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439 Evidence for the Induction of Autophagy by AntimiR-21

2012, European Journal of Cancer

activation. Necroptosis can be excluded as the cause of increased UV sensitivity of FADD −/− cells. However, cell death of wild type fibroblasts seems to be partly due to apoptosis and partly due to necroptosis. Lack of caspase 8 activation indicates that the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis is not involved in UVB-induced apoptosis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. 438 Function and Regulation of G-protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 2 (GRK2) in Tumor Progression of Stratified Epithelia

S106 european journal of cancer 48, suppl. 5 (2012) S25–S288 activation. Necroptosis can be excluded as the cause of increased UV sensitivity of FADD−/− cells. However, cell death of wild type fibroblasts seems to be partly due to apoptosis and partly due to necroptosis. Lack of caspase 8 activation indicates that the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis is not involved in UVB-induced apoptosis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. 438 Function and Regulation of G-protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 2 (GRK2) in Tumor Progression of Stratified Epithelia J. Palacios1 , R. Alvarado1 , R. Garcı́a-Escudero2 , F. Mayor1 , C. Ribas1 . Centro de Biologı́a Molecular “Severo Ochoa” UAM-CSIC, Molecular Biology, Madrid, Spain, 2 Ciemat, Molecular Oncology, Madrid, Spain Sunday 8 − Tuesday 10 July 2012 Acknowledgements: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian for financial support. FCT for PhD and Post-Doc scholarships to HS (SFRH/BD/47428/2008) and RTL (SFRH/BPD/68787/2011). GMA supported by FCT and the European Social Fund. Reference(s) [1] Seca et al. Eur J Cancer (2010) 46(9):1520−7. [2] Lima RT et al. Eur J Cancer (2011) 47(2):163−74. [3] Zheng et al. J Cell Biochem (2011) 112(3): 872−80. 1 Background: G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) causes desensitization of GPCRs, such as chemokine receptors, turning down their signaling. It has been described that reduced GRK2 levels potentiate leukocyte chemotaxis, and emerging evidence suggest that GRK2 expression modulates epithelial cell migration in a cell-type and stimulus-dependent manner. Our main focus has been to study the function and regulation of GRK2 expression in tumors of stratified epithelia. Materials and Methods: GRK2 expression was detected by inmunohistochemical analysis using different tumor tissue-arrays from stratified epithelia. We conducted a global microarray miRNA expression pattern analysis from skin of wild-type versus GRK2 heterozygous mice (GRK2 +/−) using the Exiqon platform and some deregulated miRNA were chosen for validation by qRTPCR. Results: Interestingly, we detect GRK2 expression in differentiated areas of these tumors but not in the invasive front areas. Moreover, there is a significant negative correlation between GRK2 expression and tumor malignancy and grade, that could be useful in tumor prognosis. In this regard, overexpression of GRK2 in spindle-like cells induces an epithelial phenotype, and preliminary results indicated that reduced GRK2 levels increase migration of human keratynocytes. Moreover, the skin of GRK2 hemizygous mice displays an altered pattern of expression of genes involved in cell cycle and cell proliferation. We also find that in the skin of these animals there is a downregulation of miR-145, a tumor supresor miRNA that directly targets several proteins involved in cancer and inhibits proliferation. Conclusion: Our results support a putative inhibitory role of GRK2 in tumoral progression in stratified epithelium. 439 Evidence for the Induction of Autophagy by AntimiR-21 H. Seca1,2 , R.T. Lima1,3 , G.M. Almeida1 , V. Lopes-Rodrigues1,4 , J.E. Guimarães5,6 , M.H. Vasconcelos1,2 . 1 Cancer Drug Resistance Group, IPATIMUP − Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal, 3 CEQUIMED-UP, Centre of Medicinal Chemistry − University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 4 Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 5 Clinical Hematology, Hospital São João, Porto, Portugal, 6 Clinical Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal Introduction: miRNA-21 has been descibed as being a pivotal microRNA in several cancers, including leukemia [1]. In fact, its expression has been associated with several cancer related cellular processes such as decrease in apoptosis [2], or increase in proliferation and invasion [3]. In previous work we have used antimiRs for miR-21 (chemically modified, single stranded nucleic acids designed to downregulate miR-21 expression) in order to sensitize chronic myeloid leukemia cells to cytotoxic drugs. This downregulation increased programmed cell death detected by TUNEL, but no PARP cleavage was observed by Western Blot, suggesting that antimiR-21 might be inducing a cell death mechanism other than apoptosis. We also had some evidence of autophagy (work submitted for publication). Based on these results, the aim of the present work was to confirm if antimiR-21 induced autophagy in a chronic myeloid leukemia cell line (K562). Materials and Methods: A chronic myeloid leukemia cell line (K562) was transfected with antimiR-21 or antimiR-control for 48 hours. miR-21 levels were analysed 24 hours after transfection, by RT-qPCR. Expression of proteins related to autophagy (Beclin-1, Vps34 and LC-3) was analysed, by Western Blot. Cells were incubated with monodansylcadaverine (MDC, a fluorescent marker) for 1h, and then the autophagic vacuoles were visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy. The cellular ultrastructural morphology, particularly the presence of autophagosomes, was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: It was confirmed that transfection of K562 cells with antimiR21 caused downregulation of miR-21 expression, 24 hours later. This downregulation caused an increase in the expression levels of Beclin-1, Vps34 and LC3B-II, which have been associated with autophagy. Accordingly, fluorescent dot-like structures, labeling autophagic vacuoles typical of MDC staining, were visualized. The presence of autophagic vacuoles in K562 cells was further confirmed 48h following antimiR-21 transfection, by TEM. Conclusions: AntimiR-21 induced autophagy in K562 leukemic cells. 440 Understanding the Potential Role of Sphingolipid Machinery Within the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Process Using a Multigene-signature-based Expression Profiling Approach A. Meshcheryakova1 , M. Svoboda1 , E. Jensen-Jarolim2 , D. Mechtcheriakova1 . 1 Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research; Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 2 Messerli Research Institute of the Medical University of Vienna; Veterinary University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Introduction: Sphingolipids comprise a highly diverse and complex class of molecules, which in addition to their know function as building blocks of cell architecture were found to act as critical bioeffector molecules playing important roles in crucial cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis, and immune response. Bioactive sphingolipids are known to show a highly pleiotropic mode of action functioning either as intracellular second messengers or via specific cell surface receptors in a paracrine or autocrine manner. Levels of lipid mediators within the dynamic network are tightly controlled by enzymes responsible for their synthesis and degradation in a highly coordinated manner. Strong line of evidence indicates involvement of sphingolipid-modifying enzymes as well as lipid mediators in the process of tumorigenesis. Material and Methods: The lung adenocarcinoma cell line, A549, was used as cell-based epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) model. To trigger the EMT program A549 cell were stimulated with TGF-beta, TNF-alpha or the combination of these cytokines. Monitoring of the EMT process was performed via FACS analysis as well as expressional profiling of a set of EMT-associated genes. Real-time PCR based expression profiling was used to assess alterations in sphingolipid-associated genes at different time points within the EMT process. Results and Discussion: The A549 cell-based EMT model was established to assess the potential contribution of sphingolipids in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. A sphingolipid-related multigene signature (n = 42) was created covering the whole interconnected network of sphingolipid metabolism including sphingolipid-modifying enzymes and sphingosine-1phosphate (S1P) and 1- or 2-acylsn-glycerol 3-phosphate (LPA) receptors. Expression profiling revealed a differential expression pattern of the individual members of the S1P and LPA receptor families at the epithelial in comparison to mesenchymal stage. Furthermore, the sphingosine kinase 1 but not sphingosine kinase 2 as well as S1P phosphatases 2 but not S1P phosphatases 1 were found to be induced during the EMT process. Additional lipid phosphate phosphatase LPP3 showed upregulation upon triggering of the EMT program. Among ceramide (Cer) metabolizing enzymes Cer kinase and Cer synthase 1 and Cer synthase 4 mRNA levels were found to be strongly downregulated, in a similar manner to the EMT marker E-Cadherin. Alterations in the sphingolipid-associated network were found to be specific for different types of EMT programs. Conclusion: The self-created sphingolipid-related multigene signature allowed to get novel insights into the alterations in the sphingolipid-associated cellular machinery during the EMT process. Based on the obtained results novel sphingolipid-related EMT-associated key players could be nominated. This work is supported by The Austrian Science Fund FWF P22749-B19 to DM 441 Involvement of CD157 in the Control of Ovarian Cancer Progression N. Lo Buono1 , S. Morone1 , R. Parrotta1 , A. Giacomino1 , G. Chiorino2 , P. Ostano2 , M. Mello-Grand2 , A. Funaro1 , E. Ortolan1 . 1 Univertsity of Turin, Dept. of Genetics Biology and Biochemistry, Turin, Italy, 2 Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia Valenta, Biella, Italy Background: Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is one of the most aggressive among gynaecological tumours and is often diagnosed at advanced stages with very poor prognosis. Despite advances in surgical and chemotherapeutic strategies, only marginal improvement in patient outcome has been obtained. Hence, understanding the biological mechanisms underlying ovarian cancer progression is critical for its treatment. We reported that CD157 (BST-1), an ectoenzyme regulating leukocyte diapedesis during inflammation, is expressed by 90% of epithelial ovarian cancers and high CD157 expression is associated with poor outcome in patients.