Periostin promotes invasion and anchorage-independent growth in the metastatic process of head and neck cancer

N-glycoprotein profiling of lung adenocarcinoma pleural effusions by shotgun proteomics

BACKGROUND

Malignant pleural effusion of advanced lung adenocarcinoma may be a valid source for detection of biomarkers, such as N-glycosylated proteins (N-GP), because tumor cells grow during weeks in this liquid. The authors aimed for creation of N-GP effusion profiles from routine cytology specimens to detect relevant biomarkers.

METHODS

Hundred microliters of malignant pleural effusions of 5 patients with lung adenocarcinoma and 5 nonmalignant controls were used for triplicate N-GP capture by solid-phase extraction. After trypsin digest and PNGase F release, a liquid chromatography separation connected online to a tandem mass spectrometer was performed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).

RESULTS

In the total of 10 samples, 170 and 278 nonredundant proteins were detected with probabilities of >or=.9 and >or=.5, respectively. The specificity for the N-glycomotif was 88% at P >or= .9. Penetration into the moderate to low protein concentration range (microg-ng/mL) occurred, and several proteins associated with tumor progression or metastasis were identified, including CA-125, CD44, CD166, lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 2 (LAMP-2), multimerin 2, and periostin. MS identifications were correlated with the corresponding immunoreactivity in either effusion fluid or tumor tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, reduction of sample complexity by N-GP capturing allows detection of proteins in the mug to ng/mL range. Pleural effusion is a useful source for biomarker research in lung cancer.

Periostin and bone marrow fibrosis

Periostin is a secreted protein that shares structural homology with the insect axon guidance protein fasciclin 1. Periostin is expressed predominantly in collagen-rich fibrous connective tissues that are subjected to constant mechanical stresses. We have shown previously that periostin is a novel component of subepithelial fibrosis in bronchial asthma. Here, we investigated the relationship between periostin and bone marrow (BM) fibrosis. Periostin was expressed in the stroma and stromal cells of BM fibrosis specimens and to a great extent its expression levels correlated closely to the grade of fibrosis, as estimated by silver staining. However, in the present study, we found no relationship between plasma periostin levels and the extent of BM fibrosis. We also demonstrated that periostin is secreted by human BM hTERT stromal cells and that its secretion is enhanced by TGF-beta, a cytokine produced by clonal proliferation of megakaryocytes and/or monocytes. These results indicate that periostin is a component of BM fibrosis and that it may play a role in the disease progression.

Periostin is expressed in pericryptal fibroblasts and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the colon

Periostin is a unique extracellular matrix protein, deposition of which is enhanced by mechanical stress and the tissue repair process. Its significance in normal and neoplastic colon has not been fully clarified yet. Using immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy with a highly specific monoclonal antibody, periostin deposition was observed in close proximity to pericryptal fibroblasts of colonic crypts. The pericryptal pattern of periostin deposition was decreased in adenoma and adenocarcinoma, preceding the decrease of the number of pericryptal fibroblasts. Periostin immunoreactivity appeared again at the invasive front of the carcinoma and increased along the appearance of cancer-associated fibroblasts. ISH showed periostin signals in cancer-associated fibroblasts but not in cancer cells. Ki-67-positive epithelial cells were significantly decreased in the colonic crypts of periostin-/- mice (approximately 0.6-fold) compared with periostin+/+ mice. In three-dimensional co-culture within type I collagen gel, both colony size and number of human colon cancer cell line HCT116 cells were significantly larger ( approximately 1.5-fold) when cultured with fibroblasts derived from periostin+/+ mice or periostin-transfected NIH3T3 cells than with those from periostin-/- mice or periostin-non-producing NIH3T3 cells, respectively. Periostin is secreted by pericryptal and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the colon, both of which support the growth of epithelial components.

Human periostin gene expression in normal tissues, tumors and melanoma: evidences for periostin production by both stromal and melanoma cells

Background

Recently, periostin (POSTN), a gene encoding a protein with similarity to the fasciclin family and involved in cell survival and angiogenesis, has emerged as a promising marker for tumor progression in various types of human cancers. There is some controversy regarding both POSTN expression levels and the nature of periostin-producing cells within tumors. In this study, we used quantitative RT-PCR to assess periostin gene expression in normal tissues, primary cell cultures, tumor tissues and tumor cell lines.

Results

Periostin expression levels are highly variable in both normal tissues and tumors and strong POSTN overexpression is mostly detected in tumors from pancreas and liver. POSTN is not expressed in blood cancers. In melanoma samples, average periostin expression is not increased in primary tumors whereas POSTN overexpression was detected in about 60% of melanoma metastatic tumors in the liver or lymph nodes. Identification of the cellular source of periostin production in melanoma metastases -cancer cells or stroma- was assessed by comparing periostin expression in 23 newly-established melanoma cell lines and matched tumors. In contrast to the reduction by more than 99% of COL6A3 stromal marker mRNA in all cell lines, significant POSTN transcription was maintained in some melanoma cell lines, suggesting that both stromal cells and melanoma cells express periostin. The high level of periostin expression in primary cultures of skin fibroblasts suggests that fibroblasts may contribute for a large part to periostin production in melanoma-associated stroma. On the other hand, periostin expression in melanoma cells is probably acquired during the tumorigenic process as 1) normal melanocytes do not express POSTN and 2) melanoma cells from distinct metastases of the same patient were associated with very different levels of periostin expression.

Conclusion

Our comparative analysis suggests that, although periostin overexpression is clearly detected in some cancers, it is not a general feature of tumors. In melanoma, our study identifies both stromal and melanoma cells as sources of periostin production and correlates POSTN expression levels with increased primary tumor thickness and metastatic process development.

Expression of periostin and its clinicopathological relevance in gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the expression and localization of periostin in gastric cancer and its clinical relevance.

METHODS: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to measure periostin mRNA expression. Western blotting was carried out to detect periostin protein expression. Immunohistochemistry was performed to localize and quantify the expression of periostin in benign gastric diseases and gastric cancer, and immunostaining results were correlated with gastric cancer pathological stages.

RESULTS: Periostin expression was low at both mRNA and protein levels in normal gastric tissues, but was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that periostin was overexpressed in primary gastric cancer, as well as in metastatic lymph nodes, but only faint staining was found in benign gastric ulcers. By quantitative analysis of the immunostaining results, periostin expression was increased 2.5-4-fold in gastric cancer, compared to that in benign gastric disease, and there was a trend toward increasing periostin expression with tumor stage.

CONCLUSION: This observation demonstrated that periostin was overexpressed in gastric cancer and lymph node metastasis, which suggests that periostin plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Expression of periostin in human breast cancer

Background:

Periostin is a secreted adhesion protein, normally expressed in mesenchime-derived cells. Aberrant expression of the periostin gene in epithelial tumours seems to play a role in angiogenesis and metastases.

Aims:

To investigate periostin expression in a consecutive series of breast carcinomas and correlate it with established biological and prognostic factors.

Methods:

A consecutive series of 206 breast carcinomas was investigated by immunohistochemistry with a specific antiperiostin antibody. Immunohistochemical expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors, Ki-67 (MIB-1), HER-2/neu, VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 was analysed. Periostin expression was also investigated in MCF-7 and MDA-468 cell lines by immunohistochemistry, western blot and quantitative RT-PCR. Localisation of periostin was investigated in MCF-7 cells by the green fluorescent protein (GFP) approach.

Results:

Periostin was highly expressed in carcinoma cells, but not in normal breast tissues. The pattern of expression was mainly cytoplasmic. However, in 12% of cases a nuclear reactivity was observed. Nuclear periostin significantly correlated with tumour size, and with expression of oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. A nuclear localisation of periostin was also observed in MCF-7 and MDA-468 cell lines. In MCF-7 cells the nuclear localisation of periostin was also shown by transfection of a vector expressing a GFP-periostin chimeric protein.

Conclusions:

Results indicate that the aberrant gene expression of periostin in breast cancer cells is associated with an abnormal nuclear localisation of the protein. The nuclear localisation of periostin in breast cancer may induce significant biological effects.

SJ. Identification and characterization of a novel Schwann and outflow tract endocardial cushion lineage-restricted periostin enhancer

Periostin is a fasciclin-containing adhesive glycoprotein that facilitates the migration and differentiation of cells that have undergone epithelial-mesenchymal transformation during embryogenesis and in pathological conditions. Despite the importance of post-transformational differentiation as a general developmental mechanism, little is known how periostin's embryonic expression is regulated. To help resolve this deficiency, a 3.9-kb periostin proximal promoter was isolated and shown to drive tissue-specific expression in the neural crest-derived Schwann cell lineage and in a subpopulation of periostin-expressing cells in the cardiac outflow tract endocardial cushions. In order to identify the enhancer and associated DNA binding factor(s) responsible, in vitro promoter dissection was undertaken in a Schwannoma line. Ultimately a 304-bp(peri) enhancer was identified and shown to be capable of recapitulating 3.9 kb(peri-lacZ)in vivo spatiotemporal patterns. Further mutational and EMSA analysis helped identify a minimal 37-bp region that is bound by the YY1 transcription factor. The 37-bp enhancer was subsequently shown to be essential for in vivo 3.9 kb(peri-lacZ) promoter activity. Taken together, these studies identify an evolutionary-conserved YY1-binding 37-bp region within a 304-bp periostin core enhancer that is capable of regulating simultaneous novel tissue-specific periostin expression in the cardiac outflow-tract cushion mesenchyme and Schwann cell lineages.

Periostin is frequently overexpressed and enhances invasion and angiogenesis in oral cancer

Oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common types of human cancer. Typically OSCC cells show persistent invasion that frequently leads to local recurrence and distant lymphatic metastasis. We previously identified Periostin as the gene demonstrating the highest fold change expression in the invasive clone by comparing the transcriptional profile of parent OSCC cell line and a highly invasive clone. Here, we demonstrated that Periostin overexpression enhanced invasiveness in oral cancer cell lines. To know the role of Periostin in invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis in OSCC cases, we first examined the expression of Periostin mRNA in 31 OSCC cases by RT-PCR and Periostin protein in 74 OSCC cases by immunohistochemistry. Then, we compared the Periostin expression with invasion pattern, metastasis and blood vessel density. Periostin mRNA and protein overexpression were frequently found in OSCC cases and Periostin expression was well correlated with the invasion pattern and metastasis. Moreover, blood vessel density of Periostin-positive cases was higher than those of Periostin-negative cases. Interestingly, recombinant Periostin enhanced capillary formation in vitro in a concentration-dependant manner. In summary, these findings suggest that Periostin may promote invasion and angiogenesis in OSCC, and that Periostin can be a strong marker for prediction of metastasis in oral cancer patients.