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Aquino-Acevedo AN, Orengo-Orengo JA, Cruz-Robles ME, Saavedra HI. Mitotic kinases are emerging therapeutic targets against metastatic breast cancer. Cell Div 2024; 19:21. [PMID: 38886738 PMCID: PMC11184769 DOI: 10.1186/s13008-024-00125-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This review aims to outline mitotic kinase inhibitors' roles as potential therapeutic targets and assess their suitability as a stand-alone clinical therapy or in combination with standard treatments for advanced-stage solid tumors, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Breast cancer poses a significant global health risk, with TNBC standing out as the most aggressive subtype. Comprehending the role of mitosis is crucial for understanding how TNBC advances from a solid tumor to metastasis. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment used to treat TNBC. Some types of chemotherapeutic agents target cells in mitosis, thus highlighting the need to comprehend the molecular mechanisms governing mitosis in cancer. This understanding is essential for devising targeted therapies to disrupt these mitotic processes, prevent or treat metastasis, and improve patient outcomes. Mitotic kinases like Aurora kinase A, Aurora Kinase B, never in mitosis gene A-related kinase 2, Threonine-Tyrosine kinase, and Polo-kinase 1 significantly impact cell cycle progression by contributing to chromosome separation and centrosome homeostasis. When these kinases go awry, they can trigger chromosome instability, increase cell proliferation, and activate different molecular pathways that culminate in a transition from epithelial to mesenchymal cells. Ongoing clinical trials investigate various mitotic kinase inhibitors as potential biological treatments against advanced solid tumors. While clinical trials against mitotic kinases have shown some promise in the clinic, more investigation is necessary, since they induce severe adverse effects, particularly affecting the hematopoietic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Aquino-Acevedo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Joel A Orengo-Orengo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Melanie E Cruz-Robles
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Harold I Saavedra
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA.
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Kaisrlikova M, Kundrat D, Koralkova P, Trsova I, Lenertova Z, Votavova H, Merkerova MD, Krejcik Z, Vesela J, Vostry M, Simeckova R, Markova MS, Lauermannova M, Jonasova A, Cermak J, Divoky V, Belickova M. Attenuated cell cycle and DNA damage response transcriptome signatures and overrepresented cell adhesion processes imply accelerated progression in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic neoplasms. Int J Cancer 2024; 154:1652-1668. [PMID: 38180088 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Patients with myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) are classified according to the risk of acute myeloid leukemia transformation. Some lower-risk MDS patients (LR-MDS) progress rapidly despite expected good prognosis. Using diagnostic samples, we aimed to uncover the mechanisms of this accelerated progression at the transcriptome level. RNAseq was performed on CD34+ ribodepleted RNA samples from 53 LR-MDS patients without accelerated progression (stMDS) and 8 who progressed within 20 months (prMDS); 845 genes were differentially expressed (ІlogFCІ > 1, FDR < 0.01) between these groups. stMDS CD34+ cells exhibited transcriptional signatures of actively cycling, megakaryocyte/erythrocyte lineage-primed progenitors, with upregulation of cell cycle checkpoints and stress pathways, which presumably form a tumor-suppressing barrier. Conversely, cell cycle, DNA damage response (DDR) and energy metabolism-related pathways were downregulated in prMDS samples, whereas cell adhesion processes were upregulated. Also, prMDS samples showed high levels of aberrant splicing and global lncRNA expression that may contribute to the attenuation of DDR pathways. We observed overexpression of multiple oncogenes and diminished differentiation in prMDS; the expression of ZEB1 and NEK3, genes not previously associated with MDS prognosis, might serve as potential biomarkers for LR-MDS progression. Our 19-gene DDR signature showed a significant predictive power for LR-MDS progression. In validation samples (stMDS = 3, prMDS = 4), the key markers and signatures retained their significance. Collectively, accelerated progression of LR-MDS appears to be associated with transcriptome patterns of a quiescent-like cell state, reduced lineage differentiation and suppressed DDR, inherent to CD34+ cells. The attenuation of DDR-related gene-expression signature may refine risk assessment in LR-MDS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Kundrat
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Koralkova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Trsova
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Lenertova
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Votavova
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Zdenek Krejcik
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Vesela
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Vostry
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Simeckova
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Anna Jonasova
- First Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Cermak
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Divoky
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Belickova
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Hematology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Koukorava C, Ward K, Ahmed K, Almaghrabi S, Dauleh S, Pereira SM, Taylor A, Haddrick M, Cross MJ, Wilm B. Mesothelial Cells Exhibit Characteristics of Perivascular Cells in an In Vitro Angiogenesis Assay. Cells 2023; 12:2436. [PMID: 37887280 PMCID: PMC10605208 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesothelial cells have been shown to have remarkable plasticity towards mesenchymal cell types during development and in disease situations. Here, we have characterized the potential of mesothelial cells to undergo changes toward perivascular cells using an in vitro angiogenesis assay. We demonstrate that GFP-labeled mesothelial cells (GFP-MCs) aligned closely and specifically with endothelial networks formed when human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) were cultured in the presence of VEGF-A165 on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) for a 7-day period. The co-culture with GFP-MCs had a positive effect on branch point formation indicating that the cells supported endothelial tube formation. We interrogated the molecular response of the GFP-MCs to the angiogenic co-culture by qRT-PCR and found that the pericyte marker Ng2 was upregulated when the cells were co-cultured with HDMECs on NHDFs, indicating a change towards a perivascular phenotype. When GFP-MCs were cultured on the NHDF feeder layer, they upregulated the epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker Zeb1 and lost their circularity while increasing their size, indicating a change to a more migratory cell type. We analyzed the pericyte-like behavior of the GFP-MCs in a 3D cardiac microtissue (spheroid) with cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts and cardiac endothelial cells where the mesothelial cells showed alignment with the endothelial cells. These results indicate that mesothelial cells have the potential to adopt a perivascular phenotype and associate with endothelial cells to potentially support angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysa Koukorava
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
| | - Kelly Ward
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
| | - Katie Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
| | - Shrouq Almaghrabi
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
| | - Sumaya Dauleh
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
| | - Sofia M. Pereira
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
| | - Arthur Taylor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
- Medicines Discovery Catapult, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4ZF, UK
| | - Malcolm Haddrick
- Medicines Discovery Catapult, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4ZF, UK
| | - Michael J. Cross
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
| | - Bettina Wilm
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
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da Costa KM, Freire-de-Lima L, da Fonseca LM, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L, Valente RDC. ABCB1 and ABCC1 Function during TGF-β-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: Relationship between Multidrug Resistance and Tumor Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076046. [PMID: 37047018 PMCID: PMC10093952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) and induction of metastasis are some of the puzzles encountered during cancer chemotherapy. The MDR phenotype is associated with overexpression of ABC transporters, involved in drug efflux. Metastasis originates from the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which cells acquire a migratory phenotype, invading new tissues. ABC transporters' role during EMT is still elusive, though cells undergoing EMT exhibit enhanced ABCB1 expression. We demonstrated increased ABCB1 expression but no change in activity after TGF-β-induced EMT in A549 cells. Moreover, ABCB1 inhibition by verapamil increased snail and fibronectin expression, an event associated with upregulation of ABCB1, evidencing coincident cell signaling pathways leading to ABCB1 and EMT-related markers transcription, rather than a direct effect of transport. Additionally, for the first time, increased ABCC1 expression and activity was observed after EMT, and use of ABCC1 inhibitors partially inhibited EMT-marker snail, although increased ABCC1 function translated into collateral sensibility to daunorubicin. More investigations must be done to evaluate the real benefits that the gain of ABC transporters might have on the process of metastasis. Considering ABCC1 is involved in the stress response, affecting intracellular GSH content and drug detoxification, this transporter could be used as a therapeutic target in cancer cells undergoing EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli Monteiro da Costa
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular de Glicoconjugados, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Marques da Fonseca
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - José Osvaldo Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Raphael do Carmo Valente
- Núcleo Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Biologia (Numpex-Bio), Campus Duque de Caxias Professor Geraldo Cidade, Duque de Caxias, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 25250-470, Brazil
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5
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Hirabayashi D, Yamamoto KI, Maruyama A, Tomonobu N, Kinoshita R, Chen Y, Komalasari NLGY, Murata H, Gohara Y, Jiang F, Zhou J, Ruma IMW, Sumardika IW, Yamauchi A, Kuribayashi F, Toyooka S, Inoue Y, Sakaguchi M. LOXL1 and LOXL4 are novel target genes of the Zn 2+-bound form of ZEB1 and play a crucial role in the acceleration of invasive events in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1142886. [PMID: 36910659 PMCID: PMC9997211 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1142886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background EMT has been proposed to be a crucial early event in cancer metastasis. EMT is rigidly regulated by the action of several EMT-core transcription factors, particularly ZEB1. We previously revealed an unusual role of ZEB1 in the S100A8/A9-mediated metastasis in breast cancer cells that expressed ZEB1 at a significant level and showed that the ZEB1 was activated on the MCAM-downstream pathway upon S100A8/A9 binding. ZEB1 is well known to require Zn2+ for its activation based on the presence of several Zn-finger motifs in the transcription factor. However, how Zn2+-binding works on the pleiotropic role of ZEB1 through cancer progression has not been fully elucidated. Methods We established the engineered cells, MDA-MB-231 MutZEB1 (MDA-MutZEB1), that stably express MutZEB1 (ΔZn). The cells were then evaluated in vitro for their invasion activities. Finally, an RNA-Seq analysis was performed to compare the gene alteration profiles of the established cells comprehensively. Results MDA-MutZEB1 showed a significant loss of the EMT, ultimately stalling the invasion. Inclusive analysis of the transcription changes after the expression of MutZEB1 (ΔZn) in MDA-MB-231 cells revealed the significant downregulation of LOX family genes, which are known to play a critical role in cancer metastasis. We found that LOXL1 and LOXL4 remarkably enhanced cancer invasiveness among the LOX family genes with altered expression. Conclusions These findings indicate that ZEB1 potentiates Zn2+-mediated transcription of plural EMT-relevant factors, including LOXL1 and LOXL4, whose upregulation plays a critical role in the invasive dissemination of breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Hirabayashi
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Yamamoto
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Akihiro Maruyama
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Nahoko Tomonobu
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Rie Kinoshita
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Youyi Chen
- Department of General Surgery & Bio-Bank of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Ni Luh Gede Yoni Komalasari
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
| | - Hitoshi Murata
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yuma Gohara
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Fan Jiang
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Jin Zhou
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Cancer Hospital of the Dalian University of Technology, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | | | | | - Akira Yamauchi
- Department of Biochemistry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
| | - Futoshi Kuribayashi
- Department of Biochemistry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
| | - Shinichi Toyooka
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yusuke Inoue
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Division of Molecular Science, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, Japan
| | - Masakiyo Sakaguchi
- Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
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6
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Trelford CB, Dagnino L, Di Guglielmo GM. Transforming growth factor-β in tumour development. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:991612. [PMID: 36267157 PMCID: PMC9577372 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.991612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is a ubiquitous cytokine essential for embryonic development and postnatal tissue homeostasis. TGFβ signalling regulates several biological processes including cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, immune function, and tissue repair following injury. Aberrant TGFβ signalling has been implicated in tumour progression and metastasis. Tumour cells, in conjunction with their microenvironment, may augment tumourigenesis using TGFβ to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, immune suppression, and autophagy. Therapies that target TGFβ synthesis, TGFβ-TGFβ receptor complexes or TGFβ receptor kinase activity have proven successful in tissue culture and in animal models, yet, due to limited understanding of TGFβ biology, the outcomes of clinical trials are poor. Here, we review TGFβ signalling pathways, the biology of TGFβ during tumourigenesis, and how protein quality control pathways contribute to the tumour-promoting outcomes of TGFβ signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles B. Trelford
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lina Dagnino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Children’s Health Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Gianni M. Di Guglielmo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Gianni M. Di Guglielmo,
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7
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Sun Q, Wang Y, Officer A, Pecknold B, Lee G, Harismendy O, Desgrosellier JS. Stem-like breast cancer cells in the activated state resist genetic stress via TGFBI-ZEB1. NPJ Breast Cancer 2022; 8:5. [PMID: 35027548 PMCID: PMC8758745 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-021-00375-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer cells with stem-like properties are critical for tumor progression, yet much about these cells remains unknown. Here, we characterize a population of stem-like breast cancer cells expressing the integrin αvβ3 as transcriptionally related to activated stem/basal cells in the normal human mammary gland. An unbiased functional screen of genes unique to these cells identified the matrix protein TGFBI (BIG-H3) and the transcription factor ZEB1 as necessary for tumorsphere formation. Surprisingly, these genes were not required for cell proliferation or survival, but instead maintained chromosomal stability. Consistent with this finding, CRISPR deletion of either gene synergized with PARP inhibition to deplete αvβ3+ stem-like cells, which are normally resistant to this therapy. Our findings highlight a critical role for TGFBI-ZEB1 protection against genetic stress as a key attribute of activated stem-like cells and suggest that disrupting this ability may enhance their "BRCAness" by increasing sensitivity to PARP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Sun
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Yufen Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Adam Officer
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Brianna Pecknold
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Garrett Lee
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Olivier Harismendy
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jay S Desgrosellier
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. .,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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8
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Down-Regulation of miR-194-5p for Predicting Metastasis in Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010325. [PMID: 35008751 PMCID: PMC8745262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as key negative regulators of gene expression, are closely related to tumor occurrence and progression. miR-194-5p (miR-194-1) has been shown to play a regulatory role in various cancers however, its biological function and mechanism of action in breast cancer have not yet been well explored. In this study, we use the UALCAN and LinkedOmics databases to analyze transcription expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas Breast Invasive Carcinoma (TCGA-BRCA). The epithelial-mesenchymal transition status of breast cancer cells was evaluated by wound-healing assay, trans-well assays, and gelatin zymography, while protein expression was assessed by Western blotting. miR-194-5p expression was found to be up-regulated in breast cancer clinical specimens but down-regulated in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line MDA-MB-231 and breast cancer clinical specimens in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). miR-194-5p significantly inhibited the expression of the epithelial marker ZO-1 and increased the expression of mesenchymal markers, including ZEB-1 and vimentin, in MDA-MB-231 cells. miR-194-5p significantly reduced the gelatin-degrading activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in zymography assays. In MDA-MB-231 cells and TCGA patient samples, ZEB-1 expression was significantly inversely correlated with miR-194-5p expression. High levels of miR-194-5p were associated with good overall survival. miR-194-5p regulates epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in TNBC. Our findings suggest that miR-194-5p functions as a tumor biomarker in breast cancer, providing new insights for the study of breast cancer development and metastasis.
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9
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Allen SC, Widman JA, Datta A, Suggs LJ. Dynamic extracellular matrix stiffening induces a phenotypic transformation and a migratory shift in epithelial cells. Integr Biol (Camb) 2021; 12:161-174. [PMID: 32472133 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyaa012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Soft tissue tumors, including breast cancer, become stiffer throughout disease progression. This increase in stiffness has been shown to correlate to malignant phenotype and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Unlike current models, utilizing static increases in matrix stiffness, our group has previously created a system that allows for dynamic stiffening of an alginate-matrigel composite hydrogel to mirror the native dynamic process. Here, we utilize this system to evaluate the role of matrix stiffness on EMT and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Epithelial cells were seen to lose normal morphology and become protrusive and migratory after stiffening. This shift corresponded to a loss of epithelial markers and gain of mesenchymal markers in both the cell clusters and migrated cells. Furthermore, stiffening in a murine model reduced tumor burden and increased migratory behavior prior to tumor formation. Inhibition of FAK and PI3K in vitro abrogated the morphologic and migratory transformation of epithelial cell clusters. This work demonstrates the key role extracellular matrix stiffening has in tumor progression through integrin signaling and, in particular, its ability to drive EMT-related changes and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane C Allen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jessica A Widman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Anisha Datta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laura J Suggs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
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10
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Singh P, Banerjee R, Piao S, Costa de Medeiros M, Bellile E, Liu M, Damodaran Puthiya Veettil D, Schmitd LB, Russo N, Danella E, Inglehart RC, Pineault KM, Wellik DM, Wolf G, D’Silva NJ. Squamous cell carcinoma subverts adjacent histologically normal epithelium to promote lateral invasion. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20200944. [PMID: 33835136 PMCID: PMC8042603 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20200944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent and new tumors, attributed in part to lateral invasion, are frequent in squamous cell carcinomas and lead to poor survival. We identified a mechanism by which cancer subverts adjacent histologically normal epithelium to enable small clusters of cancer cells to burrow undetected under adjacent histologically normal epithelium. We show that suppression of DMBT1 within cancer promotes aggressive invasion and metastasis in vivo and is associated with metastasis in patients. Cancer cells via TGFβ1 and TNFα also suppress DMBT1 in adjacent histologically normal epithelium, thereby subverting it to promote invasion of a small population of tumor cells. The sufficiency of DMBT1 in this process is demonstrated by significantly higher satellite tumor nests in Dmbt1-/- compared with wild-type mice. Moreover, in patients, invasion of small tumor nests under adjacent histologically normal epithelium is associated with increased risk for recurrence and shorter disease-free survival. This study demonstrates a crucial role of adjacent histologically normal epithelium in invasion and its important role in the tumor microenvironment and opens new possibilities for therapeutic strategies that reduce tumor recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Singh
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Rajat Banerjee
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Songlin Piao
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Marcell Costa de Medeiros
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Emily Bellile
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Ligia B. Schmitd
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Nickole Russo
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Erika Danella
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Ronald C. Inglehart
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kyriel M. Pineault
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Deneen M. Wellik
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Greg Wolf
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Nisha J. D’Silva
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Promoter G-quadruplex favours epigenetic reprogramming-induced atypical expression of ZEB1 in cancer cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2021; 1865:129899. [PMID: 33930476 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant expression of Zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), which remains repressed in normal cells, is frequently associated with cancer aggressiveness. However, transcriptional mechanism underlying such atypical ZEB1 expression in cancer is not yet well-understood. METHODS ZEB1 promoter G-quadruplexes were studied and modeled extensively using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, ITC and DMS protection assay. Luciferase assay, qPCR, FAIRE, ChIP, western blotting, confocal microscopy was used to access the regulation of ZEB1 transcription. RESULTS Our study unravels the occupancy of nucleolin to ZEB1 promoter as a crucial determinant which facilitates the binding of SP1 transcription factor to chromatin, by locally remodelling the region. SP1, subsequently, recruits P300 acetyl transferase leading to enriched acetyl-histone H3 at promoter and activates ZEB1 transcription. ZEB1 promoter analysis identifies presence of four putative G-quadruplex (G4) forming motifs within 700 bp of TSS; each quadruplex is characterized structurally in details with an array of biophysical techniques. Surprisingly, stabilization of G4 with cationic porphyrin TMPyP4 represses its transcription and eventually impedes cell invasiveness. CONCLUSIONS TMPyP4 binding to a selected G4 motif (5' -534/-511-3' from TSS), where nucleolin/SP1/P300 co-occupies, prevents the association of nucleolin which consequently hinders SP1 binding, leading to chromatin compactness and transcriptional repression. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Our findings demonstrate an epigenetic mechanism of ZEB1 reactivation where dynamic occupancy of transcription regulators encompassing a G4 motif is crucial and thus, small molecule induced G-quadruplex stabilization may act as a potential molecular switch to turn-off gene expression.
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12
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Shen H, Zhu H, Chen Y, Shen Z, Qiu W, Qian C, Zhang J. ZEB1-induced LINC01559 expedites cell proliferation, migration and EMT process in gastric cancer through recruiting IGF2BP2 to stabilize ZEB1 expression. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:349. [PMID: 33824282 PMCID: PMC8024305 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03571-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a common type of tumor that is characterized with high metastatic rate. In recent years, increasing studies have indicated that lncRNAs are involved in the regulation on cancer cell proliferation and migration. However, the functional role of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1559 (LINC01559) in GC is still unclear. In this study, we applied quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and examined that LINC01559 expression was significantly enhanced in GC cells. Functional assays such as EdU, colony formation, JC-1 and transwell assays displayed that silencing LINC01559 inhibited cell proliferation and migration while promoted cell apoptosis in GC. Besides, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence assays examined the expression of factors related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and indicated that EMT process was blocked by LINC01559 knockdown in GC cells. Besides, LINC01559 silencing inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In addition, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated that zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) served as a transcription factor to combine with LINC01559 promoter and activated the expression of LINC01559 in GC cells. In return, LINC01559 recruited insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) to stabilize ZEB1 mRNA to up-regulate ZEB1 in GC cells. In short, the findings in this research might provide a novel target for GC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huojian Shen
- Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Hongyi Zhu
- Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yuanwen Chen
- Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhiyong Shen
- Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Weiqing Qiu
- Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Changlin Qian
- Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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13
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Teneurins: Role in Cancer and Potential Role as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Targets for Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052321. [PMID: 33652578 PMCID: PMC7956758 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Teneurins have been identified in vertebrates as four different genes (TENM1-4), coding for membrane proteins that are mainly involved in embryonic and neuronal development. Genetic studies have correlated them with various diseases, including developmental problems, neurological disorders and congenital general anosmia. There is some evidence to suggest their possible involvement in cancer initiation and progression, and drug resistance. Indeed, mutations, chromosomal alterations and the deregulation of teneurins expression have been associated with several tumor types and patient survival. However, the role of teneurins in cancer-related regulatory networks is not fully understood, as both a tumor-suppressor role and pro-tumoral functions have been proposed, depending on tumor histotype. Here, we summarize and discuss the literature data on teneurins expression and their potential role in different tumor types, while highlighting the possibility of using teneurins as novel molecular diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and as targets for cancer treatments, such as immunotherapy, in some tumors.
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14
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Poodineh J, Sirati-Sabet M, Rajabibazl M, Mohammadi-Yeganeh S. MiR-130a-3p blocks Wnt signaling cascade in the triple-negative breast cancer by targeting the key players at multiple points. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05434. [PMID: 33225091 PMCID: PMC7662874 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Aberrant Wnt signaling cascade is a hallmark of the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that is linked with the increased proliferation, invasion, and poor overall survival. many genes are post-transcriptionally regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs) therefore; it is indisputable that the dysregulation of the miRNAs is an explanation for the aberrant signaling cascades. Thus, the present study was conducted to find the putative miRNA targeting the key players of Wnt/β -catenin cascade in the TNBC. METHODS The miR-130a-3p was found as a potential regulator of the Wnt signaling cascade by applying several bioinformatic algorithms. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the expression levels of miR-130a-3p and Wnt cascade genes in the TNBC cells. Afterward, TNBC cells were transiently transfected with the miR-130a-3p to investigate its effects on the expression of Wnt cascade genes. Subsequently, MTT, soft agar colony formation, scratch, transwell cell migration, and transwell cell invasion assays were used to determine the behavior of the TNBC cells in response to miR-130a-3p restoration. RESULTS Results of the qRT-PCR showed downregulation of miR-130a-3p and upregulation of the Wnt cascade genes in the TNBC cells compared to the normal cells. Transient overexpression of miR-130a-3p decreased the expression levels of Wnt cascade genes significantly in the TNBC cells. Moreover, following the miR-130a-3p overexpression, the proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and migration of the TNBC cells were reduced. CONCLUSION Overall, our findings provided an evidence for the significant role of miR-130a-3p in the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin cascade, and also introduced the miR-130a-3p as a new therapeutic target for the patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jafar Poodineh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Sirati-Sabet
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Rajabibazl
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Mohammadi-Yeganeh
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Bradfield A, Button L, Drury J, Green DC, Hill CJ, Hapangama DK. Investigating the Role of Telomere and Telomerase Associated Genes and Proteins in Endometrial Cancer. Methods Protoc 2020; 3:E63. [PMID: 32899298 PMCID: PMC7565490 DOI: 10.3390/mps3030063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the commonest gynaecological malignancy. Current prognostic markers are inadequate to accurately predict patient survival, necessitating novel prognostic markers, to improve treatment strategies. Telomerase has a unique role within the endometrium, whilst aberrant telomerase activity is a hallmark of many cancers. The aim of the current in silico study is to investigate the role of telomere and telomerase associated genes and proteins (TTAGPs) in EC to identify potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. Analysis of RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in EC (568 TTAGPs out of 3467) and ascertained DEGs associated with histological subtypes, higher grade endometrioid tumours and late stage EC. Functional analysis demonstrated that DEGs were predominantly involved in cell cycle regulation, while the survival analysis identified 69 DEGs associated with prognosis. The protein-protein interaction network constructed facilitated the identification of hub genes, enriched transcription factor binding sites and drugs that may target the network. Thus, our in silico methods distinguished many critical genes associated with telomere maintenance that were previously unknown to contribute to EC carcinogenesis and prognosis, including NOP56, WFS1, ANAPC4 and TUBB4A. Probing the prognostic and therapeutic utility of these novel TTAGP markers will form an exciting basis for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bradfield
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK; (A.B.); (J.D.); (C.J.H.)
| | - Lucy Button
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK;
| | - Josephine Drury
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK; (A.B.); (J.D.); (C.J.H.)
| | - Daniel C. Green
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK;
| | - Christopher J. Hill
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK; (A.B.); (J.D.); (C.J.H.)
| | - Dharani K. Hapangama
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK; (A.B.); (J.D.); (C.J.H.)
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK
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16
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Gu X, Wan G, Yang Y, Liu Y, Yang X, Zheng Y, Jiang L, Zhang P, Liu D, Zhao W, Huang G, Lu C. SLFN5 influences proliferation and apoptosis by upregulating PTEN transcription via ZEB1 and inhibits the purine metabolic pathway in breast cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:2832-2850. [PMID: 33042620 PMCID: PMC7539779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Schlafen-5 (SLFN5) is aberrantly involved in tumorigenesis in several types of cancer. However, its implications in breast cancer (BRCA) are unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that SLFN5 expression is negatively associated with the tumour growth of human BRCA using GEO database analysis and clinical sample immunostaining. Lentiviral overexpression of SLFN5 in BRCA cell lines suppressed tumourigenicity in nude mice. Knockdown and overexpression of SLFN5 in BRCA cell lines proved that SLFN5 can inhibit cell proliferation and colony formation and promote apoptosis by upregulating the transcription of a known cancer suppressor gene (the phosphatase and tensin homologue on chromosome 10, PTEN), resulting in molecular changes in the downstream AKT pathway and in proliferation/apoptosis. Lentiviral knockdown and overexpression of ZEB1 blocked the changes in the PTEN and AKT pathways and in the colony formation ability caused by SLFN5 knockdown and overexpression, respectively. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that ZEB1 can inhibit the PTEN promoter activity in MCF7 cells by binding to a motif in the PTEN promoter. Metabonomics analysis showed that SLFN5 influences many metabolic pathways and especially decreases purine metabolites, including inosine, xanthine, and hypoxanthine. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SLFN5 may be an important protective factor against BRCA, as it regulates PTEN transcription, the AKT pathway, and proliferation/apoptosis via ZEB1 mediation and inhibits the purine metabolic pathway. Thus, SLFN5 may be a potential therapeutic target for BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Gu
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Science Affiliated Zhoupu HospitalShanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
| | - Guoqing Wan
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Science Affiliated Zhoupu HospitalShanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Pathology, Mudanjiang Medical UniversityMudanjiang, P. R. China
| | - Yihao Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS&PUMCBeijing, P. R. China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical DiseasesBeijing, P. R. China
| | - Xintong Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yanjun Zheng
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Science Affiliated Zhoupu HospitalShanghai, P. R. China
| | - Liying Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
| | - Peng Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
| | - Dingsheng Liu
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Science Affiliated Zhoupu HospitalShanghai, P. R. China
| | | | - Gang Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
| | - Changlian Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health SciencesShanghai, P. R. China
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17
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Feldker N, Ferrazzi F, Schuhwerk H, Widholz SA, Guenther K, Frisch I, Jakob K, Kleemann J, Riegel D, Bönisch U, Lukassen S, Eccles RL, Schmidl C, Stemmler MP, Brabletz T, Brabletz S. Genome-wide cooperation of EMT transcription factor ZEB1 with YAP and AP-1 in breast cancer. EMBO J 2020; 39:e103209. [PMID: 32692442 PMCID: PMC7459422 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019103209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasion, metastasis and therapy resistance are the major cause of cancer‐associated deaths, and the EMT‐inducing transcription factor ZEB1 is a crucial stimulator of these processes. While work on ZEB1 has mainly focused on its role as a transcriptional repressor, it can also act as a transcriptional activator. To further understand these two modes of action, we performed a genome‐wide ZEB1 binding study in triple‐negative breast cancer cells. We identified ZEB1 as a novel interactor of the AP‐1 factors FOSL1 and JUN and show that, together with the Hippo pathway effector YAP, they form a transactivation complex, predominantly activating tumour‐promoting genes, thereby synergising with its function as a repressor of epithelial genes. High expression of ZEB1, YAP, FOSL1 and JUN marks the aggressive claudin‐low subtype of breast cancer, indicating the translational relevance of our findings. Thus, our results link critical tumour‐promoting transcription factors: ZEB1, AP‐1 and Hippo pathway factors. Disturbing their molecular interaction may provide a promising treatment option for aggressive cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Feldker
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fulvia Ferrazzi
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Schuhwerk
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sebastian A Widholz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Guenther
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Isabell Frisch
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Jakob
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julia Kleemann
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dania Riegel
- Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology (RCI), University Regensburg and University Medical Center, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Bönisch
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sören Lukassen
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rebecca L Eccles
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Schmidl
- Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology (RCI), University Regensburg and University Medical Center, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marc P Stemmler
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simone Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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18
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Ji H, Liu G, Han J, Zhu F, Dong X, Li B. C-phycocyanin inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in Caski cells. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:292. [PMID: 32655324 PMCID: PMC7339474 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01384-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In cervical cancer, most patients die of metastasis. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pivotal and intricate process that increases the metastatic potential of cervical cancer. C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a natural marine product isolated and purified from Spirulina platensis, has been investigated that has anti-cancer function. The aim of this study was to explore the inhibitory effect of C-phycocyanin on the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), so as to provide a new idea for the treatment and prognosis of cervical cancer. Methods A wound-healing assay, an invasion assay, immunofluorescence assay, western blot, flow cytometry and real-time reverse transcriptione polymerase chain reaction were explored in cervical cancer Caski cell lines. TGF-β/smad signaling pathway was evaluated of in Caski cell lines. Results Our study indicated that TGF-β1 induced EMT in cervical cancer cells. C-phycocyanin inhibited EMT in Caski cells by down-regulating N-cadherin and up-regulating E-cadherin protein expression. Furthermore, C-phycocyanin could inhibit the expression and proteins Twist, Snail and Zeb1 transcription factors related to EMT. In addition, C-phycocyanin could inhibit the migration and invasion of Caski cells induced by TGF-β1. Besides, C-phycocyanin inhibited EMT through TGF-β/smads signaling pathway. We also found C-phycocyanin induced cell cycle G0/G1 arrest by decreasing protein expression levels of Cyclin D1 and p27. Conclusions C-phycocyanin reversed TGF-β1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cervical cancer cells and down-regulated the TGF-β/samd signaling pathway induced G0/G1 arrest of tumor cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Ji
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071 People's Republic of China
| | - Guoxiang Liu
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071 People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Han
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071 People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071 People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolei Dong
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071 People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Li
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071 People's Republic of China
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19
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Mohammadinejad R, Biagioni A, Arunkumar G, Shapiro R, Chang KC, Sedeeq M, Taiyab A, Hashemabadi M, Pardakhty A, Mandegary A, Thiery JP, Aref AR, Azimi I. EMT signaling: potential contribution of CRISPR/Cas gene editing. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:2701-2722. [PMID: 32008085 PMCID: PMC11104910 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03449-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex plastic and reversible cellular process that has critical roles in diverse physiological and pathological phenomena. EMT is involved in embryonic development, organogenesis and tissue repair, as well as in fibrosis, cancer metastasis and drug resistance. In recent years, the ability to edit the genome using the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and associated protein (Cas) system has greatly contributed to identify or validate critical genes in pathway signaling. This review delineates the complex EMT networks and discusses recent studies that have used CRISPR/Cas technology to further advance our understanding of the EMT process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Mohammadinejad
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Alessio Biagioni
- Section of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ganesan Arunkumar
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Kun-Che Chang
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94303, USA
| | - Mohammed Sedeeq
- Division of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Aftab Taiyab
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Mohammad Hashemabadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Pardakhty
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Mandegary
- Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology and Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Jean-Paul Thiery
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health, Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Department of Medical Oncology, Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Iman Azimi
- Division of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
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Human Schlafen 5 regulates reversible epithelial and mesenchymal transitions in breast cancer by suppression of ZEB1 transcription. Br J Cancer 2020; 123:633-643. [PMID: 32488136 PMCID: PMC7435190 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-0873-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human Schlafen 5 (SLFN5) has been reported to inhibit or promote cell invasion in tumours depending on their origin. However, its role in breast cancer (BRCA) is undetermined. METHODS Differential expression analyses using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, clinical samples and cell lines were performed. Lentiviral knockdown and overexpression experiments were performed to detect changes in cell morphology, molecular markers and invasion. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-Seq) and luciferase reporter assays were performed to detect the SLFN5-binding motif. RESULTS TCGA, clinical samples and cell lines showed that SLFN5 expression was negatively correlated with BRCA metastasis. SLFN5 knockdown induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and enhanced invasion in BRCA cell lines. However, overexpression triggered mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). SLFN5 inhibited the expression of ZEB1 but not ZEB2, SNAI1, SNAI2, TWIST1 or TWIST2. Knockdown and overexpression of ZEB1 indicated that it was a mediator of the SLFN5-governed phenotype and invasion changes. Moreover, SLFN5 inhibited ZEB1 transcription by directly binding to the SLFN5-binding motif on the ZEB1 promoter, but a SLFN5 C-terminal deletion mutant did not. CONCLUSION SLFN5 regulates reversible epithelial and mesenchymal transitions, and inhibits BRCA metastasis by suppression of ZEB1 transcription, suggesting that SLFN5 could be a potential target for BRCA therapy.
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Drápela S, Bouchal J, Jolly MK, Culig Z, Souček K. ZEB1: A Critical Regulator of Cell Plasticity, DNA Damage Response, and Therapy Resistance. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:36. [PMID: 32266287 PMCID: PMC7096573 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The predominant way in which conventional chemotherapy kills rapidly proliferating cancer cells is the induction of DNA damage. However, chemoresistance remains the main obstacle to therapy effectivity. An increasing number of studies suggest that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) represents a critical process affecting the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy. Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a prime element of a network of transcription factors controlling EMT and has been identified as an important molecule in the regulation of DNA damage, cancer cell differentiation, and metastasis. Recent studies have considered upregulation of ZEB1 as a potential modulator of chemoresistance. It has been hypothesized that cancer cells undergoing EMT acquire unique properties that resemble those of cancer stem cells (CSCs). These stem-like cells manifest enhanced DNA damage response (DDR) and DNA repair capacity, self-renewal, or chemoresistance. In contrast, functional experiments have shown that ZEB1 induces chemoresistance regardless of whether other EMT-related changes occur. ZEB1 has also been identified as an important regulator of DDR by the formation of a ZEB1/p300/PCAF complex and direct interaction with ATM kinase, which has been linked to radioresistance. Moreover, ATM can directly phosphorylate ZEB1 and enhance its stability. Downregulation of ZEB1 has also been shown to reduce the abundance of CHK1, an effector kinase of DDR activated by ATR, and to induce its ubiquitin-dependent degradation. In this perspective, we focus on the role of ZEB1 in the regulation of DDR and describe the mechanisms of ZEB1-dependent chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Drápela
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Bouchal
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Zoran Culig
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Urology, Experimental Urology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Karel Souček
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
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22
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Rai GP, Baird SK. Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-3 has both anti-metastatic and anti-tumourigenic properties. Clin Exp Metastasis 2020; 37:69-76. [PMID: 31894441 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-019-10017-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
TIMP-3 is one of four tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases, the endogenous inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinase enzymes. These enzymes have an important role in metastasis, in the invasion of cancer cells through the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. TIMP-1, -2 and -4 both promote and inhibit tumour development, in a context-dependent manner, however TIMP-3 is consistently anti-tumourigenic. TIMP-3 is also the only insoluble member of the family, being either bound to the extracellular matrix or the low density lipoprotein-related protein-1, through which it can be endocytosed. Levels of TIMP-3 have also been shown to be regulated by micro RNAs and promoter hypermethylation, resulting in frequent silencing in many tumour types, to the extent that its expression has been suggested as a prognostic marker in some tumours, being associated with lower levels of metastasis, or better response to treatment. TIMP-3 has been shown to have anti-metastatic effects, both through inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and ADAM family members and downregulation of angiogenesis. This occurs via interactions with receptors including VEGF, via modulation of signaling pathways and due to protease inhibition. TIMP-3 has also been shown to reduce tumour growth rate, most often by inducing apoptosis by stabilisation of death receptors. A number of successful mechanisms of delivery of TIMP-3 to tumour or inflammatory sites have been investigated in vitro or in animal studies. It may therefore be worthwhile further exploring the use of TIMP-3 as a potential anti-metastatic or anti-tumorigenic therapy for many tumour types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali P Rai
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Sarah K Baird
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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23
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Al-Marsoummi S, Vomhof-DeKrey E, Basson MD. Schlafen12 Reduces the Aggressiveness of Triple Negative Breast Cancer through Post-Transcriptional Regulation of ZEB1 That Drives Stem Cell Differentiation. Cell Physiol Biochem 2019; 53:999-1014. [PMID: 31838790 DOI: 10.33594/000000191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Schlafen12 (SLFN12) promotes human intestinal and prostatic epithelial differentiation. We sought to determine whether SLFN12 reduces triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) aggressiveness. METHODS We validated bioinformatics analyses of publicly available databases by staining human TNBC. After virally overexpressing or siRNA-reducing SLFN12 in TNBC cell lines, we measured proliferation by CCK-8 assay, invasion into basement-membrane-coated pores, mRNA by q-RT-PCR and protein by Western blotting. Flow cytometry assessed proliferation and stem cell marker expression, and sorted CD44+/CD24- cells. Stemness was also assessed by mammosphere formation, and translation by click-it-AHA chemistry. RESULTS SLFN12 expression was lower in TNBC tumors and correlated with survival. SLFN12 overexpression reduced TNBC MDA-MB-231, BT549, and Hs578T proliferation. In MDA-MB-231 cells, AdSLFN12 reduced invasion, promoted cell cycle arrest, increased E-cadherin promoter activity, mRNA, and protein, and reduced vimentin expression and protein. SLFN12 knockdown increased vimentin. AdSLFN12 reduced the proportion of MDA-MB-231 CD44+CD24- cells, with parallel differentiation changes. SLFN12 overexpression reduced MDA-MB-231 mammosphere formation. SLFN12 overexpression decreased ZEB1 and Slug protein despite increased ZEB1 and Slug mRNA in all three lines. SLFN12 overexpression accelerated MDA-MB-231 ZEB1 proteasomal degradation and slowed ZEB1 translation. SLFN12 knockdown increased ZEB1 protein. Coexpressing ZEB1 attenuated the SLFN12 effect on E-cadherin mRNA and proliferation in all three lines. CONCLUSION SLFN12 may reduce TNBC aggressiveness and improve survival in part by a post-transcriptional decrease in ZEB1 that promotes TNBC cancer stem cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarmad Al-Marsoummi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and the Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Emilie Vomhof-DeKrey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and the Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and the Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Marc D Basson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and the Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA, .,Department of Surgery, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and the Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and the Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA
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24
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The multiverse nature of epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 58:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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25
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Chen Q, Deng X, Hu X, Guan S, He M, Wang Y, Wei B, Zhang J, Zhao H, Yao W, Jin F, Liu Y, Chen J, Olapade OI, Wu H, Wei M. Breast Cancer Risk-Associated SNPs in the mTOR Promoter Form De Novo KLF5- and ZEB1-Binding Sites that Influence the Cellular Response to Paclitaxel. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:2244-2256. [PMID: 31467112 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
ZEB1 (a positive enhancer) and KLF5 (a negative silencer) affect transcription factors and play inherently conserved roles in tumorigenesis and multidrug resistance. In humans, the rs2295080T-allele at the mTOR promoter locus has been associated with human cancer risk; however, the 63 bp spacing of another SNP rs2295079 has not been identified. Here, we discovered, for the first time, that rs2295079 (-78C/G) and rs2295080 (-141G/T) formed linkage haplotypes, with Ht1 (-78C/-141G) and Ht2 (-78G/-141T) being dominant, which were associated with distinct susceptibility to breast cancer, response to paclitaxel, and clinical outcomes in breast cancer. At the cellular level, compared with Ht1, Ht2 exhibits a much stronger effect on promoting mTOR expression, leading to enhanced tumor cell growth and strengthened resistance to PTX treatment. Mechanistically, the -141T allele of Ht2 creates a novel ZEB1-binding site; meanwhile, the -78C allele of Ht1 exists as an emerging KLF5-binding site, which synergistically induces promote/inhibit mTOR expression, cell proliferation, and excretion of cytotoxic drugs through the ZEB1/KLF5-mTOR-CCND1/ABCB1 cascade, thereby affecting the response to paclitaxel treatment in vivo and in vitro. Our results suggest the existence of a ZEB1/KLF5-mTOR-CCND1/ABCB1 axis in human cells that could be involved in paclitaxel response pathways and functionally regulate interindividualized breast cancer susceptibility and prognosis. IMPLICATIONS: This study highlights the function of haplotypes of mTOR -78C/-141G and -78G/-141T, in affecting breast cancer susceptibility and paclitaxel response regulated by ZEB1/KLF5-mTOR-CCND1/ABCB1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuchen Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaolan Deng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, California
| | - Xiaoyun Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shu Guan
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yilin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Binbin Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Haishan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Weifan Yao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, California
| | | | - Huizhe Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
| | - Minjie Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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Rebolledo-Jaramillo B, Ziegler A. Teneurins: An Integrative Molecular, Functional, and Biomedical Overview of Their Role in Cancer. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:937. [PMID: 30618566 PMCID: PMC6297388 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Teneurins are large transmembrane proteins originally identified in Drosophila. Their essential role in development of the central nervous system is conserved throughout species, and evidence supports their involvement in organogenesis of additional tissues. Homophilic and heterophilic interactions between Teneurin paralogues mediate cellular adhesion in crucial processes such as neuronal pathfinding and synaptic organization. At the molecular level, Teneurins are proteolytically processed into distinct subdomains that have been implicated in extracellular and intracellular signaling, and in transcriptional regulation. Phylogenetic studies have shown a high degree of intra- and interspecies conservation of Teneurin genes. Accordingly, the occurrence of genetic variants has been associated with functional and phenotypic alterations in experimental systems, and with some inherited or sporadic conditions. Recently, tumor-related variations in Teneurin gene expression have been associated with patient survival in different cancers. Although these findings were incidental and molecular mechanisms were not addressed, they suggested a potential utility of Teneurin transcript levels as biomarkers for disease prognosis. Mutations and chromosomal alterations affecting Teneurin genes have been found occasionally in tumors, but literature remains scarce. The analysis of open-access molecular and clinical datasets derived from large oncologic cohorts provides an invaluable resource for the identification of additional somatic mutations. However, Teneurin variants have not been classified in terms of pathogenic risk and their phenotypic impact remains unknown. On this basis, is it plausible to hypothesize that Teneurins play a role in carcinogenesis? Does current evidence support a tumor suppressive or rather oncogenic function for these proteins? Here, we comprehensively discuss available literature with integration of molecular evidence retrieved from open-access databases. We show that Teneurins undergo somatic changes comparable to those of well-established cancer genes, and discuss their involvement in cancer-related signaling pathways. Current data strongly suggest a functional contribution of Teneurins to human carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annemarie Ziegler
- Center for Genetics and Genomics, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
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27
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Zhang Y, Xu L, Li A, Han X. The roles of ZEB1 in tumorigenic progression and epigenetic modifications. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 110:400-408. [PMID: 30530042 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly expressed Zinc-finger E-box binding protein 1 (ZEB1) is significantly associated with the malignancy of various cancers. Signal transduction and activation of ZEB1 play important roles in cancer transformation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Emerging evidence suggests that ZEB1 drives the induction of EMT with activation of stem cell traits, immune evasion and epigenetic reprogramming. As an ideal target for EMT research, ZEB1 has been extensively studied for decades. However, the link between ZEB1 and epigenetic regulation of EMT has only recently been discovered. ZEB1 facilitates the epigenetic silencing of E-cadherin by recruiting multiple chromatin enzymes of E-cadherin promoter, such as histone deacetylases (HDACs), DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and ubiquitin ligase. Destruction of the connection between ZEB1 and these chromatin-modifying enzymes may represent an efficient for treating cancer. In this review, we outlined the biological function of ZEB1 in tumorigenic progression and epigenetic modifications and elucidate its transcriptional network, which is a suitable potential target for the design of novel anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Section, Hospital of Laiwu Steel Group, 68 Xinxing Road, Laigang 271126, Shandong Province, China
| | - Anqi Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiuzhen Han
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China.
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28
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Tsubakihara Y, Moustakas A. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastasis under the Control of Transforming Growth Factor β. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113672. [PMID: 30463358 PMCID: PMC6274739 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis of tumor cells from primary sites of malignancy to neighboring stromal tissue or distant localities entails in several instances, but not in every case, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT weakens the strong adhesion forces between differentiated epithelial cells so that carcinoma cells can achieve solitary or collective motility, which makes the EMT an intuitive mechanism for the initiation of tumor metastasis. EMT initiates after primary oncogenic events lead to secondary secretion of cytokines. The interaction between tumor-secreted cytokines and oncogenic stimuli facilitates EMT progression. A classic case of this mechanism is the cooperation between oncogenic Ras and the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ). The power of TGFβ to mediate EMT during metastasis depends on versatile signaling crosstalk and on the regulation of successive waves of expression of many other cytokines and the progressive remodeling of the extracellular matrix that facilitates motility through basement membranes. Since metastasis involves many organs in the body, whereas EMT affects carcinoma cell differentiation locally, it has frequently been debated whether EMT truly contributes to metastasis. Despite controversies, studies of circulating tumor cells, studies of acquired chemoresistance by metastatic cells, and several (but not all) metastatic animal models, support a link between EMT and metastasis, with TGFβ, often being a common denominator in this link. This article aims at discussing mechanistic cases where TGFβ signaling and EMT facilitate tumor cell dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Tsubakihara
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 595, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Aristidis Moustakas
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 595, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Maturi V, Enroth S, Heldin CH, Moustakas A. Genome-wide binding of transcription factor ZEB1 in triple-negative breast cancer cells. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:7113-7127. [PMID: 29744893 PMCID: PMC6055758 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a transcriptional regulator involved in embryonic development and cancer progression. ZEB1 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Triple-negative human breast cancers express high ZEB1 mRNA levels and exhibit features of EMT. In the human triple-negative breast cancer cell model Hs578T, ZEB1 associates with almost 2,000 genes, representing many cellular functions, including cell polarity regulation (DLG2 and FAT3). By introducing a CRISPR-Cas9-mediated 30 bp deletion into the ZEB1 second exon, we observed reduced migratory and anchorage-independent growth capacity of these tumor cells. Transcriptomic analysis of control and ZEB1 knockout cells, revealed 1,372 differentially expressed genes. The TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 3 and the teneurin transmembrane protein 2 genes showed increased expression upon loss of ZEB1, possibly mediating pro-tumorigenic actions of ZEB1. This work provides a resource for regulators of cancer progression that function under the transcriptional control of ZEB1. The data confirm that removing a single EMT transcription factor, such as ZEB1, is not sufficient for reverting the triple-negative mesenchymal breast cancer cells into more differentiated, epithelial-like clones, but can reduce tumorigenic potential, suggesting that not all pro-tumorigenic actions of ZEB1 are linked to the EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Maturi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefan Enroth
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carl-Henrik Heldin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Aristidis Moustakas
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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