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Ghosal N, Tapadar P, Biswas D, Pal R. ELF3 plays an important role in defining TRAIL sensitivity in breast cancer by modulating the expression of decoy receptor 2 (DCR2). Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:671. [PMID: 38787503 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09615-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TRAIL protein on binding to its cognate death receptors (DR) can induce apoptosis specifically in breast tumor cells sparing normal cells. However, TRAIL also binds to decoy receptors (DCR) thereby inhibiting the apoptotic pathways thus causing TRAIL resistance. Also, one of the barriers due to which TRAIL-based therapy could not become FDA-approved might be because of resistance to therapy. Therefore, in the current study we wanted to explore the role of transcription factors in TRAIL resistance with respect to breast cancer. METHODS Microarray data from TRAIL-sensitive (TS) and TRAIL-resistant (TR) MDA-MB-231 cells were reanalyzed followed by validation of the candidate genes using quantitative PCR (qPCR), immunoblotting and immunofluorescence technique. Overexpression of the candidate gene was performed in MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells followed by cell viability assay and immunoblotting for cleaved caspase-3. Additionally, immunoblotting for DCR2 was carried out. TCGA breast cancer patient survival was used for Kaplan-Meier (KM) plot. RESULTS Validation of the candidate gene i.e. ELF3 using qPCR and immunoblotting revealed it to be downregulated in TR cells compared to TS cells. ELF3 overexpression in MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells caused reversal of TRAIL resistance as observed using cell viability assay and cleaved caspase-3 immunoblotting. ELF3 overexpression also resulted in DCR2 downregulation in the MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells. Furthermore, KM analysis found high ELF3 and low DCR2 expression to show better patient survival in the presence of TRAIL. CONCLUSION Our study shows ELF3 to be an important factor that can influence TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer. Also, ELF3 and DCR2 expression status should be taken into consideration while designing strategies for successful TRAIL-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirajan Ghosal
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India
| | - Poulami Tapadar
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India
| | - Divisha Biswas
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India
| | - Ranjana Pal
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India.
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2
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Bhattacharya B, Nag S, Mukherjee S, Kulkarni M, Chandane P, Mandal D, Mukerjee N, Mirgh D, Anand K, Adhikari MD, Gorai S, Thorat N. Role of Exosomes in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:44-58. [PMID: 38108852 PMCID: PMC10792609 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process driving cancer metastasis, transforming non-motile cells into a motile population that migrates to distant organs and forms secondary tumors. In recent years, cancer research has revealed a strong connection between exosomes and the EMT. Exosomes, a subpopulation of extracellular vesicles, facilitate cellular communication and dynamically regulate various aspects of cancer metastasis, including immune cell suppression, extracellular matrix remodeling, metastasis initiation, EMT initiation, and organ-specific metastasis. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) and their molecular cargo, comprising proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates, are essential components that promote EMT in cancer. TEXs miRNAs play a crucial role in reprogramming the tumor microenvironment, while TEX surface integrins contribute to organ-specific metastasis. Exosome-based cancer metastasis research offers a deeper understanding about cancer and an effective theranostic platform development. Additionally, various therapeutic sources of exosomes are paving the way for innovative cancer treatment development. In this Review, we spotlight the role of exosomes in EMT and their theranostic impact, aiming to inspire cancer researchers worldwide to explore this fascinating field in more innovative ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikramjit Bhattacharya
- Department
of Applied Microbiology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India
| | - Sagnik Nag
- Department
of Bio-Sciences, School of Bio-Sciences & Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Tiruvalam Road, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India
| | - Sayantanee Mukherjee
- Amrita
School of NanoSciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala 682041, India
| | - Mrunal Kulkarni
- Department
of Pharmacy, BITS Pilani, Pilani, Rajasthan 333031, India
| | - Priti Chandane
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana 500046, India
| | - Debashmita Mandal
- Department
of Biotechnology, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
University of Technology (MAKAUT), Haringhata, Nadia, West Bengal 741249, India
| | - Nobendu Mukerjee
- Center
for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600077, India
- Department
of Health Sciences, Novel Global Community
and Educational Foundation, Hebersham, New South Wales 2770, Australia
| | - Divya Mirgh
- Vaccine
and Immunotherapy Canter, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Krishnan Anand
- Department
of Chemical Pathology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Manab Deb Adhikari
- Department
of Biotechnology, University of North Bengal
Raja Rammohunpur, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734013, India
| | - Sukhamoy Gorai
- Rush University Medical
Center, 1620 W. Harrison St., Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Nanasaheb Thorat
- Limerick
Digital Cancer Research Centre and Department of Physics, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94T9PX, Ireland
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Motizuki M, Yokoyama T, Saitoh M, Miyazawa K. The Snail signaling branch downstream of the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway mediates Rho activation and subsequent stress fiber formation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105580. [PMID: 38141763 PMCID: PMC10821601 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells acquire malignant phenotypes through an epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which is induced by environmental factors or extracellular signaling molecules, including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Among epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated cell responses, cell morphological changes and cell motility are closely associated with remodeling of the actin stress fibers. Here, we examined the TGF-β signaling pathways leading to these cell responses. Through knockdown experiments in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells, we found that Smad3-mediated induction of Snail, but not that of Slug, is indispensable for morphological changes, stress fiber formation, and enhanced motility in cells stimulated with TGF-β. Ectopic expression of Snail in SMAD3-knockout cells rescued the defect in morphological changes and stress fiber formation by TGF-β, indicating that the role of Smad3 in these responses is to upregulate Snail expression. Mechanistically, Snail is required for TGF-β-induced upregulation of Wnt5b, which in turn activates RhoA and subsequent stress fiber formation in cooperation with phosphoinositide 3-kinase. However, ectopic expression of Snail in SMAD3-knockout cells failed to rescue the defect in cell motility enhancement by TGF-β, indicating that activation of the Smad3/Snail/Wnt5b axis is indispensable but not sufficient for enhancing cell motility; a Smad3-dependent but Snail-independent pathway to activate Rac1 is additionally required. Therefore, the Smad3-dependent pathway leading to enhanced cell motility has two branches: a Snail-dependent branch to activate RhoA and a Snail-independent branch to activate Rac1. Coordinated activation of these branches, together with activation of non-Smad signaling pathways, mediates enhanced cell motility induced by TGF-β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuyoshi Motizuki
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Takashi Yokoyama
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Masao Saitoh
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan; Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Keiji Miyazawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
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Saitoh M. Transcriptional regulation of EMT transcription factors in cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 97:21-29. [PMID: 37802266 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the processes by which epithelial cells transdifferentiate into mesenchymal cells in the developmental stage, known as "complete EMT." In epithelial cancer, EMT, also termed "partial EMT," is associated with invasion, metastasis, and resistance to therapy, and is elicited by several transcription factors, frequently referred to as EMT transcription factors. Among these transcription factors that regulate EMT, ZEB1/2 (ZEB1 and ZEB2), SNAIL, and TWIST play a prominent role in driving the EMT process (hereafter referred to as "EMT-TFs"). Among these, ZEB1/2 show positive correlation with both expression of mesenchymal marker proteins and the aggressiveness of various carcinomas. On the other hand, TWIST and SNAIL are also correlated with the aggressiveness of carcinomas, but are not highly correlated with mesenchymal marker protein expression. Interestingly, these EMT-TFs are not detected simultaneously in any studied cases of aggressive cancers, except for sarcoma. Thus, only one or some of the EMT-TFs are expressed at high levels in cells of aggressive carcinomas. Expression of EMT-TFs is regulated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a well-established inducer of EMT, in cooperation with other signaling molecules, such as active RAS signals. The focus of this review is the molecular mechanisms by which EMT-TFs are transcriptionally sustained at sufficiently high levels in cells of aggressive carcinomas and upregulated by TGF-β during cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masao Saitoh
- Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo-city, Yamanashi, Japan.
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Kardooni A, Bahrampour A, Golmohammadi S, Jalili A, Alishahi MM. The Role of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Pathogenesis of Cardiotoxicity: Diagnostic & Prognostic Approach. Mol Biotechnol 2023; 65:1403-1413. [PMID: 36847962 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00697-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the diseases, which it is not still completely curable; the existing treatments are associated with many complications, that double its complexity. One of the causes of cancer cell metastasis is Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Recently study demonstrated that EMT cause cardiotoxicity and heart diseases such as heart failure, hypertrophy and fibrosis. This study evaluated molecular and signaling pathway, which lead to cardiotoxicity via EMT. It was demonstrated that the processes of inflammation, oxidative stress and angiogenesis were involved in EMT and cardiotoxicity. The pathways related to these processes act as a double-edged sword. In relation to inflammation and oxidative stress, molecular pathways caused apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and cardiotoxicity induction. While the angiogenesis process inhibits cardiotoxicity despite the progression of EMT. On the other hand, some molecular pathways such as PI3K/mTOR despite causing the progression of EMT lead to the proliferation of cardiomyocytes and prevent cardiotoxicity. Therefore, it was concluded that the identification of molecular pathways can help in designing therapeutic and preventive strategies to increase patients' survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Kardooni
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Atherosclerosis Research Center, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | - Somaye Golmohammadi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arsalan Jalili
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACER, Tehran, Iran
- Parvaz Research Ideas Supporter Institute, Tehran, Iran
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Suzuki T, Conant A, Curow C, Alexander A, Ioffe Y, Unternaehrer JJ. Role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition factor SNAI1 and its targets in ovarian cancer aggressiveness. JOURNAL OF CANCER METASTASIS AND TREATMENT 2023; 9:25. [PMID: 38009093 PMCID: PMC10673625 DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2023.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in the USA. For over twenty years, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been characterized extensively in development and disease. The dysregulation of this process in cancer has been identified as a mechanism by which epithelial tumors become more aggressive, allowing them to survive and invade distant tissues. This occurs in part due to the increased expression of the EMT transcription factor, SNAI1 (Snail). In the case of epithelial ovarian cancer, Snail has been shown to contribute to cancer invasion, stemness, chemoresistance, and metabolic changes. Thus, in this review, we focus on summarizing current findings on the role of EMT (specifically, factors downstream of Snail) in determining ovarian cancer aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tise Suzuki
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Ashlyn Conant
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Casey Curow
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- University of Redlands, Department of Biology, Redlands, CA 92373, USA
| | - Audrey Alexander
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Division of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Yevgeniya Ioffe
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Juli J Unternaehrer
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
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7
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Saitoh M. Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition by Synergy between Transforming Growth Factor-β and Growth Factors in Cancer Progression. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12092127. [PMID: 36140527 PMCID: PMC9497767 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12092127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in appropriate embryonic development, as well as wound healing, organ fibrosis, and cancer progression. During cancer progression, EMT is associated with the invasion, metastasis, and generation of circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells, as well as resistance to chemo- and radiation therapy. EMT is induced by several transcription factors, known as EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs). In nearly all cases, EMT-TFs appear to be regulated by growth factors or cytokines and extracellular matrix components. Among these factors, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β acts as the key mediator for EMT during physiological and pathological processes. TGF-β can initiate and maintain EMT by activating intracellular/intercellular signaling pathways and transcriptional factors. Recent studies have provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sustained EMT in aggressive cancer cells, EMT induced by TGF-β, and crosstalk between TGF-β and growth factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masao Saitoh
- Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo-City, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
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