Granzyme B-truncated VEGF fusion protein represses angiogenesis and tumor growth of OSCC

LINC01123 is associated with prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and involved in tumor progression by sponging miR-34a-5p

OBJECTIVE

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant tumor. This study aimed to investigate the role of a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), LINC01123, in OSCC prognosis and progression and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

STUDY DESIGN

OSCC tissues were collected from 102 patients, and 4 OSCC cell lines were analyzed. The expression levels of LINC01123 and miR-34a-5p were estimated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays were used to assess the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to analyze the prognostic value of LINC01123 in OSCC.

RESULTS

The analysis results showed that LINC01123 was overexpressed in OSCC tumor tissues; also, the prognosis of patients with OSCC with high LINC01123 expression levels was poor. The knockdown of LINC01123 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OCSS cells. MiR-34a-5p was a target of LINC01123, and its inhibitor could reverse the effect of silenced LINC01123 on the progression of OSCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Highly expressed LINC01123 was associated with poor prognosis of OSCC and regulated OSCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by sponging miR-34a-5p. Therefore, the LINC01123/miR-34a-5p axis may provide new ideas for the prognosis and treatment of OSCC.

OSCC Exosomes Regulate miR-210-3p Targeting EFNA3 to Promote Oral Cancer Angiogenesis through the PI3K/AKT Pathway

This study is aimed at determining how oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) regulates the angiogenesis of HUVECs through miR-210-3p expression and exploring the relationship among miR-210-3p, its target protein, and the possible mechanism of angiogenesis regulation. miR-210-3p expression was detected in OSCC tissues and juxta cancerous tissues (JCT), and the relationship among miR-210-3p, microvessel density (MVD), and histopathologic features was analyzed. A conditioned medium (CM) of the OSCC cell line CAL27 was collected to stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and the miR-210-3p levels and tube formation capability of HUVECs were measured. The target protein level of miR-210-3p was altered; then, PI3K/AKT pathway activation in HUVECs was detected. miR-210-3p was tested in exosomes separated from CAL27 CM, and the transfer of miR-210-3p from OSCC exosomes to HUVECs was verified. Then, we found that the OSCC tissues had higher miR-210-3p levels than the JCT, and miR-210-3p level was positively correlated with MVD and tumor grade. CAL27 CM was able to elevate miR-210-3p levels in HUVECs and promoted tube formation. EFNA3 was the target gene of miR-210-3p, and ephrinA3 protein level was able to influence the migration and proliferation of HUVECs. The levels of phosphorylated AKT in the HUVECs increased when ephrinA3 was downregulated, and the upregulation of ephrinA3 resulted in the suppression of the PI3K/AKT pathway. miR-210-3p was detected in exosomes isolated from the CM of CAL27 cells, and miR-210-3p level in the HUVECs was elevated after absorbing the OSCC exosomes. In conclusion, miR-210-3p was more overexpressed in OSCC tissues than in the JCT. The exosomes secreted by OSCC cells were able to upregulate miR-210-3p expression and reduce ephrinA3 expression in HUVECs and promoted tube formation through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Engineering Thermo-pH Dual Responsive Hydrogel for Enhanced Tumor Accumulation, Penetration, and Chemo-Protein Combination Therapy

Purpose

Combined chemotherapeutic drug and protein drug has been a widely employed strategy for tumor treatment. To realize both tumor accumulation and deep tumor penetration for drugs with different pharmacokinetics, we propose a structure-transformable, thermo-pH dual responsive co-delivery system to co-load granzyme B/docetaxel (GrB/DTX).

Methods

Thermo-sensitive hydrogels based on diblock copolymers (mPEG-b-PELG) were synthesized through ring opening polymerization. GrB/DTX mini micelles (GDM) was developed by co-loading these two drugs in pH-sensitive mini micelles, and the GDM-incorporated thermo-sensitive hydrogel (GDMH) was constructed. The thermo-induced gelation behavior of diblock copolymers and the physiochemical properties of GDMH were characterized. GDMH degradation and deep tumor penetration of released mini micelles were confirmed. The pH-sensitive disassembly and lysosomal escape abilities of released mini micelles were evaluated. In vitro cytotoxicity was studied using MTT assays and the in vivo antitumor efficacy study was evaluated in B16-bearing C57BL/6 mice.

Results

GDMH was gelatinized at body temperature and can be degraded by proteinase to release mini micelles. The mini micelles incorporated in GDMH can achieve deep tumor penetration and escape from lysosomes to release GrB and DTX. MTT results showed that maximum synergistic antitumor efficacy of GrB and DTX was observed at mass ratio of 1:100. Our in vivo antitumor efficacy study showed that GDMH inhibited tumor growth in the subcutaneous tumor model and in the post-surgical recurrence model.

Conclusion

The smart-designed transformable GDMH can facilitate tumor accumulation, deep tumor penetration, and rapid drug release to achieve synergistic chemo-protein therapy.

AEG-1 promotes angiogenesis and may be a novel treatment target for tongue squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The study explored the potential function of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) on angiogenesis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) in TSCC cell lines.

METHODS

The different degrees of angiogenesis were detected in TSCC cell lines expressing different levels of AEG-1 by chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) experimental model. Next, we established xenografts of different TSCC cell lines with different expression levels of AEG-1 in nude mice and conducted immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of the angiogenesis-associated factor, that is, vascular endothelial growth receptor factor 2 (VEGFR-2) and microvessel density (MVD). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected by ELISA.

RESULTS

CAM assay showed that the number of vessels was significantly reduced in AEG-1-down um1 cell line (p < .05), whereas the number was significantly increased in AEG-1-over um2 cell line (p < .05). Moreover, up-regulated AEG-1 expression level was associated with higher tumor angiogenesis, which was reflected by augmented expression levels of VEGF (p < .01), VEGFR-2 (p < .05), and MVD counting (p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that AEG-1 can promote tumor angiogenesis in TSCC and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by repressing the expression of AEG-1 may be a novel potential treatment approach for TSCC.

LncRNA AC007271.3 promotes cell proliferation, invasion, migration and inhibits cell apoptosis of OSCC via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

AIMS

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) AC007271.3 has been identified to be dysregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in our previous study. However, the precise role of AC007271.3 in OSCC remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential functions and the underlying mechanisms of AC007271.3 in OSCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression levels of AC007271.3 in OSCC tissues and cell lines were examined using RT-qPCR. The relationship between AC007271.3 level and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed, and its association with patient prognosis was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The biological function of AC007271.3 and its role in the development of OSCC through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were studied.

KEY FINDINGS

We identified that AC007271.3 was up-regulated and positively correlated with advanced clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, poor histological differentiation and unfavorable prognosis. We explored the expression, function, and molecular mechanism of AC007271.3 in OSCC cells. Overexpression of AC007271.3 remarkably promoted cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, induced cell migration, invasion and inhibited apoptosis in vitro, while knockdown of AC007271.3 attenuated cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, AC007271.3 overexpression substantially increased the expression of β-catenin and the downstream target molecules CyclinD1, c-myc and Bcl-2, while silencing of AC007271.3 has the opposite effect. Rescued experiments showed that the ability to promote cell proliferation, migration, invasion and inhibiting apoptosis could be reversed when treated with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our data indicated that AC007271.3 could promote cell proliferation, invasion and inhibit cell apoptosis of OSCC via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which might provide a novel therapeutic approach for OSCC.

Development of a human immuno-oncology therapeutic agent targeting HER2: targeted delivery of granzyme B

Background

Immunotherapeutic approaches designed to augment T and B cell mediated killing of tumor cells has met with clinical success in recent years suggesting tremendous potential for treatment in a broad spectrum of tumor types. After complex recognition of target cells by T and B cells, delivery of the serine protease granzyme B (GrB) to tumor cells comprises the cytotoxic insult resulting in a well-characterized, multimodal apoptotic cascade.

Methods

We designed a recombinant fusion construct, GrB-Fc-4D5, composed of a humanized anti-HER2 scFv fused to active GrB for recognition of tumor cells and internal delivery of GrB, simulating T and B cell therapy. We assessed the construct’s antigen-binding specificity and GrB enzymatic activity, as well as in vitro cytotoxicity and internalization into target and control cells. We also assessed pharmacokinetic and toxicology parameters in vivo.

Results

GrB-Fc-4D5 was highly cytotoxic to Her2 positive cells such as SKBR3, MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 with IC₅₀ values of 56, 99 and 27 nM, respectively, and against a panel of HER2+ cell lines regardless of endogenous expression levels of the PI-9 inhibitor. Contemporaneous studies with Kadcyla demonstrated similar levels of in vitro activity against virtually all cells tested. GrB-Fc-4D5 internalized rapidly into target SKOV3 cells within 1 h of exposure rapidly delivering GrB to the cytoplasmic compartment. In keeping with its relatively high molecular weight (160 kDa), the construct demonstrated a terminal-phase serum half-life in mice of 39.2 h. Toxicity studies conducted on BALB/c mice demonstrated no statistically significant changes in SGPT, SGOT or serum LDH. Histopathologic analysis of tissues from treated mice demonstrated no drug-related changes in any tissues examined.

Conclusion

GrB-Fc-4D5 shows excellent, specific cytotoxicity and demonstrates no significant toxicity in normal, antigen-negative murine models. This construct constitutes a novel approach against HER2-expressing tumors and is an excellent candidate for further development.