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Kumar A, Asiedu E, Hefni E, Armstrong C, Menon D, Ma T, Sands L, Mbadugha E, Sodhi A, Schneider A, Montaner S. Angiopoietin-like 4 is upregulated by amphiregulin and activates cell proliferation and migration through p38 kinase in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Oral Pathol Med 2024; 53:366-375. [PMID: 38763759 DOI: 10.1111/jop.13545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiopoietin-like 4 is a molecular hallmark that correlates with the growth and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms by which angiopoietin-like 4 promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis are unclear. METHODS Using well-characterized cell lines of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma development, including human normal oral keratinocytes, dysplastic oral keratinocytes, oral leukoplakia-derived oral keratinocytes, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, HN13, HN6, HN4, HN12, and CAL27, we investigated the signaling pathways upstream and downstream of angiopoietin-like 4-induced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis. RESULTS We found that both epidermal growth factor receptor ligands, epithelial growth factor, and amphiregulin led to angiopoietin-like 4 upregulation in normal oral keratinocytes and dysplastic oral keratinocytes and cooperated with the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in this effect. Interestingly, amphiregulin and angiopoietin-like 4 were increased in dysplastic oral keratinocytes and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, and amphiregulin-induced activation of cell proliferation was dependent on angiopoietin-like 4. Although both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK) and protein kinase B (AKT) were activated by angiopoietin-like 4, only pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK was sufficient to prevent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation and migration. We further observed that angiopoietin-like 4 promoted the secretion of interleukin 11 (IL-11), interleukin 12 (IL-12), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cytokines and chemokines previously implicated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma pathogenesis. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that angiopoietin-like 4 is a downstream effector of amphiregulin and promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma development both through direct activation of p38 kinase as well as paracrine mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Emmanuel Asiedu
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Eman Hefni
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Basic and Clinical Oral Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Cheryl Armstrong
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Deepak Menon
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lauren Sands
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Eberechi Mbadugha
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Abraham Schneider
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Hefni E, Menon D, Ma T, Asiedu EB, Sultan A, Meiller T, Schneider A, Sodhi A, Montaner S. Angiopoietin-like 4 induces head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell migration through the NRP1/ABL1/PXN pathway. Cell Signal 2023; 108:110697. [PMID: 37169211 PMCID: PMC11129037 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The molecular mechanisms whereby angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), a pluripotent protein implicated in cancer development, contributes to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) growth and dissemination are unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated ANGPTL4 expression in human normal oral keratinocytes (NOKs), dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOKs), oral leukoplakia cells (LEUK1), and HNSCC cell lines, as well as in tissue biopsies from patients with oral dysplasia, and primary and metastatic HNSCC. We further examined the contribution of ANGPTL4 cancer progression in an HNSCC orthotopic floor-of mouth tumor model and the signaling pathways linking ANGPTL4 to cancer cell migration. RESULTS ANGPTL4 expression was upregulated in premalignant DOKs and HNSCC cell lines compared to NOKs and was increased in tissue biopsies from patients with oral dysplasia, as well as in primary and metastatic HNSCC. We also observed that downregulation of ANGPTL4 expression inhibited primary and metastatic cancer growth in an HNSCC orthotopic tumor model. Interestingly, ANGPTL4 binding to the neuropilin1 (NRP1) receptor led to phosphorylation of the focal adhesion protein, paxillin (PXN), and tumor cell migration; this was dependent on the tyrosine kinase ABL1. Treatment with the ABL1 inhibitor, dasatinib and small interfering RNA silencing of NRP1 or ABL1 expression blocked PXN phosphorylation and tumor cell migration. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest an early, sustained, and angiogenesis-independent autocrine role for ANGPTL4 in HNSCC progression and expose ANGPTL4/NRP1/ABL1/PXN as an early molecular marker and vulnerable target for the prevention of HNSCC growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Hefni
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Basic and Clinical Oral Sciences, College of Dentistry, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepak Menon
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Emmanuel B Asiedu
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Ahmed Sultan
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Timothy Meiller
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abraham Schneider
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Zhang J, Sharma D, Dinabandhu A, Sanchez J, Applewhite B, Jee K, Deshpande M, Flores-Bellver M, Hu MW, Guo C, Salman S, Hwang Y, Anders NM, Rudek MA, Qian J, Canto-Soler MV, Semenza GL, Montaner S, Sodhi A. Targeting hypoxia-inducible factors with 32-134D safely and effectively treats diabetic eye disease in mice. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e163290. [PMID: 37227777 PMCID: PMC10313368 DOI: 10.1172/jci163290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Many patients with diabetic eye disease respond inadequately to anti-VEGF therapies, implicating additional vasoactive mediators in its pathogenesis. We demonstrate that levels of angiogenic proteins regulated by HIF-1 and -2 remain elevated in the eyes of people with diabetes despite treatment with anti-VEGF therapy. Conversely, by inhibiting HIFs, we normalized the expression of multiple vasoactive mediators in mouse models of diabetic eye disease. Accumulation of HIFs and HIF-regulated vasoactive mediators in hyperglycemic animals was observed in the absence of tissue hypoxia, suggesting that targeting HIFs may be an effective early treatment for diabetic retinopathy. However, while the HIF inhibitor acriflavine prevented retinal vascular hyperpermeability in diabetic mice for several months following a single intraocular injection, accumulation of acriflavine in the retina resulted in retinal toxicity over time, raising concerns for its use in patients. Conversely, 32-134D, a recently developed HIF inhibitor structurally unrelated to acriflavine, was not toxic to the retina, yet effectively inhibited HIF accumulation and normalized HIF-regulated gene expression in mice and in human retinal organoids. Intraocular administration of 32-134D prevented retinal neovascularization and vascular hyperpermeability in mice. These results provide the foundation for clinical studies assessing 32-134D for the treatment of patients with diabetic eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Deepti Sharma
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aumreetam Dinabandhu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jaron Sanchez
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Brooks Applewhite
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathleen Jee
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Monika Deshpande
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Miguel Flores-Bellver
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ming-Wen Hu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Chuanyu Guo
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shaima Salman
- Armstrong Oxygen Biology Research Center; Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering; Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Biological Chemistry, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yousang Hwang
- Armstrong Oxygen Biology Research Center; Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering; Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Biological Chemistry, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nicole M. Anders
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology and the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Michelle A. Rudek
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology and the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jiang Qian
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - M. Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Gregg L. Semenza
- Armstrong Oxygen Biology Research Center; Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering; Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Biological Chemistry, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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4
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Bertozzo VDHE, da Silva Costa SM, Ito MT, da Cruz PRS, Souza BB, Rios VM, Viturino MGM, de Castro JNP, Rodrigues TAR, Lanaro C, de Albuquerque DM, Saez RC, Olalla Saad ST, Ozelo MC, Costa FF, de Melo MB. Comparative transcriptome analysis of endothelial progenitor cells of HbSS patients with and without proliferative retinopathy. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2023; 248:677-684. [PMID: 37012663 PMCID: PMC10408552 DOI: 10.1177/15353702231157927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Among sickle cell anemia (SCA) complications, proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (PSCR) is one of the most important, being responsible for visual impairment in 10-20% of affected eyes. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) present in pathways that may be implicated in the pathophysiology of PSCR from the transcriptome profile analysis of endothelial progenitor cells. RNA-Seq was used to compare gene expression profile of circulating endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) from HbSS patients with and without PSCR. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were performed to gain further insights into biological functions. The differential expression analysis identified 501 DEGs, when comparing the groups with and without PSCR. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis showed associations of the DEGs in 200 biological processes. Among these, regulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity, positive regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and positive regulation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) receptor signaling pathway were observed. These pathways are associated with angiogenesis, cell migration, adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation, important processes involved in PSCR pathophysiology. Moreover, our results showed an over-expression of VEGFC (vascular endothelial growth factor-C) and FLT1 (Fms-Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 1) genes, when comparing HbSS patients with and without PSCR. These results may indicate a possible association between VEGFC and FLT1 receptor, which may activate signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK and contribute to the mechanisms implicated in neovascularization. Thus, our findings contain preliminary results that may guide future studies in the field, since the molecular mechanisms of PSCR are still poorly understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor de Haidar e Bertozzo
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-875, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sueli Matilde da Silva Costa
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-875, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mirta Tomie Ito
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-875, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Rodrigues Sousa da Cruz
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-875, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Batista Souza
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-875, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Mandolesi Rios
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-875, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Thiago Adalton Rosa Rodrigues
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-875, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Lanaro
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Roberta Casagrande Saez
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sara Teresinha Olalla Saad
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Margareth Castro Ozelo
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Ferreira Costa
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mônica Barbosa de Melo
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-875, São Paulo, Brazil
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5
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Guo C, Deshpande M, Niu Y, Kachwala I, Flores-Bellver M, Megarity H, Nuse T, Babapoor-Farrokhran S, Ramada M, Sanchez J, Inamdar N, Johnson TV, Canto-Soler MV, Montaner S, Sodhi A. HIF-1α accumulation in response to transient hypoglycemia may worsen diabetic eye disease. Cell Rep 2023; 42:111976. [PMID: 36640318 PMCID: PMC9960808 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Tight glycemic control (TGC), the cornerstone of diabetic management, reduces the incidence and progression of diabetic microvascular disease. However, TGC can also lead to transient episodes of hypoglycemia, which have been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with diabetes. Here, we demonstrate that low glucose levels result in hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1-dependent expression of the glucose transporter, Glut1, in retinal cells. Enhanced nuclear accumulation of HIF-1α was independent of its canonical post-translational stabilization but instead dependent on stimulation of its translation and nuclear localization. In the presence of hypoxia, this physiologic response to low glucose resulted in a marked increase in the secretion of the HIF-dependent vasoactive mediators that promote diabetic retinopathy. Our results provide a molecular explanation for how early glucose control, as well as glycemic variability (i.e., oscillating serum glucose levels), contributes to diabetic eye disease. These observations have important implications for optimizing glucose management in patients with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanyu Guo
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Monika Deshpande
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Yueqi Niu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Isha Kachwala
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Miguel Flores-Bellver
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Haley Megarity
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Taylor Nuse
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | | | - Michael Ramada
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jaron Sanchez
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Neelay Inamdar
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Thomas V Johnson
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Maria Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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6
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Qin Y, Dinabandhu A, Cao X, Sanchez JC, Jee K, Rodrigues M, Guo C, Zhang J, Vancel J, Menon D, Khan NS, Ma T, Tzeng SY, Daoud Y, Green JJ, Semenza GL, Montaner S, Sodhi A. ANGPTL4 influences the therapeutic response of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration by promoting choroidal neovascularization. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e157896. [PMID: 35653189 PMCID: PMC9310537 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.157896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Most patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD), the leading cause of severe vision loss in elderly US citizens, respond inadequately to current therapies targeting a single angiogenic mediator, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Here, we report that aqueous fluid levels of a second vasoactive mediator, angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), can help predict the response of patients with nvAMD to anti-VEGF therapies. ANGPTL4 expression was higher in patients who required monthly treatment with anti-VEGF therapies compared with patients who could be effectively treated with less-frequent injections. We further demonstrate that ANGPTL4 acts synergistically with VEGF to promote the growth and leakage of choroidal neovascular (CNV) lesions in mice. Targeting ANGPTL4 expression was as effective as targeting VEGF expression for treating CNV in mice, while simultaneously targeting both was more effective than targeting either factor alone. To help translate these findings to patients, we used a soluble receptor that binds to both VEGF and ANGPTL4 and effectively inhibited the development of CNV lesions in mice. Our findings provide an assay that can help predict the response of patients with nvAMD to anti-VEGF monotherapy and suggest that therapies targeting both ANGPTL4 and VEGF will be a more effective approach for the treatment of this blinding disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Qin
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Eye Hospital of China Medical University, Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Aumreetam Dinabandhu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xuan Cao
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jaron Castillo Sanchez
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathleen Jee
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Murilo Rodrigues
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Chuanyu Guo
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Clinical Research Center, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jordan Vancel
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Deepak Menon
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Noore-Sabah Khan
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephany Y. Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yassine Daoud
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jordan J. Green
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregg L. Semenza
- Department of Genetic Medicine
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Medicine
- Department of Oncology
- Department of Radiation Oncology, and
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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7
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Qin Y, Zhang J, Babapoor-Farrokhran S, Applewhite B, Deshpande M, Megarity H, Flores-Bellver M, Aparicio-Domingo S, Ma T, Rui Y, Tzeng SY, Green JJ, Canto-Soler MV, Montaner S, Sodhi A. PAI-1 is a vascular cell-specific HIF-2-dependent angiogenic factor that promotes retinal neovascularization in diabetic patients. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm1896. [PMID: 35235351 PMCID: PMC8890718 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm1896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
For patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) who do not respond adequately to pan-retinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies, we hypothesized that vascular cells within neovascular tissue secrete autocrine/paracrine angiogenic factors that promote disease progression. To identify these factors, we performed multiplex ELISA angiogenesis arrays on aqueous fluid from PDR patients who responded inadequately to anti-VEGF therapy and/or PRP and identified plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). PAI-1 expression was increased in vitreous biopsies and neovascular tissue from PDR eyes, limited to retinal vascular cells, regulated by the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α, and necessary and sufficient to stimulate angiogenesis. Using a pharmacologic inhibitor of HIF-2α (PT-2385) or nanoparticle-mediated RNA interference targeting Pai1, we demonstrate that the HIF-2α/PAI-1 axis is necessary for the development of retinal neovascularization in mice. These results suggest that targeting HIF-2α/PAI-1 will be an effective adjunct therapy for the treatment of PDR patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaowu Qin
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- EENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510064, China
| | | | - Brooks Applewhite
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Monika Deshpande
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Haley Megarity
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Miguel Flores-Bellver
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Silvia Aparicio-Domingo
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Yuan Rui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Stephany Y Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Jordan J Green
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - M Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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8
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Jin J, Vinay K, Miller RE. Monitoring retinal pathology and cerebral injury in sickle cell disease using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in pediatric patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e29028. [PMID: 33788385 PMCID: PMC8638774 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to confirm the correlation between sickle cell disease (SCD) genotype and retinal damage identified by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and examine a potential link between hypoxic ischemic injury in the retina and brain. METHODS In this prospective, observational case series, 117 patients (56 males) aged 5-20 years with SCD (36 SC, 68 SS, eight Sβ+ thalassemia, five Sβ0 thalassemia) underwent ophthalmologic examination including funduscopy and SD-OCT imaging. Comparison of SCD genotypes and association between ocular findings and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in subjects with SS/Sβ0 genotype were investigated. RESULTS Visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to 20/40. On funduscopic exam, 16 of 117 (13.7%) had retinopathy; 69 of 117 (59.0%) showed inner retina thinning on SD-OCT. Patients with SS/Sβ0 showed a higher frequency of sickle cell retinopathy (SCR) change (68.5% vs. 47.2%), bilateral SCR (49.9% vs. 25.0%), and foveal involvement (15.1% vs. 0) than the SC genotype. While funduscopic findings in our cohort with SS/Sβ0 genotype showed no correlation with CVD, 20 of 21 patients with CVD had abnormal SD-OCT. Elevated reticulocyte percentage and aspartate aminotransferase are associated with SD-OCT changes and CVD. CONCLUSIONS SD-OCT was better than funduscopy in detecting retinal changes, higher frequency, and more extensive retinal changes in the more severe SCD genotypes SS and Sβ0 as compared with SC. The correlation between abnormal SD-OCT and CVD strongly suggests that retinal exam using SD-OCT may aid in detection and monitoring SCD-related CVD. Retinopathy may be another component of the hemolytic subphenotype of SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jin
- Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Nemours/Alfred l. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE
| | - Kandula Vinay
- Department of Radiology, Nemours/Alfred l. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE
| | - Robin E. Miller
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Nemours/Alfred l. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE
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9
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Zhang J, Qin Y, Martinez M, Flores-Bellver M, Rodrigues M, Dinabandhu A, Cao X, Deshpande M, Qin Y, Aparicio-Domingo S, Rui Y, Tzeng SY, Salman S, Yuan J, Scott AW, Green JJ, Canto-Soler MV, Semenza GL, Montaner S, Sodhi A. HIF-1α and HIF-2α redundantly promote retinal neovascularization in patients with ischemic retinal disease. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e139202. [PMID: 34128478 PMCID: PMC8203455 DOI: 10.1172/jci139202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapies targeting VEGF have proven only modestly effective for the treatment of proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (PSR), the leading cause of blindness in patients with sickle cell disease. Here, we shift our attention upstream from the genes that promote retinal neovascularization (NV) to the transcription factors that regulate their expression. We demonstrated increased expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in the ischemic inner retina of PSR eyes. Although both HIFs participated in promoting VEGF expression by hypoxic retinal Müller cells, HIF-1 alone was sufficient to promote retinal NV in mice, suggesting that therapies targeting only HIF-2 would not be adequate to prevent PSR. Nonetheless, administration of a HIF-2-specific inhibitor currently in clinical trials (PT2385) inhibited NV in the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model. To unravel these discordant observations, we examined the expression of HIFs in OIR mice and demonstrated rapid but transient accumulation of HIF-1α but delayed and sustained accumulation of HIF-2α; simultaneous expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α was not observed. Staggered HIF expression was corroborated in hypoxic adult mouse retinal explants but not in human retinal organoids, suggesting that this phenomenon may be unique to mice. Using pharmacological inhibition or an in vivo nanoparticle-mediated RNAi approach, we demonstrated that inhibiting either HIF was effective for preventing NV in OIR mice. Collectively, these results explain why inhibition of either HIF-1α or HIF-2α is equally effective for preventing retinal NV in mice but suggest that therapies targeting both HIFs will be necessary to prevent NV in patients with PSR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yaowu Qin
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mireya Martinez
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Miguel Flores-Bellver
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Murilo Rodrigues
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aumreetam Dinabandhu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xuan Cao
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Monika Deshpande
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yu Qin
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Eye Hospital of China Medical University, Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Silvia Aparicio-Domingo
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Yuan Rui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Translational Tissue Engineering Center, and
| | - Stephany Y. Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Translational Tissue Engineering Center, and
| | - Shaima Salman
- Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Biological Chemistry, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Adrienne W. Scott
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jordan J. Green
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Translational Tissue Engineering Center, and
| | - M. Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Gregg L. Semenza
- Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Biological Chemistry, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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10
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Park SY, Matte A, Jung Y, Ryu J, Anand WB, Han EY, Liu M, Carbone C, Melisi D, Nagasawa T, Locascio JJ, Lin CP, Silberstein LE, De Franceschi L. Pathologic angiogenesis in the bone marrow of humanized sickle cell mice is reversed by blood transfusion. Blood 2020; 135:2071-2084. [PMID: 31990287 PMCID: PMC7273832 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019002227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a monogenic red blood cell (RBC) disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Here, we report, for the first time, the impact of SCD on the bone marrow (BM) vascular niche, which is critical for hematopoiesis. In SCD mice, we find a disorganized and structurally abnormal BM vascular network of increased numbers of highly tortuous arterioles occupying the majority of the BM cavity, as well as fragmented sinusoidal vessels filled with aggregates of erythroid and myeloid cells. By in vivo imaging, sickle and control RBCs have significantly slow intravascular flow speeds in sickle cell BM but not in control BM. In sickle cell BM, we find increased reactive oxygen species production in expanded erythroblast populations and elevated levels of HIF-1α. The SCD BM exudate exhibits increased levels of proangiogenic growth factors and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. Transplantation of SCD mouse BM cells into wild-type mice recapitulates the SCD vascular phenotype. Our data provide a model of SCD BM, in which slow RBC flow and vaso-occlusions further diminish local oxygen availability in the physiologic hypoxic BM cavity. These events trigger a milieu that is conducive to aberrant vessel growth. The distorted neovascular network is completely reversed by a 6-week blood transfusion regimen targeting hemoglobin S to <30%, highlighting the plasticity of the vascular niche. A better insight into the BM microenvironments in SCD might provide opportunities to optimize approaches toward efficient and long-term hematopoietic engraftment in the context of curative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Young Park
- Transfusion Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Alessandro Matte
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Yookyung Jung
- Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Systems Biology and Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jina Ryu
- Transfusion Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Wilson Babu Anand
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eun-Young Han
- Transfusion Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Min Liu
- Transfusion Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Carmine Carbone
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Davide Melisi
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Takashi Nagasawa
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Immunology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences and Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Joseph J Locascio
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and
| | - Charles P Lin
- Center for Systems Biology and Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Leslie E Silberstein
- Transfusion Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Lucia De Franceschi
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
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11
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Sodhi A, Ma T, Menon D, Deshpande M, Jee K, Dinabandhu A, Vancel J, Lu D, Montaner S. Angiopoietin-like 4 binds neuropilins and cooperates with VEGF to induce diabetic macular edema. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:4593-4608. [PMID: 31545295 PMCID: PMC6819094 DOI: 10.1172/jci120879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), the most common cause of vision loss in working-age Americans, do not respond adequately to current therapies targeting VEGFA. Here, we show that expression of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), a HIF-1-regulated gene product, is increased in the eyes of diabetic mice and patients with DME. We observed that ANGPTL4 and VEGF act synergistically to destabilize the retinal vascular barrier. Interestingly, while ANGPTL4 modestly enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGF receptor 2, promotion of vascular permeability by ANGPTL4 was independent of this receptor. Instead, we found that ANGPTL4 binds directly to neuropilin 1 (NRP1) and NRP2 on endothelial cells (ECs), leading to rapid activation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway and breakdown of EC-EC junctions. Treatment with a soluble fragment of NRP1 (sNRP1) prevented ANGPTL4 from binding to NRP1 and blocked ANGPTL4-induced activation of RhoA as well as EC permeability in vitro and retinal vascular leakage in diabetic animals in vivo. In addition, sNRP1 reduced the stimulation of EC permeability by aqueous fluid from patients with DME. Collectively, these data identify the ANGPTL4/NRP/RhoA pathway as a therapeutic target for the treatment of DME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, and
| | - Deepak Menon
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, and
| | - Monika Deshpande
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathleen Jee
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jordan Vancel
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Daoyuan Lu
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, and
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, and,Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), Maryland, USA
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12
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Relating retinal blood flow and vessel morphology in sickle cell retinopathy. Eye (Lond) 2019; 34:886-891. [PMID: 31558825 PMCID: PMC7182580 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-019-0604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of the current study was to determine associations between retinal blood flow and vessel morphology metrics in sickle cell retinopathy (SCR) and healthy normal control (NC) subjects. Methods Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and Doppler OCT imaging were performed in 12 SCR (15 eyes) and 19 NC (26 eyes) subjects. Vessel tortuosity was measured using a dedicated image analysis algorithm applied to OCTA images. Vessel density and spacing between vessels were determined from OCTA images by a fractal dimension analysis method. Retinal blood flow was quantified using a phase-resolved technique applied to en face Doppler OCT images. Results There was a significant association between increased retinal blood flow and increased vessel tortuosity (P = 0.03). Furthermore, increased retinal blood flow was associated with increased vessel density (P = 0.03) and decreased spacing between small vessels (P = 0.01). There was no significant association between retinal blood flow and spacing between large vessels (P = 0.11). Vessel tortuosity and blood flow were increased, whereas spacing between small vessels was decreased in SCR compared to NC group (P ≤ 0.03). There were no significant differences in vessel density or spacing between large vessels between the SCR and NC groups (P ≥ 0.31). Conclusions Associations between retinal hemodynamics and vessel morphology were reported, providing better understanding of retinal pathophysiology and insight into potential quantitative biomarkers to evaluate SCR.
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13
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Abdalla Elsayed MEA, Mura M, Al Dhibi H, Schellini S, Malik R, Kozak I, Schatz P. Sickle cell retinopathy. A focused review. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2019; 257:1353-1364. [PMID: 30895451 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-019-04294-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 02/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide a focused review of sickle cell retinopathy in the light of recent advances in the pathogenesis, multimodal retinal imaging, management of the condition, and migration trends, which may lead to increased prevalence of the condition in the Western world. METHODS Non-systematic focused literature review. RESULTS Sickle retinopathy results from aggregation of abnormal hemoglobin in the red blood cells in the retinal microcirculation, leading to reduced deformability of the red blood cells, stagnant blood flow in the retinal precapillary arterioles, thrombosis, and ischemia. This may be precipitated by hypoxia, acidosis, and hyperosmolarity. Sickle retinopathy may result in sight threatening complications, such as paracentral middle maculopathy or sequelae of proliferative retinopathy, such as vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. New imaging modalities, such as wide-field imaging and optical coherence tomography angiography, have revealed the microstructural features of sickle retinopathy, enabling earlier diagnosis. The vascular growth factor ANGPTL-4 has recently been identified as a potential mediator of progression to proliferative retinopathy and may represent a possible therapeutic target. Laser therapy should be considered for proliferative retinopathy in order to prevent visual loss; however, the evidence is not very strong. With recent development of wide-field imaging, targeted laser to ischemic retina may prove to be beneficial. Exact control of intraoperative intraocular pressure, including valved trocar vitrectomy systems, may improve the outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery for complications, such as vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. Stem cell transplantation and gene therapy are potentially curative treatments, which may prevent retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS There is lack of evidence regarding the optimal management of sickle retinopathy. Further study is needed to determine if recent progress in the understanding of the pathophysiology and diagnosis of sickle retinopathy may translate into improved management and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Mura
- Vitreoretinal Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Al-Oruba Street, 7191, Riyadh, 11462, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Hassan Al Dhibi
- Vitreoretinal Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Al-Oruba Street, 7191, Riyadh, 11462, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Silvana Schellini
- Oculoplasty Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rizwan Malik
- Glaucoma Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Igor Kozak
- Moorfields Eye Hospital Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Patrik Schatz
- Vitreoretinal Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Al-Oruba Street, 7191, Riyadh, 11462, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Sciences, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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14
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Chappell JC, Payne LB, Rathmell WK. Hypoxia, angiogenesis, and metabolism in the hereditary kidney cancers. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:442-451. [PMID: 30614813 DOI: 10.1172/jci120855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of hereditary kidney cancer has begun to mature following the identification of several germline syndromes that define genetic and molecular features of this cancer. Molecular defects within these hereditary syndromes demonstrate consistent deficits in angiogenesis and metabolic signaling, largely driven by altered hypoxia signaling. The classical mutation, loss of function of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor, provides a human pathogenesis model for critical aspects of pseudohypoxia. These features are mimicked in a less common hereditary renal tumor syndrome, known as hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma. Here, we review renal tumor angiogenesis and metabolism from a HIF-centric perspective, considering alterations in the hypoxic landscape, and molecular deviations resulting from high levels of HIF family members. Mutations underlying HIF deregulation drive multifactorial aberrations in angiogenic signals and metabolism. The mechanisms by which these defects drive tumor growth are still emerging. However, the distinctive patterns of angiogenesis and glycolysis-/glutamine-dependent bioenergetics provide insight into the cellular environment of these cancers. The result is a scenario permissive for aggressive tumorigenesis especially within the proximal renal tubule. These features of tumorigenesis have been highly actionable in kidney cancer treatments, and will likely continue as central tenets of kidney cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Chappell
- Center for Heart and Regenerative Medicine, Departments of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - Laura Beth Payne
- Center for Heart and Regenerative Medicine, Departments of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - W Kimryn Rathmell
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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15
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Chakraborty A, Kamermans A, van het Hof B, Castricum K, Aanhane E, van Horssen J, Thijssen VL, Scheltens P, Teunissen CE, Fontijn RD, van der Flier WM, de Vries HE. Angiopoietin like-4 as a novel vascular mediator in capillary cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Brain 2018; 141:3377-3388. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awy274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Chakraborty
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, The Netherlands
| | - Alwin Kamermans
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, The Netherlands
| | - Bert van het Hof
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, The Netherlands
| | - Kitty Castricum
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiation Oncology, The Netherlands
| | - Ed Aanhane
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiation Oncology, The Netherlands
| | - Jack van Horssen
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, The Netherlands
| | - Victor L Thijssen
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiation Oncology, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center and Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Neurochemistry Lab and Biobank, Department of Clinical Chemistry, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud D Fontijn
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, The Netherlands
| | - Wiesje M van der Flier
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiation Oncology, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Neuroscience, The Netherlands
| | - Helga E de Vries
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, The Netherlands
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16
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Yang X, Cheng Y, Su G. A review of the multifunctionality of angiopoietin-like 4 in eye disease. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20180557. [PMID: 30049845 PMCID: PMC6137252 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20180557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a multifunctional cytokine regulating vascular permeability, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Dysregulations in these responses contribute to the pathogenesis of ischemic retinopathies such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal vein occlusion, and sickle cell retinopathy (SCR). However, the role of ANGPTL4 in these diseases remains controversial. Here, we summarize the functional mechanisms of ANGPTL4 in several diseases. We highlight original studies that provide detailed data about the mechanisms of action for ANGPTL4, its applications as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker, and its use as a potential therapeutic target. Taken together, the discussions in this review will help us gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which ANGPTL4 functions in eye disease and will provide directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Guanfang Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
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17
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Angiopoetin-like 4 in sickle cell retinopathy. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20181462. [PMID: 30232237 PMCID: PMC6209607 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20181462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This correspondence provides a comment on the recent review article by Yang et al. [Biosci. Rep. (2018) 38, BSR20180557, https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20180557]
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18
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Response to comment by Guerra et al. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20181493. [PMID: 30224378 PMCID: PMC6209609 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20181493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This is a response by the authors of the review article ‘A review of the multifunctionality of angiopoietin-like 4 in eye disease’ [Biosci. Rep. (2018) 38, BSR20180557, https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20180557] to the comment published in this issue by Guerra et al. [Biosci. Rep. (2018) 38, BSR20180557, https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20181462]
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