|
1
|
Hefni E, Menon D, Ma T, Asiedu EB, Sultan A, Meiller T, Schneider A, Sodhi A, Montaner S. Angiopoietin-like 4 induces head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell migration through the NRP1/ABL1/PXN pathway. Cell Signal 2023; 108:110697. [PMID: 37169211 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110697] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The molecular mechanisms whereby angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), a pluripotent protein implicated in cancer development, contributes to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) growth and dissemination are unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated ANGPTL4 expression in human normal oral keratinocytes (NOKs), dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOKs), oral leukoplakia cells (LEUK1), and HNSCC cell lines, as well as in tissue biopsies from patients with oral dysplasia, and primary and metastatic HNSCC. We further examined the contribution of ANGPTL4 cancer progression in an HNSCC orthotopic floor-of mouth tumor model and the signaling pathways linking ANGPTL4 to cancer cell migration. RESULTS ANGPTL4 expression was upregulated in premalignant DOKs and HNSCC cell lines compared to NOKs and was increased in tissue biopsies from patients with oral dysplasia, as well as in primary and metastatic HNSCC. We also observed that downregulation of ANGPTL4 expression inhibited primary and metastatic cancer growth in an HNSCC orthotopic tumor model. Interestingly, ANGPTL4 binding to the neuropilin1 (NRP1) receptor led to phosphorylation of the focal adhesion protein, paxillin (PXN), and tumor cell migration; this was dependent on the tyrosine kinase ABL1. Treatment with the ABL1 inhibitor, dasatinib and small interfering RNA silencing of NRP1 or ABL1 expression blocked PXN phosphorylation and tumor cell migration. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest an early, sustained, and angiogenesis-independent autocrine role for ANGPTL4 in HNSCC progression and expose ANGPTL4/NRP1/ABL1/PXN as an early molecular marker and vulnerable target for the prevention of HNSCC growth and metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eman Hefni
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Basic and Clinical Oral Sciences, College of Dentistry, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepak Menon
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Emmanuel B Asiedu
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Ahmed Sultan
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Timothy Meiller
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abraham Schneider
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Silvia Montaner
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Abstract
Natural killer T (NKT) cells play a pivotal role as a bridge between the innate and the adaptive immune response and are instrumental in the regulation of homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the potential for NKT cells to serve as biodrugs in viral infections and in cancer. NKT cells are being investigated for their use as a prognostic biomarker, an immune adjuvant, and as a form of cellular therapy. Historically, the clinical utility of NKT cells was hampered by their low frequency in the blood, discrepancies in nomenclature, and challenges with ex vivo expansion. However, recent advances in the field have permitted the development of several NKT cell-based preclinical and clinical strategies. These new developments pave the way for the successful implementation of NKT cell-based approaches for the treatment of human disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Kratzmeier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore St, HSF I-Room 380, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Sasha Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore St, HSF I-Room 380, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Emmanuel B Asiedu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore St, HSF I-Room 380, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Tonya J Webb
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore St, HSF I-Room 380, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Reader JC, Fan C, Ory ECH, Ju J, Lee R, Vitolo MI, Smith P, Wu S, Ching MMN, Asiedu EB, Jewell CM, Rao GG, Fulton A, Webb TJ, Yang P, Santin AD, Huang HC, Martin SS, Roque DM. Microtentacle Formation in Ovarian Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030800. [PMID: 35159067 PMCID: PMC8834106 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of chemoresistance to paclitaxel and carboplatin represents a major therapeutic challenge in ovarian cancer, a disease frequently characterized by malignant ascites and extrapelvic metastasis. Microtentacles (McTNs) are tubulin-based projections observed in detached breast cancer cells. In this study, we investigated whether ovarian cancers exhibit McTNs and characterized McTN biology. METHODS We used an established lipid-tethering mechanism to suspend and image individual cancer cells. We queried a panel of immortalized serous (OSC) and clear cell (OCCC) cell lines as well as freshly procured ascites and human ovarian surface epithelium (HOSE). We assessed by Western blot β-tubulin isotype, α-tubulin post-translational modifications and actin regulatory proteins in attached/detached states. We studied clustering in suspended conditions. Effects of treatment with microtubule depolymerizing and stabilizing drugs were described. RESULTS Among cell lines, up to 30% of cells expressed McTNs. Four McTN morphologies (absent, symmetric-short, symmetric-long, tufted) were observed in immortalized cultures as well as ascites. McTN number/length varied with histology according to metastatic potential. Most OCCC overexpressed class III ß-tubulin. OCCC/OSC cell lines exhibited a trend towards more microtubule-stabilizing post-translational modifications of α-tubulin relative to HOSE. Microtubule depolymerizing drugs decreased the number/length of McTNs, confirming that McTNs are composed of tubulin. Cells that failed to form McTNs demonstrated differential expression of α-tubulin- and actin-regulating proteins relative to cells that form McTNs. Cluster formation is more susceptible to microtubule targeting agents in cells that form McTNs, suggesting a role for McTNs in aggregation. CONCLUSIONS McTNs likely participate in key aspects of ovarian cancer metastasis. McTNs represent a new therapeutic target for this disease that could refine therapies, including intraperitoneal drug delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn C. Reader
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (J.C.R.); (C.F.); (P.S.); (M.M.N.C.); (G.G.R.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA
| | - Cong Fan
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (J.C.R.); (C.F.); (P.S.); (M.M.N.C.); (G.G.R.)
| | - Eleanor Claire-Higgins Ory
- Department of Physiology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.C.-H.O.); (J.J.); (R.L.)
| | - Julia Ju
- Department of Physiology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.C.-H.O.); (J.J.); (R.L.)
| | - Rachel Lee
- Department of Physiology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.C.-H.O.); (J.J.); (R.L.)
| | - Michele I. Vitolo
- Department of Pharmacology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (M.I.V.); (S.S.M.)
| | - Paige Smith
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (J.C.R.); (C.F.); (P.S.); (M.M.N.C.); (G.G.R.)
| | - Sulan Wu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA;
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Mc Millan Nicol Ching
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (J.C.R.); (C.F.); (P.S.); (M.M.N.C.); (G.G.R.)
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Division of Cancer Imaging, Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Emmanuel B. Asiedu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.B.A.); (T.J.W.)
| | - Christopher M. Jewell
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (C.M.J.); (H.-C.H.)
- Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Gautam G. Rao
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (J.C.R.); (C.F.); (P.S.); (M.M.N.C.); (G.G.R.)
| | - Amy Fulton
- Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
- Department of Pathology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Tonya J. Webb
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.B.A.); (T.J.W.)
| | - Peixin Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Alessandro D. Santin
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Smilow Cancer Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Huang-Chiao Huang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (C.M.J.); (H.-C.H.)
| | - Stuart S. Martin
- Department of Pharmacology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (M.I.V.); (S.S.M.)
- Department of Pathology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Dana M. Roque
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (J.C.R.); (C.F.); (P.S.); (M.M.N.C.); (G.G.R.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|