Lactate stimulates fibroblast expression of hyaluronan and CD44: the Warburg effect revisited

Hyaluronan, a high-molecular-weight glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix, is prominent during rapid tissue growth and repair. It stimulates cell motility and hydrates tissue, providing an environment that facilitates cell movement. Markedly enhanced levels of hyaluronan also occur in the stroma surrounding human cancers, thus providing an environment that promotes spread of cancer cells. The ability of malignant tumors to generate lactate, even in the presence of adequate oxygen, is known as the Warburg effect. Early in wound healing as blood and oxygen supply decrease, lactate levels increase, as does stromal hyaluronan, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship. Similarly, peritumor stromal fibroblast hyaluronan may be a response to cancer cell lactate. To test this, fibroblasts were cultured in the presence of lactate. With increasing lactate, higher levels of hyaluronan were observed, as were levels of CD44 expression, the predominant receptor for hyaluronan. The ability of tumor cells to utilize anaerobic metabolism and to generate lactate, even in the presence of adequate supplies of oxygen, may be one of the mechanisms used to recruit host fibroblasts to deposit hyaluronan and to express CD44, thereby participating in the process of cancer invasion and metastasis.     

Identification of novel splice variants of the human CD44 gene

The CD44 gene contains 10 variable exons (v1-v10) that can be alternatively spliced to generate hundreds of different CD44 protein isoforms, several of which have been implicated in the metastatic spread of tumour cells. Here, we describe a cryptic splice site, in intron 6 of the human CD44 gene, used during mRNA processing. This cryptic splice site is used in conjunction with variable exon 3, or independently from it in the form of a pseudo-exon of 49 bp, which generates a stop codon by frame shift in the contiguous variable exon downstream. This pseudo-exon has been found inserted immediately 3' to any other variable exon from v4 to v10, in the final CD44 mRNA. The implication of this cryptic splice site in haltering CD44 protein translation is questioned in the context of Nonsense Mediated Decay and the overall regulation of CD44 expression.     

CD44在隐球菌性脑膜炎发病机制中的作用研究

目的测定隐球菌性脑膜炎小鼠脑组织中CD44表达,探讨CD44在隐球菌性脑膜炎发病机制中的作用。方法隐球菌性脑膜炎免疫抑制小鼠为实验组,未接种隐球菌的免疫抑制小鼠为对照组,应用免疫组化法检测实验组6h、12h、24h、48h、72h、4d、7d小鼠脑组织CD44表达与对照组的变化。结果对照组小鼠脑组织CD44均匀分布在脑细胞膜上。实验组隐球菌作用小鼠48h、72h后,CD44在小鼠脑组织脑膜侧分布增加,而在脑实质侧CD44的分布明显减少。病灶周围的脑组织CD44分布也一侧增加,另一侧分布减少。结论隐球菌侵入小鼠脑组织后,隐球菌诱导CD44向脑组织的一侧移行,向脑膜方向聚集。病灶周围脑组织CD44分布也不均匀。说明隐球菌性脑膜炎的发生与CD44有密切的关系。     

鼻咽癌CD44抑制表达细胞株的建立

目的:构建CD44新剪接变异体siRNA质粒表达载体,建立CD44新变异体抑制表达的鼻咽癌细胞株.方法:合成CD44新变异体特异性干扰DNA片段,干扰DNA片段亚克隆于带绿色荧光蛋白的pGenesil -1.3质粒表达载体中,双酶切和测序鉴定重组表达质粒载体;采用脂质体将重组表达质粒载体转染入鼻咽癌5 -8F细胞系,进行G418筛选;Western blot分析CD44表达.结果:重组CD44干扰DNA片段质粒表达载体的碱基序列和插入方向正确;细胞转染效率达70％;G418筛选获得GFP表达的单克隆鼻咽癌5 -8F细胞株;Western blot分析表明CD44表达受抑制.结论:建立了CD44新变异体抑制表达的鼻咽癌细胞株,为CD44新变异体在鼻咽癌中的生物学功能提供了基础.     

In vivo osteopontin-induced macrophage accumulation is dependent on CD44 expression

In order to assess the role of osteopontin (OPN) in leukocyte accumulation in inflammatory conditions, native OPN and its thrombin cleaved form (OPN + Thr) were studied in vivo using a rodent subcutaneous air pouch model (AP). Both forms of OPN-induced macrophage infiltration into the AP in wild-type mice. In animals lacking CD44, macrophage numbers were significantly reduced within the cavity, but cells still accumulated along the subcutaneous lining. In animals lacking endogenous OPN, no differences were found in exogenous OPN-induced macrophage accumulation, although macrophage exhibited increased α4 integrin expression. These studies reveal that both OPN and OPN + Thr attract macrophages in vivo through CD44.     

CD44 variant,but not standard CD44 isoforms,mediate disassembly of endothelial VE-cadherin junction on metastatic melanoma cells

Loss of endothelial adherens junctions is involved in tumor metastasis. Here, we demonstrate that, in the metastatic Lu1205 melanoma cells, expression of the CD44 variant CD44v8-v10 induced junction disassembly and vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin phosphorylation at Y658 and Y731. Short interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated CD44 knockdown or sialic acid cleavage reversed these effects. Moreover, microspheres coated with recombinant CD44v8-v10 promoted endothelial junction disruption. Overexpression of CD44v8-v10 but not of standard CD44 (CD44s) promoted gap formation in the non-metastatic WM35 melanoma cells, whereas CD44 knockdown or neuraminidase treatment dramatically diminished melanoma transendothelial migration. Endothelial cells transfected with the phosphomimetic VE-cadherin mutant Y658E supported transmigration of CD44-silenced Lu1205 cells. Our findings imply that CD44 variant isoform (CD44v) but not CD44s regulates endothelial junction loss, promoting melanoma extravasation.     

Internalization of the Hyaluronan Receptor CD44 by Chondrocytes

Chondrocytes express CD44 as a primary receptor for the matrix macromolecule hyaluronan. Hyaluronan is responsible for the retention and organization of proteoglycan within cartilage, and hyaluronan-chondrocyte interactions are important for the assembly and maintenance of the cartilage matrix. Bovine articular chondrocytes were used to study the endocytosis and turnover of CD44 and the effects of receptor occupancy on this turnover. Matrix-intact chondrocytes exhibit approximately a 6% internalization of cell surface CD44 by 4 h. Treatment with Streptomyces hyaluronidase to remove endogenous pericellular matrix increased internalization to approximately 20% of cell surface CD44 at 4 h. This turnover could be partially inhibited by the addition of exogenous hyaluronan to these matrix-depleted chondrocytes. Cell surface biotin-labeled CD44 was internalized by chondrocytes and this internalization was decreased in the presence of hyaluronan. Colocalization of internalized CD44 and fluorescein-labeled hyaluronan in intracellular vesicles correlates with the previous results of receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway for the degradation of hyaluronan by acid hydrolases. Taken together, our results indicate that CD44 is internalized by chondrocytes and that CD44 turnover is modulated by occupancy with hyaluronan.     

慢性胃炎肠化生CD44、CD44V6及Cyclin D1、Cyclin E的表达和意义

目的探讨慢性胃炎胃粘膜肠化生CD44、CD44V6及cyclin D、Cyclin E表达的意义。方法利用免疫细胞化学技术对39例伴有肠化生的慢性胃炎和5例正常人胃窦粘膜的活检组织进行检查。结果正常人胃窦粘膜上皮,腺上皮对CD44、CD44V6、Cyclin D1和Cyclin E均为阴性,但在有神经内分泌样细胞的粘膜,CD44V6和cyclin D1为阳性。慢性胃炎肠化生区和不典型增生区除CD44为阴性外,CD44V6 mcyclin D1和cyclin E均呈现不同的阳性反应,但未见有阳性的神经内分泌样细胞。问质细胞大都呈阳性反应。结论CD44V6、cyclin D1和cyclin E可能是胃癌前状态的早期事件,而CD44可能为胃癌晚期的标志物。     

CD44 in inflammation and metastasis

CD44 is a major cell surface receptor for the glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronan (HA). CD44 binds HA specifically, although certain chondroitin-sulfate containing proteoglycans may also be recognized. CD44 binding of HA is regulated by the cells in which it is expressed. Thus, CD44 expression alone does not correlate with HA binding activity. CD44 is subject to a wide array of post-translational carbohydrate modifications, including N-linked, O-linked and glycosaminoglycan side chain additions. These modifications, which differ in different cell types and cell activation states, can have profound effects on HA binding function and are the main mechanism of regulating CD44 function that has been described to date. Some glycosaminoglycan modifications also affect ligand binding specificity, allowing CD44 to interact with proteins of the extracellular matrix, such as fibronectin and collagen, and to sequester heparin binding growth factors. It is not yet established whether the HA binding function of CD44 is responsible for its proposed involvement in inflammation. It has been shown, however, that CD44/HA interactions can mediate leukocyte rolling on endothelial and tissue substrates and that CD44-mediated recognition of HA can contribute to leukocyte activation. Changes in CD44 expression (mainly up-regulation, occasionally down-regulation, and frequently alteration in the pattern of isoforms expressed) are associated with a wide variety of cancers and the degree to which they spread; however, in other cancers, the CD44 pattern remains unchanged. Increased expression of CD44 is associated with increased binding to HA and increased metastatic potential in some experimental tumor systems; however, in other systems increased HA binding and metastatic potential are not correlated. CD44 may contribute to malignancy through changes in the regulation of HA recognition, the recognition of new ligands and/or other new biological functions of CD44 that remain to be discovered. Abbreviations: aa, amino acid(s); CS, chondroitin sulfate; CSPG, chondroitin sulfate containing proteoglycan; CD44H, ‘hematopoietic’, also called ‘standard’, isoform of CD44 which contains none of the alternatively spliced variant exons; CD44-Rg, CD44 receptor globulin, a secreted chimaeric protein composed of the external domain of the adhesion receptor CD44 and the hinge, CH2 and CH3 regions of human immunoglobulin-G heavy chain; ECM, extracellular matrix; GAG, glycosaminoglycan; HA, hyaluronan; HS, heparan sulfate; KS, keratan sulfate; PB, peripheral blood; PBL, peripheral blood lymphocytes This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Detection of high CD44 expression in oral cancers using the novel monoclonal antibody,C44Mab-5

CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that regulates a variety of genes related to cell-adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. A large number of alternative splicing isoforms of CD44, containing various combinations of alternative exons, have been reported. CD44 standard (CD44s), which lacks variant exons, is widely expressed on the surface of most tissues and all hematopoietic cells. In contrast, CD44 variant isoforms show tissue-specific expression patterns and have been extensively studied as both prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in cancer and other diseases. In this study, we immunized mice with CHO-K1 cell lines overexpressing CD44v3-10 to obtain novel anti-CD44 mAbs. One of the clones, C₄₄Mab-5 (IgG₁, kappa), recognized both CD44s and CD44v3-10. C₄₄Mab-5 also reacted with oral cancer cells such as Ca9-22, HO-1-u-1, SAS, HSC-2, HSC-3, and HSC-4 using flow cytometry. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that C₄₄Mab-5 detected 166/182 (91.2%) of oral cancers. These results suggest that the C₄₄Mab-5 antibody may be useful for investigating the expression and function of CD44 in various cancers.     

Glycated albumin and cross-linking of CD44 induce scavenger receptor expression and uptake of oxidized LDL in human monocytes

Functional role of CD44, a principal receptor of hyaluronan, and glycated albumin for differentiation of resting human monocytes isolated by counterflow centrifugal elutriation was investigated. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that amadori-modified glycated albumin induced expression of CD44 as well as macrophage scavenger receptors (MSRs) such as CD36 and CD68 on resting monocytes. Crosslinking of CD44 on monocytes also induced MSR expression. Furthermore, CD44 crosslinking and/or glycated albumin enhanced the uptake of oxidized-low density lipoprotein in monocytes and foam cell formation. Taken together, engagement of CD44 (e.g., hyaluronan) and glycated albumin induced the differentiation of resting monocytes into foam macrophages through the induction of MSRs, implying that CD44 could be involved in atherosclerotic lesions of those such as diabetic patients.     

CD44 enhances neuregulin signaling by Schwann cells

We describe a key role for the CD44 transmembrane glycoprotein in Schwann cell-neuron interactions. CD44 proteins have been implicated in cell adhesion and in the presentation of growth factors to high affinity receptors. We observed high CD44 expression in early rat neonatal nerves at times when Schwann cells proliferate but low expression in adult nerves, where CD44 was found in some nonmyelinating Schwann cells and to varying extents in some myelinating fibers. CD44 constitutively associated with erbB2 and erbB3, receptor tyrosine kinases that heterodimerize and signal in Schwann cells in response to neuregulins. Moreover, CD44 significantly enhanced neuregulin-induced erbB2 phosphorylation and erbB2-erbB3 heterodimerization. Reduction of CD44 expression in vitro resulted in loss of Schwann cell-neurite adhesion and Schwann cell apoptosis. CD44 is therefore crucial for maintaining neuron-Schwann cell interactions at least partly by facilitating neuregulin-induced erbB2-erbB3 activation.     

PSMA、CD44v6在前列腺癌组织中的表达及相关性研究

目的探讨PSMA、CD44v6在前列腺癌中的表达及其与临床特征的关系,为临床预测前列腺癌的转移潜能及预后、指导治疗提供客观有效的指标。方法采用免疫组化S-P法检测PSMA、CD44v6在前列腺癌、前列腺增生及正常前列腺组织中的表达情况。结果PSMA在前列腺癌组织与前列腺增生组织中的表达无显著性差异;肿瘤分化程度低及有淋巴结转移者PSMA表达明显高于分化程度高及无淋巴结转移者。CD44v6在正常前列腺组织及前列腺增生组织中无表达,在前列腺癌组织中的表达较高,并且分化程度低及有淋巴结转移者CD44v6表达明显高于分化程度高及无淋巴结转移者。结论前列腺癌组织中PSMA与CD44v6的表达与肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移有关,且两者的表达在前列腺癌组织中具有相关性。     

双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸对结肠癌细胞CD44v6和MMP-2表达的影响

目的研究双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸(LTA)对结肠癌细胞中CD44v6与基质金属蛋白酶2(MMP-2)表达的影响,探讨其在抑制结肠癌转移中的作用。方法结肠癌LoVo细胞及HT-29细胞用含50 mg/L双歧杆菌LTA的培养液培养24 h后,RT-PCR和免疫细胞化学染色检测CD44v6和MMP-2在结肠癌细胞中的表达变化。结果结肠癌LoVo细胞及HT-29细胞中CD44v6和MMP-2的mRNA和蛋白质均呈高表达,经双歧杆菌LTA处理后,其表达均明显下降,与对照组比较,差异有非常显著性(P0.01)。结论双歧杆菌LTA可能通过下调CD44v6和MMP-2的表达来抑制结肠癌的转移。     

宫颈癌中骨桥蛋白和CD44v6的表达及临床意义

目的探讨骨桥蛋白(OPN)和CD44v6在宫颈浸润癌中的表达及其意义。方法应用免疫组化SP法检测OPN和CD44v6在10例慢性宫颈炎、30例宫颈上皮内瘤样变及50例宫颈浸润癌组织中的表达。结果OPN在以上组织中的阳性表达率分别为10.00%(1/10)、36.67%和60.00%,慢性宫颈炎与宫颈浸润癌之间的表达差异有显著性(P<0.01);CD44v6阳性表达率分别为10.00%(1/10)、43.33%和68.00%,慢性宫颈炎与宫颈浸润癌之间的表达差异有显著性(P<0.01)。宫颈浸润癌组织中OPN和CD44v6表达均与患者年龄、肿瘤病理分级、组织学类型无关(P>0.05),而与淋巴结转移有关(P<0.05)。OPN与CD44v6的表达之间有显著正相关性(r=0.829,P<0.01)。结论OPN、CD44v6可能参与了宫颈癌的发生、发展和转移过程,联合检测它们的表达可作为判断宫颈癌的预后和术后复发的评估指标。