Nitric oxide synthase-cyclooxygenase interactions are involved in tumor cell angiogenesis and migration.

Nitric oxide (NO), produced by distinct nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms, and prostaglandins generated by expression of cyclooxygenases are important mediators in tumor progression. Previous studies have shown that NO can influence the formation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). We provide evidence that NO, derived from iNOS and eNOS activity in LMM3 murine mammary adenocarcinoma cell line, is involved in tumor angiogenesis and in tumor cell migration. LMM3 cells that also stimulate their neovascularization activity and migration liberate high basal amounts of PGE2. There is large amount of evidence that postulates positive regulatory interactions between NOS and cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms. We here show that, in the LMM3 cell line, while PGE2 exerts a positive modulation on NOS activity, NO closes the loop with a negative feed back on COX activity. We also provide evidence of a positive regulatory effect of protein tyrosine kinases on NOS as well as on COX enzymatic functions affecting tumor induced angiogenesis and cell migration.

Soluble factors from the target organ enhance tumor cell angiogenesis: role of laminin SIKVAV sequence.

The ability of tumor cells to respond to microenvironmental factors present in the target organ determines in part the successful development of a metastasis. In a previous work it was demonstrated that the conditioned medium (CM) from lungs of normal mice stimulates in vitro migration, proliferation and uPA activity of cells from a murine mammary adenocarcinoma moderately metastatic to lung. This CM also enhanced local and metastatic tumor growth. Here, we show that lung CM enhanced neovascularization when inoculated together with LM3 tumor cells into the skin of syngeneic mice. A similar tumor-induced angiogenesis response was obtained when lung CM was injected systemically. Western blot analysis of lung CM revealed the presence of some laminin fragments containing the sequence SIKVAV. To determine whether those molecules were responsible for the observed angiogenic effects, the CM was depleted of the peptides containing the SIKVAV sequence. We observed that the SIKVAV-depleted lung CM lost its ability to induce an enhancement of the tumor neovascular response. Our results suggest a role for the target organ in facilitating the neovascularization of tumor cells, probably through the participation of active peptides derived from the proteolytic degradation of the basement membrane component laminin.

A synthetic, nitrogenated antimetastatic and anti-angiogenic compound with low toxicity in vivo.

The design of more effective therapies for metastatic disease involves development of new compounds able to specifically block the malignant process. We demonstrated previously that a new synthetic nitrogenated compound 3'-1-chloroethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo-(2, 1-i)-purine-4-ium-7-yl-3'-deoxy-1',5', 6'-tri-O-(methylsulfonyl)-muco-inositol chloride (DIC) had an anti-proliferative activity on tumor cells in vitro. In the present work we demonstrate that DIC induces apoptosis on the LM3 murine mammary adenocarcinoma cell line in vitro and has anti-angiogenic activity in vivo. We also evaluated toxicity, biodistribution and anti-neoplastic properties of DIC in vivo. Toxicity studies allowed us to establish the LD50 (750 mg/kg body weight). Administration of 250 mg/kg/day (LD10) for 6 days did not cause overt toxic effects. Biodistribution assays revealed that DIC was rapidly eliminated (60% at t=10 min), although it accumulated in tumor tissue at higher concentrations than in other tissues. Daily s.c. treatment with DIC (LD10) for 24 days significantly reduced the number of spontaneous lung metastases. These results suggest that DIC has the ability of impairing the metastatic development by inhibiting angiogenesis and inducing apoptosis on tumor cells.

Differential nitric oxide release and sensitivity to injury in different murine mammary tumor cell lines.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether nitric oxide (NO) production by different mammary tumor cell lines correlated with their sensitivity to NO mediated injury. Three mammary tumor cell lines LM2, LM3 and LMM3 syngeneic to BALB/c mice were cultured in vitro with IFNgamma + LPS. Different levels of NO production among the three lines were detected in culture supernatants. The only tumor cell line which did not produce NO (LM2) showed the highest sensitivity to SNP-derived NO cytotoxicity (87%), while LM3 and LMM3 which both produced higher levels of NO than LM2, showed lower cytotoxicity by SNP (39% and 22% respectively). Spleen cells (SC) from M2 tumor bearing mice (TBM) were able to lyse LM2 cells by NO-dependent mechanisms. SC from M3-TBM exerted cytotoxicity against LM3 cells mainly by NO-independent mechanisms. Thus, we postulate an inverse correlation between NO production and NO mediated cytotoxicity in the three mammary tumor cell lines. It is possible that tumor cells producing NO develop mechanisms to resist NO injury.

Hydrogen peroxide is involved in lymphocyte activation mechanisms to induce angiogenesis.

T-lymphocytes from tumour-bearing mice are able to trigger the angiogenic cascade. Since it is known that tumour growth produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the activation of lymphocytes and their induction of this vascular response. Studies on lymphocytes, stimulated in vitro by ROS to induce angiogenesis, showed that only the enzyme catalase (CAT) could block the activation. The incubation of normal lymphocytes with H2O2 stimulated these cells to induce angiogenesis. The administration of H2O2 or an oxidative stress-producing drug (doxorubicin) to normal mice activated in vivo angiogenesis. In tumour-bearing mice, high levels of lipid peroxidation products were observed in the spleen, but not in the liver or kidney. Moreover, when the ROS scavenger enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SDM) and CAT) were determined, we observed low CAT activity in normal spleens, reflected in a high SDM/CAT ratio, when compared to liver or kidney values. We also showed an increasing value of the SDM/CAT ratio with tumour growth. These results strongly suggest that H2O2 could be involved in the mechanisms of lymphocyte activation and their induction of angiogenesis during tumour growth.

Nitric oxide is involved in stimulation of tumor growth.

The immune system can inhibit or stimulate tumor growth. Peritoneal cells (PEG) from MM3 mammary tumor-bearing mice (TBM) displayed enhanced capacity to produce nitric oxide (NO) upon stimulation with LPS plus IFN-gamma, as compared to normal mice. The addition of L-Arginine (L-Arg) increased NO release by TBM-PEC but not by normal PEG; this increase could be reversed with N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). This inhibitor, given systemically, decreased MM3 tumor growth but not lung metastasis. Tumor retardation was associated with inhibition of angiogenesis induced by spleen cells. Conversely, L-Arg potentiated vascular response but not tumor growth. In conclusion, NO synthesis is up regulated in PEC during MM3 tumor progression sustaining tumor growth by mediating the angiogenic cascade.

Effects of synthetic urokinase inhibitors on local invasion and metastasis in a murine mammary tumor model.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) initiates an extracellular proteolytic cascade with which invasive cells eliminate barriers to movement. We have evaluated the antiinvasive and antimetastatic properties of two recently developed synthetic uPA inhibitors, B428 and B623, in a BALB/c mouse mammary carcinoma model. We used the F3II and M3 tumor cell lines, previously described by our laboratory. In vitro, noncytotoxic concentrations of B428 or B623 inhibited secreted and cell-associated uPA activity produced by tumor cells and blocked uPA-mediated whole tumor cell degradation of fibronectin, allowing deposition of extracellular fibronectin fibrils. In vivo, administration of compounds was not associated with overt toxic effects. Daily i.p. treatment with B428 (20 mg/kg/day) or B623 (7.5 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks, beginning after tumor take, markedly blocked the invasion of the muscle and adipose layers of the subcutis and dermis in mice bearing highly invasive F3II tumors. However, these compounds neither inhibited tumor-induced angiogenesis nor reduced the incidence of spontaneous lung metastasis. Moreover, B623 enhanced the formation of experimental lung metastasis. Our results suggest that synthetic uPA inhibitors act as potent antiinvasiveness agents in vivo but may be unable to control progression of the metastatic disease in the present mammary tumor model.

Lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis: effect of different antigenic stimuli.

It is known that tumor cells activate spleen cells to induce an angiogenic response. In this report we studied whether different antigenic stimuli, other than tumor cells, were able to activate spleen lymphocytes to induce angiogenesis in syngeneic combination (SLIA). For this purpose, mice were inoculated with sheep red blood cells (SRBC), allogeneic kidney and syngeneic fetal tissues. The effect of pregnancy (syngeneic or allogeneic) on the ability of spleen cells to induce a neovascular response was also assessed. None of the different stimuli were able to induce spleen lymphocytes to evoke angiogenesis. Although allogeneic lymphocytes from virgin females induced a strong neovascular response, the same population, but from allogeneic pregnant mice, did not evoke this response. We conclude that tumor cells seem to be the only antigenic stimuli able to activate spleen lymphocytes to induce SLIA.

Inhibition of lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis by free radical scavengers.

Solid tumors induce an angiogenic response by the host blood vessels to form a new vascular network for the supply of fresh nutrients and oxygen responsible for tumor growth. Furthermore, tumor growth and metastatic spread is abrogated or markedly reduced in the absence of neovascularization. Spleen T lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice elicit a strong neovascular response. It is well known that certain T cell responses require the presence of active oxygen radicals. Because these metabolites are produced during tumor growth, we studied whether oxygen free radicals play a role in the angiogenesis induction by lymphocytes. In this study, we demonstrated that the administration of a free radical scavenger (EGb-761) to tumor-bearing mice, blocked the angiogenic response and decreased the lung metastatic incidence. On the other hand, when normal lymphocytes were incubated with the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system (X-XO), a known superoxide anion generator, this elicited a dose-response positive angiogenic reaction in normal recipient mice. No angiogenic response was observed in the absence of X-XO, or when EGb-761 or superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus catalase (CAT) were added to the incubation medium. These results suggest that free radicals are involved in some step of the angiogenic process, and that the EGb-761 treatments block this response due to the free radical scavenging activity of this compound.

Polyamines prevent DFMO-mediated inhibition of angiogenesis.

Tumor growth mainly depend on formation of new blood vessels. DFMO (alpha-difluoromethylornithine), an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, inhibits tumor growth in many animal tumors. Our investigation was to evaluate the requirement of polyamines for induction of angiogenesis by tumor cells and spleen lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice. In this regard, we have added DFMO to cell cultures. The neovascular response induced either by tumor cells or spleen lymphocytes was completely abrogated. This inhibition could be reversed by the addition of exogenous putrescine. These findings suggest that the effect of DFMO on angiogenesis is, in part, mediated by the inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis.

Immunomodulation by soluble factors from tumor cells cultured in vivo in diffusion chambers.

The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response and lymphocyte-mediated angiogenesis were determined in mice bearing in vivo cultures of mammary tumor cells in diffusion chambers (DCs). Soluble tumor products which diffuse from the DCs were able to stimulate the immune system for both the DTH reaction and angiogenic activity by spleen cells.

[Modulation of angiogenesis induced by lymphocytes by extracellular matrix proteins]. / Modulación de la angiogénesis inducida por linfocitos por proteínas de la matriz extracelular.

The neovascularization is a known event in the de development of tumors. The progressive growth of solid tumors is strictly dependent on angiogenesis. Furthermore, shedding of tumor cells into the circulation is not observed in a prevascular phase of tumors. Therefore, the inhibition of angiogenesis could be a good target for cancer control. Lymphocytes from, tumor bearing-mice were capable of inducing neovascular response in the skin of syngeneic mice. This response was named syngeneic lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis (SLIA). This work was an attempt to study if two proteins present in extracellular matrix, collagen and fibronectin (FN), could modulate lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis. The angiogenic response induced by lymphocytes from S13 tumor bearing-nice in the skin of BAL/c mice was blocked by treatment with FN and Gly. Arg. Gly. Asp. peptide. On the contrary, collagen and Gly. Arg. Gly. Asp. Ser did not modify SLIA response.

Modulación de la angiogenesis inducida por linfocitos por proteinas de la matriz extracelular / Modulation of angiogenesis induced by lymphocytes by extracellular matrix proteins

La neovascularización es uno evento importante en el desarrollo y crecimiento tumoral. La liberación de células tumorales en la circulación no se observa en la fase avascular del crecimiento tumroal. Los linfocitos de ratones portadores de tumor son capaces de inducir una respuesta angiogénica cuando se inoculan intradérmicamente en la piel de animales singenéicos. Esta respuesta recibe el nombre de SLIA. En este trabajo se estudia proteínas presentes en la matriz extracelular, colágeno y fibronectina (FN) pueden modificar la respuesta antiogênica inducida por linfocitos de ratones portadores de tumor S13. El tratamiento de los linfocitos con FN o con el péptido Gly. Arg. Glyp. Asp. inhibió la angiogénesis. Por el contrario el colágeno y el péptido Gly. Arg. Gly. Asp. Ser no modificaron la respuesta neovascular inducida por los linfocitos de portadores de tumor

Modulation of tumor-induced angiogenesis by proteins of extracellular matrix.

The formation of new vessels is a known event in enlarging tumors. Furthermore, the metastatic potential is abrogated or reduced markedly in the absence of neovascularization. Shedding of tumor cells into the circulation is not observed until vascularization has occurred. As a result, the interruption of neovascularization could be a good target for cancer control. This research was an attempt to see if two proteins present in extracellular matrix, collagen and fibronectin (FN), could modify the tumor-induced angiogenesis. The strong angiogenic response induced by S13 tumor cells in the skin of BALB/c mice was blocked by treatment with FN and FN-derived peptides. In contrast, collagen did not modify tumor-induced angiogenesis.

[Immunoregulation of tumor growth in a murine model]. / Inmunorregulación del crecimiento tumoral en un sistema murino.

Different spleen and tumor cell factors modifying tumoral and metastatic growth were studied. Spleen cell culture supernatants (SCS) from small and large tumor-bearing mice enhanced tumor growth. After tumor surgery, tumor enhancement was only mediated by supernatants from large tumor resected mice. Tumor facilitation and angiogenic response were mediated by the same supernatants; different fractions for these two activities were characterized. T and non-T cells, depending on tumor burden, were responsible for the enhancing activity; but angiogenesis depended only on T cells. While augmentation of metastatic spread was produced by tumor antigens (soluble tumor extracts, tumor-cell supernatants, formolized tumor cells), primary tumor development was not modified by tumor-cell supernatants. Increased incidence of metastases was also mediated by SCS from tumor resected mice which had previously been inoculated with tumor antigens. Immune status of tumor-resected mice was evaluated by delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. Tumor cell membranes enriched with cholesterol-hemisuccinate were able to increase anti-tumor immune response.

Angiogenic activity by spleen cell supernatants from tumor-bearing and tumor-resected mice.

Supernatants of cultured spleen cells (SCS) from small tumor-bearing mice (STBM) and large tumor-bearing mice (LTBM) are able to enhance tumor growth as well as accelerate tumor takes in vivo when inoculated 24 h before tumor implant. After tumor resection enhancing activity disappears at a rate depending on the size of the resected tumor. Spleen cells from tumor-bearing mice also evoke a complex vascular response, lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis (LIA) elicited via the release of lymphokines from activated T cells. As angiogenic factors promote tumor development we investigated if SCS from tumor-bearing and tumor-resected mice contain factors capable of evoking a LIA response. Angiogenic activity was detected by SCS of small and large tumor-bearing mice as well as in large tumor-resected mice. On the other hand, SCS from small tumor-resected mice are not able to evoke an angiogenic response. Possibly, the large antigenic burden in LTRM stimulate the immune system in a different way than in STRM. We can suggest that the different behavior of spleen cells after small and large tumor removal can be explained by quantitative or qualitative changes in the spleen subpopulations.

Lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis: correlation with the metastatic incidence of two murine mammary adenocarcinomas.

Two tumor lines exhibiting different metastasizing capacity were studied with respect to the lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis (LIA). The MM3 line produce lung metastases with a high incidence. Conversely, the metastatic incidence of M3 line is much lower. Tumor cell suspensions were inoculated in BALB/c mice, 24 h later spleens were removed from the animals. Lymphocyte suspensions were made and then injected intradermally in syngeneic recipient mice. Five days after the injection of lymphocytes the vascular reaction was evaluated in the skin of the recipients by measuring the vessel density. The vascular response induced by lymphocytes from MM3-tumor bearing mice was increased when compared to that of M3-tumor-bearing mice. There appeared to be a positive correlation between metastasizing capacity and the lymphocyte-induced vascular response.