Somatostatin and its stable analogues (octreotide, lanreotide and vapreotide) exert an antiprolif... more Somatostatin and its stable analogues (octreotide, lanreotide and vapreotide) exert an antiproliferative effect on various normal and cancerous cells both in vitro and in vivo. This effect results from different mechanisms: an indirect effect by the inhibition of release of growth factors and trophic hormones (GH, IGF-1, insulin, gastrin, EGF), an inhibition of angiogenesis processes (endothelial cell proliferation, VEGF release, monocyte activity), an immunomodulatory effect (lymphocyte proliferation, interleukine or cytokine release, NK activity) and a direct effect on target cells. This direct antiproliferative effect is mediated through specific somatostatin receptors. Among them, sst(1), sst(2), sst(4) and sst(5) have been implicated in vitro in the G1-G0 cell cycle blockade, sst(3) and sst(2) mediating the apoptotic effect of somatostatin. In addition, sst(2) acts as an antioncogene in human pancreatic cancer cells. Coupling to membrane tyrosine phosphatases (SHP-1, SHP-2) is the main transduction pathway involved in the antiproliferative effect mediated by sst receptors. The dissociation observed clinically between a frequent antisecretory response and an inconstant antitumor effect after administration of somatostatin analogues may reflect an absence of expression or coupling of the receptor(s) involved in antiproliferative effect. Moreover, a desensitization or mutation of these receptors may also occur in tumors. All the potential mechanism involved should be elucidated in order to improve or better target the antitumor effect of somatostatin analogues clinically used.
TLR ligands are critical activators of innate immunity and are being developed as vaccine adjuvan... more TLR ligands are critical activators of innate immunity and are being developed as vaccine adjuvants. However, their usefulness in conjunction with NOD-like receptor agonists remains poorly studied. In this study, we evaluated a new ligand that targets both TLR2 and NOD2 receptors. We assessed its ability to enhance dendritic cell maturation in vitro in addition to improving systemic and mucosal immune responses in mice. The chimeric NOD2/TLR2 ligand induced synergistic upregulation of dendritic cell maturation markers, costimulatory molecules, and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines compared with combinations of separate ligands. Furthermore, when coadministered with biodegradable nanoparticles carrying a model Ag, the ligand was able to induce high Ag-specific IgA and IgG titers at both systemic and mucosal sites after parenteral immunizations. These findings point out the potential utility of chimeric molecules TLR/NOD as adjuvants for vaccines to induce systemic and mucosal im...
Many studies have implicated tyrosine phosphatases in the down-regulation of growth factor signal... more Many studies have implicated tyrosine phosphatases in the down-regulation of growth factor signaling pathways. It is becoming evident that some of them, including SHP-1, SHP-2 and PTPη, have a role in SSTR signaling. However, there are many issues which remain to be ...
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and devastating human malignancies. The present s... more Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and devastating human malignancies. The present study was conducted to determine whether in vivo sst2 gene transfer into human pancreatic tumors would impair tumor progression, and to characterize sst2 antitumoral bystander mechanisms. sst2 administration, using the synthetic vector PEI, strongly inhibited tumor progression of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma, in vivo. sst2 gene transfer induced intratumoral production of its ligand somatostatin. Disruption of this autocrine loop by RNA interference completely reversed sst2 antitumoral activity. Mice depleted of natural killer (NK) cells did not hamper sst2 tumor growth inhibition. However, microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were markedly reduced in sst2-transfected tumors, whereas sst3 somatostatin receptor was upregulated. Depleting somatostatin by RNA interference completely abolished the sst2 inhibitory effect on VEGF expression and tumor angiogenesis, and sst2-induced sst3 expression in peripheral tumor vessels. We conclude that in vivo sst2 gene transfer elicited intratumoral somatostatin production and strongly impaired human pancreatic tumor growth. NK cells were not involved in this antitumoral bystander effect. VEGF and tumor vascularization were identified as novel targets for sst2-mediated antitumoral bystander effect. sst3 somatostatin receptor was upregulated in sst2-transfected tumors. Therefore, in vivo gene delivery of sst2 receptor to target the angiogenic process in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma might be a new therapeutic approach for treatment of pancreatic cancer in patients with unresectable disease.
The study investigated the effects of dopamine D1-like receptor stimulation on the autonomic nerv... more The study investigated the effects of dopamine D1-like receptor stimulation on the autonomic nervous system. Fenoldopam (20 microg/kg) was injected i.v. in conscious sinoaortic denervated dogs, that is, surgically deprived of baroreflex pathways. In barodenervated dogs, fenoldopam (20 microg/kg) induced arterial hypotension as well as bradycardia and reduced noradrenaline plasma levels. Pentolinium (0.1 mg/kg i.v.), used to induce partial blockade of nicotinic ganglionic receptors, suppressed the fenoldopam-induced decrease in sympathetic tone, suggesting a ganglionic location for the dopamine D1-like receptor. Moreover, the inability of fenoldopam to reduce the nicotine-induced increase in sympathetic tone suggests that a postsynaptic ganglionic location can be excluded for the dopamine D1-like receptor. The results of these "in vivo" experiments strongly suggest a presynaptic location for the ganglionic dopamine D1-like receptor, stimulation of which results in a reduction of sympathetic tone.
Somatostatin is an inhibitory neuropeptide, which acts on various targets throughout the body to ... more Somatostatin is an inhibitory neuropeptide, which acts on various targets throughout the body to regulate a variety of physiological functions including inhibition of endocrine and exocrine secretions, modulation of neurotransmission, motor and cognitive functions, inhibition of intestinal motility, absorption of nutrients and ions, vascular contractility and inhibition of normal and tumour cell proliferation. It exerts its effects through interaction with five somatostatin receptors (sst1-sst5), which belong to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors with seven transmembrane spanning domains and are variably expressed in a variety of tumours such as gastroenteropancreatic tumours, pituitary tumours, and carcinoid tumours. This review covers the present knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in somatostatin antineoplastic activity. Evidence that sst2 receptor acts as a tumour suppressor is also discussed.
Somatostatin is a neuropeptide family that is produced by neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and immun... more Somatostatin is a neuropeptide family that is produced by neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and immune cells in response to different stimuli. Somatostatin acts as an endogenous inhibitory regulator of various cellular functions including secretions, motility, and proliferation. Its action is mediated by a family of G-protein-coupled receptors (called sst1-sst5) that are widely distributed in the brain and periphery. The five receptors bind the natural peptides with high affinity, but only sst2, sst5, and sst3 bind the short synthetic analogs used to treat acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors. This review covers the current knowledge in somatostatin receptor biology and signaling.
Le cancer du pancreas represente la cinquieme cause de mort par cancer dans les pays occidentaux.... more Le cancer du pancreas represente la cinquieme cause de mort par cancer dans les pays occidentaux. Les therapeutiques actuelles n'ameliorant pas la survie des patients, le pronostic reste tres pejoratif. La therapie genique apparait comme une alternative innovante dans le traitement de ce cancer chez l'Homme. Nous avons donc propose deux approches originales de therapie genique par transfert in vivo de genes specifiques du cancer pancreatique dans un modele transplantable de cancer du pancreas etabli chez le hamster. La premiere est basee sur le transfert du gene sst2 codant pour le recepteur 2 de somatostatine possedant des proprietes anti-oncogeniques et dont l'expression est perdue dans les tumeurs pancreatiques humaines. La seconde envisage l'expression de genes suicides, crees par la Societe Cayla, qui possedent une action sensibilisante a la chimiotherapie. Ce travail demontre l'efficacite du transfert de ces deux nouveaux genes dans une approche preclinique...
Somatostatin and its stable analogues (octreotide, lanreotide and vapreotide) exert an antiprolif... more Somatostatin and its stable analogues (octreotide, lanreotide and vapreotide) exert an antiproliferative effect on various normal and cancerous cells both in vitro and in vivo. This effect results from different mechanisms: an indirect effect by the inhibition of release of growth factors and trophic hormones (GH, IGF-1, insulin, gastrin, EGF), an inhibition of angiogenesis processes (endothelial cell proliferation, VEGF release, monocyte activity), an immunomodulatory effect (lymphocyte proliferation, interleukine or cytokine release, NK activity) and a direct effect on target cells. This direct antiproliferative effect is mediated through specific somatostatin receptors. Among them, sst(1), sst(2), sst(4) and sst(5) have been implicated in vitro in the G1-G0 cell cycle blockade, sst(3) and sst(2) mediating the apoptotic effect of somatostatin. In addition, sst(2) acts as an antioncogene in human pancreatic cancer cells. Coupling to membrane tyrosine phosphatases (SHP-1, SHP-2) is the main transduction pathway involved in the antiproliferative effect mediated by sst receptors. The dissociation observed clinically between a frequent antisecretory response and an inconstant antitumor effect after administration of somatostatin analogues may reflect an absence of expression or coupling of the receptor(s) involved in antiproliferative effect. Moreover, a desensitization or mutation of these receptors may also occur in tumors. All the potential mechanism involved should be elucidated in order to improve or better target the antitumor effect of somatostatin analogues clinically used.
TLR ligands are critical activators of innate immunity and are being developed as vaccine adjuvan... more TLR ligands are critical activators of innate immunity and are being developed as vaccine adjuvants. However, their usefulness in conjunction with NOD-like receptor agonists remains poorly studied. In this study, we evaluated a new ligand that targets both TLR2 and NOD2 receptors. We assessed its ability to enhance dendritic cell maturation in vitro in addition to improving systemic and mucosal immune responses in mice. The chimeric NOD2/TLR2 ligand induced synergistic upregulation of dendritic cell maturation markers, costimulatory molecules, and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines compared with combinations of separate ligands. Furthermore, when coadministered with biodegradable nanoparticles carrying a model Ag, the ligand was able to induce high Ag-specific IgA and IgG titers at both systemic and mucosal sites after parenteral immunizations. These findings point out the potential utility of chimeric molecules TLR/NOD as adjuvants for vaccines to induce systemic and mucosal im...
Many studies have implicated tyrosine phosphatases in the down-regulation of growth factor signal... more Many studies have implicated tyrosine phosphatases in the down-regulation of growth factor signaling pathways. It is becoming evident that some of them, including SHP-1, SHP-2 and PTPη, have a role in SSTR signaling. However, there are many issues which remain to be ...
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and devastating human malignancies. The present s... more Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and devastating human malignancies. The present study was conducted to determine whether in vivo sst2 gene transfer into human pancreatic tumors would impair tumor progression, and to characterize sst2 antitumoral bystander mechanisms. sst2 administration, using the synthetic vector PEI, strongly inhibited tumor progression of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma, in vivo. sst2 gene transfer induced intratumoral production of its ligand somatostatin. Disruption of this autocrine loop by RNA interference completely reversed sst2 antitumoral activity. Mice depleted of natural killer (NK) cells did not hamper sst2 tumor growth inhibition. However, microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were markedly reduced in sst2-transfected tumors, whereas sst3 somatostatin receptor was upregulated. Depleting somatostatin by RNA interference completely abolished the sst2 inhibitory effect on VEGF expression and tumor angiogenesis, and sst2-induced sst3 expression in peripheral tumor vessels. We conclude that in vivo sst2 gene transfer elicited intratumoral somatostatin production and strongly impaired human pancreatic tumor growth. NK cells were not involved in this antitumoral bystander effect. VEGF and tumor vascularization were identified as novel targets for sst2-mediated antitumoral bystander effect. sst3 somatostatin receptor was upregulated in sst2-transfected tumors. Therefore, in vivo gene delivery of sst2 receptor to target the angiogenic process in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma might be a new therapeutic approach for treatment of pancreatic cancer in patients with unresectable disease.
The study investigated the effects of dopamine D1-like receptor stimulation on the autonomic nerv... more The study investigated the effects of dopamine D1-like receptor stimulation on the autonomic nervous system. Fenoldopam (20 microg/kg) was injected i.v. in conscious sinoaortic denervated dogs, that is, surgically deprived of baroreflex pathways. In barodenervated dogs, fenoldopam (20 microg/kg) induced arterial hypotension as well as bradycardia and reduced noradrenaline plasma levels. Pentolinium (0.1 mg/kg i.v.), used to induce partial blockade of nicotinic ganglionic receptors, suppressed the fenoldopam-induced decrease in sympathetic tone, suggesting a ganglionic location for the dopamine D1-like receptor. Moreover, the inability of fenoldopam to reduce the nicotine-induced increase in sympathetic tone suggests that a postsynaptic ganglionic location can be excluded for the dopamine D1-like receptor. The results of these "in vivo" experiments strongly suggest a presynaptic location for the ganglionic dopamine D1-like receptor, stimulation of which results in a reduction of sympathetic tone.
Somatostatin is an inhibitory neuropeptide, which acts on various targets throughout the body to ... more Somatostatin is an inhibitory neuropeptide, which acts on various targets throughout the body to regulate a variety of physiological functions including inhibition of endocrine and exocrine secretions, modulation of neurotransmission, motor and cognitive functions, inhibition of intestinal motility, absorption of nutrients and ions, vascular contractility and inhibition of normal and tumour cell proliferation. It exerts its effects through interaction with five somatostatin receptors (sst1-sst5), which belong to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors with seven transmembrane spanning domains and are variably expressed in a variety of tumours such as gastroenteropancreatic tumours, pituitary tumours, and carcinoid tumours. This review covers the present knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in somatostatin antineoplastic activity. Evidence that sst2 receptor acts as a tumour suppressor is also discussed.
Somatostatin is a neuropeptide family that is produced by neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and immun... more Somatostatin is a neuropeptide family that is produced by neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and immune cells in response to different stimuli. Somatostatin acts as an endogenous inhibitory regulator of various cellular functions including secretions, motility, and proliferation. Its action is mediated by a family of G-protein-coupled receptors (called sst1-sst5) that are widely distributed in the brain and periphery. The five receptors bind the natural peptides with high affinity, but only sst2, sst5, and sst3 bind the short synthetic analogs used to treat acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors. This review covers the current knowledge in somatostatin receptor biology and signaling.
Le cancer du pancreas represente la cinquieme cause de mort par cancer dans les pays occidentaux.... more Le cancer du pancreas represente la cinquieme cause de mort par cancer dans les pays occidentaux. Les therapeutiques actuelles n'ameliorant pas la survie des patients, le pronostic reste tres pejoratif. La therapie genique apparait comme une alternative innovante dans le traitement de ce cancer chez l'Homme. Nous avons donc propose deux approches originales de therapie genique par transfert in vivo de genes specifiques du cancer pancreatique dans un modele transplantable de cancer du pancreas etabli chez le hamster. La premiere est basee sur le transfert du gene sst2 codant pour le recepteur 2 de somatostatine possedant des proprietes anti-oncogeniques et dont l'expression est perdue dans les tumeurs pancreatiques humaines. La seconde envisage l'expression de genes suicides, crees par la Societe Cayla, qui possedent une action sensibilisante a la chimiotherapie. Ce travail demontre l'efficacite du transfert de ces deux nouveaux genes dans une approche preclinique...
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