Regular ArticleVitronectin in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma—Synthesis by Stromal Cells in Culture
Abstract
We have investigated the expression and cellular source of vitronectin in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Immunofluorescence staining of tissue sections revealed the presence of vitronectin in the stroma of the 11 tumors studied, but not in adjacent normal colon. A method was devised for the isolation from colorectal adenocarcinomas of fibroblast-like cells that stained positive for vimentin but negative for cytokeratin. These tumor-derived stromal cells synthesized and secreted vitronectin, as revealed by metabolic labeling and immunoprecipitation. This was confirmed by Southern blot analysis of polymerase chain reaction amplification products from reverse-transcribed RNA. Normal skin fibroblasts did not synthesize vitronectin. Immunofluorescence staining showed vitronectin deposited at focal contact sites in the tumor-derived cells, where it colocalized with vinculin and the αv integrin subunit. The deposition of vitronectin into focal contact sites was not dependent on the presence of serum. The finding that vitronectin can be synthesized and secreted by tumor-derived fibroblast-like cells in culture indicates that vitronectin expression can be promoted by as yet unknown signals provided in disease states, such as cancer.
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Digital image analysis workflows for evaluation of cell behavior and tumor microenvironment to aid therapeutic assessment in high-risk neuroblastoma
2023, Computers in Biology and MedicineDigital pathology and artificial intelligence are promising emerging tools in precision oncology as they provide more robust and reproducible analysis of histologic, morphologic and topologic characteristics of tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment. This study aims to develop digital image analysis workflows for therapeutic assessment in preclinical in vivo models. For this purpose, we generated pipelines that enable automatic detection and quantification of vitronectin and αvβ3 in heterotopic high-risk neuroblastoma xenografts, demonstrating that digital analysis workflows can be used to provide robust detection of vitronectin secretion and αvβ3 expression by malignant neuroblasts and to evaluate the possibility of combining traditional chemotherapy (etoposide) with extracellular matrix-targeted therapies (cilengitide). Digital image analysis added evidence for the relevance of territorial vitronectin as a therapeutic target in neuroblastoma, since its expression is modified after treatment, with a mean percentage of 60.44% in combined therapy tumors vs 45.08% in control ones. In addition, the present study revealed the efficacy of cilengitide for reducing αvβ3 expression, with a mean αvβ3 positivity of 34.17% in cilengitide treated material vs 66.14% in control and with less tumor growth when combined with etoposide, with a final mean volume of 0.04 cm3 in combined therapy vs 1.45 cm3 in control. The results of this work highlight the importance of extracellular matrix-focused therapies in preclinical studies to improve therapeutic assessment for high-risk neuroblastoma patients.
Clinical significance of immunohistochemically detected extracellular matrix proteins and their spatial distribution in primary cancer
2016, Critical Reviews in Oncology/HematologyOur understanding of cancer has evolved mainly from results of studies utilizing experimental models. Simplification inherent to in vitro cell culture models enabled potential ways of cell behaviour in response to various external stimuli to be described, but it has led also to disappointments in clinical trials, presumably due to the lack of crucial tissue components, including extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM and its role in healthy and diseased tissues are being explored extensively and significance of ECM for cell behaviour has been evidenced experimentally. Part of the information gathered in such research that is relevant for natural conditions of a human body can be identified by carefully designed analyses of human tissue samples. This review summarizes published information on clinical significance of ECM in cancer and examines whether effects of ECM on cell behaviour evidenced in vitro, could be supported by clinically based data acquired from analysis of tissue samples. Based on current approaches of clinical immunohistochemical analyses, impact of ECM components on tumour cell behaviour is vague. Except of traditionally considered limitations, other reasons may include lack of stratification of analyzed cases based on clinicopathologic parameters, inclusion of patients treated postoperatively by different treatments or neglecting complexity of interactions among tumour constituents. Nevertheless, reliable immunohistochemical studies represent a source of crucial information for design of tumour models comprising ECM corresponding to real clinical situation. Knowledge gathered from such immunohistochemical studies combined with achievements in tissue engineering hold promise for reversal of the unfavourable trends in the current translational oncologic research.
CD133+ colon cancer cells are more interactive with the tumor microenvironment than CD133-cells
2012, Laboratory InvestigationExperimental data indicate that colorectal cancer cells with CD133 expression exhibit enhanced tumorigenicity over CD133-negative (CD133−) cells. We hypothesized that CD133-positive (CD133+) cells, compared with CD133−, are more tumorigenic because they are more interactive with and responsive to their stromal microenvironment. Freshly dissected and dissociated cells from a primary colon cancer were separated into carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and the epithelial cells; the latter were further separated into CD133+ and CD133− cells using fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The CD133+ cells formed large tumors in non-obese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mice, demonstrating the phenotypic cellular diversity of the original tumor, whereas CD133− cells were unable to sustain significant growth. Affymetrix gene array analyses using t-test, fold-change and multiple test correction identified candidate genes that were differentially expressed between the CD133+ vs CD133− cells. RT-PCR verified differences in expression for 30 of the 46 genes selected. Genes upregulated (+ vs – cells) included CD133 (9.3-fold) and CXCR4 (4-fold), integrin β8 and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. The CAF highly express the respective ligands: stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), vitronectin and FGF family members, suggesting a reciprocal relationship between the CD133+ and CAF cells. SDF-1 caused an increase in intracellular calcium in cells expressing both CD133 and CXCR4, confirming functional CXCR4. The CD133+/CXCR4+ phenotype is increased to 32% when the cells are grown in suspension compared with only 9% when the cells were allowed to attach. In Matrigel 3-D culture, the CD133+/CXCR4+ group treated with SDF-1 grew more colonies compared with vehicle, as well as significantly larger colony sizes of tumor spheres. These data demonstrate proof of principle that the enhanced tumorigenic potential of CD133+, compared with CD133−, cells is due to their increased ability to interact with their neighboring CAF.
Cell-type dependency of two Foxa/HNF3 sites in the regulation of vitronectin promoter activity
2002, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Gene Structure and ExpressionThe mouse vitronectin promoter has two consensus sequences of the Foxa/hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) 3-binding site (from −34 to −25, site A, and +15 to +26 base pairs (bp), site B). Site-directed mutagenesis of site B inhibited binding of nuclear proteins from mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2a and reduced the promoter activity to 4.6% in a 101-bp fragment (from −48 to +53 bp) in Neuro2a cells. The nuclear proteins of site B were identified as the Foxa1/HNF3α and Foxa2/HNF3β proteins by supershift assay. Next, we examined site A. Mutation of site A in Neuro2a cells did not affect the promoter activity, and binding of nuclear proteins was not detected. Overexpression of Foxa1 or Foxa2 protein activated the mutated site B promoter, but failed to activate the sites A and B double-mutated promoter in Neuro2a cells, indicating that site A is a potential transcription regulatory site. Recombinant Foxa1 and Foxa2 proteins and nuclear extract from mouse liver bound not only to site B, but also to site A. In human hepatoma HepG2 cells, mutation of sites A and B decreased the promoter activity to 82% and 38%, respectively, in the wild promoter, and double mutation of sites A and B decreased the wild promoter activity to 5%, indicating that sites A and B contribute to the promoter activity in HepG2 cells. These results demonstrate that the two Foxa-binding sites regulate the vitronectin promoter activity in cell type-dependent manner.
Vitronectin in the cirrhotic liver: An immunomarker of mature fibrosis
2001, Human PathologyCitation Excerpt :However, in experimental studies, Vn can be transported through intact endothelial cell layers by an energy-dependent process.27,28 Local synthesis of Vn also could occur because Vn messenger RNA (mRNA) is not restricted to the liver but has been detected in various extrahepatic normal tissues6 and in neoplasms such as colonic29 and pancreatic30 carcinomas as well as high-grade astrocytomas.31,32 Moreover, extrahepatic synthesis of Vn mRNA has been convincingly documented in many tissues in experimental models.6
Vitronectin (Vn) is a multifunctional plasma glycoprotein produced by hepatocytes. Vn has been studied extensively as a cell adhesion molecule. However, its localization in the hepatic extracellular matrix has received relatively little attention. Cryosections of 5 normal liver samples and of 20 specimens showing posthepatitic cirrhosis were stained by the avidin–biotin complex method with a well-characterized monoclonal antibody to Vn. The extent and intensity of immunostaining were assessed semiquantitatively (0, no staining; 1+, weak focal staining; 2+, strong focal staining; 3+, strong diffuse staining). Paraffin sections from the same samples were stained with Masson trichrome (MT) and Shikata orcein (Or) methods. Frozen samples from selected cases were analyzed by Western blotting. In the normal liver, 3+ staining was limited to portal vessels. The portal tract connective tissue showed minimal staining (0 to 1+). Cirrhotic septa showed strong staining (2+). Septa lacking significant inflammation and composed of dense connective tissue, as indicated by MT and Or stains, showed the strongest Vn reactions (3+). Immunoblotting data strongly correlated with Vn increase in cirrhotic livers. Vn immunoreactivity is markedly increased in the cirrhotic liver matrix, regardless of the documented decrease in plasma Vn. Binding to collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans is the current favored mechanism of Vn deposition in tissues. Previous studies in cirrhotic patients showed increased affinity of plasma Vn to collagen. Vn is also increased in aged skin, associated with dermal elastic fibers. In other tissues, Vn deposition reflects chronicity of injury. Therefore, Vn immunoreactivity in liver can be considered a marker of fibrosis, especially of chronic/mature fibrosis, paralleling previous observations on enhanced orcein staining of cirrhotic septa. Immunolabeling of biopsy specimens with Vn and tenascin, a marker of ongoing remodeling or recently formed fibrous tissue, could be diagnostically helpful. HUM PATHOL 32:1356-1362. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Inhibition of fibronectin matrix assembly by the heparin-binding domain of vitronectin
1999, Journal of Biological ChemistryThe deposition of fibronectin into the extracellular matrix is an integrin-dependent, multistep process that is tightly regulated in order to ensure controlled matrix deposition. Reduced fibronectin deposition has been associated with altered embryonic development, tumor cell invasion, and abnormal wound repair. In one of the initial steps of fibronectin matrix assembly, the amino-terminal region of fibronectin binds to cell surface receptors, termed matrix assembly sites. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of extracellular signals in the regulation of fibronectin deposition. Our data indicate that the interaction of cells with the extracellular glycoprotein, vitronectin, specifically inhibits matrix assembly site expression and fibronectin deposition. The region of vitronectin responsible for the inhibition of fibronectin deposition was localized to the heparin-binding domain. Vitronectin's heparin-binding domain inhibited both β1 and non-β1 integrin-dependent matrix assembly site expression and could be overcome by treatment of cells with lysophosphatidic acid, an agent that promotes actin polymerization. The interaction of cells with the heparin-binding domain of vitronectin resulted in changes in actin microfilament organization and the subcellular distribution of the actin-associated proteins α-actinin and talin. These data suggest a mechanism whereby the heparin-binding domain of vitronectin regulates the deposition of fibronectin into the extracellular matrix through alterations in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton.