The KISS1 Receptor as an In Vivo Microenvironment Imaging Biomarker of Multiple Myeloma Bone Disease

PLoS One. 2016 May 9;11(5):e0155087. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155087. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Multiple myeloma is one of the most common hematological diseases and is characterized by an aberrant proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow. As a result of crosstalk between cancer cells and the bone microenvironment, bone homeostasis is disrupted leading to osteolytic lesions and poor prognosis. Current diagnostic strategies for myeloma typically rely on detection of excess monoclonal immunoglobulins or light chains in the urine or serum. However, these strategies fail to localize the sites of malignancies. In this study we sought to identify novel biomarkers of myeloma bone disease which could target the malignant cells and/or the surrounding cells of the tumor microenvironment. From these studies, the KISS1 receptor (KISS1R), a G-protein-coupled receptor known to play a role in the regulation of endocrine functions, was identified as a target gene that was upregulated on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoprogenitor cells (OPCs) when co-cultured with myeloma cells. To determine the potential of this receptor as a biomarker, in vitro and in vivo studies were performed with the KISS1R ligand, kisspeptin, conjugated with a fluorescent dye. In vitro microscopy showed binding of fluorescently-labeled kisspeptin to both myeloma cells as well as MSCs under direct co-culture conditions. Next, conjugated kisspeptin was injected into immune-competent mice containing myeloma bone lesions. Tumor-burdened limbs showed increased peak fluorescence compared to contralateral controls. These data suggest the utility of the KISS1R as a novel biomarker for multiple myeloma, capable of targeting both tumor cells and host cells of the tumor microenvironment.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism*
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Kisspeptin-1
  • Tumor Microenvironment*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • KISS1R protein, human
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Kisspeptin-1

Grants and funding

Financial support was provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through the Forschergruppe 1586 SKELMET (JD, NS, RE, FJ, RJT, ST, CCG, LCH, ABr, ABe) and the KFO 216 (http://www.dfg.de/) (ABe), a research grant from the state of Schleswig-Holstein (RJT, CCG, ST: MOIN CC, Zukunftsprogramm Wirtschaft, https://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/Fachinhalte/F/foerderprogramme/MWAVT/efre_2007_2013.html), the Wilhelm Sander Foundation (http://www.wilhelm-sander-stiftung.de/cms/front_content.php) (RE, FJ), and the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research Würzburg (B233) (ABe) (http://www.izkf.ukw.de/). This publication was supported by the Open Access Publication Fund of the University of Würzburg. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.