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Fisher JL, Wilk EJ, Oza VH, Gary SE, Howton TC, Flanary VL, Clark AD, Hjelmeland AB, Lasseigne BN. Signature reversion of three disease-associated gene signatures prioritizes cancer drug repurposing candidates. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:803-830. [PMID: 38531616 PMCID: PMC11073506 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing is promising because approving a drug for a new indication requires fewer resources than approving a new drug. Signature reversion detects drug perturbations most inversely related to the disease-associated gene signature to identify drugs that may reverse that signature. We assessed the performance and biological relevance of three approaches for constructing disease-associated gene signatures (i.e., limma, DESeq2, and MultiPLIER) and prioritized the resulting drug repurposing candidates for four low-survival human cancers. Our results were enriched for candidates that had been used in clinical trials or performed well in the PRISM drug screen. Additionally, we found that pamidronate and nimodipine, drugs predicted to be efficacious against the brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM), inhibited the growth of a GBM cell line and cells isolated from a patient-derived xenograft (PDX). Our results demonstrate that by applying multiple disease-associated gene signature methods, we prioritized several drug repurposing candidates for low-survival cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Fisher
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Elizabeth J. Wilk
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Vishal H. Oza
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Sam E. Gary
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Timothy C. Howton
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Victoria L. Flanary
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Amanda D. Clark
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Brittany N. Lasseigne
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
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2
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Miller CR, Hjelmeland AB. Breaking the feed forward inflammatory cytokine loop in the tumor microenvironment of PDGFB-driven glioblastomas. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e175127. [PMID: 37966120 PMCID: PMC10645375 DOI: 10.1172/jci175127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) provide a major immune cell population contributing to growth and immunosuppression via the production of proinflammatory factors, including IL-1. In this issue of the JCI, Chen, Giotti, and colleagues investigated loss of ll1b in the immune tumor microenvironment (TME) in GBM models driven by PDGFB expression and Nf1 knockdown. Survival was only improved in PDGFB-driven GBM models, suggesting that tumor cell genotype influenced the immune TME. IL-1β in the TME increased PDGFB-driven GBM growth by increasing tumor-derived NF-κB, expression of monocyte chemoattractants, and increased infiltration of bone marrow-derived myeloid cells (BMDMs). In contrast, no requirement for IL-1β was evident in Nf1-silenced tumors due to high basal levels of NF-κB and monocyte chemoattractants and increased infiltration of BMDM and TAMs. Notably, treatment of mice bearing PDGFB-driven GBM with anti-IL-1β or an IL1R1 antagonist extended survival. These findings suggest that effective clinical immunotherapy may require differential targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Ryan Miller
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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3
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Jones AB, Schanel TL, Rigsby MR, Griguer CE, McFarland BC, Anderson JC, Willey CD, Hjelmeland AB. Tumor Treating Fields Alter the Kinomic Landscape in Glioblastoma Revealing Therapeutic Vulnerabilities. Cells 2023; 12:2171. [PMID: 37681903 PMCID: PMC10486683 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment for the deadly brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM) has been improved through the non-invasive addition of alternating electric fields, called tumor treating fields (TTFields). Improving both progression-free and overall survival, TTFields are currently approved for treatment of recurrent GBMs as a monotherapy and in the adjuvant setting alongside TMZ for newly diagnosed GBMs. These TTFields are known to inhibit mitosis, but the full molecular impact of TTFields remains undetermined. Therefore, we sought to understand the ability of TTFields to disrupt the growth patterns of and induce kinomic landscape shifts in TMZ-sensitive and -resistant GBM cells. We determined that TTFields significantly decreased the growth of TMZ-sensitive and -resistant cells. Kinomic profiling predicted kinases that were induced or repressed by TTFields, suggesting possible therapy-specific vulnerabilities. Serving as a potential pro-survival mechanism for TTFields, kinomics predicted the increased activity of platelet-derived growth-factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα). We demonstrated that the addition of the PDGFR inhibitor, crenolanib, to TTFields further reduced cell growth in comparison to either treatment alone. Collectively, our data suggest the efficacy of TTFields in vitro and identify common signaling responses to TTFields in TMZ-sensitive and -resistant populations, which may support more personalized medicine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber B. Jones
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.B.J.); (M.R.R.); (B.C.M.)
| | - Taylor L. Schanel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (T.L.S.); (J.C.A.)
| | - Mikayla R. Rigsby
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.B.J.); (M.R.R.); (B.C.M.)
| | - Corinne E. Griguer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
| | - Braden C. McFarland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.B.J.); (M.R.R.); (B.C.M.)
| | - Joshua C. Anderson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (T.L.S.); (J.C.A.)
| | - Christopher D. Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (T.L.S.); (J.C.A.)
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.B.J.); (M.R.R.); (B.C.M.)
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4
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Watson DC, Bayik D, Storevik S, Moreino SS, Sprowls SA, Han J, Augustsson MT, Lauko A, Sravya P, Røsland GV, Troike K, Tronstad KJ, Wang S, Sarnow K, Kay K, Lunavat TR, Silver DJ, Dayal S, Joseph JV, Mulkearns-Hubert E, Ystaas LAR, Deshpande G, Guyon J, Zhou Y, Magaut CR, Seder J, Neises L, Williford SE, Meiser J, Scott AJ, Sajjakulnukit P, Mears JA, Bjerkvig R, Chakraborty A, Daubon T, Cheng F, Lyssiotis CA, Wahl DR, Hjelmeland AB, Hossain JA, Miletic H, Lathia JD. GAP43-dependent mitochondria transfer from astrocytes enhances glioblastoma tumorigenicity. Nat Cancer 2023; 4:648-664. [PMID: 37169842 PMCID: PMC10212766 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00556-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The transfer of intact mitochondria between heterogeneous cell types has been confirmed in various settings, including cancer. However, the functional implications of mitochondria transfer on tumor biology are poorly understood. Here we show that mitochondria transfer is a prevalent phenomenon in glioblastoma (GBM), the most frequent and malignant primary brain tumor. We identified horizontal mitochondria transfer from astrocytes as a mechanism that enhances tumorigenesis in GBM. This transfer is dependent on network-forming intercellular connections between GBM cells and astrocytes, which are facilitated by growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), a protein involved in neuron axon regeneration and astrocyte reactivity. The acquisition of astrocyte mitochondria drives an increase in mitochondrial respiration and upregulation of metabolic pathways linked to proliferation and tumorigenicity. Functionally, uptake of astrocyte mitochondria promotes cell cycle progression to proliferative G2/M phases and enhances self-renewal and tumorigenicity of GBM. Collectively, our findings reveal a host-tumor interaction that drives proliferation and self-renewal of cancer cells, providing opportunities for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionysios C Watson
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Defne Bayik
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Simon Storevik
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Jianhua Han
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Adam Lauko
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Palavalasa Sravya
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Katie Troike
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Sabrina Wang
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Kristen Kay
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Taral R Lunavat
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Molecular Neurogenetics Unit-West, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel J Silver
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sahil Dayal
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Erin Mulkearns-Hubert
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Joris Guyon
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, BRIC, Pessac, France
| | - Yadi Zhou
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Juliana Seder
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Laura Neises
- Cancer Metabolism Group, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | | | - Johannes Meiser
- Cancer Metabolism Group, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Andrew J Scott
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Jason A Mears
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rolf Bjerkvig
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- NorLux Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Abhishek Chakraborty
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Thomas Daubon
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC, Bordeaux, France
| | - Feixiong Cheng
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Costas A Lyssiotis
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daniel R Wahl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Hrvoje Miletic
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Justin D Lathia
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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5
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Marayati R, Julson J, Bownes LV, Quinn CH, Stafman LL, Beierle AM, Markert HR, Hutchins SC, Stewart JE, Crossman DK, Hjelmeland AB, Mroczek-Musulman E, Beierle EA. PIM3 kinase promotes tumor metastasis in hepatoblastoma by upregulating cell surface expression of chemokine receptor cxcr4. Clin Exp Metastasis 2022; 39:899-912. [PMID: 36315303 PMCID: PMC9753553 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-022-10186-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Patients presenting with metastatic hepatoblastoma have limited treatment options and survival rates as low as 25%. We previously demonstrated that Proviral Integration site in Maloney murine leukemia virus 3 (PIM3) kinase promotes tumorigenesis and cancer cell stemness in hepatoblastoma. In this study, we assessed the role of PIM3 kinase in promoting hepatoblastoma metastasis. We utilized a tail vein injection model of metastasis to evaluate the effect of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PIM3 knockout, stable overexpression of PIM3, and pharmacologic PIM inhibition on the formation of lung metastasis. In vivo studies revealed PIM3 knockout impaired the formation of lung metastasis: 5 out of 6 mice injected with wild type hepatoblastoma cells developed lung metastasis while none of the 7 mice injected with PIM3 knockout hepatoblastoma cells developed lung metastasis. PIM3 overexpression in hepatoblastoma increased the pulmonary metastatic burden in mice and mechanistically, upregulated the phosphorylation and cell surface expression of CXCR4, a key receptor in the progression of cancer cell metastasis. CXCR4 blockade with AMD3100 decreased the metastatic phenotype of PIM3 overexpressing cells, indicating that CXCR4 contributed to PIM3's promotion of hepatoblastoma metastasis. Clinically, PIM3 expression correlated positively with CXCR4 expression in primary hepatoblastoma tissues. In conclusion, we have shown PIM3 kinase promotes the metastatic phenotype of hepatoblastoma cells through upregulation of CXCR4 cell surface expression and these findings suggest that targeting PIM3 kinase may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for metastatic hepatoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoud Marayati
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Janet Julson
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Laura V Bownes
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Colin H Quinn
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Laura L Stafman
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Andee M Beierle
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hooper R Markert
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Sara C Hutchins
- Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jerry E Stewart
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David K Crossman
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth A Beierle
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- , 1600 7th Ave South Lowder Room 300, 35233, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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6
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Guo Y, Jiang Y, Rose JB, Nagaraju GP, Jaskula-Sztul R, Hjelmeland AB, Beck AW, Chen H, Ren B. Protein Kinase D1 Signaling in Cancer Stem Cells with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity. Cells 2022; 11:3885. [PMID: 36497140 PMCID: PMC9739736 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are extremely diverse and highly vascularized neoplasms that arise from endocrine cells in the pancreas. The pNETs harbor a subpopulation of stem cell-like malignant cells, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), which contribute to intratumoral heterogeneity and promote tumor maintenance and recurrence. In this study, we demonstrate that CSCs in human pNETs co-express protein kinase PKD1 and CD44. We further identify PKD1 signaling as a critical pathway in the control of CSC maintenance in pNET cells. PKD1 signaling regulates the expression of a CSC- and EMT-related gene signature and promotes CSC self-renewal, likely leading to the preservation of a subpopulation of CSCs at an intermediate EMT state. This suggests that the PKD1 signaling pathway may be required for the development of a unique CSC phenotype with plasticity and partial EMT. Given that the signaling networks connected with CSC maintenance and EMT are complex, and extend through multiple levels of regulation, this study provides insight into signaling regulation of CSC plasticity and partial EMT in determining the fate of CSCs. Inhibition of the PKD1 pathway may facilitate the elimination of specific CSC subsets, thereby curbing tumor progression and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Guo
- Department of Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Yinan Jiang
- Department of Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - J. Bart Rose
- Department of Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Renata Jaskula-Sztul
- Department of Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Adam W. Beck
- Department of Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Herbert Chen
- Department of Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Bin Ren
- Department of Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- GBS Biomedical Engineering Program, Graduate School, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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7
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Gc S, Tuy K, Rickenbacker L, Jones R, Chakraborty A, Miller CR, Beierle EA, Hanumanthu VS, Tran AN, Mobley JA, Bellis SL, Hjelmeland AB. α2,6 Sialylation mediated by ST6GAL1 promotes glioblastoma growth. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e158799. [PMID: 36345944 PMCID: PMC9675560 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the least-investigated areas of brain pathology research is glycosylation, which is a critical regulator of cell surface protein structure and function. β-Galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6GAL1) is the primary enzyme that α2,6 sialylates N-glycosylated proteins destined for the plasma membrane or secretion, thereby modulating cell signaling and behavior. We demonstrate a potentially novel, protumorigenic role for α2,6 sialylation and ST6GAL1 in the deadly brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM). GBM cells with high α2,6 sialylation exhibited increased in vitro growth and self-renewal capacity and decreased mouse survival when orthotopically injected. α2,6 Sialylation was regulated by ST6GAL1 in GBM, and ST6GAL1 was elevated in brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs). Knockdown of ST6GAL1 in BTICs decreased in vitro growth, self-renewal capacity, and tumorigenic potential. ST6GAL1 regulates levels of the known BTIC regulators PDGF Receptor β (PDGFRB), Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule, and Neuropilin, which were confirmed to bind to a lectin-recognizing α2,6 sialic acid. Loss of ST6GAL1 was confirmed to decrease PDGFRB α2,6 sialylation, total protein levels, and the induction of phosphorylation by PDGF-BB. Thus, ST6GAL1-mediated α2,6 sialylation of a select subset of cell surface receptors, including PDGFRB, increases GBM growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajina Gc
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
| | - Kaysaw Tuy
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
| | | | - Robert Jones
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
| | | | | | | | | | | | - James A Mobley
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Susan L Bellis
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
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8
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Abstract
The Golgi-sialyltransferase ST6Gal1 (βgalactosidase α2,6 sialyltransferase 1), adds the negatively charged sugar, sialic acid, to the terminal galactose of N-glycosylated proteins. Upregulation of ST6Gal1 is observed in many malignancies, and a large body of research has determined that ST6Gal1-mediated α2,6 sialylation impacts cancer hallmarks. ST6Gal1 affects oncogenic behaviors including sustained proliferation, enhanced self-renewal, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and chemoresistance. However, there are relatively few ST6GaL1 related signaling pathways that are well-established to mediate these biologies: greater delineation of specific targets and signaling mechanisms that are orchestrated by ST6Gal1 is needed. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of our current understanding of select oncogenic signaling pathways and targets affected by ST6Gal1.
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9
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Stackhouse CT, Anderson JC, Yue Z, Nguyen T, Eustace NJ, Langford CP, Wang J, Rowland JR, Xing C, Mikhail FM, Cui X, Alrefai H, Bash RE, Lee KJ, Yang ES, Hjelmeland AB, Miller CR, Chen JY, Gillespie GY, Willey CD. An in vivo model of glioblastoma radiation resistance identifies long non-coding RNAs and targetable kinases. JCI Insight 2022; 7:148717. [PMID: 35852875 PMCID: PMC9462495 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.148717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Key molecular regulators of acquired radiation resistance in recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) are largely unknown, with a dearth of accurate preclinical models. To address this, we generated 8 GBM patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of acquired radiation therapy–selected (RTS) resistance compared with same-patient, treatment-naive (radiation-sensitive, unselected; RTU) PDXs. These likely unique models mimic the longitudinal evolution of patient recurrent tumors following serial radiation therapy. Indeed, while whole-exome sequencing showed retention of major genomic alterations in the RTS lines, we did detect a chromosome 12q14 amplification that was associated with clinical GBM recurrence in 2 RTS models. A potentially novel bioinformatics pipeline was applied to analyze phenotypic, transcriptomic, and kinomic alterations, which identified long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and targetable, PDX-specific kinases. We observed differential transcriptional enrichment of DNA damage repair pathways in our RTS models, which correlated with several lncRNAs. Global kinomic profiling separated RTU and RTS models, but pairwise analyses indicated that there are multiple molecular routes to acquired radiation resistance. RTS model–specific kinases were identified and targeted with clinically relevant small molecule inhibitors. This cohort of in vivo RTS patient-derived models will enable future preclinical therapeutic testing to help overcome the treatment resistance seen in patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zongliang Yue
- Informatics Institute, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Thanh Nguyen
- Informatics Institute, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | | | | | - Jelai Wang
- Informatics Institute, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - James R. Rowland
- Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Fady M. Mikhail
- Department of Genetics, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Xiangqin Cui
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Ryan E. Bash
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, and
| | | | | | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - C. Ryan Miller
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, and
| | - Jake Y. Chen
- Informatics Institute, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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10
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Marayati R, Julson JR, Bownes LV, Quinn CH, Hutchins SC, Williams AP, Markert HR, Beierle AM, Stewart JE, Hjelmeland AB, Mroczek-Musulman E, Beierle EA. Metastatic human hepatoblastoma cells exhibit enhanced tumorigenicity, invasiveness and a stem cell-like phenotype. J Pediatr Surg 2022; 57:1018-1025. [PMID: 35300860 PMCID: PMC9119922 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.01.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Metastatic hepatoblastoma continues to pose a significant treatment challenge, primarily because the precise mechanisms involved in metastasis are not fully understood, making cell lines and preclinical models that depict the progression of disease and metastasis-related biology paramount. We aimed to generate and characterize a metastatic hepatoblastoma cell line to create a model for investigation of the molecular mechanisms associated with metastasis. MATERIALS/METHODS Using a murine model of serial tail vein injections of the human hepatoblastoma HuH6 cell line, non-invasive bioluminescence imaging, and dissociation of metastatic pulmonary lesions, we successfully established and characterized the metastatic human hepatoblastoma cell line, HLM_3. RESULTS The HLM_3 cells exhibited enhanced tumorigenicity and invasiveness, both in vitro and in vivo compared to the parent HuH6 cell line. Moreover, HLM_3 metastatic hepatoblastoma cells exhibited a stem cell-like phenotype and were more resistant to the standard chemotherapeutic cisplatin. CONCLUSION This newly described metastatic hepatoblastoma cell line offers a novel tool to study mechanisms of tumor metastasis and evaluate new therapeutic strategies for metastatic hepatoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoud Marayati
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Janet R. Julson
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Laura V. Bownes
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Colin H. Quinn
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Sara C. Hutchins
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Adele P. Williams
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Hooper R. Markert
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Andee M. Beierle
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Jerry E. Stewart
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth A. Beierle
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA,Corresponding Author: Elizabeth A. Beierle, MD, 1600 7th Ave. South, Lowder Building, Suite 300, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA, Phone: (205) 638-9688, Fax: (205) 975-4972,
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Jones AB, Rocco A, Lamb LS, Friedman GK, Hjelmeland AB. Regulation of NKG2D Stress Ligands and Its Relevance in Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2339. [PMID: 35565467 PMCID: PMC9105350 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Under cellular distress, multiple facets of normal homeostatic signaling are altered or disrupted. In the context of the immune landscape, external and internal stressors normally promote the expression of natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) ligands that allow for the targeted recognition and killing of cells by NKG2D receptor-bearing effector populations. The presence or absence of NKG2D ligands can heavily influence disease progression and impact the accessibility of immunotherapy options. In cancer, tumor cells are known to have distinct regulatory mechanisms for NKG2D ligands that are directly associated with tumor progression and maintenance. Therefore, understanding the regulation of NKG2D ligands in cancer will allow for targeted therapeutic endeavors aimed at exploiting the stress response pathway. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of regulatory mechanisms controlling the induction and repression of NKG2D ligands in cancer. Additionally, we highlight current therapeutic endeavors targeting NKG2D ligand expression and offer our perspective on considerations to further enhance the field of NKG2D ligand biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber B. Jones
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Abbey Rocco
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.R.); (G.K.F.)
| | | | - Gregory K. Friedman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.R.); (G.K.F.)
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
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12
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Marayati R, Bownes LV, Quinn CH, Hutchins SC, Markert HR, Beierle AM, Stewart JE, Hjelmeland AB, Mroczek-Musulman E, Beierle EA. Metastatic Hepatoblastoma Cells Exhibit a Distinct Cancer Stem Cell-Like Phenotype. J Am Coll Surg 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2021.07.361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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13
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Libby CJ, Gc S, Benavides GA, Fisher JL, Williford SE, Zhang S, Tran AN, Gordon ER, Jones AB, Tuy K, Flavahan W, Gordillo J, Long A, Cooper SJ, Lasseigne BN, Augelli-Szafran CE, Darley-Usmar V, Hjelmeland AB. A role for GLUT3 in glioblastoma cell invasion that is not recapitulated by GLUT1. Cell Adh Migr 2021; 15:101-115. [PMID: 33843470 PMCID: PMC8043167 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2021.1903684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The multifaceted roles of metabolism in invasion have been investigated across many cancers. The brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly invasive and metabolically plastic tumor with an inevitable recurrence. The neuronal glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) was previously reported to correlate with poor glioma patient survival and be upregulated in GBM cells to promote therapeutic resistance and survival under restricted glucose conditions. It has been suggested that the increased glucose uptake mediated by GLUT3 elevation promotes survival of circulating tumor cells to facilitate metastasis. Here we suggest a more direct role for GLUT3 in promoting invasion that is not dependent upon changes in cell survival or metabolism. Analysis of glioma datasets demonstrated that GLUT3, but not GLUT1, expression was elevated in invasive disease. In human xenograft derived GBM cells, GLUT3, but not GLUT1, elevation significantly increased invasion in transwell assays, but not growth or migration. Further, there were no changes in glycolytic metabolism that correlated with invasive phenotypes. We identified the GLUT3 C-terminus as mediating invasion: substituting the C-terminus of GLUT1 for that of GLUT3 reduced invasion. RNA-seq analysis indicated changes in extracellular matrix organization in GLUT3 overexpressing cells, including upregulation of osteopontin. Together, our data suggest a role for GLUT3 in increasing tumor cell invasion that is not recapitulated by GLUT1, is separate from its role in metabolism and survival as a glucose transporter, and is likely broadly applicable since GLUT3 expression correlates with metastasis in many solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Libby
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Sajina Gc
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gloria A Benavides
- Mitochondria Medicine Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jennifer L Fisher
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Sarah E Williford
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Sixue Zhang
- Chemistry Department, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Anh Nhat Tran
- Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Emily R Gordon
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Amber B Jones
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Kaysaw Tuy
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - William Flavahan
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester, MA, USA
| | - Juan Gordillo
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ashlee Long
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Sara J Cooper
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Brittany N Lasseigne
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.,Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.,The Center for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.,UAB IMPACT Fund, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Victor Darley-Usmar
- Mitochondria Medicine Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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14
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Tuy K, Rickenbacker L, Hjelmeland AB. Reactive oxygen species produced by altered tumor metabolism impacts cancer stem cell maintenance. Redox Biol 2021; 44:101953. [PMID: 34052208 PMCID: PMC8212140 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Controlling reactive oxygen species (ROS) at sustainable levels can drive multiple facets of tumor biology, including within the cancer stem cell (CSC) population. Tight regulation of ROS is one key component in CSCs that drives disease recurrence, cell signaling, and therapeutic resistance. While ROS are well-appreciated to need oxygen and are a product of oxidative phosphorylation, there are also important roles for ROS under hypoxia. As hypoxia promotes and sustains major stemness pathways, further consideration of ROS impacts on CSCs in the tumor microenvironment is important. Furthermore, glycolytic shifts that occur in cancer and may be promoted by hypoxia are associated with multiple mechanisms to mitigate oxidative stress. This altered metabolism provides survival advantages that sustain malignant features, such as proliferation and self-renewal, while producing the necessary antioxidants that reduce damage from oxidative stress. Finally, disease recurrence is believed to be attributed to therapy resistant CSCs which can be quiescent and have changes in redox status. Effective DNA damage response pathways and/or a slow-cycling state can protect CSCs from the genomic catastrophe induced by irradiation and genotoxic agents. This review will explore the delicate, yet complex, relationship between ROS and its pleiotropic role in modulating the CSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaysaw Tuy
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lucas Rickenbacker
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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15
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Boyd NH, Tran AN, Bernstock JD, Etminan T, Jones AB, Gillespie GY, Friedman GK, Hjelmeland AB. Glioma stem cells and their roles within the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Theranostics 2021; 11:665-683. [PMID: 33391498 PMCID: PMC7738846 DOI: 10.7150/thno.41692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironments are the result of cellular alterations in cancer that support unrestricted growth and proliferation and result in further modifications in cell behavior, which are critical for tumor progression. Angiogenesis and therapeutic resistance are known to be modulated by hypoxia and other tumor microenvironments, such as acidic stress, both of which are core features of the glioblastoma microenvironment. Hypoxia has also been shown to promote a stem-like state in both non-neoplastic and tumor cells. In glial tumors, glioma stem cells (GSCs) are central in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and therapeutic resistance, and further investigation of the interplay between tumor microenvironments and GSCs is critical to the search for better treatment options for glioblastoma. Accordingly, we summarize the impact of hypoxia and acidic stress on GSC signaling and biologic phenotypes, and potential methods to inhibit these pathways.
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16
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Eustace NJ, Anderson JC, Warram JM, Widden HN, Pedersen RT, Alrefai H, Patel Z, Hicks PH, Placzek WJ, Gillespie GY, Hjelmeland AB, Willey CD. A cell-penetrating MARCKS mimetic selectively triggers cytolytic death in glioblastoma. Oncogene 2020; 39:6961-6974. [PMID: 33077834 PMCID: PMC7885995 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01511-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive malignancy with limited effectiveness of standard of care therapies including surgery, radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy necessitating novel therapeutics. Unfortunately, GBMs also harbor several signaling alterations that protect them from traditional therapies that rely on apoptotic programmed cell death. Because almost all GBM tumors have dysregulated phosphoinositide signaling as part of that process, we hypothesized that peptide mimetics derived from the phospholipid binding domain of Myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) could serve as a novel GBM therapeutic. Using molecularly classified patient-derived xenograft (PDX) lines, cultured in stem-cell conditions, we demonstrate that cell permeable MARCKS effector domain (ED) peptides potently target all GBM molecular classes while sparing normal human astrocytes. Cell death mechanistic testing revealed that these peptides produce rapid cytotoxicity in GBM that overcomes caspase inhibition. Moreover, we identify a GBM-selective cytolytic death mechanism involving plasma membrane targeting and intracellular calcium accumulation. Despite limited relative partitioning to the brain, tail-vein peptide injection revealed tumor targeting in intracranially implanted GBM PDX. These results indicate that MARCKS ED peptide therapeutics may overcome traditional GBM resistance mechanisms, supporting further development of similar agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Eustace
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Joshua C Anderson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jason M Warram
- Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hayley N Widden
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Hasan Alrefai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Zeel Patel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Patricia H Hicks
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - William J Placzek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - G Yancey Gillespie
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Christopher D Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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17
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Hawkins CC, Ali T, Ramanadham S, Hjelmeland AB. Sphingolipid Metabolism in Glioblastoma and Metastatic Brain Tumors: A Review of Sphingomyelinases and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1357. [PMID: 32977496 PMCID: PMC7598277 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a primary malignant brain tumor with a dismal prognosis, partially due to our inability to completely remove and kill all GBM cells. Rapid tumor recurrence contributes to a median survival of only 15 months with the current standard of care which includes maximal surgical resection, radiation, and temozolomide (TMZ), a blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrant chemotherapy. Radiation and TMZ cause sphingomyelinases (SMase) to hydrolyze sphingomyelins to generate ceramides, which induce apoptosis. However, cells can evade apoptosis by converting ceramides to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P has been implicated in a wide range of cancers including GBM. Upregulation of S1P has been linked to the proliferation and invasion of GBM and other cancers that display a propensity for brain metastasis. To mediate their biological effects, SMases and S1P modulate signaling via phospholipase C (PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD). In addition, both SMase and S1P may alter the integrity of the BBB leading to infiltration of tumor-promoting immune populations. SMase activity has been associated with tumor evasion of the immune system, while S1P creates a gradient for trafficking of innate and adaptive immune cells. This review will explore the role of sphingolipid metabolism and pharmacological interventions in GBM and metastatic brain tumors with a focus on SMase and S1P.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyntanna C. Hawkins
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Birmingham at Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (C.C.H.); (S.R.)
| | - Tomader Ali
- Research Department, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 48338, UAE;
| | - Sasanka Ramanadham
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Birmingham at Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (C.C.H.); (S.R.)
- Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Birmingham at Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Birmingham at Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (C.C.H.); (S.R.)
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18
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Dorsett KA, Jones RB, Ankenbauer KE, Hjelmeland AB, Bellis SL. Sox2 promotes expression of the ST6Gal-I glycosyltransferase in ovarian cancer cells. J Ovarian Res 2019; 12:93. [PMID: 31610800 PMCID: PMC6792265 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-019-0574-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ST6Gal-I glycosyltransferase, which adds α2–6-linked sialic acids to N-glycosylated proteins is upregulated in a wide range of malignancies including ovarian cancer. Prior studies have shown that ST6Gal-I-mediated sialylation of select surface receptors remodels intracellular signaling to impart cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics. However, the mechanisms that contribute to ST6Gal-I expression in stem-like cancer cells are poorly understood. Results Herein, we identify the master stem cell transcription factor, Sox2, as a novel regulator of ST6Gal-I expression. Interestingly, SOX2 and ST6GAL1 are located within the same tumor-associated amplicon, 3q26, and these two genes exhibit coordinate gains in copy number across multiple cancers including ~ 25% of ovarian serious adenocarcinomas. In conjunction with genetic co-amplification, our studies suggest that Sox2 directly binds the ST6GAL1 promoter to drive transcription. ST6Gal-I expression is directed by at least four distinct promoters, and we identified the P3 promoter as the predominant promoter utilized by ovarian cancer cells. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that Sox2 binds regions proximal to the P3 promoter. To confirm that Sox2 regulates ST6Gal-I expression, Sox2 was either overexpressed or knocked-down in various ovarian cancer cell lines. Sox2 overexpression induced an increase in ST6Gal-I mRNA and protein, as well as surface α2–6 sialylation, whereas Sox2 knock-down suppressed levels of ST6Gal-I mRNA, protein and surface α2–6 sialylation. Conclusions These data suggest a process whereby SOX2 and ST6GAL1 are coordinately amplified in cancer cells, with the Sox2 protein then binding the ST6GAL1 promoter to further augment ST6Gal-I expression. Our collective results provide new insight into mechanisms that upregulate ST6Gal-I expression in ovarian cancer cells, and also point to the possibility that some of the CSC characteristics commonly attributed to Sox2 may, in part, be mediated through the sialyltransferase activity of ST6Gal-I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn A Dorsett
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 350, 1918 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Robert B Jones
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 350, 1918 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Katherine E Ankenbauer
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 350, 1918 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 350, 1918 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Susan L Bellis
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 350, 1918 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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19
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Libby CJ, McConathy J, Darley-Usmar V, Hjelmeland AB. The Role of Metabolic Plasticity in Blood and Brain Stem Cell Pathophysiology. Cancer Res 2019; 80:5-16. [PMID: 31575548 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-1169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of intratumoral heterogeneity in cancer continues to evolve, with current models incorporating single-cell signatures to explore cell-cell interactions and differentiation state. The transition between stem and differentiation states in nonneoplastic cells requires metabolic plasticity, and this plasticity is increasingly recognized to play a central role in cancer biology. The insights from hematopoietic and neural stem cell differentiation pathways were used to identify cancer stem cells in leukemia and gliomas. Similarly, defining metabolic heterogeneity and fuel-switching signals in nonneoplastic stem cells may also give important insights into the corresponding molecular mechanisms controlling metabolic plasticity in cancer. These advances are important, because metabolic adaptation to anticancer therapeutics is rooted in this inherent metabolic plasticity and is a therapeutic challenge to be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Libby
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jonathan McConathy
- Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Victor Darley-Usmar
- Mitochondrial Medicine Laboratory, Center for Free Radical Biology, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
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20
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Tran AN, Dussaq AM, Kennell T, Willey CD, Hjelmeland AB. HPAanalyze: an R package that facilitates the retrieval and analysis of the Human Protein Atlas data. BMC Bioinformatics 2019; 20:463. [PMID: 31500569 PMCID: PMC6734269 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-019-3059-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) aims to map human proteins via multiple technologies including imaging, proteomics and transcriptomics. Access of the HPA data is mainly via web-based interface allowing views of individual proteins, which may not be optimal for data analysis of a gene set, or automatic retrieval of original images. Results HPAanalyze is an R package for retrieving and performing exploratory analysis of data from HPA. HPAanalyze provides functionality for importing data tables and xml files from HPA, exporting and visualizing data, as well as downloading all staining images of interest. The package is free, open source, and available via Bioconductor and GitHub. We provide examples of the use of HPAanalyze to investigate proteins altered in the deadly brain tumor glioblastoma. For example, we confirm Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor elevation and Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog loss and suggest the importance of the GTP Cyclohydrolase I/Tetrahydrobiopterin pathway. Additionally, we provide an interactive website for non-programmers to explore and visualize data without the use of R. Conclusions HPAanalyze integrates into the R workflow with the tidyverse framework, and it can be used in combination with Bioconductor packages for easy analysis of HPA data. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12859-019-3059-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Nhat Tran
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 948, 1900 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Alex M Dussaq
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 121 Shelby Biomedical Research Building, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Timothy Kennell
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 121 Shelby Biomedical Research Building, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Christopher D Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 176 Facility Building, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 948, 1900 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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21
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Wang J, Leavenworth JW, Hjelmeland AB, Smith R, Patel N, Borg B, Si Y, King PH. Deletion of the RNA regulator HuR in tumor-associated microglia and macrophages stimulates anti-tumor immunity and attenuates glioma growth. Glia 2019; 67:2424-2439. [PMID: 31400163 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor that portends a poor prognosis. Its resilience, in part, is related to a remarkable capacity for manipulating the microenvironment to promote its growth and survival. Microglia/macrophages are prime targets, being drawn into the tumor and stimulated to produce factors that support tumor growth and evasion from the immune system. Here we show that the RNA regulator, HuR, plays a key role in the tumor-promoting response of microglia/macrophages. Knockout (KO) of HuR led to reduced tumor growth and proliferation associated with prolonged survival in a murine model of glioblastoma. Analysis of tumor composition by flow cytometry showed that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were decreased, more polarized toward an M1-like phenotype, and had reduced PD-L1 expression. There was an overall increase in infiltrating CD4+ cells, including Th1 and cytotoxic effector cells, and a concomitant reduction in tumor-associated polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Molecular and cellular analyses of HuR KO TAMs and cultured microglia showed changes in migration, chemoattraction, and chemokine/cytokine profiles that provide potential mechanisms for the altered tumor microenvironment and reduced tumor growth in HuR KO mice. In summary, HuR is a key modulator of pro-glioma responses by microglia/macrophages through the molecular regulation of chemokines, cytokines, and other factors. Our findings underscore the relevance of HuR as a therapeutic target in glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiping Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jianmei W Leavenworth
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.,Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Reed Smith
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Neha Patel
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Ben Borg
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Ying Si
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Peter H King
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.,Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.,Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama
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22
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Yue Z, Willey CD, Hjelmeland AB, Chen JY. BEERE: a web server for biomedical entity expansion, ranking and explorations. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:W578-W586. [PMID: 31114876 PMCID: PMC6602520 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BEERE (Biomedical Entity Expansion, Ranking and Explorations) is a new web-based data analysis tool to help biomedical researchers characterize any input list of genes/proteins, biomedical terms or their combinations, i.e. ‘biomedical entities’, in the context of existing literature. Specifically, BEERE first aims to help users examine the credibility of known entity-to-entity associative or semantic relationships supported by database or literature references from the user input of a gene/term list. Then, it will help users uncover the relative importance of each entity—a gene or a term—within the user input by computing the ranking scores of all entities. At last, it will help users hypothesize new gene functions or genotype–phenotype associations by an interactive visual interface of constructed global entity relationship network. The output from BEERE includes: a list of the original entities matched with known relationships in databases; any expanded entities that may be generated from the analysis; the ranks and ranking scores reported with statistical significance for each entity; and an interactive graphical display of the gene or term network within data provenance annotations that link to external data sources. The web server is free and open to all users with no login requirement and can be accessed at http://discovery.informatics.uab.edu/beere/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongliang Yue
- Informatics Institute, School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Christopher D Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Jake Y Chen
- Informatics Institute, School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
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23
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Spurlock B, Gupta P, Basu MK, Mukherjee A, Hjelmeland AB, Darley-Usmar V, Parker D, Foxall ME, Mitra K. New quantitative approach reveals heterogeneity in mitochondrial structure-function relations in tumor-initiating cells. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:jcs.230755. [PMID: 30910831 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.230755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Steady-state mitochondrial structure or morphology is primarily maintained by a balance of opposing fission and fusion events between individual mitochondria, which is collectively referred to as mitochondrial dynamics. The details of the bidirectional relationship between the status of mitochondrial dynamics (structure) and energetics (function) require methods to integrate these mitochondrial aspects. To study the quantitative relationship between the status of mitochondrial dynamics (fission, fusion, matrix continuity and diameter) and energetics (ATP and redox), we have developed an analytical approach called mito-SinCe2 After validating and providing proof of principle, we applied mito-SinCe2 on ovarian tumor-initiating cells (ovTICs). Mito-SinCe2 analyses led to the hypothesis that mitochondria-dependent ovTICs interconvert between three states, that have distinct relationships between mitochondrial energetics and dynamics. Interestingly, fusion and ATP increase linearly with each other only once a certain level of fusion is attained. Moreover, mitochondrial dynamics status changes linearly with ATP or with redox, but not simultaneously with both. Furthermore, mito-SinCe2 analyses can potentially predict new quantitative features of the opposing fission versus fusion relationship and classify cells into functional classes based on their mito-SinCe2 states.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Spurlock
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Priyanka Gupta
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Malay Kumar Basu
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Avik Mukherjee
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell Development and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Victor Darley-Usmar
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Danitra Parker
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - McKenzie E Foxall
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kasturi Mitra
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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24
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Abstract
Glioblastoma is a highly malignant and typically fatal tumor of the central nervous system. The tumor is characterized by marked cellular and molecular heterogeneity, including a subpopulation of brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs) that are highly resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. We previously reported that the RNA-binding protein HuR is: (1) overexpressed in glioblastoma, (2) necessary for tumor growth in vivo, and (3) a positive regulator of tumor-promoting genes in glioblastoma. These findings provide strong evidence that HuR might be a viable therapeutic target in glioblastoma. In this report, we investigated the effects of MS-444, a small molecule inhibitor of HuR, in xenograft-derived human glioblastoma cells and BTICs. We found that MS-444 treatment of glioblastoma cells resulted in loss of viability and induction of apoptosis, with evidence implicating death receptor 5. BTICs were particularly sensitive to MS-444. At sub-lethal doses, MS-444 attenuated invasion of glioblastoma cells and BTICs in a transwell model. At the molecular level, MS-444 treatment led to an attenuation of mRNAs in different tumor promoting pathways including angiogenesis, immune evasion and suppression of apoptosis. Although cytoplasmic HuR was reduced with MS-444 treatment, the attenuation of mRNAs could not be explained by RNA destabilization. In summary, this report provides proof of concept that small molecule inhibition of HuR could be a viable approach for treatment of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiping Wang
- a Departments of Neurology , University of Alabama , Birmingham , AL
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- b Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology , University of Alabama , Birmingham , AL
| | - L Burt Nabors
- a Departments of Neurology , University of Alabama , Birmingham , AL
| | - Peter H King
- a Departments of Neurology , University of Alabama , Birmingham , AL.,b Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology , University of Alabama , Birmingham , AL.,c Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Birmingham , AL
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25
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Eustace NJ, Anderson JC, Langford CP, Trummell HQ, Hicks PH, Jarboe JS, Mobley JA, Hjelmeland AB, Hackney JR, Pedersen RT, Cosby K, Gillespie GY, Bonner JA, Willey CD. Myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate effector domain phosphorylation regulates the growth and radiation sensitization of glioblastoma. Int J Oncol 2019; 54:2039-2053. [PMID: 30942445 PMCID: PMC6521926 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma harbors frequent alterations in receptor tyrosine kinases, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) that dysregulate phospholipid signaling driven tumor proliferation and therapeutic resistance. Myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) is a 32 kDa intrinsically unstructured protein containing a polybasic (+13) effector domain (ED), which regulates its electrostatic sequestration of phospholipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2), and its binding to phosphatidylserine, calcium/calmodulin, filamentous actin, while also serving as a nuclear localization sequence. MARCKS ED is phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) and Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) kinases; however, the impact of MARCKS on glioblastoma growth and radiation sensitivity remains undetermined. In the present study, using a tetracycline-inducible system in PTEN-null U87 cells, we demonstrate that MARCKS overexpression suppresses growth and enhances radiation sensitivity in vivo. A new image cytometer, Xcyto10, was utilized to quantify differences in MARCKS ED phosphorylation on localization and its association with filamentous actin. The overexpression of the non-phosphorylatable ED mutant exerted growth-suppressive and radiation-sensitizing effects, while the pseudo-phosphorylated ED mutant exhibited an enhanced colony formation and clonogenic survival ability. The identification of MARCKS protein-protein interactions using co-immunoprecipitation coupled with tandem mass spectrometry revealed novel MARCKS-associated proteins, including importin-β and ku70. On the whole, the findings of this study suggest that the determination of the MARCKS ED phosphorylation status is essential to understanding the impact of MARCKS on cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Eustace
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Joshua C Anderson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Catherine P Langford
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Hoa Q Trummell
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Patricia H Hicks
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - John S Jarboe
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - James A Mobley
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell molecular and Developmental Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - James R Hackney
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | | | - Kadia Cosby
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - G Yancey Gillespie
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - James A Bonner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Christopher D Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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26
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Boyd NH, Walker K, Ayokanmbi A, Gordon ER, Whetsel J, Smith CM, Sanchez RG, Lubin FD, Chakraborty A, Tran AN, Herting C, Hambardzumyan D, Yancey Gillespie G, Hackney JR, Cooper SJ, Jiao K, Hjelmeland AB. Chromodomain Helicase DNA-Binding Protein 7 Is Suppressed in the Perinecrotic/Ischemic Microenvironment and Is a Novel Regulator of Glioblastoma Angiogenesis. Stem Cells 2019; 37:453-462. [PMID: 30629778 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumorigenic and non-neoplastic tissue injury occurs via the ischemic microenvironment defined by low oxygen, pH, and nutrients due to blood supply malfunction. Ischemic conditions exist within regions of pseudopalisading necrosis, a pathological hallmark of glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. To recapitulate the physiologic microenvironment found in GBM tumors and tissue injury, we developed an in vitro ischemic model and identified chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 7 (CHD7) as a novel ischemia-regulated gene. Point mutations in the CHD7 gene are causal in CHARGE syndrome (a developmental disorder causing coloboma, heart defects, atresia choanae, retardation of growth, and genital and ear anomalies) and interrupt the epigenetic functions of CHD7 in regulating neural stem cell maintenance and development. Using our ischemic system, we observed microenvironment-mediated decreases in CHD7 expression in brain tumor-initiating cells and neural stem cells. Validating our approach, CHD7 was suppressed in the perinecrotic niche of GBM patient and xenograft sections, and an interrogation of patient gene expression datasets determined correlations of low CHD7 with increasing glioma grade and worse patient outcomes. Segregation of GBM by molecular subtype revealed a novel observation that CHD7 expression is elevated in proneural versus mesenchymal GBM. Genetic targeting of CHD7 and subsequent gene ontology analysis of RNA sequencing data indicated angiogenesis as a primary biological function affected by CHD7 expression changes. We validated this finding in tube-formation assays and vessel formation in orthotopic GBM models. Together, our data provide further understanding of molecular responses to ischemia and a novel function of CHD7 in regulating angiogenesis in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic systems. Stem Cells 2019;37:453-462.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel H Boyd
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kiera Walker
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Adetokunbo Ayokanmbi
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Emily R Gordon
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
| | - Julia Whetsel
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Cynthia M Smith
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Richard G Sanchez
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Farah D Lubin
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Asmi Chakraborty
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Anh Nhat Tran
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Cameron Herting
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - G Yancey Gillespie
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - James R Hackney
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Sara J Cooper
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
| | - Kai Jiao
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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27
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Oliva CR, Halloran B, Hjelmeland AB, Vazquez A, Bailey SM, Sarkaria JN, Griguer CE. IGFBP6 controls the expansion of chemoresistant glioblastoma through paracrine IGF2/IGF-1R signaling. Cell Commun Signal 2018; 16:61. [PMID: 30231881 PMCID: PMC6148802 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-018-0273-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastomas (GBMs), the most common and most lethal of the primary brain tumors, are characterized by marked intra-tumor heterogeneity. Several studies have suggested that within these tumors a restricted population of chemoresistant glioma cells is responsible for recurrence. However, the gene expression patterns underlying chemoresistance are largely unknown. Numerous efforts have been made to block IGF-1R signaling pathway in GBM. However, those therapies have been repeatedly unsuccessful. This failure may not only be due to the complexity of IGF receptor signaling, but also due to complex cell-cell interactions in the tumor mass. We hypothesized that differential expression of proteins in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system underlie cell-specific differences in the resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) within GBM tumors. METHODS Expression of IGF-1R was analyzed in cell lines, patient-derived xenograft cell lines and human biopsies by cell surface proteomics, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Using gain-of-function and loss-of-function strategies, we dissected the molecular mechanism responsible for IGF-binding protein 6 (IGFBP6) tumor suppressor functions both in in vitro and in vivo. Site direct mutagenesis was used to study IGFBP6-IGF2 interactions. RESULTS We determined that in human glioma tissue, glioma cell lines, and patient-derived xenograft cell lines, treatment with TMZ enhances the expression of IGF1 receptor (IGF-1R) and IGF2 and decreases the expression of IGFBP6, which sequesters IGF2. Using chemoresistant and chemosensitive wild-type and transgenic glioma cells, we further found that a paracrine mechanism driven by IGFBP6 secreted from TMZ-sensitive cells abrogates the proliferation of IGF-1R-expressing TMZ-resistant cells in vitro and in vivo. In mice bearing intracranial human glioma xenografts, overexpression of IGFBP6 in TMZ-resistant cells increased survival. Finally, elevated expression of IGF-1R and IGF2 in gliomas associated with poor patient survival and tumor expression levels of IGFBP6 directly correlated with overall survival time in patients with GBM. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the view that proliferation of chemoresistant tumor cells is controlled within the tumor mass by IGFBP6-producing tumor cells; however, TMZ treatment eliminates this population and enriches the TMZ-resistant cell populationleading to accelerated growth of the entire tumor mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia R. Oliva
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
- Free Radical & Radiation Biology Program, 4210 Medical Education and Biomedical Research Facility (MERF), The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1181 USA
| | - Brian Halloran
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Ana Vazquez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823 USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823 USA
| | - Shannon M. Bailey
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Jann N. Sarkaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902 USA
| | - Corinne E. Griguer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
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28
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Garner EF, Stafman LL, Williams AP, Aye JM, Goolsby C, Atigadda VR, Moore BP, Nan L, Stewart JE, Hjelmeland AB, Friedman GK, Beierle EA. UAB30, a novel RXR agonist, decreases tumorigenesis and leptomeningeal disease in group 3 medulloblastoma patient-derived xenografts. J Neurooncol 2018; 140:209-224. [PMID: 30132166 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-018-2950-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group 3 tumors account for approximately 25-30% of medulloblastomas and have the worst prognosis. UAB30 is a novel synthetic rexinoid shown to have limited toxicities in humans and significant efficacy in the pediatric neuroectodermal tumor, neuroblastoma. We hypothesized that treatment with UAB30 would decrease tumorigenicity in medulloblastoma patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). METHODS Three group 3 medulloblastoma PDXs (D341, D384 and D425) were utilized. Cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion assays were performed after treatment with UAB30 or 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA). Cell cycle analysis was completed using flow cytometry. A flank model, a cerebellar model, and a model of leptomeningeal metastasis using human medulloblastoma PDX cells was used to assess the in vivo effects of UAB30 and RA. RESULTS UAB30 treatment led to cell differentiation and decreased medulloblastoma PDX cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion and G1 cell cycle arrest in all three PDXs similar to RA. UAB30 and RA treatment of mice bearing medulloblastoma PDX tumors resulted in a significant decrease in tumor growth and metastasis compared to vehicle treated animals. CONCLUSIONS UAB30 decreased viability, proliferation, and motility in group 3 medulloblastoma PDX cells and significantly decreased tumor growth in vivo in a fashion similar to RA, suggesting that further investigations into the potential therapeutic application of UAB30 for medulloblastoma are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan F Garner
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Laura L Stafman
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Adele P Williams
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jamie M Aye
- Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Caroline Goolsby
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Venkatram R Atigadda
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Blake P Moore
- Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Li Nan
- Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jerry E Stewart
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gregory K Friedman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Beierle
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- , Birmingham, USA.
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29
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Landis CJ, Zhang S, Benavides GA, Scott SE, Li Y, Redmann M, Tran AN, Otamias A, Darley-Usmar V, Napierala M, Zhang J, Augelli-Szafran CE, Zhang W, Hjelmeland AB. Identification of Compounds That Decrease Glioblastoma Growth and Glucose Uptake in Vitro. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:2048-2057. [PMID: 29905460 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Tumor heterogeneity has hampered the development of novel effective therapeutic options for aggressive cancers, including the deadly primary adult brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM). Intratumoral heterogeneity is partially attributed to the tumor initiating cell (TIC) subset that contains highly tumorigenic, stem-like cells. TICs display metabolic plasticity but can have a reliance on aerobic glycolysis. Elevated expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 is present in many cancer types, with GLUT3 being preferentially expressed in brain TICs (BTICs) to increase survival in low nutrient tumor microenvironments, leading to tumor maintenance. Through structure-based virtual screening (SBVS), we identified potential novel GLUT inhibitors. The screening of 13 compounds identified two that preferentially inhibit the growth of GBM cells with minimal toxicity to non-neoplastic astrocytes and neurons. These compounds, SRI-37683 and SRI-37684, also inhibit glucose uptake and decrease the glycolytic capacity and glycolytic reserve capacity of GBM patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells in glycolytic stress test assays. Our results suggest a potential new therapeutic avenue to target metabolic reprogramming for the treatment of GBM, as well as other tumor types, and the identified novel inhibitors provide an excellent starting point for further lead development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J. Landis
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Sixue Zhang
- Chemistry Department, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Gloria A. Benavides
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Sarah E. Scott
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Yanjie Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Matthew Redmann
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Anh Nhat Tran
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Arphaxad Otamias
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Victor Darley-Usmar
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Marek Napierala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | | | - Wei Zhang
- Chemistry Department, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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30
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Tran AN, Walker K, Harrison DG, Chen W, Mobley J, Hocevar L, Hackney JR, Sedaka RS, Pollock JS, Goldberg MS, Hambardzumyan D, Cooper SJ, Gillespie Y, Hjelmeland AB. Reactive species balance via GTP cyclohydrolase I regulates glioblastoma growth and tumor initiating cell maintenance. Neuro Oncol 2018; 20:1055-1067. [PMID: 29409010 PMCID: PMC6280150 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noy012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Depending on the level, differentiation state, and tumor stage, reactive nitrogen and oxygen species inhibit or increase cancer growth and tumor initiating cell maintenance. The rate-limiting enzyme in a pathway that can regulate reactive species production but has not been thoroughly investigated in glioblastoma (GBM; grade IV astrocytoma) is guanosine triphosphate (GTP) cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1). We sought to define the role of GCH1 in the regulation of GBM growth and brain tumor initiating cell (BTIC) maintenance. Methods We examined GCH1 mRNA and protein expression in patient-derived xenografts, clinical samples, and glioma gene expression datasets. GCH1 levels were modulated using lentiviral expression systems, and effects on cell growth, self-renewal, reactive species production, and survival in orthotopic patient-derived xenograft models were determined. Results GCH1 was expressed in GBMs with elevated but not exclusive RNA and protein levels in BTICs in comparison to non-BTICs. Overexpression of GCH1 in GBM cells increased cell growth in vitro and decreased survival in an intracranial GBM mouse model. In converse experiments, GCH1 knockdown with short hairpin RNA led to GBM cell growth inhibition and reduced self-renewal in association with decreased CD44 expression. GCH1 was critical for controlling reactive species balance, including suppressing reactive oxygen species production, which mediated GCH1 cell growth effects. In silico analyses demonstrated that higher GCH1 levels in glioma patients correlate with higher glioma grade, recurrence, and worse survival. Conclusions GCH1 expression in established GBMs is pro-tumorigenic, causing increased growth due, in part, to promotion of BTIC maintenance and suppression of reactive oxygen species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Nhat Tran
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Kiera Walker
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - David G Harrison
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Wei Chen
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - James Mobley
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Lauren Hocevar
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - James R Hackney
- Division of Neuropathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Randee S Sedaka
- Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jennifer S Pollock
- Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Matthew S Goldberg
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | | | - Sara J Cooper
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama
| | - Yancey Gillespie
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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Tran AN, Walker K, Harrison DG, Chen W, Mobley J, Hocevar L, Hackney JR, Sedaka R, Pollock J, Goldberg MS, Hambardzumyan D, Cooper SJ, Gillespie GY, Hjelmeland AB. Abstract 163: Glioblastoma, cancer stem cells, and reactive species balances: A case for GTP cyclohydrolase 1. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), or grade IV astrocytoma, is a deadly disease due in part to the high degree of intratumoral heterogeneity that contributes to treatment failures. Previous studies have shown the importance of reactive species balances, partially controlled by the coupling of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) with their cofactor, in maintenance of glioma stem cell (GSC) phenotype as well as survival of cancer cells in general. In this study, we investigated the roles of GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1), which is the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the pathway producing of NOS cofactor producing pathway, in GBM stem cell phenotypes via redox balances. We found that GCH1 RNA and protein expression were increased in GSCs in comparison to non-GSCs, but that GCH1 was not exclusive to the GSC fraction. Indeed, GCH1 was elevated in GBM in comparison to normal brain. Overexpression of GCH1 in GBM cells increased cell growth in vitro and neurosphere-forming capability and decreased survival in an intracranial GBM mouse model. In contrast, GCH1 knockdown with short hairpin RNA in GBM cells led to growth inhibition in vitro as well as increased survival in animal models. GCH1 increased CD44 expression and was upregulated in the detrimental mesenchymal GBM subtype in which CD44 served as a marker. Mechanistically, we found that the expression of GCH1 increased BH4 production, as well as augmented multiple antioxidant pathways, including the expression of PARK7, was critical for controlling reactive species balance, including suppressing reactive oxygen species production. In silico analyses demonstrated that higher GCH1 levels in glioma patients correlate with higher glioma grade, recurrence and worse survival. Together, our data suggest that upregulation of GCH1 in GSCs promotes tumor maintenance and is a key regulator of reactive oxygen species in GBM, and GCH1 pathway is a potential target for therapy.
Citation Format: Anh N. Tran, Kiera Walker, David G. Harrison, Wei Chen, James Mobley, Lauren Hocevar, James R. Hackney, Randee Sedaka, Jennifer Pollock, Matthew S. Goldberg, Dolores Hambardzumyan, Sara J. Cooper, G Yancey Gillespie, Anita B. Hjelmeland. Glioblastoma, cancer stem cells, and reactive species balances: A case for GTP cyclohydrolase 1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 163.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh N. Tran
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Kiera Walker
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | - Wei Chen
- 2Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - James Mobley
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | | | - Randee Sedaka
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | | | | | - Sara J. Cooper
- 4HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL
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Jones RB, Dorsett KA, Hjelmeland AB, Bellis SL. Abstract 2435: ST6Gal-I sialylation potentiates hypoxia adaptation by enhancing HIF-1a signaling. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-2435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Aberrant surface glycosylation is a well-known hallmark of a tumor cell, however the functional role of glycans in cancer cell biology remains unclear. Tumor cells frequently display an increase in surface α2-6 sialylation, a modification added to N-glycosylated proteins by the ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase. ST6Gal-I sialylates a select cohort of surface receptors, which correspondingly modulates receptor-induced intracellular signaling cascades. Emerging evidence suggests that ST6Gal-I-mediated sialylation promotes the survival of tumor cells exposed to a variety of cell stressors. In the current study we identify a new function for ST6Gal-I in protecting against hypoxic stress. In response to low oxygen tension, the hypoxia inducible factor, HIF-1α, becomes stabilized in tumor cells. In turn, HIF-1α stimulates the transcription of genes important for cell survival. To interrogate a role for ST6Gal-I in hypoxic response, we evaluated HIF-1α accumulation in ovarian and pancreatic cancer cells with ST6Gal-I overexpression or knockdown. We find that ST6Gal-I activity augments HIF-1α accumulation in cells treated with chemical hypoxia mimetics (DFO and DMOG), or alternatively grown in a hypoxic environment. Furthermore, hypoxic cells with high ST6Gal-I expression have increased mRNA levels of HIF-1α transcriptional targets including the glucose transporters, GLUT1 GLUT3, and the glycolytic enzyme, PDHK1. Interestingly, cells with high ST6Gal-I expression also have an increased pool of HIF-1α mRNA, suggesting that ST6Gal-I may influence the biosynthesis of HIF-1α. Finally, cells grown in hypoxia for several weeks display an enrichment in ST6Gal-I expression, consistent with the concept that ST6Gal-I acts as a pro-survival factor. Taken together, these findings highlight a novel, glycosylation-dependent mechanism that facilitates tumor cell adaptation to a hypoxic milieu.
Citation Format: Robert B. Jones, Kaitlyn A. Dorsett, Anita B. Hjelmeland, Susan L. Bellis. ST6Gal-I sialylation potentiates hypoxia adaptation by enhancing HIF-1a signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2435.
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Walker K, Boyd NH, Anderson JC, Willey CD, Hjelmeland AB. Kinomic profiling of glioblastoma cells reveals PLCG1 as a target in restricted glucose. Biomark Res 2018; 6:22. [PMID: 29946469 PMCID: PMC6001119 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-018-0136-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background For glioblastoma (GBM) treatments to be effective in vivo, understanding the effects of the tumor microenvironment is imperative. In traditional cell culture conditions, glucose concentrations do not model physiologic levels, nor the diminished concentrations found in tumor niches. We therefore sought to profile the differences in kinase activity in GBM cells cultured in restricted glucose to identify pathways that could be targeted with small molecule inhibitors. Methods Using the PamStation12 platform, we examined the ability of GBM lysates from cells cultured in standard or low glucose conditions to phosphorylate 144 tyrosine and 144 serine/threonine peptides that correspond to known protein phosphorylation sites. Potential kinase targets were identified and validated using small molecule kinase inhibitors in GBM spheroid cultures. Results Using results from two GBM patient-derived xenografts, we determined common changes to peptides derived from Phospholipase C, Gamma 1 (PLCG1) and Raf-1. Using PLC and Raf inhibitors, we found a significantly stronger growth inhibitory effect of the PLC inhibitor U73122 under restricted glucose conditions. In contrast, Raf inhibitors were significantly growth inhibitory regardless of the nutrient level tested. Conclusions Together, our data demonstrate that kinase activity is altered in low glucose conditions and that kinomic profiling can assist with the identification of effective strategies to target GBM growth. Our data further suggest the importance of accurately modeling the tumor microenvironment to reproduce cancer cell signaling and develop drug screens for anti-cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiera Walker
- 1Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Nathaniel H Boyd
- 1Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Joshua C Anderson
- 2Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA
| | - Christopher D Willey
- 2Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- 1Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
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Jones RB, Dorsett KA, Hjelmeland AB, Bellis SL. The ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase protects tumor cells against hypoxia by enhancing HIF-1α signaling. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:5659-5667. [PMID: 29475939 PMCID: PMC5900773 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant cell surface glycosylation is prevalent in tumor cells, and there is ample evidence that glycans have functional roles in carcinogenesis. Nonetheless, many molecular details remain unclear. Tumor cells frequently exhibit increased α2-6 sialylation on N-glycans, a modification that is added by the ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase, and emerging evidence suggests that ST6Gal-I-mediated sialylation promotes the survival of tumor cells exposed to various cell stressors. Here we report that ST6Gal-I protects cancer cells from hypoxic stress. It is well known that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is stabilized in hypoxic cells, and, in turn, HIF-1α directs the transcription of genes important for cell survival. To investigate a putative role for ST6Gal-I in the hypoxic response, we examined HIF-1α accumulation in ovarian and pancreatic cancer cells in ST6Gal-I overexpression or knockdown experiments. We found that ST6Gal-I activity augmented HIF-1α accumulation in cells grown in a hypoxic environment or treated with two chemical hypoxia mimetics, deferoxamine and dimethyloxalylglycine. Correspondingly, hypoxic cells with high ST6Gal-I expression had increased mRNA levels of HIF-1α transcriptional targets, including the glucose transporter genes GLUT1 and GLUT3 and the glycolytic enzyme gene PDHK1 Interestingly, high ST6Gal-I-expressing cells also had an increased pool of HIF-1α mRNA, suggesting that ST6Gal-I may influence HIF-1α expression. Finally, cells grown in hypoxia for several weeks displayed enriched ST6Gal-I expression, consistent with a pro-survival function. Taken together, these findings unravel a glycosylation-dependent mechanism that facilitates tumor cell adaptation to a hypoxic milieu.
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MESH Headings
- Antigens, CD/biosynthesis
- Antigens, CD/genetics
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Survival/genetics
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism
- Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics
- Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism
- Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Neoplasm/biosynthesis
- RNA, Neoplasm/genetics
- Sialyltransferases/biosynthesis
- Sialyltransferases/genetics
- Signal Transduction
- Tumor Hypoxia
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B Jones
- From the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Kaitlyn A Dorsett
- From the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- From the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Susan L Bellis
- From the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
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Libby CJ, Tran AN, Scott SE, Griguer C, Hjelmeland AB. The pro-tumorigenic effects of metabolic alterations in glioblastoma including brain tumor initiating cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2018; 1869:175-188. [PMID: 29378228 PMCID: PMC6596418 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2018.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
De-regulated cellular energetics is an emerging hallmark of cancer with alterations to glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, the pentose phosphate pathway, lipid oxidation and synthesis and amino acid metabolism. Understanding and targeting of metabolic reprogramming in cancers may yield new treatment options, but metabolic heterogeneity and plasticity complicate this strategy. One highly heterogeneous cancer for which current treatments ultimately fail is the deadly brain tumor glioblastoma. Therapeutic resistance, within glioblastoma and other solid tumors, is thought to be linked to subsets of tumor initiating cells, also known as cancer stem cells. Recent profiling of glioblastoma and brain tumor initiating cells reveals changes in metabolism, as compiled here, that may be more broadly applicable. We will summarize the profound role for metabolism in tumor progression and therapeutic resistance and discuss current approaches to target glioma metabolism to improve standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J. Libby
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 35294
| | - Anh Nhat Tran
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 35294
| | - Sarah E. Scott
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 35294
| | - Corinne Griguer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 35294
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 35294,, corresponding author, Anita Hjelmeland, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, 1900 University Blvd, THT 979, Birmingham Al 35294,
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Boyd NH, Walker K, Fried J, Hackney JR, McDonald PC, Benavides GA, Spina R, Audia A, Scott SE, Libby CJ, Tran AN, Bevensee MO, Griguer C, Nozell S, Gillespie GY, Nabors B, Bhat KP, Bar EE, Darley-Usmar V, Xu B, Gordon E, Cooper SJ, Dedhar S, Hjelmeland AB. Addition of carbonic anhydrase 9 inhibitor SLC-0111 to temozolomide treatment delays glioblastoma growth in vivo. JCI Insight 2017; 2:92928. [PMID: 29263302 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.92928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironments can promote stem cell maintenance, tumor growth, and therapeutic resistance, findings linked by the tumor-initiating cell hypothesis. Standard of care for glioblastoma (GBM) includes temozolomide chemotherapy, which is not curative, due, in part, to residual therapy-resistant brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs). Temozolomide efficacy may be increased by targeting carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9), a hypoxia-responsive gene important for maintaining the altered pH gradient of tumor cells. Using patient-derived GBM xenograft cells, we explored whether CA9 and CA12 inhibitor SLC-0111 could decrease GBM growth in combination with temozolomide or influence percentages of BTICs after chemotherapy. In multiple GBMs, SLC-0111 used concurrently with temozolomide reduced cell growth and induced cell cycle arrest via DNA damage in vitro. In addition, this treatment shifted tumor metabolism to a suppressed bioenergetic state in vivo. SLC-0111 also inhibited the enrichment of BTICs after temozolomide treatment determined via CD133 expression and neurosphere formation capacity. GBM xenografts treated with SLC-0111 in combination with temozolomide regressed significantly, and this effect was greater than that of temozolomide or SLC-0111 alone. We determined that SLC-0111 improves the efficacy of temozolomide to extend survival of GBM-bearing mice and should be explored as a treatment strategy in combination with current standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel H Boyd
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kiera Walker
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Joshua Fried
- Department of Oncology, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - James R Hackney
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Paul C McDonald
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gloria A Benavides
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Raffaella Spina
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Alessandra Audia
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sarah E Scott
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Catherine J Libby
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Anh Nhat Tran
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Mark O Bevensee
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | | | | | | | - Burt Nabors
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Krishna P Bhat
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Eli E Bar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Victor Darley-Usmar
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Bo Xu
- Department of Oncology, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Emily Gordon
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
| | - Sara J Cooper
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
| | - Shoukat Dedhar
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Boyd NH, Walker K, McDonald PC, Bevensee MO, Gillespie YG, Nabors B, Dedhar S, Hjelmeland AB. Abstract 171: Targeting the tumor microenvironment: inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 9 impedes brain tumor initiating cell chemoresistance and delays glioblastoma growth in vivo. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs) are resistant to chemo- and radiotherapy, providing a reservoir for tumor recurrence and a desirable target for glioma treatments. Standard of care for glioblastoma (GBM; grade IV astrocytoma) includes the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide, which prolongs life expectancy by months and is not curative. Prior studies suggested the efficacy of chemotherapies including temozolomide was increased by reducing expression of carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9). CA9 is a hypoxia responsive gene elevated in tumors that is important for regulating intracellular pH and contributing to the acidic extracellular microenvironment. After confirming basal and hypoxia-induced expression of CA9 in GBM BTICs, we targeted CA9 activity with the small molecule inhibitor SLC-0111 alone or in combination with temozolomide. In multiple GBM BTIC lines, SLC-0111 reduced cell growth in vitro and showed additional benefit when used concurrently with temozolomide. Importantly, SLC-0111 inhibited the enrichment of BTICs after temozolomide treatment as determined via BTIC marker expression and neurosphere formation capacity. These data suggested the potential of SLC-0111 as a chemosensitizer, which we next evaluated in preclinical studies using a subcutaneous recurrent GBM model. GBMs treated with SLC-0111 in combination with temozolomide significantly regressed and the resulting in vivo growth delay was greater than that of temozolomide or SLC-0111 alone. Together, our data suggest that SLC-0111 can sensitize GBM BTICs to the chemotherapy temozolomide and significantly delay disease progression.
Citation Format: Nathaniel H. Boyd, Kiera Walker, Paul C. McDonald, Mark O. Bevensee, Yancey G. Gillespie, Burt Nabors, Shoukat Dedhar, Anita B. Hjelmeland. Targeting the tumor microenvironment: inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 9 impedes brain tumor initiating cell chemoresistance and delays glioblastoma growth in vivo [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 171. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-171
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kiera Walker
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | | | | | - Burt Nabors
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Shoukat Dedhar
- 2BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Tran AN, Walker K, Harisson D, Chen W, Mobley J, Hocevar L, Hackney JR, Sedaka RS, Pollock JS, Cooper SJ, Gillespie GY, Hjelmeland AB. Abstract 5462: GTP cyclohydrolase in brain tumor stem cells is implicated in glioblastoma growth. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-5462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most common primary brain tumors in adults and one of the most aggressive cancers with high rates of recurrence and therapeutic resistance. In GBMs, subpopulations of highly tumorigenic cells called brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs) have been characterized by their unique capacity to promote tumor maintenance, therapeutic resistance, and angiogenesis. BTIC maintenance is known to be regulated by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. GTP cyclohydrolase, or GCH1, is a critical molecule regulating reactive species levels. We found that expression of GCH1 RNA and protein were upregulated in BTICs in comparison to non-BTICs. Overexpression of GCH1 in glioma cells increased cell growth in vitro and increased tumor formation and decreased survival in an intracranial GBM mouse model. In contrast, GCH1 depletion with short hairpin RNA in GBM cells led to growth inhibition in vitro as well as increased survival in animal orthotopic models. Furthermore, genetic modulation of GCH1 led to altered ROS levels in GBM xenolines. In silico analyses demonstrate that higher GCH1 levels in glioma patients correlate with higher glioma grade, recurrence and worse survival. Together, our data suggest that upregulation of GCH1 in BTICs promotes tumor maintenance and is a key regulator of reactive oxygen species in glioblastoma.
Citation Format: Anh N. Tran, Kiera Walker, David Harisson, Wei Chen, James Mobley, Lauren Hocevar, James R. Hackney, Randee S. Sedaka, Jennifer S. Pollock, Sara J. Cooper, George Y. Gillespie, Anita B. Hjelmeland. GTP cyclohydrolase in brain tumor stem cells is implicated in glioblastoma growth [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5462. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5462
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh N. Tran
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Kiera Walker
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | - Wei Chen
- 2Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - James Mobley
- 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | | | | | | | - Sara J. Cooper
- 3HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL
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Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Gliomas are central nervous system tumors that primarily occur in the brain and arise from glial cells. Gliomas include the most common malignant brain tumor in adults known as grade IV astrocytoma, or glioblastoma (GBM). GBM is a deadly disease for which the most significant advances in treatment offer an improvement in survival of only ∼2 months. CRITICAL ISSUES To develop novel treatments and improve patient outcomes, we and others have sought to determine the role of molecular signals in gliomas. Recent Advances: One signaling molecule that mediates important biologies in glioma is the free radical nitric oxide (NO). In glioma cells and the tumor microenvironment, NO is produced by three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), NOS1, NOS2, and NOS3. NO and NOS affect glioma growth, invasion, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, differentiation state, and therapeutic resistance. FUTURE DIRECTIONS These multifaceted effects of NO and NOS on gliomas both in vitro and in vivo suggest the potential of modulating the pathway for antiglioma patient therapies. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 26, 986-999.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh N Tran
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Nathaniel H Boyd
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Kiera Walker
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
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Busby T, Meissner JM, Styers ML, Bhatt J, Kaushik A, Hjelmeland AB, Sztul E. The Arf activator GBF1 localizes to plasma membrane sites involved in cell adhesion and motility. Cell Logist 2017; 7:e1308900. [PMID: 28702273 DOI: 10.1080/21592799.2017.1308900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Theodore Busby
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Justyna M Meissner
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Melanie L Styers
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jay Bhatt
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Akhil Kaushik
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Elizabeth Sztul
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Parker DJ, Iyer A, Shah S, Moran A, Hjelmeland AB, Basu MK, Liu R, Mitra K. A new mitochondrial pool of cyclin E, regulated by Drp1, is linked to cell-density-dependent cell proliferation. J Cell Sci 2015; 128:4171-82. [PMID: 26446260 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.172429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation and function of the crucial cell cycle regulator cyclin E (CycE) remains elusive. Unlike other cyclins, CycE can be uniquely controlled by mitochondrial energetics, the exact mechanism being unclear. Using mammalian cells (in vitro) and Drosophila (in vivo) model systems in parallel, we show that CycE can be directly regulated by mitochondria through its recruitment to the organelle. Active mitochondrial bioenergetics maintains a distinct mitochondrial pool of CycE (mtCycE) lacking a key phosphorylation required for its degradation. Loss of the mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1, SwissProt O00429 in humans) augments mitochondrial respiration and elevates the mtCycE pool allowing CycE deregulation, cell cycle alterations and enrichment of stem cell markers. Such CycE deregulation after Drp1 loss attenuates cell proliferation in low-cell-density environments. However, in high-cell-density environments, elevated MEK-ERK signaling in the absence of Drp1 releases mtCycE to support escape of contact inhibition and maintain aberrant cell proliferation. Such Drp1-driven regulation of CycE recruitment to mitochondria might be a mechanism to modulate CycE degradation during normal developmental processes as well as in tumorigenic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danitra J Parker
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Archana Iyer
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Shikha Shah
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Aida Moran
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell Development and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Malay Kumar Basu
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Runhua Liu
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kasturi Mitra
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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Cheng P, Phillips E, Kim SH, Taylor D, Hielscher T, Puccio L, Hjelmeland AB, Lichter P, Nakano I, Goidts V. Kinome-wide shRNA screen identifies the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL as a key regulator for mesenchymal glioblastoma stem-like cells. Stem Cell Reports 2015; 4:899-913. [PMID: 25921812 PMCID: PMC4437464 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a highly lethal cancer for which novel therapeutics are urgently needed. Two distinct subtypes of glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) were recently identified: mesenchymal (MES) and proneural (PN). To identify mechanisms to target the more aggressive MES GSCs, we combined transcriptomic expression analysis and kinome-wide short hairpin RNA screening of MES and PN GSCs. In comparison to PN GSCs, we found significant upregulation and phosphorylation of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL in MES GSCs. Knockdown of AXL significantly decreased MES GSC self-renewal capacity in vitro and inhibited the growth of glioblastoma patient-derived xenografts. Moreover, inhibition of AXL with shRNA or pharmacologic inhibitors also increased cell death significantly more in MES GSCs. Clinically, AXL expression was elevated in the MES GBM subtype and significantly correlated with poor prognosis in multiple cancers. In conclusion, we identified AXL as a potential molecular target for novel approaches to treat glioblastoma and other solid cancers. shRNA screen identified kinases that alter GSC viability in a subtype-dependent manner AXL is highly expressed in mesenchymal GSCs Targeting AXL decreases mesenchymal GSC self-renewal, viability, and tumorigenicity AXL expression predicts poor prognosis in several tumor types
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Cheng
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Emma Phillips
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Sung-Hak Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - David Taylor
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Thomas Hielscher
- Division of Biostatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Laura Puccio
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology (CDIB), University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Peter Lichter
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Ichiro Nakano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Violaine Goidts
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.
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Stoltz K, Sinyuk M, Hale JS, Wu Q, Otvos B, Walker K, Vasanji A, Rich JN, Hjelmeland AB, Lathia JD. Development of a Sox2 reporter system modeling cellular heterogeneity in glioma. Neuro Oncol 2014; 17:361-71. [PMID: 25416826 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nou320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant gliomas are complex systems containing a number of factors that drive tumor initiation and progression, including genetic aberrations that lead to extensive cellular heterogeneity within the neoplastic compartment. Mouse models recapitulate these genetic aberrations, but readily observable heterogeneity remains challenging. METHODS To interrogate cellular heterogeneity in mouse glioma models, we utilized a replication-competent avian sarcoma-leukosis virus long terminal repeat with splice acceptor/tumor virus A (RCAS-tva) system to generate spontaneous mouse gliomas that contained a Sox2-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter. Glial fibrillary acidic protein-tva mice were crossed with Sox2-EGFP mice, and tumors were initiated that contained a subpopulation of Sox2-EGFP-high cells enriched for tumor-initiating cell properties such as self-renewal, multilineage differentiation potential, and perivascular localization. RESULTS Following implantation into recipient mice, Sox2-EGFP-high cells generated tumors containing Sox2-EGFP-high and Sox2-EGFP-low cells. Kinomic analysis of Sox2-EGFP-high cells revealed activation of known glioma signaling pathways that are strongly correlated with patient survival including platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta, phosphoinositide-3 kinase, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Our functional analysis identified active feline sarcoma (Fes) signaling in Sox2-EGFP-high cells. Fes negatively correlated with glioma patient survival and was coexpressed with Sox2-positive cells in glioma xenografts and primary patient-derived tissue. CONCLUSIONS Our RCAS-tva/Sox2-EGFP model will empower closer examination of cellular heterogeneity and will be useful for identifying novel glioma pathways as well as testing preclinical treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Stoltz
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - Maksim Sinyuk
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - James S Hale
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - Qiulian Wu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - Balint Otvos
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - Kiera Walker
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - Amit Vasanji
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - Jeremy N Rich
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
| | - Justin D Lathia
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (K.S., M.S., J.S.H., B.O., J.D.L.); Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Q.W., J.N.R.); Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (M.S., J.D.L.); Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (K.W., A.B.H.); Image I.Q., Cleveland, Ohio (A.V.); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio (J.N.R., J.D.L.)
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Liu JK, Lubelski D, Schonberg DL, Wu Q, Hale JS, Flavahan WA, Mulkearns-Hubert EE, Man J, Hjelmeland AB, Yu J, Lathia JD, Rich JN. Phage display discovery of novel molecular targets in glioblastoma-initiating cells. Cell Death Differ 2014; 21:1325-39. [PMID: 24832468 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2014.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common primary intrinsic brain tumor and remains incurable despite maximal therapy. Glioblastomas display cellular hierarchies with self-renewing glioma-initiating cells (GICs) at the apex. To discover new GIC targets, we used in vivo delivery of phage display technology to screen for molecules selectively binding GICs that may be amenable for targeting. Phage display leverages large, diverse peptide libraries to identify interactions with molecules in their native conformation. We delivered a bacteriophage peptide library intravenously to a glioblastoma xenograft in vivo then derived GICs. Phage peptides bound to GICs were analyzed for their corresponding proteins and ranked based on prognostic value, identifying VAV3, a Rho guanine exchange factor involved tumor invasion, and CD97 (cluster of differentiation marker 97), an adhesion G-protein-coupled-receptor upstream of Rho, as potentially enriched in GICs. We confirmed that both VAV3 and CD97 were preferentially expressed by tumor cells expressing GIC markers. VAV3 expression correlated with increased activity of its downstream mediator, Rac1 (ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1), in GICs. Furthermore, targeting VAV3 by ribonucleic acid interference decreased GIC growth, migration, invasion and in vivo tumorigenesis. As CD97 is a cell surface protein, CD97 selection enriched for sphere formation, a surrogate of self-renewal. In silico analysis demonstrated VAV3 and CD97 are highly expressed in tumors and inform poor survival and tumor grade, and more common with epidermal growth factor receptor mutations. Finally, a VAV3 peptide sequence identified on phage display specifically internalized into GICs. These results show a novel screening method for identifying oncogenic pathways preferentially activated within the tumor hierarchy, offering a new strategy for developing glioblastoma therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J K Liu
- 1] Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA [2] Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - D Lubelski
- 1] Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA [2] Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - D L Schonberg
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Q Wu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - J S Hale
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - W A Flavahan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - E E Mulkearns-Hubert
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - J Man
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - A B Hjelmeland
- 1] Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA [2] Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - J Yu
- 1] Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA [2] Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - J D Lathia
- 1] Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA [2] Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - J N Rich
- 1] Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA [2] Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Yan K, Wu Q, Yan DH, Lee CH, Rahim N, Tritschler I, DeVecchio J, Kalady MF, Hjelmeland AB, Rich JN. Glioma cancer stem cells secrete Gremlin1 to promote their maintenance within the tumor hierarchy. Genes Dev 2014; 28:1085-100. [PMID: 24788093 PMCID: PMC4035537 DOI: 10.1101/gad.235515.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In glioblastomas, cancer stem cells (CSCs) reside in functional niches that provide essential cues to maintain the cellular hierarchy. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are proposed as anti-CSC therapies to induce differentiation, but, paradoxically, tumors express high levels of BMPs. Yan et al. demonstrate that the BMP antagonist Gremlin1 is specifically expressed by CSCs as protection from endogenous BMPs. Gremlin1-overexpressing cells display increased growth and tumor formation, while targeting Gremlin1 in CSCs impairs growth and self-renewal associated with inhibition of p21WAF1/CIP1, a key CSC signaling node. Glioblastomas are the most prevalent and lethal primary brain tumor and are comprised of hierarchies with self-renewing cancer stem cells (CSCs) at the apex. Like neural stem cells (NSCs), CSCs reside in functional niches that provide essential cues to maintain the cellular hierarchy. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) instruct NSCs to adopt an astrocyte fate and are proposed as anti-CSC therapies to induce differentiation, but, paradoxically, tumors express high levels of BMPs. Here we demonstrate that the BMP antagonist Gremlin1 is specifically expressed by CSCs as protection from endogenous BMPs. Gremlin1 colocalizes with CSCs in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Gremlin1 blocks prodifferentiation effects of BMPs, and overexpression of Gremlin1 in non-CSCs decreases their endogenous BMP signaling to promote stem-like features. Consequently, Gremlin1-overexpressing cells display increased growth and tumor formation abilities. Targeting Gremlin1 in CSCs results in impaired growth and self-renewal. Transcriptional profiling demonstrated that Gremlin1 effects were associated with inhibition of p21WAF1/CIP1, a key CSC signaling node. This study establishes CSC-derived Gremlin1 as a driving force in maintaining glioblastoma tumor proliferation and glioblastoma hierarchies through the modulation of endogenous prodifferentiation signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Yan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Qiulian Wu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Diana H Yan
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Christine H Lee
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Nasiha Rahim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Isabel Tritschler
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8091, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer DeVecchio
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Matthew F Kalady
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Jeremy N Rich
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
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Scott JG, Hjelmeland AB, Chinnaiyan P, Anderson ARA, Basanta D. Microenvironmental variables must influence intrinsic phenotypic parameters of cancer stem cells to affect tumourigenicity. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1003433. [PMID: 24453958 PMCID: PMC3894166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of tumour initiating cells (TICs) in solid tumours, studies focussing on their role in cancer initiation and progression have abounded. The biological interrogation of these cells continues to yield volumes of information on their pro-tumourigenic behaviour, but actionable generalised conclusions have been scarce. Further, new information suggesting a dependence of tumour composition and growth on the microenvironment has yet to be studied theoretically. To address this point, we created a hybrid, discrete/continuous computational cellular automaton model of a generalised stem-cell driven tissue with a simple microenvironment. Using the model we explored the phenotypic traits inherent to the tumour initiating cells and the effect of the microenvironment on tissue growth. We identify the regions in phenotype parameter space where TICs are able to cause a disruption in homeostasis, leading to tissue overgrowth and tumour maintenance. As our parameters and model are non-specific, they could apply to any tissue TIC and do not assume specific genetic mutations. Targeting these phenotypic traits could represent a generalizable therapeutic strategy across cancer types. Further, we find that the microenvironmental variable does not strongly affect the outcomes, suggesting a need for direct feedback from the microenvironment onto stem-cell behaviour in future modelling endeavours. In this paper, we present a mathematical/computational model of a tumour growing according to the canonical cancer stem-cell hypothesis with a simplified microenvironment. We explore the parameters of this model and find good agreement between our model and other theoretical models in terms of the intrinsic cellular parameters, which are difficult to study biologically. We find, however, disagreement between novel biological data and our model in terms of the microenvironmental changes. We conclude that future theoretical models of stem-cell driven tumours must include specific feedback from the microenvironment onto the individual cellular behavior. Further, we identify several cell intrinsic parameters which govern loss of homeostasis into a state of uncontrolled growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G. Scott
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (JGS); (DB)
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Prakash Chinnaiyan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alexander R. A. Anderson
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - David Basanta
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JGS); (DB)
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Lotti F, Jarrar AM, Pai RK, Hitomi M, Lathia J, Mace A, Gantt GA, Sukhdeo K, DeVecchio J, Vasanji A, Leahy P, Hjelmeland AB, Kalady MF, Rich JN. Chemotherapy activates cancer-associated fibroblasts to maintain colorectal cancer-initiating cells by IL-17A. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 210:2851-72. [PMID: 24323355 PMCID: PMC3865474 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20131195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 298] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy stimulates cancer-associated fibroblasts to secrete interleukin-17A to provide maintenance cues to support the growth of colorectal cancer-initiating cells. Many solid cancers display cellular hierarchies with self-renewing, tumorigenic stemlike cells, or cancer-initiating cells (CICs) at the apex. Whereas CICs often exhibit relative resistance to conventional cancer therapies, they also receive critical maintenance cues from supportive stromal elements that also respond to cytotoxic therapies. To interrogate the interplay between chemotherapy and CICs, we investigated cellular heterogeneity in human colorectal cancers. Colorectal CICs were resistant to conventional chemotherapy in cell-autonomous assays, but CIC chemoresistance was also increased by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Comparative analysis of matched colorectal cancer specimens from patients before and after cytotoxic treatment revealed a significant increase in CAFs. Chemotherapy-treated human CAFs promoted CIC self-renewal and in vivo tumor growth associated with increased secretion of specific cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin-17A (IL-17A). Exogenous IL-17A increased CIC self-renewal and invasion, and targeting IL-17A signaling impaired CIC growth. Notably, IL-17A was overexpressed by colorectal CAFs in response to chemotherapy with expression validated directly in patient-derived specimens without culture. These data suggest that chemotherapy induces remodeling of the tumor microenvironment to support the tumor cellular hierarchy through secreted factors. Incorporating simultaneous disruption of CIC mechanisms and interplay with the tumor microenvironment could optimize therapeutic targeting of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenza Lotti
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, 2 Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and 3 Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute; 4 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Digestive Disease Institute; 5 Department of Anatomical Pathology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
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Kim Y, Wu Q, Hamerlik P, Hitomi M, Sloan AE, Barnett GH, Weil RJ, Leahy P, Hjelmeland AB, Rich JN. Aptamer identification of brain tumor-initiating cells. Cancer Res 2013; 73:4923-36. [PMID: 23796560 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-4556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastomas display cellular hierarchies with self-renewing tumor-initiating cells (TIC), also known as cancer stem cells, at the apex. Although the TIC hypothesis remains controversial and the functional assays to define the TIC phenotype are evolving, we and others have shown that TICs may contribute to therapeutic resistance, tumor spread, and angiogenesis. The identification of TICs has been informed by the use of markers characterized in normal stem cells, but this approach has an inherent limitation to selectively identify TICs. To develop reagents that enrich TICs but not matched non-TICs or tissue-specific stem cells, we adopted Cell-Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (Cell-SELEX) to identify glioblastoma TIC-specific nucleic acid probes-aptamers-that specifically bind TICs. In this study, using Cell-SELEX with positive selection for TICs and negative selection for non-TICs and human neural progenitor cells, we identified TIC aptamers that specifically bind to TICs with excellent dissociation constants (Kd). These aptamers select and internalize into glioblastoma cells that self-renew, proliferate, and initiate tumors. As aptamers can be modified to deliver payloads, aptamers may represent novel agents that could selectively target or facilitate imaging of TICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngmi Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave., NE3-301, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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Lathia JD, Li M, Hall PE, Gallagher J, Hale JS, Wu Q, Venere M, Levy E, Rani MRS, Huang P, Bae E, Selfridge J, Cheng L, Guvenc H, McLendon RE, Nakano I, Sloan AE, Phillips HS, Lai A, Gladson CL, Bredel M, Bao S, Hjelmeland AB, Rich JN. Laminin alpha 2 enables glioblastoma stem cell growth. Ann Neurol 2013; 72:766-78. [PMID: 23280793 DOI: 10.1002/ana.23674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2011] [Revised: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 06/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Glioblastomas (GBMs) are lethal cancers that display cellular hierarchies parallel to normal brain. At the apex are GBM stem cells (GSCs), which are relatively resistant to conventional therapy. Interactions with the adjacent perivascular niche are an important driver of malignancy and self-renewal in GSCs. Extracellular matrix (ECM) cues instruct neural stem/progenitor cell-niche interactions, and the objective of our study was to elucidate its composition and contribution to GSC maintenance in the perivascular niche. METHODS We interrogated human tumor tissue for immunofluorescence analysis and derived GSCs from tumor tissues for functional studies. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted by mining publicly available databases. RESULTS We find that laminin ECM proteins are localized to the perivascular GBM niche and inform negative patient prognosis. To identify the source of laminins, we characterized cellular elements within the niche and found that laminin α chains were expressed by nonstem tumor cells and tumor-associated endothelial cells (ECs). RNA interference targeting laminin α2 inhibited GSC growth and self-renewal. In co-culture studies of GSCs and ECs, laminin α2 knockdown in ECs resulted in decreased tumor growth. INTERPRETATION Our studies highlight the contribution of nonstem tumor cell-derived laminin juxtracrine signaling. As laminin α2 has recently been identified as a molecular marker of aggressive ependymoma, we propose that the brain vascular ECM promotes tumor malignancy through maintenance of the GSC compartment, providing not only a molecular fingerprint but also a possible therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Lathia
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Abstract
A central critique of the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis involves the robustness of CSC markers. Zorniak and colleagues suggest that different progenitor marker profiles can classify CSCs, and improved modeling of cellular hierarchies can be achieved by incorporating inter- and intratumoral diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita B Hjelmeland
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
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