Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 and Lysophospholipids in Tumor Angiogenesis

Abstract

BackgroundLung cancer and glioblastoma multiforme are highly angiogenic and, despite advances in treatment, remain resistant to therapy. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) activation contributes to treatment resistance through transduction of prosurvival signals. We investigated cPLA2 as a novel molecular target for antiangiogenesis therapy.MethodsGlioblastoma (GL261) and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) heterotopic tumor models were used to study the effects of cPLA2 expression on tumor growth and vascularity in C57/BL6 mice wild type for (cPLA2α+/+) or deficient in (cPLA2α−/−) cPLA2α, the predominant isoform in endothelium (n = 6–7 mice per group). The effect of inhibiting cPLA2 activity on GL261 and LLC tumor growth was studied in mice treated with the chemical cPLA2 inhibitor 4-[2-[5-chloro-1-(diphenylmethyl)-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl]-ethoxy]benzoic acid (CDIBA). Endothelial cell proliferation and function were evaluated by Ki-67 immunofluorescence and migration assays in primary cultures of murine pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (MPMEC) isolated from cPLA2α+/+ and cPLA2α−/− mice. Proliferation, invasive migration, and tubule formation were assayed in mouse vascular endothelial 3B-11 cells treated with CDIBA. Effects of lysophosphatidylcholine, arachidonic acid, and lysophosphatidic acid (lipid mediators of tumorigenesis and angiogenesis) on proliferation and migration were examined in 3B-11 cells and cPLA2α−/− MPMEC. All statistical tests were two-sided.ResultsGL261 tumor progression proceeded normally in cPLA2α+/+ mice, whereas no GL261 tumors formed in cPLA2α−/− mice. In the LLC tumor model, spontaneous tumor regression was observed in 50% of cPLA2α−/− mice. Immunohistochemical examination of the remaining tumors from cPLA2α−/− mice revealed attenuated vascularity (P ≤ .001) compared with tumors from cPLA2α+/+ mice. Inhibition of cPLA2 activity by CDIBA resulted in a delay in tumor growth (eg, LLC model: average number of days to reach tumor volume of 700 mm3, CDIBA vs vehicle: 16.8 vs 11.8, difference = 5, 95% confidence interval = 3.6 to 6.4, P = .04) and a decrease in tumor size (eg, GL261 model: mean volume on day 21, CDIBA vs vehicle: 40.1 vs 247.4 mm3, difference = 207.3 mm3, 95% confidence interval = 20.9 to 293.7 mm3, P = .021). cPLA2 deficiency statistically significantly reduced MPMEC proliferation and invasive migration (P = .002 and P = .004, respectively). Compared with untreated cells, cPLA2α−/− MPMEC treated with lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidic acid displayed increased cell proliferation (P = .011) and invasive migration (P < .001).ConclusionsIn these mouse models of brain and lung cancer, cPLA2 and lysophospholipids have key regulatory roles in tumor angiogenesis. cPLA2 inhibition may be a novel effective antiangiogenic therapy.