|
1
|
Tian Q, Guo H, Zhang M, Jiang K, Hu F, Xu Y, Wan L, Zhou X, Pan Y, Liu W, Jiang CY. NETs activate the GAS6-AXL-NLRP3 axis in macrophages to drive morphine tolerance. Cell Commun Signal 2025; 23:181. [PMID: 40217343 PMCID: PMC11992818 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-025-02181-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/14/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of morphine tolerance presents a major clinical challenge in the effective management of severe pain. This study aims to explore the mechanisms underlying morphine tolerance from a novel perspective, with the ultimate goal of uncovering new insights and identifying promising therapeutic targets for its treatment. METHODS C57BL/6J mice were used in the tail-flick test to evaluate morphine tolerance. Neutrophils derived from mouse bone marrow were employed to investigate the mechanisms underlying morphine-induced NETs formation. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were harvested from the femur and tibia to study the role of NETs-induced inflammation in analgesic tolerance. Proinflammatory cytokines were measured using Western blotting and real-time PCR. The levels of NETs and the TLR7/9-NLRP3-related signaling pathway were assessed through Western blotting, real-time PCR, and ELISA. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was utilized to visualize NETs in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and in cells. RESULTS Our experiments demonstrated that the levels of NETs in the plasma of patients using morphine for analgesia, as well as in morphine-tolerant animals, were significantly elevated. Genetic elimination of Pad4, neutrophil depletion, and treatment with DNase 1 and RNase A to disrupt NETs formation all effectively alleviated morphine tolerance. These findings indicate that NETs play a critical role in the development of morphine tolerance. Mechanistically, we discovered that morphine-induced NETs can be engulfed by macrophages through the GAS6-AXL axis, which subsequently triggers the activation of the TLR7/TLR9-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to significantly increased levels of IL-1β and IL-18, and ultimately contributing to tolerance. Deletion of Axl, Gas6, or Nlrp3 each significantly improved morphine tolerance. Furthermore, in the murine model, treatment with the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra and the IL-18 decoy receptor IL-18BP prevented the development of morphine tolerance. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies morphine-induced NETs as a key contributor to morphine tolerance, with the GAS6-AXL-TLR7/9 axis emerging as a potential therapeutic target. Strategies focused on disrupting NETs and modulating this axis may offer a promising approach to combat morphine tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingyan Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Haiyue Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Mengyao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Kunmao Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Fan Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Pain, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Wan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Xiaokai Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China
| | - Yinbing Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Wentao Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China.
| | - Chun-Yi Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China.
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Nturubika BDD, Logan J, Johnson IRD, Moore C, Li KL, Tang J, Lam G, Parkinson-Lawrence E, Williams DB, Chakiris J, Hindes M, Brooks RD, Miles MA, Selemidis S, Gregory P, Weigert R, Butler L, Ward MP, Waugh DJJ, O’Leary JJ, Brooks DA. Components of the Endosome-Lysosome Vesicular Machinery as Drivers of the Metastatic Cascade in Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 17:43. [PMID: 39796673 PMCID: PMC11718918 DOI: 10.3390/cancers17010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2024] [Revised: 12/16/2024] [Accepted: 12/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2025] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer remains a significant global health concern, with over 1.4 million new cases diagnosed and more than 330,000 deaths each year. The primary clinical challenge that contributes to poor patient outcomes involves the failure to accurately predict and treat at the onset of metastasis, which remains an incurable stage of the disease. This review discusses the emerging paradigm that prostate cancer metastasis is driven by a dysregulation of critical molecular machinery that regulates endosome-lysosome homeostasis. Endosome and lysosome compartments have crucial roles in maintaining normal cellular function but are also involved in many hallmarks of cancer pathogenesis, including inflammation, immune response, nutrient sensing, metabolism, proliferation, signalling, and migration. Here we discuss new insight into how alterations in the complex network of trafficking machinery, responsible for the microtubule-based transport of endosomes and lysosomes, may be involved in prostate cancer progression. A better understanding of endosome-lysosome dynamics may facilitate the discovery of novel strategies to detect and manage prostate cancer metastasis and improve patient outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bukuru Dieu-Donne Nturubika
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Jessica Logan
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Ian R. D. Johnson
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Courtney Moore
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Ka Lok Li
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Jingying Tang
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Giang Lam
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (G.L.); (P.G.); (D.J.J.W.)
| | - Emma Parkinson-Lawrence
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Desmond B. Williams
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - James Chakiris
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Madison Hindes
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Robert D. Brooks
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Mark A. Miles
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (M.A.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Stavros Selemidis
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (M.A.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Philip Gregory
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (G.L.); (P.G.); (D.J.J.W.)
| | - Roberto Weigert
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Lisa Butler
- South Australian ImmunoGENomics Cancer Institute, Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia;
- Solid Tumour Program, Precision Cancer Medicine Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Mark P. Ward
- Department of Pathology, The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, D08 XW7X Dublin, Ireland;
| | - David J. J. Waugh
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (G.L.); (P.G.); (D.J.J.W.)
| | - John J. O’Leary
- Department of Histopathology, Trinity College Dublin, D08 XW7X Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Douglas A. Brooks
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.L.); (C.M.); (K.L.L.); (J.T.); (E.P.-L.); (D.B.W.); (J.C.); (M.H.); (R.D.B.)
- Department of Histopathology, Trinity College Dublin, D08 XW7X Dublin, Ireland;
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Patil D, Bhatt LK. Novel Therapeutic Avenues for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2023; 23:623-640. [PMID: 37670168 DOI: 10.1007/s40256-023-00609-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complicated, heterogeneous genetic condition that causes left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, hypercontractility, and decreased compliance. Despite the advances made over the past 3 decades in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms aggravating HCM, the relationship between pathophysiological stress stimuli and distinctive myocyte growth profiles is still imprecise. Currently, mavacamten, a selective and reversible inhibitor of cardiac myosin ATPase, is the only drug approved by the US FDA for the treatment of HCM. Thus, there is an unmet need for developing novel disease-specific therapeutic approaches. This article provides an overview of emerging therapeutic targets for the treatment of HCM based on various molecular pathways and novel developments that are hopefully soon to enter the clinical study. These newly discovered targets include the dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1B, the absence of the melanoma 1 inflammasome, the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 enzyme, and the cluster of differentiation 147.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dipti Patil
- Department of Pharmacology, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai, 400056, India
| | - Lokesh Kumar Bhatt
- Department of Pharmacology, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai, 400056, India.
| |
Collapse
|
|
4
|
Mylvaganam S, Freeman SA. The resolution of phagosomes. Immunol Rev 2023; 319:45-64. [PMID: 37551912 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Phagocytosis is a fundamental immunobiological process responsible for the removal of harmful particulates. While the number of phagocytic events achieved by a single phagocyte can be remarkable, exceeding hundreds per day, the same phagocytic cells are relatively long-lived. It should therefore be obvious that phagocytic meals must be resolved in order to maintain the responsiveness of the phagocyte and to avoid storage defects. In this article, we discuss the mechanisms involved in the resolution process, including solute transport pathways and membrane traffic. We describe how products liberated in phagolysosomes support phagocyte metabolism and the immune response. We also speculate on mechanisms involved in the redistribution of phagosomal metabolites back to circulation. Finally, we highlight the pathologies owed to impaired phagosome resolution, which range from storage disorders to neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sivakami Mylvaganam
- Program in Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Spencer A Freeman
- Program in Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
|
5
|
Chen X, Zheng J, Li T, Liu C, Bao M, Wang X, Li X, Li J, Huang L, Zhang Z, Weng C. Coreceptor AXL Facilitates African Swine Fever Virus Entry via Apoptotic Mimicry. J Virol 2023; 97:e0061623. [PMID: 37382521 PMCID: PMC10373532 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00616-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is an acute and hemorrhagic infectious disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), which is listed as an animal epidemic disease that must be reported by The World Organization for Animal Health and that causes serious economic losses to China and even the whole world. Currently, the entry mechanism of ASFV is not fully understood. Especially in the early stages of virus entry, the host factors required for ASFV entry have not yet been identified and characterized. In this study, we demonstrated that ASFV externalized phosphatidylserine (PS) on the envelope functioned as viral apoptotic mimicry, which interacts with AXL, a tyrosine kinase receptor, to mediate ASFV entry into porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). We found that AXL was the most pronounced phosphatidylserine receptor (PSR) affecting ASFV entry in PAMs by RNA interference screening. Knockout AXL gene expression remarkably decreased ASFV internalization and replication in MA104 cells. Furthermore, the antibody against AXL extracellular domains effectively inhibited the ASFV entry. Consistent with these results, the deletion of the intracellular kinase domain of AXL and the treatment of the AXL inhibitor, R428, significantly inhibited the internalization of ASFV. Mechanistically, AXL facilitated the internalization of ASFV virions via macropinocytosis. Collectively, we provide evidence that AXL is a coreceptor for ASFV entry into PAMs, which expands our knowledge of ASFV entry and provides a theoretical basis for identifying new antiviral targets. IMPORTANCE African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), with a mortality rate of up to 100%. ASFV has caused huge economic losses to pig farming worldwide. Specific cellular surface receptors are considered crucial determinants of ASFV tropism. However, the host factors required for ASFV entry have not yet been identified, and the molecular mechanism of its entry remains unclear. Here, we found that ASFV utilized phosphatidylserine (PS) on the surface of virions to masquerade as apoptotic mimicry and facilitated virus entry by interacting with host factor AXL. We found that knockout of AXL remarkably decreased ASFV internalization and replication. The antibody against AXL extracellular domains and AXL inhibitor R428 significantly inhibited the internalization of ASFV via macropinocytosis. The current work deepens our understanding of ASFV entry and provides clues for the development of antiviral drugs to control ASFV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Harbin, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Harbin, China
| | - Chuanxia Liu
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
| | - Miaofei Bao
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
| | - Xuewen Li
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
| | - Jiangnan Li
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Harbin, China
| | - Li Huang
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Harbin, China
| | - Zhaoxia Zhang
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Harbin, China
| | - Changjiang Weng
- Division of Fundamental Immunology, National African Swine Fever Para-reference Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Harbin, China
| |
Collapse
|
|
6
|
Elfmark LA, Wenzel EM, Wang L, Pedersen NM, Stenmark H, Raiborg C. Protrudin-mediated ER-endosome contact sites promote phagocytosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:216. [PMID: 37468729 PMCID: PMC10356898 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04862-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
During phagocytosis, endosomes both contribute with membrane to forming phagosomes and promote phagosome maturation. However, how these vesicles are delivered to the phagocytic cup and the phagosome has been unknown. Here, we show that Protrudin-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-endosome contact sites facilitate anterograde translocation of FYCO1 and VAMP7-positive late endosomes and lysosomes (LELys) to forming phagocytic cups in a retinal pigment epithelial-derived cell line (RPE1). Protrudin-dependent phagocytic cup formation required SYT7, which promotes fusion of LELys with the plasma membrane. RPE1 cells perform phagocytosis of dead cells (efferocytosis) that expose phosphatidylserine (PS) on their surface. Exogenous addition of apoptotic bodies increased the formation of phagocytic cups, which further increased when Protrudin was overexpressed. Overexpression of Protrudin also led to elevated uptake of silica beads coated with PS. Conversely, Protrudin depletion or abrogation of ER-endosome contact sites inhibited phagocytic cup formation resulting in reduced uptake of PS-coated beads. Thus, the Protrudin pathway delivers endosomes to facilitate formation of the phagocytic cup important for PS-dependent phagocytosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liv Anker Elfmark
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eva Maria Wenzel
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ling Wang
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nina Marie Pedersen
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Harald Stenmark
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Camilla Raiborg
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
|
7
|
Rizzi M, D'Onghia D, Tonello S, Minisini R, Colangelo D, Bellan M, Castello LM, Gavelli F, Avanzi GC, Pirisi M, Sainaghi PP. COVID-19 Biomarkers at the Crossroad between Patient Stratification and Targeted Therapy: The Role of Validated and Proposed Parameters. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087099. [PMID: 37108262 PMCID: PMC10138390 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms and COVID-19 pathophysiology have enormously increased during the pandemic. Nevertheless, because of the great heterogeneity of disease manifestations, a precise patient stratification at admission is still difficult, thus rendering a rational allocation of limited medical resources as well as a tailored therapeutic approach challenging. To date, many hematologic biomarkers have been validated to support the early triage of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients and to monitor their disease progression. Among them, some indices have proven to be not only predictive parameters, but also direct or indirect pharmacological targets, thus allowing for a more tailored approach to single-patient symptoms, especially in those with severe progressive disease. While many blood test-derived parameters quickly entered routine clinical practice, other circulating biomarkers have been proposed by several researchers who have investigated their reliability in specific patient cohorts. Despite their usefulness in specific contexts as well as their potential interest as therapeutic targets, such experimental markers have not been implemented in routine clinical practice, mainly due to their higher costs and low availability in general hospital settings. This narrative review will present an overview of the most commonly adopted biomarkers in clinical practice and of the most promising ones emerging from specific population studies. Considering that each of the validated markers reflects a specific aspect of COVID-19 evolution, embedding new highly informative markers into routine clinical testing could help not only in early patient stratification, but also in guiding a timely and tailored method of therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Rizzi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Davide D'Onghia
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Stelvio Tonello
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Rosalba Minisini
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Donato Colangelo
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Mattia Bellan
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Luigi Mario Castello
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Francesco Gavelli
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Gian Carlo Avanzi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Mario Pirisi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Sainaghi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
|
8
|
Rizzi M, Tonello S, D’Onghia D, Sainaghi PP. Gas6/TAM Axis Involvement in Modulating Inflammation and Fibrosis in COVID-19 Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24020951. [PMID: 36674471 PMCID: PMC9861142 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24020951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gas6 (growth arrest-specific gene 6) is a widely expressed vitamin K-dependent protein that is involved in many biological processes such as homeostatic regulation, inflammation and repair/fibrotic processes. It is known that it is the main ligand of TAMs, a tyrosine kinase receptor family of three members, namely MerTK, Tyro-3 and Axl, for which it displays the highest affinity. Gas6/TAM axis activation is known to be involved in modulating inflammatory responses as well as fibrotic evolution in many different pathological conditions. Due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, this review will focus on Gas6/TAM axis activation in SARS-CoV-2 infection, where de-regulated inflammatory responses and fibrosis represent a relevant feature of severe disease manifestation. Furthermore, this review will highlight the most recent scientific evidence supporting an unsuspected role of Axl as a SARS-CoV-2 infection driver, and the potential therapeutic advantages of the use of existing Axl inhibitors in COVID-19 management. From a physiological point of view, the Gas6/TAM axis plays a dual role, fostering the tissue repair processes or leading to organ damage and loss of function, depending on the prevalence of its anti-inflammatory or profibrotic properties. This review makes a strong case for further research focusing on the Gas6/TAM axis as a pharmacological target to manage different disease conditions, such as chronic fibrosis or COVID-19.
Collapse
|