1
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Pissas KP, Gründer S, Tian Y. Functional expression of the proton sensors ASIC1a, TMEM206, and OGR1 together with BK Ca channels is associated with cell volume changes and cell death under strongly acidic conditions in DAOY medulloblastoma cells. Pflugers Arch 2024; 476:923-937. [PMID: 38627262 PMCID: PMC11139714 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-024-02964-7] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Fast growing solid tumors are frequently surrounded by an acidic microenvironment. Tumor cells employ a variety of mechanisms to survive and proliferate under these harsh conditions. In that regard, acid-sensitive membrane receptors constitute a particularly interesting target, since they can affect cellular functions through ion flow and second messenger cascades. Our knowledge of these processes remains sparse, however, especially regarding medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric CNS malignancy. In this study, using RT-qPCR, whole-cell patch clamp, and Ca2+-imaging, we uncovered several ion channels and a G protein-coupled receptor, which were regulated directly or indirectly by low extracellular pH in DAOY and UW228 medulloblastoma cells. Acidification directly activated acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), the proton-activated Cl- channel (PAC, ASOR, or TMEM206), and the proton-activated G protein-coupled receptor OGR1. The resulting Ca2+ signal secondarily activated the large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKCa). Our analyses uncover a complex relationship of these transmembrane proteins in DAOY cells that resulted in cell volume changes and induced cell death under strongly acidic conditions. Collectively, our results suggest that these ion channels in concert with OGR1 may shape the growth and evolution of medulloblastoma cells in their acidic microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan Gründer
- Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Yuemin Tian
- Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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2
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Wang L, Zhang L, Zhao L, Shao S, Ning Q, Jing X, Zhang Y, Zhao F, Liu X, Gu S, Zhao X, Luo M. VEGFA/NRP-1/GAPVD1 axis promotes progression and cancer stemness of triple-negative breast cancer by enhancing tumor cell-macrophage crosstalk. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:446-463. [PMID: 38169627 PMCID: PMC10758102 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.86085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has long been considered a major clinical challenge due to its aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known as the main cells responsible for tumor origination, progression, recurrence and metastasis. Here, we report that M2-type tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to cancer stemness in TNBC cells via the secretion of VEGFA. Reciprocally, elevated VEGFA expression by TAM-educated TNBC cells acts as a regulator of macrophage polarization, therefore constitute a feed-back loop between TNBC cells and TAMs. Mechanistically, VEGFA facilitates the CSC phenotype via the NRP-1 receptor and downstream GAPVD1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in TNBC cells. Our study underscores the crosstalk between TNBC cells and TAMs mediated by VEGFA and further clarifies the role and underlying mechanisms of the VEGFA/NRP-1/GAPVD1 axis in regulating cancer stemness. We also document an immunosuppressive function of VEGFA in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Therefore, the present study indicates crosstalk between TNBC cells and TAMs induced by VEGFA and provides a potential implication for the combination of immunotherapy and VEGFA-targeted agents in TNBC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Lifen Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Shan Shao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Qian Ning
- Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Xin Jing
- Department of Pathology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
| | - Yujiao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China
| | - Fengyu Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Xizhi Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Shanzhi Gu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Xinhan Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Minna Luo
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
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3
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Rodrigues EM, Giovanini AF, Ribas CAPM, Malafaia O, Roesler R, Isolan GR. The Nervous System Development Regulator Neuropilin-1 as a Potential Prognostic Marker and Therapeutic Target in Brain Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4922. [PMID: 37894289 PMCID: PMC10605093 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15204922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropilins are transmembrane glycoproteins that regulate developmental processes in the nervous system and other tissues. Overexpression of neuropilin-1 (NRP1) occurs in many solid tumor types and, in several instances, may predict patient outcome in terms of overall survival. Experimental inhibition of NRP1 activity can display antitumor effects in different cancer models. Here, we review NRP1 expression and function in adult and pediatric brain cancers, particularly glioblastomas (GBMs) and medulloblastomas, and present analyses of NRP1 transcript levels and their association with patient survival in GBMs. The case of NRP1 highlights the potential of regulators of neurodevelopment as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in brain cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Mello Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Principles of Surgery, Mackenzie Evangelical University, Curitiba 80730-000, PR, Brazil; (E.M.R.)
- The Center for Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery (CEANNE), Porto Alegre 90560-010, RS, Brazil
| | - Allan Fernando Giovanini
- Graduate Program in Principles of Surgery, Mackenzie Evangelical University, Curitiba 80730-000, PR, Brazil; (E.M.R.)
| | | | - Osvaldo Malafaia
- Graduate Program in Principles of Surgery, Mackenzie Evangelical University, Curitiba 80730-000, PR, Brazil; (E.M.R.)
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
| | - Gustavo R. Isolan
- Graduate Program in Principles of Surgery, Mackenzie Evangelical University, Curitiba 80730-000, PR, Brazil; (E.M.R.)
- The Center for Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery (CEANNE), Porto Alegre 90560-010, RS, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- Spalt Therapeutics, Porto Alegre 90560-010, RS, Brazil
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4
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Pissas KP, Schilling M, Tian Y, Gründer S. Functional characterization of acid-sensing ion channels in the cerebellum-originating medulloblastoma cell line DAOY and in cerebellar granule neurons. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:1073-1087. [PMID: 37474775 PMCID: PMC10409673 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02839-3] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are Na+ channels that are almost ubiquitously expressed in neurons of the brain. Functional ASIC1a is also expressed in glioblastoma stem cells, where it might sense the acidic tumor microenvironment. Prolonged acidosis induces cell death in neurons and reduces tumor sphere formation in glioblastoma via activation of ASIC1a. It is currently unknown whether ASICs are expressed and involved in acid-induced cell death in other types of brain tumors. In this study, we investigated ASICs in medulloblastoma, using two established cell lines, DAOY and UW228, as in vitro models. In addition, we characterized ASICs in the most numerous neuron of the brain, the cerebellar granule cell, which shares the progenitor cell with some forms of medulloblastoma. We report compelling evidence using RT-qPCR, western blot and whole-cell patch clamp that DAOY and cerebellar granule cells, but not UW228 cells, functionally express homomeric ASIC1a. Additionally, Ca2+-imaging revealed that extracellular acidification elevated intracellular Ca2+-levels in DAOY cells independently of ASICs. Finally, we show that overexpression of RIPK3, a key component of the necroptosis pathway, renders DAOY cells susceptible to acid-induced cell death via activation of ASIC1a. Our data support the idea that ASIC1a is an important acid sensor in brain tumors and that its activation has potential to induce cell death in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Schilling
- Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yuemin Tian
- Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Gründer
- Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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5
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de Araújo MA, Malafaia O, Ribas Filho JM, Fratini L, Roesler R, Isolan GR. Low Expression of the NRP1 Gene Is Associated with Shorter Overall Survival in Patients with Sonic Hedgehog and Group 3 Medulloblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11601. [PMID: 37511358 PMCID: PMC10380701 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411601] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common type of malignant pediatric brain tumor. Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), encoded by the NRP1 gene, is a transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed in several types of cancer. Previous studies indicate that NRP1 inhibition displays antitumor effects in MB models and higher NRP1 levels are associated with poorer prognosis in MB patients. Here, we used a large MB tumor dataset to examine NRP1 gene expression in different molecular subgroups and subtypes of MB. We found overall widespread NRP1 expression across MB samples. Tumors in the sonic hedgehog (SHH) subgroup showed significantly higher NRP1 transcript levels in comparison with Group 3 and Group 4 tumors, with SHH samples belonging to the α, β, Δ, and γ subtypes. When all MB subgroups were combined, lower NRP1 expression was associated with significantly shorter patient overall survival (OS). Further analysis showed that low NRP1 was related to poorer OS, specifically in MB subgroups SHH and Group 3 MB. Our findings indicate that patients with SHH and Group 3 tumors that show lower expression of NRP1 in MB have a worse prognosis, which highlights the need for subgroup-specific investigation of the NRP1 role in MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Augusto de Araújo
- Graduate Program in Principles of Surgery, Mackenzie Evangelical University, Curitiba 80730-000, PR, Brazil
- The Center for Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery (CEANNE), Porto Alegre 90560-010, RS, Brazil
| | - Osvaldo Malafaia
- Graduate Program in Principles of Surgery, Mackenzie Evangelical University, Curitiba 80730-000, PR, Brazil
| | - Jurandir M. Ribas Filho
- Graduate Program in Principles of Surgery, Mackenzie Evangelical University, Curitiba 80730-000, PR, Brazil
| | - Livia Fratini
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology–INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- Research Center, Moinhos de Vento Hospital, Porto Alegre 90035-001, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology–INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
| | - Gustavo R. Isolan
- Graduate Program in Principles of Surgery, Mackenzie Evangelical University, Curitiba 80730-000, PR, Brazil
- The Center for Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery (CEANNE), Porto Alegre 90560-010, RS, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology–INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil
- Spalt Therapeutics, Porto Alegre 90560-010, RS, Brazil
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6
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Monteiro JM, Reis Ramos JI, Teixeira e Sousa I, Bighetti-Trevisan RL, Ribas Filho JM, Isolan GR. Identification of CD114 Membrane Receptors as a Molecular Target in Medulloblastomas. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065331. [PMID: 36982406 PMCID: PMC10048885 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastomas are the most common solid tumors in children, accounting for 8–30% of pediatric brain cancers. It is a high-grade tumor with aggressive behavior and a typically b poor prognosis. Its treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, and presents high morbidity. Significant clinical, genetic, and prognostic differences exist between its four molecular subgroups: WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4. Many studies seek to develop new chemotherapeutic agents for medulloblastomas through the identification of genes whose expressions are new molecular targets for drugs, such as membrane receptors associated with cell replication. This study aimed to assess the association of CD114 expression with mortality in patients with medulloblastoma. Databases from the Medulloblastoma Advanced Genomics International Consortium (MAGIC) were analyzed, focusing on the expression of the CD114 membrane receptor in different molecular types and its possible association with mortality. Our findings showed different CD114 expressions between Group 3 and other molecular groups, as well as between the molecular subtypes SHH γ and Group 3 α and Group 3 β. There was no statistically significant difference between the other groups and subtypes. Regarding mortality, this study did not find statistical significance in the association between low and high CD114 expressions and mortality. Medulloblastoma is a heterogeneous disease with many subtype variations of its genetic and intracellular signaling pathways. Similarly to this study, which could not demonstrate different CD114 membrane receptor expression patterns between groups, others who sought to associate CD114 expression with mortality in other types of cancer failed to establish a direct association. Since many indications point to the relation of this gene with cancer stem cells (CSCs), it may be part of a more extensive cellular signaling pathway with an eventual association with tumor recurrence. This study found no direct relationship between CD114 expression and mortality in patients with medulloblastoma. Further studies are needed on the intracellular signaling pathways associated with this receptor and its gene (the CSF3R).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jander Moreira Monteiro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery (CEANNE), Porto Alegre 90560-010, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program, Mackenzie Evangelical College of Parana, Curitiba 81531-980, Brazil
| | | | - Ian Teixeira e Sousa
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Conceição Children’s Hospital, Porto Alegre 90560-010, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gustavo Rassier Isolan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery (CEANNE), Porto Alegre 90560-010, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program, Mackenzie Evangelical College of Parana, Curitiba 81531-980, Brazil
- Correspondence:
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7
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Douyère M, Gong C, Richard M, Pellegrini-Moïse N, Daouk J, Pierson J, Chastagner P, Boura C. NRP1 inhibition modulates radiosensitivity of medulloblastoma by targeting cancer stem cells. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:377. [PMID: 36457009 PMCID: PMC9714111 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02796-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric malignant brain tumor. Despite current therapies, the morbidity and recurrent risk remains significant. Neuropilin-1 receptor (NRP1) has been implicated in the tumor progression of MB. Our recent study showed that NRP1 inhibition stimulated MB stem cells differentiation. Consequently, we hypothesized that targeting NRP1 in medulloblastoma could improve current treatments. METHODS NRP1 inhibition with a novel peptidomimetic agent, MR438, was evaluated with radiotherapy (RT) in MB models (DAOY, D283-Med and D341-Med) in vitro on cancer stem-like cells as well as in vivo on heterotopic and orthotopic xenografts. RESULTS We show that NRP1 inhibition by MR438 radiosensitizes MB stem-like cells in vitro. In heterotopic DAOY models, MR438 improves RT efficacy as measured by tumor growth and mouse survival. In addition, clonogenic assays after tumor dissociation showed a significant reduction in cancer stem cells with the combination treatment. In the same way, a benefit of the combined therapy was observed in the orthotopic model only for a low cumulative irradiation dose of 10 Gy but not for 20 Gy. CONCLUSIONS Finally, our results demonstrated that targeting NRP1 with MR438 could be a potential new strategy and could limit MB progression by decreasing the stem cell number while reducing the radiation dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Douyère
- grid.462787.80000 0001 2151 8763Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, UMR 7039, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Caifeng Gong
- grid.462787.80000 0001 2151 8763Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, UMR 7039, 54000 Nancy, France ,grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Can-Cer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Bei-Jing, 100021 China
| | - Mylène Richard
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, L2CM, UMR 7053, Campus Science, 54500 Vandœuvre-Lès-Nancy, France
| | - Nadia Pellegrini-Moïse
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, L2CM, UMR 7053, Campus Science, 54500 Vandœuvre-Lès-Nancy, France
| | - Joël Daouk
- grid.462787.80000 0001 2151 8763Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, UMR 7039, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Julien Pierson
- grid.462787.80000 0001 2151 8763Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, UMR 7039, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Pascal Chastagner
- grid.462787.80000 0001 2151 8763Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, UMR 7039, 54000 Nancy, France ,grid.410527.50000 0004 1765 1301Service d’Onco-Hématologie Pédiatrique, CHRU-Nancy, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Cédric Boura
- grid.462787.80000 0001 2151 8763Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, UMR 7039, 54000 Nancy, France
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8
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Neuropilin (NRPs) Related Pathological Conditions and Their Modulators. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158402. [PMID: 35955539 PMCID: PMC9368954 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) represents one of the two homologous neuropilins (NRP, splice variants of neuropilin 2 are the other) found in all vertebrates. It forms a transmembrane glycoprotein distributed in many human body tissues as a (co)receptor for a variety of different ligands. In addition to its physiological role, it is also associated with various pathological conditions. Recently, NRP1 has been discovered as a coreceptor for the SARS-CoV-2 viral entry, along with ACE2, and has thus become one of the COVID-19 research foci. However, in addition to COVID-19, the current review also summarises its other pathological roles and its involvement in clinical diseases like cancer and neuropathic pain. We also discuss the diversity of native NRP ligands and perform a joint analysis. Last but not least, we review the therapeutic roles of NRP1 and introduce a series of NRP1 modulators, which are typical peptidomimetics or other small molecule antagonists, to provide the medicinal chemistry community with a state-of-the-art overview of neuropilin modulator design and NRP1 druggability assessment.
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9
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Douyère M, Chastagner P, Boura C. Neuropilin-1: A Key Protein to Consider in the Progression of Pediatric Brain Tumors. Front Oncol 2021; 11:665634. [PMID: 34277411 PMCID: PMC8281001 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.665634] [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: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropilins are transmembrane glycoproteins that play important roles in cardiovascular and neuronal development, as well as in immunological system regulations. NRP1 functions as a co-receptor, binding numerous ligands, such as SEMA 3 or VEGF and, by doing so, reinforcing their signaling pathways and can also interface with the cytoplasmic protein synectin. NRP1 is expressed in many cancers, such as brain cancers, and is associated with poor prognosis. The challenge today for patients with pediatric brain tumors is to improve their survival rate while minimizing the toxicity of current treatments. The aim of this review is to highlight the involvement of NRP1 in pediatric brain cancers, focusing essentially on the roles of NRP1 in cancer stem cells and in the regulation of the immune system. For this purpose, recent literature and tumor databases were analyzed to show correlations between NRP1 and CD15 (a stem cancer cells marker), and between NRP1 and PDL1, for various pediatric brain tumors, such as high- and low-grade gliomas, medulloblastomas, and ependymomas. Finally, this review suggests a relevant role for NRP1 in pediatric brain tumors progression and identifies it as a potential diagnostic or therapeutic target to improve survival and life quality of these young patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pascal Chastagner
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, France.,Service d'Onco-Hématologie Pédiatrique, CHRU-Nancy, Nancy, France
| | - Cédric Boura
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, France
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10
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Paul MR, Zage PE. Overview and recent advances in the targeting of medulloblastoma cancer stem cells. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2021; 21:957-974. [PMID: 34047251 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1932472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Medulloblastoma, an embryonal small round blue cell tumor primarily arising in the posterior fossa, is the most common malignancy of the central nervous system in children and requires intensive multi-modality therapy for cure. Overall 5-year survival is approximately 75% in children with primary disease, but outcomes for relapsed disease are very poor. Recent advances have identified molecular subgroups with excellent prognosis, with 5-year overall survival rates >90%, and subgroups with very poor prognosis with overall survival rates <50%. Molecular subtyping has allowed for more sophisticated risk stratification of patients, but new treatments for the highest risk patients have not yet improved outcomes. Targeting cancer stem cells may improve outcomes, and several candidate targets and novel drugs are under investigation.Areas covered: We discuss medulloblastoma epidemiology, biology, treatment modalities, risk stratification, and molecular subgroup analysis, links between subgroup and developmental biology, cancer stem cell biology in medulloblastoma including previously described cancer stem cell markers and proposed targeted treatments in the current literature.Expert opinion: The understanding of cancer stem cells in medulloblastoma will advance therapies targeting the most treatment-resistant cells within the tumor and therefore reduce the incidence of treatment refractory and relapsed disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Rose Paul
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA (M.R.P., P.E.Z.); Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Peter E Zage
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA (M.R.P., P.E.Z.); Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
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11
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Angom RS, Mondal SK, Wang F, Madamsetty VS, Wang E, Dutta SK, Gulani Y, Sarabia-Estrada R, Sarkaria JN, Quiñones-Hinojosa A, Mukhopadhyay D. Ablation of neuropilin-1 improves the therapeutic response in conventional drug-resistant glioblastoma multiforme. Oncogene 2020; 39:7114-7126. [PMID: 33005016 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01462-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly proliferative and locally invasive cancer with poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate. Although anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) therapy offers short-term benefit to GBM patients, this approach fails as the tumor develops into a more invasive and drug-resistant phenotype and ultimately recurs. Recently, both glioma stemlike cells (GSCs) and brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs) have been implicated in GBM recurrence and its resistance to therapy. We observed that patient-derived GBM cells expressing shRNAs of VEGF or neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) attenuate cancer stem cell markers, inhibit the tumor-initiating cell's neurosphere-forming capacity, and migration. Furthermore, both VEGF and NRP-1 knockdown inhibit the growth of patient-derived GBM xenografts in both zebrafish and mouse models. Interestingly, NRP-1-depleted patient-derived GBM xenografts substantially prolonged survival in mice compared to that of VEGF depletion. Our results also demonstrate that NRP-1 ablation of patient-derived GBM cells improves the sensitivity of TMZ and enhances the overall survival of the respective tumor-bearing mice. This improved outcome may provide insight into the inhibition of GBM progression and effective treatment strategies by targeting NRP-1 in addition to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramcharan Singh Angom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Sujan Kumar Mondal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Hillman Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Inner Mongolia Medical University Affiliated Hospital, 010050, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Vijay Sagar Madamsetty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Enfeng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Shamit K Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Yash Gulani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Rachel Sarabia-Estrada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jann N Sarkaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Debabrata Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
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12
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Dumond A, Pagès G. Neuropilins, as Relevant Oncology Target: Their Role in the Tumoral Microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:662. [PMID: 32766254 PMCID: PMC7380111 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is one of the key mechanisms involved in tumor growth and metastatic dissemination. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR) represent one of the major signaling pathways which mediates angiogenesis. The VEGF/VEGFR axis was intensively targeted by monoclonal antibodies or by tyrosine kinase inhibitors to destroy the tumor vascular network. By inhibiting oxygen and nutrient supply, this strategy was supposed to cure cancers. However, despite a lengthening of the progression free survival in several types of tumors including colon, lung, breast, kidney, and ovarian cancers, modest improvements in overall survival were reported. Anti-angiogenic therapies targeting VEGF/VEGFR are still used in colon and ovarian cancer and remain reference treatments for renal cell carcinoma. Although the concept of inhibiting angiogenesis remains relevant, new targets need to be discovered to improve the therapeutic index of anti-VEGF/VEGFR. Neuropilin 1 and 2 (NRP1/2), initially described as neuronal receptors, stimulate angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and immune tolerance. Moreover, overexpression of NRPs in several tumors is synonymous of patients' shorter survival. This article aims to overview the different roles of NRPs in cells constituting the tumor microenvironment to highlight the therapeutic relevance of their targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Dumond
- Medical Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Gilles Pagès
- Medical Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Monaco.,Inserm U1081, CNRS UMR 7284, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Institut de Recherche sur le Cancer et le Vieillissement de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
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13
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Gronseth E, Gupta A, Koceja C, Kumar S, Kutty RG, Rarick K, Wang L, Ramchandran R. Astrocytes influence medulloblastoma phenotypes and CD133 surface expression. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235852. [PMID: 32628717 PMCID: PMC7337293 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The medulloblastoma (MB) microenvironment is diverse, and cell-cell interactions within this milieu is of prime importance. Astrocytes, a major component of the microenvironment, have been shown to impact primary tumor cell phenotypes and metastasis. Based on proximity of MB cells and astrocytes in the brain microenvironment, we investigated whether astrocytes may influence MB cell phenotypes directly. Astrocyte conditioned media (ACM) increased Daoy MB cell invasion, adhesion, and in vivo cellular protrusion formation. ACM conditioning of MB cells also increased CD133 surface expression, a key cancer stem cell marker of MB. Additional neural stem cell markers, Nestin and Oct-4A, were also increased by ACM conditioning, as well as neurosphere formation. By knocking down CD133 using short interfering RNA (siRNA), we showed that ACM upregulated CD133 expression in MB plays an important role in invasion, adhesion and neurosphere formation. Collectively, our data suggests that astrocytes influence MB cell phenotypes by regulating CD133 expression, a key protein with defined roles in MB tumorgenicity and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Gronseth
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Children’s Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ankan Gupta
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Children’s Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Chris Koceja
- Versiti, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Suresh Kumar
- Division of Pediatric Pathology, Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Raman G. Kutty
- Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Acsension St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Kevin Rarick
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ramani Ramchandran
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Children’s Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Paul MR, Huo Y, Liu A, Lesperance J, Garancher A, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Zage PE. Characterization of G-CSF receptor expression in medulloblastoma. Neurooncol Adv 2020; 2:vdaa062. [PMID: 32642714 PMCID: PMC7316203 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaa062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Identifying mechanisms of medulloblastoma recurrence is a key to improving patient survival, and targeting treatment-resistant subpopulations within tumors could reduce disease recurrence. Expression of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSF-R, CD114) is a potential marker of cancer stem cells, and therefore we hypothesized that a subpopulation of medulloblastoma cells would also express CD114 and would demonstrate chemoresistance and responsiveness to G-CSF. Methods Prevalence of CD114-positive (CD114+) cells in medulloblastoma cell lines, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors, and primary patient tumor samples were assessed by flow cytometry. Growth rates, chemoresistance, and responses to G-CSF of CD114+ and CD114-negative (CD114−) cells were characterized in vitro using continuous live cell imaging and flow cytometry. Gene expression profiles were compared between CD114+ and CD114− medulloblastoma cells using quantitative RT-PCR. Results CD114+ cells were identifiable in medulloblastoma cell lines, PDX tumors, and primary patient tumors and have slower growth rates than CD114− or mixed populations. G-CSF accelerates the growth of CD114+ cells, and CD114+ cells are more chemoresistant. The CD114+ population is enriched when G-CSF treatment follows chemotherapy. The CD114+ population also has higher expression of the CSF3R, NRP-1, TWIST1, and MYCN genes. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that a subpopulation of CD114+ medulloblastoma cells exists in cell lines and tumors, which may evade traditional chemotherapy and respond to exogenous G-CSF. These properties invite further investigation into the role of G-CSF in medulloblastoma therapy and methods to specifically target these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Rose Paul
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Yuchen Huo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Andrea Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jacqueline Lesperance
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Alexandra Garancher
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert J Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Peter E Zage
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
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15
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Bartek J, Merchut-Maya JM, Maya-Mendoza A, Fornara O, Rahbar A, Bröchner CB, Sehested A, Söderberg-Nauclér C, Bartek J, Bartkova J. Cancer cell stemness, responses to experimental genotoxic treatments, cytomegalovirus protein expression and DNA replication stress in pediatric medulloblastomas. Cell Cycle 2020; 19:727-741. [PMID: 32054408 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2020.1728025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent progress in research on brain tumors, including identification of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), little is known about the interplay of stemness with the commonly observed infection by the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and the widespread features of replication stress in these malignancies. To shed more light on these outstanding issues, here we combine immunohistochemical analysis of archival clinical specimens from a cohort of 25 human pediatric medulloblastomas, complemented by functional experiments and analytical approaches to examine three medulloblastoma cell lines. In the clinical samples, we find consistent, yet individually variable subsets of CSCs expressing the stem-cell markers CD133 and CD15, and a candidate marker VEGFR2, across the spectrum of endogenous DNA damage (γH2AX), expression of HCMV immediate early and late proteins, proliferation rate (Ki67) or molecular class of MB. Contrary to MB cell lines DAOY and D324, the D283 cells showed pronounced phenotypic features of stemness, associated with enhanced endogenous DNA damage, exceptionally high susceptibility to infection with HCMV, unorthodox signaling pathway response to ionizing radiation and hyperactive response to hydroxyurea-induced replication stress. Notably, single-molecule DNA fiber analysis revealed aberrantly slow replication fork progression, pronounced fork asymmetry and inability to timely recover from drug-induced fork stalling in stem-like D283 cells, all hallmarks of pronounced chronic replication stress and propensity to genomic instability. These findings provide insights into human medulloblastoma stemness phenotypes, with various susceptibilities to infection by HCMV and impact on replication fork (mal)function, with implications for better understanding pathogenesis and responses to treatment in pediatric brain malignancies.Abbreviations: CSC: cancer stem-like cells; FBS: fetal bovine serum; HCMV: human cytomegalovirus; MB: medulloblastoma; MBSC: medulloblastoma stem cells; MOI: multiplicity of infection; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; RPA: replication protein A; RS: replication stress; SHH: sonic hedgehog; VEGFR2: vascular endothelia growth factor receptor 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Bartek
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Microbial Pathogenesis, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Genome Integrity Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neurosurgery, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Olesja Fornara
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Microbial Pathogenesis, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Afsar Rahbar
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Microbial Pathogenesis, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Astrid Sehested
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Microbial Pathogenesis, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jiri Bartek
- Genome Integrity Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Genome Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jirina Bartkova
- Genome Integrity Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Genome Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Human Medulloblastoma Cell Lines: Investigating on Cancer Stem Cell-Like Phenotype. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12010226. [PMID: 31963405 PMCID: PMC7016648 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Despite the progress of new treatments, the risk of recurrence, morbidity, and death remains significant and the long-term adverse effects in survivors are substantial. The fraction of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) because of their self-renewal ability and multi-lineage differentiation potential is critical for tumor initiation, growth, and resistance to therapies. For the development of new CSC-targeted therapies, further in-depth studies are needed using enriched and stable MB-CSCs populations. This work, aimed at identifying the amount of CSCs in three available human cell lines (DAOY, D341, and D283), describes different approaches based on the expression of stemness markers. First, we explored potential differences in gene and protein expression patterns of specific stem cell markers. Then, in order to identify and discriminate undifferentiated from differentiated cells, MB cells were characterized using a physical characterization method based on a high-frequency dielectrophoresis approach. Finally, we compared their tumorigenic potential in vivo, through engrafting in nude mice. Concordantly, our findings identified the D283 human cell line as an ideal model of CSCs, providing important evidence on the use of a commercial human MB cell line for the development of new strategic CSC-targeting therapies.
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17
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Prasad S, Ramachandran S, Gupta N, Kaushik I, Srivastava SK. Cancer cells stemness: A doorstep to targeted therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165424. [PMID: 30818002 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in research on cancer have led to understand the pathogenesis of cancer and development of new anticancer drugs. Despite of these advancements, many tumors have been found to recur, undergo metastasis and develop resistance to therapy. Accumulated evidences suggest that small population of cancer cells known as cancer stem cells (CSC) are responsible for reconstitution and propagation of the disease. CSCs possess the ability to self-renew, differentiate and proliferate like normal stem cells. CSCs also appear to have resistance to anti-cancer therapies and subsequent relapse. The underlying stemness properties of the CSCs are reliant on multiple molecular targets such as signaling pathways, cell surface molecules, tumor microenvironment, apoptotic pathways, microRNA, stem cell differentiation, and drug resistance markers. Thus an effective therapeutic strategy relies on targeting CSCs to overcome the possible tumor relapse and chemoresistance. The targeted inhibition of these stem cell biomarkers is one of the promising approaches to eliminate cancer stemness. This review article summarizes possible targets of cancer cell stemness for the complete treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahdeo Prasad
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sharavan Ramachandran
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Nehal Gupta
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Itishree Kaushik
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sanjay K Srivastava
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA.
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18
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Gurrapu S, Tamagnone L. Semaphorins as Regulators of Phenotypic Plasticity and Functional Reprogramming of Cancer Cells. Trends Mol Med 2019; 25:303-314. [PMID: 30824197 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Semaphorins, initially found as neuronal guidance cues in embryo development, are now appreciated as major regulators of tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis, as well as of cancer progression. In fact, semaphorin signals have a profound impact on cell morphology, which has been commonly associated with the ability to regulate monomeric GTPases, cell-substrate adhesion, and cytoskeletal dynamics. Recently, however, several reports have indicated a novel and additional function of diverse semaphorins in the regulation of gene expression and cell phenotype plasticity. In this review article, we discuss these novel findings, focusing on the role of semaphorin signals in the regulation of bi-directional epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, stem cell properties, and drug resistance, which greatly contribute to the pathogenesis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeharsha Gurrapu
- Cancer Cell Biology Laboratory, Candiolo Cancer Institute-FPO, IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo, Italy
| | - Luca Tamagnone
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy. .,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
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19
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VEGF/Neuropilin Signaling in Cancer Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030490. [PMID: 30678134 PMCID: PMC6387347 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The function of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cancer extends beyond angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Specifically, VEGF-mediated signaling occurs in tumor cells and this signaling contributes to key aspects of tumorigenesis including the self-renewal and survival of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In addition to VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases, the neuropilins (NRPs) are critical for mediating the effects of VEGF on CSCs, primarily because of their ability to impact the function of growth factor receptors and integrins. VEGF/NRP signaling can regulate the expression and function of key molecules that have been implicated in CSC function including Rho family guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) and transcription factors. The VEGF/NRP signaling axis is a prime target for therapy because it can confer resistance to standard chemotherapy, which is ineffective against most CSCs. Indeed, several studies have shown that targeting either NRP1 or NRP2 can inhibit tumor initiation and decrease resistance to other therapies.
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