RESUMEN
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and common primary tumor of the central nervous system. It is characterized by having an infiltrating growth and by the presence of an excessive and aberrant vasculature. Some of the mechanisms that promote this neovascularization are angiogenesis and the transdifferentiation of tumor cells into endothelial cells or pericytes. In all these processes, the release of extracellular microvesicles by tumor cells plays an important role. Tumor cell-derived extracellular microvesicles contain pro-angiogenic molecules such as VEGF, which promote the formation of blood vessels and the recruitment of pericytes that reinforce these structures. The present study summarizes and discusses recent data from different investigations suggesting that Netrin-1, a highly versatile protein recently postulated as a non-canonical angiogenic ligand, could participate in the promotion of neovascularization processes in GBM. The relevance of determining the angiogenic signaling pathways associated with the interaction of Netrin-1 with its receptors is posed. Furthermore, we speculate that this molecule could form part of the microvesicles that favor abnormal tumor vasculature. Based on the studies presented, this review proposes Netrin-1 as a novel biomarker for GBM progression and vascularization.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Encefálicas/patología , Glioblastoma/patología , Neovascularización Patológica/genética , Netrina-1/metabolismo , Animales , Neoplasias Encefálicas/genética , Neoplasias Encefálicas/metabolismo , Glioblastoma/genética , Glioblastoma/metabolismo , Humanos , Neovascularización Patológica/metabolismo , Receptores de Netrina/genética , Receptores de Netrina/metabolismo , Netrina-1/genética , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder, defined by high blood glucose levels during pregnancy, which affects foetal and post-natal development. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of this detrimental condition are still poorly understood. A dysregulation in circulating angiogenic trophic factors, due to a dysfunction of the feto-placental unit, has been proposed to underlie GDM. But even the detailed study of canonical pro-angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) has not been able to fully explain this detrimental condition during pregnancy. Netrins are non-canonical angiogenic ligands produced by the stroma have shown to be important in placental angiogenesis. In order to address the potential role of Netrin signalling in GDM, we tested the effect of Netrin-1, the most investigated member of the family, produced by Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJ-MSC), on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) angiogenesis. WJ-MSC and HUVEC primary cell cultures from either healthy or GDM pregnancies were exposed to physiological (5 mM) or high (25 mM) d-glucose. Our results reveal that Netrin-1 is secreted by WJ-MSC from healthy and GDM and both expression and secretion of the ligand do not change with distinct experimental glucose conditions. Noteworthy, the expression of its anti-angiogenic receptor UNC5b is reduced in GDM HUVEC compared with its expression in healthy HUVEC, accounting for an increased Netrin-1 signalling in these cells. Consistently, in healthy HUVEC, UNC5b overexpression induces cell retraction of the sprouting phenotype.