1
|
Guo X, Yang Y, Tang J, Xiang J. Ephs in cancer progression: complexity and context-dependent nature in signaling, angiogenesis and immunity. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:299. [PMID: 38811954 PMCID: PMC11137953 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01580-3] [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: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Eph receptors constitute the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases, comprising 14 distinct members classified into two subgroups: EphAs and EphBs.. Despite their essential functions in normal physiological processes, accumulating evidence suggests that the involvement of the Eph family in cancer is characterized by a dual and often contradictory nature. Research indicates that Eph/ephrin bidirectional signaling influences cell-cell communication, subsequently regulating cell migration, adhesion, differentiation and proliferation. The contradictory functionalities may arise from the diversity of Eph signaling pathways and the heterogeneity of different cancer microenvironment. In this review, we aim to discuss the dual role of the Eph receptors in tumor development, attempting to elucidate the paradoxical functionality through an exploration of Eph receptor signaling pathways, angiogenesis, immune responses, and more. Our objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor development. Additionally, we will explore the evolving landscape of utilizing Eph receptors as potential targets for tumor therapy and diagnostic tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Guo
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Precise Treatment of Lung Cancer, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and the Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yanyi Yang
- Health Management Center, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jingqun Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Precise Treatment of Lung Cancer, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
| | - Juanjuan Xiang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Precise Treatment of Lung Cancer, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and the Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Scarini JF, Gonçalves MWA, de Lima-Souza RA, Lavareze L, de Carvalho Kimura T, Yang CC, Altemani A, Mariano FV, Soares HP, Fillmore GC, Egal ESA. Potential role of the Eph/ephrin system in colorectal cancer: emerging druggable molecular targets. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1275330. [PMID: 38651144 PMCID: PMC11033724 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1275330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The Eph/ephrin system regulates many developmental processes and adult tissue homeostasis. In colorectal cancer (CRC), it is involved in different processes including tumorigenesis, tumor angiogenesis, metastasis development, and cancer stem cell regeneration. However, conflicting data regarding Eph receptors in CRC, especially in its putative role as an oncogene or a suppressor gene, make the precise role of Eph-ephrin interaction confusing in CRC development. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature and highlight evidence that collaborates with these ambiguous roles of the Eph/ephrin system in CRC, as well as the molecular findings that represent promising therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João Figueira Scarini
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Moisés Willian Aparecido Gonçalves
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Reydson Alcides de Lima-Souza
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luccas Lavareze
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Talita de Carvalho Kimura
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ching-Chu Yang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Utah (UU), Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Albina Altemani
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Viviane Mariano
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heloisa Prado Soares
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah (UU), Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Gary Chris Fillmore
- Biorepository and Molecular Pathology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah (UU), Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Erika Said Abu Egal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Biorepository and Molecular Pathology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah (UU), Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rubinfeld H, Cohen ZR, Bendavid U, Fichman-Horn S, Levy-Barda A, David C, Melamed P, Shimon I. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor B6 is highly expressed in non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumors and its expression correlates with tumor size. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:297. [PMID: 38341842 PMCID: PMC10859332 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09186-7] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (EPH) receptors are the largest known family of receptor tyrosine kinases characterized in humans. These proteins are involved in tissue organization, synaptic plasticity, vascular development and the progression of various diseases including cancer. The Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor tyrosine kinase member EphB6 is a pseudokinase which has not attracted an equivalent amount of interest as its enzymatically-active counterparts. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of EphB6 in pituitary tumors. METHODS AND RESULTS Human normal pituitaries and pituitary tumors were examined for EphB6 mRNA expression using real-time PCR and for EphB6 protein by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. EphB6 was highly expressed in non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PitNETs) versus the normal pituitary and GH-secreting PitNETs. EphB6 mRNA expression was correlated with tumor size. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest EphB6 aberrant expression in NF-PitNETs. Future studies are warranted to determine the role and significance of EphB6 in NF-PitNETs tumorigenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hadara Rubinfeld
- Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel
- School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Zvi R Cohen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uzi Bendavid
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | | | - Adva Levy-Barda
- Biobank, Department of Pathology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Cfir David
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Philippa Melamed
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ilan Shimon
- Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel.
- School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Qiao Z, Liao M, Xiao M, Luo S, Wang K, Niu M, Jiang H, Sun S, Xu G, Xu N, Xu Q, Liu Y. Ephrin B3 exacerbates colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 220:116004. [PMID: 38142837 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.116004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Ephrin B3, a member of Eph/ephrin family, contributes to embryogenesis and carcinogenesis, but few studies have suggested whether this ligand has regulatory effect on colitis. This study was to determine whether ephrin B3 played a role in colitis and colonic carcinogenesis. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced colitis-associated carcinogenesis model was established in Efnb3-deficient (Efnb3-/-) mice. Label-free quantitative proteomics were performed to identify the Efnb3-regulated proteins. Our results showed that Efnb3 knock out reduced the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis, such as disease activity index (DAI), inflammatory factors release, and dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. Quantitative proteomics revealed that Efnb3 regulated 95 proteins which clustered in the platelet degranulation, response to elevated platelet cytosolic Ca2+, MAPK signaling for integrins such as ITGB4. Furthermore, ephrin B3 inactived ITGB4/AKT signal pathway and then promoted epithelial barrier dysfunction. Simultaneously, ephrin B3 promoted Gremlin-1/NF-κB signal pathway and thereby increased inflammatory factors release. In addition, the higher level of Efnb3 in colon cancer patients is correlated with worse survival. Efnb3-/- mice exhibited susceptibility to AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer. Our finding discovered that Efnb3 played an important role in the development of colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Efnb3 deficiency improved the intestinal barrier by ITGB4 and suppressed inflammation via Gremlin-1/NF-κB signal pathway, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Qiao
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Min Liao
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Mingyue Xiao
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Saiyan Luo
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Mengxin Niu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Honglv Jiang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Suya Sun
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Neuroscience Division, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Guoqiang Xu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - NanJie Xu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Neuroscience Division, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qiongming Xu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Halvorson CS, Sánchez-Lafuente CL, Johnston JN, Kalynchuk LE, Caruncho HJ. Molecular Mechanisms of Reelin in the Enteric Nervous System and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: Implications for Depression and Antidepressant Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:814. [PMID: 38255890 PMCID: PMC10815176 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Current pharmacological treatments for depression fail to produce adequate remission in a significant proportion of patients. Increasingly, other systems, such as the microbiome-gut-brain axis, are being looked at as putative novel avenues for depression treatment. Dysbiosis and dysregulation along this axis are highly comorbid with the severity of depression symptoms. The endogenous extracellular matrix protein reelin is present in all intestinal layers as well as in myenteric and submucosal ganglia, and its receptors are also present in the gut. Reelin secretion from subepithelial myofibroblasts regulates cellular migration along the crypt-villus axis in the small intestine and colon. Reelin brain expression is downregulated in mood and psychotic disorders, and reelin injections have fast antidepressant-like effects in animal models of depression. This review seeks to discuss the roles of reelin in the gastrointestinal system and propose a putative role for reelin actions in the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression, primarily reflecting on alterations in gut epithelial cell renewal and in the clustering of serotonin transporters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ciara S. Halvorson
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd., Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (C.S.H.); (C.L.S.-L.); (L.E.K.)
| | - Carla Liria Sánchez-Lafuente
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd., Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (C.S.H.); (C.L.S.-L.); (L.E.K.)
| | - Jenessa N. Johnston
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Lisa E. Kalynchuk
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd., Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (C.S.H.); (C.L.S.-L.); (L.E.K.)
| | - Hector J. Caruncho
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd., Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (C.S.H.); (C.L.S.-L.); (L.E.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zou J, Zhang K, Zhu J, Tu C, Guo J. Identification of therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers of the ephrin receptor subfamily in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J Int Med Res 2024; 52:3000605231218559. [PMID: 38180878 PMCID: PMC10771058 DOI: 10.1177/03000605231218559] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine the significance of ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2) expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) and its associated mechanism. METHODS EphA2 mRNA expression patterns were compared in pancreatic cancer and normal tissues using GEPIA. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to examine the correlation between EphA2 expression and PAAD patient prognosis. EphA2 gene methylation and associations with tumor immune cell infiltration were analyzed with UALCAN and TIMER, respectively. EphA2-interacting proteins were investigated with GeneMANIA, while STRING helped predict potentially relevant signaling pathways. EphA2 protein expression was examined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) in PAAD patient tissues. RESULTS EphA2 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and associated with pathological stage. PAAD patients with high EphA2 expression had shorter overall survival and disease-free survival times. EphA2 expression levels were significantly and positively associated with CD4+ T cell infiltration. EphA2 can interact with ENFNA1, ACP1, and CDC42. High EphA2 mRNA expression was enriched for regulation of cell size and cell proliferation. IHC assays suggested that pancreatic cancer tissues had higher EphA2 protein levels than normal pancreatic tissues. CONCLUSIONS EphA2 is highly expressed in PAAD and closely related to poor patient prognosis, and is therefore a potential biomarker and target for PAAD diagnosis and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjng Zou
- Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinde Zhu
- Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui, Zhejiang, China
| | | | - Jingqiang Guo
- Jingqiang Guo, Master of Medicine, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province 32300, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhou L, Hou Y, Pan X, Wang X, Jin H, Yang X, Wang K, Ding X, Wang K, Zhu M, Pan Y, Wang W, Lu L. Trichosanthin-derived peptide Tk-PQ attenuates immune rejection in mouse tracheal allotransplant model by suppressing PI3K-Akt and inducing type II immune polarization. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111081. [PMID: 37862724 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is one of the main complications affecting long-term survival of post-lung transplantation patients. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Tk-PQ (a peptide derived from trichosanthin) in alleviating OB in a mouse ectopic tracheal transplant model. We found that post-transplantation treatment of Tk-PQ significant ameliorated OB symptoms including luminal occlusion, epithelial cells loss and fibrosis in the allograft. In addition, Tk-PQ promoted immune suppressive environment by inducing Th2 polarization and increasing Treg population which in turn led to elevated levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-33 and decreased levels of pro-inflammatory IL-1β. Mechanistically, we used transcriptome analysis of splenic T cells from allografted mice to show that Tk-PQ treatment down-regulated the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Indeed, the immune suppression phenotypes of Tk-PQ was recapitulated by a PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Taken together, Tk-PQ regulates post-transplantation immuno-rejection by modulating the balance of T cell response via the PI3K-Akt pathway, making it a promising peptide based immune rejection suppressant for patients receiving allotransplant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yafei Hou
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xufeng Pan
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Haizhen Jin
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xiaohua Yang
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Kefan Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xuping Ding
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Minfang Zhu
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yan Pan
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Weimin Wang
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Liming Lu
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Central Laboratory, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Narayanan KK, Amaya M, Tsang N, Yin R, Jays A, Broder CC, Shukla D, Procko E. Sequence basis for selectivity of ephrin-B2 ligand for Eph receptors and pathogenic henipavirus G glycoproteins. J Virol 2023; 97:e0062123. [PMID: 37931130 PMCID: PMC10688352 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00621-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Ephrin-B2 (EFNB2) is a ligand for six Eph receptors in humans and regulates multiple cell developmental and signaling processes. It also functions as the cell entry receptor for Nipah virus and Hendra virus, zoonotic viruses that can cause respiratory and/or neurological symptoms in humans with high mortality. Here, we investigate the sequence basis of EFNB2 specificity for binding the Nipah virus attachment G glycoprotein over Eph receptors. We then use this information to engineer EFNB2 as a soluble decoy receptor that specifically binds the attachment glycoproteins of the Nipah virus and other related henipaviruses to neutralize infection. These findings further mechanistic understanding of protein selectivity and may facilitate the development of diagnostics or therapeutics against henipavirus infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Moushimi Amaya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Natalie Tsang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Randy Yin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alka Jays
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher C. Broder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Diwakar Shukla
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Erik Procko
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Cyrus Biotechnology, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pereira EPV, da Silva Felipe SM, de Freitas RM, da Cruz Freire JE, Oliveira AER, Canabrava N, Soares PM, van Tilburg MF, Guedes MIF, Grueter CE, Ceccatto VM. Transcriptional Profiling of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Calu-3 Cells Reveals Immune-Related Signaling Pathways. Pathogens 2023; 12:1373. [PMID: 38003837 PMCID: PMC10674242 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111373] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 disease, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in late 2019 and rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a pandemic that infected millions of people and caused significant deaths. COVID-19 continues to be a major threat, and there is a need to deepen our understanding of the virus and its mechanisms of infection. To study the cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we performed an RNA sequencing of infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells. Total RNA was extracted from infected (0.5 MOI) and control Calu-3 cells and converted to cDNA. Sequencing was performed, and the obtained reads were quality-analyzed and pre-processed. Differential expression was assessed with the EdgeR package, and functional enrichment was performed in EnrichR for Gene Ontology, KEGG pathways, and WikiPathways. A total of 1040 differentially expressed genes were found in infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells, of which 695 were up-regulated and 345 were down-regulated. Functional enrichment analyses revealed the predominant up-regulation of genes related to innate immune response, response to virus, inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. These transcriptional changes following SARS-CoV-2 infection may reflect a cellular response to the infection and help to elucidate COVID-19 pathogenesis, in addition to revealing potential biomarkers and drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Petterson Viana Pereira
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Stela Mirla da Silva Felipe
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Raquel Martins de Freitas
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - José Ednésio da Cruz Freire
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | | | - Natália Canabrava
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Paula Matias Soares
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Mauricio Fraga van Tilburg
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Maria Izabel Florindo Guedes
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Chad Eric Grueter
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
| | - Vânia Marilande Ceccatto
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mekala S, Dugam P, Das A. Ephrin-Eph receptor tyrosine kinases for potential therapeutics against hepatic pathologies. J Cell Commun Signal 2023; 17:549-561. [PMID: 37103689 PMCID: PMC10409970 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-023-00750-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is the common pathological change that occurs due to increased synthesis and accumulation of extracellular matrix components. Chronic insult from hepatotoxicants leads to liver cirrhosis, which if not reversed timely using appropriate therapeutics, liver transplantation remains the only effective therapy. Often the disease further progresses into hepatic carcinoma. Although there is an increased advancement in understanding the pathological phenotypes of the disease, additional knowledge of the novel molecular signaling mechanisms involved in the disease progression would enable the development of efficacious therapeutics. Ephrin-Eph molecules belong to the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) which are identified to play a crucial role in cellular migratory functions, during morphological and developmental stages. Additionally, they contribute to the growth of a multicellular organism as well as in pathological conditions like cancer, and diabetes. A wide spectrum of mechanistic studies has been performed on ephrin-Eph RTKs in various hepatic tissues under both normal and diseased conditions revealing their diverse roles in hepatic pathology. This systematic review summarizes the liver-specific ephrin-Eph RTK signaling mechanisms and recognizes them as druggable targets for mitigating hepatic pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sowmya Mekala
- Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, TS, 500 007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, UP, 201 002, India
| | - Prachi Dugam
- Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, TS, 500 007, India
| | - Amitava Das
- Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, TS, 500 007, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, UP, 201 002, India.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pallauf M, Ged Y, Singla N. Molecular differences in renal cell carcinoma between males and females. World J Urol 2023; 41:1727-1739. [PMID: 36905442 DOI: 10.1007/s00345-023-04347-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The disparity in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk and treatment outcome between males and females is well documented, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly elucidated. METHODS We performed a narrative review synthesizing contemporary evidence on sex-specific molecular differences in healthy kidney tissue and RCC. RESULTS In healthy kidney tissue, gene expression differs significantly between males and females, including autosomal and sex-chromosome-linked genes. The differences are most prominent for sex-chromosome-linked genes and attributable to Escape from X chromosome-linked inactivation and Y chromosome loss. The frequency distribution of RCC histologies varies between the sexes, particularly for papillary, chromophobe, and translocation RCC. In clear-cell and papillary RCC, sex-specific gene expressions are pronounced, and some of these genes are amenable to pharmacotherapy. However, for many, the impact on tumorigenesis remains poorly understood. In clear-cell RCC, molecular subtypes and gene expression pathways have distinct sex-specific trends, which also apply to the expression of genes implicated in tumor progression. CONCLUSION Current evidence suggests meaningful genomic differences between male and female RCC, highlighting the need for sex-specific RCC research and personalized sex-specific treatment approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Pallauf
- Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Park 213, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Yasser Ged
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nirmish Singla
- Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Park 213, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Aslam S, Rehman HM, Sarwar MZ, Ahmad A, Ahmed N, Amirzada MI, Rehman HM, Yasmin H, Nadeem T, Bashir H. Computational Modeling, High-Level Soluble Expression and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assessment of Recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Azurin: A Promising Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Candidate. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1825. [PMID: 37514012 PMCID: PMC10383417 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Azurin is a natural protein produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa that exhibits potential anti-tumor, anti-HIV, and anti-parasitic properties. The current study aimed to investigate the potential of azurin protein against breast cancer using both in silico and in vitro analyses. The amino acid sequence of Azurin was used to predict its secondary and tertiary structures, along with its physicochemical properties, using online software. The resulting structure was validated and confirmed using Ramachandran plots and ERRAT2. The mature azurin protein comprises 128 amino acids, and the top-ranked structure obtained from I-TASSER was shown to have a molecular weight of 14 kDa and a quality factor of 100% by ERRAT2, with 87.4% of residues in the favored region of the Ramachandran plot. Docking and simulation studies of azurin protein were conducted using HDOCK and Desmond servers, respectively. The resulting analysis revealed that Azurin docked against p53 and EphB2 receptors demonstrated maximum binding affinity, indicating its potential to cause apoptosis. The recombinant azurin gene was successfully cloned and expressed in a BL21 (DE3) strain using a pET20b expression vector under the control of the pelB ladder, followed by IPTG induction. The azurin protein was purified to high levels using affinity chromatography, yielding 70 mg/L. In vitro cytotoxicity assay was performed using MCF-7 cells, revealing the significant cytotoxicity of the azurin protein to be 105 µg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of azurin protein as an anticancer drug candidate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakira Aslam
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Muzzammel Rehman
- School of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Science, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
| | | | - Ajaz Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadeem Ahmed
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Galleria Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, TS, Italy
| | - Muhammad Imran Amirzada
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22010, Pakistan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214082, China
| | - Hafiz Muhammad Rehman
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
- University Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Humaira Yasmin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College, London W2 1NY, UK
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 54000, Pakistan
| | - Tariq Nadeem
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Hamid Bashir
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sunder-Plassmann R, Geusau A, Endler G, Weninger W, Wielscher M. Identification of Genetic Risk Factors for Keratinocyte Cancer in Immunosuppressed Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Case-Control Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3354. [PMID: 37444464 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133354] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Because of long-term immunosuppression, solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk for keratinocyte cancer. We matched solid organ transplant patients (n = 150), cases with keratinocyte cancers and tumor-free controls, considering the most important risk factors for keratinocyte cancer in solid organ transplant recipients. Using whole exome data of germline DNA from this patient cohort, we identified several genetic loci associated with the occurrence of multiple keratinocyte cancers. We found one genome-wide significant association of a common single nucleotide polymorphism located in EXOC3 (rs72698504). In addition, we found several variants with a p-value of less than 10-5 associated with the number of keratinocyte cancers. These variants were located in the genes CYB561, WASHC1, PITRM1-AS1, MUC8, ABI3BP, and THBS2-AS1. Using whole exome sequencing data, we performed groupwise tests for rare missense variants in our dataset and found robust associations (p < 10-6, Burden Zeggini test) between MC1R, EPHA8, EPO, MYCT1, ADGRG3, and MGME1 and keratinocyte cancer. Thus, overall, we detected genes involved in pigmentation/UV protection, tumor suppression, immunomodulation, intracellular traffic, and response to UV as genetic risk factors for multiple keratinocyte cancers in solid organ transplant recipients. We also grouped selected genes to pathways and found a selection of genes involved in the "cellular response to UV" to be significantly associated with multiple keratinocyte cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandra Geusau
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Endler
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Weninger
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Wielscher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Santana-Viera L, Dassie JP, Rosàs-Lapeña M, Garcia-Monclús S, Chicón-Bosch M, Pérez-Capó M, Pozo LD, Sanchez-Serra S, Almacellas-Rabaiget O, Maqueda-Marcos S, López-Alemany R, Thiel WH, Giangrande PH, Tirado OM. Combination of protein and cell internalization SELEX identifies a potential RNA therapeutic and delivery platform to treat EphA2-expressing tumors. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 32:758-772. [PMID: 37251690 PMCID: PMC10213179 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in most solid tumors and acts as the major driver of tumorigenesis. In this study, we developed a novel approach for targeting the EphA2 receptor using a 2'-fluoro-modified pyrimidine RNA aptamer termed ATOP. We identified the ATOP EphA2 aptamer using a novel bioinformatics strategy that compared aptamers enriched during a protein SELEX using recombinant human EphA2 and a cell-internalization SELEX using EphA2-expressing MDA231 tumor cells. When applied to EphA2-expressing tumor cell lines, the ATOP EphA2 aptamer attenuated tumor cell migration and clonogenicity. In a mouse model of spontaneous metastasis, the ATOP EphA2 aptamer slowed primary tumor growth and significantly reduced the number of lung metastases. The EphA2 ATOP aptamer represents a promising candidate for the development of next-generation targeted therapies that provide safer and more effective treatment of EphA2-overexpressing tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Santana-Viera
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Justin P. Dassie
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, IA 52242, USA
| | - Marta Rosàs-Lapeña
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Garcia-Monclús
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariona Chicón-Bosch
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Pérez-Capó
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lidia del Pozo
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Sanchez-Serra
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Almacellas-Rabaiget
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Maqueda-Marcos
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser López-Alemany
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - William H. Thiel
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, IA 52242, USA
| | - Paloma H. Giangrande
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, IA 52242, USA
| | - Oscar M. Tirado
- Sarcoma Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Oncobell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERONC, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kakavandi S, Zare I, VaezJalali M, Dadashi M, Azarian M, Akbari A, Ramezani Farani M, Zalpoor H, Hajikhani B. Structural and non-structural proteins in SARS-CoV-2: potential aspects to COVID-19 treatment or prevention of progression of related diseases. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:110. [PMID: 37189112 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01104-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a new member of the Coronaviridae family known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are structural and non-structural proteins (NSPs) in the genome of this virus. S, M, H, and E proteins are structural proteins, and NSPs include accessory and replicase proteins. The structural and NSP components of SARS-CoV-2 play an important role in its infectivity, and some of them may be important in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, including cancer, coagulation disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. The SARS-CoV-2 proteins interact with targets such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 can stimulate pathological intracellular signaling pathways by triggering transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), CD147, and Eph receptors, which play important roles in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis, and multiple cancers such as glioblastoma, lung malignancies, and leukemias. Several compounds such as polyphenols, doxazosin, baricitinib, and ruxolitinib could inhibit these interactions. It has been demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has a stronger affinity for human ACE2 than the spike protein of SARS-CoV, leading the current study to hypothesize that the newly produced variant Omicron receptor-binding domain (RBD) binds to human ACE2 more strongly than the primary strain. SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) viruses against structural and NSPs have become resistant to previous vaccines. Therefore, the review of recent studies and the performance of current vaccines and their effects on COVID-19 and related diseases has become a vital need to deal with the current conditions. This review examines the potential role of these SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the initiation of chronic diseases, and it is anticipated that these proteins could serve as components of an effective vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 and related diseases. Video Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sareh Kakavandi
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Iman Zare
- Research and Development Department, Sina Medical Biochemistry Technologies Co. Ltd., Shiraz, 7178795844, Iran
| | - Maryam VaezJalali
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Dadashi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Maryam Azarian
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Abdullatif Akbari
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzieh Ramezani Farani
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Nano Bio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Bahareh Hajikhani
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Yan H, Wu W, Hu Y, Li J, Xu J, Chen X, Xu Z, Yang X, Yang B, He Q, Luo P. Regorafenib inhibits EphA2 phosphorylation and leads to liver damage via the ERK/MDM2/p53 axis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2756. [PMID: 37179400 PMCID: PMC10182995 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38430-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatotoxicity of regorafenib is one of the most noteworthy concerns for patients, however the mechanism is poorly understood. Hence, there is a lack of effective intervention strategies. Here, by comparing the target with sorafenib, we show that regorafenib-induced liver injury is mainly due to its nontherapeutic target Eph receptor A2 (EphA2). EphA2 deficiency attenuated liver damage and cell apoptosis under regorafenib treatment in male mice. Mechanistically, regorafenib inhibits EphA2 Ser897 phosphorylation and reduces ubiquitination of p53 by altering the intracellular localization of mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) by affecting the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/MDM2 axis. Meanwhile, we found that schisandrin C, which can upregulate the phosphorylation of EphA2 at Ser897 also has protective effect against the toxicity in vivo. Collectively, our findings identify the inhibition of EphA2 Ser897 phosphorylation as a key cause of regorafenib-induced hepatotoxicity, and chemical activation of EphA2 Ser897 represents a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent regorafenib-induced hepatotoxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yan
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wentong Wu
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yuhuai Hu
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
- Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jinjin Li
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiangxin Xu
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xueqin Chen
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310002, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhifei Xu
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiaochun Yang
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qiaojun He
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Peihua Luo
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Maher J, Davies DM. CAR-Based Immunotherapy of Solid Tumours-A Survey of the Emerging Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1171. [PMID: 36831514 PMCID: PMC9953954 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with CAR T-cells has revolutionised the treatment of B-cell and plasma cell-derived cancers. However, solid tumours present a much greater challenge for treatment using CAR-engineered immune cells. In a partner review, we have surveyed data generated in clinical trials in which patients with solid tumours that expressed any of 30 discrete targets were treated with CAR-based immunotherapy. That exercise confirms that efficacy of this approach falls well behind that seen in haematological malignancies, while significant toxic events have also been reported. Here, we consider approximately 60 additional candidates for which such clinical data are not available yet, but where pre-clinical data have provided support for their advancement to clinical evaluation as CAR target antigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Maher
- CAR Mechanics Group, Guy’s Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
- Department of Immunology, Eastbourne Hospital, Kings Drive, Eastbourne BN21 2UD, UK
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - David M. Davies
- Leucid Bio Ltd., Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
State of the art and perspectives in pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 207:115373. [PMID: 36513143 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatoblastoma (HB) and pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are rare primary malignant liver cancers in children and young adults. HB is the most common and accounts for about 70 % cases; it is usually diagnosed during the first 3 years of life. Instead, pediatric HCC is uncommon, and it is associated with a poor prognosis. Overall, the prognosis of pediatric HCC is dismal with 5-year event-free survival of <30 % as compared to >80 % for HB. Surgery approaches, either resection or transplant, remain the best chance for the cure of pediatric HCC. However, chemotherapy can be helpful as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment. International groups have done trials in pediatric HCC with a chemotherapy regimen, based on cisplatin and doxorubicin (PLADO) as for HB, but the efficacy is limited. Sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, following positive results in adults and in a pilot study in children, is now tested in conjunction with chemotherapy in the PHITT phase III clinical trial. Some studies have been exploring the genetic profiles of patients to find biological hallmarks that determine the aggressiveness of pediatric HCC. Pathways involved in growth and differentiation are dysregulated and as demonstrated in HB and adult HCC, an important role of the Wnt/CTNNB1 pathway in the pathogenesis of pediatric HCC is also emerging. An extended molecular analysis of tumor samples could give information about pathways as possible targets of biological and immunotherapeutic agents bringing new pharmacological options for the treatment of pediatric HCC.
Collapse
|
19
|
Schmidts A, Srivastava AA, Ramapriyan R, Bailey SR, Bouffard AA, Cahill DP, Carter BS, Curry WT, Dunn GP, Frigault MJ, Gerstner ER, Ghannam JY, Kann MC, Larson RC, Leick MB, Nahed BV, Richardson LG, Scarfò I, Sun J, Wakimoto H, Maus MV, Choi BD. Tandem chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting EGFRvIII and IL-13Rα2 are effective against heterogeneous glioblastoma. Neurooncol Adv 2022; 5:vdac185. [PMID: 36751672 PMCID: PMC9896600 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdac185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have achieved remarkable responses in patients with hematological malignancies; however, the potential of this therapeutic platform for solid tumors like glioblastoma (GBM) has been limited, due in large part to the targeting of single antigens in a heterogeneous disease. Strategies that allow CAR T cells to engage multiple antigens concomitantly may broaden therapeutic responses and mitigate the effects of immune escape. Methods Here we have developed a novel, dual-specific, tandem CAR T (TanCART) cell with the ability to simultaneously target both EGFRvIII and IL-13Rα2, two well-characterized tumor antigens that are frequently found on the surface of GBM cells but completely absent from normal brain tissues. We employed both standard immunological assays and multiple orthotopic preclinical models including patient-derived xenograft to demonstrate efficacy of this approach against heterogeneous tumors. Results Tandem CAR T cells displayed enhanced cytotoxicity in vitro against heterogeneous GBM populations, including patient-derived brain tumor cultures (P < .05). Compared to CAR T cells targeting single antigens, dual antigen engagement through the tandem construct was necessary to achieve long-term, complete, and durable responses in orthotopic murine models of heterogeneous GBM, including patient-derived xenografts (P < .05). Conclusions We demonstrate that TanCART is effective against heterogeneous tumors in the brain. These data lend further credence to the development of multi-specific CAR T cells in the treatment of GBM and other cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Schmidts
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ambike A Srivastava
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rishab Ramapriyan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stefanie R Bailey
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amanda A Bouffard
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel P Cahill
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bob S Carter
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William T Curry
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gavin P Dunn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew J Frigault
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Gerstner
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (E.R.G.)
| | - Jack Y Ghannam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael C Kann
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rebecca C Larson
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark B Leick
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brian V Nahed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Leland G Richardson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Irene Scarfò
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hiroaki Wakimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marcela V Maus
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bryan D Choi
- Corresponding Author: Bryan D. Choi, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, GRB 502, Boston, MA 02114, USA ()
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Murakoshi M, Iwasawa T, Koshida T, Suzuki Y, Gohda T, Kato K. Development of an In-House EphA2 ELISA for Human Serum and Measurement of Circulating Levels of EphA2 in Hypertensive Patients with Renal Dysfunction. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12123023. [PMID: 36553030 PMCID: PMC9776842 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12123023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying novel biomarkers of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has strong clinical value as current measures have limitations. This study aims to develop and validate a sensitive and specific ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human serum, and determine whether its results correlate with traditional renal measures in patients with hypertension. The novel ELISA of the current study was validated and used to measure circulating EphA2 levels in 80 hypertensive patients with and without kidney function decline (eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Validation of the EphA2 ELISA showed good recovery (87%) and linearity (103%) and no cross-reactivity with other Eph receptors. Patients with kidney function decline had lower diastolic blood pressure, and higher UPCR and EphA2 than those without kidney function decline. The association of age and eGFR with EphA2 was maintained in the stepwise multiple regression analysis. In a multivariate logistic model, EphA2 was associated with a lower eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) after adjustment for age, sex, and UPCR. High circulating EphA2 levels have potential application as a clinical biomarker for the presence of CKD in patients with hypertension.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maki Murakoshi
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Takumi Iwasawa
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Toyo University, Saitama 350-8585, Japan
| | - Takeo Koshida
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yusuke Suzuki
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Tomohito Gohda
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.G.); (K.K.)
| | - Kazunori Kato
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Toyo University, Saitama 350-8585, Japan
- Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.G.); (K.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Pregnancy complications affect millions of women each year. Some of these diseases have high morbidity and mortality such as preeclampsia. At present, there is no safe and effective treatment for pregnancy complications, so it is still a difficult clinical problem. As many pregnancy complications are closely related to placental dysplasia, placenta-specific therapy, as an important method, is expected to be a safe, effective, and specific therapeutic strategy. This review explains in detail the placenta physiological structure, characteristics, and action mechanism of some biomolecules and signaling pathways that play roles in normal development and disorders of the development of the placenta, and how to use these biomolecules as therapeutic targets when the placenta disorder causes disease, combining the latest progress in the field of nanodelivery systems, so as to lay a foundation for the development of placenta-specific therapy of pregnancy complications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xingli Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Songwei Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.,Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yu Song
- School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Yongran Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhenzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Shaker OG, Ayeldeen G, Abdelhamid AM. Circulating microRNA-944 and its target gene EPHA7 as a potential biomarker for colorectal cancer. Arch Physiol Biochem 2022; 128:1181-1187. [PMID: 32421395 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2020.1762658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have critical roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and development. It has been reported that Eph receptor A7 (EphA7) was a potential target of miR-944 which is transcriptionally activated in cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the expression profile of miR-944 and its target gene EPHA7 in the serum of Egyptian CRC patients. 150 CRC patients, 50 adenomatous polyps (AP) patients, and 100 healthy controls were included. Serum miR-944 was downregulated (0.304 ± 0.0512) while serum EPHA7 was upregulated (3.163 ± 0.610) in CRC and AP patients versus controls and discriminated aganst these groups by Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. miR-944 presented the highest diagnostic accuracy for CRC patients from control (AUC = 0.90). Moreover obvious prognostic power in distinguishing AP from CRC (AUC = 0.87). In conclusion, miR-944 and EPHA7 are potential genetic markers of CRC predisposition and novel potential non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olfat G Shaker
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghada Ayeldeen
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amr M Abdelhamid
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), 6th of October City, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Prospective Proteomic Study Identifies Potential Circulating Protein Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer Risk. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133261. [PMID: 35805033 PMCID: PMC9265260 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Studies on circulating protein for colorectal cancer risk in a prospective study design is lacking. The aim of the present study was to scan and identify the protein markers by using proteomics technologies in a two-stage case-control study nested within the Shanghai Women’s Health Study (SWHS), a population-based prospective cohort study. In the discovery set, we found 27 circulating proteins with a nominally significant association. Six of them, including CD79B, DDR1, EFNA4, FLRT2, LTA4H, and NCR1, were validated in the validation phase of the study. This study is the first to evaluate over 1000 circulating proteins in prediagnostic blood samples for their associations with CRC risk in East Asians. Abstract Background: Proteomics-based technologies are emerging tools used for cancer biomarker discovery. Limited prospective studies have been conducted to evaluate the role of circulating proteins in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Methods: A two-stage case-control proteomics study nested in the Shanghai Women’s Health Study was conducted. A total of 1104 circulating proteins were measured in the discovery phase, consisting of 100 incident CRC cases and 100 individually matched controls. An additional 60 case-control pairs were selected for validation. Protein profiling at both stages was completed using the Olink platforms. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between circulating proteins and CRC risk. The elastic net method was employed to develop a protein score for CRC risk. Results: In the discovery set, 27 proteins showed a nominally significant association with CRC risk, among which 22 were positively and 5 were inversely associated. Six of the 27 protein markers were significantly associated with CRC risk in the validation set. In the analysis of pooled discovery and validation sets, odds ratios (ORs) per standard deviation (SD) increase in levels of these proteins were 1.54 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–2.06) for CD79B; 1.71 (95% CI: 1.24–2.34) for DDR1; 2.04 (95% CI: 1.39–3.01) for EFNA4; 1.54 (95% CI: 1.16–2.02) for FLRT2; 2.09 (95% CI: 1.47–2.98) for LTA4H and 1.88 (95% CI: 1.35–2.62) for NCR1. Sensitivity analyses showed consistent associations for all proteins with the exclusion of cases diagnosed within the first two years after the cohort enrollment, except for CD79B. Furthermore, a five-protein score was developed based on the six proteins identified and showed significant associations with CRC risk in both discovery and validation sets (Discovery: OR1-SD = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.53–3.95; validation: OR1-SD = 4.16, 95% CI: 1.92–8.99). Conclusions: A panel of five protein markers was identified as potential biomarkers for CRC risk. Our findings provide novel insights into the etiology of CRC and may facilitate the risk assessment of the malignancy.
Collapse
|
24
|
Chu LY, Huang BL, Huang XC, Peng YH, Xie JJ, Xu YW. EFNA1 in gastrointestinal cancer: Expression, regulation and clinical significance. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14:973-988. [PMID: 35646281 PMCID: PMC9124989 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i5.973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ephrin-A1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EFNA1 gene. The ephrins and EPH-related receptors comprise the largest subfamily of receptor protein-tyrosine kinases which play an indispensable role in normal growth and development or in the pathophysiology of various tumors. The role of EFNA1 in tumorigenesis and development is complex and depends on the cell type and microenvironment which in turn affect the expression of EFNA1. This article reviews the expression, prognostic value, regulation and clinical significance of EFNA1 in gastrointestinal tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yu Chu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bin-Liang Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xu-Chun Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu-Hui Peng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Research Institute, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jian-Jun Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yi-Wei Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Research Institute, The Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
New Diagnostic Biomarker-Soluble Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor A2 (EphA2) for colon cancer. Indian J Surg 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12262-022-03360-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
|
26
|
Zalpoor H, Akbari A, Nabi-Afjadi M. Ephrin (Eph) receptor and downstream signaling pathways: a promising potential targeted therapy for COVID‑19 and associated cancers and diseases. Hum Cell 2022; 35:952-954. [PMID: 35377105 PMCID: PMC8977187 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-022-00697-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Zalpoor
- American Association of Kidney Patients, Tampa, FL USA
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdullatif Akbari
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Papadakos SP, Petrogiannopoulos L, Pergaris A, Theocharis S. The EPH/Ephrin System in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052761. [PMID: 35269901 PMCID: PMC8910949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The EPH/ephrin system constitutes a bidirectional signaling pathway comprised of a family of tyrosine kinase receptors in tandem with their plasma membrane-bound ligand (ephrins). Its significance in a wide variety of physiologic and pathologic processes has been recognized during the past decades. In carcinogenesis, EPH/ephrins coordinate a wide spectrum of pathologic processes, such as angiogenesis, vessel infiltration, and metastasis. Despite the recent advances in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis and treatment, it remains a leading cause of death globally, accounting for 9.2% of all cancer deaths. A growing body of literature has been published lately revitalizing our scientific interest towards the role of EPH/ephrins in pathogenesis and the treatment of CRC. The aim of the present review is to present the recent CRC data which might lead to clinical practice changes in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stavros P Papadakos
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
| | - Leonidas Petrogiannopoulos
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
| | - Alexandros Pergaris
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Hudecek R, Kohlova B, Siskova I, Piskacek M, Knight A. Blocking of EphA2 on Endometrial Tumor Cells Reduces Susceptibility to Vδ1 Gamma-Delta T-Cell-Mediated Killing. Front Immunol 2021; 12:752646. [PMID: 34691070 PMCID: PMC8529280 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.752646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus causing chronic inflammation, severe pain, and infertility. However, the innate immunity of gamma-delta (γδ) T lymphocytes in endometriosis has not been characterized. Women with endometriosis present numerous endocrine and immune dysfunctions and elevated risk for endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers. The tyrosine kinase EphA2 is often overexpressed in cancer including endometrial carcinoma. Methods We analyzed Vδ1 and Vδ2 γδ T cells in peripheral blood and paired peritoneal fluid samples in endometriosis patients (n = 19) and compared the counts with that of age- and sex-matched healthy donors (n = 33) using flow cytometry. Vδ1 and Vδ2 T cells isolated from healthy donors were used against KLE, RL-95, and Ishikawa endometrial tumor cells in 4 h flow cytometric cytotoxicity assays. The EphA2 blocking studies were performed using antibody, small-molecule inhibitor ALW-II-41-27, and the CRISPR/Cas9. Results We determined Vδ1 T cells substantially reduced in patients’ peripheral blood (p < 0.01) and peritoneal fluid (p < 0.001). No differences were found for circulating Vδ2 T cells compared with peritoneal fluid samples. We observed inherent cytotoxic reactivity of Vδ1 and Vδ2 γδ T lymphocytes against endometrial tumor cells. Importantly, we found reduced specific lysis of EphA2-positive cell lines KLE and RL-95 by Vδ1 T cells in the EphA2 antibody blocking studies and by the EphA2 inhibitor. Furthermore, Vδ1 T-cell-mediated killing was significantly decreased in RL-95 cell EPHA2 knockout. Finally, potent cytolytic activity exerted by Vδ1 T cells was significantly reduced in EPHA2 knockouts in renal A-498 and colon HT-29 carcinoma cell lines. Conclusions We determined variable levels of Vδ1 and Vδ2 γδ T cells in endometriosis patients. We observed inherent cytotoxic reactivity of γδ T-cell subsets against endometrial cell lines. Specifically, we found that blocking of EphA2 expression resulted in significant inhibition of endometrial tumor killing mediated by Vδ1 γδ T cells. These results suggest that EphA2 is involved in tumor cell lysis and contributes to susceptibility to Vδ1 γδ T cells cytotoxic reactivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Hudecek
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Brno and Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Barbora Kohlova
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ingrid Siskova
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Brno and Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Piskacek
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Andrea Knight
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Giordano G, Merlini A, Ferrero G, Mesiano G, Fiorino E, Brusco S, Centomo ML, Leuci V, D’Ambrosio L, Aglietta M, Sangiolo D, Grignani G, Pignochino Y. EphA2 Expression in Bone Sarcomas: Bioinformatic Analyses and Preclinical Characterization in Patient-Derived Models of Osteosarcoma, Ewing's Sarcoma and Chondrosarcoma. Cells 2021; 10:cells10112893. [PMID: 34831119 PMCID: PMC8616526 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone sarcomas are a group of heterogeneous malignant mesenchymal tumors. Complete surgical resection is still the cornerstone of treatment, but, in the advanced/unresectable setting, their management remains challenging and not significantly improved by target- and immuno-therapies. We focused on the tyrosine kinase Eph type-A receptor-2 (EphA2), a key oncoprotein implicated in self-renewal, angiogenesis, and metastasis, in several solid tumors and thus representing a novel potential therapeutic target. Aiming at better characterizing its expression throughout the main bone sarcoma histotypes, we investigated EPHA2 expression in the Cancer Cell Lines Encyclopedia and in public datasets with clinical annotations. looking for correlations with molecular, histopathological and patients’ features and clinical outcomes in a total of 232 osteosarcomas, 197 Ewing’s sarcomas, and 102 chondrosarcomas. We observed EPHA2 expression in bone sarcoma cell lines. We demonstrated higher EPHA2 expression in tumor tissues when compared to normal counterparts. A significant correlation was found between EPHA2 expression and Huvos grade (osteosarcoma) and with worse overall survival (dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma). Next, we characterized EPHA2 expression and activation in bone sarcoma primary tissues and in patient-derived xenografts generated in our laboratory to verify their reliability as in vivo models of osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma and chondrosarcoma. Furthermore, for the first time, we demonstrated EPHA2 expression in chondrosarcoma, suggesting its potential key role in this histotype. Indeed, we observed a significant dose-dependent antitumor effect of the EphA2-inhibitor ALW-II-41-27 in patient-derived in vitro models. In conclusion, EphA2 targeting represents a promising novel therapeutic strategy against bone sarcomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Giordano
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Merlini
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0119933503
| | - Giulio Ferrero
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy;
- Department of Computer Science, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Giulia Mesiano
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
| | - Erika Fiorino
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
| | - Silvia Brusco
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
| | - Maria Laura Centomo
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Valeria Leuci
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
| | - Lorenzo D’Ambrosio
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
- Cardinal Massaia Hospital, 14100 Asti, Italy
| | - Massimo Aglietta
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Grignani
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
| | - Ymera Pignochino
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS Str. Prov.le 142, Km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.M.); (E.F.); (S.B.); (M.L.C.); (V.L.); (L.D.); (M.A.); (D.S.); (G.G.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Huang Z, Liu S, Tang A, Al-Rabadi L, Henkemeyer M, Mimche P, Huang Y. Key role for EphB2 receptor in kidney fibrosis. Clin Sci (Lond) 2021; 135:2127-2142. [PMID: 34462781 PMCID: PMC8433383 DOI: 10.1042/cs20210644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Erythropoietin producing hepatocellular (Eph)-Eph receptor interacting (Ephrin) receptor-ligand signaling has been implicated in the development of tissue fibrosis, though it has not been well defined in the kidney. We detected substantial up-regulation of expression and phosphorylation of the EphB2 receptor tyrosine kinase in fibrotic kidney tissue obtained both from mice subjected to the unilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) model at 14 days and in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Knockout (KO) mice lacking EphB2 expression exhibited a normal renal structure and function, indicating no major role for this receptor in kidney development or action. Although IR injury is well-known to cause tissue damage, fibrosis, and renal dysfunction, we found that kidneys from EphB2KO mice showed much less renal tubular injury and retained a more preserved renal function. IR-injured kidneys from EphB2 KOs exhibited greatly reduced fibrosis and inflammation compared with injured wildtype (WT) littermates, and this correlated with a significant reduction in renal expression of profibrotic molecules, inflammatory cytokines, NADPH oxidases, and markers for cell proliferation, tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), myofibroblast activation, and apoptosis. A panel of 760 fibrosis-associated genes were further assessed, revealing that 506 genes in WT mouse kidney following IR injury changed their expression. However, 70.9% of those genes were back to or close to normal in expression when EphB2 was deleted. These data indicate that endogenous EphB2 expression and signaling are abnormally activated after kidney injury and subsequently contribute to the development of renal fibrosis via regulation of multiple profibrotic pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Utah Health Science, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Simeng Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Utah Health Science, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A
| | - Anna Tang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Utah Health Science, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A
| | - Laith Al-Rabadi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Utah Health Science, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A
| | - Mark Henkemeyer
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, U.S.A
| | - Patrice N. Mimche
- Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah Health Science, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A
| | - Yufeng Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Utah Health Science, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
The EphB6 Receptor: Kinase-Dead but Very Much Alive. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158211. [PMID: 34360976 PMCID: PMC8347583 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Eph receptor tyrosine kinase member EphB6 is a pseudokinase, and similar to other pseudoenzymes has not attracted an equivalent amount of interest as its enzymatically-active counterparts. However, a greater appreciation for the role pseudoenzymes perform in expanding the repertoire of signals generated by signal transduction systems has fostered more interest in the field. EphB6 acts as a molecular switch that is capable of modulating the signal transduction output of Eph receptor clusters. Although the biological effects of EphB6 activity are well defined, the molecular mechanisms of EphB6 function remain enigmatic. In this review, we use a comparative approach to postulate how EphB6 acts as a scaffold to recruit adaptor proteins to an Eph receptor cluster and how this function is regulated. We suggest that the evolutionary repurposing of EphB6 into a kinase-independent molecular switch in mammals has involved repurposing the kinase activation loop into an SH3 domain-binding site. In addition, we suggest that EphB6 employs the same SAM domain linker and juxtamembrane domain allosteric regulatory mechanisms that are used in kinase-positive Eph receptors to regulate its scaffold function. As a result, although kinase-dead, EphB6 remains a strategically active component of Eph receptor signaling.
Collapse
|
32
|
Wang GH, Ni K, Gu C, Huang J, Chen J, Wang XD, Ni Q. EphA8 inhibits cell apoptosis via AKT signaling and is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. Oncol Rep 2021; 46:183. [PMID: 34278497 DOI: 10.3892/or.2021.8134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin‑producing hepatocellular receptors (Ephs) comprise the largest subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases and have been reported to be involved in a variety of biological cellular processes, including tumorigenesis and cancer progression. The present study aimed to determine the expression levels and clinicopathological significance of EphA8 in breast cancer (BC) using immunohistochemistry analysis of tissue microarrays. The results of the present study revealed that EphA8 expression levels were upregulated in BC tissue and were associated with tumor size and TNM stage. In addition, upregulated expression levels of EphA8 were identified to be a poor prognostic biomarker for patients with BC. The knockdown of EphA8 expression using short hairpin RNA resulted in increased levels of apoptosis as well as decreased proliferation, migration and invasion of BC cells both in vivo and in vitro. The knockdown of EphA8 also decreased the phosphorylation of AKT, which was accompanied by downregulation of Bcl‑2 expression levels and upregulation of p53, Caspase‑3 and Bax expression levels. Moreover, knockdown of EphA8 expression increased the chemosensitivity of BC cells to paclitaxel. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that EphA8 may be a useful prognostic marker in BC and that knockdown of EphA8 may represent a novel strategy in adjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of BC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Hua Wang
- Department of Clinical Biobank, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Kan Ni
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Changjiang Gu
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Jianfei Huang
- Department of Clinical Biobank, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Xu-Dong Wang
- Department of Clinical Biobank, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Qichao Ni
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ji Y, Gao L, Zhang C, Sun X, Dai L, Ji Z, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Cao W, Zhao Y, Zhang L. Identification of the hub genes and prognostic indicators of gastric cancer and correlation of indicators with tumor-infiltrating immune cell levels. J Cancer 2021; 12:4025-4038. [PMID: 34093807 PMCID: PMC8176244 DOI: 10.7150/jca.52105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: To identify the hub genes and prognostic indicators of gastric cancer (GC) and determine the correlation between prognostic indicators and the tumor-infiltrating immune cell levels so as to provide useful information for future GC diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) stomach adenocarcinoma dataset and two microarray datasets were used to screen the overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal gastric and GC tissue samples. Hub genes were screened via protein-protein interaction networks and module analysis of the overlapping DEGs. Their expression was validated at the cell level and tissue level using the ONCOMINE database. The prognostic indicators of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival was identified by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis based on tumor grade and cancer stage. The expression of hub genes was validated at the cell level. The correlation of prognostic indicators with the tumor-infiltrating immune cell levels was analyzed using Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource. Results: Ten hub genes, namely CDC6, CDC20, BUB1B, TOP2A, CDK1, AURKA, CCNA2, CCNB1, MAD2L1, and KIF11, were screened and their upregulation in the GC tissue was verified. Three prognostic factors, namely LUM, VCAN, and EFNA4, were identified; their expression was higher in GC cells than in normal cells. LUM, VCAN, and EFNA4 were correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cell levels in GC. Significance: The identified hub genes and prognostic indicators of GC could be useful indicators for future GC diagnosis and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Ji
- BGI College, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450007, China.,Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Lu Gao
- BGI College, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450007, China.,Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Can Zhang
- BGI College, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450007, China.,Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Xu Sun
- Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Liping Dai
- Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Zhenyu Ji
- Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Jianying Zhang
- Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Zhida Zhang
- BGI College, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450007, China.,Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Liguo Zhang
- Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, No. 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China.,Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhao Y, Cai C, Zhang M, Shi L, Wang J, Zhang H, Ma P, Li S. Ephrin-A2 promotes prostate cancer metastasis by enhancing angiogenesis and promoting EMT. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:2013-2023. [PMID: 33772606 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03618-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ephrin-A2, a member of the Eph receptor subgroup, is used in diagnosing and determining the prognosis of prostate cancer. However, the role of ephrin-A2 in prostate cancer is remains elusive. METHODS We established stable clones overexpressing or silencing ephrin-A2 from prostate cancer cells. Then, CCK-8 was used in analyzing the proliferation ability of cells. CD31 staining was used in evaluating angiogenesis. Migration and invasion assay were conducted in vivo and in vitro. The expression of EMT-related markers was evaluated in prostate cancer cells through Western blotting. RESULTS We revealed that the ectopic expression of ephrin-A2 in prostate cancer cells facilitated cell migration and invasion in vitro and promoted tumor metastasis and angiogenesis in vivo and that the silencing of ephrin-A2 completely reversed this effect. Although ephrin-A2 did not affect tumor cell proliferation in vitro, ephrin-A2 significantly promoted primary tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, to determine the biological function of ephrin-A2, we assayed the expression of EMT-related markers in stable-established cell lines. Results showed that the overexpression of ephrin-A2 in prostate cancer cells down-regulated the expression of epithelial markers (ZO-1, E-cadherin, and claudin-1) and up-regulated the expression of mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin, β-catenin, vimentin, Slug, and Snail), but the knocking out of ephrin-A2 opposed the effects on the expression of EMT markers. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that ephrin-A2 promotes prostate cancer metastasis by enhancing angiogenesis and promoting EMT and may be a potentially therapeutic target in metastatic prostate cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
- Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Chenchen Cai
- Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
- Xuzhou Central Hospital, The Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, 221002, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Lubing Shi
- Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Jiwei Wang
- Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Haoliang Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, 99 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou, 221002, China
| | - Ping Ma
- Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, 99 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou, 221002, China.
| | - Shibao Li
- Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, 99 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou, 221002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Cui S, Wu Q, Liu M, Su M, Liu S, Shao L, Han X, He H. EphA2 super-enhancer promotes tumor progression by recruiting FOSL2 and TCF7L2 to activate the target gene EphA2. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:264. [PMID: 33712565 PMCID: PMC7955082 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03538-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Super-enhancers or stretch enhancers (SEs) consist of large clusters of active transcription enhancers which promote the expression of critical genes that define cell identity during development and disease. However, the role of many super-enhancers in tumor cells remains unclear. This study aims to explore the function and mechanism of a new super-enhancer in various tumor cells. A new super-enhancer that exists in a variety of tumors named EphA2-Super-enhancer (EphA2-SE) was found using multiple databases and further identified. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of EphA2-SE results in the significant downregulation of its target gene EphA2. Mechanistically, we revealed that the core active region of EphA2-SE comprises E1 component enhancer, which recruits TCF7L2 and FOSL2 transcription factors to drive the expression of EphA2, induce cell proliferation and metastasis. Bioinformatics analysis of RNA-seq data and functional experiments in vitro illustrated that EphA2-SE deletion inhibited cell growth and metastasis by blocking PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in HeLa, HCT-116 and MCF-7 cells. Overexpression of EphA2 in EphA2-SE-/- clones rescued the effect of EphA2-SE deletion on proliferation and metastasis. Subsequent xenograft animal model revealed that EphA2-SE deletion suppressed tumor proliferation and survival in vivo. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that EphA2-SE plays an oncogenic role and promotes tumor progression in various tumors by recruiting FOSL2 and TCF7L2 to drive the expression of oncogene EphA2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Cui
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Ming Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Mu Su
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - ShiYou Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lan Shao
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiao Han
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hongjuan He
- School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Chen YL, Yen YC, Jang CW, Wang SH, Huang HT, Chen CH, Hsiao JR, Chang JY, Chen YW. Ephrin A4-ephrin receptor A10 signaling promotes cell migration and spheroid formation by upregulating NANOG expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:644. [PMID: 33436772 PMCID: PMC7804096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80060-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ephrin type-A receptor 10 (EPHA10) has been implicated as a potential target for breast and prostate cancer therapy. However, its involvement in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. We demonstrated that EPHA10 supports in vivo tumor growth and lymphatic metastasis of OSCC cells. OSCC cell migration, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), and sphere formation were found to be regulated by EPHA10, and EPHA10 was found to drive expression of some EMT- and stemness-associated transcription factors. Among EPHA10 ligands, exogenous ephrin A4 (EFNA4) induced the most OSCC cell migration and sphere formation, as well as up-regulation of SNAIL, NANOG, and OCT4. These effects were abolished by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibition and NANOG knockdown. Also, EPHA10 was required for EFNA4-induced cell migration, sphere formation, and expression of NANOG and OCT4 mRNA. Our microarray dataset revealed that EFNA4 mRNA expression was associated with expression of NANOG and OCT4 mRNA, and OSCC patients showing high co-expression of EFNA4 with NANOG or OCT4 mRNA demonstrated poor recurrence-free survival rates. Targeting forward signaling of the EFNA4-EPHA10 axis may be a promising therapeutic approach for oral malignancies, and the combination of EFNA4 mRNA and downstream gene expression may be a useful prognostic biomarker for OSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Lin Chen
- grid.59784.370000000406229172National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053 Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Yen
- grid.59784.370000000406229172National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053 Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Wei Jang
- grid.59784.370000000406229172National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053 Taiwan
| | - Ssu-Han Wang
- grid.59784.370000000406229172National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053 Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ting Huang
- grid.59784.370000000406229172National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053 Taiwan
| | - Chung-Hsing Chen
- grid.59784.370000000406229172Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan ,grid.59784.370000000406229172Taiwan Bioinformatics Core, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Jenn-Ren Hsiao
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Otolaryngology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jang-Yang Chang
- grid.59784.370000000406229172National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053 Taiwan
| | - Ya-Wen Chen
- grid.59784.370000000406229172National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053 Taiwan ,grid.254145.30000 0001 0083 6092Ph.D. Program for Aging, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Stefanski KM, Russell CM, Westerfield JM, Lamichhane R, Barrera FN. PIP 2 promotes conformation-specific dimerization of the EphA2 membrane region. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100149. [PMID: 33277361 PMCID: PMC7900517 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.016423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of the EphA2 receptor on cancer malignancy hinges on the two different ways it can be activated. EphA2 induces antioncogenic signaling after ligand binding, but ligand-independent activation of EphA2 is pro-oncogenic. It is believed that the transmembrane (TM) domain of EphA2 adopts two alternate conformations in the ligand-dependent and the ligand-independent states. However, it is poorly understood how the difference in TM helical crossing angles found in the two conformations impacts the activity and regulation of EphA2. We devised a method that uses hydrophobic matching to stabilize two conformations of a peptide comprising the EphA2 TM domain and a portion of the intracellular juxtamembrane (JM) segment. The two conformations exhibit different TM crossing angles, resembling the ligand-dependent and ligand-independent states. We developed a single-molecule technique using styrene maleic acid lipid particles to measure dimerization in membranes. We observed that the signaling lipid PIP2 promotes TM dimerization, but only in the small crossing angle state, which we propose corresponds to the ligand-independent conformation. In this state the two TMs are almost parallel, and the positively charged JM segments are expected to be close to each other, causing electrostatic repulsion. The mechanism PIP2 uses to promote dimerization might involve alleviating this repulsion due to its high density of negative charges. Our data reveal a conformational coupling between the TM and JM regions and suggest that PIP2 might directly exert a regulatory effect on EphA2 activation in cells that is specific to the ligand-independent conformation of the receptor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Stefanski
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
| | - Charles M Russell
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
| | - Justin M Westerfield
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
| | - Rajan Lamichhane
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
| | - Francisco N Barrera
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
McCullough D, Atofanei C, Knight E, Trim SA, Trim CM. Kinome scale profiling of venom effects on cancer cells reveals potential new venom activities. Toxicon 2020; 185:129-146. [PMID: 32682827 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The search for novel and relevant cancer therapeutics is continuous and ongoing. Cancer adaptations, resulting in therapeutic treatment failures, fuel this continuous necessity for new drugs to novel targets. Recently, researchers have started to investigate the effect of venoms and venom components on different types of cancer, investigating their mechanisms of action. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) comprise a family of highly conserved and functionally important druggable targets for cancer therapy. This research exploits the novelty of complex venom mixtures to affect phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and related RTK family members, dually identifying new activities and unexplored avenues for future cancer and venom research. Six whole venoms from diverse species taxa, were evaluated for their ability to illicit changes in the phosphorylated expression of a panel of 49 commonly expressed RTKs. The triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 was treated with optimised venom doses, pre-determined by SDS PAGE and Western blot analysis. The phosphorylated expression levels of 49 RTKs in response to the venoms were assessed with the use of Human Phospho-RTK Arrays and analysed using ImageLab 5.2.1 analysis software (BioRad). Inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation occurred with treatment of venom from Acanthoscurria geniculata (Theraphosidae), Heterometrus swammerdami (Scorpionidae), Crotalus durissus vegrandis (Crotalidae) and Naja naja (Elapidae). Western green mamba Dendroaspis viridis venom increased EGFR phosphorylation. Eph, HGFR and HER were the most affected receptor families by venoms. Whilst the importance of these changes in terms of effect on MDA-MB-468 cells' long-term viability and functionality are still unclear, the findings present exciting opportunities for further investigation as potential drug targets in cancer and as tools to understand better how these pathways interact.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle McCullough
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Cristina Atofanei
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Emily Knight
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK; Life Sciences Industry Liaison laboratory, Canterbury Christ Church University, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9FF, UK
| | - Steven A Trim
- Venomtech Ltd., Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9FF, UK
| | - Carol M Trim
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
London M, Gallo E. The EphA2 and cancer connection: potential for immune-based interventions. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:8037-8048. [PMID: 32990903 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05767-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The Eph (erythropoietin-producing human hepatocellular) receptors form the largest known subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. These receptors interact with membrane-bound ephrin ligands via direct cell-cell interactions resulting in bi-directional activation of signal pathways. Importantly, the Eph receptors play critical roles in embryonic tissue organization and homeostasis, and in the maintenance of adult processes such as long-term potentiation, angiogenesis, and stem cell differentiation. The Eph receptors also display properties of both tumor promoters and suppressors depending on the cellular context. Characterization of EphA2 receptor in regard to EphA2 dysregulation has revealed associations with various pathological processes, especially cancer. The analysis of various tumor types generally identify EphA2 receptor as overexpressed and/or mutated, and for certain types of cancers EphA2 is linked with poor prognosis and decreased patient survival. Thus, here we highlight the role of EphA2 in malignant tissues that are specific to cancer; these include glioblastoma multiforme, prostate cancer, ovarian and uterine cancers, gastric carcinoma, melanoma, and breast cancer. Due to its large extracellular domain, therapeutic targeting of EphA2 with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which may function as inhibitors of ligand activation or as molecular agonists, has been an oft-attempted strategy. Therefore, we review the most current mAb-based therapies against EphA2 expressing cancers currently in pre-clinical and/or clinical stages. Finally, we discuss the latest peptides and cyclical-peptides that function as selective agonists for EphA2 receptor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max London
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Eugenio Gallo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Fischer K, Groschup MH, Diederich S. Importance of Endocytosis for the Biological Activity of Cedar Virus Fusion Protein. Cells 2020; 9:cells9092054. [PMID: 32911832 PMCID: PMC7565975 DOI: 10.3390/cells9092054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocytosis plays a particular role in the proteolytic activation of highly pathogenic henipaviruses Hendra (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV) fusion (F) protein precursors. These proteins require endocytic uptake from the cell surface to be cleaved by cellular proteases within the endosomal compartment, followed by recycling to the plasma membrane for incorporation into budding virions or mediation of cell-cell fusion. This internalization largely depends on a tyrosine-based consensus motif for endocytosis present in the cytoplasmic tail of HeV and NiV F. Given the large number of tyrosine residues present in the F protein cytoplasmic domain of Cedar virus (CedV), a closely related but low pathogenic henipavirus, we aimed to investigate whether CedV F protein undergoes signal-mediated endocytosis from the cell surface controlled by tyrosine-based motifs present in its cytoplasmic tail and whether endocytosis is relevant for its biological activity. Therefore, tyrosine-based signals were mutated, and mutations were assessed for their effect on F cell surface expression, endocytosis, and biological activity. A membrane-proximal YXXΦ motif and a C-terminal di-tyrosine motif are of particular importance for cell surface expression and endocytosis rate. Furthermore, our data strongly indicate the pivotal role of endocytosis for the biological activity of the CedV F protein.
Collapse
|
41
|
Paul MD, Grubb HN, Hristova K. Quantifying the strength of heterointeractions among receptor tyrosine kinases from different subfamilies: Implications for cell signaling. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:9917-9933. [PMID: 32467228 PMCID: PMC7380177 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are single-pass membrane proteins that control vital cell processes such as cell growth, survival, and differentiation. There is a growing body of evidence that RTKs from different subfamilies can interact and that these diverse interactions can have important biological consequences. However, these heterointeractions are often ignored, and their strengths are unknown. In this work, we studied the heterointeractions of nine RTK pairs, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-EPH receptor A2 (EPHA2), EGFR-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), EPHA2-VEGFR2, EPHA2-fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), EPHA2-FGFR2, EPHA2-FGFR3, VEGFR2-FGFR1, VEGFR2-FGFR2, and VEGFR2-FGFR3, using a FRET-based method. Surprisingly, we found that RTK heterodimerization and homodimerization strengths can be similar, underscoring the significance of RTK heterointeractions in signaling. We discuss how these heterointeractions can contribute to the complexity of RTK signal transduction, and we highlight the utility of quantitative FRET for probing multiple interactions in the plasma membrane.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Paul
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hana N Grubb
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Pyo A, You SH, Sik Kim H, Young Kim J, Min JJ, Kim DY, Hong Y. Production of 64Cu-labeled monobody for imaging of human EphA2-expressing tumors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127262. [PMID: 32527560 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported on the monobody E1, which specifically targets the tumor marker hEphA2. In this study, we labeled NOTA-conjugated E1 with 64Cu (64Cu-NOTA-E1) and evaluated biologic characteristics. The uptake of 64Cu-NOTA-E1 in PC3 cells (a human prostate cancer cell line) with high expression of hEphA2 increased in a time-dependent manner. In PC3 xenograft mice, 64Cu-NOTA-E1 injected via the tail vein allowed visualization of tumors on positron emission tomography after 1 h and the highest uptake measured at 24 h post-injection. By contrast, the radioactivity of other tissues either did not increase or decreased over 24 h. This indicates that 64Cu-NOTA-E1 has high tumor uptake and retention, with rapid clearance, and low background values in other tissues. Therefore, 64Cu-NOTA-E1 should be suitable as a novel PET imaging agent for hEphA2-expressing tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayoung Pyo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hwan You
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon Sik Kim
- Medical Photonics Research Center, Korea Photonics Technology Institute, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Young Kim
- Division of RI-Convergence Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Yeon Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
London M, Gallo E. Critical role of EphA3 in cancer and current state of EphA3 drug therapeutics. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:5523-5533. [PMID: 32621117 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05571-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The erythropoietin-producing human hepatocellular (Eph) receptors are transmembrane glycoprotein members of the tyrosine kinase receptors family. The Ephs may bind to various ephrin ligands resulting in the phosphorylation of their tyrosine kinase domain and the activation of the Eph receptor. In this review we focus on EphA3, one receptor of the 14 different Ephs, as it carries out both redundant and restricted functions in the germline development of mammals and in the maintenance of various adult tissues. The loss of EphA3 regulation is correlated with various human malignancies, the most notable being cancer. This receptor is overexpressed and/or mutated in multiple tumors, and is also associated with poor prognosis and decreased survival in patients. Here we highlight the role of EphA3 in normal and malignant tissues that are specific to cancer; these include hematologic disorders, gastric cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and prostate cancer. Moreover, various anticancer agents against EphA3 have been developed to either inhibit its kinase domain activity or to function as agonists. Thus, we examine the most potent small molecule drugs and mAb-based therapeutics against EphA3 that are currently in pre-clinical or clinical stages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max London
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Eugenio Gallo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Harnessing the Power of Eph/ephrin Biosemiotics for Theranostic Applications. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:ph13060112. [PMID: 32492868 PMCID: PMC7345574 DOI: 10.3390/ph13060112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive basic biological knowledge of the Eph/ephrin system in the physiologic setting is needed to facilitate an understanding of its role and the effects of pathological processes on its activity, thereby paving the way for development of prospective therapeutic targets. To this end, this review briefly addresses what is currently known and being investigated in order to highlight the gaps and possible avenues for further investigation to capitalize on their diverse potential.
Collapse
|
45
|
Qi Z, Yang X, Sang Y, Liu Y, Li J, Xu B, Liu W, He M, Xu Z, Deng Y, Zhu J. Fluoxetine and Riluzole Mitigates Manganese-Induced Disruption of Glutamate Transporters and Excitotoxicity via Ephrin-A3/GLAST-GLT-1/Glu Signaling Pathway in Striatum of Mice. Neurotox Res 2020; 38:508-523. [PMID: 32472497 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-020-00209-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is an essential element required for many biological processes and systems in the human body. Mn intoxication increases brain glutamate (Glu) levels causing neuronal damage. Recent studies have reported that ephrin-A3 regulates this glutamate transporter. However, none has explored the role of this crucial molecule in Mn-induced excitotoxicity. The present study investigated whether ephrin-A3/GLAST-GLT-1/Glu signaling pathway participates in Mn-induced excitotoxicity using astrocytes and Kunming mice. The mechanisms were explored using fluoxetine (ephrin-A3 inhibitor) and riluzole (a Glu release inhibitor). Firstly, we demonstrated that Mn exposure (500 μM or 50 mg/kg MnCl2) significantly increased Mn, ephrin-A3, and Glu levels, and inhibited Na+-K+ ATPase activity, as well as mRNA and protein levels of GLAST and GLT-1. Secondly, we found that astrocytes and mice pretreated with fluoxetine (100 μM or 15 mg/kg) and riluzole (100 μM or 32 μmol/kg) prior to Mn exposure had lower ephrin-A3 and Glu levels, but higher Na+-K+ ATPase activity, expression levels of GLAST and GLT-1 than those exposed to 500 μM or 50 mg/kg MnCl2. Moreover, the morphology of cells and the histomorphology of mice striatum were injured. Results showed that pretreatment with fluoxetine and riluzole attenuated the Mn-induced motor dysfunctions. Together, these results suggest that the ephrin-A3/GLAST-GLT-1/Glu signaling pathway participates in Mn-induced excitotoxicity, and fluoxetine and riluzole can mitigate the Mn-induced excitotoxicity in mice brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Qi
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinxin Yang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanqi Sang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanan Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiashuo Li
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaofa Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Deng
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jinghai Zhu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Theofanous SA, Florens MV, Appeltans I, Denadai Souza A, Wood JN, Wouters MM, Boeckxstaens GE. Ephrin-B2 signaling in the spinal cord as a player in post-inflammatory and stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2020; 32:e13782. [PMID: 32004400 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ephrin-B2/EphB receptor signaling contributes to persistent pain states such as postinflammatory and neuropathic pain. Visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) is a major mechanism underlying abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in remission, but the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the spinal ephrin-B2/EphB pathway in VHS in 2 murine models of VHS, that is, postinflammatory TNBS colitis and maternal separation (MS). METHODS Wild-type (WT) mice and mice lacking ephrin-B2 in Nav 1.8 nociceptive neurons (cKO) were studied. VHS was induced by: 1. intracolonic instillation of TNBS or 2. water avoidance stress (WAS) in mice that underwent maternal separation (MS). VHS was assessed by quantifying the visceromotor response (VMRs) during colorectal distention. Colonic tissue and spinal cord were collected for histology, gene, and protein expression evaluation. KEY RESULTS In WT mice, but not cKO mice, TNBS induced VHS at day 14 after instillation, which returned to baseline perception from day 28 onwards. In MS WT mice, WAS induced VHS for up to 4 weeks. In cKO however, visceral pain perception returned to basal level by week 4. The development of VHS in WT mice was associated with significant upregulation of spinal ephrin-B2 and EphB1 mRNA expression or protein levels in the TNBS model and upregulation of spinal ephrin-B2 protein in the MS model. No changes were observed in cKO mice. VHS was not associated with persistent intestinal inflammation. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES Overall, our data indicate that the ephrin-B2/EphB1 spinal signaling pathway is involved in VHS and may represent a novel therapeutic target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Morgane V Florens
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iris Appeltans
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - John N Wood
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research (WIBR), University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Mira M Wouters
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy E Boeckxstaens
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Leite M, Marques MS, Melo J, Pinto MT, Cavadas B, Aroso M, Gomez-Lazaro M, Seruca R, Figueiredo C. Helicobacter Pylori Targets the EPHA2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase in Gastric Cells Modulating Key Cellular Functions. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020513. [PMID: 32102381 PMCID: PMC7072728 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori, a stomach-colonizing Gram-negative bacterium, is the main etiological factor of various gastroduodenal diseases, including gastric adenocarcinoma. By establishing a life-long infection of the gastric mucosa, H. pylori continuously activates host-signaling pathways, in particular those associated with receptor tyrosine kinases. Using two different gastric epithelial cell lines, we show that H. pylori targets the receptor tyrosine kinase EPHA2. For long periods of time post-infection, H. pylori induces EPHA2 protein downregulation without affecting its mRNA levels, an effect preceded by receptor activation via phosphorylation. EPHA2 receptor downregulation occurs via the lysosomal degradation pathway and is independent of the H.pylori virulence factors CagA, VacA, and T4SS. Using small interfering RNA, we show that EPHA2 knockdown affects cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion, invasion, and angiogenesis, which are critical cellular processes in early gastric lesions and carcinogenesis mediated by the bacteria. This work contributes to the unraveling of the underlying mechanisms of H. pylori–host interactions and associated diseases. Additionally, it raises awareness for potential interference between H. pylori infection and the efficacy of gastric cancer therapies targeting receptors tyrosine kinases, given that infection affects the steady-state levels and dynamics of some receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their signaling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Leite
- Ipatimup–Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.M.); (J.M.); (M.T.P.); (B.C.); (R.S.)
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.L.); (C.F.); Tel.: +351-220-408-800 (M.L. & C.F.)
| | - Miguel S. Marques
- Ipatimup–Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.M.); (J.M.); (M.T.P.); (B.C.); (R.S.)
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
| | - Joana Melo
- Ipatimup–Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.M.); (J.M.); (M.T.P.); (B.C.); (R.S.)
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
- ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta T. Pinto
- Ipatimup–Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.M.); (J.M.); (M.T.P.); (B.C.); (R.S.)
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
| | - Bruno Cavadas
- Ipatimup–Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.M.); (J.M.); (M.T.P.); (B.C.); (R.S.)
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
- ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Aroso
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
- INEB–Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Gomez-Lazaro
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
- INEB–Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Seruca
- Ipatimup–Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.M.); (J.M.); (M.T.P.); (B.C.); (R.S.)
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ceu Figueiredo
- Ipatimup–Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.M.); (J.M.); (M.T.P.); (B.C.); (R.S.)
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.G.-L.)
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.L.); (C.F.); Tel.: +351-220-408-800 (M.L. & C.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Navaratnarajah CK, Generous AR, Yousaf I, Cattaneo R. Receptor-mediated cell entry of paramyxoviruses: Mechanisms, and consequences for tropism and pathogenesis. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2771-2786. [PMID: 31949044 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.009961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Research in the last decade has uncovered many new paramyxoviruses, airborne agents that cause epidemic diseases in animals including humans. Most paramyxoviruses enter epithelial cells of the airway using sialic acid as a receptor and cause only mild disease. However, others cross the epithelial barrier and cause more severe disease. For some of these viruses, the host receptors have been identified, and the mechanisms of cell entry have been elucidated. The tetrameric attachment proteins of paramyxoviruses have vastly different binding affinities for their cognate receptors, which they contact through different binding surfaces. Nevertheless, all input signals are converted to the same output: conformational changes that trigger refolding of trimeric fusion proteins and membrane fusion. Experiments with selectively receptor-blinded viruses inoculated into their natural hosts have provided insights into tropism, identifying the cells and tissues that support growth and revealing the mechanisms of pathogenesis. These analyses also shed light on diabolically elegant mechanisms used by morbilliviruses, including the measles virus, to promote massive amplification within the host, followed by efficient aerosolization and rapid spread through host populations. In another paradigm of receptor-facilitated severe disease, henipaviruses, including Nipah and Hendra viruses, use different members of one protein family to cause zoonoses. Specific properties of different paramyxoviruses, like neurotoxicity and immunosuppression, are now understood in the light of receptor specificity. We propose that research on the specific receptors for several newly identified members of the Paramyxoviridae family that may not bind sialic acid is needed to anticipate their zoonotic potential and to generate effective vaccines and antiviral compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex R Generous
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Virology and Gene Therapy Track, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Iris Yousaf
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Virology and Gene Therapy Track, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Roberto Cattaneo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Darling TK, Mimche PN, Bray C, Umaru B, Brady LM, Stone C, Eboumbou Moukoko CE, Lane TE, Ayong LS, Lamb TJ. EphA2 contributes to disruption of the blood-brain barrier in cerebral malaria. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008261. [PMID: 31999807 PMCID: PMC6991964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB) function is a key feature of cerebral malaria. Increased barrier permeability occurs due to disassembly of tight and adherens junctions between endothelial cells, yet the mechanisms governing junction disassembly and vascular permeability during cerebral malaria remain poorly characterized. We found that EphA2 is a principal receptor tyrosine kinase mediating BBB breakdown during Plasmodium infection. Upregulated on brain microvascular endothelial cells in response to inflammatory cytokines, EphA2 is required for the loss of junction proteins on mouse and human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, EphA2 is necessary for CD8+ T cell brain infiltration and subsequent BBB breakdown in a mouse model of cerebral malaria. Blocking EphA2 protects against BBB breakdown highlighting EphA2 as a potential therapeutic target for cerebral malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thayer K. Darling
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Patrice N. Mimche
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
| | - Christian Bray
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Banlanjo Umaru
- Malaria Research Unit, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Lauren M. Brady
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Colleen Stone
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
| | - Carole Else Eboumbou Moukoko
- Malaria Research Unit, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Thomas E. Lane
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
| | - Lawrence S. Ayong
- Malaria Research Unit, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Tracey J. Lamb
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Bigaeva E, Gore E, Simon E, Zwick M, Oldenburger A, de Jong KP, Hofker HS, Schlepütz M, Nicklin P, Boersema M, Rippmann JF, Olinga P. Transcriptomic characterization of culture-associated changes in murine and human precision-cut tissue slices. Arch Toxicol 2019; 93:3549-3583. [PMID: 31754732 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02611-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Our knowledge of complex pathological mechanisms underlying organ fibrosis is predominantly derived from animal studies. However, relevance of animal models for human disease is limited; therefore, an ex vivo model of human precision-cut tissue slices (PCTS) might become an indispensable tool in fibrosis research and drug development by bridging the animal-human translational gap. This study, presented as two parts, provides comprehensive characterization of the dynamic transcriptional changes in PCTS during culture by RNA sequencing. Part I investigates the differences in culture-induced responses in murine and human PCTS derived from healthy liver, kidney and gut. Part II delineates the molecular processes in cultured human PCTS generated from diseased liver, kidney and ileum. We demonstrated that culture was associated with extensive transcriptional changes and impacted PCTS in a universal way across the organs and two species by triggering an inflammatory response and fibrosis-related extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling. All PCTS shared mRNA upregulation of IL-11 and ECM-degrading enzymes MMP3 and MMP10. Slice preparation and culturing activated numerous pathways across all PCTS, especially those involved in inflammation (IL-6, IL-8 and HMGB1 signalling) and tissue remodelling (osteoarthritis pathway and integrin signalling). Despite the converging effects of culture, PCTS display species-, organ- and pathology-specific differences in the regulation of genes and canonical pathways. The underlying pathology in human diseased PCTS endures and influences biological processes like cytokine release. Our study reinforces the use of PCTS as an ex vivo fibrosis model and supports future studies towards its validation as a preclinical tool for drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Bigaeva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713AV, The Netherlands
| | - Emilia Gore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713AV, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Simon
- Computational Biology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Str. 65, 88397, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Matthias Zwick
- Computational Biology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Str. 65, 88397, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Anouk Oldenburger
- Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Str. 65, 88397, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Koert P de Jong
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik S Hofker
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Schlepütz
- Respiratory Diseases, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Str. 65, 88397, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Paul Nicklin
- Research Beyond Borders, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Str. 65, 88397, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Miriam Boersema
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713AV, The Netherlands
| | - Jörg F Rippmann
- Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Str. 65, 88397, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Peter Olinga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713AV, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|