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Vosbeck K, Förster S, Mayr T, Sahu A, Haddouti EM, Al-Adilee O, Körber RM, Bisht S, Muders MH, Nesic S, Buness A, Kristiansen G, Schildberg FA, Gütgemann I. Neuropilin2 in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as a Potential Novel Therapeutic Target in Myelofibrosis. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1924. [PMID: 38792002 PMCID: PMC11119673 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow fibrosis in myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), MPN/MDS overlap syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with poor prognosis and early treatment failure. Myelofibrosis (MF) is accompanied by reprogramming of multipotent bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) into osteoid and fiber-producing stromal cells. We demonstrate NRP2 and osteolineage marker NCAM1 (neural cell adhesion molecule 1) expression within the endosteal niche in normal bone marrow and aberrantly in MPN, MDS MPN/MDS overlap syndromes and AML (n = 99), as assessed by immunohistochemistry. Increased and diffuse expression in mesenchymal stromal cells and osteoblasts correlates with high MF grade in MPN (p < 0.05 for NRP2 and NCAM1). Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) re-analysis demonstrated NRP2 expression in endothelial cells and partial co-expression of NRP2 and NCAM1 in normal MSC and osteoblasts. Potential ligands included transforming growth factor β1 (TGFB1) from osteoblasts and megakaryocytes. Murine ThPO and JAK2V617F myelofibrosis models showed co-expression of Nrp2 and Ncam1 in osteolineage cells, while fibrosis-promoting MSC only express Nrp2. In vitro experiments with MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts and analysis of Nrp2-/- mouse femurs suggest that Nrp2 is functionally involved in osteogenesis. In summary, NRP2 represents a potential novel druggable target in patients with myelofibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Vosbeck
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany (T.M.); (O.A.-A.); (M.H.M.); (G.K.)
| | - Sarah Förster
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany (T.M.); (O.A.-A.); (M.H.M.); (G.K.)
| | - Thomas Mayr
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany (T.M.); (O.A.-A.); (M.H.M.); (G.K.)
| | - Anshupa Sahu
- Institute for Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany;
| | - El-Mustapha Haddouti
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (E.-M.H.)
| | - Osamah Al-Adilee
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany (T.M.); (O.A.-A.); (M.H.M.); (G.K.)
| | - Ruth-Miriam Körber
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (R.-M.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Savita Bisht
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (R.-M.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Michael H. Muders
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany (T.M.); (O.A.-A.); (M.H.M.); (G.K.)
| | - Svetozar Nesic
- Core Unit for Bioinformatics Data Analysis, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (S.N.); (A.B.)
| | - Andreas Buness
- Core Unit for Bioinformatics Data Analysis, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (S.N.); (A.B.)
| | - Glen Kristiansen
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany (T.M.); (O.A.-A.); (M.H.M.); (G.K.)
| | - Frank A. Schildberg
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (E.-M.H.)
| | - Ines Gütgemann
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany (T.M.); (O.A.-A.); (M.H.M.); (G.K.)
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Dhupar R, Powers AA, Eisenberg SH, Gemmill RM, Bardawil CE, Udoh HM, Cubitt A, Nangle LA, Soloff AC. Orchestrating Resilience: How Neuropilin-2 and Macrophages Contribute to Cardiothoracic Disease. J Clin Med 2024; 13:1446. [PMID: 38592275 PMCID: PMC10934188 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13051446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunity has evolved to balance the destructive nature of inflammation with wound healing to overcome trauma, infection, environmental insults, and rogue malignant cells. The inflammatory response is marked by overlapping phases of initiation, resolution, and post-resolution remodeling. However, the disruption of these events can lead to prolonged tissue damage and organ dysfunction, resulting long-term disease states. Macrophages are the archetypic phagocytes present within all tissues and are important contributors to these processes. Pleiotropic and highly plastic in their responses, macrophages support tissue homeostasis, repair, and regeneration, all while balancing immunologic self-tolerance with the clearance of noxious stimuli, pathogens, and malignant threats. Neuropilin-2 (Nrp2), a promiscuous co-receptor for growth factors, semaphorins, and integrins, has increasingly been recognized for its unique role in tissue homeostasis and immune regulation. Notably, recent studies have begun to elucidate the role of Nrp2 in both non-hematopoietic cells and macrophages with cardiothoracic disease. Herein, we describe the unique role of Nrp2 in diseases of the heart and lung, with an emphasis on Nrp2 in macrophages, and explore the potential to target Nrp2 as a therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev Dhupar
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (R.D.); (H.M.U.)
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Surgical and Research Services, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA
| | - Amy A. Powers
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (R.D.); (H.M.U.)
| | - Seth H. Eisenberg
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (R.D.); (H.M.U.)
| | - Robert M. Gemmill
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Charles E. Bardawil
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (R.D.); (H.M.U.)
| | - Hannah M. Udoh
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (R.D.); (H.M.U.)
| | - Andrea Cubitt
- aTyr Pharma, San Diego, CA 92121, USA; (A.C.); (L.A.N.)
| | | | - Adam C. Soloff
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (R.D.); (H.M.U.)
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Surgical and Research Services, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA
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Mullen SA, Das D, Ziamiavaghi N, High R, Datta K, Teply BA. Association of plasma NRP2 and VEGF-C levels with prostate cancer disease severity. Prostate 2024; 84:277-284. [PMID: 37942701 PMCID: PMC10842186 DOI: 10.1002/pros.24648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropilin 2 (NRP2) expression in tissue is an independent prognostic factor for aggressive prostate cancer. Since the NRP2 pathway activation is thought to occur in part through secondary resistance, quantification of NRP2 in initial tissue biopsy specimens collected at diagnosis may have limited utility in identifying patients at highest risk for morbidity and mortality. Given that metastatic tissue is only occasionally obtained for analysis, there is a need for development of a plasma biomarker indicative of NRP2 pathway activation to potentially inform prostate cancer prognosis. Therefore, we investigated if plasma levels of NRP2 or vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), a known soluble ligand of NRP2, are prognostic for prostate cancer. We hypothesized that plasma NRP2 and VEGF-C would be associated with more advanced disease or relapsed disease. METHODS NRP2 and VEGF-C levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunoassay in plasma samples obtained from 145 prostate cancer patients in an opportunistic biobank. These patients were either (1) newly diagnosed (N = 28), (2) in remission (N = 56), or (3) relapsed disease (N = 61). Plasma samples from 15 adult males without known malignancy served as a comparator cohort. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the association of plasma NRP2/VEGF-C with patient outcomes, adjusting for age, race, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, and tumor stage at diagnosis. RESULTS Neither NRP2 nor VEGF-C levels were significantly different in cancer patients compared to noncancer controls. We observed no clear association between plasma NRP2 and disease severity. Increased plasma VEGF-C was significantly associated with disease remission and correlated with Stage I/II and intermediate-risk Gleason score. Neither NRP2 nor VEGF-C correlated with PSA level. CONCLUSIONS Although tissue NRP2 expression correlates with severe disease, this was not observed for plasma NRP2. Plasma NRP2 levels did not correlate with disease severity or relapse. VEGF-C was highest in patients in remission and with less severe disease. Future investigation is needed to identify noninvasive methods to assess tumor NRP2 status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Mullen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Dipanwita Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Negin Ziamiavaghi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Robin High
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kaustubh Datta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Benjamin A Teply
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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Verlinden L, Doms S, Janssens I, Meyer MB, Pike JW, Carmeliet G, Verstuyf A. Neuropilin 2 in osteoblasts regulates trabecular bone mass in male mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1223021. [PMID: 37600714 PMCID: PMC10436209 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1223021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Neuropilin 2 (NRP2) mediates the effects of class 3 semaphorins and vascular endothelial growth factor and is implicated in axonal guidance and angiogenesis. Moreover, NRP2 expression is suggested to be involved in the regulation of bone homeostasis. Indeed, osteoblasts and osteoclasts express NRP2 and male and female global Nrp2 knockout mice have a reduced bone mass accompanied by reduced osteoblast and increased osteoclast counts. Methods We first examined the in vitro effect of the calciotropic hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] on Nrp2 transcription in osteoblasts. We next generated mice with a conditional deletion of Nrp2 in the osteoblast cell lineage under control of the paired related homeobox 1 promoter and mice with a conditional Nrp2 knockdown in osteoclasts under control of the Lysozyme promoter. Mice were examined under basal conditions or after treatment with either the bone anabolic vitamin D3 analog WY 1048 or with 1,25(OH)2D3. Results and discussion We show that Nrp2 expression is induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 in osteoblasts and is associated with enrichment of the vitamin D receptor in an intronic region of the Nrp2 gene. In male mice, conditional deletion of Nrp2 in osteoblast precursors and mature osteoblasts recapitulated the bone phenotype of global Nrp2 knockout mice, with a reduced cortical cross-sectional tissue area and lower trabecular bone content. However, female mice with reduced osteoblastic Nrp2 expression display a reduced cross-sectional tissue area but have a normal trabecular bone mass. Treatment with the vitamin D3 analog WY 1048 (0.4 μg/kg/d, 14 days, ip) resulted in a similar increase in bone mass in both genotypes and genders. Deleting Nrp2 from the osteoclast lineage did not result in a bone phenotype, even though in vitro osteoclastogenesis of hematopoietic cells derived from mutant mice was significantly increased. Moreover, treatment with a high dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 (0.5 μg/kg/d, 6 days, ip), to induce osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, resulted in a similar reduction in trabecular and cortical bone mass. In conclusion, osteoblastic Nrp2 expression is suggested to regulate bone homeostasis in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieve Verlinden
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefanie Doms
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iris Janssens
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mark B. Meyer
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madision, Madison, WI, United States
| | - J. Wesley Pike
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madision, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Geert Carmeliet
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annemieke Verstuyf
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Neuropilin-2 promotes lineage plasticity and progression to neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Oncogene 2022; 41:4307-4317. [PMID: 35986103 PMCID: PMC9464715 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02437-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), a lethal subset of prostate cancer, is characterized by loss of AR signaling and resulting resistance to AR-targeted therapy during neuroendocrine transdifferentiation, for which the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that neuropilin 2 (NRP2) is upregulated in both de novo and therapy-induced NEPC, which induces neuroendocrine markers, neuroendocrine cell morphology, and NEPC cell aggressive behavior. NRP2 silencing restricted NEPC tumor xenograft growth. Mechanistically, NRP2 engages in reciprocal crosstalk with AR, where NRP2 is transcriptionally inhibited by AR, and in turn suppresses AR signaling by downregulating the AR transcriptional program and confers resistance to enzalutamide. Moreover, NRP2 physically interacts with VEGFR2 through the intracellular SEA domain to activate STAT3 phosphorylation and subsequently SOX2, thus driving NEPC differentiation and growth. Collectively, these results characterize NRP2 as a driver of NEPC and suggest NRP2 as a potential therapeutic target in NEPC.
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Stem Cells as Target for Prostate cancer Therapy: Opportunities and Challenges. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2833-2851. [PMID: 35951166 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10437-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) and cells in a cancer stem cell-like (CSCL) state have proven to be responsible for tumor initiation, growth, and relapse in Prostate Cancer (PCa) and other cancers; therefore, new strategies are being developed to target such cellular populations. TLR3 activation-based immunotherapy using Polyinosinic:Polycytidylic acid (PIC) has been proposed to be used as a concomitant strategy to first-line treatment. This strategy is based on the induction of apoptosis and an inflammatory response in tumor cells. In combination with retinoids like 9cRA, this treatment can induce CSCs differentiation and apoptosis. A limitation in the use of this combination is the common decreased expression of TLR3 and its main positive regulator p53. observed in many patients suffering of different cancer types such as PCa. Importantly, human exposure to certain toxicants, such as iAs, not only has proven to enrich CSCs population in an in vitro model of human epithelial prostate cells, but additionally, it can also lead to a decreased p53, TLR3 and RA receptor (RARβ), expression/activation and thus hinder this treatment efficacy. Therefore, here we point out the relevance of evaluating the TLR3 and P53 status in PCa patients before starting an immunotherapy based on the use of PIC +9cRA to determine whether they will be responsive to treatment. Additionally, the use of strategies to overcome the lower TLR3, RARβ or p53 expression in PCa patients, like the inclusion of drugs that increase p53 expression, is encouraged, to potentiate the use of PIC+RA based immunotherapy in these patients.
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Islam R, Mishra J, Bodas S, Bhattacharya S, Batra SK, Dutta S, Datta K. Role of Neuropilin-2-mediated signaling axis in cancer progression and therapy resistance. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2022; 41:771-787. [PMID: 35776228 PMCID: PMC9247951 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-022-10048-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neuropilins (NRPs) are transmembrane proteins involved in vascular and nervous system development by regulating angiogenesis and axon guidance cues. Several published reports have established their role in tumorigenesis. NRPs are detectable in tumor cells of several cancer types and participate in cancer progression. NRP2 is also expressed in endothelial and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and promotes functions such as lymphangiogenesis and immune suppression important for cancer progression. In this review, we have taken a comprehensive approach to discussing various aspects of NRP2-signaling in cancer, including its regulation, functional significance in cancer progression, and how we could utilize our current knowledge to advance the studies and target NRP2 to develop effective cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridwan Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Juhi Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sanika Bodas
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Sreyashi Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Samikshan Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Kaustubh Datta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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