Engagement of PSGL-1 upregulates CSF-1 transcription via a mechanism that may involve Syk

Preclinical Efficacy of VTX-0811: A Humanized First-in-Class PSGL-1 mAb Targeting TAMs to Suppress Tumor Growth

Omnipresent suppressive myeloid populations in the tumor microenvironment limit the efficacy of T-cell-directed immunotherapies, become more inhibitory after administration of T-cell checkpoint inhibitors, and are overall associated with worse survival of cancer patients. In early clinical trials, positive outcomes have been demonstrated for therapies aimed at repolarizing suppressive myeloid populations in the tumor microenvironment. We have previously described the key role of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in maintaining an inhibitory state of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), most of which express high levels of PSGL-1. Here we describe a novel, first-in-class humanized high-affinity monoclonal antibody VTX-0811 that repolarizes human macrophages from an M2-suppressive phenotype towards an M1 inflammatory phenotype, similar to siRNA-mediated knockdown of PSGL-1. VTX-0811 binds to PSGL-1 of human and cynomolgus macaque origins without inhibiting PSGL-1 interaction with P- and L-Selectins or VISTA. In multi-cellular assays and in patient-derived human tumor cultures, VTX-0811 leads to the induction of pro-inflammatory mediators. RNAseq data from VTX-0811 treated ex vivo tumor cultures and M2c macrophages show similar pathways being modulated, indicating that the mechanism of action translates from isolated macrophages to tumors. A chimeric version of VTX-0811, consisting of the parental murine antibody in a human IgG4 backbone, inhibits tumor growth in a humanized mouse model of cancer. VTX-0811 is exceptionally well tolerated in NHP toxicology assessment and is heading into clinical evaluation after successful IND clearance.

Enhanced interaction between genome-edited mesenchymal stem cells and platelets improves wound healing in mice

Impaired wound healing poses a significant burden on the healthcare system and patients. Stem cell therapy has demonstrated promising potential in the treatment of wounds. However, its clinical application is hindered by the low efficiency of cell homing. In this study, we successfully integrated P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) into the genome of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) using a Cas9-AAV6-based genome editing tool platform. Our findings revealed that PSGL-1 knock-in enhanced the binding of ADSCs to platelets and their adhesion to the injured site. Moreover, the intravenous infusion of PSGL-1 -engineered ADSCs (KI-ADSCs) significantly improved the homing efficiency and residence rate at the site of skin lesions in mice. Mechanistically, PSGL-1 knock-in promotes the release of some therapeutic cytokines by activating the canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway and accelerates the healing of wounds by promoting angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, and granulation tissue formation at the wound site. This study provides a novel strategy to simultaneously address the problem of poor migration and adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand 1: A Potential HIV-1 Therapeutic Target

Antiretroviral therapy (ART), which is a life-long therapeutic option, remains the only currently effective clinical method to treat HIV-1 infection. However, ART may be toxic to vital organs including the liver, brain, heart, and kidneys, and may result in systemic complications. In this context, to consider HIV-1 restriction factors from the innate immune system to explore novel HIV therapeutics is likely to be a promising investigative strategy. In light of this, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1) has recently become the object of close scrutiny as a recognized cell adhesion molecule, and has become a major focus of academic study, as researchers believe that PSGL-1 may represent a novel area of interest in the research inquiry into the field of immune checkpoint inhibition. In this article, we review PSGL-1's structure and functions during infection and/or inflammation. We also outline a comprehensive review of its role and potential therapeutic utility during HIV-1 infection as published in contemporary academic literature.

Identification of co-expression network correlated with different periods of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA)

BACKGROUND

The differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells is a complex and dynamic process. The gene expression pattern and mechanism of different periods of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation remain unclear. Additionally, the interaction between these two lineage determination requires further exploration.

RESULTS

Five modules that were most significantly associated with osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs were selected for further investigation. Biological terms (e.g. ribosome biogenesis, TNF-α signalling pathway, glucose import and fatty acid metabolism) along with hub transcription factors (e.g. PPARG and YY1) and hub miRNAs (e.g. hsa-mir-26b-5p) were enriched in different modules. The expression pattern of 6 hub genes, ADIPOQ, FABP4, SLC7A5, SELPLG, BIRC3, and KLHL30 was validated by RT-qPCR. Finally, cell staining experiments extended the findings of bioinformatics analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the key genes, biological functions, and regulators of each time point of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and provided novel evidence and ideas for further research on the differentiation of BMSCs.

PSGL-1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for CD4+ T Cell Cancer Immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibition targeting T cells has shown tremendous promise in the treatment of many cancer types and are now standard therapies for patients. While standard therapies have focused on PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade, additional immune checkpoints have shown promise in promoting anti-tumor immunity. PSGL-1, primarily known for its role in cellular migration, has also been shown to function as a negative regulator of CD4+ T cells in numerous disease settings including cancer. PSGL-1 is highly expressed on T cells and can engage numerous ligands that impact signaling pathways, which may modulate CD4+ T cell differentiation and function. PSGL-1 engagement in the tumor microenvironment may promote CD4+ T cell exhaustion pathways that favor tumor growth. Here we highlight that blocking the PSGL-1 pathway on CD4+ T cells may represent a new cancer therapy approach to eradicate tumors.

c-Abl-Mediated Tyrosine Phosphorylation of PARP1 Is Crucial for Expression of Proinflammatory Genes

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a rapid and transient posttranslational protein modification mostly catalyzed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1). Fundamental roles of activated PARP1 in DNA damage repair and cellular response pathways are well established; however, the precise mechanisms by which PARP1 is activated independent of DNA damage, and thereby playing a role in expression of inflammatory genes, remain poorly understood. In this study, we show that, in response to LPS or TNF-α exposure, the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl undergoes nuclear translocation and interacts with and phosphorylates PARP1 at the conserved Y829 site. Tyrosine-phosphorylated PARP1 is required for protein poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of RelA/p65 and NF-κB-dependent expression of proinflammatory genes in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages, human monocytic THP1 cells, or mouse lungs. Furthermore, LPS-induced airway lung inflammation was reduced by inhibition of c-Abl activity. The present study elucidated a novel signaling pathway to activate PARP1 and regulate gene expression, suggesting that blocking the interaction of c-Abl with PARP1 or pharmaceutical inhibition of c-Abl may improve the outcomes of PARP1 activation-mediated inflammatory diseases.

PSGL-1: A New Player in the Immune Checkpoint Landscape

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) has long been studied as an adhesion molecule involved in immune cell trafficking and is recognized as a regulator of many facets of immune responses by myeloid cells. PSGL-1 also regulates T cell migration during homeostasis and inflammatory settings. However, recent findings indicate that PSGL-1 can also negatively regulate T cell function. Because T cell differentiation is finely tuned by multiple positive and negative regulatory signals that appropriately scale the magnitude of the immune response, PSGL-1 has emerged as an important checkpoint during this process. We summarize what is known regarding PSGL-1 structure and function and highlight how it may act as an immune checkpoint inhibitor in T cells.

PI3K is involved in β1 integrin clustering by PSGL-1 and promotes β1 integrin-mediated Jurkat cell adhesion to fibronectin

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is involved in the initial step of lymphocyte homing by interacting with P- or E-selectins expressed on activated endothelium cells. Besides, it also functions as a receptor to induce signals that increase integrin affinity to ligands and mediate cell adhesion to endothelium. Integrin is required for the second step of lymphocyte homing, whose activation has been reported tightly regulated by inside-out signals triggered by chemokines or the shear-stress generated during lymphocyte rolling on endothelium. However, the relationship between PSGL-1-triggered signals and integrin activation is not clear. In this study, we demonstrated that PSGL-1 ligation induces β1 integrin-mediated adhesion to fibronectin via regulation of both β1 subunit clustering and conformation changes. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is required for PSGL-1-induced β1 integrin clustering which ultimately regulates β1 integrin-mediated Jurkat cell adhesion to fibronectin. However, PI3K is not involved in the conformation changes or increases in the total expression of β1 integrin. Taken together, we found a novel signal pathway, PSGL-1-PI3K-β1 integrin, demonstrating the cooperation between initial adhesion and subsequent arrest and stable adhesion.

Lipid Raft is required for PSGL-1 ligation induced HL-60 cell adhesion on ICAM-1

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) and integrins are adhesion molecules that play critical roles in host defense and innate immunity. PSGL-1 mediates leukocyte rolling and primes leukocytes for integrin-mediated adhesion. However, the mechanism that PSGL-1 as a rolling receptor in regulating integrin activation has not been well characterized. Here, we investigate the function of lipid raft in regulating PSGL-1 induced β2 integrin-mediated HL-60 cells adhesion. PSGL-1 ligation with antibody enhances the β2 integrin activation and β2 integrin-dependent adhesion to ICAM-1. Importantly, with the treatment of methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), we confirm the role of lipid raft in regulating the activation of β2 integrin. Furthermore, we find that the protein level of PSGL-1 decreased in raft fractions in MβCD treated cells. PSGL-1 ligation induces the recruitment of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a tyrosine kinase and Vav1 (the pivotal downstream effector of Syk signaling pathway involved in cytoskeleton regulation) to lipid raft. Inhibition of Syk activity with pharmacologic inhibitor strongly reduces HL-60 cells adhesion, implicating Syk is crucial for PSGL-1 mediated β2 integrin activation. Taken together, we report that ligation of PSGL-1 on HL-60 cells activates β2 integrin, for which lipid raft integrity and Syk activation are responsible. These findings have shed new light on the mechanisms that connect leukocyte initial rolling with subsequent adhesion.

p85-RhoGDI2, a novel complex, is required for PSGL-1-induced β1 integrin-mediated lymphocyte adhesion to VCAM-1

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 and β1 integrin play essential roles in T cell trafficking during inflammation. E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 are their ligands expressed on inflammation-activated endothelium. During the tethering and rolling of lymphocytes on endothelium, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 binds E-selectin and induces signals. Subsequently, β1 integrin is activated and mediates stable adhesion. However, the intracellular signal pathways from PSGL-1 to β1 integrin have not yet been fully understood. Here, we find that p85, a regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, forms a novel complex with Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor-2, a lymphocyte-specific RhoGTPases dissociation inhibitor. Phosporylations of the p85-bound Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor-2 on 130 and 153 tyrosine residues by c-Abl and Src were required for the complex to be recruited to P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 and thereby regulate β1 integrin-mediated T cell adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. Both shRNAs to Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor-2 and p85 and over-expression of Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor-2 Y130F and Y153F significantly reduced the above-mentioned adhesion. Although Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor-2 in the p85-Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor-2 complex was also phosphorylated on 24 tyrosine residue by Syk, the phosphorylation is not required for the adhesion. Taken together, we find that specific phosphorylations on 130 and 153 tyrosine residues of p85-bound Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor-2 are pivotal for P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1-induced β1 integrin-mediated lymphocyte adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. This will shed new light on the mechanisms that connect leukocyte initial rolling with subsequent adhesion.

Cytokine secretion from human monocytes potentiated by P-selectin-mediated cell adhesion

BACKGROUND/AIM

P-selectin is a carbohydrate-recognizing cell adhesion molecule expressed on activated platelets and endothelial cells. It plays a crucial role in the recruitment of leukocytes to inflammatory and hemorrhagic sites. Cell adhesion mediated by P-selectin induces leukocyte activation, such as the generation of reactive oxygen species and the expression of blood coagulation factors. We assessed how P-selectin-mediated cell adhesion affects cytokine secretion from monocytes.

METHODS

Human peripheral blood monocytes were cultured in a plate that had been coated with P-selectin purified from human platelets, and cytokines released in the culture supernatant from monocytes were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

The secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β increased 3- to 10-fold in response to P-selectin compared with unstimulated monocytes. We next examined the effects of cytokine treatment of monocytes on their susceptibility to P-selectin. The secretion of TNF-α from monocytes in response to P-selectin was increased when monocytes were preincubated with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 or interferon-γ (IFN-γ); IFN-γ was the most effective in potentiating TNF-α secretion from monocytes.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the interaction of monocytes with P-selectin plays an important role not only in their trafficking but also in the regulation of cytokine production by these cells.

Primary effusion lymphoma: genomic profiling revealed amplification of SELPLG and CORO1C encoding for proteins important for cell migration

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is associated with Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Many KSHV-associated products can deregulate cellular pathways commonly targeted in cancer. However, KSHV infection alone is insufficient for malignant transformation. PEL also lacks the chromosomal translocations seen in other lymphoma subtypes. We investigated 28 PELs and ten PEL cell lines by 1 Mb resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and found frequent gains of 1q21-41 (47%), 4q28.3-35 (29%), 7q (58%), 8q (63%), 11 (32%), 12 (61%), 17q (29%), 19p (34%), and 20q (34%), and losses of 4q (32%), 11q25 (29%), and 14q32 (63%). Recurrent focal amplification was seen at several regions on chromosomes 7, 8, and 12. High-resolution chromosome-specific tile-path array CGH confirmed these findings, and identified selectin-P ligand (SELPLG) and coronin-1C (CORO1C) as the targets of a cryptic amplification at 12q24.11. Interphase FISH and quantitative PCR showed SELPLG/CORO1C amplification (>4 extra copies) and low levels of copy number gain (1-4 extra copies) in 23% of PELs, respectively. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong expression of both SELPLG and coronin-1C in the majority of PELs, irrespective of their gene dosage. SELPLG is critical for cell migration and chemotaxis, while CORO1C regulates actin-dependent processes, thus important for cell motility. Their overexpression in PEL is expected to play an important role in its pathogenesis.

Overexpression of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 enhances adhesive properties of endothelial progenitor cells through Syk activation

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) not only functions as an anchor molecule to capture monocytes and other leukocytes to endothelial cells in ischemic tissue by its interaction with P-selectin, but also transduces signals to initiate firm adhesion. Endothelial progenitor cells are derived from monocytes and play a very important role in neovascularization. Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells is a promising therapeutic strategy to improve treatment of ischemic disease such as myocardial and cerebral infarction; however, its efficacy is now limited by the fact that few of the transplanted cells adhere to and accumulate in the ischemic tissue. In this study we aimed to investigate whether the overexpression of PSGL-1 gene promotes endothelial progenitor cells adhesion activity and explore the underlying mechanisms. We found that after transfection with human PSGL-1 gene, endothelial progenitor cells exhibited higher affinity to activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells or recombined P-selectin/ICAM-1 monolayer. The overexpression of PSGL-1-enhanced beta2-integrin expression on endothelial progenitor cells surface, and this effect was Syk dependent. The specific Syk inhibitor abolished the elevating effect of overexpression of PSGL-1 on surface beta2-integrin expression and the adhesive affinity of endothelial progenitor cells. These results suggested that Syk plays a key role in signal transduction downstream of PSGL-1 in endothelial progenitor cells, and the overexpression of PSGL-1 improves endothelial progenitor cells adhesive properties through enhanced activation of Syk and following integrin activation.

PSGL-1 function in immunity and steady state homeostasis

The substantial importance of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1) in leukocyte trafficking has continued to emerge beyond its initial identification as a selectin ligand. PSGL-1 seemed to be a relatively simple molecule with an extracellular mucin domain extended as a flexible rod, teleologically consistent with its primary role in tethering leukocytes to endothelial selectins. The rolling interaction between leukocyte and endothelium mediated by this selectin-PSGL-1 interaction requires branched O-glycan extensions on specific PSGL-1 amino acid residues. In some cells, such as neutrophils, the glycosyltransferases involved in formation of the O-glycans are constitutively expressed, while in other cells, such as T cells, they are expressed only after appropriate activation. Thus, PSGL-1 supports leukocyte recruitment in both innate and adaptive arms of the immune response. A complex array of amino acids within the selectins engage multiple sugar residues of the branched O-glycans on PSGL-1 and provide the molecular interactions responsible for the velcro-like catch bonds that support leukocyte rolling. Such binding of PSGL-1 can also induce signaling events that influence cell phenotype and function. Scrutiny of PSGL-1 has revealed a better understanding of how it performs as a selectin ligand and yielded unexpected insights that extend its scope from supporting leukocyte rolling in inflammatory settings to homeostasis including stem cell homing to the thymus and mature T-cell homing to secondary lymphoid organs. PSGL-1 has been found to bind homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 and to support the chemotactic response to these chemokines. Surprisingly, the O-glycan modifications of PSGL-1 that support rolling mediated by selectins in inflammatory conditions interfere with PSGL-1 binding to homeostatic chemokines and thereby limit responsiveness to the chemotactic cues used in steady state T-cell traffic. The multi-level influence of PSGL-1 on cell traffic in both inflammatory and steady state settings is therefore substantially determined by the orchestrated addition of O-glycans. However, central as specific O-glycosylation is to PSGL-1 function, in vivo regulation of PSGL-1 glycosylation in T cells remains poorly understood. It is our purpose herein to review what is known, and not known, of PSGL-1 glycosylation and to update understanding of PSGL-1 functional scope.

Redistribution of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in chemokine-treated neutrophils: a role of lipid microdomains

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is a mucin-like cell adhesion molecule expressed on leukocyte plasma membranes and involved in platelet-leukocyte and endothelium-leukocyte interactions. The treatment of neutrophils with a low concentration of IL-8 induced the redistribution of PSGL-1 to one end of the cell to form a cap-like structure. We investigated the role of lipid microdomains in the redistribution of PSGL-1 and its effect on the adhesive characteristics of IL-8-treated neutrophils. The redistribution of PSGL-1 induced by IL-8 was inhibited by cholesterol-perturbing agents such as methyl-beta-cyclodextrin and filipin. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation analysis revealed that PSGL-1 was enriched in a low-density fraction together with the GM1 ganglioside after solubilization of the cell membranes with a nonionic detergent, Brij 58. However, when Triton X-100 was used for the solubilization, PSGL-1 was no longer recovered in the low-density fraction, although GM1 ganglioside remained in the low-density fraction. Furthermore, immunofluorescence microscopic observation demonstrated that the localization of PSGL-1 differed from that of GM1 ganglioside, suggesting that PSGL-1 is associated with a microdomain distinct from that containing the GM1 ganglioside. Treatment of neutrophils with IL-8 increased the formation of microaggregates composed of neutrophils and activated platelets, and this treatment also enhanced reactive oxygen species production in neutrophils induced by the cross-linking of PSGL-1 with antibodies. These results suggest that the association of PSGL-1 with lipid microdomains is essential for its redistribution induced by IL-8 stimulation and that the redistribution modulates neutrophil functions mediated by interactions with P-selectin.

Lipid raft adhesion receptors and Syk regulate selectin-dependent rolling under flow conditions

Selectins and their ligand P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) mediate leukocyte rolling along inflamed vessels. Cell rolling is modulated by selectin interactions with their ligands and by topographic requirements including L-selectin and PSGL-1 clustering on tips of leukocyte microvilli. Lipid rafts are cell membrane microdomains reported to function as signaling platforms. Here, we show that disruption of leukocyte lipid rafts with cholesterol chelating agents depleted raft-associated PSGL-1 and L-selectin and strongly reduced L-, P-, and E-selectin-dependent rolling. Cholesterol repletion reversed inhibition of cell rolling. Importantly, leukocyte rolling on P-selectin induced the recruitment of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a tyrosine kinase associated to lipid raft PSGL-1. Furthermore, inhibition of Syk activity or expression, with pharmacologic inhibitors or by RNA interference, strongly reduced leukocyte rolling on P-selectin, but not on E-selectin or PSGL-1. These observations identify novel regulatory mechanisms of leukocyte rolling on selectins with a strong dependency on lipid raft integrity and Syk activity.