Imaging Cancer Angiogenesis and Metastasis in a Zebrafish Embryo Model.

Tumor angiogenesis and metastasis are key steps of cancer progression. In vitro and animal model studies have contributed to partially elucidating the mechanisms involved in these processes and in developing therapies. Besides the improvements in fundamental research and the optimization of therapeutic regimes, cancer still remains a major health threatening condition and therefore the development of new models is needed. The zebrafish is a powerful tool to study tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, because it allows the visualization of fluorescently labelled tumor cells inducing vessel remodeling, disseminating and invading surrounding tissues in a whole transparent embryo. The embryo model has also been used to address the contribution of the tumor stroma in sustaining tumor angiogenesis and spreading. Simultaneously, new anti-angiogenic drugs and compounds affecting malignant cell survival and migration can be tested by simply adding the compound into the water of living embryos. Therefore the zebrafish model offers the opportunity to gain more knowledge on cancer angiogenesis and metastasis in vivo with the final aim of providing new translational insights into therapeutic approaches to help patients.

Patient-derived zebrafish xenografts of uveal melanoma reveal ferroptosis as a drug target.

Uveal melanoma (UM) has a high risk to progress to metastatic disease with a median survival of 3.9 months after metastases detection, as metastatic UM responds poorly to conventional and targeted chemotherapy and is largely refractory to immunotherapy. Here, we present a patient-derived zebrafish UM xenograft model mimicking metastatic UM. Cells isolated from Xmm66 spheroids derived from metastatic UM patient material were injected into 2 days-old zebrafish larvae resulting in micro-metastases in the liver and caudal hematopoietic tissue. Metastasis formation could be reduced by navitoclax and more efficiently by the combinations navitoclax/everolimus and flavopiridol/quisinostat. We obtained spheroid cultures from 14 metastatic and 10 primary UM tissues, which were used for xenografts with a success rate of 100%. Importantly, the ferroptosis-related genes GPX4 and SLC7A11 are negatively correlated with the survival of UM patients (TCGA: n = 80; Leiden University Medical Centre cohort: n = 64), ferroptosis susceptibility is correlated with loss of BAP1, one of the key prognosticators for metastatic UM, and ferroptosis induction greatly reduced metastasis formation in the UM xenograft model. Collectively, we have established a patient-derived animal model for metastatic UM and identified ferroptosis induction as a possible therapeutic strategy for the treatment of UM patients.

XePhIR: the zebrafish xenograft phenotype interactive repository.

Zebrafish xenografts are an established model in cancer biology, with a steadily rising number of models and users. However, as of yet, there is no platform dedicated to standardizing protocols and sharing data regarding zebrafish xenograft phenotypes. Here, we present the Xenograft Phenotype Interactive Repository (XePhIR, https://www.xephir.org) as an independent data-sharing platform to deposit, share and repurpose zebrafish xenograft data. Deposition of data and publication with XePhIR will be done after the acceptation of the original publication. This will enhance the reach of the original research article, enhance visibility and do not interfere with the publication or copyrights of the original article. With XePhIR, we strive to fulfill these objectives and reason that this resource will enhance reproducibility and showcase the appeal and applicability of the zebrafish xenograft model. Database URL: https://www.xephir.org.

Signal transduction in Dictyostelium fgd A mutants with a defective interaction between surface cAMP receptors and a GTP-binding regulatory protein.

Transmembrane signal transduction was investigated in four Dictyostelium discoideum mutants that belong to the fgd A complementation group. The results show the following. (a) Cell surface cAMP receptors are present in fgd A mutants, but cAMP does not induce any of the intracellular responses, including the activation of adenylate or guanylate cyclase and chemotaxis. (b) cAMP induces down-regulation and the covalent modification (presumably phosphorylation) of the cAMP receptor. (c) The inhibitory effects of GTP gamma S and GDP beta S on cAMP binding are reduced; the stimulatory effect of cAMP on GTP gamma S binding is lost in fgd A mutants. (d) Basal high-affinity GTPase activity is reduced 40% and the stimulatory effect of cAMP is decreased from 40% in wild type to 30% in fgd A. (e) GTP-mediated stimulation and inhibition of adenylate cyclase is normal in mutant membranes. The results suggest a defective interaction between cell surface cAMP receptors and a specific G-protein in fgd A mutants. This interaction appears to be essential for nearly all signal transduction pathways in Dictyostelium discoideum.

CXCR4 signaling regulates metastatic onset by controlling neutrophil motility and response to malignant cells.

Developing tumors interact with the surrounding microenvironment. Myeloid cells exert both anti- and pro-tumor functions and chemokines are known to drive immune cell migration towards cancer cells. It is documented that CXCR4 signaling supports tumor metastasis formation in tissues where CXCL12, its cognate ligand, is abundant. On the other hand, the role of the neutrophilic CXCR4 signaling in driving cancer invasion and metastasis formation is poorly understood. Here, we use the zebrafish xenotransplantation model to study the role of CXCR4 signaling in driving the interaction between invasive human tumor cells and host neutrophils, supporting early metastasis formation. We found that zebrafish cxcr4 (cxcr4b) is highly expressed in neutrophils and experimental micrometastases fail to form in mutant larvae lacking a functional Cxcr4b. We demonstrated that Cxcr4b controls neutrophil number and motility and showed that Cxcr4b transcriptomic signature relates to motility and adhesion regulation in neutrophils in tumor-naïve larvae. Finally, Cxcr4b deficient neutrophils failed to interact with cancer cells initiating early metastatic events. In conclusion, we propose that CXCR4 signaling supports the interaction between tumor cells and host neutrophils in developing tumor metastases. Therefore, targeting CXCR4 on tumor cells and neutrophils could serve as a double bladed razor to limit cancer progression.

Abscisic Acid Induces Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Barley Aleurone Protoplasts.

Abscisic acid (ABA) induces a rapid and transient mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation in barley aleurone protoplasts. MAP kinase activity, measured as myelin basic protein phosphorylation by MAP kinase immunoprecipitates, increased after 1 min, peaked after 3 min, and decreased to basal levels after ~5 min of ABA treatment in vivo. Antibodies recognizing phosphorylated tyrosine residues precipitate with myelin basic protein kinase activity that has identical ABA activation characteristics and demonstrate that tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase occurs during activation. The half-maximal concentration of ABA required for MAP kinase activation, 3 x 10-7 M, is very similar to that required for ABA-induced rab16 gene expression. The tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor phenylarsine oxide can completely block ABA-induced MAP kinase activation and rab16 gene expression. These results lead us to conclude that ABA activates MAP kinase via a tyrosine phosphatase and that these steps are a prerequisite for ABA induction of rab16 gene expression.

Signal perception and transduction: the role of protein kinases.

Cells can react to environmental changes by transduction of extracellular signals, to produce intracellular responses. Membrane-impermeable signal molecules are recognized by receptors, which are localized on the plasma membrane of the cell. Binding of a ligand can result in the stimulation of an intrinsic enzymatic activity of its receptor or the modulation of a transducing protein. The modulation of one or more intracellular transducing proteins can finally lead to the activation or inhibition of a so-called 'effector protein'. In many instances, this also results in altered gene expression. Phosphorylation by protein kinases is one of the most common and important regulatory mechanisms in signal transmission. This review discusses the non-channel transmembrane receptors and their downstream signaling, with special focus on the role of protein kinases.

Isolation of a Dictyostelium discoideum 14-3-3 homologue.

A 1.0 kb cDNA clone (Dd14-3-3) encoding a 14-3-3 homologue was isolated from a Dictyostelium discoideum cDNA library. The putative Dd14-3-3 protein has highest sequence identity to a barley 14-3-3 isoform (74%). Southern blot analysis suggests that only one 14-3-3 gene is present in the Dictyostelium genome. Highest Dd14-3-3 expression is observed in vegetatively growing cells, and expression decreases during multicellular development. In contrast, Dd14-3-3 protein levels detected immunochemically remained constant during Dictyostelium development. Expression of the Dd14-3-3 cDNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae complemented the lethal disruption of the two yeast genes encoding 14-3-3 proteins (BMH1 and BMH2). This shows that Dd14-3-3 can fulfil the same function(s) as the yeast 14-3-3 proteins.

CXCL14, CXCR7 expression and CXCR4 splice variant ratio associate with survival and metastases in Ewing sarcoma patients.

PURPOSE: Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is the second most common sarcoma of bone in children and young adults. Patients with disseminated disease at diagnosis or early relapse have a poor prognosis. Our goal was to identify novel predictive biomarkers for these patients, focusing on chemokines, specifically genes involved in the CXCR4-pathway because of their established role in metastasis and tumour growth. METHODS: Total RNA isolated from therapy-naïve tumour samples (n=18; panel I) and cell lines (n=21) was used to study expression of CXCR4-pathway related genes and CXCR4 splice variants (CXCR4-2: Small and CXCR4-1: Large) by RT-Q-PCR. Expression levels were correlated to overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS). Study results were validated in an independent series of 26 tumour samples (panel II) from therapy-naïve tumour samples. RESULTS: CXCL12, CXCR4, CXCR7 and CXCL14 were expressed and high CXCR7 and CXCL14 expression showed a positive correlation with EFS and OS and a negative correlation with metastasis development. Both splice variants CXCR4 were expressed in cell lines and tumour samples and CXCR4-1/CXCR4-2 ratio was significantly higher in tumour samples compared to cell lines and correlated with an improved EFS and OS. The results from the test panel were validated in an independent sample panel. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a set of genes involved in CXCR4 signalling that may be used as a marker to predict survival and metastasis development in Ewing sarcoma.

miR-25 Modulates Invasiveness and Dissemination of Human Prostate Cancer Cells via Regulation of αv- and α6-Integrin Expression.

Altered microRNA (miRNA; miR) expression is associated with tumor formation and progression of various solid cancers. A major challenge in miRNA expression profiling of bulk tumors is represented by the heterogeneity of the subpopulations of cells that constitute the organ, as well as the tumor tissue. Here, we analyzed the expression of miRNAs in a subpopulation of epithelial stem/progenitor-like cells in human prostate cancer [prostate cancer stem cell (PCSC)] and compared their expression profile to more differentiated cancer cells. In both cell lines and clinical prostate cancer specimens, we identified that miR-25 expression in PCSCs was low/absent and steadily increased during their differentiation into cells with a luminal epithelial phenotype. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of miR-25 in prostate cancer cell lines and selected subpopulation of highly metastatic and tumorigenic cells (ALDH(high)) strongly affected the invasive cytoskeleton, causing reduced migration in vitro and metastasis via attenuation of extravasation in vivo. Here, we show, for the first time, that miR-25 can act as a tumor suppressor in highly metastatic PCSCs by direct functional interaction with the 3'-untranslated regions of proinvasive αv- and α6-integrins. Taken together, our observations suggest that miR-25 is a key regulator of invasiveness in human prostate cancer through its direct interactions with αv- and α6-integrin expression.

Agonist-stimulated high-affinity GTPase in Dictyostelium membranes.

GTP hydrolysis in Dictyostelium discoideum membranes is caused by a low (Km greater than 1 mM) and a high affinity (Km 6.5 microM) GTPase. cAMP enhances GTP hydrolysis apparently by increasing the affinity of the high affinity GTPase (stimulated Km 4.5 microM); the low affinity GTPase was not affected by cAMP. Stimulation of GTP hydrolysis by cAMP was maximal at early time points and declined thereafter. A half-maximal stimulation of GTPase occurred at 3 microM cAMP and the specificity of cAMP derivatives for stimulation of GTPase activity showed a close correlation with the specificity for binding to the cell surface cAMP receptor. Treatment of D. discoideum cells with pertussis toxin decreased the cAMP-induced stimulation of GTPase from 42 +/- 6% in control cells to 17 +/- 9% in pertussis toxin-treated cells. These results suggest that the interaction of cAMP with its surface receptor leads to stimulation of high affinity GTPase in D. discoideum membranes. At least one of those enzymes may represent a guanine nucleotide-binding protein sensitive to pertussis toxin.

Detection of GTP-binding proteins in barley aleurone protoplasts.

We report the existence of several families of GTP-binding proteins in barley aleurone protoplasts. Partial purified plasma membrane proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to a nitrocellulose filter and incubated with either antisera raised against a highly conserved animal G protein alpha subunit peptide/or Ras protein, or with [alpha-32P]GTP. Two sets of proteins of M(r) = 32-36 kDa and 22-24 kDa were strongly recognized by the antisera. Binding of [alpha-32P]GTP was detected on Western blots with proteins of M(r) = 22-24 kDa and 16 kDa. Binding was inhibited by 10(-7)-10(-6) M GTP gamma S, GTP or GDP; binding was not affected by 10(-6)-10(-5) M ATP gamma S or ADP. The kinetics, specificity and the effects of phytohormones in a [35S]GTP gamma S binding assay were also studied in isolated plasma membranes of barley aleurone protoplasts.

Pertussis toxin inhibits cAMP surface receptor-stimulated binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to Dictyostelium discoideum membranes.

GTP-binding activity to Dictyostelium discoideum membranes was investigated using various guanine nucleotides. Rank order of binding activities was: GTP gamma S greater than GTP greater than 8-N3-GTP; the binding of GTP gamma S and GTP, but not of 8-N3-GTP, was stimulated by receptor agonists. [3H]GTP binding to D. discoideum membranes has been described previously by a single binding type (Kd = 2.6 microM, Bmax = 85 nM). More detailed studies with [35S]GTP gamma S showed heterogeneous binding composed of two forms of binding sites with respectively high (Kd = 0.2 microM) and low (Kd = 6.3 microM) affinity. cAMP derivatives enhanced GTP gamma S binding by increasing the affinity and the number of the high-affinity sites, while the low-affinity sites were not affected by cAMP. The specificity of cAMP derivatives for stimulation of GTP gamma S binding showed a close correlation with the specificity for binding to the cell surface cAMP receptor. Pretreatment of D. discoideum cells with pertussis toxin did not affect basal GTP and GTP gamma S binding, but eliminated the cAMP stimulation of GTP and GTP gamma S binding. These results indicate that D. discoideum cells have a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein that interacts with the surface cAMP receptor, suggesting the functional interaction of surface receptor with a G-protein in D. discoideum.

G-proteins and the inositol cycle in Dictyostelium discoideum.

The inositol cycle in Dictyostelium discoideum was studied both in vitro and in vivo. The results are compared to the inositol cycle as it is known from higher eukaryotes. Although there is a strong resemblance the cycles are different at some essential points. In comparison to higher eukaryotes, in the cycle in D. discoideum the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] kinase appears to be absent and there are additional phosphatases which hydrolyse Ins(1,4,5)P3 via inositol 4,5-bisphosphate [Ins(4,5)P2] to inositol 4-phosphate (Ins4P). The function of the receptor-stimulated inositol cycle was elucidated using mutants from the fgd A complementation group, which are defective in the G-protein alpha-subunit, responsible for the activation of phosphoinositidase C. These mutants show defects in both chemotaxis and differentiation, suggesting that the stimulation of phosphoinositidase C is the major sensory transduction pathway in D. discoideum.

Single-molecule imaging technique to study the dynamic regulation of GPCR function at the plasma membrane.

The lateral diffusion of a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in the plasma membrane determines its interaction capabilities with downstream signaling molecules and critically modulates its function. Mechanisms that control GPCR mobility, like compartmentalization, enable a cell to fine-tune its response through local changes in the rate, duration, and extent of signaling. These processes are known to be highly dynamic and tightly regulated in time and space, usually not completely synchronized in time. Therefore, bulk studies such as protein biochemistry or conventional confocal microscopy will only yield information on the average properties of the interactions and are compromised by poor time resolution. Single-particle tracking (SPT) in living cells is a key approach to directly monitor the function of a GPCR within its natural environment and to obtain unprecedented detailed information about receptor mobility, binding kinetics, aggregation states, and domain formation. This review provides a detailed description on how to perform single GPCR tracking experiments.

Identification of phosphorylase kinase as a novel therapeutic target through high-throughput screening for anti-angiogenesis compounds in zebrafish.

Angiogenesis is essential for development and tumor progression. With the aim of identifying new compound inhibitors of the angiogenesis process, we used an established enhanced green fluorescent protein-transgenic zebrafish line to develop an automated assay that enables high-throughput screening of compound libraries in a whole-organism setting. Using this system, we have identified novel kinase inhibitor compounds that show anti-angiogenic properties in both zebrafish in-vivo system and in human endothelial cell in-vitro angiogenesis models. Furthermore, we have determined the kinase target of these compounds and have identified and validated a previously uncharacterized involvement of phosphorylase kinase subunit G1 (PhKG1) in angiogenesis in vivo. In addition, we have found that PhKG1 is upregulated in human tumor samples and that aberrations in gene copy number of PhK subunits are a common feature of human tumors. Our results provide a novel insight into the angiogenesis process, as well as identify new potential targets for anti-angiogenic therapies.

Dictyostelium discoideum mutant synag 7 with altered G-protein-adenylate cyclase interaction.

Previous results have shown that Dictyostelium discoideum mutant synag 7 is defective in the regulation of adenylate cyclase by receptor agonists in vivo and by GTP gamma S in vitro; the guanine nucleotide activation of adenylate cyclase is restored by the high-speed supernatant from wild-type cells. Here we report that in synag 7 membranes: (1) cyclic AMP receptors had normal levels and were regulated by guanine nucleotides as in wild-type; (2) GTP binding and high-affinity GTPase were reduced but still stimulated by cyclic AMP; (3) the supernatant from wild-type cells restored GTP binding to membranes of this mutant, and partly restored high-affinity GTPase activity; (4) the supernatant of synag 7 was ineffective in these reconstitutions and did not influence GTP binding and GTPase activities in mutant or wild-type membranes. These results suggest that the defect in mutant synag 7 is located between G-protein and adenylate cyclase, and not between receptor and G-protein. A factor in the supernatant is absent in synag 7 and appears to be essential for normal GTP binding, GTPase and activation of adenylate cyclase. This soluble heat-labile factor may represent a new molecule required for receptor- and G-protein-mediated activation of adenylate cyclase.

Folate and cAMP modulate GTP binding to isolated membranes of Dictyostelium discoideum. Functional coupling between cell surface receptors and G-proteins.

In membrane preparations from D. discoideum cells GTP-binding activity is observed. The lack of GTP binding to intact cells suggests that the binding sites are localized inside the cell. The GTP-binding activity also remains in the particulate fraction in the presence of 1 mM Ca++. This excludes membrane-associated microtubuli to be responsible for the observed GTP binding. Scatchard analysis suggests the existence of one type of binding site (Kd = 2.6 microM and 3.6 X 10(5) sites per cell). The kinetics of association as well as dissociation, however, suggest that GTP binding is more complex than binding to a single type of site. GDP and guanylyl imidodiphosphate are potent competitors of GTP binding (respectively 5- and 10-fold worse than GTP) while GMP, cGMP and several adenine nucleotides are ineffective up to 1 mM. The chemoattractants cAMP and folic acid both increase the equilibrium binding level of GTP, while dissociation of GTP is accelerated. These data indicate the functional coupling between cell surface receptors and G-proteins.

Pertussis toxin inhibits cAMP-induced desensitization of adenylate cyclase in Dictyostelium discoideum.

cAMP binds to surface receptors of Dictyostelium discoideum cells, transducing the signal to adenylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase and to chemotaxis. The activation of adenylate cyclase is maximal after 1 min and then declines to basal levels due to desensitization, which is composed to two components: a rapidly reversible adaptation process, and a slowly reversible down-regulation of cAMP receptors. Adaptation is correlated with receptor phosphorylation. The chemotactic response and the cAMP-induced cGMP response were not significantly altered in D. discoideum cells pretreated with pertussis toxin. The initial increase of cAMP levels was identical in control and toxin treated cells, suggesting that activation of adenylate cyclase was also not affected. However, cAMP synthesis continued in toxin treated cells, due to a strongly diminished desensitization. Pertussis toxin inhibited the adaptation of adenylate cyclase stimulation, but not the down-regulation or phosphorylation of the cAMP receptors. Adenylate cyclase in D. discoideum membranes can be stimulated or inhibited by GTP, depending on the conditions used. Pertussis toxin did not affect the stimulation of adenylate cyclase but nullified the inhibition. In membranes from desensitized control cells, stimulation of adenylate cyclase by GTP was lost, whereas inhibition was retained. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase in membranes from desensitized pertussis toxin treated cells was diminished but not absent. These results indicate that receptor phosphorylation is not sufficient for adaptation of adenylate cyclase, and that a pertussis toxin substrate, possibly Gi, is also involved in this process.