Silencing NIK potentiates anti-VEGF therapy in a novel 3D model of colorectal cancer angiogenesis

Ethoxychelerythrine as a potential therapeutic strategy targets PI3K/AKT/mTOR induced mitochondrial apoptosis in the treatment of colorectal cancer

Several alkaloids found in the Zanthoxylum genus have demonstrated significant anticancer activity. However, the antitumor effects of Ethoxychelerythrine (Eth) have not been previously reported. Cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis, intracellular and reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) levels of Eth against SW480 cells were evaluated. Subcutaneously transplanted SW480 cells model was used to determine the effect of Eth on tumor growth in vivo. Inflammation levels, angiogenic factors, pathological observations, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), quantitative proteomics, metabolite profiles and western blotting were conducted. It found that Eth significantly inhibited the proliferation of SW480 and HT29 cells in vitro, with stronger inhibitory activity observed against SW480 cells. Therefore, subsequent studies focused on SW480 cells. In vitro, we observed that Eth arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, decreased MMP levels, elevated cellular ROS levels, and induced mitochondrial apoptosis. In vitro, Eth significantly inhibited tumor proliferation and metastasis, and regulated the molecule levels of angiogenesis and inflammatory factors in serum, as well as apoptotic protein in tumor tissues. The serum proteomic revealed that the differential proteins were primarily involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, including laminin β1 (Lamb1), and type I collagen (Col1a1). Metabolomics showed that many abnormal levels of metabolites regulated by the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were obviously reversed towards normal levels after Eth intervention. The correlation analysis between the two-omics revealed that different proteins in the PI3K/AKT pathway, particularly lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) and glutathione synthetase (GSS), can interact with most of different metabolites. In summary, Eth exerts anti-tumour effects by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, which in turn activates mitochondrial apoptosis. Eth may be considered in the development of drugs for relieving colon cancer patients in the future.

Unveiling the Anti-Angiogenic Potential of Small-Molecule (Kinase) Inhibitors for Application in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation leading to joint damage and systemic complications. Angiogenesis promotes inflammation and contributes to RA progression. This study evaluated potential anti-angiogenic effects of several compounds including small-molecule kinase inhibitors, such as sunitinib (pan-kinase inhibitor), tofacitinib (JAK-inhibitor), NIKi (NF-κB-inducing kinase inhibitor), and the integrin-targeting peptide fluciclatide, using a scratch assay and 3D spheroid-based models of angiogenesis. For all drugs tested in the low micromolar range (1-25 μM), sunitinib (as positive anti-angiogenetic control) showed marked inhibition of endothelial cell (EC) migration and sprouting, effectively reducing both scratch closure and sprout formation. Tofacitinib exhibited marginal effectiveness in the scratch assay, but performed better in the 3D models (55% inhibition), whereas NIKi showed around 50% anti-angiogenic effects in both models. Fluciclatide changed EC morphology rather than migration, and only when stimulated with synovial fluid in spheroid model did it show inhibitory effects (at ≥2.5 µM), with none below this dosage. These results highlight the potential of NIKi and tofacitinib for angiogenesis inhibition and of fluciclatide for safe diagnostic targeting of microdose in RA, as well as the need for advanced screening models that mimic RA's complex inflammatory pro-angiogenic environment.

A novel 3D spheroid model of rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue incorporating fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and macrophages

Objective

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a progressive and systemic autoimmune disorder associated with chronic and destructive joint inflammation. The hallmarks of joint synovial inflammation are cellular proliferation, extensive neoangiogenesis and infiltration of immune cells, including macrophages. In vitro approaches simulating RA synovial tissue are crucial in preclinical and translational research to evaluate novel diagnostic and/or therapeutic markers. Two-dimensional (2D) settings present very limited in vivo physiological proximity as they cannot recapitulate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions occurring in the three-dimensional (3D) tissue compartment. Here, we present the engineering of a spheroid-based model of RA synovial tissue which mimics 3D interactions between cells and pro-inflammatory mediators present in the inflamed synovium.

Methods

Spheroids were generated by culturing RA fibroblast-like-synoviocytes (RAFLS), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs) and monocyte-derived macrophages in a collagen-based 3D scaffold. The spheroids were cultured in the presence or absence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (bFGF) or RA synovial fluid (SF). Spheroid expansion and cell migration were quantified for all conditions using confocal microscopy and digital image analysis.

Results

A novel approach using machine learning was developed to quantify spheroid outgrowth and used to reexamine the existing spheroid-based model of RA synovial angiogenesis consisting of ECs and RAFLS. A 2-fold increase in the spheroid outgrowth ratio was demonstrated upon VEGF/bFGF stimulation (p<0.05). The addition of macrophages within the spheroid structure (3.75x104 RAFLS, 7.5x104 ECs and 3.0x104 macrophages) resulted in good incorporation of the new cell type. The addition of VEGF/bFGF significantly induced spheroid outgrowth (p<0.05) in the new system. SF stimulation enhanced containment of macrophages within the spheroids.

Conclusion

We present a novel spheroid based model consisting of RAFLS, ECs and macrophages that reflects the RA synovial tissue microenvironment. This model may be used to dissect the role of specific cell types in inflammatory responses in RA, to study specific signaling pathways involved in the disease pathogenesis and examine the effects of novel diagnostic (molecular imaging) and therapeutic compounds, including small molecule inhibitors and biologics.

Classical Angiogenic Signaling Pathways and Novel Anti-Angiogenic Strategies for Colorectal Cancer

Although productive progress has been made in colorectal cancer (CRC) researchs, CRC is the second most frequent type of malignancy and the major cause of cancer-related death among gastrointestinal cancers. As angiogenesis constitutes an important point in the control of CRC progression and metastasis, understanding the key signaling pathways that regulate CRC angiogenesis is critical in elucidating ways to inhibit CRC. Herein, we comprehensively summarized the angiogenesis-related pathways of CRC, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), Wingless and int-1 (Wnt), and Notch signaling pathways. We divided the factors influencing the specific pathway into promoters and inhibitors. Among these, some drugs or natural compounds that have antiangiogenic effects were emphasized. Furthermore, the interactions of these pathways in angiogenesis were discussed. The current review provides a comprehensive overview of the key signaling pathways that are involved in the angiogenesis of CRC and contributes to the new anti-angiogenic strategies for CRC.

Rapid stromal remodeling by short-term VEGFR2 inhibition increases chemotherapy delivery in esophagogastric adenocarcinoma

Anti-angiogenic agents combined with chemotherapy is an important strategy for the treatment of solid tumors. However, survival benefit is limited, urging the improvement of combination therapies. We aimed to clarify the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) targeting on hemodynamic function and penetration of drugs in esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (EAC). Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of EAC were subjected to long-term and short-term treatment with anti-VEGFR2 therapy followed by chemotherapy injection or multi-agent dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-) MRI and vascular casting. Long-term anti-VEGFR2-treated tumors showed a relatively lower flow and vessel density resulting in reduced chemotherapy uptake. On the contrary, short-term VEGFR2 targeting resulted in relatively higher flow, rapid vasodilation, and improved chemotherapy delivery. Assessment of the extracellular matrix (ECM) revealed that short-term anti-angiogenic treatment drastically remodels the tumor stroma by inducing nitric oxide synthesis and hyaluronan degradation, thereby dilating the vasculature and improving intratumoral chemotherapy delivery. These previously unrecognized beneficial effects could not be maintained by long-term VEGFR2 inhibition. As the identified mechanisms are targetable, they offer direct options to enhance the treatment efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapy combined with chemotherapy in EAC patients.

3D Cell-Based Assays for Drug Screens: Challenges in Imaging, Image Analysis, and High-Content Analysis

The introduction of more relevant cell models in early preclinical drug discovery, combined with high-content imaging and automated analysis, is expected to increase the quality of compounds progressing to preclinical stages in the drug development pipeline. In this review we discuss the current switch to more relevant 3D cell culture models and associated challenges for high-throughput screening and high-content analysis. We propose that overcoming these challenges will enable front-loading the drug discovery pipeline with better biology, extracting the most from that biology, and, in general, improving translation between in vitro and in vivo models. This is expected to reduce the proportion of compounds that fail in vivo testing due to a lack of efficacy or to toxicity.

miR-622 inhibits angiogenesis by suppressing the CXCR4-VEGFA axis in colorectal cancer

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor metastasis. Our previous study has revealed that miR-622 inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. Here, we aimed to explore the effects and potential molecular mechanisms of action of miR-622 on angiogenesis. We found that overexpression of miR-622 inhibited CRC angiogenesis in vitro, according to suppression of proliferation, migration, tube formation, and invasiveness of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with a tumor cell-conditioned medium derived from Caco-2 or HT-29 cells. Likewise, enhanced miR-622 expression suppressed CRC angiogenesis in vivo as determined by the measurement of Ki67 and VEGFA levels and microvessel density (by immunostaining). CXCR4, encoding a positive regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), was shown to be a direct target of miR-622. Overexpression of CXCR4 attenuated the inhibition of VEGFA expression by miR-622 and reversed the loss of tumor angiogenesis caused by miR-622. Taken together, these data show that miR-622 inhibits CRC angiogenesis by suppressing the CXCR4-VEGFA signaling axis, which represents a promising target for developing a new therapeutic strategy against CRC.