scholarly journals Growth factor signaling predicts therapy resistance mechanisms and defines neuroblastoma subtypes

Oncogene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timofey Lebedev ◽  
Elmira Vagapova ◽  
Pavel Spirin ◽  
Petr Rubtsov ◽  
Olga Astashkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Mycn Amplification ◽  
Survival Prediction ◽  
Growth Factor Signaling ◽  
Erk Activation ◽  
Multikinase Inhibitors ◽  
Recurrent Mutations

AbstractNeuroblastoma (NB) has a low frequency of recurrent mutations compared to other cancers, which hinders the development of targeted therapies and novel risk stratification strategies. Multikinase inhibitors have shown potential in treating high-risk NB, but their efficacy is likely impaired by the cancer cells’ ability to adapt to these drugs through the employment of alternative signaling pathways. Based on the expression of 48 growth factor-related genes in 1189 NB tumors, we have developed a model for NB patient survival prediction. This model discriminates between stage 4 NB tumors with favorable outcomes (>80% overall survival) and very poor outcomes (<10%) independently from MYCN-amplification status. Using signaling pathway analysis and gene set enrichment methods in 60 NB patients with known therapy response, we identified signaling pathways, including EPO, NGF, and HGF, upregulated in patients with no or partial response. In a therapeutic setting, we showed that among six selected growth factors, EPO, and NGF showed the most pronounced protective effects in vitro against several promising anti-NB multikinase inhibitors: imatinib, dasatinib, crizotinib, cabozantinib, and axitinib. Mechanistically kinase inhibitors potentiated NB cells to stronger ERK activation by EPO and NGF. The protective action of these growth factors strongly correlated with ERK activation and was ERK-dependent. ERK inhibitors combined with anticancer drugs, especially with dasatinib, showed a synergistic effect on NB cell death. Consideration of growth factor signaling activity benefits NB outcome prediction and tailoring therapy regimens to treat NB.

scholarly journals The Chemokine-Based Peptide, CXCL9(74-103), Inhibits Angiogenesis by Blocking Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan-Mediated Signaling of Multiple Endothelial Growth Factors

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 5090
Author(s):  
Alexandra De Zutter ◽  
Helena Crijns ◽  
Nele Berghmans ◽  
Melissa García-Caballero ◽  
Lotte Vanbrabant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Heparan Sulfate ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽  
Growth Factor Signaling ◽  
Angiogenic Growth Factors ◽  
Angiogenic Activity

Growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are important angiogenesis-mediating factors. They exert their effects not only through their respective receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), but they also require molecular pairing with heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). Angiogenic growth factors and their signaling pathways are commonly targeted in current anti-angiogenic cancer therapies but have unfortunately insufficient impact on patient survival. Considering their obvious role in pathological angiogenesis, HS-targeting drugs have become an appealing new strategy. Therefore, we aimed to reduce angiogenesis through interference with growth factor-HS binding and downstream signaling using a CXCL9-derived peptide with a high affinity for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), CXCL9(74-103). We showed that CXCL9(74-103) reduced EGF-, VEGF165- and FGF-2-mediated angiogenic processes in vitro, such as endothelial cell proliferation, chemotaxis, adhesion and sprouting, without exerting cell toxicity. CXCL9(74-103) interfered with growth factor signaling in diverse ways, e.g., by diminishing VEGF165 binding to HS and by direct association with FGF-2. The dependency of CXCL9(74-103) on HS for binding to HMVECs and for exerting its anti-angiogenic activity was also demonstrated. In vivo, CXCL9(74-103) attenuated neovascularization in the Matrigel plug assay, the corneal cauterization assay and in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenografts. Additionally, CXCL9(74-103) reduced vascular leakage in the retina of diabetic rats. In contrast, CXCL9(86-103), a peptide with low GAG affinity, showed no overall anti-angiogenic activity. Altogether, our results indicate that CXCL9(74-103) reduces angiogenesis by interfering with multiple HS-dependent growth factor signaling pathways.

scholarly journals The proliferative effect of cortisol on bovine endometrial epithelial cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junsheng Dong ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Jianji Li ◽  
Luying Cui ◽  
Xia Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Growth Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Physiological Level ◽  
Endometrial Epithelial Cells

Abstract Background Bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEECs) undergo regular regeneration after calving. Elevated cortisol concentrations have been reported in postpartum cattle due to various stresses. However, the effects of the physiological level of cortisol on proliferation in BEECs have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cortisol can influence the proliferation properties of BEECs and to clarify the possible underlying mechanism. Methods BEECs were treated with different concentrations of cortisol (5, 15 and 30 ng/mL). The mRNA expression of various growth factors was detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), progression of the cell cycle in BEECs was measured using flow cytometric analysis, and the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathways was detected with Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results Cortisol treatment resulted in upregulated mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF); however, it had no influence on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1). Cortisol (15 ng/mL) accelerated the cell cycle transition from the G0/G1 to the S phase. Cortisol upregulated the expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclinD1 and promoted the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT. Conclusions These results demonstrated that cortisol may promote proliferation in BEECs by increasing the expression of some growth factors and activating the Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

scholarly journals Regulation of Cell Cycle Progression by Growth Factor-Induced Cell Signaling

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3327
Author(s):  
Zhixiang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Phase Cell ◽  
Growth Factor Signaling ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
M Phase

The cell cycle is the series of events that take place in a cell, which drives it to divide and produce two new daughter cells. The typical cell cycle in eukaryotes is composed of the following phases: G1, S, G2, and M phase. Cell cycle progression is mediated by cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) and their regulatory cyclin subunits. However, the driving force of cell cycle progression is growth factor-initiated signaling pathways that control the activity of various Cdk–cyclin complexes. While the mechanism underlying the role of growth factor signaling in G1 phase of cell cycle progression has been largely revealed due to early extensive research, little is known regarding the function and mechanism of growth factor signaling in regulating other phases of the cell cycle, including S, G2, and M phase. In this review, we briefly discuss the process of cell cycle progression through various phases, and we focus on the role of signaling pathways activated by growth factors and their receptor (mostly receptor tyrosine kinases) in regulating cell cycle progression through various phases.

scholarly journals Chronic Binge Alcohol-Associated Differential Brain Region Modulation of Growth Factor Signaling Pathways and Neuroinflammation in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Male Macaques

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-486
Author(s):  
John K Maxi ◽  
Don Mercante ◽  
Brittany Foret ◽  
Sarah Oberhelman ◽  
Tekeda F Ferguson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Brain Region ◽  
Growth Factor Signaling ◽  
Chronic Alcohol ◽  
Infected Male ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Inflammatory Processes

In chronic alcohol-administered, SIV-infected macaques, differential brain region susceptibility to inflammatory, viral, neurotropic, and alcohol insults was associated with neurocognitive impairment. In the prefrontal cortex, suppression of growth factor signaling may be an important neuropathological mechanism, while inflammatory processes play a more important role in the caudate and hippocampus.

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