1
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Mondal C, Gacha-Garay MJ, Larkin KA, Adikes RC, Di Martino JS, Chien CC, Fraser M, Eni-Aganga I, Agullo-Pascual E, Cialowicz K, Ozbek U, Naba A, Gaitas A, Fu TM, Upadhyayula S, Betzig E, Matus DQ, Martin BL, Bravo-Cordero JJ. A proliferative to invasive switch is mediated by srGAP1 downregulation through the activation of TGF-β2 signaling. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111358. [PMID: 36130489 PMCID: PMC9596226 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Many breast cancer (BC) patients suffer from complications of metastatic disease. To form metastases, cancer cells must become migratory and coordinate both invasive and proliferative programs at distant organs. Here, we identify srGAP1 as a regulator of a proliferative-to-invasive switch in BC cells. High-resolution light-sheet microscopy demonstrates that BC cells can form actin-rich protrusions during extravasation. srGA-P1low cells display a motile and invasive phenotype that facilitates their extravasation from blood vessels, as shown in zebrafish and mouse models, while attenuating tumor growth. Interestingly, a population of srGAP1low cells remain as solitary disseminated tumor cells in the lungs of mice bearing BC tumors. Overall, srGAP1low cells have increased Smad2 activation and TGF-β2 secretion, resulting in increased invasion and p27 levels to sustain quiescence. These findings identify srGAP1 as a mediator of a proliferative to invasive phenotypic switch in BC cells in vivo through a TGF-β2-mediated signaling axis. Disseminated tumor cells can remain quiescent or actively proliferate in distant organs, contributing to aggressive disease. Mondal et al. identify srGAP1 as a regulator of a proliferative-to-invasive decision by breast cancer (BC) cells through a TGF-β2-mediated signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrani Mondal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Majo J Gacha-Garay
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Kathryn A Larkin
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Rebecca C Adikes
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Julie S Di Martino
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Chen-Chi Chien
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Madison Fraser
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ireti Eni-Aganga
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Esperanza Agullo-Pascual
- Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging Core, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Katarzyna Cialowicz
- Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging Core, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Umut Ozbek
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Alexandra Naba
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Angelo Gaitas
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Tian-Ming Fu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | | | - Eric Betzig
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, UC Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - David Q Matus
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Benjamin L Martin
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jose Javier Bravo-Cordero
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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2
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Understanding Molecular Mechanisms of Phenotype Switching and Crosstalk with TME to Reveal New Vulnerabilities of Melanoma. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071157. [PMID: 35406721 PMCID: PMC8997563 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma cells are notorious for their high plasticity and ability to switch back and forth between various melanoma cell states, enabling the adaptation to sub-optimal conditions and therapeutics. This phenotypic plasticity, which has gained more attention in cancer research, is proposed as a new paradigm for melanoma progression. In this review, we provide a detailed and deep comprehensive recapitulation of the complex spectrum of phenotype switching in melanoma, the key regulator factors, the various and new melanoma states, and corresponding signatures. We also present an extensive description of the role of epigenetic modifications (chromatin remodeling, methylation, and activities of long non-coding RNAs/miRNAs) and metabolic rewiring in the dynamic switch. Furthermore, we elucidate the main role of the crosstalk between the tumor microenvironment (TME) and oxidative stress in the regulation of the phenotype switching. Finally, we discuss in detail several rational therapeutic approaches, such as exploiting phenotype-specific and metabolic vulnerabilities and targeting components and signals of the TME, to improve the response of melanoma patients to treatments.
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3
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Aguadé-Gorgorió G, Kauffman S, Solé R. Transition Therapy: Tackling the Ecology of Tumor Phenotypic Plasticity. Bull Math Biol 2021; 84:24. [PMID: 34958403 PMCID: PMC8712307 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-021-00970-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Phenotypic switching in cancer cells has been found to be present across tumor types. Recent studies on Glioblastoma report a remarkably common architecture of four well-defined phenotypes coexisting within high levels of intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity. Similar dynamics have been shown to occur in breast cancer and melanoma and are likely to be found across cancer types. Given the adaptive potential of phenotypic switching (PHS) strategies, understanding how it drives tumor evolution and therapy resistance is a major priority. Here we present a mathematical framework uncovering the ecological dynamics behind PHS. The model is able to reproduce experimental results, and mathematical conditions for cancer progression reveal PHS-specific features of tumors with direct consequences on therapy resistance. In particular, our model reveals a threshold for the resistant-to-sensitive phenotype transition rate, below which any cytotoxic or switch-inhibition therapy is likely to fail. The model is able to capture therapeutic success thresholds for cancers where nonlinear growth dynamics or larger PHS architectures are in place, such as glioblastoma or melanoma. By doing so, the model presents a novel set of conditions for the success of combination therapies able to target replication and phenotypic transitions at once. Following our results, we discuss transition therapy as a novel scheme to target not only combined cytotoxicity but also the rates of phenotypic switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guim Aguadé-Gorgorió
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-UPF, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ricard Solé
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-UPF, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA.
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4
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Granados K, Poelchen J, Novak D, Utikal J. Cellular Reprogramming-A Model for Melanoma Cellular Plasticity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8274. [PMID: 33167306 PMCID: PMC7663830 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular plasticity of cancer cells is often associated with phenotypic heterogeneity and drug resistance and thus remains a major challenge for the treatment of melanoma and other types of cancer. Melanoma cells have the capacity to switch their phenotype during tumor progression, from a proliferative and differentiated phenotype to a more invasive and dedifferentiated phenotype. However, the molecular mechanisms driving this phenotype switch are not yet fully understood. Considering that cellular heterogeneity within the tumor contributes to the high plasticity typically observed in melanoma, it is crucial to generate suitable models to investigate this phenomenon in detail. Here, we discuss the use of complete and partial reprogramming into induced pluripotent cancer (iPC) cells as a tool to obtain new insights into melanoma cellular plasticity. We consider this a relevant topic due to the high plasticity of melanoma cells and its association with a strong resistance to standard anticancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Granados
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.P.); (D.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Costa Rica (UCR), Rodrigo Facio Campus, San Pedro Montes Oca, San Jose 2060, Costa Rica
| | - Juliane Poelchen
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.P.); (D.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Daniel Novak
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.P.); (D.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Utikal
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.P.); (D.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany
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5
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Bayarmagnai B, Perrin L, Esmaeili Pourfarhangi K, Graña X, Tüzel E, Gligorijevic B. Invadopodia-mediated ECM degradation is enhanced in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:jcs.227116. [PMID: 31533971 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.227116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of tumor cell invasion and metastasis includes assembly of invadopodia, protrusions capable of degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM). The effect of cell cycle progression on invadopodia has not been elucidated. In this study, by using invadopodia and cell cycle fluorescent markers, we show in 2D and 3D cultures, as well as in vivo, that breast carcinoma cells assemble invadopodia and invade into the surrounding ECM preferentially during the G1 phase. The expression (MT1-MMP, also known as MMP14, and cortactin) and localization (Tks5; also known as SH3PXD2A) of invadopodia components are elevated in G1 phase, and cells synchronized in G1 phase exhibit significantly higher ECM degradation compared to the cells synchronized in S phase. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) p27kip1 (also known as CDKN1B) localizes to the sites of invadopodia assembly. Overexpression and stable knockdown of p27kip1 lead to contrasting effects on invadopodia turnover and ECM degradation. Taken together, these findings suggest that expression of invadopodia components, as well as invadopodia function, are linked to cell cycle progression, and that invadopodia are controlled by cell cycle regulators. Our results caution that this coordination between invasion and cell cycle must be considered when designing effective chemotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Battuya Bayarmagnai
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Louisiane Perrin
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | | | - Xavier Graña
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.,Fels Research Institute for Cancer Biology and Molecular Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Erkan Tüzel
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Bojana Gligorijevic
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA .,Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
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6
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Tan S, Khumalo N, Bayat A. Understanding Keloid Pathobiology From a Quasi-Neoplastic Perspective: Less of a Scar and More of a Chronic Inflammatory Disease With Cancer-Like Tendencies. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1810. [PMID: 31440236 PMCID: PMC6692789 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Keloids are considered as benign fibroproliferative skin tumors growing beyond the site of the original dermal injury. Although traditionally viewed as a form of skin scarring, keloids display many cancer-like characteristics such as progressive uncontrolled growth, lack of spontaneous regression and extremely high rates of recurrence. Phenotypically, keloids are consistent with non-malignant dermal tumors that are due to the excessive overproduction of collagen which never metastasize. Within the remit of keloid pathobiology, there is increasing evidence for the various interplay of neoplastic-promoting and suppressing factors, which may explain its aggressive clinical behavior. Amongst the most compelling parallels between keloids and cancer are their shared cellular bioenergetics, epigenetic methylation profiles and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition amongst other disease biological (genotypic and phenotypic) behaviors. This review explores the quasi-neoplastic or cancer-like properties of keloids and highlights areas for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvian Tan
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research, Centre for Dermatology Research, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nonhlanhla Khumalo
- Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Department of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ardeshir Bayat
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research, Centre for Dermatology Research, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Department of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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7
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Golan T, Parikh R, Jacob E, Vaknine H, Zemser-Werner V, Hershkovitz D, Malcov H, Leibou S, Reichman H, Sheinboim D, Percik R, Amar S, Brenner R, Greenberger S, Kung A, Khaled M, Levy C. Adipocytes sensitize melanoma cells to environmental TGF-β cues by repressing the expression of miR-211. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/591/eaav6847. [PMID: 31337739 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aav6847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily members are critical signals in tissue homeostasis and pathogenesis. Melanoma grows in the epidermis and invades the dermis before metastasizing. This disease progression is accompanied by increased sensitivity to microenvironmental TGF-β. Here, we found that skin fat cells (adipocytes) promoted metastatic initiation by sensitizing melanoma cells to TGF-β. Analysis of melanoma clinical samples revealed that adipocytes, usually located in the deeper hypodermis layer, were present in the upper dermis layer within proximity to in situ melanoma cells, an observation that correlated with disease aggressiveness. In a coculture system, adipocytes secreted the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, which induced a proliferative-to-invasive phenotypic switch in melanoma cells by repressing the expression of the microRNA miR-211. In a xenograft model, miR-211 exhibited a dual role in melanoma progression, promoting cell proliferation while inhibiting metastatic spread. Bioinformatics and molecular analyses indicated that miR-211 directly targeted and repressed the translation of TGFBR1 mRNA, which encodes the type I TGF-β receptor. Hence, through this axis of cytokine-mediated repression of miR-211, adipocytes increased the abundance of the TGF-β receptor in melanoma cells, thereby enhancing cellular responsiveness to TGF-β ligands. The induction of TGF-β signaling, in turn, resulted in a proliferative-to-invasive phenotypic switch in cultured melanoma cells. Pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β prevented these effects. Our findings further reveal a molecular link between fat cells and metastatic progression in melanoma that might be therapeutically targeted in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Golan
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Roma Parikh
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Etai Jacob
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel.,Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.,Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Hananya Vaknine
- Institute of Pathology, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon 58100, Israel
| | | | - Dov Hershkovitz
- Institute of Pathology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel.,Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Hagar Malcov
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Stav Leibou
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Hadar Reichman
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Danna Sheinboim
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ruth Percik
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.,Institute of Endocrinology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Sarah Amar
- Institute of Pathology, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon 58100, Israel
| | - Ronen Brenner
- Institute of Pathology, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon 58100, Israel
| | | | - Andrew Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mehdi Khaled
- INSERM 1186, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France
| | - Carmit Levy
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
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8
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Almeida FV, Douglass SM, Fane ME, Weeraratna AT. Bad company: Microenvironmentally mediated resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019; 32:237-247. [PMID: 30216694 PMCID: PMC6727967 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This review will focus on the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the development of drug resistance in melanoma. Resistance to mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors (MAPKi) in melanoma is observed months after treatment, a phenomenon that is often attributed to the incredible plasticity of melanoma cells but may also depend on the TME. The TME is unique in its cellular composition-it contains fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells, adipocytes, and among others. In addition, the TME provides "non-homeostatic" levels of oxygen, nutrients (hypoxia and metabolic stress), and extracellular matrix proteins, creating a pro-tumorigenic niche that drives resistance to MAPKi treatment. In this review, we will focus on how changes in the tumor microenvironment regulate MAPKi resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe V Almeida
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center. Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Stephen M. Douglass
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center. Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Mitchell E. Fane
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center. Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Ashani T. Weeraratna
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center. Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
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9
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Fane ME, Chhabra Y, Smith AG, Sturm RA. BRN2, a POUerful driver of melanoma phenotype switching and metastasis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2018; 32:9-24. [PMID: 29781575 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The POU domain family of transcription factors play a central role in embryogenesis and are highly expressed in neural crest cells and the developing brain. BRN2 is a class III POU domain protein that is a key mediator of neuroendocrine and melanocytic development and differentiation. While BRN2 is a central regulator in numerous developmental programs, it has also emerged as a major player in the biology of tumourigenesis. In melanoma, BRN2 has been implicated as one of the master regulators of the acquisition of invasive behaviour within the phenotype switching model of progression. As a mediator of melanoma cell phenotype switching, it coordinates the transition to a dedifferentiated, slow cycling and highly motile cell type. Its inverse expression relationship with MITF is believed to mediate tumour progression and metastasis within this model. Recent evidence has now outlined a potential epigenetic switching mechanism in melanoma cells driven by BRN2 expression that induces melanoma cell invasion. We summarize the role of BRN2 in tumour cell dissemination and metastasis in melanoma, while also examining it as a potential metastatic regulator in other tumour models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell E Fane
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Dermatology Research Centre, UQ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yash Chhabra
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Dermatology Research Centre, UQ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Aaron G Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard A Sturm
- Dermatology Research Centre, UQ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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10
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Zhao B, Guan H, Liu JQ, Zheng Z, Zhou Q, Zhang J, Su LL, Hu DH. Hypoxia drives the transition of human dermal fibroblasts to a myofibroblast-like phenotype via the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway. Int J Mol Med 2016; 39:153-159. [PMID: 27909731 PMCID: PMC5179176 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2016.2816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Keloids, partially considered as benign tumors, are characterized by the overgrowth of fibrosis beyond the boundaries of the wound and are regulated mainly by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, which induces the transition of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. Hypoxia is an important driving force in the development of lung and liver fibrosis by activating hypoxia inducible factor-1α and stimulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. However, it is unknown whether and hypoxia can influence human dermal scarring. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypoxia drives the transition of dermal fibroblasts to myofibroblasts and to clarify the potential transduction mechanisms involved. First, we observed that keloids are a relatively hypoxic tissue. Second, we found that hypoxia drives the transition of normal dermal fibroblasts to a myofibroblast-like phenotype [high expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I and III]. Finally, hypoxia effectively facilitated the nuclear import of the Smad2 and Smad3 complex, while blockade with the Smad3 inhibitor, SIS3, significantly impaired the expression of hypoxia-induced fibrosis-related molecules. Taken together, to the best of our knowledge, this study demonstrates for the first time that hypoxia facilitates the transition of dermal fibroblasts to myofibroblasts through the activation of the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway and our findings may provide a potential target for the treatment of keloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhao
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
| | - Hao Guan
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Qi Liu
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
| | - Zhao Zheng
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
| | - Qin Zhou
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
| | - Lin-Lin Su
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
| | - Da-Hai Hu
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
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11
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Gozal D, Ham SA, Mokhlesi B. Sleep Apnea and Cancer: Analysis of a Nationwide Population Sample. Sleep 2016; 39:1493-500. [PMID: 27166241 DOI: 10.5665/sleep.6004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Epidemiological evidence from relatively small cohorts suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with higher cancer incidence and mortality. Here we aimed to determine whether cancer incidence for major cancer types and risk of metastases or mortality from cancer are increased in the presence of OSA. METHODS All OSA diagnoses included in an employee-sponsored health insurance database spanning the years 2003-2012 were identified and 1:1 matched demographically based on age, gender, and state of residence, or alternatively matched by comorbidities. The incidence of 12 types of cancer was assessed. In addition, another cohort of patients with a primary diagnosis of cancer was retrieved, and the risk of metastatic disease or cancer mortality was determined as a function of the presence or absence of OSA. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted to assess the independent associations between OSA and outcomes of interest. RESULTS Based on a cohort of ∼5.6 million individuals, the incidence of all cancer diagnoses combined was similar in OSA and retrospectively matched cases. However, the adjusted risk of pancreatic and kidney cancer and melanoma were significantly higher in patients with OSA, while the risk of colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers appeared to be lower. Among individuals with a diagnosis of cancer, the presence of OSA was not associated with an increased risk for metastasis or death. CONCLUSIONS In a large nationally representative health insurance database, OSA appears to increase the risk for only a very selective number of cancer types, and does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of metastatic cancer or cancer-related deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gozal
- Sections of Pediatric Sleep Medicine and Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, Prizkter School of Medicine, Biological Sciences Division, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Sandra A Ham
- Center for Health and the Social Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Babak Mokhlesi
- Sleep Disorders Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
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Realini N, Palese F, Pizzirani D, Pontis S, Basit A, Bach A, Ganesan A, Piomelli D. Acid Ceramidase in Melanoma: EXPRESSION, LOCALIZATION, AND EFFECTS OF PHARMACOLOGICAL INHIBITION. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:2422-34. [PMID: 26553872 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.666909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (AC) is a lysosomal cysteine amidase that controls sphingolipid signaling by lowering the levels of ceramides and concomitantly increasing those of sphingosine and its bioactive metabolite, sphingosine 1-phosphate. In the present study, we evaluated the role of AC-regulated sphingolipid signaling in melanoma. We found that AC expression is markedly elevated in normal human melanocytes and proliferative melanoma cell lines, compared with other skin cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) and non-melanoma cancer cells. High AC expression was also observed in biopsies from human subjects with Stage II melanoma. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that the subcellular localization of AC differs between melanocytes (where it is found in both cytosol and nucleus) and melanoma cells (where it is primarily localized to cytosol). In addition to having high AC levels, melanoma cells generate lower amounts of ceramides than normal melanocytes do. This down-regulation in ceramide production appears to result from suppression of the de novo biosynthesis pathway. To test whether AC might contribute to melanoma cell proliferation, we blocked AC activity using a new potent (IC50 = 12 nM) and stable inhibitor. AC inhibition increased cellular ceramide levels, decreased sphingosine 1-phosphate levels, and acted synergistically with several, albeit not all, antitumoral agents. The results suggest that AC-controlled sphingolipid metabolism may play an important role in the control of melanoma proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Realini
- From the Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Francesca Palese
- From the Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Daniela Pizzirani
- From the Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Silvia Pontis
- From the Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Abdul Basit
- From the Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Anders Bach
- From the Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16163, Italy, the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark, and
| | | | - Daniele Piomelli
- From the Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16163, Italy, Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California 92617
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13
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Lakhter AJ, Hamilton J, Dagher PC, Mukkamala S, Hato T, Dong XC, Mayo LD, Harris RA, Shekhar A, Ivan M, Brustovetsky N, Naidu SR. Ferroxitosis: a cell death from modulation of oxidative phosphorylation and PKM2-dependent glycolysis in melanoma. Oncotarget 2014; 5:12694-703. [PMID: 25587028 PMCID: PMC4350353 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliance on glycolysis is a characteristic of malignancy, yet the development of resistance to BRAF inhibitors in melanoma is associated with gain of mitochondrial function. Concurrent attenuation of oxidative phosphorylation and HIF-1α/PKM2-dependent glycolysis promotes a non-apoptotic, iron- and oxygen-dependent cell death that we term ferroxitosis. The redox cycling agent menadione causes a robust increase in oxygen consumption, accompanied by significant loss of intracellular ATP and rapid cell death. Conversely, either hypoxic adaptation or iron chelation prevents menadione-induced ferroxitosis. Ectopic expression of K213Q HIF-1α mutant blunts the effects of menadione. However, knockdown of HIF-1α or PKM2 restores menadione-induced cytotoxicity in hypoxia. Similarly, exposure of melanoma cells to shikonin, a menadione analog and a potential PKM2 inhibitor, is sufficient to induce ferroxitosis under hypoxic conditions. Collectively, our findings reveal that ferroxitosis curtails metabolic plasticity in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Lakhter
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - James Hamilton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Pierre C. Dagher
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Suresh Mukkamala
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Takashi Hato
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - X. Charlie Dong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Lindsey D. Mayo
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Robert A. Harris
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Anantha Shekhar
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Mircea Ivan
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Nickolay Brustovetsky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Samisubbu R. Naidu
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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