Ovarian cancer cell heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferases regulate an angiogenic program induced by heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor/EGF receptor signaling.
Heparan sulfate (HS) is a component of cell surface and extracellular matrix proteoglycans that regulates numerous signaling pathways by binding and activating multiple growth factors and chemokines. The amount and pattern of HS sulfation are key determinants for the assembly of the trimolecular, HS-growth factor-receptor, signaling complex. Here we demonstrate that HS 6-O-sulfotransferases 1 and 2 (HS6ST-1 and HS6ST-2), which perform sulfation at 6-O position in glucosamine in HS, impact ovarian cancer angiogenesis through the HS-dependent HB-EGF/EGFR axis that subsequently modulates the expression of multiple angiogenic cytokines. Down-regulation of HS6ST-1 or HS6ST-2 in human ovarian cancer cell lines results in 30-50% reduction in glucosamine 6-O-sulfate levels in HS, impairing HB-EGF-dependent EGFR signaling and diminishing FGF2, IL-6, and IL-8 mRNA and protein levels in cancer cells. These cancer cell-related changes reduce endothelial cell signaling and tubule formation in vitro. In vivo, the development of subcutaneous tumor nodules with reduced 6-O-sulfation is significantly delayed at the initial stages of tumor establishment with further reduction in angiogenesis occurring throughout tumor growth. Our results show that in addition to the critical role that 6-O-sulfate moieties play in angiogenic cytokine activation, HS 6-O-sulfation level, determined by the expression of HS6ST isoforms in ovarian cancer cells, is a major regulator of angiogenic program in ovarian cancer cells impacting HB-EGF signaling and subsequent expression of angiogenic cytokines by cancer cells.
['Cole|Claire L|CL|', 'Rushton|Graham|G|', 'Jayson|Gordon C|GC|', 'Avizienyte|Egle|E|']
D000818:Animals D045744:Cell Line, Tumor D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned D016207:Cytokines D004187:Disaccharides D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor D066246:ErbB Receptors D005260:Female D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic D005944:Glucosamine D006801:Humans D015850:Interleukin-6 D016209:Interleukin-8 D051379:Mice D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 D015398:Signal Transduction D015238:Sulfotransferases
Heparan Sulfate Angiogenesis HB-EGF IL-6 IL-8 Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Sulfotransferase Tumor Microenvironment