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Roy A, Attarha S, Weishaupt H, Edqvist PH, Swartling FJ, Bergqvist M, Siebzehnrubl FA, Smits A, Pontén F, Tchougounova E. Serglycin as a potential biomarker for glioma: association of serglycin expression, extent of mast cell recruitment and glioblastoma progression. Oncotarget 2018; 8:24815-24827. [PMID: 28445977 PMCID: PMC5421891 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Serglycin is an intracellular proteoglycan with a unique ability to adopt highly divergent structures by glycosylation with variable types of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) when expressed by different cell types. Serglycin is overexpressed in aggressive cancers suggesting its protumorigenic role. In this study, we explored the expression of serglycin in human glioma and its correlation with survival and immune cell infiltration. We demonstrate that serglycin is expressed in glioma and that increased expression predicts poor survival of patients. Analysis of serglycin expression in a large cohort of low- and high-grade human glioma samples reveals that its expression is grade dependent and is positively correlated with mast cell (MC) infiltration. Moreover, serglycin expression in patient-derived glioma cells is significantly increased upon MC co-culture. This is also accompanied by increased expression of CXCL12, CXCL10, as well as markers of cancer progression, including CD44, ZEB1 and vimentin.In conclusion, these findings indicate the importance of infiltrating MCs in glioma by modulating signaling cascades involving serglycin, CD44 and ZEB1. The present investigation reveals serglycin as a potential prognostic marker for glioma and demonstrates an association with the extent of MC recruitment and glioma progression, uncovering potential future therapeutic opportunities for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Roy
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.,Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sanaz Attarha
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Holger Weishaupt
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per-Henrik Edqvist
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Florian A Siebzehnrubl
- Cardiff University School of Biosciences, European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anja Smits
- Uppsala University, Department of Neuroscience, Neurology, Uppsala, Sweden.,Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Pontén
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elena Tchougounova
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
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Attarha S, Roy A, Westermark B, Tchougounova E. Mast cells modulate proliferation, migration and stemness of glioma cells through downregulation of GSK3β expression and inhibition of STAT3 activation. Cell Signal 2017; 37:81-92. [PMID: 28600192 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) heterogeneity is the main obstacle to efficient treatment due to the existence of subpopulation of cells with increased tumorigenicity and network of tumor associated parenchymal cells in the tumor microenvironment. We previously demonstrated that mast cells (MCs) infiltrate mouse and human gliomas in response to variety of signals in a glioma grade-dependent manner. However, the role of MCs in glioma development and the mechanisms behind MCs-glioma cells interaction remain unidentified. In the present study, we show that MCs upon activation by glioma cells produce soluble factors including IL-6, which are documented to be involved in cancer-related activities. We observe 'tumor educated' MCs decrease glioma cell proliferation and migration, reduce self-renewal capacity and expression of stemness markers but in turn promote glioma cell differentiation. 'Tumor educated' MC derived mediators exert these effects via inactivation of STAT3 signaling pathway through GSK3β down-regulation. We identified 'tumor educated' MC derived IL-6 as one of the contributors among the complex mixture of MCs mediators, to be partially involved in the observed MC induced biological effect on glioma cells. Thus, MC mediated abolition of STAT3 signaling hampers glioma cell proliferation and migration by suppressing their stemness and inducing differentiation via down-regulation of GSK3β expression. Targeting newly identified inflammatory MC-STAT3 axis could contribute to patient tailored therapy and unveil potential future therapeutic opportunities for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Attarha
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ananya Roy
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Box 7028, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bengt Westermark
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elena Tchougounova
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
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3
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Roy A, Libard S, Weishaupt H, Gustavsson I, Uhrbom L, Hesselager G, Swartling FJ, Pontén F, Alafuzoff I, Tchougounova E. Mast Cell Infiltration in Human Brain Metastases Modulates the Microenvironment and Contributes to the Metastatic Potential. Front Oncol 2017. [PMID: 28626727 PMCID: PMC5454042 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic brain tumors continue to be a clinical problem, despite new therapeutic advances in cancer treatment. Brain metastases (BMs) are among the most common mass lesions in the brain that are resistant to chemotherapies, have a very poor prognosis, and currently lack any efficient diagnostic tests. Predictions estimate that about 40% of lung and breast cancer patients will develop BM. Despite this, very little is known about the immunological and genetic aberrations that drive tumorigenesis in BM. In this study, we demonstrate the infiltration of mast cells (MCs) in a large cohort of human BM samples with different tissues of origin for primary cancer. We applied patient-derived BM cell models to the study of BM cell-MC interactions. BM cells when cocultured with MCs demonstrate enhanced growth and self-renewal capacity. Gene set enrichment analyses indicate increased expression of signal transduction and transmembrane proteins related genes in the cocultured BM cells. MCs exert their effect by release of mediators such as IL-8, IL-10, matrix metalloprotease 2, and vascular endothelial growth factor, thereby permitting metastasis. In conclusion, we provide evidence for a role of MCs in BM. Our findings indicate MCs' capability of modulating gene expression in BM cells and suggest that MCs can serve as a new target for drug development against metastases in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Roy
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sylwia Libard
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Holger Weishaupt
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ida Gustavsson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lene Uhrbom
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Göran Hesselager
- Department of Neurosurgery, Uppsala University, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Pontén
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irina Alafuzoff
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elena Tchougounova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
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4
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Roy A, Coum A, Marinescu VD, Põlajeva J, Smits A, Nelander S, Uhrbom L, Westermark B, Forsberg-Nilsson K, Pontén F, Tchougounova E. Glioma-derived plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) regulates the recruitment of LRP1 positive mast cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:23647-61. [PMID: 26164207 PMCID: PMC4695142 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a high-grade glioma with a complex microenvironment, including various inflammatory cells and mast cells (MCs) as one of them. Previously we had identified glioma grade-dependent MC recruitment. In the present study we investigated the role of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in MC recruitment. PAI-1, a primary regulator in the fibrinolytic cascade is capable of forming a complex with fibrinolytic system proteins together with low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1). We found that neutralizing PAI-1 attenuated infiltration of MCs. To address the potential implication of LRP1 in this process, we used a LRP1 antagonist, receptor-associated protein (RAP), and demonstrated the attenuation of MC migration. Moreover, a positive correlation between the number of MCs and the level of PAI-1 in a large cohort of human glioma samples was observed. Our study demonstrated the expression of LRP1 in human MC line LAD2 and in MCs in human high-grade glioma. The activation of potential PAI-1/LRP1 axis with purified PAI-1 promoted increased phosphorylation of STAT3 and subsequently exocytosis in MCs. These findings indicate the influence of the PAI-1/LRP1 axis on the recruitment of MCs in glioma. The connection between high-grade glioma and MC infiltration could contribute to patient tailored therapy and improve patient stratification in future therapeutic trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Roy
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Antoine Coum
- Department of Engineering, Nanoscience Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Voichita D Marinescu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Anja Smits
- Department of Neuroscience, Neurology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Present address: Danish Epilepsy Center, Dianalund, Denmark
| | - Sven Nelander
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lene Uhrbom
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bengt Westermark
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Forsberg-Nilsson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Pontén
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elena Tchougounova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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5
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Sooman L, Freyhult E, Jaiswal A, Navani S, Edqvist PH, Pontén F, Tchougounova E, Smits A, Elsir T, Gullbo J, Lennartsson J, Bergqvist M, Ekman S. FGF2 as a potential prognostic biomarker for proneural glioma patients. Acta Oncol 2015; 54:385-94. [PMID: 25263081 DOI: 10.3109/0284186x.2014.951492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The survival of high-grade glioma patients is poor and the treatment of these patients can cause severe side effects. This fosters the necessity to identify prognostic biomarkers, in order to optimize treatment and diminish unnecessary suffering of patients. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic biomarkers for high-grade glioma patients. METHODS Eleven proteins were selected for analysis due to their suggested importance for survival of patients with other types of cancers and due to a high variation in protein levels between glioma patients (according to the Human Protein Atlas, www.proteinatlas.org). Protein expression patterns of these 11 proteins were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in tumor samples from 97 high-grade glioma patients. The prognostic values of the proteins were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses for the high-grade glioma patients, including subgroup analyses of histological subtypes and immunohistochemically defined molecular subtypes. RESULTS The proteins with the most significant (univariate and multivariate p<0.05) correlations were analyzed further with cross-validated Kaplan-Meier analyses for the possibility of predicting survival based on the protein expression pattern of the corresponding candidate. Random Forest classification with variable subset selection was used to analyze if a protein signature consisting of any combination of the 11 proteins could predict survival for the high-grade glioma patients and the subgroup with glioblastoma patients. The proteins which correlated most significantly (univariate and multivariate p<0.05) to survival in the Cox regression analyses were Myc for all high-grade gliomas and FGF2, CA9 and CD44 for the subgroup of proneural gliomas, with FGF2 having a strong negative predictive value for survival. No prognostic signature of the proteins could be found. CONCLUSION FGF2 is a potential prognostic biomarker for proneural glioma patients, and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Sooman
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Sciences, Section of Oncology, Rudbeck Laboratory , Uppsala , Sweden
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6
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Abstract
The roles of mast cells in health and disease remain incompletely understood. While the evidence that mast cells are critical effector cells in IgE-dependent anaphylaxis and other acute IgE-mediated allergic reactions seems unassailable, studies employing various mice deficient in mast cells or mast cell-associated proteases have yielded divergent conclusions about the roles of mast cells or their proteases in certain other immunological responses. Such "controversial" results call into question the relative utility of various older versus newer approaches to ascertain the roles of mast cells and mast cell proteases in vivo. This review discusses how both older and more recent mouse models have been used to investigate the functions of mast cells and their proteases in health and disease. We particularly focus on settings in which divergent conclusions about the importance of mast cells and their proteases have been supported by studies that employed different models of mast cell or mast cell protease deficiency. We think that two major conclusions can be drawn from such findings: (1) no matter which models of mast cell or mast cell protease deficiency one employs, the conclusions drawn from the experiments always should take into account the potential limitations of the models (particularly abnormalities affecting cell types other than mast cells) and (2) even when analyzing a biological response using a single model of mast cell or mast cell protease deficiency, details of experimental design are critical in efforts to define those conditions under which important contributions of mast cells or their proteases can be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Galli
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
| | - Mindy Tsai
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Thomas Marichal
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; GIGA-Research and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Elena Tchougounova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laurent L Reber
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gunnar Pejler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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7
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Põlajeva J, Bergström T, Edqvist PH, Lundequist A, Sjösten A, Nilsson G, Smits A, Bergqvist M, Pontén F, Westermark B, Pejler G, Forsberg Nilsson K, Tchougounova E. Glioma-derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) promotes mast cell recruitment in a STAT5-dependent manner. Mol Oncol 2013; 8:50-8. [PMID: 24091309 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2013.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, glioma research has increased its focus on the diverse types of cells present in brain tumors. We observed previously that gliomas are associated with a profound accumulation of mast cells (MCs) and here we investigate the underlying mechanism. Gliomas express a plethora of chemoattractants. First, we demonstrated pronounced migration of human MCs toward conditioned medium from cultures of glioma cell lines. Subsequent cytokine array analyses of media from cells, cultured in either serum-containing or -free conditions, revealed a number of candidates which were secreted in high amounts in both cell lines. Among these, we then focused on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), which has been reported to be pro-inflammatory and -tumorigenic. Infiltration of MCs was attenuated by antibodies that neutralized MIF. Moreover, a positive correlation between the number of MCs and the level of MIF in a large cohort of human glioma tissue samples was observed. Further, both glioma-conditioned media and purified MIF promoted differential phosphorylation of a number of signaling molecules, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), in MCs. Inhibition of pSTAT5 signaling significantly attenuated the migration of MCs toward glioma cell-conditioned medium shown to contain MIF. In addition, analysis of tissue microarrays (TMAs) of high-grade gliomas revealed a direct correlation between the level of pSTAT5 in MCs and the level of MIF in the medium. In conclusion, these findings indicate the important influence of signaling cascades involving MIF and STAT5 on the recruitment of MCs to gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Põlajeva
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Tobias Bergström
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Per-Henrik Edqvist
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Anders Lundequist
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, BMC, Box 575, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Anna Sjösten
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Nilsson
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Anja Smits
- Uppsala University Hospital, Department of Neuroscience, Neurology, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Michael Bergqvist
- Uppsala University Hospital, Department of Neuroscience, Neurology, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Fredrik Pontén
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Bengt Westermark
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Gunnar Pejler
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, BMC, Box 575, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Karin Forsberg Nilsson
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Elena Tchougounova
- Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
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8
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Grujic M, Calounova G, Eriksson I, Feyerabend T, Rodewald HR, Tchougounova E, Kjellén L, Pejler G. Distorted secretory granule composition in mast cells with multiple protease deficiency. J Immunol 2013; 191:3931-8. [PMID: 23975861 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Mast cells are characterized by an abundance of secretory granules densely packed with inflammatory mediators such as bioactive amines, cytokines, serglycin proteoglycans with negatively charged glycosaminoglycan side chains of either heparin or chondroitin sulfate type, and large amounts of positively charged proteases. Despite the large biological impact of mast cell granules and their contents on various pathologies, the mechanisms that regulate granule composition are incompletely understood. In this study, we hypothesized that granule composition is dependent on a dynamic electrostatic interrelationship between different granule compounds. As a tool to evaluate this possibility, we generated mice in which mast cells are multideficient in a panel of positively charged proteases: the chymase mouse mast cell protease-4, the tryptase mouse mast cell protease-6, and carboxypeptidase A3. Through a posttranslational effect, mast cells from these mice additionally lack mouse mast cell protease-5 protein. Mast cells from mice deficient in individual proteases showed normal morphology. In contrast, mast cells with combined protease deficiency displayed a profound distortion of granule integrity, as seen both by conventional morphological criteria and by transmission electron microscopy. An assessment of granule content revealed that the distorted granule integrity in multiprotease-deficient mast cells was associated with a profound reduction of highly negatively charged heparin, whereas no reduction in chondroitin sulfate storage was observed. Taken together with previous findings showing that the storage of basic proteases conversely is regulated by anionic proteoglycans, these data suggest that secretory granule composition in mast cells is dependent on a dynamic interrelationship between granule compounds of opposite electrical charge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjana Grujic
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
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9
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Põlajeva J, Sjösten AM, Lager N, Kastemar M, Waern I, Alafuzoff I, Smits A, Westermark B, Pejler G, Uhrbom L, Tchougounova E. Mast cell accumulation in glioblastoma with a potential role for stem cell factor and chemokine CXCL12. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25222. [PMID: 21949886 PMCID: PMC3176317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 08/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant form of glioma with high mortality and no cure. Many human cancers maintain a complex inflammatory program triggering rapid recruitment of inflammatory cells, including mast cells (MCs), to the tumor site. However, the potential contribution of MCs in glioma has not been addressed previously. Here we report for the first time that MCs infiltrate KRas+Akt-induced gliomas, using the RCAS/TV-a system, where KRas and Akt are transduced by RCAS into the brains of neonatal Gtv-a- or Ntv-a transgenic mice lacking Ink4a or Arf. The most abundant MC infiltration was observed in high-grade gliomas of Arf−/− mice. MC accumulation could be localized to the vicinity of glioma-associated vessels but also within the tumor mass. Importantly, proliferating MCs were detected, suggesting that the MC accumulation was caused by local expansion of the MC population. In line with these findings, strong expression of stem cell factor (SCF), i.e. the main MC growth factor, was detected, in particular around tumor blood vessels. Further, glioma cells expressed the MC chemotaxin CXCL12 and MCs expressed the corresponding receptor, i.e. CXCR4, suggesting that MCs could be attracted to the tumor through the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. Supporting a role for MCs in glioma, strong MC infiltration was detected in human glioma, where GBMs contained significantly higher MC numbers than grade II tumors did. Moreover, human GBMs were positive for CXCL12 and the infiltrating MCs were positive for CXCR4. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence for a role for MCs in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Põlajeva
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna M. Sjösten
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Marianne Kastemar
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ida Waern
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, BMC, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irina Alafuzoff
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anja Smits
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bengt Westermark
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Pejler
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, BMC, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lene Uhrbom
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elena Tchougounova
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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10
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Abstract
In a subset of gliomas, the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathway is perturbed. This is usually an early event occurring in low-grade tumors. In high-grade gliomas, the subsequent loss of the INK4a-ARF locus is one of the most common mutations. Here, we dissected the separate roles of Ink4a and Arf in PDGFB-induced oligodendroglioma development in mice. We found that there were differential functions of the two tumor suppressor genes. In tumors induced from astrocytes, both Ink4a-loss and Arf-loss caused a significantly increased incidence compared to wild-type mice. In tumors induced from glial progenitor cells there was a slight increase in tumor incidence in Ink4a-/- mice and Ink4a-Arf-/- mice compared to wild-type mice. In both progenitor cells and astrocytes, Arf-loss caused a pronounced increase in tumor malignancy compared to Ink4a-loss. Hence, Ink4a-loss contributed to tumor initiation from astrocytes and Arf-loss caused tumor progression from both glial progenitor cells and astrocytes. Results from in vitro studies on primary brain cell cultures suggested that the PDGFB-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway via extracellular signal-regulated kinase was involved in the initiation of low-grade oligodendrogliomas and that the additional loss of Arf may contribute to tumor progression through increased levels of cyclin D1 and a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent activation of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase causing a strong proliferative response of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Tchougounova
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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11
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Tchougounova E, Lundequist A, Fajardo I, Winberg JO, Abrink M, Pejler G. A Key Role for Mast Cell Chymase in the Activation of Pro-matrix Metalloprotease-9 and Pro-matrix Metalloprotease-2. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:9291-6. [PMID: 15615702 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m410396200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chymases, serine proteases exclusively expressed by mast cells, have been implicated in various pathological conditions. However, the basis for these activities is not known, i.e. the in vivo substrate(s) for mast cell chymase has not been identified. In this study we show that mice lacking the chymase mouse mast cell protease 4 (mMCP-4) fail to process pro-matrix metalloprotease 9 (pro-MMP-9) to its active form in vivo, whereas both the pro and active form of MMP-9 was found in tissues of wild type mice. Moreover, the processing of pro-MMP-2 into active enzyme was markedly defective in mMCP-4 null animals. Histological analysis revealed an increase in collagen in the ear tissue of mMCP-4-deficient animals accompanied by increased ear thickness and a higher content of hydroxyproline. Furthermore, both lung and ear tissue from the knock-out animals showed a markedly increased staining for fibronectin. MMP-9 and MMP-2 are known to have a range of important activities, but the mechanisms for their activation in vivo have not been clarified previously. The present study thus indicates a key role for mast cell chymase in the regulation of pro-MMP-2 and -9 activities. Moreover, the results suggest an important role for mast cell chymase in regulating connective tissue homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tchougounova
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biosciences, BMC, Box 575, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
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Lundequist A, Tchougounova E, Abrink M, Pejler G. Cooperation between Mast Cell Carboxypeptidase A and the Chymase Mouse Mast Cell Protease 4 in the Formation and Degradation of Angiotensin II. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:32339-44. [PMID: 15173164 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m405576200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The octapeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) exerts a wide range of effects on the cardiovascular system but has also been implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation, fibrosis, and apoptosis. Ang II is formed by cleavage of Ang I by angiotensin-converting enzyme, but there is also evidence for non-angiotensin-converting enzyme-dependent conversion of Ang I to Ang II. Here we address the role of mast cell proteases in Ang II production by using two different mouse strains lacking mast cell heparin or mouse mast cell protease 4 (mMCP-4), the chymase that may be the functional homologue to human chymase. Ang I was added to ex vivo cultures of peritoneal cells, and the generation of Ang II and other metabolites was analyzed. Activation of mast cells resulted in marked increases in both the formation and subsequent degradation of Ang II, and both of these processes were strongly reduced in heparin-deficient peritoneal cells. In the mMCP-4(-/-) cell cultures no reduction in the rate of Ang II generation was seen, but the formation of Ang-(5-10) was completely abrogated. Addition of a carboxypeptidase A (CPA) inhibitor to wild type cells caused complete inhibition of the formation of Ang-(1-9) and Ang-(1-7) but did not inhibit Ang II formation. However, when the CPA inhibitor was added to the mMCP-4(-/-) cultures, essentially complete inhibition of Ang II formation was obtained. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that mast cell chymase and CPA have key roles in both the generation and degradation of Ang II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Lundequist
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Biomedical Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 575, 75 123 Uppsala, Sweden
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Tchougounova E, Pejler G, Abrink M. The chymase, mouse mast cell protease 4, constitutes the major chymotrypsin-like activity in peritoneum and ear tissue. A role for mouse mast cell protease 4 in thrombin regulation and fibronectin turnover. J Exp Med 2003; 198:423-31. [PMID: 12900518 PMCID: PMC2194091 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20030671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To gain insight into the biological role of mast cell chymase we have generated a mouse strain with a targeted deletion in the gene for mast cell protease 4 (mMCP-4), the mouse chymase that has the closest relationship to the human chymase in terms of tissue localization and functional properties. The inactivation of mMCP-4 did not affect the storage of other mast cell proteases and did not affect the number of mast cells or the mast cell morphology. However, mMCP-4 inactivation resulted in complete loss of chymotryptic activity in the peritoneum and in ear tissue, indicating that mMCP-4 is the main source of stored chymotrypsin-like protease activity at these sites. The mMCP-4 null cells showed markedly impaired ability to perform inactivating cleavages of thrombin, indicating a role for mMCP-4 in regulating the extravascular coagulation system. Further, a role for mMCP-4 in connective tissue remodeling was suggested by the inability of mMCP-4 null peritoneal cells to process endogenous fibronectin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tchougounova
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Biomedical Center, Box 575, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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Abstract
We recently characterized a heparin-deficient mouse strain generated by targeting the gene for N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-2 (NDST-2). The NDST-2-/- mice show severe defects in their organization of mast cell (MC) secretory granules, with an almost total absence of the various heparin-binding MC proteases. In the present report we have studied the consequences of heparin/MC protease deficiency for extravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis. Addition of prothrombin to peritoneal cells-a mixture of macrophages, lymphocytes, and MCs-resulted in formation of thrombin but the accumulation of thrombin occurred faster in the NDST-2-/-cells than in normal controls. Further, the generated thrombin was subsequently inactivated in the NDST-2+/+ cell cultures but not in the NDST-2-/- cells. Plasminogen was activated to plasmin at an apparently higher rate in peritoneal cells from NDST-2 null mice than in the normal controls. Similar to thrombin, the generated plasmin was inactivated by NDST-2+/+ but not by the NDST-2-/- cells. Subsequent experiments with normal cells showed that cell surface-associated MC chymase, in a strongly heparin-dependent manner, was responsible for both the thrombin-inactivating- and plasmin-inactivating activities. These results show that MC chymase-heparin complexes have the potential to regulate extravascular coagulation processes, as well as the plasminogen activator/plasmin system.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Tchougounova
- Department of Veterinary Medical Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Center, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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Ohtsu H, Tanaka S, Terui T, Hori Y, Makabe-Kobayashi Y, Pejler G, Tchougounova E, Hellman L, Gertsenstein M, Hirasawa N, Sakurai E, Buzás E, Kovács P, Csaba G, Okada M, Hara M, Mar L, Numayama-Tsuruta K, Ishigaki-Suzuki S, Ohuchi K, Ichikawa A, Falus A, Watanabe T, Nagy A. Mice lacking histidine decarboxylase exhibit abnormal mast cells. FEBS Lett 2001; 502:53-6. [PMID: 11478947 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)02663-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 302] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) synthesizes histamine from histidine in mammals. To evaluate the role of histamine, we generated HDC-deficient mice using a gene targeting method. The mice showed a histamine deficiency and lacked histamine-synthesizing activity from histidine. These HDC-deficient mice are viable and fertile but exhibit a decrease in the numbers of mast cells while the remaining mast cells show an altered morphology and reduced granular content. The amounts of mast cell granular proteases were tremendously reduced. The HDC-deficient mice provide a unique and promising model for studying the role of histamine in a broad range of normal and disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Ohtsu
- Department of Cellular Pharmacology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
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Tchougounova E, Forsberg E, Angelborg G, Kjéllen L, Pejler G. Altered processing of fibronectin in mice lacking heparin. a role for heparin-dependent mast cell chymase in fibronectin degradation. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:3772-7. [PMID: 11035040 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m008434200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously generated a mouse strain with a defect in its heparin biosynthesis by targeting the gene for N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-2 (NDST-2). The NDST-2(-/-) mice show reduced levels of various mast cell mediators such as histamine and various heparin-binding mast cell proteases, including chymases, tryptases, and carboxypeptidase A. In this work we have addressed the possible functional consequences of the lack of sulfated heparin. Peritoneal cells were harvested from normal and NDST-2(-/-) mice. After culturing the cells, conditioned media were collected and were subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Several differences in the protein patterns were observed, including the presence of large amounts of a approximately 250-kDa protein in medium from NDST-2(-/-) mice that was absent in normal controls. Peptide microsequencing revealed identity of this protein with fibronectin. Western blot analysis showed the presence of fibronectin degradation products in cell cultures from normal mice, which were absent in cultures from NDST-2(-/-) animals. Further experiments showed that the degradation of fibronectin observed in cell cultures from NDST-2(+/+) mice was catalyzed by mast cell chymase in a strongly heparin-dependent manner. This report thus indicates a biological function for chymase/heparin proteoglycan complexes in fibronectin turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Tchougounova
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medical Chemistry, The Biomedical Center, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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