Cloning and characterization of a novel human gene, TM4SF6, encoding a protein belonging to the transmembrane 4 superfamily, and mapped to Xq22

New insights into the role of tetraspanin 6, 7, and 8 in physiology and pathology

BACKGROUND

The tetraspanin (TSPAN) family comprises 33 membrane receptors involved in various physiological processes in humans. Tetrasapanins are surface proteins expressed in cells of various organisms. They are localised to the cell membrane by four transmembrane domains (TM4SF). These domains bind several cell surface receptors and signalling proteins to tetraspanin-enriched lipid microdomains (TERM or TEM). Tetraspanins play a critical role in anchoring many proteins. They also act as a scaffold for cell signalling proteins.

AIM

To summarise how tetraspanins 6, 7 and 8 contribute to the carcinogenesis process in different types of cancer.

METHODS

To provide a comprehensive review of the role of tetraspanins 6, 7 and 8 in cancer biology, we conducted a thorough search in PubMed, Embase and performed manual search of reference list to collect and extract data.

DISCUSSION

The assembly of tetraspanins covers an area of approximately 100-400 nm. Tetraspanins are involved in various biological processes such as membrane fusion, aggregation, proliferation, adhesion, cell migration and differentiation. They can also regulate integrins, cell surface receptors and signalling molecules. Tetraspanins form direct bonds with proteins and other members of the tetraspanin family, forming a hierarchical network of interactions and are thought to be involved in cell and membrane compartmentalisation. Tetraspanins have been implicated in cancer progression and have been shown to have multiple binding partners and to promote cancer progression and metastasis. Clinical studies have documented a correlation between the level of tetraspanin expression and the prediction of cancer progression, including breast and lung cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Tetraspanins are understudied in almost all cell types and their functions are not clearly defined. Fortunately, it has been possible to identify the basic mechanisms underlying the biological role of these proteins. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to describe the roles of tetraspanins 6, 7 and 8.

Tetraspanin 6 is a regulator of carcinogenesis in colorectal cancer

Tetraspanin protein (Tspan6) is a member of the tetraspanin family. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays, we demonstrate that Tspan6 functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer (CRC) by attenuating the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–based signaling axis. Tspan6 forms a tripartite complex with transmembrane form of TGF-α and an adaptor protein syntenin-1 and negatively regulates secretion of TGF-α. The expression of Tspan6 is frequently decreased in CRC, and this correlates with poor survival. Importantly, the expression of Tspan6 in CRC correlated independently of tumor molecular profile with better patient responses to Cetuximab, an EGFR-targeted therapy. These results identify Tspan6 as a regulator of CRC development and a potential predictive biomarker for EGFR-targeted therapies.

Early stages of colorectal cancer (CRC) development are characterized by a complex rewiring of transcriptional networks resulting in changes in the expression of multiple genes. Here, we demonstrate that the deletion of a poorly studied tetraspanin protein Tspan6 in Apc^min/+ mice, a well-established model for premalignant CRC, resulted in increased incidence of adenoma formation and tumor size. We demonstrate that the effect of Tspan6 deletion results in the activation of EGF-dependent signaling pathways through increased production of the transmembrane form of TGF-α (tmTGF-α) associated with extracellular vesicles. This pathway is modulated by an adaptor protein syntenin-1, which physically links Tspan6 and tmTGF-α. In support of this, the expression of Tspan6 is frequently decreased or lost in CRC, and this correlates with poor survival. Furthermore, the analysis of samples from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–targeting clinical trial (COIN trial) has shown that the expression of Tspan6 in CRC correlated with better patient responses to EGFR-targeted therapy involving Cetuximab. Importantly, Tspan6-positive patients with tumors in the proximal colon (right-sided) and those with KRAS mutations had a better response to Cetuximab than the patients that expressed low Tspan6 levels. These results identify Tspan6 as a regulator of CRC development and a potential predictive marker for EGFR-targeted therapies in CRC beyond RAS pathway mutations.

Tetraspanins as regulators of the tumour microenvironment: implications for metastasis and therapeutic strategies

One of the hallmarks of cancer is the ability to activate invasion and metastasis. Cancer morbidity and mortality are largely related to the spread of the primary, localized tumour to adjacent and distant sites. Appropriate management and treatment decisions based on predicting metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis is thus crucial, which supports better understanding of the metastatic process. There are components of metastasis that are common to all primary tumours: dissociation from the primary tumour mass, reorganization/remodelling of extracellular matrix, cell migration, recognition and movement through endothelial cells and the vascular circulation and lodgement and proliferation within ectopic stroma. One of the key and initial events is the increased ability of cancer cells to move, escaping the regulation of normal physiological control. The cellular cytoskeleton plays an important role in cancer cell motility and active cytoskeletal rearrangement can result in metastatic disease. This active change in cytoskeletal dynamics results in manipulation of plasma membrane and cellular balance between cellular adhesion and motility which in turn determines cancer cell movement. Members of the tetraspanin family of proteins play important roles in regulation of cancer cell migration and cancer-endothelial cell interactions, which are critical for cancer invasion and metastasis. Their involvements in active cytoskeletal dynamics, cancer metastasis and potential clinical application will be discussed in this review. In particular, the tetraspanin member, CD151, is highlighted for its major role in cancer invasion and metastasis.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed section on Cytoskeleton, Extracellular Matrix, Cell Migration, Wound Healing and Related Topics. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue-24.

Evolution of metazoan cell junction proteins: the scaffold protein MAGI and the transmembrane receptor tetraspanin in the demosponge Suberites domuncula

Until recently the positioning of the sponges (phylum Porifera) within the metazoan systematics was hampered by the lack of molecular evidence for the existence of junctional structures in the surface cell layers. In this study two genes related to the tight junctions are characterized from the demosponge Suberites domuncula: tetraspanin (SDTM4SF), a cell surface receptor, and MAGI (SDMAGI), a MAGUK (membrane-associated guanylate kinase homologue) protein. Especially the MAGI protein is known in other metazoan animal phyla to exist exclusively in tight junctions. The characteristic domains of MAGI proteins (six PDZ domains, two WW domains, and a truncated guanylate kinase motif) are conserved in the sponge protein. The functional analysis of SDMAGI done by in situ hybridization shows its expression in the surface epithelial layers (exopinacoderm and endopinacoderm). Northern blot studies reveal that expression of SDMAGI and SDTM4SF increases after formation of the pinacoderm layer in the animals as well as in primmorphs. These results support earlier notions that sponges contain junctional structures. We conclude that sponges contain epithelia whose cells are organized by cell junctions.

A novel gene, tendin, is strongly expressed in tendons and ligaments and shows high homology with chondromodulin-I

Chondromodulin-I (CHM1) was identified recently as an angiogenesis inhibitor in cartilage. It is highly expressed in the avascular zones of cartilage but is absent in the late hypertrophic region, which is invaded by blood vessels during enchondral ossification. Blast searches with the C-terminal part of CHM1 in available databases led to the identification of human and mouse cDNAs encoding a new protein, Tendin, that shares high homology with CHM1. Based on computer predictions, Tendin is a type II transmembrane protein containing a putative proteinase cleavage and two glycosylation sites. Northern assays with mouse RNAs demonstrated strong expression of a 1.5-kb tendin transcript in the diaphragm, skeletal muscle, and the eye and low levels of expression in all other tissues investigated. In 17.5-day-old mouse embryos, in situ hybridization revealed high levels of tendin transcript in tendons and ligaments. Additional signals were detected in brain and spinal cord, liver, lung, bowels, thymus, and eye. Cartilage, where CHM1 is found, revealed low levels of tendin m-RNA. In adult mice, tendin is expressed in neurons of all brain regions and the spinal cord. The tendin gene is localized in the human Xq22 region, to which several human diseases have been mapped.

Integrated STS/YAC physical, genetic, and transcript map of human Xq21.3 to q23/q24 (DXS1203-DXS1059)

A map has been assembled that extends from the XY homology region in Xq21.3 to proximal Xq24, approximately 20 Mb, formatted with 200 STSs that include 25 dinucleotide repeat polymorphic markers and more than 80 expressed sequences including 30 genes. New genes HTRP5, CAPN6, STPK, 14-3-3PKR, and CALM1 and previously known genes including BTK, DDP, GLA, PLP, COL4A5, COL4A6, PAK3, and DCX are localized; candidate loci for other disorders for which genes have not yet been identified, including DFN-2, POF, megalocornea, and syndromic and nonsyndromic mental retardation, are also mapped in the region. The telomeric end of the contig overlaps a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig from Xq24-q26 and with other previously published contigs provides complete sequence-tagged site (STS)/YAC-based coverage of the long arm of the X chromosome. The order of published landmark loci in genetic and radiation hybrid maps is in general agreement. Combined with high-density STS landmarks, the multiple YAC clone coverage and integrated genetic, radiation hybrid, and transcript map provide resources to further disease gene searches and sequencing.