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  • To our knowledge the putative role of ET and ETB

    2021-12-01

    To our knowledge, the putative role of ET-1 and ETB-R in oligodendroglioma progression was not documented so far. Using primary cultures of grade B oligodendroglial tumor cells, we have here assessed the functionality of ETB-R expression in these tumors. Confocal microscopy analysis confirmed the strong nuclear expression of ETB-R in these cells, together with a diffuse staining characteristic of plasma membrane expression. In vitro treatment with ET-1 indicated that oligodendroglial tumor cells express functional ETB-R coupled to multiple intracellular signaling pathways known to be involved in cell survival and/or proliferation: ERK and FAK activation, and stress fiber formation. Indeed, in various cell types, activation of the ERK pathway plays a central role in these responses [41], together in adherent cells, with activation of FAK, a protein kinase localized at the contacts between the cell and the extracellular matrix [11]. Activation of FAK is associated with EPZ031686 cytoskeleton rearrangement, leading to stress fiber formation. We have previously demonstrated in astrocytes that ERK and FAK pathways are converging to the induction of cyclin D1 and D3 expression, both pathways therefore contributing to cell cycle progression [10], [45]. We now show that ETB-R in oligodendrogliomas is involved in cell survival, its inhibition by the specific ETB-R antagonist BQ788 dramatically inducing cell death. Moreover, this cytotoxic effect of BQ788 was also observed with primary cultures of two distinct grade B oligoastrocytomas (not shown), further supporting the similar clinical behavior of oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas [16]. Altogether, these in vitro data strongly suggest that ET-1, which is locally produced in vivo by tumor cells, brain vascular endothelial cells, and reactive astrocytes, may be a survival factor for oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas. This conclusion is supported by a recent study reporting both in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activity of an ETB-R antagonist on melanomas [25], as well as by the initiation of clinical trials in various cancers based on treatment with ET-1 receptor antagonists [32]. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that ET-1 receptor subtypes are differentially expressed in human primary gliomas: we observed a nuclear expression of ETB-R selectively in tumor cells from oligodendrogliomas or oligoastrocytomas, while ETA-R was only detected in some glioblastomas. Moreover, it is tempting to speculate from our in vitro observations, that ETB-R antagonists might be considered as potential therapeutic agents in oligodendrogliomas.
    Acknowledgments
    Introduction Endothelial cells in general perform their functions through the expression and release of various cardioactive factors such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II (Ang-II), nitric oxide (NO), prostanoids and neuropeptide Y (NPY) (Bkaily et al., 2012, Bkaily et al., 2014, Cines et al., 1998, Jacques et al., 2003a, Jacques et al., 2003b, Shah et al., 1996). Both vascular endothelial as well as endocardial endothelial cells have been reported to release these factors (Bkaily et al., 2012, Bkaily et al., 2014, Brutsaert, 2003, Jacques et al., 2003a, Jacques et al., 2003b, Kuruvilla and Kartha, 2003). Complex interactions have been reported to exist between ET-1 and the other regulators of cardiovascular function, in particular NO and Ang II (Brunner et al., 2006). Evidence for interactions between the endothelin and the angiotensin system has also become plentiful. It has become clear that the two systems, in addition to acting independently, can act synergistically (Emori et al., 1989, Imai et al., 1992) as well as promote the peptide mRNA expression in endothelial cells (ECs) from various origins such as heart, aorta and resistance vessels of mesenteric arteries (Chua et al., 1993). Most of the literature in the field of endothelial cells focuses on the vascular endothelial cells, however, less information is available about the endothelial cells that cover the cardiac cavities which contribute to direct regulation of the level and tuning of circulating peptides (Brutsaert, 2003). The latter type of cells also directly contributes to heart function. In addition, the sub-endocardial nerve plexus is known to release NPY (Marron et al., 1994) which regulates the endocardial endothelial cell secretory function (Abdel-Samad et al., 2012). Moreover, differences in excitation-secretion coupling exist between human right and left ventricular endocardial endothelial cells (hREECs and hLEECs respectively) (Jacques et al., 2005, Jules et al., 2015). Recently, our group showed that NPY induced a release of ET-1 in both hREECs and hLEECs and this effect was mediated by activation of NPY receptors (Abdel-Samad et al., 2012). Although NPY promotes the release of ET-1 in human ventricular endocardial endothelial cells (hEECs) (Abdel-Samad et al., 2012), the latter peptide attenuates the release of NPY upon high frequency nerve stimulation which was mediated via ETB receptor activation (Hoang et al., 2002). However, it is unknown whether the ET-1 secretion induced by NPY concomitantly contributes to upregulation of its own secretion via activation of its receptors ETA or ETB. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate whether the secreted ET-1 due to NPY stimulation of hEECs contributes to its own release via activation of the ETA and/or ETB receptor(s) and whether this depends on hEEC type.