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Moleirinho S, Kitamura Y, Borges PSGN, Auduong S, Kilic S, Deng D, Kanaya N, Kozono D, Zhou J, Gray JJ, Revai-Lechtich E, Zhu Y, Shah K. Fate and Efficacy of Engineered Allogeneic Stem Cells Targeting Cell Death and Proliferation Pathways in Primary and Brain Metastatic Lung Cancer. Stem Cells Transl Med 2023; 12:444-458. [PMID: 37311043 PMCID: PMC10346421 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szad033] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary and metastatic lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death and novel therapies are urgently needed. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and death receptor (DR) 4/5 are both highly expressed in primary and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, targeting these receptors individually has demonstrated limited therapeutic benefit in patients. In this study, we created and characterized diagnostic and therapeutic stem cells (SC), expressing EGFR-targeted nanobody (EV) fused to the extracellular domain of death DR4/5 ligand (DRL) (EVDRL) that simultaneously targets EGFR and DR4/5, in primary and metastatic NSCLC tumor models. We show that EVDRL targets both cell surface receptors, and induces caspase-mediated apoptosis in a broad spectrum of NSCLC cell lines. Utilizing real-time dual imaging and correlative immunohistochemistry, we show that allogeneic SCs home to tumors and when engineered to express EVDRL, alleviate tumor burden and significantly increase survival in primary and brain metastatic NSCLC. This study reports mechanistic insights into simultaneous targeting of EGFR- and DR4/5 in lung tumors and presents a promising approach for translation into the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Moleirinho
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yohei Kitamura
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paulo S G N Borges
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sophia Auduong
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seyda Kilic
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Deng
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nobuhiko Kanaya
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Kozono
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Gray
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MA, USA
| | - Esther Revai-Lechtich
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yanni Zhu
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Khalid Shah
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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2
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Moleirinho S, Whalen AJ, Fried SI, Pezaris JS. The impact of synchronous versus asynchronous electrical stimulation in artificial vision. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 33900206 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abecf1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Visual prosthesis devices designed to restore sight to the blind have been under development in the laboratory for several decades. Clinical translation continues to be challenging, due in part to gaps in our understanding of critical parameters such as how phosphenes, the electrically-generated pixels of artificial vision, can be combined to form images. In this review we explore the effects that synchronous and asynchronous electrical stimulation across multiple electrodes have in evoking phosphenes. Understanding how electrical patterns influence phosphene generation to control object binding and perception of visual form is fundamental to creation of a clinically successful prosthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Moleirinho
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America.,Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Andrew J Whalen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America.,Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Shelley I Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America.,Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America.,Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - John S Pezaris
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America.,Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
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3
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Kitamura Y, Kanaya N, Moleirinho S, Du W, Reinshagen C, Attia N, Bronisz A, Revai Lechtich E, Sasaki H, Mora JL, Brastianos PK, Falcone JL, Hofer AM, Franco A, Shah K. Anti-EGFR VHH-armed death receptor ligand-engineered allogeneic stem cells have therapeutic efficacy in diverse brain metastatic breast cancers. Sci Adv 2021; 7:7/10/eabe8671. [PMID: 33658202 PMCID: PMC7929513 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe8671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) shows brain metastatic (BM) capability and overexpresses EGFR and death-receptors 4/5 (DR4/5); however, the anatomical location of BM prohibits efficient drug-delivery to these targetable markers. In this study, we developed BLBC-BM mouse models featuring different patterns of BMs and explored the versatility of estem cell (SC)-mediated bi-functional EGFR and DR4/5-targeted treatment in these models. Most BLBC lines demonstrated a high sensitivity to EGFR and DR4/5 bi-targeting therapeutic protein, EVDRL [anti-EGFR VHH (EV) fused to DR ligand (DRL)]. Functional analyses using inhibitors and CRISPR-Cas9 knockouts revealed that the EV domain facilitated in augmenting DR4/5-DRL binding and enhancing DRL-induced apoptosis. EVDRL secreting stem cells alleviated tumor-burden and significantly increased survival in mouse models of residual-tumor after macrometastasis resection, perivascular niche micrometastasis, and leptomeningeal metastasis. This study reports mechanism based simultaneous targeting of EGFR and DR4/5 in BLBC and defines a new treatment paradigm for treatment of BM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Kitamura
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nobuhiko Kanaya
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Susana Moleirinho
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wanlu Du
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Clemens Reinshagen
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nada Attia
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Agnieszka Bronisz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Esther Revai Lechtich
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hikaru Sasaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Joana Liliana Mora
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | - Jefferey L Falcone
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA
| | - Aldebaran M Hofer
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA
| | - Arnaldo Franco
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Khalid Shah
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Kitamura Y, Moleirinho S, Kanaya N, Franco A, Shah K. TMOD-01. DEVELOPING CLINICALLY RELEVANT BRAIN METASTATIC TUMOR MODELS FOR TARGETED STEM CELL THERAPEUTICS. Neuro Oncol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa215.952] [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: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Brain metastasis is associated with increased mortality in patients with cancer, 15-20% of patients will develop brain metastasis during the course of the disease. Characterizing clinically relevant brain metastasis models and exploring different options to deliver drugs across blood brain barrier in such models are fundamental for the development of novel therapies for metastatic brain tumors. We have created imageable breast to brain metastasis tumor models using patient derived brain seeking basal like breast cancer (BLBC) lines. We show a widespread distribution of micro- and macro-metastasis and the close association of tumor cells with blood vessels in the brain thus mimicking the multi-foci metastases observed in the clinics. These models enables us to investigate the pathophysiology of this little-known phenomenon and test the efficacy of new approach targeting the dormant cancer cells in perivascular niche. Next, we assessed the EGFR and DR4/5 levels in BLBC and show that brain seeking BLBC have higher EGFR and DR5 levels than their primary counterparts. We also show that intracarotid artery injection or intrathecal injection of stem cells engineered to express optical imaging markers home to metastatic brain tumors. These findings provide useful models for testing treatments for metastatic brain tumors and also provide insights into the changes in gene expression in metastatic BLBC and means to deliver therapeutics to metastatic tumors in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Khalid Shah
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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5
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Kitamura Y, Moleirinho S, Du W, Reinshagen C, Attia N, Shah K. STEM-02. DEVELOPING BRAIN METASTATIC TUMOR MODELS FOR TARGETED STEM CELL THERAPY. Neuro Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noy148.1009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wanlu Du
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Nada Attia
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Khalid Shah
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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6
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Troutman S, Moleirinho S, Kota S, Nettles K, Fallahi M, Johnson GL, Kissil JL. Crizotinib inhibits NF2-associated schwannoma through inhibition of focal adhesion kinase 1. Oncotarget 2018; 7:54515-54525. [PMID: 27363027 PMCID: PMC5342359 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a dominantly inherited autosomal disease characterized by schwannomas of the 8th cranial nerve. The NF2 tumor suppressor gene encodes for Merlin, a protein implicated as a suppressor of multiple cellular signaling pathways. To identify potential drug targets in NF2-associated malignancies we assessed the consequences of inhibiting the tyrosine kinase receptor MET. We identified crizotinib, a MET and ALK inhibitor, as a potent inhibitor of NF2-null Schwann cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. To identify the target/s of crizotnib we employed activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), leading to identification of FAK1 (PTK2) as the relevant target of crizotinib inhibition in NF2-null schwannoma cells. Subsequent studies confirm that inhibition of FAK1 is sufficient to suppress tumorigenesis in animal models of NF2 and that crizotinib-resistant forms of FAK1 can rescue the effects of treatment. These studies identify a FDA approved drug as a potential treatment for NF2 and delineate the mechanism of action in NF2-null Schwann cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Troutman
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Susana Moleirinho
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Smitha Kota
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Kendall Nettles
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Mohammad Fallahi
- Department of Informatics Core, The Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Gary L Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Joseph L Kissil
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
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7
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Moleirinho S, Hoxha S, Mandati V, Curtale G, Troutman S, Ehmer U, Kissil JL. Regulation of localization and function of the transcriptional co-activator YAP by angiomotin. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28464980 PMCID: PMC5415356 DOI: 10.7554/elife.23966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [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: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hippo-YAP pathway is a central regulator of cell contact inhibition, proliferation and death. There are conflicting reports regarding the role of Angiomotin (Amot) in regulating this pathway. While some studies suggest a YAP-inhibitory function other studies indicate Amot is required for YAP activity. Here, we describe an Amot-dependent complex comprised of Amot, YAP and Merlin. The phosphorylation of Amot at Serine 176 shifts localization of this complex to the plasma membrane, where it associates with the tight-junction proteins Pals1/PATJ and E-cadherin. Conversely, hypophosphorylated Amot shifts localization of the complex to the nucleus, where it facilitates the association of YAP and TEAD, induces transcriptional activation of YAP target genes and promotes YAP-dependent cell proliferation. We propose that phosphorylation of AmotS176 is a critical post-translational modification that suppresses YAP’s ability to promote cell proliferation and tumorigenesis by altering the subcellular localization of an essential YAP co-factor. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23966.001 Cells in animals and other multi-cellular organisms need to know when and where they should grow and divide. Individual cells communicate with their surrounding environment and each other via signaling pathways such as the Hippo-YAP pathway, which stimulates cells to grow and therefore influences the size of organs. When the Hippo part of the pathway is active it causes a protein known as YAP to move out of a compartment in the cell called the nucleus. Inside the nucleus, YAP helps to activate genes that promote cell growth. If the Hippo pathway can no longer respond to cues from the environment, YAP becomes over-active and can contribute to the development of various cancers. Therefore researchers are trying to better understand how it is regulated. Many signals both from inside and outside the cell influence YAP activity. For example, some signals block YAP from entering the nucleus, whereas others cause YAP to be broken down entirely. Several studies have recently identified a signal protein called angiomotin as a regulator of YAP. However, the studies provide conflicting reports as to whether angiomotin promotes or inhibits cell growth. Like many other proteins, angiomotin can be tagged with a small molecule called a phosphate group that can alter its activity. Moleirinho, Hoxha et al. studied human cells containing versions of angiomotin that mimic different forms of the protein with or without the phosphate. The experiments indicate that when a phosphate is attached at a particular position (known as serine 176), angiomotin predominantly interacts with YAP and another protein called Merlin at the cell surface. On the other hand, when angiomotin does not have a phosphate attached to it, all three proteins can move into the nucleus, where YAP is able to activate genes and promote cell growth. Overall, these findings indicate that adding a phosphate group to angiomotin can act as a switch to regulate where in the cell it and YAP are found and thus, whether YAP is active. Future experiments will investigate which enzymes add the phosphate group to serine 176, and when they are able to do so. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23966.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Moleirinho
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Sany Hoxha
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Vinay Mandati
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Graziella Curtale
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Scott Troutman
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Ursula Ehmer
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Joseph L Kissil
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
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8
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9
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Tilston-Lünel AM, Haley KE, Schlecht NF, Wang Y, Chatterton ALD, Moleirinho S, Watson A, Hundal HS, Prystowsky MB, Gunn-Moore FJ, Reynolds PA. Crumbs 3b promotes tight junctions in an ezrin-dependent manner in mammalian cells. J Mol Cell Biol 2016; 8:439-455. [PMID: 27190314 PMCID: PMC5055084 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjw020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [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: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Crumbs 3 (CRB3) is a component of epithelial junctions, which has been implicated in apical-basal polarity, apical identity, apical stability, cell adhesion, and cell growth. CRB3 undergoes alternative splicing to yield two variants: CRB3a and CRB3b. Here, we describe novel data demonstrating that, as with previous studies on CRB3a, CRB3b also promotes the formation of tight junctions (TJs). However, significantly we demonstrate that the 4.1-ezrin-radixin-moesin-binding motif of CRB3b is required for CRB3b functionality and that ezrin binds to the FBM of CRB3b. Furthermore, we show that ezrin contributes to CRB3b functionality and the correct distribution of TJ proteins. We demonstrate that both CRB3 isoforms are required for the production of functionally mature TJs and also the localization of ezrin to the plasma membrane. Finally, we demonstrate that reduced CRB3b expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) correlates with cytoplasmic ezrin, a biomarker for aggressive disease, and shows evidence that while CRB3a expression has no effect, low CRB3b and high cytoplasmic ezrin expression combined may be prognostic for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Tilston-Lünel
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK
| | - Kathryn E Haley
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK
| | - Nicolas F Schlecht
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Yanhua Wang
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Abigail L D Chatterton
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK
| | - Susana Moleirinho
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK.,Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK.,Present address: Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Ailsa Watson
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Harinder S Hundal
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | | | - Frank J Gunn-Moore
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK
| | - Paul A Reynolds
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK
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10
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Wang Y, Gersten A, Moleirinho S, Gunn-Moore FJ, Reynolds PA, Prystowsky MB. Fibroblasts in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Associated With Perineural Invasion Have High-Level Nuclear Yes-Associated Protein (YAP) Expression. Acad Pathol 2015; 2:2374289515616972. [PMID: 28725753 PMCID: PMC5479460 DOI: 10.1177/2374289515616972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 07/09/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We retrospectively studied the expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP) using immunohistochemical staining in 10 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with associated perineural invasion. We find that fibroblasts in areas associated with perineural invasion show higher levels of nuclear YAP compared to fibroblasts in the stroma of normal mucosa, with a median cell count of 35.4 per high-power field in the former and 3.9 in the latter. No differences were observed between the expression of YAP phosphorylated at Ser127 in the tumoral stroma compared to that in the normal mucosa, with a median cell count expression of 4.9 in the former versus 5.0 in the latter. Therefore, a strong and increased nuclear YAP expression in fibroblasts associated with perineural invasion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma suggests that YAP-mediated transcription programs in these fibroblasts may contribute to perineural invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanghua Wang
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Adam Gersten
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Susana Moleirinho
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews,
Scotland, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews,
Scotland, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paul A. Reynolds
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews,
Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Michael B. Prystowsky
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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11
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Moleirinho S, Patrick C, Tilston-Lünel AM, Higginson JR, Angus L, Antkowiak M, Barnett SC, Prystowsky MB, Reynolds PA, Gunn-Moore FJ. Willin, an upstream component of the hippo signaling pathway, orchestrates mammalian peripheral nerve fibroblasts. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60028. [PMID: 23593160 PMCID: PMC3620498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Willin/FRMD6 was first identified in the rat sciatic nerve, which is composed of neurons, Schwann cells, and fibroblasts. Willin is an upstream component of the Hippo signaling pathway, which results in the inactivation of the transcriptional co-activator YAP through Ser127 phosphorylation. This in turn suppresses the expression of genes involved in cell growth, proliferation and cancer development ensuring the control of organ size, cell contact inhibition and apoptosis. Here we show that in the mammalian sciatic nerve, Willin is predominantly expressed in fibroblasts and that Willin expression activates the Hippo signaling cascade and induces YAP translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In addition within these cells, although it inhibits cellular proliferation, Willin expression induces a quicker directional migration towards scratch closure and an increased expression of factors linked to nerve regeneration. These results show that Willin modulates sciatic nerve fibroblast activity indicating that Willin may have a potential role in the regeneration of the peripheral nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Moleirinho
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Calum Patrick
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M. Tilston-Lünel
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer R. Higginson
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Liselotte Angus
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Maciej Antkowiak
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Susan C. Barnett
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Michael B. Prystowsky
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Paul A. Reynolds
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: fjg1@st- andrews.ac.uk (FGM); (PR)
| | - Frank J. Gunn-Moore
- Medical and Biological Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: fjg1@st- andrews.ac.uk (FGM); (PR)
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