Endo180 at the cutting edge of bone cancer treatment and beyond

Targeting uPARAP Modifies Lymphatic Vessel Architecture and Attenuates Lymphedema

BACKGROUND

Lymphedema is an incurable disease associated with lymphatic dysfunction that causes tissue swelling and fibrosis. We investigated whether lymphedema could be attenuated by interfering with uPARAP (urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-associated protein; Mrc2 gene), an endocytic receptor involved in fibrosis and lymphangiogenesis.

METHODS

We generated mice with lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC)-specific uparap deficiency and compared them with constitutive knockout mice by applying a preclinical model of secondary lymphedema (SL). Computerized methods were applied for 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional image quantifications. Cellular effects of uPARAP deletion on lymphatic permeability were assessed by small interfering RNA-mediated silencing in human dermal LECs and a pharmacologic treatment targeting ROCK (Rho-associated coiled coil containing kinase), an established regulator of cell junctions. The uPARAP and vascular endothelial cadherin partnership was investigated through proximity ligation assay, coimmunoprecipitation, and immunostaining. An in silico model was generated to analyze the fluid-absorbing function of the lymphatic vasculature. To interfere with uPARAP, its downregulation was achieved in vivo through a gapmer approach.

RESULTS

uparap deficiency mitigated several key pathologic features of SL, including hindlimb swelling, epidermal thickening, and the accumulation and size of adipocytes. In both global and LEC-conditional uparap-deficient mice, induction of SL led to a distinctive labyrinthine vasculature, defined herein by twisted and hyperbranched vessels with overlapping cells. This topology, mainly composed of pre-collecting vessels, correlated with reduced SL, but not with change in fibrosis, highlighting the importance of uPARAP in regulating LEC functions in a lymphedematous context. In vitro, uPARAP knockdown in LECs impaired vascular endothelial growth factor C-mediated endosomal trafficking of vascular endothelial cadherin and induced overlapping cell junctions. The pharmacologic inhibition of ROCK recapitulated cell superimposition in vitro and the labyrinthine vasculature in vivo with attenuated SL. Computational modeling of labyrinthine lymphatic vasculature supported the observation on their improved fluid-absorbing function in comparison with a normal hierarchic network. These data provide proof of concept of inducing a labyrinthine topology to treat SL. For therapeutic purposes, we validated the use of an anti-uPARAP gapmer to induce a labyrinthine vasculature and attenuate SL formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide evidence that downregulating uPARAP expression can induce a beneficial remodeling of lymphatic vasculature that attenuates lymphedema through a cell junction-based mechanism, offering a novel therapeutic pathway for lymphedema.

Use of Period Analysis to Timely Assess Five-Year Relative Survival for the Patients With Bone Cancer

Background

While timely assessment of long-term survival for patients with bone cancer is essential for evaluation on early detection and prognosis level of treatment of bone cancer, those data are extremely scarce in China. We aimed to timely and accurately assess long-term survival for patients with bone cancer in Eastern China.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with bone cancer during 2004 - 2018 from four cancer registries with high-quality data from Taizhou, Eastern China were included. Five-year relative survival (RS) of bone cancer patients was calculated by period analysis for overall and the stratification. We further predicted 5-year RS during upcoming 2019 - 2023 using a model-based period analysis and survival data during 2004 - 2018.

Results

Overall, 5-year RS for patients with bone cancer during 2014 - 2018 reached 46.6%, being 40.8% for male and 51.0% for female. Five-year RS declined along with aging, decreasing from 58.9% for age < 45 years to 41.5% for age > 60 years, while 5-year RS for urban area was higher compared to rural area (59.1% vs. 44.3%). The 5-year RS during upcoming 2019 - 2023 reached 48.3%. We found a clear upward trend in 5-year RS during 2004 - 2023 for overall and the stratification by sex, age at diagnosis, and region.

Conclusions

We found that, for first time in China using period analysis, most up-to-date 5-year RS for patients with bone cancer reached 46.6% during 2014 - 2018, and is projected to reach 48.3% for the period 2019 - 2023, which has important implications for timely evaluation on early detection and prognosis level of treatment for patients with bone cancer in Eastern China.

Osteoclasts in Osteosarcoma: Mechanisms, Interactions, and Therapeutic Prospects

Osteosarcoma is an extremely malignant tumor, and its pathogenesis is complex and remains incompletely understood. Most cases of osteosarcoma are accompanied by symptoms of bone loss or result in pathological fractures due to weakened bones. Enhancing the survival rate of osteosarcoma patients has proven to be a long-standing challenge. Numerous studies mentioned in this paper, including in-vitro, in-vivo, and in-situ studies have consistently indicated a close association between the symptoms of bone loss associated with osteosarcoma and the presence of osteoclasts. As the sole cells capable of bone resorption, osteoclasts participate in a malignant cycle within the osteosarcoma microenvironment. These cells interact with osteoblasts and osteosarcoma cells, secreting various factors that further influence these cells, disrupting bone homeostasis, and shifting the balance toward bone resorption, thereby promoting the onset and progression of osteosarcoma. Moreover, the interaction between osteoclasts and various other cells types, such as tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, DCs cells, T cells, and tumor-associated fibroblasts in the osteosarcoma microenvironment plays a crucial role in disease progression. Consequently, understanding the role of osteoclasts in osteosarcoma has sparked significant interest. This review primarily examines the physiological characteristics and functional mechanisms of osteoclasts in osteosarcoma, and briefly discusses potential therapies targeting osteoclasts for osteosarcoma treatment. These studies provide fresh ideas and directions for future research on the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Monosomy 3 Influences Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Gene Expression in Uveal Melanoma Patients; Consequences for Liquid Biopsy

Despite outstanding advances in diagnosis and the treatment of primary uveal melanoma (UM), nearly 50% of UM patients develop metastases via hematogenous dissemination, driven by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Despite the failure in UM to date, a liquid biopsy may offer a feasible non-invasive approach for monitoring metastatic disease progression and addressing protracted dormancy. To detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in UM patients, we evaluated the mRNA expression of EMT-associated transcription factors in CD45-depleted blood fraction, using qRT-PCR. ddPCR was employed to assess UM-specific GNA11, GNAQ, PLCβ4, and CYSLTR2 mutations in plasma DNA. Moreover, microarray analysis was performed on total RNA isolated from tumor tissues to estimate the prognostic value of EMT-associated gene expression. In total, 42 primary UM and 11 metastatic patients were enrolled. All CD45-depleted samples were negative for CTC when compared to the peripheral blood fraction of 60 healthy controls. Tumor-specific mutations were detected in the plasma of 21.4% patients, merely, in 9.4% of primary UM, while 54.5% in metastatic patients. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of differentially expressed EMT genes showed significant differences between monosomy 3 and disomy 3 tumors. Newly identified genes can serve as non-invasive prognostic biomarkers that can support therapeutic decisions.

MiR-23b-3p promotes postmenopausal osteoporosis by targeting MRC2 and regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is one of the most common metabolic bone diseases in postmenopausal women. Increasing evidence has indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play vital regulatory roles during osteoporosis progression. This study aimed to investigate the potential function of miR-23b-3p in the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). PMOP was induced in mice by bilateral ovariectomy. X-ray absorptiometry was applied to detect BMD and BMC in PMOP mice. Luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were utilized to investigate the relationship between miR-23b-3p and MRC2. We found the upregulation of miR-23b-3p in bone tissues of PMOP mice. Silencing of miR-23b-3p relieved PMOP in mice. Moreover, miR-23b-3p knockdown facilitated the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs by increasing the expression of Runx2, OCN, Osterix and promoting ALP activity. Mechanistically, MRC2 is a downstream target gene of miR-23b-3p. MRC2 knockdown significantly rescued the promoting effect of lenti-miR-23b-3p inhibitor on osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Furthermore, miR-23b-3p targeted MRC2 to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway during the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. In summary, inhibition of miR-23b-3p alleviates PMOP by targeting MRC2 to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which may provide a novel molecular insight for osteoporosis therapy.

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) Drives Activation of Bone Remodelling and Skeletal Metastasis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to explore the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1 or CCL2) in the processes that underpin bone remodelling, particularly the action of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and its role in the development and metastasis of cancers that target the bone.

RECENT FINDINGS

MCP-1 is a key mediator of osteoclastogenesis, being the highest induced gene during intermittent treatment with parathyroid hormone (iPTH), but also regulates catabolic effects of continuous PTH on bone including monocyte and macrophage recruitment, osteoclast formation and bone resorption. In concert with PTH-related protein (PTHrP), MCP-1 mediates the interaction between tumour-derived factors and host-derived chemokines to promote skeletal metastasis. In breast and prostate cancers, an osteolytic cascade is driven by tumour cell-derived PTHrP that upregulates MCP-1 in osteoblastic cells. This relationship between PTHrP and osteoblastic expression of MCP-1 may drive the colonisation of disseminated breast cancer cells in the bone. There is mounting evidence to suggest a pivotal role of MCP-1 in many diseases and an important role in the establishment of comorbidities. Coupled with its role in bone remodelling and the regulation of bone turnover, there is the potential for pathological relationships between bone disorders and bone-related cancers driven by MCP-1. MCP-1's role in bone remodelling and bone-related cancers highlights its potential as a novel anti-resorptive and anti-metastatic target.

Mannose receptor C type 2 mediates 1,25(OH)2D3/vitamin D receptor-regulated collagen metabolism through collagen type 5, alpha 2 chain and matrix metalloproteinase 13 in murine MC3T3-E1 cells

Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining skeletal development and bone homeostasis. Although vitamin D has been extensively researched, the direct effect of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ on osteoblasts is unclear. To explore the 1,25(OH)₂D₃ action on murine osteoblasts, we performed tandem mass tag experiments on MC3T3-E1 cells treated with and without 1,25(OH)₂D₃. Three up-regulated proteins (MRC2, WWTR1 and RASSF2) related to bone metabolism were confirmed in this study. 1,25(OH)₂D₃ up-regulated the expression of MRC2 through vitamin D receptor. MRC2 affects collagen metabolism in osteoblasts. Combined with bioinformatics and parallel reaction monitoring analysis, we inhibited the expression of MRC2 to explore the relationship between MRC2 and collagens. Then we found MRC2 down-regulated COL5A2 and up-regulated MMP13. This study provides a protein profile of 1,25(OH)₂D₃-treated murine osteoblasts, reveals a newly discovered signaling axis (1,25(OH)₂D₃/VDR/MRC2/COL5A2 and MMP13), and explains the effect of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ on bone metabolism from a new perspective.

LECTINS IN ANTI-CANCER STRATEGIES

The published during last few years data concerning communicative role of lectins (proteins and their complexes which recognize  carbohydrates, glycoconjugates and their patterns) in on-duty  supporting and increasing anticancer status of human immunity are  analyzed. Examples of lectin-(glycoconjugate pattern) strategies,  approaches and tactic variants in study and development of  anticancer treatments, principle variants of therapy, possible  vaccines in 35 cases of blood connected tumors (leukemia,  lymphomas, others), solid tumors (carcinomas, sarcoma, cancers of vaginal biotopes, prostate, bladder, colon, other intestinal  compartments, pancreas, liver, kidneys, others) and cancer cell lines  are described and systemized. The list of mostly used communicative lectins (pattern recognition receptors, their soluble forms, other  soluble lectins possessing specificities of importance) involving in key intercellular cascades and pathway co-functioning is presented. The  regulation of resulting expression of distinct active lectins (available and hetero/di/oligomeric forms) and their interaction to  adequate glycoconjugate patterns as well as influence distribution of  co-functioning lectins and antigens CD between populations and  subpopulations of antigen-presented cells (dendritic cells cDC, mDC,  moDC, pDC; macrophages M2 and M1), mucosal M-cells, NK-cells  play key role for choice and development of anticancer complex  procedures increasing innate and innate-coupled immune responses.  Prospects of (receptor lectin)-dependent intercellular  communications and targeting glycoconjugate constructions into  innate immunity cells for therapy of cancer and development of anticancer vaccines are evaluated and discussed.

Deep RNA sequencing reveals the dynamic regulation of miRNA, lncRNAs, and mRNAs in osteosarcoma tumorigenesis and pulmonary metastasis

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common pediatric malignant bone tumor, and occurrence of pulmonary metastasis generally causes a rapid and fatal outcome. Here we aimed to provide clues for exploring the mechanism of tumorigenesis and pulmonary metastasis for OS by comprehensive analysis of microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and mRNA expression in primary OS and OS pulmonary metastasis. In this study, deep sequencing with samples from primary OS (n = 3), pulmonary metastatic OS (n = 3), and normal controls (n = 3) was conducted and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) between primary OS and normal controls as well as pulmonary metastatic and primary OS were identified. A total of 65 DEmiRNAs, 233 DElncRNAs, and 1405 DEmRNAs were obtained between primary OS and normal controls; 48 DEmiRNAs, 50 DElncRNAs, and 307 DEmRNAs were obtained between pulmonary metastatic and primary OS. Then, the target DEmRNAs and DElncRNAs regulated by the same DEmiRNAs were searched and the OS tumorigenesis-related and OS pulmonary metastasis-related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed, respectively. Based on these ceRNA networks and Venn diagram analysis, we obtained 3 DEmiRNAs, 15 DElncRNAs, and 100 DEmRNAs, and eight target pairs including miR-223-5p/(CLSTN2, AC009951.1, LINC01705, AC090673.1), miR-378b/(ALX4, IGSF3, SULF1), and miR-323b-3p/TGFBR3 were involved in both tumorigenesis and pulmonary metastasis of OS. The TGF-β superfamily co-receptor TGFBR3, which is regulated by miR-323b-3p, acts as a tumor suppressor in OS tumorigenesis and acts as a tumor promoter in pulmonary metastatic OS via activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program.In conclusion, the OS transcriptome (miRNA, lncRNA, and mRNA) is dynamically regulated. These analyses might provide new clues to uncover the molecular mechanisms and signaling networks that contribute to OS progression, toward patient-tailored and novel-targeted treatments.

Pancreatic stellate cells reorganize matrix components and lead pancreatic cancer invasion via the function of Endo180

Specific cell populations leading the local invasion of cancer are called "leading cells". However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identified leading cells in pancreatic cancer and determined how these cells lead and promote cancer cell invasion in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Using three-dimensional matrix remodeling assay, we found that pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) frequently invaded the collagen matrix with pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs), which invaded behind the invading PSCs. In addition, invading PSCs changed the alignment of collagen fibers, resulting in ECM remodeling and an increase in the parallel fibers along the direction of invading PSCs. Endo180 expression was higher in PSCs than in PCCs, Endo180 knockdown in PSCs attenuated the invasive abilities of PSCs and co-cultured PCCs, and decreased the expression level of phosphorylated myosin light chain 2 (MLC2). In mouse models, Endo180-knockdown PSCs suppressed tumor growth and changes in collagen fiber orientation in co-transplantation with PCCs. Our findings suggest that PSCs lead the local invasion of PCCs by physically remodeling the ECM, possibly via the function of Endo180, which reconstructs the actin cell skeleton by phosphorylation of MLC2.