High-resolution melting analysis of ADAMTS9 methylation levels in gastric, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers

The Biochemistry and Physiology of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinases (ADAMs and ADAM-TSs) in Human Pathologies

Metalloproteinases are a group of proteinases that plays a substantial role in extracellular matrix remodeling and its molecular signaling. Among these metalloproteinases, ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinases) and ADAM-TSs (ADAMs with thrombospondin domains) have emerged as highly efficient contributors mediating proteolytic processing of various signaling molecules. ADAMs are transmembrane metalloenzymes that facilitate the extracellular domain shedding of membrane-anchored proteins, cytokines, growth factors, ligands, and their receptors and therefore modulate their biological functions. ADAM-TSs are secretory, and soluble extracellular proteinases that mediate the cleavage of non-fibrillar extracellular matrix proteins. ADAMs and ADAM-TSs possess pro-domain, metalloproteinase, disintegrin, and cysteine-rich domains in common, but ADAM-TSs have characteristic thrombospondin motifs instead of the transmembrane domain. Most ADAMs and ADAM-TSs are activated by cleavage of pro-domain via pro-protein convertases at their N-terminus, hence directing them to various signaling pathways. In this article, we are discussing not only the structure and regulation of ADAMs and ADAM-TSs, but also the importance of these metalloproteinases in various human pathophysiological conditions like cardiovascular diseases, colorectal cancer, autoinflammatory diseases (sepsis/rheumatoid arthritis), Alzheimer's disease, proliferative retinopathies, and infectious diseases. Therefore, based on the emerging role of ADAMs and ADAM-TSs in various human pathologies, as summarized in this review, these metalloproteases can be considered as critical therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.

DNMT3A-mediated silence in ADAMTS9 expression is restored by RNF180 to inhibit viability and motility in gastric cancer cells

ADAMTS9 belongs to the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) protein family, and its expression is frequently silenced due to promoter hypermethylation in various human cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of ADAMTS9 on gastric cancer (GC) cells. We initially examined ADAMTS9 protein level in 135 GC and adjacent normal tissue pairs, showing that ADAMTS9 was strikingly decreased in the malignant specimens and patients with low ADAMTS9 expression exhibited more malignant phenotypes and poorer outcome. ADAMTS9 expression was restored in AGS and BGC-823 cells, which then markedly suppressed cellular viability and motility in vitro and in vivo. As ADAMTS9 was enriched in the nuclei of gastric mucosal cells, RNA-sequencing experiment showed that ADAMTS9 significantly altered gene expression profile in BGC-823 cells. Additionally, DNA methyltransferase 3α (DNMT3A) was identified to be responsible for the hypermethylation of ADAMTS9 promoter, and this methyltransferase was ubiquitinated by ring finger protein 180 (RNF180) and then subject to proteasome-mediated degradation. In conclusion, we uncovered RNF180/DNMT3A/ADAMTS9 axis in GC cells and showed how the signaling pathway affected GC cells.

Neurodevelopmental disorders in children exposed in utero to synthetic progestins: analysis from the national cohort of the Hhorages Association

The medical and scientific communities have not yet fully acknowledged the undesirable effects of the synthetic hormones that have been administered to pregnant women for decades. The somatic effects of in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), such as genital malformations, infertility, and cancer, have long been recognized but this has not been the case concerning psychiatric disorders. The progestins used in contraception and hormone replacement therapy are known to affect the adult brain, but no data exist on their effects due to in utero exposure of children. The Hhorages Association, a national patient support group, has assembled a cohort of 1200 women who took synthetic hormones during pregnancy. These women had a combined 1934 children. We obtained full questionnaire responses from 46 women treated with progestins only - and not an estrogenic cocktail - who gave birth to 115 children. Three groups were observed: Group 1 (n = 18): firstborn unexposed children, Group 2 (n = 62): children exposed in utero to synthetic progestins, and Group 3 (n = 35): children born after a previous pregnancy treated with progestins. No psychiatric disorders were reported in Group 1 and the incidence of psychiatric disorders was drastically elevated in Group 2. Our work shows a striking increase in psychiatric disorders among children exposed in utero to progestins and strongly suggests that prenatal exposure is associated with a high risk of psychiatric disorders in adolescence and adulthood, whether accompanied or not by disorders of sex development.

MicroRNA-32 Regulates Development and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting ADAMTS9 and Affects Its Prognosis

Background

MicroRNA-32 (miR-32) induces cell proliferation and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the detailed mechanisms of miR-32 in regulating oncogenesis and development of HCC have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of miR-32 on HCC and its clinical pathological significance, as well as to determine the functional connection between miR-32 and ADAMTS9 in HCC.

Material/Methods

Quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess the expression levels of miR-32 in HCC tissues, adjacent non-cancerous tissues, and liver cancer cell lines. In vitro cell proliferation, migration, and invasion assays were performed to confirm the biological functions of miR-32. Quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and luciferase reporter assays were used to evaluate the role of miR-32 in the regulation of ADAMTS9.

Results

miR-32 was highly expressed in HCC tissues compared with corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Over-expression of miR-32 was also found in 3 human liver cancer cell lines: SMMC-7721, Huh7, and HepG2. Moreover, increasing expression of miR-32 in HCC tissues was related to shorter overall survival. In vitro over-expression of miR-32 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; however, the under-expression of miR-32 revealed the opposite effects. Dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-32 can directly bind to the 3′-UTR of ADAMTS9. Western blot analysis showed that over-expression of miR-32 decreased expression of ADAMTS9 protein. Rescue tests further verified the connection between miR-32 and ADAMTS9.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that miR-32 accelerates progression in HCC by targeting ADAMTS9, and the abnormal expression of miR-32 is correlated with prognosis and could become a potential therapeutic target.

Differentially regulated ADAMTS1, 8, 9, and 18 in pancreas adenocarcinoma

Introduction

Despite recent diagnostic and therapeutic improvements, pancreas cancer remains one of the highly lethal cancers. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a physiological barrier that limits the spread of cancer cells into surrounding tissues and distant organs. Disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) is a family of 19 proteases, which is involved in various biological processes such as ECM remodelling and anti-angiogenesis.

Aim

To investigate the expression of ADAMTS1, 8, 9, and 18 proteinases in pancreas adenocarcinoma and its nodal metastasis.

Material and methods

The immunostaining status of ADAMTS1, 8, 9, and 18 were investigated in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 25 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for an adenocarcinoma located at the head of the pancreas.

Results

In semi-quantitive grading pathologically, ADAMTS1, 8, 9, and 18 were found to be highly stained in all cancerous pancreas samples compared with normal pancreas. In addition, the immune positivity of ADAMTS1, 9, and 18 was found to be higher in metastatic lymph nodes than in non-metastatic lymph tissue. Tumour size was correlated with ADAMTS9 and 18 expressions in cancerous pancreas.

Conclusions

According to the data obtained from the study, we suggest that these four ADAMTSs may have significant roles in the tumorigenesis and nodal spread of pancreas adenocarcinoma.

The 3p14.2 tumour suppressor ADAMTS9 is inactivated by promoter CpG methylation and inhibits tumour cell growth in breast cancer

Chromosome region 3p12‐14 is an important tumour suppressor gene (TSG) locus for multiple cancers. ADAMTS9, a member of the metalloprotease large family, has been identified as a candidate 3p14.2 TSG inactivated by aberrant promoter CpG methylation in several carcinomas, but little known about its expression and function in breast cancer. In this report, ADAMTS9 expression and methylation was analysed in breast cancer cell lines and tissue samples. ADAMTS9 RNA was significantly down‐regulated in breast cancer cell lines (6/8). After treating the cells with demethylation agent Aza and TSA,ADAMTS9 expression was dramatically increased. Bisulphite genomic sequencing and methylation‐specific PCR detected promoter methylation, which was associated with decreased ADAMTS9 expression. Hypermethylation was also detected in 130/219 (59.4%) of primary tumours but only in 4.5% (2/44) of paired surgical margin tissues. Ectopic expression of ADAMTS9 in tumor cells induced significant growth suppression, cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, enhanced apoptosis and reduced cell migration and invasion. Conditioned culture medium from ADAMTS9‐transfected BT549 cells markedly disrupted tube formation ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) in Matrigel. Furthermore, ADAMTS9 inhibited AKT signaling and its downstream targets (MDM2, p53, p21, p27, E‐cadherin, VIM, SNAIL, VEGFA, NFκB‐p65 and MMP2). In addition, we demonstrated, for the first time, that ADAMTS9 inhibits AKT signaling, through suppressing its upstream activators EGFR and TGFβ1/TβR(I/II) in breast cancer cells. Our results suggest that ADAMTS9 is a TSG epigenetically inactivated in breast cancer, which functions through blocking EGFR‐ and TGFβ1/TβR(I/II)‐activated AKT signaling.

Epigenetic silencing of ADAMTS5 is associated with increased invasiveness and poor survival in patients with colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

A disintegrin and metalloprotease with motif 5(ADAMTS5) has been involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) with hypermethylation in the promoter. However, its role in CRC remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical significance and biological effect of ADAMTS5 on colorectal carcinogenesis. Through MSP, qRT-PCR, WB and IHC analysis, followed by a variety of in vitro assays, we report the function of ADAMTS5 in CRC. ADAMTS5 was markedly hypermethylaed and downregulated in tumor tissues compared with non-tumor tissues (p < 0.001). Negative expression of ADAMTS5 was much more common in tumor tissues than that in normal tissues (p < 0.001) and correlated with histologic types (p = 0.002), poor OS (p = 0.029) and DFS (p = 0.018). In vitro assay revealed that overexpression of ADAMTS5 inhibited the capabilities of migration and invasion of CRC cells, and no effect on cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis. ADAMTS5 is hypermethylated and inhibits cancer cells invasion and migration in colorectal cancer, and correlates with OS and DFS, indicating that ADAMTS5 might be a useful biomarker in colorectal cancer therapy.

The extracellular metalloprotease AdamTS-A anchors neural lineages in place within and preserves the architecture of the central nervous system

The extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates cell migration and sculpts organ shape. AdamTS proteins are extracellular metalloproteases known to modify ECM proteins and promote cell migration, but demonstrated roles for AdamTS proteins in regulating CNS structure and ensuring cell lineages remain fixed in place have not been uncovered. Using forward genetic approaches in Drosophila, we find that reduction of AdamTS-A function induces both the mass exodus of neural lineages out of the CNS and drastic perturbations to CNS structure. Expressed and active in surface glia, AdamTS-A acts in parallel to perlecan and in opposition to viking/collagen IV and βPS-integrin to keep CNS lineages rooted in place and to preserve the structural integrity of the CNS. viking/collagen IV and βPS-integrin are known to promote tissue stiffness and oppose the function of perlecan, which reduces tissue stiffness. Our work supports a model in which AdamTS-A anchors cells in place and preserves CNS architecture by reducing tissue stiffness.

Methylomic changes in individuals with psychosis, prenatally exposed to endocrine disrupting compounds: Lessons from diethylstilbestrol

BACKGROUND

In the Western world, between 1940 and 1970, more than 2 million people were exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol (DES). In exposed individuals, and in their descendants, adverse outcomes have been linked to such exposure, including cancers, genital malformations, and less consistently, psychiatric disorders. We aimed to explore whether prenatal DES exposure would be associated with DNA methylation changes, and whether these epigenetic modifications would be associated with increased risk of psychosis.

METHODS

From 247 individuals born from mothers exposed to DES, we selected 69 siblings from 30 families. In each family, at least one sibling was exposed in utero to DES. We performed a methylome-wide association study using HumanMethylation450 DNA Analysis BeadChip® in peripheral blood. We analyzed methylation changes at individual CpGs or regions in exposed (n = 37) versus unexposed individuals (n = 32). We also compared exposed individuals with (n = 7) and without psychosis (n = 30).

RESULTS

There were more individuals with schizophrenia in the DES-exposed group. We found no significant differences between exposed and unexposed individuals with respect to differentially methylated CpGs or regions. The largest difference was in a region near the promoter of an ADAMTS proteoglycanase gene (ADAMTS9). Compared to exposed individuals without psychosis, exposed individuals with psychosis had differential methylation in the region encompassing the gene encoding the zinc finger protein 57 (ZFP57).

CONCLUSIONS

In utero exposure to DES was not associated with methylation changes at specific CpG or regions. In exposed individuals, however, psychosis was associated with specific methylomic modifications that could impact neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity.

Methylation of a panel of genes in peripheral blood leukocytes is associated with colorectal cancer

The relationship between the DNA methylation status of the CpG islands of multiple genes in blood leukocytes in CRC susceptibility and prognosis, as well as possible interactions with dietary factors on CRC risk are unclear. We carried out a case-control study including 421 CRC patients and 506 controls to examine the associations between six genes (AOX-1, RARB2, RERG, ADAMTS9, IRF4, and FOXE-1), multiple CpG site methylation (MCSM) and susceptibility to CRC. High-level MCSM (MCSM-H) was defined as methylation of greater than or equal to 2 of 5 candidate genes (except for RARB2); low-level MCSM (MCSM-L) was when 1 candidate gene was methylated; non-MCSM was when none of the candidate genes were methylated. Blood cell-derived DNA methylation status was detected using methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis. The hypermethylation status of each individual gene was statistically significantly associated with CRC. MCSM status was also associated with CRC (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.15–2.05, P = 0.004). We observed interactions between a high level of dietary intake of cereals, pungent food, and stewed fish with brown sauce, age (older than 60 yrs), smoking and hypermethylation on risk of CRC. MCSM in peripheral blood DNA may be an important biomarker for susceptibility to CRC.

Downregulation of A disintegrin and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin motif type 1 by DNA hypermethylation in human gastric cancer

A disintegrin and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin motif type 1 (ADAMTS1) is a metalloproteinase with antiangiogenic activity. It was previously observed that the mRNA and protein levels of ADAMTS1 are downregulated in primary gastric tumors. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the reduction in the expression of ADAMTS1 is due to aberrant methylation of the gene in primary gastric tumor tissues and gastric cancer cell lines. In addition, the association between ADAMTS1 methylation and clinicopathological features in were investigated in patients with primary gastric cancer. The results revealed that the frequency of ADAMTS1 methylation in primary gastric tumor tissues was significantly higher, compared with the corresponding normal gastric tissues. The relative mRNA expression levels of ADAMTS1 were significantly lower in the methylated primary gastric tumor tissues, compared with the unmethylated primary gastric tumor tissuess. A significant association was observed between the ADAMTS1 methylation status and the depth of tumor invasion and tumor, node, metastasis stage in primary gastric cancer. The mRNA expression of ADAMTS1 was significantly lower in 60% (3 of 5) of the gastric cancer cell lines. The relative mRNA expression levels of ADAMTS1 were significantly lower in the methylated gastric cancer cell lines, compared with the unmethylated gastric cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the expression of ADAMTS1 was significantly restored following treatment with the 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine demethylating agent in the MGC-803, HGC-27 and AGS gastric cancer cell lines, and the demethylation of the MGC-803 cell line inhibited cell invasion. Together, these results suggested for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, ADAMTS1 as a novel antitumor protease, and this function was lost following epigenetic silencing in the gastric cancer cells and gastric tumor tissues. Therefore, the aberrant methylation of ADAMTS1 may be involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer.

ADAMTS proteases and cancer

ADAMTSs (A disintegrin and metalloprotease domains with thrombospondins motifs) are complex extracellular proteases that have been related to both oncogenic and tumor-protective functions. These enzymes can be secreted by cancer and stromal cells and may contribute to modify the tumor microenvironment by multiple mechanisms. Thus, ADAMTSs can cleave or interact with a wide range of extracellular matrix components or regulatory factors, and therefore affect cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and angiogenesis. The balance of protumor versus antitumor effects of ADAMTSs may depend on the nature of their substrates or interacting-partners upon secretion from the cell. Moreover, different ADAMTS genes have been found overexpressed, mutated or epigenetically silenced in tumors from different origins, suggesting the direct impact of these metalloproteases in cancer development. However, despite the important advances on the tumor biology of ADAMTSs in recent years, more mechanistic and functional studies are necessary to fully understand how these proteases can influence tumor microenvironment to potentiate cancer growth or to induce tumor regression. This review outlines current and emerging connections between ADAMTSs and cancer.

A new Adamts9 conditional mouse allele identifies its non-redundant role in interdigital web regression

ADAMTS9 is the most conserved member of a large family of secreted metalloproteases having diverse functions. Adamts9 null mice die before gastrulation, precluding investigations of its roles later in embryogenesis, in adult mice or disease models. We therefore generated a floxed Adamts9 allele to bypass embryonic lethality. In this mutant, unidirectional loxP sites flank exons 5-8, which encode the catalytic domain, including the protease active site. Mice homozygous for the floxed allele were viable, lacked an overt phenotype, and were fertile. Conversely, mice homozygous for a germ-line deletion produced from the floxed allele by Cre-lox recombination did not survive past gastrulation. Hemizygosity of the deleted Adamts9 in combination with mutant Adamts20 led to cleft palate and severe white spotting as previously described. Previously, Adamts9 haploinsufficiency combined with either Adamts20 or Adamts5 nullizygosity suggested a cooperative role in interdigital web regression, but the outcome of deletion of Adamts9 alone remained unknown. Here, Adamts9 was conditionally deleted in limb mesoderm using Prx1-Cre mice. Unlike other ADAMTS single knockouts, limb-specific Adamts9 deletion resulted in soft-tissue syndactyly (STS) with 100% penetrance and concurrent deletion of Adamts5 increased the severity of STS. Thus, Adamts9 has both non-redundant and cooperative roles in ensuring interdigital web regression. This new allele will be useful for investigating other biological functions of ADAMTS9.

Validation of methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM) for the detection of stool DNA methylation in colorectal neoplasms

BACKGROUND

Methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM) is a new technique for assaying DNA methylation, but its feasibility for assaying stool in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown.

METHODS

First, the MS-HRM and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) detection limits were tested. Second, the methylation statuses of SFRP2 and VIM were analyzed in stool samples by MS-HRM, and in matching tumor and normal colon tissues via bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP). Third, a case-control study evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of MS-HRM relative to results obtained with MSP and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Finally, the linearity and reproducibility of MS-HRM were assessed.

RESULTS

The detection limits of MS-HRM and MSP were 1% and 5%, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivities of MS-HRM (87.3%, 55/63) in stool and BSP in matching tumor tissue (92.1%, 58/63) were highly consistent (κ=0.744). The MS-HRM assay detected 92.5% (37/40) methylation in CRCs, 94.4% (34/36) in advanced adenomas, and 8.8% (5/57) in normal controls. The results of MS-HRM analysis were stable and reliable and showed fairly good linearity for both SFRP2 (P<0.001, R(2)=0.957) and VIM (P<0.001, R(2)=0.954).

CONCLUSIONS

MS-HRM shows potential for CRC screening.

ADAM and ADAMTS family proteins and their role in the colorectal cancer etiopathogenesis

The ADAM and ADAMTS families, also called adamalysins belong to an important group of extracellular matrix proteins. The ADAMs family belong to both the transmembrane and secreted proteins, while ADAMTS family only contains secreted forms. Adamalysins play an important role in the cell phenotype regulation via their activities in signaling pathways, cell adhesion and migration. The human proteome contains 21 ADAM, and 19 ADAMTS proteins, which are involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, shedding of various substrates such as: adhesion ligands, growth factors, their receptors and diverse cytokines. Recent studies provide evidence that adamalysins play a crucial role in colorectal cancer (CRC) etiopathogenesis. It seems possible that adamalysins might be used as CRC prediction markers or potential pharmaceutical targets. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(3): 139-150]

Epigenetic inactivation of ADAMTS9 via promoter methylation in multiple myeloma

A disintegrin‑like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type Ⅰ motifs (ADAMTS) are a family of 19 secreted mammalian metalloproteases. ADAMTS9 was reported to be a novel tumor suppressor gene and is downregulated in various types of human cancer due to hypermethylation of promoter CpG islands. In the present study, the silencing mechanism of the ADAMTS9 gene was analyzed in the multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines, KM3 and RPMI‑8226. Control and MM samples were obtained by conventional bone marrow (BM) biopsy of normal and MM adult BM, respectively. RT‑PCR revealed a high expression of the ADAMTS9 gene in normal samples and RPMI‑8226 cells while marked gene silencing of ADAMTS9 was observed in MM patients and KM3 cells. Promoter methylation of ADAMTS9 was detected in the KM3 cell line and 66% (37/56) MM patients by methylation‑specific PCR. In addition, the DNA demethylating agent, 5‑aza‑2'‑deoxycytidine and trichostatin A restored ADAMTS9 expression by suppressing promoter methylation in KM3 cells. Ectopic expression of ADAMTS9 in ADAMTS9‑silenced MM cells was found to significantly suppress cell colony formation and proliferation. In the present study, DNA methylation was found to play a key role in ADAMTS9 gene silencing and the biological behavior of myeloma cells. The results demonstrate that ADAMTS9 silencing by methylation may be a novel tumor marker for MM and the applicability of demethylating agents in the treatment of MM.

Emerging Roles of ADAMTSs in Angiogenesis and Cancer

A Disintegrin-like And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin motifs—ADAMTSs—are a multi-domain, secreted, extracellular zinc metalloproteinase family with 19 members in humans. These extracellular metalloproteinases are known to cleave a wide range of substrates in the extracellular matrix. They have been implicated in various physiological processes, such as extracellular matrix turnover, melanoblast development, interdigital web regression, blood coagulation, ovulation, etc. ADAMTSs are also critical in pathological processes such as arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer, angiogenesis, wound healing, etc. In the past few years, there has been an explosion of reports concerning the role of ADAMTS family members in angiogenesis and cancer. To date, 10 out of the 19 members have been demonstrated to be involved in regulating angiogenesis and/or cancer. The mechanism involved in their regulation of angiogenesis or cancer differs among different members. Both angiogenesis-dependent and -independent regulation of cancer have been reported. This review summarizes our current understanding on the roles of ADAMTS in angiogenesis and cancer and highlights their implications in cancer therapeutic development.

Heterogeneity and degree of TIMP4, GATA4, SOX18, and EGFL7 gene promoter methylation in non-small cell lung cancer and surrounding tissues

We used methylation-sensitive high resolution melting analysis to assess methylation of CpG islands within the promoters of the TIMP4, GATA4, SOX18, and EGFL7 genes in samples of non-small cell lung cancer and surrounding apparently normal tissue and noncancerous lung tissues. We found that the promoter methylation was heterogeneous in both tumor and surrounding normal tissue. This is in contrast to healthy lung tissue, where the promoters were normally either non- or hypomethylated, and the heterogeneity of methylation was low. An increased heterogeneity of methylation in the normal tissues surrounding the tumor may suggest an early start of epigenetic processes preceding genetic and morphologic changes and can be used as a biomarker of early cancerization events. This analysis is an easy and sensitive tool for studying epigenetic heterogeneity and could be used in clinical practice.