Previous studies have shown that dietary calcium suppresses oral carcinogenesis, but the mechanism is unclear. p120-catenin (p120) is a cytoplasmic protein closely associated with E-cadherin to form the E-cadherin-β-catenin complex and may function as a tumor suppressor in the oral epithelium.
Thymidine phosphorylase exerts complex effects on bone resorption and formation in myeloma
Myelomatous bone disease is characterized by the development of lytic bone lesions and a concomitant reduction in bone formation, leading to chronic bone pain and fractures. To understand the underlying mechanism, we investigated the contribution of myeloma-expressed thymidine phosphorylase (TP) to bone lesions.
Inhibition of Transforming Growth Factor β Activation Diminishes Tumor Progression and Osteolytic Bone Disease in Mouse Models of Multiple Myeloma
Authors
Ailing Lu, Manuel Antonio Pallero, Weiqi Lei, Huixian Hong, Yang Yang, Mark J. Suto, Joanne E. Murphy-Ullrich
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β supports multiple myeloma progression and associated osteolytic bone disease. Conversion of latent TGF-β to its biologically active form is a major regulatory node in controlling its activity. Thrombospondin1 (TSP1) binds and activates TGF-β. TSP1 is increased in myeloma; TSP1–TGF-β activation inhibits osteoblast differentiation. We hypothesized that TSP1 regulates TGF-β activity in myeloma and antagonizing TSP1–TGF-β axis may inhibit myeloma progression. Antagonists (LSKL peptide, SRI31277) derived from the LSKL sequence of latent TGF-β that block TSP1–TGF-β activation were used to determine the role of the TSP1–TGF-β pathway in three mouse models of myeloma. TSP1 bound to human myeloma cells and activated latent TGF-β produced by human and mouse myeloma cell lines. Treatment with antagonists delivered via osmotic pump in an intratibial severe combined immunodeficiency CAG myeloma model or in a systemic severe combined immunodeficiency CAG-heparanase model of aggressive myeloma reduced tumor burden, mouse interleukin-6, and osteoclasts, increased osteoblast number, and inhibited bone destruction as measured by microcomputed tomography. Antagonists reduced TGF-β signaling (phospho-Smad2) in bone sections and reduced tumor burden in the immune competent 5TGM1 model of mouse myeloma. SRI31277 was as effective as dexamethasone or bortezomib, and SRI31277 combined with bortezomib showed greater tumor reduction than either agent alone. These studies validate TSP1-regulated TGF-β activation as a therapeutic strategy for targeted inhibition of TGF-β in myeloma.
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Stromal-Initiated Changes in the Bone Promote Metastatic Niche Development
Authors
Xianmin Luo, Yujie Fu, Andrew J. Loza, Bhavna Murali, Kathleen M. Leahy, Megan K. Ruhland, Margery Gang, Xinming Su, Ali Zamani, Yu Shi, Kory J. Lavine, David M. Ornitz, Katherine N. Weilbaecher, Fanxin Long, Deborah V. Novack, Roberta Faccio, Gregory D. Longmore, Sheila A. Stewart
Abstract
More than 85% of advanced breast cancer patients suffer from metastatic bone lesions, yet the mechanisms that facilitate these metastases remain poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that tumor-derived factors initiate changes within the tumor microenvironment to facilitate metastasis. However, whether stromal-initiated changes are sufficient to drive increased metastasis in the bone remains an open question. Thus, we developed a model to induce reactive senescent osteoblasts and found that they increased breast cancer colonization of the bone. Analysis of senescent osteoblasts revealed that they failed to mineralize bone matrix and increased local osteoclastogenesis, the latter process being driven by the senescence-associated secretory phenotype factor, IL-6. Neutralization of IL-6 was sufficient to limit senescence-induced osteoclastogenesis and tumor cell localization to bone, thereby reducing tumor burden. Together, these data suggest that a reactive stromal compartment can condition the niche, in the absence of tumor-derived signals, to facilitate metastatic tumor growth in the bone.
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Gut-derived serotonin induced by depression promotes breast cancer bone metastasis through the RUNX2/PTHrP/RANKL pathway in mice
Authors
Jian‑Chun Zong, Xing Wang, Xiang Zhou, Chen Wang, Liang Chen, Liang‑Jun Yin, Bai‑Cheng He, Zhong‑Liang Deng
Abstract
Breast cancer metastasizes to the bone in a majority of patients with advanced disease resulting in bone destruction. The underlying mechanisms are complex, and both processes are controlled by an interaction between locally and systemically derived signals. Clinically, breast cancer patients with depression have a higher risk of bone metastasis, yet the etiology and mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. MDA‑MB‑231 breast cancer cells were used to establish a bone metastasis model by using intracardiac injection in nude mice. Chronic mild stress (CMS) was chosen as a model of depression in mice before and after inoculation of the cells. Knockdown of the RUNX‑2 gene was performed by transfection of the cells with shRNA silencing vectors against human RUNX‑2. A co‑culture system was used to test the effect of the MDA‑MB‑231 cells on osteoclasts and osteoblasts. RT‑PCR and western blotting were used to test gene and protein expression, respectively. We confirmed that depression induced bone metastasis by promoting osteoclast activity while inhibiting osteoblast differentiation. Free serotonin led to an increase in the expression of RUNX2 in breast cancer cells (MDA‑MB‑231), which directly inhibited osteoblast differentiation and stimulated osteoclast differentiation by the PTHrP/RANKL pathway, which caused bone destruction and formed osteolytic bone lesions. Additionally, the interaction between depression and breast cancer cells was interrupted by LP533401 or RUNX2 knockdown. In conclusion, depression promotes breast cancer bone metastasis partly through increasing levels of gut‑derived serotonin. Activation of RUNX2 in breast cancer cells by circulating serotonin appears to dissociate coupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, suggesting that the suppression of gut‑derived serotonin decreases the rate of breast cancer bone metastasis induced by depression.
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Excess TGF-β mediates muscle weakness associated with bone metastases in mice
Authors
David L Waning, Khalid S Mohammad, Steven Reiken, Wenjun Xie, Daniel C Andersson, Sutha John, Antonella Chiechi, Laura E Wright, Alisa Umanskaya, Maria Niewolna, Trupti Trivedi, Sahba Charkhzarrin, Pooja Khatiwada, Anetta Wronska, Ashley Haynes, Maria Serena Benassi, Frank A Witzmann, Gehua Zhen, Xiao Wang, Xu Cao, G David Roodman, Andrew R Marks & Theresa A Guise
Abstract
Cancer-associated muscle weakness is a poorly understood phenomenon, and there is no effective treatment. Here we find that seven different mouse models of human osteolytic bone metastases—representing breast, lung and prostate cancers, as well as multiple myeloma—exhibited impaired muscle function, implicating a role for the tumor-bone microenvironment in cancer-associated muscle weakness. We found that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, released from the bone surface as a result of metastasis-induced bone destruction, upregulated NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4), resulting in elevated oxidization of skeletal muscle proteins, including the ryanodine receptor and calcium (Ca2+) release channel (RyR1). The oxidized RyR1 channels leaked Ca2+, resulting in lower intracellular signaling, which is required for proper muscle contraction. We found that inhibiting RyR1 leakage, TGF-β signaling, TGF-β release from bone or Nox4 activity improved muscle function in mice with MDA-MB-231 bone metastases. Humans with breast- or lung cancer–associated bone metastases also had oxidized skeletal muscle RyR1 that is not seen in normal muscle. Similarly, skeletal muscle weakness, increased Nox4 binding to RyR1 and oxidation of RyR1 were present in a mouse model of Camurati-Engelmann disease, a nonmalignant metabolic bone disorder associated with increased TGF-β activity. Thus, pathological TGF-β release from bone contributes to muscle weakness by decreasing Ca2+-induced muscle force production.