Histamine modulates cellular events involved in tumour invasiveness in pancreatic carcinoma cells

Mast cells and angiogenesis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Mast cells are recognized as critical components of the tumor stromal microenvironment in several solid and hematological malignancies, promoting angiogenesis and tumor growth. A correlation between mast cells infiltration, angiogenesis and tumor progression has been reported for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma as well. Mast cells contribute to the aggressiveness of the pancreatic ductal carcinoma enhancing the expression of several pro-angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-2, platelet-derived growth factor and angiopoietin-1 as well as stimulating the pancreatic cancer cells proliferation by IL-13 and tryptase. The disruption of this pro-angiogenic and proliferative stimulation by inhibiting the mast cells migration and degranulation is under investigation as a potential therapeutic approach in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients. This review will summarize the literature concerning the mast cells infiltration in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma analyzing its role in angiogenesis and tumor progression.

Novel Suppressive Effects of Ketotifen on Migration and Invasion of MDA-MB-231 and HT-1080 Cancer Cells

The high mortality rates associated with cancer reflect the metastatic spread of tumor cells from the site of their origin. Metastasis, in fact, is the cause of 90% of cancer deaths. Therefore, considerable effort is being made to inhibit metastasis. In the present study, we screened ketotifen for anti-migratory and anti-invasive activities against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cancer cells. Cancer cell migration and invasion were measured using multi-well chambers. Additionally, western blots were used to examine the effects of ketotifen on the expressions of CDC42, Rho, Rac, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). The results showed that ketotifen dose-dependently suppressed the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 and HT-1080 cells. Ketotifen also suppressed the expressions of CDC42, Rac, and Rho, which, significantly, are involved in MDA-MB-231 and HT-1080 cancer cell migration. Moreover, ketotifen suppressed the expression and activity of MMP-9, which is involved in degradation of the extracellular matrix leading to invasion. The overall data suggested that ketotifen suppresses the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 and HT-1080 cancer cells via inhibition of CDC42, Rac, Rho, and MMP-9 expression.

Histamine regulation of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer: a review of recent findings

The pancreas is a dynamic organ that performs a multitude of functions within the body. Diseases that target the pancreas, like pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, are devastating and often fatal to the suffering patient. Histamine and histamine receptors (H1-H4HRs) have been found to play a critical role in biliary diseases. Accordingly, the biliary tract and the pancreas share similarities with regards to morphological, phenotypical and functional features and disease progression, studies related the role of H1-H4HRs in pancreatic diseases are important. In this review, we have highlighted the role that histamine, histidine decarboxylase (HDC), histamine receptors and mast cells (the main source of histamine in the body) play during both pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The objective of the review is to demonstrate that histamine and histamine signaling may be a potential therapeutic avenue towards treatment strategies for pancreatic diseases.

Histamine inhibits adrenocortical cell proliferation but does not affect steroidogenesis

Histamine (HA) is a neurotransmitter synthesized in most mammalian tissues exclusively by histidine decarboxylase enzyme. Among the plethora of actions mediated by HA, the modulatory effects on steroidogenesis and proliferation in Leydig cells (LCs) have been described recently. To determine whether the effects on LCs reported could be extrapolated to all steroidogenic systems, in this study, we assessed the effect of this amine on adrenal proliferation and steroidogenesis, using two adrenocortical cell lines as experimental models, murine Y1 cells and human NCI-H295R cells. Even when steroidogenesis was not modified by HA in adrenocortical cells, the biogenic amine inhibited the proliferation of H295R cells. This action was mediated by the activation of HRH1 subtype and an increase in the production of inositol phosphates as second messengers, causing cell-cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. These results indicate a new role for HA in the proliferation of human adrenocortical cells that could contribute to a better understanding of tumor pathology as well as to the development of new therapeutic agents.

Fibroblasts induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition in breast tumor cells which is prevented by fibroblasts treatment with histamine in high concentration

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells is an essential process in cancer progression. Cancer cells that undergone EMT loose cell-cell contacts, acquire mesenchymal properties and develop migratory and invasive abilities. In previous studies we have demonstrated that histamine may modify the invasive phenotype of pancreatic and mammary tumor cells. In this work we proposed to investigate whether histamine may also influence the interaction between tumor cells and normal fibroblasts. The potential activation of normal CCD-1059Sk fibroblasts by histamine and EMT phenotypic changes induced in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cells by the conditioned media (CM) derived from fibroblasts were evaluated. Initially, we determined the presence of H1, H2 and H4 histamine receptors and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) mRNA in CCD-1059Sk fibroblasts. MMP2 gelatinolytic activity, cell migration and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression were increased in fibroblasts by low doses (<1μM) and decreased by high doses (20μM) of histamine. MCF-7 cells cultured with CM from fibroblasts exhibited spindle-shaped morphology, cell spreading and cytoplasmic expression of β-catenin but there was no change in MMP2 activity and cell migration. MDA-MB-231 cells cultured with CM from fibroblasts showed a more elongated phenotype, cell spreading, cytoplasmic β-catenin, increased MMP2 activity and endogenous TGF-β1 expression, and enhanced cell migration and invasion. Notably, all these features were reversed when mammary tumor cells were cultured with CM from fibroblasts treated with 20μM histamine. In conclusion, high doses of histamine may prevent the activation of fibroblasts and also avert the EMT related changes induced in epithelial tumor cells by fibroblasts CM.

The H4 histamine receptor agonist, clobenpropit, suppresses human cholangiocarcinoma progression by disruption of epithelial mesenchymal transition and tumor metastasis

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a biliary cancer arising from damaged bile ducts. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs as epithelial cells begin to resemble mesenchymal cells leading to increased invasion potential as the extracellular matrix (ECM) degrades. Histamine exerts its effects by way of four receptors (H1-H4 HRs). Clobenpropit, a potent H4HR agonist, inhibits mammary adenocarcinoma growth. We have shown that (1) cholangiocytes and CCA cells express H1-H4 HRs and (2) the H3HR decreases CCA proliferation. We evaluated the effects of clobenpropit on CCA proliferation, invasion, EMT phenotypes, and ECM degradation. In vitro, we used CCA cell lines to study proliferation, signaling pathways, and the morphological invasive potential. Gene and protein expression of the hepatobiliary epithelial markers CK-7, CK-8, and CK-19, the focal contact protein paxillin, and the mesenchymal markers fibronectin, s100A4, and vimentin were evaluated. Cell invasion across an ECM layer was quantitated and matrix metalloproteinase-1, -2, -3, -9, and -11 gene and protein expression was examined. Evaluation of the specific role of H4HR was performed by genetic knockdown of the H3HR and overexpression of H4HR. Proliferation was evaluated by proliferating cellular nuclear antigen immunoblotting. In vivo, xenograft tumors were treated with either vehicle or clobenpropit for 39 days. Tumor volume was recorded every other day. Clobenpropit significantly decreased CCA proliferation by way of a Ca(2+) -dependent pathway and altered morphological development and invasion. Loss of H3HR expression or overexpression of H4HR significantly decreased CCA proliferation. In vivo, clobenpropit inhibited xenograft tumor growth compared with controls.

CONCLUSION

Modulation of H4HR by clobenpropit disrupts EMT processes, ECM breakdown, and invasion potential and decreases tumor growth. Interruption of tumorigenesis and invasion by histamine may add to therapeutic advances for CCAs.