Comparative proteomic analysis implicates eEF2 as a novel target of PI3Kgamma in the MDA-MB-231 metastatic breast cancer cell line

Cancer cell migration is fundamentally required for breast tumour invasion and metastasis. The insulin-like growth factor 1 tyrosine kinase receptor (IGF-1R) and the chemokine G-protein coupled receptor, CXCR4 have been shown to play an important role in breast cancer metastasis. Our previous study has shown that IGF-1R can transactivate CXCR4 via a physical association in the human MDA-MB-231 metastatic breast cancer cell line and that this plays a key role in IGF-I-induced migration of these cells. In the present study we used pharmacological inhibition and RNAi to identify PI3Kγ as an important migration signalling molecule downstream of receptor transactivation in MDA-MB-231 cells. To identify PI3K?-regulated proteins upon transactivation of CXCR4 by IGF-I, we undertook a comparative proteomics approach using 2-D- Fluorescence Difference Gel Electrophoresis (DIGE) and identified the proteins by mass spectrometry.Meizhi Niu, Manuela Klingler-Hoffmann, Julie A Brazzatti, Briony Forbes, Chareeporn Akekawatchai, Peter Hoffmann and Shaun R McCol

Radiative-SPR platform for the detection of apolipoprotein E for use in medical diagnostics

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) based sensors enable the rapid, label-free and highly sensitive detection of a large range of biomolecules. We have previously shown that, using silver coated optical fibres with an high surface roughness, a re-scattering of the surface plasmons is possible, turning SPR into a radiative process. This approach overcomes limitations associated with current SPR technologies such as the tight tolerance on the metallic coating thickness, and results in a more compact, versatile, robust and cost-effective approach. However, the specific detection of small molecules is a challenge in SPR systems, regardless of the SPR architecture that is used. This new sensing platform, which has proved effective for the detection of large molecules such as viruses, is now demonstrated to be able to detect small proteins thanks to an improved surface functionalization procedure, a key point for reliable and robust immunosensors. Avidin, a tetrameric biotin-binding protein, was used to link biotinylated antibodies to the biotinylated surface, with a given orientation, to enable efficient sensing of the analyte. This approach may offer significant advantages compared to protein A surface functionalization strategies such as a limited cross reactivity with free IgG antibodies in clinical samples. We demonstrate that by bringing together this novel emission-based fibre SPR platform, with an improved surface functionalization process, is possible to rapidly and specifically detect human apolipoprotein E, a low molecular weight protein (∼39kDa) known to be involved in cardiovascular diseases, in Alzheimer's disease and in gastric cancer. The results obtained clearly show that this new sensing platform has the potential to serve as a tool for point-of-decision medical diagnostics. © 2012 Copyright Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).Beniamino Sciacca, Alexandre Francois, Megan A. S. Penno, Julie A. Brazzatti, Manuela Klinger-Hoffmann, Peter Hoffmann and Tanya M. Monr

2D-DIGE analysis of sera from transgenic mouse models reveals novel candidate protein biomarkers for human gastric cancer

The gp130(F/F) genetically engineered mouse (GEM) model reproducibly and predictably develops a gastric adenoma phenotype resembling the primary lesions of human intestinal-type gastric cancer (GC). Accordingly, changes to the serum proteome of gp130(F/F) mice may uncover early-stage GC biomarkers. Here, we have employed several double and compound mutant GEM strains that display distinct phenotypes with respect to gastric tumour load and inflammatory response, thereby mimicking different states of inflammation-associated early-stage GC in humans. This allowed us to distinguish between proteomic changes associated with tumourigenesis rather than confounding systemic inflammation. The comparative proteomic workflow involved depletion of high abundance proteins, 2D-DIGE analysis and protein identification by LC-MS/MS. The differential expression of 112 2D-DIGE spots specifically correlated with the tumour-bearing phenotype, corresponding to 31 murine proteins and their 28 human orthologues. Eight proteins were selected for validation in GC patient sera versus healthy controls. Significant increases in serum apolipoprotein E and haptoglobin, and decreases in afamin and clusterin, were confirmed by ELISA. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that these proteins may be more sensitive and specific discriminators of GC than the existing clinical marker CA72-4.Megan A.S. Penno, Manuela Klingler-Hoffmann, Julie A. Brazzatti, Alex Boussioutas, Tracy Putoczki, Matthias Ernst, Peter Hoffman

Differential roles for the p101 and p84 regulatory subunits of PI3Kgamma in tumor growth and metastasis

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) consists of a catalytic subunit p110γ, which forms mutually exclusive dimers with one of the regulatory subunits called p101 and p84/p87PIKAP. Recently, PI3Kγ emerged as being a potential oncogene because overexpression of the catalytic subunit p110γ or the regulatory subunit p101 leads to oncogenic cellular transformation and malignancy. However, the contribution of the individual subunits to tumor growth and metastasis and the mechanisms involved are not understood. We therefore individually knocked down the PI3Kγ subunits (p84, p101 and p110γ) in MDA-MB-231 cells, which reduced in vitro migration of the cell lines. Knockdown of p110γ or p101 inhibited apoptosis, Akt phosphorylation and lung colonization in SCID mice. Similarly, the knockdown of p110γ and p101 in murine epithelial carcinoma 4T1.2 cells inhibited primary tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis, as well as lung colonization. In contrast, knockdown of p84 in MDA-MB-231 cells enhanced Akt phosphorylation and lung colonization. These findings are the first to implicate differential functions of the two PI3Kγ regulatory subunits in the process of oncogenesis, and indicate that loss of p101 is sufficient to reduce in vivo tumor growth and metastasis to the same extent as that of p110γ.JA Brazzatti, M Klingler-Hoffmann, S Haylock-Jacobs, Y Harata-Lee, M Niu, MD Higgins, M Kochetkova, P Hoffmann and SR McCol

An immune paradox: how can the same chemokine axis regulate both immune tolerance and activation? CCR6/CCL20: a chemokine axis balancing immunological tolerance and inflammation in autoimmune disease

Chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) drive and direct leukocyte traffic. New evidence suggests that the unusual CCR6/CCL20 chemokine receptor/ligand axis provides key homing signals for recently identified cells of the adaptive immune system, recruiting both pro-inflammatory and suppressive T cell subsets. Thus CCR6 and CCL20 have been recently implicated in various human pathologies, particularly in autoimmune disease. These studies have revealed that targeting CCR6/CCL20 can enhance or inhibit autoimmune disease depending on the cellular basis of pathogenesis and the cell subtype most affected through different CCR6/CCL20 manipulations. Here, we discuss the significance of this chemokine receptor/ligand axis in immune and inflammatory functions, consider the potential for targeting CCR6/CCL20 in human autoimmunity and propose that the shared evolutionary origins of pro-inflammatory and regulatory T cells may contribute to the reason why both immune activation and regulation might be controlled through the same chemokine pathway.Iain Comerford, Mark Bunting, Kevin Fenix, Sarah Haylock-Jacobs, Wendel Litchfield, Yuka Harata-Lee, Michelle Turvey, Julie Brazzatti, Carly Gregor, Phillip Nguyen, Ervin Kara and Shaun R. McCol

The atypical chemokine receptor CCX-CKR regulates metastasis of mammary carcinoma via an effect on EMT

Over the last decade, the significance of the homeostatic CC chemokine receptor-7 and its ligands CC chemokine ligand-19 (CCL19) and CCL21, in various types of cancer, particularly mammary carcinoma, has been highlighted. The chemokine receptor CCX-CKR is a high-affinity receptor for these chemokine ligands but rather than inducing classical downstream signalling events promoting migration, it instead sequesters and targets its ligands for degradation, and appears to function as a regulator of the bioavailability of these chemokines in vivo. Therefore, in this study, we tested the hypothesis that local regulation of chemokine levels by CCX-CKR expressed on tumours alters tumour growth and metastasis in vivo. Expression of CCX-CKR on 4T1.2 mouse mammary carcinoma cells inhibited orthotopic tumour growth. However, this effect could not be correlated with chemokine scavenging in vivo and was not mediated by host adaptive immunity. Conversely, expression of CCX-CKR on 4T1.2 cells resulted in enhanced spontaneous metastasis and haematogenous metastasis in vivo. In vitro characterisation of the tumourigenicity of CCX-CKR-expressing 4T1.2 cells suggested accelerated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) revealed by their more invasive and motile character, lower adherence to the extracellular matrix and to each other, and greater resistance to anoikis. Further analysis of CCX-CKR-expressing 4T1.2 cells also revealed that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression was increased both at mRNA and protein levels leading to enhanced autocrine phosphorylation of Smad 2/3 in these cells. Together, our data show a novel function for the chemokine receptor CCX-CKR as a regulator of TGF-β1 expression and the EMT in breast cancer cells