1
|
Farris F, Elhagh A, Vigorito I, Alongi N, Pisati F, Giannattasio M, Casagrande F, Veghini L, Corbo V, Tripodo C, Di Napoli A, Matafora V, Bachi A. Unveiling the mechanistic link between extracellular amyloid fibrils, mechano-signaling and YAP activation in cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:28. [PMID: 38199984 PMCID: PMC10781709 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06424-z] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is a complex ecosystem that plays a critical role in cancer progression and treatment response. Recently, extracellular amyloid fibrils have emerged as novel components of the tumor microenvironment; however, their function remains elusive. In this study, we establish a direct connection between the presence of amyloid fibrils in the secretome and the activation of YAP, a transcriptional co-activator involved in cancer proliferation and drug resistance. Furthermore, we uncover a shared mechano-signaling mechanism triggered by amyloid fibrils in both melanoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Our findings highlight the crucial role of the glycocalyx protein Agrin which binds to extracellular amyloid fibrils and acts as a necessary factor in driving amyloid-dependent YAP activation. Additionally, we reveal the involvement of the HIPPO pathway core kinase LATS1 in this signaling cascade. Finally, we demonstrate that extracellular amyloid fibrils enhance cancer cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, our research expands our knowledge of the tumor microenvironment by uncovering the role of extracellular amyloid fibrils in driving mechano-signaling and YAP activation. This knowledge opens up new avenues for developing innovative strategies to modulate YAP activation and mitigate its detrimental effects during cancer progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Farris
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Elhagh
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Vigorito
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Alongi
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Pisati
- Histopathology Unit, Cogentech S.C.a.R.L, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Giannattasio
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Casagrande
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Lisa Veghini
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Corbo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona, 37134, Verona, Italy
- ARC-Net Centre for Applied Research on Cancer, University of Verona, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Arianna Di Napoli
- Pathology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Vittoria Matafora
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy.
| | - Angela Bachi
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Macrì F, Vigorito I, Castiglione S, Faggiano S, Casaburo M, Fanotti N, Piacentini L, Vigetti D, Vinci MC, Raucci A. High Phosphate-Induced JAK-STAT Signalling Sustains Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Inflammation and Limits Calcification. Biomolecules 2023; 14:29. [PMID: 38254629 PMCID: PMC10813375 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010029] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular calcification (VC) is an age-related complication characterised by calcium-phosphate deposition in the arterial wall driven by the osteogenic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The JAK-STAT pathway is an emerging target in inflammation. Considering the relationship between VC and inflammation, we investigated the role of JAK-STAT signalling during VSMC calcification. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were cultured in high-inorganic phosphate (Pi) medium for up to 7 days; calcium deposition was determined via Alizarin staining and colorimetric assay. Inflammatory factor secretion was evaluated via ELISA and JAK-STAT members' activation using Western blot or immunohistochemistry on HASMCs or calcified aortas of Vitamin D-treated C57BL6/J mice, respectively. The JAK-STAT pathway was blocked by JAK Inhibitor I and Von Kossa staining was used for calcium deposits in murine aortic rings. During Pi-induced calcification, HASMCs released IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 and activated JAK1-JAK3 proteins and STAT1. Phospho-STAT1 was detected in murine calcified aortas. Blocking of the JAK-STAT cascade reduced HASMC proliferation and pro-inflammatory factor expression and release while increasing calcium deposition and osteogenic transcription factor RUNX2 expression. Consistently, JAK-STAT pathway inhibition exacerbates mouse aortic ring calcification ex vivo. Intriguingly, our results suggest an alternative link between VSMC inflammation and VC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Macrì
- Unit of Experimental Cardio-Oncology and Cardiovascular Aging, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (I.V.); (S.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Ilaria Vigorito
- Unit of Experimental Cardio-Oncology and Cardiovascular Aging, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (I.V.); (S.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Stefania Castiglione
- Unit of Experimental Cardio-Oncology and Cardiovascular Aging, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (I.V.); (S.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Stefano Faggiano
- Unit of Experimental Cardio-Oncology and Cardiovascular Aging, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (I.V.); (S.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Manuel Casaburo
- Animal Facility, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (N.F.)
| | - Nadia Fanotti
- Animal Facility, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (N.F.)
| | - Luca Piacentini
- Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence Facility, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy;
| | - Davide Vigetti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy;
| | - Maria Cristina Vinci
- Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy;
| | - Angela Raucci
- Unit of Experimental Cardio-Oncology and Cardiovascular Aging, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (I.V.); (S.C.); (S.F.)
- Animal Facility, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (M.C.); (N.F.)
| |
Collapse
|