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Apostolo D, D’Onghia D, Nerviani A, Ghirardi GM, Sola D, Perazzi M, Tonello S, Colangelo D, Sainaghi PP, Bellan M. Could Gas6/TAM Axis Provide Valuable Insights into the Pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis? Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:7486-7504. [PMID: 39057085 PMCID: PMC11275301 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46070444] [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: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by microvascular injury, extracellular matrix deposition, autoimmunity, inflammation, and fibrosis. The clinical complexity and high heterogeneity of the disease make the discovery of potential therapeutic targets difficult. However, the recent progress in the comprehension of its pathogenesis is encouraging. Growth Arrest-Specific 6 (Gas6) and Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK (TAM) receptors are involved in multiple biological processes, including modulation of the immune response, phagocytosis, apoptosis, fibrosis, inflammation, cancer development, and autoimmune disorders. In the present manuscript, we review the current evidence regarding SSc pathogenesis and the role of the Gas6/TAM system in several human diseases, suggesting its likely contribution in SSc and highlighting areas where further research is necessary to fully comprehend the role of TAM receptors in this condition. Indeed, understanding the involvement of TAM receptors in SSc, which is currently unknown, could provide valuable insights for novel potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Apostolo
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy; (D.A.); (D.D.); (D.S.); (M.P.); (S.T.); (P.P.S.); (M.B.)
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK;
| | - Davide D’Onghia
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy; (D.A.); (D.D.); (D.S.); (M.P.); (S.T.); (P.P.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Alessandra Nerviani
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK;
| | - Giulia Maria Ghirardi
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK;
| | - Daniele Sola
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy; (D.A.); (D.D.); (D.S.); (M.P.); (S.T.); (P.P.S.); (M.B.)
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, UO General Medicine, 28824 Oggebbio, Italy
| | - Mattia Perazzi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy; (D.A.); (D.D.); (D.S.); (M.P.); (S.T.); (P.P.S.); (M.B.)
- Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Unit, A.O.U. Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Stelvio Tonello
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy; (D.A.); (D.D.); (D.S.); (M.P.); (S.T.); (P.P.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Donato Colangelo
- Department of Health Sciences, Pharmacology, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Pier Paolo Sainaghi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy; (D.A.); (D.D.); (D.S.); (M.P.); (S.T.); (P.P.S.); (M.B.)
- Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Unit, A.O.U. Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Mattia Bellan
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy; (D.A.); (D.D.); (D.S.); (M.P.); (S.T.); (P.P.S.); (M.B.)
- Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Unit, A.O.U. Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
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Tanim K, Holtzhausen A, Thapa A, Huelse JM, Graham DK, Earp HS. MERTK Inhibition as a Targeted Novel Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7660. [PMID: 39062902 PMCID: PMC11277220 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this issue honoring the contributions of Greg Lemke, the Earp and Graham lab teams discuss several threads in the discovery, action, signaling, and translational/clinical potential of MERTK, originally called c-mer, a member of the TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK (TAM) family of receptor tyrosine kinases. The 30-year history of the TAM RTK family began slowly as all three members were orphan RTKs without known ligands and/or functions when discovered by three distinct alternate molecular cloning strategies in the pre-genome sequencing era. The pace of understanding their physiologic and pathophysiologic roles has accelerated over the last decade. The activation of ligands bridging externalized phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) has placed these RTKs in a myriad of processes including neurodevelopment, cancer, and autoimmunity. The field is ripe for further advancement and this article hopefully sets the stage for further understanding and therapeutic intervention. Our review will focus on progress made through the collaborations of the Earp and Graham labs over the past 30 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- K.M. Tanim
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (K.M.T.); (A.T.); (J.M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Alisha Holtzhausen
- Lineburger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Aashis Thapa
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (K.M.T.); (A.T.); (J.M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Justus M. Huelse
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (K.M.T.); (A.T.); (J.M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Douglas K. Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (K.M.T.); (A.T.); (J.M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - H. Shelton Earp
- Lineburger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Miao YR, Rankin EB, Giaccia AJ. Therapeutic targeting of the functionally elusive TAM receptor family. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:201-217. [PMID: 38092952 PMCID: PMC11335090 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00846-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The TAM receptor family of TYRO3, AXL and MERTK regulates tissue and immune homeostasis. Aberrant TAM receptor signalling has been linked to a range of diseases, including cancer, fibrosis and viral infections. Specifically, the dysregulation of TAM receptors can enhance tumour growth and metastasis due to their involvement in multiple oncogenic pathways. For example, TAM receptors have been implicated in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, maintaining the stem cell phenotype, immune modulation, proliferation, angiogenesis and resistance to conventional and targeted therapies. Therapeutically, multiple TAM receptor inhibitors are in preclinical and clinical development for cancers and other indications, with those targeting AXL being the most clinically advanced. Although there has been notable clinical advancement in recent years, challenges persist. This Review aims to provide both biological and clinical insights into the current therapeutic landscape of TAM receptor inhibitors, and evaluates their potential for the treatment of cancer and non-malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Rebecca Miao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Erinn B Rankin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Di Stasi R, De Rosa L, Izzi G, D’Andrea LD. Molecular Characterization of the Recombinant Ig1 Axl Receptor Domain: An Intriguing Bait for Screening in Drug Discovery. Molecules 2024; 29:521. [PMID: 38276597 PMCID: PMC10818745 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020521] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Axl receptor tyrosine kinase and its ligand Gas6 regulate several biological processes and are involved in both the onset and progression of tumor malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Based on its key role in these settings, Axl is considered a promising target for the development of molecules with therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. In this paper, we describe the molecular characterization of the recombinant Ig1 domain of Axl (Ig1 Axl) and its biochemical properties. For the first time, an exhaustive spectroscopic characterization of the recombinant protein through circular dichroism and fluorescence studies is also reported, as well as a binding analysis to its natural ligand Gas6, paving the way for the use of recombinant Ig1 Axl as a bait in drug discovery screening procedures aimed at the identification of novel and specific binders targeting the Axl receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR—Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (L.D.R.); (G.I.)
| | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR—Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (L.D.R.); (G.I.)
| | - Guido Izzi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR—Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (L.D.R.); (G.I.)
| | - Luca Domenico D’Andrea
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”, CNR—Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy
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Gilly A, Park YC, Tsafantakis E, Karaleftheri M, Dedoussis G, Zeggini E. Genome-wide meta-analysis of 92 cardiometabolic protein serum levels. Mol Metab 2023; 78:101810. [PMID: 37778719 PMCID: PMC10582065 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101810] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Global cardiometabolic disease prevalence has grown rapidly over the years, making it the leading cause of death worldwide. Proteins are crucial components in biological pathways dysregulated in disease states. Identifying genetic components that influence circulating protein levels may lead to the discovery of biomarkers for early stages of disease or offer opportunities as therapeutic targets. METHODS Here, we carry out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) utilising whole genome sequencing data in 3,005 individuals from the HELIC founder populations cohort, across 92 proteins of cardiometabolic relevance. RESULTS We report 322 protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) signals across 92 proteins, of which 76 are located in or near the coding gene (cis-pQTL). We link those association signals with changes in protein expression and cardiometabolic disease risk using colocalisation and Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses. CONCLUSIONS The majority of previously unknown signals we describe point to proteins or protein interactions involved in inflammation and immune response, providing genetic evidence for the contributing role of inflammation in cardiometabolic disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Gilly
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Young-Chan Park
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | | | - George Dedoussis
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Zeggini
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Klinikum Rechts der Isar, TUM School of Medicine, Munich, Germany.
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Lieffrig SA, Gyimesi G, Mao Y, Finnemann SC. Clearance phagocytosis by the retinal pigment epithelial during photoreceptor outer segment renewal: Molecular mechanisms and relation to retinal inflammation. Immunol Rev 2023; 319:81-99. [PMID: 37555340 PMCID: PMC10615845 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13264] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian photoreceptor outer segment renewal is a highly coordinated process that hinges on timed cell signaling between photoreceptor neurons and the adjacent retinal pigment epithelial (RPE). It is a strictly rhythmic, synchronized process that underlies in part circadian regulation. We highlight findings from recently developed methods that quantify distinct phases of outer segment renewal in retinal tissue. At light onset, outer segments expose the conserved "eat-me" signal phosphatidylserine exclusively at their distal, most aged tip. A coordinated two-receptor efferocytosis process follows, in which ligands bridge outer segment phosphatidylserine with the RPE receptors αvβ5 integrin, inducing cytosolic signaling toward Rac1 and focal adhesion kinase/MERTK, and with MERTK directly, additionally inhibiting RhoA/ROCK and thus enabling F-actin dynamics favoring outer segment fragment engulfment. Photoreceptors and RPE persist for life with each RPE cell in the eye servicing dozens of overlying photoreceptors. Thus, RPE cells phagocytose more often and process more material than any other cell type. Mutant mice with impaired outer segment renewal largely retain functional photoreceptors and retinal integrity. However, when anti-inflammatory signaling in the RPE via MERTK or the related TYRO3 is lacking, catastrophic inflammation leads to immune cell infiltration that swiftly destroys the retina causing blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Lieffrig
- Center for Cancer, Genetic Diseases and Gene Regulation, Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
| | - Gavin Gyimesi
- Center for Cancer, Genetic Diseases and Gene Regulation, Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
| | | | - Silvia C. Finnemann
- Center for Cancer, Genetic Diseases and Gene Regulation, Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
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Burstyn-Cohen T, Fresia R. TAM receptors in phagocytosis: Beyond the mere internalization of particles. Immunol Rev 2023; 319:7-26. [PMID: 37596991 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK constitute the TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases, activated by their ligands GAS6 and PROS1. TAMs are necessary for adult homeostasis in the immune, nervous, reproductive, skeletal, and vascular systems. Among additional cellular functions employed by TAMs, phagocytosis is central for tissue health. TAM receptors are dominant in providing phagocytes with the molecular machinery necessary to engulf diverse targets, including apoptotic cells, myelin debris, and portions of live cells in a phosphatidylserine-dependent manner. Simultaneously, TAMs drive the release of anti-inflammatory and tissue repair molecules. Disruption of the TAM-driven phagocytic pathway has detrimental consequences, resulting in autoimmunity, male infertility, blindness, and disrupted vascular integrity, and which is thought to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. Although structurally and functionally redundant, the TAM receptors and ligands underlie complex signaling cascades, of which several key aspects are yet to be elucidated. We discuss similarities and differences between TAMs and other phagocytic pathways, highlight future directions and how TAMs can be harnessed therapeutically to modulate phagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Burstyn-Cohen
- The Institute for Biomedical and Oral Research, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Roberta Fresia
- The Institute for Biomedical and Oral Research, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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8
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Mohammadzadeh P, Amberg GC. AXL/Gas6 signaling mechanisms in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1212104. [PMID: 37396176 PMCID: PMC10310921 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1212104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL is a receptor tyrosine kinase commonly associated with a variety of human cancers. Along with its ligand Gas6 (growth arrest-specific protein 6), AXL is emerging as an important regulator of neuroendocrine development and function. AXL signaling in response to Gas6 binding impacts neuroendocrine structure and function at the level of the brain, pituitary, and gonads. During development, AXL has been identified as an upstream inhibitor of gonadotropin receptor hormone (GnRH) production and also plays a key role in the migration of GnRH neurons from the olfactory placode to the forebrain. AXL is implicated in reproductive diseases including some forms of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and evidence suggests that AXL is required for normal spermatogenesis. Here, we highlight research describing AXL/Gas6 signaling mechanisms with a focus on the molecular pathways related to neuroendocrine function in health and disease. In doing so, we aim to present a concise account of known AXL/Gas6 signaling mechanisms to identify current knowledge gaps and inspire future research.
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Links between Vitamin K, Ferroptosis and SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12030733. [PMID: 36978981 PMCID: PMC10045478 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of programmed cell death. It is characterized by the accumulation of iron and lipid hydroperoxides in cells. Vitamin K is known to have antioxidant properties and plays a role in reducing oxidative stress, particularly in lipid cell membranes. Vitamin K reduces the level of reactive oxygen species by modulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, vitamin K decreases inflammation and potentially prevents ferroptosis. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leading to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with oxidant–antioxidant imbalance. Studies have shown that intensified ferroptosis occurs in various tissues and cells affected by COVID-19. Vitamin K supplementation during SARS-CoV-2 infection may have a positive effect on reducing the severity of the disease. Preliminary research suggests that vitamin K may reduce lipid peroxidation and inhibit ferroptosis, potentially contributing to its therapeutic effects in COVID-19 patients. The links between ferroptosis, vitamin K, and SARS-CoV-2 infection require further investigation, particularly in the context of developing potential treatment strategies for COVID-19.
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Zhou S, Li Y, Zhang Z, Yuan Y. An insight into the TAM system in Alzheimer's disease. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 116:109791. [PMID: 36738678 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109791] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The TAM receptors may help delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is the most common neurodegenerative disease associated with human aging. The TAM receptors, derived from the first letter of its three constituents -Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk, are associated with immune responses, cellular differentiation and migration, and clearance of apoptotic cells and debris, with the two canonical ligands, Growth Arrest Specific 6 (Gas6) and ProS1. Several kinds of research have indicated the participation of the TAM system in AD pathology. Also, the TAMs regulate multiple features of microglia, the significant sensors of disorder in the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we describe the biology of the TAM receptors and ligands in the CNS. Then, we discuss the relationship between the TAM system and AD, specially focusing on its functional expression in the microglia. Finally, we also summarize some agents that could interfere with the TAM signaling pathways and discuss potential difficulties and strategies for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Yanyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Zhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Yuhe Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
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Endocytic trafficking of GAS6-AXL complexes is associated with sustained AKT activation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:316. [PMID: 35622156 PMCID: PMC9135597 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04312-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
AXL, a TAM receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), and its ligand growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) are implicated in cancer metastasis and drug resistance, and cellular entry of viruses. Given this, AXL is an attractive therapeutic target, and its inhibitors are being tested in cancer and COVID-19 clinical trials. Still, astonishingly little is known about intracellular mechanisms that control its function. Here, we characterized endocytosis of AXL, a process known to regulate intracellular functions of RTKs. Consistent with the notion that AXL is a primary receptor for GAS6, its depletion was sufficient to block GAS6 internalization. We discovered that upon receptor ligation, GAS6–AXL complexes were rapidly internalized via several endocytic pathways including both clathrin-mediated and clathrin-independent routes, among the latter the CLIC/GEEC pathway and macropinocytosis. The internalization of AXL was strictly dependent on its kinase activity. In comparison to other RTKs, AXL was endocytosed faster and the majority of the internalized receptor was not degraded but rather recycled via SNX1-positive endosomes. This trafficking pattern coincided with sustained AKT activation upon GAS6 stimulation. Specifically, reduced internalization of GAS6–AXL upon the CLIC/GEEC downregulation intensified, whereas impaired recycling due to depletion of SNX1 and SNX2 attenuated AKT signaling. Altogether, our data uncover the coupling between AXL endocytic trafficking and AKT signaling upon GAS6 stimulation. Moreover, our study provides a rationale for pharmacological inhibition of AXL in antiviral therapy as viruses utilize GAS6–AXL-triggered endocytosis to enter cells.
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12
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Two-Front War on Cancer-Targeting TAM Receptors in Solid Tumour Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102488. [PMID: 35626092 PMCID: PMC9140196 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In recent years, many studies have shown the importance of TAM kinases in both normal and neoplastic cells. In this review, we present and discuss the role of the TAM family (AXL, MERTK, TYRO3) of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) as a dual target in cancer, due to their intrinsic roles in tumour cell survival, migration, chemoresistance, and their immunosuppressive roles in the tumour microenvironment. This review presents the potential of TAMs as emerging therapeutic targets in cancer treatment, focusing on the distinct structures of TAM receptor tyrosine kinases. We analyse and compare different strategies of TAM inhibition, for a full perspective of current and future battlefields in the war with cancer. Abstract Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane receptors that bind growth factors and cytokines and contain a regulated kinase activity within their cytoplasmic domain. RTKs play an important role in signal transduction in both normal and malignant cells, and their encoding genes belong to the most frequently affected genes in cancer cells. The TAM family proteins (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) are involved in diverse biological processes: immune regulation, clearance of apoptotic cells, platelet aggregation, cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Recent studies show that TAMs share overlapping functions in tumorigenesis and suppression of antitumour immunity. MERTK and AXL operate in innate immune cells to suppress inflammatory responses and promote an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, while AXL expression correlates with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and motility in tumours. Therefore, TAM RTKs represent a dual target in cancer due to their intrinsic roles in tumour cell survival, migration, chemoresistance, and their immunosuppressive roles in the tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the potential of TAMs as emerging therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. We critically assess and compare current approaches to target TAM RTKs in solid tumours and the development of new inhibitors for both extra- and intracellular domains of TAM receptor kinases.
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Wang J, Yu C, Zhuang J, Qi W, Jiang J, Liu X, Zhao W, Cao Y, Wu H, Qi J, Zhao RC. The role of phosphatidylserine on the membrane in immunity and blood coagulation. Biomark Res 2022; 10:4. [PMID: 35033201 PMCID: PMC8760663 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00346-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The negatively charged aminophospholipid, phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), is located in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane in normal cells, and may be exposed to the outer leaflet under some immune and blood coagulation processes. Meanwhile, Ptdser exposed to apoptotic cells can be recognized and eliminated by various immune cells, whereas on the surface of activated platelets Ptdser interacts with coagulation factors prompting enhanced production of thrombin which significantly facilitates blood coagulation. In the case where PtdSer fails in exposure or mistakenly occurs, there are occurrences of certain immunological and haematological diseases, such as the Scott syndrome and Systemic lupus erythematosus. Besides, viruses (e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Ebola virus (EBOV)) can invade host cells through binding the exposed PtdSer. Most recently, the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been similarly linked to PtdSer or its receptors. Therefore, it is essential to comprehensively understand PtdSer and its functional characteristics. Therefore, this review summarizes Ptdser, its eversion mechanism; interaction mechanism, particularly with its immune receptors and coagulation factors; recognition sites; and its function in immune and blood processes. This review illustrates the potential aspects for the underlying pathogenic mechanism of PtdSer-related diseases, and the discovery of new therapeutic strategies as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Changxin Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Junyi Zhuang
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Wenxin Qi
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Jiawen Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Xuanting Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Wanwei Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Yiyang Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Hao Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Jingxuan Qi
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Robert Chunhua Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China.
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, No. 5 Dongdansantiao, Beijing, 100005, China.
- Centre of Excellence in Tissue Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Clinical Trial of Stem Cell Therapy (BZ0381), Beijing, China.
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14
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Lahey KC, Gadiyar V, Hill A, Desind S, Wang Z, Davra V, Patel R, Zaman A, Calianese D, Birge RB. Mertk: An emerging target in cancer biology and immuno-oncology. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 368:35-59. [PMID: 35636929 PMCID: PMC9994207 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mertk, a type I Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) and member of the TAM (Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk) family of homologous tyrosine kinases, has important roles in signal transduction both homeostatically on normal cells as well as patho-physiologically on both tumor-associated macrophages and malignant cells by its overexpression in a wide array of cancers. The main ligands of Mertk are Vitamin K-modified endogenous proteins Gas6 and Protein S (ProS1), heterobifunctional modular proteins that bind Mertk via two carboxyl-terminal laminin-like globular (LG) domains, and an N-terminal Gla domain that binds anionic phospholipids, whereby externalized phosphatidylserine (PS) on stressed viable and caspase-activated apoptotic cells is most emblematic. Recent studies indicate that Vitamin K-dependent γ-carboxylation on the N-terminal Gla domain of Gas6 and Protein S is necessary for PS binding and Mertk activation, implying that Mertk is preferentially active in tissues where there is high externalized PS, such as the tumor microenvironment (TME) and acute virally infected tissues. Once stimulated, activated Mertk can provide a survival advantage for cancer cells as well as drive compensatory proliferation. On monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages, Mertk promotes efferocytosis and acts as an inhibitory receptor that impairs host anti-tumor immunity, functioning akin to a myeloid checkpoint inhibitor. In recent years, inhibition of Mertk has been implicated in a dual role to enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to cytotoxic agents along with improving host anti-tumor immunity with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. Here, we examine the rationale of Mertk-targeted immunotherapies, the current and potential therapeutic strategies, the clinical status of Mertk-specific therapies, and potential challenges and obstacles for Mertk-focused therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C Lahey
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States.
| | - Varsha Gadiyar
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Amanda Hill
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Samuel Desind
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Ziren Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Radhey Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Ahnaf Zaman
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - David Calianese
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, NJ, United States.
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15
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Li T, Yu D, Oak HC, Zhu B, Wang L, Jiang X, Molday RS, Kriegstein A, Piao X. Phospholipid-flippase chaperone CDC50A is required for synapse maintenance by regulating phosphatidylserine exposure. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107915. [PMID: 34585770 PMCID: PMC8561630 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021107915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic refinement is a critical physiological process that removes excess synapses to establish and maintain functional neuronal circuits. Recent studies have shown that focal exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on synapses acts as an "eat me" signal to mediate synaptic pruning. However, the molecular mechanism underlying PS externalization at synapses remains elusive. Here, we find that murine CDC50A, a chaperone of phospholipid flippases, localizes to synapses, and that its expression depends on neuronal activity. Cdc50a knockdown leads to phosphatidylserine exposure at synapses and subsequent erroneous synapse removal by microglia partly via the GPR56 pathway. Taken together, our data support that CDC50A safeguards synapse maintenance by regulating focal phosphatidylserine exposure at synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Newborn Brain Research InstituteUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Diankun Yu
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Newborn Brain Research InstituteUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Hayeon C Oak
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Newborn Brain Research InstituteUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Beika Zhu
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Newborn Brain Research InstituteUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Li Wang
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Xueqiao Jiang
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Newborn Brain Research InstituteUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Robert S Molday
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Arnold Kriegstein
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Xianhua Piao
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Newborn Brain Research InstituteUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell ResearchUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Division of NeonatologyDepartment of PediatricsUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
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16
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Mullen MM, Lomonosova E, Toboni MD, Oplt A, Cybulla E, Blachut B, Zhao P, Noia H, Wilke D, Rankin EB, Kuroki LM, Hagemann AR, Hagemann IS, McCourt CK, Thaker PH, Mutch DG, Powell MA, Mosammaparast N, Vindigni A, Fuh KC. GAS6/AXL Inhibition Enhances Ovarian Cancer Sensitivity to Chemotherapy and PARP Inhibition through Increased DNA Damage and Enhanced Replication Stress. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 20:265-279. [PMID: 34670865 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over 80% of women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) develop tumor resistance to chemotherapy and die of their disease. There are currently no FDA-approved agents to improve sensitivity to first-line platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy or to PARP inhibitors. Here, we tested the hypothesis that expression of growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6), the ligand of receptor tyrosine kinase AXL, is associated with chemotherapy response and that sequestration of GAS6 with AVB-S6-500 (AVB-500) could improve tumor response to chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors. We found that GAS6 levels in patient tumor and serum samples collected before chemotherapy correlated with ovarian cancer chemoresponse and patient survival. Compared with chemotherapy alone, AVB-500 plus carboplatin and/or paclitaxel led to decreased ovarian cancer-cell survival in vitro and tumor burden in vivo. Cells treated with AVB-500 plus carboplatin had more DNA damage, slower DNA replication fork progression, and fewer RAD51 foci than cells treated with carboplatin alone, indicating AVB-500 impaired homologous recombination (HR). Finally, treatment with the PARP inhibitor olaparib plus AVB-500 led to decreased ovarian cancer-cell survival in vitro and less tumor burden in vivo. Importantly, this effect was seen in HR-proficient and HR-deficient ovarian cancer cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that GAS6 levels could be used to predict response to carboplatin and AVB-500 could be used to treat platinum-resistant, HR-proficient HGSOC. IMPLICATIONS: GAS6/AXL is a novel target to sensitize ovarian cancers to carboplatin and olaparib. Additionally, GAS6 levels can be associated with response to carboplatin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Mullen
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Elena Lomonosova
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Michael D Toboni
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Alyssa Oplt
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Emily Cybulla
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.,Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Barbara Blachut
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Peinan Zhao
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Hollie Noia
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Daniel Wilke
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Erinn B Rankin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California. Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Lindsay M Kuroki
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Andrea R Hagemann
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Ian S Hagemann
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.,Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Carolyn K McCourt
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Premal H Thaker
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - David G Mutch
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Matthew A Powell
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Nima Mosammaparast
- Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Alessandro Vindigni
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Katherine C Fuh
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.
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17
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Therapeutic Targeting of the Gas6/Axl Signaling Pathway in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189953. [PMID: 34576116 PMCID: PMC8469858 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many signaling pathways are dysregulated in cancer cells and the host tumor microenvironment. Aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways promote cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Hence, numerous therapeutic interventions targeting RTKs have been actively pursued. Axl is an RTK that belongs to the Tyro3, Axl, MerTK (TAM) subfamily. Axl binds to a high affinity ligand growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6) that belongs to the vitamin K-dependent family of proteins. The Gas6/Axl signaling pathway has been implicated to promote progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance in many cancer types. Therapeutic agents targeting Gas6 and Axl have been developed, and promising results have been observed in both preclinical and clinical settings when such agents are used alone or in combination therapy. This review examines the current state of therapeutics targeting the Gas6/Axl pathway in cancer and discusses Gas6- and Axl-targeting agents that have been evaluated preclinically and clinically.
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18
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Ghafouri-Fard S, Khoshbakht T, Taheri M, Mokhtari M. A review on the role of GAS6 and GAS6-AS1 in the carcinogenesis. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 226:153596. [PMID: 34481213 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Growth arrest specific 6 (GAS6) encodes a protein that serves as a ligand for AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and stimulates cell proliferation. Notably, an antisense RNA, namely GAS6-AS1 is transcribed from chromosome 13q34, near GAS6 gene. In vitro functional experiments have demonstrated that GAS6-AS1 can promote proliferation, migration and invasive properties of transformed cells through enhancing entry into S-phase. Notably, mechanistic investigations have shown that GAS6-AS1 can regulate expression of GAS6 at the transcriptional or translational stages through constructing a RNA-RNA duplex, thus enhancing expression of AXL and inducing AXL signaling. Both GAS6 and its antisense transcript contribute in the pathogenesis of human malignancies. In the current review, we provide a summary of studies that appraised the role of these genes in the carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tayyebeh Khoshbakht
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Majid Mokhtari
- Skull Base Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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Geng K. Post-translational modifications of the ligands: Requirement for TAM receptor activation. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 357:35-55. [PMID: 33234244 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK (TAM) receptors are three homologous Type I Receptor Tyrosine Kinases that have important homeostatic functions in multicellular organisms by regulating the clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis). Pathologically, TAM receptors are overexpressed in a wide array of human cancers, and often associated with aggressive tumor grade and poor overall survival. In addition to their expression on tumor cells, TAMs are also expressed on infiltrating myeloid-derived cells in the tumor microenvironment, where they appear to act akin to negative immune checkpoints that impair host anti-tumor immunity. The ligands for TAMs are two endogenous proteins, Growth Arrest-Specific 6 (Gas6) and Protein S (Pros1), that function as bridging molecules between externalized phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) on apoptotic cells and the TAM ectodomains. One interesting feature of TAMs biology is that their ligand proteins require specific post-translational modifications to acquire activities. This chapter summarized these important modifications and explained the molecular mechanisms behind such phenomenon. Current evidences suggest that these modifications help Gas6/Pros1 to achieve optimal PtdSer-binding capacities. In addition, this chapter included recent discovery of regulating machineries of PtdSer dynamic across the plasma membrane, as well as their potential impacts in the tumor microenvironment. Taken together, this review highlights the importance of the upstream PtdSer and Gas6 in regulating TAMs' function and hope to provide researchers with new perspectives to inspire future studies of TAM receptors in human disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Geng
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States.
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20
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Abstract
Tyro3, Axl and Mertk are members of the TAM family of tyrosine kinase receptors. TAMs are activated by two structurally homologous ligands GAS6 and PROS1. TAM receptors and ligands are widely distributed and often co-expressed in the same cells allowing diverse functions across many systems including the immune, reproductive, vascular, and the developing as well as adult nervous systems. This review will focus specifically on TAM signaling in the nervous system, highlighting the essential roles this pathway fulfills in maintaining cell survival and homeostasis, cellular functions such as phagocytosis, immunity and tissue repair. Dysfunctional TAM signaling can cause complications in development, disruptions in homeostasis which can rouse autoimmunity, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The development of therapeutics modulating TAM activities in the nervous system has great prospects, however, foremost we need a complete understanding of TAM signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Burstyn-Cohen
- Institute for Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Arielle Hochberg
- Institute for Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
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21
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Safaric Tepes P, Pal D, Lindsted T, Ibarra I, Lujambio A, Jimenez Sabinina V, Senturk S, Miller M, Korimerla N, Huang J, Glassman L, Lee P, Zeltsman D, Hyman K, Esposito M, Hannon GJ, Sordella R. An epigenetic switch regulates the ontogeny of AXL-positive/EGFR-TKi-resistant cells by modulating miR-335 expression. eLife 2021; 10:e66109. [PMID: 34254585 PMCID: PMC8285107 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite current advancements in research and therapeutics, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This is mainly due to the resistance that patients develop against chemotherapeutic agents over the course of treatment. In the context of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) harboring EGFR-oncogenic mutations, augmented levels of AXL and GAS6 have been found to drive resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as Erlotinib and Osimertinib in certain tumors with mesenchymal-like features. By studying the ontogeny of AXL-positive cells, we have identified a novel non-genetic mechanism of drug resistance based on cell-state transition. We demonstrate that AXL-positive cells are already present as a subpopulation of cancer cells in Erlotinib-naïve tumors and tumor-derived cell lines and that the expression of AXL is regulated through a stochastic mechanism centered on the epigenetic regulation of miR-335. The existence of a cell-intrinsic program through which AXL-positive/Erlotinib-resistant cells emerge infers the need of treating tumors harboring EGFR-oncogenic mutations upfront with combinatorial treatments targeting both AXL-negative and AXL-positive cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polona Safaric Tepes
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
- Faculty of Pharmacy University of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Debjani Pal
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, New YorkUnited States
| | - Trine Lindsted
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
| | - Ingrid Ibarra
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
| | - Amaia Lujambio
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Hess Center for Science and MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Serif Senturk
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
| | - Madison Miller
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
| | - Navya Korimerla
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Jiahao Huang
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
| | - Lawrence Glassman
- Northwell Health Long Island, Jewish Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Paul Lee
- Northwell Health Long Island, Jewish Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - David Zeltsman
- Northwell Health Long Island, Jewish Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Kevin Hyman
- Northwell Health Long Island, Jewish Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Michael Esposito
- Northwell Health Long Island, Jewish Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Gregory J Hannon
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
- Cancer Research UK – Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Raffaella Sordella
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborUnited States
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22
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Wanke F, Gutbier S, Rümmelin A, Steinberg M, Hughes LD, Koenen M, Komuczki J, Regan-Komito D, Wagage S, Hesselmann J, Thoma R, Brugger D, Christopeit T, Wang H, Point F, Hallet R, Ghosh S, Rothlin CV, Patsch C, Geering B. Ligand-dependent kinase activity of MERTK drives efferocytosis in human iPSC-derived macrophages. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:538. [PMID: 34035216 PMCID: PMC8149813 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03770-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Removal of apoptotic cells by phagocytes (also called efferocytosis) is a crucial process for tissue homeostasis. Professional phagocytes express a plethora of surface receptors enabling them to sense and engulf apoptotic cells, thus avoiding persistence of dead cells and cellular debris and their consequent effects. Dysregulation of efferocytosis is thought to lead to secondary necrosis and associated inflammation and immune activation. Efferocytosis in primarily murine macrophages and dendritic cells has been shown to require TAM RTKs, with MERTK and AXL being critical for clearance of apoptotic cells. The functional role of human orthologs, especially the exact contribution of each individual receptor is less well studied. Here we show that human macrophages differentiated in vitro from iPSC-derived precursor cells express both AXL and MERTK and engulf apoptotic cells. TAM RTK agonism by the natural ligand growth-arrest specific 6 (GAS6) significantly enhanced such efferocytosis. Using a newly-developed mouse model of kinase-dead MERTK, we demonstrate that MERTK kinase activity is essential for efferocytosis in peritoneal macrophages in vivo. Moreover, human iPSC-derived macrophages treated in vitro with blocking antibodies or small molecule inhibitors recapitulated this observation. Hence, our results highlight a conserved MERTK function between mice and humans, and the critical role of its kinase activity in homeostatic efferocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Wanke
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Simon Gutbier
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Rümmelin
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland.,Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Malte Steinberg
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lindsey D Hughes
- Yale School of Medicine, Department for Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mascha Koenen
- Yale School of Medicine, Department for Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Juliana Komuczki
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Regan-Komito
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sagie Wagage
- Yale School of Medicine, Department for Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Julia Hesselmann
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ralf Thoma
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Doris Brugger
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tony Christopeit
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center München, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Hayian Wang
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Floriane Point
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Remy Hallet
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sourav Ghosh
- Yale School of Medicine, Department for Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Yale School of Medicine, Department for Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Carla V Rothlin
- Yale School of Medicine, Department for Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Yale School of Medicine, Department for Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Christoph Patsch
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland.,BlueRock Therapeutics, New York, New York, USA
| | - Barbara Geering
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
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Zhou L, Matsushima GK. Tyro3, Axl, Mertk receptor-mediated efferocytosis and immune regulation in the tumor environment. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 361:165-210. [PMID: 34074493 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Three structurally related tyrosine receptor cell surface kinases, Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk (TAM) have been recognized to modulate immune function, tissue homeostasis, cardiovasculature, and cancer. The TAM receptor family appears to operate in adult mammals across multiple cell types, suggesting both widespread and specific regulation of cell functions and immune niches. TAM family members regulate tissue homeostasis by monitoring the presence of phosphatidylserine expressed on stressed or apoptotic cells. The detection of phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells requires intermediary molecules that opsonize the dying cells and tether them to TAM receptors on phagocytes. This complex promotes the engulfment of apoptotic cells, also known as efferocytosis, that leads to the resolution of inflammation and tissue healing. The immune mechanisms dictating these processes appear to fall upon specific family members or may involve a complex of different receptors acting cooperatively to resolve and repair damaged tissues. Here, we focus on the role of TAM receptors in triggering efferocytosis and its consequences in the regulation of immune responses in the context of inflammation and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Zhou
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Glenn K Matsushima
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; UNC Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; UNC Integrative Program for Biological & Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
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Xie S, Zhang H, Liang Z, Yang X, Cao R. AXL, an Important Host Factor for DENV and ZIKV Replication. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:575346. [PMID: 33954117 PMCID: PMC8092360 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.575346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses, as critically important pathogens, are still major public health problems all over the world. For instance, the evolution of ZIKV led to large-scale outbreaks in the Yap island in 2007. DENV was considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the 10 threats to global health in 2019. Enveloped viruses hijack a variety of host factors to complete its replication cycle. Phosphatidylserine (PS) receptor, AXL, is considered to be a candidate receptor for flavivirus invasion. In this review, we discuss the molecular structure of ZIKV and DENV, and how they interact with AXL to successfully invade host cells. A more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of flavivirus-AXL interaction will provide crucial insights into the virus infection process and the development of anti-flavivirus therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengda Xie
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huiru Zhang
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenjie Liang
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xingmiao Yang
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruibing Cao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Bae CA, Ham IH, Oh HJ, Lee D, Woo J, Son SY, Yoon JH, Lorens JB, Brekken RA, Kim TM, Han SU, Park WS, Hur H. Inhibiting the GAS6/AXL axis suppresses tumor progression by blocking the interaction between cancer-associated fibroblasts and cancer cells in gastric carcinoma. Gastric Cancer 2020; 23:824-836. [PMID: 32239298 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-020-01066-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) on the progression of gastric carcinoma (GC) has recently been demonstrated. However, agents targeting the interaction between CAF and GC cells have not been applied in a clinical setting. Here, we examined if inhibition for Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) can suppress CAF-induced aggressive phenotype in GC. METHODS We investigated the function of CAF-derived growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6), a major ligand of AXL, on the migration and proliferation of GC cells. The effect of the AXL inhibitor, BGB324, on the CAF-induced aggressive phenotype of GC cells was also investigated. In addition, we performed immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of phosphorylated AXL protein in 175 GC tissues and evaluated its correlation with the prognosis. RESULTS The qPCR and western blot analysis showed that GAS6 expression was higher in CAF relative to other cells. We found that co-culture with CAF increased the phosphorylation of AXL (P-AXL), differentiation into a mesenchymal-like phenotype, and cell survival in GC cell lines. When the expression of AXL was genetically inhibited in GC cells, the effect of CAF was reduced. BGB324, a small molecule inhibitor of AXL, suppressed the effects of CAF on GC cell lines. In GC tissues, high levels of P-AXL were significantly associated with poor overall survival (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS We concluded that CAF are a major source of GAS6 and that GAS6 promotes an aggressiveness through AXL activation in GC. We suggested that an AXL inhibitor may be a novel agent for GC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheong A Bae
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyunggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduated School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Hye Ham
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyunggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jeong Oh
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyunggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Dagyeong Lee
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyunggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduated School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongsu Woo
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyunggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduated School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Yong Son
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyunggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hwan Yoon
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Functional RNomics Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - James B Lorens
- Department of Biomedicine, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Haman Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, US
| | - Tae-Min Kim
- Department of Medical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Uk Han
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyunggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Sang Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Functional RNomics Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoon Hur
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyunggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduated School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
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Li T, Chiou B, Gilman CK, Luo R, Koshi T, Yu D, Oak HC, Giera S, Johnson‐Venkatesh E, Muthukumar AK, Stevens B, Umemori H, Piao X. A splicing isoform of GPR56 mediates microglial synaptic refinement via phosphatidylserine binding. EMBO J 2020; 39:e104136. [PMID: 32452062 PMCID: PMC7429740 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019104136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental synaptic remodeling is important for the formation of precise neural circuitry, and its disruption has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Microglia prune synapses, but integration of this synapse pruning with overlapping and concurrent neurodevelopmental processes, remains elusive. Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor ADGRG1/GPR56 controls multiple aspects of brain development in a cell type-specific manner: In neural progenitor cells, GPR56 regulates cortical lamination, whereas in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, GPR56 controls developmental myelination and myelin repair. Here, we show that microglial GPR56 maintains appropriate synaptic numbers in several brain regions in a time- and circuit-dependent fashion. Phosphatidylserine (PS) on presynaptic elements binds GPR56 in a domain-specific manner, and microglia-specific deletion of Gpr56 leads to increased synapses as a result of reduced microglial engulfment of PS+ presynaptic inputs. Remarkably, a particular alternatively spliced isoform of GPR56 is selectively required for microglia-mediated synaptic pruning. Our present data provide a ligand- and isoform-specific mechanism underlying microglial GPR56-mediated synapse pruning in the context of complex neurodevelopmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell ResearchUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of MedicineBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Brian Chiou
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell ResearchUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Casey K Gilman
- Department of MedicineBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Rong Luo
- Department of MedicineBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Tatsuhiro Koshi
- Department of MedicineBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Diankun Yu
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell ResearchUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Hayeon C Oak
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell ResearchUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Stefanie Giera
- Department of MedicineBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | | | - Allie K Muthukumar
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology CenterChildren's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Beth Stevens
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology CenterChildren's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBoston Children's HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | - Hisashi Umemori
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology CenterChildren's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Xianhua Piao
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell ResearchUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of MedicineBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology CenterChildren's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
- Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Division of NeonatologyDepartment of PediatricsUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
- Newborn Brain Research InstituteUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCAUSA
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Pilli VS, Datta A, Dorsey A, Liu B, Majumder R. Modulation of protein S and growth arrest specific 6 protein signaling inhibits pancreatic cancer cell survival and proliferation. Oncol Rep 2020; 44:1322-1332. [PMID: 32945517 PMCID: PMC7448444 DOI: 10.3892/or.2020.7689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombotic complications and hypercoagulopathies are commonly associated with the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Although the mechanistic link between the two phenomena is uncertain, there is evidently an increase in procoagulant proteins and a decrease in anticoagulants in PDAC patients. For example, the anticoagulant protein S (PS) is decreased during the progression of PDAC, a condition that possibly contributes to the hypercoagulopathies. PS is also an important signaling molecule that binds a family of tyrosine kinase receptors known as TAM (Tyro3, Axl and Mer) receptors; TAM receptors are often upregulated in different cancers. Growth Arrest Specific 6 or GAS6 protein, a homolog of PS, is also a TAM receptor family ligand. The downstream signaling pathways triggered by this ligand-receptor interaction perform diverse functions, such as cell survival, proliferation, efferocytosis, and apoptosis. Targeting the TAM receptors to treat cancer has had limited success; side effects are a significant obstacle due to the widespread numerous functions of TAM receptors. In the present study, it was revealed that PS-TAM interaction was pro-apoptotic, whereas GAS6-mediated TAM signaling promoted proliferation and survival in select PDAC cell lines. Furthermore, by regulating the balance between these two signaling pathways (by overexpressing PS or knocking down GAS6), the proliferative potential of the cells was decreased. Both long-term and short-term effects of natural PS overexpression were comparable to the treatment of the cells with the drug UNC2025, which inhibits the Mer-receptor. The present study lays the foundation for investigation of PS as a therapeutic agent to control cancer progression and to concurrently arrest thrombotic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijaya S Pilli
- Department of Biochemistry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Arani Datta
- Department of Biochemistry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Adrianne Dorsey
- Department of Biochemistry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Rinku Majumder
- Department of Biochemistry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Gas6/Axl Signaling Pathway in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071850. [PMID: 32660000 PMCID: PMC7408754 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases have been shown to dysregulate a number of pathways associated with tumor development, progression, and metastasis. Axl is a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in many cancer types and has been associated with therapy resistance and poor clinical prognosis and outcomes. In addition, Axl and its ligand growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6) protein are expressed by a number of host cells. The Gas6/Axl signaling pathway has been implicated in the promotion of tumor cell proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. As a result, Axl is an attractive, novel therapeutic target to impair multiple stages of tumor progression from both neoplastic and host cell axes. This review focuses on the role of the Gas6/Axl signaling pathway in promoting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, as immune evasion is considered one of the hallmarks of cancer. The review discusses the structure and activation of the Gas6/Axl signaling pathway, GAS6 and AXL expression patterns in the tumor microenvironment, mechanisms of Axl-mediated tumor immune response, and the role of Gas6/Axl signaling in immune cell recruitment.
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Burstyn-Cohen T, Maimon A. TAM receptors, Phosphatidylserine, inflammation, and Cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2019; 17:156. [PMID: 31775787 PMCID: PMC6881992 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-019-0461-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract The numerous and diverse biological roles of Phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) are featured in this special issue. This review will focus on PtdSer as a cofactor required for stimulating TYRO3, AXL and MERTK – comprising the TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases by their ligands Protein S (PROS1) and growth-arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) in inflammation and cancer. As PtdSer binding to TAMs is a requirement for their activation, the biological repertoire of PtdSer is now recognized to be broadened to include functions performed by TAMs. These include key homeostatic roles necessary for preserving a healthy steady state in different tissues, controlling inflammation and further additional roles in diseased states and cancer. The impact of PtdSer on inflammation and cancer through TAM signaling is a highly dynamic field of research. This review will focus on PtdSer as a necessary component of the TAM receptor-ligand complex, and for maximal TAM signaling. In particular, interactions between tumor cells and their immediate environment - the tumor microenvironment (TME) are highlighted, as both cancer cells and TME express TAMs and secrete their ligands, providing a nexus for a multifold of cross-signaling pathways which affects both immune cells and inflammation as well as tumor cell biology and growth. Here, we will highlight the current and emerging knowledge on the implications of PtdSer on TAM signaling, inflammation and cancer. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Burstyn-Cohen
- Institute for Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Avi Maimon
- Institute for Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
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Li M, Ye J, Zhao G, Hong G, Hu X, Cao K, Wu Y, Lu Z. Gas6 attenuates lipopolysaccharide‑induced TNF‑α expression and apoptosis in H9C2 cells through NF‑κB and MAPK inhibition via the Axl/PI3K/Akt pathway. Int J Mol Med 2019; 44:982-994. [PMID: 31524235 PMCID: PMC6657963 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2019.4275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic agents used to treat sepsis‑induced cardiac dysfunction are designed to suppress tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α release and inhibit cell apoptosis. Exogenous administration of growth arrest‑specific 6 (Gas6) exerts several biological and pharmacological effects; however, the role of Gas6 in sepsis‑induced myocardial dysfunction remains unclear. In this study, H9C2 cardiomyocytes were stimulated with LPS (10 µg/ml) to mimic septic cardiac dysfunction and Gas6 (100 ng/ml) was applied exogenously. Subsequently, mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)‑κB activation, TNF‑α expression, and apoptosis in the presence or absence of TP‑0903 (15 nM) and Wortmannin (3 nM) were evaluated. The morphological alterations of H9C2 cells were visualized by phase‑contrast microscopy. Cell viability was determined using the Cell Counting kit 8 assay and lactate dehydrogenase release, and TNF‑α release was analyzed by ELISA analysis. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. Nuclear morphological alterations were detected by Hoechst staining and caspase‑3 activity was measured using biochemical methods. The expression levels of Bax and Bcl‑2, and the phosphorylation and expression levels of Axl, Akt, IκB‑α, p65, c‑Jun N‑terminal protein kinase (JNK), extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 were determined by western blotting. Furthermore, immunofluorescence analysis was performed to visualize translocation of NF‑κB p65. The results demonstrated that Gas6 suppressed TNF‑α release and inhibited cell apoptosis, and attenuated nuclear factor (NF)‑κB and mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation via the Axl/PI3K/Akt pathway. Furthermore, the cardioprotective properties of Gas6 on the suppression of LPS‑induced TNF‑α release and apoptosis were abolished by treatment with TP‑0903 (an Axl inhibitor) and Wortmannin (a PI3K inhibitor). Pretreatment with TP‑0903 and Wortmannin abrogated the effects of Gas6 on phosphorylated‑IκB‑α, IκB‑α, NF‑κB, ERK1/2, JNK and p38 MAPK. These findings suggested that activation of Axl/PI3K/Akt signaling by Gas6 may inhibit LPS‑induced TNF‑α expression and apoptosis, as well as MAPK and NF‑κB activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Li
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Jingjing Ye
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Guangju Zhao
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Guangliang Hong
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Xiyi Hu
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Kaiqiang Cao
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - You Wu
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Zhongqiu Lu
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
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Pastore M, Grimaudo S, Pipitone RM, Lori G, Raggi C, Petta S, Marra F. Role of Myeloid-Epithelial-Reproductive Tyrosine Kinase and Macrophage Polarization in the Progression of Atherosclerotic Lesions Associated With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:604. [PMID: 31191323 PMCID: PMC6548874 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent lines of evidence highlight the involvement of myeloid-epithelial-reproductive tyrosine kinase (MerTK) in metabolic disease associated with liver damage. MerTK is mainly expressed in anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages where it mediates transcriptional changes including suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and enhancement of inflammatory repressors. MerTK is regulated by metabolic pathways through nuclear sensors including LXRs, PPARs, and RXRs, in response to apoptotic bodies or to other sources of cholesterol. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most serious public health problems worldwide. It is a clinicopathological syndrome closely related to obesity, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress. It includes a spectrum of conditions ranging from simple steatosis, characterized by hepatic fat accumulation with or without inflammation, to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), defined by hepatic fat deposition with hepatocellular damage, inflammation, and accumulating fibrosis. Several studies support an association between NAFLD and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, a major cause of death worldwide. This pathological condition consists in a chronic and progressive inflammatory process in the intimal layer of large- and medium-sized arteries. The complications of advanced atherosclerosis include chronic or acute ischemic damage in the tissue perfused by the affected artery, leading to cellular death. By identifying specific targets influencing lipid metabolism and cardiovascular-related diseases, the present review highlights the role of MerTK in NAFLD-associated atherosclerotic lesions as a potential innovative therapeutic target. Therapeutic advantages might derive from the use of compounds selective for nuclear receptors targeting PPARs rather than LXRs regulating macrophage lipid metabolism and macrophage mediated inflammation, by favoring the expression of MerTK, which mediates an immunoregulatory action with a reduction in inflammation and in atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirella Pastore
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Grimaudo
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosaria Maria Pipitone
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Lori
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Raggi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Salvatore Petta
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Marra
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Myers KV, Amend SR, Pienta KJ. Targeting Tyro3, Axl and MerTK (TAM receptors): implications for macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:94. [PMID: 31088471 PMCID: PMC6515593 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-1022-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages are an abundant cell type in the tumor microenvironment. These macrophages serve as a promising target for treatment of cancer due to their roles in promoting cancer progression and simultaneous immunosuppression. The TAM receptors (Tyro3, Axl and MerTK) are promising therapeutic targets on tumor-associated macrophages. The TAM receptors are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases with shared ligands Gas6 and Protein S that skew macrophage polarization towards a pro-tumor M2-like phenotype. In macrophages, the TAM receptors also promote apoptotic cell clearance, a tumor-promoting process called efferocytosis. The TAM receptors bind the "eat-me" signal phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cell membranes using Gas6 and Protein S as bridging ligands. Post-efferocytosis, macrophages are further polarized to a pro-tumor M2-like phenotype and secrete increased levels of immunosuppressive cytokines. Since M2 polarization and efferocytosis are tumor-promoting processes, the TAM receptors on macrophages serve as exciting targets for cancer therapy. Current TAM receptor-directed therapies in preclinical development and clinical trials may have anti-cancer effects though impacting macrophage phenotype and function in addition to the cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla V. Myers
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Sarah R. Amend
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Kenneth J. Pienta
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
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Kasikara C, Davra V, Calianese D, Geng K, Spires TE, Quigley M, Wichroski M, Sriram G, Suarez-Lopez L, Yaffe MB, Kotenko SV, De Lorenzo MS, Birge RB. Pan-TAM Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor BMS-777607 Enhances Anti–PD-1 mAb Efficacy in a Murine Model of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 2019; 79:2669-2683. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-2614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Tajbakhsh A, Gheibi Hayat SM, Butler AE, Sahebkar A. Effect of soluble cleavage products of important receptors/ligands on efferocytosis: Their role in inflammatory, autoimmune and cardiovascular disease. Ageing Res Rev 2019; 50:43-57. [PMID: 30639340 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Efferocytosis, the clearance of apoptotic cells (ACs), is a physiologic, multifaceted and dynamic process and a fundamental mechanism for the preservation of tissue homeostasis by avoiding unwanted inflammation and autoimmune responses through special phagocytic receptors. Defective efferocytosis is associated with several disease states, including cardiovascular disease and impaired immune surveillance, as occurs in cancer and autoimmune disease. A major cause of defective efferocytosis is non-functionality of surface receptors on either the phagocytic cells or the ACs, such as TAM family tyrosine kinase, which turns to a soluble form by cleavage/shedding or alternative splicing. Recently, soluble forms have featured prominently as potential biomarkers, indicative of prognosis and enabling targeted therapy using several commonly employed drugs and inhibitors, such as bleomycin, dexamethasone, statins and some matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors such as TAPI-1 and BB3103. Importantly, to design drug carriers with enhanced circulatory durability, the adaptation of soluble forms of physiological receptors/ligands has been purported. Research has shown that soluble forms are more effective than antibody forms in enabling targeted treatment of certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases. In this review, we sought to summarize the current knowledge of these soluble products, how they are generated, their interactions, roles, and their potential use as biomarkers in prognosis and treatment related to inflammatory, cardiovascular, and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Tajbakhsh
- Department of Modern Sciences and Technologies, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Alexandra E Butler
- Diabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Doha, Qatar
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Paccez JD, Duncan K, Sekar D, Correa RG, Wang Y, Gu X, Bashin M, Chibale K, Libermann TA, Zerbini LF. Dihydroartemisinin inhibits prostate cancer via JARID2/miR-7/miR-34a-dependent downregulation of Axl. Oncogenesis 2019; 8:14. [PMID: 30783079 PMCID: PMC6381097 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-019-0122-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Axl expression is deregulated in several cancer types, predicts poor overall patient survival and is linked to resistance to drug therapy. Here, we evaluated a library of natural compounds for inhibitors of Axl and identified dihydroartemisinin, the active principle of the anti-malarial drug artemisinin, as an Axl-inhibitor in prostate cancer. Dihydroartemisinin blocks Axl expression leading to apoptosis, decrease in cell proliferation, migration, and tumor development of prostate cancer cells. Dihydroartemisinin treatment synergizes with docetaxel, a standard of care in metastatic prostate cancer increasing overall survival of mice with human xenografts. Dihydroartemisinin control of miR-34a and miR-7 expression leads to inhibition of Axl expression in a process at least partially dependent on regulation of chromatin via methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 residues by Jumonji, AT-rich interaction domain containing 2 (JARID2), and the enhancer of zeste homolog 2. Our discovery of a previously unidentified miR-34a/miR-7/JARID2 pathway controlling dihydroartemisinin effects on Axl expression and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation provides new molecular mechanistic insights into dihydroartemisinin anticancer effect on prostate cancer with potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano D Paccez
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kristal Duncan
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Durairaj Sekar
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ricardo G Correa
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yihong Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Xuesong Gu
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Manoj Bashin
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly Chibale
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Towia A Libermann
- BIDMC Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luiz F Zerbini
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa.
- Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2016, 8.9 million people are estimated to have died from various forms of cancer. The current treatments, including surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, are not effective enough to provide full protection from cancer, which highlights the need for developing novel therapy strategies. In this review, we summarize the molecular biology of a unique member of a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinase, TYRO3 and discuss the new insights in TYRO3-targeted treatment for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Ling Hsu
- 1 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Jonathan Jou
- 2 College of Medicine, University of Illinois, IL 60612, USA
| | - Shaw-Jenq Tsai
- 1 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
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Zhou J, Yang A, Wang Y, Chen F, Zhao Z, Davra V, Suzuki-Inoue K, Ozaki Y, Birge RB, Lu Q, Wu Y. Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk receptors differentially participate in platelet activation and thrombus formation. Cell Commun Signal 2018; 16:98. [PMID: 30541554 PMCID: PMC6291976 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-018-0308-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previously, several studies have shown that Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk (TAM) receptors participate in platelet activation and thrombosis. However, the role of individual receptors is not fully understood. Methods Using single receptor-deficient platelets from TAM knockout mice in the C57BL/6 J strain, we performed a knockout study using single TAM-deficient mice. We treated platelets isolated from TAM knockout mice with the Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) agonists convulxin, poly(PHG), and collagen-related triple-helical peptide (CRP), as well as thrombin for in-vitro experiments. We used a laser-induced cremaster arterial injury model for thrombosis experiments in vivo. Results Deficiency of the tyrosine kinase receptors, Axl or Tyro3, but not Mertk, inhibited aggregation, spreading, JON/A binding, and P-selectin expression of platelets in vitro. In vivo, platelet thrombus formation was significantly decreased in Axl−/− and Tyro3−/− mice, but not in Mertk−/− mice. Upon stimulation with glycoprotein VI (GPVI) agonists, tyrosine phosphorylation of signaling molecules, including spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and phospholipase C-γ2 (PLCγ2), was decreased in Axl−/− and Tyro3−/− platelets, but not in Mertk−/− platelets. While platelet aggregation induced by agonists did not differ in the presence or absence of the Gas6 neutralizing antibody, the platelet aggregation was inhibited by anti-Axl or anti-Tyro3 neutralizing antibodies antibody, but not the anti-Mertk antibody. Additionally, the recombinant extracellular domain of Axl or Tyro3, but not that of Mertk, also inhibited platelet aggregation. Conclusions These data suggest that Axl and Tyro3, but not Mertk, have an important role in platelet activation and thrombus formation, and mechanistically may do so by a pathway that regulates inside to outside signaling and heterotypic interactions via the extracellular domains of TAMs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12964-018-0308-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsong Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Aizhen Yang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yucan Wang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Fengwu Chen
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhenzhen Zhao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Katsue Suzuki-Inoue
- Department of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan
| | - Yukio Ozaki
- Department of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Qingxian Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Yi Wu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. .,The Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3420 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA19140, USA.
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Zhang B, Lu H, Jiang A, Wu H, Fang L, Lv Y. MerTK Downregulates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation Through SOCS1 Protein but Does Not Affect Phagocytosis of Escherichia coli in Macrophages. Inflammation 2018; 42:113-123. [DOI: 10.1007/s10753-018-0877-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Zelentsova-Levytskyi K, Talmi Z, Abboud-Jarrous G, Capucha T, Sapir T, Burstyn-Cohen T. Protein S Negatively Regulates Neural Stem Cell Self-Renewal through Bmi-1 Signaling. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:124. [PMID: 28512399 PMCID: PMC5411449 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying neural stem cell self-renewal is a major goal toward understanding adult brain homeostasis. The self-renewing potential of neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) must be tightly regulated to maintain brain homeostasis. We recently reported the expression of Protein S (PROS1) in adult hippocampal NSPCs, and revealed its role in regulation of NSPC quiescence and neuronal differentiation. Here, we investigate the effect of PROS1 on NSPC self-renewal and show that genetic ablation of Pros1 in neural progenitors increased NSPC self-renewal by 50%. Mechanistically, we identified the upregulation of the polycomb complex protein Bmi-1 and repression of its downstream effectors p16Ink4a and p19Arf to promote NSPC self-renewal in Pros1-ablated cells. Rescuing Pros1 expression restores normal levels of Bmi-1 signaling, and reverts the proliferation and enhanced self-renewal phenotypes observed in Pros1-deleted cells. Our study identifies PROS1 as a novel negative regulator of NSPC self-renewal. We conclude PROS1 is instructive for NSPC differentiation by negatively regulating Bmi-1 signaling in adult and embryonic neural stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ziv Talmi
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, Institute for Dental Sciences, Hebrew University-HadassahJerusalem, Israel
| | - Ghada Abboud-Jarrous
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, Institute for Dental Sciences, Hebrew University-HadassahJerusalem, Israel
| | - Tal Capucha
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, Institute for Dental Sciences, Hebrew University-HadassahJerusalem, Israel
| | - Tamar Sapir
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
| | - Tal Burstyn-Cohen
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, Institute for Dental Sciences, Hebrew University-HadassahJerusalem, Israel
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40
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Wu G, Ma Z, Hu W, Wang D, Gong B, Fan C, Jiang S, Li T, Gao J, Yang Y. Molecular insights of Gas6/TAM in cancer development and therapy. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2700. [PMID: 28333143 PMCID: PMC5386520 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Since growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) was discovered in 1988, numerous studies have highlighted the role of the Gas6 protein and its receptors Tyro3, Axl and Mer (collectively referred to as TAM), in proliferation, apoptosis, efferocytosis, leukocyte migration, sequestration and platelet aggregation. Gas6 has a critical role in the development of multiple types of cancers, including pancreatic, prostate, oral, ovarian and renal cancers. Acute myelocytic leukaemia (AML) is a Gas6-dependent cancer, and Gas6 expression predicts poor prognosis in AML. Interestingly, Gas6 also has a role in establishing tumour dormancy in the bone marrow microenvironment and in suppressing intestinal tumorigenesis. Numerous studies regarding cancer therapy have targeted Gas6 and TAM receptors with good results. However, some findings have suggested that Gas6 is associated with the development of resistance to cancer therapies. Concerning these significant effects of Gas6 in numerous cancers, we discuss the roles of Gas6 in cancer development in this review. First, we introduce basic knowledge on Gas6 and TAM receptors. Next, we describe and discuss the involvement of Gas6 and TAM receptors in cancers from different organ systems. Finally, we highlight the progress in therapies targeting Gas6 and TAM receptors. This review presents the significant roles of Gas6 in cancers from different systems and may contribute to the continued promotion of Gas6 as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiling Wu
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China.,Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 127 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Zhiqiang Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an 710038, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Dongjin Wang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China
| | - Bing Gong
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China
| | - Chongxi Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Shuai Jiang
- Department of Aerospace Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Tian Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Jianyuan Gao
- Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 127 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
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Davra V, Kimani SG, Calianese D, Birge RB. Ligand Activation of TAM Family Receptors-Implications for Tumor Biology and Therapeutic Response. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:cancers8120107. [PMID: 27916840 PMCID: PMC5187505 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8120107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The TAM family of receptors (i.e., Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk), and their ligands Growth arrest specific factor 6 (Gas6) and Protein S (Pros1) contribute to several oncogenic processes, such as cell survival, invasion, migration, chemo-resistance, and metastasis, whereby expression often correlates with poor clinical outcomes. In recent years, there has been great interest in the study of TAM receptors in cancer, stemming both from their roles as oncogenic signaling receptors, as well as their roles in tumor immunology. As a result, several classes of TAM inhibitors that include small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, decoy receptors, as well as novel strategies to target TAM ligands are being developed. This paper will review the biology of TAM receptors and their ligands with a focus on cancer, as well as evidence-based data for the continued pursuit of TAM/Gas6 inhibitors in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Stanley G Kimani
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - David Calianese
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
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42
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The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase AXL in Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:cancers8110103. [PMID: 27834845 PMCID: PMC5126763 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8110103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Recent studies have revealed a central role of AXL signaling in tumor proliferation, survival, stem cell phenotype, metastasis, and resistance to cancer therapy. Moreover, AXL is expressed within cellular components of the tumor microenvironment where AXL signaling contributes to the immunosuppressive and protumorigenic phenotypes. A variety of AXL inhibitors have been developed and are efficacious in preclinical studies. These agents offer new opportunities for therapeutic intervention in the prevention and treatment of advanced disease. Here we review the literature that has illuminated the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which AXL signaling promotes tumor progression and we will discuss the therapeutic potential of AXL inhibition for cancer therapy.
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43
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Nanao-Hamai M, Son BK, Hashizume T, Ogawa S, Akishita M. Protective effects of estrogen against vascular calcification via estrogen receptor α-dependent growth arrest-specific gene 6 transactivation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 480:429-435. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.10.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Kimani SG, Kumar S, Davra V, Chang YJ, Kasikara C, Geng K, Tsou WI, Wang S, Hoque M, Boháč A, Lewis-Antes A, De Lorenzo MS, Kotenko SV, Birge RB. Normalization of TAM post-receptor signaling reveals a cell invasive signature for Axl tyrosine kinase. Cell Commun Signal 2016; 14:19. [PMID: 27595981 PMCID: PMC5011882 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-016-0142-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk (TAMs) are a family of three conserved receptor tyrosine kinases that have pleiotropic roles in innate immunity and homeostasis and when overexpressed in cancer cells can drive tumorigenesis. Methods In the present study, we engineered EGFR/TAM chimeric receptors (EGFR/Tyro3, EGFR/Axl, and EGF/Mertk) with the goals to interrogate post-receptor functions of TAMs, and query whether TAMs have unique or overlapping post-receptor activation profiles. Stable expression of EGFR/TAMs in EGFR-deficient CHO cells afforded robust EGF inducible TAM receptor phosphorylation and activation of downstream signaling. Results Using a series of unbiased screening approaches, that include kinome-view analysis, phosphor-arrays, RNAseq/GSEA analysis, as well as cell biological and in vivo readouts, we provide evidence that each TAM has unique post-receptor signaling platforms and identify an intrinsic role for Axl that impinges on cell motility and invasion compared to Tyro3 and Mertk. Conclusion These studies demonstrate that TAM show unique post-receptor signatures that impinge on distinct gene expression profiles and tumorigenic outcomes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12964-016-0142-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley G Kimani
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Viralkumar Davra
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Yun-Juan Chang
- Rutgers, Biomedical and Health Sciences, OIT/High Performance and Research Computing, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Canan Kasikara
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Ke Geng
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Wen-I Tsou
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Shenyan Wang
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Mainul Hoque
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Genomics Research Program, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Andrej Boháč
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Biomagi, Ltd, Mamateyova 26, 851 04, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Anita Lewis-Antes
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Mariana S De Lorenzo
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Sergei V Kotenko
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Rutgers, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
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ALK inhibitor resistance in ALK(F1174L)-driven neuroblastoma is associated with AXL activation and induction of EMT. Oncogene 2016; 35:3681-91. [PMID: 26616860 PMCID: PMC4885798 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The crizotinib-resistant ALK(F1174L) mutation arises de novo in neuroblastoma (NB) and is acquired in ALK translocation-driven cancers, lending impetus to the development of novel anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors with different modes of action. The diaminopyrimidine TAE684 and its derivative ceritinib (LDK378), which are structurally distinct from crizotinib, are active against NB cells expressing ALK(F1174L). Here we demonstrate acquired resistance to TAE684 and LDK378 in ALK(F1174L)-driven human NB cells that is linked to overexpression and activation of the AXL tyrosine kinase and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). AXL phosphorylation conferred TAE684 resistance to NB cells through upregulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Inhibition of AXL partly rescued TAE684 resistance, resensitizing these cells to this compound. AXL activation in resistant cells was mediated through increased expression of the active form of its ligand, GAS6, that also served to stabilize the AXL protein. Although ectopic expression of AXL and TWIST2 individually in TAE684-sensitive parental cells led to the elevated expression of mesenchymal markers and invasive capacity, only AXL overexpression induced resistance to TAE684 as well. TAE684-resistant cells showed greater sensitivity to HSP90 inhibition than did their parental counterparts, with downregulation of AXL and AXL-mediated ERK signaling. Our studies indicate that aberrant AXL signaling and development of an EMT phenotype underlie resistance of ALK(F1174L)-driven NB cells to TAE684 and its derivatives. We suggest that the combination of ALK and AXL or HSP90 inhibitors be considered to delay the emergence of such resistance.
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Histone modifications and p53 binding poise the p21 promoter for activation in human embryonic stem cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28112. [PMID: 27346849 PMCID: PMC4921813 DOI: 10.1038/srep28112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The high proliferation rate of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is thought to arise partly from very low expression of p21. However, how p21 is suppressed in ESCs has been unclear. We found that p53 binds to the p21 promoter in human ESCs (hESCs) as efficiently as in differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells, however it does not promote p21 transcription in hESCs. We observed an enrichment for both the repressive histone H3K27me3 and activating histone H3K4me3 chromatin marks at the p21 locus in hESCs, suggesting it is a suppressed, bivalent domain which overrides activation by p53. Reducing H3K27me3 methylation in hESCs rescued p21 expression, and ectopic expression of p21 in hESCs triggered their differentiation. Further, we uncovered a subset of bivalent promoters bound by p53 in hESCs that are similarly induced upon differentiation in a p53-dependent manner, whereas p53 promotes the transcription of other target genes which do not show an enrichment of H3K27me3 in ESCs. Our studies reveal a unique epigenetic strategy used by ESCs to poise undesired p53 target genes, thus balancing the maintenance of pluripotency in the undifferentiated state with a robust response to differentiation signals, while utilizing p53 activity to maintain genomic stability and homeostasis in ESCs.
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Tian W, Wang L, Yuan L, Duan W, Zhao W, Wang S, Zhang Q. A prognostic risk model for patients with triple negative breast cancer based on stromal natural killer cells, tumor-associated macrophages and growth-arrest specific protein 6. Cancer Sci 2016; 107:882-9. [PMID: 27145494 PMCID: PMC4946705 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to establish a prognostic risk model for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). A total of 278 specimens of human TNBC tissues were investigated by immunohistochemistry for growth‐arrest specific protein 6 expression, infiltrations of stromal natural killer cells and tumor‐associated macrophages. According to their prognostic risk scores based on the model, patients were divided into three groups (score 0, 1–2, 3). Correlations of prognostic risk scores, clinicopathologic features and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. To study the clinical value of this stratification model in early disease recurrence or metastasis, 177 patients were screened out for further analysis. Based on disease free survival (DFS), 90 patients fell within the DFS ≤3 years group and 87 patients within the DFS ≥5 years group. We analyzed the differences in prognostic risk scores between the two groups. The prognostic risk scores were negatively related to tumor size, lymph node metastasis and P53 status (P < 0.001 for all). Patients with low prognostic risk scores had longer OS (P = 0.001). Using multivariate analysis, it was determined that TNM stage (HR = 0.432, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.281–0.665, P = 0.003), FOXP3 positive lymphocytes (HR = 1.712, 95% CI = 1.085–2.702, P = 0.021) and prognostic risk scores (HR = 1.340, 95% CI = 1.192–1.644, P = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Compared with the DFS ≥5 years group, the DFS ≤3 years group patients had significantly higher prognostic risk scores (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the prognostic risk score of the model was a significant indicator of prognosis for patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Tian
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Lili Yuan
- Cancer Research Institute of Heilong Jiang Province, Harbin, China
| | - Wenming Duan
- Department of Physiology and Experimental Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Wenhui Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuhuai Wang
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Oncology Key Lab of Heilongjiang Province Institution of Higher Education, Harbin, China
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Abstract
The interaction between Axl receptor tyrosine kinase and its main ligand Gas6 has been implicated in the progression of a wide number of malignancies. More recently, overexpression of Axl has emerged as a key molecular determinant underlying the development of acquired resistance to targeted anticancer agents. The activation of Axl is overexpression-dependent and controls a number of hallmarks of cancer progression including proliferation, migration, resistance to apoptosis and survival through a complex network of intracellular second messengers. Axl has been noted to influence clinically meaningful end points including metastatic recurrence and survival in the vast majority of tumour types. With Axl inhibitors having gained momentum as novel anticancer therapies, we provide an overview of the biological and clinical relevance of this molecular pathway, outlining the main directions of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Brown
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - James R M Black
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Rohini Sharma
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Justin Stebbing
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - David J Pinato
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
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Szulc P. Abdominal aortic calcification: A reappraisal of epidemiological and pathophysiological data. Bone 2016; 84:25-37. [PMID: 26688274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In men and women, there is a significant association between the risk of cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, stroke) and risk of major fragility fracture (hip, vertebra). Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) can be assessed using semiquantitative scores on spine radiographs and spine scans obtained by DXA. Severe AAC is associated with higher risk of major cardiovascular event. Not only does severe AAC reflect poor cardiovascular health status, but also directly disturbs blood flow in the vascular system. Severe (but not mild or moderate) AAC is associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD), faster bone loss and higher risk of major fragility fracture. The fracture risk remains increased after adjustment for BMD and other potential risk factors. The association between severe AAC and fracture risk was found in both sexes, mainly in the follow-ups of less than 10years. Many factors contribute to initiation and progression of AAC: lifestyle, co-morbidities, inorganic ions, dyslipidemia, hormones, cytokines (e.g. inflammatory cytokines, RANKL), matrix vesicles, microRNAs, structural proteins (e.g. elastin), vitamin K-dependent proteins, and medications (e.g. vitamin K antagonists). Osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and circulating osteoprogenitors penetrating into vascular wall plays a major role in the AAC initiation and progression. Vitamin K-dependent proteins protect vascular tunica media against formation of calcified deposits (matrix GLA protein, GLA-rich protein) and against VSMC apoptosis (Gas6). Further studies are needed to investigate clinical utility of AAC for the assessment of fracture and cardiovascular risk at the individual level and develop new medications permitting to prevent AAC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Szulc
- INSERM UMR 1033, University of Lyon, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
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Wu X, Liu X, Koul S, Lee CY, Zhang Z, Halmos B. AXL kinase as a novel target for cancer therapy. Oncotarget 2015; 5:9546-63. [PMID: 25337673 PMCID: PMC4259419 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and its major ligand, GAS6 have been demonstrated to be overexpressed and activated in many human cancers (such as lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer) and have been correlated with poor prognosis, promotion of increased invasiveness/metastasis, the EMT phenotype and drug resistance. Targeting AXL in different model systems with specific small molecule kinase inhibitors or antibodies alone or in combination with other drugs can lead to inactivation of AXL-mediated signaling pathways and can lead to regained drug sensitivity and improved therapeutic efficacy, defining AXL as a promising novel target for cancer therapeutics. This review highlights the data supporting AXL as a novel treatment candidate in a variety of cancers as well as the current status of drug development targeting the AXL/GAS6 axis and future perspectives in this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Wu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuewen Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sanjay Koul
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chang Youl Lee
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital Hallym University Medical Center, Chuncheon-si Gangwon-do 200-704 Republic of Korea
| | - Zhenfeng Zhang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Balazs Halmos
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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