An uncleavable form of pro–scatter factor suppresses tumor growth and dissemination in mice (original) (raw)
Engineering of an unprocessable form of pro-SF. Pro-SF is converted to active SF by hydrolysis of the peptidic bond between Arg 489 and Val 490 (23). To generate an unprocessable form of pro-SF, we mutagenized Arg 489 to Gln, thus destroying the proteolytic consensus sequence Lys-Arg-Val-Val (Figure 1A). To allow simple protein purification, we also engineered a poly-histidine (poly-His) tag at the C terminus. The cDNA encoding the mutagenized protein (uncleavable SF) as well as cDNA encoding wild-type SF (engineered with an identical poly-His tag) were subcloned into the lentivirus vector pRRLsin.PPT.CMV.Wpre (45). Using these transgenic lentivirus vectors, we transduced MDA-MB-435 human mammary carcinoma cells and established 2 cell lines that secreted high levels of uncleavable SF or wild-type pro-SF into the culture medium (approximately 200 pmol per 106 cells in 72 hours). Recombinant uncleavable SF and wild-type pro-SF were purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography (Figure 1B) and then were subjected to proteolytic conversion assays.
Uncleavable SF is resistant to proteolytic activation, but binds Met with high affinity. (A) Schematic representation of uncleavable SF (Uncl. SF; from N to C terminus): LS, leader sequence; HL, hairpin loop; K1–K4, kringle 1–4; PLD, protease-like domain; PH, poly-His. The Arg-to-Gln substitution in the proteolytic site is shown in red. Red dots indicate disulfide bridges. (B) Purification of wild-type or uncleavable SF by affinity chromatography, before and after purification. Proteins were resolved by nonreducing SDS-PAGE. (C) Uncleavable SF is resistant to proteolytic conversion by uPA and FBS. Proteins were resolved by SDS-PAGE in reducing conditions and analyzed by Western blot using antibodies against the β-chain of SF. The 2 SF β-chain bands correspond to differently glycosylated forms. (D) Binding of uncleavable SF to purified extracellular Met (EC-Met) as assessed by ELISA. Bound SF was revealed using biotinylated anti-SF. (E) Binding of iodinated uncleavable SF to A549 human lung carcinoma cells. 125I-labeled uncleavable SF was displaced using increasing concentrations of cold pro-SF, active SF (Act. SF), or uncleavable SF.
We incubated a fixed amount of pro-SF or uncleavable SF with increasing concentrations of uPA or FBS, which contains several proteases capable of converting pro-SF into active SF (e.g., HGF activator and factors X, XI, and XII). After the reaction, the amount of active factor was assessed by Western blot with antibodies against the β-chain of SF. As shown in Figure 1C, purified uPA or proteases contained in serum completely converted wild-type pro-SF into active SF but failed to activate uncleavable SF, thus confirming that the mutagenized arginine is essential for proteolytic processing.
Uncleavable SF binds the Met receptor with high affinity. Although unable to induce signaling, pro-SF is known to bind the Met receptor with high affinity (41, 46). To test the ability of uncleavable SF to bind the Met receptor, we performed ELISA assays using purified Met and ligand-displacement assays using radiolabeled uncleavable SF. ELISA assays were performed using purified Met (44) in solid phase and increasing concentrations of wild-type pro-SF, active SF, or uncleavable SF in liquid phase. This analysis revealed that uncleavable SF or pro-SF bound purified Met with approximately 4-fold less affinity than active SF (Figure 1D); i.e., with a _K_d of approximately 0.2 nM. Ligand-displacement assays were conducted using various cell lines expressing Met (A549, human lung carcinoma; MDA-MB-435, human breast carcinoma; GTL-16, human gastric carcinoma). A fixed concentration of 125I-labeled uncleavable SF (0.25 nM) was displaced with increasing concentrations of unlabeled wild-type pro-SF, active SF, or uncleavable SF. In all cell lines tested, all factors achieved complete displacement of 125I-labeled uncleavable SF, although with different efficiency. The calculated 50% effective concentration for active SF was 4–6 times lower than that for pro-SF or uncleavable SF, depending on the cell line (A549, 5.5 times; MDA-MB-435, 6 times; GTL-16, 4 times). Figure 1E shows displacement data obtained in A549 cells. These results are consistent with previous measurements (46).
Uncleavable SF inhibits SF-induced Met activation. We next tested the ability of uncleavable SF to activate the Met receptor in tyrosine phosphorylation assays. Serum-starved A549 human lung carcinoma cells were stimulated with increasing concentrations of active SF, pro-SF, or uncleavable SF, and the extent of Met phosphorylation was assessed by Western blot using anti-phosphotyrosine. As shown in Figure 2A, active SF elicited dose-dependent phosphorylation of Met, while both pro-SF and uncleavable SF were completely inactive even at high doses. Therefore, uncleavable SF is a mutant form of pro-SF that cannot be converted to active SF by proteolysis, binds to Met with picomolar affinity, and is not capable of activating the Met receptor in tyrosine phosphorylation assays.
Uncleavable SF inhibits both SF-induced Met activation and protease-mediated pro-SF conversion. (A) Met activation assay. A549 cells were stimulated with active SF, pro-SF, or uncleavable SF, and the extent of Met phosphorylation was assessed using anti-phosphotyrosine (anti-pY). The 2 receptor bands correspond to unprocessed Met (p170, in the Golgi) and mature Met (p145, on the cell membrane). The p170/p145 ratio varies depending on the cell line. IP, immunoprecipitation; WB, Western blot. (B) Inhibition of Met phosphorylation. Cells were stimulated with a fixed amount of active SF plus increasing concentrations of pro-SF (left panel) or uncleavable SF (right panel). CTRL, control (unstimulated cells). (C) Inhibition of pro-SF conversion. Myc-tagged pro-SF was incubated with a fixed amount of uPA (upper panel) or FBS (lower panel), plus increasing concentrations of uncleavable SF (above lanes). Pro-SF conversion was assessed by Western blot with anti-Myc. (D) Uncleavable SF forms stable complexes with Met and uPA. A549 cells were exposed to 125I-labeled uncleavable SF (125I-U) in the presence of a cross-linking agent and then were lysed. Protein extracts were immunoprecipitated using anti-Met or anti-uPA, resolved by SDS-PAGE in nonreducing conditions, and visualized by autoradiography.
Based on these observations, we tested whether uncleavable SF could work as a competitive inhibitor of SF in Met activation experiments. We stimulated A549 cells with a fixed amount of active SF (0.44 nM) plus increasing concentrations of uncleavable SF or pro-SF as a control, and then assessed Met phosphorylation as described above. This analysis revealed that both pro-SF and uncleavable SF are powerful antagonists of SF. In fact, a significant inhibition of receptor phosphorylation was observed with only a 6-fold molar excess of pro-SF or uncleavable SF, and 40-fold molar excess achieved complete inhibition (Figure 2B).
Uncleavable SF inhibits pro-SF conversion by uPA and other proteases. In principle, uncleavable SF is indistinguishable from pro-SF, at least from a structural viewpoint. We therefore reasoned that in addition to displacing the ligand from the receptor, uncleavable SF could also compete with wild-type pro-SF for the active site of uPA or other proteases involved in pro-SF conversion. To test this hypothesis, we incubated a fixed amount of Myc epitope–tagged pro-SF with either purified uPA or FBS, plus increasing concentrations of recombinant uncleavable SF. After the reaction, pro-SF conversion was assessed by Western blot with anti-Myc. In these assays, uncleavable SF inhibited proteolytic conversion of pro-SF in a dose-dependent manner. Equal concentrations of pro-SF and uncleavable SF resulted in approximately 50% inhibition of pro-SF conversion, while nearly complete inhibition was observed with a 16-fold molar excess (Figure 2C).
Uncleavable SF forms stable complexes with Met and uPA in living cells. Prompted by the results above, we investigated whether uncleavable SF could form stable complexes with Met or uPA in living cells. To this end, we cross-linked 125I-labeled uncleavable SF to A549 cells and then immunoprecipitated cell lysates with anti-Met or with anti-uPA. Immunoprecipitated proteins were resolved by gradient SDS-PAGE in nonreducing conditions and were visualized by autoradiography. As shown in Figure 2D, anti-Met immunoprecipitated radiolabeled high-molecular-weight complexes (molecular weight of more than 206 kDa), suggesting that uncleavable SF and Met interact stably on the cell surface. Anti-uPA immunoprecipitated radiolabeled species of between 120 and 140 kDa, corresponding to a complex of uPA in either of its forms (33 and 54 kDa) with pro-SF (90 kDa). Covalent cross-linking of 125I-labeled uncleavable SF to Met or uPA was efficiently displaced by excess unlabeled uncleavable SF, wild-type pro-SF, or active SF, indicating that the interaction of uncleavable SF with Met or uPA is specific and demonstrating that uncleavable SF and wild-type SF (in either of its forms) compete for the same molecular partners in living cells.
Delivery of uncleavable SF to tumor cells by lentivirus vector technology. Using the lentivirus vectors described above and an empty vector as control, we transduced a panel of Met-expressing human tumor cell lines (MDA-MB-435 and MDA-MB-435-β4, mammary carcinoma; A549, lung carcinoma; HCT-116, colon carcinoma). Factor expression in the presence or absence of serum was analyzed by Western blot using antibodies against the β-chain of SF. As shown in Figure 3A (only the data relative to MDA-MB-435 are presented), wild-type SF could be detected in its active form only in the presence of serum. Serum-free conditioned media contained only traces of active SF, possibly due to endogenous protease activity. In contrast, uncleavable SF was detected as an unprocessed protein regardless of the presence of serum.
Delivery of uncleavable SF to tumor cells using lentivirus vectors. (A) MDA-MB-435 cells transduced with the indicated lentivirus vector (empty vector [Empty v.]; uncleavable SF; WT SF) were cultured in the absence (0%) or presence (4%) of FBS, and their conditioned medium was analyzed by Western blot using anti–SF β-chain. (B) Analysis of Met phosphorylation in lentivirus vector–transduced MDA-MB-435 cells. Receptor activation was assessed by Western blot using anti-phosphotyrosine in quiescent (0% FBS) or exponentially growing (4% FBS) cells in the presence (+) or absence (–) of recombinant SF, as indicated. (C) Proliferation rate analysis of lentivirus vector–transduced MDA-MB-435 cells. Cell numbers were assessed every 2 days. (D) In vitro morphology of lentivirus vector–transduced A549 cells stained with crystal violet.
Transduced MDA-MB-435 cells were subjected to a Met phosphorylation assay using exogenous recombinant SF. In a first set of experiments, cells were stimulated with SF in the absence of serum. Met phosphorylation was assessed by Western blot with anti-phosphotyrosine. Consistent with the idea that pro-SF competes with active SF in Met binding, both uncleavable SF and wild-type SF inhibited SF-induced Met phosphorylation in the absence of serum (Figure 3B, 0% FBS panel). In a second set of experiments, Met phosphorylation was assessed in exponentially growing cells, in both the presence of serum and the absence of exogenous SF (Figure 3B, 4% FBS panel). In these conditions, cells expressing wild-type SF displayed intense Met phosphorylation and receptor downregulation. In contrast, cells expressing uncleavable SF showed no significant change in Met phosphorylation or receptor levels compared with that of the control.
In long-term proliferation assays in the presence of 4% FBS, all cells expressing wild-type SF grew slightly faster than control cells and reached a higher saturation density (Figure 3C; only the data relative to MDA-MB-435 are shown). In contrast, expression of uncleavable SF did not significantly affect cell growth or saturation density, suggesting that the engineered factor does not display cellular toxicity (none of the cell lines analyzed express endogenous SF). Most cells transduced with SF lentivirus also displayed a more scattered phenotype. This phenomenon was best observed in A549 (Figure 3D). Cells transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus, in contrast, showed a morphology indistinguishable from that of control.
Uncleavable SF inhibits the pleiotropic activities of SF in vitro. The ability of uncleavable SF to inhibit the pleiotropic activities of SF was analyzed in a series of in vitro biological assays. Lentivirus vector–transduced cells, selected based on assay suitability and response to SF, were subjected to a “scatter” assay (A549), a survival assay (MDA-MB-435), a mitogenic assay (A549), a Matrigel invasion assay (MDA-MB-435-β4), and a branching morphogenesis assay (MDA-MB-435-β4), in the absence or presence of recombinant SF. This analysis revealed that the concentrations of uncleavable SF reached in the conditioned medium of transduced cells (20–100 nM depending on cell line and incubation time) effectively inhibited SF-induced cell scattering (Figure 4A), protection against apoptosis (Figure 4B), DNA synthesis (Figure 4C), Matrigel invasion (Figure 4D), and branching morphogenesis (Figure 4E), thus demonstrating that the engineered factor can functionally neutralize the effects of SF on living cells.
Uncleavable SF inhibits the pleiotropic activities of SF on living cells. (A) End-point scatter assay. A549 cells transduced with the indicated lentivirus vector were stimulated with progressive 1:2 dilutions of active SF starting from 64 ng/ml. The minimal concentration at which scattering was observed is indicated (scatter threshold [ST]). Representative images show crystal violet–stained cells at 8 ng/ml (the concentration of active SF). (B) Survival assay. Lentivirus vector–transduced MDA-MB-435 cells were pre-incubated with either recombinant SF (+SF) or no factor (–SF) and then were cultured in the absence (No drug) or presence (Staurosporine) of staurosporine. (C) Mitogenic assay. Lentivirus vector–transduced A549 cells were stimulated with either recombinant SF or no factor, and DNA synthesis was assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation. (D) Matrigel invasion assay. MDA-MB-435-β4 cells were analyzed for their ability to invade a Matrigel layer in the presence or absence of recombinant SF. (E) Collagen invasion assay. Lentivirus vector–transduced MDA-MB-435 cells were examined for their ability to form branched, multicellular tubules in response to SF stimulation. (F) Representative images from the experiment described in E. Statistical significance (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01) refers to the difference between –SF and +SF.
Local expression of uncleavable SF prevents tumor growth and dissemination. We next analyzed the biological activity of wild-type SF and uncleavable SF in ex vivo tumorigenesis assays in mice. The full panel of lentivirus vector–transduced cell lines (MDA-MB-435, MDA-MB-435-β4, A549, and HCT-116; each line was transduced with empty lentivirus vector, wild-type SF lentivirus vector, or uncleavable SF lentivirus vector, thus generating 12 different transgenic cell lines) was injected subcutaneously into CD-1 nu–/– mice, and injected animals were monitored for tumor development. Each transgenic cell line was injected into 6 mice, for a total of 72 mice; all mice were injected at the same time. After approximately 50 days, experimental tumors were extracted for analysis and India ink was used to provide contrast between metastic nodules and normal tissue. After scores for metastasis were assigned, lungs were processed for histological analysis.
Remarkably, wild-type SF and uncleavable SF (differing by only 1 amino acid) elicited symmetrical effects on both tumor growth and dissemination in all cell lines tested (Figure 5A). Wild-type SF accelerated tumor xenograft implantation and augmented tumor incidence, increased tumor weight (2- to 5-fold; P < 0.010), and enhanced the number of metastases (2- to 8-fold; P < 0.010). In contrast, uncleavable SF increased both tumor latency and the number of tumor-free animals, reduced tumor weight (2- to 3-fold; P < 0.050), and completely prevented the formation of spontaneous metastases (see Figure 5C for representative images). Mice injected with cells transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus were also free of micrometastases, as assessed by histological analysis of lung sections (not shown).
Uncleavable SF inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in mice. (A) Ex vivo tumorigenesis assay. A panel of human tumor cell lines (MDA, MDA-MB-435; β4, MDA-MB-435-β4; A549; HCT, HCT-116) transduced with the indicated lentivirus vectors was injected subcutaneously into nude mice and tumor weight was determined after 50 days. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of mice per group. T.I., tumor incidence (number of mice with tumor). (B) Analysis of pulmonary metastases in mice described in A. M.I., metastasis incidence (number of mice with metastases). Cells expressing uncl. SF were not metastogenic. (C) Representative images from the analysis described in B (MDA-MB-435). Lungs were stained with black India ink through the trachea. Metastases appear white because they do not take up the dye. (D) Metastasis analysis in mice bearing tumors of equal size. The number of pulmonary metastases was determined as described in B when tumors reached a volume of 3,000 mm2. Metastatic incidence is shown in parenthesis. (E) Experimental metastasis assay. HCT-116 cells engineered to express GFP were transduced with the indicated lentivirus vector and were injected i.v. into nude mice. The extent of pulmonary colonization was assessed by TaqMan analysis of lung genomic DNA using a _gfp_-specific probe. Quantification is expressed as cycle threshold difference compared with negative control (–Ø CT). (F) Representative lung sections from the experiment described in E, stained with anti-GFP. Red scale bar: 500 μm. Statistical significance (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01) was calculated by comparison of experimental values (WT SF or Uncl. SF) with control values (Empty v.).
To determine whether these changes in metastatic incidence were merely due to increased or reduced primary tumor size, we performed the same metastasis analysis on a panel of animals bearing MDA-MB-435-β4 tumors of the same volume (approximately 3,000 mm3) at the time of sacrifice, regardless of the time required by the tumor to reach such volume (Figure 5D). In this analysis as well, no metastasis could be found in the group transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus, while wild-type SF considerably increased the number of metastases compared with empty vector. Thus, uncleavable SF inhibits tumor dissemination independently of its parallel action on tumor growth.
The antimetastatic effect of uncleavable SF was further examined in ex vivo pulmonary colonization assays. HCT-116 tumor cells were transduced with a lentivirus encoding GFP and the various lentivirus vector constructs described above. Transduced cells were injected i.v. into CD-1 nu–/– mice, and GFP-positive pulmonary colonies (experimental metastases) were analyzed 1 month later by TaqMan analysis of lung genomic DNA and immunohistochemistry of lung sections with anti-GFP. While wild-type SF considerably increased the number of GFP-positive cells in the lung and the extension of the metastatic lesions, uncleavable SF nearly completely abolished the survival and spreading of injected tumor cells (Figure 5, D and E).
Uncleavable SF does not affect the growth of tumors lacking Met. The data above suggest that uncleavable SF significantly inhibits the growth and dissemination of a variety of tumor xenografts. In our in vitro biochemical analysis, we have shown that uncleavable SF inhibits both SF-induced Met activation and protease-mediated pro-SF conversion (see Figure 2). Because some of the proteases involved in pro-SF conversion, in particular uPA, play an important role in tumor progression (37), we wondered whether the observed anti-tumoral activity could be attributed, in addition to impairment of HGF/Met signaling, to protease inhibition. To address this question, we performed a tumorigenesis assay using tumor cells lacking the Met receptor. We reasoned that if uncleavable SF exerted its anti-tumor activity through inhibition of pathways other than that of SF/Met, it would have also been effective against tumors that do not express Met. It is true that SF is involved in control of host angiogenesis as well, but we demonstrated previously that the anti-angiogenic effect of SF inhibitors itself is not sufficient to achieve permanent inhibition of tumor growth without a concomitant effect on tumor cells (44).
The human ovarian carcinoma cell line TOV-112D does not express Met, as assessed by both Western blot and RT-PCR (Figure 6A). TOV-112D cells were transduced with a lentivirus vector expressing uncleavable SF, an empty lentivirus vector as negative control, and a lentivirus vector expressing a “pure” HGF/Met antagonist as a positive control (decoy Met; ref. 44). Transduced cells were injected subcutaneously into nude mice as described above. As a reference, the same assay was conducted in parallel using a Met-positive cell line (MDA-MB-435). After 1 month, tumors were extracted and weighed. Because TOV-112D cells are not metastogenic in mice (44), tumor dissemination could not be analyzed. As shown in Figure 6B, both decoy Met (3.5-fold; P = 0.003) and uncleavable SF (2.9-fold; P = 0.005) inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-435 cells in vivo, but neither significantly affected the formation of TOV-112D tumors (decoy Met, P = 0.375; uncleavable SF, P = 0.265). These data suggest that Met-expressing tumor cells represent the major target of uncleavable SF in vivo, ruling out the possibility of a Met-independent mechanism of tumor inhibition.
Uncleavable SF does not affect the growth of tumors lacking Met. (A) Analysis of Met protein and met mRNA expression in human tumor cell lines used in this study. MDA-β4, MDA-MB-435-β4; TOV, TOV-112D; app, human housekeeping gene encoding β-amyloid precursor protein (used as positive control for PCR amplification). (B) Ex vivo tumorigenesis assay. Lentivirus vector–transduced cells were injected into nude mice as described above and tumor weight was determined after 1 month. Statistical significance was calculated as for Figure 5. Decoy Met is a soluble form of the Met receptor (see ref. 44).
Uncleavable SF arrests the progression of established tumors. Next, we analyzed the effect of uncleavable SF on the growth of established tumors. To this end, CD-1 nu–/– mice were injected subcutaneously with MDA-MB-435-β4 human mammary carcinoma cells and then were monitored for tumor appearance. After 2 weeks, all mice bearing tumors of approximately 100 mm3 were selected and randomly divided into three groups. High-titer lentivirus vector preparations were injected intratumorally and then tumor volume was measured every third day. After 18 days, tumors were extracted for analysis and mice were subjected to autopsy.
During the course of the experiment, tumors injected with empty vector enlarged by approximately 7-fold, while those transduced with wild-type SF lentivirus expanded their volume by 12-fold (P = 0.023). In contrast, uncleavable SF almost completely abolished the growth of injected tumors (P = 0.006; Figure 7A). Similar results emerged from analysis of tumor weight (Figure 7B). Representative images of tumors can be seen in Figure 7C. Lungs were contrasted with India ink as described above for metastasis analysis. No macrometastasis could be detected in any of the groups, possibly because a shorter incubation period was used here than in the ex vivo experiments. However, histological analysis revealed the presence of several micrometastases in mice injected with cells transduced with empty or SF vectors, but not in mice injected with cells transduced with uncleavable SF vector (Figure 7D). Metastatic lesions in the control group were sparse, small, and mostly parenchymatic; metastases of the group transduced with SF lentivirus were more frequent, larger, and typically embolic, with many “break” points in which cancer cells were invading the host parenchyma or interstitial space.
Uncleavable SF arrests the progression of established tumors. (A) Tumor burden analysis. Tumors of the same size (approximately 100 mm3 at day 0) were repeatedly injected with the indicated lentivirus vectors, and tumor volume was measured every 3 days. The numbers in red correspond to the days of lentivirus injection. LV, lentivirus vector. (B) Tumor weight analysis for the experiment described in A. (C) Representative images of experimental tumors. The yellow ruler indicates length in centimeters. (D) Histological analysis of pulmonary metastases on lung sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A representative microscopic field for each group is shown. Arrows indicate the position of the metastatic lesion. Black staining is due to India ink. Metastasis incidence is shown in parenthesis. Red scale bar: 100 μm. (E) Tumor proliferation index analysis (% Ki67-positive cells). (F) Tumor apoptotic index analysis (% TUNEL-positive cells). (G) Tumor vessel analysis using the CD31 endothelial marker. Vessel density, number of vessels/mm2. Statistical significance was calculated as for Figures 5 and 6.
By analyzing frozen tumor sections, we also determined the proliferative index (Ki67; Figure 7E) and apoptotic index (TUNEL; Figure 7F) of cells within the tumors. Tumors transduced with SF vector had a 1.3-fold higher proliferative index (P = 0.008) and a 2.4-fold lower apoptotic index (P = 0.003) than those of control tumors. Conversely, tumor injection with uncleavable SF vector decreased cell proliferation by 1.8-fold (P < 0.001) and augmented apoptosis by 3.6-fold (P = 0.007). Because SF is a potent angiogenic factor (47), we also analyzed tumor vessel density using the CD31 endothelial marker. As shown in Figure 7G, wild-type SF increased the number of vessels per surface unit by almost 2-fold (P < 0.001), while uncleavable SF reduced it by approximately 3-fold (P = 0.033).
Local expression of uncleavable SF prevents pro-SF conversion and inhibits Met phosphorylation. The same tumors described above were also analyzed for transgene expression, endogenous SF activation, and Met phosphorylation. To determine transgene expression, equal amounts of protein extracts from each tumor were immunoprecipitated with anti–pan SF, and were analyzed by Western blot with anti–human SF. As shown in Figure 8A (upper panel), similar amounts of wild-type SF or uncleavable SF could be detected in all tumors. Importantly, wild-type SF was present almost completely in its active form, suggesting that pro-SF convertases contained in the tumor were actively processing exogenous SF.
Expression of uncleavable SF in tumors inhibits endogenous pro-SF conversion and prevents Met activation. (A) Western blot analysis of protein extracts from lentivirus vector–transduced tumors. Upper panel: lentivirus transgene expression. Middle panel: analysis of endogenous SF activation. Lower panel: normalization of protein extracts using anti-actin. T1–T5, tumor sample number; 3T3, NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast protein extracts. (B) Analysis of Met phosphorylation in transduced tumors using anti-phosphotyrosine.
Endogenous SF activation was assessed by immunoprecipitation with anti–pan SF and Western blot analysis with anti–mouse SF (Figure 8A, middle panel). Endogenous SF in tumors injected with empty vector was present mostly in the active form, although some precursor could be detected as well. Ectopic expression of uncleavable SF significantly shifted this balance toward the inactive form, thus suggesting that the engineered factor inhibits pro-SF conversion in vivo. Interestingly, wild-type SF also partially inhibited endogenous pro-SF processing. This is logical, as exogenous pro-SF competes with endogenous pro-SF for the active site of pro-SF convertases.
Met phosphorylation in tumors was assessed by immunoprecipitation with anti–human Met and Western blot with anti-phosphotyrosine. Tumors transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus displayed lower Met tyrosine phosphorylation than did tumors injected with empty vector; conversely, ectopic expression of wild-type SF substantially increased receptor phosphorylation (Figure 8B).
Systemic expression of uncleavable SF suppresses tumor growth and dissemination. Systemic administration of lentivirus vectors is a powerful approach to obtain sustained plasma levels of a secreted factor (48). To this end, we i.v. injected a panel of CD-1 nu–/– mice with highly concentrated lentivirus vector preparations (empty vector, wild-type SF, or uncleavable SF) and then measured factor concentration in plasma by ELISA using specific anti–human SF. Wild-type SF consistently reached higher systemic concentrations than did uncleavable SF, although the amount of injected vector was identical (wild-type SF, 66 ± 20 pM; uncleavable SF, 26 ± 9 pM; endogenous mouse SF is 5–6 pM). However, both wild-type SF and uncleavable SF plasma levels were unexpectedly stable over time (Figure 9A).
Lentivirus vector–mediated systemic delivery of uncleavable SF inhibits tumor growth and prevents metastatic spread. (A) Plasma levels (pmol/l) of wild-type or uncleavable SF in lentivirus vector–transduced mice, as assessed by ELISA. (B) Tumor burden analysis. Mice transduced systemically with the indicated lentivirus vectors were inoculated subcutaneously with MDA-MD-435-β4 human mammary carcinoma cells on day 0 and were monitored every second day for tumor formation. (C) Tumor weight and metastasis analysis. Upon autopsy (on day 48), tumors were weighed (left y axis, gray bars) and lungs were analyzed for the presence of metastases (right y axis, black bars). Statistical significance was calculated as for Figures 5–7.
Approximately 5 weeks after lentiviral vector injection, transduced mice were injected subcutaneously with MDA-MB-435-β4 cells, and tumor growth was monitored over time as described above. Mice transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus were more resistant to xenograft implantation, as they developed tumors later than did control animals (mean latency: empty vector, 10 ± 2.4 days; uncleavable SF, 19 ± 2.9 days; P = 0.015). Conversely, wild-type SF accelerated tumor formation (mean latency: 7.2 ± 1.0 days; P = 0.047). Tumors in mice transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus grew significantly more slowly than control tumors, whereas the opposite was observed for tumors in mice transduced with wild-type SF lentivirus (Figure 9B). At the end of the observation period (day 48 after tumor cell injection), the mean tumor volume of mice transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus was approximately 14 times smaller compared with mice transduced with empty vector (P = 0.002). Mice transduced with wild-type SF lentivirus, in contrast, bore tumors approximately 2.2-fold larger than those of control mice (P = 0.016).
Upon autopsy, tumors were extracted for analysis, while lungs were processed for metastasis detection as above. Analysis of tumor weight closely reflected the results obtained by volume measurement (Figure 9C). The number of macrometastases in mice injected with wild-type SF lentivirus was more than double that of control animals (22.8 ± 6.3 versus 10.8 ± 5.5; P = 0.013). In contrast (Figure 9C), only one animal bore visible pulmonary lesions in the group transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus (0.8 ± 1.7; P = 0.005), and histological analysis revealed no micrometastases in the remaining animals (not shown).
Histological examination of tumor sections revealed significant differences among the various groups (Figure 10A). Tumors arising in animals transduced with wild-type SF vector displayed a highly invasive phenotype, demonstrated by their tendency to infiltrate adjacent tissues (e.g., muscle, adipocytes, connective tissue, mammary glands, etc.) and showed few areas of necrosis. In contrast, tumors in mice expressing uncleavable SF were well encapsulated, displayed compressive expansion rather than invasive growth toward neighboring tissues, and contained large necrotic areas relative to their reduced size. Tumors found in control animals displayed an intermediate phenotype. Tumor angiogenesis was analyzed using the CD31 endothelial marker as described above. Consistent with the previous results, systemic expression of uncleavable SF reduced tumor vessel density by 3.5-fold (P = 0.025), and wild-type SF increased it by approximately 2-fold (P = 0.014). Figure 10B shows representative microscopic fields of tumor vessels. Inguinal lymph nodes proximal to the tumor site almost invariably contained cancer cells. However, the extension of the metastatic area within lymph node sections varied significantly depending on the experimental group (empty vector, 20–30%; wild-type SF, 60–80%; uncleavable SF, 5–10%; Figure 10C).
Systemic delivery of uncleavable SF reverses the invasive phenotype of experimental tumors. (A) Histological characterization of tumors from the experiment described in Figure 9. Tumor sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin are shown at a magnification of ×100. Arrows: tu, tumor cells; co, connective tissue; ad, adipocytes; bu, hair bulb; ma, mammary gland; mu, muscle; ne, necrotic tissue. (B) Immunofluorescence analysis of tumor vessels using the CD31 endothelial marker. A representative microscopic field for each experimental group is shown. Values (mean ± SD) indicate vessel density (vessels/mm2). Yellow scale bar: 100 μm. (C) Representative hematoxylin and eosin sections of inguinal lymph nodes proximal to tumor cell injection site (magnification, ×50). Arrows: ly, lymphatic cells; hi, histiocytes; me, metastatic cells. Values refer to the percentage of lymph node section occupied by metastatic cells.
Effects of systemic SF/Met inhibition on “housekeeping” physiological functions. Between 3 and 5 weeks after lentivirus vector injection, the same mice described above were subjected to a series of tests aimed at determining whether sustained systemic expression of uncleavable SF had any side effect on normal tissues or functions. We measured various parameters that could potentially be affected by SF/Met inhibition, including wound healing, hemopoiesis, blood clotting, liver markers, and kidney markers (Table 1). Upon autopsy, bone marrows were cytospun for analysis; livers and kidneys were processed for histology. Mice transduced with empty vector were used as control reference for all parameters.
Physiological parameters of lentivirus vector–transduced mice
Complete healing of a 5 mm–wide, circular, transepithelial wound occurred in control mice in 9.8 ± 1.1 days. No statistically significant change could be detected in either of the two other groups (uncleavable SF: 11.4 ± 1.1, P = 0.053; wild-type SF: 9.8 ± 1.1, P = 1.000). Consistent with a role for SF in hemopoiesis (21), the bone marrow cell apoptotic index was significantly increased in the group transduced with uncleavable SF lentivirus (1.4-fold; P < 0.001) and was substantially decreased in the group transduced with wild-type SF lentivirus (1.3-fold; P < 0.001). However, peripheral blood cell populations were normal in all mice, suggesting that the different apoptotic rate in the bone marrow was perhaps compensated by modulating proliferation. Blood clotting parameters (D-dimer test, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, and anti–thromboplastin III) and liver and kidney markers (γ-glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine) were normal in all animals. Histological analysis of liver and kidney sections did not reveal any obvious signs of pathology. Organ size in all lentivirus vector–transduced mice was undistinguishable from that of untransduced mice. All animals displayed a normal feeding behavior and did not show any alteration in weight homeostasis.