1
|
Fratini L, Jaeger M, de Farias CB, Brunetto AT, Brunetto AL, Shaw L, Roesler R. Oncogenic functions of ZEB1 in pediatric solid cancers: interplays with microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs. Mol Cell Biochem 2021; 476:4107-4116. [PMID: 34292482 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-021-04226-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor Zinc finger E-box binding 1 (ZEB1) displays a range of regulatory activities in cell function and embryonic development, including driving epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Several aspects of ZEB1 function can be regulated by its functional interactions with noncoding RNA types, namely microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Increasing evidence indicates that ZEB1 importantly influences cancer initiation, tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. Cancer is the main disease-related cause of death in children and adolescents. Although the role of ZEB1 in pediatric cancer is still poorly understood, emerging findings have shown that it is expressed and regulates childhood solid tumors including osteosarcoma, retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma, and central nervous system tumors. Here, we review the evidence supporting a role for ZEB1, and its interplays with miRNAs and lncRNAs, in pediatric cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lívia Fratini
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil. .,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500 (ICBS, Campus Centro/UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil.
| | - Mariane Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - André T Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Algemir L Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Lisa Shaw
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, UK
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil. .,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500 (ICBS, Campus Centro/UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Innate and Adaptive Immunity Linked to Recognition of Antigens Shared by Neural Crest-Derived Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040840. [PMID: 32244473 PMCID: PMC7226441 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the adult, many embryologic processes can be co-opted by during cancer progression. The mechanisms of divisions, migration, and the ability to escape immunity recognition linked to specific embryo antigens are also expressed by malignant cells. In particular, cells derived from neural crests (NC) contribute to the development of multiple cell types including melanocytes, craniofacial cartilage, glia, neurons, peripheral and enteric nervous systems, and the adrenal medulla. This plastic performance is due to an accurate program of gene expression orchestrated with cellular/extracellular signals finalized to regulate long-distance migration, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and survival. During neurulation, prior to initiating their migration, NC cells must undergo an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in which they alter their actin cytoskeleton, lose their cell–cell junctions, apicobasal polarity, and acquire a motile phenotype. Similarly, during the development of the tumors derived from neural crests, comprising a heterogeneous group of neoplasms (Neural crest-derived tumors (NCDTs)), a group of genes responsible for the EMT pathway is activated. Here, retracing the molecular pathways performed by pluripotent cells at the boundary between neural and non-neural ectoderm in relation to the natural history of NCDT, points of contact or interposition are highlighted to better explain the intricate interplay between cancer cells and the innate and adaptive immune response.
Collapse
|
3
|
Asnaghi L, White DT, Yoon L, Price A, Lee GY, Sahoo A, Mumm JS, Eberhart CG. Downregulation of Nodal inhibits metastatic progression in retinoblastoma. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:137. [PMID: 31451106 PMCID: PMC6709548 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0785-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy in children. We previously found that the ACVR1C/SMAD2 pathway is significantly upregulated in invasive retinoblastoma samples from patients. Here we studied the role of an ACVR1C ligand, Nodal, in regulating growth and metastatic dissemination in retinoblastoma. Inhibition of Nodal using multiple short hairpin (shRNAs) in WERI Rb1 and Y79 retinoblastoma cell cultures reduced growth by more than 90%, as determined by CCK-8 growth assay. Proliferation was also significantly inhibited, as found by Ki67 assay. These effects were paralleled by inhibition in the phosphorylation of the downstream effector SMAD2, as well as induction of apoptosis, as we observed more than three-fold increase in the percentage of cells positive for cleaved-caspase-3 or expressing cleaved-PARP1. Importantly, we found that downregulation of Nodal potently suppressed invasion in vitro, by 50 to 80%, as determined by transwell invasion assay (p = 0.02). Using an orthotopic model of retinoblastoma in zebrafish, we found 34% reduction in the ability of the cells to disseminate outside the eye, when Nodal was knocked down by shRNA (p = 0.0003). These data suggest that Nodal plays an important role in promoting growth, proliferation and invasion in retinoblastoma, and can be considered a new therapeutic target for both primary tumor growth and metastatic progression.
Collapse
|