Ri Cui

Role of serum vascular endothelial growth factor in the prediction of angiogenesis and prognosis for non-small cell lung cancer.

Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 are involved in angiogenesis of various cancers, clinical utility of preoperative serum concentration of these molecules in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we determined the concentration of VEGF, MMP-9 and various other tumor markers in serum prior to surgery and evaluated the results compared with intratumoral vasculature to isolate a valuable marker in determining the prediction of angiogenesis in NSCLC. Among these molecules and serum tumor markers, circulating serum VEGF was identified to markedly correlate with microvessel density (MVD) of the resected tumor specimens. Moreover, overall survival of patients with low VEGF levels (≤326 ng/ml) was significantly greater than that of patients with high VEGF levels (>326 ng/ml), while patients with low MMP-9 levels (≤189 ng/ml) and those with high MMP-9 levels (>189 ng/ml) revealed similar overall survival. Conclusively, preoperative concentration of serum VEGF may be the most valuable marker in the prediction of intratumoral angiogenesis and prognosis of patients with NSCLC.

Osteopontin is Strongly Expressed by Alveolar Macrophages in the Lungs of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by an intense inflammatory response in the lung parenchyma. Recent studies suggest that excessive nitric oxide (NO) production mediated by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in macrophages is partially involved in mediating acute lung injury in ARDS. On the other hand, osteopontin (OPN) is a cytokine which is capable of inhibiting NO production by suppressing iNOS mRNA expression in macrophages. In this study, we investigated the expression of OPN in the lungs of 10 patients with ARDS. In most patients, OPN is strongly expressed on alveolar macrophages. In addition, we produced a murine model for ARDS by intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide and investigated the expression of endogenous OPN and iNOS in the lungs of ARDS mice. Immunostaining demonstrated that in vivo OPN protein was coinduced with iNOS protein predominantly in the accumulating alveolar macrophages. OPN mRNA expression was also coinduced with iNOS mRNA, but was induced more slowly than iNOS mRNA in the lungs of ARDS mice. These results suggested that OPN, which may reduce NO production of macrophages by inhibiting iNOS expression, is significantly induced and expressed on alveolar macrophages in the lungs of ARDS. It is possible that OPN is partially involved in playing a protective role against excessive production of NO in ARDS.

Osteopontin is involved in the formation of malignant pleural effusion in lung cancer

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is associated with advanced-stage lung cancer and is a poor prognostic sign for these patients. Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional cytokine that is involved in the tumor progression and angiogenesis of lung cancer cells. The purpose of this study is to investigate and provide evidence for the role of OPN in the formation of MPE associated with lung cancer. In this study, we established an OPN knockdown murine lung cancer cell line, 3LL cells, utilizing the small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique. To reveal the effect of OPN on the formation of MPE associated with lung cancer, we directly injected OPN knockdown 3LL cells, 3LL/OPN siRNA, or control cells, 3LL/control siRNA, into the pleural space of C57BL/6 mice. OPN knockdown significantly reduced the formation of MPE, but did not inhibit in vivo tumor growth of 3LL cells in mice. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in MPE was markedly decreased in the 3LL/OPN siRNA in comparison with that of the 3LL/control siRNA. In vitro, recombinant OPN protein enhanced VEGF secretion from human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) or human mesothelial cell line, Met5A cells, in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that OPN is positively involved in the formation of MPE of lung cancer presumably by promoting VEGF secretion from vascular endothelial cells or mesothelial cells. OPN could be an effective target molecule for reducing MPE in lung cancer patients.

Osteopontin is involved in the development of acquired chemo-resistance of cisplatin in small cell lung cancer

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multi-functional cytokine involved in cell survival, migration and adhesion which is associated with tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis. However, the role of OPN in chemo-sensitivity of human lung cancer has not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of OPN in chemo-sensitivity of lung cancer cells. We developed a stable OPN transfectant (SBC-3/OPN) and a control transfectant (SBC-3/NEO) from human small cell lung cancer cell line, SBC-3. SBC-3/OPN cells were more resistant to cisplatin than SBC-3/NEO cells. Multi-drug resistance-associated protein (MRP) does not appear to be involved in the development of acquired chemo-resistance, since MRP inhibitor did not alter chemo-sensitivity. After exposure to cisplatin, the apoptotic SBC-3/OPN cells were reduced in number compared to SBC-3/NEO cells. Treatment with cisplatin revealed that the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, bcl-2, was down-regulated in SBC-3/NEO cells, while that of SBC-3/OPN cells was not altered. In contrast, pro-apoptotic protein, bax, was not altered in both SBC-3/OPN and SBC-3/NEO cells, thus bcl-2/bax ratio was decreased in SBC-3/NEO but not altered in SBC-3/OPN cells. Activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 was increased in SBC-3/NEO cells, but not in SBC-3/OPN cells. Our results suggest that OPN enhances chemo-resistance of cisplatin in SBC-3 cells by suppressing bcl-2 protein down-regulation, thereby blocking the caspase-9- and caspase-3-dependent cell apoptosis.

Signal transduction mediated by endostatin directly modulates cellular function of lung cancer cells in vitro

Endostatin (ED) is a carboxyl‐terminal fragment of collagen XVIII with strong antiangiogenic activity. ED has been considered as a highly specific inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation and migration through interaction with its receptor on the surface of endothelial cells. Recently, direct antitumor effects of ED in colon cancer cells and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells has been reported. However, its effect on lung cancer cells has not been clarified. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of ED on in vitro lung cancer cell function and to identify its receptor on lung cancer cells. We revealed that α5 integrin is capable of being a functional ED receptor among several integrins that are expressed on murine lung cancer (Lewis lung cancer [LLC]) cells. We further demonstrated that the ED–integrin interaction modulates various in vitro biological functions of LLC cells as we revealed that immobilized ED helps in LLC cell adhesion and migration in an integrin‐dependent manner. Furthermore, ED inhibited LLC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Interestingly, ED did not demonstrate any antiproliferative activity against the other murine lung cancer cell line, KLN205, that lacks α5 integrin but binds to immobilized ED through the β1 integrin. In addition, the binding of ED to α5 integrin on LLC cells induced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. Taken together, these results suggest that the interaction between ED and α5 integrin may play an important role in lung cancer cell function. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 830–837)

Isolated congenital spleen agenesis: a rare cause of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in an adult.

Abstract:  This report describes a case of isolated congenital spleen agenesis complicated by chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTPH) in a 44‐year‐old female patient. The patient had increasing exertional dyspnoea and thrombocytosis. An echocardiogram showed severe pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy, and contrast‐enhanced chest CT revealed multiple thromboemboli within both pulmonary arteries. A perfusion lung scan demonstrated multiple segmental defects and no spleen was detected by abdominal CT, ultrasonography or scintigraphy. Comprehensive clinical examinations disclosed no evidence of a thrombus elsewhere or of an associated malformation such as a cardiac anomaly. Anticoagulation therapy was started, and a perfusion lung scan revealed partial improvement of the hypoperfusion in the right lower lobe. However, repeat echocardiography showed the pulmonary hypertension persisting for 1 year. The multiple segmental defects in the perfusion lung scans were also persistent. Collectively, a diagnosis of CTPH with isolated congenital spleen agenesis was established. This is the first documented case of CTPH in an adult with isolated congenital asplenia. Although congenital spleen agenesis is a rare condition, this case report suggests that this possibility should be considered when a diagnosis of CTPH and thrombocytosis is made.