Clinically Relevant Biology of Hyaluronic Acid in the Desmoplastic Stroma of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is notorious for its poor outcome. The presence of a dense desmoplastic stroma is a hallmark of this malignancy, and abundant hyaluronic acid (HA) within this stroma is a common feature of PDAC. At the end of 2019, an HA-targeting drug, after initial promise, failed phase 3 clinical trials in PDAC. This failure in the face of such strong evidence for biological importance forces us to turn back to the research and seek a better understanding of HA biology in PDAC. Therefore, in this review, we reexamine what is known about HA biology, the methods used to detect and quantify HA, and the ability of the biological models in which HA has been investigated to recapitulate an HA-rich desmoplastic tumor stroma. The role of HA in PDAC relies on its complex interplay with a range of HA-associated molecules, which have not been as extensively investigated as HA itself. Therefore, using large genomic data sets, we cataloged the abundance and activity in PDAC of molecules that modulate HA synthesis, degradation, protein interactions, and receptor binding. Based on their association with clinical characteristics and individual patient outcomes, we suggest a small number of HA-associated molecules that warrant further investigation as biomarkers and drug targets.

Pathogenic ACVR1R206H activation by Activin A-induced receptor clustering and autophosphorylation.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) are debilitating diseases that share causal mutations in ACVR1, a TGF-ß family type I receptor. ACVR1R206H is a frequent mutation in both diseases. Pathogenic signaling via the SMAD1/5 pathway is mediated by Activin A, but how the mutation triggers aberrant signaling is not known. We show that ACVR1 is essential for Activin A-mediated SMAD1/5 phosphorylation and is activated by two distinct mechanisms. Wild-type ACVR1 is activated by the Activin type I receptors, ACVR1B/C. In contrast, ACVR1R206H activation does not require upstream kinases, but is predominantly activated via Activin A-dependent receptor clustering, which induces its auto-activation. We use optogenetics and live-imaging approaches to demonstrate Activin A-induced receptor clustering and show it requires the type II receptors ACVR2A/B. Our data provide molecular mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of FOP and DIPG by linking the causal activating genetic mutation to disrupted signaling.

TGF-ß uses a novel mode of receptor activation to phosphorylate SMAD1/5 and induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

The best characterized signaling pathway downstream of transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) is through SMAD2 and SMAD3. However, TGF-ß also induces phosphorylation of SMAD1 and SMAD5, but the mechanism of this phosphorylation and its functional relevance is not known. Here, we show that TGF-ß-induced SMAD1/5 phosphorylation requires members of two classes of type I receptor, TGFBR1 and ACVR1, and establish a new paradigm for receptor activation where TGFBR1 phosphorylates and activates ACVR1, which phosphorylates SMAD1/5. We demonstrate the biological significance of this pathway by showing that approximately a quarter of the TGF-ß-induced transcriptome depends on SMAD1/5 signaling, with major early transcriptional targets being the ID genes. Finally, we show that TGF-ß-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition requires signaling via both the SMAD3 and SMAD1/5 pathways, with SMAD1/5 signaling being essential to induce ID1. Therefore, combinatorial signaling via both SMAD pathways is essential for the full TGF-ß-induced transcriptional program and physiological responses.

Mesenchymal Cancer Cell-Stroma Crosstalk Promotes Niche Activation, Epithelial Reversion, and Metastatic Colonization.

During metastatic colonization, tumor cells must establish a favorable microenvironment or niche that will sustain their growth. However, both the temporal and molecular details of this process remain poorly understood. Here, we found that metastatic initiating cells (MICs) exhibit a high capacity for lung fibroblast activation as a result of Thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) expression. Importantly, inhibiting the mesenchymal phenotype of MICs by blocking the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated kinase AXL reduces THBS2 secretion, niche-activating ability, and, consequently, metastatic competence. Subsequently, disseminated metastatic cells revert to an AXL-negative, more epithelial phenotype to proliferate and decrease the phosphorylation levels of TGF-ß-dependent SMAD2-3 in favor of BMP/SMAD1-5 signaling. Remarkably, newly activated fibroblasts promote this transition. In summary, our data reveal a crosstalk between cancer cells and their microenvironment whereby the EMT status initially triggers and then is regulated by niche activation during metastatic colonization.

An in vivo hypoxia metagene identifies the novel hypoxia inducible factor target gene SLCO1B3.

A hypoxia-associated gene signature (metagene) was previously derived via in vivo data-mining. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether this approach could identify novel hypoxia regulated genes. From an initial list of nine genes, three were selected for further study (BCAR1, IGF2BP2 and SLCO1B3). Ten cell lines were exposed to hypoxia and interrogated for the expression of the three genes. All three genes were hypoxia inducible in at least one of the 10 cell lines with SLCO1B3 induced in seven. SLCO1B3 was studied further using chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays to investigate hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) dependent transcription. Two functional HIF response elements were identified within intron 1 of the gene. The functional importance of SLCO1B3 was studied by gene knockdown experiments followed by cell growth assays, flow cytometry and Western blotting. SLCO1B3 knockdown reduced cell size and 3-dimensional spheroid volume, which was associated with decreased activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Finally, Oncomine analysis revealed that head and neck and colorectal tumours had higher levels of SLCO1B3 compared to normal tissue. Thus, the knowledge based approach for deriving gene signatures can identify novel biologically relevant genes.

Prospective technical validation and assessment of intra-tumour heterogeneity of a low density array hypoxia gene profile in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tumour hypoxia is associated with a poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), however there is no accepted method for assessing hypoxia clinically. We aimed to conduct a technical validation of a hypoxia gene expression signature using the TaqMan Low Density Array (TLDA) platform to investigate if this approach reliably identified hypoxic tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumour samples (n=201) from 80 HNSCC patients were collected prospectively from two centres. Fifty-three patients received pimonidazole prior to surgery. TaqMan Low Density Array-Hypoxia Scores (TLDA-HS) were obtained by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) using a 25-gene signature and customised TLDA cards. Assay performance was assessed as coefficient of variation (CoV). RESULTS: The assay was sensitive with linear reaction efficiencies across a 4 log(10) range of inputted cDNA (0.001-10 ng/µl). Intra- (CoV=6.9%) and inter- (CoV=2.0%) assay reproducibility were excellent. Intra-tumour heterogeneity was lower for TLDA-HS (23.2%) than for pimonidazole (67.2%) or single gene measurements of CA9 (62.2%), VEGFA (45.0%) or HIG2 (39.4%). TLDA-HS in HNSCC cell lines increased with decreasing pO(2). TLDA-HS correlated with Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 microarray HS (p<0.01) and positive pimonidazole scores (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Gene expression measurements of hypoxia using a 25-gene signature and TLDA cards are sensitive, reproducible and associated with lower intra-tumour heterogeneity than assaying individual genes or pimonidazole binding. The approach is suitable for further assessment of prognostic and predictive capability in clinical trial material.

Transforming growth factor ß inhibits bone morphogenetic protein-induced transcription through novel phosphorylated Smad1/5-Smad3 complexes.

In vivo cells receive simultaneous signals from multiple extracellular ligands and must integrate and interpret them to respond appropriately. Here we investigate the interplay between pathways downstream of two transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) superfamily members, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and TGF-ß. We show that in multiple cell lines, TGF-ß potently inhibits BMP-induced transcription at the level of both BMP-responsive reporter genes and endogenous BMP target genes. This inhibitory effect requires the TGF-ß type I receptor ALK5 and is independent of new protein synthesis. Strikingly, we show that Smad3 is required for TGF-ß's inhibitory effects, whereas Smad2 is not. We go on to demonstrate that TGF-ß induces the formation of complexes comprising phosphorylated Smad1/5 and Smad3, which bind to BMP-responsive elements in vitro and in vivo and mediate TGF-ß-induced transcriptional repression. Furthermore, loss of Smad3 confers on TGF-ß the ability to induce transcription via BMP-responsive elements. Our results therefore suggest that not only is Smad3 important for mediating TGF-ß's inhibitory effects on BMP signaling but it also plays a critical role in restricting the transcriptional output in response to TGF-ß.

MicroRNA-210 regulates mitochondrial free radical response to hypoxia and krebs cycle in cancer cells by targeting iron sulfur cluster protein ISCU.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia in cancers results in the upregulation of hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and a microRNA, hsa-miR-210 (miR-210) which is associated with a poor prognosis. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In human cancer cell lines and tumours, we found that miR-210 targets the mitochondrial iron sulfur scaffold protein ISCU, required for assembly of iron-sulfur clusters, cofactors for key enzymes involved in the Krebs cycle, electron transport, and iron metabolism. Down regulation of ISCU was the major cause of induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hypoxia. ISCU suppression reduced mitochondrial complex 1 activity and aconitase activity, caused a shift to glycolysis in normoxia and enhanced cell survival. Cancers with low ISCU had a worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of these major hallmarks of cancer show that a single microRNA, miR-210, mediates a new mechanism of adaptation to hypoxia, by regulating mitochondrial function via iron-sulfur cluster metabolism and free radical generation.

Activin is a potent growth suppressor of epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Although activin is a major cytokine produced by the ovary, its role in epithelial ovarian cancer is poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate a novel role for activin as a growth inhibitor of some (8/16) epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. Unresponsive cell lines displayed transcriptional downregulation of the activin receptors ACTRIIA and ACTRIB, suggesting resistance to activin signalling. In response to activin, growth inhibited cell lines demonstrated activation of the canonical SMAD2/3/4, transcriptional induction of the CDK inhibitor p15INK4B, suppression of C-MYC levels and a G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Thus, activin is a potent inhibitor of proliferation of some epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines and its role in the pathogenesis of this disease needs to be re-evaluated.

Microarrays--analysis of signaling pathways.

Microarrays provide a powerful means of analyzing the expression level of multiple transcripts in two sample populations. In this study, we have used microarray technology to identify genes that are differentially regulated in response to activin-treated ovarian cancer cells. We find a number of biologically relevant genes that are involved in regulating activin signaling and genes potentially contributing to activin-mediated growth arrest appear to be differentially regulated. Thus, microarrays are an important tool for dissecting gene expression changes in normal physiological processes and disease.

Cadherin-17 is required to maintain pronephric duct integrity during zebrafish development.

We have isolated a zebrafish cadherin that is orthologous to human LI-cadherin (CDH17). Zebrafish cdh17 is expressed exclusively in the pronephric ducts during embryogenesis, and in the mesonephros during larval development and adulthood. Like its mammalian ortholog, cdh17 is also expressed in liver and intestine in adult zebrafish. We show that cdh17-positive mesodermal cells do not contribute to the hematopoietic system. Consistent with a cell adhesion role for Cdh17, depletion of Cdh17 function using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides compromised cell cohesion during pronephric duct formation. Our results indicate that Cdh17 is necessary for maintaining the integrity of the pronephric ducts during zebrafish embryogenesis. This finding contrasts with the role of mammalian CDH17, which does not appear to be involved in nephric development.