data suggest that VEGFA protein is a promising noninvasively diagnostic biomarker for HCV-induced liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada M Salum
- 1 Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Noha G Bader El Din
- 1 Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Marwa K Ibrahim
- 1 Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Anany
- 1 Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Reham M Dawood
- 1 Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Khairy
- 2 Department of Endemic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mostafa K El Awady
- 1 Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
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11
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Topalovski M, Hagopian M, Wang M, Brekken RA. Hypoxia and Transforming Growth Factor β Cooperate to Induce Fibulin-5 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:22244-22252. [PMID: 27531748 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.730945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) is a defining feature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), where ECM signaling can promote cancer cell survival and epithelial plasticity programs. However, ECM signaling can also limit PDA tumor growth by producing cytotoxic levels of reactive oxygen species. For example, excess fibronectin stimulation of α5β1 integrin on stromal cells in PDA results in reduced angiogenesis and increased tumor cell apoptosis because of oxidative stress. Fibulin-5 (Fbln5) is a matricellular protein that blocks fibronectin-integrin interaction and thus directly limits ECM-driven reactive oxygen species production and supports PDA progression. Compared with normal pancreatic tissue, Fbln5 is expressed abundantly in the stroma of PDA; however, the mechanisms underlying the stimulation of Fbln5 expression in PDA are undefined. Using in vitro and in vivo approaches, we report that hypoxia triggers Fbln5 expression in a TGF-β- and PI3K-dependent manner. Pharmacologic inhibition of TGF-β receptor, PI3K, or protein kinase B (AKT) was found to block hypoxia-induced Fbln5 expression in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and 3T3 fibroblasts. Moreover, tumor-associated fibroblasts from mouse PDA were also responsive to TGF-β receptor and PI3K/AKT inhibition with regard to suppression of Fbln5. In genetically engineered mouse models of PDA, therapy-induced hypoxia elevated Fbln5 expression, whereas pharmacologic inhibition of TGF-β signaling reduced Fbln5 expression. These findings offer insight into the signaling axis that induces Fbln5 expression in PDA and a potential strategy to block its production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Topalovski
- From the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Cancer Biology Graduate Program
| | | | - Miao Wang
- From the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- From the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, and Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8593
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12
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Li T, Aredo B, Zhang K, Zhong X, Pulido JS, Wang S, He YG, Huang X, Brekken RA, Ufret-Vincenty RL. Phosphatidylserine (PS) Is Exposed in Choroidal Neovascular Endothelium: PS-Targeting Antibodies Inhibit Choroidal Angiogenesis In Vivo and Ex Vivo. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2016; 56:7137-45. [PMID: 26529048 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.15-17302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) accounts for 90% of cases of severe vision loss in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration. Identifying new therapeutic targets for CNV may lead to novel combination therapies to improve outcomes and reduce treatment burden. Our goal was to test whether phosphatidylserine (PS) becomes exposed in the outer membrane of choroidal neovascular endothelium, and whether this could provide a new therapeutic target for CNV. METHODS Choroidal neovascularization was induced in C57BL/6J mice using laser photocoagulation. Choroidal neovascularization lesions costained for exposed PS and for intercellular adhesion molecule 2 (or isolectin B4) were imaged in flat mounts and in cross sections. The laser CNV model and a choroidal sprouting assay were used to test the effect of PS-targeting antibodies on choroidal angiogenesis. Choroidal neovascularization lesion size was determined by intercellular adhesion molecule 2 (ICAM-2) staining of flat mounts. RESULTS We found that PS was exposed in CNV lesions and colocalized with vascular endothelial staining. Treatment with PS-targeting antibodies led to a 40% to 80% reduction in CNV lesion area when compared to treatment with a control antibody. The effect was the same as that seen using an equal dose of an anti-VEGF antibody. Results were confirmed using the choroid sprouting assay, an ex vivo model of choroidal angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that PS is exposed in choroidal neovascular endothelium. Furthermore, targeting this exposed PS with antibodies may be of therapeutic value in CNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Department of Ophthalmology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States 2Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of Chi
| | - Bogale Aredo
- Department of Ophthalmology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Kaiyan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States 3Department of Ophthalmology, Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhong
- Department of Ophthalmology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Jose S Pulido
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Shusheng Wang
- Departments of Cell and Molecular Biology and Ophthalmology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Yu-Guang He
- Department of Ophthalmology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Xianming Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Department of Pharmacology and the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States 7Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United
| | - Rafael L Ufret-Vincenty
- Department of Ophthalmology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
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13
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Goel HL, Pursell B, Shultz LD, Greiner DL, Brekken RA, Vander Kooi CW, Mercurio AM. P-Rex1 Promotes Resistance to VEGF/VEGFR-Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer. Cell Rep 2016; 14:2193-2208. [PMID: 26923603 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autocrine VEGF signaling is critical for sustaining prostate and other cancer stem cells (CSCs), and it is a potential therapeutic target, but we observed that CSCs isolated from prostate tumors are resistant to anti-VEGF (bevacizumab) and anti-VEGFR (sunitinib) therapy. Intriguingly, resistance is mediated by VEGF/neuropilin signaling, which is not inhibited by bevacizumab and sunitinib, and it involves the induction of P-Rex1, a Rac GEF, and consequent Rac1-mediated ERK activation. This induction of P-Rex1 is dependent on Myc. CSCs isolated from the PTEN(pc-/-) transgenic model of prostate cancer exhibit Rac1-dependent resistance to bevacizumab. Rac1 inhibition or P-Rex1 downregulation increases the sensitivity of prostate tumors to bevacizumab. These data reveal that prostate tumors harbor cells with stem cell properties that are resistant to inhibitors of VEGF/VEGFR signaling. Combining the use of available VEGF/VEGFR-targeted therapies with P-Rex1 or Rac1 inhibition should improve the efficacy of these therapies significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Bryan Pursell
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | | | - Dale L Greiner
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Craig W Vander Kooi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry, Center for Structural Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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14
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Inhibition of pathological brain angiogenesis through systemic delivery of AAV vector expressing soluble FLT1. Gene Ther 2015; 22:893-900. [PMID: 26090874 PMCID: PMC4636448 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2015.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The soluble vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 1 (sFLT1) has been tested in both animals and humans for anti-angiogenic therapies, e.g., age-related macular degeneration. We hypothesized that adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)-mediated sFLT1 expression could be used to inhibit abnormal brain angiogenesis. We tested the anti-angiogenic effect of sFLT1 and the feasibility of using AAV serotype 9 to deliver sFLT1 through intravenous injection (IV) to the brain angiogenic region. AAV vectors were packaged in AAV serotypes 1 and 2 (stereotactic injection) and 9 (IV-injection). Brain angiogenesis was induced in adult mice through stereotactic injection of AAV1-VEGF. AAV2-sFLT02 containing sFLT1 VEGF-binding domain (domain 2) was injected into the brain angiogenic region, and AAV9-sFLT1 was injected into the jugular vein at the time of or 4 weeks after AAV1-VEGF injection. We showed that AAV2-sFLT02 inhibited brain angiogenesis at both time points. Intravenous injection of AAV9-sFLT1 inhibited angiogenesis only when the vector was injected 4 weeks after angiogenic induction. Neither lymphocyte infiltration nor neuron loss was observed in AAV9-sFLT1-treated mice. Our data show that systemically delivered AAV9-sFLT1 inhibits angiogenesis in the mouse brain, which could be utilized to treat brain angiogenic diseases such as brain arteriovenous malformation.
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15
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During MJ, Liu X, Huang W, Magee D, Slater A, McMurphy T, Wang C, Cao L. Adipose VEGF Links the White-to-Brown Fat Switch With Environmental, Genetic, and Pharmacological Stimuli in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2015; 156:2059-73. [PMID: 25763639 PMCID: PMC4430610 DOI: 10.1210/en.2014-1905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Living in an enriched environment (EE) decreases adiposity, increases energy expenditure, causes resistance to diet induced obesity, and induces brown-like (beige) cells in white fat via activating a hypothalamic-adipocyte axis. Here we report that EE stimulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in a fat depot-specific manner prior to the emergence of beige cells. The VEGF up-regulation was independent of hypoxia but required intact sympathetic tone to the adipose tissue. Targeted adipose overexpression of VEGF reproduced the browning effect of EE. Adipose-specific VEGF knockout or pharmacological VEGF blockade with antibodies abolished the induction of beige cell by EE. Hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor stimulated by EE regulated the adipose VEGF expression, and VEGF signaling was essential to the hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced white adipose tissue browning. Furthermore, VEGF signaling was essential to the beige cells induction by exercise, a β3-adrenergic agonist, and a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ ligand, suggesting a common downstream pathway integrating diverse upstream mechanisms. Exploiting this pathway may offer potential therapeutic interventions to obesity and metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J During
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics and The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
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16
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Lee JE, Kim C, Yang H, Park I, Oh N, Hua S, Jeong H, An HJ, Kim SC, Lee GM, Koh GY, Kim HM. Novel glycosylated VEGF decoy receptor fusion protein, VEGF-Grab, efficiently suppresses tumor angiogenesis and progression. Mol Cancer Ther 2014; 14:470-9. [PMID: 25534360 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0968-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antiangiogenic therapies targeting VEGFA have been commonly used in clinics to treat cancers over the past decade. However, their clinical efficacy has been limited, with drawbacks including acquisition of resistance and activation of compensatory pathways resulting from elevated circulating VEGFB and placental growth factor (PlGF). To bypass these disadvantages, we developed a novel glycosylated soluble decoy receptor fusion protein, VEGF-Grab, that can neutralize VEGFA, VEGFB, and PlGF. VEGF-Grab has the second and third immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains of VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1) fused to IgG1 Fc, with three potential glycosylation sites introduced into the third Ig-like domain of VEGF-Grab by mutagenesis. Compared with VEGF-Trap, VEGF-Grab showed more potent decoy activity against VEGF and PlGF, mainly attributed to the VEGFR1 backbone. Most importantly, the negatively charged O-glycans attached to the third Ig-like domain of VEGFR1 counterbalanced the originally positively charged VEGFR1 backbone, minimizing nonspecific binding of VEGF-Grab to the extracellular matrix, and resulting in greatly improved pharmacokinetic profile. These advancements led to stronger and more durable antiangiogenic, antitumor, and antimetastatic efficacy in both implanted and spontaneous tumor models as compared with VEGF-Trap, while toxicity profiles were comparable with VEGF-Trap. Collectively, our results highlight VEGF-Grab as a promising therapeutic candidate for further clinical drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea. Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Chan Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Hannah Yang
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Intae Park
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Nuri Oh
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea. Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Serenus Hua
- Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Haneul Jeong
- Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hyun Joo An
- Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Sun Chang Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Gyun Min Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Gou Young Koh
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea. Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.
| | - Ho Min Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
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17
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Barone A, Sengupta R, Warrington NM, Smith E, Wen PY, Brekken RA, Romagnoli B, Douglas G, Chevalier E, Bauer MP, Dembowsky K, Piwnica-Worms D, Rubin JB. Combined VEGF and CXCR4 antagonism targets the GBM stem cell population and synergistically improves survival in an intracranial mouse model of glioblastoma. Oncotarget 2014; 5:9811-22. [PMID: 25238146 PMCID: PMC4259439 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma recurrence involves the persistence of a subpopulation of cells with enhanced tumor-initiating capacity (TIC) that reside within the perivascular space, or niche (PVN). Anti-angiogenic therapies may prevent the formation of new PVN but have not prevented recurrence in clinical trials, suggesting they cannot abrogate TIC activity. We hypothesized that combining anti-angiogenic therapy with blockade of PVN function would have superior anti-tumor activity. We tested this hypothesis in an established intracranial xenograft model of GBM using a monoclonal antibody specific for murine and human VEGF (mcr84) and a Protein Epitope Mimetic (PEM) CXCR4 antagonist, POL5551. When doses of POL5551 were increased to overcome an mcr84-induced improvement in vascular barrier function, combinatorial therapy significantly inhibited intracranial tumor growth and improved survival. Anti-tumor activity was associated with significant changes in tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis, and a reduction in the numbers of perivascular cells expressing the TIC marker nestin. A direct effect on TICs was demonstrated for POL5551, but not mcr84, in three primary patient-derived GBM isolates. These findings indicate that targeting the structure and function of the PVN has superior anti-tumor effect and provide a strong rationale for clinical evaluation of POL5551 and Avastin in patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Barone
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
| | - Rajarshi Sengupta
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
| | - Nicole M. Warrington
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
| | - Erin Smith
- BRIGHT Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
- Molecular Imaging Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
| | - Patrick Y. Wen
- Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, Brookline Ave, Boston, MA
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Brookline Ave, Boston, MA
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX
| | | | - Garry Douglas
- PolyPhor Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 125 CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Eric Chevalier
- PolyPhor Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 125 CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Michael P. Bauer
- PolyPhor Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 125 CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Dembowsky
- PolyPhor Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 125 CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - David Piwnica-Worms
- BRIGHT Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
- Molecular Imaging Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Holcombe Dr., Houston, TX
| | - Joshua B. Rubin
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO
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18
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Vascular channels formed by subpopulations of PECAM1+ melanoma cells. Nat Commun 2014; 5:5200. [PMID: 25335460 PMCID: PMC4261234 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting the vasculature remains a promising approach for treating solid tumors; however, the mechanisms of tumor neovascularization are diverse and complex. Here we uncover a new subpopulation of melanoma cells that express the vascular cell adhesion molecule PECAM1, but not VEGFR-2, and participate in a PECAM1-dependent form of vasculogenic mimicry (VM). Clonally-derived PECAM1+ tumor cells coalesce to form PECAM1-dependent networks in vitro and they generate well-perfused, VEGF-independent channels in mice. The neural crest specifier AP-2α is diminished in PECAM1+ melanoma cells and is a transcriptional repressor of PECAM1. Reintroduction of AP-2α into PECAM1+ tumor cells represses PECAM1 and abolishes tube-forming ability whereas AP-2α knockdown in PECAM1− tumor cells up-regulates PECAM1 expression and promotes tube formation. Thus, VM-competent subpopulations, rather than all cells within a tumor, may instigate VM, supplant host-derived endothelium, and form PECAM1-dependent conduits that are not diminished by neutralizing VEGF.
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19
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Yang L, Kwon J, Popov Y, Gajdos GB, Ordog T, Brekken RA, Mukhopadhyay D, Schuppan D, Bi Y, Simonetto D, Shah VH. Vascular endothelial growth factor promotes fibrosis resolution and repair in mice. Gastroenterology 2014; 146:1339-50.e1. [PMID: 24503129 PMCID: PMC4001704 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2014.01.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2013] [Revised: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis is implicated in fibrogenesis and portal hypertension. However, the function of VEGF in fibrosis resolution has not been explored. METHODS We developed a cholecystojejunostomy procedure to reconstruct biliary flow after bile duct ligation in C57BL/6 mice to generate a model of fibrosis resolution. These mice were then given injections of VEGF-neutralizing (mcr84) or control antibodies, and other mice received an adenovirus that expressed mouse VEGF or a control vector. The procedure was also performed on macrophage fas-induced apoptosis mice, in which macrophages can be selectively depleted. Liver and blood samples were collected and analyzed in immunohistochemical, morphometric, vascular permeability, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry assays. RESULTS VEGF-neutralizing antibodies prevented development of fibrosis but also disrupted hepatic tissue repair and fibrosis resolution. During fibrosis resolution, VEGF inhibition impaired liver sinusoidal permeability, which was associated with reduced monocyte migration, adhesion, and infiltration of fibrotic liver. Scar-associated macrophages contributed to this process by producing the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9) and matrix metalloproteinase 13. Resolution of fibrosis was impaired in macrophage fas-induced apoptosis mice but increased after overexpression of CXCL9. CONCLUSIONS In a mouse model of liver fibrosis resolution, VEGF promoted fibrogenesis, but was also required for hepatic tissue repair and fibrosis resolution. We observed that VEGF regulates vascular permeability, monocyte infiltration, and scar-associated macrophages function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Junghee Kwon
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Yury Popov
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gabriella B. Gajdos
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Tamas Ordog
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | | | - Detlef Schuppan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yan Bi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Douglas Simonetto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Vijay H. Shah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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20
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Farajpour Z, Rahbarizadeh F, Kazemi B, Ahmadvand D. A nanobody directed to a functional epitope on VEGF, as a novel strategy for cancer treatment. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 446:132-6. [PMID: 24569074 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.02.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Compelling evidence suggests that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), due to its essential role in angiogenesis, is a critical target for cancer treatment. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against VEGF are important class of drugs used in cancer therapy. However, the cost of production, large size, and immunogenicity are main drawbacks of conventional monoclonal therapy. Nanobodies are the smallest antigen-binding antibody fragments, which occur naturally in camelidae. Because of their remarkable features, we decided to use an immune library of nanobody to direct phage display to recognition of novel functional epitopes on VEGF. Four rounds of selection were performed and six phage-displayed nanobodies were obtained from an immune phage library. The most reactive clone in whole-cell ELISA experiments, was purified and assessed in proliferation inhibition assay. Purified ZFR-5 not only blocked interaction of VEGF with its receptor in cell ELISA experiments, but also was able to significantly inhibit proliferation response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our study demonstrates that by using whole-cell ELISA experiments, nanobodies against antigenic regions included in interaction of VEGF with its receptors can be directed. Because of unique and intrinsic properties of a nanobody and the ability of selected nanobody for blocking the epitope that is important for biological function of VEGF, it represents novel potential drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Farajpour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davoud Ahmadvand
- School of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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21
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D'Amico G, Korhonen EA, Anisimov A, Zarkada G, Holopainen T, Hägerling R, Kiefer F, Eklund L, Sormunen R, Elamaa H, Brekken RA, Adams RH, Koh GY, Saharinen P, Alitalo K. Tie1 deletion inhibits tumor growth and improves angiopoietin antagonist therapy. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:824-34. [PMID: 24430181 DOI: 10.1172/jci68897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelial Tie1 receptor is ligand-less, but interacts with the Tie2 receptor for angiopoietins (Angpt). Angpt2 is expressed in tumor blood vessels, and its blockade inhibits tumor angiogenesis. Here we found that Tie1 deletion from the endothelium of adult mice inhibits tumor angiogenesis and growth by decreasing endothelial cell survival in tumor vessels, without affecting normal vasculature. Treatment with VEGF or VEGFR-2 blocking antibodies similarly reduced tumor angiogenesis and growth; however, no additive inhibition was obtained by targeting both Tie1 and VEGF/VEGFR-2. In contrast, treatment of Tie1-deficient mice with a soluble form of the extracellular domain of Tie2, which blocks Angpt activity, resulted in additive inhibition of tumor growth. Notably, Tie1 deletion decreased sprouting angiogenesis and increased Notch pathway activity in the postnatal retinal vasculature, while pharmacological Notch suppression in the absence of Tie1 promoted retinal hypervasularization. Moreover, substantial additive inhibition of the retinal vascular front migration was observed when Angpt2 blocking antibodies were administered to Tie1-deficient pups. Thus, Tie1 regulates tumor angiogenesis, postnatal sprouting angiogenesis, and endothelial cell survival, which are controlled by VEGF, Angpt, and Notch signals. Our results suggest that targeting Tie1 in combination with Angpt/Tie2 has the potential to improve antiangiogenic therapy.
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22
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Aguilera KY, Rivera LB, Hur H, Carbon JG, Toombs JE, Goldstein CD, Dellinger MT, Castrillon DH, Brekken RA. Collagen signaling enhances tumor progression after anti-VEGF therapy in a murine model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2013; 74:1032-44. [PMID: 24346431 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-2800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that antiangiogenic therapy stimulates cancer cell invasion and metastasis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for these changes have not been fully defined. Here, we report that anti-VEGF therapy promotes local invasion and metastasis by inducing collagen signaling in cancer cells. We show that chronic VEGF inhibition in a genetically engineered mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) induces hypoxia, a less differentiated mesenchymal-like tumor cell phenotype, TGF-β expression, and collagen deposition and signaling. In addition, we show that collagen signaling is critical for protumorigenic activity of TGF-β in vitro. To further model the impact of collagen signaling in tumors, we evaluated PDA in mice lacking Sparc, a protein that reduces collagen binding to cell surface receptors. Importantly, we show that loss of Sparc increases collagen signaling and tumor progression. Together, these findings suggest that collagen actively promotes PDA spread and that enhanced disease progression associated with anti-VEGF therapy can arise from elevated extracellular matrix-mediated signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Y Aguilera
- Authors' Affiliations: Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research; Departments of Pathology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; and Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
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Farajpour Z, Rahbarizadeh F, Kazemi B, Ahmadvand D, Mohaghegh M. Identification and In Vitro Characterization of Phage-Displayed VHHs Targeting VEGF. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 19:547-55. [DOI: 10.1177/1087057113514275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potential target for cancer treatment because of its role in angiogenesis and its overexpression in most human cancers. Currently, anti-VEGF antibodies have been shown to be promising tools for therapeutic applications. However, large size, poor tumor penetration, immunogenicity, and production in cost- and labor-intensive conditions are major drawbacks of such agents. The antigen-binding regions of camelid single-chain antibodies (VHHs), due to their unique biophysical characteristics, offer an alternative to conventional antibodies for tumor-targeting purposes. The present study was undertaken to generate and characterize anti-VEGF VHHs from an immune VHH library using phage display. Four rounds of panning were performed, and selected VHHs were characterized using various immunological techniques. Assessment of the antigenic profile of VHHs was done using competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Selected VHHs reacted strongly to VEGF in indirect ELISA and cross-reactivity ELISA tests. The binding affinity of three VHHs, ZFR-1, ZFR-2, and ZFR-5, ranged from 2.5 to 80 nM, and among them, ZFR-5, which was selected for proliferation assay, significantly inhibited the endothelial cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our results indicate that ZFR-5 and other VHHs may be promising tools in cancer research and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Farajpour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davoud Ahmadvand
- School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mohaghegh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Villalta SA, Lang J, Kubeck S, Kabre B, Szot GL, Calderon B, Wasserfall C, Atkinson MA, Brekken RA, Pullen N, Arch RH, Bluestone JA. Inhibition of VEGFR-2 reverses type 1 diabetes in NOD mice by abrogating insulitis and restoring islet function. Diabetes 2013; 62:2870-8. [PMID: 23835340 PMCID: PMC3717875 DOI: 10.2337/db12-1619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The dysregulation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in multiple cell types during chronic inflammation is indicative of their pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases. Among the many RTKs, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) stands out for its multiple effects on immunity, vascularization, and cell migration. Herein, we examined whether VEGFR participated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. We found that RTK inhibitors (RTKIs) and VEGF or VEGFR-2 antibodies reversed diabetes when administered at the onset of hyperglycemia. Increased VEGF expression promoted islet vascular remodeling in NOD mice, and inhibition of VEGFR activity with RTKIs abrogated the increase in islet vascularity, impairing T-cell migration into the islet and improving glucose control. Metabolic studies confirmed that RTKIs worked by preserving islet function, as treated mice had improved glucose tolerance without affecting insulin sensitivity. Finally, examination of human pancreata from patients with T1D revealed that VEGFR-2 was confined to the islet vascularity, which was increased in inflamed islets. Collectively, this work reveals a previously unappreciated role for VEGFR-2 signaling in the pathogenesis of T1D by controlling T-cell accessibility to the pancreatic islets and highlights a novel application of VEGFR-2 antagonists for the therapeutic treatment of T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Armando Villalta
- Diabetes Center and the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jiena Lang
- Diabetes Center and the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Samantha Kubeck
- Diabetes Center and the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Beniwende Kabre
- Diabetes Center and the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Gregory L. Szot
- Diabetes Center and the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Boris Calderon
- Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Clive Wasserfall
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Mark A. Atkinson
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery and Department of Pharmacology, Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Nick Pullen
- Pfizer Global Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Robert H. Arch
- Pfizer Global Research and Development, Chesterfield, Missouri
| | - Jeffrey A. Bluestone
- Diabetes Center and the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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25
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Kutluk Cenik B, Ostapoff KT, Gerber DE, Brekken RA. BIBF 1120 (nintedanib), a triple angiokinase inhibitor, induces hypoxia but not EMT and blocks progression of preclinical models of lung and pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:992-1001. [PMID: 23729403 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-0995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Signaling from other angiokinases may underlie resistance to VEGF-directed therapy. We evaluated the antitumor and biologic effects of BIBF 1120 (nintedanib), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets VEGF receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and fibroblast growth factor receptor in preclinical models of lung and pancreatic cancer, including models resistant to VEGF-targeted treatments. In vitro, BIBF 1120 did not show antiproliferative effects, nor did it sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy. However, in vivo BIBF 1120 inhibited primary tumor growth in all models as a single agent and in combination with standard chemotherapy. Analysis of tumor tissue posttreatment revealed that BIBF 1120 reduced proliferation (phospho-histone 3) and elevated apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3) to a greater extent than chemotherapy alone. Furthermore, BIBF 1120 showed potent antiangiogenic effects, including decreases in microvessel density (CD31), pericyte coverage (NG2), vessel permeability, and perfusion, while increasing hypoxia. Despite the induction of hypoxia, markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were not elevated in BIBF 1120-treated tumors. In summary, BIBF 1120 showed potent antitumor and antiangiogenic activity in preclinical models of lung and pancreatic cancer where it induced hypoxia but not EMT. The absence of EMT induction, which has been implicated in resistance to antiangiogenic therapies, is noteworthy. Together, these results warrant further clinical studies of BIBF 1120.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bercin Kutluk Cenik
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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26
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Hooda J, Cadinu D, Alam MM, Shah A, Cao TM, Sullivan LA, Brekken R, Zhang L. Enhanced heme function and mitochondrial respiration promote the progression of lung cancer cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63402. [PMID: 23704904 PMCID: PMC3660535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and about 85% of the cases are non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Importantly, recent advance in cancer research suggests that altering cancer cell bioenergetics can provide an effective way to target such advanced cancer cells that have acquired mutations in multiple cellular regulators. This study aims to identify bioenergetic alterations in lung cancer cells by directly measuring and comparing key metabolic activities in a pair of cell lines representing normal and NSCLC cells developed from the same patient. We found that the rates of oxygen consumption and heme biosynthesis were intensified in NSCLC cells. Additionally, the NSCLC cells exhibited substantially increased levels in an array of proteins promoting heme synthesis, uptake and function. These proteins include the rate-limiting heme biosynthetic enzyme ALAS, transporter proteins HRG1 and HCP1 that are involved in heme uptake, and various types of oxygen-utilizing hemoproteins such as cytoglobin and cytochromes. Several types of human tumor xenografts also displayed increased levels of such proteins. Furthermore, we found that lowering heme biosynthesis and uptake, like lowering mitochondrial respiration, effectively reduced oxygen consumption, cancer cell proliferation, migration and colony formation. In contrast, lowering heme degradation does not have an effect on lung cancer cells. These results show that increased heme flux and function are a key feature of NSCLC cells. Further, increased generation and supply of heme and oxygen-utilizing hemoproteins in cancer cells will lead to intensified oxygen consumption and cellular energy production by mitochondrial respiration, which would fuel cancer cell proliferation and progression. The results show that inhibiting heme and respiratory function can effectively arrest the progression of lung cancer cells. Hence, understanding heme function can positively impact on research in lung cancer biology and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagmohan Hooda
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, United States of America
| | - Daniela Cadinu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, United States of America
| | - Md Maksudul Alam
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ajit Shah
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, United States of America
| | - Thai M. Cao
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, United States of America
| | - Laura A. Sullivan
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rolf Brekken
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Currier MA, Eshun FK, Sholl A, Chernoguz A, Crawford K, Divanovic S, Boon L, Goins WF, Frischer JS, Collins MH, Leddon JL, Baird WH, Haseley A, Streby KA, Wang PY, Hendrickson BW, Brekken RA, Kaur B, Hildeman D, Cripe TP. VEGF blockade enables oncolytic cancer virotherapy in part by modulating intratumoral myeloid cells. Mol Ther 2013; 21:1014-23. [PMID: 23481323 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2013.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the host response to oncolytic viruses is important to maximize their antitumor efficacy. Despite robust cytotoxicity and high virus production of an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) in cultured human sarcoma cells, intratumoral (ITu) virus injection resulted in only mild antitumor effects in some xenograft models, prompting us to characterize the host inflammatory response. Virotherapy induced an acute neutrophilic infiltrate, a relative decrease of ITu macrophages, and a myeloid cell-dependent upregulation of host-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Anti-VEGF antibodies, bevacizumab and r84, the latter of which binds VEGF and selectively inhibits binding to VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) but not VEGFR1, enhanced the antitumor effects of virotherapy, in part due to decreased angiogenesis but not increased virus production. Neither antibody affected neutrophilic infiltration but both partially mitigated virus-induced depletion of macrophages. Enhancement of virotherapy-mediated antitumor effects by anti-VEGF antibodies could largely be recapitulated by systemic depletion of CD11b(+) cells. These data suggest the combined effect of oHSV virotherapy and anti-VEGF antibodies is in part due to modulation of a host inflammatory reaction to virus. Our data provide strong preclinical support for combined oHSV and anti-VEGF antibody therapy and suggest that understanding and counteracting the innate host response may help enable the full antitumor potential of oncolytic virotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Currier
- Divison of Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Gerber DE, Gupta P, Dellinger MT, Toombs JE, Peyton M, Duignan I, Malaby J, Bailey T, Burns C, Brekken RA, Loizos N. Stromal platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) provides a therapeutic target independent of tumor cell PDGFRα expression in lung cancer xenografts. Mol Cancer Ther 2012; 11:2473-82. [PMID: 22933705 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-0431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In lung cancer, platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) is expressed frequently by tumor-associated stromal cells and by cancer cells in a subset of tumors. We sought to determine the effect of targeting stromal PDGFRα in preclinical lung tumor xenograft models (human tumor, mouse stroma). Effects of anti-human (IMC-3G3) and anti-mouse (1E10) PDGFRα monoclonal antibodies (mAb) on proliferation and PDGFRα signaling were evaluated in lung cancer cell lines and mouse fibroblasts. Therapy studies were conducted using established PDGFRα-positive H1703 cells and PDGFRα-negative Calu-6, H1993, and A549 subcutaneous tumors in immunocompromised mice treated with vehicle, anti-PDGFRα mAbs, chemotherapy, or combination therapy. Tumors were analyzed for growth and levels of growth factors. IMC-3G3 inhibited PDGFRα activation and the growth of H1703 cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, but had no effect on PDGFRα-negative cell lines or mouse fibroblasts. 1E10 inhibited growth and PDGFRα activation of mouse fibroblasts, but had no effect on human cancer cell lines in vitro. In vivo, 1E10-targeted inhibition of murine PDGFRα reduced tumor growth as single-agent therapy in Calu-6 cells and enhanced the effect of chemotherapy in xenografts derived from A549 cells. We also identified that low expression cancer cell expression of VEGF-A and elevated expression of PDGF-AA were associated with response to stromal PDGFRα targeting. We conclude that stromal PDGFRα inhibition represents a means for enhancing control of lung cancer growth in some cases, independent of tumor cell PDGFRα expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Gerber
- Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Mail Code 8852, Dallas, TX 75390-8852, USA.
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Dichotomous effects of VEGF-A on adipose tissue dysfunction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:5874-9. [PMID: 22451920 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1200447109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 317] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Obese fat pads are frequently undervascularized and hypoxic, leading to increased fibrosis, inflammation, and ultimately insulin resistance. We hypothesized that VEGF-A-induced stimulation of angiogenesis enables sustained and sufficient oxygen and nutrient exchange during fat mass expansion, thereby improving adipose tissue function. Using a doxycycline (Dox)-inducible adipocyte-specific VEGF-A overexpression model, we demonstrate that the local up-regulation of VEGF-A in adipocytes improves vascularization and causes a "browning" of white adipose tissue (AT), with massive up-regulation of UCP1 and PGC1α. This is associated with an increase in energy expenditure and resistance to high fat diet-mediated metabolic insults. Similarly, inhibition of VEGF-A-induced activation of VEGFR2 during the early phase of high fat diet-induced weight gain, causes aggravated systemic insulin resistance. However, the same VEGF-A-VEGFR2 blockade in ob/ob mice leads to a reduced body-weight gain, an improvement in insulin sensitivity, a decrease in inflammatory factors, and increased incidence of adipocyte death. The consequences of modulation of angiogenic activity are therefore context dependent. Proangiogenic activity during adipose tissue expansion is beneficial, associated with potent protective effects on metabolism, whereas antiangiogenic action in the context of preexisting adipose tissue dysfunction leads to improvements in metabolism, an effect likely mediated by the ablation of dysfunctional proinflammatory adipocytes.
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30
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Nilvebrant J, Dunlop DC, Sircar A, Wurch T, Falkowska E, Reichert JM, Helguera G, Piccione EC, Brack S, Berger S. IBC's 22nd Annual Antibody Engineering and 9th Annual Antibody Therapeutics International Conferences and the 2011 Annual Meeting of The Antibody Society, December 5-8, 2011, San Diego, CA. MAbs 2012; 4:153-81. [PMID: 22453091 DOI: 10.4161/mabs.4.2.19495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The 22nd Annual Antibody Engineering and 9th Annual Antibody Therapeutics international conferences, and the 2011 Annual Meeting of The Antibody Society, organized by IBC Life Sciences with contributions from The Antibody Society and two Scientific Advisory Boards, were held December 5-8, 2011 in San Diego, CA. The meeting drew ~800 participants who attended sessions on a wide variety of topics relevant to antibody research and development. As a preview to the main events, a pre-conference workshop held on December 4, 2011 focused on antibodies as probes of structure. The Antibody Engineering Conference comprised eight sessions: (1) structure and dynamics of antibodies and their membrane receptor targets; (2) model-guided generation of binding sites; (3) novel selection strategies; (4) antibodies in a complex environment: targeting intracellular and misfolded proteins; (5) rational vaccine design; (6) viral retargeting with engineered binding molecules; (7) the biology behind potential blockbuster antibodies and (8) antibodies as signaling modifiers: where did we go right, and can we learn from success? The Antibody Therapeutics session comprised five sessions: (1)Twenty-five years of therapeutic antibodies: lessons learned and future challenges; (2) preclinical and early stage development of antibody therapeutics; (3) next generation anti-angiogenics; (4) updates of clinical stage antibody therapeutics and (5) antibody drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Nilvebrant
- School of Biotechnology; Department of Proteomics; Royal Institute of Technology (KTH); AlbaNova University Center; Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Aroop Sircar
- EMD Serono Research Institute; Billlerica, MA USA
| | - Thierry Wurch
- Oncology Research Division, Institut de Recherche SERVIER; Croissy sur Seine, France
| | | | | | - Gustavo Helguera
- Farmacotecnia I, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; University of Buenos Aires; Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emily C Piccione
- Standford Cancer Institute; Stanford University School of Medicine; Stanford, CA USA
| | | | - Sven Berger
- Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre, Centre d'Immunologie Pierre Fabre; St Julien en Genevois, France
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Phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2 is required for VEGF-A/VEGFR2-induced proliferation and migration of lymphatic endothelium. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28947. [PMID: 22174934 PMCID: PMC3236226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 11/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), a ligand of the receptor tyrosine kinases VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, promotes lymphangiogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms by which VEGF-A induces the growth of lymphatic vessels remain poorly defined. Here we report that VEGFR2, not VEGFR1, is the primary receptor regulating VEGF-A-induced lymphangiogenesis. We show that specific inhibition of VEGF-A/VEGFR2 signaling with the fully human monoclonal antibody r84 significantly inhibits lymphangiogenesis in MDA-MB-231 tumors. In vitro experiments with primary human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) demonstrate that blocking VEGF-A activation of VEGFR2, not VEGFR1, significantly inhibits VEGF-A-induced proliferation and migration of LECs. We show that VEGF-A stimulation of LECs leads to the phosphorylation of VEGFR2 (Tyr 951, 1054, 1059, 1175, and 1214) which subsequently triggers PKC dependent phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and PI3-K dependent phosphorylation of Akt. Additionally, we demonstrate that inhibitors that suppress the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt significantly block VEGF-A- induced proliferation and migration of LECs. Together, these results shed light on the mechanisms regulating VEGF-A-induced proliferation and migration of LECs, reveal that VEGFR2 is the primary signaling VEGF-A receptor on lymphatic endothelium, and suggest that therapeutic agents targeting the VEGF-A/VEGFR2 axis could be useful in blocking the pathological formation of lymphatic vessels.
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Abstract
Over a hundred years has passed since the discovery of the "magic bullet" serum therapy by Kitasato and Behring, the first ever therapeutic use of antibodies. More than 80 years later, the investigation of immunoglobulin structure and function and the development of cell and molecular biology introduced the production of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). In the 35 years since the first process for creating MoAbs was introduced, they have remained the centerpiece of the growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Herein, I review the history, development, and clinical settings of therapeutic MoAbs that have had a significant impact on life-saving medicine.
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Wang W, Liu H, Song Z, Wang Y, Wang J, Li Y, Li Y, Wang M, Chen J, Zhou Q. [Identification of the offspring of Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse]. ZHONGGUO FEI AI ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF LUNG CANCER 2011; 14:391-5. [PMID: 21569642 PMCID: PMC6000322 DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2011.05.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE A transgenic mouse, Vegfr2-luc, in which a luciferase reporter (luc) is under control of the murine VEGFR2 promoter, can be used to track angiogenesis in vivo. The aim of this study is to identify the offspring of Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse. METHODS Luc was detected with PCR in genomic DNA of the new-born mouse. Luc expression in the offspring of Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse was monitored with IVIS in vivo imaging system during post-natal development. Wound-healing models of Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse offspring were established and the expression of luc was monitored during the wound-healing process. Luc activity and VEGFR2 mRNA expression in different organs were detected with luc Assay System and Real-time PCR respectively. RESULTS PCR showed that 50% (56/112) of the offspring of Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse carry luc. IVIS in vivo imaging results demonstrated that luc expression in Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse dropped dramatically with age increase (P<0.001) and luc expression in the wound first increased and then decreased during the wound-healing process (P<0.001). Luc activity in female Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse organs was positively correlated with VEGFR2 mRNA expression (r=0.948, P<0.001). Except testis, luc activity in male Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse organs was also positively correlated with VEGFR2 mRNA expression (r=0.836, P<0.001). CONCLUSION The offspring of Vegfr2-luc transgenic mouse is applicable to tracking angiogenesis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenviroment, Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
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34
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The regulatory function of SPARC in vascular biology. Cell Mol Life Sci 2011; 68:3165-73. [PMID: 21822645 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-011-0781-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 07/19/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
SPARC is a matricellular protein, able to modulate cell/ECM interactions and influence cell responses to growth factors, and therefore is particularly attuned to contribute to physiological processes involving changes in ECM and cell mobilization. Indeed, the list of biological processes affected by SPARC includes wound healing, tumor progression, bone formation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis. The process of angiogenesis is complex and involves a number of cellular processes such as endothelial cell proliferation, migration, ECM degradation, and synthesis, as well as pericyte recruitment to stabilize nascent vessels. In this review, we will summarize current results that explore the function of SPARC in the regulation of angiogenic events with a particular emphasis on the modulation of growth factor activity by SPARC in the context of blood vessel formation. The primary function of SPARC in angiogenesis remains unclear, as SPARC activity in some circumstances promotes angiogenesis and in others is more consistent with an anti-angiogenic activity. Undoubtedly, the mercurial nature of SPARC belies a redundancy of functional proteins in angiogenesis as well as cell-type-specific activities that alter signal transduction events in response to unique cellular milieus. Nonetheless, the investigation of cellular mechanisms that define functional activities of SPARC continue to contribute novel and exciting paradigms to vascular biology.
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35
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Tugues S, Koch S, Gualandi L, Li X, Claesson-Welsh L. Vascular endothelial growth factors and receptors: anti-angiogenic therapy in the treatment of cancer. Mol Aspects Med 2011; 32:88-111. [PMID: 21565214 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2011] [Accepted: 04/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are critical regulators of vascular and lymphatic function during development, in health and in disease. There are five mammalian VEGF ligands and three VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases. In addition, several VEGF co-receptors that lack intrinsic catalytic activity, but that indirectly modulate the responsiveness to VEGF contribute to the final biological effect. This review describes the molecular features of VEGFs, VEGFRs and co-receptors with focus on their role in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sònia Tugues
- Uppsala University, Dept. of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Dag Hammarskjöldsv. 20, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
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