CCN1/Cyr61 is a member of the protein family that can be promptly induced by growth factors. CCN1/Cyr61 promotes cell proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation. It plays important roles in angiogenesis and extracellular matrix production. In addition, CCN1/Cyr61 has many potential functions in tumorigenesis, development, embryo implantation, as well as formation of endometriotic lesions. Expression of CCN1/Cyr61 is regulated by a variety of agents including cytokines, growth factors, steroid hormones, and some drugs. These inducers regulate the transcription of CCN1/Cyr61 through several signaling transduction pathways. CCN1/Cyr61 is able to interact either with the cell itself or the surrounding cells through an autocrine-paracrine mechanism. It has been reported that CCN1/Cyr61 exerts its functions via interacting with at least five integrins as well as heparan sulfate proteoglycan. By activating Wnt, NF-kappaB, or tyrosine kinase signaling pathways, CCN1/Cyr61 is not only able to control the growth of epithelial cells and fibroblasts, but also induce or suppress apoptosis in a cell type-specific manner.

Chemerin is a potent chemoattractant for cells expressing the serpentine receptor CMKLR1 (chemokine-like receptor 1), such as plasmacytoid dendritic cells and tissue macrophages. The bioactivity of chemerin is post-translationally regulated; the attractant circulates in blood in a relatively inactive form (prochemerin) and is activated by carboxyl-terminal proteolytic cleavage. We discovered that plasma carboxypeptidase N (CPN) and B (CPB or activated thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor, TAFIa) enhanced the bioactivity of 10-mer chemerin peptide NH 2 -YFPGQFAFSK-COOH by removing the carboxyl-terminal lysine (K). Sequential cleavages of either a prochemerin peptide (NH 2 -YFPGQFAFSKALPRS-COOH) or recombinant full-length prochemerin by plasmin and CPN/CPB substantially increased their chemotactic activities. Endogenous CPN present in circulating plasma enhanced the activity of plasmincleaved prochemerin. In addition, we discovered that platelets store chemerin protein and release it upon stimulation. Thus circulating CPN/CPB and platelets may potentially contribute to regulating the bioactivity of leukocyte chemoattractant chemerin, and further extend the molecular link between blood coagulation/fibrinolysis and CMKLR1-mediated immune responses.

Purpose: Trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) is an antibodydrug conjugate (ADC) comprising the cytotoxic agent DM1 conjugated to trastuzumab with a stable linker. Thrombocytopenia was the dose-limiting toxicity in the phase I study, and grade !3 thrombocytopenia occurred in up to 13% of patients receiving T-DM1 in phase III studies. We investigated the mechanism of T-DM1-induced thrombocytopenia.Experimental Design: The effect of T-DM1 on platelet function was measured by aggregometry, and by flow cytometry to detect the markers of activation. The effect of T-DM1 on differentiation and maturation of megakaryocytes (MK) from human hematopoietic stem cells was assessed by flow cytometry and microscopy. Binding, uptake, and catabolism of T-DM1 in MKs, were assessed by various techniques including fluorescence microscopy, scintigraphy to detect T- [H 3 ]-DM1 and 125 I-T-DM1, and mass spectrometry. The role of FcgRIIa was assessed using blocking antibodies and mutant constructs of trastuzumab that do not bind FcgR.Results: T-DM1 had no direct effect on platelet activation and aggregation, but it did markedly inhibit MK differentiation via a cytotoxic effect. Inhibition occurred with DM1-containing ADCs but not with trastuzumab demonstrating a role for DM1. MKs internalized these ADCs in a HER2-independent, FcgRIIa-dependent manner, resulting in intracellular release of DM1. Binding and internalization of T-DM1 diminished as MKs matured; however, prolonged exposure of mature MKs to T-DM1 resulted in a disrupted cytoskeletal structure.Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that T-DM1-induced thrombocytopenia is mediated in large part by DM1-induced impairment of MK differentiation, with a less pronounced effect on mature MKs.

Background: Chemerin (chem163S) is proteolytically cleaved to generate active isoforms. Results: Chem157S has the highest activity in stimulating calcium transients and chemotaxis, chem158K and chem163S have much lower activity, and chem155A is not an agonist. Chem157S stimulates signaling in glioblastoma cells. Conclusion: Chem163S proteolysis to chem157S is needed for its activity. Significance: Chemerin may play a role in glioblastoma.

Angiogenesis is a highly organized process controlled by a series of molecular events. While much effort has been devoted to identifying angiogenic factors and their reciprocal receptors, far less information is available on the molecular mechanisms underlying directed endothelial cell migration. To search for novel proteins that participate in this process, we used the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) transcript profiling approach to identify genes that are selectively expressed in endothelial cells (ECs). Two EC SAGE libraries were constructed from human umbilical vein and artery ECs to enable data-mining against other non-ECs. A novel endothelial protein, Thrombospondin Type I Domain Containing 7A (THSD7A), with preferential expression in placenta vasculature and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was identified and targeted for further characterization. Overexpression of a THSD7A carboxyl-terminal fragment in HUVECs inhibited cell migration and disrupted tube formation, while suppression of THSD7A expression enhanced HUVEC migration and tube formation. Immunohistological analysis revealed that THSD7A was expressed at the leading edge of migrating HUVECs, and it co-localized with alpha(V)beta(3) integrin and paxillin. This distribution was dispersed from focal adhesions after disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, suggesting the involvement of THSD7A in cytoskeletal organization. Our results show that THSD7A is a novel placenta endothelial protein that mediates EC migration and tube formation, and they highlight its potential as a new target for anti-angiogenic therapy.

Objective Osteopontin (OPN) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine important in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OPN can be cleaved by thrombin, leading to OPN-Arg (OPN-R) and exposing the cryptic C-terminal α4β1 and α9β1 integrin-binding motif (SVVYGLR). Thrombin-activatable carboxypeptidase B (CPB), also termed thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), removes the C-terminal arginine from OPN-R, generating OPN-Leu (OPN-L) and abrogating its enhanced cell binding. We investigated the roles of OPN-R and OPN-L in: (i) synoviocyte adhesion, which contributes to formation of invasive pannus, and (ii) neutrophil survival, which affects inflammatory infiltrates, in RA. Methods and Results We developed ELISAs specific for OPN-R and OPN-L, and demonstrate elevations of OPN-R and OPN-L in RA, but not in osteoarthritis or psoriatic arthritis, synovial fluid samples. OPN-R and OPN-L levels correlated with multiple inflammatory cytokines including TNFα and IL-6. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated robust expression of OPN-FL, but minimal OPN-R, in RA synovium, suggesting that cleaved OPN is released into the synovial fluid. In cellular assays, OPN-FL, and to a lesser extent OPN-R and OPN-L, had an anti-apoptotic effect on neutrophils. OPN-R, but not OPN-L, augmented RA fibroblast-like synoviocyte binding mediated by SVVYGLR binding to α4β1. Conclusion Thrombin activation of OPN (OPN-R) and its subsequent inactivation by thrombin-activatable CPB (OPN-L) occurs locally within inflamed joints in RA. Our data suggest that thrombin-activatable CPB plays a central homeostatic role in RA, by regulating neutrophil viability and reducing synoviocyte adhesion.

Two common missense variants in APOL1 (G1 and G2) have been definitively linked to CKD in black Americans. However, not all individuals with the renal-risk genotype develop CKD, and little is known about how APOL1 variants drive disease. Given the association of APOL1 with HDL particles, which are cleared by the kidney, differences in the level or quality of mutant APOL1-HDL particles could be causal for disease and might serve as a useful risk stratification marker. We measured plasma levels of G0 (low risk), G1, and G2 APOL1 in 3450 individuals in the Dallas Heart Study using a liquid chromatography-MS method that enabled quantitation of the different variants. Additionally, we characterized native APOL1-HDL from donors with no or two APOL1 risk alleles by size-exclusion chromatography and analysis of immunopurified APOL1-HDL particles. Finally, we identified genetic loci associated with plasma APOL1 levels and tested for APOL1-dependent association with renal function. Although we replicated the previous association between APOL1 variant status and renal function in nondiabetic individuals, levels of circulating APOL1 did not associate with microalbuminuria or GFR. Furthermore, the size or known components of APOL1-HDL did not consistently differ in subjects with the renal-risk genotype. Genetic association studies implicated variants in loci harboring haptoglobin-related protein (HPR), APOL1, and ubiquitin D (UBD) in the regulation of plasma APOL1 levels, but these variants did not associate with renal function. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the risk of renal disease associated with APOL1 is probably not related to circulating levels of the mutant protein.

Background: Chemerin is a chemokine/adipokine whose activity depends on proteolytic processing.Results: Specific ELISAs demonstrate that in plasma the precursor is dominant, whereas in synovial fluid from arthritis patients and CSF from glioblastoma patients, chem158K dominates. Low levels of active chem157S were found. Conclusion: Chemerin proteolysis occurs during inflammation. Significance: This is the first report about levels of different chemerin isoforms in biological samples.