The NG2 proteoglycan is not expressed by mammary tumor cells in the MMTV-PyMT mouse model of breast cancer, but is expressed by at least three important cell types in the tumor stroma: pericytes in the tumor vasculature, myeloid cells that invade the tumors from the circulation, and adipocytes in the mammary fat pad. By several criteria, including tumor latency, growth rate, and metastasis, ablation of NG2 greatly slows mammary tumor progression in the MMTV-PyMT model, emphasizing the power of microenvironmental factors in promoting tumorigenesis. Due to our interest in tumor vascularization and metastasis, we are focusing on mechanisms by which NG2 supports the tumor-promoting activities of pericytes and myeloid cells.
The specific aims of this proposal will be to examine the respective effects of pericyte NG2 and myeloid cell NG2 on mammary tumor progression in the MMTV-PyMT model. For these purposes we will utilize cell type-specific ablations of NG2 in these two populations to analyze the progression of both spontaneous and allografted mammary tumors.
In Aim 1 we will compare tumor progression and tumor vascularization in control mice and in pericyte-specific NG2 null mice produced by crossing NG2 floxed mice with Pdgfrb/Cre transgenic mice. Characterization of the tumor vasculature will include determinations of pericyte ensheathment of endothelial cells, maturation of pericytes and endothelial cells, assembly of the basal lamina, vessel patency, vessel leakiness, and tumor hypoxia. In vitro co-cultures of pericytes and endothelial cells will be used to further elucidate mechanisms by which NG2 supports pericyte/endothelial cell crosstalk.
In Aim 2 we will compare myeloid cell function in control mice and in myeloid-specific NG2 null mice produced by crossing NG2 floxed mice with LysM/Cre transgenic mice. Characterization of the effects of NG2 ablation will include determination of M1 versus M2 polarization, assessment of changes in the size and differentiation state of key myeloid populations, and localization of these populations to critical sites such as vasculature and tumor margins. In vitro co-cultures of tumor cells and macrophages will be used to explore mechanisms by which NG2 affects macrophage/tumor cell interaction.
In Aim 3 we will use both the pericyte-specific and myeloid-specific NG2 null mice to study the importance of NG2 in mammary tumor metastasis to the lungs. We will use fluorescent-labeled mammary tumor cells to dissect the metastatic process into its component stages, including intravasation of tumor cells into the vasculature, extravasation of tumor cells from the vasculature into the lungs, and establishment of pre-metastatic niches in the lungs.

Public Health Relevance

Improvements in the treatment of breast cancer will require a better understanding of tumor-promoting factors associated with both the mammary tumor cells themselves and the host stroma in which the tumors reside. The NG2 proteoglycan is present on two stromal cell types, microvascular pericytes and tumor myeloid cells, that promote mammary tumor progression by supporting tumor vascularization and metastasis. Our studies on the role of NG2 in stimulating the tumor-promoting activities of these cells will enhance our understanding of the vascularization and metastatic processes and will also identify the proteoglycan as a multifocal target for breast cancer therapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA095287-09
Application #
8298133
Study Section
Tumor Microenvironment Study Section (TME)
Program Officer
Woodhouse, Elizabeth
Project Start
2002-04-01
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$427,437
Indirect Cost
$203,648
Name
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
020520466
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Tang, Fengying; Lord, Megan S; Stallcup, William B et al. (2018) Cell surface chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4) binds to the basement membrane heparan sulphate proteoglycan, perlecan, and is involved in cell adhesion. J Biochem 163:399-412
You, Weon-Kyoo; Stallcup, William B (2017) Localization of VEGF to Vascular ECM Is an Important Aspect of Tumor Angiogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 9:
Stallcup, William B (2017) NG2 Proteoglycan Enhances Brain Tumor Progression by Promoting Beta-1 Integrin Activation in both Cis and Trans Orientations. Cancers (Basel) 9:
Guimarães-Camboa, Nuno; Cattaneo, Paola; Sun, Yunfu et al. (2017) Pericytes of Multiple Organs Do Not Behave as Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vivo. Cell Stem Cell 20:345-359.e5
Xavier, Sandhya; Sahu, Ranjit K; Landes, Susan G et al. (2017) Pericytes and immune cells contribute to complement activation in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 312:F516-F532
Tao, Liang; Zhang, Jie; Meraner, Paul et al. (2016) Frizzled proteins are colonic epithelial receptors for C. difficile toxin B. Nature 538:350-355
Stallcup, William B; You, Weon-Kyoo; Kucharova, Karolina et al. (2016) NG2 Proteoglycan-Dependent Contributions of Pericytes and Macrophages to Brain Tumor Vascularization and Progression. Microcirculation 23:122-33
Cejudo-Martin, Pilar; Kucharova, Karolina; Stallcup, William B (2016) Role of NG2 proteoglycan in macrophage recruitment to brain tumors and sites of CNS demyelination. Trends Cell Mol Biol 11:55-65
Liu, Xiangyou; Braun, Gary B; Zhong, Haizheng et al. (2016) Tumor-Targeted Multimodal Optical Imaging with Versatile Cadmium-Free Quantum Dots. Adv Funct Mater 26:267-276
She, Zhi-Gang; Chang, Yunchao; Pang, Hong-Bo et al. (2016) NG2 Proteoglycan Ablation Reduces Foam Cell Formation and Atherogenesis via Decreased Low-Density Lipoprotein Retention by Synthetic Smooth Muscle Cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 36:49-59

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