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International audience; Orexins (orexin-A and orexin-B) are hypothalamic peptides that are produced by the same precursor and are involved in sleep/wake control, which is mediated by two G protein-coupled receptor subtypes, OX1R and OX2R. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease, (IBD) which is characterized by long-lasting inflammation and ulcers that affect the colon and rectum mucosa and is known to be a significant risk factor for colon cancer development. Based on our recent studies showing that OX1R is aberrantly expressed in colon cancer, we wondered whether orexin-A could play a role in UC. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed that OX1R is highly expressed in the affected colonic epithelium of most UC patients, but not in the non-affected colonic mucosa. Injection of exogenous orexin-A specifically improved the inflammatory symptoms in the two colitis murine models. Conversely, injection of inactive orexin-A analog, OxB7-28 or OX1R specific antagonist SB-408124 did not have anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, treatment with orexin-A in DSS-colitis induced OX1R −/− knockout mice did not have any protective effect. The orexin-A anti-inflammatory effect was due to the decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in immune cells and specifically in T-cells isolated from colonic mucosa. Moreover, orexin-A inhibited canonical NFκB activation in an immune cell line and in intestinal epithelial cell line. These results suggest that orexin-A might represent a promising alternative to current UC therapies.

Serine proteases are now considered as crucial contributors to the development of human colon cancer. We have shown recently that thrombin is a potent growth factor for colon cancer cells through activation of the aberrantly expressed protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1). Here, we analyzed the signaling pathways downstream of PAR1 activation, which lead to colon cancer cell proliferation in HT-29 cells. Our data are consistent with the following cascade of events on activation of PAR1 by thrombin or specific activating peptide: (a) a matrix metalloproteinase–dependent release of transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) as shown with TGF-α blocking antibodies and measurement of TGF-α in culture medium; (b) TGF-α-mediated activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and subsequent EGFR phosphorylation; and (c) activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and subsequent cell proliferation. The links between these events are shown by the fact that stimulation of cell proliferation and ERK1/2 on activation of PAR1 is reversed by the MMP inhibitor batimastat, TGF-α neutralizing antibodies, EGFR ligand binding domain blocking antibodies, and the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors AG1478 and PD168393. Therefore, transactivation of EGFR seems to be a major mechanism whereby activation of PAR1 results in colon cancer cell growth. Finally, PAR1 activation induces Src phosphorylation, which is reversed by using the Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2, suggesting that Src activation plays a permissive role for PAR1-mediated ERK1/2 activation and cell proliferation probably acting downstream of the EGFR. These data explain how thrombin exerts robust trophic action on colon cancer cells and underline the critical role of EGFR transactivation.

Several lines of evidence suggest that tumor-derived trypsin contributes to the growth and invasion of cancer cells. We have recently shown that trypsin is a potent growth factor for colon cancer cells through activation of the G protein-coupled receptor protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2). Here, we analyzed the signaling pathways downstream of PAR2 activation that lead to colon cancer cell proliferation in HT-29 cells. Our data are consistent with the following cascade of events upon activation of PAR2 by the serine protease trypsin or the specific PAR2-activating peptide (AP2): (i) a matrix metalloproteinase-dependent release of transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, as demonstrated with TGF-alpha-blocking antibodies and measurement of TGF-alpha in culture medium; (ii) TGF-alpha-mediated activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and subsequent EGF-R phosphorylation; and (iii) activation of ERK1/2 and subsequent cell proliferation. The links between these events are demonstrated by the fact that stimulation of cell proliferation and ERK1/2 upon activation of PAR2 is reversed by the metalloproteinase inhibitor batimastat, TGF-alpha-neutralizing antibodies, EGF-R ligand binding domain-blocking antibodies, and the EGF-R tyrosine kinase inhibitors AG1478 and PD168393. Therefore, transactivation of EGF-R appears to be a major mechanism whereby activation of PAR2 results in colon cancer cell growth. By using the Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2, we further showed that Src plays a permissive role for PAR2-mediated ERK1/2 activation and cell proliferation, probably acting downstream of the EGF-R. These data explain how trypsin exerts robust trophic action on colon cancer cells and underline the critical role of EGF-R transactivation.

Orexin-A (OxA) and orexin-B (OxB) are hypothalamic peptides involved in the sleep/wake control which interact with two class A GPCR, OX1R and OX2R. We have demonstrated that OX1R was highly expressed in digestive cancers including cancer of colon1, pancreas2 and liver. In these cancers, orexin-A induces a mitochondrial apoptosis and a strong inhibition of tumor growth in nude mice xenografted with digestive cancer cell lines1,2. In the present work, we have compared and combined the effect of OxA and NAB-paclitaxel which represents the “gold standard” reference in the chemotherapeutic treatment of pancreas cancer, on their anti-tumoral properties. The incubation of AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cell line which expressed OX1R, with 0.1μM OxA or 0.1 μM NAB-paclitaxel reveals a cell growth inhibition of 36% and 51%, respectively. The addition of 0.1 μM OxA and 0.1μM NAB-paclitaxel on AsPC-1 cells reveals a significantly cell growth inhibition of 70% suggesting that the double treatment was more efficient than individual treatment. Moreover, the addition of 0.1μM OxA and 0.1 μM NAB-paclitaxel induces 25% of cell apoptosis determined by annexin-V labeling, as compared to single treatment with 0.1μM OxA (18%) or 0.1 μM NAB-paclitaxel (12%). Additionally, we explore the sequential treatment by OxA and NAB-paclitaxel on cell growth of AsPC-1 cells. Our results evidenced than 48h treatment by OxA followed by 48h treatment of NAB-paclitaxel induced an inhibition of 35% of cell growth. In contrast, the reverse treatment (48H NAB-paclitaxel followed by 48h OxA) induces an inhibition of cell growth of 60%. OxA intraperitoneal injection (2 injections/week of 1.12 μmoles/kg OxA and/or NAB-paclitaxel) in nude mice xenografted with AsPC-1 cells, shows that OxA and NAB-paclitaxel induces an inhibition of tumoral volume of 60% and 62%, respectively. Moreover, injection of OxA plus NAB-paclitaxel induces an inhibition of tumoral volume of 70%. Sequential treatments of xenografted tumors in mice with OxA and NAB-paclitaxel was investigated and revealed 72% tumor growth inhibition when mice were treated 30 days with OxA followed by 30 days with NAB-paclitaxel and 83% tumor growth inhibition when they were treated 30 days with NAB-paclitaxel followed by 30 days with OxA. These results indicate that: 1) the addition of OxA and NAB-paclitaxel improves the effect of individual treatment; 2) the sequential treatment consisting of first OxA treatment followed by NAB-paclitaxel treatment was more efficient than reverse treatment. In conclusion, OxA was close to NAB-paclitaxel treatment in term of response and suggest that combined treatment OxA/ NAB-paclitaxel represents a new promising pancreas cancer therapy 1Voisin et al., Cancer research 2011, 71:3341-51 2Speisky et al., AACR annual meeting, 2014, San Diego, USA Citation Format: Thierry Voisin, Dina Plaut, Stephanie Dayot, Maxime Bergere, Valerie Gratio, Pascal Nicole, Anne Couvelard, Alain Couvineau. Combination treatment of orexin-A and NAB-paclitaxel in pancreas cancer: in vitro and in vivo studies. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4581.

We hypothesized that kallikrein-related peptidase 14 (KLK14) is produced by colonic tumors and can promote tumorigenesis by activating proteinase-activated receptors (PARs). We found that KLK14 is expressed in human colon adenocarcinoma cells but not in adjacent cancer-free tissue; KLK14 mRNA, present in colon cancer, leads to KLK14 protein expression and secretion; and KLK14 signals viaPAR-2 in HT-29 cells to cause (1) receptor activation/internalization, (2) increases in intracellular calcium, (3) stimulation of ERK1/2/MAP kinase phosphorylation, and (4) cell proliferation. We suggest that KLK14, acting via PAR-2, represents an autocrine/paracrine regulator of colon tumorigenesis.

Orexins acting at the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) OX1R have recently been shown to promote dramatic apoptosis in cancer cells. We report here that orexin-induced apoptosis is driven by an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) (IIY(358)NFL) present in the OX1R. This effect is mediated by SHP-2 phosphatase recruitment via a mechanism that requires Gq protein but is independent of phospholipase C activation. This is based on the following observations: 1) mutation of Y(358) into F abolished orexin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in ITIM, orexin-induced apoptosis, and uncoupled OX1R from Gq protein in transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells; 2) orexin-induced apoptosis in CHO cells expressing recombinant OX1R and in colon cancer cells expressing the native receptor was abolished by treatment with the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor PAO and by transfection with a dominant-negative mutant of SHP-2; 3) orexins were unable to promote apoptosis in fibroblast cells invalidated for the G alpha q subunit and transfected with OX1R cDNA, whereas they promoted apoptosis in cells equipped with G alpha q and OX1R; and 4) the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 blocked orexin-stimulated inositol phosphate formation, whereas it had no effect on orexin-induced apoptosis in CHO cells expressing OX1R. These data unravel a novel mechanism, whereby ITIM-expressing GPCRs may trigger apoptosis.

Serine proteinases signal through proteinase-activated receptors (PARs). Our studies have implicated PAR1 and PAR4 (thrombin receptors) and PAR2 (trypsin receptor) in human colon cancer growth. However, endogenous activators of PARs in colon tumors are still unknown. Recently, members of the kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) family have been shown to activate PARs in many cell systems. Thus, our aim was to determine if KLK14, a KLK family member, is expressed in colonic tumors and to see if this KLK can activate PARs in human colon cancer cells. The presence of KLK14 in colon cancer cell lines was assessed by RT-PCR, ELISA and immunofluorescence, and its expression in human colonic tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The effects of recombinant KLK14 in parallel with PAR1/2 agonists (SFLLRN-NH2, an activating peptide for both PAR1 and PAR2; TFLLR-NH2, a selective activating peptide for PAR1 and the selective PAR2 agonists, 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-NH2; SLIGRL-NH2) were assessed for calcium flux, receptor internalization and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in a human colon cancer-derived HT29 cell line that expresses PAR1 and PAR2. We found that: a) KLK14 mRNA (RT-PCR) was present in 16 out of 16 human colon cancer cell lines, b) KLK14 protein is present (ELISA) in HT29 conditioned media and other colon cancer cell lines; c) there was strong staining of KLK14 in the cytoplasmic compartment of HT29 cells and of human colonic tumors (immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry; paraffin sections) d) KLK14 (0.1 µM) caused prompt increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in HT29 cells (Microspectrofluorimetry with Fura 2/fluo-3). The KLK14-induced Ca2+-flux was abrogated after an initial challenge of the cells with SFLLRN-NH2 (100 µM), which desensitizes PAR1 and PAR2 simultaneously. Desensitization with 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-NH2 (10 µM) a potent PAR2 agonist, attenuated most of the Ca2+ flux induced by KLK14, whereas responses to TFLLR-NH2, the PAR1 agonist, were minimally affected. Consistently, a first challenge with thrombin did not affect KLK14-induced Ca2+ flux. These results strongly suggest that KLK14 activates preferentially PAR2 in HT29 cells. e) KLK14 initiates a dramatic loss of cell surface PAR2 (microscopic analysis) due to its internalization and f) KLK14 induces a rapid (within 5-10 min) and significant ERK1/2 phosphorylation in HT29 cells. This KLK14-PAR signaling pathway may represent a novel therapeutic target for colon tumorigenesis. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4104.