The growth and aggressive behavior of human osteosarcoma is regulated by a CaMKII-controlled autocrine VEGF signaling mechanism

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 10;10(4):e0121568. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121568. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a hyperproliferative malignant tumor that requires a high vascular density to maintain its large volume. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in angiogenesis and acts as a paracrine and autocrine agent affecting both endothelial and tumor cells. The alpha-Ca2+/Calmodulin kinase two (α-CaMKII) protein is an important regulator of OS growth. Here, we investigate the role of α-CaMKII-induced VEGF in the growth and tumorigenicity of OS. We show that the pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of α-CaMKII results in decreases in VEGF gene expression (50%) and protein secretion (55%), while α- CaMKII overexpression increases VEGF gene expression (250%) and protein secretion (1,200%). We show that aggressive OS cells (143B) express high levels of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) and respond to exogenous VEGF (100nm) by increasing intracellular calcium (30%). This response is ameliorated by the VEGFR inhibitor CBO-P11, suggesting that secreted VEGF results in autocrine stimulated α-CaMKII activation. Furthermore, we show that VEGF and α-CaMKII inhibition decreases the transactivation of the HIF-1α and AP-1 reporter constructs. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay shows significantly decreased binding of HIF-1α and AP-1 to their responsive elements in the VEGF promoter. These data suggest that α-CaMKII regulates VEGF transcription by controlling HIF-1α and AP-1 transcriptional activities. Finally, CBO-P11, KN-93 (CaMKII inhibitor) and combination therapy significantly reduced tumor burden in vivo. Our results suggest that VEGF-induced OS tumor growth is controlled by CaMKII and dual therapy by CaMKII and VEGF inhibitors could be a promising therapy against this devastating adolescent disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autocrine Communication / drug effects
  • Benzylamines / pharmacology
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Osteosarcoma / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / genetics
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Benzylamines
  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Sulfonamides
  • Transcription Factor AP-1
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • cyclo-VEGI
  • KN 93
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2