Internalization and trafficking of CSPG-bound recombinant VAR2CSA lectins in cancer cells

Chris Kedong Wang, Irina Nelepcu, Desmond Hui, Htoo Zarni Oo, Sarah Truong, Sarah Zhao, Zakir Tahiry, Shaghayegh Esfandnia, Fariba Ghaidi, Hans Adomat, Robert Dagil, Tobias Gustavsson, Swati Choudhary, Ali Salanti, Poul H Sorensen, Nader Al Nakouzi, Mads Daugaard

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Abstract

Proteoglycans are proteins that are modified with glycosaminoglycan chains. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are currently being exploited as targets for drug-delivery in various cancer indications, however basic knowledge on how CSPGs are internalized in tumor cells is lacking. In this study we took advantage of a recombinant CSPG-binding lectin VAR2CSA (rVAR2) to track internalization and cell fate of CSPGs in tumor cells. We found that rVAR2 is internalized into cancer cells via multiple internalization mechanisms after initial docking on cell surface CSPGs. Regardless of the internalization pathway used, CSPG-bound rVAR2 was trafficked to the early endosomes in an energy-dependent manner but not further transported to the lysosomal compartment. Instead, internalized CSPG-bound rVAR2 proteins were secreted with exosomes to the extracellular environment in a strictly chondroitin sulfate-dependent manner. In summary, our work describes the cell fate of rVAR2 proteins in tumor cells after initial binding to CSPGs, which can be further used to inform development of rVAR2-drug conjugates and other therapeutics targeting CSPGs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3075
JournalScientific Reports
Volume12
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

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© 2022. The Author(s).

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