title: The source of APRIL up-regulation in human solid tumor lesions.
abstract: Abundant mRNA expression for a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) from tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family is observed in many solid tumors. Here, we analyzed in situ the cellular source of APRIL in human solid tumors with anti-APRIL antibodies. In most cases, neutrophils present in the tumor stroma constituted the main source of APRIL. In cutaneous lesions such as melanoma or basal cell carcinoma, tumor-adjacent keratinocytes also produced APRIL. APRIL production by tumor cells themselves was a rare event, only observed in urothelial bladder cancer and squamous cell carcinoma. Detailed analysis revealed that APRIL dissociated from producing cells, and secreted APRIL was retained in the tumor lesions. A direct binding onto tumor cells via heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) was observed in in vitro experiments and confirmed in situ. Taken together, our analysis indicates a potential role for HSPG/APRIL interactions in the development of solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mhawech-Fauceglia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sauter
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Donze
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwaller
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huard
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; C114631:TNFSF13 protein, human; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13