Krüppel-like factor 10 modulates stem cell phenotypes of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by transcriptionally regulating notch receptors.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is well known for its rapid distant metastasis and local destructive behavior. Loss of Krüppel-like factor 10 (KLF10) contributes to distant migration of PDAC. The role of KLF10 in modulating tumorigenesis and stem cell phenotypes of PDAC is unclear. METHODS: Additional depletion of KLF10 in KC (LSL: KrasG12D; Pdx1-Cre) mice, a spontaneous murine PDAC model, was established to evaluate tumorigenesis. Tumor specimens of PDAC patients were immune-stained of KLF10 to correlate with local recurrence after curative resection. Conditional overexpressing KLF10 in MiaPaCa and stably depleting KLF10 in Panc-1 (Panc-1-pLKO-shKLF10) cells were established for evaluating sphere formation, stem cell markers expression and tumor growth. The signal pathways modulated by KLF10 for PDAC stem cell phenotypes were disclosed by microarray analysis and validated by western blot, qRT-PCR, luciferase reporter assay. Candidate targets to reverse PDAC tumor growth were demonstrated in murine model. RESULTS: KLF10, deficient in two-thirds of 105 patients with resected pancreatic PDAC, was associated with rapid local recurrence and large tumor size. Additional KLF10 depletion in KC mice accelerated progression from pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia to PDAC. Increased sphere formation, expression of stem cell markers, and tumor growth were observed in Panc-1-pLKO-shKLF10 compared with vector control. Genetically or pharmacologically overexpression of KLF10 reversed the stem cell phenotypes induced by KLF10 depletion. Ingenuity pathway analysis and gene set enrichment analysis showed that Notch signaling molecules, including Notch receptors 3 and 4, were over-expressed in Panc-1-pLKO-shKLF10. KLF10 transcriptionally suppressed Notch-3 and -4 by competing with E74-like ETS transcription factor 3, a positive regulator, for promoter binding. Downregulation of Notch signaling, either genetically or pharmacologically, ameliorated the stem cell phenotypes of Panc-1-pLKO-shKLF10. The combination of metformin, which upregulated KLF10 expression via phosphorylating AMPK, and evodiamine, a non-toxic Notch-3 methylation stimulator, delayed tumor growth of PDAC with KLF10 deficiency in mice without prominent toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated a novel signaling pathway by which KLF10 modulates stem cell phenotypes in PDAC through transcriptionally regulating Notch signaling pathway. The elevation of KLF10 and suppression of Notch signaling may jointly reduce PDAC tumorigenesis and malignant progression.

Screening and identification of emodin as an EBV DNase inhibitor to prevent its biological functions.

BACKGROUND: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a prevalent oncovirus associated with a variety of human illnesses. BGLF5, an EBV DNase with alkaline nuclease (AN) activity, plays important roles in the viral life cycle and progression of human malignancies and has been suggested as a possible diagnostic marker and target for cancer therapy. Methods used conventionally for the detection of AN activity, radioactivity-based nuclease activity assay and DNA digestion detection by gel electrophoresis, are not suitable for screening AN inhibitors; the former approach is unsafe, and the latter is complicated. In the present study, a fluorescence-based nuclease activity assay was used to screen several natural compounds and identify an EBV DNase inhibitor. RESULTS: Fluorescence-based nuclease activity assays, in which the DNA substrate is labelled with PicoGreen dye, are cheaper, safer, and easier to perform. Herein, the results of the fluorescence-based nuclease activity assay were consistent with the results of the two conventional methods. In addition, the PicoGreen-labelling method was applied for the biochemical characterisation of viral nucleases. Using this approach, we explored EBV DNase inhibitors. After several rounds of screening, emodin, an anthraquinone derivative, was found to possess significant anti-EBV DNase activity. We verified the efficacy of emodin using the conventional DNA-cleavage assay. Furthermore, using comet assay and micronucleus formation detection, we confirmed that emodin can inhibit DNase-induced DNA damage and genomic instability. Additionally, emodin treatment inhibited EBV production. CONCLUSIONS: Using a PicoGreen-mediated nuclease activity assay, we successfully demonstrated that emodin has the potential to inhibit EBV DNase nuclease activity. Emodin also inhibits EBV DNase-related biological functions, suggesting that it is a potential inhibitor of EBV DNase.

The endothelin-integrin axis is involved in macrophage-induced breast cancer cell chemotactic interactions with endothelial cells.

Elevated macrophage infiltration in tumor tissues is associated with breast cancer metastasis. Cancer cell migration/invasion toward angiogenic microvasculature is a key step in metastatic spread. We therefore studied how macrophages stimulated breast cancer cell interactions with endothelial cells. Macrophages produced cytokines, such as interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α, to stimulate endothelin (ET) and ET receptor (ETR) expression in breast cancer cells and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). ET-1 was induced to a greater extent from HUVECs than from breast cancer cells, resulting in a density difference that facilitated cancer cell chemotaxis toward HUVECs. Macrophages also stimulated breast cancer cell adhesion to HUVECs and transendothelial migration, which were repressed by ET-1 antibody or ETR inhibitors. The ET axis induced integrins, such as αV and ß1, and their counterligands, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-2 and P-selectin, in breast cancer cells and HUVECs, and antibodies against these integrins efficiently suppressed macrophage-stimulated breast cancer cell interactions with HUVECs. ET-1 induced Ets-like kinase-1 (Elk-1), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) phosphorylation in breast cancer cells. The use of inhibitors to prevent their phosphorylation or ectopic overexpression of dominant-negative IκBα perturbed ET-1-induced integrin αV and integrin ß1 expression. The physical associations of these three transcriptional factors with the gene promoters of the two integrins were furthermore evidenced by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Finally, our mouse orthotopic tumor model revealed an ET axis-mediated lung metastasis of macrophage-stimulated breast cancer cells, suggesting that the ET axis was involved in macrophage-enhanced breast cancer cell endothelial interactions.

Oestrogen-induced angiogenesis promotes adenomyosis by activating the Slug-VEGF axis in endometrial epithelial cells.

Adenomyosis is an oestrogen-dependent disease characterized by the invasion of endometrial epithelial cells into the myometrium of uterus, and angiogenesis is thought to be required for the implantation of endometrial glandular tissues during the adenomyotic pathogenesis. In this study, we demonstrate that compared with eutopic endometria, adenomyotic lesions exhibited increased vascularity as detected by sonography. Microscopically, the lesions also exhibited an oestrogen-associated elevation of microvascular density and VEGF expression in endometrial epithelial cells. We previously reported that oestrogen-induced Slug expression was critical for endometrial epithelial-mesenchymal transition and development of adenomyosis. Our present studies demonstrated that estradiol (E2) elicited a Slug-VEGF axis in endometrial epithelial cells, and also induced pro-angiogenic activity in vascular endothelial cells. The antagonizing agents against E2 or VEGF suppressed endothelial cells migration and tubal formation. Animal experiments furthermore confirmed that blockage of E2 or VEGF was efficient to attenuate the implantation of adenomyotic lesions. These results highlight the importance of oestrogen-induced angiogenesis in adenomyosis development and provide a potential strategy for treating adenomyosis through intercepting the E2-Slug-VEGF pathway.

Secreted heat shock protein 90α (HSP90α) induces nuclear factor-κB-mediated TCF12 protein expression to down-regulate E-cadherin and to enhance colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion.

Secreted levels of HSP90α and overexpression of TCF12 have been associated with the enhancement of colorectal cancer (CRC) cell migration and invasion. In this study, we observed that CRC patients with tumor TCF12 overexpression exhibited both a higher rate of metastatic occurrence and a higher average serum HSP90α level compared with patients without TCF12 overexpression. Therefore, we studied the relationship between the actions of secreted HSP90α and TCF12. Like overexpressed TCF12, secreted HSP90α or recombinant HSP90α (rHSP90α) induced fibronectin expression and repressed E-cadherin, connexin-26, connexin-43, and gap junction levels in CRC cells. Consistently, rHSP90α stimulated invasive outgrowths of CRC cells from spherical structures during three-dimensional culture. rHSP90α also induced TCF12 expression in CRC cells. Its effects on CRC cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion were drastically prevented when TCF12 was knocked down. This suggests that TCF12 expression is required for secreted HSP90α to enhance CRC cell spreading. Through the cellular receptor CD91, rHSP90α facilitated the complex formation of CD91 with IκB kinases (IKKs) α and ß and increased the levels of phosphorylated (active) IKKα/ß and NF-κB. Use of an IKKα/ß inhibitor or ectopic overexpression of dominant-negative IκBα efficiently repressed rHSP90α-induced TCF12 expression. Moreover, κB motifs were recognized in the gene sequence of the TCF12 promoter, and a physical association between NF-κB and the TCF12 promoter was detected in rHSP90α-treated CRC cells. Together, these results suggest that the CD91/IKK/NF-κB signaling cascade is involved in secreted HSP90α-induced TCF12 expression, leading to E-cadherin down-regulation and enhanced CRC cell migration/invasion.

Epstein-Barr Virus BRLF1 Induces PD-L1 Expression in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a specific human malignancy with unique geographic distribution and genetic backgrounds. Although early treatment with radio-chemotherapy has been proven effective for NPC therapy, its therapeutic efficacy substantially diminishes in the late stages of this malignancy. In the tumor microenvironment of NPC, PD-L1 has been demonstrated as a critical factor in impairing T cell activation. As an etiological role for NPC development, it is found that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent proteins upregulated PD-L1 expression. However, whether EBV lytic protein affects PD-L1 expression remains unclear. In this study, through monitoring the mRNA expression pattern of lytic genes and PD-L1 in EBV-positive NPC cell line NA, EBV immediately-early gene BRLF1(Rta) was found to have the potential for PD-L1 activation. Furthermore, we identified that Rta expression enhanced PD-L1 expression in mRNA and protein levels through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analysis. The luciferase reporter assay revealed that Rta expression enhanced PD-L1 promoter activity. We also demonstrated that Rta-induced PD-L1 expressions could impair interleukin 2 secretion of T cells, and this mechanism may be through ERK activation. These results displayed the importance of EBV Rta in PD-L1 expression in NPC and may give an alternative target for NPC therapy.

TCF12 protein functions as transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin, and its overexpression is correlated with metastasis of colorectal cancer.

A correlation of TCF12 mRNA overexpression with colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis was suggested by microarray data and validated by the survey of 120 patients. Thirty-three (27.5%) of the 120 patients showed tumor TCF12 mRNA overexpression and had a higher rate of metastatic occurrence (p = 0.020) and a poorer survival outcome (p = 0.014). Abundant TCF12 levels were also observed in human CRC cell lines such as SW620 and LoVo, but a relatively low level was detected in SW480 cells. Knockdown of TCF12 expression in SW620 and LoVo cells drastically reduced their activities of migration, invasion, and metastasis. Tight cell-cell contact and an increase in E-cadherin but a concomitant decrease in fibronectin were observed in TCF12-knockdown cells. Connexin 26, connexin 43, and gap-junction activity were also increased upon TCF12-knockdown. In contrast, ectopic TCF12 overexpression in SW480 cells facilitated fibronectin expression and cell migration and invasion activities but diminished cellular levels of E-cadherin, connexin 26, connexin 43, and gap junction. A physical association of TCF12 with the E-cadherin promoter was evidenced by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. TCF12 was tightly correlated with cellular expression of Bmi1 and EZH2 and was co-immunoprecipitable with Bmi1 and EZH2, suggesting that TCF12 transcriptionally suppressed E-cadherin expression via polycomb group-repressive complexes. Clinically, TCF12 mRNA overexpression was also correlated with E-cadherin mRNA down-regulation in the tumor tissues of our 120 patients (p = 0.013). These studies suggested that TCF12 functioned as a transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin and its overexpression was significantly correlated with the occurrence of CRC metastasis.

Extracellular HSP90α Induces MyD88-IRAK Complex-Associated IKKα/ß-NF-κB/IRF3 and JAK2/TYK2-STAT-3 Signaling in Macrophages for Tumor-Promoting M2-Polarization.

M2-polarization and the tumoricidal to tumor-promoting transition are commonly observed with tumor-infiltrating macrophages after interplay with cancer cells or/and other stroma cells. Our previous study indicated that macrophage M2-polarization can be induced by extracellular HSP90α (eHSP90α) secreted from endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts. To extend the finding, we herein validated that eHSP90α-induced M2-polarized macrophages exhibited a tumor-promoting activity and the promoted tumor tissues had significant increases in microvascular density but decreases in CD4+ T-cell level. We further investigated the signaling pathways occurring in eHSP90α-stimulated macrophages. When macrophages were exposed to eHSP90α, CD91 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) functioned as the receptor/co-receptor for eHSP90α binding to recruit interleukin (IL)-1 receptor-associated kinases (IRAKs) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and next elicited a canonical CD91/MyD88-IRAK1/4-IκB kinase α/ß (IKKα/ß)-nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) signaling pathway. Despite TLR4-MyD88 complex-associated activations of IKKα/ß, NF-κB and IRF3 being well-known as involved in macrophage M1-activation, our results demonstrated that the CD91-TLR4-MyD88 complex-associated IRAK1/4-IKKα/ß-NF-κB/IRF3 pathway was not only directly involved in M2-associated CD163, CD204, and IL-10 gene expressions but also required for downregulation of M1 inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) were recruited onto MyD88 to induce the phosphorylation and activation of the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3). The JAK2/TYK2-STAT-3 signaling is known to associate with tumor promotion. In this study, the MyD88-JAK2/TYK2-STAT-3 pathway was demonstrated to contribute to eHSP90α-induced macrophage M2-polarization by regulating the expressions of M1- and M2-related genes, proangiogenic protein vascular endothelial growth factor, and phagocytosis-interfering factor Sec22b.

Secreted heat shock protein 90alpha induces colorectal cancer cell invasion through CD91/LRP-1 and NF-kappaB-mediated integrin alphaV expression.

HCT-8 colon cancer cells secreted heat shock protein 90alpha (HSP90alpha) and had increased invasiveness upon serum starvation. The concentrated conditioned medium of serum-starved HCT-8 cells was able to stimulate the migration and invasion of non-serum-starved cells, which could be prevented by treatment with an anti-HSP90alpha antibody. Recombinant HSP90alpha (rHSP90alpha) also enhanced HCT-8 cell migration and invasion, suggesting a stimulatory role of secreted HSP90alpha in cancer malignancy. HSP90alpha binding to CD91alpha and Neu was evidenced by the proximity ligation assay, and rHSP90alpha-induced HCT-8 cell invasion could be suppressed by the addition of anti-CD91alpha or anti-Neu antibodies. Via CD91alpha and Neu, rHSP90alpha selectively induced integrin alpha(V) expression, and knockdown of integrin alpha(V) efficiently blocked rHSP90alpha-induced HCT-8 cell invasion. rHSP90alpha induced the activities of ERK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-kappaB p65, but only NF-kappaB activation was involved in HSP90alpha-induced integrin alpha(V) expression. Additionally, we investigated the serum levels of HSP90alpha and the expression status of tumor integrin alpha(V) mRNA in colorectal cancer patients. Serum HSP90alpha levels of colorectal cancer patients were significantly higher than those of normal volunteers (p < 0.001). Patients with higher serum HSP90alpha levels significantly exhibited elevated levels of integrin alpha(V) mRNA in tumor tissues as compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues (p < 0.001). Furthermore, tumor integrin alpha(V) overexpression was significantly correlated with TNM (Tumor, Node, Metastasis) staging (p = 0.001).

Modulation of the development of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells by lithium chloride.

Lithium has been used or explored to treat psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases that are frequently associated with an abnormal immune status. It is likely that lithium may work through modulation of immune responses in these patients. Because dendritic cells (DC) play a central role in regulating immune responses, this study investigated the influence of lithium chloride (LiCl) on the development and function of DC. Exposure to LiCl during the differentiation of human monocyte-derived immature DCs (iDC) enhances CD86 and CD83 expression and increases the production of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α. However, the presence of LiCl during LPS-induced maturation of iDC has the opposite effect. During iDC differentiation, LiCl suppresses the activity of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3ß, and activates PI3K and MEK. In addition, LiCl activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) during iDC differentiation, a pathway not described before. Each of these signaling pathways appears to have distinct impact on the differentiating iDC. The enhanced CD86 expression by LiCl involves the PI3K/AKT and GSK-3ß pathway. LiCl modulates the expression of CD83 in iDC mainly through MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, and PPARγ pathways, while the increased production of IL-1ß and TNF-α mainly involves the MEK/ERK pathway. The effect of LiCl on IL-6/IL-8/IL-10 secretion in iDC is mediated through inhibition of GSK-3ß. We have also demonstrated that PPARγ is downstream of GSK-3ß and is responsible for the LiCl-mediated modulation of CD86/83 and CD1 expression, but not IL-6/8/10 secretion. The combined influence of these molecular signaling pathways may account for certain clinical effect of lithium.

Identification of heat shock protein 90α as an IMH-2 epitope-associated protein and correlation of its mRNA overexpression with colorectal cancer metastasis and poor prognosis.

PURPOSE: We studied whether HSP90α was associated with the special carbohydrate structures IMH-2 epitopes, and investigated its mRNA expression and clinical relevance in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. METHODS: The lysates and the culture media of colon cancer HCT-8 cells were immunoprecipitated with IMH-2 antibody, and the immunoprecipitates were subsequently analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry or by immunoblotting with anti-HSP90α antibody. In vitro wound-healing assay was done to evaluate the role of IMH-2 epitope-associated HSP90α in HCT-8 cell migration. Real-time RT-PCR was performed to detect the levels of HSP90α mRNA expression in paired tumor and non-tumor tissues of 56 CRC patients. The correlation of tumor HSP90α mRNA overexpression with CRC metastasis and poor survival outcome was determined by statistical analyses. RESULTS: HSP90α was first identified as an IMH-2 epitope-associated protein by immunoprecipiation, mass spectrometry, and immunoblotting analysis. IMH-2 epitopes were detected in both cellular and secreted HSP90α. HCT-8 cell migration induced by serum starvation-conditioned medium was blocked by anti-HSP90α antibody or the HSP90α inhibitor geldanamycin (GA) as efficient as by IMH-2 antibody, suggesting that IMH-2-associated HSP90α was involved in serum starvation-induced CRC cell migration. On the other hand, HSP90α mRNA expression was induced in HCT-8 cells after serum starvation. Clinically, 15 (26.8%) of 56 CRC patients exhibited tumor HSP90α mRNA overexpression and had higher rates of metastatic occurrence (P = 0.003) and poor prognosis (P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: HSP90α was an IMH-2 epitope-associated protein. Tumor HSP90α overexpression was correlated with the metastasis and poor prognosis of CRC patients.

Biochemical characterization of an acid phosphatase from Thermus thermophilus.

A recombinant putative acid phosphatase from Thermus thermophilus was expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. The recombinant phosphatase displayed activities in a broad range of temperature, from 40 to 90 degrees C, with optimal temperature at 70 degrees C. In addition, the recombinant enzyme had activities in a wide range of pH, from 3.6 to 9.1, with optimal pH at 6 in acetate buffer and with optimal pH at 6.5 in Hepes buffer. Furthermore, it showed significant thermal stability and still possessed 44% residual activity after 70 degrees C treatment for 15 min. Moreover, the recombinant phosphatase showed broad substrates specificities for monophosphate esters, p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) being the most preferred substrate, and it was able to resist inhibition by sodium tartrate. Additionally, the recombinant protein formed stable oligomer under partially denatured conditions and required calcium ions for enzymic activity.

Octyl Gallate Induces Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Apoptosis and Suppresses Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Promoted M2-Macrophages, HSP90α Secretion, and Tumor Growth.

Octyl gallate (OG) is a common antioxidant and preservative safely used in food additive and cosmetics. In this study, OG exhibited an activity to induce apoptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. It induced BNIP3L level and facilitated physical associations of BNIP3L with Bcl-2 as well as Bcl-XL to set the mitochondrial Bax/Bak channels free for cytochrome c release. In addition, in vivo evaluation also showed that daily oral administration of OG was efficacious to prevent the tumor growth of PDAC cell grafts. Considering PDAC is a desmoplastic tumor consisting of many cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), we further evaluated the efficacy of OG in a CAFs-involved PDAC mouse model. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) is an important source of CAFs. The mix of EndoMT-derived CAFs with PDAC cell grafts significantly recruited myeloid-derived macrophages but prevented immune T cells. HSP90α secreted by EndoMT-derived CAFs further induced macrophage M2-polarization and more HSP90α secretion to expedite PDAC tumor growth. OG exhibited its potent efficacy against the tumor growth, M2-macrophages, and serum HSP90α level in the EndoMT-involved PDAC mouse model. CD91 and TLR4 are cell-surface receptors for extracellular HSP90α (eHSP90α). OG blocked eHSP90α-TLR4 ligation and, thus, prevented eHSP90α-induced M2-macrophages and more HSP90α secretion from macrophages and PDAC cells.

Endothelial-mesenchymal transition harnesses HSP90α-secreting M2-macrophages to exacerbate pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) can provide a source of cancer-associated fibroblasts which contribute to desmoplasia of many malignancies including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We investigated the clinical relevance of EndoMT in PDAC, and explored its underlying mechanism and therapeutic implication. METHODS: Expression levels of 29 long non-coding RNAs were analyzed from the cells undergoing EndoMT, and an EndoMT index was proposed to survey its clinical associations in the PDAC patients of The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The observed clinical correlation was further confirmed by a mouse model inoculated with EndoMT cells-involved PDAC cell grafts. In vitro co-culture with EndoMT cells or treatment with the conditioned medium were performed to explore the underlying mechanism. Because secreted HSP90α was involved, anti-HSP90α antibody was evaluated for its inhibitory efficacy against the EndoMT-involved PDAC tumor. RESULTS: A combination of low expressions of LOC340340, LOC101927256, and MNX1-AS1 was used as an EndoMT index. The clinical PDAC tissues with positive EndoMT index were significantly correlated with T4-staging and showed positive for M2-macrophage index. Our mouse model and in vitro cell-culture experiments revealed that HSP90α secreted by EndoMT cells could induce macrophage M2-polarization and more HSP90α secretion to promote PDAC tumor growth. Furthermore, anti-HSP90α antibody showed a potent therapeutic efficacy against the EndoMT and M2-macrophages-involved PDAC tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: EndoMT cells can secrete HSP90α to harness HSP90α-overproducing M2-type macrophages to promote PDAC tumor growth, and such effect can be targeted and abolished by anti-HSP90α antibody.

Osteopontin-integrin engagement induces HIF-1α-TCF12-mediated endothelial-mesenchymal transition to exacerbate colorectal cancer.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multi-functional phospho-glycoprotein that can stimulate angiogenesis through acting on endothelial cells. As angiogenic sprouting involves endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), we are intrigued to know whether OPN exerts an effect on EndoMT. Clinically, we indeed detected EndoMT-derived cells next to OPN-expressing cells in colorectal cancer tissues. Furthermore, we treated OPN to primary cultures of endothelial cells to investigate the EndoMT-inducing activity and the underlying mechanisms. Integrin αVß3 rather than CD44 is involved in OPN-induced EndoMT. OPN-integrin αVß3 engagement induces HIF-1α expression through a PI3K/Akt/TSC2-mediated and mTORC1-dependent protein synthesis pathway, which in turn trans-activates TCF12 gene expression. TCF12 further interacts with EZH2 and histone deacetylases to transcriptionally repress VE-cadherin gene and thus facilitates EndoMT. Like cancer-associated fibroblasts, EndoMT-derived cells promote tumor growth and metastasis by secreting certain proteins. Secreted HSP90α is a candidate suggested by microwestern array assay, and is herein verified to induce stemness properties in colorectal cancer cells. As OPN is overexpressed in human cancers, OPN-induced EndoMT and EndoMT-derived cells can be potentially taken as cancer therapeutic targets.

Myeloid-derived macrophages and secreted HSP90α induce pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma development.

We detected a significant elevation of serum HSP90α levels in pancreatitis patients and even more in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. However, there was no significant difference in the serum HSP90α levels between patients with early-stage and late-stage PDAC. To study whether elevation of serum HSP90α levels occurred early during PDAC development, we used LSL-KrasG12D/Pdx1-Cre transgenic mice as a studying model. Elevated serum HSP90α levels were detected before PDAC formation and an extracellular HSP90α (eHSP90α) inhibitor effectively prevented PDAC development. Both serum HSP90α level and pancreatic lesion were suppressed when the mice were administered a CD11b-antagonizing antibody, suggesting that CD11b+-myeloid cells were associated with eHSP90α levels and pancreatic carcinogenesis. Consistently, in CD11b-DTR-EGFP transgenic mouse model with CD11b+-myeloid cells depletion, serum HSP90α levels were suppressed and Panc-02 cell grafts failed to develop tumors. Macrophages and granulocytes are two common tissue-infiltrating CD11b+-myeloid cells. Duplex in situ hybridization assays suggested that macrophages were predominant HSP90α-expressing CD11b+-myeloid cells during PDAC development. Immunohistochemical and immunohistofluorescent staining results revealed that HSP90α-expressing cells included not only macrophages but also pancreatic ductal epithelial (PDE) cells. Cell culture studies also indicated that eHSP90α could be produced by macrophages and macrophage-stimulated PDE cells. Macrophages not only secreted significant amount of HSP90α, but also secreted interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 to induce a JAK2-STAT3 signaling axis in PDE cells, stimulating them to express and secrete HSP90α. eHSP90α further promoted cellular epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion in PDE cells. Besides myeloid cells, eHSP90α can be potentially taken as a target to suppress PDAC pathogenesis.

Tumor beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase IV overexpression is closely associated with colorectal cancer metastasis and poor prognosis.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the significance of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase IV (beta-1,4-GT-IV) in the clinical presentation and prognostication of colorectal cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Tissue lysates from paired tumor and nontumor tissues of a colon cancer patient were labeled separately with fluorescent dyes Cy5 and Cy3 for two-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis. Subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and immunoblot analyses identified a down-regulated level of beta-1,4-GT-IV in the tumor tissue. In the follow-up study, paired tissue lysates were obtained from 100 colorectal cancer patients with immunoblot analyses done to compare the levels of beta-1,4-GT-IV expression in these patients. RESULTS: Of 100 colorectal patients studied, 48% had down-regulated expression of beta-1,4-GT-IV in the tumor tissue but 28% of patients exhibited elevated beta-1,4-GT-IV levels. Increased beta-1,4-GT-IV in the tumor tissue was significantly coexistent with raised serum level of CA-199 and the presence of tumor metastasis (P=0.006 and P<0.001, respectively) but was independent of age and gender of patient, tumor site, tumor size, serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen, grade of tumor cell differentiation, and depth of tumor invasion. The results of logistic regression analyses suggested that tumor beta-1,4-GT-IV overexpression and tumor invasion, but not other patient variables such as tumor size and serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9, were significantly correlated with the occurrence of metastases (P<0.05). In a multivariate regression analysis, the patient group with tumor beta-1,4-GT-IV overexpression strongly predicted for tumor metastasis (odds ratio, 10.009; 95% confidence interval, 2.992-33.484; P<0.001). Likewise, tumor beta-1,4-GT-IV overexpression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (P<0.01). By Cox regression analysis, this association remained significant even after adjustment for tumor metastasis (P=0.048). CONCLUSION: Increased beta-1,4-GT-IV expression in tumor tissue was strongly associated with tumor metastases and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Bone marrow derived macrophages fuse with intestine stromal cells and contribute to chronic fibrosis after radiation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDC) have been demonstrated to play a critical role in intestine regeneration. However, organ fibrosis was one of the major side effects of bone marrow (BM) transplantation. It warrants further investigation on the mechanisms of BM cell therapy in radiation induced intestine damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established three murine models to evaluate BMDC within intestines after radiation, including cre-loxP system of transgenic mice. In vitro co-culture between murine BM with human intestine stromal cells was also performed to measure the level of fusion and fibrosis after treatment with anti-fibrotic agents or after macrophage depletion. RESULTS: Despite complete recovery of epithelial mucosa from radiation damage, we found persistent proliferation and repopulation of BMDC within the lamina propria. Fusion between BM derived monocytic and intestine stromal cells correlated with the level of fibrosis and proliferation index. Depleting macrophages genetically using CD11b-DTR mouse model or pharmacologically using clodronate liposome reduced the level of cell fusion and intestine fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrotic cues from intestine enhance fusion between BM-derived monocytes/macrophages with intestine stromal cells. The fusion hybrids promote cell cycle re-entry, proliferation and reinforce fibrosis signal. Depleting macrophages interferes with cell fusion and ameliorates radiation-induced intestine fibrosis.

Novel rapid tissue lysis method to evaluate cancer proteins: correlation between elevated Bcl-X(L) expression and colorectal cancer cell proliferation.

AIM: We optimized a rapid and efficient tissue lysis method using the MagNA Lyser (Roche, Germany). Using this novel method combined with immunoblot analysis, we investigated the correlation between abnormal Bcl-X(L) expression and clinicopathological characteristics in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Tissue samples from Sprague-Dawley rats were tested to determine optimal lysis conditions for use with MagNA Lyser. We next used the new method to extract tissue proteins from the tumor tissue of a colorectal cancer patient. The availability of extractable tissue proteins for proteomic study was demonstrated by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. In addition, we prepared tissue lysates from paired tumor tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues of 50 colorectal carcinoma patients. Ensuing immunoblot analyses were performed to detect the level of Bcl-X(L) expression. RESULTS: The optimal sample sizes processed were found to be around 200 mg, with oscillation frequency of 6500 r/min for 80 s. Test of the first human tissue lysate confirmed that the MagNA Lyser method was adequate for protein extraction and subsequent identification by current proteomic protocols. The method was also applicable to immunoblot analysis. Thirty of 50 (60%) colorectal patients exhibited higher level of Bcl-X(L) expression in their tumor tissues. Raised level of Bcl-X(L) expression correlated with patients' gender and tumor cell proliferation index (P = 0.037 and P<0.001, respectively), but was independent of clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival. CONCLUSION: We report a novel tissue lysis method applicable to proteomic and immunoblot analyses, which can facilitate the discovery and detection of cancer protein alterations.

Elevated level of spindle checkprotein MAD2 correlates with cellular mitotic arrest, but not with aneuploidy and clinicopathological characteristics in gastric cancer.

AIM: To study the relevance of spindle assembly checkprotein MAD2 to cellular mitotic status, aneuploidy and other clinicopathological characteristics in gastric cancer. METHODS: Western blot analyses were performed to analyze the protein levels of MAD2 and cyclin B1 in the tumorous and adjacent nontumorous tissues of 34 gastric cancer patients. Cell cycle distribution and DNA ploidy of cancer tissues were also determined by flow cytometry. Conventional statistical methods were adopted to determine the relevance of abnormal MAD2 level to mitotic status, aneuploidy and clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: Out of 34 gastric cancer patients 25 (74%) exhibited elevated MAD2 levels in their tumorous tissues compared with the corresponding nontumorous tissues. Elevation of MAD2 levels significantly correlated with the increased levels of cyclin B1 expression and G(2)/M-phase distribution (P = 0.038 and P = 0.033, respectively), but was not relevant to aneuploidy. The gastric cancer patients with elevated MAD2 levels showed a tendency toward better disease-free and overall survival (P>0.05). However, no association was found between elevated MAD2 levels and patients' clinicopathological characteristics. CONCLUSION: Elevation of MAD2 level is present in 74% of gastric cancer patients, and correlates with increased mitotic checkpoint activity. However, elevation of MAD2 level is not associated with patients' aneuploidy and any of the clinicopathological characteristics.