Oligosaccharide Expression and Modification Defines Novel Targets within the Vascular Tree: Selective Chondroitin Sulfate C Expression in the Tumor Microenvironment Generates a Novel Target of Otherwise Constitutive Receptors.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 2611-2611
Author(s):  
Amr El-Sheikh ◽  
Gourab Bhattacharjee ◽  
Per Borgstrom ◽  
Mattias Belting ◽  
Thomas Edgington

Abstract The expression of certain proteoglycans or modification of proteins within the vascular tree, dependent on the microenvironment, is critical for elucidating the biology of endothelium specificity and development. It also facilitates the targeting of physiologic and therapeutic agents to different addresses within the vascular map. Using in vivo panning, we have identified a truncated heparin-binding domain (HBDt) that recognizes its target selectively in tumor vasculature. Here we show that it localizes selectively to the endothelial cells of intra-tumoral blood vessels of various murine tumor models, such as CT26, LLC, N202, and Tramp-L1. The HBDt, as a part of the VEGF heparin-binding domain, is conserved throughout evolution and is known to bind the VEGFR-2/Npn-1 complex. Although the VEGFR-2/Npn-1 complex is expressed elsewhere in the vascular tree, this domain only localizes to a target in tumor vasculature. We have analyzed the basis of this selectivity in vitro and in vivo. In vitro analysis has shown that chondroitin sulfates are the most potent inhibitors of HBDt binding to heparin. We also show, using Western blot and confocal microscopy analyses, that VEGFR-2 and Npn-1, although expressed in different organs, are only recognized by HBDt when coexpressed with chondroitin sulfate C (C6S) in the tumor vasculature. The HBDt colocalized with VEGFR-2, Npn-1, and C6S but with not bFGFR or heparan sulfates in the intravasculature of different tumor models. Furthermore, the selective expression of C6S oligosaccaharide, in conjunction with VEGFR-2 and Npn-1, during the angiogenesis of tumor endothelium defines the target for the HBDt but not during aortic angiogensis. Therefore, our data demonstrate that the expression of C6S, as part of the HBDt receptor, is an example of the tumor microenvironment conditioning, which imparts association of a novel target on endothelium surfaces of tumors.

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 2768-2774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Hauck ◽  
Weidong Xiao

ABSTRACT Muscle is an attractive target for gene delivery because of its mass and because vectors can be delivered in a noninvasive fashion. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has been shown to be effective for muscle-targeted gene transfer. Recent progress in characterization of AAV serotype 1 (AAV1) and AAV6 demonstrated that these two AAV serotypes are far more efficient in transducing muscle than is the traditionally used AAV2. Since all cis elements are identical in these vectors, the potential determinants for their differences in transducing muscle appear to be located within the AAV capsid proteins. In the present study, a series of AAV capsid mutants were generated to identify the major regions affecting AAV transduction efficiency in muscle. Replacement of amino acids 350 to 736 of AAV2 VP1 with the corresponding amino acids from VP1 of AAV1 resulted in a hybrid vector that behaved very similarly to AAV1 in vitro and in vivo in muscle. Characterization of additional mutants carrying smaller regions of the AAV1 VP1 amino acid sequence in the AAV2 capsid protein suggested that amino acids 350 to 430 of VP1 function as a major tissue tropism determinant. Further analysis showed that the heparin binding domain and the major antigenic determinants in the AAV capsid region were not necessary for the efficiency of AAV1 transduction of muscle.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 114-114
Author(s):  
Ali Amirkhosravi ◽  
Todd V Meyer ◽  
Liza Robles-Carillo ◽  
Florian Langer ◽  
Theresa Robson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The anti-VEGF drug, bevacizumab (Bev), has been associated with arterial thromboembolism in colorectal cancer patients. However, the mechanism of this remains poorly understood, and preclinical testing in mice failed to predict thrombosis. Prevailing opinion on the molecular mechanism behind Bev-associated bleeding and thrombosis is that tissue factor driven coagulation, secondary to vascular endothelial cell dysfunction, may cause thrombosis due to VEGF suppression by Bev. Bev forms immune complexes (IC) with VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), a heparin-binding protein. In our previous in vitro studies we showed that, in the presence of heparin, Bev+VEGF immune complexes activate platelets via the IgG receptor FcγRIIa —a mechanism similar to that observed with antibodies from patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Objectives: First, we investigated whether Bev-associated thrombosis might be replicated in mice. Because mouse platelets do not carry FcγRIIa, we used mice transgenic for this human IgG receptor (hFcR mice) in order to enable the signaling pathway identified above. Second, using human platelets in vitro, we studied the functional roles of heparin and platelet surface localization of IC in Bev-induced FcγRIIa activation. Methods: Bev+VEGF IC were preformed using VEGF165 or VEGF121 (similar to VEGF165 but lacking the heparin-binding domain). Platelet dense granule release and aggregation were measured by the serotonin release assay (SRA) and Chrono- Log aggregometers, respectively. Platelet surface localization was assessed by flow cytometry (50,000 events/test condition) and fluorescence microscopy using Alexa488- labeled Bev (Bev488). For in vivo studies, Bev+VEGF+Heparin IC (60–500 nM) or control reagents were injected intravenously into wild-type (WT) or hFcR mice. Platelet counts were measured 10–60 minutes following IC injection after obtaining blood (0.45 ml) by cardiac puncture. Immediately afterward, lungs were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining and analyzed microscopically for evidence of thrombosis. Results: IC consisting of Bev+VEGF165+Heparin (0.2U/ml) caused thrombotic thrombocytopenia in hFcR but not WT mice, showing a requirement for FcγRIIa. Injection of Bev+VEGF121+Heparin (0.2U/ml) into hFcR mice did not cause thrombocytopenia, suggesting a requirement for the VEGF165 heparin binding domain. Bev+VEGF165 was without effect in the absence of heparin or in the presence of excess (200 U/ml) heparin demonstrating that a limited range of heparin concentrations enable Bev-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. This mechanism is similar to that observed in HIT and our in vivo results were consistent with SRA and aggregation in vitro studies. By flow cytometry, maximal Fab-dependent Bev488 platelet surface binding occured only with VEGF165+0.2U/ml heparin. Saturating IV.3 (anti-FcγRIIa antibody) concentrations, present in all samples, excluded Bev-Fc binding to FcγRIIa. Furthermore, binding of Bev488+VEGF121+0.2 U/ml heparin was not detected, suggesting the VEGF heparin binding domain is required for heparin-enhanced surface binding. Conclusions: In the presence of heparin, Bev can induce platelet aggregation, degranulation and thrombosis through complex formation with VEGF and activation of FcγRIIa receptor. This mechanism may be relevant to the thromboembolic complications observed in patients receiving Bev therapy.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 1356-1363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara P. Schick ◽  
David Maslow ◽  
Adrianna Moshinski ◽  
James D. San Antonio

Abstract Patients given unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for prophylaxis or treatment of thrombosis sometimes suffer serious bleeding. We showed previously that peptides containing 3 or more tandem repeats of heparin-binding consensus sequences have high affinity for LMWH and neutralize LMWH (enoxaparin) in vivo in rats and in vitro in citrate. We have now modified the (ARKKAAKA)n tandem repeat peptides by cyclization or by inclusion of hydrophobic tails or cysteines to promote multimerization. These peptides exhibit high-affinity binding to LMWH (dissociation constant [Kd], ≈ 50 nM), similar potencies in neutralizing anti–Factor Xa activity of UFH and enoxaparin added to normal plasma in vitro, and efficacy equivalent to or greater than protamine. Peptide (ARKKAAKA)3VLVLVLVL was most effective in all plasmas from enoxaparin-treated patients, and was 4- to 20-fold more effective than protamine. Several other peptide structures were effective in some patients' plasmas. All high-affinity peptides reversed inhibition of thrombin-induced clot formation by UFH. These peptides (1 mg/300 g rat) neutralized 1 U/mL anti–Factor Xa activity of enoxaparin in rats within 1 to 2 minutes. Direct blood pressure and heart rate measurements showed little or no hemodynamic effect. These heparin-binding peptides, singly or in combination, are potential candidates for clinical reversal of UFH and LMWH in humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Xie ◽  
Xiaofeng Hang ◽  
Wensheng Xu ◽  
Jing Gu ◽  
Yuanjing Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Most of the biological functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and the potential underlying mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not yet been discovered. Methods In this study, using circRNA expression data from HCC tumor tissues and adjacent tissues from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, we identified out differentially expressed circRNAs and verified them by qRT-PCT. Functional experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of circFAM13B in HCC in vitro and in vivo. Results We found that circFAM13B was the most significantly differentially expressed circRNA in HCC tissue. Subsequently, in vitro and in vivo studies also demonstrated that circFAM13B promoted the proliferation of HCC. Further studies revealed that circFAM13B, a sponge of miR-212, is involved in the regulation of E2F5 gene expression by competitively binding to miR-212, inhibits the activation of the P53 signalling pathway, and promotes the proliferation of HCC cells. Conclusions Our findings revealed the mechanism underlying the regulatory role played by circFAM13B, miR-212 and E2F5 in HCC. This study provides a new theoretical basis and novel target for the clinical prevention and treatment of HCC.


Author(s):  
Kosuke Sasaki ◽  
Shigetsugu Takano ◽  
Satoshi Tomizawa ◽  
Yoji Miyahara ◽  
Katsunori Furukawa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Recent studies indicate that complement plays pivotal roles in promoting or suppressing cancer progression. We have previously identified C4b-binding protein α-chain (C4BPA) as a serum biomarker for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we elucidated the functional roles of C4BPA in PDAC cells and the tumor microenvironment. Methods We assessed stromal C4BPA, the C4BPA binding partner CD40, and the number of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in resected human PDAC tissues via immunohistochemical staining. The biological functions of C4BPA were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human PDAC cell lines. Mouse C4BPA (mC4BPA) peptide, which is composed of 30 amino acids from the C-terminus and binds to CD40, was designed for further in vitro and in vivo experiments. In a preclinical experiment, we assessed the efficacy of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP), dual immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs), and mC4BPA peptide in a mouse orthotopic transplantation model. Results Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that high stromal C4BPA and CD40 was associated with favorable PDAC prognosis (P=0.0005). Stromal C4BPA strongly correlated with the number of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (P=0.001). In in vitro experiments, flow cytometry revealed that recombinant human C4BPA (rhC4BPA) stimulation increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell numbers in PBMCs. rhC4BPA also promoted the proliferation of CD40-expressing PDAC cells. By contrast, combined treatment with gemcitabine and rhC4BPA increased PDAC cell apoptosis rate. mC4BPA peptide increased the number of murine T lymphocytes in vitro and the number of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes surrounding PDAC tumors in vivo. In a preclinical study, GnP/ICBs/mC4BPA peptide treatment, but not GnP treatment, led to the accumulation of a greater number of CD8+ T cells in the periphery of PDAC tumors and to greater tumor regression than did control treatment. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that the combination of GnP therapy with C4BPA inhibits PDAC progression by promoting antitumor T cell accumulation in the tumor microenvironment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii214-ii214
Author(s):  
Jenna Minami ◽  
Nicholas Bayley ◽  
Christopher Tse ◽  
Henan Zhu ◽  
Danielle Morrow ◽  
...  

Abstract Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, and malignant cells must acquire metabolic adaptations to fuel neoplastic progression. Mutations or changes in metabolic gene expression can impose nutrient dependencies in tumors, and even in the absence of metabolic defects, cancer cells can become auxotrophic for particular nutrients or metabolic byproducts generated by other cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Conventional cell lines do not recapitulate the metabolic heterogeneity of glioblastoma (GBM), while primary cultured cells do not account for the influences of the microenvironment and the blood brain barrier on tumor biology. Additionally, these systems are under strong selective pressure divergent from that in vivo, leading to reduced heterogeneity between cultured tumor cells. Here, we describe a biobank of direct-from-patient derived orthotopic xenografts (GliomaPDOX) and gliomaspheres that reveal a subset of gliomas that, while able to form in vivo, cannot survive in vitro. RNA sequencing of tumors that can form both in vivo and in vitro (termed “TME-Indifferent”) compared to that of tumors that can only form in vivo (termed “TME-Dependent”) revealed transcriptional changes associated with altered nutrient availability, emphasizing the unique metabolic programs impacted by the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, TME-dependent tumors lack metabolic signatures associated with nutrient biosynthesis, thus indicating a potential dependency of these tumors on scavenging specific nutrients from the extracellular milieu. Collectively, these data emphasize the metabolic heterogeneity within GBM, and reveal a subset of gliomas that lack metabolic plasticity, indicating a potential brain-microenvironment specific metabolic dependency that can be targeted for therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153303382199528
Author(s):  
Qing Lv ◽  
Qinghua Xia ◽  
Anshu Li ◽  
Zhiyong Wang

This study was performed to investigate the role of interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) in stomach carcinoma in vitro and in vivo, determine whether IL1RAP knockdown could regulate the development of stomach carcinoma, and elucidate the relationship between IL1RAP knockdown and inflammation by tumor microenvironment-related inflammatory factors in stomach carcinoma. We first used TCGA and GEPIA systems to predict the potential function of IL1RAP. Second, western blot and RT-PCR were used to analyze the expression, or mRNA level, of IL1RAP at different tissue or cell lines. Third, the occurrence and development of stomach carcinoma in vitro and in vivo were observed by using IL1RAP knockdown lentivirus. Finally, the inflammation of stomach carcinoma in vitro and in vivo was observed. Results show that in GEPIA and TCGA systems, IL1RAP expression in STAD tumor tissue was higher than normal, and high expression of IL1RAP in STAD patients had a worse prognostic outcome. Besides, GSEA shown IL1RAP was negative correlation of apopopsis, TLR4 and NF-κB signaling pathway. We also predicted that IL1RAP may related to IL-1 s, IL-33, and IL-36 s in STAD. The IL1RAP expression and mRNA level in tumor, or MGC803, cells were increased. Furthermore, IL1RAP knockdown by lentivirus could inhibit stomach carcinoma development in vitro and in vivo through weakening tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, therefore reducing tumor volume, weight, and biomarker levels, and increasing apoptotic level. Finally, we found IL1RAP knockdown could increase inflammation of tumor microenvironment-related inflammatory factors of stomach carcinoma, in vitro and in vivo. Our study demonstrates that IL1RAP is possibly able to regulate inflammation and apoptosis in stomach carcinoma. Furthermore, TLR4, NF-κB, IL-1 s, IL-33, and IL-36 s maybe the downstream target factor of IL1RAP in inflammation. These results may provide a new strategy for stomach carcinoma development by regulating inflammation.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3562
Author(s):  
Mitra Nair ◽  
Chelsea Bolyard ◽  
Tae Jin Lee ◽  
Balveen Kaur ◽  
Ji Young Yoo

Brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1/ADGRB1) is an adhesion G protein-coupled receptor that has been found to play key roles in phagocytosis, inflammation, synaptogenesis, the inhibition of angiogenesis, and myoblast fusion. As the name suggests, it is primarily expressed in the brain, with a high expression in the normal adult and developing brain. Additionally, its expression is reduced in brain cancers, such as glioblastoma (GBM) and peripheral cancers, suggesting that BAI1 is a tumor suppressor gene. Several investigators have demonstrated that the restoration of BAI1 expression in cancer cells results in reduced tumor growth and angiogenesis. Its expression has also been shown to be inversely correlated with tumor progression, neovascularization, and peri-tumoral brain edema. One method of restoring BAI1 expression is by using oncolytic virus (OV) therapy, a strategy which has been tested in various tumor models. Oncolytic herpes simplex viruses engineered to express the secreted fragment of BAI1, called Vasculostatin (Vstat120), have shown potent anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects in multiple tumor models. Combining Vstat120-expressing oHSVs with other chemotherapeutic agents has also shown to increase the overall anti-tumor efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo models. In the current review, we describe the structure and function of BAI1 and summarize its application in the context of cancer treatment.


Author(s):  
Atsuhito Uneda ◽  
Kazuhiko Kurozumi ◽  
Atsushi Fujimura ◽  
Kentaro Fujii ◽  
Joji Ishida ◽  
...  

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor characterized by significant cellular heterogeneity, namely tumor cells, including GBM stem-like cells (GSCs) and differentiated GBM cells (DGCs), and non-tumor cells such as endothelial cells, vascular pericytes, macrophages, and other types of immune cells. GSCs are essential to drive tumor progression, whereas the biological roles of DGCs are largely unknown. In this study, we focused on the roles of DGCs in the tumor microenvironment. To this end, we extracted DGC-specific signature genes from transcriptomic profiles of matched pairs of in vitro GSC and DGC models. By evaluating the DGC signature using single cell data, we confirmed the presence of cell subpopulations emulated by in vitro culture models within a primary tumor. The DGC signature was correlated with the mesenchymal subtype and a poor prognosis in large GBM cohorts such as The Cancer Genome Atlas and Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project. In silico signaling pathway analysis suggested a role of DGCs in macrophage infiltration. Consistent with in silico findings, in vitro DGC models promoted macrophage migration. In vivo, coimplantation of DGCs and GSCs reduced the survival of tumor xenograft-bearing mice and increased macrophage infiltration into tumor tissue compared with transplantation of GSCs alone. DGCs exhibited a significant increase in YAP/TAZ/TEAD activity compared with GSCs. CCN1, a transcriptional target of YAP/TAZ, was selected from the DGC signature as a candidate secreted protein involved in macrophage recruitment. In fact, CCN1 was secreted abundantly from DGCs, but not GSCs. DGCs promoted macrophage migration in vitro and macrophage infiltration into tumor tissue in vivo through secretion of CCN1. Collectively, these results demonstrate that DGCs contribute to GSC-dependent tumor progression by shaping a mesenchymal microenvironment via CCN1-mediated macrophage infiltration. This study provides new insight into the complex GBM microenvironment consisting of heterogeneous cells.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Yeongji Yu ◽  
Hyejin Kim ◽  
SeokGyeong Choi ◽  
JinSuh Yu ◽  
Joo Yeon Lee ◽  
...  

The elimination of the cancer stem cell (CSC) population may be required to achieve better outcomes of cancer therapy. We evaluated stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) as a novel target for CSC-selective elimination in colon cancer. CSCs expressed more SCD1 than bulk cultured cells (BCCs), and blocking SCD1 expression or function revealed an essential role for SCD1 in the survival of CSCs, but not BCCs. The CSC potential selectively decreased after treatment with the SCD1 inhibitor in vitro and in vivo. The CSC-selective suppression was mediated through the induction of apoptosis. The mechanism leading to selective CSC death was investigated by performing a quantitative RT-PCR analysis of 14 CSC-specific signaling and marker genes after 24 and 48 h of treatment with two concentrations of an inhibitor. The decrease in the expression of Notch1 and AXIN2 preceded changes in the expression of all other genes, at 24 h of treatment in a dose-dependent manner, followed by the downregulation of most Wnt- and NOTCH-signaling genes. Collectively, we showed that not only Wnt but also NOTCH signaling is a primary target of suppression by SCD1 inhibition in CSCs, suggesting the possibility of targeting SCD1 against colon cancer in clinical settings.


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