Changes in caveolae, caveolin, and polymerase 1 and transcript release factor (PTRF) expression in prostate cancer progression

The roles of stress-induced premature senescence and Akt/FoxO1 signaling in periapical lesions

OBJECTIVES

There is little knowledge about oxidative stress-induced senescence involvement in apical periodontitis. Here, we explored its molecular mechanism in periapical lesions.

METHODS

Ten cases of radicular cysts and five cases of periapical granulomas were randomly selected. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to detect the expression and correlation between Senescence-associated factor polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) and Akt/FoxO1 signaling. Human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) pretreated with LY294002 were exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative stress conditions and then cell proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, and associated signaling were evaluated by EdU labeling, β-galactosidase assay, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

Polymerase I and transcript release factor and Akt/FoxO1 signaling were more frequently expressed in the radicular cyst than in periapical granulomas. Notably, cells in radicular cysts showed Akt activation, FoxO1 phosphorylation, and cytoplasmic translocation. In vitro, prominent H2O2-induced senescence was observed in hPDLCs. LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, attenuated the expression levels of senescence (Klotho, P16INK4), apoptosis (Bad, Fas), phosphorylated Akt, and phosphorylated FoxO1; however, did not affect cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated that senescence is present in clinical periapical lesions, and Akt/FoxO1 signaling is involved in the H2O2-induced cellular senescence, which could serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Cavin1 activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to influence the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Cavin1 is a cell membrane caveolin, with controversial function in different tumors. Meanwhile, the role of Cavin1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains unclear. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the significance of Cavin1 in HCC occurrence and progression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cavin1 content was examined in HCC tissues and paired adjacent normal liver tissues by qRT-PCR and IHC among 81 HCC patients. The Cavin1-mediated regulation of HCC proliferation and metastasis was assessed through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Finally, using GSEA, we found out Cavin1 could be a potential regulator of the Wnt pathway. The alterations of the Wnt pathway-related proteins were identified by Western Blot analysis.

RESULTS

Cavin1 was lower expressed in HCC, which implied poor survival outcomes in HCC patients. Phenotypic experiments revealed that Cavin1 strongly suppressed HCC proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. Besides, altered epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related protein expressions were detected. Based on our GSEA analysis, Cavin1 activated the Wnt pathway, and Western Blot analysis revealed diminished β-catenin, c-Myc, and MMP9 contents upon Cavin1 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

Cavin1 suppresses HCC progression by modulating HCC proliferation and migration via inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin axis activation.

The Role of Membrane Lipids in the Formation and Function of Caveolae

Caveolae are plasma membrane invaginations with a distinct lipid composition. Membrane lipids cooperate with the structural components of caveolae to generate a metastable surface domain. Recent studies have provided insights into the structure of essential caveolar components and how lipids are crucial for the formation, dynamics, and disassembly of caveolae. They also suggest new models for how caveolins, major structural components of caveolae, insert into membranes and interact with lipids.

UBE2O ubiquitinates PTRF/CAVIN1 and inhibits the secretion of exosome-related PTRF/CAVIN1

BACKGROUND

Exosomes are small vesicles released by cells, which have crucial functions in intercellular communication. Exosomes originated from cell membrane invagination and are released followed by multivesicular bodies (MVBs) fused with the cell membrane. It is known that Polymerase I and Transcript Release Factor (PTRF, also known as Caveolin-associated Protein-1, CAVIN1) plays an important role in caveolae formation and exosome secretion. And PTRF in exosomes has been identified as a potential biomarker in multiple malignancies such as glioma and renal cell carcinoma. However, the mechanisms of how to regulate the secretion of exosome-related PTRF remain unknown.

METHODS

We performed exogenous and endogenous immunoprecipitation assays to investigate the interaction between ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2O (UBE2O) and PTRF. We identified UBE2O ubiquitinated PTRF using ubiquitination assays. Then, exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation and identified by transmission electronic microscopy, western blot and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The effect of UBE2O on the secretion of exosome-related PTRF was analyzed by western blot, and the effect of UBE2O on exosome secretion was evaluated by exosome markers and the total protein content of exosomes.

RESULTS

Here, we showed that UBE2O interacts with PTRF directly and ubiquitinates PTRF. Functionally, we found that UBE2O inhibited the effects of PTRF on exosome secretion via decreasing caveolae formation. Importantly, UBE2O decreased exosome secretion, resulting in downregulating PTRF secretion via exosomes. Our study also identified Serum Deprivation Protein Response (SDPR, also known as Caveolin-associated Protein-2, CAVIN2) interacted with both UBE2O and PTRF. Furthermore, we found that SDPR promotes PTRF expression in exosomes. Interestingly, even in the presence of SDPR, UBE2O still inhibited the secretion of exosome-related PTRF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that UBE2O downregulated exosome release and controlled the secretion of exosome-related PTRF through ubiquitinating PTRF. Since exosomes play an important role in malignant tumor growth and PTRF included in exosomes is a biomarker for several malignant tumors, increasing UBE2O expression in cells has the potential to be developed as a novel approach for cancer treatment. Video Abstract.

Caveolar and non-Caveolar Caveolin-1 in ocular homeostasis and disease

Caveolae, specialized plasma membrane invaginations present in most cell types, play important roles in multiple cellular processes including cell signaling, lipid uptake and metabolism, endocytosis and mechanotransduction. They are found in almost all cell types but most abundant in endothelial cells, adipocytes and fibroblasts. Caveolin-1 (Cav1), the signature structural protein of caveolae was the first protein associated with caveolae, and in association with Cavin1/PTRF is required for caveolae formation. Genetic ablation of either Cav1 or Cavin1/PTRF downregulates expression of the other resulting in loss of caveolae. Studies using Cav1-deficient mouse models have implicated caveolae with human diseases such as cardiomyopathies, lipodystrophies, diabetes and muscular dystrophies. While caveolins and caveolae are extensively studied in extra-ocular settings, their contributions to ocular function and disease pathogenesis are just beginning to be appreciated. Several putative caveolin/caveolae functions are relevant to the eye and Cav1 is highly expressed in retinal vascular and choroidal endothelium, Müller glia, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and the Schlemm's canal endothelium and trabecular meshwork cells. Variants at the CAV1/2 gene locus are associated with risk of primary open angle glaucoma and the high risk HTRA1 variant for age-related macular degeneration is thought to exert its effect through regulation of Cav1 expression. Caveolins also play important roles in modulating retinal neuroinflammation and blood retinal barrier permeability. In this article, we describe the current state of caveolin/caveolae research in the context of ocular function and pathophysiology. Finally, we discuss new evidence showing that retinal Cav1 exists and functions outside caveolae.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of Interleukin-30 suppresses IGF1 and CXCL5 and boosts SOCS3 reducing prostate cancer growth and mortality

BACKGROUND

Metastatic prostate cancer (PC) is a leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. Targeting of the culprits of disease progression is an unmet need. Interleukin (IL)-30 promotes PC onset and development, but whether it can be a suitable therapeutic target remains to be investigated. Here, we shed light on the relationship between IL30 and canonical PC driver genes and explored the anti-tumor potential of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of IL30.

METHODS

PC cell production of, and response to, IL30 was tested by flow cytometry, immunoelectron microscopy, invasion and migration assays and PCR arrays. Syngeneic and xenograft models were used to investigate the effects of IL30, and its deletion by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, on tumor growth. Bioinformatics of transcriptional data and immunopathology of PC samples were used to assess the translational value of the experimental findings.

RESULTS

Human membrane-bound IL30 promoted PC cell proliferation, invasion and migration in association with STAT1/STAT3 phosphorylation, similarly to its murine, but secreted, counterpart. Both human and murine IL30 regulated PC driver and immunity genes and shared the upregulation of oncogenes, BCL2 and NFKB1, immunoregulatory mediators, IL1A, TNF, TLR4, PTGS2, PD-L1, STAT3, and chemokine receptors, CCR2, CCR4, CXCR5. In human PC cells, IL30 improved the release of IGF1 and CXCL5, which mediated, via autocrine loops, its potent proliferative effect. Deletion of IL30 dramatically downregulated BCL2, NFKB1, STAT3, IGF1 and CXCL5, whereas tumor suppressors, primarily SOCS3, were upregulated. Syngeneic and xenograft PC models demonstrated IL30's ability to boost cancer proliferation, vascularization and myeloid-derived cell infiltration, which were hindered, along with tumor growth and metastasis, by IL30 deletion, with improved host survival. RNA-Seq data from the PanCancer collection and immunohistochemistry of high-grade locally advanced PCs demonstrated an inverse association (chi-squared test, p = 0.0242) between IL30 and SOCS3 expression and a longer progression-free survival of patients with IL30^NegSOCS3^PosPC, when compared to patients with IL30^PosSOCS3^NegPC.

CONCLUSIONS

Membrane-anchored IL30 expressed by human PC cells shares a tumor progression programs with its murine homolog and, via juxtacrine signals, steers a complex network of PC driver and immunity genes promoting prostate oncogenesis. The efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeting of IL30 in curbing PC progression paves the way for its clinical use.

Identification and validation of a prognostic risk model based on caveolin family genes for breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most vicious killer of women’s health and is accompanied by increased incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Many studies have demonstrated that caveolins (CAVs) were abnormally expressed in a variety of tumors and implicated in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the role of CAVs in BC remains somewhat contentious.

Methods: We comprehensively explored the expression and prognostic value of CAVs (CAV1-3) in BC utilizing public databases (ONCOMINE, TIMER, UALCAN, and TCGA databases). Then we constructed a prognostic model based on the expression profiles. Also, a prognostic nomogram was built to predict the overall survival (OS). We further investigated the relationship between this signature and immune cell infiltration and the mutational landscape in BC. The R package “pRRophetic” was used to predict chemotherapeutic response in BC patients. Finally, we employed loss-of-function approaches to validate the role of CAVs in BC.

Results: We found that CAVs were significantly downregulated in various cancer types, especially in BC. Low CAV expression was closely related to the malignant clinicopathological characteristics and worse OS and relapse-free survival (RFS) in BC. Then we constructed a prognostic model based on the expression profiles of CAVs, which divided BC patients into two risk groups. The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group tend to have a poorer prognosis than those in the low-risk group. Multivariate analysis indicated that the risk score and stage were both independent prognostic factors for BC patients, suggesting a complementary value. The clinical profiles and risk module were used to construct a nomogram that could accurately predict the OS in BC. In addition, we found that patients in the low-risk group tend to have a relatively high immune status and a lower mutation event frequency compared to the high-risk group. Furthermore, this signature could predict the response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Finally, CAV depletion promoted the colony formation, migration, and invasion of BC cells.

Conclusion: CAVs may serve as novel biomarkers and independent prognostic factors for BC patients. Also, the constructed signature based on CAVs may predict immunotherapeutic responses and provide a novel nomogram for precise outcome prediction of BC.

Caveolae-Associated Molecules, Tumor Stroma, and Cancer Drug Resistance: Current Findings and Future Perspectives

Simple Summary

Cell membranes contain small invaginations called caveolae. They are a specialized lipid domain and orchestrate cellular signaling events, mechanoprotection, and lipid homeostasis. Formation of the caveolae depends on two classes of proteins, the caveolins and cavins, which form large complexes that allow their self-assembly into caveolae. Loss of either of these two proteins leads to distortion of the caveolae structure and disruption of many physiological processes that affect diseases of the muscle, metabolic states governing lipids, and the glucose balance as well as cancers. In cancers, the expression of caveolins and cavins is heterogenous, and they undergo alterations both in the tumors and the surrounding tumor microenvironment stromal cells. Remarkably, their expression and function has been associated with resistance to many cancer drugs. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the resistance mechanisms and how this knowledge could be applied into the clinic in future.

Abstract

The discovery of small, “cave-like” invaginations at the plasma membrane, called caveola, has opened up a new and exciting research area in health and diseases revolving around this cellular ultrastructure. Caveolae are rich in cholesterol and orchestrate cellular signaling events. Within caveola, the caveola-associated proteins, caveolins and cavins, are critical components for the formation of these lipid rafts, their dynamics, and cellular pathophysiology. Their alterations underlie human diseases such as lipodystrophy, muscular dystrophy, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The expression of caveolins and cavins is modulated in tumors and in tumor stroma, and their alterations are connected with cancer progression and treatment resistance. To date, although substantial breakthroughs in cancer drug development have been made, drug resistance remains a problem leading to treatment failures and challenging translation and bench-to-bedside research. Here, we summarize the current progress in understanding cancer drug resistance in the context of caveola-associated molecules and tumor stroma and discuss how we can potentially design therapeutic avenues to target these molecules in order to overcome treatment resistance.

Expression of the Cavin Family in Childhood Leukemia and Its Implications in Subtype Diagnosis and Prognosis Evaluation

BACKGROUND

Caveolae are plasma membrane subdomains of many mammalian cells that play critical roles in cellular processes, including endocytosis, signal transduction and tumorigenesis. Cavin proteins are essential for caveola formation, structure and function and are reported to be involved in various human diseases, but little is known about their expression and prognostic value in leukemia.

METHODS

We performed a detailed analysis of Cavin family mRNA expression levels in different cancer tissues vs. normal tissues via the ONCOMINE, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) databases. Then, we used qRT-PCR and Western blotting to validate Cavin1-4 expression in 10 fresh leukemia samples. Moreover, we estimated their prognostic value in leukemia with the R programming language and GEPIA database.

RESULTS

The expression of Cavin members is low in most human cancers, especially in leukemia. Cavin-1 and Cavin-2 are often more expressed in myeloid leukemia than lymphoblastic leukemia, but Cavin-4 has the opposite pattern. Interestingly, low expression of CAVIN1 and CAVIN4 is correlated with poorer outcome but low CAVIN2 expression is associated with a significantly better leukemia prognosis in leukemia.

CONCLUSION

The Cavin family showed significant expression differences between leukemia and normal cells. High Cavin-2 and low Cavin-4 levels predict poor survival and could be promising subtype diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers for leukemia.

Integrated Bioinformatic Analysis of the Expression and Prognosis of Caveolae-Related Genes in Human Breast Cancer

Caveolae-related genes, including CAVs that encodes caveolins and CAVINs that encodes caveolae-associated proteins cavins, have been identified for playing significant roles in a variety of biological processes including cholesterol transport and signal transduction, but evidences related to tumorigenesis and cancer progression are not abundant to correlate with clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with cancer. In this study, we investigated the expression of these genes at transcriptional and translational levels in patients with breast cancer using Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), cBioPortal databases, and immunohistochemistry of the patients in our hospital. Prognosis of patients with breast cancer based on the expressions of CAVs and CAVINs was summarized using Kaplan-Meier Plotter with their correlation to different subtyping. The relevant molecular pathways of these genes were further analyzed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Results elucidated that expression levels of CAV1, CAV2, CAVIN1, CAVIN2, and CAVIN3 were significantly lower in breast cancer tissues than in normal samples, while the expression level of CAVIN2 was correlated with advanced tumor stage. Furthermore, investigations on survival of patients with breast cancer indicated outstanding associations between prognosis and CAVIN2 levels, especially for the patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. In conclusion, our investigation indicated CAVIN2 is a potential therapeutic target for patients with ER+ breast cancer, which may relate to functions of cancer cell surface receptors and adhesion molecules.

Caveola-forming proteins and prostate cancer

Caveolae are specialised and dynamic plasma membrane subdomains, involved in many cellular functions including endocytosis, signal transduction, mechanosensing and lipid storage, trafficking, and metabolism. Two protein families are indispensable for caveola formation and function, namely caveolins and cavins. Mutations of genes encoding these caveolar proteins cause serious pathological conditions such as cardiomyopathies, skeletal muscle diseases, and lipodystrophies. Deregulation of caveola-forming protein expression is associated with many types of cancers including prostate cancer. The distinct function of secretion of the prostatic fluid, and the unique metabolic phenotype of prostate cells relying on lipid metabolism as a main bioenergetic pathway further suggest a significant role of caveolae and caveolar proteins in prostate malignancy. Accumulating in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence showed the association of caveolin-1 with prostate cancer grade, stage, metastasis, and drug resistance. In contrast, cavin-1 was found to exhibit tumour suppressive roles. Studies on prostate cancer were the first to show the distinct function of the caveolar proteins depending on their localisation within the caveolar compartment or as cytoplasmic or secreted proteins. In this review, we summarise the roles of caveola-forming proteins in prostate cancer and the potential of exploiting them as therapeutic targets or biological markers.

Changes in receptor location affect the ability of oxytocin to stimulate proliferative growth in prostate epithelial cells

In normal prostate cells, cell membrane receptors are located within signalling microdomains called caveolae. During cancer progression, caveolae are lost and sequestered receptors move out onto lipid rafts. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a change in the localisation of receptors out of caveolae and onto the cell membrane increased cell proliferation invitro, and to determine whether this is related to changes in the cell signalling pathways. Normal human prostate epithelial cells (PrEC) and androgen-independent (PC3) cancer cells were cultured with 10nM dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The effects of oxytocin (OT) and gonadal steroids on proliferation were assessed using the MTS assay. Androgen receptor (AR) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression was identified by immunofluorescence and quantified by western blot. OTR and lipid raft staining was determined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Protein-protein interactions were detected and the cell signalling pathways identified. Treatment with OT did not affect the proliferation of PrEC. In PC3 cells, OT or androgen alone increased cell proliferation, but together had no effect. In normal cells, OTR localised to the membrane and AR localised to the nucleus, whereas in malignant cells both OTR and AR were identified in the cell membrane. Colocalisation of OTR and AR increased following treatment with androgens. Significantly fewer OTR/AR protein-protein interactions were seen in PrEC. With OT treatment, several cell signalling pathways were activated. Movement of OTR out of caveolae onto lipid rafts is accompanied by activation of alternative signal transduction pathways involved in stimulating increased cell proliferation.

Stromal CAVIN1 Controls Prostate Cancer Microenvironment and Metastasis by Modulating Lipid Distribution and Inflammatory Signaling

Lipid uptake occurs through caveolae, plasma membrane invaginations formed by caveolins (CAV) and caveolae-associated protein 1 (CAVIN1). Genetic alterations of CAV1N1 and CAV1 modify lipid metabolism and underpin lipodystrophy syndromes. Lipids contribute to tumorigenesis by providing fuel to cancer metabolism and supporting growth and signaling. Tumor stroma promotes tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, but how stromal lipids influence these processes remain to be defined. Here, we show that stromal CAVIN1 regulates lipid abundance in the prostate cancer microenvironment and suppresses metastasis. We show that depletion of CAVIN1 in prostate stromal cells markedly reduces their lipid droplet accumulation and increases inflammation. Stromal cells lacking CAVIN1 enhance prostate cancer cell migration and invasion. Remarkably, they increase lipid uptake and M2 inflammatory macrophage infiltration in the primary tumors and metastasis to distant sites. Our data support the concept that stromal cells contribute to prostate cancer aggressiveness by modulating lipid content and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. IMPLICATIONS: This study showed that stromal CAVIN1 suppresses prostate cancer metastasis by modulating tumor microenvironment, lipid content, and inflammatory response.

Systematic analyses of genetic variants in chromatin interaction regions identified four novel lung cancer susceptibility loci

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported 45 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may contribute to the susceptibility of lung cancer, with the majority in non-coding regions. However, no study has ever systematically evaluated the association between SNPs in physical chromatin interaction regions and lung cancer risk. In this study, we integrated the chromatin interaction information (Hi-C data) of lung cancer cell line and conducted a meta-analysis with two Asian GWASs (7,127 cases and 6,818 controls) to evaluate the association of potentially functional SNPs in chromatin interaction regions with lung cancer risk. We identified four novel lung cancer susceptibility loci located at 1q21.1 (rs17160062, P=4.00×10^-6), 2p23.3 (rs670343, P=4.87×10^-7), 2p15 (rs9309336, P=3.24×10^-6) and 17q21.2 (rs9252, P=1.51×10^-5) that were significantly associated with lung cancer risk after correction for multiple tests. Functional annotation result indicated that these SNPs may contribute to the development of lung cancer by affecting the availability of transcription factor binding sites. The HaploReg analysis suggested that rs9309336 may affect binding motif of transcription factor Foxp1. Expression quantitative trait loci analysis revealed that rs9309336 and rs17160062 could regulate the expressions of cancer-related genes (PUS10 and CHD1L). Our results revealed that variants in chromatin interaction regions could contribute to the development of lung cancer by regulating the expression of target genes, which providing novel implications for the understanding of functional variants in the development of lung cancer.

Correlation of the invasive potential of glioblastoma and expression of caveola-forming proteins caveolin-1 and CAVIN1

INTRODUCTION

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain cancer. The average survival time for the majority of patients is approximately 15 months after diagnosis. A major feature of GBM that contributes to its poor prognosis is its high invasiveness. Caveolae are plasma membrane subdomains that participate in numerous biological functions. Caveolin-1 and Caveolae Associated Protein 1 (CAVIN1), formerly termed Polymerase I and Transcript Release Factor, are both necessary for caveola formation. We hypothesized that high expression of caveola-forming proteins in GBM promotes invasiveness via modulation of the production of matrix-degrading enzymes.

METHODS

The mRNA expression of caveola-forming proteins and matrix proteases in GBM samples, and survival after stratifying patients according to caveolin-1 or CAVIN1 expression, were analyzed from TCGA and REMBRANDT databases. The proteolytic profile of cell lines expressing or devoid of caveola-forming proteins was investigated using zymography and real-time qPCR. Invasion through basement membrane-like protein was investigated in vitro.

RESULTS

Expression of both caveolin-1 and CAVIN1 was increased in GBM compared to normal samples and correlated with expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and gelatinases. High expression of caveola-forming proteins was associated with shorter survival time. GBM cell lines capable of forming caveolae expressed more uPA and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and/or -9 (MMP-9) and were more invasive than GBM cells devoid of caveola-forming proteins. Experimental manipulation of caveolin-1 or CAVIN1 expression in GBM cells recapitulated some, but not all of these features. Caveolae modulate GBM cell invasion in part via matrix protease expression.

PTRF suppresses the progression of colorectal cancers

As a key component of caveolae structure on the plasma membrane, accumulated evidence has suggested that Polymerase I and Transcript Release Factor (PTRF) plays a pivotal role in suppressing the progression of human malignances. However, the function of PTRF in the development of colorectal cancers is still unclear. Here we report that the expression of PTRF is significantly reduced in tumor tissues derived from human patients with colorectal cancers, and that the downregulation of PTRF correlates to the advanced stage of the disease. In addition, we found that the expression of PTRF negatively regulates the tumorigenic activities of colorectal cell lines (Colo320, HT29 and CaCo2). Furthermore, ectopic PTRF expression caused significant suppression of cellular proliferation, and anchorage-independent colony growth of Colo320 cells, which have the lowest expression level of PTRF in the three studied cell lines. Meanwhile, shRNA mediated knockdown of PTRF in CaCo2 cells significantly promoted cellular proliferation and anchorage-independent colony growth. In addition, in vivo assays further revealed that tumor growth was significantly inhibited in xenografts with ectopic PTRF expression as compared to untreated Colo320 cells, but was markedly enhanced in PTRF knockdown CaCo2 cells. Biochemical studies revealed that overexpression of PTRF led to the suppression of the AKT/mTOR pathway, as evidenced by reduced phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR, and downstream MMP-9. Thus, these findings, for the first time, demonstrated that PTRF inhibits the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancers and that it might serve as a potential therapeutic target for human colon cancer patients.

Mesoscale organization of domains in the plasma membrane - beyond the lipid raft

The plasma membrane is compartmentalized into several distinct regions or domains, which show a broad diversity in both size and lifetime. The segregation of lipids and membrane proteins is thought to be driven by the lipid composition itself, lipid-protein interactions and diffusional barriers. With regards to the lipid composition, the immiscibility of certain classes of lipids underlies the "lipid raft" concept of plasmalemmal compartmentalization. Historically, lipid rafts have been described as cholesterol and (glyco)sphingolipid-rich regions of the plasma membrane that exist as a liquid-ordered phase that are resistant to extraction with non-ionic detergents. Over the years the interest in lipid rafts grew as did the challenges with studying these nanodomains. The term lipid raft has fallen out of favor with many scientists and instead the terms "membrane raft" or "membrane nanodomain" are preferred as they connote the heterogeneity and dynamic nature of the lipid-protein assemblies. In this article, we will discuss the classical lipid raft hypothesis and its limitations. This review will also discuss alternative models of lipid-protein interactions, annular lipid shells, and larger membrane clusters. We will also discuss the mesoscale organization of plasmalemmal domains including visible structures such as clathrin-coated pits and caveolae.

The phospho-caveolin-1 scaffolding domain dampens force fluctuations in focal adhesions and promotes cancer cell migration

Caveolin-1 (Cav1), a major Src kinase substrate phosphorylated on tyrosine-14 (Y14), contains the highly conserved membrane-proximal caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD; amino acids 82-101). Here we show, using CSD mutants (F92A/V94A) and membrane-permeable CSD-competing peptides, that Src kinase-dependent pY14Cav1 regulation of focal adhesion protein stabilization, focal adhesion tension, and cancer cell migration is CSD dependent. Quantitative proteomic analysis of Cav1-GST (amino acids 1-101) pull downs showed sixfold-increased binding of vinculin and, to a lesser extent, α-actinin, talin, and filamin, to phosphomimetic Cav1Y14D relative to nonphosphorylatable Cav1Y14F. Consistently, pY14Cav1 enhanced CSD-dependent vinculin tension in focal adhesions, dampening force fluctuation and synchronously stabilizing cellular focal adhesions in a high-tension mode, paralleling effects of actin stabilization. This identifies pY14Cav1 as a molecular regulator of focal adhesion tension and suggests that functional interaction between Cav1 Y14 phosphorylation and the CSD promotes focal adhesion traction and, thereby, cancer cell motility.

MicroRNA-187 modulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting PTRF in non-small cell lung cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that negatively regulate gene expression play a key role in the development and progression of cancer. Aberrant expression of hsa-miR-187 (miR-187) has been reported in various malignancies. However, the function of miR-187 in tumor progression remains controversial and its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poorly understood. In the present study, the role of miR-187 in the progression of NSCLC was investigated. Our results revealed that miR-187 was frequently upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Furthermore, ectopic introduction of miR-187 promoted cell migration, whereas miR-187 inhibitor had the contrary effect in NSCLC cells. Of significance, miR-187 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays a pivotal role in the initiation of metastasis and activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathways. Polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) was identified as a direct target of miR-187 in the promotion of the migration of NSCLC cells. Restored expression of PTRF neutralized the promoting effect of miR-187 on cell migration and EMT of NSCLC cells. Collectively, our data highlight the pivotal role of miR-187 in the progression of NSCLC, indicating this factor as a potential candidate in molecular cancer therapy.

MicroRNA‑187 is an independent prognostic factor in lung cancer and promotes lung cancer cell invasion via targeting of PTRF

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the progression of different types of cancers giving new hope for cancer treatment. The role and regulatory mechanism of microRNA‑187 (miR‑187) are largely unknown. In the present study, 74 patients with non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were selected. Tumor tissues and matched normal tissues were collected for determining the expression level of miR‑187. Cell research was performed to detect the function of miR‑187. The expression level was measured and miR‑187 was found to be overexpressed in the NSCLC cell lines and tissues. Overexpression of miR‑187 promoted cell proliferation in the A549 and H1650 cell lines. Moreover, overexpression of miR‑187 also promoted cell migration and invasion. Polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) was identified as a target of miR‑187. Overexpression of miR‑187 suppressed the expression of PTRF. Knockdown of PTRF promoted lung cancer cell invasion, and overexpression of PTRF had a negative effect on lung cancer cell invasion. The PTRF messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in cancer tissues were significantly lower than those in their adjacent normal lung tissues as determined by real‑time PCR (RT‑PCR). The expression of the PTRF protein was significantly weaker than that in the adjacent normal lung tissues using immunohistochemical staining. The findings revealed that miR‑187 promotes cell growth and invasion by targeting PTRF and miR‑187 may be a new prognostic factor for NSCLC.

Differentiation of high-risk stage I and II colon tumors based on evaluation of CAV1 gene expression

BACKGROUND

Several molecular markers are currently being investigated for their prognostic or predictive value in colorectal cancer. One of the genes proposed, as a potential molecular marker in CRC is CAV1.

METHODS

The level of CAV1 expression was investigated in low-stage (I and II TNM) colon cancers using Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The level of CAV1 expression increased in tumors characterized by greater depths of invasiveness. The CAV1 expression level detected in tumors with a depth of invasion at stage T4 was significantly higher compared to that in T2 (P = 0.01) and T3 (P = 0.003) lesions. The length of a patient's survival depended on CAV1 expression level; the 10-year survival rate for patients with elevated expression of CAV1 was ∼59% compared with 91% for patients with reduced or unchanged expression of CAV1 (P = 0.007). The overall survival rate of patients with T3 + T4 lesions was significantly lower (P = 0.006) for patients with tumor displaying elevated CAV1 expression compared with patients with reduced or unchanged CAV1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of CAV1 expression offers valuable prognostic information for patients with colorectal cancer, and could be used to select patients with stage I or II disease, who are at increased risk of unfavorable outcomes.

Non-caveolar caveolin-1 expression in prostate cancer cells promotes lymphangiogenesis

Lymphangiogenesis allows prostate cancer (PCa) lymphatic metastasis, which is associated with poor prognosis and short survival rates. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a membrane protein localized in caveolae, but also exists in non-caveolar, cellular or extracellular forms. Cav-1 is overexpressed in PCa, promotes prostate tumour progression and metastasis. We investigated the effect of caveolar and non-caveolar Cav-1 on PCa lymphangiogenic potential. Cav-1 was down-regulated in PC3 and DU145, and ectopically expressed in LNCaP cells. The effect of PCa cell conditioned media on lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) viability, chemotaxis, chemokinesis and differentiation was assessed. The effect of Cav-1 on PCa cell expression of lymphangiogenesis-modulators VEGF-A and VEGF-C was assessed using qPCR and ELISA of the conditioned medium. Non-caveolar Cav-1, whether exogenous or endogenous (in LNCaP and PC3 cells, respectively) enhanced LEC proliferation, migration and differentiation. In contrast, caveolar Cav-1 (in DU145 cells) did not significantly affect PCa cell lymphangiogenic potential. The effect of non-caveolar Cav-1 on LECs was mediated by increased expression of VEGF-A as demonstrated by neutralization by anti-VEGF-A antibody. This study unveils for the first time a crucial role for non-caveolar Cav-1 in modulating PCa cell expression of VEGF-A and subsequent LEC proliferation, migration and tube formation.

Epigenetic modifications of caveolae associated proteins in health and disease

Caveolae are small, “omega-shaped” invaginations at the plasma membrane of the cell which are involved in a variety of processes including cholesterol transport, potocytosis and cell signalling. Within caveolae there are caveolae-associated proteins, and changes in expression of these molecules have been described to play a role in the pathophysiology of various diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Evidence is beginning to accumulate that epigenetic processes may regulate the expression of these caveolae related genes, and hence contribute to disease progression. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the role of epigenetic modification in regulating the expression of these caveolae related genes and how this relates to changes in cellular physiology and in health and disease.

Galectin-3 Overrides PTRF/Cavin-1 Reduction of PC3 Prostate Cancer Cell Migration

Expression of Caveolin-1 (Cav1), a key component of cell surface caveolae, is elevated in prostate cancer (PCa) and associated with PCa metastasis and a poor prognosis for PCa patients. Polymerase I and Transcript Release Factor (PTRF)/cavin-1 is a cytoplasmic protein required for Cav1-dependent formation of caveolae. Expression of PTRF reduces the motility of PC3 cells, a metastatic prostate cancer cell line that endogenously expresses abundant Cav1 but no PTRF and no caveolae, suggesting a role for non-caveolar Cav1 domains, or Cav1 scaffolds, in PCa cell migration. Tyrosine phosphorylated Cav1 (pCav1) functions in concert with Galectin-3 (Gal3) and the galectin lattice to stabilize focal adhesion kinase (FAK) within focal adhesions (FAs) and promote cancer cell motility. However, whether PTRF regulation of Cav1 function in PCa cell migration is related to Gal3 expression and functionality has yet to be determined. Here we show that PTRF expression in PC3 cells reduces FAK stabilization in focal adhesions and reduces cell motility without affecting pCav1 levels. Exogenous Gal3 stabilized FAK in focal adhesions of PTRF-expressing cells and restored cell motility of PTRF-expressing PC3 cells to levels of PC3 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with an optimal concentration of 2 µg/ml. Exogenous Gal3 stabilized FAK in focal adhesions of Gal3 knockdown PC3 cells but not in Cav1 knockdown PC3 cells. Cav1 knockdown also prevented Gal3 rescue of FA-associated FAK stabilization in PTRF-expressing PC3 cells. Our data support a role for PTRF/cavin-1, through caveolae formation, as an attenuator of the non-caveolar functionality of Cav1 in Gal3-Cav1 signalling and regulation of focal adhesion dynamics and cancer cell migration.

Host deficiency in caveolin-2 inhibits lung carcinoma tumor growth by impairing tumor angiogenesis

Caveolin-2 (Cav-2), a member of caveolin protein family, is largely different from better known caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and thus might play distinct functions. Here, we provide the first genetic evidence suggesting that host-expressed Cav-2 promotes subcutaneous tumor growth and tumor-induced neovascularization using two independent syngeneic mouse models. Host deficiency in Cav-2 resulted in defective and reduced growth of subcutaneously implanted Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and B16-F10 melanoma tumors, respectively. Consistent with the defective growth, LLC and B16-F10 melanoma tumors implanted into Cav-2 KO mice displayed reduced microvascular density (MVD) determined by IHC with anti-CD31 antibodies, suggesting impaired pathologic angiogenesis. Additional studies involving LLC tumors extracted from Cav-2 KO mice just 10 days after implantation determined reduced cell proliferation, massive necrotic cell death, and fibrosis. In contrast with day 10, only MVD but not cell proliferation and survival was reduced in the earliest palpable LLC tumors extracted 6 days after implantation into Cav-2 KO mice, suggesting that impaired angiogenesis is the causative factor. Mechanistically, impaired LLC tumor growth and angiogenesis in Cav-2 KO mice was associated with increased expression levels of antiangiogenic thrombospondin-1 and inhibited S1177 phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Taken together, our data suggest that host deficiency in Cav-2 impairs tumor-induced angiogenesis, leading to compromised tumor cell survival/proliferation manifested by the defective tumor growth. In conclusion, host-expressed Cav-2 may promote tumor growth via supporting tumor-induced angiogenesis. Thus, Cav-2 expressed in tumor microenvironment may potentially become a novel target for cancer therapy.

Caveolin and cavin family members: dual roles in cancer

Caveolae are specialized plasma membrane subdomains with distinct lipid and protein compositions, which play an essential role in cell physiology through regulation of trafficking and signaling functions. The structure and functions of caveolae have been shown to require the proteins caveolins. Recently, members of the cavin protein family were found to be required, in concert with caveolins, for the formation and function of caveolae. Caveolins have a paradoxical role in the development of cancer formation. They have been involved in both tumor suppression and oncogenesis, depending on tumor type and progress stage. High expression of caveolins and cavins leads to inhibition of cancer-related pathways, such as growth factor signaling pathways. However, certain cancer cells that express caveolins and cavins have been shown to be more aggressive and metastatic because of their increased potential for anchorage-independent growth. Here, we will survey the functional roles of caveolins and of different cavin family members in cancer regulation.

Emerging role of polymerase-1 and transcript release factor (PTRF/ Cavin-1) in health and disease

Polymerase-1 and release transcript factor (PTRF) was initially reported to be involved in the termination of the transcription process. More recently, it has been implicated in the formation of caveolae, cave-like structures in the plasma membrane. The effects of PTRF related to caveolae suggest that this protein may play important roles in health and disease. PTRF is highly expressed in various cells, including adipocytes, osteoblasts and muscle (cardiac, skeletal and smooth) cells. The role of PTRF in prostate cancer has been recently reviewed but there is growing evidence that PTRF is involved in other physiological processes such as cell repair and the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and, furthermore, altered expression of PTRF may be associated with disease. This review discusses the emerging role of PTRF in health and disease.

PTRF/Cavin-1 decreases prostate cancer angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

Caveolae are specialized plasma membrane subdomains implicated in cellular functions such as migration, signalling and trafficking. Caveolin-1 and polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF)/cavin-1 are essential for caveola formation. Caveolin-1 is overexpressed and secreted in prostate tumors and promotes aggressiveness and angiogenesis. In contrast, a lack of PTRF expression is reported in prostate cancer, and ectopic PTRF expression in prostate cancer cells inhibits tumor growth and metastasis. We experimentally manipulated PTRF expression in three prostate cancer cell lines, namely the caveolin-1 positive cells PC3 and DU145 and the caveolin-1-negative LNCaP cells, to evaluate angiogenesis- and lymphangiogenesis-regulating functions of PTRF. We show that the conditioned medium of PTRF-expressing prostate cancer cells decreases ECs proliferation, migration and differentiation in vitro and ex vivo. This can occur independently from caveolin-1 expression and secretion or caveola formation, since the anti-angiogenic effects of PTRF were detected in caveolin-1-negative LNCaP cells. Additionally, PTRF expression in PC3 cells significantly decreased blood and lymphatic vessel densities in orthotopic tumors in mice. Our results suggest that the absence of PTRF in prostate cancer cells contributes significantly to tumour progression and metastasis by promoting the angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis potential of the cancer cells, and this could be exploited for therapy.

A novel approach to identify driver genes involved in androgen-independent prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Insertional mutagenesis screens have been used with great success to identify oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Typically, these screens use gammaretroviruses (γRV) or transposons as insertional mutagens. However, insertional mutations from replication-competent γRVs or transposons that occur later during oncogenesis can produce passenger mutations that do not drive cancer progression. Here, we utilized a replication-incompetent lentiviral vector (LV) to perform an insertional mutagenesis screen to identify genes in the progression to androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC).

METHODS

Prostate cancer cells were mutagenized with a LV to enrich for clones with a selective advantage in an androgen-deficient environment provided by a dysregulated gene(s) near the vector integration site. We performed our screen using an in vitro AIPC model and also an in vivo xenotransplant model for AIPC. Our approach identified proviral integration sites utilizing a shuttle vector that allows for rapid rescue of plasmids in E. coli that contain LV long terminal repeat (LTR)-chromosome junctions. This shuttle vector approach does not require PCR amplification and has several advantages over PCR-based techniques.

RESULTS

Proviral integrations were enriched near prostate cancer susceptibility loci in cells grown in androgen-deficient medium (p < 0.001), and five candidate genes that influence AIPC were identified; ATPAF1, GCOM1, MEX3D, PTRF, and TRPM4. Additionally, we showed that RNAi knockdown of ATPAF1 significantly reduces growth (p < 0.05) in androgen-deficient conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our approach has proven effective for use in PCa, identifying a known prostate cancer gene, PTRF, and also several genes not previously associated with prostate cancer. The replication-incompetent shuttle vector approach has broad potential applications for cancer gene discovery, and for interrogating diverse biological and disease processes.

Expression profiles and functional associations of endogenous androgen receptor and caveolin-1 in prostate cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

In prostate cancer (PCa) patients, the protein target for androgen deprivation and blockade therapies is androgen receptor (AR). AR interacts with many proteins that function to either co-activate or co-repress its activity. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is not found in normal prostatic epithelium, but is found in PCa, and may be an AR co-regulator protein.

METHODS

We investigated cell line-specific signatures and associations of endogenous AR and Cav-1 in six PCa cell lines of known androgen sensitivity: LNCaP (androgen sensitive); 22Rv1 (androgen responsive); PC3, DU145, and ALVA41 (androgen non-reliant); and RWPE1 (non-malignant). Protein and mRNA expression profiles were compared and electron microscopy used to identify cells with caveolar structures. For cell lines expressing both AR and Cav-1, knockdown techniques using small interfering RNA against AR or Cav-1 were used to test whether diminished expression of one affected the other. Co-sedimentation of AR and Cav-1 was used to test their association. A reporter assay for AR genomic activity was utilized following Cav-1 knockdown.

RESULTS

AR-expressing LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells had low endogenous Cav-1 mRNA and protein. Cell lines that expressed little or no AR (DU145, PC3, ALVA41, and RWPE1) expressed high endogenous levels of Cav-1. AR knockdown in LNCaP cells had little effect on Cav-1, but Cav-1 knockdown inhibited AR expression and genomic activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show endogenous AR and Cav-1 mRNA and protein expression is inversely related in PCa cells, with Cav-1 acting on the androgen/AR signaling axis possibly as an AR co-activator, demonstrated by diminished AR genomic activity following Cav-1 knockdown.

Polymerase I and transcript release factor acts as an essential modulator of glioblastoma chemoresistance

OBJECTIVES

This study is to investigate if polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) acts as a modulator in glioblastoma (GBM) chemoresistance.

METHODS

Multidrug resistant (MDR) GBM cell line U251AR was established by exposing the U251 cell line to imatinib. The 2D-DIGE and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS were performed on U251 and U251AR cell lines to screen MDR-related proteins. The expression of PTRF was determined by Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR analyses.

RESULTS

When compared with the parental U251 cells, expression of 21 proteins was significantly altered in U251AR cells. Among the 21 differentially expressed proteins, the expression of PTRF was up-regulated by 2.14 folds in U251AR cells when compared with that in the parental U251 cells. Knockdown of PTRF in GBM cell lines significantly increased chemosensitivity of cells to various chemical drugs and decreased the expression levels of caveolin1, a major structural component of caveolae. Expression levels of PTRF and caveolin1 were significantly up-regulated in the relapsed GBM patients. The mRNA level of PTRF and caveolin1 showed a positive correlation in the same GBM specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that PTRF acts as a modulator in GBM chemoresistance.

Role of caveolin-2 in subcutaneous tumor growth and angiogenesis associated with syngeneic mouse Lewis lung carcinoma and B16 melanoma models

In addition to cancer cells, primary tumors are composed of a multitude of stromal cell types. Among others, the stromal cell types involved in tumor growth and progression include endothelial cells, fibroblasts, pericytes, stem cells and various cell types of immune origin. While the role of oncogenes or tumor suppressor proteins expressed in cancer cells has been extensively studied, far less is known about potential involvement of proteins expressed in stromal cell types present within the tumor microenvironment. Recent experimental evidence from our laboratory suggests that caveolin-2 (Cav-2) protein expressed in stromal cell types of the tumor microenvironment promotes subcutaneous tumor growth in two independent syngeneic mouse models, i.e., Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and B16-F10 melanoma. Mechanistically, the tumor growth promoting role of Cav-2 is associated with enhanced tumor induced neovascularization. At the molecular level, host-expressed Cav-2 appears to prevent excessive expression of anti-angiogenic thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and promote phosphorylation of pro-angiogenic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) at serine 1177. Taken together, our recent findings suggest that Cav-2 expressed within the tumor microenvironment could be a potential target for anti-cancer therapy.

Caveola-forming proteins caveolin-1 and PTRF in prostate cancer

The expression of caveola-forming proteins is dysregulated in prostate cancer. Caveolae are flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane that have roles in membrane trafficking and cell signalling. Members of two families of proteins--caveolins and cavins--are known to be required for the formation and functions of caveolae. Caveolin-1, the major structural protein of caveolae, is overexpresssed in prostate cancer and has been demonstrated to be involved in prostate cancer angiogenesis, growth and metastasis. Polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) is the only cavin family member necessary for caveola formation. When exogenously expressed in prostate cancer cells, PTRF reduces aggressive potential, probably via both caveola-mediated and caveola-independent mechanisms. In addition, stromal PTRF expression decreases with progression of the disease. Evaluation of caveolin-1 antibodies in the clinical setting is underway and it is hoped that future studies will reveal the mechanisms of PTRF action, allowing its targeting for therapeutic purposes.

PTRF/cavin-1 neutralizes non-caveolar caveolin-1 microdomains in prostate cancer

Caveolin-1 has a complex role in prostate cancer and has been suggested to be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. As mature caveolin-1 resides in caveolae, invaginated lipid raft domains at the plasma membrane, caveolae have been suggested as a tumor-promoting signaling platform in prostate cancer. However, caveola formation requires both caveolin-1 and cavin-1 (also known as PTRF; polymerase I and transcript release factor). Here, we examined the expression of cavin-1 in prostate epithelia and stroma using tissue microarray including normal, non-malignant and malignant prostate tissues. We found that caveolin-1 was induced without the presence of cavin-1 in advanced prostate carcinoma, an expression pattern mirrored in the PC-3 cell line. In contrast, normal prostate epithelia expressed neither caveolin-1 nor cavin-1, while prostate stroma highly expressed both caveolin-1 and cavin-1. Utilizing PC-3 cells as a suitable model for caveolin-1-positive advanced prostate cancer, we found that cavin-1 expression in PC-3 cells inhibits anchorage-independent growth, and reduces in vivo tumor growth and metastasis in an orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft mouse model. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin in stroma along with interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cancer cells was also decreased in tumors of mice bearing PC-3-cavin-1 tumor cells. To determine whether cavin-1 acts by neutralizing caveolin-1, we expressed cavin-1 in caveolin-1-negative prostate cancer LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells. Caveolin-1 but not cavin-1 expression increased anchorage-independent growth in LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells. Cavin-1 co-expression reversed caveolin-1 effects in caveolin-1-positive LNCaP cells. Taken together, these results suggest that caveolin-1 in advanced prostate cancer is present outside of caveolae, because of the lack of cavin-1 expression. Cavin-1 expression attenuates the effects of non-caveolar caveolin-1 microdomains partly via reduced IL-6 microenvironmental function. With circulating caveolin-1 as a potential biomarker for advanced prostate cancer, identification of the molecular pathways affected by cavin-1 could provide novel therapeutic targets.

Caveolae as plasma membrane sensors, protectors and organizers

Caveolae are submicroscopic, plasma membrane pits that are abundant in many mammalian cell types. The past few years have seen a quantum leap in our understanding of the formation, dynamics and functions of these enigmatic structures. Caveolae have now emerged as vital plasma membrane sensors that can respond to plasma membrane stresses and remodel the extracellular environment. Caveolae at the plasma membrane can be removed by endocytosis to regulate their surface density or can be disassembled and their structural components degraded. Coat proteins, called cavins, work together with caveolins to regulate the formation of caveolae but also have the potential to dynamically transmit signals that originate in caveolae to various cellular destinations. The importance of caveolae as protective elements in the plasma membrane, and as membrane organizers and sensors, is highlighted by links between caveolae dysfunction and human diseases, including muscular dystrophies and cancer.

Caveolin-1 and polymerase I and transcript release factor: new players in insulin-like growth factor-I receptor signaling

Caveolae are plasma membrane regions enriched in Caveolin proteins which regulate vesicular transport, endocytosis, and cell signaling. IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) localizes in caveolae and tyrosine phosphorylates Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), the most represented caveolar protein. Cav-1 participates to IGF-IR internalization and signaling directly interacting with IGF-IR and its substrates. Recently, polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) or Cavin-1, has been identified in the caveolar backbone. PTRF does not play a Cav-1 ancillary role and emerging data support a direct role of PTRF in IGF-IR signaling. PTRF and Cav-1 can bind IGF-IR and regulate IGF-IR internalization and plasma membrane replacement, mechanisms frequently deregulated in cancer cells. Although the exact roles of Cav-1 and IGF-IR in human cancer continue to be a matter of some debate, there is a strong evidence for an association between Cav-1 and IGF-IR in cancer development. With the discovery of IGF-IR interaction with PTRF in caveolae, new insight emerged to understand the growing functions of these domains in IGF-I action.

Phosphorylation of the androgen receptor by PIM1 in hormone refractory prostate cancer

Integration of cellular signaling pathways with androgen receptor (AR) signaling can be achieved through phosphorylation of AR by cellular kinases. However, the kinases responsible for phosphorylating the androgen receptor at numerous sites and the functional consequences of AR phosphorylation are only partially understood. Bioinformatic analysis revealed AR serine 213 (S213) as a putative substrate for PIM1, a kinase overexpressed in prostate cancer. Therefore, phosphorylation of AR serine 213 by PIM1 was examined using a phosphorylation site-specific antibody. Wild type PIM1, but not catalytically inactive PIM1, specifically phosphorylated AR but not an AR serine to alanine mutant (S213A). In vitro kinase assays confirmed that PIM1 can phosphorylate AR S213 in a ligand independent manner and cell type specific phosphorylation was observed in prostate cancer cell lines. Upon PIM1 overexpression AR phosphorylation was observed in the absence of hormone and was further increased in the presence of hormone in LNCaP, LNCaP-abl, and VCaP cells. Moreover, phosphorylation of AR was reduced in the presence of PIM kinase inhibitors. An examination of AR mediated transcription showed that reporter gene activity was reduced in the presence of PIM1 and wild type AR, but not S213A mutant AR. Androgen mediated transcription of endogenous PSA, Nkx3.1, and IGFBP5 was also decreased in the presence of PIM1 whereas IL6, cyclin A1, and caveolin 2 were increased. Immunohistochemical analysis of prostate cancer tissue microarrays showed significant P-AR S213 expression that was associated with hormone refractory prostate cancers, likely identifying cells with catalytically active PIM1. In addition, prostate cancers expressing a high level of P-AR S213 were twice as likely to be from biochemically recurrent cancers. Thus, AR phosphorylation by PIM1 at S213 impacts gene transcription and is highly prevalent in aggressive prostate cancer.

Caveolin-1, caveolae, and glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor and is characterized by high invasiveness, poor prognosis, and limited therapeutic options. Biochemical and morphological experiments have shown the presence of caveolae in glioblastoma cells. Caveolae are flask-shaped plasma membrane subdomains that play trafficking, mechanosensing, and signaling roles. Caveolin-1 is a membrane protein that participates in the formation of caveolae and binds a multitude of signaling proteins, compartmentalizing them in caveolae and often directly regulating their activity via binding to its scaffolding domain. Caveolin-1 has been proposed to behave either as a tumor suppressor or as an ongogene depending on the tumor type and progress. This review discusses the existing information on the expression and function of caveolin-1 and caveolae in GBM and the role of this organelle and its defining protein on cellular signaling, growth, and invasiveness of GBM. We further analyze the available data suggesting caveolin-1 could be a target in GBM therapy.

PTRF/cavin-1 and MIF proteins are identified as non-small cell lung cancer biomarkers by label-free proteomics

With the completion of the human genome sequence, biomedical sciences have entered in the “omics” era, mainly due to high-throughput genomics techniques and the recent application of mass spectrometry to proteomics analyses. However, there is still a time lag between these technological advances and their application in the clinical setting. Our work is designed to build bridges between high-performance proteomics and clinical routine. Protein extracts were obtained from fresh frozen normal lung and non-small cell lung cancer samples. We applied a phosphopeptide enrichment followed by LC-MS/MS. Subsequent label-free quantification and bioinformatics analyses were performed. We assessed protein patterns on these samples, showing dozens of differential markers between normal and tumor tissue. Gene ontology and interactome analyses identified signaling pathways altered on tumor tissue. We have identified two proteins, PTRF/cavin-1 and MIF, which are differentially expressed between normal lung and non-small cell lung cancer. These potential biomarkers were validated using western blot and immunohistochemistry. The application of discovery-based proteomics analyses in clinical samples allowed us to identify new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in non-small cell lung cancer.

Caveolin-1 and prostate cancer progression

Caveolin-1 was identified in the 1990s as a marker of aggressive prostate cancer. The caveolin-1 protein localizes to vesicular structures called caveolae and has been shown to bind and regulate many signaling proteins involved in oncogenesis. Caveolin-1 also has lipid binding properties and mediates aspects of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism and can elicit biological responses in a paracrine manner when secreted. Caveolin-1 is also present in the serum of prostate cancer patients and circulating levels correlate with extent of disease. Current evidence indicates that increased expression of caveolin-1 in prostate adenocarcinoma cells and commensurate downregulation of the protein in prostate stroma, mediate progression to the castration-resistant phase of prostate cancer through diverse pathways. This chapter summarizes the current state of our understanding of the cellular and physiologic mechanisms in which caveolin-1 participates in the evolution of prostate cancer cell phenotypes.

Novel insights into the role of caveolin-2 in cell- and tissue-specific signaling and function

Caveolin-2 is one of the major protein components of cholesterol- and glycosphingolipid-rich flask-shaped invaginations of plasma membrane caveolae. A new body of evidence suggests that caveolin-2 plays an important, and often more direct, role than caveolin-1 in regulating signaling and function in a cell- and tissue type-specific manner. The purpose of this paper is to primarily focus on discussing how these recent discoveries may help better understand the specific contribution of caveolin-2 to lipid raft- and caveolae-regulated cell/tissue-specific signaling and functions.

Expression of PTRF in PC-3 Cells modulates cholesterol dynamics and the actin cytoskeleton impacting secretion pathways

Expression of caveolin-1 is up-regulated in prostate cancer metastasis and is associated with aggressive recurrence of the disease. Intriguingly, caveolin-1 is also secreted from prostate cancer cell lines and has been identified in secreted prostasomes. Caveolin-1 is the major structural component of the plasma membrane invaginations called caveolae. Co-expression of the coat protein Polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) is required for caveolae formation. We recently found that expression of caveolin-1 in the aggressive prostate cancer cell line PC-3 is not accompanied by PTRF, leading to noncaveolar caveolin-1 lipid rafts. Moreover, ectopic expression of PTRF in PC-3 cells sequesters caveolin-1 into caveolae. Here we quantitatively analyzed the effect of PTRF expression on the PC-3 proteome using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in culture and subcellular proteomics. We show that PTRF reduced the secretion of a subset of proteins including secreted proteases, cytokines, and growth regulatory proteins, partly via a reduction in prostasome secretion. To determine the cellular mechanism accounting for the observed reduction in secreted proteins we analyzed total membrane and the detergent-resistant membrane fractions. Our data show that PTRF expression selectively impaired the recruitment of actin cytoskeletal proteins to the detergent-resistant membrane, which correlated with altered cholesterol distribution in PC-3 cells expressing PTRF. Consistent with this, modulating cellular cholesterol altered the actin cytoskeleton and protein secretion in PC-3 cells. Intriguingly, several proteins that function in ER to Golgi trafficking were reduced by PTRF expression. Taken together, these results suggest that the noncaveolar caveolin-1 found in prostate cancer cells generates a lipid raft microenvironment that accentuates secretion pathways, possibly at the step of ER sorting/exit. Importantly, these effects could be modulated by PTRF expression.