Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Regulates ZEB1 in Cancer Pubblico

Rao, Ishani (Spring 2022)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/pg15bg088?locale=it
Published

Abstract

In cancer immunology, VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) is a neuropeptide with pleiotropic effects including inhibiting T-cell activation, increasing regulatory T-cell frequency, and augmenting the immunosuppressive activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. VIP expression by cancer may represent a paracrine immune-check-point pathways as well as having autocrine effects on cancer growth. We used an in silico model to identify genes whose over-expression in cancer was correlated with elevated VIP expression and confirmed the role of VIP-receptor signaling in vitro using VIP-R antagonists. The TCGA PanCan dataset (analysis per UCSC Xena) was used to compare mRNA expression data of VIP versus 760 genes involved in 48 cancer-related pathways. A positive association was defined as Pearson’s Coefficient R-values >0.3. Expression of target genes and VIP were confirmed by Western blot analysis in cancer cell lines, and VIP-R signaling was inhibited using ANT008, a novel VIP-R inhibitor. A significant correlation (R>0.3) between VIP expression and 10 genes was observed (Table 1). Grouping cancers by germ-layer analysis demonstrated the strongest (R>0.4) associations in ectodermal and mesodermal-derived cancers. Histologically, the highest single association with VIP was with ZEB1 expression in stomach adenocarcinoma (R = 0.7643). In vitro experiments using Jurkat T-cells confirmed expression of VIP and ZEB1 protein. Treatment of Jurkat cells treated with the VIP antagonist ANT-08 (10 μM) demonstrated a reduction in ZEB1 total protein expression when VIP-R signaling was inhibited. The results demonstrate autocrine signaling between VIP expression and cancer-associated gene pathways. The ZEB1 transcription factor is a known EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) regulator, and our in vitro studies demonstrate this pathway is therapeutically targetable using a VIP antagonist. 

Table of Contents

Introduction                                                                                                                                                                                       1-6

Methods                                                                                                                                                                                              6-8

Results                                                                                                                                                                                               8-16

Discussion                                                                                                                                                                                      16-20

References                                                                                                                                                                                      20-23

About this Honors Thesis

Rights statement
  • Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
School
Department
Degree
Submission
Language
  • English
Research Field
Parola chiave
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor
Ultima modifica

Primary PDF

Supplemental Files