MiR-20a-5p represses multi-drug resistance in osteosarcoma by targeting the KIF26B gene

BACKGROUND: Chemoresistance hinders curative cancer chemotherapy in osteosarcoma (OS), resulting in only an approximately 20 % survival rate in patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis. Identifying the mechanisms responsible for regulating chemotherapy resistance is crucial for improving OS treatment. METHODS: This study was performed in two human OS cell lines (the multi-chemosensitive OS cell line G-292 and the multi-chemoresistant OS cell line SJSA-1). The levels of miR-20a-5p and KIF26B mRNA expression were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. KIF26B protein levels were determined by western blot analysis. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that miR-20a-5p was more highly expressed in G-292 cells than in SJSA-1 cells. Forced expression of miR-20a-5p counteracted OS cell chemoresistance in both cell culture and tumor xenografts in nude mice. One of miR-20a-5p's targets, kinesin family member 26B (KIF26B), was found to mediate the miR-20a-5p-induced reduction in OS chemoresistance by modulating the activities of the MAPK/ERK and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing mechanistic insights, our study revealed that miR-20a-5p and KIF26B contribute to OS chemoresistance and determined the roles of these genes in this process, which may be critical for characterizing drug responsiveness and overcoming chemoresistance in OS patients

MiR-34a-5p promotes the multi-drug resistance of osteosarcoma by targeting the CD117 gene.

An association has been reported between miR-34a-5p and several types of cancer. Specifically, in this study, using systematic observations of multi-drug sensitive (G-292 and MG63.2) and resistant (SJSA-1 and MNNG/HOS) osteosarcoma (OS) cell lines, we showed that miR-34a-5p promotes the multi-drug resistance of OS through the receptor tyrosine kinase CD117, a direct target of miR-34a-5p. Consistently, the siRNA-mediated repression of CD117 in G-292 and MG63.2 cells led to a similar phenotype that exhibited all of the miR-34a-5p mimic-triggered changes. In addition, the activity of the MEF2 signaling pathway was drastically altered by the forced changes in the miR-34a-5p or CD117 level in OS cells. Furthermore, si-CD117 suppressed the enhanced colony and sphere formation, which is in agreement with the characteristics of a cancer stem marker. Taken together, our data established CD117 as a direct target of miR-34-5p and demonstrated that this regulation interferes with several CD117-mediated effects on OS cells. In addition to providing new mechanistic insights, our results will provide an approach for diagnosing and chemotherapeutically treating OS

Involvement of Platelet-Activating Factor in Ultraviolet B-Induced Hyperalgesia

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation causes cutaneous inflammation. One important clinical consequence of UVB-induced inflammation is increased pain or hyperalgesia, which is likely mediated by enhanced sensitivity of cutaneous sensory neurons. Previous studies have demonstrated that UVB radiation generates the lipid mediator, platelet-activating factor (PAF), as well as oxidized phospholipids that act as PAF-mimetics. These substances exert effects through the PAF receptor (PAF-R). This study was designed to assess whether PAF-R is involved in UVB-induced hyperalgesia. Intradermal injection of carbamoyl PAF (CPAF; 1-hexadecyl-2-N-methylcarbamoyl glycerophosphocholine) resulted in an enhanced response to mechanical stimuli in wild-type mice but not in PAF-R knockout (KO) mice. There was no significant change in paw withdrawal to noxious thermal stimuli in either genotype after intradermal injection of CPAF. Exposure of the hind paw to 1,500Jm-2 UVB radiation caused an increased sensitivity to both mechanical and thermal stimulation in wild-type mice but not in PAF-R KO mice. The thermal hyperalgesia caused by UVB irradiation was inhibited in mice that lacked PAF-R in bone marrow-derived cells. These data demonstrate that the PAF-R is important for UVB-induced hyperalgesia. Further investigation of the role of PAF-R signaling in UVB-induced hyperalgesia could provide better understanding of the pathological processes initiated by UVB-induced skin damage

In Vivo Measurements of Tumor Metabolism and Growth after Administration of Enzastaurin Using Small Animal FDG Positron Emission Tomography

Background. The use of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) may help to establish the antitumor activity of enzastaurin, a novel protein kinase C-beta II (PKC-βII) inhibitor, in mouse xenografts. Methods. The hematologic cell line RAJI and the solid tumor cell line U87MG were each implanted in NOD/SCID mice. Standard tumor growth measurements and [18F]FDG PET imaging were performed weekly for up to three weeks after tumor implantation and growth. Results. Concomitant with caliper measurements, [18F]FDG PET imaging was performed to monitor glucose metabolism. Heterogeneity of glucose uptake in various areas of the tumors was observed after vehicle or enzastaurin treatment. This heterogeneity may limit the use of [18F]FDG PET imaging to measure enzastaurin-associated changes in xenograft tumors. Conclusion. [18F]FDG PET imaging technique does not correlate with standard caliper assessments in xenografts to assess the antitumor activity of enzastaurin. Future studies are needed to determine the use of [18F]FDG PET imaging in preclinical models

Lipidomic Analysis of Glioblastoma Multiforme Using Mass Spectrometry

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant form of primary brain tumors. It is highly invasive and current treatment options have not improved the survival rate over the past twenty years. Novel approaches and technologies from systems biology have the potential to identify biomarkers that could serve as new therapeutic targets for GBM. This study employed lipid profiling technology to investigate lipid biomarkers in ectopic and orthotopic human GBM xenograft models. Primary patient cell lines, GBM10 and GBM43, were injected into the flank and the right cerebral hemisphere of NOD/SCID mice. Tumors were harvested from the brain and flank and proteins, metabolites, and lipids extracted from each sample. Reverse phase based high performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (LC-FTMS) was used to analyze the lipid profiles of tumor samples. Statistical and clustering analyses were performed to detect differences. Over 500 lipids were identified in each tumor model and lipids with the greatest fold effect in the comparison of ectopic versus orthotopic tumor models fell predominantly into four main classes of lipids: glycosphingolipids, glycerophoshpoethanolamines, triradylglycerols, and glycerophosphoserines. Lipidomic analysis revealed differences in glycosphingolipid and triglyceride profiles when the same tumor was propagated in the flank versus the brain. These results underscore the importance of the surrounding physiological environment on tumor development and are consistent with the hypothesis that specific classes of lipids are critical for GBM tumor growth in different anatomical sites

Lipidomic Analysis of Glioblastoma Multiforme Using Mass Spectrometry

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant form of primary brain tumors. It is highly invasive and current treatment options have not improved the survival rate over the past twenty years. Novel approaches and technologies from systems biology have the potential to identify biomarkers that could serve as new therapeutic targets for GBM. This study employed lipid profiling technology to investigate lipid biomarkers in ectopic and orthotopic human GBM xenograft models. Primary patient cell lines, GBM10 and GBM43, were injected into the flank and the right cerebral hemisphere of NOD/SCID mice. Tumors were harvested from the brain and flank and proteins, metabolites, and lipids extracted from each sample. Reverse phase based high performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (LC-FTMS) was used to analyze the lipid profiles of tumor samples. Statistical and clustering analyses were performed to detect differences. Over 500 lipids were identified in each tumor model and lipids with the greatest fold effect in the comparison of ectopic versus orthotopic tumor models fell predominantly into four main classes of lipids: glycosphingolipids, glycerophoshpoethanolamines, triradylglycerols, and glycerophosphoserines. Lipidomic analysis revealed differences in glycosphingolipid and triglyceride profiles when the same tumor was propagated in the flank versus the brain. These results underscore the importance of the surrounding physiological environment on tumor development and are consistent with the hypothesis that specific classes of lipids are critical for GBM tumor growth in different anatomical sites

In Vivo Effects of Myeloablative Alkylator Therapy on Survival and Differentiation of MGMTP140K-Transduced Human G-CSF-Mobilized Peripheral Blood Cells

High-intensity alkylator-based chemotherapy is required to eradicate tumors expressing high levels of O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). This treatment, however, can lead to life-threatening myelosuppression. We investigated a gene therapy strategy to protect human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells (MPB) from a high-intensity alkylator-based regimen. We transduced MPB with an oncoretroviral vector that coexpresses MGMTP140K and the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) (n = 5 donors). At 4 weeks posttransplantation into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice, cohorts were not treated or were treated with low- or high-intensity alkylating chemotherapy. In the high-intensity-treated cohort, it was necessary to infuse NOD/SCID bone marrow (BM) to alleviate hematopoietic toxicity. At 8 weeks posttreatment, human CD45+ cells in the BM of mice treated with either regimen were EGFP+ and contained MGMT-specific DNA repair activity. In cohorts receiving low-intensity therapy, both primitive and mature hematopoietic cells were present in the BM. Although B-lymphoid and myeloid cells were resistant to in vivo drug treatment in cohorts that received high-intensity therapy, no human CD34+ cells or B-cell precursors were detected. These data suggest that improved strategies to optimize repair of DNA damage in primitive human hematopoietic cells are needed when using high-intensity anti-cancer therapy

Real-Time PCR: An Effective Tool for Measuring Transduction Efficiency in Human Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells

Accurate measurement of gene transfer into hematopoietic progenitor cells is an essential prerequisite for assessing the utility of gene therapy approaches designed to correct hematologic defects. We developed a reliable method to measure transduction efficiency at the level of the progenitor cell with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of individual progenitor-derived colonies. We hypothesized that this method would demonstrate better sensitivity and specificity than are currently achievable with conventional PCR. An oncoretroviral vector containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein was used to transduce human CD34+ cells derived from bone marrow or granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood. Progenitor assays were set up and colonies plucked after visualization by fluorescence microscopy. By analyzing microscopically identified fluorescent samples and nontransduced samples, we calculated an overall sensitivity and specificity of 90.2 and 95.0%, respectively. Real-time PCR had higher specificity and sensitivity than conventional PCR as analyzed by generalized linear models (P = 0.002 and P = 0.019, respectively). In conclusion, we found real-time PCR to have superior sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional PCR in determining transduction efficiency of hematopoietic progenitor cells