Control of angiogenesis in fibroblasts by p53 regulation of thrombospondin-1

The MDM2 SNP309 differentially impacts cardiorespiratory fitness in young healthy women and men

PURPOSE

Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), the predominant index of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), is a predictor of whole-body function and longevity in humans. The central cardiac function and the skeletal muscle's capacity to use oxygen are key determinants of VO2max. Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2), mainly known as an oncogene, could regulate myocardial hypertrophy, skeletal muscle angiogenesis, and oxidative phosphorylation. A prevalent single nucleotide polymorphism in the MDM2 promoter (SNP309) substitutes a T for a G, supporting a greater transcriptional activity. We aim to assess whether SNP309 impacts intrinsic CRF.

METHODS

82 young healthy nonathletic male and female adults aged 23 ± 2 years performed cardiorespiratory exercise testing to determine their VO2max (mL kg-1 min-1). The genomic DNAs isolated from saliva were genotyped using Taqman-based qPCR.

RESULTS

A one-way ANOVA showed that SNP309 influenced relative VO2max in the whole cohort (p = 0.044) and in men (p = 0.009), remaining non-significant in women (p = 0.133). VO2max was higher in TT homozygotes than in GT heterozygotes (whole cohort, 47 ± 12 vs. 42 ± 6 mL kg-1 min-1, p = 0.030; men, 53 ± 8 vs. 45 ± 6 mL kg-1 min-1, p = 0.011). A contingency analysis revealed a positive association between SNP309 in men in which the TT genotype was more frequent in the high VO2max group (p = 0.006). When considering G as the dominant allele, men bearing a G allele had lower relative VO2max than TT homozygotes (47 ± 7 vs. 53 ± 8, GG/GT vs. TT, p = 0.010). Conversely, women bearing a G allele had a higher relative VO2max than TT homozygotes (39 ± 5 vs. 34 ± 7, GG/GT vs. TT, p = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

SNP309 impacts VO2max in a sex-dependent manner in our cohort.

Thrombospondin-1 induces immunogenic cell death in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma MC-3 cells via the PERK/eIF2α signaling pathway: potential implications for tumor immunotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MC-3) cells and explore its potential to induce calreticulin (CRT) exposure via the PERK/eIF2α signaling pathway.

METHODS

The MC-3 cell line was used as the research model. The CCK-8 assay was performed to determine the optimal seeding density, TSP-1 concentration, and treatment time. Annexin V/PI double staining combined with flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis across different experimental groups (blank control, TSP-1, paclitaxel (PTX), TSP-1 + PTX). Cells were divided into groups: blank control, PTX, TSP-1, TSP-1 + ISRIB (ISRIB: Integrated Stress Response Inhibitor), and TSP-1 + PTX, and CRT expression was detected by flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence, Western blot, and qPCR were used to detect the expression of PERK (Protein Kinase R-like Endoplasmic Reticulum Kinase), eIF2α (eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2α), and CRT. All experiments were performed in triplicate, and data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 software. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

At a seeding density of 2 × 104/mL, MC-3 cells reached the growth plateau by day six. The optimal concentration and duration of TSP-1 treatment were 0.1 μmol/L and 72 h, respectively. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and qPCR results revealed that TSP-1 significantly induced CRT exposure in MC-3 cells (P < 0.05), accompanied by the upregulation of PERK and eIF2α expression (P < 0.05). Co-treatment with PTX further enhanced these effects, while the addition of ISRIB reduced the expression of PERK, eIF2α, and CRT (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

TSP-1 induces ICD in MC-3 cells, accompanied by CRT exposure, potentially mediated through the activation of the PERK/eIF2α signaling pathway. These findings suggest that TSP-1 may have potential as an adjunct to chemotherapy for enhancing tumor immunotherapy.

Evaluation of thrombospondin 1 as a novel biomarker in pediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the potential of thrombospondin 1 (TBS-1) as a biomarker for pediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) and investigated its association with clinical characteristics and other laboratory tests in pSLE.

METHODS

A total of 112 pSLE and 50 age-matched and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in this study from January 2022 to June 2023 at West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan university. Plasma TBS-1 levels were measured, and clinical and laboratory findings were collected from the medical database.

RESULTS

The plasma TBS-1 level was significantly lower in pSLE patients (26778 ng/mL, IQR: 9875-59011) compared to HCs (100583 ng/mL, IQR: 58327-189547) (P < 0.0001). ROC analysis demonstrated that TBS-1 could effectively differentiate pSLE patients and HCs (AUC: 0.845, 95%CI: 0.785-0.905, P < 0.0001) with an optimal cut-off was 49,937 ng/mL, yielding a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 70.5% based on the Youden index. Compared to TBS-1 positive patients, TBS-1 negative patients exhibited significant reductions in hemoglobin, IgM, and fibrinogen levels.

CONCLUSION

In light of the current data, the efficacy of TBS-1 as a biomarker in pSLE diverged from its performance in adult SLE. In summary, TBS-1 shows potential as a biomarker for pSLE, particularly in hematological manifestations. Further investigations are essential to delve into the immunomodulatory roles of TBS-1 in the autoimmune pathways of pSLE.

ZNF8 promotes progression of gastrointestinal cancers via a p53-dependent mechanism

p53 is a critical tumor suppressor, and the disruption of its normal function is often a prerequisite for the development or progression of tumors. Our previous works revealed that multiple members of Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain zinc-finger proteins (KZFPs) family regulate p53 transcriptional activity by interacting with it. But the tumor biology functions of these members have not been fully elucidated. Here, the pan-cancer analysis related to gastrointestinal cancers (GICs) revealed that ZNF8, a p53-interacting protein, is an unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with malignancies. ZNF8 interacts with p53 and further depresses its transcriptional activity in colon cancer cells. The knockdown of ZNF8 or the overexpression of ZNF8 inhibits or facilitates the in vitro colony formation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of p53+/+ colon cancer HCT116 cells, HepG2 cells and EC109 cells rather than p53-/- colon cancer HCT116 cells and p53-knockout HepG2 cells, respectively. Xenograft experiments conducted in vivo also showed that the knockdown of ZNF8 in p53+/+ but not in p53-/- HCT116 cells curbs the tumor growth and metastasis to lung, leading to an extended life span for tumor-bearing mice. Clinically, two independent immunohistochemistry cohorts of colon cancer and esophageal cancer also indicated that ZNF8 is higher expression in carcinoma tissues than adjacent tissues and this is associated with worse overall survival outcomes in patients without harboring p53 mutation. Together, our results provide insight into the p53-specific tumor oncogenic function of ZNF8. ZNF8 may prove to be a potential target for GICs treatment.

Diagnostic and prognostic utility of plasma thrombospondin-1 levels in traumatic brain injury

PURPOSE

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a powerful antiangiogenic agent, is increasingly expressed in mice brain tissues after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, in the peripheral blood of TBI patients, TSP-1 concentrations have not been identified. This study aimed to determine if TSP-1 measured in the plasma of patients relates to TBI diagnosis and injury severity.

METHODS

Plasma TSP-1 levels were assessed in 75 patients with mild to severe TBI and 60 healthy volunteers. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was recorded to assess traumatic severity. Other relevant clinical characters and laboratory tests were collected to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of TSP-1. Glasgow outcome scale (GOSE) 3 months after trauma was dichotomized into unfavorable (GOSE1-4) and favorable (GOSE5-8) outcomes.

RESULTS

TSP-1 levels were significantly higher in TBI patients than in controls (median 530.4 ng/l, the upper- lower quartiles 373.2-782.1 vs. median 201.5 mg/l, the upper - lower quartiles 83.1-351.4, P < 0.001). Plasma TSP-1 was able to differentiate patients with mild, moderate, and severe TBI from healthy controls with Area Under the Receiver-Operating Characteristic Curve (AUROC) of 0.8089, 0.9312, and 0.9189, respectively. TSP-1 levels were closely and negatively correlated with GCS score (r = -0.41). TSP-1 levels > 624.4 ng/ml independently predicted a 3-month unfavorable outcome with an odds ratio value of 9.666 (95% confidence interval (CI),1.393-69.072). TSP-1 levels significantly discriminated 3-month unfavorable outcome with AUROC of 0.7445 (95%CI, 0.6152-0.8739).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that plasma TSP-1 should be further investigated as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for patients with TBI.

The Abl1 tyrosine kinase is a key player in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy and its p53/p73 cell death mediated signaling differs in atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin is an important anticancer drug, however, elicits dose-dependently cardiomyopathy. Given its mode of action, i.e. topoisomerase inhibition and DNA damage, we investigated genetic events associated with cardiomyopathy and searched for mechanism-based possibilities to alleviate cardiotoxicity. We treated rats at clinically relevant doses of doxorubicin. Histopathology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) defined cardiac lesions, and transcriptomics unveiled cardiomyopathy-associated gene regulations. Genomic-footprints revealed critical components of Abl1-p53-signaling, and EMSA-assays evidenced Abl1 DNA-binding activity. Gene reporter assays confirmed Abl1 activity on p53-targets while immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated Abl1, p53&p73 signaling.

RESULTS

Doxorubicin treatment caused dose-dependently toxic cardiomyopathy, and TEM evidenced damaged mitochondria and myofibrillar disarray. Surviving cardiomyocytes repressed Parkin-1 and Bnip3-mediated mitophagy, stimulated dynamin-1-like dependent mitochondrial fission and induced anti-apoptotic Bag1 signaling. Thus, we observed induced mitochondrial biogenesis. Transcriptomics discovered heterogeneity in cellular responses with minimal overlap between treatments, and the data are highly suggestive for distinct cardiomyocyte (sub)populations which differed in their resilience and reparative capacity. Genome-wide footprints revealed Abl1 and p53 enriched binding sites in doxorubicin-regulated genes, and we confirmed Abl1 DNA-binding activity in EMSA-assays. Extraordinarily, Abl1 signaling differed in the heart with highly significant regulations of Abl1, p53 and p73 in atrial cardiomyocytes. Conversely, in ventricular cardiomyocytes, Abl1 solely-modulated p53-signaling that was BAX transcription-independent. Gene reporter assays established Abl1 cofactor activity for the p53-reporter PG13-luc, and ectopic Abl1 expression stimulated p53-mediated apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The tyrosine kinase Abl1 is of critical importance in doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy, and we propose its inhibition as means to diminish risk of cardiotoxicity.

Cell-free DNA from germline TP53 mutation carriers reflect cancer-like fragmentation patterns

Germline pathogenic TP53 variants predispose individuals to a high lifetime risk of developing multiple cancers and are the hallmark feature of Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). Our group has previously shown that LFS patients harbor shorter plasma cell-free DNA fragmentation; independent of cancer status. To understand the functional underpinning of cfDNA fragmentation in LFS, we conducted a fragmentomic analysis of 199 cfDNA samples from 82 TP53 mutation carriers and 30 healthy TP53-wildtype controls. We find that LFS individuals exhibit an increased prevalence of A/T nucleotides at fragment ends, dysregulated nucleosome positioning at p53 binding sites, and loci-specific changes in chromatin accessibility at development-associated transcription factor binding sites and at cancer-associated open chromatin regions. Machine learning classification resulted in robust differentiation between TP53 mutant versus wildtype cfDNA samples (AUC-ROC = 0.710-1.000) and intra-patient longitudinal analysis of ctDNA fragmentation signal enabled early cancer detection. These results suggest that cfDNA fragmentation may be a useful diagnostic tool in LFS patients and provides an important baseline for cancer early detection.

Interaction of DisBa01 peptide from Bothrops alternatus venom with BRAF melanoma receptors: Modeling and molecular docking

Metastatic melanoma is highly aggressive and challenging, often leading to a grim prognosis. Its progression is swift, especially when mutations like BRAFV600E continuously activate pathways vital for cell growth and survival. Although several treatments target this mutation, resistance typically emerges over time. In recent decades, research has underscored the potential of snake venoms and peptides as bioactive substances for innovative drugs, including anti-coagulants, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer agents. Leveraging this knowledge, we propose employing a bioinformatics simulation approach to: a) Predict how well a peptide (DisBa01) from Bothrops alternatus snake venom binds to the melanoma receptor BRAFV600E via Molecular Docking. b) Identify the specific peptide binding sites on receptors and analyze their proximity to active receptor sites. c) Evaluate the behavior of resulting complexes through molecular dynamics simulations. d) Assess whether this peptide qualifies as a candidate for anti-melanoma therapy. Our findings reveal that DisBa01 enhances stability in the BRAFV600E melanoma receptor structure by binding to its RGD motif, an interaction absent in the BRAF WT model. Consequently, both docking and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that DisBa01 shows promise as a BRAFV600E inhibitor.

Stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment: accomplices of tumor progression?

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is made up of cells and extracellular matrix (non-cellular component), and cellular components include cancer cells and non-malignant cells such as immune cells and stromal cells. These three types of cells establish complex signals in the body and further influence tumor genesis, development, metastasis and participate in resistance to anti-tumor therapy. It has attracted scholars to study immune cells in TME due to the significant efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) in solid tumors and hematologic tumors. After more than 10 years of efforts, the role of immune cells in TME and the strategy of treating tumors based on immune cells have developed rapidly. Moreover, ICI have been recommended by guidelines as first- or second-line treatment strategies in a variety of tumors. At the same time, stromal cells is another major class of cellular components in TME, which also play a very important role in tumor metabolism, growth, metastasis, immune evasion and treatment resistance. Stromal cells can be recruited from neighboring non-cancerous host stromal cells and can also be formed by transdifferentiation from stromal cells to stromal cells or from tumor cells to stromal cells. Moreover, they participate in tumor genesis, development and drug resistance by secreting various factors and exosomes, participating in tumor angiogenesis and tumor metabolism, regulating the immune response in TME and extracellular matrix. However, with the deepening understanding of stromal cells, people found that stromal cells not only have the effect of promoting tumor but also can inhibit tumor in some cases. In this review, we will introduce the origin of stromal cells in TME as well as the role and specific mechanism of stromal cells in tumorigenesis and tumor development and strategies for treatment of tumors based on stromal cells. We will focus on tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), tumor-associated adipocytes (CAAs), tumor endothelial cells (TECs) and pericytes (PCs) in stromal cells.

Molecular Mechanisms and Future Implications of VEGF/VEGFR in Cancer Therapy

Angiogenesis, the sprouting of new blood vessels from existing vessels, is one of six known mechanisms employed by solid tumors to recruit blood vessels necessary for their initiation, growth, and metastatic spread. The vascular network within the tumor facilitates the transport of nutrients, oxygen, and immune cells and is regulated by pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. Nearly four decades ago, VEGF was identified as a critical factor promoting vascular permeability and angiogenesis, followed by identification of VEGF family ligands and their receptors (VEGFR). Since then, over a dozen drugs targeting the VEGF/VEGFR pathway have been approved for approximately 20 solid tumor types, usually in combination with other therapies. Initially designed to starve tumors, these agents transiently "normalize" tumor vessels in preclinical and clinical studies, and in the clinic, increased tumor blood perfusion or oxygenation in response to these agents is associated with improved outcomes. Nevertheless, the survival benefit has been modest in most tumor types, and there are currently no biomarkers in routine clinical use for identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment. However, the ability of these agents to reprogram the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an immunostimulatory milieu has rekindled interest and has led to the FDA approval of seven different combinations of VEGF/VEGFR pathway inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockers for many solid tumors in the past 3 years. In this review, we discuss our understanding of the mechanisms of response and resistance to blocking VEGF/VEGFR, and potential strategies to develop more effective therapeutic approaches.

Regression of Human Breast Carcinoma in Nude Mice after Adsflt Gene Therapy Is Mediated by Tumor Vascular Endothelial Cell Apoptosis

Two vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, FLT-1 and KDR, are expressed preferentially in proliferating endothelium. There is increasing evidence that recombinant, soluble VEGF receptor domains interfering with VEGF signaling may inhibit in vivo neoangiogenesis, tumor growth and metastatic spread. We hypothesized that a soluble form of FLT-1 receptor (sFLT-1) could inhibit the growth of pre-established tumors via an anti-angiogenic mechanism. A replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad) vector carrying the sflt-1 cDNA (Adsflt) was used to overexpress the sFLT-1 receptor in a breast cancer animal model. MCF-7 cells, which produce VEGF, were used to establish solid tumors in the mammary fat pads of female nude mice. After six weeks, tumors were injected either with Adsflt or a negative control virus (AdCMV.βgal). After six months, average tumor volume in the Adsflt-infected group (33 ± 22 mm3) decreased by 91% relative to that of the negative control group (388 ± 94 mm3; p < 0.05). Moreover, 10 of 15 Adsflt-infected tumors exhibited complete regression. The vascular density of Adsflt-infected tumors was reduced by 50% relative to that of negative controls (p < 0.05), which is consistent with sFLT-1-mediated tumor regression through an anti-angiogenic mechanism. Moreover, cell necrosis and fibrosis associated with long-term regression of Adsflt−infected tumors were preceded by apoptosis of tumor vascular endothelial cells. Mice treated with Adsflt intratumorally showed no delay in the healing of cutaneous wounds, providing preliminary evidence that Ad-mediated sFLT-1 overexpression may be an effective anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer without the risk of systemic anti-angiogenic effects.

A comprehensive study of p53 protein

The protein p53 has been extensively investigated since it was found 43 years ago and has become a "guardian of the genome" that regulates the division of cells by preventing the growth of cells and dividing them, that is, inhibits the development of tumors. Initial proof of protein existence by researchers in the mid-1970s was found by altering and regulating the SV40 big T antigen termed the A protein. Researchers demonstrated how viruses play a role in cancer by employing viruses' ability to create T-antigens complex with viral tumors, which was discovered in 1979 following a viral analysis and cancer analog research. Researchers later in the year 1989 explained that in Murine Friend, a virus-caused erythroleukemia, commonly found that p53 was inactivated to suggest that p53 could be a "tumor suppressor gene." The TP53 gene, encoding p53, is one of human cancer's most frequently altered genes. The protein-regulated biological functions of all p53s include cell cycles, apoptosis, senescence, metabolism of the DNA, angiogenesis, cell differentiation, and immunological response. We tried to unfold the history of the p53 protein, which was discovered long back in 1979, that is, 43 years of research on p53, and how p53's function has been developed through time in this article.

Role of extracellular vesicles in cancer-specific interactions between tumour cells and the vasculature

Cancer progression impacts and exploits the vascular system in several highly consequential ways. Among different types of vascular cells, blood cells and mediators that are engaged in these processes, endothelial cells are at the centre of the underlying circuitry, as crucial constituents of angiogenesis, angiocrine stimulation, non-angiogenic vascular growth, interactions with the coagulation system and other responses. Tumour-vascular interactions involve soluble factors, extracellular matrix molecules, cell-cell contacts, as well as extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying assemblies of molecular effectors. Oncogenic mutations and transforming changes in the cancer cell genome, epigenome and signalling circuitry exert important and often cancer-specific influences upon pathways of tumour-vascular interactions, including the biogenesis, content, and biological activity of EVs and responses of cancer cells to them. Notably, EVs may carry and transfer bioactive, oncogenic macromolecules (oncoproteins, RNA, DNA) between tumour and vascular cells and thereby elicit unique functional changes and forms of vascular growth and remodeling. Cancer EVs influence the state of the vasculature both locally and systemically, as exemplified by cancer-associated thrombosis. EV-mediated communication pathways represent attractive targets for therapies aiming at modulation of the tumour-vascular interface (beyond angiogenesis) and could also be exploited for diagnostic purposes in cancer.

Counter Regulation of Tumor Angiogenesis by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Thrombospondin-1

Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the process of angiogenesis in the context of normal and tumor tissue over the last fifty years. Angiogenesis, like most physiological processes, is carefully controlled by dynamic and opposing effects of positive factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and negative factors, such as thrombospondin-1. In most cases, the progression of a small mass of cancerous cells to a life-threatening tumor depends upon the initiation of angiogenesis and involves the dysregulation of the angiogenic balance. Whereas our newfound appreciation for the role of angiogenesis in cancer has opened up new avenues for treatment, the success of these treatments, which have focused almost exclusively on antagonizing the VEGF pathway, has been limited to date. It is anticipated that this situation will improve as more therapeutics that target other pathways are developed, more strategies for combination therapies are advanced, more detailed stratification of patient populations occurs, and a better understanding of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy is gained.

Studying molecular signaling in major angiogenic diseases

The growth of blood vessels from already existing vasculature is angiogenesis and it is one of the fundamental processes in fetal development, tissue damage or repair, and the reproductive cycle. In a healthy person, angiogenesis is regulated by the balance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. However, when the balance is disturbed, it results in various diseases or disorders. The angiogenesis pathway is a sequential cascade and differs based on the stimuli. Therefore, targeting one of the factors involved in the process can help us find a therapeutic strategy to treat irregular angiogenesis. In the past three decades of cancer research, angiogenesis has been at its peak, where an anti-angiogenic agent inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor acts as a promising substance to treat cancer. In addition, cancer can be assessed based on the expression of angiogenic factors and its response to therapies. Angiogenesis is important for all tissues, which might be normal or pathologically changed and occur through ages. In clinical therapeutics, target therapy focusing on discovery of novel anti-angiogenic agents like bevacizumab, cetuximab, sunitinib, imatinib, lenvatinib, thalidomide, everolimus etc., to block or inhibit the angiogenesis pathway is well explored in recent times. In this review, we will discuss about the molecular signaling pathways involved in major angiogenic diseases in detail.

The Prognostic Role and Significance of Dll4 and Toll-like Receptors in Cancer Development

The Notch signaling pathway regulates the development of embryonic and tissue homeostasis of various types of cells. It also controls cell proliferation, variation, fate and cell death because it emits short-range messages to nearby cells. The pathway plays an important role in the pathophysiology of various malignancies, controlling cancer creation. It also limits cancer development by adjusting preserved angiogenesis and cellular programs. One of the Notch signaling ligands (in mammals) is Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4), which plays a significant role in the overall malignancies' advancement. Particularly, sequencing Notch gene mutations, including those of Dll4, have been detected in many types of cancers portraying information on the growth of particular gynecological types of tumors. The current research article examines the background theory that implies the ability of Dll4 in the development of endometrial and other cancer types, and the probable therapeutic results of Dll4 inhibition.

Inhibiting the Priming for Cancer in Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

Simple Summary

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is a rare cancer pre-disposition syndrome associated with a germline mutation in the TP53 tumour suppressor gene. People with LFS have a 90% chance of suffering one or more cancers in their lifetime. No treatments exist to reduce this cancer risk. This paper reviews the evidence for how cancers start in people with LFS and proposes that a series of commonly used non-cancer drugs, including metformin and aspirin, can help reduce that lifetime risk of cancer.

Abstract

The concept of the pre-cancerous niche applies the ‘seed and soil’ theory of metastasis to the initial process of carcinogenesis. TP53 is at the nexus of this process and, in the context of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), is a key determinant of the conditions in which cancers are formed and progress. Important factors in the creation of the pre-cancerous niche include disrupted tissue homeostasis, cellular metabolism and chronic inflammation. While druggability of TP53 remains a challenge, there is evidence that drug re-purposing may be able to address aspects of pre-cancerous niche formation and thereby reduce the risk of cancer in individuals with LFS.

Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and Disease

The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of small integral membrane proteins that facilitate the bidirectional transport of water across biological membranes in response to osmotic pressure gradients as well as enable the transmembrane diffusion of small neutral solutes (such as urea, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide) and ions. AQPs are expressed throughout the human body. Here, we review their key roles in fluid homeostasis, glandular secretions, signal transduction and sensation, barrier function, immunity and inflammation, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Evidence from a wide variety of studies now supports a view of the functions of AQPs being much more complex than simply mediating the passive flow of water across biological membranes. The discovery and development of small-molecule AQP inhibitors for research use and therapeutic development will lead to new insights into the basic biology of and novel treatments for the wide range of AQP-associated disorders.

Design and synthesis of novel furan, furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and furo[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine derivatives as potential VEGFR-2 inhibitors

Novel furan 6a-c, furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 7a-f, 9, 10a-f, 12a,b, 14a-d and furo[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine 8a-f derivatives were designed based on their structural similarity to a previously described oxazole VEGFR-2 back pocket binding fragment. The designed compounds were synthesized and screened for their in vitro VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity where they exhibited good to moderate nanomolar inhibition with improved ligand efficiencies. 8b and 10c (IC₅₀ = 38.72 ± 1.7 and 41.40 ± 1.8 nM, respectively) were equipotent to sorafenib and 6a, 6c, 7f, 8a, 8c, 10b, 10f, 12b, 14c and 14d showed good activity (IC₅₀ = 43.31-98.31 nM). The furotriazolopyrimidines 8a-c and furopyrimidine derivative 10c were further evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) where 8b showed higher potency than sorafenib and resulted in cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase whereas 8c revealed good antiproliferative activity with cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Moreover, 8a-c and 10c showed significant inhibitory effects on the invasion and migration of HUVECs. Molecular docking study was conducted to gain insight about the potential binding mode. The furo[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine derivatives 8b and 8c represent interesting starting point for antiangiogenic compounds based on their activity and favorable drug likeness profiles.

Genetic and epigenetic regulation of cancer coagulome - lessons from heterogeneity of cancer cell populations

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is a morbid, potentially life threatening and biologically impactful paraneoplastic state. At least in part, CAT is likely driven by cancer-specific mechanisms the nature of which is still poorly understood, hampering diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic efforts. It is increasingly appreciated that cancer-specific drivers of CAT include a constellation of oncogenic mutations and their superimposed epigenetic states that shape the transcriptome, phenotype and secretome of cancer cell populations, including the repertoire of genes impacting the vascular and coagulation systems. High-grade brain tumours, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represent a paradigm of locally initiated haemostatic abnormalities that propagate systemically, likely through circulating mediators, such as extracellular vesicles and soluble factors. Reciprocally, CAT impacts the biology of cancer cells and may drive tumour evolution. The constituent, oncogene-transformed cancer cell populations form complex ecosystems, the intricate architecture of which has been recently revealed by single cell sequencing technologies. Amidst this phenotypic heterogeneity, several alternative pathways of CAT may exist both between and within individual tumours and their subtypes, including GBM. Indeed, different contributions of cells expressing key coagulant mediators, such as tissue factor, or podoplanin, have been identified in GBM subtypes driven by oncogenic mutations in EGFR, IDH1 and other transforming genes. Thus, a better understanding of cellular sources of CAT, including dominant cancer cell phenotypes and their dynamic shifts, may help design more personalised approaches to thrombosis in cancer patients to improve outcomes.

Quercetin Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cells Induced-Angiogenesis in Both Colorectal Cancer Cell and Endothelial Cell through Downregulation of VEGF-A/VEGFR2

Colorectal cancer (CRC) aggressiveness is caused by cancer angiogenesis which promotes the cancer growth and metastasis associated with poor prognosis and poor survival. The vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptor (VEGFR-2) form the major signaling pathway in cancer angiogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the anti-angiogenesis activity of quercetin in both colorectal cancer cells and endothelial cells. The tube formation of human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was determined by using conditioned media of HT-29 cells treated with quercetin co-cultured with HUVECs. The VEGF-A and NF-κB p65 protein expressions in the quercetin-treated HT-29 cells were determined by fluorescence assay and Western blot analysis. The VEGFR-2 protein expression in HUVECs was determined after they were co-cultured with the quercetin-treated HT-29 cells. Quercetin markedly decreased the HT-29 cell-induced angiogenesis in HUVECs. NF-κB p65 and VEGF-A protein expression were also inhibited by quercetin. Moreover, quercetin significantly inhibited VEGFR-2 expression and translocation in HUVECs after they were co-cultured with high dose quercetin-treated HT-29 cells. Taken together, quercetin had an anti-angiogenesis effect on VEGF-A inhibition related to the NF-κB signaling pathway in the HT-29 cells and reduced VEGFR-2 expression and translocation in HUVECs.

The p53 status in rheumatoid arthritis with focus on fibroblast-like synoviocytes

P53 is a transcription factor that regulates many signaling pathways like apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA repair, and cellular stress responses. P53 is involved in inflammatory responses through the regulation of inflammatory signaling pathways, induction of cytokines, and matrix metalloproteinase expression. Also, p53 regulates immune responses through modulating Toll-like receptors expression and innate and adaptive immune cell differentiation and maturation. P53 is a modulator of the apoptosis and proliferation processes through regulating multiple anti and pro-apoptotic genes. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is categorized as an invasive inflammatory autoimmune disease with irreversible deformity of joints and bone resorption. Different immune and non-immune cells contribute to RA pathogenesis. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) have been recently introduced as a key player in the pathogenesis of RA. These cells in RA synovium produce inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases which results in synovitis and joint destruction. Besides, hyper proliferation and apoptosis resistance of FLSs lead to synovial hyperplasia and bone and cartilage destruction. Given the critical role of p53 in inflammation, apoptosis, and cell proliferation, lack of p53 function (due to mutation or low expression) exerts a prominent role for this gene in the pathogenesis of RA. This review focuses on the role of p53 in different mechanisms and cells (specially FLSs) that involved in RA pathogenesis.

Exosomal microRNAs in colorectal cancer: Overcoming barriers of the metastatic cascade (Review)

The journey of cancer cells from a primary tumor to distant sites is a multi-step process that involves cellular reprogramming, the breaking or breaching of physical barriers and the preparation of a pre-metastatic niche for colonization. The loss of adhesion between cells, cytoskeletal remodeling, the reduction in size and change in cell shape, the destruction of the extracellular matrix, and the modification of the tumor microenvironment facilitate migration and invasion into surrounding tissues. The promotion of vascular leakiness enables intra- and extravasation, while angiogenesis and immune suppression help metastasizing cells become established in the new site. Tumor-derived exosomes have long been known to harbor microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) that help prepare secondary sites for metastasis; however, their roles in the early and intermediate steps of the metastatic cascade are only beginning to be characterized. The present review article presents a summary and discussion of the miRNAs that form part of colorectal cancer (CRC)-derived exosomal cargoes and which play distinct roles in epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity and metastatic organotropism. First, an overview of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastatic organotropism, as well as exosome biogenesis, cargo sorting and uptake by recipient cells is presented. Lastly, the potential of these exosomal miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers for metastatic CRC, and the blocking of these as a possible therapeutic intervention is discussed.

Extracellular Vesicle Mediated Vascular Pathology in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an incurable, infiltrative high-grade brain tumour associated with dramatic vascular responses observed both locally (angiogenesis, vascular cooption, angiocrine effects, microthrombosis) and systemically (venous thromboembolism). GBM-associated vascular pathology is diagnostically relevant and constitutes a source of morbidity, mortality and progressive changes in tumour biology. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as unique mediators of vascular effects in brain tumours acting as vehicles for intercellular transfer of oncoproteins (e.g. EGFRvIII), RNA, DNA and molecular effectors of angiogenesis and thrombosis. Vascular effects of GBM EVs are regulated by cancer cell genome, epigenome and microenvironment and differ between subtypes of cancer cells and stem cells. Understanding and targeting EV-driven vascular processes in GBM may offer new approaches to diagnose and treat these intractable tumours.

Targeted Thrombospondin-1 Expression in Ocular Vascular Development and Neovascularization

Tight regulation of positive and negative regulators of angiogenesis is essential, particularly in the eye where their dysregulation can lead to vision loss. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is a matricellular protein that negatively regulates angiogenesis and inflammation in the eye. It aids ocular vascular homeostasis such that its loss contributes to increased retinal vascular density and pathologic ocular neovascularization. Our previous studies demonstrated that mice globally lacking TSP1 expression had increased retinal vascular density, decreased hyperoxia-induced retinal vessel loss, and increased choroidal neovascularization. Here we determined the impact to the ocular vasculature of endothelial cell, pericyte, or astrocyte loss of TSP1 expression. Only lack of TSP1 expression in endothelial cells was sufficient to increase choroidal neovascularization with mice lacking expression in pericytes or astrocytes not demonstrating a significant impact. Although the global TSP1 knockout mice demonstrated increased retinal vascular density, individual cell type loss of TSP1 resulted in decreased retinal endothelial cell numbers before and/or after vascular maturation in a cell type specific fashion. Retinas from mice lacking TSP1 expression in endothelial cells, pericytes or astrocytes were not protected from retinal vessel regression in response to hyperoxia as we previously observed in the global knockout. Thus, modulation of TSP1 expression in individual cell types demonstrates a response that is unique to the role TSP1 plays in that cell type of interest, and their coordinated activity is critical for vision.

Thrombospondin 1 in Metabolic Diseases

The thrombospondin family comprises of five multifunctional glycoproteins, whose best-studied member is thrombospondin 1 (TSP1). This matricellular protein is a potent antiangiogenic agent that inhibits endothelial migration and proliferation, and induces endothelial apoptosis. Studies have demonstrated a regulatory role of TSP1 in cell migration and in activation of the latent transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1). These functions of TSP1 translate into its broad modulation of immune processes. Further, imbalances in immune regulation have been increasingly linked to pathological conditions such as obesity and diabetes mellitus. While most studies in the past have focused on the role of TSP1 in cancer and inflammation, recently published data have revealed new insights about the role of TSP1 in physiological and metabolic disorders. Here, we highlight recent findings that associate TSP1 and its receptors to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. TSP1 regulates nitric oxide, activates latent TGFβ1, and interacts with receptors CD36 and CD47, to play an important role in cell metabolism. Thus, TSP1 and its major receptors may be considered a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases.

Endothelial Cell Behavior Is Determined by Receptor Clustering Induced by Thrombospondin-1

The thrombospondins (TSPs) are a family of multimeric extracellular matrix proteins that dynamically regulate cellular behavior and response to stimuli. In so doing, the TSPs directly and indirectly affect biological processes such as embryonic development, wound healing, immune response, angiogenesis, and cancer progression. Many of the direct effects of Thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) result from the engagement of a wide range of cell surface receptors including syndecans, low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), CD36, integrins, and CD47. Different or even opposing outcomes of TSP-1 actions in certain pathologic contexts may occur, depending on the structural/functional domain involved. To expedite response to external stimuli, these receptors, along with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and Src family kinases, are present in specific membrane microdomains, such as lipid rafts or tetraspanin-enriched microdomains. The molecular organization of these membrane microdomains and their constituents is modulated by TSP-1. In this review, we will describe how the presence of TSP-1 at the plasma membrane affects endothelial cell signal transduction and angiogenesis.

Screening of novel alkaloid inhibitors for vascular endothelial growth factor in cancer cells: an integrated computational approach

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed at elevated levels by most cancer cells, which can stimulate vascular endothelial cell growth, survival, proliferation as well as trigger angiogenesis modulated by VEGF and VEGFR (a tyrosine kinase receptor) signaling. The angiogenic effects of the VEGF family are thought to be primarily mediated through the interaction of VEGF with VEGFR-2. Targeting this signaling molecule and its receptor is a novel approach for blocking angiogenesis. In recent years virtual high throughput screening has emerged as a widely accepted powerful technique in the identification of novel and diverse leads. The high-resolution X-ray structure of VEGF has paved the way to introduce new small molecular inhibitors by structure-based virtual screening. In this study using different alkaloid molecules as potential novel inhibitors of VEGF, we proposed three alkaloid candidates for inhibiting VEGF and VEGFR mediated angiogenesis. As these three alkaloid compounds exhibited high scoring functions, which also highlights their high binding ability, it is evident that these alkaloids can be taken to further drug development pipelines for use as novel lead compounds to design new and effective drugs against cancer.

The Anti-Breast Cancer Effects of Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Carob Extracts

BACKGROUND

The use of nanoparticles synthesized by the green method to treat cancer is fairly recent. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytotoxicity, apoptotic and anti-angiogenic effects and the expression of involved genes, of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) synthesized with Carob extracts on different human breast cancer cell lines.

METHODS

ZnO-NPs were synthesized using the extracts of Carob and characterized with various analytical techniques. The MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells were treated at different times and concentrations of ZnO-NPs. The cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and anti-angiogenic effects were examined using a series of cellular assays. Expression of apoptotic genes (Bax and Bcl2) and anti-angiogenic genes, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its Receptor (VEGF-R) in cancer cells treated with ZnO-NPs were examined with Reverse Transcriptionquantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). The anti-oxidant activities of ZnO-NPs were evaluated by ABTS and DPPH assay.

RESULTS

Exposure of cells to ZnO-NPs resulted in a dose-dependent loss of cell viability. The IC50 values at 24, 48, and 72 hours were 125, 62.5, and 31.2μg/ml, respectively (p<0.001). ZnO-NPs treated cells showed, in fluorescent microscopy, that ZnO-NPs are able to upregulate apoptosis and RT-qPCR revealed the upregulation of Bax (p<0.001) and downregulation of Bcl-2 (p<0.05). ZnO-NPs increased VEGF gene expression while decreasing VEGF-R (p<0.001). The anti-oxidant effects of ZnO-NPs were higher than the control group and were dose-dependent (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

ZnO-NPs synthetized using Carob extract have the ability to eliminate breast cancer cells and inhibit angiogenesis, therefore, they could be used as an anticancer agent.

Extracellular vesicles and oncogenic signaling

In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerged as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers for cancer therapy. While the field of EV research is rapidly developing and their application as vehicles for therapeutic cargo is being tested, little is still known about the exact mechanisms of signaling specificity and cargo transfer by EVs, especially in vivo. Several signaling cascades have been found to use EVs for signaling in the tumor-stroma interaction. These include potentially oncogenic, verbatim transforming, signaling cascades such as Wnt and TGF-β signaling, and other signaling cascades that have been tightly associated with tumor progression and metastasis, such as PD-L1 and VEGF signaling. Multiple mechanisms of how these signaling cascades and EVs interplay to mediate these complex processes have been described, such as direct signal activation through pathway components on or in EVs or indirectly by influencing vesicle biogenesis, cargo sorting, or uptake dynamics. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of EVs, their biogenesis, and our understanding of EV interactions with recipient cells with a focus on selected oncogenic and cancer-associated signaling pathways. After an in-depth look at how EVs mediate and influence signaling, we discuss potentially translatable EV functions and existing knowledge gaps.

The Relevance of Notch Signaling in Cancer Progression

The Notch signaling pathway controls normal embryonic development and tissue homeostasis of many cell types. It regulates cell proliferation, fate, differentiation, and cell death by short-range signaling between nearby cells that come in contact. The Notch pathway has also been critically involved in the pathobiology of a variety of malignancies, regulating cancer initiation and development, as well as early stages of cancer progression, by adjusting conserved cellular programs. Fibroblasts, an essential for tumor growth component of stroma, have also been affected by Notch regulation. Sequencing Notch gene mutations have been identified in a number of human tumors, revealing information on the progression of specific cancer types, such as ovarian cancer and melanoma, immune-associated tumors such as myeloid neoplasms, but especially in lymphocytic leukemia. Activation of the Notch can be either oncogenic or it may contain growth-suppressive functions, acting as a tumor suppressor in other hematopoietic cells, hepatocytes, skin, and pancreatic epithelium.

Mdm2-mediated neddylation of pVHL blocks the induction of antiangiogenic factors

Mutations in the tumor suppressor TP53 are rare in renal cell carcinomas. p53 is a key factor for inducing antiangiogenic genes and RCC are highly vascularized, which suggests that p53 is inactive in these tumors. One regulator of p53 is the Mdm2 oncogene, which is correlated with high-grade, metastatic tumors. However, the sole activity of Mdm2 is not just to regulate p53, but it can also function independent of p53 to regulate the early stages of metastasis. Here, we report that the oncoprotein Mdm2 can bind directly to the tumor suppressor VHL, and conjugate nedd8 to VHL within a region that is important for the p53-VHL interaction. Nedd8 conjugated VHL is unable to bind to p53 thereby preventing the induction of antiangiogenic factors. These results highlight a previously unknown oncogenic function of Mdm2 during the progression of cancer to promote angiogenesis through the regulation of VHL. Thus, the Mdm2-VHL interaction represents a pathway that impacts tumor angiogenesis.

Thrombospondin-1 mediates muscle damage in brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy and systemic sclerosis

Objective

To describe the clinical, serologic and histologic features of a cohort of patients with brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy (BCIM) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and unravel disease-specific pathophysiologic mechanisms occurring in these patients.

Methods

We reviewed clinical, immunologic, muscle MRI, nailfold videocapillaroscopy, muscle biopsy, and response to treatment data from 8 patients with BCIM-SSc. We compared cytokine profiles between patients with BCIM-SSc and SSc without muscle involvement and controls. We analyzed the effect of the deregulated cytokines in vitro (fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and muscle cells) and in vivo.

Results

All patients with BCIM-SSc presented with muscle weakness involving cervical and proximal muscles of the upper limbs plus Raynaud syndrome, telangiectasia and/or sclerodactilia, hypotonia of the esophagus, and interstitial lung disease. Immunosuppressive treatment stopped the progression of the disease. Muscle biopsy showed pathologic changes including the presence of necrotic fibers, fibrosis, and reduced capillary number and size. Cytokines involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis were deregulated. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which participates in all these 3 processes, was upregulated in patients with BCIM-SSc. In vitro, TSP-1 and serum of patients with BCIM-SSc promoted proliferation and upregulation of collagen, fibronectin, and transforming growth factor beta in fibroblasts. TSP-1 disrupted vascular network, decreased muscle differentiation, and promoted hypotrophic myotubes. In vivo, TSP-1 increased fibrotic tissue and profibrotic macrophage infiltration in the muscle.

Conclusions

Patients with SSc may present with a clinically and pathologically distinct myopathy. A prompt and correct diagnosis has important implications for treatment. Finally, TSP-1 may participate in the pathologic changes observed in muscle.

p53's Extended Reach: The Mutant p53 Secretome

p53 suppresses tumorigenesis by activating a plethora of effector pathways. While most of these operate primarily inside of cells to limit proliferation and survival of incipient cancer cells, many extend to the extracellular space. In particular, p53 controls expression and secretion of numerous extracellular factors that are either soluble or contained within extracellular vesicles such as exosomes. As part of the cellular secretome, they execute key roles in cell-cell communication and extracellular matrix remodeling. Mutations in the p53-encoding TP53 gene are the most frequent genetic alterations in cancer cells, and therefore, have profound impact on the composition of the tumor cell secretome. In this review, we discuss how the loss or dominant-negative inhibition of wild-type p53 in concert with a gain of neomorphic properties observed for many mutant p53 proteins, shapes a tumor cell secretome that creates a supportive microenvironment at the primary tumor site and primes niches in distant organs for future metastatic colonization.

Considering the Role of Murine Double Minute 2 in the Cardiovascular System?

The E3 ubiquitin ligase Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is the main negative regulator of the tumor protein p53 (TP53). Extensive studies over more than two decades have confirmed MDM2 oncogenic role through mechanisms both TP53-dependent and TP53-independent oncogenic function. These studies have contributed to designate MDM2 as a therapeutic target of choice for cancer treatment and the number of patents for MDM2 antagonists has increased immensely over the last years. However, the question of the physiological functions of MDM2 has not been fully resolved yet, particularly when expressed and regulated physiologically in healthy tissue. Cardiovascular complications are almost an inescapable side-effect of anti-cancer therapies. While several MDM2 antagonists are entering phase I, II and even III of clinical trials, this review proposes to bring awareness on the physiological role of MDM2 in the cardiovascular system.

The Tumor Microenvironment: Focus on Extracellular Matrix

The extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates the development and maintains tissue homeostasis. The ECM is composed of a complex network of molecules presenting distinct biochemical properties to regulate cell growth, survival, motility, and differentiation. Among their components, proteoglycans (PGs) are considered one of the main components of ECM. Its composition, biomechanics, and anisotropy are exquisitely tuned to reflect the physiological state of the tissue. The loss of ECM's homeostasis is seen as one of the hallmarks of cancer and, typically, defines transitional events in tumor progression and metastasis. In this chapter, we discuss the types of proteoglycans and their roles in cancer. It has been observed that the amount of some ECM components is increased, while others are decreased, depending on the type of tumor. However, both conditions corroborate with tumor progression and malignancy. Therefore, ECM components have an increasingly important role in carcinogenesis and this leads us to believe that their understanding may be a key in the discovery of new anti-tumor therapies. In this book, the main ECM components will be discussed in more detail in each chapter.

The role of tumor-derived exosomes in tumor angiogenesis and tumor progression

Exosomes, belonging to the group of extracellular bodies, are released by healthy as well as cancerous cells and serve as a communication pathway. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) possess the capacity to reprogram the function of normal cells owing to their genetic and molecular cargo. Such exosomes target endothelial cells (among others) in the tumor microenvironment to promote angiogenesis. Blood supply is essential in solid tumor growth and metastasis. The potential of pro-angiogenic changes is enhanced by an increased amount of circulating tumor-derived exosomes in the body fluids of cancer patients. A vascular network is important, since the proliferation, as well as the metastatic spread of cancer cells depends on an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients, and the removal of waste products. New blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are formed through processes called angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, respectively. Angiogenesis is regulated by both activator and inhibitor molecules. Thousands of patients have received anti-angiogenic therapy to date. Despite their theoretical efficacy, anti-angiogenic treatments have not proved beneficial in terms of long-term survival. Tumor-derived exosomes carrying pro-angiogenic factors might be a target for new anti-cancer therapy.

Selenium nanoparticles act as an intestinal p53 inhibitor mitigating chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in mice

Selenium, at high-dose levels approaching its toxicity, protects tissues from dose-limiting toxicities of many cancer chemotherapeutics without compromising their therapeutic effects on tumors, there by allowing the delivery of higher chemotherapeutic doses to achieve increased cure rate. In this regard, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), which show the lowest toxicity among extensively investigated selenium compounds including methylselenocysteine and selenomethionine, are more promising for application. The key issue remains to be resolved is whether low-toxicity SeNPs possess a selective protective mechanism. p53 or p53-regulated thrombospondin-1 has each been confirmed to be an appropriate target for therapeutic suppression to reduce side effects of anticancer therapy. The present study demonstrated that SeNPs transiently suppressed the expression of many intestinal p53-associated genes in healthy mice. SeNPs did not interfere with tumor-suppressive effect of nedaplatin, a cisplatin analogue; however, effectively reduced nedaplatin-evoked diarrhea. Nedaplatin-induced diarrhea was associated with activation of intestinal p53 and high expression of intestinal thrombospondin-1. The preventive effect of SeNPs on nedaplatin-induced diarrhea was correlated with a powerful concomitant suppression of p53 and thrombospondin-1. Moreover, the high-dose SeNPs used in the present study did not suppress growth nor caused liver and kidney injuries as well as alterations of hematological parameters in healthy mice. Overall, the present study reveals that chemotherapeutic selectivity conferred by SeNPs involves a dual suppression of two well-documented targets, the p53 and thrombospondin-1, providing mechanistic and pharmacologic insights on low-toxicity SeNPs as a potential chemoprotectant for mitigating chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.

Thrombospondin-1 Serum Levels In Hypertensive Patients With Endothelial Dysfunction After One Year Of Treatment With Perindopril

Background

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a matricellular functional protein of the extracellular matrix. As it is not constitutively present extracellularly, its secretion is enhanced in several situations, namely injury, chronic pathology, tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, and aging. Over the last decade, TSP-1 has been reported to be involved in complex and opposing biological effects on vasculature in the context of NO signaling. Several studies have reported high patient TSP-1 plasma levels, indicating that the protein can potentially serve as a prognostic marker for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Materials and methods

Here, we aimed to quantify TSP-1 serum levels in hypertensive patients with endothelial dysfunction before and after one year of treatment with Perindopril (an antihypertensive drug with vasoprotective properties).

Results

After one year of treatment, TSP-1 levels increased in hypertensive patients compared to baseline (T0: 8061.9 ± 3684.80 vs T1: 15380±5887 ng/mL, p<0.001) and compared to non-hypertensive controls (9221.03 ± 6510.21 ng/mL). In contrast, pentraxin-3 plasma levels were decreased after one year of Perindopril treatment in both hypertensive (T0: 0.91 ± 0.51 vs T1: 0.50 ± 0.24 ng/mL, p<0.001) and control group (1.36 ±1.5 ng/mL) patients, although flow-mediated vasodilation and intima-media thickness assessment parameters were not significantly changed. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure values as well as levels of fibrinogen, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, triglycerides, and alanine aminotransferase were found to be significantly lower after one year of treatment with Perindopril. High levels of TSP-1 strongly correlated with platelet count (positive), lymphocytes (positive), red cell distribution width-CV (positive), systolic blood pressure (negative), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (negative) after one year of treatment. Blood urea nitrogen was found to be a protective factor for TSP-1, while glucose and heart rate were found to be risk factors prior to and after treatment.

The roles and role-players in thyroid cancer angiogenesis

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent endocrine cancer worldwide. Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of tumors. Over the past years, cancer research has focused on the ability of tumors to induce newly formed blood vessel, because tumor growth and the process of cancer metastasis mainly depends on angiogenesis. Tumor neovascularization occurs following the imbalance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors until the tumor switches to an angiogenic phenotype. A number of signaling factors and receptors that are implicated in the regulation of angiogenesis have been identified and characterized; most notably, the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) family and their receptors, which are the main pro-angiogenic molecules during early development and in pathological conditions such as cancer. Although thyroid is a highly vascularized organ, angiogenic switch in tumors of this organ leads to the formation of a vast network of blood vessels that favors the dissemination of tumor cells to distant organs and results in deterioration of patient conditions. Accordingly, the identification of key angiogenic biomarkers for thyroid cancer can facilitate diagnosis, prognosis and clinical decision-making and also may help to discover targeting factors for effective cancer therapy as well as monitoring response to therapy. Hence, the main purposes of this review are to summarize the types and mechanisms of angiogenesis emphasizing the prominent factors implicated in thyroid cancer angiogenesis.

Tissue specific human fibroblast differential expression based on RNAsequencing analysis

Background

Physical forces, such as mechanical stress, are essential for tissue homeostasis and influence gene expression of cells. In particular, the fibroblast has demonstrated sensitivity to extracellular matrices with assumed adaptation upon various mechanical loads. The purpose of this study was to compare the vocal fold fibroblast genotype, known for its unique mechanically stressful tissue environment, with cellular counterparts at various other anatomic locales to identify differences in functional gene expression profiles.

Results

By using RNA-seq technology, we identified differentially expressed gene programs (DEseq2) among seven normal human fibroblast primary cell lines from healthy cadavers, which included: vocal fold, trachea, lung, abdomen, scalp, upper gingiva, and soft palate. Unsupervised gene expression analysis yielded 6216 genes differentially expressed across all anatomic sites. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed grouping based on anatomic site origin rather than donor, suggesting global fibroblast phenotype heterogeneity. Sex and age-related effects were negligible. Functional enrichment analyses based on separate post-hoc 2-group comparisons revealed several functional themes within the vocal fold fibroblast related to transcription factors for signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells and extracellular matrix components such as cell signaling, migration, proliferation, and differentiation potential.

Conclusions

Human fibroblasts display a phenomenon of global topographic differentiation, which is maintained in isolation via in vitro assays. Epigenetic mechanical influences on vocal fold tissue may play a role in uniquely modelling and maintaining the local environmental cellular niche during homeostasis with vocal fold fibroblasts distinctly specialized related to their anatomic positional and developmental origins established during embryogenesis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5682-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Protopine isolated from Nandina domestica induces apoptosis and autophagy in colon cancer cells by stabilizing p53

The tumor suppressor p53 plays essential roles in cellular protection mechanisms against a variety of stress stimuli and its activation induces apoptosis or autophagy in certain cancer cells. Here, we identified protopine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Nandina domestica, as an activator of the p53 pathway from cell-based natural compound screening based on p53-responsive transcription. Protopine increased the p53-mediated transcriptional activity and promoted p53 phosphorylation at the Ser15 residue, resulting in stabilization of p53 protein. Moreover, protopine up-regulated the expression of p21^WAF1/CIP1 and BAX, downstream genes of p53, and inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 colon cancer cells. Apoptosis was elicited by protopine as indicated by caspase-3/7 activation, poly ADP ribose polymerase cleavage, and increased population of Annexin V-FITC-positive cells. Furthermore, protopine induced the formation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) puncta and LC3-II turnover, typical biochemical markers of autophagy, in HCT116 cells. Our findings suggest that protopine exerts its antiproliferative activity by stimulating the p53 pathway and may have potential as a chemopreventive agent for human colon cancer.

Treatment of Uterine Sarcoma with rAd-p53 (Gendicine) Followed by Chemotherapy: Clinical Study of TP53 Gene Therapy

This study evaluated the efficacy of rAd-p53 (Gendicine^®) followed by chemotherapy for the treatment of uterine sarcoma. Twelve cases of uterine sarcoma treated at Shengjing Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 12 patients, one had primary cancer, and 11 had recurrent cancer. For the recurrent cases, the interval between the first operation and diagnosis of recurrence, or progression-free survival time 1 (PFS1), was 1-18 months (median 3 months). All patients were treated with local application of rAd-p53 followed by chemotherapy (local injection of bleomycin and i.v. infusion of cisplatin, epirubicin, and isocyclophosphamide). Efficacy was evaluated, and the rates of complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) were calculated. During follow-up, PFS time 2 (PFS2) after the baseline period and overall survival (OS) time after the baseline period of rAd-p53 treatment data were obtained. The treatment resulted in one CR, seven PR, three with stable disease (SD), and one with progressive disease (PD). The remission rate (CR + PR) was 66.7%, and the responsive (CR + PR + SD) rate was 91.7%. PFS2 ranged from 2 to 62 months, with a median of 13 months, which is 10 months longer than that of PFS1; this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0038). The OS time ranged from 6 to 62 months, with a median of 24 months. Following the combined treatment, four of the patients underwent a second debulking surgery. Of the two patients with liver metastases, one had CR of liver foci, and one had PR. Up to the follow-up date of the two patients who survived, one was tumor-free for 60 months. The PFS2 for the other patient was 39 months. This patient survived with tumor for 53 months with slow disease progression. The remaining 10 patients died. Local application of rAd-p53 combined with local injection of bleomycin and intravenous infusion of cisplatin, epirubicin and isocyclophosphamide was effective for treatment of uterine sarcoma, especially for patients with liver metastases. For patients with uterine sarcoma who do not have the opportunity for surgery, this regimen can be used as a new adjuvant therapy to obtain a surgical opportunity that allows further debulking of the tumor mass.

Leucurogin and melanoma therapy

Leucurogin is an ECD disintegrin-like protein, cloned from Bothrops leucurus venom gland. This new protein, encompassing the disintegrin region of a PIII metalloproteinase, is produced by recombinant technology and its biological and functional activity was partially characterized in this study. Biological activity was characterized in vitro using human fibroblasts. Functional activity of leucurogin was analysed in vitro and in vivo with murine B16F10 Nex-2 and human melanoma BLM cells. The results show that leucurogin inhibits cellular processes dependent on collagen type I. In a competition assay with collagen, leucurogin inhibits, in a dose-dependent manner, the adhesion of fibroblast to collagen. At 10 μM leucurogin reduces adhesion (40%) and migration (70%) of hFb and inhibits migration (32%) and proliferation (65%) of BLM cells. At 2.5 μM leucurogin inhibits 80% cell proliferation of B16F10 Nex-2 melanoma cells. At 4.8 μM leucurogin inhibits, in vitro, the vascular structures formation by endothelial cells by 66%. Leucurogin, injected intraperitoneally, i.p. (5 μg/animal, two-month old C57/Bl6 male mice) on alternate days for 15 days, inhibits lung metastasis of B16F10 Nex-2 cells by 70-75%. In the treatment of human melanoma, grafted intradermally in the nude mice flank, leucurogin (7.5 μg/kg in alternate days during 17 days) inhibits tumor growth by more than 40%. Leucurogin can be considered a promising agent for melanoma treatment.

Immunohistochemical investigation of prognostic biomarkers in resected colorectal liver metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Many studies have investigated the prognostic role of biomarkers in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). However, no biomarker has been established in routine clinical practice. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the current literature for biomarkers evaluated by immunohistochemistry as prognostic markers in patients with resected CRLM.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Articles were identified in the PubMed database with selected search terms and by cross-references search. The REMARK quality criteria were applied. Markers were included if they reported the prognostic impact of immunohistochemical markers in a multivariable setting in relation to overall survival (OS). A meta-analysis was conducted when more than one original article provided survival data of a marker.

RESULTS

In total, 26 biomarkers were identified as independent significant markers for OS in resected CRLM. These biomarkers were found to be involved in multiple oncogenic signalling pathways that control cell growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis and evasion of immune detection. Among these biomarker candidates were Ki-67, EGFR, p53, hTERT, CD34, TSP-1, KISS1, Aurora kinase A and CDX2. CD34 and TSP-1 were reported as significantly associated with survival by more than one study and where therefore pooled in a meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

A number of independent prognostic biomarkers for resected CRLM were identified. However, most markers were evaluated in a retrospective setting with small patient cohorts, without external validation. Large, prospective, multicentre studies with standardised methods are needed before biomarkers can translated into the clinic.

Thrombospondins and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment

Vascular remodeling defines cancer growth and aggressiveness. Although cancer cells produce pro-angiogenic signals, the fate of angiogenesis critically depends on the cancer microenvironment. Composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and tumor inflammation determine whether a cancer will remain dormant, will be recognized by the immune system and eliminated, or whether the tumor will develop and lead to the spread and metastasis of cancer cells. Thrombospondins (TSPs), a family of ECM proteins that has long been associated with the regulation of angiogenesis and cancer, regulate multiple physiological processes that determine cancer growth and spreading, from angiogenesis to inflammation, metabolic changes, and properties of ECM. Here, we sought to review publications that describe various functions of TSPs that link these proteins to regulation of cancer growth by modulating multiple physiological and pathological events that prevent or support tumor development. In addition to its direct effects on angiogenesis, TSPs have important roles in regulation of inflammation, immunity, ECM properties and composition, and glucose and insulin metabolism. Furthermore, TSPs have distinct roles as regulators of remodeling in tissues and tumors, such that the pathways activated by a single TSP can interact and influence each other. The complex nature of TSP interactions and functions, including their different cell- and tissue-specific effects, may lead to confusing results and controversial conclusions when taken out of the context of interdisciplinary and holistic approaches. However, studies of TSP functions and roles in different systems of the organism offer an integrative view of tumor remodeling and a potential for finding therapeutic targets that would modulate multiple complementary processes associated with cancer growth.

Contribution of Tumor Endothelial Cells in Cancer Progression

Tumor progression depends on the process of angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels. These newly formed blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to the tumor, supporting its progression and providing a gateway for tumor metastasis. Tumor angiogenesis is regulated by the balance between angiogenic activators and inhibitors within the tumor microenvironment. Because the newly formed tumor blood vessels originate from preexisting normal vessels, tumor blood vessels, and tumor endothelial cells (TECs) have historically been considered to be the same as normal blood vessels and endothelial cells; however, evidence of TECs’ distinctive abnormal phenotypes has increased. In addition, it has been revealed that TECs constitute a heterogeneous population. Thus, TECs that line tumor blood vessels are important targets in cancer therapy. We have previously reported that TECs induce cancer metastasis. In this review, we describe recent studies on TEC abnormalities related to cancer progression to provide insight into new anticancer therapies.

Potential therapeutic targets of TP53 gene in the context of its classically canonical functions and its latest non-canonical functions in human cancer

In normal tissue, p53 protein has a wide range of functions involving cell homeostasis; its mutation, however, permits a carcinogenic acquisition of function. TP53 gene mutation is a major genomic aberration in various human cancers and is a critical event in the multi-step carcinogenesis process. TP53 mutation is clinically relevant for the molecular classification of carcinogenesis, as most recently described rigorously by the Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network. TP53 gene mutation has been considered to work as a tumor suppressor gene through the loss of its transcriptional activity, which is designated as a canonical function. However, in cancer patients with mutant TP53, mutated p53 protein is frequently overexpressed, suggesting the activation of an oncogenic process through a gain of function (GOF). As part of this GOF, molecular mechanisms explaining the non-canonical function of TP53 gene abnormality have been reported, in which mutant p53 unconventionally binds with various critical molecules suppressing oncogenic properties, such as p63 and p73. Moreover, mutant TP53 gene-targeted therapy has been rigorously developed, and promising clinical trials have been started. In this study, we summarize the novel aspects of mutant p53 and describe its prominent therapeutic potentials in human cancer.

Endostatin: A Promising Drug for Antiangiogenic Therapy

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from existing capillaries, is critical for tumors to grow beyond a few in size. Tumor cells produce one or more angiogenic factors including fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. Surprisingly, antiangiogenic factors or angiogenesis inhibitors have been isolated from tumors. Some angiogenesis inhibitors, such as angiostatin, are associated with tumors while others, such as platelet-factor 4 and interferon-alpha are not. Endostatin, a C-terminal product of collagen XVIII, is a specific inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. The mechanism by which endostatin inhibits endothelial cell proliferation and migration is unknown. Endostatin was originally expressed in a prokaryotic system and, late, in a yeast system, thanks to which it is possible to obtain a sufficient quantity of the protein in a soluble and refolded form to be used in preclincial and clinical trials.