A MT1-MMP/NF-κB signaling axis as a checkpoint controller of COX-2 expression in CD133(+) U87 glioblastoma cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The CD133(+) stem cell population in recurrent gliomas is associated with clinical features such as therapy resistance, blood-brain barrier disruption and, hence, tumor infiltration. Screening of a large panel of glioma samples increasing histological grade demonstrated frequencies of CD133(+) cells which correlated with high expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used qRT-PCR and immunoblotting to examine the molecular interplay between MT1-MMP and COX-2 gene and protein expression in parental, CD133(+), and neurospheres U87 glioma cell cultures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that CD133, COX-2 and MT1-MMP expression were enhanced when glioma cells were cultured in neurosphere conditions. A CD133(+)-enriched U87 glioma cell population, isolated from parental U87 cells with magnetic cell sorting technology, also grew as neurospheres and showed enhanced COX-2 expression. MT1-MMP gene silencing antagonized COX-2 expression in neurospheres, while overexpression of recombinant MT1-MMP directly triggered COX-2 expression in U87 cells independent from MT1-MMP's catalytic function. COX-2 induction by MT1-MMP was also validated in wild-type and in NF-κB p65^-/-mutant mouse embryonic fibroblasts, but was abrogated in NF-κB1 (p50^-/-) mutant cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We provide evidence for enhanced COX-2 expression in CD133(+) glioma cells, and direct cell-based evidence of NF-κB-mediated COX-2 regulation by MT1-MMP. The biological significance of such checkpoint control may account for COX-2-dependent mechanisms of inflammatory balance responsible of therapy resistance phenotype of cancer stem cells.</p

Pharmacological targeting of β-adrenergic receptor functions abrogates NF-κB signaling and MMP-9 secretion in medulloblastoma cells

Targeting of the vascular endothelium compartment explains, in part, the therapeutic efficacy of the nonselective β-adrenergic antagonist propranolol against common endothelial tumors such as hemangiomas. In vitro, the antiangiogenic biological activity of propranolol was shown to inhibit human brain microvascular endothelial cell tubulogenesis. However, possible interference of propranolol with cell signaling associated with the tumoral compartment remains unexplored. We therefore assessed the potency of propranolol against a pediatric brain tumor- derived DAOY medulloblastoma cell model. Gene expression of β1-, β2-, and β3-adrenergic receptors was confirmed in DAOY cells by semiquantitative RT-PCR. We next found that propranolol dose-dependently inhibited induction of the key extracellular matrix-degrading and blood–brain barrier disrupting enzyme matrix metalloproteinase- 9 (MMP-9) by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Propranolol not only inhibited PMA- induced phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), but also that of IkappaB (IκB), preventing the IκB phosphorylation which is a prerequisite for IκB degradation. Propranolol inhibition of IκB phosphorylation was shown to occur with optimal efficacy at 30 μM. Although propranolol, at up to 100 μM, did not affect cell viability, it potentiated PMA- mediated signaling that ultimately led to diminished phosphorylation of Akt. The anti-Erk and anti-Akt phosphorylation effects are both suggestive of antiproliferative and antisurvival signaling, respectively. Our data are therefore indicative of a pharmacological role for propranolol against β-adrenergic receptor signaling functions involving the nuclear factor-kappaB-mediated regulation of MMP-9

Activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) cascade by membrane-type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)

AbstractThe mechanisms underlying membrane-type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)-dependent induction of cell migration were investigated. Overexpression of MT1-MMP induced a marked increase in cell migration, this increase being dependent on the presence of the cytoplasmic domain of the protein. MT1-MMP-dependent migration was inhibited by a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) cascade in the induction of migration. Accordingly, MT1-MMP overexpression induced the activation of ERK, this process being also dependent on the presence of its cytoplasmic domain. MT1-MMP-induced activation of both migration and ERK required the catalytic activity of the enzyme as well as attachment of the cells to matrix proteins. The MT1-MMP-dependent activation of ERK was correlated with the activation of transcription through the serum response element, whereas other promoters were unaffected. Taken together, these results indicate that MT1-MMP trigger important changes in cellular signal transduction events, leading to cell migration and to gene transcription, and that these signals possibly originate from the cytoplasmic domain of the protein

P-glycoprotein of blood brain barrier: cross-reactivity of MAb C219 with a 190 kDa protein in bovine and rat isolated brain capillaries

AbstractP-glycoprotein (P-gp), an active efflux pump of antitumor drugs, is strongly expressed in endothelial cells of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Two proteins (155 and 190 kDa) were detected by Western blot analysis of beef and rat capillaries with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) C219. In order to characterize the nature of these proteins, their profile of solubilization by different detergents was established and compared with that of P-gp from the CHRC5 tumoral cell line. The 155 kDa protein (p155) of capillaries and the P-gp of CHRC5 cells were well solubilized by deoxycholate and Elugent, whereas the 190 kDa protein (p190) was only solubilized by sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). Both proteins have different patterns of extraction by Triton X-114, p155 partitioning as a membrane protein, while p190 was insoluble. Deglycosylation of capillary proteins resulted in a 27–28 kDa decrease in the apparent molecular weight of p155, similar to that observed for the P-gp of CHRC5 cells, but a decrease of only 7–8 for p190. Only p155 was immunoprecipitated by MAb C219. These results suggest that only p155 is the P-gp in BBB and that MAb C219 cross-reacts with a 190 kDa MDR-unrelated glycosylated protein. Consequently, the use of this antibody, which is frequently used to detect P-gp in tumors, could be a pitfall of immunohistochemistry screening for cancer tissues and lead to false positive in the diagnosis of MDR

Identification of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase tyrosine phosphorylation in association with neuroblastoma progression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neuroblastoma is a pediatric tumor of neural crest cells that is clinically characterized by its variable evolution, from spontaneous regression to malignancy. Despite many advances in neuroblastoma research, 60% of neuroblastoma, which are essentially metastatic cases, are associated with poor clinical outcome due to the lack of effectiveness of current therapeutic strategies. Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14), an enzyme involved in several steps in tumor progression, has previously been shown to be associated with poor clinical outcome for neuroblastoma. Based on our recent demonstration that MT1-MMP phosphorylation is involved in the growth of fibrosarcoma tumors, we examined the potential role of phosphorylated MT1-MMP in neuroblastoma progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tyrosine phosphorylated MT1-MMP was immunostained on tissue microarray samples from 55 patients with neuroblastoma detected by mass screening (known to be predominantly associated with favourable outcome), and from 234 patients with standard diagnosed neuroblastoma. In addition, the effects of a non phosphorylable version of MT1-MMP on neuroblastoma cell migration and proliferation were investigated within three-dimensional collagen matrices.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although there is no correlation between the extent of tyrosine phosphorylation of MT1-MMP (pMT1-MMP) and MYCN amplification or clinical stage, we observed greater phosphorylation of pMT1-MMP in standard neuroblastoma, while it is less evident in neuroblastoma from mass screening samples (P = 0.0006) or in neuroblastoma samples from patients younger than one year (P = 0.0002). <it>In vitro </it>experiments showed that overexpression of a non-phosphorylable version of MT1-MMP reduced MT1-MMP-mediated neuroblastoma cell migration and proliferation within a three-dimensional type I collagen matrix, suggesting a role for the phosphorylated enzyme in the invasive properties of neuroblastoma cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overall, these results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylated MT1-MMP plays an important role in neuroblastoma progression and that its expression is preferentially observed in tumor specimens from neuroblastoma patients showing poor clinical outcome.</p