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Ngwa VM, Edwards DN, Hwang Y, Karno B, Wang X, Yan C, Richmond A, Brantley-Sieders DM, Chen J. Loss of vascular endothelial glutaminase inhibits tumor growth and metastasis, and increases sensitivity to chemotherapy. Cancer Res Commun 2022; 2:694-705. [PMID: 36381236 PMCID: PMC9645801 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0048] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Glutamine is the most abundant non-essential amino acid in blood stream; yet it's concentration in tumor interstitium is markedly lower than that in the serum, reflecting the huge demand of various cell types in tumor microenvironment for glutamine. While many studies have investigated glutamine metabolism in tumor epithelium and infiltrating immune cells, the role of glutamine metabolism in tumor blood vessels remains unknown. Here, we report that inducible genetic deletion of glutaminase (GLS) specifically in host endothelium, GLSECKO, impairs tumor growth and metastatic dissemination in vivo. Loss of GLS decreased tumor microvascular density, increased perivascular support cell coverage, improved perfusion, and reduced hypoxia in mammary tumors. Importantly, chemotherapeutic drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy were improved in tumor-bearing GLSECKO hosts or in combination with GLS inhibitor, CB839. Mechanistically, loss of GLS in tumor endothelium resulted in decreased leptin levels, and exogenous recombinant leptin rescued tumor growth defects in GLSECKO mice. Together, these data demonstrate that inhibition of endothelial glutamine metabolism normalizes tumor vessels, reducing tumor growth and metastatic spread, improving perfusion, and reducing hypoxia, and enhancing chemotherapeutic delivery. Thus, targeting glutamine metabolism in host vasculature may improve clinical outcome in patients with solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verra M. Ngwa
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Deanna N. Edwards
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Yoonha Hwang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Breelyn Karno
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Xiaoyong Wang
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Chi Yan
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Ann Richmond
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Dana M. Brantley-Sieders
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jin Chen
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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Abstract
Background: The conventional dogma of treating cancer by focusing on the elimination of tumor cells has been recently refined to include consideration of the tumor microenvironment, which includes host stromal cells. Ephrin-A1, a cell surface protein involved in adhesion and migration, has been shown to be tumor suppressive in the context of the cancer cell. However, its role in the host has not been fully investigated. Here, we examine how ephrin-A1 host deficiency affects cancer growth and metastasis in a murine model of breast cancer. Methods: 4T1 cells were orthotopically implanted into the mammary fat pads or injected into the tail veins of ephrin-A1 wild-type (
Efna1+/+), heterozygous (
Efna1+/-), or knockout (
Efna1-/-) mice. Tumor growth, lung metastasis, and tumor recurrence after surgical resection were measured. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to analyze various cell populations in primary tumors and tumor-bearing lungs. Results: While primary tumor growth did not differ between
Efna1+/+,
Efna1+/-, and
Efna1-/- mice, lung metastasis and primary tumor recurrence were significantly decreased in knockout mice.
Efna1-/- mice had reduced lung colonization of 4T1 cells compared to
Efna1+/+ littermate controls as early as 24 hours after tail vein injection. Furthermore, established lung lesions in
Efna1-/- mice had reduced proliferation compared to those in
Efna1+/+ controls. Conclusions: Our studies demonstrate that host deficiency of ephrin-A1 does not impact primary tumor growth but does affect metastasis by providing a less favorable metastatic niche for cancer cell colonization and growth. Elucidating the mechanisms by which host ephrin-A1 impacts cancer relapse and metastasis may shed new light on novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Shiuan
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Ashwin Inala
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Shan Wang
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Wenqiang Song
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | | | - Jin Chen
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Dana M Brantley-Sieders
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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3
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Abstract
Background: The conventional dogma of treating cancer by focusing on the elimination of tumor cells has been recently refined to include consideration of the tumor microenvironment, which includes host stromal cells. Ephrin-A1, a cell surface protein involved in adhesion and migration, has been shown to be tumor suppressive in the context of the cancer cell. However, its role in the host has not been fully investigated. Here, we examine how ephrin-A1 host deficiency affects cancer growth and metastasis in a murine model of breast cancer. Methods: 4T1 cells were orthotopically implanted into the mammary fat pads or injected into the tail veins of ephrin-A1 wild-type ( Efna1 +/+), heterozygous ( Efna1 +/-), or knockout ( Efna1 -/-) mice. Tumor growth, lung metastasis, and tumor recurrence after surgical resection were measured. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to analyze various cell populations in primary tumors and tumor-bearing lungs. Results: While primary tumor growth did not differ between Efna1 +/+, Efna1 +/-, and Efna1 -/- mice, lung metastasis and primary tumor recurrence were significantly decreased in knockout mice. Efna1 -/- mice had reduced lung colonization of 4T1 cells compared to Efna1 +/+ littermate controls as early as 24 hours after tail vein injection. Furthermore, established lung lesions in Efna1 -/- mice had reduced proliferation compared to those in Efna1 +/+ controls. Conclusions: Our studies demonstrate that host deficiency of ephrin-A1 does not impact primary tumor growth but does affect metastasis by providing a less favorable metastatic niche for cancer cell colonization and growth. Elucidating the mechanisms by which host ephrin-A1 impacts cancer relapse and metastasis may shed new light on novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Shiuan
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Ashwin Inala
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Shan Wang
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Wenqiang Song
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | | | - Jin Chen
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Dana M Brantley-Sieders
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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Stewart TJ, Liewehr DJ, Steinberg SM, Greeneltch KM, Abrams SI. Modulating the expression of IFN regulatory factor 8 alters the protumorigenic behavior of CD11b+Gr-1+ myeloid cells. J Immunol 2009; 183:117-28. [PMID: 19542426 PMCID: PMC2744444 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0804132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CD11b(+)Gr-1(+)-expressing cells, termed myeloid-derived suppressor cells, can mediate immunosuppression and tumor progression. However, the intrinsic molecular events that drive their protumorigenic behavior remain to be elucidated. Although CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells exist at low frequencies in normal mice, it also remains unresolved whether they are biologically distinct from those of tumor-bearing hosts. These objectives were investigated using CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells from both implantable (4T1) and autochthonous (mouse mammary tumor virus-polyomavirus middle T Ag (MMTV-PyMT)) mouse models of mammary carcinoma. Limited variation was observed in the expression of markers associated with immunoregulation between CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells of both tumor models, as well as with their respective controls (Cnt). Despite limited differences in phenotype, tumor-induced CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells were found to produce a more immunosuppressive cytokine profile than that observed by Cnt CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells. Furthermore, when admixed with tumor cells, CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells from tumor-bearing mice significantly enhanced neoplastic growth compared with counterpart cells from Cnt mice. However, the protumorigenic behavior of these tumor-induced CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells was significantly diminished when the expression of IFN regulatory factor 8, a key myeloid-associated transcription factor, was enhanced. The loss of this protumorigenic effect occurred independently of the host immune system and correlated with a CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cytokine/chemokine production pattern that resembled cells from nontumor-bearing Cnt mice. Overall, our data indicate that 1) tumor-induced CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells from both cancer models were phenotypically similar, but biologically distinct from their nontumor-bearing counterparts and 2) modulation of IFN regulatory factor 8 levels in tumor-induced CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells can significantly abrogate their protumorigenic behavior, which may have important implications for cancer therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Biomarkers, Tumor/biosynthesis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- CD11b Antigen/biosynthesis
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Movement/genetics
- Cell Movement/immunology
- Cell Proliferation
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic/immunology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/immunology
- Interferon Regulatory Factors/biosynthesis
- Interferon Regulatory Factors/genetics
- Interferon Regulatory Factors/physiology
- Male
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse/genetics
- Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, Transgenic
- Myeloid Cells/immunology
- Myeloid Cells/metabolism
- Myeloid Cells/pathology
- Polyomavirus/genetics
- Polyomavirus/immunology
- Receptors, Chemokine/biosynthesis
- Up-Regulation/genetics
- Up-Regulation/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Trina J. Stewart
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Rm. 5B46, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - David J. Liewehr
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Seth M. Steinberg
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Kristy M. Greeneltch
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Rm. 5B46, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Scott I. Abrams
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Rm. 5B46, Bethesda, MD 20892
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263
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