Lilia Davel

Hydrogen peroxide is involved in lymphocyte activation mechanisms to induce angiogenesis

T-lymphocytes from tumour-bearing mice are able to trigger the angiogenic cascade. Since it is known that tumour growth produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the activation of lymphocytes and their induction of this vascular response. Studies on lymphocytes, stimulated in vitro by ROS to induce angiogenesis, showed that only the enzyme catalase (CAT) could block the activation. The incubation of normal lymphocytes with H2O2 stimulated these cells to induce angiogenesis. The administration of H2O2 or an oxidative stress-producing drug (doxorubicin) to normal mice activated in vivo angiogenesis. In tumour-bearing mice, high levels of lipid peroxidation products were observed in the spleen, but not in the liver or kidney. Moreover, when the ROS scavenger enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SDM) and CAT) were determined, we observed low CAT activity in normal spleens, reflected in a high SDM/CAT ratio, when compared to liver or kidney values. We also showed an increasing value of the SDM/CAT ratio with tumour growth. These results strongly suggest that H2O2 could be involved in the mechanisms of lymphocyte activation and their induction of angiogenesis during tumour growth.

Effects of synthetic urokinase inhibitors on local invasion and metastasis in a murine mammary tumor model.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) initiates an extracellular proteolytic cascade with which invasive cells eliminate barriers to movement. We have evaluated the antiinvasive and antimetastatic properties of two recently developed synthetic uPA inhibitors, B428 and B623, in a BALB/c mouse mammary carcinoma model. We used the F3II and M3 tumor cell lines, previously described by our laboratory.In vitro, noncytotoxic concentrations of B428 or B623 inhibited secreted and cell-associated uPA activity produced by tumor cells and blocked uPA-mediated whole tumor cell degradation of fibronectin, allowing deposition of extracellular fibronectin fibrils.In vivo, administration of compounds was not associated with overt toxic effects. Daily i.p. treatment with B428 (20 mg/kg/day) or B623 (7.5 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks, beginning after tumor take, markedly blocked the invasion of the muscle and adipose layers of the subcutis and dermis in mice bearing highly invasive F3II tumors. However, these compounds neither inhibited tumor-induced angiogenesis nor reduced the incidence of spontaneous lung metastasis. Moreover, B623 enhanced the formation of experimental lung metastasis. Our results suggest that synthetic uPA inhibitors act as potent antiinvasiveness agentsin vivo but may be unable to control progression of the metastatic disease in the present mammary tumor model.

Inhibition of lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis by free radical scavengers

Solid tumors induce an angiogenic response by the host blood vessels to form a new vascular network for the supply of fresh nutrients and oxygen responsible for tumor growth. Furthermore, tumor growth and metastatic spread is abrogated or markedly reduced in the absence of neovascularization. Spleen T lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice elicit a strong neovascular response. It is well known that certain T cell responses require the presence of active oxygen radicals. Because these metabolites are produced during tumor growth, we studied whether oxygen free radicals play a role in the angiogenesis induction by lymphocytes. In this study, we demonstrated that the administration of a free radical scavenger (EGb-761) to tumor-bearing mice, blocked the angiogenic response and decreased the lung metastatic incidence. On the other hand, when normal lymphocytes were incubated with the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system (X-XO), a known superoxide anion generator, this elicited a dose-response positive angiogenic reaction in normal recipient mice. No angiogenic response was observed in the absence of X-XO, or when EGb-761 or superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus catalase (CAT) were added to the incubation medium. These results suggest that free radicals are involved in some step of the angiogenic process, and that the EGb-761 treatments block this response due to the free radical scavenging activity of this compound.

Arginine metabolic pathways involved in the modulation of tumor‐induced angiogenesis by macrophages

Neovascularization, an essential step for tumor progression and metastasis development, can be modulated by the presence of macrophages (Mps) in the tumor microenvironment. The ability of Mps to regulate the angiogenicity of the LMM3 tumor cell line was studied. Peritoneal Mps from LMM3 tumor‐bearing mice (TMps) potentiate in vivo LMM3 angiogenicity. These results were confirmed by CD31 immunoblotting assays. The activity of TMps depended on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and arginase (A) activity. By immunoblotting we evidenced that AI and AII isoforms were up‐regulated in TMps while the inducible and neuronal NOS isoforms were highly expressed in normal Mps. TMps might positively modulate tumor growth by stimulating angiogenic cascade mainly through polyamine synthesis.

Muscarinic receptors participation in angiogenic response induced by macrophages from mammary adenocarcinoma-bearing mice.

IntroductionThe role of macrophages in tumor progression has generated contradictory evidence. We had previously demonstrated the ability of peritoneal macrophages from LMM3 murine mammary adenocarcinoma-bearing mice (TMps) to increase the angiogenicity of LMM3 tumor cells, mainly through polyamine synthesis. Here we investigate the ability of the parasympathetic nervous system to modulate angiogenesis induced by TMps through the activation of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAchR).MethodsPeritoneal macrophages from female BALB/c mice bearing a 7-day LMM3 tumor were inoculated intradermally (3 × 105 cells per site) into syngeneic mice. Before inoculation, TMps were stimulated with the muscarinic agonist carbachol in the absence or presence of different muscarinic antagonists or enzyme inhibitors. Angiogenesis was evaluated by counting vessels per square millimeter of skin. The expression of mAchR, arginase and cyclo-oxygenase (COX) isoforms was analyzed by Western blotting. Arginase and COX activities were evaluated by urea and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, respectively.ResultsTMps, which stimulate neovascularization, express functional mAchR, because carbachol-treated TMps potently increased new blood vessels formation. This response was completely blocked by preincubating TMps with pirenzepine and 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP), M1 and M3 receptor antagonists, and partly by the M2 receptor antagonist methoctramine. M1 receptor activation by carbachol in TMps triggers neovascularization through arginase products because Nω-hydroxy-L-arginine reversed the agonist action. Preincubation of TMps with methoctramine partly prevented carbachol-stimulated urea formation. In addition, COX-derived liberation of PGE2 is responsible for the promotion of TMps angiogenic activity by M3 receptor. We also detected a higher expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in TMps than in macrophages from normal mice. Carbachol significantly increased VEGF expression in TMps, and this effect was totally reversed by methoctramine and pirenzepine. Arginase and COX inhibitors partly decreased VEGF derived from TMps.ConclusionTMps themselves induce a potent angiogenic response that is augmented by carbachol action. mAchR activation triggers arginine metabolism, PGE2 synthesis and VEGF production, promoting neovascularization.

Polyamines prevent DFMO-mediated inhibition of angiogenesis.

Tumor growth mainly depend on formation of new blood vessels. DFMO (alpha-difluoromethylornithine), an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, inhibits tumor growth in many animal tumors. Our investigation was to evaluate the requirement of polyamines for induction of angiogenesis by tumor cells and spleen lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice. In this regard, we have added DFMO to cell cultures. The neovascular response induced either by tumor cells or spleen lymphocytes was completely abrogated. This inhibition could be reversed by the addition of exogenous putrescine. These findings suggest that the effect of DFMO on angiogenesis is, in part, mediated by the inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis.

Different mechanisms lead to the angiogenic process induced by three adenocarcinoma cell lines

Neoangiogenesis is essential for tumor and metastasis growth, but this complex process does not follow the same activation pathway, at least in tumor cell lines originated from different murine mammary adenocarcinomas. LMM3 cells were the most potent to stimulate new blood vessel formation. This response was significantly reduced by preincubating cells with indomethacin and NS-398, non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) and COX-2 selective inhibitors, respectively. COX-1 and COX-2 isoenzymes were both highly expressed in LMM3 cells, and we observed that indomethacin was more effective than NS-398 to inhibit prostaglandin E2(PGE2) synthesis. In addition, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, Nωmonomethyl l-arginine and aminoguanidine, also reduced LMM3-induced angiogenesis and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis as well. NOS2 > NOS3 proteins and arginase II isoform were detected in LMM3 cells by Western blot. The latter enzyme was also involved in the LMM3 neovascular response, since the arginase inhibitor, Nω hydroxy l-arginine reduced the angiogenic cascade. On the other hand, parental LM3 cells were able to stimulate neovascularization via COX-1 and arginase products since only indomethacin and Nω hydroxy l-arginine, which diminished PGE2 and urea synthesis, respectively, also reduced angiogenesis. In turn, LM2 cells angiogenic response could be due in fact to PGE2-induced VEGF liberation that stimulated neoangiogenesis at very low levels of NO.

Lymphocyte–Induced Angiogenesis: Effect of Different Antigenic Stimuli

It is known that tumor cells activate spleen cells to induce an angiogenic response. In this report we studied whether different antigenic stimuli, other than tumor cells, were able to activate spleen lymphocytes to induce angiogenesis in syngeneic combination (SLIA). For this purpose, mice were inoculated with sheep red blood cells (SRBC), allogeneic kidney and syngeneic fetal tissues. The effect of pregnancy (syngeneic or allogeneic) on the ability of spleen cells to induce a neovascular response was also assessed. None of the different stimuli were able to induce spleen lymphocytes to evoke angiogenesis. Although allogeneic lymphocytes from virgin females induced a strong neovascular response, the same population, but from allogeneic pregnant mice, did not evoke this response. We conclude that tumor cells seem to be the only antigenic stimuli able to activate spleen lymphocytes to induce SLIA.

Immunomodulation by Soluble Factors from Tumor Cells Cultured in vivo in Diffusion Chambers

The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response and lymphocyte-mediated angiogenesis were determined in mice bearing in vivo cultures of mammary tumor cells in diffusion chambers (DCs). Soluble tumor products which diffuse from the DCs were able to stimulate the immune system for both the DTH reaction and angiogenic activity by spleen cells.