Neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1) activates cancer-related pathways and is widely expressed in neuroendocrine tumors

Virchows Arch. 2014 Aug;465(2):173-83. doi: 10.1007/s00428-014-1602-x. Epub 2014 Jun 12.

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) arise from disseminated neuroendocrine cells and express general and specific neuroendocrine markers. Neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1) is expressed in neuroendocrine cells and its ligand neuropeptide S (NPS) affects cell proliferation. Our aim was to study whether NPS/NPSR1 could be used as a biomarker for neuroendocrine neoplasms and to identify the gene pathways affected by NPS/NPSR1. We collected a cohort of NETs comprised of 91 samples from endocrine glands, digestive tract, skin, and lung. Tumor type was validated by immunostaining of chromogranin-A and synaptophysin expression and tumor grade was analyzed by Ki-67 proliferation index. NPS and NPSR1 expression was quantified by immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibodies against NPS and monoclonal antibodies against the amino-terminus and carboxy-terminus of NPSR1 isoform A (NPSR1-A). The effects of NPS on downstream signaling were studied in a human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line which overexpresses NPSR1-A and is of neuroendocrine origin. NPSR1 and NPS were expressed in most NET tissues, with the exception of adrenal pheochromocytomas in which NPS/NPSR1 immunoreactivity was very low. Transcriptome analysis of NPSR1-A overexpressing cells revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, circadian activity, focal adhesion, transforming growth factor beta, and cytokine-cytokine interactions were the most altered gene pathways after NPS stimulation. Our results show that NETs are a source of NPS and NPSR1, and that NPS affects cancer-related pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / immunology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Endocrine Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Endocrine Gland Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / physiopathology*
  • Neuropeptides / immunology
  • Neuropeptides / physiology
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / immunology
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • NPSR1 protein, human
  • Neuropeptides
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • neuropeptide S, human