1
|
Kaplan N, Liu M, Wang J, Yang W, Fiolek E, Peng H, Lavker RM. Eph signaling is regulated by miRNA-210: Implications for corneal epithelial repair. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22076. [PMID: 34856019 PMCID: PMC8647904 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101423r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A distinct boundary exists between the progenitor cells in the basal limbal epithelium and the more differentiated corneal epithelial basal cells. We have shown that reciprocal expression patterns of EphA2 and Ephrin-A1 are likely to contribute to normal limbal-corneal epithelial compartmentalization as well as play a role in response to injury. How this signaling axis is regulated remains unclear. We have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in corneal epithelial wound healing and several miRNAs (e.g. miR-210) have been predicted to target ephrins. Previous expression profiling experiments demonstrated that miR-210 is prominently expressed in corneal epithelial cells. RNA-seq data acquired from miR-210-depleted HCECs showed up-regulation of genes involved in cellular migration. In addition, miR-210 is decreased after corneal injury while EphA2 is increased. Moreover, antago-210-treated HCECs markedly enhanced wound closure in a scratch wound assay. Antago-210 treatment resulted in increased EphA2 protein levels as well as pS897-EphA2, the pro-migratory form of EphA2. As expected, Ephrin-A1 levels were reduced, while levels of a well-known target of miR-210, Ephrin-A3, were increased by antago-210 treatment. The increase in migration with antago-210 could be inhibited by Ephrin-A1 overexpression, Ephrin-A1-Fc treatment or siRNA depletion of EphA2. However, depletion of Ephrin-A3 did not have effects on the antago-210-induced increase in migration. In addition, Ephrin-A1 overexpression and siEphA2 dampened EGFR signaling, which is increased by antago-210. Our data clearly demonstrate a link between miR-210 and EphA2/Ephrin-A1 signaling that regulates, in part, corneal epithelial migration. This interaction might potentially control the limbal-corneal epithelial boundary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nihal Kaplan
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Junyi Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA,Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wending Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Elaina Fiolek
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Han Peng
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA,Correspondence: Robert M. Lavker, Ph.D., Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 9-124, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
| | - Robert M. Lavker
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA,Correspondence: Han Peng, Ph.D., Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 9-120, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dharmapal D, Jyothy A, Mohan A, Balagopal PG, George NA, Sebastian P, Maliekal TT, Sengupta S. β-Tubulin Isotype, TUBB4B, Regulates The Maintenance of Cancer Stem Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:788024. [PMID: 35004310 PMCID: PMC8733585 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.788024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in cancer research have shown that cancer stem cell (CSC) niche is a crucial factor modulating tumor progression and treatment outcomes. It sustains CSCs by orchestrated regulation of several cytokines, growth factors, and signaling pathways. Although the features defining adult stem cell niches are well-explored, the CSC niche is poorly characterized. Since membrane trafficking proteins have been shown to be essential for the localization of critical proteins supporting CSCs, we investigated the role of TUBB4B, a probable membrane trafficking protein that was found to be overexpressed in the membranes of stem cell enriched cultures, in sustaining CSCs in oral cancer. Here, we show that the knockdown of TUBB4B downregulates the expression of pluripotency markers, depletes ALDH1A1+ population, decreases in vitro sphere formation, and diminishes the tumor initiation potential in vivo. As TUBB4B is not known to have any role in transcriptional regulation nor cell signaling, we suspected that its membrane trafficking function plays a role in constituting a CSC niche. The pattern of its expression in tissue sections, forming a gradient in and around the CSCs, reinforced the notion. Later, we explored its possible cooperation with a signaling protein, Ephrin-B1, the abrogation of which reduces the self-renewal of oral cancer stem cells. Expression and survival analyses based on the TCGA dataset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples indicated that the functional cooperation of TUBB4 and EFNB1 results in a poor prognosis. We also show that TUBB4B and Ephrin-B1 cohabit in the CSC niche. Moreover, depletion of TUBB4B downregulates the membrane expression of Ephrin-B1 and reduces the CSC population. Our results imply that the dynamics of TUBB4B is decisive for the surface localization of proteins, like Ephrin-B1, that sustain CSCs by their concerted signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dhrishya Dharmapal
- Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Athira Jyothy
- Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Amrutha Mohan
- Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - P. G. Balagopal
- Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | | | - Paul Sebastian
- Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | | | - Suparna Sengupta
- Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kaplan N, Wang S, Wang J, Yang W, Ventrella R, Majekodunmi A, Perez White BE, Getsios S, Mitchell BJ, Peng H, Lavker RM. Ciliogenesis and autophagy are coordinately regulated by EphA2 in the cornea to maintain proper epithelial architecture. Ocul Surf 2021; 21:193-205. [PMID: 34119713 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To understand the relationship between ciliogenesis and autophagy in the corneal epithelium. METHODS siRNAs for EphA2 or PLD1 were used to inhibit protein expression in vitro. Morpholino-anti-EphA2 was used to knockdown EphA2 in Xenopus skin. An EphA2 knockout mouse was used to conduct loss of function studies. Autophagic vacuoles were visualized by contrast light microscopy. Autophagy flux, was measured by LC3 turnover and p62 protein levels. Immunostaining and confocal microscopy were conducted to visualize cilia in cultured cells and in vivo. RESULTS Loss of EphA2 (i) increased corneal epithelial thickness by elevating proliferative potential in wing cells, (ii) reduced the number of ciliated cells, (iii) increased large hollow vacuoles, that could be rescued by BafA1; (iv) inhibited autophagy flux and (v) increased GFP-LC3 puncta in the mouse corneal epithelium. This indicated a role for EphA2 in stratified epithelial assembly via regulation of proliferation as well as a positive role in both ciliogenesis and end-stage autophagy. Inhibition of PLD1, an EphA2 interacting protein that is a critical regulator of end-stage autophagy, reversed the accumulation of vacuoles, and the reduction in the number of ciliated cells due to EphA2 depletion, suggesting EphA2 regulation of both end-stage autophagy and ciliogenesis via PLD1. PLD1 mediated rescue of ciliogenesis by EphA2 depletion was blocked by BafA1, placing autophagy between EphA2 signaling and regulation of ciliogenesis. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate a novel role for EphA2 in regulating both autophagy and ciliogenesis, processes that are essential for proper corneal epithelial homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nihal Kaplan
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Sijia Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Junyi Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wending Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Rosa Ventrella
- Cell and Developmental Biology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ahmed Majekodunmi
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | | | | | - Brian J Mitchell
- Cell and Developmental Biology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Han Peng
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Robert M Lavker
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lavker RM, Kaplan N, Wang J, Peng H. Corneal epithelial biology: Lessons stemming from old to new. Exp Eye Res 2020; 198:108094. [PMID: 32697979 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The anterior surface of the eye functions as a barrier to the external environment and protects the delicate underlying tissues from injury. Central to this protection are the corneal, limbal and conjunctival epithelia. The corneal epithelium is a self-renewing stratified squamous epithelium that protects the underlying delicate structures of the eye, supports a tear film and maintains transparency so that light can be transmitted to the interior of the eye (Basu et al., 2014; Cotsarelis et al., 1989; Funderburgh et al., 2016; Lehrer et al., 1998; Pajoohesh-Ganji and Stepp, 2005; Parfitt et al., 2015; Peng et al., 2012b; Stepp and Zieske, 2005). In this review, dedicated to James Funderburgh and his contributions to visual science, in particular the limbal niche, corneal stroma and corneal stromal stem cells, we will focus on recent data on the identification of novel regulators in corneal epithelial cell biology, their roles in stem cell homeostasis, wound healing, limbal/corneal boundary maintenance and the utility of single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in vision biology studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Lavker
- Departments of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Nihal Kaplan
- Departments of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Junyi Wang
- Departments of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, The First Center of the PLA General Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Han Peng
- Departments of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kaplan N, Ventrella R, Peng H, Pal-Ghosh S, Arvanitis C, Rappoport JZ, Mitchell BJ, Stepp MA, Lavker RM, Getsios S. EphA2/Ephrin-A1 Mediate Corneal Epithelial Cell Compartmentalization via ADAM10 Regulation of EGFR Signaling. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018; 59:393-406. [PMID: 29351356 PMCID: PMC5774870 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-22941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Progenitor cells of the limbal epithelium reside in a discrete area peripheral to the more differentiated corneal epithelium and maintain tissue homeostasis. What regulates the limbal-corneal epithelial boundary is a major unanswered question. Ephrin-A1 ligand is enriched in the limbal epithelium, whereas EphA2 receptor is concentrated in the corneal epithelium. This reciprocal pattern led us to assess the role of ephrin-A1 and EphA2 in limbal-corneal epithelial boundary organization. Methods EphA2-expressing corneal epithelial cells engineered to express ephrin-A1 were used to study boundary formation in vitro in a manner that mimicked the relative abundance of these juxtamembrane signaling proteins in the limbal and corneal epithelium in vivo. Interaction of these two distinct cell populations following initial seeding into discrete culture compartments was assessed by live cell imaging. Immunofluoresence and immunoblotting was used to evaluate the contribution of downstream growth factor signaling and cell-cell adhesion systems to boundary formation at sites of heterotypic contact between ephrin-A1 and EphA2 expressing cells. Results Ephrin-A1-expressing cells impeded and reversed the migration of EphA2-expressing corneal epithelial cells upon heterotypic contact formation leading to coordinated migration of the two cell populations in the direction of an ephrin-A1-expressing leading front. Genetic silencing and pharmacologic inhibitor studies demonstrated that the ability of ephrin-A1 to direct migration of EphA2-expressing cells depended on an a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM10) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway that limited E-cadherin-mediated adhesion at heterotypic boundaries. Conclusions Ephrin-A1/EphA2 signaling complexes play a key role in limbal-corneal epithelial compartmentalization and the response of these tissues to injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nihal Kaplan
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Rosa Ventrella
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Han Peng
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Sonali Pal-Ghosh
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
| | - Constadina Arvanitis
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Joshua Z Rappoport
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Brian J Mitchell
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Mary Ann Stepp
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
| | - Robert M Lavker
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Spiro Getsios
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Quinn BA, Wang S, Barile E, Das SK, Emdad L, Sarkar D, De SK, Morvaridi SK, Stebbins JL, Pandol SJ, Fisher PB, Pellecchia M. Therapy of pancreatic cancer via an EphA2 receptor-targeted delivery of gemcitabine. Oncotarget 2017; 7:17103-10. [PMID: 26959746 PMCID: PMC4941374 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
First line treatment for pancreatic cancer consists of surgical resection, if possible, and a subsequent course of chemotherapy using the nucleoside analogue gemcitabine. In some patients, an active transport mechanism allows gemcitabine to enter efficiently into the tumor cells, resulting in a significant clinical benefit. However, in most patients, low expression of gemcitabine transporters limits the efficacy of the drug to marginal levels, and patients need frequent administration of the drug at high doses, significantly increasing systemic drug toxicity. In this article we focus on a novel targeted delivery approach for gemcitabine consisting of conjugating the drug with an EphA2 targeting agent. We show that the EphA2 receptor is highly expressed in pancreatic cancers, and accordingly, the drug-conjugate is more effective than gemcitabine alone in targeting pancreatic tumors. Our preliminary observations suggest that this approach may provide a general benefit to pancreatic cancer patients and offers a comprehensive strategy for enhancing delivery of diverse therapeutic agents to a wide range of cancers overexpressing EphA2, thereby potentially reducing toxicity while enhancing therapeutic efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bridget A Quinn
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Si Wang
- Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Elisa Barile
- Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Surya K De
- Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | | | - John L Stebbins
- Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Stephen J Pandol
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.,Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Maurizio Pellecchia
- Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Goichberg P. Current Understanding of the Pathways Involved in Adult Stem and Progenitor Cell Migration for Tissue Homeostasis and Repair. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2017; 12:421-37. [PMID: 27209167 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-016-9663-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
With the advancements in the field of adult stem and progenitor cells grows the recognition that the motility of primitive cells is a pivotal aspect of their functionality. There is accumulating evidence that the recruitment of tissue-resident and circulating cells is critical for organ homeostasis and effective injury responses, whereas the pathobiology of degenerative diseases, neoplasm and aging, might be rooted in the altered ability of immature cells to migrate. Furthermore, understanding the biological machinery determining the translocation patterns of tissue progenitors is of great relevance for the emerging methodologies for cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine. The present article provides an overview of studies addressing the physiological significance and diverse modes of stem and progenitor cell trafficking in adult mammalian organs, discusses the major microenvironmental cues regulating cell migration, and describes the implementation of live imaging approaches for the exploration of stem cell movement in tissues and the factors dictating the motility of endogenous and transplanted cells with regenerative potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Polina Goichberg
- Department Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Targeting Eph/ephrin system in cancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 142:152-162. [PMID: 28780190 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that the Eph/ephrin system plays a central role in the embryonic development, with minor implications in the physiology of the adult. However, it is overexpressed and deregulated in a variety of tumors, with a primary involvement in tumorigenesis, tumor angiogenesis, metastasis development, and cancer stem cell regeneration. Targeting the Eph/ephrin system with biologicals, including antibodies and recombinant proteins, reduces tumor growth in animal models of hematological malignancies, breast, prostate, colon, head and neck cancers and glioblastoma. Currently, some of these biopharmaceutical agents are under investigations in phase I or phase II clinical trials. Peptides and small molecules targeting protein-protein-interaction (PPI) are in the late preclinical phase where they are showing promising activity in models of glioblastoma, ovarian and lung cancer. The present review summarizes the most critical findings proposing the Eph/ephrin signaling system as a new target in molecularly targeted oncology.
Collapse
|
9
|
Nunan R, Campbell J, Mori R, Pitulescu ME, Jiang WG, Harding KG, Adams RH, Nobes CD, Martin P. Ephrin-Bs Drive Junctional Downregulation and Actin Stress Fiber Disassembly to Enable Wound Re-epithelialization. Cell Rep 2015; 13:1380-1395. [PMID: 26549443 PMCID: PMC4660216 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.09.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
For a skin wound to successfully heal, the cut epidermal-edge cells have to migrate forward at the interface between scab and healthy granulation tissue. Much is known about how lead-edge cells migrate, but very little is known about the mechanisms that enable active participation by cells further back. Here we show that ephrin-B1 and its receptor EphB2 are both upregulated in vivo, just for the duration of repair, in the first 70 or so rows of epidermal cells, and this signal leads to downregulation of the molecular components of adherens and tight (but not desmosomal) junctions, leading to loosening between neighbors and enabling shuffle room among epidermal cells. Additionally, this signaling leads to the shutdown of actomyosin stress fibers in these same epidermal cells, which may act to release tension within the wound monolayer. If this signaling axis is perturbed, then disrupted healing is a consequence in mouse and man. Ephrin-B/EphBs are upregulated in the migrating wound epidermis in mouse and man Ephrin-B/EphB signaling drives junction loosening, thus enabling re-epithelialization Ephrin-B/EphB signaling also leads to dissolution of stress fibers and tension release In human chronic wounds ephrin-Bs are misregulated and may be a therapeutic target
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Nunan
- Schools of Biochemistry and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Jessica Campbell
- Schools of Biochemistry and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Ryoichi Mori
- Schools of Biochemistry and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; Department of Pathology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Mara E Pitulescu
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149 Muenster, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Wen G Jiang
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Keith G Harding
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Ralf H Adams
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149 Muenster, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Catherine D Nobes
- Schools of Biochemistry and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Paul Martin
- Schools of Biochemistry and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
|
11
|
Pullos AN, Castilho RM, Squarize CH. HPV Infection of the Head and Neck Region and Its Stem Cells. J Dent Res 2015; 94:1532-43. [PMID: 26353884 DOI: 10.1177/0022034515605456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is an etiologic agent associated with the development of head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC)-in particular, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The HPV-positive HNSCC is characterized by genetic alterations, clinical progression, and therapeutic response, which are distinct from HPV-negative head and neck cancers, suggesting that virus-associated tumors constitute a unique entity among head and neck cancers. Malignant stem cells, or cancer stem cells, are a subpopulation of tumor cells that self-renew, initiate new tumors upon transplantation, and are resistant to therapy, and their discovery has revealed novel effects of oncovirus infection in cancer. In this review, we provide a virus-centric view and novel insights into HPV-positive head and neck pathogenesis. We discuss the influence of cancer stem cells, HPV oncoproteins, altered molecular pathways, and mutations in cancer initiation and cancer progression. We compiled a catalogue of the mutations associated with HPV-positive HNSCC, which may be a useful resource for genomic-based studies aiming to develop personalized therapies. We also explain recent changes in mass vaccination campaigns against HPV and the potential long-term impact of vaccinations on the prevention and treatment of HPV-positive head and neck cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A N Pullos
- Laboratory of Epithelial Biology, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - R M Castilho
- Laboratory of Epithelial Biology, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - C H Squarize
- Laboratory of Epithelial Biology, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
Epithelial cells are tightly coupled together through specialized intercellular junctions, including adherens junctions, desmosomes, tight junctions, and gap junctions. A growing body of evidence suggests epithelial cells also directly exchange information at cell-cell contacts via the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their membrane-associated ephrin ligands. Ligand-dependent and -independent signaling via Eph receptors as well as reverse signaling through ephrins impact epithelial tissue homeostasis by organizing stem cell compartments and regulating cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, differentiation, and survival. This review focuses on breast, gut, and skin epithelia as representative examples for how Eph receptors and ephrins modulate diverse epithelial cell responses in a context-dependent manner. Abnormal Eph receptor and ephrin signaling is implicated in a variety of epithelial diseases raising the intriguing possibility that this cell-cell communication pathway can be therapeutically harnessed to normalize epithelial function in pathological settings like cancer or chronic inflammation.
Collapse
Key Words
- ADAM, a disintegrin and metalloprotease
- Apc, adenomatous polyposis coli
- Breast
- ER, estrogen receptor
- Eph receptor
- Eph, erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular
- Erk, extracellular signal-regulated kinase
- GEF, guanine nucleotide exchange factor
- GPI, glycosylphosphatidylinositol
- HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
- HGF, hepatocyte growth factor
- IBD, inflammatory bowel disease
- KLF, Krüppel-like factor
- MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase
- MMTV-LTR, mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat
- MT1-MMP, membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase
- PDZ, postsynaptic density protein 95, discs large 1, and zonula occludens-1
- PTP, protein tyrosine phosphatase
- RTK, receptor tyrosine kinase
- SH2, Src homology 2
- SHIP2, SH2 inositol phosphatase 2
- SLAP, Src-like adaptor protein
- TCF, T-cell specific transcription factor
- TEB, terminal end bud
- TNFα, tumor necrosis factor α.
- cell-cell
- ephrin
- epithelial
- intestine
- receptor tyrosine kinase
- skin
- stem cell
Collapse
|
13
|
Özdemir BC, Hensel J, Secondini C, Wetterwald A, Schwaninger R, Fleischmann A, Raffelsberger W, Poch O, Delorenzi M, Temanni R, Mills IG, van der Pluijm G, Thalmann GN, Cecchini MG. The molecular signature of the stroma response in prostate cancer-induced osteoblastic bone metastasis highlights expansion of hematopoietic and prostate epithelial stem cell niches. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114530. [PMID: 25485970 PMCID: PMC4259356 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The reciprocal interaction between cancer cells and the tissue-specific stroma is critical for primary and metastatic tumor growth progression. Prostate cancer cells colonize preferentially bone (osteotropism), where they alter the physiological balance between osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, and elicit prevalently an osteoblastic response (osteoinduction). The molecular cues provided by osteoblasts for the survival and growth of bone metastatic prostate cancer cells are largely unknown. We exploited the sufficient divergence between human and mouse RNA sequences together with redefinition of highly species-specific gene arrays by computer-aided and experimental exclusion of cross-hybridizing oligonucleotide probes. This strategy allowed the dissection of the stroma (mouse) from the cancer cell (human) transcriptome in bone metastasis xenograft models of human osteoinductive prostate cancer cells (VCaP and C4-2B). As a result, we generated the osteoblastic bone metastasis-associated stroma transcriptome (OB-BMST). Subtraction of genes shared by inflammation, wound healing and desmoplastic responses, and by the tissue type-independent stroma responses to a variety of non-osteotropic and osteotropic primary cancers generated a curated gene signature ("Core" OB-BMST) putatively representing the bone marrow/bone-specific stroma response to prostate cancer-induced, osteoblastic bone metastasis. The expression pattern of three representative Core OB-BMST genes (PTN, EPHA3 and FSCN1) seems to confirm the bone specificity of this response. A robust induction of genes involved in osteogenesis and angiogenesis dominates both the OB-BMST and Core OB-BMST. This translates in an amplification of hematopoietic and, remarkably, prostate epithelial stem cell niche components that may function as a self-reinforcing bone metastatic niche providing a growth support specific for osteoinductive prostate cancer cells. The induction of this combinatorial stem cell niche is a novel mechanism that may also explain cancer cell osteotropism and local interference with hematopoiesis (myelophthisis). Accordingly, these stem cell niche components may represent innovative therapeutic targets and/or serum biomarkers in osteoblastic bone metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Berna C. Özdemir
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department of Urology and Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Janine Hensel
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department of Urology and Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Secondini
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department of Urology and Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Antoinette Wetterwald
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department of Urology and Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ruth Schwaninger
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department of Urology and Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Olivier Poch
- ICube UMR7357, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mauro Delorenzi
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ramzi Temanni
- Biomedical Informatics Division, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ian G. Mills
- Prostate Cancer Research Group, Norway Centre for Molecular Medicine (NCMM), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gabri van der Pluijm
- Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - George N. Thalmann
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department of Urology and Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marco G. Cecchini
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department of Urology and Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Alonso-Colmenar LM. Eph/ephrin signaling in cancer: intricate, puzzling and ... fascinating! Cell Adh Migr 2012; 6:100-1. [PMID: 22814609 DOI: 10.4161/cam.20890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eph receptor tyrosine kinases family and their membrane bound ligands, the ephrins, represents a complex signaling network of cell communication for cell sorting during tissue patterning in development and in the normal physiology and homeostasis of adult tissues. This molecular family has adapted to evolving tissue complexity in multicellular organisms through the emergence of more members and complex mechanisms of expression and signaling that result in the fine-tuning of cell positioning. Since their initial identification from an erythropoietin producing hepatocellular (Eph) carcinoma cell line in 1987, Eph/ephrin signaling has been a matter of intensive investigation for their plausible role in cancer. Similarly to their context dependent modus operandi in normal tissues, Eph/ephrin signaling in cancer is an intricate and puzzling network of events that tumors "manage" to their benefit in multiple aspects like cell adhesion to substrate, migration, invasion or growth.
Collapse
|