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Cappelletto A, Alfì E, Volf N, Vu TVA, Bortolotti F, Ciucci G, Vodret S, Fantuz M, Perin M, Colliva A, Rozzi G, Rossi M, Ruozi G, Zentilin L, Vuerich R, Borin D, Lapasin R, Piazza S, Chiesa M, Lorizio D, Triboli L, Kumar S, Morello G, Tripodo C, Pinamonti M, Piperno GM, Benvenuti F, Rustighi A, Jo H, Piccolo S, Del Sal G, Carrer A, Giacca M, Zacchigna S. EMID2 is a novel biotherapeutic for aggressive cancers identified by in vivo screening. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:15. [PMID: 38195652 PMCID: PMC10777502 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02942-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND New drugs to tackle the next pathway or mutation fueling cancer are constantly proposed, but 97% of them are doomed to fail in clinical trials, largely because they are identified by cellular or in silico screens that cannot predict their in vivo effect. METHODS We screened an Adeno-Associated Vector secretome library (> 1000 clones) directly in vivo in a mouse model of cancer and validated the therapeutic effect of the first hit, EMID2, in both orthotopic and genetic models of lung and pancreatic cancer. RESULTS EMID2 overexpression inhibited both tumor growth and metastatic dissemination, consistent with prolonged survival of patients with high levels of EMID2 expression in the most aggressive human cancers. Mechanistically, EMID2 inhibited TGFβ maturation and activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts, resulting in more elastic ECM and reduced levels of YAP in the nuclei of cancer cells. CONCLUSION This is the first in vivo screening, precisely designed to identify proteins able to interfere with cancer cell invasiveness. EMID2 was selected as the most potent protein, in line with the emerging relevance of the tumor extracellular matrix in controlling cancer cell invasiveness and dissemination, which kills most of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Cappelletto
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Edoardo Alfì
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Nina Volf
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Thi Van Anh Vu
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesca Bortolotti
- Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulio Ciucci
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Simone Vodret
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Fantuz
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Martina Perin
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Andrea Colliva
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Giacomo Rozzi
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Matilde Rossi
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulia Ruozi
- Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Lorena Zentilin
- Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Roman Vuerich
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Daniele Borin
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Romano Lapasin
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvano Piazza
- Bioinformatics, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- Bioinformatics Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | | | - Luca Triboli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Cancer Cell Signaling, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gaia Morello
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Histopathology Unit, Institute of Molecular Oncology Foundation (IFOM), ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pinamonti
- Pathology Department Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano-Isontina and University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulia Maria Piperno
- Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Federica Benvenuti
- Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rustighi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Cancer Cell Signaling, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Hanjoong Jo
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Giannino Del Sal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Cancer Cell Signaling, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- IFOM ETS, The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Carrer
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mauro Giacca
- Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- King's College London, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, London, UK
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy.
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
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Cappelletto A, Allan HE, Crescente M, Schneider E, Bussani R, Ali H, Secco I, Vodret S, Simeone R, Mascaretti L, Zacchigna S, Warner TD, Giacca M. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein activates TMEM16F-mediated platelet procoagulant activity. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:1013262. [PMID: 36684586 PMCID: PMC9845929 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1013262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Thrombosis of the lung microvasculature is a characteristic of COVID-19 disease, which is observed in large excess compared to other forms of acute respiratory distress syndrome and thus suggests a trigger for thrombosis that is endogenous to the lung. Our recent work has shown that the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein activates the cellular TMEM16F chloride channel and scramblase. Through a screening on >3,000 FDA/EMA approved drugs, we identified Niclosamide and Clofazimine as the most effective molecules at inhibiting Spike-induced TMEM16 activation. As TMEM16F plays an important role in stimulating the procoagulant activity of platelets, we investigated whether Spike directly affects platelet activation and pro-thrombotic function and tested the effect of Niclosamide and Clofazimine on these processes. Here we show that Spike, present either on the virion envelope or on the cell plasma membrane, promotes platelet activation, adhesion and spreading. Spike was active as a sole agonist or, even more effectively, by enhancing the function of known platelet activators. In particular, Spike-induced a marked procoagulant phenotype in platelets, by enhancing Ca2+ flux, phosphatidylserine externalization on the platelet outer cell membrane, and thrombin generation. Eventually, this increased thrombin-induced clot formation and retraction. Both Niclosamide and Clofazimine blocked this Spike-induced procoagulant response. These findings provide a pathogenic mechanism to explain lung thrombosis-associated with severe COVID-19 infection. We propose that Spike, present in SARS-CoV-2 virions or exposed on the surface of infected cells in the lungs, enhances the effects of inflammation and leads to local platelet stimulation and subsequent activation of the coagulation cascade. As platelet TMEM16F is central in this process, these findings reinforce the rationale of repurposing Niclosamide for COVID-19 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Cappelletto
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Harriet E. Allan
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marilena Crescente
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edoardo Schneider
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rossana Bussani
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Hashim Ali
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ilaria Secco
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Vodret
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberto Simeone
- Dipartimento di Medicina Trasfusionale Giuliano-Isontino, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI), Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Mascaretti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Trasfusionale Giuliano-Isontino, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI), Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy,International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Timothy D. Warner
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Timothy D. Warner,
| | - Mauro Giacca
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,Mauro Giacca,
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Simoncello F, Piperno GM, Caronni N, Amadio R, Cappelletto A, Canarutto G, Piazza S, Bicciato S, Benvenuti F. CXCL5-mediated accumulation of mature neutrophils in lung cancer tissues impairs the differentiation program of anticancer CD8 T cells and limits the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2059876. [PMID: 35402081 PMCID: PMC8993093 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2059876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung tumor-infiltrating neutrophils are known to support growth and dissemination of cancer cells and to suppress T cell responses. However, the precise impact of tissue neutrophils on programming and differentiation of anticancer CD8 T cells in vivo remains poorly understood. Here, we identified cancer cell-autonomous secretion of CXCL5 as sufficient to drive infiltration of mature, protumorigenic neutrophils in a mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Consistently, CXCL5 transcripts correlate with neutrophil density and poor prognosis in a large human lung adenocarcinoma compendium. CXCL5 genetic deletion, unlike antibody-mediated depletion, completely and selectively prevented neutrophils accumulation in lung tissues. Depletion of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils promoted expansion of tumor-specific CD8 T cells, differentiation into effector cells and acquisition of cytolytic functions. Transfer of effector CD8 T cells into neutrophil-rich tumors, inhibited IFN-ϒ production, indicating active suppression of effector functions. Importantly, blocking neutrophils infiltration in the lung, overcame resistance to checkpoint blockade. Hence, this study demonstrates that neutrophils curb acquisition of cytolytic functions in lung tumor tissues and suggests targeting of CXCL5 as a strategy to restore anti-tumoral T cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Simoncello
- Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulia Maria Piperno
- Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Caronni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Amadio
- Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ambra Cappelletto
- School of Cardiovascular Sciences, King’s College London, James Black Centre, London
| | - Giulia Canarutto
- Computational Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvano Piazza
- Computational Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvio Bicciato
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Federica Benvenuti
- Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
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Kocijan T, Rehman M, Colliva A, Groppa E, Leban M, Vodret S, Volf N, Zucca G, Cappelletto A, Piperno GM, Zentilin L, Giacca M, Benvenuti F, Zhou B, Adams RH, Zacchigna S. Genetic lineage tracing reveals poor angiogenic potential of cardiac endothelial cells. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 117:256-270. [PMID: 31999325 PMCID: PMC7797216 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Cardiac ischaemia does not elicit an efficient angiogenic response. Indeed, lack of surgical revascularization upon myocardial infarction results in cardiomyocyte death, scarring, and loss of contractile function. Clinical trials aimed at inducing therapeutic revascularization through the delivery of pro-angiogenic molecules after cardiac ischaemia have invariably failed, suggesting that endothelial cells in the heart cannot mount an efficient angiogenic response. To understand why the heart is a poorly angiogenic environment, here we compare the angiogenic response of the cardiac and skeletal muscle using a lineage tracing approach to genetically label sprouting endothelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS We observed that overexpression of the vascular endothelial growth factor in the skeletal muscle potently stimulated angiogenesis, resulting in the formation of a massive number of new capillaries and arterioles. In contrast, response to the same dose of the same factor in the heart was blunted and consisted in a modest increase in the number of new arterioles. By using Apelin-CreER mice to genetically label sprouting endothelial cells we observed that different pro-angiogenic stimuli activated Apelin expression in both muscle types to a similar extent, however, only in the skeletal muscle, these cells were able to sprout, form elongated vascular tubes activating Notch signalling, and became incorporated into arteries. In the heart, Apelin-positive cells transiently persisted and failed to give rise to new vessels. When we implanted cancer cells in different organs, the abortive angiogenic response in the heart resulted in a reduced expansion of the tumour mass. CONCLUSION Our genetic lineage tracing indicates that cardiac endothelial cells activate Apelin expression in response to pro-angiogenic stimuli but, different from those of the skeletal muscle, fail to proliferate and form mature and structured vessels. The poor angiogenic potential of the heart is associated with reduced tumour angiogenesis and growth of cancer cells.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism
- Animals
- Apelin/genetics
- Apelin/metabolism
- Calcium-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Lineage
- Cell Proliferation
- Cellular Microenvironment
- Coronary Vessels/cytology
- Coronary Vessels/metabolism
- Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Muscle, Skeletal/blood supply
- Neoplasms/blood supply
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/pathology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic
- Neovascularization, Physiologic
- Phenotype
- Receptor, Notch1/genetics
- Receptor, Notch1/metabolism
- Tumor Burden
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/metabolism
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Tea Kocijan
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Michael Rehman
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Andrea Colliva
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Elena Groppa
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Matteo Leban
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Simone Vodret
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Nina Volf
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Gabriele Zucca
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ambra Cappelletto
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulia Maria Piperno
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Lorena Zentilin
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Mauro Giacca
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149 Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- King’s College London, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, London UK
| | - Federica Benvenuti
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Bin Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ralf H Adams
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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Di Matteo A, Belloni E, Pradella D, Cappelletto A, Volf N, Zacchigna S, Ghigna C. Alternative splicing in endothelial cells: novel therapeutic opportunities in cancer angiogenesis. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:275. [PMID: 33287867 PMCID: PMC7720527 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01753-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a pervasive molecular process generating multiple protein isoforms, from a single gene. It plays fundamental roles during development, differentiation and maintenance of tissue homeostasis, while aberrant AS is considered a hallmark of multiple diseases, including cancer. Cancer-restricted AS isoforms represent either predictive biomarkers for diagnosis/prognosis or targets for anti-cancer therapies. Here, we discuss the contribution of AS regulation in cancer angiogenesis, a complex process supporting disease development and progression. We consider AS programs acting in a specific and non-redundant manner to influence morphological and functional changes involved in cancer angiogenesis. In particular, we describe relevant AS variants or splicing regulators controlling either secreted or membrane-bound angiogenic factors, which may represent attractive targets for therapeutic interventions in human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Di Matteo
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Belloni
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Davide Pradella
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ambra Cappelletto
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Nina Volf
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149, Trieste, Italy. .,Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Claudia Ghigna
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
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6
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Abstract
Cardiac ischemia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in a worldwide epidemic. The progressive understanding of the mechanisms driving new blood vessel formation has led to numerous attempts to revascularize the ischemic heart in animal models and in humans. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of the art and discuss the major obstacles that have so far limited the clinical success of cardiac revascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Cappelletto
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy.,Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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7
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Kocijan T, Cappelletto A, Rehman M, Tang Y, Vodret S, Zentilin L, Giacca M, Zacchigna S. Understanding the poor angiogenic capacity of the mammalian heart. Vascul Pharmacol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2017.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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8
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Biferi MG, Cohen-Tannoudji M, Cappelletto A, Giroux B, Roda M, Astord S, Marais T, Bos C, Voit T, Ferry A, Barkats M. A New AAV10-U7-Mediated Gene Therapy Prolongs Survival and Restores Function in an ALS Mouse Model. Mol Ther 2017; 25:2038-2052. [PMID: 28663100 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most promising therapeutic approaches for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis linked to superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is the suppression of toxic mutant SOD1 in the affected tissues. Here, we report an innovative molecular strategy for inducing substantial, widespread, and sustained reduction of mutant human SOD1 (hSOD1) levels throughout the body of SOD1G93A mice, leading to therapeutic effects in animals. Adeno-associated virus serotype rh10 vectors (AAV10) were used to mediate exon skipping of the hSOD1 pre-mRNA by expression of exon-2-targeted antisense sequences embedded in a modified U7 small-nuclear RNA (AAV10-U7-hSOD). Skipping of hSOD1 exon 2 led to the generation of a premature termination codon, inducing production of a deleted transcript that was subsequently degraded by the activation of nonsense-mediated decay. Combined intravenous and intracerebroventricular delivery of AAV10-U7-hSOD increased the survival of SOD1G93A mice injected either at birth or at 50 days of age (by 92% and 58%, respectively) and prevented weight loss and the decline of neuromuscular function. This study reports the effectiveness of an exon-skipping approach in SOD1-ALS mice, supporting the translation of this technology to the treatment of this as yet incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Biferi
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France.
| | - Mathilde Cohen-Tannoudji
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France
| | - Ambra Cappelletto
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France
| | - Benoit Giroux
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France
| | - Marianne Roda
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France
| | - Stéphanie Astord
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France
| | - Thibaut Marais
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France
| | - Corinne Bos
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France
| | - Thomas Voit
- NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and Great Ormond Street Hospital Trust, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Arnaud Ferry
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France; Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, Paris 75006, France
| | - Martine Barkats
- Centre of Research in Myology (CRM), Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm UMRS974, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France
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