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The aberrant activation of the fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)/fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signalling pathway drives severe pathologies, including cancer development and angiogenesis-driven pathologies. The perturbation of the FGF2/FGFR axis via extracellular allosteric small inhibitors is a promising strategy for developing FGFR inhibitors with improved safety and efficacy for cancer treatment. We have previously investigated the role of new extracellular inhibitors, such as rosmarinic acid (RA), which bind the FGFR-D2 domain and directly compete with FGF2 for the same binding site, enabling the disruption of the functional FGF2/FGFR interaction. To select ligands for the previously identified FGF2/FGFR RA binding site, NMR data-driven virtual screening has been performed on an in-house library of non-commercial small molecules and metabolites. A novel drug-like compound, a resorcinol derivative named RBA4 has been identified. NMR interaction studies demonstrate that RBA4 binds the FGF2/FGFR complex, in agreement with docking prediction. Residue-level NMR perturbations analysis highlights that the mode of action of RBA4 is similar to RA in terms of its ability to target the FGF2/FGFR-D2 complex, inducing perturbations on both proteins and triggering complex dissociation. Biological assays proved that RBA4 inhibited FGF2 proliferative activity at a level comparable to the previously reported natural product, RA. Identification of RBA4 chemical groups involved in direct interactions represents a starting point for further optimization of drug-like extracellular inhibitors with improved activity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper: [Collina Simona reports financial support was provided by University of Pavia.]., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Limited proteolysis of thrombospondins is a powerful mechanism to ensure dynamic tuning of their activities in the extracellular space. Thrombospondins are multifunctional matricellular proteins composed of multiple domains, each with a specific pattern of interactions with cell receptors, matrix components and soluble factors (growth factors, cytokines and proteases), thus with different effects on cell behavior and responses to changes in the microenvironment. Therefore, the proteolytic degradation of thrombospondins has multiple functional consequences, reflecting the local release of active fragments and isolated domains, exposure or disruption of active sequences, altered protein location, and changes in the composition and function of TSP-based pericellular interaction networks. In this review current data from the literature and databases is employed to provide an overview of cleavage of mammalian thrombospondins by different proteases. The roles of the fragments generated in specific pathological settings, with particular focus on cancer and the tumor microenvironment, are discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The disorganized and inefficient tumor vasculature is a major obstacle to the delivery and efficacy of antineoplastic treatments. Antiangiogenic agents can normalize the tumor vessels, improving vessel function and boosting the distribution and activity of chemotherapy. The type III repeats (T3R) domain of thrombospondin-1 contains different potential antiangiogenic sequences. We therefore hypothesized that it might affect the tumor vasculature. Ectopic expression of the T3R domain by the tumor cells or by the host, or administration of recombinant T3R, delayed the in vivo growth of experimental tumors. Tumors presented marked reorganization of the vasculature, with abundant but smaller vessels, associated with substantially less necrosis. Mechanistically, the use of truncated forms of the domain, containing different active sequences, pointed to the FGF2/FGFR/ERK axis as a target for T3R activity. Along with reduced necrosis, the expression of T3R promoted tumor distribution of chemotherapy (paclitaxel), with a higher drug concentration and more homogeneous distribution, as assessed by HPLC and MALDI imaging mass spectrometry. T3R-expressing tumors were more responsive to paclitaxel and cisplatin. This study shows that together with its known role as a canonical inhibitor of angiogenesis, thrombospondin-1 can also remodel tumor blood vessels, affecting the morphological and functional properties of the tumor vasculature. The ability of T3R to reduce tumor growth and improve the response to chemotherapy opens new perspectives for therapeutic strategies based on T3R to be used in combination therapies., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are characterized by unique tropism for wounded tissues, high differentiating capacity, ability to induce tissue repair, and anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities. This has generated interest in their therapeutic use in severe human conditions as well as in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Identification of factors involved in the regulation of MSC proliferation, migration and differentiation could provide insights into the pathophysiological regulation of MSC and be exploited to optimize clinical grade expansion protocols for therapeutic use. Here we identify thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) as a major regulator of MSC. TSP-1 induced MSC proliferation. This effect was mediated by TSP-1-induced activation of endogenous TGFβ, as shown by the inhibitory effects of anti-TGFβ antibodies and by the lack of activity of TSP-2 - that does not activate TGFβ. Moreover, TSP-1 strongly potentiated the proliferative and migratory activity of PDGF on MSC. TSP-1 directly bound to PDGF, through a site located within the TSP-1 type III repeats, and protected the growth factor from degradation by MSC-derived proteases, hence increasing its stability and bioavailability. The studies presented here identify a more comprehensive picture of the pleiotropic effect of TSP-1 on MSC behavior, setting the basis for further studies aimed at investigating the possible use of PDGF and TSP-1 in the in vitro expansion of MSC for therapeutic applications., (Copyright © 2016 International Society of Matrix Biology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The multifaceted action of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) depends on its ability to physically interact with different ligands, including structural components of the extracellular matrix, other matricellular proteins, cell receptors, growth factors, cytokines and proteases. Through this network, TSP-1 regulates the ligand activity, availability and structure, ultimately tuning the cell response to environmental stimuli in a context-dependent manner, contributing to physiological and pathological processes. Complete mapping of the TSP-1 interactome is needed to understand its diverse functions and to lay the basis for the rational design of TSP-1-based therapeutic approaches. So far, large-scale approaches to identify TSP-1 ligands have been rarely used, but many interactions have been identified in small-scale studies in defined biological systems. This review, based on information from protein interaction databases and the literature, illustrates current knowledge of the TSP-1 interactome map., (Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC) has been reported to promote tumor progression in several tumor types, mainly through the stimulation of lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis. However, the expression and biological significance of the VEGFC/VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3 pathway in ovarian cancer growth and dissemination are unclear, and have been investigated in this study. Soluble VEGFC was detected in the plasma and ascites of patients with ovarian carcinoma, and VEGFR3 expression was found in their tumor tissues. In human ovarian carcinoma xenograft models, high levels of soluble VEGFC in ascites and serum were detected, in association with disease progression, tumor burden, and volume of ascites. Peak VEGFC expression preceded para-aortic lymph node infiltration by HOC8 neoplastic cells. Histological detection of tumor cells in blood and lymphatic vessels indicated both hematogenous and lymphatic dissemination. Overexpression of VEGFC in the VEGFR3-positive and luciferase-expressing IGROV1 cells promoted carcinoma dissemination after orthotopic transplantation in the ovary of immunodeficient mice. In vitro, VEGFC released by the tumor cells stimulated tumor cell migration in an autocrine manner. Cediranib, an inhibitor of VEGFR1-3 and c-kit, inhibited in vivo metastasis of VEGFC-overexpressing IGROV1 and in vitro autocrine effects. These findings suggest that the VEGFC/VEGFR3 pathway acts as an enhancer of ovarian cancer progression through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, hence offering a potential target for therapy., (Copyright © 2014 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Taxanes are potent inhibitors of cell motility, a property implicated in their antiangiogenic and antimetastatic activity and unrelated to their antiproliferative effect. The molecular mechanism of this anti-motility activity is poorly understood. In this study, we found that paclitaxel induced tubulin acetylation in endothelial and tumor cells, at concentrations that affected cell motility but not proliferation (10(-8) to 10(-9) M, for 4 hours). Induction of tubulin acetylation correlated with inhibition of motility but not proliferation based on a comparison of highly and poorly cytotoxic taxanes (paclitaxel and IDN5390) and tumor cell lines sensitive and resistant to paclitaxel (1A9 and 1A9 PTX22). Consistent with the hypothesis that tubulin deacetylase activity might affect cell response to the anti-motility activity of taxanes, we found that overexpression of the tubulin deacetylase SIRT2 increased cell motility and reduced cell response to the anti-motility activity of paclitaxel. Conversely, the SIRT2 inhibitor splitomicin reduced cell motility and potentiated the anti-motility activity of paclitaxel. The inhibitory effect was further potentiated by the addition of the HDAC6 inhibitor trichostatin A. Paclitaxel and splitomicin promoted translocation into the nucleus--and hence activation--of FOXO3a, a negative regulator of cell motility. This study indicates a role for SIRT2 in the regulation of cell motility and suggests that therapies combining sirtuin inhibitors and taxanes could be used to treat cell motility-based pathologic processes such as tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the central element of a pericellular network of bioactive molecules. It orchestrates molecular interactions, availability and activity, acting as a key regulator of cell functions and complex biological processes, including physiological and pathological angiogenesis. The ECM serves as a source of both stimulatory and inhibitory angiogenesis regulatory factors. The observation that several endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis derive from the ECM proves its importance in physiological angiogenesis, and point to the ECM as a precious source of therapeutic agents for angiogenesis-driven diseases, including cancer growth and metastatic dissemination. This review focuses on the different approaches to exploit ECM molecules for designing tools for therapeutic inhibition or monitoring of pathological angiogenesis, with particular focus on antineoplastic therapy, and emphasis on peptides of ECM moieties and mimetic small molecules., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Vesicles shed by cancer cells are known to mediate several tumor-host interactions. Tumor microenvironment may, in turn, influence the release and the activity of tumor-shed microvesicles. In this study, we investigated the molecular mediators of the pH-dependent proinvasive activity of tumor-shed vesicles. Gelatinase zymography showed increased microvesicle activity of matrix metalloproteinases 9 and 2 as a result of acid exposure (pH 5.6) compared to pH 7.4. Thus, we reasoned that the cysteine protease cathepsin B might play a role in mediating the pH-dependent activation of gelatinases. Cathepsin B expression in tumor-shed microvesicles was confirmed by Western blot analysis and zymography. The activity of vesicle-associated cathepsin B measured using Z-Arg-Arg-pNA as substrate was significantly increased at acidic pH values. Inhibition of protease activity by the cysteine protease inhibitor, E-64, and treatment of ovarian cancer cells with small interfering RNA against cathepsin B suppressed the ability of tumor-shed microvesicles to stimulate both gelatinase activation and the invasiveness of endothelial cells observed at low pH values. We conclude that microvesicle shedding is a major secretory pathway for cathepsin B release from tumor cells. Hence, the acidic microenvironment found in most solid tumors may contribute to cathepsin B-mediated proinvasive capabilities of tumor-shed vesicles.

Thrombospondin-1, an antiangiogenic matricellular protein, binds with high affinity to the angiogenic fibroblast growth factor-2, affecting its bioavailability and activity. The present work aimed at further locating the fibroblast growth factor-2 binding site of thrombospondin-1 and investigating its activity, using recombinant thrombospondin-1 proteins. Only recombinant constructs containing the thrombospondin-1 type III repeats bound fibroblast growth factor-2, whereas other domains, including the known anti-angiogenic type I repeats, were inactive. Binding was specific and inhibited by the anti thrombospondin-1 monoclonal antibody B5.2. Surface plasmon resonance analysis on BIAcore revealed a binding affinity (K(d)) of 310nM for the type III repeats and 11nM for intact thrombospondin-1. Since the type III repeats bind calcium, the effect of calcium on thrombospondin-1 binding to fibroblast growth factor-2 was investigated. Binding was modulated by calcium, as thrombospondin-1 or the type III repeats bound to fibroblast growth factor-2 only in calcium concentrations <0.3mM. The type III repeats inhibited binding of fibroblast growth factor-2 to endothelial cells, fibroblast growth factor-2-induced endothelial cell proliferation in vitro and angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane assay in vivo, thus indicating the antiangiogenic activity of the domain. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the fibroblast growth factor-2 binding site of thrombospondin-1 is located in the type III repeats. The finding that this domain is active in inhibiting angiogenesis indicates that the type III repeats represent a novel antiangiogenic domain of thrombospondin-1.

Tumor angiogenesis is regulated by a dynamic cross-talk between tumor cells and the host microenvironment. Because membrane vesicles shed by tumor cells are known to mediate several tumor-host interactions, we determined whether vesicles might also stimulate angiogenesis. Vesicles shed by human ovarian carcinoma cell lines CABA I and A2780 stimulated the motility and invasiveness of endothelial cells in vitro. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis revealed relevant amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the two matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, but not fibroblast growth factor-2, contained in shed vesicles. An A2780 cell-derived clone transfected to overexpress VEGF shed the same amount of vesicles as did a control clone, but contained significantly more VEGF within the vesicles. Despite a greater amount of VEGF in vesicles of the overexpressing clone, vesicles of both clones stimulated endothelial cell motility to comparable levels, suggesting that VEGF was stored within the vesicle and was unavailable. Only following vesicle burst induced by acidic pH (a characteristic of the tumor microenvironment) was VEGF released, leading to significantly higher stimulation of cell motility. Thus, tumor-shed membrane vesicles carry VEGF and release it in a bioactive form in conditions typical of the tumor microenvironment.

We found that thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) has opposite functions on angiogenesis depending on the nature of the proteolytic fragment released in vivo by the action of proteases. We studied the effect of the 25 and 140 kDa fragments of TSP-1 generated by its proteolytic cleavage on the cascade of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) function and expression in microvascular endothelium. Post-capillary endothelial cells (CVEC) isolated from bovine heart were used. The 25 kDa fragment enhanced the upregulation of MMP-2 and -9 and reduced TIMP-2 expression leading to CVEC chemoinvasion. Conversely, the 140 kDa fragment blocked MMP-2 and -9 stimulation and doubled TIMP-2 expression, leading to inhibition of endothelial chemoinvasion induced by fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). MAPK activity (ERK1-2) was induced by TSP-1 and by the 25 kDa fragment, but not by the 140 kDa fragment which, however, promoted MAPK p38 activation. This evidence indicates that fragments originating from TSP-1 switch the pro- or anti-angiogenic phenotype in endothelium by targeting MAPK cascades with opposite functions on MMP/TIMP balance.

The antiangiogenic factor thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) binds with high affinity to several heparin-binding angiogenic factors, including fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). The aim of this study was to investigate whether TSP-1 affects FGF-2 association with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its bioavailability. TSP-1 prevented the binding of free FGF-2 to endothelial cell ECM. It also promoted the mobilization of matrix-bound FGF-2, generating a TSP-1/FGF-2 complex. The region of TSP-1 responsible for these activities was located within the 140-kDa antiangiogenic and FGF-2 binding fragment, whereas the 25-kDa heparin-binding fragment was inactive. Matrix-released FGF-2/TSP-1 complex had a reduced ability to bind to and induce proliferation of endothelial cells. TSP-1 depleted the ECM laid by FGF-2-overproducing tumor cells of its FGF-2-dependent mitogenic activity for endothelial cells. Besides FGF-2, TSP-1 also inhibited VEGF and HGF/SF binding to the ECM and mobilized them from the ECM. Our study shows that TSP-1 acts as a scavenger for matrix-associated angiogenic factors, affecting their location, bioavailability, and function.

Production of matrix-degrading proteases, particularly matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), by endothelial cells is a critical event during angiogenesis, the process of vessel neoformation that occurs in normal and pathological conditions. MMPs are known to be highly regulated at the level of synthesis and activation, however, little is known about the regulation of MMP secretion by endothelial cells. We found that cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells shed vesicles (300 to 600 nm) originating from localized areas of the cell plasma membrane, as revealed by ultrastructural analysis. Normal and reverse zymography, Western blot, and immunogold analyses of the vesicles showed two gelatinases, MMP-2 and MMP-9, in both the active and proenzyme forms, the MT1-MMP proenzyme located on the external side of the vesicle membrane and the two inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Serum and the angiogenic factors, fibroblast growth factor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor, stimulated the shedding of MMPs as vesicle components. Shedding the vesicle was rapid, as it was already completed after 4 hours. Addition of shed vesicles to human umbilical vein endothelial cells resulted in autocrine stimulation of invasion through a layer of reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) and cord formation on Matrigel. We conclude that endothelial cells shed MMP-containing vesicles and this may be a mechanism for regulating focalized proteolytic activity vital to invasive and morphogenic events during angiogenesis.

The endothelial cell-derived endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent mitogen for endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and tumor cells. In this study, we analyzed the role of ET-1 on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) phenotype related to different stages of angiogenesis. ET-1 promoted HUVEC proliferation, migration, and invasion in a dose-dependent manner. The ET(B) receptor (ET(B)R) antagonist, BQ 788, blocked the angiogenic effects induced by ET-1, whereas the ET(A)R antagonist was less effective. ET-1 stimulated matrix metalloproteinase-2 mRNA expression and metalloproteinase-2 production, as determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and gelatin zymography. Furthermore ET-1 was able to enhance HUVEC differentiation into cord vascular-like structures on Matrigel. When tested in combination with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ET-1 enhanced VEGF-induced angiogenic-related effects on endothelial cells in vitro. Finally, using the Matrigel plug neovascularization assay in vivo, ET-1 in combination with VEGF stimulated an angiogenic response comparable to that elicited by basic fibroblast growth factor. These findings demonstrated that ET-1 induces angiogenic responses in cultured endothelial cells through ET(B)R and that stimulates neovascularization in vivo in concert with VEGF. ET-1 and its receptors acting as angiogenic regulators might represent new targets for anti-angiogenic therapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-Tat, the transactivating gene product of HIV-1, has been shown to interact with different cell types, inducing gene expression, altering their growth and migratory behavior. In this study we examined whether Tat might affect functions of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), relevant to the in vivo dissemination. Our results show that Tat significantly augmented the motility of the two AIDS-related Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines (AS283 and PA682PB) and AIDS-primary effusion lymphoma cell line (HBL-6-AIDS-PEL). Mutations in RGD or basic domain of Tat (KGE-MBP and LxI-MBP, respectively) sharply reduced migration compared with wild type, suggesting that both domains are required for migration. In contrast, a Tat protein mutation outside the active domains (NH(2)-TAT-GST) did not reduce lymphoma cell migration. The treatment of lymphoma cells with Tat did not influence their adhesion to matrix proteins or to human vascular endothelial cells, but endothelial cells treated with Tat became more adhesive to lymphoma cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that treatment of endothelial cells with Tat induced the cell surface expression of the adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin and increased the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Only antibodies against VCAM-1 on endothelial cells or against the VLA-4 integrin expressed on AS283 cells inhibited the increment of adhesion, indicating the relevance of this pathway in the adhesion of lymphoma cells to vascular endothelium. In our work, we show for the first time that Tat can enhance the migration of lymphoma cells and their adhesion to endothelial cells, two processes that may contribute to the malignant behavior of NHL in patients with AIDS.

Natural or recombinant neutrophil activating cytokine (IL-8) induced migration across polycarbonate filters of human A 2058 melanoma cells. Anti-IL-8 antibodies blocked IL-8 induced melanoma cell migration. Checkerboard experiments revealed a gradient-dependent response of A2058 melanoma cells to IL-8. Filters exposed to IL-8 and washed supported melanoma cell migration, thus implying a haptotactic component in the response. The homologous polypeptide platelet factor 4 was inactive. The observation that IL-8 affects melanoma cells emphasizes the need for a comprehensive analysis of the spectrum of action of platelet factor 4-related peptides. The effect of the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 on melanoma cells may be relevant to augmented secondary localization of tumors at sites of inflammation.