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Unterleuthner D, Neuhold P, Schwarz K, Janker L, Neuditschko B, Nivarthi H, Crncec I, Kramer N, Unger C, Hengstschläger M, Eferl R, Moriggl R, Sommergruber W, Gerner C, Dolznig H. Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived WNT2 increases tumor angiogenesis in colon cancer. Angiogenesis 2019; 23:159-177. [PMID: 31667643 PMCID: PMC7160098 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-019-09688-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [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: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
WNT2 acts as a pro-angiogenic factor in placental vascularization and increases angiogenesis in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (ECs) and other ECs. Increased WNT2 expression is detectable in many carcinomas and participates in tumor progression. In human colorectal cancer (CRC), WNT2 is selectively elevated in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), leading to increased invasion and metastasis. However, if there is a role for WNT2 in colon cancer, angiogenesis was not addressed so far. We demonstrate that WNT2 enhances EC migration/invasion, while it induces canonical WNT signaling in a small subset of cells. Knockdown of WNT2 in CAFs significantly reduced angiogenesis in a physiologically relevant assay, which allows precise assessment of key angiogenic properties. In line with these results, expression of WNT2 in otherwise WNT2-devoid skin fibroblasts led to increased angiogenesis. In CRC xenografts, WNT2 overexpression resulted in enhanced vessel density and tumor volume. Moreover, WNT2 expression correlates with vessel markers in human CRC. Secretome profiling of CAFs by mass spectrometry and cytokine arrays revealed that proteins associated with pro-angiogenic functions are elevated by WNT2. These included extracellular matrix molecules, ANG-2, IL-6, G-CSF, and PGF. The latter three increased angiogenesis. Thus, stromal-derived WNT2 elevates angiogenesis in CRC by shifting the balance towards pro-angiogenic signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Unterleuthner
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Neuhold
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Schwarz
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Janker
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Neuditschko
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harini Nivarthi
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, Währinger Straße 13a, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,CeMM, Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ilija Crncec
- Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Servier Pharma, Tuškanova 37, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nina Kramer
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Unger
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Hengstschläger
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Eferl
- Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Moriggl
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, Währinger Straße 13a, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Sommergruber
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, 1130, Vienna, Austria.,Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences, FH Campus Wien, Helmut- Qualtinger-Gasse 2, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher Gerner
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Dolznig
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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