Targeting ROCK2 improves macromolecular permeability in a 3D fibrotic pancreatic cancer microenvironment model.
J Control Release
; 369: 283-295, 2024 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38522816
ABSTRACT
Pancreatic cancer is characterized by a densely fibrotic stroma. The fibrotic stroma hinders the intratumoral penetration of nanomedicine and diminishes therapeutic efficacy. Fibrosis is characterized by an abnormal organization of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, namely the abnormal deposition and/or orientation of collagen and fibronectin. Abnormal ECM organization is chiefly driven by pathological signaling in pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), the main cell type involved in fibrogenesis. However, whether targeting signaling pathways involved in abnormal ECM organization improves the intratumoral penetration of nanomedicines is unknown. Here, we show that targeting transforming growth factor-ß (TGFß)/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) 1/2 signaling in PSCs normalizes ECM organization and concomitantly improves macromolecular permeability of the fibrotic stroma. Using a 3-dimensional cell culture model of the fibrotic pancreatic cancer microenvironment, we found that pharmacological inhibition of TGFß or ROCK1/2 improves the permeation of various macromolecules. By using an isoform-specific pharmacological inhibitor and siRNAs, we show that targeting ROCK2, but not ROCK1, alone is sufficient to normalize ECM organization and improve macromolecular permeability. Moreover, we found that ROCK2 inhibition/knockdown attenuates Yes-associated protein (YAP) nuclear localization in fibroblasts co-cultured with pancreatic cancer cells in 3D. Finally, pharmacological inhibition or siRNA-mediated knockdown of YAP normalized ECM organization and improved macromolecular permeability. Our results together suggest that the TGFß/ROCK2/YAP signaling axis may be therapeutically targeted to normalize ECM organization and improve macromolecular permeability to augment therapeutic efficacy of nanomedicines in pancreatic cancer.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Neoplasias Pancreáticas
/
Permeabilidad
/
Factor de Crecimiento Transformador beta
/
Quinasas Asociadas a rho
/
Células Estrelladas Pancreáticas
/
Microambiente Tumoral
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Control Release
Asunto de la revista:
FARMACOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Japón