Senescent CAFs mediate immunosuppression and drive breast cancer progression.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) profoundly influences tumorigenesis, with gene expression in the breast TME capable of predicting clinical outcomes. The TME is complex and includes distinct cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtypes whose contribution to tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here, we identify a subset of myofibroblast cancer associated fibroblasts (myCAF) that are senescent (senCAF) in mouse and human breast tumors. Utilizing the MMTV-PyMT;INK-ATTAC (INK) mouse model, we found that senCAF-secreted extracellular matrix specifically limits natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity to promote tumor growth. Genetic or pharmacologic senCAF elimination unleashes NK cell killing, restricting tumor growth. Finally, we show that senCAFs are present in Her2+, ER+, and triple negative breast cancer and in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) where they predict tumor recurrence. Together, these findings demonstrate that senCAFs are potently tumor promoting and raise the possibility that targeting them by senolytic therapy could restrain breast cancer development.

ROR2/Wnt5a Signaling Regulates Directional Cell Migration and Early Tumor Cell Invasion in Ovarian Cancer.

Adhesion to and clearance of the mesothelial monolayer are key early events in metastatic seeding of ovarian cancer. ROR2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that interacts with Wnt5a ligand to activate noncanonical Wnt signaling and has been previously shown to be upregulated in ovarian cancer tissue. However, no prior study has evaluated the mechanistic role of ROR2 in ovarian cancer. Through a cellular high-throughput genetic screen, we independently identified ROR2 as a driver of ovarian tumor cell adhesion and invasion. ROR2 expression in ovarian tumor cells serves to drive directed cell migration preferentially toward areas of high Wnt5a ligand, such as the mesothelial lined omentum. In addition, ROR2 promotes ovarian tumor cell adhesion and clearance of a mesothelial monolayer. Depletion of ROR2, in tumor cells, reduces metastatic tumor burden in a syngeneic model of ovarian cancer. These findings support the role of ROR2 in ovarian tumor cells as a critical factor contributing to the early steps of metastasis. Therapeutic targeting of the ROR2/Wnt5a signaling axis could provide a means of improving treatment for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. IMPLICATIONS: This study demonstrates that ROR2 in ovarian cancer cells is important for directed migration to the metastatic niche and provides a potential signaling axis of interest for therapeutic targeting in ovarian cancer.

Functional analysis of recurrent CDC20 promoter variants in human melanoma.

Small nucleotide variants in non-coding regions of the genome can alter transcriptional regulation, leading to changes in gene expression which can activate oncogenic gene regulatory networks. Melanoma is heavily burdened by non-coding variants, representing over 99% of total genetic variation, including the well-characterized TERT promoter mutation. However, the compendium of regulatory non-coding variants is likely still functionally under-characterized. We developed a pipeline to identify hotspots, i.e. recurrently mutated regions, in melanoma containing putatively functional non-coding somatic variants that are located within predicted melanoma-specific regulatory regions. We identified hundreds of statistically significant hotspots, including the hotspot containing the TERT promoter variants, and focused on a hotspot in the promoter of CDC20. We found that variants in the promoter of CDC20, which putatively disrupt an ETS motif, lead to lower transcriptional activity in reporter assays. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated an indel in the CDC20 promoter in human A375 melanoma cell lines and observed decreased expression of CDC20, changes in migration capabilities, increased growth of xenografts, and an altered transcriptional state previously associated with a more proliferative and less migratory state. Overall, our analysis prioritized several recurrent functional non-coding variants that, through downregulation of CDC20, led to perturbation of key melanoma phenotypes.

Targeting Neutrophil Adhesive Events to Address Vaso-Occlusive Crisis in Sickle Cell Patients.

Neutrophils are essential to protect the host against invading pathogens but can promote disease progression in sickle cell disease (SCD) by becoming adherent to inflamed microvascular networks in peripheral tissue throughout the body. During the inflammatory response, leukocytes extravasate from the bloodstream using selectin adhesion molecules and migrate to sites of tissue insult through activation of integrins that are essential for combating pathogens. However, during vaso-occlusion associated with SCD, neutrophils are activated during tethering and rolling on selectins upregulated on activated endothelium that line blood vessels. Recently, we reported that recognition of sLex on L-selectin by E-selectin during neutrophil rolling initiates shear force resistant catch-bonds that facilitate tethering to endothelium and activation of integrin bond clusters that anchor cells to the vessel wall. Evidence indicates that blocking this important signaling cascade prevents the congestion and ischemia in microvasculature that occurs from neutrophil capture of sickled red blood cells, which are normally deformable ellipses that flow easily through small blood vessels. Two recently completed clinical trials of therapies targeting selectins and their effect on neutrophil activation in small blood vessels reveal the importance of mechanoregulation that in health is an immune adaption facilitating rapid and proportional leukocyte adhesion, while sustaining tissue perfusion. We provide a timely perspective on the mechanism underlying vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) with a focus on new drugs that target selectin mediated integrin adhesive bond formation.

Tensile force transmitted through LFA-1 bonds mechanoregulate neutrophil inflammatory response.

Recruitment of leukocytes to sites of acute inflammation is guided by spatial and temporal cues that ensure appropriate cell numbers infiltrate the tissue at precise locations to protect it from infection and initiate repair. On inflamed endothelium, neutrophil rolling via selectins elicits cytosolic calcium release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stores that are synergistic with chemokine signaling to activate formation of high affinity (HA) LFA-1 bonds to ICAM-1, which is necessary to anchor cells against the drag force of blood flow. Bond tension on LFA-1 within the area of adhesive contact with endothelium elicits calcium entry through calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 (Orai-1) membrane channels that in turn activate neutrophil shape change and migration. We hypothesized that mechanotransduction via LFA-1 is mediated by assembly of a cytosolic molecular complex consisting of Kindlin-3, receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1), and Orai1. Initiation of Ca2+ flux at sites of adhesive contact required a threshold level of shear stress and increased with the magnitude of bond tension transduced across as few as 200 HA LFA-1. A sequential mechanism triggered by force acting on LFA-1/Kindlin-3 precipitated dissociation of RACK1, which formed a concentration gradient above LFA-1 bond clusters. This directed translocation of ER proximal to Orai1, where binding of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type 1 and activation via stromal interaction molecule 1 elicited Ca flux and subsequent neutrophil shape change and motility. We conclude that neutrophils sense adhesive traction on LFA-1 bonds on a submicron scale to direct calcium influx, thereby ensuring sufficient shear stress of blood flow is present to trigger cell arrest and initiate transmigration at precise regions of vascular inflammation.

Kinky integrins reveal a new wrinkle in neutrophil activation.

Discussion on the flexible kink produced in the ß2 -integrin transmembrane domain blocking mechanotransduction of signals necessary for neutrophil arrest and spreading.

Selectin-Targeting Peptide-Glycosaminoglycan Conjugates Modulate Neutrophil-Endothelial Interactions.

INTRODUCTION: The glycocalyx is a layer of glycoproteins, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans that coats the luminal surface of most blood vessels. It effectively regulates adhesive interactions between leukocytes in flowing blood and the endothelium, where during inflammation, binding to E- and P-selectins and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) promotes cell tethering and arrest under shear flow. METHODS: In this study, we examine the targeting of E-selectin by an engineered peptide moiety bound to a dermatan sulfate backbone. We further investigate this conjugate, denoted as EC-SEAL, by observing its binding to inflamed endothelium, and quantifying its ability to modulate neutrophil-endothelium interactions. RESULTS: Binding data reveal that EC-SEAL recognizes domains on E-selectin, and to a lesser degree on P- and L-selectin, and ICAM-1. Further, EC-SEAL increases neutrophil rolling velocity, and decreases neutrophil arrest and migration on inflamed human microvascular endothelial cells under physiologically relevant flow conditions. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that simple targeting strategies can mimic glycocalyx function under inflammatory conditions, effectively reducing neutrophil recruitment.

Neutrophil Mechanosignaling Promotes Integrin Engagement With Endothelial Cells and Motility Within Inflamed Vessels.

Neutrophils are the most motile of mammalian cells, a feature that enables them to protect the host against the rapid spread of pathogens from tissue into the circulatory system. A critical process is the recruitment of neutrophils to inflamed endothelium within post-capillary venules. This occurs through cooperation between at least four families of adhesion molecules and G-protein coupled signaling receptors. These adhesion molecules convert the drag force induced by blood flow acting on the cell surface into bond tension that resists detachment. A common feature of selectin-glycoprotein tethering and integrin-ICAM bond formation is the mechanics by which force acting on these specific receptor-ligand pairs influences their longevity, strength, and topographic organization on the plasma membrane. Another distinctly mechanical aspect of neutrophil guidance is the capacity of adhesive bonds to convert external mechanical force into internal biochemical signals through the transmission of force from the outside-in at focal sites of adhesive traction on inflamed endothelium. Within this region of the plasma membrane, we denote the inflammatory synapse, Ca2+ release, and intracellular signaling provide directional cues that guide actin assembly and myosin driven motive force. This review provides an overview of how bond formation and outside-in signaling controls neutrophil recruitment and migration relative to the hydrodynamic shear force of blood flow.

Virtual Screening of Chemical Compounds for Discovery of Complement C3 Ligands.

The complement system is our first line of defense against foreign pathogens, but when it is not properly regulated, complement is implicated in the pathology of several autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Compstatin is a peptidic complement inhibitor that acts by blocking the cleavage of complement protein C3 to the proinflammatory fragment C3a and opsonin fragment C3b. In this study, we aim to identify druglike small-molecule complement inhibitors with physicochemical, geometric, and binding properties similar to those of compstatin. We employed two approaches using various high-throughput virtual screening methods, which incorporate molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, pharmacophore model design, energy calculations, and molecular docking and scoring. We have generated a library of 274 chemical compounds with computationally predicted binding affinities for the compstatin binding site of C3. We have tested subsets of these chemical compounds experimentally for complement inhibitory activity, using hemolytic assays, and for binding affinity, using microscale thermophoresis. As a result, although none of the compounds showed inhibitory activity, compound 29 was identified to exhibit weak competitive binding against a potent compstatin analogue, therefore validating our computational approaches. Additional docking and MD simulation studies suggest that compound 29 interacts with C3 residues, which have been shown to be important in binding of compstatin to the C3c fragment of C3. Compound 29 is amenable to physicochemical optimization to acquire inhibitory properties. Additionally, it is possible that some of the untested compounds will demonstrate binding and inhibition in future experimental studies.

CagY-Dependent Regulation of Type IV Secretion in Helicobacter pylori Is Associated with Alterations in Integrin Binding.

Strains of Helicobacter pylori that cause ulcer or gastric cancer typically express a type IV secretion system (T4SS) encoded by the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI). CagY is an ortholog of VirB10 that, unlike other VirB10 orthologs, has a large middle repeat region (MRR) with extensive repetitive sequence motifs, which undergo CD4+ T cell-dependent recombination during infection of mice. Recombination in the CagY MRR reduces T4SS function, diminishes the host inflammatory response, and enables the bacteria to colonize at a higher density. Since CagY is known to bind human α5ß1 integrin, we tested the hypothesis that recombination in the CagY MRR regulates T4SS function by modulating binding to α5ß1 integrin. Using a cell-free microfluidic assay, we found that H. pylori binding to α5ß1 integrin under shear flow is dependent on the CagY MRR, but independent of the presence of the T4SS pili, which are only formed when H. pylori is in contact with host cells. Similarly, expression of CagY in the absence of other T4SS genes was necessary and sufficient for whole bacterial cell binding to α5ß1 integrin. Bacteria with variant cagY alleles that reduced T4SS function showed comparable reduction in binding to α5ß1 integrin, although CagY was still expressed on the bacterial surface. We speculate that cagY-dependent modulation of H. pylori T4SS function is mediated by alterations in binding to α5ß1 integrin, which in turn regulates the host inflammatory response so as to maximize persistent infection.IMPORTANCE Infection with H. pylori can cause peptic ulcers and is the most important risk factor for gastric cancer, the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide. The major H. pylori virulence factor that determines whether infection causes disease or asymptomatic colonization is the type IV secretion system (T4SS), a sort of molecular syringe that injects bacterial products into gastric epithelial cells and alters host cell physiology. We previously showed that recombination in CagY, an essential T4SS component, modulates the function of the T4SS. Here we found that these recombination events produce parallel changes in specific binding to α5ß1 integrin, a host cell receptor that is essential for T4SS-dependent translocation of bacterial effectors. We propose that CagY-dependent binding to α5ß1 integrin acts like a molecular rheostat that alters T4SS function and modulates the host immune response to promote persistent infection.

Selectin catch-bonds mechanotransduce integrin activation and neutrophil arrest on inflamed endothelium under shear flow.

E-selectin extends from the plasma membrane of inflamed endothelium and serves to capture leukocytes from flowing blood via long-lived catch-bonds that support slow leukocyte rolling under shear stress. Its ligands are glycosylated with the tetrasaccharide sialyl Lewisx (sLex), which contributes to bond affinity and specificity. E-selectin-mediated rolling transmits signals into neutrophils that trigger activation of high-affinity ß2-integrins necessary for transition to shear-resistant adhesion and transendothelial migration. Rivipansel is a glycomimetic drug that inhibits E-selectin-mediated vaso-occlusion induced by integrin-dependent sickle-red blood cell-leukocyte adhesion. How Rivipansel antagonizes ligand recognition by E-selectin and blocks outside-in signaling of integrin-mediated neutrophil arrest while maintaining rolling immune-surveillance is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that sLex expressed on human L-selectin is preferentially bound by E-selectin and, on ligation, initiates secretion of MRP8/14 that binds TLR4 to elicit the extension of ß2-integrin to an intermediate affinity state. Neutrophil rolling over E-selectin at precise shear stress transmits tension and catch-bond formation with L-selectin via sLex, resulting in focal clusters that deliver a distinct signal to upshift ß2-integrins to a high-affinity state. Rivipansel effectively blocked formation of selectin catch-bonds, revealing a novel mechanotransduction circuit that rapidly converts extended ß2-integrins to high-affinity shear-resistant bond clusters with intracellular adhesion molecule 1 on inflamed endothelium.

Atrial natriuretic peptide down-regulates neutrophil recruitment on inflamed endothelium by reducing cell deformability and resistance to detachment force.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is administered in patients with acute heart failure in Japan to improve renal function and hemodynamics, but its anti-inflammatory effect on activated leukocytes may also contribute to its therapeutic efficacy. OBJECTIVE: Examine unconventional role of ANP in neutrophil adhesion to inflamed endothelium. METHODS: Human neutrophils were perfused over endothelial monolayers in a microfluidic lab-chip assay. Cell rheology was assessed by micropipette aspiration to assess changes in cortical tension and viscosity. Fluorescence microscopy was applied to measure adhesive contact area and ß2-integrin focal bond formation. RESULTS: ANP inhibited neutrophil rolling and firm adhesion without influencing the upregulation of cellular adhesion molecules on endothelium or the regulation of high affinity CD18 and shedding of L-selectin during neutrophil activation. Exposed to fluid shear, integrin mediated arrest was disrupted with ANP treatment, which elicited formation of long tethers and diminished cell spreading and contact. This correlated with a ∼40% increase in neutrophil viscosity and a reduction in the adhesive footprint. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in cell deformation and neutrophil flattening with ANP results in fewer integrin bond clusters, which translates to higher tensile forces and impaired adhesion strengthening and cell detachment.