Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), the DNA sequence for the main membrane-spanning region (IS3 through IVS6) of the gene encoding the alpha-subunit of the para sodium channel of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, has been determined. The overall structure of the open reading frame region of this B. germanica gene is very similar to that of the para gene of Drosophila melanogaster, and that of the partially sequenced para gene of Musca domestica. On the other hand, it is distinctly different from that of the DSC gene (Drosophila sodium channel). As a result of a side-by-side comparison of the para gene sequences of the susceptible CSMA strain and the kdr resistant VT strain of B. germanica, one mutation (TTG to TTC) at the approximate center of the IIS6 membrane-spanning segment was found to result in an amino acid change from L to F. While the functional meaning of this mutation for the operation of the para sodium channel remains to be studied, this region is very highly conserved among all sodium channels identified so far, and is one of the most hydrophobic areas of the entire alpha-subunit. For comparison, we have studied the same region of the para sodium channel of both kdr and susceptible SBO strain of the housefly, Musca domestica. We found the homologous type of mutation, CTT to TTT, resulting in the same amino acid alteration (L to F) at this site. However, in the case of houseflies both kdr and susceptible strains contained both L and F versions of the protein. The ratio of TTT to CTT was significantly higher in the kdr strain of M. domestica than in the three susceptible strains examined.

Recent single-cell studies of cancer in both mice and humans have identified the emergence of a myofibroblast population specifically marked by the highly restricted leucine-rich-repeat-containing protein 15 (LRRC15)1–3. However, the molecular signals that underlie the development of LRRC15+ cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their direct impact on anti-tumour immunity are uncharacterized. Here in mouse models of pancreatic cancer, we provide in vivo genetic evidence that TGFβ receptor type 2 signalling in healthy dermatopontin+ universal fibroblasts is essential for the development of cancer-associated LRRC15+ myofibroblasts. This axis also predominantly drives fibroblast lineage diversity in human cancers. Using newly developed Lrrc15–diphtheria toxin receptor knock-in mice to selectively deplete LRRC15+ CAFs, we show that depletion of this population markedly reduces the total tumour fibroblast content. Moreover, the CAF composition is recalibrated towards universal fibroblasts. This relieves direct suppression of tumour-infiltrating CD8+ T cells to enhance their effector function and augments tumour regression in response to anti-PDL1 immune checkpoint blockade. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that TGFβ-dependent LRRC15+ CAFs dictate the tumour-fibroblast setpoint to promote tumour growth. These cells also directly suppress CD8+ T cell function and limit responsiveness to checkpoint blockade. Development of treatments that restore the homeostatic fibroblast setpoint by reducing the population of pro-disease LRRC15+ myofibroblasts may improve patient survival and response to immunotherapy.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) play important roles in development, angiogenesis, and cancer. FGF19 uniquely binds to FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4). Our previous study has shown that FGF19 transgenic tumors have an activated Wnt-pathway phenotype. Wnt signaling is implicated in initiating or promoting FGF signaling in various cell types and organs. In this study, we examined whether FGF19 or inhibition of FGF19 affects the B-catenin signaling pathway using human colon cancer cell lines (HCT116, Colo201). Our results show that FGF19 increases tyrosine phosphorylation of B-catenin and causes loss of B-catenin-E-cadherin binding. FGF19 increases p-GSK3B and active B-catenin levels and anti-FGF19 antibody (1A6) treatment abrogates this effect of FGF19. Anti-FGF19 antibody treatment increases S33/S37/T41 phosphorylation and ubiquitination of B-catenin. Ion-trap mass spectrometric analysis confirmed that 1A6 increases phosphorylation of B-catenin in the NH 2 terminus. Using HCT116-paired B-catenin knockout cells, we show that FGF19 induces TCF/LEF reporter activity in parental (WT/#45) and in WT/À but not in mutant (À/#45) cells, and that inhibition of endogenous FGF19 reduces this reporter activity, indicating that wild-type Bcatenin is accessible for modulation. FGFR4 knockdown using inducible short hairpin RNA significantly reduces the colonyforming ability in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Although cleaved caspase-3 immunoreactivity remains unchanged, the number of ki67-positive nuclei is reduced in FGFR4 knockdown tumor xenograft tissues. Consistent with the reduced B-catenin activation, Taqman analyses show that FGF19/FGFR4 inhibition reduced B-catenin target gene (cyclin D1, CD44, c-jun, Cox-2, UPAR) expression. These findings highlight that FGF19/FGFR4 cross-talk with B-catenin and that pathway intervention reduces tumor growth. [Cancer Res 2008; 68(13):5086-95]

These data suggest that 74-85% of colorectal cancers express a Lgr5/Ascl2 associated signature and support the hypothesis that they derive from Lgr5(+)/Ascl2(+) crypt stem cells, not Bmi1(+) stem cells. However, Olfm4 was not found to be a useful marker of Lgr5(+) cells in normal colon or tumours. In this large series, Lgr5 expression is not associated with increased tumour aggressiveness, as might be expected from a cancer stem cell marker.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is critical to the patterning and development of a variety of organ systems, and both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent Hh pathway activation are known to promote tumorigenesis. Recent studies have shown that in tumors promoted by Hh ligands, activation occurs within the stromal microenvironment. Testing whether ligand-driven Hh signaling promotes tumor angiogenesis, we found that Hh antagonism reduced the vascular density of Hh-producing LS180 and SW480 xenografts. In addition, ectopic expression of sonic hedgehog in low-Hh–expressing DLD-1 xenografts increased tumor vascular density, augmented angiogenesis, and was associated with canonical Hh signaling within perivascular tumor stromal cells. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying Hh-mediated tumor angiogenesis, we established an Hh-sensitive angiogenesis coculture assay and found that fibroblast cell lines derived from a variety of human tissues were Hh responsive and promoted angiogenesis in vitro through a secreted paracrine signal(s). Affymetrix array analyses of cultured fibroblasts identified VEGF-A, hepatocyte growth factor, and PDGF-C as candidate secreted proangiogenic factors induced by Hh stimulation. Expression studies of xenografts and angiogenesis assays using combinations of Hh and VEGF-A inhibitors showed that it is primarily Hh-induced VEGF-A that promotes angiogenesis in vitro and augments tumor-derived VEGF to promote angiogenesis in vivo.