Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor, characterized by the intrinsic resistance to chemotherapy due to the presence of a highly aggressive Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) subpopulation. In this context, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) have been demonstrated to induce CSC differentiation and to sensitize GBM cells to treatments. Methods: The BMP-2 mimicking peptide, named GBMP1a, was synthesized on solid-phase by Fmoc chemistry. Structural characterization and prediction of receptor binding were obtained by Circular Dicroism (CD) and NRM analyses. Activation of BMP signalling was evaluated by a luciferase reporter assay and western blot. Prodifferentiating effects of GBMP1a were verified by immunostaining and neurosphere assay in primary glioblastoma cultures. Results: CD and NMR showed that GBMP1a correctly folds into expected tridimensional structures and predicted its binding to BMPR-IA to the same epitope as in the native complex. Reporter analysis disclosed that GBMP1a is able to activate BMP signalling in GBM cells. Moreover, BMP-signalling activation was specifically dependent on smad1/5/8 phosphorylation. Finally, we confirmed that GBMP1a treatment is sufficient to enhance osteogenic differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and to induce astroglial differentiation of glioma stem cells (GSCs) in vitro. Conclusions: GBMP1a was demonstrated to be a good inducer of GSC differentiation, thus being considered a potential anti-cancer tool to be further developed for GBM treatment. General significance: These data highlight the role of BMP-mimicking peptides as potential anti-cancer agents against GBM and stimulate the further development of GBMP1a-based structures in order to enhance its stability and activity.

A synthetic BMP-2 mimicking peptide induces glioblastoma stem cell differentiation / Rampazzo, Elena; Dettin, Monica; Maule, Francesca; Scabello, Alessandra; Calvanese, Luisa; D'Auria, Gabriella; Falcigno, Lucia; Porcù, Elena; Zamuner, Annj; Puppa, Alessandro Della; Boso, Daniele; Basso, Giuseppe; Persano, Luca. - In: BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. - ISSN 0006-3002. - 1861:9(2017), pp. 2282-2292. [10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.07.001]

A synthetic BMP-2 mimicking peptide induces glioblastoma stem cell differentiation

CALVANESE, LUISA;D'AURIA, GABRIELLA;FALCIGNO, LUCIA;
2017

Abstract

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor, characterized by the intrinsic resistance to chemotherapy due to the presence of a highly aggressive Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) subpopulation. In this context, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) have been demonstrated to induce CSC differentiation and to sensitize GBM cells to treatments. Methods: The BMP-2 mimicking peptide, named GBMP1a, was synthesized on solid-phase by Fmoc chemistry. Structural characterization and prediction of receptor binding were obtained by Circular Dicroism (CD) and NRM analyses. Activation of BMP signalling was evaluated by a luciferase reporter assay and western blot. Prodifferentiating effects of GBMP1a were verified by immunostaining and neurosphere assay in primary glioblastoma cultures. Results: CD and NMR showed that GBMP1a correctly folds into expected tridimensional structures and predicted its binding to BMPR-IA to the same epitope as in the native complex. Reporter analysis disclosed that GBMP1a is able to activate BMP signalling in GBM cells. Moreover, BMP-signalling activation was specifically dependent on smad1/5/8 phosphorylation. Finally, we confirmed that GBMP1a treatment is sufficient to enhance osteogenic differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and to induce astroglial differentiation of glioma stem cells (GSCs) in vitro. Conclusions: GBMP1a was demonstrated to be a good inducer of GSC differentiation, thus being considered a potential anti-cancer tool to be further developed for GBM treatment. General significance: These data highlight the role of BMP-mimicking peptides as potential anti-cancer agents against GBM and stimulate the further development of GBMP1a-based structures in order to enhance its stability and activity.
2017
A synthetic BMP-2 mimicking peptide induces glioblastoma stem cell differentiation / Rampazzo, Elena; Dettin, Monica; Maule, Francesca; Scabello, Alessandra; Calvanese, Luisa; D'Auria, Gabriella; Falcigno, Lucia; Porcù, Elena; Zamuner, Annj; Puppa, Alessandro Della; Boso, Daniele; Basso, Giuseppe; Persano, Luca. - In: BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. - ISSN 0006-3002. - 1861:9(2017), pp. 2282-2292. [10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.07.001]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/680500
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