Project description:Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) that usually portends a poor prognosis with limited therapeutic options available. Currently, only allogeneic stem cell transplantation is curative in those who are candidates, while administration of the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib carries a risk of worsening cytopenia. The limited therapeutic options available highlight the need for the development of novel treatments for PMF. Lysyl oxidase (LOX), an enzyme vital for collagen cross-linking and extracellular matrix stiffening, has been found to be upregulated in PMF. Herein, we evaluate two novel LOX inhibitors, PXS-LOX_1 and PXS-LOX_2, in two animal models of PMF (GATA1low and JAK2V617F-mutated mice). Specifically, PXS-LOX_1 or vehicle was given to 15- to 16-week-old GATA1low mice via intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 15 mg/kg four times a week for 9 weeks. PXS-LOX_1 was found to significantly decrease the bone marrow fibrotic burden and megakaryocyte number compared to vehicle in both male and female GATA1low mice. Given these results, PXS-LOX_1 was then tested in 15- to 17-week-old JAK2V617F-mutated mice at a dose of 30 mg/kg four times a week for 8 weeks. Again, we observed a significant decrease in bone marrow fibrotic burden. PXS-LOX_2, a LOX inhibitor with improved oral bioavailability, was next evaluated in 15- to 17-week-old JAK2V617F-mutated mice at a dose of 5 mg/kg p.o. four times a week for 8 weeks. This inhibitor also resulted in a significant decrease in bone marrow fibrosis, albeit with a more pronounced amelioration in female mice. Taking these results together, PXS-LOX_1 and PXS-LOX_2 appear to be promising new candidates for the treatment of fibrosis in PMF.
Project description:The tumor microenvironment (TME) is considered to be one of the vital mediators of tumor progression. Extracellular matrix (ECM), infiltrating immune cells, and stromal cells collectively constitute the complex ecosystem with varied biochemical and biophysical properties. The development of liver cancer is strongly tied with fibrosis and cirrhosis that alters the microenvironmental landscape, especially ECM composition. Enhanced deposition and cross-linking of type I collagen are frequently detected in patients with liver cancer and have been shown to facilitate tumor growth and metastasis by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. However, information on the effect of collagen enrichment on drug resistance is lacking. Thus, the present study has comprehensively illustrated phenotypical and mechanistic changes in an in vitro mimicry of collagen-enriched TME and revealed that collagen enrichment could induce 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and sorafenib resistance in liver cancer cells through hypoxia-induced up-regulation of lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2). LOXL2, an enzyme that facilitates collagen cross-linking, enhances cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance by activating the integrin alpha 5 (ITGA5)/focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/rho-associated kinase 1 (ROCK1) signaling axis. Conclusion: We demonstrated that inhibition of LOXL2 in a collagen-enriched microenvironment synergistically promotes the efficacy of sorafenib and 5FU through deterioration of focal adhesion signaling. These findings have clinical implications for developing LOXL2-targeted strategies in patients with chemoresistant liver cancer and especially for those patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Project description:BackgroundOral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a debilitating collagen-metabolic disorder leading to submucosal fibrosis and trismus. Lysyl oxidase (LOX), a critical collagen biosynthetic enzyme, is up-regulated in OSF. Polymorphisms in the Lysyl oxidase gene have been associated with increased risk of OSF and might affect normal collagen synthesis, accumulation, or degradation, crucial in determining fibrosis severity.MethodsOne hundred OSF cases and 100 controls were genotyped for LOX G473A(Arg158Gln) polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The expression of LOX was estimated both by quantitative mRNA analysis and western blot. Total soluble collagen was evaluated from mucosal tissue obtained from OSF cases. Immunohistochemical (IHC) localization of type 1 collagen was performed in mucosal tissue obtained from patients carrying various genotypes.ResultsHeterozygous G473A genotype was significantly higher in OSF cases [2.063(95% CI =1.059-4.016)], among 26-40 years age-group [4.375(95% CI=1.323-14.267),p=0.029] and in male patients [2.38 (95% CI= 1.107-5.121), p= 0.042]. LOX expression was significantly higher in cases of the heterozygous or homozygous carrier (p <0.001). We found the total soluble collagen level significantly (p <0.001) higher among patients carrying GA or AA genotype. IHC revealed focal deposition of type1 collagen in the submucosal tissue; comparatively higher deposition was evident in mucosal tissue of OSF patients carrying AA genotype.ConclusionsThese findings suggest LOX G473A polymorphism confers an increased risk of OSF and may affect collagen accumulation in OSF cases.
Project description:Lysyl oxidase like-2 (LOXL2) belongs to the lysyl oxidase (LOX) family, which comprises Cu(2+)- and lysine tyrosylquinone (LTQ)-dependent amine oxidases. LOXL2 is proposed to function similarly to LOX in the extracellular matrix (ECM) by promoting crosslinking of collagen and elastin. LOXL2 has also been proposed to regulate extracellular and intracellular cell signaling pathways. Dysregulation of LOXL2 has been linked to many diseases, including cancer, pro-oncogenic angiogenesis, fibrosis and heart diseases. In this review, we will give an overview of the current understandings and hypotheses regarding the molecular functions of LOXL2.
Project description:Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are characterized by upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and immune dysregulation, which provide a reasonable basis for immunotherapy in patients. Megakaryocytes are crucial in the pathogenesis of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), the most clinically aggressive subtype of MPN. In this study, we aimed to explore PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) expression in megakaryocytes and its clinical implications in PMF. We analyzed PD-L1 expression on megakaryocytes in PMF patients by immunohistochemistry and correlated the results with clinicopathological features and molecular aberrations. We employed a two-tier grading system considering both the proportion of cells positively stained and the intensity of staining. Among the 85 PMF patients, 41 (48%) showed positive PD-L1 expression on megakaryocytes with the immune-reactive score ranging from 1 to 12. PD-L1 expression correlated closely with higher white blood cell count (p = 0.045), overt myelofibrosis (p = 0.010), JAK2V617F mutation (p = 0.011), and high-molecular risk mutations (p = 0.045), leading to less favorable overall survival in these patients (hazard ratio 0.341, 95% CI 0.135-0.863, p = 0.023). Our study provides unique insights into the interaction between immunologic and molecular phenotypes in PMF patients. Future work to explore the translational potential of PD-L1 in the clinical setting is needed.
Project description:Megakaryocytes give rise to platelets, which have a wide variety of functions in coagulation, immune response, inflammation, and tissue repair. Dysregulation of megakaryocytes is a key feature of in the myeloproliferative neoplasms, especially myelofibrosis. Megakaryocytes are among the main drivers of myelofibrosis by promoting myeloproliferation and bone marrow fibrosis. In vivo targeting of megakaryocytes by genetic and pharmacologic approaches ameliorates the disease, underscoring the important role of megakaryocytes in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Here we review the current knowledge of the function of megakaryocytes in the JAK2, CALR, and MPL-mutant myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Project description:To confirm that neoplastic monocyte-derived collagen- and fibronectin-producing fibrocytes induce bone marrow (BM) fibrosis in primary myelofibrosis (PMF), we injected PMF BM-derived fibrocyte-precursor CD14+/CD34- monocytes into the tail vein of NOD-SCID-? (NSG) mice. PMF BM-derived CD14+/CD34- monocytes engrafted and induced a PMF-like phenotype with splenomegaly, myeloid hyperplasia with clusters of atypical megakaryocytes, persistence of the JAK2V617F mutation, and BM and spleen fibrosis. As control we used normal human BM-derived CD14+/CD34- monocytes. These monocytes also engrafted and gave rise to normal megakaryocytes that, like PMF CD14+/CD34--derived megakaryocytes, expressed HLA-ABC and human CD42b antigens. Using 2 clonogenic assays we confirmed that PMF and normal BM-derived CD14+/CD34- monocytes give rise to megakaryocyte colony-forming cells, suggesting that a subpopulation BM monocytes harbors megakaryocyte progenitor capacity. Taken together, our data suggest that PMF monocytes induce myelofibrosis-like phenotype in immunodeficient mice and that PMF and normal BM-derived CD14+/CD34- monocytes give rise to megakaryocyte progenitor cells.
Project description:Platelets (PLTs) are anucleate and considered incapable of nuclear functions. Contrastingly, nuclear proteins were detected in human PLTs. For most of these proteins, it is unclear if nuclear or alternatively assigned functions are performed, a question we wanted to address for nuclear assembly protein 1like 1 (NAP1L1). Using a wide array of molecular methods, including RNAseq, co-IP, overexpression and functional assays, we explored expression pattern and functionality of NAP1L1 in PLTs, and CD34+-derived megakaryocytes (MKs). NAP1L1 is expressed in PLTs and MKs. Co-IP experiments revealed that dihydrolipolylysine-residue acetyltransferase (DLAT encoded protein PDC-E2, ODP2) dynamically interacts with NAP1L1. PDC-E2 is part of the mitochondrial pyruvate-dehydrogenase (PDH) multi-enzyme complex, playing a crucial role in maintaining cellular respiration, and promoting ATP-synthesis via the respiratory chain. Since altered mitochondrial function is a hallmark of infectious syndromes, we analyzed PDH activity in PLTs from septic patients demonstrating increased activity, paralleling NAP1L1 expression levels. MKs PDH activity decreased following an LPS-challenge. Furthermore, overexpression of NAP1L1 significantly altered the ability of MKs to form proplatelet extensions, diminishing thrombopoiesis. These results indicate that NAP1L1 performs in other than nucleosome-assembly functions in PTLs and MKs, binding a key mitochondrial protein as a potential chaperone, and gatekeeper, influencing PDH activity and thrombopoiesis.
Project description:Lysyl oxidases (LOXs) are a family of copper-dependent oxido-deaminases that can modify the side chain of lysyl residues in collagen and elastin, thereby leading to the spontaneous formation of non-reducible aldehyde-derived interpolypeptide chain cross-links. The consequences of LOX inhibition in producing lathyrism are well documented, but the consequences on collagen fibril formation are less clear. Here we used ?-aminoproprionitrile (BAPN) to inhibit LOX in tendon-like constructs (prepared from human tenocytes), which are an experimental model of cell-mediated collagen fibril formation. The improvement in structure and strength seen with time in control constructs was absent in constructs treated with BAPN. As expected, BAPN inhibited the formation of aldimine-derived cross-links in collagen, and the constructs were mechanically weak. However, an unexpected finding was that BAPN treatment led to structurally abnormal collagen fibrils with irregular profiles and widely dispersed diameters. Of special interest, the abnormal fibril profiles resembled those seen in some Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome phenotypes. Importantly, the total collagen content developed normally, and there was no difference in COL1A1 gene expression. Collagen type V, decorin, fibromodulin, and tenascin-X proteins were unaffected by the cross-link inhibition, suggesting that LOX regulates fibrillogenesis independently of these molecules. Collectively, the data show the importance of LOX for the mechanical development of early collagenous tissues and that LOX is essential for correct collagen fibril shape formation.
Project description:The inability to recapitulate native tissue biomechanics, especially tensile properties, hinders progress in regenerative medicine. To address this problem, strategies have focused on enhancing collagen production. However, manipulating collagen cross-links, ubiquitous throughout all tissues and conferring mechanical integrity, has been underinvestigated. A series of studies examined the effects of lysyl oxidase (LOX), the enzyme responsible for the formation of collagen cross-links. Hypoxia-induced endogenous LOX was applied in multiple musculoskeletal tissues (i.e., cartilage, meniscus, tendons, ligaments). Results of these studies showed that both native and engineered tissues are enhanced by invoking a mechanism of hypoxia-induced pyridinoline (PYR) cross-links via intermediaries like LOX. Hypoxia was shown to enhance PYR cross-linking 1.4- to 6.4-fold and, concomitantly, to increase the tensile properties of collagen-rich tissues 1.3- to 2.2-fold. Direct administration of exogenous LOX was applied in native cartilage and neocartilage generated using a scaffold-free, self-assembling process of primary chondrocytes. Exogenous LOX was found to enhance native tissue tensile properties 1.9-fold. LOX concentration- and time-dependent increases in PYR content (∼ 16-fold compared with controls) and tensile properties (approximately fivefold compared with controls) of neocartilage were also detected, resulting in properties on par with native tissue. Finally, in vivo subcutaneous implantation of LOX-treated neocartilage in nude mice promoted further maturation of the neotissue, enhancing tensile and PYR content approximately threefold and 14-fold, respectively, compared with in vitro controls. Collectively, these results provide the first report, to our knowledge, of endogenous (hypoxia-induced) and exogenous LOX applications for promoting collagen cross-linking and improving the tensile properties of a spectrum of native and engineered tissues both in vitro and in vivo.