Modulated Start-Up Mode of Cancer Cell Migration Through Spinophilin-Tubular Networks

Trafficking of carbonic anhydrase 12 and bicarbonate transporters by histamine stimulation mediates intracellular acidic scenario in lung cancer cells

Carbonic anhydrase 12 is considered an oncogenic and acidic microenvironmental factor in cancer cells. To verify the role of histamine signalling as an anti-cancer signal, we determined the roles of CA12 and its associated bicarbonate transporters. In this study, histamine stimulation mediated mislocalization of CA12 in lung cancer cells. Histamine receptor activation-mediated CA12 endocytosis and pH were restored by CaMKII inhibition. CA12-associated AE2 expression was enhanced, whereas NBCn1 expression and its activity were reduced by histamine stimulation. Histamine receptor activation-mediated acidification was induced by internalised CA12 and NBCn1 and, at the same time by increased bicarbonate efflux through enhanced AE2 expression. Inhibition of protein trafficking by bafilomycin restored CA12 and AE2 localisation and diminished cellular acidosis. Thus, we verified that histamine stimulation induced an acidic scenario, which revealed trafficking of CA12 and its associated bicarbonate transporters in lung cancer cells and its dysregulated pH modulation may be involved in the histamine signalling-mediated anti-cancer process.

Agarose spot migration assay to measure the chemoattractant potential of extracellular vesicles: applications in regenerative medicine and cancer metastasis

BACKGROUND

The recruitment of effector cells is one of the novel functions described for extracellular vesicles (EVs) that needs further study. For instance, cell recruitment by mesenchymal stromal cell derived-EVs (MSC-EVs) is one of the features by which MSC-EVs may induce regeneration and ameliorate tissue injury. On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests that cancer EVs play an important role in the preparation of the pre-metastatic niche (PMN) by recruiting their primary tumour cells. Understanding and measuring the potential of MSC-EVs or cancer-EVs to induce cell migration and recruitment is essential for cell-free therapeutic approaches and/or for a better knowledge of cancer metastasis, respectively. In this context, classical in vitro migration assays do not completely mimic the potential situation by which EVs exert their chemotactic capacity.

RESULTS

We adapted an agarose spot migration assay as an in vitro system to evaluate the cell recruitment capacity of locally delivered or localized EVs. Cell migration was tracked for 12 h or 48 h, respectively. Thereafter, endpoint migration images and time-lapse videos were analysed to quantify several parameters aiming to determine the migration of cells to either MSC-EV or pro-metastatic EV. The number of cells contained inside the agarose spots, the migration distance, the area occupied by cells, the directionality of the cell movement, and the Euclidean distance were measured. This multi-parametric evaluation revealed the potential of different MSC-EV preparations to recruit endothelial cells and to detect an enhanced recruitment capacity of highly metastatic PC3-derived EVs (PC3-EVs) compared to low-metastatic LNCaP-EVs in a tumour cell-specific manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this agarose spot migration assay may offer a diversity of measurements and migration settings not provided by classical migration assays and reveal its potential use in the EV field in two different contexts with recruitment in common: regeneration and cancer metastasis.

Activated PyK2 and Its Associated Molecules Transduce Cellular Signaling from the Cancerous Milieu for Cancer Metastasis

PyK2 is a member of the proline-rich tyrosine kinase and focal adhesion kinase families and is ubiquitously expressed. PyK2 is mainly activated by stimuli, such as activated Src kinases and intracellular acidic pH. The mechanism of PyK2 activation in cancer cells has been addressed extensively. The up-regulation of PyK2 through overexpression and enhanced phosphorylation is a key feature of tumorigenesis and cancer migration. In this review, we summarized the cancer milieu, including acidification and cancer-associated molecules, such as chemical reagents, interactive proteins, chemokine-related molecules, calcium channels/transporters, and oxidative molecules that affect the fate of PyK2. The inhibition of PyK2 leads to a beneficial strategy to attenuate cancer cell development, including metastasis. Thus, we highlighted the effect of PyK2 on various cancer cell types and the distribution of molecules that affect PyK2 activation. In particular, we underlined the relationship between PyK2 and cancer metastasis and its potential to treat cancer cells.

Role of Exosomes Derived from Secretome Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (Exo-HUVEC) as Anti-Apoptotic, Anti-Oxidant, and Increasing Fibroblast Migration in Photoaging Skin Models

Background: Prolonged skin exposure to ultraviolet light rays leads to photoaging, which is characterized molecularly by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell apoptosis, and a decrease in collagen. Photoaging therapy has been a challenge until recently. Fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light proved to be a good model for photoaging skin. They are also the primary dermal cells that stimulate collagen production and extracellular matrix (ECM), which contribute to skin aging. Exo-HUVEC is rich in growth factors, cytokines, and miRNAs, and they all play a vital role in cell-to-cell communication. The migration of fibroblasts is crucial for the development, repair, and regeneration of skin tissue during the repair of skin aging. Objective: An in vitro experimental study was conducted to analyze the effect of Exo-HUVEC on oxidative stress levels, cell apoptosis, and fibroblast migration rate after UVB ray exposure on fibroblasts. Methods: The fibroblast cultures were divided into five groups, including one without UVB exposure, one with UVB exposure, and one with UVB+Exo-HUVEC exposure at 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%, respectively. Oxidative stress levels were measured using the ELISA test for malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, flow cytometry was used to measure apoptosis using PI/Annexin markers, while a scratch assay examination was used to measure fibroblast migration rate using imaging readings. Results: There were significant differences in the levels of MDA, PI/Annexin, and the rate of fibroblast migration between the UVB-irradiated control group and the Exo-HUVEC treatment group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Exo-HUVEC is a marker of photoaging improvement, which has anti-apoptotic effects and reduces oxidative stress, as well as increases fibroblast migration rate.

Dynamic synovial fibroblasts are modulated by NBCn1 as a potential target in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by aggressive fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and pannus formation. Various therapeutic strategies have been developed against inflammatory cytokines in RA in recent decades. Based on the migratory features of FLSs, we examined whether modulation of the migratory module attenuates RA severity. In this study, inflamed synovial fluid-stimulated FLSs exhibited enhanced migration and migratory apparatus expression, and sodium bicarbonate cotransporter n1 (NBCn1) was identified in primary cultured RA-FLSs for the first time. The NBC inhibitor S0859 attenuated the migration of FLSs induced with synovial fluid from patients with RA or with TNF-α stimulation. Inhibition of NBCs with S0859 in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model reduced joint swelling and destruction without blood, hepatic, or renal toxicity. Primary FLSs isolated from the CIA-induced mouse model also showed reduced migration in the presence of S0859. Our results suggest that inflammatory mediators in synovial fluid, including TNF-α, recruit NBCn1 to the plasma membrane of FLSs to provide dynamic properties and that modulation of NBCn1 could be developed into a therapeutic strategy for RA.