Inhibition of Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long Chain Isozymes Decreases Multiple Myeloma Cell Proliferation and Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer of plasma cells with a 5-year survival rate of 59%. Dysregulation of fatty acid (FA) metabolism is associated with MM development and progression; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family members (ACSLs) convert free long-chain fatty acids into fatty acyl-CoA esters and play key roles in catabolic and anabolic fatty acid metabolism. The Cancer Dependency Map data suggested that ACSL3 and ACSL4 were among the top 25% Hallmark Fatty Acid Metabolism genes that support MM fitness. Here, we show that inhibition of ACSLs in human myeloma cell lines using the pharmacological inhibitor Triascin C (TriC) causes apoptosis and decreases proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. RNA-seq of MM.1S cells treated with TriC for 24 h showed a significant enrichment in apoptosis, ferroptosis, and ER stress. Proteomics of MM.1S cells treated with TriC for 48 h revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative phosphorylation were significantly enriched pathways of interest, consistent with our observations of decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mitochondrial superoxide levels. Interestingly, MM.1S cells treated with TriC for 24 h also showed decreased mitochondrial ATP production rates and overall lower cellular respiration.

The Extracellular Matrix Environment of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Determines Cancer Associated Fibroblast Growth.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney cancer and is often caused by mutations in the oxygen-sensing machinery of kidney epithelial cells. Due to its pseudo-hypoxic state, ccRCC recruits extensive vasculature and other stromal components. Conventional cell culture methods provide poor representation of stromal cell types in primary cultures of ccRCC, and we hypothesized that mimicking the extracellular environment of the tumor would promote growth of both tumor and stromal cells. We employed proteomics to identify the components of ccRCC extracellular matrix (ECM) and found that in contrast to healthy kidney cortex, laminin, collagen IV, and entactin/nidogen are minor contributors. Instead, the ccRCC ECM is composed largely of collagen VI, fibronectin, and tenascin C. Analysis of single cell expression data indicates that cancer-associated fibroblasts are a major source of tumor ECM production. Tumor cells as well as stromal cells bind efficiently to a nine-component ECM blend characteristic of ccRCC. Primary patient-derived tumor cells bind the nine-component blend efficiently, allowing to us to establish mixed primary cultures of tumor cells and stromal cells. These miniature patient-specific replicas are conducive to microscopy and can be used to analyze interactions between cells in a model tumor microenvironment.

Understanding Mechanisms Underlying Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Mental Illness: Risperidone and Olanzapine Alter the Hepatic Proteomic Signature in Mice.

Patients with severe mental illness have increased mortality, often linked to cardio-metabolic disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) incidence is higher in patients with schizophrenia and is exacerbated with antipsychotic treatment. NAFLD is associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which are induced by several antipsychotic medications. NAFLD is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for patients with severe mental illness. Although the clinical literature clearly defines increased risk of NAFLD with antipsychotic therapy, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Given the complexity of the disorder as well as the complex pharmacology associated with atypical antipsychotic (AA) medications, we chose to use a proteomic approach in healthy mice treated with a low dose of risperidone (RIS) or olanzapine (OLAN) for 28 days to determine effects on development of NAFLD and to identify pathways impacted by AA medications, while removing confounding intrinsic effects of mental illness. Both AA drugs caused development of steatosis in comparison with vehicle controls (p < 0.01) and affected multiple pathways relating to energy metabolism, NAFLD, and immune function. AA-associated alteration in autonomic function appears to be a unifying theme in the regulation of hepatic pathology.

Overexpression of Activin Receptor-Like Kinase 1 in Endothelial Cells Suppresses Development of Arteriovenous Malformations in Mouse Models of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia.

RATIONALE: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in ENG, ALK1, or SMAD4. Since proteins from all 3 HHT genes are components of signal transduction of TGF-ß (transforming growth factor ß) family members, it has been hypothesized that HHT is a disease caused by defects in the ENG-ALK1-SMAD4 linear signaling. However, in vivo evidence supporting this hypothesis is scarce. OBJECTIVE: We tested this hypothesis and investigated the therapeutic effects and potential risks of induced-ALK1 or -ENG overexpression (OE) for HHT. METHODS AND RESULTS: We generated a novel mouse allele (ROSA26Alk1) in which HA (human influenza hemagglutinin)-tagged ALK1 and bicistronic eGFP expression are induced by Cre activity. We examined whether ALK1-OE using the ROSA26Alk1 allele could suppress the development of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in wounded adult skin and developing retinas of Alk1- and Eng-inducible knockout (iKO) mice. We also used a similar approach to investigate whether ENG-OE could rescue AVMs. Biochemical and immunofluorescence analyses confirmed the Cre-dependent OE of the ALK1-HA transgene. We could not detect any pathological signs in ALK1-OE mice up to 3 months after induction. ALK1-OE prevented the development of retinal AVMs and wound-induced skin AVMs in Eng-iKO as well as Alk1-iKO mice. ALK1-OE normalized expression of SMAD and NOTCH target genes in ENG-deficient endothelial cells (ECs) and restored the effect of BMP9 (bone morphogenetic protein 9) on suppression of phosphor-AKT levels in these endothelial cells. On the other hand, ENG-OE could not inhibit the AVM development in Alk1-iKO models. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the notion that ENG and ALK1 form a linear signaling pathway for the formation of a proper arteriovenous network during angiogenesis. We suggest that ALK1 OE or activation can be an effective therapeutic strategy for HHT. Further research is required to study whether this therapy could be translated into treatment for humans.

Pathological Conversion of Mouse Perivascular Adipose Tissue by Notch Activation.

OBJECTIVE: Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) surrounding arteries supports healthy vascular function. During obesity, PVAT loses its vasoprotective effect. We study pathological conversion of PVAT, which involves molecular changes in protein profiles and functional changes in adipocytes. Approach and Results: C57BL6/J mice were fed a 60% high-fat diet for 12 weeks or a cardioprotective 30% calorie-restricted diet for 5 weeks. Proteomic analysis identified PVAT as a molecularly distinct adipose depot, and novel markers for thermogenic adipocytes, such as GRP75 (stress-70 protein, mitochondrial), were identified. High-fat diet increased the similarity of protein signatures in PVAT and brown adipose, suggesting activation of a conserved whitening pathway. The whitening phenotype was characterized by suppression of UCP1 (uncoupling protein 1) and increased lipid deposition, leptin, and inflammation, and specifically in PVAT, elevated Notch signaling. Conversely, PVAT from calorie-restricted mice had decreased Notch signaling and less lipid. Using the Adipoq-Cre strain, we constitutively activated Notch1 signaling in adipocytes, which phenocopied the changes in PVAT caused by a high-fat diet, even on a standard diet. Preadipocytes from mouse PVAT expressed Sca1, CD140a, Notch1, and Notch2, but not CD105, showing differences compared with preadipocytes from other depots. Inhibition of Notch signaling during differentiation of PVAT-derived preadipocytes reduced lipid deposition and adipocyte marker expression. CONCLUSIONS: PVAT shares features with other adipose depots, but has a unique protein signature that is regulated by dietary stress. Increased Notch signaling in PVAT is sufficient to initiate the pathological conversion of PVAT by promoting adipogenesis and lipid accumulation and may thus prime the microenvironment for vascular disease.

Exploring mechanisms of increased cardiovascular disease risk with antipsychotic medications: Risperidone alters the cardiac proteomic signature in mice.

Atypical antipsychotic (AA) medications including risperidone (RIS) and olanzapine (OLAN) are FDA approved for the treatment of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Clinical side effects of AA medications include obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension and increased cardiovascular disease risk. Despite the known pharmacology of these AA medications, the mechanisms contributing to adverse metabolic side-effects are not well understood. To evaluate drug-associated effects on the heart, we assessed changes in the cardiac proteomic signature in mice administered for 4 weeks with clinically relevant exposure of RIS or OLAN. Using proteomic and gene enrichment analysis, we identified differentially expressed (DE) proteins in both RIS- and OLAN-treated mouse hearts (p < 0.05), including proteins comprising mitochondrial respiratory complex I and pathways involved in mitochondrial function and oxidative phosphorylation. A subset of DE proteins identified were further validated by both western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. Histological evaluation of hearts indicated that AA-associated aberrant cardiac gene expression occurs prior to the onset of gross pathomorphological changes. Additionally, RIS treatment altered cardiac mitochondrial oxygen consumption and whole body energy expenditure. Our study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying increased patient risk for adverse cardiac outcomes with chronic treatment of AA medications.

Characterization of smooth muscle cells from human atherosclerotic lesions and their responses to Notch signaling.

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of heart disease and stroke. The use of animal models has advanced our understanding of the molecular signaling that contributes to atherosclerosis. Further understanding of this degenerative process in humans will require human tissue. Plaque removed during endarterectomy procedures to relieve arterial obstructions is usually discarded, but can be an important source of diseased cells. Resected tissue from carotid and femoral endarterectomy procedures were compared with carotid arteries from donors with no known cardiovascular disease. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) contribute to plaque formation and may determine susceptibility to rupture. Notch signaling is implicated in the progression of atherosclerosis, and plays a receptor-specific regulatory role in SMC. We defined protein localization of Notch2 and Notch3 within medial and plaque SMC using immunostaining, and compared Notch2 and Notch3 levels in total plaques with whole normal arteries using immunoblot. We successfully derived SMC populations from multiple endarterectomy specimens for molecular analysis. To better define the protein signature of diseased SMC, we utilized sequential window acquisition of all theoretical spectra (SWATH) proteomic analysis to compare normal carotid artery SMC with endarterectomy-derived SMC. Similarities in protein profile and differentiation markers validated the SMC identity of our explants. We identified a subset of differentially expressed proteins that are candidates as functional markers of diseased SMC. To understand how Notch signaling may affect diseased SMC, we performed Jagged1 stimulation of primary cultures. In populations that displayed significant growth, Jagged1 signaling through Notch2 suppressed proliferation; cultures with low growth potential were non-responsive to Jagged1. In addition, Jagged1 did not promote contractile smooth muscle actin nor have a significant effect on the mature differentiated phenotype. Thus, SMC derived from atherosclerotic lesions show distinct proteomic profiles and have altered Notch signaling in response to Jagged1 as a differentiation stimulus, compared with normal SMC.

Interactions with Muscle Cells Boost Fusion, Stemness, and Drug Resistance of Prostate Cancer Cells.

Poorly understood interactions with nonmalignant cells within the tumor microenvironment play an important role in cancer progression. Here, we explored interactions between prostate cancer and muscle cells that surround the prostate. We found that coculturing of prostate cancer cells with skeletal or smooth muscle cells expands the subpopulations of cancer cells with features characteristic of cancer stem-like cells, including anchorage-independent growth, elevated CD133 expression, and drug resistance. These changes in the properties of cancer cells depend on: (i) the muscle cell-induced increases in the concentrations of interleukins 4 and 13; (ii) the cytokine-induced upregulation of the expression of syncytin 1 and annexin A5; and (iii) cancer cell fusion. In human prostate cancer tissues, expression of syncytin 1 and annexin A5, proteins that we found to be required for the cell fusion, positively correlated with the cancer development suggesting that these proteins can be used as biomarkers to evaluate cancer progression and potential therapeutic targets. IMPLICATIONS: The discovered effects of muscle cells on prostate cancer cells reveal a novel and specific pathway by which muscle cells in the microenvironment of prostate cancer cells promote cell fusion and cancer progression.

The HU177 Collagen Epitope Controls Melanoma Cell Migration and Experimental Metastasis by a CDK5/YAP-Dependent Mechanism.

Stromal components not only help form the structure of neoplasms such as melanomas, but they also functionally contribute to their malignant phenotype. Thus, uncovering signaling pathways that integrate the behavior of both tumor and stromal cells may provide unique opportunities for the development of more effective strategies to control tumor progression. In this regard, extracellular matrix-mediated signaling plays a role in coordinating the behavior of both tumor and stromal cells. Here, evidence is provided that targeting a cryptic region of the extracellular matrix protein collagen (HU177 epitope) inhibits melanoma tumor growth and metastasis and reduces angiogenesis and the accumulation of α-SMA-expressing stromal cell in these tumors. The current study suggests that the ability of the HU177 epitope to control melanoma cell migration and metastasis depends on the transcriptional coactivator Yes-associated protein (YAP). Melanoma cell interactions with the HU177 epitope promoted nuclear accumulation of YAP by a cyclin-dependent kinase-5-associated mechanism. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which the anti-HU177 antibody inhibits metastasis, and uncovers an unknown signaling pathway by which the HU177 epitope selectively reprograms melanoma cells by regulating nuclear localization of YAP. This study helps to define a potential new therapeutic strategy to control melanoma tumor growth and metastasis that might be used alone or in combination with other therapeutics.

Notch2 and Proteomic Signatures in Mouse Neointimal Lesion Formation.

OBJECTIVE: Vascular remodeling is associated with complex molecular changes, including increased Notch2, which promotes quiescence in human smooth muscle cells. We used unbiased protein profiling to understand molecular signatures related to neointimal lesion formation in the presence or absence of Notch2 and to test the hypothesis that loss of Notch2 would increase neointimal lesion formation because of a hyperproliferative injury response. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Murine carotid arteries isolated at 6 or 14 days after ligation injury were analyzed by mass spectrometry using a data-independent acquisition strategy in comparison to uninjured or sham injured arteries. We used a tamoxifen-inducible, cell-specific Cre recombinase strain to delete the Notch2 gene in smooth muscle cells. Vessel morphometric analysis and immunohistochemical staining were used to characterize lesion formation, assess vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and validate proteomic findings. Loss of Notch2 in smooth muscle cells leads to protein profile changes in the vessel wall during remodeling but does not alter overall lesion morphology or cell proliferation. Loss of smooth muscle Notch2 also decreases the expression of enhancer of rudimentary homolog, plectin, and annexin A2 in vascular remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: We identified unique protein signatures that represent temporal changes in the vessel wall during neointimal lesion formation in the presence and absence of Notch2. Overall lesion formation was not affected with loss of smooth muscle Notch2, suggesting compensatory pathways. We also validated the regulation of known injury- or Notch-related targets identified in other vascular contexts, providing additional insight into conserved pathways involved in vascular remodeling.

ErbB2 promotes endothelial phenotype of human left ventricular epicardial highly proliferative cells (eHiPC).

The adult human heart contains a subpopulation of highly proliferative cells. The role of ErbB receptors in these cells has not been studied. From human left ventricular (LV) epicardial biopsies, we isolated highly proliferative cells (eHiPC) to characterize the cell surface expression and function of ErbB receptors in the regulation of cell proliferation and phenotype. We found that human LV eHiPC express all four ErbB receptor subtypes. However, the expression of ErbB receptors varied widely among eHiPC isolated from different subjects. eHiPC with higher cell surface expression of ErbB2 reproduced the phenotype of endothelial cells and were characterized by endothelial cell-like functional properties. We also found that EGF/ErbB1 induces VEGFR2 expression, while ligands for both ErbB1 and ErbB3/4 induce expression of Tie2. The number of CD31posCD45neg endothelial cells is higher in LV biopsies from subjects with high ErbB2 (ErbB2high) eHiPC compared to low ErbB2 (ErbB2low) eHiPC. These findings have important implications for potential strategies to increase the efficacy of cell-based revascularization of the injured heart, through promotion of an endothelial phenotype in cardiac highly proliferative cells.

Cancer incidence in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

PURPOSE: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder characterized by deficiency in endoglin, an angiogenic protein. We previously showed that HHT, in which systemic endoglin expression is reduced, was associated with better survival outcomes in cancer patients (Duarte et al. in Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 23:117-125, 2014). Here, we evaluated whether HHT was associated with reduced cancer incidence. METHODS: A matched case-control analysis using SEER Medicare was conducted to evaluate the effect of HHT on diagnosis with breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer between 2000 and 2007 (n = 633,162). Cancer and non-cancer patients were matched on age, sex, SEER registry region, and length of the ascertainment period for HHT. We assessed crude association using a McNemar's test and then adjusted for demographic variables, cancer type, cancer stage, comorbidities, and ascertainment period with a conditional logistic regression model for cancer incidence. RESULTS: The McNemar's test showed no significant association between HHT and cancer incidence (p = 0.74). Adjusting for covariates with the conditional logistic regression model did not change the result [HHT odds ratio 0.978; 95 % CI (0.795, 1.204)]. The lack of association between HHT and cancer incidence is unexpected given the previously discovered significant association between HHT and improved survival outcomes (Duarte et al. in Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 23:117-125, 2014). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the protective effect of reduced systemic endoglin expression in cancer is specific to cancer progression through its effect on vascularization and other stromal effects but does not extend to cancer initiation.

Inhibition of Ovarian Tumor Growth by Targeting the HU177 Cryptic Collagen Epitope.

Evidence suggests that stromal cells play critical roles in tumor growth. Uncovering new mechanisms that control stromal cell behavior and their accumulation within tumors may lead to development of more effective treatments. We provide evidence that the HU177 cryptic collagen epitope is selectively generated within human ovarian carcinomas and this collagen epitope plays a role in SKOV-3 ovarian tumor growth in vivo. The ability of the HU177 epitope to regulate SKOV-3 tumor growth depends in part on its ability to modulate stromal cell behavior because targeting this epitope inhibited angiogenesis and, surprisingly, the accumulation of α-smooth muscle actin-expressing stromal cells. Integrin α10ß1 can serve as a receptor for the HU177 epitope in α-smooth muscle actin-expressing stromal cells and subsequently regulates Erk-dependent migration. These findings are consistent with a mechanism by which the generation of the HU177 collagen epitope provides a previously unrecognized α10ß1 ligand that selectively governs angiogenesis and the accumulation of stromal cells, which in turn secrete protumorigenic factors that contribute to ovarian tumor growth. Our findings provide a new mechanistic understanding into the roles by which the HU177 epitope regulates ovarian tumor growth and provide new insight into the clinical results from a phase 1 human clinical study of the monoclonal antibody D93/TRC093 in patients with advanced malignant tumors.

Lipid Profiling of In Vitro Cell Models of Adipogenic Differentiation: Relationships With Mouse Adipose Tissues.

Our objective was to characterize lipid profiles in cell models of adipocyte differentiation in comparison to mouse adipose tissues in vivo. A novel lipid extraction strategy was combined with global lipid profiling using direct infusion and sequential precursor ion fragmentation, termed MS/MS(ALL) . Perirenal and inguinal white adipose tissue and interscapular brown adipose tissues from adult C57BL/6J mice were analyzed. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, ear mesenchymal progenitor cells, and brown adipose-derived BAT-C1 cells were also characterized. Over 3000 unique lipid species were quantified. Principal component analysis showed that perirenal versus inguinal white adipose tissues varied in lipid composition of triacyl- and diacylglycerols, sphingomyelins, glycerophospholipids and, notably, cardiolipin CL 72:3. In contrast, hexosylceramides and sphingomyelins distinguished brown from white adipose. Adipocyte differentiation models showed broad differences in lipid composition among themselves, upon adipogenic differentiation, and with adipose tissues. Palmitoyl triacylglycerides predominate in 3T3-L1 differentiation models, whereas cardiolipin CL 72:1 and SM 45:4 were abundant in brown adipose-derived cell differentiation models, respectively. MS/MS(ALL) data suggest new lipid biomarkers for tissue-specific lipid contributions to adipogenesis, thus providing a foundation for using in vitro models of adipogenesis to reflect potential changes in adipose tissues in vivo. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2182-2193, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

DLL4/Notch1 and BMP9 Interdependent Signaling Induces Human Endothelial Cell Quiescence via P27KIP1 and Thrombospondin-1.

OBJECTIVE: Bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP9)/activin-like kinase-1 and delta-like 4 (DLL4)/Notch promote endothelial quiescence, and we aim to understand mechanistic interactions between the 2 pathways. We identify new targets that contribute to endothelial quiescence and test whether loss of Dll4(+/-) in adult vasculature alters BMP signaling. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Human endothelial cells respond synergistically to BMP9 and DLL4 stimulation, showing complete quiescence and induction of HEY1 and HEY2. Canonical BMP9 signaling via activin-like kinase-1-Smad1/5/9 was disrupted by inhibition of Notch signaling, even in the absence of exogenous DLL4. Similarly, DLL4 activity was suppressed when the basal activin-like kinase-1-Smad1/5/9 pathway was inhibited, showing that these pathways are interdependent. BMP9/DLL4 required induction of P27(KIP1) for quiescence, although multiple factors are involved. To understand these mechanisms, we used proteomics data to identify upregulation of thrombospondin-1, which contributes to the quiescence phenotype. To test whether Dll4 regulates BMP/Smad pathways and endothelial cell phenotype in vivo, we characterized the vasculature of Dll4(+/-) mice, analyzing endothelial cells in the lung, heart, and aorta. Together with changes in endothelial structure and vascular morphogenesis, we found that loss of Dll4 was associated with a significant upregulation of pSmad1/5/9 signaling in lung endothelial cells. Because steady-state endothelial cell proliferation rates were not different in the Dll4(+/-) mice, we propose that the upregulation of pSmad1/5/9 signaling compensates to maintain endothelial cell quiescence in these mice. CONCLUSIONS: DLL4/Notch and BMP9/activin-like kinase-1 signaling rely on each other's pathways for full activity. This represents an important mechanism of cross talk that enhances endothelial quiescence and sensitively coordinates cellular responsiveness to soluble and cell-tethered ligands.

BMP9 Crosstalk with the Hippo Pathway Regulates Endothelial Cell Matricellular and Chemokine Responses.

Endoglin is a type III TGFß auxiliary receptor that is upregulated in endothelial cells during angiogenesis and, when mutated in humans, results in the vascular disease hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Though endoglin has been implicated in cell adhesion, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here we show endoglin expression in endothelial cells regulates subcellular localization of zyxin in focal adhesions in response to BMP9. RNA knockdown of endoglin resulted in mislocalization of zyxin and altered formation of focal adhesions. The mechanotransduction role of focal adhesions and their ability to transmit regulatory signals through binding of the extracellular matrix are altered by endoglin deficiency. BMP/TGFß transcription factors, SMADs, and zyxin have recently been implicated in a newly emerging signaling cascade, the Hippo pathway. The Hippo transcription coactivator, YAP1 (yes-associated protein 1), has been suggested to play a crucial role in mechanotransduction and cell-cell contact. Identification of BMP9-dependent nuclear localization of YAP1 in response to endoglin expression suggests a mechanism of crosstalk between the two pathways. Suppression of endoglin and YAP1 alters BMP9-dependent expression of YAP1 target genes CCN1 (cysteine-rich 61, CYR61) and CCN2 (connective tissue growth factor, CTGF) as well as the chemokine CCL2 (monocyte chemotactic protein 1, MCP-1). These results suggest a coordinate effect of endoglin deficiency on cell matrix remodeling and local inflammatory responses. Identification of a direct link between the Hippo pathway and endoglin may reveal novel mechanisms in the etiology of HHT.

AHNAK2 Participates in the Stress-Induced Nonclassical FGF1 Secretion Pathway.

FGF1 is a nonclassically released growth factor that regulates carcinogenesis, angiogenesis, and inflammation. In vitro and in vivo, FGF1 export is stimulated by cell stress. Upon stress, FGF1 is transported to the plasma membrane where it localizes prior to transmembrane translocation. To determine which proteins participate in the submembrane localization of FGF1 and its export, we used immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry to identify novel proteins that associate with FGF1 during heat shock. The heat shock-dependent association of FGF1 with the large protein AHNAK2 was observed. Heat shock induced the translocation of FGF1 and AHNAK2 to the cytoskeletal fraction. In heat-shocked cells, FGF1 and the C-terminal fragment of AHNAK2 colocalized with F-actin in the vicinity of the cell membrane. Depletion of AHNAK2 resulted in a drastic decrease of stress-induced FGF1 export but did not affect spontaneous FGF2 export and FGF1 release induced by the inhibition of Notch signaling. Thus, AHNAK2 is an important element of the FGF1 nonclassical export pathway.

Notch signal integration in the vasculature during remodeling.

Notch signaling plays many important roles in homeostasis and remodeling in the vessel wall, and serves a critical role in the communication between endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Within blood vessels, Notch signaling integrates with multiple pathways by mechanisms including direct protein­protein interaction, cooperative or synergistic regulation of signal cascades, and co-regulation of transcriptional targets. After establishment of the mature blood vessel, the spectrum and intensity of Notch signaling change during phases of active remodeling or disease progression. These changes can be mediated by regulation via microRNAs and protein stability or signaling, and corresponding changes in complementary signaling pathways. Notch also affects endothelial cells on a system level by regulating key metabolic components. This review will outline the most recent findings of Notch activity in blood vessels, with a focus on how Notch signals integrate with other molecular signaling pathways controlling vascular phenotype.

Cryptic collagen IV promotes cell migration and adhesion in myeloid leukemia.

Previously, we showed that discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), a class of collagen-activated receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) was highly upregulated on bone marrow (BM)-derived CD33+ leukemic blasts of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Herein as DDR1 is a class of collagen-activated RTK, we attempt to understand the role of native and remodeled collagen IV in BM microenvironment and its functional significance in leukemic cells. Exposure to denatured collagen IV significantly increased the migration and adhesion of K562 cells, which also resulted in increased activation of DDR1 and AKT. Further, levels of MMP9 were increased in conditioned media (CM) of denatured collagen IV exposed cells. Mass spectrometric liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry QSTAR proteomic analysis revealed exclusive presence of Secretogranin 3 and InaD-like protein in the denatured collagen IV CM. Importantly, BM samples of AML patients exhibited increased levels of remodeled collagen IV compared to native as analyzed via anti-HUIV26 antibody. Taken together, for the first time, we demonstrate that remodeled collagen IV is a potent activator of DDR1 and AKT that also modulates both migration and adhesion of myeloid leukemia cells. Additionally, high levels of the HUIV26 cryptic collagen IV epitope are expressed in BM of AML patients. Further understanding of this phenomenon may lead to the development of therapeutic agents that directly modulate the BM microenvironment and attenuate leukemogenesis.

Improved survival outcomes in cancer patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder characterized by deficiency in endoglin, an angiogenic protein. The net effect of endoglin expression on cancer outcomes from animal studies has proven controversial. We evaluated whether reduced systemic endoglin levels, expected in patients diagnosed with HHT, impacted clinical outcomes for cancer. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare was conducted to evaluate the effect of HHT on survival among patients diagnosed with breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer between 2000 and 2007 (n = 540,520). We generated Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox models to compare the effect of HHT on all-cause survival for a composite of the four cancers, and separate models by cancer, adjusting for demographic variables, cancer type, cancer stage, and comorbidities. RESULTS: All-cause survival analysis for a composite of the four cancers showed an adjusted HR of 0.69 [95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.51-0.91; P = 0.009] for HHT, indicating significantly improved survival outcome. When stratified by cancer type, HHT diagnosis showed a significant protective effect among breast cancer patients with an adjusted HR of 0.31 (95% CI, 0.13-0.75; P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between HHT and improved survival outcome for a composite of patients with breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer, and in analysis stratified by cancer, the association was significant for HHT patients with breast cancer. IMPACT: This study supports the hypothesis that systemically educed endoglin expression is associated with improved survival outcome in multiple cancers, and suggests that anti-endoglin antibody therapy may have broad-based application.