5-fluorouracil (5FU) and oxaliplatin are standard therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), but the development of chemoresistance is inevitable. Since cancer stem cells (CSCs) are hypothesized to be chemoresistant, we investigated CSC properties in newly developed chemoresistant CRC cell lines and sought to identify targets for therapy. The human CRC cell line HT29 was exposed to increasing doses of 5FU (HT29/5FU-R) or oxaliplatin (HT29/Ox) to achieve resistance at clinically relevant doses. Western blotting and flow cytometry were done to determine molecular alterations. The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) monoclonal antibody (MoAb) AVE-1642 was used to inhibit signaling in vitro and in vivo using murine xenograft models. HT29/5FU-R and HT29/OxR demonstrated 16- to 30-fold enrichment of CD133+ cells and 2-fold enrichment of CD44+ cells (putative CRC CSC markers). Resistant cells were enriched 5- to 22-fold for double-positive (CD133+/CD44+) cells. Consistent with the CSC phenotype, resistant cells exhibited a decrease in cellular proliferation in vitro (47–59%; p<0.05). Phosphorylated and total IGF-1R levels were increased in resistant cell lines. HT29/5FU-R and HT29/OxR cells were ~5-fold more responsive to IGF-1R inhibition relative to parental cells (p<0.01) in vitro. Tumors derived from HT29/OxR cells demonstrated significantly greater growth inhibition in response to an IGF-1R MoAB than did parental cells (p<0.05). Chemoresistant CRC cells are enriched for CSC markers and the CSC phenotype. Chemotherapy-induced IGF-1R activation provided for enhanced sensitivity to IGF-1R targeted therapy. Identification of CSC targets presents a novel therapeutic approach in this disease.

SUMMARY We report a paracrine effect whereby endothelial cells (ECs) promote the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. We showed that, without direct cell-cell contact, ECs secrete factors that promoted the CSC phenotype in CRC cells via Notch activation. In human CRC specimens, CD133 and Notch intracellular domain-positive cells co-localized with CRC cells in perivascular regions. An EC-derived, soluble form of Jagged-1, via ADAM17 proteolytic activity, led to Notch activation in CRC cells in a paracrine manner; these effects were blocked by immunodepletion of Jagged-1 in EC conditioned medium or blockade of ADAM17 activity. ECs play an active role in promoting Notch signaling and the CSC phenotype by secreting soluble Jagged-1.

Endoglin (CD105) is an accessory protein of the transforming growth factor-h receptor system expressed on vascular endothelial cells. Mutation of the endoglin gene is associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasias, or Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, and has been studied extensively in the context of this disease.The expression of endoglin is elevated on the endothelial cells of healing wounds, developing embryos, inflammatory tissues, and solid tumors. Endoglin is a marker of activated endothelium, and its vascular expression is limited to proliferating cells. Recent studies identified endoglin expression in several solid tumor types, with the level of expression correlating with various clinicopathologic factors including decreased survival and presence of metastases. Attempts to target endoglin and the cells that express this protein in tumor-bearing mice have yielded promising results.

Altered metabolism in cancer cells is suspected to contribute to chemoresistance but the precise mechanisms are unclear. Here we show that intracellular ATP levels are a core determinant in the development of acquired cross-drug resistance of human colon cancer cells that harbor different genetic backgrounds. Drug-resistant cells were characterized by defective mitochondrial ATP production, elevated aerobic glycolysis, higher absolute levels of intracellular ATP and enhanced HIF-1α-mediated signaling. Interestingly, direct delivery of ATP into cross-chemoresistant cells destabilized HIF-1α and inhibited glycolysis. Thus, drug-resistant cells exhibit a greater “ATP debt” defined as the extra amount of ATP needed to maintain homeostasis of survival pathways under genotoxic stress. Direct delivery of ATP was sufficient to render drug-sensitive cells drug resistant. Conversely, depleting ATP by cell treatment with an inhibitor of glycolysis, 3-bromopyruvate, was sufficient to sensitize cells cross-resistant to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs. In revealing intracellular ATP levels are a core determinant of chemoresistance in colon cancer cells, our findings may offer a foundation for new improvements to colon cancer treatment.

NRP2 on colorectal carcinoma cells is important for tumor growth and is a potential therapeutic target in human cancers where it is expressed.

. The negative charge of these ligands increased to a similar extent. However, GA-BSA, but not MG-BSA or GO-BSA, underwent receptor-mediated endocytosis by the macrophage-derived cell line RAW 264.7, which was effectively inhibited by glucose-derived AGE-BSA, acetylated LDL, and oxidized LDL, which are wellknown ligands for the macrophage type I and type II class A scavenger receptors (MSR-A). The endocytic uptake of GA-BSA by mouse peritoneal macrophages was also significant, but that by peritoneal macrophages from MSR-A-deficient mice was markedly reduced. Our results suggest that GA serves as an important intermediate for the generation of AGE structure(s) responsible for recognition by MSR-A.

Glycolaldehyde (GA) is formed from serine by action of myeloperoxidase and reacts with proteins to form several products. Prominent among them is N ⑀ -(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), which is also known as one of the advanced glycation end products. Because CML is formed from a wide range of precursors, we have attempted to identify unique structures characteristic of the reaction of GA with protein. To this end, monoclonal (GA5 and 1A12) and polyclonal (non-CML-GA) antibodies specific for GA-modified proteins were prepared. These antibodies specifically reacted with GA-modified and with hypochlorous acid-modified BSA, but not with BSA modified by other aldehydes, indicating that the epitope of these antibodies could be a specific marker for myeloperoxidase-induced protein modification. By HPLC purification from GA-modified N ␣ -(carbobenzyloxy)-L-lysine, GA5-reactive compound was isolated, and its chemical structure was characterized as 3-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-1-(5-amino-5-carboxypentyl) pyridinium cation. This compound named as GA-pyridine was recognized both by 1A12 and non-CML-GA, indicating that GA-pyridine is an important antigenic structure in GA-modified proteins. Immunohistochemical studies with GA5 demonstrated the accumulation of GA-pyridine in the cytoplasm of foam cells and extracellularly in the central region of atheroma in human atherosclerotic lesions. These results suggest that myeloperoxidase-mediated protein modification via GA may contribute to atherogenesis.Modification of proteins with reactive aldehydes is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including diabetes and atherosclerosis. Products of nonenzymatic glycation, Maillard reactions, such as 3-deoxyglucosone (1, 2), glyoxal (3), and methylglyoxal (4) are formed in tissue proteins in vivo and are considered to be precursors of advanced glycation end products (AGE). 1In a parallel pathway involving both enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions during inflammation, leukocytes are activated to secrete myeloperoxidase, which mediates the formation of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) from hydrogen peroxide and chloride (5). Aldehydes such as GA, which is formed by reaction of HOCl with serine, then react to form chemical modifications in protein. Myeloperoxidase has been detected immunohistochemically in lipid-rich advanced atherosclerotic lesions, and the active myeloperoxidase was purified from atherosclerotic arteries (6). A subsequent study by Hazell et al. (7) demonstrated that human atherosclerotic lesions were positively stained by a monoclonal antibody against HOCl-modified proteins, suggesting the presence of an epitope(s) specific for HOCl-modified proteins. HOCl generated by the myeloperoxidase system was shown to react with L-threonine to generate acrolein via 2-hydroxypropanol, whereas the similar reaction with L-serine led to formation of glycolaldehyde (GA) (8). An immunohistochemical study demonstrated the accumulation of an acrolein-protein adduct(s) in macrophage-derived foam cells as well in thickened neointi...

Background: Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TxNIP) is up-regulated by high glucose (HG), inhibits the antioxidant, thioredoxin, and thereby is implicated in oxidative stress. Results: TxNIP deficiency protects mesangial cells from HG-induced oxidative stress and increased collagen by blocking mitochondrial glucose metabolism, NADPH oxidase, and Nox4. Conclusion: TxNIP controls ROS generation by regulating the TCA cycle versus glycolytic glucose flux. Significance: Inhibition of TxNIP is a promising approach to treat glucose toxicity.