Inhibition by platelet-activating factor of Src- and hepatocyte growth factor-dependent invasiveness of intestinal and kidney epithelial cells. Phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase is a critical mediator of tumor invasion

Acute ethanol exposure stimulates microvesicle particle generation in keratinocytes

Ethanol has been demonstrated to exert profound effects upon cells and tissues via multiple mechanisms. One recently appreciated means by which cells can communicate with other cells is via the production and release of extracellular vesicles. Though smaller exosomes have been demonstrated to be released in response to ethanol exposure, the ability of ethanol to modulate the generation and release of larger microvesicle particles (MVP) is lesser studied. The present studies examined the ability of exogenous ethanol to generate MVP with a focus on skin cells. Acute ethanol exposure resulted in augmented MVP release in keratinocytes and in the skin and blood of mice. Unlike other stimuli such as ultraviolet B radiation or thermal burn injury, ethanol-mediated MVP release was independent of the Platelet-activating Factor receptor (PAFR). However, ethanol pretreatment was found to augment thermal burn injury-induced MVP in a PAFR-dependent manner. These studies provide a novel mechanism for ethanol-mediated effects, that could be relevant in the significant toxicity associated with thermal burn injury in the setting of alcohol intoxication.

A Squalene-Based Nanomedicine for Oral Treatment of Colon Cancer

Nanotechnology offers many possibilities to improve drug treatments, including with regard to drug pharmacology. The current study reports a simple approach to improve cisplatin efficacy in the treatment of colon cancer through the creation of orally administered squalenoylated nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin (SQ-CDDP NP). Cytotoxic effects of SQ-CDDP NP were assessed in human colonic cells and in mouse models of intestinal cancer. In cell culture, SQ-CDDP NP exhibited at least 10-fold greater cytotoxic potency compared with uncomplexed cisplatin, reflecting an enhancement in intracellular accumulation and DNA platination. Mechanistic investigations showed that SQ-CDDP NP stimulated ROS production, expression of heavy metal-inducible and stress-inducible genes, stress kinase cascades, and apoptosis. In Apc^Min/+ mice, a model of intestinal tumorigenesis, oral administration of SQ-CDDP NP curtailed spontaneous tumor formation and azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis with no apparent evidence of tissue toxicity. Our results offer preclinical validation of a nanocarrier formulation that can safely improve chemotherapeutic efficacy, address risks of drug resistance, and improve patient compliance by enabling oral administration. Cancer Res; 77(11); 2964-75. ©2017 AACR.

Synergistic effects of combined platelet-activating factor receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor targeting in ovarian cancer cells

Background

Genetic alterations, including the overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), play a crucial role in ovarian carcinogenesis. To date, EGFR targeting has shown limited antitumor effects in ovarian cancer when administered as monotherapy. We previously identified platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) as being overexpressed in ovarian cancer and found that its ligand PAF evoked EGFR phosphorylation. To determine whether PAFR targeting can enhance the antitumor efficacy of EGFR inhibition, we investigated the effects of a PAFR antagonist (WEB2086) in conjunction with an EGFR inhibitor (AG1478).

Methods

The expression of EGFR and PAFR in CAOV-3 and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell lines was measured by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Synergy was determined using isobologram analysis. The effects of combined PAFR and EGFR targeting on both cells were assessed by using CCK-8, transwell, flow cytometry, western blot analysis. In vivo studies were conducted using CAOV-3 cells xenografted in nu/nu mice.

Results

Treatment with combination WEB2086 and AG1478 resulted in significantly greater inhibition of proliferation and invasion compared to either drug alone. When examining equipotent combinations of WEB2086 and AG1478 to determine potential synergy, a combination index (CI) of 0.49 was identified for CAOV-3 cells and a CI of 0.58 for SKOV-3 cells indicating synergy. This co-inhibition induced significantly more apoptosis and arrested the cells at G0/G1 phase in both cell lines. The activation of PAFR and/or EGFR induced phosphorylation of the mTOR, AKT, and MAPK pathways. Combined PAFR and EGFR targeting synergistically diminished the expression of PAFR and EGFR phosphorylation and downstream signaling. In vivo studies further verified the antitumor effects of combined PAFR and EGFR targeting in a CAOV-3 xenograft model.

Conclusions

These results suggest that WEB2086 and AG1478 are synergistic in ovarian cancer cells with high expression of both PAFR and EGFR. The presented approach may have important therapeutic implications in the treatment of ovarian cancer patients.

Guidance for life, cell death, and colorectal neoplasia by netrin dependence receptors

This review is focusing on a critical mediator of embryonic and postnatal development with multiple implications in inflammation, neoplasia, and other pathological situations in brain and peripheral tissues. These morphogenetic guidance and dependence processes are involved in several malignancies targeting the epithelial and immune systems including the progression of human colorectal cancers. We consider the most important findings and their impact on basic, translational, and clinical cancer research. Expected information can bring new cues for innovative, efficient, and safe strategies of personalized medicine based on molecular markers, protagonists, signaling networks, and effectors inherent to the Netrin axis in pathophysiological states.

PKC signaling is involved in the regulation of progranulin (acrogranin/PC-cell-derived growth factor/granulin-epithelin precursor) protein expression in human ovarian cancer cell lines

OBJECTIVE

Overexpression of progranulin (also named acrogranin, PC-cell-derived growth factor, or granulin-epithelin precursor) is associated with ovarian cancer, specifically with cell proliferation, malignancy, chemoresistance, and shortened overall survival. The objective of the current study is to identify the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of progranulin expression in ovarian cancer cell lines.

METHODS

We studied the relation of protein kinase C (PKC), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase A, P38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and Akt pathways on the modulation of progranulin expression levels in NIH-OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cell lines. The different pathways were examined using pharmacological inhibitors (calphostin C, LY294002, H89, SB203580, PD98059, and Akt Inhibitor), and mRNA and protein progranulin expression were analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot techniques, respectively.

RESULTS

Inhibition of PKC signal transduction pathway by calphostin C decreased in a dose-dependent manner protein but not mRNA levels of progranulin in both ovarian cancer cell lines. LY294002 but not wortmannin, which are phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors, also diminished the expression of progranulin in both cell lines. In addition, LY294002 treatment produced a significant reduction in cell viability. Inhibition of protein kinase A, P38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and Akt did not affect progranulin protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the PKC signaling is involved in the regulation of progranulin protein expression in 2 different ovarian cancer cell lines. Inhibiting these intracellular signal transduction pathways may provide a future therapeutic target for hindering the cellular proliferation and invasion in ovarian cancer produced by progranulin.

Protective effect of intestinal trefoil factor on injury of intestinal epithelial tight junction induced by platelet activating factor

Intestinal barrier dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To evaluate the effect of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) on increased intestinal permeability and its association with tight junction proteins, an in vitro intestinal epithelia barrier model was established with Caco-2 cells and treated with platelet-activating factor (PAF). We found that exposing cells to 0.3 M ITF (30 min before or 30 min after PAF treatment) attenuated the PAF-induced changes in transepithelial electrical resistance and Lucifer yellow flux. A quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis revealed that ITF suppressed PAF-induced downregulation of tight junction proteins claudin-1 and ZO-1 expression; furthermore, an abnormal localization and distribution of these proteins was inhibited, as assessed by immunofluorescence staining. These results suggest that ITF decreases mucosal permeability and shows potential as a therapy for treating IBD.

Learning about the functions of NME/NM23: lessons from knockout mice to silencing strategies

The human NME gene family (also known as NM23) comprises ten genes that are involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes including proliferation, differentiation, development, ciliary functions, and metastasis. For the moment, only the NME1, NME2, and NME7 genes have been inactivated in transgenic knockout mice, as well as a double NME1-NME2 gene knockout. Mice lacking NME1 or NME2 grow to adulthood without health problems, although NME1 (-/-) mice have modest growth retardation. Double knockout NME1 (-/-)-NME2 (-/-) mice, by contrast, are highly hypotrophic and die at birth from profound anemia due to impaired erythroblast development. Evidence for a metastasis suppressor function of NME1 in vivo comes from crossing NME1 (-/-) mice with mice prone to develop hepatocellular carcinoma; the double transgenic mice present a higher incidence of lung metastases. Silencing of NME1 by siRNA interference has confirmed this function by conferring a "metastatic phenotype" on non-invasive human epithelial cancer cell lines. This function is specific to NME1 and is not observed when the NME2 is silenced. The data indicate that NME1 loss is causally involved at the early stages of the metastatic cascade. NME2 (-/-) mice and NME2 silencing experiments reveal a specific role of NME2 in activation of heterotrimeric G proteins and of KCa3.1 channel in T cells, pointing to a role of NME2 as a histidine phosphotransferase. Regarding NME7, consistent with its expression in axonemal structures, NME7 (-/-) mice present lesions similar to primary ciliary dyskinesia. This review summarizes the recent data obtained by knockout and silencing of NME/NM23 genes that provide mechanistic insights into their respective roles in physiology and pathology.

Disruption of the F-actin cytoskeleton and monolayer barrier integrity induced by PAF and the protective effect of ITF on intestinal epithelium

To explore whether platelet-activating factor (PAF) can disrupt the intestinal epithelial barrier directly and is associated with structural alterations of the F-actin-based cytoskeleton, and to observe the protective effect of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), we establish an intestinal epithelia barrier model using Caco-2 cells in vitro. Transepithelial electrical resistance and unidirectional flux of lucifer yellow were measured to evaluate barrier permeability; immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry were applied to observe morphological alterations and to quantify proteins of the F-actin cytoskeleton: the tight junction marker ZO-1 and Claudin-1 were observed using immunofluorescent staining. PAF significantly increased paracellular permeability, at the same time, F-actin and tight junction proteins were disrupted. It was thought that ITF could reverse the high permeability by restoring normal F-actin, ZO-1 and Claudin-1 structures. These results collectively demonstrated that PAF plays an important role in the regulation of mucosal permeability and the effects of PAF are correlated with structural alterations of the F-actin-based cytoskeleton and of tight junctions. ITF can protect intestinal epithelium against PAF-induced disruption by restricting the rearrangement of the F-actin cytoskeleton and of tight junctions.

Inhibitory effects of andrographolide on migration and invasion in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells via down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among cancers worldwide and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises more than 80% of lung cancer cases. Treatment options for patients with advanced NSCLC have evolved in the last decade with the advent of novel biological agents. Andrographolide, a diterpenoid lactone isolated from a traditional herbal medicine Andrographis paniculata, is known to have the potential to be developed as a chemotherapeutic agent. In order to understand the anti-cancer properties of andrographolide, we examined its effect on migration and invasion in human NSCLC A549 cells. The results of wound-healing assay and in vitro transwell assay revealed that andrographolide inhibited dose-dependently the migration and invasion of A549 cells under non-cytotoxic concentrations. Molecular data showed that the effect of andrographolide in A549 cells might be mediated via sustained inactivation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signal involved in the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our results showed that andrographolide exerted an inhibitory effect on the activity and the mRNA and protein levels of MMP-7, but not MMP-2 or MMP-9. The andrographolide-inhibited MMP-7 expression or activity appeared to occur via activator protein-1 (AP-1) because of its DNA binding activity was suppressed by andrographolide. Additionally, the transfection of Akt over-expression vector (Akt1 cDNA) to A549 cells could result in an increase expression of MMP-7 concomitantly with a marked induction on cell invasion. These findings suggested that the inhibition on MMP-7 expression by andrographolide may be through suppression on PI3K/Akt/AP-1 signaling pathway, which in turn led to the reduced invasiveness of the cancer cells.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent chronic metabolic disease reported to affect the treatment outcomes of malignancies. This study explores the impact of diabetes on the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinicopathological characteristics and survival in terms of overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with OSCC who underwent surgical intervention at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2002 and 2005 were stratified by diabetic status and compared.

RESULTS

Patients with DM tend to have a lower OS, RFS, and CSS compared with nondiabetics (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 2.22, 2.42, and 2.16, respectively) even in less aggressive tumor stages (stage I and II). In advanced tumors, diabetic patients who were not prescribed adjuvant therapy had a significantly higher recurrence rate than nondiabetic patients (HR = 2.66). However, there was no significant difference in treatment outcome in patients with locally advanced tumors amenable to receive adjuvant therapy, even with the delayed initiation of adjuvant therapy in the DM group (49.1 +/- 22.3 days vs. 40.0 +/- 16.6 days, P = .04). DM was also associated with a higher frequency of perineural invasion (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.53).

CONCLUSION

DM status could be a prognostic factor for OSCC, particularly for its effect in the survival and perineural invasion. Although diabetes-associated comorbidities may impair decision making toward less aggressive therapeutic modality, adjuvant treatment may be essential for DM patients to improve their survival.

S-Adenosylhomocysteine promotes the invasion of C6 glioma cells via increased secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in murine microglial BV2 cells

S-Adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) is a risk factor for many diseases, including tumor progression and neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that SAH may indirectly enhance the invasion of C6 glioma cells by induction of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) secreted from the murine microglia BV2 cells. We obtained conditioned medium (CM) by incubating BV2 cells with SAH (1-50nM) for 24 h. We found that the SAH-containing CM (SAH-BV2-CM) strongly enhanced the invasiveness of C6 glioma cells and that this effect increased with increasing concentrations of SAH in the SAH-BV2-CM. The effect of CM could be attributed to its MMP-2 activity, as a result of increased protein and messenger RNA expression of MMP-2 in BV2 cells induced by SAH. In BV2 cells treated with SAH, the binding abilities of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and stimulatory protein-1 (Sp1) to the MMP-2 promoter were increased, whereas the level of NF-kappaB inhibitor was decreased. In addition, SAH significantly increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase (or protein kinase B) (PI3K/Akt) proteins but did not affect that of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase or p38. Pretreatment of BV2 cells with an inhibitor specific for ERK (U0126) markedly abated the expression of ERK and MMP-2. Furthermore, SAH significantly and dose dependently decreased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in BV2 cells. Thus, SAH may induce the invasiveness of C6 glioma cells by decreased TIMP-2 expression and increased MMP-2 expression in BV2 cells. The latter effect is likely mediated through the ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, with increased binding activities of NF-kappaB and Sp1 to the MMP-2 gene promoter.

The transforming functions of PI3-kinase-gamma are linked to disruption of intercellular adhesion and promotion of cancer cell invasion

The involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinases class IA (PI3K-alpha and -beta) in cancer cell proliferation, survival, motility, and invasiveness is now well established. However, the possible contribution of the class IB PI3Kgamma in cancer cell transformation remains to be explored. In this study, we have stably transfected the PI3Kgamma-deficient human colon cancer cell line HCT8/S11 with expression vectors encoding either wild-type PI3Kgamma, its plasma membrane targeted form CAAX-PI3Kgamma, or the PI3Kgamma lipid and protein kinase-dead mutant (CAAX-K832R). We provide evidence that the constitutively active CAAX-PI3Kgamma variant induced collagen type I invasion in HCT8/S11 cells through disruption of cell-cell adhesion, with no apparent impact on cell proliferation and motility. The proinvasive activity of CAAX-PI3K-gamma was abolished by pharmacological inhibitors targeting PI3-K activities (wortmannin), Rho-GTPases, and the Rho-Rho kinase axis (C3T exoenzyme and Y27632, respectively). Conversely, the wild-type PI3Kgamma and its double mutant CAAX-K832R were ineffective on cancer cell invasion measured under control or stimulated conditions operated with the proinvasive agents leptin and intestinal trefoil factor. Taken together, our data indicate that PI3Kgamma exerts transforming functions via several mechanisms in human colon epithelial cancer cells, including alterations of homotypic cell-cell adhesion and induction of collagen type I invasion through canonical proinvasive pathways.

Molecular signature and therapeutic perspective of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in epithelial cancers

The mechanisms involved in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) are integrated in concert with master developmental and oncogenic pathways regulating in tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, as well as the reprogrammation of specific gene repertoires ascribed to both epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Consequently, it is not unexpected that EMT has profound impacts on the neoplastic progression, patient survival, as well as the resistance of cancers to therapeutics (taxol, vincristine, oxaliplatin, EGF-R targeted therapy and radiotherapy), independent of the "classical" resistance mechanisms linked to genotoxic drugs. New therapeutic combinations using genotoxic agents and/or EMT signaling inhibitors are therefore expected to circumvent the chemotherapeutic resistance of cancers characterized by transient or sustained EMT signatures. Thus, targeting critical orchestrators at the convergence of several EMT pathways, such as the transcription pathways NF-kappaB, AKT/mTOR axis, MAPK, beta-catenin, PKC and the AP-1/SMAD factors provide a realistic strategy to control EMT and the progression of human epithelial cancers. Several inhibitors targeting these signaling platforms are already tested in preclinical and clinical oncology. In addition, upstream EMT signaling pathways induced by receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases (e.g. EGF-R, IGF-R, VEGF-R, integrins/FAK, Src) and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) constitute practical options under preclinical research, clinical trials or are currently used in the clinic for cancer treatment: e.g. small molecule inhibitors (Iressa: targeting selectively the EGF-R; CP-751,871, AMG479, NVP-AEW541, BMS-536924, PQIP, AG1024: IGF-R; AZD2171, ZD6474: VEGF-R; AZD0530, BMS-354825, SKI606: Src; BIM-46174: GPCR; rapamycin, CCI-779, RAD-001: mTOR) and humanized function blocking antibodies (Herceptin: ErbB2; Avastin: VEGF-A; Erbitux: EGF-R; Abegrin: alphavbeta3 integrins). We can assume that silencing RNA and adenovirus-based gene transfer of therapeutic miR and dominant interferring expression vectors targeting EMT pathways and signaling elements will bring additional ways for the treatment of epithelial cancers. Identification of the factors that initiate, modulate and effectuate EMT signatures and their underlying upstream oncogenic pathways should provide the basis of more efficient strategies to fight cancer progression as well as genetic and epigenetic forms of drug resistance. This goal can be accomplished using global screening of human clinical tumors by EMT-associated cDNA, proteome, miRome, and tissue arrays.

Inflammation and melanoma growth and metastasis: the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and its receptor

An inflammatory tumor microenvironment fosters tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastatic progression. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is an inflammatory biolipid produced from membrane glycerophospholipids. Through the activity of its G-protein coupled receptor, PAF triggers a variety of pathological reactions including tumor neo-angiogenesis. Several groups have demonstrated that inhibiting PAF-PAF receptor pathway at the level of a ligand or receptor results in an effective inhibition of experimental tumor growth and metastasis. In particular, our group has recently demonstrated that PAF receptor antagonists can effectively inhibit the metastatic potential of human melanoma cells in nude mice. Furthermore, we showed that PAF stimulated the phosphorylation of CREB and ATF-1 in metastatic melanoma cells, which resulted in overexpression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP. Our data indicate that PAF acts as a promoter of melanoma metastasis in vivo. Since only metastatic melanoma cells overexpress CREB/ATF-1, we propose that these cells are better equipped to respond to PAF within the tumor microenvironment when compared to their non-metastatic counterparts.

Opposing roles of netrin-1 and the dependence receptor DCC in cancer cell invasion, tumor growth and metastasis

Deleted in colon cancer (DCC) and UNC5 function as netrin dependence receptors by inducing apoptosis in the absence of their ligand and accordingly were recently designated as putative conditional tumor suppressors. Herein, we determined whether netrin-1 and its receptors are implicated in cancer cell invasion and tumor progression. Expression of DCC, UNC5 and adenosine A2B-receptors (A2B-Rs) was investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in human colon cancer cells. The impact of DCC restitution and netrin-1 was evaluated on collagen type I invasion, tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice, cancer cell survival and gene expression profiling. Flow cytometry, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 and caspase-8 activation were used to evaluate the impact of DCC on cell death. Both netrin-1 and A2B-R activation induced the invasive phenotype through the Rho-Rho kinase axis in DCC-deficient human colorectal cancer cells. Restitution of wild-type DCC blocked invasion induced by netrin-1, A2B-R agonist and other agents. Ectopic expression of netrin-1 led to increased growth of human colon tumor xenografts in athymic mice. Conversely, introduction of wt-DCC in kidney MDCKts.src-ggl cells strongly inhibited metastasis in lymph nodes and lungs and increased sensitivity to apoptosis in hypoxia. DNA microarrays revealed that netrin and DCC had common and divergent impacts on gene expression linked to cell cycle, survival, surface signaling and adhesion. Our findings underscore that netrin is a potent invasion and tumor growth-promoting agent and that DCC is a metastasis suppressor gene targeting both proinvasive and survival pathways in a cumulative manner.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt regulates the balance between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and urokinase to promote migration of SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells

OBJECTIVES

Increased levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) are associated with shortened overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. Additionally, elevated levels of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a uPA inhibitor, have also been correlated with an unfavorable prognosis in ovarian cancer. Therefore, it is critical to understand the signaling pathways that regulate PAI-1 and uPA expression in cancer cell migration-invasion.

METHODS

We studied the PI3K/Akt, Rho kinase/ROCK, p38 MAPK and MEK pathways and their modulation of PAI-1 and uPA expression and wound-induced cell migration in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. The PI3K/Akt pathway was further examined using pharmacological inhibitors (LY294002 and wortmannin), Akt siRNA, constitutively active Akt adenovirus and treatment with IGF-1/insulin in the SKOV-3 cells.

RESULTS

The PI3K/Akt pathway negatively regulates PAI-1 expression and positively correlates with migratory abilities and uPA expression in SKOV-3 cells. A reduction in active Akt results in an increase in PAI-1 expression coupled with a decrease in uPA expression to ultimately result in reduced cell migration and invasion. By contrast, an increase in Akt activity reduces PAI-1 expression and results in an increase in SKOV-3 wound-induced cell migration. Furthermore, IGF-1 and insulin stimulated SKOV-3 migration by altering the balance between uPA and PAI-1 to favor uPA, and the enhanced migration was attenuated by treatment with LY294002 indicating PI3K/Akt in this pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest an overall ovarian tumor-protective role for PAI-1, and that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway regulates the ratio of PAI-1:uPA to either increase or decrease cell migration.

Commutators of PAR-1 signaling in cancer cell invasion reveal an essential role of the Rho-Rho kinase axis and tumor microenvironment

We recently reported that proteinase-activated receptors type I (PAR-1) are coupled to both negative and positive invasion pathways in colonic and kidney cancer cells cultured on collagen type I gels. Here, we found that treatments with the cell-permeant analog 8-Br-cGMP and the soluble guanylate cyclase activator BAY41-2272, and Rho kinase (ROK) inhibition by Y27632 or a dominant negative form of ROK lead to PAR-1-mediated invasion through differential Rac1 and Cdc42 signaling. Hypoxia or the counteradhesive matricellular protein SPARC/BM-40 (SPARC: secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine) overexpressed during cancer progression also commutated PAR-1 to cellular invasion through the cGMP/protein kinase G (PKG) cascade, RhoA inactivation, and Rac1-dependent or -independent signaling. Cultured primary cancer cells isolated from peritoneal and pleural effusions from patients with colon cancer or other malignant tumors harbored PAR-1, as shown by RT-PCR and FACS analyses. These malignant effusions also contained high levels of activated thrombin and fibrin, and induced a proinvasive response in HCT8/S11 human colorectal cancer cells. Our data underline the essential role of the tumor microenvironment and of several commutators targeting cGMP/PKG signaling and the RhoA-ROK axis in the control of PAR-1 proinvasive activity and metastatic potential of cancer cells in distant organs and peritoneal or pleural cavities. We also add new insights into the mechanisms linking the coagulation mediators thrombin and PAR-1 in the context of blood coagulation disorders and venous thrombosis often observed in cancer patients, as described in 1865 by Armand Trousseau.

Activation of the c-Met receptor complex in fibroblasts drives invasive cell behavior by signaling through transcription factor STAT3

c-Met is the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). It mediates multiple cellular responses in development and adult life, and c-Met hyperactivity is associated with malignant transformation of cells and the acquisition of metastatic properties. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been shown to contribute to c-Met-mediated cell motility and is, thus, potentially involved in the control of invasive cell behavior. We have functionally reconstituted c-Met-dependent signal transduction in fibroblasts with the aim of studying Met-driven cell invasiveness and the role of STAT3 in this phenomenon. Activation of the system was achieved by means of a hybrid receptor comprising the extracellular domain of the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA, the cytoplasmic part of c-Met and a C-terminally fused blue fluorescent protein (BFP). In addition, a GFP-tagged derivative of adaptor protein Gab1 was expressed. NGF-stimulation of mouse fibroblasts expressing tagged versions of both Trk-Met and Gab1 with NGF resulted in anchorage-independent growth and enhanced invasiveness. By freeze-fracture cytochemistry and electron microscopy, we were able to visualize the ligand-induced formation of multivalent receptor complex assemblies within the cell membrane. NGF-stimulation of the heterologous receptor system evoked activation of STAT3 as evidenced by tyrosine phosphorylation and the formation of STAT3 clusters at the cell membrane. siRNA-mediated ablation of STAT3 expression resulted in a drastic reduction of c-Met-driven invasiveness, indicating an important role of STAT3 in the control of this particularly relevant property of transformed cells.

Implication of the MAGI‐1b/PTEN signalosome in stabilization of adherens junctions and suppression of invasiveness

We recently established the critical role of the lipid phosphatase activity of the PTEN tumor suppressor in stabilizing cell-cell contacts and suppressing invasiveness. To delineate the effector systems involved, we investigated the interaction of PTEN with E-cadherin junctional complexes in kidney and colonic epithelial cell lines. PTEN and the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI3K) co-immunoprecipitated with E-cadherin and catenins. By using a yeast two-hybrid assay, we demonstrated that PTEN interacted indirectly with beta-catenin by binding the scaffolding protein MAGI-1b. This model was corroborated in various ways in mammalian cells. Ectopic expression of MAGI-1b potentiated the interaction of PTEN with junctional complexes, promoted E-cadherin-dependent cell-cell aggregation, and reverted the Src-induced invasiveness of kidney MDCKts-src cells. In this model, MAGI-1b slightly decreased the activity of AKT, a downstream effector of PI3K. By using dominant-negative and constitutively active AKT expression vectors, we demonstrated that this kinase was included in the pathways involved in Src-induced destabilization of junctional complexes and was necessary and sufficient to trigger invasiveness. We propose that the recruitment of PTEN at adherens junctions by MAGI-1b and the local down-regulation of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate pools and downstream effector systems at the site of cell-cell contacts are focal points for restraining both disruption of junctional complexes and induction of tumor cell invasion.

The proinvasive activity of Wnt‐2 is mediated through a noncanonical Wnt pathway coupled to GSK‐3β and c‐ Jun/AP‐1 signaling

Inappropriate activation of the Wnt/APC/beta-catenin signaling pathways plays a critical role at early stages in a variety of human cancers. However, their respective implication in tumor cell invasion is still hypothetical. Here, we show that two activators of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin transcription pathway, namely Dvl-2, the Axin 501-560 fragment binding glycogen synthase kinase -3beta (GSK-3beta), and the negative Wnt regulator wt-Axin did not alter cell invasion into type I collagen. In addition, both Dvl-2 and Axin 501-560 exerted a permissive action on the proinvasive activity of HGF and intestinal trefoil factor. Upstream activation of Wnt signaling by the Wnt-2 and Wnt-3a ligands, stable overexpression of Wnt-2, as well as GSK-3beta inhibition by lithium, SB216763, and GSK-3beta dominant negative forms (K85R and R96E) conferred the invasive phenotype through several proinvasive pathways. Induction of the matrix metalloprotease MMP-7 (matrilysin) gene and protein by Wnt-2 was abolished by inactivation of the AP-1 binding site in the promoter. Accordingly, invasion induced by Wnt-2 was prevented by soluble FRP-3 and FRP-1, sequestration of Gbetagamma subunits, depletion of the GSK-3beta protein by RNA interference, the c-Jun dominant negative mutant TAM67 and was not reversed by wt-Axin. Thus, the proinvasive activity of Wnt-2 is mediated by a noncanonical Wnt pathway using GSK-3beta and the AP-1 oncogene. Our data provide a potential clue for our understanding of the action and crosstalk between Wnt activators and other proinvasive pathways, in relation with matrix substrates and proteases in human cancers.

Disruption of STAT3 signaling leads to tumor cell invasion through alterations of homotypic cell-cell adhesion complexes

STAT3 is frequently overexpressed and constitutively activated by tyrosine phosphorylation during malignant transformation. Despite the clear importance of STAT3 in cell proliferation and survival in diverse human cancers, its possible contribution to tumor cell adhesion, motility and invasion remains hypothetical. We therefore compared the transforming properties of STAT3wt, its constitutively activated dimeric form STAT3C, and the dominant negative mutant STAT3-Y705F in human colorectal HCT8/S11 cancer cells. Both STAT3wt and STAT3C exert a permissive action to the proinvasive activity of the scatter factor HGF in HCT8/S11 cells. In contrast, the monomeric and cytoplasmic mutant Y705F induces a constitutive invasive phenotype through Wnt/Rho-independent and EGFR/PI3-kinase-dependent pathways. Accordingly, Y705F decreases cell-cell homotypic adhesions, and increases cell motility and scattering, as well as lamellipodia-type cellular extensions. STAT3-Y705F-transfected HCT8/S11 cells display an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the cell-cell adhesion regulator beta-catenin and its dissociation from the invasion suppressor E-cadherin at cell-cell contacts. Our data imply that both invasion promoter and repressor genes are controlled by the canonical STAT3 transcription pathways. Disruption of this cascade by Y705F reveals the proinvasive potential of altered forms of STAT3 as a persistent signaling adaptor in cytokine/transforming growth factor receptor scaffolds and oncogenic pathways.

Trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides and cancer progression

TFF peptides are involved in mucosal maintenance and repair through motogenic and antiapoptotic activities. These peptides are overexpressed during inflammatory processes and cancer progression. They also function as scatter factors, proinvasive and angiogenic agents. Such a divergence is related to the pathophysiological state of tissues submitted to persistent aggressive situations during digestive processes in the normal gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. In agreement with this model, TFF peptides are connected with multiple oncogenic pathways. As a consequence, the TFF signaling pathways may serve as potential targets in the control of chronic inflammation and progression of human solid tumors.

Genetic downregulation of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) by bikunin reduces IGF-I-dependent Akt and ERK1/2 activation and subsequently reduces ovarian cancer cell growth, invasion and metastasis

A Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, bikunin, downregulates expression of uPA and its receptor uPAR at the mRNA and protein levels in several types of tumor cells. Our recent work showed that, using a cDNA microarray analysis, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is a candidate bikunin target gene. To clarify how reduced levels of PAPP-A may confer repressed invasiveness, we transfected human ovarian cancer cell line HRA with antisense (AS)-PAPP-A cDNA and compared the properties of the transfected cells to those of parental HRA cells. Here, we show that regulation of uPA mRNA and protein by IGF-I depends on the PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways and phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2 is required for IGF-I-mediated cell invasion; that IGFBP-4 protease in HRA cells is identified as PAPP-A; that reduced PAPP-A expression is associated with the upregulation of IGFBP-4 expression; that higher intact IGFBP-4 levels were associated with low invasive potential and growth rate in AS-PAPP-A cells in response to IGF-I; that IGF-I stimulates Akt and ERK1/2 activation of both the control and antisense cells, but the relative potency and efficacy of IGF-I were lower in the antisense cells compared to the control; and that genetic downregulation of PAPP-A reduces the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HRA cells. In conclusion, our data identify a novel role for PAPP-A as a bikunin target gene. IGF-I-induced IGFBP-4 proteolysis by PAPP-A may enhance cell growth and invasion through IGF-I-dependent Akt and ERK1/2 activation and subsequently upregulation of uPA.

Alpha-catenin is required for IGF-I-induced cellular migration but not invasion in human colonic cancer cells

The mechanisms by which growth factors cooperate with cell adhesion molecules to modulate epithelial cell motility remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I)-dependent cell migration and invasion. We used variants of the HCT-8 colon cancer family that differ in their expression of alphaE-catenin, an intracellular molecule that links the E-cadherin/catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton. Migration was determined using a monolayer wound model and cell invasion by the penetration of the cells into type-I collagen gels. We showed that alpha-catenin-deficient cells were not able to migrate in cohort upon IGF-I stimulation. Transfection of these cells with alpha-catenin isoforms (alphaN- or alphaT-catenin) restored migratory response IGF-I. These results suggest that alpha-catenins are involved in the signal issued from the E-cadherin/catenin complex to regulate IGF-I-stimulated migration. In contrast, IGF-I promoted invasion of both alpha-catenin-deficient and alpha-catenin-expressing cells, indicating that alpha-catenin did not participate in the regulation of IGF-I-induced invasion. Inhibition of E-cadherin function by treatment with MB-2 monoclonal antibodies inhibited both IGF-I-dependent cell migration and invasion. Taken together, our results indicate that functional alpha-catenin is essential for migration but not for invasion, while E-cadherin is involved in both phenomena.

c-Met tyrosine kinase receptor expression and function in human and canine osteosarcoma cells

To further characterize the role of hepatocyte growth factor-scatter factor (HGF-SF) and its receptor (c-Met) in osteosarcoma (OS), human OS cell lines with low (SAOS-2) and high (SAOS-LM2) metastatic potential, and cell lines derived from spontaneous canine OS were studied. All cell lines were evaluated for c-Met and HGF-SF expression and receptor activation using Northern, RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses, respectively. Functional activity of receptor-ligand interaction was measured using c-Met phosphorylation status, proliferation assays (anchorage-dependent and -independent), Matrigel invasion, modulation of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) expression, and cell dispersion (scattering). All cell lines exhibited steady-state mRNA expression of c-Met. The canine OS cell lines also expressed HGF-SF mRNA as determined by RT-PCR analysis. Western analysis showed c-Met protein expression and HGF-stimulated (human) or constitutive (canine) receptor autophosphorylation. Treatment with recombinant human HGF resulted in enhanced proliferation in 3 of 5 OS cell lines and enhanced colony formation in 2 of 5 OS cell lines. Matrigel invasion was significantly enhanced in 3 of the cell lines and uPA levels were significantly increased in the SAOS-2 cells following HGF treatment. Scattering was enhanced in both the SAOS-2 and SAOS-LM2 cells. These data support the involvement of c-Met and HGF-SF in the growth and progression of human and canine OS, and may offer new targets for the development of therapeutic strategies for OS.

Synergistic cooperation between the AP-1 and LEF-1 transcription factors in activation of the matrilysin promoter by the src oncogene: implications in cellular invasion

The matrix metalloprotease matrilysin is expressed in premalignant polyps and plays a key role in local invasion during the progression of digestive tumors. In the present work, we investigated the possible relationships between the activity of the mouse and human matrilysin promoters (Mp), endogenous matrilysin protein expression, and two early oncogenetic defects frequently observed in human colonic cancers, namely activation of the src oncogene and impairment of the Wnt/APC/beta-catenin pathway. Using transient transfection assays, we report here that src signaling and the HMG-box transcription factor LEF-1 act synergistically with the proximal (-61 to -67) AP-1 binding site to transactivate the Mp in premalignant and tumorigenic kidney and colonic epithelial cells, through beta-catenin- and axin-independent signaling pathways. This synergism involves the -109 and -194 Tcf/LEF-1 binding sites in the Mp and a physical interaction between LEF-1 and c-Jun. Furthermore, src coordinates accumulation of the c-Jun factor and matrilysin transcripts. Conversely, the c-Jun dominant negative mutant TAM67 and the src tyrosine kinase inhibitor M475271 impaired src-induced Mp activation, matrilysin protein accumulation, and invasion of type I collagen gels. This mechanism may thereby contribute to cellular invasion during the early-stage adenoma/adenocarcinoma conversion and the metastatic process of digestive tumors.

Selective abrogation of the proinvasive activity of the trefoil peptides pS2 and spasmolytic polypeptide by disruption of the EGF receptor signaling pathways in kidney and colonic cancer cells

Trefoil peptides (TFFs) are now considered as scatter factors, proinvasive and angiogenic agents acting through cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)- and thromboxane A2 receptor (TXA2-R)-dependent signaling pathways. As expression and activation levels of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) predict the metastatic potential of human colorectal cancers, the purpose of this study was to establish whether the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) contributes to cellular invasion induced by TFFs in kidney and colonic cancer cells. Both the dominant negative form of the EGFR (HER-CD533) and the EGFR-TK inhibitor ZD1839 (Iressa) abrogated cellular invasion induced by pS2, spasmolytic polypeptide (SP) and the src oncogene, but not by ITF and the TXA2-R. Similarly, EGFR-TK inhibition by ZD1839 reversed the invasive phenotype promoted by the constitutively activated form of the EGFR (EGFRvIII) and the EGFR agonists transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), amphiregulin and EGF. We also provide evidence that TFFs, EGFRvIII, and TGFalpha trigger common proinvasive pathways using the PI3'-kinase and Rho/Rho- kinase cascades. These findings identify the EGFR-TK as a key signaling element for pS2- and SP-mediated cellular invasion. It is concluded that although pS2, SP and ITF belong to the same family of inflammation- and cancer-associated regulatory peptides, they do not control identical signaling networks.

Role of tissue stroma in cancer cell invasion

Maintenance of epithelial tissues needs the stroma. When the epithelium changes, the stroma inevitably follows. In cancer, changes in the stroma drive invasion and metastasis, the hallmarks of malignancy. Stromal changes at the invasion front include the appearance of myofibroblasts, cells sharing characteristics with fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. The main precursors of myofibroblasts are fibroblasts. The transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts is modulated by cancer cell-derived cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). TGF-beta causes cancer progression through paracrine and autocrine effects. Paracrine effects of TGF-beta implicate stimulation of angiogenesis, escape from immunosurveillance and recruitment of myofibroblasts. Autocrine effects of TGF-beta in cancer cells with a functional TGF-beta receptor complex may be caused by a convergence between TGF-beta signalling and beta-catenin or activating Ras mutations. Experimental and clinical observations indicate that myofibroblasts produce pro-invasive signals. Such signals may also be implicated in cancer pain. N-Cadherin and its soluble form act as invasion-promoters. N-Cadherin is expressed in invasive cancer cells and in host cells such as myofibroblasts, neurons, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. N-Cadherin-dependent heterotypic contacts may promote matrix invasion, perineural invasion, muscular invasion, and transendothelial migration; the extracellular, the juxtamembrane and the beta-catenin binding domain of N-cadherin are implicated in positive invasion signalling pathways. A better understanding of stromal contributions to cancer progression will likely increase our awareness of the importance of the combinatorial signals that support and promote growth, dedifferentiation, invasion, and ectopic survival and eventually result in the identification of new therapeutics targeting the stroma.

Platelet-activating factor and normal or leukaemic haematopoiesis

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid mediator with a wide range of actions on mature leukocytes, acts directly during early human haematopoiesis by affecting the growth of haematopoietic progenitors and indirectly, by modulating cytokine synthesis by bone marrow stromal cells. At this time, its role during leukaemic diseases remains speculative. The lack of membrane PAF receptor (PAF-R) on leukaemic blasts suggest that this receptor represents a marker of mature cells and its membrane induction a consequence of cell maturation. While the couple PAF/PAF-R has been largely studied using B cell lines, few results are available using B cells of patients with haematopoietic malignancies casting some doubts concerning the potential role (if any) of this molecule during leukaemic diseases.

Clinical, cellular, and molecular aspects of cancer invasion

Invasion causes cancer malignancy. We review recent data about cellular and molecular mechanisms of invasion, focusing on cross-talk between the invaders and the host. Cancer disturbs these cellular activities that maintain multicellular organisms, namely, growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and tissue integrity. Multiple alterations in the genome of cancer cells underlie tumor development. These genetic alterations occur in varying orders; many of them concomitantly influence invasion as well as the other cancer-related cellular activities. Examples discussed are genes encoding elements of the cadherin/catenin complex, the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Src, the receptor tyrosine kinases c-Met and FGFR, the small GTPase Ras, and the dual phosphatase PTEN. In microorganisms, invasion genes belong to the class of virulence genes. There are numerous clinical and experimental observations showing that invasion results from the cross-talk between cancer cells and host cells, comprising myofibroblasts, endothelial cells, and leukocytes, all of which are themselves invasive. In bone metastases, host osteoclasts serve as targets for therapy. The molecular analysis of invasion-associated cellular activities, namely, homotypic and heterotypic cell-cell adhesion, cell-matrix interactions and ectopic survival, migration, and proteolysis, reveal branching signal transduction pathways with extensive networks between individual pathways. Cellular responses to invasion-stimulatory molecules such as scatter factor, chemokines, leptin, trefoil factors, and bile acids or inhibitory factors such as platelet activating factor and thrombin depend on activation of trimeric G proteins, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and the Rac and Rho family of small GTPases. The role of proteolysis in invasion is not limited to breakdown of extracellular matrix but also causes cleavage of proinvasive fragments from cell surface glycoproteins.

Gelsolin-induced epithelial cell invasion is dependent on Ras-Rac signaling

Gelsolin is a widely distributed actin binding protein involved in controlling cell morphology, motility, signaling and apoptosis. The role of gelsolin in tumor progression, however, remains poorly understood. Here we show that expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged gelsolin in MDCK-AZ, MDCKtsSrc or HEK293T cells promotes invasion into collagen type I. In organ culture assays, MDCK cells expressing gelsolin-GFP invaded pre-cultured chick heart fragments. Gelsolin expression inhibited E-cadherin-mediated cell aggregation but did not disrupt the E-cadherin-catenin complex. Co-expression of dominant-negative Rac1N17, but not RhoAN19 or Cdc42N17, counteracted gelsolin-induced invasion, suggesting a requirement for Rac1 activity. Increased ARF6, PLD or PIP5K 1alpha activity canceled out gelsolin-induced invasion. Furthermore, we found that invasion induced by gelsolin is dependent on Ras activity, acting through the PI3K-Rac pathway via the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor Sos-1. These findings establish a connection between gelsolin and the Ras oncogenic signaling pathway.

Bile acids stimulate invasion and haptotaxis in human colorectal cancer cells through activation of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways

Bile acids are implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis as evidenced by epidemiological and experimental studies. We examined whether bile acids stimulate cellular invasion of human colorectal and dog kidney epithelial cells at different stages of tumor progression. Colon PC/AA/C1, PCmsrc, and HCT-8/E11 cells and kidney MDCKT23 cells were seeded on top of collagen type I gels and invasive cells were counted after 24 h incubation. Activation of the Rac1 and RhoA small GTPases was investigated by pull-down assays. Haptotaxis was analysed with modified Boyden chambers. Lithocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, cholic acid and deoxycholic acid stimulated cellular invasion of SRC- and RhoA-transformed PCmsrc and MDCKT23-RhoAV14 cells, and of HCT-8/E11 cells originating from a sporadic tumor, but were ineffective in premalignant PC/AA/C1 and MDCKT23 cells. Bile acid-stimulated invasion occurred through stimulation of haptotaxis and was dependent on the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway and signaling cascades using protein kinase C, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and cyclooxygenase-2. Accordingly, BA-induced invasion was associated with activation of the Rac1 and RhoA GTPases and expression of the farnesoid X receptor. We conclude that bile acids stimulate invasion and haptotaxis in colorectal cancer cells via several cancer invasion signaling pathways.

Expression of a splice variant of the platelet-activating factor receptor transcript 2 in various human cancer cell lines

Platelet-activating factor receptor (PAF-R) transcripts were analysed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in five human cancer cell lines derived from the breast (BT20, SKBR3 and T47D cells), the pancreas (Miapaca cells) and the bladder (5,637 cells) in order to confirm the existence of a splice variant of the PAF-R transcript 2. After cloning and sequencing, we confirmed its existence in all cell lines. It consisted of the PAF-R transcript 2 lengthening with 82 nucleotides from the 3' end of exon 1 of the PAF-R gene. The role of this elongated form of the tissue-type PAF-R transcript in cell physiology remains to be elucidated.

Platelet activating factor-induced apoptosis is inhibited by ectopic expression of the platelet activating factor G-protein coupled receptor

The pro-inflammatory lipid mediator platelet activating factor (PAF: 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) accumulates in ischemia, epilepsy, and human immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia and is implicated in neuronal loss. The present study was undertaken to establish a role for its G-protein coupled receptor in regulating neurotoxicity. PC12 cells do not express PAF receptor mRNA as demonstrated by northern analysis and RT-PCR. In the absence of the G-protein coupled receptor, PAF (0.1-1 micro m) triggered chromatin condensation, DNA strand breaks, oligonucleosomal fragmentation, and nuclear disintegration characteristic of apoptosis. Lyso-PAF (0.001-1 micro m), the immediate metabolite of PAF, did not elicit apoptotic death. Concentrations of PAF or lyso-PAF that exceeded critical micelle concentration had physicochemical effects on plasma membrane resulting in necrosis. Apoptosis but not necrosis was inhibited by the PAF antagonist BN52021 (1-100 micro m) but not CV3988 (0.2-20 micro m). Ectopic PAF receptor expression protected PC12 transfectants from ligand-induced apoptosis. PAF receptor-mediated protection was inhibited by CV3988 (1 micro m). These data provide empirical evidence that: (i) PAF can initiate apoptosis independently of its G-protein coupled receptor; (ii) PAF signaling initiated by its G-protein coupled receptor is cytoprotective to PC12 cells; (iii) the pro- and anti-apoptotic effects of PAF on PC12 cells can be pharmacologically distinguished using two different PAF antagonists.

Hepatocyte growth factor upregulates thymosin beta4 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a mesenchymal-derived cytokine. It exerts in vitro a motogenic effect on various target cells, which is displayed either by cell scattering, locomotion, and migration during the wound repair process of cultured cells, or invasiveness through the extracellular matrix. Although it is known that HGF influences the motogenic effect of endothelial cells, the precise effects of HGF during angiogenesis are still poorly understood. To identify genes regulated via HGF signaling in HUVECs, we used the differential display polymerase chain reaction. In this study, thymosin beta4 was found to be differentially expressed in HGF-treated HUVECs compared with control. Data from HPLC profile and induction of MMPs indicate that HGF may affect the biological behavior of HUVECs through a combination of the direct effects of HGF itself and indirect effects mediated via induction of thymosin beta4 in vitro.

G-protein alpha(olf) subunit promotes cellular invasion, survival, and neuroendocrine differentiation in digestive and urogenital epithelial cells

The heterotrimeric G-protein subunits Galpha and Gbetagamma are involved in cellular transformation and tumor development. Here, we report the expression of Galpha(olf) in human digestive and urogenital epithelial cells using RT-PCR and Western blot. When the constitutively activated form of Galpha(olf)Q214L (AGalpha(olf)) was stably transfected in canine kidney MDCKts.src and human colonic HCT-8/S11 epithelial cells, it induced cellular invasion in collagen gels. AGalpha(olf)-mediated invasion was abrogated by agonists of platelet activating factor receptors (PAF-R) and protease-activated receptors -1 (PAR-1), pharmacological inhibitors of PI3'-Kinase (wortmannin), protein kinase C (Gö6976 and GF109203X), Rho GTPase (C3T exoenzyme), but was independent of protein kinase A. Accordingly, the invasive phenotype induced by AGalpha(olf) in HCT-8/S11 cells was reversed by the RhoA antagonist RhoD (G26V). Although AGalpha(olf) protected MDCKts.src cells against serum starvation-mediated apoptosis via a Rho-independent pathway, both AGalpha(olf) and Rho inhibition by C3T induced neuroendocrine-like differentiation linked to extensive neurite outgrowth and parathyroid hormone-related protein expression in human prostatic LNCaP-AGalpha(olf) cells. Since prostate tumors with a larger neuroendocrine cell population display increased invasiveness, persistent activation of the G-protein alpha(olf) may exert convergent adverse effects on cellular invasion and survival in solid tumors during the neoplastic progression towards metastasis. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1205498

RhoA- and RhoD-dependent regulatory switch of Galpha subunit signaling by PAR-1 receptors in cellular invasion

Thrombin and proteinase-activated receptors (PAR) specifically regulate several functions that markedly enhance the transformation phenotype such as inflammation, cell proliferation, tumor growth, and metastasis. We recently reported that thrombin inhibits cellular invasion induced by src, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and leptin in kidney and colonic epithelial cells via predominant activation of the pertussis toxin (PTx) -sensitive G-proteins Galphao/Galphai. We provide pharmacological and biochemical evidence that in the presence of PTx, PAR-1 induced cellular invasion through Galpha12/Galpha13- and RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) -dependent signaling. However, inhibition of the endogenous small GTPase RhoA by the C3 exoenzyme, dominant-negative N19-RhoA, activated G26V-RhoD, and activators of the nitric oxide/cGMP pathways conferred invasive activity to PAR-1 via a signaling cascade using Galphaq, phospholipase C (PLC), Ca(2+)/calmodulin myosin light chain kinase (CaM-MLCK), and phosphorylation of MLC. We found that cellular invasion induced by the src oncogene is abrogated by inhibitors of the RhoA/ROCK pathway and is independent of PLC/CaM-MLCK signaling. Our data demonstrate that the RhoA and RhoD small GTPases are acting as a molecular switch of cellular invasion and reveal a novel critical mechanism by which PAR-1 bypass Galphao/i and RhoA inhibition via differential coupling to heterotrimeric G-proteins linked to divergent or convergent biological responses. Our data also indicate that Rho GTPases and ROCK mediate a src-dependent invasion signal in kidney and colonic cancer cells. We conclude that dynamic regulation of Rho GTPases activation and inactivation by oncogenes, growth factors, cGMP-inducing agents, and adhesion molecules can initiate convergent invasion signals controlled by the thrombin PAR-1 in cancer cells.-Nguyen, Q.-D., Faivre, S., Bruyneel, E., Rivat, C., Seto, M., Endo, T., Mareel, M., Emami, S., Gespach, C. RhoA- and RhoD-dependent regulatory switch of Galpha subunit signaling by PAR-1 receptors in cellular invasion.

The lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN is critical for stabilizing intercellular junctions and reverting invasiveness

To analyze the implication of PTEN in the control of tumor cell invasiveness, the canine kidney epithelial cell lines MDCKras-f and MDCKts-src, expressing activated Ras and a temperature-sensitive v-Src tyrosine kinase, respectively, were transfected with PTEN expression vectors. Likewise, the human PTEN-defective glioblastoma cell lines U87MG and U373MG, the melanoma cell line FM-45, and the prostate carcinoma cell line PC-3 were transfected. We demonstrate that ectopic expression of wild-type PTEN in MDCKts-src cells, but not expression of PTEN mutants deficient in either the lipid or both the lipid and protein phosphatase activities, reverted the morphological transformation, induced cell-cell aggregation, and suppressed the invasive phenotype in an E-cadherin-dependent manner. In contrast, overexpression of wild-type PTEN did not counteract Ras-induced invasiveness of MDCKras-f cells expressing low levels of E-cadherin. PTEN effects were not associated with marked changes in accumulation or phosphorylation levels of E-cadherin and associated catenins. Wild-type, but not mutant, PTEN also reverted the invasive phenotype of U87MG, U373MG, PC-3, and FM-45 cells. Interestingly, PTEN effects were mimicked by N-cadherin-neutralizing antibody in the glioblastoma cell lines. Our data confirm the differential activities of E- and N-cadherin on invasiveness and suggest that the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN exerts a critical role in stabilizing junctional complexes and restraining invasiveness.

Association of increased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling with increased invasiveness and gelatinase activity in malignant gliomas

OBJECT

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant of the primary brain tumors and aggressively infiltrates surrounding brain tissue, resulting in distant foci within the central nervous system, thereby rendering this tumor surgically incurable. The recent findings that both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) and the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) regulate tumor cell invasiveness have led the authors to surmise that these lipid signaling molecules might play a role in regulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are essential for tumor cell invasion.

METHODS

Using the C6 glioma cell line, which does not express measurable amounts of PTEN protein and in which in vitro invasiveness is MMP dependent, the authors determined that in vitro glioma cell invasiveness was significantly reduced when cells were preincubated overnight with LY294002 or wortmannin, two specific inhibitors of PI 3-K signaling. Next, using gelatin zymography, it was noted that these compounds significantly inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities. Moreover, the decrease in MMP activity correlated with the decrease in PI 3-K activity, as assessed by Akt phosphorylation. Finally, using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, the authors demonstrated that LY294002 decreased messenger (m)RNA levels for both MMPs. Thus, these in vitro data indicate that PI 3-K signaling modulates gelatinase activity at the level of mRNA. Using immunostaining of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) as a measure of PI 3-K activity, the authors next assessed rat brains implanted with C6 cells. Compared with surrounding brain, there was marked p-Akt staining in C6 glioma cells and in neurons immediately adjacent to the tumor, but not in normal brain. The p-Akt staining in tumors was especially intense in perivascular areas. Using double-labeling techniques, colocalization of p-Akt with MMP-2 and MMP-9 was also noted in perivascular tumor areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in p-Akt staining within these PTEN-deficient gliomas is consistent with what would be predicted from unchecked PI 3-K signaling. Furthermore, the immunohistochemically detected colocalization of p-Akt and MMP-2 and MMP-9 supports the authors' in vitro studies and the proposed linkage between PI 3-K signaling and MMP activity in gliomas.

Suppression of cellular invasion by activated G-protein subunits Galphao, Galphai1, Galphai2, and Galphai3 and sequestration of Gbetagamma

It was shown previously that platelet-activating factor receptors (PAF-Rs) inhibit invasiveness of colonic and kidney epithelial cells induced by the src and Met oncogenes via a pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism. Therefore, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCKts.src) cells were stably transfected with constitutively activated forms of Galphao, Galphai1, Galphai2, Galphai3 (AGalphao/i), two Gbetagamma sequestering proteins [C-terminal end of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (ct-betaARK) and the Galphat subunit of retinal G-protein transducin], and Gbeta1-Ggamma2 subunits alone or in combination. Cellular invasion induced by src, Met, and leptin was abrogated by the AGalphao/i, ct-betaARK, and Galphat-positive clones, but was induced by coexpression of Gbeta1gamma2. In contrast, invasion stimulated by the trefoil factors (TFFs) pS2 and intestinal trefoil factor in MDCKts.src cells or human colonic epithelial cells PCmsrc and HCT8/S11 was insensitive to PAF, AGalphao, AGalphai1, and AGalphai2, but was abolished by AGalphai3 and the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) agonist thrombin receptor-activating peptide. Depletion of free Gbetagamma heterodimers by ct-betaARK resulted in a remarkable decrease of cellular adhesion and spreading on collagen matrix. Our data demonstrate the following: 1) PAF-Rs impair cellular invasion induced by src, Met, and leptin via the activation of Galphao and Galphai1 to -3; 2) invasion induced by TFFs is selectively inhibited by PAR-1 receptors and Galphai3 activation; and 3) Gbetagamma dimers are required as positive effectors of invasion pathways induced by oncogenes and epigenetic factors. Thus, redistribution of Galphao/Galphai and Gbeta/gamma heterotrimeric G-proteins by PAF-R and PAR-1 exert differential functions on positive and negative signaling pathways involved in cellular invasion and may serve as potential targets for anticancer therapy.

Hepatocyte growth factor induces colonic cancer cell invasiveness via enhanced motility and protease overproduction. Evidence for PI3 kinase and PKC involvement

Tumour progression to the metastatic phenotype is mainly dependent on tumour cell invasiveness. Cell migration is a crucial step in this process. Here we investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the induction of in vitro invasiveness of poorly aggressive Caco-2 colonic cancer epithelial cells. Invasion assays through a Matrigel barrier were performed. Proteases were assessed by zymography, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. Caco-2 cells were found to express HGF receptor but not HGF and to secrete several proteases, namely matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), MMP-2, possibly MMP-9 and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). Exogenous HGF promoted invasiveness of Caco-2 cells through an artificial basement membrane matrix and enhanced their production of proteases. In addition, analyses of media at the end of invasion assays indicated that anti-HGF antibody inhibited protease production in parallel with cell invasion. The involvement of proteases in the HGF-induced invasion process was further investigated using either a synthetic general MMP inhibitor or neutralizing antibodies against MMPs or uPA. All components significantly inhibited HGF-promoted cell invasion. Moreover, specific inhibitors of PKCalpha/beta1 and PI3 kinase also decreased both HGF-promoted cell invasion and protease expression in invasion assay media. Thus, our findings provide evidence that the process of HGF-activated invasiveness of Caco-2 cells involves PI3 kinase and PKC and results from close association of two events, stimulation of cell motile activity and concomitant overproduction of proteases, which permits cell migration through a degraded extracellular matrix.

Stimulation of protease activated receptors on RT4 cells mediates arachidonic acid release via Ca2+ independent phospholipase A2

PURPOSE

Protease activated receptors (PAR) represent a family of G protein coupled receptors with 7 membrane spanning domains that are activated by proteolysis of the N-terminus of the receptor by serine proteases. The presence of multiple PARs on the same cell is thought to extend the range of proteases a cell responds to rather than expand the range of intracellular responses. We investigated arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release in the human urothelial carcinoma cell line RT4 in response to stimulation with thrombin, which activates PAR-1, and tryptase, which activates PAR-2.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RT4 cells were incubated with thrombin, tryptase or PAR agonist peptides and intracellular phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release were measured. Pretreatment with bromoenol lactone, a selective inhibitor for Ca2+ independent PLA2 (iPLA2), was also investigated.

RESULTS

Thrombin and tryptase stimulation resulted in a 2 to 3-fold increase in membrane associated iPLA2 that was accompanied by comparative increases in arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release. These responses were also observed when synthetic peptides representing the tethered ligand for each receptor were incubated with RT4 cells. Arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release, and iPLA2 activation were completely inhibited by pretreatment with bromoenol lactone.

CONCLUSIONS

Stimulating RT4 cells with PAR-1 or PAR-2 leads to the selective activation of iPLA2 as well as the release of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2, which may provide cytoprotection during an acute inflammatory reaction.

Stimulation of protease activated receptors on RT4 cells mediates arachidonic acid release via Ca2+ independent phospholipase A2

PURPOSE

Protease activated receptors (PAR) represent a family of G protein coupled receptors with 7 membrane spanning domains that are activated by proteolysis of the N-terminus of the receptor by serine proteases. The presence of multiple PARs on the same cell is thought to extend the range of proteases a cell responds to rather than expand the range of intracellular responses. We investigated arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release in the human urothelial carcinoma cell line RT4 in response to stimulation with thrombin, which activates PAR-1, and tryptase, which activates PAR-2.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RT4 cells were incubated with thrombin, tryptase or PAR agonist peptides and intracellular phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release were measured. Pretreatment with bromoenol lactone, a selective inhibitor for Ca2+ independent PLA2 (iPLA2), was also investigated.

RESULTS

Thrombin and tryptase stimulation resulted in a 2 to 3-fold increase in membrane associated iPLA2 that was accompanied by comparative increases in arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release. These responses were also observed when synthetic peptides representing the tethered ligand for each receptor were incubated with RT4 cells. Arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release, and iPLA2 activation were completely inhibited by pretreatment with bromoenol lactone.

CONCLUSIONS

Stimulating RT4 cells with PAR-1 or PAR-2 leads to the selective activation of iPLA2 as well as the release of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2, which may provide cytoprotection during an acute inflammatory reaction.

Hepatocyte growth factor: renotropic role and potential therapeutics for renal diseases

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a ligand for the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, has mitogenic, motogenic, anti-apoptotic, and morphogenic (for example, induction of branching tubulogenesis) activities for renal tubular cells, while it has angiogenic and angioprotective actions for endothelial cells. Stromal cells such as mesangial cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages are sources of renal HGF; thus, HGF mediates epithelial-stromal and endothelial-mesangial interactions in the kidney. In response to acute renal injury, the expression of HGF increases in the injured kidney and in distant intact organs such as the lung and spleen. Locally and systemically increased HGF supports renal regeneration, possibly not only by enhancing cell growth but also by promoting morphogenesis of renal tissue. During progression of chronic renal failure/renal fibrosis, the expression of HGF decreases in a manner reciprocal to the increase in expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a key player in tissue fibrosis. A decrease in endogenous HGF, as well as increase in TGF-beta, augments susceptibility to the onset of chronic renal failure/renal fibrosis. On the other hand, supplements of exogenous HGF have preventive and therapeutic effects in cases of acute and chronic renal failure/renal fibrosis in laboratory animals. HGF prevents epithelial cell death and enhances regeneration and remodeling of renal tissue with injury or fibrosis. A renotropic system underlies the vital potential of the kidney to regenerate, while an impaired renotropic system may confer susceptibility to the onset of renal diseases. Thus, HGF supplementation may be one therapeutic strategy to treat subjects with renal diseases, as it enhances the intrinsic ability of the kidney to regenerate.

Interaction of tumor cells with vascular endothelia: role of platelet-activating factor

We investigated whether tumor cell/endothelia interaction can be influenced by platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), a lipid mediator that promotes adhesiveness and extravasation of leukocytes in the inflammatory reaction. We found that the PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2086 prevents adhesion of melanoma Hs294T and colon carcinoma LS180 lines to IL-1-stimulated endothelial cells. Moreover, PAF stimulated the adhesiveness of Hs294T and LS180 cells to VCAM-1 and E- selectin, respectively, in an artificial model consisting of recombinant adhesive proteins bound to protein A-coated substrata. Thus, tumoral and not endothelial cell surface seems to be involved in the PAF-mediated enhancement of tumor cell adhesiveness to IL-1-activated endothelia. This observation is supported by the finding that Hs294T and LS180 cells express high affinity and functionally active receptors for PAF. By using specific inhibitors, we found that PAF-induced enhancement of cell adhesiveness was mediated by G-protein activation and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. In addition, protein tyrosine phosphorylation was observed in Hs294T and LS180 cells stimulated by PAF. In conclusion, we demonstrated that PAF-mediated activation of tumor cells enhances their adhesiveness to IL-1-stimulated vascular endothelia.