Ole Didrik Laerum

Protein Disulfide Isomerase Expression Is Related to the Invasive Properties of Malignant Glioma

By serial transplantation of human glioblastoma biopsies into the brain of immunodeficient nude rats, two different tumor phenotypes were obtained. Initially, the transplanted xenografts displayed a highly invasive phenotype that showed no signs of angiogenesis. By serial transplantation in animals, the tumors changed to a less invasive, predominantly angiogenic phenotype. To identify novel proteins related to the invasive phenotype, the xenografts were analyzed using a global proteomics approach. One of the identified proteins was protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) A6 precursor. PDI is a chaperone protein that mediates integrin-dependent cell adhesion. It is both present in the cytosol and at the cell surface. We show that PDI is strongly expressed on invasive glioma cells, in both xenografts and at the invasive front of human glioblastomas. Using an in vitro migration assay, we also show that PDI is expressed on migrating glioma cells. To determine the functional significance of PDI in cell migration, we tested the effect of a PDI inhibitor, bacitracin, and a PDI monoclonal antibody on glioma cell migration and invasion in vitro. Both tumor spheroids derived from human glioblastoma xenografts in nude rat brain and cell line spheroids were used. The PDI antibody, as well as bacitracin, inhibited tumor cell migration and invasion. The anti-invasive effect of bacitracin was reversible after withdrawal of the inhibitor, indicating a specific, nontoxic effect. In conclusion, using a global proteomics approach, PDI was identified to play an important role in glioma cell invasion, and its action was effectively inhibited by bacitracin.

Molecular analysis of the PI3K‐AKT pathway in uterine cervical neoplasia: Frequent PIK3CA amplification and AKT phosphorylation

Uterine cervical carcinogenesis is probably dependent on cellular genetic damage in addition to the integration of high‐risk HPV DNA in the epithelial cell genome. Gain of chromosome 3q24–29 is commonly observed in cervical neoplasia. The putative oncogene PIK3CA located in this region encodes a phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K). In a process reversed by PTEN, PI3K generates inositol phospholipids that trigger AKT phosphorylation, which in turn effects tumor driving signals. We studied 46 specimens of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded cervical neoplastic tissue. The activation state of the PI3K‐AKT pathway was assessed immunohistochemically using an antibody with specificity towards serine 473‐phosphorylated AKT. AKT phosphorylation was found in 39 out of 46 examined specimens. To examine the possible molecular basis for this activation, we searched for PIK3CA amplification using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. PIK3CA gene copy number was estimated to be 3 or more in 28 out of 40 successfully examined cases. Further, a PTEN mutation analysis of all 9 PTEN exons was carried out, but except for 1 metastasis with an exon 9 V369I heterozygosity, all cases showed normal PTEN sequence. Immunohistochemical staining for PTEN was strong in all lesions. In conclusion, an increased activation state of AKT kinase appears to be present in cervical carcinogenesis, and may be accounted for by PIK3CA amplification, whereas PTEN mutation seems to be of little importance.

Deletion-mutant epidermal growth factor receptor in human gliomas: Effect of type II mutation on receptor function

Malignant human glioma D-298 MG amplifies a rearranged epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene (c-erbB proto-oncogene), resulting in an in-frame deletion of 83 amino acids in domain IV of the extracellular domain of the EGFR. EGF and transforming growth factor-a (TGF-a) bound to the mutant EGFR with high affinity and enhanced the intrinsic mutant EGFR kinase activity. The mutant EGFR was capable of transducing EGF-stimulated glioma cell proliferation and invasiveness in an in vitro three-dimensional spheroid model. The deletion-mutant EGFR in D-298 MG is capable of being activated by growth factor; this suggests that overexpression of this mutant EGFR protein rather than structural alteration may be the more significant biologic event.

Rhythms in human bone marrow and blood cells

In 24h studies of bone marrow (BM), circadian stage-dependent variations were demonstrated in the proliferative activity of BM cells from subsets of 35 healthy diurnally active men. On an average, the percentage of total BM cells in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis phase was 188% greater at midday than at midnight (circadian rhythm: p=0.018; acrophase or peak time of 13:16h). Patients with malignant disease (n=15) and a normal cortisol circadian rhythm showed higher fractions of BM cells in S-phase at midday. Colony-forming units—granulocyte/macrophage (CFU—GM), an indicator of myeloid progenitor cells, showed the same circadian variation as DNA S-phase (average range of change or ROC=136%; circadian rhythm: p<0.001; acrophase of 12:09h). Deoxyribonucleic acid S-phase and CFU—GM in BM both showed a circannual rhythm (p=0.015 and 0.008) with an identical acrophase of August 12. The daily peak in BM glutathione content, a tripeptide involved in cellular defense against cytotoxic damage, preceded BM proliferative peaks by 4–5 h (ROC=31–90%; circadian rhythm: p=0.05; acrophase of 08:30h). Myeloid (ROC=57%; circadian rhythm: p=0.056; acrophase at 08:40h) and erythroid (ROC=26%; circadian rhythm: p=0.01; acrophase of 13:01h) precursor cells were positively correlated (r=0.41; p<0.001), indicating a circadian temporal relationship and equal influence on S-phase of total BM cells. Yield of positive selected CD34+ progenitor stem cells also showed significant circadian variation (ROC=595%; circadian rhythm: p=0.02; acrophase of 12:40h). Thus, the temporal synchrony in cell cycling renders BM cells more sensitive at specific times to hematopoietic growth factors and cell cycle-specific cytotoxic drugs. Moreover, proper timing of BM harvesting may improve progenitor cell yield. When using marker rhythms in the blood to allow for individualized timing of BM procedures, the times of low values in white blood corpuscles, neutrophils, and lymphocytes and high values in cortisol were predictive of the times of highest BM erythroid, myeloid, and total S-phase numbers occurring in the following 12 h.

MMP-9 Is Differentially Expressed in Primary Human Colorectal Adenocarcinomas and Their Metastases

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is up-regulated in macrophages in various human cancer types. In human colon cancer, MMP-9 is expressed in a macrophage subpopulation located at the tumor edge, indicating a specific induction of MMP-9 in macrophages in direct association with cancer invasion. To test whether MMP-9 is also induced in tumor edge macrophages in metastases from colorectal adenocarcinomas, we have compared the expression pattern of MMP-9 in primary colorectal adenocarcinomas (n = 15) with that in liver metastases (n = 15) and local lymph node metastases (n = 7) from the same patients by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In all the colorectal adenocarcinomas, the expression of MMP-9 mRNA and immunoreactivity in macrophages was located at the invasive front. In contrast, only 3 of the 15 liver metastases had MMP-9 mRNA and immunoreactivity at the periphery, and this expression was confined to small foci of macrophages located either among lymphocytes or in a dense desmoplastic stroma. Expression of MMP-9 mRNA and immunoreactivity was in all liver metastases seen in macrophages located in the lumen of malignant glandular structures and in central necrotic tissue. In all the 7 lymph node metastases, MMP-9 mRNA and immunoreactivity was seen in macrophages located in the stromal tissue surrounding the metastases. We conclude that MMP-9 is not up-regulated in tumor edge macrophages in liver metastases like in their primary tumor and local lymph node metastases, suggesting that disseminating colorectal cancer cells can adopt alternative proteolytic mechanisms for invasion depending on the local microenvironment. (Mol Cancer Res 2006;4(5):293–302)

Reaggregation of fetal rat brain cells in a stationary culture system I: Methodology and cell identification

SummaryA stationary tissue culture system for reaggregation cultures of rat brain cells is described. Aggregates were formed by placing cells at high concentrations in liquid overlay cultures on a nonadherent nutrient agar surface. No physical stress in the form of rotation or shaking was applied to the aggregating cell population.Transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry showed that the cells developed from homogeneously dispersed, immature cells in Day 4 aggregates, to mature astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons in Day 20 aggregates. Twenty days and older aggregates had a tightly packed neuropil which was most prominent in a cell-sparse outer layer of the aggregates. When the aggregates were allowed to adhere to a substrate, both glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive and negative cells were observed migrating out from the aggregates. Cells giving a positive reaction for neuron specific enolase (NSE) were also present. This reaggregation procedure, with transfer of selected brain cell aggregates into agar-coated multiwells is an alternative three-dimensional culture system which can be potentially useful in the study of morphogenesis and cell interactions in the nervous system.

Two distinct expression patterns of urokinase, urokinase receptor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in colon cancer liver metastases

Metastatic growth and invasion by colon cancer cells in the liver requires the ability of the cancer cells to interact with the new tissue environment. Plasmin(ogen) is activated on cell surfaces by urokinase‐type PA (uPA), and is regulated by uPAR and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1). To compare the expression patterns of uPA, uPAR and PAI‐1 in colon cancer with that in their liver metastases, we analysed matched samples from 14 patients. In all 14 primary colon cancers, we found upregulation of uPAR, uPA mRNA and PAI‐1 in primarily stromal cells at the invasive front. In 5 of the 14 liver metastases, we found intense expression of uPAR, uPA‐mRNA and PAI‐1 in primarily stromal cells at the metastases periphery, and in an expression pattern similar to that found in the primary tumours. In the remaining 9 liver metastases, uPAR and uPA‐mRNA were only seen associated with the presence of necrosis within the liver metastases. In addition, PAI‐1‐immunoreactivity was in all liver metastases seen in hepatocytes at the metastases periphery. Interestingly, the former 5 liver metastases positive for uPAR, uPA mRNA and PAI‐1 at the metastasis periphery all had a predominantly desmoplastic reaction, whereas 8 of the remaining 9 showed direct contact between the cancer cells and the liver parenchyma. We conclude that there are 2 distinct patterns of expression of uPAR, uPA and PAI‐1 in colon cancer liver metastases and that these correlate closely with 2 morphological growth patterns. These findings may have implication for the treatment of patients with metastatic disease.

Isolation and synthesis of a hemoregulatory peptide.

Abstract A peptide was isolated in pure form from human leukocytes which strongly inhibits the proliferation of immature meyloid cells in vitro (committed stem cells). Structural investigations yielded pGlu-Asp or Glu-Asp or Glu-Cys-Lys-OH as the probable sequence of this peptide. The Glu2,Asp3-analog, prepared synthetically, displayed similar activities and when applied in vivo showed effects on the hemopoietic system ranging from an inhibition of pluripotent and committed stem cells to variations in the bone marrow proliferation and alterations in peripheral blood counts.

Effects of growth factors on a human glioma cell line during invasion into rat brain aggregates in culture

SummaryCultures of fetal rat brain cell aggregates and tumor spheroids from the human glioma cell line GaMG were treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) or isoforms of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF AA or BB). Radioreceptor binding studies displayed a high binding capacity for EGF and FGF, but not binding of PDGF isoforms in the glioma cells. In serum-free culture, 10 ng/ml of both EGF and FGF caused increased growth and cell shedding in the tumor spheroids, whereas PDGF produced no such effect. Similarly, EGF and FGF stimulated tumor cell migration. EGF increased the proliferation and outgrowth of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells in brain cell aggregates, while PDGF AA and BB both stimulated the outgrowth of oligodendrocyte-like cells which were negative for GFAP and neuron-specific enolase. FGF stimulated GFAP+ as well as GFAP− cell types. In co-culture experiments using brain aggregates and tumor spheroids, both EGF and FGF treatment caused increased tumor cell invasion. PDGF had no effect on the tumor cells, but instead stimulated the proliferation of oligodendrocyte-like cells in the brain aggregates. The present results indicate that growth factors may facilitate glioma growth as well as invasiveness, and cause reactive changes in the surrounding normal tissue.

Interaction between human brain tumour biopsies and fetal rat brain tissue in vitro

SummaryThe invasiveness of human intracranial tumours was studied in an organ culture system. Biopsies from six glioblastomas, four astrocytomas, two mixed gliomas, one ependymoma, four meningiomas and two carcinoma metastases were cut into fragments of 0.5 mm diameter, and placed in agar overlay tissue culture. The tumour specimens formed spheroids which were co-cultured with cell aggregates or fragments from fetal rat brain for up to 10 days in vitro. The invasiveness of the glioblastoma spheroids was characterised by a gradual destruction of normal brain tissue by tumour cells, followed by replacement of normal tissue by these cells. Cocultures from two glioblastomas showed lesions in the normal brain tissue in areas removed from the tumour cells. Tumour spheroids from four glioblastomas totally destroyed the normal brain tissue without any change in the original tumour spheroid configuration. The lowgrade gliomas were less invasive than the glioblastomas. The meningiomas and the metastases were non-invasive. This organ culture assay appeared to reflect the in situ invasive behaviour of the brain tumours examined. It is suggested that it may be used for evaluating the aggressiveness of individual brain tumours with the specific aim of correlating clinical data with the biological character of the tumour.