PROM2 overexpression induces metastatic potential through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and ferroptosis resistance in human cancers.

INTRODUCTION: Despite considerable therapeutic advances in the last 20 years, metastatic cancers remain a major cause of death. We previously identified prominin-2 (PROM2) as a biomarker predictive of distant metastases and decreased survival, thus providing a promising bio-target. In this translational study, we set out to decipher the biological roles of PROM2 during the metastatic process and resistance to cell death, in particular for metastatic melanoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Methods and results: We demonstrated that PROM2 overexpression was closely linked to an increased metastatic potential through the increase of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker expression and ferroptosis resistance. This was also found in renal cell carcinoma and triple negative breast cancer patient-derived xenograft models. Using an oligonucleotide anti-sense anti-PROM2, we efficaciously decreased PROM2 expression and prevented metastases in melanoma xenografts. We also demonstrated that PROM2 was implicated in an aggravation loop, contributing to increase the metastatic burden both in murine metastatic models and in patients with metastatic melanoma. The metastatic burden is closely linked to PROM2 expression through the expression of EMT markers and ferroptosis cell death resistance in a deterioration loop. CONCLUSION: Our results open the way for further studies using PROM2 as a bio-target in resort situations in human metastatic melanoma and also in other cancer types.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells display a temporal evolving inflammatory profile after myocardial infarction and modify myocardial fibroblasts phenotype.

Pathophysiological response after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is described as a three-stage model involving temporal phenotypic modifications of both immune cells and fibroblasts: a primary inflammatory phase, followed by a reparative phase and a fibrous scar maturation phase. Purinergic receptors, particularly the P2Y11 receptor, have been reported to be involved in the regulation of inflammation after ischemia and could act for the resolution of inflammation after AMI. For the first time, we characterized the immuno-inflammatory and P2Y11 expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from AMI patients and analyzed the consequences of presenting these cells to cardiac fibroblasts in vitro. PBMC from 178 patients were collected at various times after reperfused ST-segment elevation AMI, from H0 to M12. Expression level of P2RY11 and genes involved in tolerogenic profile of dendritic cells and T cell polarization were evaluated by RT-PCR. P2Y11 protein expression was assessed by flow cytometry. PBMC and human cardiac fibroblasts (HCF) were cocultured and α-SMA/vimentin ratio was analyzed by flow cytometry. Within the first 48 h after AMI, expression levels of HMOX1, STAT3 and CD4 increased while IDO1 and TBX21/GATA3 ratio decreased. Concomitantly, the expression of P2RY11 increased in both T and B cells. In vitro, PBMC collected at H48 after AMI induced an increase in α-SMA/vimentin ratio in HCF. Our results suggest that human PBMC display an evolving inflammatory profile with reparative characteristics the first two days after AMI and secrete soluble mediators leading to the fibroblastic proteins modification, thus participating to myocardial fibrosis.

High extracellular sodium chloride concentrations induce resistance to LPS signal in human dendritic cells.

Recent evidence showed that in response to elevated sodium dietary intakes, many body tissues retain Na+ ions for long periods of time and can reach concentrations up to 200 mM. This could modulate the immune system and be responsible for several diseases. However, studies brought contrasted results and the effects of external sodium on human dendritic cell (DC) responses to danger signals remain largely unknown. Considering their central role in triggering T cell response, we tested how NaCl-enriched medium influences human DCs properties. We found that DCs submitted to high extracellular Na+ concentrations up to 200 mM remain viable and maintain the expression of specific DC markers, however, their maturation, chemotaxis toward CCL19, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS in response to LPS were also partially inhibited. In line with these results, the T-cell allostimulatory capacity of DCs was also inhibited. Finally, our data indicate that high NaCl concentrations triggered the phosphorylation of SGK1 and ERK1/2 kinases. These results raised the possibility that the previously reported pro-inflammatory effects of high NaCl concentrations on T cells might be counterbalanced by a downregulation of DC activation.

P2x4 receptor promotes mammary cancer progression by sustaining autophagy and associated mesenchymal transition.

Metastatic progression is a major burden for breast cancer patients and is associated with the ability of cancer cells to overcome stressful conditions, such as nutrients deprivation and hypoxia, and to gain invasive properties. Autophagy and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition are critical contributors to these processes. Here, we show that the P2X4 purinergic receptor is upregulated in breast cancer biopsies from patients and it is primarily localised in endolysosomes. We demonstrate that P2X4 enhanced invasion in vitro, as well as mammary tumour growth and metastasis in vivo. The pro-malignant role of P2X4 was mediated by the regulation of lysosome acidity, the promotion of autophagy and cell survival. Furthermore, the autophagic activity was associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and this role of P2X4 was even more pronounced under metabolic challenges. Pharmacological and gene silencing of P2X4 inhibited both autophagy and EMT, whereas its rescue in knocked-down cells led to the restoration of the aggressive phenotype. Together, our results demonstrate a previously unappreciated role for P2X4 in regulating lysosomal functions and fate, promoting breast cancer progression and aggressiveness.

The Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Beta4 Subunit Maintains Epithelial Phenotype in Mammary Cells.

The SCN4B gene, coding for the NaVß4 subunit of voltage-gated sodium channels, was recently found to be expressed in normal epithelial cells and down-regulated in several cancers. However, its function in normal epithelial cells has not been characterized. In this study, we demonstrated that reducing NaVß4 expression in MCF10A non-cancer mammary epithelial cells generated important morphological changes observed both in two-dimensional cultures and in three-dimensional cysts. Most notably, the loss of NaVß4 induced a complete loss of epithelial organisation in cysts and increased proteolytic activity towards the extracellular matrix. Loss of epithelial morphology was associated with an increased degradation of ß-catenin, reduced E-cadherin expression and induction of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, vimentin, and α-SMA expression. Overall, our results suggest that Navß4 may participate in the maintenance of the epithelial phenotype in mammary cells and that its downregulation might be a determining step in early carcinogenesis.

Stimulation of P2Y11 receptor protects human cardiomyocytes against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation injury and involves PKCε signaling pathway.

Sterile inflammation is a key determinant of myocardial reperfusion injuries. It participates in infarct size determination in acute myocardial infarction and graft rejection following heart transplantation. We previously showed that P2Y11 exerted an immunosuppressive role in human dendritic cells, modulated cardiofibroblasts' response to ischemia/reperfusion in vitro and delayed graft rejection in an allogeneic heterotopic heart transplantation model. We sought to investigate a possible role of P2Y11 in the cellular response of cardiomyocytes to ischemia/reperfusion. We subjected human AC16 cardiomyocytes to 5 h hypoxia/1 h reoxygenation (H/R). P2Y11R (P2Y11 receptor) selective agonist NF546 and/or antagonist NF340 were added at the onset of reoxygenation. Cellular damages were assessed by LDH release, MTT assay and intracellular ATP level; intracellular signaling pathways were explored. The role of P2Y11R in mitochondria-derived ROS production and mitochondrial respiration was investigated. In vitro H/R injuries were significantly reduced by P2Y11R stimulation at reoxygenation. This protection was suppressed with P2Y11R antagonism. P2Y11R stimulation following H2O2-induced oxidative stress reduced mitochondria-derived ROS production and damages through PKCε signaling pathway activation. Our results suggest a novel protective role of P2Y11 in cardiomyocytes against reperfusion injuries. Pharmacological post-conditioning targeting P2Y11R could therefore contribute to improve myocardial ischemia/reperfusion outcomes in acute myocardial infarction and cardiac transplantation.

Stimulation of P2Y11 receptor modulates cardiac fibroblasts secretome toward immunomodulatory and protective roles after Hypoxia/Reoxygenation injury.

Cardiac fibroblasts are important regulators of myocardial structure and function. Their implications in pathological processes such as Ischemia/Reperfusion are well characterized. Cardiac fibroblasts respond to stress by excessive proliferation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other factors, e.g. ATP, leading to purinergic receptors activation. P2Y11 receptor (P2Y11R) is an ATP-sensitive GPCR playing an immunomodulatory role in human dendritic cells (DC). We hypothesized that P2Y11R stimulation modulated the pro-inflammatory responses of human cardiac fibroblasts (HCF) to Hypoxia/Reoxygenation (H/R) mainly by acting on their secretome. P2Y11R stimulation in HCF at the onset of reoxygenation significantly limited H/R-induced proliferation (-19%) and pro-inflammatory cytokines and ATP secretion (-44% and -83% respectively). Exposure of DC to HCF secretome increased their expression of CD83, CD25 and CD86, suggesting a switch from immature to mature phenotype. Under LPS stimulation, DC had a pro-inflammatory profile (high IL-12/IL-10 ratio) that was decreased by HCF secretome (-3,8-fold), indicating induction of a tolerogenic profile. Moreover, P2Y11R inhibition in HCF led to high IL-12 secretion in DC, suggesting that the immunomodulatory effect of HCF secretome is P2Y11R-dependant. HCF secretome reduced H/R-induced cardiomyocytes death (-23%) through RISK pathway activation. P2Y11R inhibition in HCF induced a complete loss of HCF secretome protective effect, highlighting the cardioprotective role of P2Y11R. Our data demonstrated paracrine interactions between HCF, cardiomyocytes and DC following H/R, suggesting a key role of HCF in the cellular responses to reperfusion. These results also demonstrated a beneficial role of P2Y11R in HCF during H/R and strongly support the hypothesis that P2Y11R is a modulator of I/R injury.

Tocilizumab Contributes to the Inflammatory Status of Mature Dendritic Cells through Interleukin-6 Receptor Subunits Modulation.

Tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor α (IL-6Rα) is widely used in the treatment of a panel of pathologies such as adult and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the systemic form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children. Its indications are expected to be largely extended to other inflammatory diseases in close future. Dendritic cells (DCs) appear to be deeply involved in the immunopathology of these diseases, yet the effects of tocilizumab on these cells were poorly studied. In this study, we explored the effect of tocilizumab on the regulation of IL-6R subunits [gp130, soluble form of IL-6Rα (sIL-6Rα), and mIL-6Rα] in human monocyte-derived DCs. Human DCs were derived from CD14+ monocytes purified with beads with IL-4 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Ex vivo cultures of DCs were performed in the presence of tocilizumab. Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) maturation of DCs, we demonstrated that tocilizumab did not inhibit IL-6 secretion, enhanced mIL-6Rα expression, and largely increased sIL-6Rα secretion. MAPK modulated STAT3 phosphorylation and surface expression of IL-6Rα in LPS-DCs. Tocilizumab had no impact on STAT3 phosphorylation in LPS-DCs while both LPS and IL-6 increased its activation. Tocilizumab modulated the regulation of IL-6R subunits leading to an inflammatory status of DCs and a massive secretion of IL-6Rα. Our results demonstrate that DCs acquire a pro-inflammatory profile following tocilizumab treatment, becoming a major source of IL-6 trans-signaling activation that might explain the poor clinical benefit in some RA patients.

IL-2 phosphorylates STAT5 to drive IFN-γ production and activation of human dendritic cells.

Human dendritic cells (hDCs) produce IL-2 and express IL-2R α-chain (CD25), but the role of IL-2 in DC functions is not well defined. A recent study suggested that the main function of CD25 on hDCs was to transpresent IL-2 to activate T lymphocytes. Our results demonstrate the expression of the three chains of the IL-2R on hDCs and that IL-2 induces STAT5 phosphorylation. Interestingly, use of inhibitors of p-STAT5 revealed that IL-2 increases LPS-induced IFN-γ through STAT5 phosphorylation. Finally, we report that IL-2 increases the ability of hDCs to activate helpless CD8(+) T cells, most likely because of IL-2-triggered IFN-γ synthesis, as we previously described. For the first time, to our knowledge, we disclose that IL-2 induces monocyte-derived hDC's functional maturation and activation through IL-2R binding. Interestingly, our study suggests a direct effect of anti-CD25 mAbs on hDCs that may contribute to their clinical efficacy.