Medical Cell Biology Commons^™

Cellular Heterogeneity And Stem Cells Of Vascular Endothelial Cells In Blood Vessel Formation And Homeostasis: Insights From Single-Cell Rna Sequencing, Taku Wakabayashi, Hisamichi Naito

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) that constitute the inner surface of blood vessels are essential for new vessel formation and organ homeostasis. ECs display remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity across different organs and the vascular tree during angiogenesis and homeostasis. Recent advances in single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have allowed a new understanding of EC heterogeneity in both mice and humans. In particular, scRNA-seq has identified new molecular signatures for arterial, venous and capillary ECs in different organs, as well as previously unrecognized specialized EC subtypes, such as the aerocytes localized in the alveolar capillaries of the lung. scRNA-seq has also revealed …

Hypoxia Regulates Vessel-Modifying Macrophages And Vice Versa In Tumors, Kayla Jo Steinberger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Hypoxia, or low oxygen, is a common feature of solid tumors correlating with poor survival in cancer patients. Growing tumors need a blood supply to deliver oxygen. Tumors attempt to re-acquire oxygen by forming new blood vessels from nearby, pre-existing vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. Past treatments aimed at preventing this process yielded not only disappointing results in the clinic but sometimes worsened the patient’s prognosis making the tumor more hypoxic, emphasizing the urgent need for novel targets. In tumors, angiogenesis is notoriously dysfunctional resulting in leaky, under-perfused blood vessels which cannot adequately deliver oxygen and exacerbates hypoxia. Emerging …

Human Endothelial Cells Promote Arsenic-Transformed Lung Epithelial Cells To Induce Tumor Growth And Angiogenesis Through Interleukin-8 Induction, Lei Zhao, Yi-Fang Wang, Jie Liu, Bing-Hua Jiang, Ling-Zhi Liu

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Arsenic exposure is associated with lung cancer. Angiogenesis is essential for tumor development. However, the role and mechanism of human vascular endothelial cells in tumor growth and angiogenesis induced by arsenic-transformed bronchial epithelial (As-T) cells remain to be elucidated. In this study, we found that endothelial cells significantly increased As-T cell-induced tumor growth compared to those induced by As-T cells alone. To understand the molecular mechanism, we found that endothelial cells co-cultured with As-T cells or cultured in conditioned medium (CM) prepared from As-T cells showed much higher cell migration, proliferation, and tube formation compared to those co-cultured with BEAS-2B …

Extracellular Matrix Guidance Of Autophagy: A Mechanism Regulating Cancer Growth, Carolyn Chen, Renato V. Iozzo

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The extracellular matrix (ECM) exists as a dynamic network of biophysical and biochemical factors that maintain tissue homeostasis. Given its sensitivity to changes in the intra- and extracellular space, the plasticity of the ECM can be pathological in driving disease through aberrant matrix remodelling. In particular, cancer uses the matrix for its proliferation, angiogenesis, cellular reprogramming and metastatic spread. An emerging field of matrix biology focuses on proteoglycans that regulate autophagy, an intracellular process that plays both critical and contextual roles in cancer. Here, we review the most prominent autophagic modulators from the matrix and the current understanding of the …

The Role Of Decorin And Biglycan Signaling In Tumorigenesis, Valentina Diehl, Lisa Sophie Huber, Jonel Trebicka, Malgorzata Wygrecka, Renato V. Iozzo, Liliana Schaefer

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The complex and adaptive nature of malignant neoplasm constitute a major challenge for the development of effective anti-oncogenic therapies. Emerging evidence has uncovered the pivotal functions exerted by the small leucine-rich proteoglycans, decorin and biglycan, in affecting tumor growth and progression. In their soluble forms, decorin and biglycan act as powerful signaling molecules. By receptor-mediated signal transduction, both proteoglycans modulate key processes vital for tumor initiation and progression, such as autophagy, inflammation, cell-cycle, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Despite of their structural homology, these two proteoglycans interact with distinct cell surface receptors and thus modulate distinct signaling pathways that ultimately affect cancer …

Delineating The Skeletal Muscle-Microvessel Regeneration Program After Ischemic Injury, Jason J. Lee

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Understanding the cellular processes involved in skeletal muscle regeneration after damage is critical to advancing translational efforts toward the development of targeted therapeutics. The purpose of this thesis was to ascertain the dynamic interplay between regenerating muscle and regenerating blood vessels after ischemic injury.

First, using a novel systematic investigation of a widely used preclinical mouse model of limb ischemia, I generated a detailed atlas of muscle injury zones and angiogenesis zones in C57BL/6 mice subjected to femoral artery excision. This uncovered previously unrecognized regional variability and an exclusive relationship between angiogenesis and actively regenerating muscle zones. Then, an unbiased, …

The Purification Of Human Adult Progenitor Cell Types To Promote Angiogenesis, Stephen E. Sherman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cellular transplantation strategies have aimed to combat critical limb ischemia (CLI) by inducing endogenous blood vessel regeneration. Transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) for CLI has proven safe and well-tolerated but demonstrated only modestly improved clinical outcomes explained in part by a lack of MSC survival and/or potency in ischemic tissues. This thesis focuses on the development of improved transplantation strategies for patients with CLI utilizing purified pro-angiogenic subsets of MSC and endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC) seeded within decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) bioscaffolds. First, I investigated whether purification of bone marrow-derived MSC based on a conserved stem cell function, …

Methods For Monitoring Matrix-Induced Autophagy., Carolyn Chen, Aastha Kapoor, Renato V. Iozzo

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

A growing body of research demonstrates modulation of autophagy by a variety of matrix constituents, including decorin, endorepellin, and endostatin. These matrix proteins are both pro-autophagic and anti-angiogenic. Here, we detail a series of methods to monitor matrix-induced autophagy and its concurrent effects on angiogenesis. We first discuss cloning and purifying proteoglycan fragment and core proteins in the laboratory and review relevant techniques spanning from cell culture to treatment with these purified proteoglycans in vitro and ex vivo. Further, we cover protocols in monitoring autophagic progression via morphological and microscopic characterization, biochemical western blot analysis, and signaling pathway investigation. Downstream …

The Effect Of Wild Blueberry Bioactives On Endothelial Cell Migration And Angiogenesis: An In Vitro Mechanistic, Genomic And Proteomic Approach, Panagiotis Tsakiroglou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of wild blueberry fractions (Anthocyanins and Phenolic acids) on vascular function and physiology. More specifically the potential effects of the above fractions and their combination in physiological concentrations on endothelial cell migration, angiogenesis, gene expression and proteins synthesis of markers related to the above processes. The objectives are to study whether anthocyanins, phenolic acids and their combinations (ACNs:PAs) affect: a) cell proliferation, b) speed of endothelial cell migration, c) angiogenesis, d) gene expression of genes critical for cell migration and angiogenesis such as RAC1, RHOA, AKT1, eNOS and VEGF and …

Gallic Acid, A Phenolic Compound, Exerts Anti-Angiogenic Effects Via The Pten/Akt/Hif-1Α/Vegf Signaling Pathway In Ovarian Cancer Cells, Zhiping He, Allen Y. Chen, Yon Rojanasakul, Gary O. Rankin, Yi Charlie Chen

Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology

Gallic acid (GA), a polyphenol, is widely found in numerous fruits and vegetables, particularly in hickory nuts. In the present study, we found that gallic acid, a natural phenolic compound isolated from fruits and vegetables, had a more potent growth inhibitory effect on two ovarian cancer cell lines, OVCAR-3 and A2780/CP70, than the effect on a normal ovarian cell line, IOSE-364. These results demonstrated that GA selectively inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Gene expression was examined by ELISA and western blot analysis, and gene pathways were examined by luciferase assay. It was found that GA inhibited VEGF secretion and …

Gsk-3Β Regulates Tumor Growth And Angiogenesis In Human Glioma Cells., Peng Zhao, Qi Li, Zhumei Shi, Charlie Li, Lin Wang, Xue Liu, Chengfei Jiang, Xu Qian, Yongping You, Ning Liu, Ling-Zhi Liu, Lianshu Ding, Bing-Hua Jiang

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Glioma accounts for the majority of primary malignant brain tumors in adults.

METHODS: Glioma specimens and normal brain tissues were analyzed for the expression levels of GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β (Ser9) by tissue microarray analysis (TMA) and Western blotting. Glioma cells over-expressing GSK-3β were used to analyze biological functions both in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS: The levels of p-GSK-3β (Ser9), but not total GSK-3β, are significantly up-regulated in glioma tissues compared to normal tissues, and are significantly correlated with the glioma grades. Ectopic expression of GSK-3β decreased the phosphorylation levels of mTOR and p70S6K1; and inhibited β-catenin, HIF-1α and …

Investigating The Role Of Hydrogen Sulfide In The Survival, Growth And Angiogenic Potential Of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines And Xenografts, Eric Sonke

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-deficiency, resulting in pseudohypoxic, angiogenic and glycolytic tumours. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenously-produced gasotransmitter that accumulates under hypoxia and has been shown to be pro-angiogenic and cytoprotective in cancer. It was hypothesized that H₂S levels are elevated in VHL-deficient ccRCC, contributing to survival, metabolism, and angiogenesis. Using H₂S-specific probes, it was found that H₂S levels were higher in VHL-deficient ccRCC cell lines compared to cells with wild-type VHL. Inhibition of H₂S-producing enzymes could reduce the proliferation, metabolism …

Sparstolonin B Inhibits Pro-Angiogenic Functions And Blocks Cell Cycle Progression In Endothelial Cells, H. R. Bateman, Q. Liang, D. Fan, V. Rodriguez, Susan M. Lessner

Faculty Publications

Sparstolonin B (SsnB) is a novel bioactive compound isolated from Sparganium stoloniferum, an herb historically used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as an anti-tumor agent. Angiogenesis, the process of new capillary formation from existing blood vessels, is dysregulated in many pathological disorders, including diabetic retinopathy, tumor growth, and atherosclerosis. In functional assays, SsnB inhibited endothelial cell tube formation (Matrigel method) and cell migration (Transwell method) in a dose-dependent manner. Microarray experiments with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) demonstrated differential expression of several hundred genes in response to SsnB exposure (916 and 356 …

Mg624, An A7-Nachr Antagonist, Inhibits Angiogenesis Via The Egr-1/Fgf2 Pathway, Kathleen Brown, Jamie Lau, Aaron Dom, Theodore Witte, Haitao Luo, Clayton Crabtree, Yashoni Shah, Brandon Shiflett, Aileen Marcelo, Nancy Proper, W. Hardman, Richard Egleton, Yi Chen, Elsa Mangiarua, Piyali Dasgupta

Nancy A. Proper

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) demonstrates a strong etiological association with smoking. Although cigarette smoke is a mixture of about 4,000 compounds, nicotine is the addictive component of cigarette smoke. Several convergent studies have shown that nicotine promotes angiogenesis in lung cancers via the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) on endothelial cells. Therefore, we conjectured that α7-nAChR antagonists may attenuate nicotine-induced angiogenesis and be useful for the treatment of human SCLC. For the first time, our study explores the anti-angiogenic activity of MG624, a small-molecule α7-nAChR antagonist, in several experimental models of angiogenesis. We observed that MG624 potently suppressed the proliferation …

Mg624, An A7-Nachr Antagonist, Inhibits Angiogenesis Via The Egr-1/Fgf2 Pathway, Kathleen Brown, Jamie Lau, Aaron Dom, Theodore Witte, Haitao Luo, Clayton Crabtree, Yashoni Shah, Brandon Shiflett, Aileen Marcelo, Nancy Proper, W. Hardman, Richard Egleton, Yi Chen, Elsa Mangiarua, Piyali Dasgupta

Jamie K. Lau

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) demonstrates a strong etiological association with smoking. Although cigarette smoke is a mixture of about 4,000 compounds, nicotine is the addictive component of cigarette smoke. Several convergent studies have shown that nicotine promotes angiogenesis in lung cancers via the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) on endothelial cells. Therefore, we conjectured that α7-nAChR antagonists may attenuate nicotine-induced angiogenesis and be useful for the treatment of human SCLC. For the first time, our study explores the anti-angiogenic activity of MG624, a small-molecule α7-nAChR antagonist, in several experimental models of angiogenesis. We observed that MG624 potently suppressed the proliferation …

Mg624, An A7-Nachr Antagonist, Inhibits Angiogenesis Via The Egr-1/Fgf2 Pathway, Kathleen Brown, Jamie Lau, Aaron Dom, Theodore Witte, Haitao Luo, Clayton Crabtree, Yashoni Shah, Brandon Shiflett, Aileen Marcelo, Nancy Proper, W. Hardman, Richard Egleton, Yi Chen, Elsa Mangiarua, Piyali Dasgupta

Elsa I. Mangiarua

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) demonstrates a strong etiological association with smoking. Although cigarette smoke is a mixture of about 4,000 compounds, nicotine is the addictive component of cigarette smoke. Several convergent studies have shown that nicotine promotes angiogenesis in lung cancers via the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) on endothelial cells. Therefore, we conjectured that α7-nAChR antagonists may attenuate nicotine-induced angiogenesis and be useful for the treatment of human SCLC. For the first time, our study explores the anti-angiogenic activity of MG624, a small-molecule α7-nAChR antagonist, in several experimental models of angiogenesis. We observed that MG624 potently suppressed the proliferation …

Mg624, An A7-Nachr Antagonist, Inhibits Angiogenesis Via The Egr-1/Fgf2 Pathway, Kathleen Brown, Jamie Lau, Aaron Dom, Theodore Witte, Haitao Luo, Clayton Crabtree, Yashoni Shah, Brandon Shiflett, Aileen Marcelo, Nancy Proper, W. Hardman, Richard Egleton, Yi Chen, Elsa Mangiarua, Piyali Dasgupta

Richard D. Egleton

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) demonstrates a strong etiological association with smoking. Although cigarette smoke is a mixture of about 4,000 compounds, nicotine is the addictive component of cigarette smoke. Several convergent studies have shown that nicotine promotes angiogenesis in lung cancers via the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) on endothelial cells. Therefore, we conjectured that α7-nAChR antagonists may attenuate nicotine-induced angiogenesis and be useful for the treatment of human SCLC. For the first time, our study explores the anti-angiogenic activity of MG624, a small-molecule α7-nAChR antagonist, in several experimental models of angiogenesis. We observed that MG624 potently suppressed the proliferation …

Mg624, An A7-Nachr Antagonist, Inhibits Angiogenesis Via The Egr-1/Fgf2 Pathway, Kathleen Brown, Jamie Lau, Aaron Dom, Theodore Witte, Haitao Luo, Clayton Crabtree, Yashoni Shah, Brandon Shiflett, Aileen Marcelo, Nancy Proper, W. Hardman, Richard Egleton, Yi Chen, Elsa Mangiarua, Piyali Dasgupta

Piyali Dasgupta

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) demonstrates a strong etiological association with smoking. Although cigarette smoke is a mixture of about 4,000 compounds, nicotine is the addictive component of cigarette smoke. Several convergent studies have shown that nicotine promotes angiogenesis in lung cancers via the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) on endothelial cells. Therefore, we conjectured that α7-nAChR antagonists may attenuate nicotine-induced angiogenesis and be useful for the treatment of human SCLC. For the first time, our study explores the anti-angiogenic activity of MG624, a small-molecule α7-nAChR antagonist, in several experimental models of angiogenesis. We observed that MG624 potently suppressed the proliferation …

Endothelial Cell Pseudopods And Angiogenesis Of Breast Cancer Tumors, Ivan Cameron, Nicholas Short, Luzhe Sun, W. Hardman

Elaine Hardman Ph.D.

Background A neoplastic tumor cannot grow beyond a millimeter or so in diameter without recruitment of endothelial cells and new blood vessels to supply nutrition and oxygen for tumor cell survival. This study was designed to investigate formation of new blood vessels within a human growing breast cancer tumor model (MDA MB231 in mammary fat pad of nude female mouse). Once the tumor grew to 35 mm3, it developed a well-vascularized capsule. Histological sections of tumors greater than 35 mm3were stained with PAS, with CD-31 antibody (an endothelial cell maker), or with hypoxia inducible factor 1α antibody (HIF). The extent …

Mg624, An A7-Nachr Antagonist, Inhibits Angiogenesis Via The Egr-1/Fgf2 Pathway, Kathleen Brown, Jamie Lau, Aaron Dom, Theodore Witte, Haitao Luo, Clayton Crabtree, Yashoni Shah, Brandon Shiflett, Aileen Marcelo, Nancy Proper, W. Hardman, Richard Egleton, Yi Chen, Elsa Mangiarua, Piyali Dasgupta

Elaine Hardman Ph.D.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) demonstrates a strong etiological association with smoking. Although cigarette smoke is a mixture of about 4,000 compounds, nicotine is the addictive component of cigarette smoke. Several convergent studies have shown that nicotine promotes angiogenesis in lung cancers via the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) on endothelial cells. Therefore, we conjectured that α7-nAChR antagonists may attenuate nicotine-induced angiogenesis and be useful for the treatment of human SCLC. For the first time, our study explores the anti-angiogenic activity of MG624, a small-molecule α7-nAChR antagonist, in several experimental models of angiogenesis. We observed that MG624 potently suppressed the proliferation …

Therapeutic Electromagnetic Field (Temf) And Gamma Irradiation On Human Breast Cancer Xenograft Growth, Angiogenesis And Metastasis, Ivan L. Cameron, Luzhe Sun, Nicholas Short, W. Elaine Hardman, C. Douglas Williams

Elaine Hardman Ph.D.

Background The effects of a rectified semi-sinewave signal (15 mT amplitude, 120 pulses per second, EMF Therapeutics, Inc.) (TEMF) alone and in combination with gamma irradiation (IR) therapy in nude mice bearing a human MDA MB231 breast cancer xenograft were tested. Green fluorescence protein transfected cancer cells were injected into the mammary fat pad of young female mice. Six weeks later, mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups: untreated controls; 10 minute daily TEMF; 200 cGy of IR every other day (total 800 cGy); IR plus daily TEMF. Some mice in each group were euthanized 24 hours after the …

The Effects Of Smooth Muscle Cells On Engineered Microvasculatures In Fibrin Hydrogels, Areck A. Ucuzian

Dissertations

Capillaries are comprised of two cell types: the endothelial cells (ECs) which line the lumen of the capillary, and the supporting pericytes which are closely apposed to the abluminal surface of the capillary wall (sometimes called mural cells). These pericytes are phenotypic derivations of mesenchymal organ stromal cells (from smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts in blood vessels, for example), are recruited and incorporate into the neocapillaries, and are known to mediate reciprocal interactions with ECs during angiogenesis. The overall purpose of this project is to determine how smooth muscle cells (SMCs) affect angiogenesis during microvascular development in fibrin hydrogels using …

Basement Membrane Proteoglycans: Modulators Par Excellence Of Cancer Growth And Angiogenesis., Renato V. Iozzo, Jason J. Zoeller, Alexander Nyström

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Proteoglycans located in basement membranes, the nanostructures underling epithelial and endothelial layers, are unique in several respects. They are usually large, elongated molecules with a collage of domains that share structural and functional homology with numerous extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and surface receptors. They mainly carry heparan sulfate side chains and these contribute not only to storing and preserving the biological activity of various heparan sulfate-binding cytokines and growth factors, but also in presenting them in a more "active configuration" to their cognate receptors. Abnormal expression or deregulated function of these proteoglycans affect cancer and angiogenesis, and are critical …

Therapeutic Electromagnetic Field (Temf) And Gamma Irradiation On Human Breast Cancer Xenograft Growth, Angiogenesis And Metastasis, Ivan L. Cameron, Luzhe Sun, Nicholas Short, W. Elaine Hardman, C. Douglas Williams

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Background

The effects of a rectified semi-sinewave signal (15 mT amplitude, 120 pulses per second, EMF Therapeutics, Inc.) (TEMF) alone and in combination with gamma irradiation (IR) therapy in nude mice bearing a human MDA MB231 breast cancer xenograft were tested. Green fluorescence protein transfected cancer cells were injected into the mammary fat pad of young female mice. Six weeks later, mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups: untreated controls; 10 minute daily TEMF; 200 cGy of IR every other day (total 800 cGy); IR plus daily TEMF. Some mice in each group were euthanized 24 hours after the …

Endothelial Cell Pseudopods And Angiogenesis Of Breast Cancer Tumors, Ivan L. Cameron, Nicholas Short, Luzhe Sun, W. Elaine Hardman

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Background

A neoplastic tumor cannot grow beyond a millimeter or so in diameter without recruitment of endothelial cells and new blood vessels to supply nutrition and oxygen for tumor cell survival. This study was designed to investigate formation of new blood vessels within a human growing breast cancer tumor model (MDA MB231 in mammary fat pad of nude female mouse). Once the tumor grew to 35 mm³, it developed a well-vascularized capsule. Histological sections of tumors greater than 35 mm³were stained with PAS, with CD-31 antibody (an endothelial cell maker), or with hypoxia inducible factor 1α …