1
|
Bozorgmehr N, Okoye I, Mashhouri S, Lu J, Koleva P, Walker J, Elahi S. CD71 + erythroid cells suppress T-cell effector functions and predict immunotherapy outcomes in patients with virus-associated solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-006595. [PMID: 37236637 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of cancer. However, only a portion of patients respond to such treatments. Therefore, it remains a prevailing clinical need to identify factors associated with acquired resistance or lack of response to ICIs. We hypothesized that the immunosuppressive CD71+ erythroid cells (CECs) within the tumor and/or distant 'out-of-field' may impair antitumor response. METHODS We studied 38 patients with cancer through a phase II clinical trial investigating the effects of oral valproate combined with avelumab (anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)) in virus-associated solid tumors (VASTs). We quantified the frequency/functionality of CECs in blood and biopsies of patients. Also, we established an animal model of melanoma (B16-F10) to investigate the possible effects of erythropoietin (EPO) treatment on anti-PD-L1 therapy. RESULTS We found a substantial expansion of CECs in the blood of patients with VAST compared with healthy controls. We noted that the frequency of CECs in circulation was significantly higher at the baseline and throughout the study in non-responders versus responders to PD-L1 therapy. Moreover, we observed that CECs in a dose-dependent manner suppress effector functions of autologous T cells in vitro. The subpopulation of CD45+CECs appears to have a more robust immunosuppressive property compared with their CD45- counterparts. This was illustrated by a stronger expression of reactive oxygen species, PD-L1/PD-L2, and V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation in this subpopulation. Lastly, we found a higher frequency of CECs in the blood circulation at the later cancer stage and their abundance was associated with anemia, and a poor response to immunotherapy. Finally, we report the expansion of CECs in the spleen and tumor microenvironment of mice with melanoma. We found that although CECs in tumor-bearing mice secret artemin, this was not the case for VAST-derived CECs in humans. Notably, our results imply that EPO, a frequently used drug for anemia treatment in patients with cancer, may promote the generation of CECs and subsequently abrogates the therapeutic effects of ICIs (eg, anti-PD-L1). CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that anemia by the expansion of CECs may enhance cancer progression. Notably, measuring the frequency of CECs may serve as a valuable biomarker to predict immunotherapy outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Najmeh Bozorgmehr
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Isobel Okoye
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Siavash Mashhouri
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Julia Lu
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Petya Koleva
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - John Walker
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shokrollah Elahi
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Glycobiology of cellular expiry: Decrypting the role of glycan-lectin regulatory complex and therapeutic strategies focusing on cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 207:115367. [PMID: 36481348 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Often the outer leaflets of living cells bear a coat of glycosylated proteins, which primarily regulates cellular processes. Glycosylation of such proteins occurs as part of their post-translational modification. Within the endoplasmic reticulum, glycosylation enables the attachment of specific oligosaccharide moieties such as, 'glycan' to the transmembrane receptor proteins which confers precise biological information for governing the cell fate. The nature and degree of glycosylation of cell surface receptors are regulated by a bunch of glycosyl transferases and glycosidases which fine-tune attachment or detachment of glycan moieties. In classical death receptors, upregulation of glycosylation by glycosyl transferases is capable of inducing cell death in T cells, tumor cells, etc. Thus, any deregulated alternation at surface glycosylation of these death receptors can result in life-threatening disorder like cancer. In addition, transmembrane glycoproteins and lectin receptors can transduce intracellular signals for cell death execution. Exogenous interaction of lectins with glycan containing death receptors signals for cell death initiation by modulating downstream signalings. Subsequently, endogenous glycan-lectin interplay aids in the customization and implementation of the cell death program. Lastly, the glycan-lectin recognition system dictates the removal of apoptotic cells by sending accurate signals to the extracellular milieu. Since glycosylation has proven to be a biomarker of cellular death and disease progression; glycans serve as specific therapeutic targets of cancers. In this context, we are reviewing the molecular mechanisms of the glycan-lectin regulatory network as an integral part of cell death machinery in cancer to target them for successful therapeutic and clinical approaches.
Collapse
|
3
|
Rasheduzzaman M, Murugan AVM, Zhang X, Oliveira T, Dolcetti R, Kenny L, Johnson NW, Kolarich D, Punyadeera C. Head and neck cancer N-glycome traits are cell line and HPV status–dependent. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:8401-8411. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04376-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification of proteins, and glycosylation changes at cell surfaces are frequently associated with malignant epithelia including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In HNSCC, 5-year survival remains poor, averaging around 50% globally: this is partly related to late diagnosis. Specific protein glycosylation signatures on malignant keratinocytes have promise as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and as therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, HNSCC-specific glycome is to date largely unknown. Herein, we tested six established HNSCC cell lines to capture the qualitative and semi-quantitative N-glycome using porous graphitized carbon liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. Oligomannose-type N-glycans were the predominant features in all HNSCC cell lines analysed (57.5–70%). The levels of sialylated N-glycans showed considerable cell line-dependent differences ranging from 24 to 35%. Importantly, α2-6 linked sialylated N-glycans were dominant across most HNSCC cell lines except in SCC-9 cells where similar levels of α2-6 and α2-3 sialylated N-glycans were observed. Furthermore, we found that HPV-positive cell lines contained higher levels of phosphorylated oligomannose N-glycans, which hint towards an upregulation of lysosomal pathways. Almost all fucose-type N-glycans carried core-fucose residues with just minor levels (< 4%) of Lewis-type fucosylation identified. We also observed paucimannose-type N-glycans (2–5.5%), though in low levels. Finally, we identified oligomannose N-glycans carrying core-fucose residues and confirmed their structure by tandem mass spectrometry. This first systematic mapping of the N-glycome revealed diverse and specific glycosylation features in HNSCC, paving the way for further studies aimed at assessing their possible diagnostic relevance.
Collapse
|
4
|
Mattox AK, Roelands J, Saal TM, Cheng Y, Rinchai D, Hendrickx W, Young GD, Diefenbach TJ, Berger AE, Westra WH, Bishop JA, Faquin WC, Marincola FM, Pittet MJ, Bedognetti D, Pai SI. Myeloid Cells Are Enriched in Tonsillar Crypts, Providing Insight into the Host Tropism of Human Papillomavirus. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2021; 191:1774-1786. [PMID: 34303699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Viruses are the second leading cause of cancer worldwide, and human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancers are increasing in incidence in the United States. HPV preferentially infects the crypts of the tonsils rather than the surface epithelium. The present study sought to characterize the unique microenvironment within the crypts to better understand the host tropism of HPV to a lymphoid-rich organ. Laser-capture microdissection of distinct anatomic areas (crypts, surface epithelium, and germinal centers) of the tonsil, coupled with transcriptional analysis and multiparameter immunofluorescence staining, was performed and demonstrated that the tonsillar crypts are enriched with myeloid populations that co-express multiple canonical and noncanonical immune checkpoints, including PD-L1, CTLA-4, HAVCR2 (TIM-3), ADORA2A, IDO1, BTLA, LGALS3, CDH1, CEACAM1, PVR, and C10orf54 (VISTA). The resident monocytes may foster a permissive microenvironment that facilitates HPV infection and persistence. Furthermore, the myeloid populations within HPV-associated tonsil cancers co-express the same immune checkpoints, providing insight into potential novel immunotherapeutic targets for HPV-associated head and neck cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Austin K Mattox
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jessica Roelands
- Cancer Program, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar; Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Talia M Saal
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yang Cheng
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Darawan Rinchai
- Cancer Program, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Geoffrey D Young
- Miami Cancer Institute and Department of Surgery, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Alan E Berger
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - William H Westra
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
| | - Justin A Bishop
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - William C Faquin
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Mikael J Pittet
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Sara I Pai
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ghasemi M, Vahedi Larijani L, Yazdani-Charati J, Kamali Hakim E. Reduced Expression of Galectin-8 May Contribute in Carcinogenic Pathway of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2021; 16:195-204. [PMID: 33936231 PMCID: PMC8085289 DOI: 10.30699/ijp.2021.121140.2318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background & Objective: Galectin-8 has relationships with cell growth and metastasis of some cancers. Due to controversy in the clinical significance of this protein in the cancer process, we investigated its roles in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: This study was performed on 93 samples of patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma or dysplasia of the head and neck, who underwent biopsy or surgery from 2015 till 2017 in Boo-Ali SINA hospital of Sari, Iran. The relevant paraffin embedded tissue blocks were obtained from archive of pathology and evaluated for galectin-8 by immunohistochemistry. The association between expression of galactin-8 and age, sex, location and stage of disease were assessed. To compare expression rate between the groups, Mc-Nemar, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used. The P-value<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Strong cytoplasmic and nuclear galactin-8 staining was observed in 97.6% cases of normal tissues while 77% of dysplastic lesions and 69% of the cancers revealed negative immunoreactivity. The intensity of expression in dysplastic and malignant tissues was significantly reduced compared with normal tissues (P=0.0001). The expression of galectin-8 did not correlate with stage (P=0.303), lymph node involvement (P=0.326), tumor grade (P=0.769), distant metastasis (P=0.748), and age (P=0.574). Conclusion: We observed that the expression of galectin-8 in dysplastic and malignant squamous epithelium significantly reduced compared with the normal counterpart of them in the head and neck. It may contribute to malignant transformation of head and neck squamous cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ghasemi
- Department of Pathology, Immunogenetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Laleh Vahedi Larijani
- Department of Pathology, Immunogenetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Jamshid Yazdani-Charati
- Department of Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Elham Kamali Hakim
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Okoye I, Xu L, Motamedi M, Parashar P, Walker JW, Elahi S. Galectin-9 expression defines exhausted T cells and impaired cytotoxic NK cells in patients with virus-associated solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:e001849. [PMID: 33310773 PMCID: PMC7735134 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have previously reported that the upregulation of galectin-9 (Gal-9) on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in HIV patients was associated with impaired T cell effector functions. Gal-9 is a ligand for T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3, and its expression on T cells in cancer has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the expression level and effects of Gal-9 on T cell functions in patients with virus-associated solid tumors (VASTs). METHODS 40 patients with VASTs through a non-randomized and biomarker-driven phase II LATENT trial were investigated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tumor biopsies were obtained and subjected to immunophenotyping. In this trial, the effects of oral valproate and avelumab (anti-PD-L1) was investigated in regards to the expression of Gal-9 on T cells. RESULTS We report the upregulation of Gal-9 expression by peripheral and tumor-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in patients with VASTs. Our results indicate that Gal-9 expression is associated with dysfunctional T cell effector functions in the periphery and tumor microenvironment (TME). Coexpression of Gal-9 with PD-1 or T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) exhibited a synergistic inhibitory effect and enhanced an exhausted T cell phenotype. Besides, responding patients to treatment had lower Gal-9 mRNA expression in the TME. Translocation of Gal-9 from the cytosol to the cell membrane of T cells following stimulation suggests persistent T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation as a potential contributing factor in Gal-9 upregulation in patients with VASTs. Moreover, partial colocalization of Gal-9 with CD3 on T cells likely impacts the initiation of signal transduction via TCR as shown by the upregulation of ZAP70 in Gal-9+ T cells. Also, we found an expansion of Gal-9+ but not TIGIT+ NK cells in patients with VASTs; however, dichotomous to TIGIT+ NK cells, Gal-9+ NK cells exhibited impaired cytotoxic molecules but higher Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) expression. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that higher Gal-9-expressing CD8+ T cells were associated with poor prognosis following immunotherapy with anti-Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) (avelumab) in our patients' cohort. Therefore, for the very first time to our knowledge, we report Gal-9 as a novel marker of T cell exhaustion and the potential target of immunotherapy in patients with VASTs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isobel Okoye
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistrty, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lai Xu
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistrty, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Melika Motamedi
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Pallavi Parashar
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistrty, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - John W Walker
- Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Shokrollah Elahi
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistrty, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Coppock JD, Mills AM, Stelow EB. Galectin-3 Expression in High-Risk HPV-Positive and Negative Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Regional Lymph Node Metastases. Head Neck Pathol 2020; 15:163-168. [PMID: 32564273 PMCID: PMC8010032 DOI: 10.1007/s12105-020-01195-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite higher stages at presentation, patients with high-risk (HR) HPV-related (HPV+) head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) have better survival rates compared to those with non-HPV-related (HPV-) disease. However, significant comorbidity and the number of patients who suffer failed treatment, recurrent disease, late metastasis, and death are increasing along with the incidence of HPV+ HNSCC. A cytotoxic T-cell-dependent immune response is required to clear these antigenic cancers. This provides a unique opportunity to employ immune modulators in therapy. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a lectin and glycoprotein involved in numerous immunosuppressive functions. Inhibitors are currently under clinical investigation for various diseases. Gal-3 expression was evaluated in HR-HPV+ and HPV- HNSCCs and regional lymph node metastases by tissue microarray. HR-HPV+ cases were more likely to be Gal-3-positive (Gal+) [50% (14/28)] than HPV- cases [18% (9/50), p = 0.004]. No difference in the number of Gal+ cases was identified between primary [30% (16/53)] and metastatic [28% (7/25)] cancers (p = 1); 53% (9/17) of primary HPV+ cancers were Gal+ and 45% (5/11) of metastatic HPV+ cancers were Gal+ (p = 1). Nineteen percent (7/36) of primary HPV- cancers were Gal+ and 14% (2/14) of metastatic HPV- cancers were Gal+ (p = 1). Gal-3 positivity was observed in a subset of HNSCC, suggesting a potential role for therapeutic inhibition in this tumor type. The significantly higher rates of expression seen in HR-HPV+ versus HPV- HNSCC suggest particular promise in the setting of HPV infection. The relatively consistent Gal-3 expression rates observed between metastatic and primary tumors argues against progressive Gal-3 expression in metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Coppock
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, 1215 Lee Street HEP 3rd Floor, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Anne M. Mills
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, 1215 Lee Street HEP 3rd Floor, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Edward B. Stelow
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, 1215 Lee Street HEP 3rd Floor, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Decoding the sweet regulation of apoptosis: the role of glycosylation and galectins in apoptotic signaling pathways. Cell Death Differ 2019; 26:981-993. [PMID: 30903104 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-019-0317-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation and glycan-binding proteins such as galectins play an important role in the control of cell death signaling. Strikingly, very little attention has been given so far to the understanding of the molecular details behind this key regulatory network. Glycans attached to the death receptors such as CD95 and TRAIL-Rs, either alone or in a complex with galectins, might promote or inhibit apoptotic signals. However, we have just started to decode the functions of galectins in the modulation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis. In this work, we have discussed the current understanding of the glycosylation-galectin regulatory network in CD95- as well as TRAIL-R-induced apoptosis and therapeutic strategies based on targeting galectins in cancer.
Collapse
|
9
|
Bartolazzi A. Galectins in Cancer and Translational Medicine: From Bench to Bedside. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19102934. [PMID: 30261668 PMCID: PMC6213758 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19102934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Armando Bartolazzi
- Pathology Research Laboratory, St. Andrea University Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy.
- Ministry of Health-Lungotevere Ripa 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ząbczyńska M, Kozłowska K, Pocheć E. Glycosylation in the Thyroid Gland: Vital Aspects of Glycoprotein Function in Thyrocyte Physiology and Thyroid Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2792. [PMID: 30227620 PMCID: PMC6163523 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The key proteins responsible for hormone synthesis in the thyroid are glycosylated. Oligosaccharides strongly affect the function of glycosylated proteins. Both thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by the pituitary gland and TSH receptors on the surface of thyrocytes contain N-glycans, which are crucial to their proper activity. Thyroglobulin (Tg), the protein backbone for synthesis of thyroid hormones, is a heavily N-glycosylated protein, containing 20 putative N-glycosylated sites. N-oligosaccharides play a role in Tg transport into the follicular lumen, where thyroid hormones are produced, and into thyrocytes, where hyposialylated Tg is degraded. N-glycans of the cell membrane transporters sodium/iodide symporter and pendrin are necessary for iodide transport. Some changes in glycosylation result in abnormal activity of the thyroid and alteration of the metabolic clearance rate of hormones. Alteration of glycan structures is a pathological process related to the progression of chronic diseases such as thyroid cancers and autoimmunity. Thyroid carcinogenesis is accompanied by changes in sialylation and fucosylation, β1,6-branching of glycans, the content and structure of poly-LacNAc chains, as well as O-GlcNAcylation, while in thyroid autoimmunity the main processes affected are sialylation and fucosylation. The glycobiology of the thyroid gland is an intensively studied field of research, providing new data helpful in understanding the role of the sugar component in thyroid protein biology and disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ząbczyńska
- Department of Glycoconjugate Biochemistry, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Kamila Kozłowska
- Department of Glycoconjugate Biochemistry, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Ewa Pocheć
- Department of Glycoconjugate Biochemistry, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yehya AHS, Asif M, Petersen SH, Subramaniam AV, Kono K, Majid AMSA, Oon CE. Angiogenesis: Managing the Culprits behind Tumorigenesis and Metastasis. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2018; 54:E8. [PMID: 30344239 PMCID: PMC6037250 DOI: 10.3390/medicina54010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Deregulated angiogenesis has been identified as a key contributor in a number of pathological conditions including cancer. It is a complex process, which involves highly regulated interaction of multiple signalling molecules. The pro-angiogenic signalling molecule, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its cognate receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), which is often highly expressed in majority of human cancers, plays a central role in tumour angiogenesis. Owing to the importance of tumour vasculature in carcinogenesis, tumour blood vessels have emerged as an excellent therapeutic target. The anti-angiogenic therapies have been shown to arrest growth of solid tumours through multiple mechanisms, halting the expansion of tumour vasculature and transient normalization of tumour vasculature which help in the improvement of blood flow resulting in more uniform delivery of cytotoxic agents to the core of tumour mass. This also helps in reduction of hypoxia and interstitial pressure leading to reduced chemotherapy resistance and more uniform delivery of cytotoxic agents at the targeted site. Thus, complimentary combination of different agents that target multiple molecules in the angiogenic cascade may optimize inhibition of angiogenesis and improve clinical benefit in the cancer patients. This review provides an update on the current trend in exploitation of angiogenesis pathways as a strategy in the treatment of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwaq Hamid Salem Yehya
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
| | - Muhammad Asif
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
| | - Sven Hans Petersen
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
| | - Ayappa V Subramaniam
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
| | - Koji Kono
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
- Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
- School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
| | - Amin Malik Shah Abdul Majid
- EMAN Testing and Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Acton 0200, Australia.
| | - Chern Ein Oon
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bartolazzi A, Sciacchitano S, D'Alessandria C. Galectin-3: The Impact on the Clinical Management of Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020445. [PMID: 29393868 PMCID: PMC5855667 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Galectins (S-type lectins) are an evolutionarily-conserved family of lectin molecules, which can be expressed intracellularly and in the extracellular matrix, as well. Galectins bind β-galactose-containing glycoconjugates and are functionally active in converting glycan-related information into cell biological programs. Altered glycosylation notably occurring in cancer cells and expression of specific galectins provide, indeed, a fashionable mechanism of molecular interactions able to regulate several tumor relevant functions, among which are cell adhesion and migration, cell differentiation, gene transcription and RNA splicing, cell cycle and apoptosis. Furthermore, several galectin molecules also play a role in regulating the immune response. These functions are strongly dependent on the cell context, in which specific galectins and related glyco-ligands are expressed. Thyroid cancer likely represents the paradigmatic tumor model in which experimental studies on galectins' glycobiology, in particular on galectin-3 expression and function, contributed greatly to the improvement of cancer diagnosis. The discovery of a restricted expression of galectin-3 in well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas (WDTC), compared to normal and benign thyroid conditions, contributed also to promoting preclinical studies aimed at exploring new strategies for imaging thyroid cancer in vivo based on galectin-3 immuno-targeting. Results derived from these recent experimental studies promise a further improvement of both thyroid cancer diagnosis and therapy in the near future. In this review, the biological role of galectin-3 expression in thyroid cancer, the validation and translation to a clinical setting of a galectin-3 test method for the preoperative characterization of thyroid nodules and a galectin-3-based immuno-positron emission tomography (immuno-PET) imaging of thyroid cancer in vivo are presented and discussed.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/therapeutic use
- Biomarkers, Tumor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/immunology
- Blood Proteins
- Cell Adhesion/drug effects
- Cell Cycle/drug effects
- Cell Cycle/genetics
- Cell Cycle/immunology
- Cell Movement/drug effects
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/immunology
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology
- Galectin 3/antagonists & inhibitors
- Galectin 3/genetics
- Galectin 3/immunology
- Galectins
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
- Positron-Emission Tomography/methods
- Signal Transduction
- Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging
- Thyroid Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics
- Thyroid Neoplasms/immunology
- Thyroid Nodule/diagnostic imaging
- Thyroid Nodule/drug therapy
- Thyroid Nodule/genetics
- Thyroid Nodule/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Armando Bartolazzi
- Pathology Research Laboratory, Saint Andrea University Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Sciacchitano
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Policlinico Umberto I viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
- Laboratory of Biomedical Research, Niccolò Cusano University Foundation, via Don Carlo Gnocchi 3, 00166 Rome, Italy.
| | - Calogero D'Alessandria
- Nuklearmedizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 München, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|