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Pu T, Wang J, Wei J, Zeng A, Zhang J, Chen J, Yin L, Li J, Lin TP, Melamed J, Corey E, Gao AC, Wu BJ. Stromal-derived MAOB promotes prostate cancer growth and progression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi4935. [PMID: 38335292 PMCID: PMC10857382 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi4935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) develops in a microenvironment where the stromal cells modulate adjacent tumor growth and progression. Here, we demonstrated elevated levels of monoamine oxidase B (MAOB), a mitochondrial enzyme that degrades biogenic and dietary monoamines, in human PC stroma, which was associated with poor clinical outcomes of PC patients. Knockdown or overexpression of MAOB in human prostate stromal fibroblasts indicated that MAOB promotes cocultured PC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and co-inoculated prostate tumor growth in mice. Mechanistically, MAOB induces a reactive stroma with activated marker expression, increased extracellular matrix remodeling, and acquisition of a protumorigenic phenotype through enhanced production of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, MAOB transcriptionally activates CXCL12 through Twist1 synergizing with TGFβ1-dependent Smads in prostate stroma, which stimulates tumor-expressed CXCR4-Src/JNK signaling in a paracrine manner. Pharmacological inhibition of stromal MAOB restricted PC xenograft growth in mice. Collectively, these findings characterize the contribution of MAOB to PC and suggest MAOB as a potential stroma-based therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianjie Pu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
| | - Alan Zeng
- Undergraduate Programs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jinglong Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
| | - Jingrui Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
| | - Lijuan Yin
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
| | - Tzu-Ping Lin
- Department of Urology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine and Shu-Tien Urological Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jonathan Melamed
- Department of Pathology, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Allen C. Gao
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Boyang Jason Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
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Ainiwaer Z, Maisaidi R, Liu J, Han L, Husaiyin S, Lu J, Niyazi M. Genetic polymorphisms of PGF and TNFAIP2 genes related to cervical cancer risk among Uygur females from China. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2020; 21:212. [PMID: 33109108 PMCID: PMC7590450 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-020-01144-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND PGF and TNFAIP2 are important angiogenic factors, which were abnormal expression in cervical cancer (CC). However, there is currently no report investigating the relationship of PGF and TNFAIP2 gene polymorphisms to CC risk. METHODS We conducted a case-control study of 342 CC patients and 498 cancer-free controls in a Chinese Uygur female population. Three SNPs (PGF rs8019391, PGF rs2268615, and TNFAIP2 rs710100) were selected and genotyped to assess the possible association of PGF and TNFAIP2 polymorphisms with CC susceptibility. Logistic regression analysis adjusted by age was used. RESULTS PGF rs2268615 (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.04-1.86, p = 0.024) and TNFAIP2 rs710100 (OR = 1.44, 95% CI =1.07-1.95, p = 0.018) polymorphisms were associated with the increased risk of CC. Moreover, T allele of PGF rs8019391 was highly represented in patients with stage III-IV compared with stage I-II (OR = 2.17, p = 4.58 × 10- 4). MDR analysis revealed a positive interaction between the SNPs. CONCLUSION Our data indicated that PGF rs2268615, and TNFAIP2 rs710100 polymorphisms might be risk factors for CC susceptibility, which contributed to the increased risk of CC. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zumurelaiti Ainiwaer
- Department of Gynecology, Xinjiang Medical University, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No 91 Tianqi Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830001, China
| | - Reyilanmu Maisaidi
- Department of Gynecology, Xinjiang Medical University, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No 91 Tianqi Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830001, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Gynecology, Xinjiang Medical University, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No 91 Tianqi Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830001, China
| | - Lili Han
- Department of Gynecology, Xinjiang Medical University, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No 91 Tianqi Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830001, China.
| | - Sulaiya Husaiyin
- Department of Gynecology, Xinjiang Medical University, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No 91 Tianqi Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830001, China
| | - Jing Lu
- Department of Gynecology, Xinjiang Medical University, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No 91 Tianqi Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830001, China
| | - Mayinuer Niyazi
- Department of Gynecology, Xinjiang Medical University, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No 91 Tianqi Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830001, China
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The role of placental growth factor (PlGF) and its receptor system in retinal vascular diseases. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 69:116-136. [PMID: 30385175 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. Upon binding to VEGF- and neuropilin-receptor sub-types, PlGF modulates a range of neural, glial and vascular cell responses that are distinct from VEGF-A. As PlGF expression is selectively associated with pathological angiogenesis and inflammation, its blockade does not affect the healthy vasculature. PlGF actions have been extensively described in tumor biology but more recently there has been accumulating preclinical evidence that indicates that this growth factor could have an important role in retinal diseases. High levels of PlGF have been found in aqueous humor, vitreous and/or retina of patients exhibiting retinopathies, especially those with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). Expression of this growth factor seems to correlate closely with many of the key pathogenic features of early and late retinopathy in preclinical models. For example, studies using genetic modification and/or pharmacological treatment to block PlGF in the laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) model, oxygen-induced retinopathy model, as well as various murine diabetic models, have shown that PlGF deletion or inhibition can reduce neovascularization, retinal leakage, inflammation and gliosis, without affecting vascular development or inducing neuronal degeneration. Moreover, an inhibitory effect of PlGF blockade on retinal scarring in the mouse CNV model has also been recently demonstrated and was found to be unique for PlGF inhibition, as compared to various VEGF inhibition strategies. Together, these preclinical results suggest that anti-PlGF therapy might have advantages over anti-VEGF treatment, and that it may have clinical applications as a standalone treatment or in combination with anti-VEGF. Additional clinical studies are clearly needed to further elucidate the role of PlGF and its potential as a therapeutic target in ocular diseases.
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Zins K, Heller G, Mayerhofer M, Schreiber M, Abraham D. Differential prognostic impact of interleukin-34 mRNA expression and infiltrating immune cell composition in intrinsic breast cancer subtypes. Oncotarget 2018; 9:23126-23148. [PMID: 29796177 PMCID: PMC5955405 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-34 (IL-34) is a ligand for the CSF-1R and has also two additional receptors, PTPRZ1 and syndecan-1. IL-34 plays a role in innate immunity, inflammation, and cancer. However, the role of IL-34 in breast cancer is still ill-defined. We analyzed IL-34 mRNA expression in breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer patients and applied established computational approaches (CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, TIMER, TCIA), to analyze gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Expression of IL-34 was associated with a favorable prognosis in luminal and HER2 but not basal breast cancer patients. Gene expression of CSF-1 and CSF-1R was strongly associated with myeloid cell infiltration, while we found no or only weak correlations between IL-34, PTPRZ1, syndecan-1 and myeloid cells. In vitro experiments showed that tyrosine phosphorylation of CSF-1R, ERK, and FAK and cell migration are differentially regulated by IL-34 and CSF-1 in breast cancer cell lines. Collectively, our data suggest that correlation of IL-34 gene expression with survival is dependent on the molecular breast cancer subtype. Furthermore, IL-34 is not associated with myeloid cell infiltration and directly regulates breast cancer cell migration and signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Zins
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerwin Heller
- Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Mayerhofer
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Schreiber
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Dietmar Abraham
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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Zins K, Schäfer R, Paulus P, Dobler S, Fakhari N, Sioud M, Aharinejad S, Abraham D. Frizzled2 signaling regulates growth of high-risk neuroblastomas by interfering with β-catenin-dependent and β-catenin-independent signaling pathways. Oncotarget 2018; 7:46187-46202. [PMID: 27323822 PMCID: PMC5216790 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled2 (FZD2) is a receptor for Wnts and may activate both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways in cancer. However, no studies have reported an association between FZD2 signaling and high-risk NB so far. Here we report that FZD2 signaling pathways are critical to NB growth in MYCN-single copy SK-N-AS and MYCN-amplified SK-N-DZ high-risk NB cells. We demonstrate that stimulation of FZD2 by Wnt3a and Wnt5a regulates β-catenin-dependent and -independent Wnt signaling factors. FZD2 blockade suppressed β-catenin-dependent signaling activity and increased phosphorylation of PKC, AKT and ERK in vitro, consistent with upregulation of β-catenin-independent signaling activity. Finally, FZD2 small interfering RNA knockdown suppressed tumor growth in murine NB xenograft models associated with suppressed β-catenin-dependent signaling and a less vascularized phenotype in both NB xenografts. Together, our study suggests a role for FZD2 in high-risk NB cell growth and provides a potential candidate for therapeutic inhibition in FZD2-expressing NB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Zins
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
| | | | - Patrick Paulus
- Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, A-4040, Austria
| | - Silvia Dobler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, A-4040, Austria
| | - Nazak Fakhari
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
| | - Mouldy Sioud
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, N-0310, Norway
| | - Seyedhossein Aharinejad
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
| | - Dietmar Abraham
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090, Austria.,Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
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PlGF and VEGF-A Regulate Growth of High-Risk MYCN-Single Copy Neuroblastoma Xenografts via Different Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17101613. [PMID: 27669225 PMCID: PMC5085646 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17101613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood and is a rapidly growing, highly-vascularized cancer. NBs frequently express angiogenic factors and high tumor angiogenesis has been associated with poor outcomes. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic protein belonging to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and is up-regulated mainly in pathologic conditions. Recently, PlGF was identified as a member of a gene expression signature characterizing highly malignant NB stem cells drawing attention as a potential therapeutic target in NB. In the present study, we sought to investigate the expression of PlGF in NB patients and the effect of PlGF inhibition on high-risk MYCN-non-amplified SK-N-AS NB xenografts. Human SK-N-AS cells, which are poorly differentiated and express PlGF and VEGF-A, were implanted subcutaneously in athymic nude mice. Treatment was done by intratumoral injection of replication-incompetent adenoviruses (Ad) expressing PlGF- or VEGF-specific short hairpin (sh)RNA, or soluble (s)VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). The effect on tumor growth and angiogenesis was analyzed. High PlGF expression levels were observed in human advanced-stage NBs. Down-regulating PlGF significantly reduced NB growth in established NB xenografts by reducing cancer cell proliferation but did not suppress angiogenesis. In contrast, blocking VEGF by administration of Ad(sh)VEGF and Ad(s)VEGFR2 reduced tumor growth associated with decreased tumor vasculature. These findings suggest that PlGF and VEGF-A modulate MYCN-non-amplified NB tumors by different mechanisms and support a role for PlGF in NB biology.
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Nedergaard MK, Michaelsen SR, Urup T, Broholm H, El Ali H, Poulsen HS, Stockhausen MT, Kjaer A, Lassen U. 18F-FET microPET and microMRI for anti-VEGF and anti-PlGF response assessment in an orthotopic murine model of human glioblastoma. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0115315. [PMID: 25680186 PMCID: PMC4332497 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conflicting data exist for anti-cancer effects of anti-placental growth factor (anti-PlGF) in combination with anti-VEGF. Still, this treatment combination has not been evaluated in intracranial glioblastoma (GBM) xenografts. In clinical studies, position emission tomography (PET) using the radiolabeled amino acid O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) add complementary but distinct information about glioma growth; however, the value of 18F-FET MicroPET combined with MicroMRI has not been investigated preclinically. Here we examined the use of 18F-FET MicroPET and MicroMRI for evaluation of anti-VEGF and anti-PlGF treatment response in GBM xenografts. METHODS Mice with intracranial GBM were treated with anti-VEGF, anti-PlGF + anti-VEGF or saline. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI), 18F-FET MicroPET and T2-weighted (T2w)-MRI were used to follow tumour development. Primary end-point was survival, and tumours were subsequently analysed for Ki67 proliferation index and micro-vessel density (MVD). Further, PlGF and VEGFR-1 expression were examined in a subset of the xenograft tumours and in 13 GBM patient tumours. RESULTS Anti-VEGF monotherapy increased survival and decreased 18F-FET uptake, BLI and MVD, while no additive effect of anti-PlGF was observed. 18F-FET SUV max tumour-to-brain (T/B) ratio was significantly lower after one week (114 ± 6%, n = 11 vs. 143 ± 8%, n = 13; p = 0.02) and two weeks of treatment (116 ± 12%, n = 8 vs. 190 ± 24%, n = 5; p = 0.02) in the anti-VEGF group as compared with the control group. In contrast, T2w-MRI volume was unaffected by anti-VEGF. Gene expression of PlGF and VEGFR-1 in xenografts was significantly lower than in patient tumours. CONCLUSION 18F-FET PET was feasible for anti-angiogenic response evaluation and superior to T2w-MRI; however, no additive anti-cancer effect of anti-PlGF and anti-VEGF was observed. Thus, this study supports use of 18F-FET PET for response evaluation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Kjoelhede Nedergaard
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Thomas Urup
- Department of Radiation Biology, The Finsen Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Helle Broholm
- Department of Neuropathology, Center of Diagnostic Investigation, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik El Ali
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Andreas Kjaer
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Lassen
- Phase 1 Unit, Department of Oncology, The Finsen Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Aguirre Palma LM, Gehrke I, Kreuzer KA. Angiogenic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): Where do we stand? Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2014; 93:225-36. [PMID: 25459668 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2014.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of angiogenesis in haematological malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is difficult to envision, because leukaemia cells are not dependent on a network of blood vessels to support basic physiological requirements. Regardless, CLL cells secrete high levels of major angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). Nonetheless, it remains unclear how most angiogenic factors regulate accumulation and delayed apoptosis of CLL cells. Angiogenic factors such as leptin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), follistatin, angiopoietin-1 (Ang1), angiogenin (ANG), midkine (MK), pleiotrophin (PTN), progranulin (PGRN), proliferin (PLF), placental growth factor (PIGF), and endothelial locus-1 (Del-1), represent novel therapeutic targets of future CLL research but have remained widely overlooked. This review aims to outline our current understanding of angiogenic growth factors and their relationship with CLL, a still uncured haematopoietic malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iris Gehrke
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| | - Karl-Anton Kreuzer
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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Chen Y, Jiang T, Mao A, Xu J. Esophageal cancer stem cells express PLGF to increase cancer invasion through MMP9 activation. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:12749-55. [PMID: 25213700 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2601-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a distinct population in tumors and cause cancer relapse and metastasis. Thus, treating CSCs are believed to be potential to cure rapidly growing and highly metastatic cancers. To date, CSCs in esophageal cancer have not been characterized. In the current study, we detected significant higher levels of placental growth factor (PLGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in the esophageal cancers with metastasis, compared to those without metastasis, in which the expression levels of PLGF and MMP9 strongly correlated with each other. Thus, we used a human esophageal cancer cell line, TE-1, to examine the cross talk of PLGF and MMP9. We found that the levels of PLGF in TE-1 cells positively affected the levels of MMP9, while the levels of MMP9 did not affected the levels of PLGF, suggesting that PLGF may activate MMP9 in esophageal cancer cells. Then, we separated PLGF-positive and PLGF-negative TE-1 cells that had been transfected with a GFP reporter under a PLGF promoter by flow cytometry. We found that PLGF-positive cells grew significantly faster than PLGF-negative cells both in vitro and in vivo in a stereotactical implantation model, suggesting that PLGF-positive cells are likely CSCs in esophageal cancer. Taken together, we demonstrate that PLGF-positive cells appear to be CSCs in esophageal cancer, and they may release PLGF to promote cancer metastasis through MMP9 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Chen
- Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1630 Dongfang Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
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