The HSP70 family member GRP78 is a selective tumor marker upregulated on the surface of many tumor cell types, including melanoma, where it acts as a growth factor receptor-like protein. Receptor-recognized forms of the proteinase inhibitor α2-macroglobulin (α2M*) are the best-characterized ligands for GRP78, but in melanoma and other cancer patients, autoantibodies arise against the NH2-terminal domain of GRP78 that react with tumor cell-surface GRP78. This causes the activation of signaling cascades that are proproliferative and antiapoptotic. Antibodies directed against the COOH-terminal domain of GRP78, however, upregulate p53-mediated proapoptotic signaling, leading to cell death. Here, we describe the binding characteristics, cell signaling properties, and downstream cellular effects of three novel murine monoclonal antibodies. The NH2-terminal domain-reactive antibody, N88, mimics α2M* as a ligand and drives PI 3-kinase-dependent activation of Akt and the subsequent stimulation of cellular proliferation in vitro. The COOH-terminal domain-reactive antibody, C38, acts as an antagonist of both α2M* and N88, whereas another, C107, directly induces apoptosis in vitro. In a murine B16F1 melanoma flank tumor model, we demonstrate the acceleration of tumor growth by treatment with N88, whereas C107 significantly slowed tumor growth whether administered before (P<0.005) or after (P<0.05) tumor implantation.

Autoantibodies that react with GRP78 expressed on the cell-surface of many tumor cell lines occur in the sera of patients with prostate cancer, melanoma, and ovarian cancer. These autoantibodies are a negative prognostic factor in prostate cancer, and when purified, stimulate tumor cell proliferation in vitro. It is unclear, however, whether these IgGs are merely a biomarker, or if they actually promote tumor growth in vivo. We immunized C57Bl/6 mice with recombinant GRP78 and then implanted the B16F1 murine melanoma cell line as flank tumors. We employed the antisera from these mice for in vitro cell signaling and proliferation assays. The immunodominant epitope in human cancer patients was well represented in the antibody repertoire of these immunized mice. We observed significantly accelerated tumor growth, as well as shortened survival in GRP78-immunized mice as compared to controls. Furthermore, antisera from these mice, as well as purified anti-GRP78 IgG from similarly immunized mice, stimulate Akt phosphorylation and proliferation in B16F1 and human DM6 melanoma cells in culture. These studies demonstrate a causal link between a humoral response to GRP78 and the progression of cancer in a murine melanoma model. They support the hypothesis that such autoantibodies are involved in the progression of human cancers and are not simply a biomarker. Because GRP78 is present on the surface of many types of cancer cells, this hypothesis has broad clinical and therapeutic implications.

Background: GRP78 is aberrantly expressed on the surface of many different tumor cells where it functions as a growth factor-like receptor. Results: SubA cleavage of cell-surface GRP78 abrogates signaling initiated by ligation of the GRP78 COOH-terminal. Conclusion: SubA specifically cleaves cell-surface GPR78. Significance: SubA is a powerful tool that can be used to specifically probe the functions of cell-surface GPR78.