1
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Gopalakrishnan S, Gupta A, Matuwana D, Amante JJ, Kearney CJ, Rotello VM. In vitro cell culture models for ultrasound treatments using collagen-based materials. MethodsX 2022; 9:101909. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2022.101909] [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] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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2
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Gopalakrishnan S, Gupta A, Makabenta JMV, Park J, Amante JJ, Chattopadhyay AN, Matuwana D, Kearney CJ, Rotello VM. Ultrasound-Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Polymeric Nanoparticles for Eradicating Bacterial Biofilms. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2201060. [PMID: 36049222 PMCID: PMC9633556 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201060] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are a major healthcare concern resulting in refractory conditions such as chronic wounds, implant infections and failure, and multidrug-resistant infections. Aggressive and invasive strategies are employed to cure biofilm infections but are prone to long and expensive treatments, adverse side-effects, and low patient compliance. Recent strategies such as ultrasound-based therapies and antimicrobial nanomaterials have shown some promise in the effective eradication of biofilms. However, maximizing therapeutic effect while minimizing healthy tissue damage is a key challenge that needs to be addressed. Here a combination treatment involving ultrasound and antimicrobial polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) that synergistically eradicate bacterial biofilms is reported. Ultrasound treatment rapidly disrupts biofilms and increases penetration of antimicrobial PNPs thereby enhancing their antimicrobial activity. This results in superior biofilm toxicity, while allowing for a two- to sixfold reduction in both the concentration of PNPs as well as the duration of ultrasound. Furthermore, that this reduction minimizes cytotoxicity toward fibroblast cells, while resulting in a 100- to 1000-fold reduction in bacterial concentration, is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Aarohi Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Jessa M V Makabenta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Jungmi Park
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Aritra Nath Chattopadhyay
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Dorcas Matuwana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Cathal J Kearney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Vincent M Rotello
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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3
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Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play key roles in transporting key molecular constituents as cargo for extracellular trafficking. While several approaches have been developed to extract EVs from mammalian cells, the specific method of EV isolation can have a profound effect on membrane integrity and yield. Here, we describe a step-by-step procedure to separate EVs from adherent epithelial cells using differential ultracentrifugation. Separated EVs can be further analyzed by immunoblotting, mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy to derive EV yield and morphology. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Brown et al. (2019). Description of EV separation from cell culture models using ultracentrifugation Determination of EV yield and morphology by immunoblotting and TEM Assessment of EV-specific biomarkers to determine EV enrichment
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Chhoy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Caitlin W Brown
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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4
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Geng Y, Amante JJ, Goel HL, Zhang X, Walker MR, Luther DC, Mercurio AM, Rotello VM. Differentiation of Cancer Stem Cells through Nanoparticle Surface Engineering. ACS Nano 2020; 14:15276-15285. [PMID: 33164505 PMCID: PMC10566532 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c05589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a crucial therapeutic target because of their role in resistance to chemo- and radiation therapy, metastasis, and tumor recurrence. Differentiation therapy presents a potential strategy for "defanging" CSCs. To date, only a limited number of small-molecule and nanomaterial-based differentiating agents have been identified. We report here the integrated use of nanoparticle engineering and hypothesis-free sensing to identify nanoparticles capable of efficient differentiation of CSCs into non-CSC phenotypes. Using this strategy, we identified a nanoparticle that induces CSC differentiation by increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. Importantly, this unreported phenotype is more susceptible to drug treatment than either CSCs or non-CSCs, demonstrating a potentially powerful strategy for anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Geng
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - John J. Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
| | - Hira L. Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
| | - Xianzhi Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Melanie R. Walker
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
| | - David C. Luther
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Arthur M. Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
| | - Vincent M. Rotello
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
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5
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Brown CW, Amante JJ, Chhoy P, Elaimy AL, Liu H, Zhu LJ, Baer CE, Dixon SJ, Mercurio AM. Prominin2 Drives Ferroptosis Resistance by Stimulating Iron Export. Dev Cell 2019; 51:575-586.e4. [PMID: 31735663 PMCID: PMC8316835 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2019.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 291] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.2] [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: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ferroptosis, regulated cell death characterized by the iron-dependent accumulation of lethal lipid reactive oxygen species, contributes to tissue homeostasis and numerous pathologies, and it may be exploited for therapy. Cells differ in their sensitivity to ferroptosis, however, and a key challenge is to understand mechanisms that contribute to resistance. Using RNA-seq to identify genes that contribute to ferroptosis resistance, we discovered that pro-ferroptotic stimuli, including inhibition of the lipid hydroperoxidase GPX4 and detachment from the extracellular matrix, induce expression of prominin2, a pentaspanin protein implicated in regulation of lipid dynamics. Prominin2 facilitates ferroptosis resistance in mammary epithelial and breast carcinoma cells. Mechanistically, prominin2 promotes the formation of ferritin-containing multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and exosomes that transport iron out of the cell, inhibiting ferroptosis. These findings reveal that ferroptosis resistance can be driven by a prominin2-MVB-exosome-ferritin pathway and have broad implications for iron homeostasis, intracellular trafficking, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin W Brown
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Peter Chhoy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ameer L Elaimy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Haibo Liu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Christina E Baer
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Sanderson Center for Optical Examination, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Scott J Dixon
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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6
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Samanta S, Guru S, Elaimy AL, Amante JJ, Ou J, Yu J, Zhu LJ, Mercurio AM. IMP3 Stabilization of WNT5B mRNA Facilitates TAZ Activation in Breast Cancer. Cell Rep 2019; 23:2559-2567. [PMID: 29847788 PMCID: PMC6007887 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.04.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) is an oncofetal protein associated with many aggressive cancers and implicated in the function of breast cancer stem cells (CSCs). The mechanisms involved, however, are poorly understood. We observed that IMP3 facilitates the activation of TAZ, a transcriptional co-activator of Hippo signaling that is necessary for the function of breast CSCs. The mechanism by which IMP3 activates TAZ involves both mRNA stability and transcriptional regulation. IMP3 stabilizes the mRNA of an alternative WNT ligand (WNT5B) indirectly by repressing miR145-5p, which targets WNT5B, resulting in TAZ activation by alternative WNT signaling. IMP3 also facilitates the transcription of SLUG, which is necessary for TAZ nuclear localization and activation, by a mechanism that is also mediated by WNT5B. These results demonstrate that TAZ can be regulated by an mRNA-binding protein and that this regulation involves the integration of Hippo and alternative WNT-signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjoy Samanta
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Santosh Guru
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ameer L Elaimy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jianhong Ou
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lihua J Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Department of Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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7
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Elaimy AL, Wang M, Sheel A, Brown CW, Walker MR, Amante JJ, Xue W, Chan A, Baer CE, Goel HL, Mercurio AM. Real-time imaging of integrin β4 dynamics using a reporter cell line generated by Crispr/Cas9 genome editing. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:jcs.231241. [PMID: 31262785 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.231241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to monitor changes in the expression and localization of integrins is essential for understanding their contribution to development, tissue homeostasis and disease. Here, we pioneered the use of Crispr/Cas9 genome editing to tag an allele of the β4 subunit of the α6β4 integrin. A tdTomato tag was inserted with a linker at the C-terminus of integrin β4 in mouse mammary epithelial cells. Cells harboring this tagged allele were similar to wild-type cells with respect to integrin β4 surface expression, association with the α6 subunit, adhesion to laminin and consequent signaling. These integrin β4 reporter cells were transformed with YAP (also known as YAP1), which enabled us to obtain novel insight into integrin β4 dynamics in response to a migratory stimulus (scratch wound) by live-cell video microscopy. An increase in integrin β4 expression in cells proximal to the wound edge was evident, and a population of integrin β4-expressing cells that exhibited unusually rapid migration was identified. These findings could shed insight into integrin β4 dynamics during invasion and metastasis. Moreover, these integrin β4 reporter cells should facilitate studies on the contribution of this integrin to mammary gland biology and cancer.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameer L Elaimy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Mengdie Wang
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ankur Sheel
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Caitlin W Brown
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Melanie R Walker
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Amanda Chan
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Christina E Baer
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Sanderson Center for Optical Examination, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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8
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Elaimy AL, Amante JJ, Zhu LJ, Wang M, Walmsley CS, FitzGerald TJ, Goel HL, Mercurio AM. The VEGF receptor neuropilin 2 promotes homologous recombination by stimulating YAP/TAZ-mediated Rad51 expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:14174-14180. [PMID: 31235595 PMCID: PMC6628806 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1821194116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in tumor cells mediated by neuropilins (NRPs) contributes to the aggressive nature of several cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), independently of its role in angiogenesis. Understanding the mechanisms by which VEGF-NRP signaling contributes to the phenotype of such cancers is a significant and timely problem. We report that VEGF-NRP2 promote homologous recombination (HR) in BRCA1 wild-type TNBC cells by contributing to the expression and function of Rad51, an essential enzyme in the HR pathway that mediates efficient DNA double-strand break repair. Mechanistically, we provide evidence that VEGF-NRP2 stimulates YAP/TAZ-dependent Rad51 expression and that Rad51 is a direct YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional target. We also discovered that VEGF-NRP2-YAP/TAZ signaling contributes to the resistance of TNBC cells to cisplatin and that Rad51 rescues the defects in DNA repair upon inhibition of either VEGF-NRP2 or YAP/TAZ. These findings reveal roles for VEGF-NRP2 and YAP/TAZ in DNA repair, and they indicate a unified mechanism involving VEGF-NRP2, YAP/TAZ, and Rad51 that contributes to resistance to platinum chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameer L Elaimy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
- Department of Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Mengdie Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Charlotte S Walmsley
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Thomas J FitzGerald
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605;
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9
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Brown CW, Amante JJ, Mercurio AM. Cell clustering mediated by the adhesion protein PVRL4 is necessary for α6β4 integrin-promoted ferroptosis resistance in matrix-detached cells. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:12741-12748. [PMID: 29934307 PMCID: PMC6102132 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [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: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death characterized by the accumulation of lipid-targeting reactive oxygen species that kill cells by damaging their plasma membrane. The lipid repair enzyme GSH peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protects against this oxidative damage and enables cells to resist ferroptosis. Recent work has revealed that matrix-detached carcinoma cells can be susceptible to ferroptosis and that they can evade this fate through the signaling properties of the α6β4 integrin, which sustains GPX4 expression. Although these findings on ferroptosis are provocative, they differ from those in previous studies indicating that matrix-detached cells are prone to apoptosis via a process referred to as anoikis. In an effort to reconcile these discrepant findings, here we observed that matrix-detached epithelial and carcinoma cells cluster spontaneously via a mechanism that involves the cell adhesion protein PVRL4 (also known as Nectin-4). We found that this clustering process allows these cells to survive by stimulating a PVRL4/α6β4/Src signaling axis that sustains GPX4 expression and buffers against lipid peroxidation. In the absence of α6β4, PVRL4-mediated clustering induced an increase in lipid peroxidation that was sufficient for triggering ferroptosis. When the clustering was inhibited, single cells did not exhibit a significant increase in lipid peroxidation in the absence of α6β4, and they were more susceptible to apoptosis than to ferroptosis. These results indicate that ferroptosis induction depends on cell clustering in matrix-detached cells that lack α6β4 and imply that the fate of matrix-detached cells can be determined by the state of their cell-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin W Brown
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605.
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10
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Geng Y, Goel HL, Le NB, Yoshii T, Mout R, Tonga GY, Amante JJ, Mercurio AM, Rotello VM. Rapid phenotyping of cancer stem cells using multichannel nanosensor arrays. Nanomedicine 2018; 14:1931-1939. [PMID: 29778888 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to multidrug resistance, tumor recurrence and metastasis, making them prime therapeutic targets. Their ability to differentiate and lose stem cell properties makes them challenging to study. Currently, there is no simple assay that can quickly capture and trace the dynamic phenotypic changes on the CSC surface. Here, we report rapid discrimination of breast CSCs from non-CSCs using a nanoparticle-fluorescent-protein based sensor. This nanosensor was employed to discriminate CSCs from non-CSCs, as well as CSCs that had differentiated in vitro in two breast cancer models. Importantly, the sensor platform could also discriminate CSCs from the bulk population of cells in patient-derived xenografts of human breast cancer. Taken together, the results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of using the nanosensor to phenotype CSCs and monitor their fate. Furthermore, this approach provides a novel area for therapeutic interventions against these challenging targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Geng
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, U.S.A
| | - Hira L Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, U.S.A
| | - Ngoc B Le
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, U.S.A
| | - Tatsuyuki Yoshii
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, U.S.A
| | - Rubul Mout
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, U.S.A
| | - Gulen Y Tonga
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, U.S.A
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, U.S.A
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, U.S.A
| | - Vincent M Rotello
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, U.S.A..
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11
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Elaimy AL, Guru S, Chang C, Ou J, Amante JJ, Zhu LJ, Goel HL, Mercurio AM. VEGF-neuropilin-2 signaling promotes stem-like traits in breast cancer cells by TAZ-mediated repression of the Rac GAP β2-chimaerin. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/528/eaao6897. [PMID: 29717062 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aao6897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in cancer is not only well known in the context of angiogenesis but also important in the functional regulation of tumor cells. Autocrine VEGF signaling mediated by its co-receptors called neuropilins (NRPs) appears to be essential for sustaining the proliferation and survival of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are implicated in mediating tumor growth, progression, and drug resistance. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms involved in VEGF-mediated support of CSCs is critical to successfully treating cancer patients. The expression of the Hippo effector TAZ is associated with breast CSCs and confers stem cell-like properties. We found that VEGF-NRP2 signaling contributed to the activation of TAZ in various breast cancer cells, which mediated a positive feedback loop that promoted mammosphere formation. VEGF-NRP2 signaling activated the GTPase Rac1, which inhibited the Hippo kinase LATS, thus leading to TAZ activity. In a complex with the transcription factor TEAD, TAZ then bound and repressed the promoter of the gene encoding the Rac GTPase-activating protein (Rac GAP) β2-chimaerin. By activating GTP hydrolysis, Rac GAPs effectively turn off Rac signaling; hence, the TAZ-mediated repression of β2-chimaerin resulted in sustained Rac1 activity in CSCs. Depletion of β2-chimaerin in non-CSCs increased Rac1 activity, TAZ abundance, and mammosphere formation. Analysis of a breast cancer patient database revealed an inverse correlation between β2-chimaerin and TAZ expression in tumors. Our findings highlight an unexpected role for β2-chimaerin in a feed-forward loop of TAZ activation and the acquisition of CSC properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameer L Elaimy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Santosh Guru
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Cheng Chang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jianhong Ou
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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12
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Brown CW, Amante JJ, Goel HL, Mercurio AM. The α6β4 integrin promotes resistance to ferroptosis. J Cell Biol 2017; 216:4287-4297. [PMID: 28972104 PMCID: PMC5716272 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201701136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [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] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid peroxidation in the plasma membrane can cause ferroptosis, a form of regulated necrosis. Brown et al. show that matrix detachment can induce ferroptosis, and the α6β4 integrin impedes that process by suppressing expression of the proferroptotic enzyme ACSL4. Increases in lipid peroxidation can cause ferroptosis, a form of cell death triggered by inhibition of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), which catalyzes the reduction of lipid peroxides and is a target of ferroptosis inducers, such as erastin. The α6β4 integrin protects adherent epithelial and carcinoma cells from ferroptosis induced by erastin. In addition, extracellular matrix (ECM) detachment is a physiologic trigger of ferroptosis, which is evaded by α6β4. The mechanism that enables α6β4 to evade ferroptosis involves its ability to protect changes in membrane lipids that are proferroptotic. Specifically, α6β4-mediated activation of Src and STAT3 suppresses expression of ACSL4, an enzyme that enriches membranes with long polyunsaturated fatty acids and is required for ferroptosis. Adherent cells lacking α6β4 require an inducer, such as erastin, to undergo ferroptosis because they sustain GPX4 expression, despite their increase in ACSL4. In contrast, ECM detachment of cells lacking α6β4 is sufficient to trigger ferroptosis because GPX4 is suppressed. This causal link between α6β4 and ferroptosis has implications for cancer biology and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin W Brown
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - John J Amante
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
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