Inflammasome and Autophagy Activation In Symptomatic Multiple Myeloma Could Predict Response To Thalidomide-Based Chemotherapy

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 3131-3131
Author(s):  
Fernando V Pericole ◽  
Adriana Silva Santos Duarte ◽  
Mariana Lazarini ◽  
Sara Teresinha Olalla Saad

Abstract The inflammasome is a protein complex activated by signals of cellular danger to trigger the innate immune defenses through the maturation of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)1β and IL18. Inflammasomes consist of pattern-recognition sensors (NLR family), adaptors (ASC), and effectors (caspase 1). IL1β initiates feedback loops through the IL1R-MyD88-NFκB pathway. Inflammasome activation promotes adaptive responses and limits reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Autophagy is a cytoprotective pathway by which the cell sequesters damaged proteins and organelles for lysosomal degradation. The inflammasome is negatively regulated by autophagy and inflammasome activates autophagy. Inflammasome activity may play an important role in several nonmicrobial diseases with chronic inflammation, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer. We collected a cohort of diagnostic samples of total bone marrow (BM) from 31 MM patients, 3 plasma cell leukemia (PCL) patients and 9 healthy bone marrow donors (HD), together with clinical data. Four smoldering MM, 27 symptomatic MM and 3 PCL (2 primary and 1 secondary) were included. According to ISS, six patients were ISS I, 9 patients were ISS II and 16 were ISS III. We also stratified 18 of our symptomatic MM into groups according to response (CR/VGPR, PR, SD/PD). The offered treatment was thalidomide-based triplets. Essential genes from inflammasome (NLRP3, PYCARD, CASP1), pro-inflammatory interleukins (IL1B, IL18) and autophagy (BECN1, SQSTM1, MAP1LC3B) were verified by q-PCR. Gene expression was compared among subgroups and correlated with clinical data. CASP1 and PYCARD were increased in MM compared with HD, without differences among ISS subgroups. In PCL cases, CASP1 and PYCARD had lower expression when compared with MM, but did not differ from HD, confirming that PCL did not have inflammasome activation as MM did. NLRP3 was not different among all diagnostic subgroups. IL18 had decreased expression in PCL patients, compared with HD and MM. IL1B was not different among subgroups. PCL and MM had higher BECN1 expression compared with HD and these differences were also highlighted among ISS subgroups. SQSTM1 had increased expression in PCL, compared with HD and MM, but MM did not differ from HD. MAP1LC3B gene expression was similar among groups. A positive correlation was observed between CASP1 and PYCARD, IL1B and IL18, and between the three autophagic genes (BECN1, SQSTM1 and MAP1LC3B) as expected. BECN1 also correlated with IL1B and with CASP1; CASP1 and PYCARD correlated with BECN1 and SQSTM1, reinforcing the relation between autophagy and inflammasome. When the clinical data were analyzed, monocyte counts correlated with CASP1 and PYCARD; beta-2-microglobulin levels correlated with CASP1 and with NLRP3 and, finally, leukocyte and neutrophil counts correlated with IL1B, BECN1 and SQSTM1 BM expression levels. Analyzing response to thalidomide-based first line chemotherapy, VGPR/CR responders showed higher diagnostic NLRP3 expression (unpaired t test, P=0.03). The intricate interplay between autophagy and inflammasome has only recently been elucidated. Multiple myeloma is a B-cell neoplasm with great dependence of BM microenvironment. Inflammatory cells, especially monocytes and macrophages, are the main inflammasome activators, reducing ROS in the BM microenvironment. Autophagy is essential for plasmocytes, due to their high levels of intracellular proteins. Basal levels of autophagy in myeloma are high and are upregulated in response to ER stress and proteasome inhibition, protecting myeloma cells against apoptosis. Our results confirm the essential role of autophagy activation in myeloma. Interestingly, inflammasome activation in our cohort predicted a better response to thalidomide-based regimens and could be a novel response biomarker. Reinforcing our theory, recently thalidomide was described as an inhibitor of caspase 1 activation. Chronic inflammation is an established cancer hallmark and its role in myeloma pathogenesis seems to be important through inflammasome and autophagy dysfunction during disease progression, possibly creating dependency loops between inflammatory monocytes and neoplastic plasmocyte within the BM microenvironment. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guihua Zhou ◽  
Hai Zhong ◽  
Yixin Wu ◽  
Chiao-Wang Sun ◽  
Timothy M Townes ◽  
...  

Glutathione-S-transferase P (GSTP) modulates proliferation of bone marrow (BM) myeloid progenitors via non-catalytic inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK); however, its effects on BM-derived EPCs are unknown. We hypothesized that GSTP supports EPC mobilization while suppressing inflammatory cells, thereby promoting tissue neovascularization. We generated chimeric mice using BM-ablated wild-type (WT) mice reconstituted with either GSTP-/- (GSTP-/-c) or WT (WTc) BM. GSTP-/-c and WTc mice underwent coronary ligation or sham operation (n = 8-15/group). Compared to WTc sham, 4 w after surgery, WTc HF mice exhibited significant (p < 0.05): LV dilatation, dysfunction, and fibrosis; increased mortality; and augmented circulating pro-inflammatory CD11b+Ly6Chi monocytes, but comparable circulating CD34+VEGFR2+ EPCs. In contrast, compared to WTc HF, GSTP-/-c HF hearts had significant (p < 0.01): 1) worsening of LV dilatation (LVEDV 118 ± 30 vs 88 ± 13 μL), dysfunction (LVEF 21 ± 4 vs 32 ± 9 %), wall thinning (anterior wall thickness 0.41 ± 0.06 vs 0.49 ± 0.1 mm), and LV hypertrophy (LV/tibia length 4.9 ± 0.5 vs 4.5 ± 0.6 mg/mm); 2) increased remote zone fibrosis by trichrome staining (1.3 ± 0.2 vs 0.61 ± 0.3 %); 3) reduced capillary density (476 ± 60 vs 544 ± 37 capillary/mm2) and increased capillary area (14 ± 1.1 vs 12 ± 1.2 μm2); 4) diminished gene expression of VEGF A, VEGF B, and VEGF C; 5) and increased IL-1β, IL-6 gene expression. GSTP-/-c mice also exhibited (p < 0.01) increased BM JNK activation, reduced circulating EPCs (0.18±0.07 vs 0.24±0.06%), increased CD11b+Ly6Chi monocytes (2.25±0.5 vs 1.8±0.6%), but comparable anti-inflammatory CD11b+Ly6Clow monocytes at baseline as compared with WTc mice. Moreover, at 3 and 7 d after ligation, GSTP-/-c HF mice exhibited fewer circulating EPCs and anti-inflammatory monocytes, and significantly higher pro-inflammatory monocytes as compared with WTc HF mice. We conclude that GSTP promotes EPC and reparative monocyte mobilization, thereby improving angiogenic gene expression, neovascularization and LV remodeling after myocardial infarction. This suggests that GSTP polymorphisms can impact cardiac reparative capacity in humans, and that enhancing GSTP function after infarction may yield therapeutic benefit.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 4327-4327
Author(s):  
Eleonora Makunina ◽  
Larisa Mendeleeva ◽  
Vadim L. Surin ◽  
Irina V. Galtseva ◽  
Julia O. Davidova ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction. The group of genes, encoding cancer-testis antigens is actively studied as a new markers of refractory in some diseases, including multiple myeloma (MM). It is suggested that the MAGE-C1 gene in MM may be considered as an additional marker predicting the effectiveness of therapy. Purpose. Determine of MAGE-C1 gene expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in MM patients and assess the correlation of expression with some laboratory parameters and response on bortezomib-containing therapy. Patients and methods. A prospective study from February 2019 to July 2021 included 76 MM patients (43 men and 33 women) aged 35 to 82 years (median 58). The level of MAGE-C1 gene expression by qPCR-PCR in bone marrow samples, enriched with CD138+ cells, was determined for all patients. Quantity of MAGE-C1 expression was calculated with 2ΔCt method relative to housekeeping gene expression. Plasma cell content ranged from 1 to 89% (median 26%), monoclonal paraprotein secretion vary from 2.1 to 82.1 g/l, Bence-Jones protein in urine (from trace values to 12.54 g/day) was determined in 50 patients. High - risk cytogenetic [t(4; 14)(p16; q32), del17p] was documented in 22 patients, bone plasmocytomas - in 36 patients, myeloma nephropathy - in 17. All patients recieved induction with bortezomib - containing courses. Median follow-up duration: 14 months (1-22 months). As a control, similar bone marrow cells of 7 healthy donors were investigated. Results. The average value of MAGE-C1 expression in donors was 0.01 ± 0.007, a range of values vary from 0.0003 to 0.06. Gene expression MAGE-C1 index &gt; 0.06 is accepted as increased expression. High serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (higher than the upper limit of reference values) was observed in patients with high MAGE-C1 gene expression [median - 0.35], normal LDH-level (≤ 260 U/L) was observed in patients with lower MAGE-C1 gene expression [median - 0.04]; p &lt; 0.0001 (Figure 1). Negative correlation was found between the content of hemoglobin (Hb) and level of MAGE-C1 expression: Hb ≥ 12.0 g/dl was observed in patients with increased MAGE-C1 expression [median - 0.27], and Hb 5.5-11.8 g/dl - in patients with lower expression indices [median 0.1]; p=0,034. Antitumor response was evaluated after induction therapy in 51 patients. In 100% of patients with MAGE-C1 expression of ≤ 0.06 ≥ partial response (PR) was achieved, while in patients with MAGE-C1 expression of 0.07-1.0 ≥ PR was achieved in 84.6% of cases, and in patients with MAGE-C1 expression of &gt; 1.0 - in 58%; p &gt; 0.05. Besides, patients with ≥ PR had a level of MAGE-C1 expression lower than patients with a refractory to bortezomib [median 0.17 vs 1.14]; p = 0.04 (Figure 2). Conclusions. High MAGE-C1 gene expression in MM patients is associated with an increase in LDH, which corresponds to stage III by R-ISS. Probability of achievement of the antitumor response ≥ PR on the bortezomib-containing induction is reliable above at patients with low MAGE-C1 expression while the hyperexpression of this gene is followed by a refractory to a bortezomib therapy. Further study of MAGE-C1 gene expression may promote a personalized approach in the choice of antitumor therapy. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2020 ◽  
Vol 176 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-161
Author(s):  
Lisa M Weatherly ◽  
Hillary L Shane ◽  
Sherri A Friend ◽  
Ewa Lukomska ◽  
Rachel Baur ◽  
...  

Abstract 5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol (triclosan) is an antimicrobial chemical widely used in consumer household and clinical healthcare products. Human and animal studies have associated triclosan exposure with allergic disease. Mechanistic studies have identified triclosan as a mitochondrial uncoupler; recent studies suggest that mitochondria play an important role in immune cell function and are involved in activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In this study, early immunological effects were evaluated via NLRP3 activation following dermal triclosan application in a BALB/c murine model. These investigations revealed rapid caspase-1 activation and mature IL-1β secretion in the skin and draining lymph nodes (dLNs) after 1.5% and 3% triclosan exposure. Correspondingly, pro-Il-1b and S100a8 gene expression increased along with extracellular ATP in the skin. Peak gene expression of chemokines associated with caspase-1 activation occurred after 2 days of exposure in both skin tissue and dLNs. Phenotypic analysis showed an increase in neutrophils and macrophages in the dLN and myeloid and inflammatory monocytes in the skin tissue. Triclosan also caused mitochondrial dysfunction shown through effects on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, mass, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial morphology. These results indicate that following triclosan exposure, activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome occurs in both the skin tissue and dLNs, providing a possible mechanism for triclosan’s effects on allergic disease and further support a connection between mitochondrial involvements in immunological responses.


Author(s):  
Romika Kumari ◽  
Muntasir Mamun Majumder ◽  
Juha Lievonen ◽  
Raija Silvennoinen ◽  
Pekka Anttila ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Esterase enzymes differ in substrate specificity and biological function and may display dysregulated expression in cancer. This study evaluated the biological significance of esterase expression in multiple myeloma (MM). Methods For gene expression profiling and evaluation of genomic variants in the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) cohort, bone marrow aspirates were obtained from patients with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) or relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). CD138+ plasma cells were enriched and used for RNA sequencing and analysis, and to evaluate genomic variation. The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Relating Clinical Outcomes in MM to Personal Assessment of Genetic Profile (CoMMpass) dataset was used for validation of the findings from FIMM. Results MM patients (NDMM, n = 56; RRMM, n = 78) provided 171 bone marrow aspirates (NDMM, n = 56; RRMM, n = 115). Specific esterases exhibited relatively high or low expression in MM, and expression of specific esterases (UCHL5, SIAE, ESD, PAFAH1B3, PNPLA4 and PON1) was significantly altered on progression from NDMM to RRMM. High expression of OVCA2, PAFAH1B3, SIAE and USP4, and low expression of PCED1B, were identified as poor prognostic markers (P < 0.05). The MMRF CoMMpass dataset provided validation that higher expression of PAFAH1B3 and SIAE, and lower expression of PCED1B, were associated with poor prognosis. Conclusions Esterase gene expression levels change as patients progress from NDMM to RRMM. High expression of OVCA2, PAFAH1B3, USP4 and SIAE, and low expression of PCED1B, are poor prognostic markers in MM, suggesting a role for these esterases in myeloma biology.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aijun Zhang ◽  
Youming Lu ◽  
Lei Yuan ◽  
Pengqi Zhang ◽  
Dongdong Zou ◽  
...  

Abstract Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is presented during traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is dependent upon the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 inflammasome pathway. MicroRNA (miRNA) was proved to inhibit signaling pathway activation by targeting gene expression and we predicated in the database that miR-29a targets to NLRP3. Herein, this study aims to define the regulating role of miR-29a in NLRP3 expression and NLRP3/Caspase-1 inflammasome activation in TBI-induced BBB dysfunction. Our results indicated that miR-29a-5p alleviates TBI-induced the increased permeability of endothelial cell and BBB via suppressing NLRP3 expression and NLRP3/Caspase-1 inflammasome activation, providing a promising strategy for relieving TBI via inhibiting NLRP3/Caspase-1 inflammasome activation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Fairfield ◽  
Samantha Costa ◽  
Carolyne Falank ◽  
Mariah Farrell ◽  
Connor S. Murphy ◽  
...  

Within the bone marrow microenvironment, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are an essential precursor to bone marrow adipocytes and osteoblasts. The balance between this progenitor pool and mature cells (adipocytes and osteoblasts) is often skewed by disease and aging. In multiple myeloma (MM), a cancer of the plasma cell that predominantly grows within the bone marrow, as well as other cancers, MSCs, preadipocytes, and adipocytes have been shown to directly support tumor cell survival and proliferation. Increasing evidence supports the idea that MM-associated MSCs are distinct from healthy MSCs, and their gene expression profiles may be predictive of myeloma patient outcomes. Here we directly investigate how MM cells affect the differentiation capacity and gene expression profiles of preadipocytes and bone marrow MSCs. Our studies reveal that MM.1S cells cause a marked decrease in lipid accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Also, MM.1S cells or MM.1S-conditioned media altered gene expression profiles of both 3T3-L1 and mouse bone marrow MSCs. 3T3-L1 cells exposed to MM.1S cells before adipogenic differentiation displayed gene expression changes leading to significantly altered pathways involved in steroid biosynthesis, the cell cycle, and metabolism (oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis) after adipogenesis. MM.1S cells induced a marked increase in 3T3-L1 expression of MM-supportive genes including Il-6 and Cxcl12 (SDF1), which was confirmed in mouse MSCs by qRT-PCR, suggesting a forward-feedback mechanism. In vitro experiments revealed that indirect MM exposure prior to differentiation drives a senescent-like phenotype in differentiating MSCs, and this trend was confirmed in MM-associated MSCs compared to MSCs from normal donors. In direct co-culture, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) exposed to MM.1S, RPMI-8226, and OPM-2 prior to and during differentiation, exhibited different levels of lipid accumulation as well as secreted cytokines. Combined, our results suggest that MM cells can inhibit adipogenic differentiation while stimulating expression of the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and other pro-myeloma molecules. This study provides insight into a novel way in which MM cells manipulate their microenvironment by altering the expression of supportive cytokines and skewing the cellular diversity of the marrow.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1165-1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takanori Komada ◽  
Hyunjae Chung ◽  
Arthur Lau ◽  
Jaye M. Platnich ◽  
Paul L. Beck ◽  
...  

Nonmicrobial inflammation contributes to CKD progression and fibrosis. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is an inflammasome-forming receptor for double-stranded DNA. AIM2 is expressed in the kidney and activated mainly by macrophages. We investigated the potential pathogenic role of the AIM2 inflammasome in kidney disease. In kidneys from patients with diabetic or nondiabetic CKD, immunofluorescence showed AIM2 expression in glomeruli, tubules, and infiltrating leukocytes. In a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), Aim2 deficiency attenuated the renal injury, fibrosis, and inflammation observed in wild-type (WT) littermates. In bone marrow chimera studies, UUO induced substantially more tubular injury and IL-1β cleavage in Aim2−/− or WT mice that received WT bone marrow than in WT mice that received Aim2−/− bone marrow. Intravital microscopy of the kidney in LysM(gfp/gfp) mice 5–6 days after UUO demonstrated the significant recruitment of GFP+ proinflammatory macrophages that crawled along injured tubules, engulfed DNA from necrotic cells, and expressed active caspase-1. DNA uptake occurred in large vacuolar structures within recruited macrophages but not resident CX3CR1+ renal phagocytes. In vitro, macrophages that engulfed necrotic debris showed AIM2-dependent activation of caspase-1 and IL-1β, as well as the formation of AIM2+ ASC specks. ASC specks are a hallmark of inflammasome activation. Cotreatment with DNaseI attenuated the increase in IL-1β levels, confirming that DNA was the principal damage-associated molecular pattern in this process. Therefore, the activation of the AIM2 inflammasome by DNA from necrotic cells drives a proinflammatory phenotype that contributes to chronic injury in the kidney.


2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masafumi Takahashi ◽  
Masanori Kawaguchi ◽  
Fumitake Usui ◽  
Hiroaki Kimura ◽  
Shun'ichiro Taniguchi ◽  
...  

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that inflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the mechanism of I/R-initiated inflammation remains to be determined. The inflammasome is a multiprotein complex consisting of nod-like receptor (NLR), apoptosis-associated speck-like adaptor protein (ASC), and caspase-1, and regulates caspase-1-dependent maturation of IL-1beta and IL-18. In the present study, we investigated the role of inflammasome in myocardial I/R injury. Methods and Results: Wild-type (WT), ASC−/−, and caspase-1−/− mice were subjected to 30 min LAD ligation, followed by reperfusion. ASC and caspase-1 were expressed at the site of myocardial I/R injury. Deficiency of ASC and caspase-1 reduced inflammatory responses, such as inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine expression, and subsequent injuries such as infarct development, myocardial fibrosis, and dysfunction in myocardial I/R injury. To determine the contribution of inflammasome in bone marrow cells, we produced bone marrow transplant mice and found that inflammasome activation was critical not only in bone marrow cells but also in myocardial resident cells. Since myocardial damage was observed before the inflammatory cell infiltration after I/R, we hypothesized that myocardial resident cells are responsible for an initial activation of inflammasome. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) stimuli could induce inflammasome activation in cardiac fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes in vitro. Interestingly, inflammasome activation was detected only in cardiac fibroblasts, but not in cardiomyocytes, and mediated through reactive oxygen species (ROS) and potassium efflux. Conclusion: These findings indicate that inflammasome activation in cardiac fibroblasts is essential for inflammation and injury after myocardial I/R, and suggest that the inflammasome is a potential novel therapeutic target for myocardial I/R injury.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 34-35
Author(s):  
Manasi M. Godbole ◽  
Peter A. Kouides

Introduction: Most studies on the diagnostic yield of bone marrow biopsy including the one by Hot et al. have focused on the yield of bone marrow biopsies in diagnosing the source of fever of unknown origin. However, there have not been any studies performed to our knowledge looking at overall practice patterns and yield of bone marrow biopsies for diagnoses other than fever of unknown origin. We aim to determine the most common indications for performing bone marrow biopsies in a community-based teaching hospital as well as the yield of the biopsies in patients with specified and unspecified pre-test indications to estimate the rate of uncertain post-test diagnoses. Methods: We performed a retrospective data collection study at Rochester General Hospital, NY. A comprehensive search was conducted in our electronic medical data to identify all patients who underwent bone marrow biopsies over a 5 year period from January 2011 - December 2016 for indications other than fever of unknown origin. Patient data including demographics, pre-bone marrow biopsy diagnosis and post-bone marrow diagnosis was obtained. All patients above the age of 18 who underwent bone marrow biopsy for indications other than fever of unknown origin or follow up treatment of a hematological malignancy were included. Results: A total of 223 biopsies were performed. The median age was 59 years (age range- 23-95). One hundred and sixteen patients were male and 107 were female. The most common indications for performing bone marrow biopsy were evaluation of the following possible conditions: multiple myeloma (n=54), myelodysplastic syndrome [MDS] (n=47), lymphoma (n=28) and leukemia (n=18) as well as non-specific indications such as pancytopenia (n=40), anemia (n=22) and thrombocytopenia (n=11). The proportion of cases confirmed by bone marrow biopsy was 45/54 (83%) with the pre-marrow diagnosis of multiple myeloma, 34/47 cases (72%) with the pre-marrow diagnosis of MDS, 15/18 (83%) with the pre-marrow diagnosis of leukemia and 13/28 (46%) in those with the pre-marrow diagnosis of rule out lymphoma. Thirteen cases (18%) with possible MDS had post-bone marrow diagnoses of leukemia, anemia of chronic disease, myelofibrosis or medication-related changes. Five out of twenty two cases (23%) for anemia and 3/11 cases (27%) for thrombocytopenia without otherwise specified pre-bone marrow etiology had uncertain diagnosis after bone marrow biopsy. Conclusion: In about a fifth of patients necessitating a bone marrow, the diagnosis is discordant and can be surprising. It is also worth reporting that in these discordant results, non-hematological causes such as medications, anemia due to chronic diseases or conditions such as cirrhosis or splenomegaly from other etiologies were among the final diagnoses. Interestingly, 20% of the patients with unspecified pre-bone marrow diagnoses such as anemia or thrombocytopenia in our study had an unclear post-bone marrow diagnosis despite undergoing bone marrow biopsy. Our findings are a reminder that the bone marrow exam does not always lead to a definitive diagnosis and the need by exclusion to include in the differential non-hematological etiologies such as nutritional deficiencies, chronic kidney disease or autoimmune disorders. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 5266-5266
Author(s):  
Michael Koldehoff ◽  
Nina K. Steckel ◽  
Rudolf Trenschel ◽  
Dietrich W. Beelen ◽  
Ahmet H. Elmaagacli

Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal B-cell malignancy characterized by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells within the bone marrow (BM). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a glycoprotein produced by normal and neoplastic cells is an important regulator of physiological and pathological angiogenesis. MM cells secrete VEGF, which promotes production of cytokines in bone marrow stromal cells, as well as migration and proliferation of the tumor cells. Inhibition of VEGF activity or disabling the function of its receptors has been shown to inhibit both tumor growth and spread of metastases in a variety of animal tumor models. RNA interference (RNAi) is rapidly being established as a post-transcriptional gene silencing method and holds promise to specifically inhibit gene expression in mammals. Another novel class of antitumor agents is based on the inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteosomal system which represents the major nonlysosomal pathway through which intracellular proteins are degraded in eukaryotic cells. Bortezomib, a reversible proteosome inhibitor, shows remarkable anticancer activity in various malignant cell types, including MM cells that are resistant to conventional therapies. We studied the effect of transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting VEGF in MM cells in terms of proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and cell differentiation. Further, we evaluated if the effects of post-transcriptional gene silencing by VEGF specific siRNA can be augmented by bortezomib and/or steroids in the cell line OPM-2. A mean reduction of VEGF gene expression to 38% as determined by real-time PCR was observed with 0.8 ug VEGF siRNA in OPM-2 cells compared to controls (controls were set up to 100%). Simultaneous administration of bortezomib and siRNA was able to reduce VEGF gene expression down to 23% compared to VEGF siRNA alone demonstrating a synergistic effect of combined bortezomib and siRNA treatment. We found a 2.5-fold increase in induced apoptosis in OPM-2 cells subsequent to VEGF siRNA administration but we saw no additional stimulation of apoptosis after combination of VEGF siRNA with bortezomib and/or steroids. Proliferation in OPM-2 cells was strongly inhibited (about 91%) following combination treatment as opposed to only 62% after administration of VEGF siRNA alone. The transfection of VEGF siRNA in OPM-2 cells had no influence on the expression levels of differentiation markers such as CD38, CD138, CD19, CD34, CD45, and CD7AAD. Our findings suggest that synergistic effects of VEGF siRNA with bortezomib and dexamethason may offer new therapeutic options in the treatment of MM.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document