Src and epidermal growth factor receptor mediate the pro-invasive activity of Bcl-w

Novel read-through fusion transcript Bcl2l2-Pabpn1 in glioblastoma cells

Read‐through fusion transcripts have recently been identified as chimeric RNAs and have since been linked to tumour growth in some cases. Many fusion genes generated by chromosomal rearrangements have been described in glioblastoma. However, read‐through fusion transcripts between neighbouring genes in glioblastoma remain unexplored. We performed paired‐end RNA‐seq of rat C6 glioma cells and normal cells and discovered a read‐through fusion transcript Bcl2l2‐Pabpn1 in which exon 3 of Bcl‐2‐like protein 2 (Bcl2l2) fused to exon 2 of Polyadenylate‐binding protein 1 (Pabpn1). This fusion transcript was found in both human glioblastoma and normal cells. Unlike other fusions reported in glioblastoma, Bcl2l2‐Pabpn1 appeared to result from RNA processing rather than genomic rearrangement. Bcl2l2‐Pabpn1 fusion transcript encoded a fusion protein with BH4, BCL and RRM domains. Functionally, Bcl2l2‐Pabpn1 knockdown by targeting its fusion junction decreased its expression, and suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, Bcl2l2‐Pabpn1 blocked Bax activity and activated PI3K/AKT pathway to promote glioblastoma progression. Together, our work characterized a glioblastoma‐associated Bcl2l2‐Pabpn1 fusion transcript shared by humans and rats.

BCL-w: apoptotic and non-apoptotic role in health and disease

The BCL-2 family of proteins integrates signals that trigger either cell survival or apoptosis. The balance between pro-survival and pro-apoptotic proteins is important for tissue development and homeostasis, while impaired apoptosis contributes to several pathologies and can be a barrier against effective treatment. BCL-w is an anti-apoptotic protein that shares a sequence similarity with BCL-X_L, and exhibits a high conformational flexibility. BCL-w level is controlled by a number of signaling pathways, and the repertoire of transcriptional regulators largely depends on the cellular and developmental context. As only a few disease-relevant genetic alterations of BCL2L2 have been identified, increased levels of BCL-w might be a consequence of abnormal activation of signaling cascades involved in the regulation of BCL-w expression. In addition, BCL-w transcript is a target of a plethora of miRNAs. Besides its originally recognized pro-survival function during spermatogenesis, BCL-w has been envisaged in different types of normal and diseased cells as an anti-apoptotic protein. BCL-w contributes to survival of senescent and drug-resistant cells. Its non-apoptotic role in the promotion of cell migration and invasion has also been elucidated. Growing evidence indicates that a high BCL-w level can be therapeutically relevant in neurodegenerative disorders, neuron dysfunctions and after small intestinal resection, whereas BCL-w inhibition can be beneficial for cancer patients. Although several drugs and natural compounds can bi-directionally affect BCL-w level, agents that selectively target BCL-w are not yet available. This review discusses current knowledge on the role of BCL-w in health, non-cancerous diseases and cancer.

BSA-bounded p-cresyl sulfate potentiates the malignancy of bladder carcinoma by triggering cell migration and EMT through the ROS/Src/FAK signaling pathway

Para-cresyl sulfate (P-CS), a major uremic toxin derived from the metabolites of tyrosine and phenylalanine through liver, existed in the blood of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD increases the malignancy in bladder cancers; however, effects of P-CS on bladder cancers are not fully understood. P-CS is conjugated with BSA physiologically, and this study aims to investigate the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of BSA-bounded P-CS on human bladder cancer cells. With P-CS treatment, the intracellular ROS increased in bladder cancer cells. ROS then triggered epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stress fiber redistribution, and cell migration. With specific inhibitors, the key signals regulating P-CS-treated migration are Src and FAK. This study provided a clinical clue that patients with higher serum P-CS have a higher risk of malignant urothelial carcinomas, and a regulatory pathway of how P-CS regulates bladder cancer migration.

Mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 mediates γ-irradiation-induced cancer cell invasion

Sublethal doses of γ-rays promote cancer cell invasion by stimulating a signaling pathway that sequentially involves p53, sulfatase 2 (SULF2), β-catenin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and Bcl-X_L. Given that Bcl-X_L can increase O₂^•− production by stimulating respiratory complex I, the possible role of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in γ-irradiation-induced cell invasion was investigated. Indeed, γ-irradiation promoted cell invasion by increasing mitochondrial ROS levels, which was prevented by metformin, an inhibitor of complex I. γ-Irradiation-stimulated STAT3 increased the expression of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of O₂^•− to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). In contrast to O₂^•−, H₂O₂ functions as a signaling molecule. γ-Irradiation consistently stimulated the Src-dependent invasion pathway in a manner dependent on both complex I and SOD2. SOD2 was also essential for the invasion of un-irradiated cancer cells induced by upregulation of Bcl-X_L, an intracellular oncogene, or extracellular factors, such as SULF2 and IL-6. Overall, these data suggested that SOD2 is critical for the malignant effects of radiotherapy and tumor progression through diverse endogenous factors.

A drug usually used to treat type 2 diabetes may also help to prevent cancer relapse following radiotherapy, which is commonly used to kill cancer cells. However, any tumor cells that survive radiation are highly invasive, sometimes causing tumors to spread. Hong-Duck Um and co-workers at the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences in Seoul, South Korea, noticed that the surviving cells often showed higher levels of a key enzyme, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), which is involved in energy production in the cellular powerhouse, the mitochondria. Artificially increasing levels of SOD2, without radiation, made cells more invasive. Treatment with metformin, which prevents production of the molecule that SOD2 acts on, prevented cells from becoming invasive. SOD2 has been implicated in many cancers, and is therefore a very promising therapeutic target.

Linarin inhibits radiation-induced cancer invasion by downregulating MMP-9 expression via the suppression of NF-κB activation in human non-small-cell lung cancer A549

Radiotherapy is routinely used in the treatment of lung cancer patients. However, it often causes malignant effects, such as promoting cancer cell migration and invasion. Previous studies demonstrated that ionizing radiation (IR) promotes cancer cell invasion by stimulating the β-catenin, IL-6, STAT3, and Bcl-X_L signaling pathway or the PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathway. Both Bcl-X_L and NF-κB stimulate the secretion of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), including MMP-2 and MMP-9. In the present study, linarin isolated from Chrysanthemum morifolium flowers significantly decreased the IR-induced cell migration and invasion at a concentration of 5 μM in A549 cells. This effect was mediated via MMP-9 downregulation and the suppression of NF-κB activation by inhibiting NF-κB and IκB-α phosphorylation. However, linarin did not affect the STAT3/Bcl-X_L pathway or the stabilization of β-catenin. Overall, these results suggest that linarin repressed the MMP-9-dependent invasion pathway by regulating NF-κB activity, thereby inhibiting IR-induced cancer metastasis.

WNT5A promotes migration and invasion of human osteosarcoma cells via SRC/ERK/MMP-14 pathway

WNT5A, a representative ligand of activating several non-canonical WNT signal pathways, plays significant roles in oncogenesis and tumor inhibition. It has been shown that the non-receptor tyrosine kinase SRC is required for WNT5A-induced invasion of osteosarcoma cells. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying WNT5A/SRC-mediated osteosarcoma cells invasion remains poorly defined. The study was designed to explore the role of ERK1/2 in WNT5A/SRC-induced osteosarcoma cells invasion and the downstream target of the SRC/ERK1/2 signalings. We found that WNT5A (100 ng/mL) remarkably stimulated migration and invasion of human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, whereas inhibiting either SRC kinase activity by siRNA-mediated SRC silence or ERK1/2 phosphorylation by PD98059 treatment suppressed these effects, which suggested that the activation of SRC and ERK1/2 is essential for WNT5A-induced MG-63 cells migration and invasion. Furthermore, ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by WNT5A was dramatically blocked by SRC siRNA. Additionally, our study further demonstrated that MMP-14 was upregulated after exposure to WNT5A in MG-63 cells, and the increased expression was blocked by SRC siRNA or PD98059. Collectively, these results indicate that WNT5A activates SRC/ERK1/2 signal pathway, leading to the upregulation of MMP-14 expression and MG-63 cells migration and invasion.

Bcl-2 family proteins as regulators of cancer cell invasion and metastasis: a review focusing on mitochondrial respiration and reactive oxygen species

Although Bcl-2 family proteins were originally identified as key regulators of apoptosis, an impressive body of evidence has shown that pro-survival members of the Bcl-2 family, including Bcl-2, Bcl-X_L, and Bcl-w, can also promote cell migration, invasion, and cancer metastasis. Interestingly, cell invasion was recently found to be suppressed by multidomain pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, such as Bax and Bak. While the mechanisms underlying these new functions of Bcl-2 proteins are just beginning to be studied, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have emerged as inducers of cell invasion and the production of ROS from mitochondrial respiration is known to be promoted and suppressed by the pro-survival and multidomain pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, respectively. Here, I review the evidence supporting the ability of Bcl-2 proteins to regulate cancer cell invasion and metastasis, and discuss our current understanding of their underlying mechanisms, with a particular focus on mitochondrial respiration and ROS, which could have implications for the development of strategies to overcome tumor progression.