VEGF-A controls the expression of its regulator of angiogenic functions, dopamine D2 receptor, on endothelial cells.

We have previously demonstrated significant upregulation of dopamine D2 (DAD2) receptor (DRD2) expression on tumor endothelial cells. The dopamine D2 receptors, upon activation, inhibit the proangiogenic actions of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A, also known as vascular permeability factor). Interestingly, unlike tumor endothelial cells, normal endothelial cells exhibit very low to no expression of dopamine D2 receptors. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate that through paracrine signaling, VEGF-A can control the expression of dopamine D2 receptors on endothelial cells via Krüppel-like factor 11 (KLF11)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 pathway. These results thus reveal a novel bidirectional communication between VEGF-A and DAD2 receptors.

Cardiovascular Complications in Patients with Prostate Cancer: Potential Molecular Connections.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and complications are often seen in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and affect their clinical management. Despite acceptable safety profiles and patient compliance, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), the mainstay of PCa treatment and chemotherapy, has increased cardiovascular risks and metabolic syndromes in patients. A growing body of evidence also suggests that patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions show an increased incidence of PCa and present with fatal forms of the disease. Therefore, it is possible that a molecular link exists between the two diseases, which has not yet been unraveled. This article provides insight into the connection between PCa and CVDs. In this context, we present our findings linking PCa progression with patients' cardiovascular health by performing a comprehensive gene expression study, gene set enrichment (GSEA) and biological pathway analysis using publicly available data extracted from patients with advanced metastatic PCa. We also discuss the common androgen deprivation strategies and CVDs most frequently reported in PCa patients and present evidence from various clinical trials that suggest that therapy induces CVD in PCa patients.

Neuropeptide Y, a paracrine factor secreted by cancer cells, is an independent regulator of angiogenesis in colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to anti-angiogenic therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) stems from VEGF-A independent angiogenesis mediated by other proangiogenic factors. Therefore identifying these factors in colon adenocarcinoma (CA) will reveal new therapeutic targets. METHODS: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Y2 receptor (Y2R) expressions in CA were studied by immunohistochemical analysis. Orthotopic HT29 with intact VEGF-A gene and VEGF-A knockdown (by CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique) HT29 colon cancer-bearing mice were treated with specific Y2R antagonists, and the effects on angiogenesis and tumour growth were studied. The direct effect of NPY on angiogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanism was elucidated by the modulation of Y2R receptors expressed on colonic endothelial cells (CEC). RESULTS: The results demonstrated that NPY and Y2R are overexpressed in human CA, orthotopic HT29, and most interestingly in VEGF-A-depleted orthotopic HT29 tumours. Treatment with Y2R antagonists inhibited angiogenesis and thereby HT29 tumour growth. Blocking /silencing Y2R abrogated NPY-induced angiogenic potential of CEC. Mechanistically, NPY regulated the activation of the ERK/MAPK signalling pathway in CEC. CONCLUSIONS: NPY derived from cancer cells independently regulates angiogenesis in CA by acting through Y2R present on CEC. Targeting NPY/Y2R thus emerges as a novel potential therapeutic strategy in CA.

Catecholamines in the regulation of angiogenesis in cutaneous wound healing.

Angiogenesis involves the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones, and it is an essential step during cutaneous wound healing, which supports cells at the wound site with nutrition and oxygen. Impaired angiogenesis in the wound tissues results in delayed wound closure and healing. Among the regulators of angiogenesis, the role of catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) is of interest due to their diverse roles in the process of wound healing. While both norepinephrine and epinephrine mostly inhibit the angiogenic process in cutaneous wounds, dopamine, the other member of the catecholamine family, has interesting and contradictory roles in the regulation of angiogenesis in the wound beds, depending on the type of dopamine receptor involved. The stimulation of dopamine D2 receptors negatively regulates the angiogenic process in normal dermal wounds and thereby delays healing, whereas the stimulation of dopamine D1 receptors promotes angiogenesis and expedites healing in diabetic wounds. Importantly, catecholamines also play important roles in other pathological conditions, and specific agonists and antagonists of catecholamines are available for the treatment of some disorders. Therefore, such drugs may be utilized for the management of angiogenesis to promote the healing of dermal wounds. This review provides a broad overview of the angiogenic process during cutaneous wound healing and the regulatory roles played by catecholamines during the process.

Enhanced peripheral dopamine impairs post-ischemic healing by suppressing angiotensin receptor type 1 expression in endothelial cells and inhibiting angiogenesis.

Increased circulating catecholamines have been linked with cardiovascular anomalies as well as with peripheral vascular diseases. Although the roles of epinephrine and norepinephrine have received considerable attention, the role of the other catecholamine, dopamine, has been less studied. Since dopamine is a potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis and as angiogenesis is essential for ischemic healing, we therefore studied the role played by dopamine during ischemic healing using dopamine D2 receptor knockout (KOD2) mice. Although concentration of dopamine and its rate-limiting enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase, was considerably high in the muscle tissues of wild-type and KOD2 mice with unilateral hind limb ischemia (HLI), recovery was significantly faster in the KOD2 mice compared to the wild-type controls, thereby indicating that peripheral dopamine might have a role in this healing process. In addition, we observed significant differences in post-ischemic angiogenesis between these two groups. Our study further revealed that elevated dopamine independently suppressed activation of local tissue-based renin-angiotensin system (RAS), a critical growth factor system stimulating angiogenesis in ischemia. Angiotensin II (ATII) and its receptor, angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1R), are the key players in RAS-mediated angiogenesis. Dopamine acting through its D2 receptors in endothelial cells inhibited ATII-mediated angiogenesis by suppressing the expression of AT1R in these cells. This study thus for the first time demonstrates the role played by dopamine in prolonging post-ischemic recovery. Therefore, pharmacological intervention inhibiting the action of dopamine holds promise as future therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HLI and other peripheral arterial diseases.

Activation of Dopamine D1 Receptors in Dermal Fibroblasts Restores Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Production by These Cells and Subsequent Angiogenesis in Diabetic Cutaneous Wound Tissues.

In wound beds, fibroblasts are rich sources of vascular endothelial growth factor A, a cytokine necessary for promoting angiogenesis and thereby the healing of wound tissues. However, in diabetes mellitus, these cells are functionally impaired and produce reduced amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor A, resulting in deficient angiogenesis and delayed wound healing. We here for the first time demonstrate that stimulation of D1 dopamine receptors present in dermal fibroblasts restores vascular endothelial growth factor A production by these cells, resulting in adequate angiogenesis and subsequent healing of cutaneous wounds in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic mice. This action of D1 dopamine receptors was mediated through the protein kinase A pathway. As delayed wound healing or chronic wounds are one of the major health problems in diabetic patients, D1 dopamine receptor agonists, which are already in clinical use for the treatment of other disorders, may be of translational value in the treatment of chronic, nonhealing diabetic wounds.

Dopamine is a safe antiangiogenic drug which can also prevent 5-fluorouracil induced neutropenia.

The role of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in tumor angiogenesis is well established and accordingly, molecules targeting VEGFA or its receptors are being presently used in the clinics for treatment of several types of cancer. However, these antiangiogenic agents are expensive and have serious side effects. Thus identification of newer drugs with manageable systemic side effects or toxicities is of immense clinical importance. Since we have reported earlier that dopamine (DA) inhibits VEGFA induced angiogenesis in experimental tumor models, we therefore sought to investigate whether DA treatment results in similar toxicities like other antiangiogenic agents. Our results indicated that unlike sunitinib, another commonly used antiangiogenic agent in the clinics which targets VEGF receptors, DA [50 mg/kg/days × 7days intraperitoneally (i.p.)] not only could inhibit tumor angiogenesis and growth of HT29 human colon cancer and LLC (Lewis lung carcinoma) in mice, it also did not cause hypertension, hematological, renal and hepatic toxicities in normal, HT29 and LLC tumor bearing animals. Furthermore and interestingly, in contrast to the currently used antiangiogenic agents, DA also prevented 5-fluorouracil (5FU) induced neutropenia in HT29 colon cancer bearing mice. This action of DA was through inhibition of 5FU mediated suppression of colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage colony forming units in the bone marrow. Thus our results indicate that DA may be safely used as an antiangiogenic drug for the treatment of malignant tumors.

Dopamine stabilizes tumor blood vessels by up-regulating angiopoietin 1 expression in pericytes and Kruppel-like factor-2 expression in tumor endothelial cells.

Impaired blood flow in the tumor vascular bed caused by structurally and functionally abnormal blood vessels not only hinders the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents but also aggravates tumor hypoxia, making the tumor cells further resistant to antineoplastic drugs. Therefore, normalization of tumor blood vessels may be an important approach to increase therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of cancer patients. As blood vessels are supplied by sympathetic nerves containing dopamine (DA), and DA regulates functions of normal blood vessels through its receptors present in these vessels, we investigated the effect of DA on tumor vasculature. Here we report loss of sympathetic innervation and endogenous DA in abnormal and immature tumor blood vessels in malignant colon and prostate tumor tissues. In contrast, exogenous administration of DA normalizes the morphology and improves the functions of these vessels by acting on pericytes and endothelial cells, the two major cellular components of blood vessels. DA acts through its D(2) receptors present in these cells to up-regulate directly the expression of angiopoietin 1 (Ang1) in pericytes and the expression of the zinc finger transcriptional factor, Krüppel-like factor-2 (KLF2) in tumor endothelial cells. Importantly, this vessel stabilization by DA also significantly increases the concentration of anticancer drug in tumor tissues. These results show a relationship between vascular stabilization and a neurotransmitter and indicate that DA or its D(2) receptor-specific agonists can be an option for the treatment of cancer and disorders in which normalization of blood vessels may have therapeutic benefits.

Exploring the multifaceted role of obesity in breast cancer progression.

Obesity is a multifaceted metabolic disorder characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue. It is a well-established risk factor for the development and progression of breast cancer. Adipose tissue, which was once regarded solely as a passive energy storage depot, is now acknowledged as an active endocrine organ producing a plethora of bioactive molecules known as adipokines that contribute to the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines and estrogen production due to enhanced aromatase activity. In the context of breast cancer, the crosstalk between adipocytes and cancer cells within the adipose microenvironment exerts profound effects on tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. Moreover, adipocytes can engage in direct interactions with breast cancer cells through physical contact and paracrine signaling, thereby facilitating cancer cell survival and invasion. This review endeavors to summarize the current understanding of the intricate interplay between adipocyte-associated factors and breast cancer progression. Furthermore, by discussing the different aspects of breast cancer that can be adversely affected by obesity, this review aims to shed light on potential avenues for new and novel therapeutic interventions.

Racial differences in prostate tumor microenvironment: implications for disparate clinical outcomes and potential opportunities.

Disparities in cancer incidence and outcome are common among the racial and ethnical minorities in the United States and are of significant social and clinical concern. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous malignancy in American men and exhibits substantial racial disparities with African American men bearing the highest burden in terms of incidence and mortality. A multitude of factors, including socioeconomic, behavioral, and access to healthcare, have been implicated as the underlying causes of such disparities. More recent data also suggest that there are inherent molecular and biological differences in prostate tumors of patients having distinct racial backgrounds. Tumor microenvironment has tremendous impact on the course of cancer progression and clinical outcome and may also contribute to the racial disparities observed in prostate cancer. Therefore, a better understanding of critical differences in the tumor microenvironment components may provide newer directions to study the biological causes of prostate cancer health disparities and may identify novel therapeutic targets. This review discusses the findings related to the tumor microenvironment differences between African American and Caucasian American prostate cancer patients and makes suggestion regarding their potential significance in prostate cancer disparities.

D1 and D2 dopamine receptor-mediated inhibition of activated normal T cell proliferation is lost in jurkat T leukemic cells.

Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter, which plays an important role in the regulation of T cell functions. In activated T cells from normal volunteers, stimulation of D(1) and D(2) dopamine receptors inhibit cell proliferation and cytokine secretion. However, there is no report yet regarding the regulatory role of D(1) and D(2) dopamine receptors in abnormally proliferating T cells. The present study investigates the expression and effect of activation of these dopamine receptors in Jurkat cells, a leukemic T cell line showing uncontrolled proliferation. Like normal human T cells, in Jurkat cells, D(1) and D(2) dopamine receptors are also expressed; however, unlike activated normal T cells, stimulation of these dopamine receptors in Jurkat cells fails to inhibit their T cell receptor-induced proliferation. This alteration is due to failure of D(1) dopamine receptor-mediated activation of cyclic AMP signaling and a missense mutation at the third cytoplasmic loop of D(2) dopamine receptors affecting inhibition of phosphorylation of ZAP-70, an important downstream protein transducing signal from the T cell receptor. These results help to understand the biology of abnormal proliferation of T cells in pathophysiological conditions where dopamine plays an important role.

Dopamine regulates endothelial progenitor cell mobilization from mouse bone marrow in tumor vascularization.

Mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the bone marrow and their subsequent participation in neovessel formation are implicated in tumor growth and neovascularization. As the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) modulates adult endothelial cell function, we hypothesized that DA might have a regulatory role in mobilization of EPCs from the bone marrow niche. We show that there was a significant decrease in bone marrow DA content and an increase in EPC mobilization in tumor-bearing mice associated with tumor neovascularization. DA treatment of tumor-bearing mice inhibited EPC mobilization and tumor growth through its D2 receptors, as DA treatment failed to inhibit EPC mobilization in tumor-bearing mice treated with a specific DA D2 receptor antagonist and in tumor-bearing mice lacking the D2 receptor. In addition, we found that DA, through D2 receptors, exerted its inhibitory effect on EPC mobilization through suppression of VEGFA-induced ERK1/ERK2 phosphorylation and MMP-9 synthesis. These findings reveal a new link between DA and EPC mobilization and suggest a novel use for DA and D2 agents in the treatment of cancer and other diseases involving neovessel formation.

Lignin: Drug/Gene Delivery and Tissue Engineering Applications.

Lignin is an abundant renewable natural biopolymer. Moreover, a significant development in lignin pretreatment and processing technologies has opened a new window to explore lignin and lignin-based bionanomaterials. In the last decade, lignin has been widely explored in different applications such as drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering, food science, water purification, biofuels, environmental, pharmaceuticals, nutraceutical, catalysis, and other interesting low-value-added energy applications. The complex nature and antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biocompatibility of lignin attracted its use in various biomedical applications because of ease of functionalization, availability of diverse functional sites, tunable physicochemical and mechanical properties. In addition to it, its diverse properties such as reactivity towards oxygen radical, metal chelation, renewable nature, biodegradability, favorable interaction with cells, nature to mimic the extracellular environment, and ease of nanoparticles preparation make it a very interesting material for biomedical use. Tremendous progress has been made in drug delivery and tissue engineering in recent years. However, still, it remains challenging to identify an ideal and compatible nanomaterial for biomedical applications. In this review, recent progress of lignin towards biomedical applications especially in drug delivery and in tissue engineering along with challenges, future possibilities have been comprehensively reviewed.

The immunoregulatory role of dopamine: an update.

The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) is an important molecule bridging the nervous and immune systems. DA through autocrine/paracrine manner modulates the functions of immune effector cells by acting through its receptors present in these cells. DA also has unique and opposite effects on T cell functions. Although DA activates naïve or resting T cells, but it inhibits activated T cells. In addition, changes in the expression of DA receptors and their signaling pathways especially in T cells are associated with altered immune functions in disorders like schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. These results suggest an immunoregulatory role of DA. Therefore, targeting DA receptors and their signaling pathways in these cells by using DA receptor agonists and antagonists may be useful for the treatment of diseases where DA induced altered immunity play a pathogenic role.

Angiogenesis Inhibition in Prostate Cancer: An Update.

Prostate cancer (PCa), like all other solid tumors, relies on angiogenesis for growth, progression, and the dissemination of tumor cells to other parts of the body. Despite data from in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies, as well as human specimen studies indicating the crucial role played by angiogenesis in PCa, angiogenesis inhibition in clinical settings has not shown significant benefits to patients, thus challenging the inclusion and usefulness of antiangiogenic agents for the treatment of PCa. However, one of the apparent reasons why these antiangiogenic agents failed to meet expectations in PCa can be due to the choice of the antiangiogenic agents, because the majority of these drugs target vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) and its receptors. The other relevant causes might be inappropriate drug combinations, the duration of treatment, and the method of endpoint determination. In this review, we will first discuss the role of angiogenesis in PCa growth and progression. We will then summarize the different angiogenic growth factors that influence PCa growth dynamics and review the outcomes of clinical trials conducted with antiangiogenic agents in PCa patients and, finally, critically assess the current status and fate of antiangiogenic therapy in this disease.

Dopamine increases the efficacy of anticancer drugs in breast and colon cancer preclinical models.

PURPOSE: Because neurotransmitter dopamine inhibits vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis and as anti-VEGF agents act synergistically with anticancer drugs, we therefore investigated whether dopamine can increase the efficacies of these drugs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The effect of dopamine was investigated in human breast cancer-(MCF-7) and colon (HT29) cancer-bearing mice. Experimental groups received either dopamine or doxorubicin or dopamine plus doxorubicin in MCF-7 tumor-bearing mice, and either dopamine or 5-fluorouracil or dopamine plus 5-fluorouracil in HT29-bearing mice. Thereafter, tumor growth, angiogenesis, tumor cell apoptosis, life span, and the effect of dopamine on the growth and survival of tumor cells in vitro were determined. Finally, the effects of dopamine on tumor vascular permeability; on VEGF receptor-2, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation; and also on the proliferation and migration of tumor endothelial cells were investigated. RESULTS: Dopamine, in combination with anticancer drugs, significantly inhibited tumor growth and increased the life span when compared with treatment with dopamine or anticancer drugs alone. Dopamine had no direct effects on the growth and survival of tumor cells. The antiangiogenic action of dopamine was mediated by inhibiting proliferation and migration of tumor endothelial cells through suppression of VEGF receptor-2, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that dopamine significantly enhances the efficacies of commonly used anticancer drugs and also indicates that an inexpensive drug like dopamine, which is being extensively used in the clinics, might have a role as an antiangiogenic agent for the treatment of breast and colon cancer.

Facile synthesis of carbon fiber reinforced polymer-hydroxyapatite ternary composite: A mechanically strong bioactive bone graft.

Carbon fiber reinforced carboxymethyl cellulose-hydroxyapatite ternary composites have been synthesized by a simple wet precipitation method for weight bearing orthopedic application. Composites were synthesized with the incorporation of chemically functionalized carbon fibers. The functional groups onto the surface of fibers induced the formation of hydroxyapatite at the bridging position through which fibers were effectively bound with matrix. Consequently, the flexural strength and compressive strength of composite have reached to 140 MPa and 118 MPa, respectively. The flexural modulus of the composite is in the range of 9-22 GPa. In-vitro cell study showed that the composite possesses excellent cell proliferation and differentiation ability. With these excellent mechanical and biological properties, synthesized composite exhibits potential to be used as a mechanically compatible bioactive bone graft.

One pot synthesis of carbon dots decorated carboxymethyl cellulose- hydroxyapatite nanocomposite for drug delivery, tissue engineering and Fe3+ ion sensing.

In this work, carbon dots conjugated carboxymethyl cellulose-hydroxyapatite nanocomposite has been synthesized by one-pot synthesis method and used for multiple applications like metal ion sensing, osteogenic activity, bio-imaging and drug carrier. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposite were systematically characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, FESEM, TEM and DLS. Results clearly demonstrated the formation of fluorescent enabled carbon dots conjugated nanocomposite from carboxymethyl cellulose-hydroxyapatite nanocomposite by a simple thermal treatment. The synthesized nanocomposite is smaller than 100 nm and exhibits fluorescence emission band around 440 nm upon excitation with 340 nm wavelength. In the meantime, the nanocomposite was loaded with a chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin to evaluate the drug loading potential of synthesized nanocomposite. Moreover, the as-synthesized nanocomposite showed good osteogenic properties for bone tissue engineering and also exhibited excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards Fe3+ ions.

Ablation of peripheral dopaminergic nerves stimulates malignant tumor growth by inducing vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated angiogenesis.

Many important physiological and pathological processes are modulated by angiogenesis. It has been shown that initiation of this angiogenic process is an essential early step in the progression of malignant tumors. We report here that ablation of peripheral dopaminergic nerves markedly increased angiogenesis, microvessel density, microvascular permeability, and growth of malignant tumors in mice. Endogenous peripheral dopamine acted through D2 receptors as significantly more angiogenesis and tumor growth was observed in D2 dopamine receptor knockout mice in comparison with controls. The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 phosphorylation, which is critical for promoting angiogenesis, was also significantly more in tumor endothelial cells collected from the dopamine-depleted and D2 dopamine receptor knockout animals. These results reveal that peripheral endogenous neurotransmitter dopamine might be an important physiological regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated tumor angiogenesis and growth and suggest a novel link between endogenous dopamine, angiogenesis, and tumor growth.

Depleted dopamine in gastric cancer tissues: dopamine treatment retards growth of gastric cancer by inhibiting angiogenesis.

PURPOSE: It has been recently shown that the catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) strongly and selectively inhibits vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. Gastric cancer is highly angiogenic and is dependent on VEGF for its growth and progression. Because substantial amounts of DA present in normal stomach tissues has been implicated in several gastric functions, we therefore investigated the role, if any, of this neurotransmitter in the growth and progression of gastric cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Initially, the status of DA and tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme required for DA synthesis, were determined in human gastric cancer tissues and in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric cancer tissues of rats. On the basis of our observation of inverse correlation between stomach DA and gastric cancer growth, we determined the effect of pharmacological dose of DA on the angiogenesis and growth of MNNG induced gastric cancer in rats and Hs746T human gastric cancer in nude mice. RESULTS: DA and tyrosine hydroxylase were absent in both human and rat gastric cancer tissues. On the contrary, a low nontoxic pharmacological dose of DA significantly retarded tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting VEGFR-2 phosphorylation in tumor endothelial cells, which expressed DA D(2) receptors. This action of DA was associated with the growth inhibition of both MNNG-induced rat malignant gastric tumors and xenotransplanted human gastric cancer in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that there is an inverse correlation between endogenous stomach DA and gastric cancer and indicates that DA already in clinical use for other purposes might have a role as an antiangiogenic agent in the treatment of gastric cancer.