adrenomedullin and Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant of the primary brain tumors and is almost always fatal. The treatment strategies for this disease have not changed appreciably for many years and most are based on a limited understanding of the biology of the disease. Growth factors are potential targets for therapeutic strategies because they are essential for tumor growth and progression. Adrenomedullin (AM) is a multifunctional regulatory peptide with mitogenic and angiogenic capabilities among others. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that AM mRNA was correlated to the tumor type and grade, with high expression in all glioblastomas analysed, whereas a low expression was found in anaplastic astrocytomas and barely detectable levels in low-grade astrocytomas and oligodendriogliomas. The correlation of AM expression to the grade of glioma support the hypothesis that AM may participate in the progression of gliomas. We demonstrate that AM may function as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for glioblastoma cells. The data demonstrated that the anti-AM antibody significantly suppress the growth of established glioblastoma xenografts. The action of AM is specific and is mediated by the calcitonin receptor-like receptor/receptor activity-modifying protein-2 and -3 (CRLR/RAMP2, CRLR/RAMP3). Furthermore, the proangiogenic action of AM on cultured endothelial cells via CRLR/RAMP2 and CRLR/RAMP3 receptors may translate in vivo into enhanced neovascularization and therefore identify AM and its receptors acting as potential new targets for antiangiogenic therapies.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Angiogenic Proteins; Astrocytoma; Brain Neoplasms; Cell Hypoxia; Glioblastoma; Humans; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Proteins; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Neuropeptides; Oligodendroglioma; Peptides

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; grade IV glioma) is the most malignant type of primary brain tumor and is characterized by rapid proliferation and invasive growth. Intermedin (IMD) is an endogenous peptide belonging to the calcitonin gene-related peptide family and has been reported to play an important role in cell survival and invasiveness in several types of cancers. In this study, we found that the expression level of IMD was positively related to the malignancy grade of gliomas. The highest expression of IMD was found in GBM, indicating that IMD may play an important role in glioma malignancy. IMD increased the invasive ability of glioma cells by promoting filopodia formation, which is dependent on ERK1/2 activation. IMD-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation also promoted GBM cell proliferation. In addition, IMD enhanced mitochondrial function and hypoxia-induced responses in GBM cells. Treatment with anti-IMD monoclonal antibodies not only inhibited tumor growth in both ectopic and orthotopic models of GBM but also significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of temozolomide. Our study may provide novel insights into the mechanism of GBM cell invasion and proliferation and provide an effective strategy to improve the therapeutic effect of GBM treatments.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Animals; Female; Glioblastoma; Humans; Mice; Mice, Nude; Temozolomide

In glioblastomas, apoptosis inhibitor proteins (IAPs) are involved in apoptotic and nonapoptotic processes. We previously showed that IAP inhibition induced a loss of stemness and glioblastoma stem cells differentiation by activating nuclear factor-κB under normoxic conditions. Hypoxia has been shown to modulate drug efficacy. Here, we investigated how IAPs participate in glioblastoma stem-like cell maintenance and fate under hypoxia. We showed that in a hypoxic environment, IAPs inhibition by GDC-0152, a small-molecule IAPs inhibitor, triggered stem-like cell apoptosis and decreased proliferation in four human glioblastoma cell lines. We set up a three-dimensional glioblastoma spheroid model in which time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analyses revealed a decrease in oxygen levels between the periphery and core. We observed low proliferative and apoptotic cells located close to the hypoxic core of the spheres and glial fibrillary acidic protein

Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Adrenomedullin; Apoptosis; Baculoviral IAP Repeat-Containing 3 Protein; Brain Neoplasms; Carbonic Anhydrase IX; Cell Differentiation; Cell Hypoxia; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cyclohexanes; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glioblastoma; Humans; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Oxygen; Pyrroles; Signal Transduction; Spheroids, Cellular; Tissue Culture Techniques; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein

Glioblastoma is the most common brain tumor in adults. Advanced glioblastomas normally contain hypoxic areas. The primary cellular responses to hypoxia are generally mediated by the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a cytokine that is often present in the glioblastoma microenvironment and is known to be a modulator of glioblastoma progression. However, the role of IL-1β in regulating glioblastoma progression is still controversial. In this study, we found that in the human glioblastoma cell lines U87MG and U138MG, IL-1β inhibits the transactivation activity of HIF-1 by promoting the ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of the oxygen-labile α-subunit of HIF-1 and downregulates the expression of the HIF-1 target gene adrenomedullin (AM). Apoptosis and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assays showed that AM protects glioblastoma cells against hypoxia-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, in the presence of IL-1β more glioblastoma cells undergo hypoxia-induced cell death. Our findings suggest that when estimating the influence of IL-1β on the prognosis of glioblastoma patients, factors such as the degree of hypoxia, the expression levels of HIF-1 and AM should be taken into consideration. For the AM-producing glioblastoma cells, IL-1β represents a potent apoptosis inducer.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Apoptosis; Brain Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Glioblastoma; Humans; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; Interleukin-1beta; Oxygen

Clinical and experimental studies suggest that angiogenesis is a prerequisite for solid tumour growth. Glioblastoma (GBM) and pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), both angiogenic tumours display strong contrast enhancement associated with peripheral oedema in GBM but not in PA indicating differences in vascular permeability in these two types of gliomas. Here we show that expression of adrenomedullin (AM) mRNA is induced in GBM whereas is barely detectable in PA. In situ analysis of tumour specimens undergoing neovascularisation shows that the production of AM is specifically induced in a subset of GBM cells distinguished by their immediate proximity to necrotic foci (presumably hypoxic regions), suggesting a hypoxic induction of AM expression in GBM. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA levels are increased in GBM and moderate in PA. Immunohistochemical study showed that cytoplasmic AM, VEGF and HIF-1α nuclear immunoreactivity were recorded in GBM located near large necrotic areas whereas they were not expressed by PA tumour cells. Interestingly, double fluorescence immunostaining demonstrated that 85% of AM immunoreactivity colocalised with VEGF. AM transduces its effects through calcitonin receptor-like receptor/receptor activity modifying protein-2 and -3 (CLR/RAMP2 and CLR/RAMP3). Real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed expression of RAMP2, RAMP3 and CLR in PA and GBM, suggesting that AM may function as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for GBM cells. These observations strongly support the concept that tumour angiogenesis is regulated by paracrine mechanisms and identify beside VEGF, AM as a potential tumour angiogenesis factor in vivo which constitutes a potential interesting molecular target in GBM treatment.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Astrocytoma; Brain Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; DNA Primers; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glioblastoma; Humans; Hypoxia; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Adrenomedullin is a secreted peptide hormone with multiple functions. Although a number of reports have indicated that adrenomedullin may be involved in tumor progression, its mechanism of action remains obscure. In this study, we have analysed the signal transduction pathway activated by adrenomedullin in human glioma cells. Our results revealed that adrenomedullin induced the phosphorylation of both c-Jun and JNK in glioblastoma cells. Silencing JNK expression with siRNA reversed the phosphorylation of c-Jun induced by adrenomedullin, indicating that JNK is responsible of c-Jun activation. In addition, electrophoretic mobility-shift assays showed that the increase in phosphorylation of c-Jun was associated with increased AP-1 DNA binding activity. Supershift assays and co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that c-Jun and JunD are part of the AP-1 complex, indicating that activated c-Jun is dimerized with JunD in response to adrenomedullin. Furthermore, adrenomedullin was shown to promote cell transit beyond cell cycle phases with a concomittant increase in cyclin D1 protein level, suggesting that adrenomedullin effects cell proliferation through up-regulation of cyclin D1. The inhibition of JNK activation or the suppression of c-Jun or JunD expression with siRNA impaired the effects of adrenomedullin on cell proliferation and on cyclin D1. Taken together, these data demonstrate that activation of cJun/JNK pathway is involved in the growth regulatory activity of adrenomedullin in glioblastoma cells.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclic AMP; Cyclin D1; Dimerization; Enzyme Activation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glioblastoma; Humans; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Neoplasm Proteins; Protease Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; RNA, Small Interfering; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factor AP-1

There is accumulating evidence showing that glial cells and gliomas secrete some neuropeptides and vasoactive peptides, such as adrenomedullin and endothelin-1. We have previously shown that expression of these two peptides is induced by inflammatory cytokines in T98G human glioblastoma cells. Glucocorticoids are frequently used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and glioblastomas. We therefore studied effects of dexamethasone on expression of adrenomedullin and endothelin-1 in T98G human glioblastoma cells. Dexamethasone dose-dependently increased adrenomedullin mRNA levels and immunoreactive-adrenomedullin levels in the medium in T98G cells, whereas it decreased immunoreactive-endothelin levels in the medium. A combination of three cytokines, interferon-gamma (100 U/ml), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (20 ng/ml) and interleukin-1beta (10 ng/ml) induced expression of adrenomedullin and endothelin-1 in T98G cells. Dexamethasone (10(-8) mol/l) suppressed increases in expression of both adrenomedullin and endothelin-1 induced by these three cytokines. Thus, dexamethasone alone increased adrenomedullin expression whereas it suppressed the cytokine-induced expression of adrenomedullin in T98G cells. These findings raised the possibility that effects of dexamethasone on brain inflammation and glioblastomas may be partly mediated or modulated by its effects on expression of adrenomedullin and endothelin-1.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Blotting, Northern; Cell Line, Tumor; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cycloheximide; Cytokines; Dactinomycin; Dexamethasone; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelin-1; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glioblastoma; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-1; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Peptides; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Radioimmunoassay; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Evidence has accumulated showing that vasoactive peptides, such as endothelin-1, adrenomedullin and urotensin-II, are expressed in various kinds of tumour cells. In the present study, the expression of endothelin-1 and endothelin receptors was studied in eight human tumour cell lines: T98G (glioblastoma), IMR-32 and NB69 (neuroblastoma), BeWo (choriocarcinoma), SW-13 (adrenocortical carcinoma), DLD-1 (colonic carcinoma), HeLa (cervical carcinoma) and VMRC-RCW (renal carcinoma). Reverse transcriptase-PCR showed expression of endothelin-1 mRNA in seven out of the eight cell lines, the exception being BeWo cells. ET(A) receptor mRNA was expressed in T98G, IMR-32 and NB69 cells, but weakly in the other cells. ET(B) receptor mRNA was expressed in IMR-32, NB69 and BeWo cells, but only weakly in T98G and HeLa cells. Immunoreactive endothelin was detected in the culture media of six out of the eight cell lines, but not in that of IMR-32 or BeWo cells. Treatment of T98G cells with an anti-endothelin-1 antibody or an anti-adrenomedullin antibody for 24 h decreased cell numbers to approx. 84% and 90% of control respectively. Treatment with the ET(A) receptor antagonist BQ-610 (1 microM) significantly decreased cell number to about 90% of control, whereas the ET(B) receptor antagonist BQ-788 had no significant effect. On the other hand, exogenously added endothelin-1, adrenomedullin or urotensin-II (0.1 microM) had no significant effects on cell number. These results suggest that endothelin-1 acts as a paracrine or autocrine growth stimulator in tumours. The effect of endothelin-1 on tumour growth appears to be mediated by the ET(A) receptor.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms; Adrenomedullin; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Cell Division; Choriocarcinoma; Colonic Neoplasms; Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; Endothelin-1; Glioblastoma; Growth Substances; HeLa Cells; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Neuroblastoma; Oligopeptides; Peptides; Piperidines; Receptor, Endothelin A; Receptor, Endothelin B; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Urotensins; Vasodilator Agents

Presently, there is no effective treatment for glioblastoma, the most malignant and common brain tumor. Growth factors are potential targets for therapeutic strategies because they are essential for tumor growth and progression. Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase is the enzyme producing alpha-amidated bioactive peptides from their inactive glycine-extended precursors. The high expression of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase mRNA in glioblastoma and glioma cell lines points to the involvement of alpha-amidated peptides in tumorigenic growth processes in the brain. After screening of amidated peptides, it was found that human glioblastoma cell lines express high levels of adrenomedullin (AM) mRNA, and that immunoreactive AM is released into the culture medium. AM is a multifunctional regulatory peptide with mitogenic and angiogenic capabilities among others. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that AM mRNA was correlated to the tumor type and grade, with high expression in all glioblastomas analyzed, whereas a low expression was found in anaplastic astrocytomas and barely detectable levels in low-grade astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. In the present study we also demonstrate the presence of mRNA encoding the putative AM receptors, calcitonin receptor-like receptor/receptor activity-modifying protein-2 and -3 (CRLR/RAMP2; CRLR/RAMP3) in both glioma tissues and glioblastoma cell lines and further show that exogenously added AM can stimulate the growth of these glioblastoma cells in vitro. These findings suggest that AM may function as an autocrine growth factor for glioblastoma cells. One way to test the autocrine hypothesis is to interrupt the function of the endogenously produced AM. Herein, we demonstrate that a polyclonal antibody specific to AM, blocks the binding of the hormone to its cellular receptors and decreases by 33% (P < 0.001) the growth of U87 glioblastoma cells in vitro. Intratumoral administration of the anti-AM antibody resulted in a 70% (P < 0.001) reduction in subcutaneous U87 xenograft weight 21 days after treatment. Furthermore, the density of vessels was decreased in the antibody-treated tumors. These findings support that AM may function as a potent autocrine/paracrine growth factor for human glioblastomas and demonstrate that inhibition of the action of AM (produced by tumor cells) may suppress tumor growth in vivo.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Animals; Antibodies; Cell Division; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasm Transplantation; Peptide Fragments; Peptides; RNA, Messenger; Transplantation, Heterologous; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Characterization of immunoreactive adrenomedullin (AM) secreted from cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells and 7 other cells indicates that AM is synthesized and secreted from all cultured cells we surveyed. The secretion rate of AM measured ranges from 0.001-6.83 fmol/10(5) cells/h, and endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts generally secrete AM at high rates. Based on the results of regulation of AM secretion from vascular wall cells, fibroblasts, macrophages and other cells measured in this and previous studies, AM secretion is found to be generally stimulated by inflammatory cytokines, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and hormones. Especially, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts elicited uniform and strong stimulatory responses of AM secretion to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), LPS and glucocorticoid, but endothelial cells did not elicit such prominent responses. AM secretion of monocyte-macrophage was mainly regulated by the degree of differentiation into macrophage and activation by LPS and inflammatory cytokines including interferon-gamma. The other examined cells showed weaker responses to LPS and IL-1. Although cultured cells may have been transformed as compared with those in the tissue, these data indicate that AM is widely synthesized and secreted from most of the cells in the body and functions as a local factor regulating inflammation and related reactions in addition to as a potent vasodilator. The responses of AM secretion to LPS and inflammatory cytokines suggest that fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophage are the major sources of AM in the septic shock.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Cattle; Cells, Cultured; Endothelium, Vascular; Fibroblasts; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Humans; Macrophages; Mice; Monocytes; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; PC12 Cells; Peptides; Rats; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

Adrenomedullin is a potent vasodilator peptide originally isolated from pheochromocytoma. Adrenomedullin is produced by various types of cells including neurons and astrocytes. To explore possible pathophysiological roles of adrenomedullin in hypoxic brain, we studied the effects of hypoxia on the expression of adrenomedullin in T98G human glioblastoma cells by radioimmunoassay and northern blot analysis. Expression levels of adrenomedullin mRNA and immunoreactive adrenomedullin levels in the culture medium were increased by hypoxia about six- and about threefold, respectively. Treatment with cobalt chloride increased expression levels of adrenomedullin mRNA about threefold and immunoreactive adrenomedullin levels in the culture medium about threefold in T98G cells. Using actinomycin D, we showed that hypoxia did not cause the stabilization of the adrenomedullin mRNA, suggesting that the increased adrenomedullin mRNA levels in response to hypoxia are caused mainly by increased transcription. Treatment with cycloheximide caused increases in adrenomedullin mRNA levels in both normoxic and hypoxic states, raising the possibility that some protein(s) may act as a suppressor of adrenomedullin gene expression in T98G cells. These findings indicate that adrenomedullin is highly induced during hypoxia in T98G glioblastoma cells and suggest that increased expression of adrenomedullin during hypoxia may be important in the defense against hypoxia or ischemia in the brain.

Topics: Actins; Adrenomedullin; Blotting, Northern; Brain Neoplasms; Cell Hypoxia; Cobalt; Cycloheximide; Dactinomycin; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation; Glioblastoma; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Nuclear Proteins; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Peptides; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Radioimmunoassay; RNA Stability; RNA, Messenger; Transcription Factors; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The expression of adrenomedullin (ADM) and its mRNA was studied in human glial cell tumors and cultured glioblastoma cell lines, T98G and A172. Northern blot analysis showed that ADM mRNA was expressed in all brain tumors examined (three anaplastic astrocytomas and two glioblastomas multiforme) and in the glioblastoma cell lines. Immunoreactive (IR-) ADM was detectable in these brain tumors by radioimmunoassay (0.31-2.0 pmol/g wet weight), except for one anaplastic astrocytoma. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography of the tumor extracts showed a single peak eluting in the position of ADM-(1-52). IR-ADM concentrations in the cultured media of T98G cells were 205.5 +/- 8.4 fmol/10(5) cells/24 h (mean +/- SEM, n = 5). Treatment of T98G cells with interferon gamma or interleukin 1 beta increased the expression levels of ADM mRNA and the IR-ADM concentrations in the cultured media, whereas tumor necrosis factor alpha decreased them in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with synthetic ADM-(1-52) (10(-8) or 10(-7) mol/l) increased the cAMP concentrations in the cultured media of T98G cells. These findings suggest that ADM is secreted from glial cell tumors and is related to the pathophysiology of these tumors.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Adult; Blotting, Northern; Brain Neoplasms; Cyclic AMP; Female; Glioblastoma; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-1; Male; Middle Aged; Peptides; Radioimmunoassay; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Neoplasm; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha