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Initiation and maintenance of several cancers including glioblastoma (GBM) may be driven by a small subset of cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs may provide a repository of cells in tumor cell populations that are refractory to chemotherapeutic agents developed for the treatment of tumors. STAT3 is a key transcription factor associated with regulation of multiple stem cell types. Recently, a novel autocrine loop (IL-6/STAT3/HIF1alpha) has been observed in multiple tumor types (pancreatic, prostate, lung, and colon). The objective of this study was to probe perturbations of this loop in a glioblastoma cancer stem cell line (GSC11) derived from a human tumor by use of a JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation inhibitor (WP1193), IL-6 stimulation, and hypoxia. A quantitative phosphoproteomic approach that employed phosphoprotein enrichment, chemical tagging with isobaric tags, phosphopeptide enrichment, and tandem mass spectrometry in a high-resolution instrument was applied. A total of 3414 proteins were identified in this study. A rapid Western blotting technique (

We report changes in gene and polar lipid expression induced by adenovirus-delivered wild-type (wt) p53 gene and chemotherapy of U87 MG glioblastoma cells, a treatment known to trigger apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Sulfatides (sulfonated glycolipids) were most highly modulated by wild-type p53 treatment; however, no changes were observed in expression levels of mRNA for genes involved in sulfatide metabolism, indicating post-transcriptional control of sulfatide synthesis. Modulation of the aglycones of GD1 and GM1b was observed in wild-type p53-treated cells. The treatment also leads to an increase in phospholipids such as phosphatidyl inositols, phosphatidyl serines, phosphatidyl glycerols, and phosphatidyl ethanolamines, especially hydroxylated phospholipids. These dramatic changes in the composition of cellular glycolipids in response to p53 gene expression and cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment indicate the large role that they play in cell signaling. The use of the human glioma cell line U87 appears to be an excellent model system both in tissue culture and in intracranial murine xenograft models to further characterize the role of sulfatides in modulating glioma responsivity to therapeutic agents.

Interferon-tau (IFNtau), produced by the trophectoderm of ruminant ungulates, binds to the type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) located at the uterine endometrium in a paracrine manner. Since IFNtau attenuates the secretory pattern of an endometrial luteolysin, prostaglandin F2alpha, IFNtau has been considered as a conceptus factor implicated in the process of maternal recognition of pregnancy. Here we report the presence of IFNAR subunit (IFNAR1) in ovine conceptuses during the period of peri-implantation development and demonstrate that 125I-human (h) IFNalpha binds to membrane preparations from ovine corpus luteum and conceptus. Using an antibody against hIFNAR1, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that IFNAR1 protein was present in day 14 and 16 conceptuses (day 0 = day of estrus) and luminal and glandular epithelia of the endometrium. Conceptus membrane proteins analyzed by western blot with the same antibody displayed immunoreactive bands at 95, 60 and 55 kDa while endometrial membrane proteins showed bands at 200, 95 and 55 kDa. Northern blot analysis revealed that IFNAR1 mRNA was present in days 15-19 conceptuses and day 18-19 allantoic membranes. Receptor binding studies indicated that 125I-hIFNalpha binding to day 16, but not earlier, conceptus membrane proteins could be displaced with hIFNalpha or ovine IFNtau. Based on Scatchard analysis, day 16 conceptus membranes contained 28 fmol IFNAR/mg protein with a dissociation constant of 300 pM. Cross-linking experiments demonstrated that 125I-hIFNalpha-receptor complex migrated at 120 kDa, indicating that the receptor component(s) was approximately 100 kDa. These data provide evidence that although the binding does not occur until day 16, ovine conceptuses possess IFNAR1 near or at the time of implantation, suggesting that IFNtau, a factor produced by the trophectoderm of ruminant ungulates, could act on the conceptus in an autocrine manner. In addition to functioning as an antiluteolytic factor, therefore, IFNtau may have a direct effect on conceptus development.

A glioblastoma stem cell (GSC) line, GSC11, grows as neurospheres in serum-free media supplemented with EGF (epidermal growth factor) and bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor), and, if implanted in nude mice brains, will recapitulate high-grade glial tumors. Treatment with a STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) phosphorylation inhibitor (WP1193) or 10% FBS (fetal bovine serum) both led to a decrease in expression of the stem cell marker CD133 in GSC11 cells, but differed in phenotype changes. Altered glycolipid profiles were associated with some differentially expressed glycogenes. In serum treated cells, an overall increase in glycosphingolipids may be due to increased expression of ST6GALNAC2, a sialyltransferase. Serum treated cells express more phosphatidylcholine (PC), short chain sphingomyelin (SM) and unsaturated long chain phosphatidylinositol (PI). Decrease of a few glycosphingolipids in the STAT3 phosphorylation inhibited cells may be linked to decreased transcripts of ST6GALNAC2 and UGCGL2, a glucosylceramide synthase. A rare 3-sulfoglucuronylparagloboside carrying HNK1 (human natural killer-1) epitope was found expressed in the GSC11 and the phenotypically differentiated cells. Its up-regulation correlates with increased transcripts of a HNK1 biosynthesis gene, B3GAT2 after serum treatment. Taken together with a quantitative phosphoproteomic study of the same GSC line (C. L. Nilsson, et al. J. Proteome Res. 2010, 9, 430-443), this report represents the most complete systems biology study of cancer stem cell (CSC) differentiation to date. The synergies derived by the combination of glycomic, transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic data may aid our understanding of intracellular and cell-surface events associated with CSC differentiation.

Global protein analysis of treated and untreated glioblastoma cell lines was performed. Proteomic analysis revealed the identity of proteins that were significantly modulated by the treatment with wild-type TP53 and the cytotoxic chemotherapy SN38. In particular, galectin-1 was found to be negatively regulated by transfection with TP53 and further down-regulated by SN38. Expression level changes were confirmed by Western blot. Subsequent analysis of several high-grade glioma cell lines demonstrated very high levels of galectin-1, regardless if the cell lines contained mutant or wild-type TP53. High expression of galectin-1 in a human orthotopic murine tumor model was also detected by immunohistochemistry and revealed a consistent pattern of preferential expression in peripheral or leading tumor edges. Further examination of galectin-1 expression through microarray analysis in tumor materials from patients confirmed galectin-1 as a valuable biomarker and possible therapeutic target. These results demonstrate the utility of using proteomic approaches to interrogate and identify potential useful targets for cancer therapy by evaluating specific tumor responses, either positive or negative, to various therapies.

Replication-competent adenoviruses could provide an efficient method for delivering therapeutic genes to tumors. The most promising strategies among adenovirus-based oncolytic systems are designed to exploit free E2F-1 activity in cancer cells, which in the absence of pRb activates transcription and regulates the expression of genes involved in differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. We previously developed Delta24, an E1A-mutant, conditionally replicative oncolytic adenovirus. Here, we examine the ability of a second-generation Delta24 (Delta24-hyCD) engineered to express a humanized form of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytosine deaminase gene (hyCD). Real-time quantitative PCR, Western blotting, thin-layer chromatography, and radioisotope quantitative enzymatic assays confirmed the production of a catalytically active hyCD enzyme in the setting of an oncolytic infection in vitro; other experiments assessing local production of 5-fluorouracil and a concomitant bystander effect showed improved cytotoxicity. The IC50 dose of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) required for a complete cytopathic effect by the Delta24-hyCD virus was fivefold lower than with Delta24 alone in U251MG and U87MG malignant glioma (MG) cell lines. Intratumoral treatment of mice bearing intracranial U87MG xenografts with Delta24-hyCD+5-FC significantly improved survival, confirming that Delta24-hyCD with 5-FC is a more efficient anticancer tool than Delta24 alone. Histopathologically, Delta24-hyCD replication was accompanied by progressively augmented oncolysis and drug-induced necrosis. These findings demonstrate that Delta24-hyCD with concomitant systemic 5-FC is a significant improvement over the earlier Delta24 oncolytic tumor-selective strategy for therapy of experimental gliomas.

Antibody therapeutic targeting of the immune checkpoints CTLA-4 and PD-1 has demonstrated marked tumor regression in clinical trials; however, this requires multimodality treatment and has known toxicity. Furthermore, the targeting of one checkpoint often results in the up-regulation of another. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can modulate gene transcripts, including those of tumor-mediated immune suppressive pathways and networks. Additionally, miRNAs can be delivered to the systemic immune compartment, which can initiate anti-tumor immune response, including within the central nervous system, thereby overcoming the confounding issue of miRNA delivery to the tumor. To identify potential immune modulatory miRNA therapeutics, we exploited human glioblastoma miRNA expression assays followed by a screening process of predicted binding sites in the 3' UTR of immune suppressive pathways and immune checkpoints. MiR-138 emerged as a leading candidate with three predicted binding sites in the 3' UTR of CTLA-4 and one within PD-1, which was functionally confirmed with luciferase expression assays. The miR-138 targeting of CTLA-4 and PD-1 was further validated by expression analysis of transfected human CD4+ T cells. Using human glioma tumor microarrays and in situ hybridization, heterogeneous expression of miR-138 was found amongst all glioma grades and pathological subtypes. The PD-1 ligand, PD-L1, was frequently expressed in glioblastomas based on immunohistochemistry and ex vivo flow cytometry from fresh human glioblastoma. Analysis of TCGA database revealed that co-expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 impacts glioblastoma survival. Given the previously documented role of CTLA-4 as an operational mechanism of glioblastoma-mediated immune suppression, this cumulative data suggests that dual targeting of CTLA-4 and PD-1 with miR-138 in glioblastoma patients may have anti-tumor activity. In vivo treatment with miR-138 in immune-competent mice with GL261 gliomas demonstrated marked tumor regression, a 43% increase in median survival (P = 0.011), and an associated decrease in intratumoral FoxP3+ Tregs, CTLA-4, and PD-1 expression. Conversely, in an immune-incompetent animal background, miR-138 failed to exert any therapeutic effect, indicating that miR-138 mediates in vivo activity via the immune system. Cumulatively, our data indicate that miR-138 may be an active and novel immunotherapeutic agent for human glioblastoma patients.