Abstract 3088: Identification of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor as a novel and specific target of heparin hexasaccharide that selectively inhibits cancer stem cells
Authors: Boothello Rio S. , Sistla Jyothi C. , Sankaranarayanan Nehru Viji 
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Earlier, we discovered that heparin hexasaccharide (HS06), but not shorter or longer polymeric glycosaminoglycan (GAGs), selectively inhibit cancer stem cells (CSCs). Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) receptor (IGF1R) plays a critical role in regulating CSC phenotype. However, unlike many growth factor receptors, GAG and IGF1R interaction and consequences have not been characterized.

Methods: Colon cancer HT29 and HCT-116 cells were grown on ornithine as spheroids. Stable IGF1R knockdown cells (KD) were generated using shRNA transfection and selection. Immunofluorescence (IF) studies were performed with fluorescent-tagged HS06, GAG polymer, and pIGF1R antibody. Images were obtained using a Cytation 5 and analyzed using Gen5. Computational and molecular dynamics studies were employed to determine the binding site and nature of the interaction between HS06 and IGF1R. The impact of this interaction on activation and CSC phenotype was determined using standard techniques such as western blotting and Q-PCR.

Results: Fluorescent-tagged HS06 and polymeric GAG, both bound to the colon cancer cell membrane (CM) in a dose-dependent fashion. Intriguingly, HS06 but not polymeric GAG's binding to the cell surface was abolished by IGF1R knockdown, suggesting IGF1R as a specific target HS06. Computational studies identified L1 and CR domain in the N-terminus of IGF1R as a binding site for HS06 but not multimeric GAGs. Intriguingly, there is an overlap between HS06 and IGF1 binding sites on IGF1R. Pretreatment with three different IGF1R N-terminus targeting antibodies reversed HS06 binding to CM, suggesting the N-terminus domain as a likely site of HS06 and IGF1R interactions. Additionally, IGF1 pretreatment also reversed the binding of HS06 in a dose-dependent fashion. Functionally, HS06 (but not polymeric GAG) inhibited IGF1R phosphorylation and CSC phenotype (2° spheroids and/or CSC markers). Both these effects were reversed by pretreatment with IGF1 suggesting competitive inhibition of IGF1 induced activation of IGF1R by HS06. Molecular dynamics studies identified key N-terminus residues in the L1 and CR domain of the N-terminus portion of the IGF1R distinct from IGF1 binding residues. Key basic amino acid residues that were predicted to bind specifically to HS06 in MD simulation have been observed to be mutated in cancer, and IF studies in HT29 cells expressing HS06 binding-site mutant proteins are ongoing.

Conclusion: We have uncovered a novel, specific and functionally relevant interaction between HS06 and the N-terminal domain of IGF1R. The HS06-IGF1R interaction induces competitive inhibition of IGF1 induced activation of IGF1R and CSC phenotype. The findings significantly impact an understanding of GAG mediated regulation of the CSC phenotype and present a highly novel mechanism of targeting IGF1R to develop novel anti-cancer agents

Citation Format: Rio S. Boothello, Jyothi C. Sistla, Nehru Viji Sankaranarayanan. Identification of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor as a novel and specific target of heparin hexasaccharide that selectively inhibits cancer stem cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 3088.