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Brown BA, Myers PJ, Adair SJ, Pitarresi JR, Sah-Teli SK, Campbell LA, Hart WS, Barbeau MC, Leong K, Seyler N, Kane W, Lee KE, Stelow E, Jones M, Simon MC, Koivunen P, Bauer TW, Stanger BZ, Lazzara MJ. A Histone Methylation-MAPK Signaling Axis Drives Durable Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Hypoxic Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1764-1780. [PMID: 38471099 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) plays a key role in tumor progression and response to therapy. The dense PDAC stroma causes hypovascularity, which leads to hypoxia. Here, we showed that hypoxia drives long-lasting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC primarily through a positive-feedback histone methylation-MAPK signaling axis. Transformed cells preferentially underwent EMT in hypoxic tumor regions in multiple model systems. Hypoxia drove a cell autonomous EMT in PDAC cells, which, unlike EMT in response to growth factors, could last for weeks. Furthermore, hypoxia reduced histone demethylase KDM2A activity, suppressed PP2 family phosphatase expression, and activated MAPKs to post-translationally stabilize histone methyltransferase NSD2, leading to an H3K36me2-dependent EMT in which hypoxia-inducible factors played only a supporting role. Hypoxia-driven EMT could be antagonized in vivo by combinations of MAPK inhibitors. Collectively, these results suggest that hypoxia promotes durable EMT in PDAC by inducing a histone methylation-MAPK axis that can be effectively targeted with multidrug therapies, providing a potential strategy for overcoming chemoresistance. SIGNIFICANCE Integrated regulation of histone methylation and MAPK signaling by the low-oxygen environment of pancreatic cancer drives long-lasting EMT that promotes chemoresistance and shortens patient survival and that can be pharmacologically inhibited. See related commentary by Wirth and Schneider, p. 1739.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke A Brown
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Paul J Myers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Sara J Adair
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jason R Pitarresi
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shiv K Sah-Teli
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Logan A Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - William S Hart
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | | | - Kelsey Leong
- Engineering Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Nicholas Seyler
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - William Kane
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Kyoung Eun Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Edward Stelow
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Marieke Jones
- Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - M Celeste Simon
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Peppi Koivunen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Todd W Bauer
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew J Lazzara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
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2
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Mei S, Alchahin AM, Tsea I, Kfoury Y, Hirz T, Jeffries NE, Zhao T, Xu Y, Zhang H, Sarkar H, Wu S, Subtelny AO, Johnsen JI, Zhang Y, Salari K, Wu CL, Randolph MA, Scadden DT, Dahl DM, Shin J, Kharchenko PV, Saylor PJ, Sykes DB, Baryawno N. Single-cell analysis of immune and stroma cell remodeling in clear cell renal cell carcinoma primary tumors and bone metastatic lesions. Genome Med 2024; 16:1. [PMID: 38281962 PMCID: PMC10823713 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01272-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite therapeutic advances, once a cancer has metastasized to the bone, it represents a highly morbid and lethal disease. One third of patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) present with bone metastasis at the time of diagnosis. However, the bone metastatic niche in humans, including the immune and stromal microenvironments, has not been well-defined, hindering progress towards identification of therapeutic targets. METHODS We collected fresh patient samples and performed single-cell transcriptomic profiling of solid metastatic tissue (Bone Met), liquid bone marrow at the vertebral level of spinal cord compression (Involved), and liquid bone marrow from a different vertebral body distant from the tumor site but within the surgical field (Distal), as well as bone marrow from patients undergoing hip replacement surgery (Benign). In addition, we incorporated single-cell data from primary ccRCC tumors (ccRCC Primary) for comparative analysis. RESULTS The bone marrow of metastatic patients is immune-suppressive, featuring increased, exhausted CD8 + cytotoxic T cells, T regulatory cells, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) with distinct transcriptional states in metastatic lesions. Bone marrow stroma from tumor samples demonstrated a tumor-associated mesenchymal stromal cell population (TA-MSC) that appears to be supportive of epithelial-to mesenchymal transition (EMT), bone remodeling, and a cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs) phenotype. This stromal subset is associated with poor progression-free and overall survival and also markedly upregulates bone remodeling through the dysregulation of RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling activity in bone cells, ultimately leading to bone resorption. CONCLUSIONS These results provide a comprehensive analysis of the bone marrow niche in the setting of human metastatic cancer and highlight potential therapeutic targets for both cell populations and communication channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenglin Mei
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Adele M Alchahin
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ioanna Tsea
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Youmna Kfoury
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Taghreed Hirz
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Nathan Elias Jeffries
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Ting Zhao
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Yanxin Xu
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Hanyu Zhang
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Hirak Sarkar
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shulin Wu
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Alexander O Subtelny
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - John Inge Johnsen
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yida Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Keyan Salari
- Department of Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Chin-Lee Wu
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Mark A Randolph
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - David T Scadden
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Douglas M Dahl
- Department of Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - John Shin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Peter V Kharchenko
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
- Present: Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
| | - Philip J Saylor
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - David B Sykes
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Ninib Baryawno
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Pinjusic K, Ambrosini G, Lourenco J, Fournier N, Iseli C, Guex N, Egorova O, Nassiri S, Constam DB. Inhibition of anti-tumor immunity by melanoma cell-derived Activin-A depends on STING. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1335207. [PMID: 38304252 PMCID: PMC10830842 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1335207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family member activin A (hereafter Activin-A) is overexpressed in many cancer types, often correlating with cancer-associated cachexia and poor prognosis. Activin-A secretion by melanoma cells indirectly impedes CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity and promotes resistance to immunotherapies, even though Activin-A can be proinflammatory in other contexts. To identify underlying mechanisms, we here analyzed the effect of Activin-A on syngeneic grafts of Braf mutant YUMM3.3 mouse melanoma cells and on their microenvironment using single-cell RNA sequencing. We found that the Activin-A-induced immune evasion was accompanied by a proinflammatory interferon signature across multiple cell types, and that the associated increase in tumor growth depended at least in part on pernicious STING activity within the melanoma cells. Besides corroborating a role for proinflammatory signals in facilitating immune evasion, our results suggest that STING holds considerable potential as a therapeutic target to mitigate tumor-promoting Activin-A signaling at least in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Pinjusic
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SV ISREC, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Ambrosini
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Joao Lourenco
- Translational Data Science Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Fournier
- Translational Data Science Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Iseli
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Guex
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioinformatics Competence Center, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olga Egorova
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SV ISREC, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sina Nassiri
- Translational Data Science Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel B Constam
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SV ISREC, Lausanne, Switzerland
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4
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Liu Q, Zhao RM, Wang DY, Li P, Qu YF, Ji X. Genome-wide characterization of the TGF-β gene family and their expression in different tissues during tail regeneration in the Schlegel's Japanese gecko Gekko japonicus. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 255:128127. [PMID: 37984573 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) gene family is unique to animals and is involved in various important processes including tissue regeneration. Here, we identified 52 TGF-β family genes based on genome sequences of the gecko (Gekko japonicus), compared TGF-β genes between G. japonicus and other four reptilian species, and evaluated the expression of 14 randomly selected genes in muscle, kidney, liver, heart, and brain during tail regeneration to investigate whether their expression was tissue-dependent. We detected 23 conserved domains, 13 in the TGF-β ligand subfamily, and 10 in the receptor subfamily. The pattern of higher genetic variation in the ligand subfamily than in the receptor subfamily in vertebrates might result from the precise localization of agonists and antagonists in the cell surface and intracellular compartment. TGF-β genes were unevenly distributed across 15 chromosomes in G. japonicus, presumably resulting from gene losses and gains during evolution. Genes in the TGF-β receptor subfamily (ACVR2A, ACVR2B, ACVR1, BMPR1A, ACVRL1, BMPR2 and TGFBR1) played a vital role in the TGF-β signal pathway. The expression of all 14 randomly selected TGF-β genes was tissue-specific. Our study supports the speculation that some TGF-β family genes are involved in the early stages of tail regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ru-Meng Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dan-Yan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peng Li
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yan-Fu Qu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Xiang Ji
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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5
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Cohen N, Mundhe D, Deasy SK, Adler O, Ershaid N, Shami T, Levi-Galibov O, Wassermann R, Scherz-Shouval R, Erez N. Breast Cancer-Secreted Factors Promote Lung Metastasis by Signaling Systemically to Induce a Fibrotic Premetastatic Niche. Cancer Res 2023; 83:3354-3367. [PMID: 37548552 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-3707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic cancer is largely incurable and is the main cause of cancer-related deaths. The metastatic microenvironment facilitates formation of metastases. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are crucial players in generating a hospitable metastatic niche by mediating an inflammatory microenvironment. Fibroblasts also play a central role in modifying the architecture and stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Resolving the early changes in the metastatic niche could help identify approaches to inhibit metastatic progression. Here, we demonstrate in mouse models of spontaneous breast cancer pulmonary metastasis that fibrotic changes and rewiring of lung fibroblasts occurred at premetastatic stages, suggesting systemic influence by the primary tumor. Activin A (ActA), a TGFβ superfamily member, was secreted from breast tumors and its levels in the blood were highly elevated in tumor-bearing mice. ActA upregulated the expression of profibrotic factors in lung fibroblasts, leading to enhanced collagen deposition in the lung premetastatic niche. ActA signaling was functionally important for lung metastasis, as genetic targeting of ActA in breast cancer cells significantly attenuated lung metastasis and improved survival. Moreover, high levels of ActA in human patients with breast cancer were associated with lung metastatic relapse and poor survival. This study uncovers a novel mechanism by which breast cancer cells systemically rewire the stromal microenvironment in the metastatic niche to facilitate pulmonary metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE ActA mediates cross-talk between breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the lung metastatic niche that enhances fibrosis and metastasis, implicating ActA as a potential therapeutic target to inhibit metastatic relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Cohen
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dhanashree Mundhe
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarah K Deasy
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Omer Adler
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nour Ershaid
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tamar Shami
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Oshrat Levi-Galibov
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Rina Wassermann
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ruth Scherz-Shouval
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Neta Erez
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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6
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Pich-Bavastro C, Yerly L, Di Domizio J, Tissot-Renaud S, Gilliet M, Kuonen F. Activin A-Mediated Polarization of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Macrophages Confers Resistance to Checkpoint Immunotherapy in Skin Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3498-3513. [PMID: 37327314 PMCID: PMC10472111 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cemiplimab is approved for the treatment of locally advanced basal cell carcinomas (BCC), although with mitigated results. We sought to interrogate the cellular and molecular transcriptional reprogramming underlying BCC resistance to immunotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Here, we combined spatial and single-cell transcriptomics to deconvolute the spatial heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment in regard with response to immunotherapy, in a cohort of both naïve and resistant BCCs. RESULTS We identified subsets of intermingled cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and macrophages contributing the most to CD8 T-cell exclusion and immunosuppression. Within this spatially resolved peritumoral immunosuppressive niche, CAFs and adjacent macrophages were found to display Activin A-mediated transcriptional reprogramming towards extracellular matrix remodeling, suggesting active participation to CD8 T-cell exclusion. In independent datasets of human skin cancers, Activin A-conditioned CAFs and macrophages were associated with resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our data identify the cellular and molecular plasticity of tumor microenvironment (TME) and the pivotal role of Activin A in polarizing the TME towards immune suppression and ICI resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Pich-Bavastro
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laura Yerly
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jeremy Di Domizio
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Tissot-Renaud
- Department of Oncology, Immune Landscape Laboratory, Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michel Gilliet
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - François Kuonen
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Wang JJ, Chen DX, Zhang Y, Xu X, Cai Y, Wei WQ, Hao JJ, Wang MR. Elevated expression of the RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 enhances the mRNA stability of INHBA to promote the invasion and migration of esophageal squamous cancer cells. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:75. [PMID: 37644505 PMCID: PMC10466848 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00429-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains to be elucidated. The present study aims to investigate the roles and implications of IGF2BP1 overexpression in ESCC. METHODS IGF2BP1 protein expression in ESCC samples was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the mRNA abundance of IGF2BP1 and INHBA was analyzed with TCGA datasets and by RNA in situ hybridization (RISH). The methylation level of the IGF2BP1 promoter region was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP-PCR). Cell viability, migration, invasion and in vivo metastasis assays were performed to explore the roles of IGF2BP1 overexpression in ESCC. RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) and mass spectrometry were applied to identify the target RNAs and interacting proteins of IGF2BP1, respectively. RIP-PCR, RNA pulldown, immunofluorescence (IF), gene-specific m6A PCR and RNA stability assays were used to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells caused by IGF2BP1 dysregulation. BTYNB, a small molecular inhibitor of IGF2BP1, was evaluated for its inhibitory effect on the malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells. RESULTS IGF2BP1 overexpression was detected in ESCC tissues and associated with the depth of tumor invasion. In addition, IGF2BP1 mRNA expression in ESCC cells was negatively correlated with the level of its promoter methylation. Knockdown of IGF2BP1 inhibited ESCC cell invasion and migration as well as tumor metastasis. Mechanistically, we observed that IGF2BP1 bound and stabilized INHBA mRNA and then resulted in higher protein expression of INHBA, leading to the activation of Smad2/3 signaling, thus promoting malignant phenotypes. The mRNA level of INHBA was upregulated in ESCC tissues as well. Furthermore, IGF2BP1 interacted with G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1 (G3BP1). Knockdown of G3BP1 also down-regulated the INHBA-Smad2/3 signaling. BTYNB abolished this activated signaling and significantly attenuated the malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells. CONCLUSIONS Elevated expression of IGF2BP1 is a frequent event in ESCC tissues and might be a candidate biomarker for the disease. IGF2BP1 overexpression promotes the invasion and migration of ESCC cells by activating the INHBA-Smad2/3 pathway, providing a potential therapeutic target for ESCC patients with high expression of IGF2BP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-Juan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
- Stem cell Translational laboratory, Shanxi Technological Innovation Center for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Immune and Rheumatic Diseases, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Ding-Xiong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Wen-Qiang Wei
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Jia-Jie Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Ming-Rong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China.
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8
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Karimi Taheri M, Ghanbari S, Gholipour A, Givi T, Sadeghizadeh M. LINC01116 affects patient survival differently and is dissimilarly expressed in ER+ and ER- breast cancer samples. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2023; 6:e1848. [PMID: 37321964 PMCID: PMC10432450 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most commonly detected cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer mortality. Emerging evidence supports that aberrant expression of lncRNAs is correlated with tumor progression and various aspects of tumor development. AIM This study aimed to evaluate the expression pattern of LINC01116 in breast cancer tissues and investigate the impact of LINC01116 on patients' survival. METHODS AND RESULTS Microarray and qRT-PCR data analysis were performed, and the KM-plotter database was used in this study. In addition, the gain of function approach was performed to examine the effect of LINC01116 on breast cancer cells in-vitro. The results exhibited that LINC01116 is meaningfully upregulated in the ER+ tumor specimens compared to the ER- ones. Also, relative to normal tissues, the expression of LINC01116 in ER+ and ER- tumor tissues significantly increased and decreased, respectively. ROC curve analysis revealed the power of LINC01116 in distinguishing ER+ from ER- samples. Additionally, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the LINC01116 expression positively correlates with survival probability in all as well as ER+ patients. However, this correlation was negative in ER- patients. Furthermore, our results showed that the overexpression of LINC01116 induces TGF-β signaling in ER- cells (MDA-MB-231), and microarray data analysis revealed that LINC01116 is significantly upregulated in 17β-Estradiol treated MCF7 cells. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our results suggest that LINC01116 can be a potential biomarker in distinguishing ER+ and ER- tissues and has different effects on patients' survival based on ER status by affecting TGF-β and ER signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sogol Ghanbari
- Molecular Genetics DepartmentBiological Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares UniversityTehranIran
| | - Akram Gholipour
- Cardiogenetic Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research CenterIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Taraneh Givi
- Molecular Genetics DepartmentBiological Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares UniversityTehranIran
| | - Majid Sadeghizadeh
- Molecular Genetics DepartmentBiological Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares UniversityTehranIran
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9
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Wiley MB, Bauer J, Mehrotra K, Zessner-Spitzenberg J, Kolics Z, Cheng W, Castellanos K, Nash MG, Gui X, Kone L, Maker AV, Qiao G, Reddi D, Church DN, Kerr RS, Kerr DJ, Grippo PJ, Jung B. Non-Canonical Activin A Signaling Stimulates Context-Dependent and Cellular-Specific Outcomes in CRC to Promote Tumor Cell Migration and Immune Tolerance. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3003. [PMID: 37296966 PMCID: PMC10252122 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15113003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
We have shown that activin A (activin), a TGF-β superfamily member, has pro-metastatic effects in colorectal cancer (CRC). In lung cancer, activin activates pro-metastatic pathways to enhance tumor cell survival and migration while augmenting CD4+ to CD8+ communications to promote cytotoxicity. Here, we hypothesized that activin exerts cell-specific effects in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of CRC to promote anti-tumoral activity of immune cells and the pro-metastatic behavior of tumor cells in a cell-specific and context-dependent manner. We generated an Smad4 epithelial cell specific knockout (Smad4-/-) which was crossed with TS4-Cre mice to identify SMAD-specific changes in CRC. We also performed IHC and digital spatial profiling (DSP) of tissue microarrays (TMAs) obtained from 1055 stage II and III CRC patients in the QUASAR 2 clinical trial. We transfected the CRC cells to reduce their activin production and injected them into mice with intermittent tumor measurements to determine how cancer-derived activin alters tumor growth in vivo. In vivo, Smad4-/- mice displayed elevated colonic activin and pAKT expression and increased mortality. IHC analysis of the TMA samples revealed increased activin was required for TGF-β-associated improved outcomes in CRC. DSP analysis identified that activin co-localization in the stroma was coupled with increases in T-cell exhaustion markers, activation markers of antigen presenting cells (APCs), and effectors of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Activin-stimulated PI3K-dependent CRC transwell migration, and the in vivo loss of activin lead to smaller CRC tumors. Taken together, activin is a targetable, highly context-dependent molecule with effects on CRC growth, migration, and TME immune plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark B. Wiley
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (M.B.W.); (K.M.)
| | - Jessica Bauer
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (M.B.W.); (K.M.)
| | - Kunaal Mehrotra
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (M.B.W.); (K.M.)
| | - Jasmin Zessner-Spitzenberg
- Clinical Department for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Zoe Kolics
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (M.B.W.); (K.M.)
| | - Wenxuan Cheng
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (M.B.W.); (K.M.)
| | - Karla Castellanos
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Michael G. Nash
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Xianyong Gui
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Lyonell Kone
- Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Ajay V. Maker
- Department of Surgery, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
| | - Guilin Qiao
- Department of Surgery, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
| | - Deepti Reddi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - David N. Church
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 4BH, UK
- NIHR Oxford Comprehensive Biomedical Research Center, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 4BH, UK
| | - Rachel S. Kerr
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 4BH, UK
| | - David J. Kerr
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 4BH, UK
| | - Paul J. Grippo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Barbara Jung
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; (M.B.W.); (K.M.)
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10
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Fu J, He M, Wu Q, Zhang X, Qi X, Shen K, Wang X, Zhang G. The clinical and genetic features in patients coexisting primary breast and thyroid cancers. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1136120. [PMID: 37229458 PMCID: PMC10203615 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1136120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We attempted to examine the clinical characteristics in patients with breast cancer (BC) and thyroid cancer (TC); explore the potential mechanisms of tumorigenesis and progression. Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result Program-9 (SEER-9) database, a retrospective study (1975-2017) was conducted on patients with BC and TC. We identified the common differentially expressed genes involved in BC and TC using the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO). Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) was performed to verify the expression of the hit gene in patients with co-occurrence of BC and TC. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the relationship between gene expression and clinicopathological characters was determined. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to identify the pathways enriched in BC and TC. Results BC patients had a higher predisposition to develop TC (standardized incidence ratio, SIR: 1.29) and vice-versa (SIR: 1.12). Most of these patients were differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and hormone receptor (HR) - positive BC. The mRNA expression of COMP (Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) was significantly overexpressed in BC and TC by analyzing the GEO database. The protein expression of COMP was increased in both BC and TC tissues obtained from the same patients validated by IHC. COMP was correlated with worse OS in BC (stage II-IV) and TC; it was the independent factor for prognosis of BC. GSEA indicated that the estrogen response and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways were significantly enriched in both TC- and BC- COMP overexpressed groups. Conclusion The co-occurrence risk of BC and TC in the same individual is higher than in the general population. Overexpression of COMP could promote oncogenesis and progression in patients with BC and TC through estrogen signaling and EMT pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyao Fu
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Department of Oral-Maxillofacial-Thyroid Oncosurgery, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Anesthesia, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Breast Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiangkai Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Qi
- Department of Breast Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Keyu Shen
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiaochun Wang
- Department of Oral-Maxillofacial-Thyroid Oncosurgery, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Guang Zhang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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11
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In vivo induction of activin A-producing alveolar macrophages supports the progression of lung cell carcinoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:143. [PMID: 36650150 PMCID: PMC9845242 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35701-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are crucial for maintaining normal lung function. They are abundant in lung cancer tissues, but their pathophysiological significance remains unknown. Here we show, using an orthotopic murine lung cancer model and human carcinoma samples, that AMs support cancer cell proliferation and thus contribute to unfavourable outcome. Inhibin beta A (INHBA) expression is upregulated in AMs under tumor-bearing conditions, leading to the secretion of activin A, a homodimer of INHBA. Accordingly, follistatin, an antagonist of activin A is able to inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation. Single-cell RNA sequence analysis identifies a characteristic subset of AMs specifically induced in the tumor environment that are abundant in INHBA, and distinct from INHBA-expressing AMs in normal lungs. Moreover, postnatal deletion of INHBA/activin A could limit tumor growth in experimental models. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the critical pathological role of activin A-producing AMs in tumorigenesis, and provides means to clearly distinguish them from their healthy counterparts.
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12
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Yerly L, Pich-Bavastro C, Di Domizio J, Wyss T, Tissot-Renaud S, Cangkrama M, Gilliet M, Werner S, Kuonen F. Integrated multi-omics reveals cellular and molecular interactions governing the invasive niche of basal cell carcinoma. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4897. [PMID: 35986012 PMCID: PMC9391376 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32670-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors invade the surrounding tissues to progress, but the heterogeneity of cell types at the tumor-stroma interface and the complexity of their potential interactions hampered mechanistic insight required for efficient therapeutic targeting. Here, combining single-cell and spatial transcriptomics on human basal cell carcinomas, we define the cellular contributors of tumor progression. In the invasive niche, tumor cells exhibit a collective migration phenotype, characterized by the expression of cell-cell junction complexes. In physical proximity, we identify cancer-associated fibroblasts with extracellular matrix-remodeling features. Tumor cells strongly express the cytokine Activin A, and increased Activin A-induced gene signature is found in adjacent cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations. Altogether, our data identify the cell populations and their transcriptional reprogramming contributing to the spatial organization of the basal cell carcinoma invasive niche. They also demonstrate the power of integrated spatial and single-cell multi-omics to decipher cancer-specific invasive properties and develop targeted therapies. The role of reciprocal tumour-stroma interactions in tumour invasion remains poorly characterised. Here, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics identifies the cell populations and their transcriptional reprogramming contributing to the spatial organization of the basal cell carcinoma invasive niche.
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13
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Nakayama J, Matsunaga H, Arikawa K, Yoda T, Hosokawa M, Takeyama H, Yamamoto Y, Semba K. Identification of two cancer stem cell-like populations in triple-negative breast cancer xenografts. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:275514. [PMID: 35611554 PMCID: PMC9235877 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression analysis at the single-cell level by next-generation sequencing has revealed the existence of clonal dissemination and microheterogeneity in cancer metastasis. The current spatial analysis technologies can elucidate the heterogeneity of cell–cell interactions in situ. To reveal the regional and expressional heterogeneity in primary tumors and metastases, we performed transcriptomic analysis of microtissues dissected from a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line MDA-MB-231 xenograft model with our automated tissue microdissection punching technology. This multiple-microtissue transcriptome analysis revealed three cancer cell-type clusters in the primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis, two of which were cancer stem cell (CSC)-like clusters (CD44/MYC-high, HMGA1-high). Reanalysis of public single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets confirmed that the two CSC-like populations existed in TNBC xenograft models and in TNBC patients. The diversity of these multiple CSC-like populations could cause differential anticancer drug resistance, increasing the difficulty of curing this cancer. Summary: We identified two types of cancer stem cell (CSC)-like populations in triple-negative breast cancer xenografts and patients. These CSC-like populations could potentially make tumors more drug resistant and thus more difficult to treat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Nakayama
- Laboratory of Integrative Oncology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.,Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan.,Computational Bio-Big Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Hiroko Matsunaga
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Koji Arikawa
- Computational Bio-Big Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo 169-8555, Japan.,Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoda
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan.,Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Masahito Hosokawa
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan.,Computational Bio-Big Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo 169-8555, Japan.,Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Haruko Takeyama
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan.,Computational Bio-Big Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo 169-8555, Japan.,Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Yusuke Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Integrative Oncology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Kentaro Semba
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan.,Translational Research Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
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14
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Liu M, Smith R, Liby T, Chiotti K, López CS, Korkola JE. INHBA is a mediator of aggressive tumor behavior in HER2+ basal breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2022; 24:18. [PMID: 35248133 PMCID: PMC8898494 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-022-01512-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Resistance to HER2-targeted therapeutics remains a significant clinical problem in HER2+ breast cancer patients with advanced disease. This may be particularly true for HER2+ patients with basal subtype disease, as recent evidence suggests they receive limited benefit from standard of care HER2-targeted therapies. Identification of drivers of resistance and aggressive disease that can be targeted clinically has the potential to impact patient outcomes. Methods We performed siRNA knockdown screens of genes differentially expressed between lapatinib-responsive and -resistant HER2+ breast cancer cells, which corresponded largely to luminal versus basal subtypes. We then validated hits in 2-d and 3-d cell culture systems. Results Knockdown of one of the genes, INHBA, significantly slowed growth and increased sensitivity to lapatinib in multiple basal HER2+ cell lines in both 2-d and 3-d cultures, but had no effect in luminal HER2+ cells. Loss of INHBA altered metabolism, eliciting a shift from glycolytic to oxidative phosphorylative metabolism, which was also associated with a decrease in tumor invasiveness. Analysis of breast cancer datasets showed that patients with HER2+ breast cancer and high levels of INHBA expression had worse outcomes than patients with low levels of INHBA expression. Conclusions Our data suggest that INHBA is associated with aggressiveness of the basal subtype of HER2+ tumors, resulting in poor response to HER2-targeted therapy and an invasive phenotype. We hypothesize that targeting this pathway could be an effective therapeutic strategy to reduce invasiveness of tumor cells and to improve therapeutic response. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13058-022-01512-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moqing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Rebecca Smith
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Tiera Liby
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kami Chiotti
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Claudia S López
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Multiscale Microscopy Core, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - James E Korkola
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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15
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Yu Y, Wang W, Lu W, Chen W, Shang A. Inhibin β-A (INHBA) induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and accelerates the motility of breast cancer cells by activating the TGF-β signaling pathway. Bioengineered 2021; 12:4681-4696. [PMID: 34346300 PMCID: PMC8806747 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1957754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that INHBA (Inhibin β-A, a member of the TGF-β superfamily) functions as an oncogene in cancer progression. However, little is known as to how INHBA regulates the progression and aggressiveness of breast cancer (BC). This study explored the function and underlying mechanism of INHBA in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of BC cells. INHBA expression in BC cell lines was measured using RT-qPCR and Western blot. The would-healing and transwell migration assays were used to investigate the effect of INHBA overexpression or silencing on BC cell motility. Moreover, the expression levels of EMT-related genes were quantified after overexpressing or silencing of INHBA. Based on published dataset, INHBA was significantly upregulated in BC tissues compared to the adjacent normal tissues. A higher level of INHBA expression was also correlated with a poor survival in BC patients. In addition, in vitro study showed that INHBA played an indispensable role in promoting BC cell proliferation and invasion. Mechanistically, INHBA induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and accelerated the motility of BC cells by activating TGF-β-regulated genes. In conclusion, INHBA plays a functional role in supporting EMT phenotype of BC cells, and it may serve as a diagnostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for BC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Tinghu District People’s Hospital of Yancheng City, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenying Lu
- Department of Pathology, Tinghu District People’s Hospital of Yancheng City, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Anquan Shang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Shanghai, China
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16
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Zhu LP, Zhong WL, Wang ZG, Sun KD, Liu QLF, Zhao J, Zhao JW, Chen X, Wang BM. Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: An investigation in clinical features and pathogenesis. J Dig Dis 2021; 22:663-671. [PMID: 34697888 DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.13062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and potential pathogenesis of a rare nonhereditary polyposis syndrome, Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS). METHODS Medical records of eight patients with CCS who were admitted to our hospital from January 2005 to November 2019 were reviewed. Transcriptome profiling was performed in one patient to investigate its difference between gastric polyp tissue and normal mucosa. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined for functional analysis. The expression of inhibin beta A (INHBA) was further assessed by using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS All patients presented with gastrointestinal polyposis, accompanied by diarrhea, skin hyperpigmentation, hair loss and nail dystrophy. Hyperplastic polyps were observed in seven patients, tubular adenoma in two, inflammatory polyps in one and hamartomatous polyps in one, respectively. All patients underwent comprehensive treatment and five achieved clinical remission. A total of 2107 DEGs, including 1265 upregulated and 842 downregulated, were found in the gastric polyp. Gene ontology analysis showed that upregulated genes were significantly enriched in the positive regulation of cell proliferation, epithelium development and angiogenesis. A protein-protein interaction analysis suggested that INHBA was at the center of the interaction network and might play an important role in CCS. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that INHBA expression was upregulated in CCS gastric polyps. CONCLUSIONS CCS is a rare disease and its diagnosis mainly depends on typical clinical manifestations, endoscopic findings and histological features. INHBA upregulation may contribute to its pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Ping Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Long Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ze Gui Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Di Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qin Ling Fei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Wen Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Bang Mao Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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17
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TGF-β/activin signaling promotes CDK7 inhibitor resistance in triple-negative breast cancer cells through upregulation of multidrug transporters. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101162. [PMID: 34481843 PMCID: PMC8498470 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is a master regulatory kinase that drives cell cycle progression and stimulates expression of oncogenes in a myriad of cancers. Inhibitors of CDK7 (CDK7i) are currently in clinical trials; however, as with many cancer therapies, patients will most likely experience recurrent disease due to acquired resistance. Identifying targets underlying CDK7i resistance will facilitate prospective development of new therapies that can circumvent such resistance. Here we utilized triple-negative breast cancer as a model to discern mechanisms of resistance as it has been previously shown to be highly responsive to CDK7 inhibitors. After generating cell lines with acquired resistance, high-throughput RNA sequencing revealed significant upregulation of genes associated with efflux pumps and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathways. Genetic silencing or pharmacological inhibition of ABCG2, an efflux pump associated with multidrug resistance, resensitized resistant cells to CDK7i, indicating a reliance on these transporters. Expression of activin A (INHBA), a member of the TGF-β family of ligands, was also induced, whereas its intrinsic inhibitor, follistatin (FST), was repressed. In resistant cells, increased phosphorylation of SMAD3, a downstream mediator, confirmed an increase in activin signaling, and phosphorylated SMAD3 directly bound the ABCG2 promoter regulatory region. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β/activin receptors or genetic silencing of SMAD4, a transcriptional partner of SMAD3, reversed the upregulation of ABCG2 in resistant cells and phenocopied ABCG2 inhibition. This study reveals that inhibiting the TGF-β/Activin-ABCG2 pathway is a potential avenue for preventing or overcoming resistance to CDK7 inhibitors.
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18
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Yuza K, Nagahashi M, Ichikawa H, Hanyu T, Nakajima M, Shimada Y, Ishikawa T, Sakata J, Takeuchi S, Okuda S, Matsuda Y, Abe M, Sakimura K, Takabe K, Wakai T. Activin a Receptor Type 2A Mutation Affects the Tumor Biology of Microsatellite Instability-High Gastric Cancer. J Gastrointest Surg 2021; 25:2231-2241. [PMID: 33420656 PMCID: PMC8728635 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-020-04889-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activin A receptor type 2A (ACVR2A) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) gastric cancer. However, the clinical relevance of the ACVR2A mutation in MSI-H gastric cancer patients remains unclear. The aims of this study were to explore the effect of ACVR2A mutation on the tumor behavior and to identify the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients with ACVR2A mutations. METHODS An in vitro study was performed to investigate the biological role of ACVR2A via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ACVR2A knockout MKN74 human gastric cancer cells. One hundred twenty-four patients with gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed, and relations between MSI status, ACVR2A mutations, and clinicopathological factors were evaluated. RESULTS ACVR2A knockout cells showed less aggressive tumor biology than mock-transfected cells, displaying reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05). MSI mutations were found in 10% (13/124) of gastric cancer patients, and ACVR2A mutations were found in 8.1% (10/124) of patients. All ACVR2A mutations were accompanied by MSI. The 5-year overall survival rates of ACVR2A wild-type patients and ACVR2A-mutated patients were 57% and 90%, respectively (P = 0.048). Multivariate analysis revealed that older age (P = 0.015), distant metastasis (P < 0.001), and ACVR2A wild-type status (P = 0.040) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that gastric cancer patients with ACVR2A mutation have a significantly better prognosis than those without. Dysfunction of ACVR2A in MKN74 human gastric cancer cells caused less aggressive tumor biology, indicating the importance of ACVR2A in the progression of MSI-H tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kizuki Yuza
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Masayuki Nagahashi
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ichikawa
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Takaaki Hanyu
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Masato Nakajima
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Shimada
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Takashi Ishikawa
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Jun Sakata
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Shiho Takeuchi
- Division of Cancer Genome Informatics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan,Division of Bioinformatics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Shujiro Okuda
- Division of Bioinformatics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Yasunobu Matsuda
- Department of Medical Technology, Niigata University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 2-746 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-Ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8518, Japan
| | - Manabu Abe
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Takabe
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan,Breast Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA,Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Toshifumi Wakai
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
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19
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Vishnubalaji R, Alajez NM. Epigenetic regulation of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) by TGF-β signaling. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15410. [PMID: 34326372 PMCID: PMC8322425 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94514-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
TGFβ signaling plays crucial role during development and cancer, however the role for TGFβ signaling in regulating the noncoding part of the human genome in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is still being unraveled. Herein, we provide the transcriptional landscape of TNBC in response to TGFβ activation and subsequent inhibition employing SB431542, selective TGFβ1 Receptor ALK5 Inhibitor. Our data revealed 72 commonly upregulated [fold change (FC) ≥ 2.0], including PLAU, TPM1, TAGLN, COL1A1, TGFBI, and SNAI1, and 53 downregulated (FC ≤ 2.0) protein coding genes in BT-549 and MDA-MB-231 models in response to TGFβ1 activation. Alignment to the geocode (V33) identified 41 upregulated (FC ≥ 2.0) and 22 downregulated (FC ≤ 2.0) long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in response to TGFβ1 activation, which were inhibited by concurrent treatment with SB431542. To place our data from the in vitro models into their clinical context, we identified AC015909.1, AC013451.1, CYP1B1-AS1, AC004862.1, LINC01824, AL138828.1, B4GALT1-AS1, AL353751.1, AC090826.3, AC104695.4, ADORA2A-AS1, PTPRG-AS1, LINC01943, AC026954.3, TPM1-AS, ZFPM2-AS1, AC007362.1, AC112721.2, MALAT1, AL513314.2, AC112721.1, AC010343.3, LINC01711, and MAP3K2-DT lncRNA expression to positively correlate with TGFβ1 expression in a cohort of 360 TNBC patients. To provide mechanistic insight into lncRNA regulation by TGFβ signaling, SMAD2/3 ChIp-Seq data from BT-549 TNBC model retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) revealed direct binding of SMAD2/SMAD3 to the promoter of AC112721.1, AC112721.2, MALAT1, HHIP-AS1, LINC00472, and SLC7A11, suggesting their direct regulation by TGFβ1/SMAD2/SMAD3 pathway. Interestingly, AC112721.1, AC112721.2 exhibited higher expression in TNBC compared to normal breast tissue suggesting a possible role for those lncRNA in TNBC biology. Our miRNA analysis in the BT-549 model in response to exogenous TGFB1 revealed several affected miRNAs (2.0 ≤ FC ≤ 2.0), whose expression pattern was reversed in the presence of SB431542, suggesting those miRNA as plausible targets for TGFβ regulation. In particular, we observed hsa-miR-1275 to be downregulated in response to TGFB1 which was highly predicted to regulate PCDH1, FIBCD1, FXYD7, GDNF, STC1, EDN1, ZSWIM4, FGF1, PPP1R9B, NUAK1, PALM2AKAP2, IGFL3, and SPOCK1 whose expression were upregulated in response to TGFβ1 stimulus. On the other hand, hsa-miR-181b-5p was among the top upregulated miRNAs in response to TGFB1, which is also predicted to regulate CDKN1B, TNFRSF11B, SIM1, and ARSJ in the BT-549 model. Taken together, our data is the first to provide such in depth analysis of lncRNA and miRNA epigenetic changes in response to TGFβ signaling in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhakrishnan Vishnubalaji
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), P.O. Box 34110, Doha, 00000, Qatar
| | - Nehad M Alajez
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), P.O. Box 34110, Doha, 00000, Qatar. .,College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar.
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20
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Drainas AP, Lambuta RA, Ivanova I, Serçin Ö, Sarropoulos I, Smith ML, Efthymiopoulos T, Raeder B, Stütz AM, Waszak SM, Mardin BR, Korbel JO. Genome-wide Screens Implicate Loss of Cullin Ring Ligase 3 in Persistent Proliferation and Genome Instability in TP53-Deficient Cells. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107465. [PMID: 32268084 PMCID: PMC7166082 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
TP53 deficiency is the most common alteration in cancer; however, this alone is typically insufficient to drive tumorigenesis. To identify genes promoting tumorigenesis in combination with TP53 deficiency, we perform genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens coupled with proliferation and transformation assays in isogenic cell lines. Loss of several known tumor suppressors enhances cellular proliferation and transformation. Loss of neddylation pathway genes promotes uncontrolled proliferation exclusively in TP53-deficient cells. Combined loss of CUL3 and TP53 activates an oncogenic transcriptional program governed by the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), AP-1, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) pathways. This program maintains persistent cellular proliferation, induces partial epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and increases DNA damage, genomic instability, and chromosomal rearrangements. Our findings reveal CUL3 loss as a key event stimulating persistent proliferation in TP53-deficient cells. These findings may be clinically relevant, since TP53-CUL3-deficient cells are highly sensitive to ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) inhibition, exposing a vulnerability that could be exploited for cancer treatment. Mixed-effect models with MEMcrispR applied to CRISPR screen analyses Knockout of neddylation genes increases persistent proliferation in TP53−/− cells TP53−/−,CUL3−/− cells exhibit persistent proliferation and partial EMT phenotype TP53−/−,CUL3−/− cells show increased DNA damage and display sensitivity to ATM inhibition
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros P Drainas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ruxandra A Lambuta
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Irina Ivanova
- BioMed X Innovation Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ioannis Sarropoulos
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mike L Smith
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Theocharis Efthymiopoulos
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Raeder
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adrian M Stütz
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian M Waszak
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Jan O Korbel
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
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21
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Listik E, Horst B, Choi AS, Lee NY, Győrffy B, Mythreye K. A bioinformatic analysis of the inhibin-betaglycan-endoglin/CD105 network reveals prognostic value in multiple solid tumors. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249558. [PMID: 33819300 PMCID: PMC8021191 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibins and activins are dimeric ligands belonging to the TGFβ superfamily with emergent roles in cancer. Inhibins contain an α-subunit (INHA) and a β-subunit (either INHBA or INHBB), while activins are mainly homodimers of either βA (INHBA) or βB (INHBB) subunits. Inhibins are biomarkers in a subset of cancers and utilize the coreceptors betaglycan (TGFBR3) and endoglin (ENG) for physiological or pathological outcomes. Given the array of prior reports on inhibin, activin and the coreceptors in cancer, this study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis, assessing their functional prognostic potential in cancer using a bioinformatics approach. We identify cancer cell lines and cancer types most dependent and impacted, which included p53 mutated breast and ovarian cancers and lung adenocarcinomas. Moreover, INHA itself was dependent on TGFBR3 and ENG/CD105 in multiple cancer types. INHA, INHBA, TGFBR3, and ENG also predicted patients' response to anthracycline and taxane therapy in luminal A breast cancers. We also obtained a gene signature model that could accurately classify 96.7% of the cases based on outcomes. Lastly, we cross-compared gene correlations revealing INHA dependency to TGFBR3 or ENG influencing different pathways themselves. These results suggest that inhibins are particularly important in a subset of cancers depending on the coreceptor TGFBR3 and ENG and are of substantial prognostic value, thereby warranting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Listik
- Department of Pathology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Ben Horst
- Department of Pathology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Alex Seok Choi
- Department of Pathology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Nam. Y. Lee
- Division of Pharmacology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- TTK Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, and Semmelweis University Department of Bioinformatics and 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Karthikeyan Mythreye
- Department of Pathology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
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22
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Grzywa TM, Justyniarska M, Nowis D, Golab J. Tumor Immune Evasion Induced by Dysregulation of Erythroid Progenitor Cells Development. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:870. [PMID: 33669537 PMCID: PMC7922079 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells harness normal cells to facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. Within this complex network of interactions, the establishment and maintenance of immune evasion mechanisms are crucial for cancer progression. The escape from the immune surveillance results from multiple independent mechanisms. Recent studies revealed that besides well-described myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) or regulatory T-cells (Tregs), erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in the regulation of immune response and tumor progression. EPCs are immature erythroid cells that differentiate into oxygen-transporting red blood cells. They expand in the extramedullary sites, including the spleen, as well as infiltrate tumors. EPCs in cancer produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and express programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and potently suppress T-cells. Thus, EPCs regulate antitumor, antiviral, and antimicrobial immunity, leading to immune suppression. Moreover, EPCs promote tumor growth by the secretion of growth factors, including artemin. The expansion of EPCs in cancer is an effect of the dysregulation of erythropoiesis, leading to the differentiation arrest and enrichment of early-stage EPCs. Therefore, anemia treatment, targeting ineffective erythropoiesis, and the promotion of EPC differentiation are promising strategies to reduce cancer-induced immunosuppression and the tumor-promoting effects of EPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz M. Grzywa
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (T.M.G.); (M.J.)
- Doctoral School, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Justyniarska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (T.M.G.); (M.J.)
| | - Dominika Nowis
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Golab
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (T.M.G.); (M.J.)
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23
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De Martino M, Daviaud C, Diamond JM, Kraynak J, Alard A, Formenti SC, Miller LD, Demaria S, Vanpouille-Box C. Activin A Promotes Regulatory T-cell-Mediated Immunosuppression in Irradiated Breast Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2020; 9:89-102. [PMID: 33093219 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-19-0305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Increased regulatory T cells (Treg) after radiotherapy have been reported, but the mechanisms of their induction remain incompletely understood. TGFβ is known to foster Treg differentiation within tumors and is activated following radiotherapy. Thus, we hypothesized that TGFβ blockade would result in decreased Tregs within the irradiated tumor microenvironment. We found increased Tregs in the tumors of mice treated with focal radiotherapy and TGFβ blockade. This increase was mediated by upregulation of another TGFβ family member, activin A. In vitro, activin A secretion was increased following irradiation of mouse and human breast cancer cells, and its expression was further enhanced upon TGFβ blockade. In vivo, dual blockade of activin A and TGFβ was required to decrease intratumoral Tregs in the context of radiotherapy. This resulted in an increase in CD8+ T-cell priming and was associated with a reduced tumor recurrence rate. Combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors with the dual blockade of activin A and TGFβ led to the development of tumor-specific memory responses in irradiated breast cancer. Supporting the translational value of activin A targeting to reduce Treg-mediated immunosuppression, retrospective analysis of a public dataset of patients with breast cancer revealed a positive correlation between activin A gene expression and Treg abundance. Overall, these results shed light on an immune escape mechanism driven by activin A and suggest that dual targeting of activin A and TGFβ may be required to optimally unleash radiation-induced antitumor immunity against breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara De Martino
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Camille Daviaud
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Julie M Diamond
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.,Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Endless Frontier Labs, New York, New York
| | - Jeffrey Kraynak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Amandine Alard
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), INSERM UMR 1037-University Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Silvia C Formenti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Lance D Miller
- Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Sandra Demaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Claire Vanpouille-Box
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York. .,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, New York
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24
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Wound Repair, Scar Formation, and Cancer: Converging on Activin. Trends Mol Med 2020; 26:1107-1117. [PMID: 32878730 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Wound repair is a highly regulated process that requires the interaction of various cell types. It has been shown that cancers use the mechanisms of wound healing to promote their own growth. Therefore, it is of importance to identify common regulators of wound repair and tumor formation and to unravel their functions and mechanisms of action. An exciting example is activin, which acts on multiple cell types in wounds and tumors, thereby promoting healing, but also scar formation and tumorigenesis. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the role of activin in these processes and highlight the therapeutic potential of activin or activin antagonists for the treatment of impaired healing or excessive scarring and cancer, respectively.
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25
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Ries A, Schelch K, Falch D, Pany L, Hoda MA, Grusch M. Activin A: an emerging target for improving cancer treatment? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:985-996. [PMID: 32700590 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1799350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Activin A is involved in the regulation of a surprisingly broad number of processes that are relevant for cancer development and treatment; it is implicated in cell autonomous functions and multiple regulatory functions in the tumor microenvironment. AREAS COVERED This article summarizes the current knowledge about activin A in cell growth and death, migration and metastasis, angiogenesis, stemness and drug resistance, regulation of antitumor immunity, and cancer cachexia. We explore the role of activin A as a biomarker and discuss strategies for using it as target for cancer therapy. Literature retrieved from Medline until 25 June 2020 was considered. EXPERT OPINION While many functions of activin A were investigated in preclinical models, there is currently limited experience from clinical trials. Activin A has growth- and migration-promoting effects, contributes to immune evasion and cachexia and is associated with shorter survival in several cancer types. Targeting activin A could offer the chance to simultaneously limit tumor growth and spreading, improve drug response, boost antitumor immune responses and improve cancer-associated or treatment-associated cachexia, bone loss, and anemia. Nevertheless, defining which patients have the highest likelihood of benefiting from these effects is challenging and will require further work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ries
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Schelch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - David Falch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Pany
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - Mir Alireza Hoda
- Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Grusch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
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26
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Hadadi E, Taylor W, Li XM, Aslan Y, Villote M, Rivière J, Duvallet G, Auriau C, Dulong S, Raymond-Letron I, Provot S, Bennaceur-Griscelli A, Acloque H. Chronic circadian disruption modulates breast cancer stemness and immune microenvironment to drive metastasis in mice. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3193. [PMID: 32581213 PMCID: PMC7314789 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16890-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide and one of the major causes of cancer death in women. Epidemiological studies have established a link between night-shift work and increased cancer risk, suggesting that circadian disruption may play a role in carcinogenesis. Here, we aim to shed light on the effect of chronic jetlag (JL) on mammary tumour development. To do this, we use a mouse model of spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis and subject it to chronic circadian disruption. We observe that circadian disruption significantly increases cancer-cell dissemination and lung metastasis. It also enhances the stemness and tumour-initiating potential of tumour cells and creates an immunosuppressive shift in the tumour microenvironment. Finally, our results suggest that the use of a CXCR2 inhibitor could correct the effect of JL on cancer-cell dissemination and metastasis. Altogether, our data provide a conceptual framework to better understand and manage the effects of chronic circadian disruption on breast cancer progression. Circadian disruption is implicated in the development of different human cancers. Here the authors show that chronic circadian disruption, through continuous jet lag, only moderately affects primary tumour growth but promotes cancer-cell dissemination and metastasis in a mouse model of spontaneous mammary tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Hadadi
- Inserm, U935, Université Paris Sud, Villejuif, France.
| | | | - Xiao-Mei Li
- Inserm, U935, Université Paris Sud, Villejuif, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay, UFR de Médecine Kremlin Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Yetki Aslan
- Inserm, U1132, Université Paris Diderot, Hôpital Lariboisière - Centre Viggo Petersen, 75010, Paris, France
| | - Marthe Villote
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78352, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Julie Rivière
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78352, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | | | - Sandrine Dulong
- Inserm, U935, Université Paris Sud, Villejuif, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay, UFR de Médecine Kremlin Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Isabelle Raymond-Letron
- Département des Sciences Biologiques et Fonctionnelles, Laboratoire d'HistoPathologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LabHPEC), ENVT, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.,STROMALab, CNRS ERL5311, EFS, ENVT, Inserm U1031, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Sylvain Provot
- Inserm, U1132, Université Paris Diderot, Hôpital Lariboisière - Centre Viggo Petersen, 75010, Paris, France
| | - Annelise Bennaceur-Griscelli
- Inserm, U935, Université Paris Sud, Villejuif, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay, UFR de Médecine Kremlin Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.,Service d'hématologie, APHP, GHU Paris Sud, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Acloque
- Inserm, U935, Université Paris Sud, Villejuif, France. .,GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78352, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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Ervolino De Oliveira C, Dourado MR, Sawazaki-Calone Í, Costa De Medeiros M, Rossa Júnior C, De Karla Cervigne N, Esquiche León J, Lambert D, Salo T, Graner E, Coletta RD. Activin A triggers angiogenesis via regulation of VEGFA and its overexpression is associated with poor prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2020; 57:364-376. [PMID: 32377747 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.5058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor prognosis associated with the dysregulated expression of activin A in a number of malignancies has been related to with numerous aspects of tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis. The present study investigated the prognostic significance of activin A immunoexpression in blood vessels and cancer cells in a number of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases and applied in vitro strategies to determine the impact of activin A on angiogenesis. In a cohort of 95 patients with OSCC, immunoexpression of activin A in both blood vessels and tumor cells was quantified and the association with clinicopathological parameters and survival was analyzed. Effects of activin A on the tube formation, proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated in gain‑of‑function (treatment with recombinant activin A) or loss‑of‑function [treatment with activin A‑antagonist follistatin or by stable transfection with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting activin A] conditions. Conditioned medium from an OSCC cell line with shRNA‑mediated depletion of activin A was also tested. The profile of pro‑ and anti‑angiogenic factors regulated by activin A was assessed with a human angiogenesis quantitative PCR (qPCR) array. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and its major isoforms were evaluated by reverse transcription‑qPCR and ELISA. Activin A expression in blood vessels demonstrated an independent prognostic value in the multivariate analysis with a hazard ratio of 2.47 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30‑4.71; P=0.006) for disease‑specific survival and 2.09 (95% CI, 1.07‑4.08l: P=0.03) for disease‑free survival. Activin A significantly increased tubular formation of HUVECs concomitantly with an increase in proliferation. This effect was validated by reduced proliferation and tubular formation of HUVECs following inhibition of activin A by follistatin or shRNA, as well as by treatment of HUVECs with conditioned medium from activin A‑depleted OSCC cells. Activin A‑knockdown increased the migration of HUVECs. In addition, activin A stimulated the phosphorylation of SMAD2/3 and the expression and production of total VEGFA, significantly enhancing the expression of its pro‑angiogenic isoform 121. The present findings suggest that activin A is a predictor of the prognosis of patients with OSCC, and provide evidence that activin A, in an autocrine and paracrine manner, may contribute to OSCC angiogenesis through differential expression of the isoform 121 of VEGFA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maurício Rocha Dourado
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP 13414‑018, Brazil
| | - Íris Sawazaki-Calone
- Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Dentistry School, Western Paraná State University, Cascavel, PR 85819‑170, Brazil
| | - Marcell Costa De Medeiros
- Departament of Diagnosis and Surgery, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, Araraquara, SP 14801‑385, Brazil
| | - Carlos Rossa Júnior
- Departament of Diagnosis and Surgery, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, Araraquara, SP 14801‑385, Brazil
| | | | - Jorge Esquiche León
- Departament of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040‑904, Brazil
| | - Daniel Lambert
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry and Sheffield Cancer Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TG, UK
| | - Tuula Salo
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Edgard Graner
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP 13414‑018, Brazil
| | - Ricardo D Coletta
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP 13414‑018, Brazil
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28
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Peng S, Wang J, Hu P, Zhang W, Li H, Xu L. INHBA knockdown inhibits proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma SUNE1 cells in vitro. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2020; 13:854-868. [PMID: 32509056 PMCID: PMC7270653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Up-regulated expression of INHBA has been reported in multiple malignant tumors. However, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the expression pattern and clinical significance of INHBA are still unclear. This study aimed to detect the expression of INHBA and its prognostic significance in NPC, then explore the tumor-associated functions of INHBA gene and the potential mechanism. The INHBA expression of mRNA levels in tumor tissues and noncancerous nasopharyngeal tissues was investigated by RT-qPCR. The protein expression in cells were detected by western blot. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK assay and cell invasion ability was evaluated by Transwell assay. The expression of INHBA in paraffin-embedded NPC tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Statistical analyses were further applied to assess the clinical significance of INHBA expression. The result reveals INHBA mRNA level is elevated in NPC tissues compared to those in noncancerous nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues. In paraffin-embedded NPC tissues, immunoreactivity of INHBA was primarily detected in 53.70% (58/108) of these patients. The overexpression was notably associated with the clinical stage (UICC) (P=0.048), N classification (P=0.042), carotid sheath involvement (P=0.016), and decreased disease-free survival (DFS) (P=0.004) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.010). Multivariate analysis revealed that INHBA expression was an independent prognostic factor for DFS (P=0.028). CCK assay showed SUNE1 cells' proliferation was decreased in INHBA knockdown group than control. Transwell assay showed the invasion of SUNE1 cells was decreased in INHBA knockdown group by comparison with control. Further study showed knockdown of INHBA expression in SUNE1 cells could block the TGF-β signaling pathway. In conclusion, INHBA is up-regulated in NPC, and is significantly correlated with clinical stage (UICC), N stage, carotid sheath involvement, and survival. Knockdown INHBA in SUNE1 cells could inhibit the cells' proliferation and invasion. The underlying mechanism may be blockade of the TGF-β signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sida Peng
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou 510230, P. R. China
- Cell Genetics Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou 510230, P. R. China
| | - Jiani Wang
- Breast Cancer Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou 510630, P. R. China
| | - Pan Hu
- Breast Cancer Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou 510630, P. R. China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Joint Surgery/Orthopedic Trauma Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou 510630, P. R. China
| | - Huan Li
- Breast Cancer Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou 510630, P. R. China
| | - Lihua Xu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou 510230, P. R. China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou 510230, P. R. China
- Cell Genetics Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou 510230, P. R. China
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29
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Cheng Q, Jabbari K, Winkelmaier G, Andersen C, Yaswen P, Khoshdeli M, Parvin B. Overexpression of CD36 in mammary fibroblasts suppresses colony growth in breast cancer cell lines. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 526:41-47. [PMID: 32192771 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Human breast tumors are not fully autonomous. They are dependent on nutrients and growth-promoting signals provided by the supporting stromal cells. Within the tumor microenvironment, one of the secreted macromolecules by tumor cells is activin A, where we show to downregulate CD36 in fibroblasts. Downregulation of CD36 in fibroblasts also increases the secretion of activin A by fibroblasts. We hypothesize that overexpression of CD36 in fibroblasts inhibits the formation of solid tumors in subtypes of breast cancer models. For the first time, we show that co-culturing organoid models of breast cancer cell lines of MDA-MB-231 (e.g., a triple-negative line) or MCF7 (e.g., a luminal-A line) with CD36+ fibroblasts inhibit the growth and normalizes basal and lateral polarities, respectively. In the long-term anchorage-independent growth assay, the rate of colony formation is also reduced for MDA-MB-231. These observations are consistent with the mechanism of tumor suppression involving the downregulation of pSMAD2/3 and YY1 expression levels. Our integrated analytical methods leverage and extend quantitative assays at cell- and colony-scales in both short- and long-term cultures using brightfield or immunofluorescent microscopy and robust image analysis. Conditioned media are profiled with the ELISA assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingsu Cheng
- Department Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Kosar Jabbari
- Department Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Garrett Winkelmaier
- Department Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Cody Andersen
- Department Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Paul Yaswen
- Department Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Mina Khoshdeli
- Department Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Bahram Parvin
- Department Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
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30
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Kosok M, Alli-Shaik A, Bay BH, Gunaratne J. Comprehensive Proteomic Characterization Reveals Subclass-Specific Molecular Aberrations within Triple-negative Breast Cancer. iScience 2020; 23:100868. [PMID: 32058975 PMCID: PMC7015993 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.100868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer lacking targeted therapies. This is attributed to its high heterogeneity that complicates elucidation of its molecular aberrations. Here, we report identification of specific proteome expression profiles pertaining to two TNBC subclasses, basal A and basal B, through in-depth proteomics analysis of breast cancer cells. We observed that kinases and proteases displayed unique expression patterns within the subclasses. Systematic analyses of protein-protein interaction and co-regulation networks of these kinases and proteases unraveled dysregulated pathways and plausible targets for each TNBC subclass. Among these, we identified kinases AXL, PEAK1, and TGFBR2 and proteases FAP, UCHL1, and MMP2/14 as specific targets for basal B subclass, which represents the more aggressive TNBC cell lines. Our study highlights intricate mechanisms and distinct targets within TNBC and emphasizes that these have to be exploited in a subclass-specific manner rather than a one-for-all TNBC therapy. Proteome profiling reveals functionally distinct subclasses within TNBC Kinases and proteases underlie unique functional signatures among the subclasses Kinase-protease-centric networks highlight subclass-specific molecular rewiring Protein association dysregulations reveal TNBC subclass-specific protein targets
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Kosok
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138673, Singapore; Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore
| | - Asfa Alli-Shaik
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Boon Huat Bay
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore
| | - Jayantha Gunaratne
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138673, Singapore; Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
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31
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Yan Z, Wang Q, Sun X, Ban B, Lu Z, Dang Y, Xie L, Zhang L, Li Y, Zhu W, Guo X. OSbrca: A Web Server for Breast Cancer Prognostic Biomarker Investigation With Massive Data From Tens of Cohorts. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1349. [PMID: 31921624 PMCID: PMC6932997 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Potential prognostic mRNA biomarkers are exploited to assist in the clinical management and treatment of breast cancer, which is the first life-threatening tumor in women worldwide. However, it is technically challenging for untrained researchers to process high dimensional profiling data to screen and validate the potential prognostic values of genes of interests in multiple cohorts. Our aim is to develop an easy-to-use web server to facilitate the screening, developing, and evaluating of prognostic biomarkers in breast cancers. Herein, we collected more than 7,400 cases of breast cancer with gene expression profiles and clinical follow-up information from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus data, and built an Online consensus Survival analysis web server for Breast Cancers, abbreviated OSbrca, to generate the Kaplan–Meier survival plot with a hazard ratio and log rank P-value for given genes in an interactive way. To examine the performance of OSbrca, the prognostic potency of 128 previously published biomarkers of breast cancer was reassessed in OSbrca. In conclusion, it is highly valuable for biologists and clinicians to perform the preliminary assessment and validation of novel or putative prognostic biomarkers for breast cancers. OSbrca could be accessed at http://bioinfo.henu.edu.cn/BRCA/BRCAList.jsp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyi Yan
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Sun
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Bingbing Ban
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Zhendong Lu
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yifang Dang
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Longxiang Xie
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yongqiang Li
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Wan Zhu
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Xiangqian Guo
- Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
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32
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Chen L, De Menna M, Groenewoud A, Thalmann GN, Kruithof-de Julio M, Snaar-Jagalska BE. A NF-ĸB-Activin A signaling axis enhances prostate cancer metastasis. Oncogene 2019; 39:1634-1651. [PMID: 31740783 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-1103-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is a main cause of death in prostate cancer (PCa). To dissect the molecular cues from cancer cell-microenvironment interaction that drive metastatic cascade, bone metastatic PCa cells were intravenously implanted into zebrafish embryos and mice tibia forming metastatic lesions. Transcriptomic analysis showed an elevated expression of stemness genes, pro-inflammatory cytokines and TGF-β family member Activin A in the cancer cells at metastatic onset in both animal models. Consistently, analysis of clinical datasets revealed that the expression of Activin A is specifically elevated in metastases and correlates with poor prognosis in stratified high-risk PCa patients. It is further unveiled that the microenvironment induced Activin A expression by NF-κB activation. The elevated level of Activin A enhanced the invasive ALDHhi CSC-like phenotypes and PCa proliferation by activation of Smad and ERK1/2 signaling driving metastasis. Suppression of Activin A or Activin receptor significantly reduced the CSC-like subpopulation, invasion, metastatic growth, and bone lesion formation in zebrafish and mice xenografts, suggesting a functional role of NF-κB-dependent Activin A in PCa metastasis. Overall, our study demonstrates that human PCa cells can display a comparable response with the microenvironment in zebrafish and mice xenografts. Combining both animal models, we uncovered the microenvironment-dependent activin signaling as an essential driver in PCa metastasis with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanpeng Chen
- Institute of Biology, University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marta De Menna
- Department of BioMedical Research, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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33
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Zessner-Spitzenberg J, Thomas AL, Krett NL, Jung B. TGFβ and activin A in the tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer. GENE REPORTS 2019; 17. [PMID: 32154442 DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2019.100501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Although overall survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing steadily due to progress in screening, therapeutic options and precise diagnostic tools remain scarce. As the understanding of CRC as a complex and multifactorial condition moves forward, the tumor microenvironment has come into focus as a source of diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets. The role of TGFβ in shifting the epithelial cancer compartment towards invasiveness and a pro-migratory phenotype via stromal signaling has been widely investigated. Accordingly, recent studies have proposed that CRC patients could be stratified into distinct subtypes and have identified one poor prognosis subset of CRC that is characterized by high stromal activity and elevated levels of TGFβ. The TGFβ superfamily member activin A is crucial for the pro-metastatic properties of the TGFβ pathway, yet it has been under-researched in CRC carcinogenesis. In this review, we will elucidate the signaling network and interdependency of both ligands in the context of the tumor microenvironment in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Zessner-Spitzenberg
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Alexandra L Thomas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Nancy L Krett
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Barbara Jung
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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34
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Rautela J, Dagley LF, de Oliveira CC, Schuster IS, Hediyeh-Zadeh S, Delconte RB, Cursons J, Hennessy R, Hutchinson DS, Harrison C, Kita B, Vivier E, Webb AI, Degli-Esposti MA, Davis MJ, Huntington ND, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes F. Therapeutic blockade of activin-A improves NK cell function and antitumor immunity. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/596/eaat7527. [PMID: 31455725 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aat7527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play a major role in immunosurveillance against tumor initiation and metastatic spread. The signals and checkpoints that regulate NK cell fitness and function in the tumor microenvironment are not well defined. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a suppressor of NK cells that inhibits interleukin-15 (IL-15)-dependent signaling events and increases the abundance of receptors that promote tissue residency. Here, we showed that NK cells express the type I activin receptor ALK4, which, upon binding to its ligand activin-A, phosphorylated SMAD2/3 to suppress IL-15-mediated NK cell metabolism. Activin-A impaired human and mouse NK cell proliferation and reduced the production of granzyme B to impair tumor killing. Similar to TGF-β, activin-A also induced SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and stimulated NK cells to increase their cell surface expression of several markers of ILC1 cells. Activin-A also induced these changes in TGF-β receptor-deficient NK cells, suggesting that activin-A and TGF-β stimulate independent pathways that drive SMAD2/3-mediated NK cell suppression. Last, inhibition of activin-A by follistatin substantially slowed orthotopic melanoma growth in mice. These data highlight the relevance of examining TGF-β-independent SMAD2/3 signaling mechanisms as a therapeutic axis to relieve NK cell suppression and promote antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jai Rautela
- Division of Molecular Immunology, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura F Dagley
- Systems Biology and Personalized Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Carolina C de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Células Inflamatórias e Neoplásicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, SCB, Centro Politecnico, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, CEP 81531-980, PR, Brazil
| | - Iona S Schuster
- Immunology and Virology Program, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Soroor Hediyeh-Zadeh
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Rebecca B Delconte
- Division of Molecular Immunology, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Joseph Cursons
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Robert Hennessy
- Division of Molecular Immunology, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Dana S Hutchinson
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Craig Harrison
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Badia Kita
- Paranta Biosciences Limited, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Eric Vivier
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université, Inserm, CNRS, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Andrew I Webb
- Systems Biology and Personalized Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Mariapia A Degli-Esposti
- Immunology and Virology Program, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa J Davis
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas D Huntington
- Division of Molecular Immunology, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes
- Division of Molecular Immunology, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. .,University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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35
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Han KH, Kim AK, Jeong GJ, Jeon HR, Bhang SH, Kim DI. Enhanced Anti-Cancer Effects of Conditioned Medium from Hypoxic Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int J Stem Cells 2019; 12:291-303. [PMID: 31023003 PMCID: PMC6657944 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc19002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives There have been contradictory reports on the pro-cancer or anti-cancer effects of mesenchymal stem cells. In this study, we investigated whether conditioned medium (CM) from hypoxic human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) (H-CM) showed enhanced anti-cancer effects compared with CM from normoxic hUC-MSCs (N-CM). Methods and Results Compared with N-CM, H-CM not only strongly reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells), but also increased caspase-3/7 activity, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and induced cell cycle arrest. In contrast, cell viability, apoptosis, MMP, and cell cycle of human dermal fibroblast (hDFs) were not significantly changed by either CM whereas caspase-3/7 activity was decreased by H-CM. Protein antibody array showed that activin A, Beta IG-H3, TIMP-2, RET, and IGFBP-3 were upregulated in H-CM compared with N-CM. Intracellular proteins that were upregulated by H-CM in HeLa cells were represented by apoptosis and cell cycle arrest terms of biological processes of Gene Ontology (GO), and by cell cycle of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. In hDFs, negative regulation of apoptosis in biological process of GO and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway of KEGG pathways were represented. Conclusions H-CM showed enhanced anti-cancer effects on HeLa cells but did not influence cell viability or apoptosis of hDFs and these different effects were supported by profiling of secretory proteins in both kinds of CM and intracellular signaling of HeLa cells and hDFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu-Hyun Han
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ae-Kyeong Kim
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gun-Jae Jeong
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Ran Jeon
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Suk Ho Bhang
- Sungkyunkwan University School of Chemical Engineering, Suwon, Korea
| | - Dong-Ik Kim
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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36
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Seachrist DD, Keri RA. The Activin Social Network: Activin, Inhibin, and Follistatin in Breast Development and Cancer. Endocrinology 2019; 160:1097-1110. [PMID: 30874767 PMCID: PMC6475112 DOI: 10.1210/en.2019-00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Activins and inhibins are closely related protein heterodimers with a similar tissue distribution; however, these two complexes have opposing functions in development and disease. Both are secreted cytokine hormones, with activin the primary inducer of downstream signaling cascades and inhibin acting as a rheostat that exquisitely governs activin function. Adding to the complexity of activin signaling, follistatin, a highly glycosylated monomeric protein, binds activin with high affinity and restrains downstream pathway activation but through a mechanism distinct from that of inhibin. These three proteins were first identified as key ovarian hormones in the pituitary-gonadal axis that direct the synthesis and secretion of FSH from the pituitary, hence controlling folliculogenesis. Research during the past 30 years has expanded the roles of these proteins, first by discovering the ubiquitous expression of the trio and then by implicating them in a wide array of biological functions. In concert, these three hormones govern tissue development, homeostasis, and disease in multiple organ systems through diverse autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. In the present study, we have reviewed the actions of activin and its biological inhibitors, inhibin, and follistatin, in mammary gland morphogenesis and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darcie D Seachrist
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Ruth A Keri
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Division of General Medical Sciences–Oncology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Correspondence: Ruth A. Keri, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. E-mail:
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Cui X, Shang S, Lv X, Zhao J, Qi Y, Liu Z. Perspectives of small molecule inhibitors of activin receptor‑like kinase in anti‑tumor treatment and stem cell differentiation (Review). Mol Med Rep 2019; 19:5053-5062. [PMID: 31059090 PMCID: PMC6522871 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Activin receptor‑like kinases (ALKs), members of the type I activin receptor family, belong to the serine/threonine kinase receptors of the transforming growth factor‑β (TGF‑β) superfamily. ALKs mediate the roles of activin/TGF‑β in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes, ranging from cell differentiation and proliferation to apoptosis. For example, the activities of ALKs are associated with an advanced tumor stage in prostate cancer and the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Therefore, potent and selective small molecule inhibitors of ALKs would not only aid in investigating the function of activin/TGF‑β, but also in developing treatments for these diseases via the disruption of activin/TGF‑β. In recent studies, several ALK inhibitors, including LY‑2157299, SB‑431542 and A‑83‑01, have been identified and have been confirmed to affect stem cell differentiation and tumor progression in animal models. This review discusses the therapeutic perspective of small molecule inhibitors of ALKs as drug targets in tumor and stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueling Cui
- Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Shumi Shang
- Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Xinran Lv
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Yan Qi
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Zhonghui Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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38
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Kalli M, Mpekris F, Wong CK, Panagi M, Ozturk S, Thiagalingam S, Stylianopoulos T, Papageorgis P. Activin A Signaling Regulates IL13Rα2 Expression to Promote Breast Cancer Metastasis. Front Oncol 2019; 9:32. [PMID: 30805303 PMCID: PMC6370707 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic dissemination of cancer cells to distal organs is the major cause of death for patients suffering from the aggressive basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) subtype. Recently, we have shown that interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 (IL13Rα2) is a critical gene that is overexpressed in a subset of BLBC primary tumors associated with poor distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and can promote extravasation and metastasis of breast cancer cells to the lungs. However, the upstream signaling mechanisms that promote aberrant IL13Rα2 expression during tumor progression remain unknown. Driven by our previously published gene expression microarray data derived from a well-characterized cell line model for BLBC progression, we show that both Inhibin βA (INHBA) and IL13Rα2 genes exhibit similarly higher expression levels in metastatic compared to non-metastatic cells and that overexpression of both genes predicts worse metastasis-free survival of patients with high grade tumors. Activin A, a member of the TGFβ superfamily comprising two INHBA subunits, has been shown to play context-depended roles in cancer progression. Here, we demonstrate that INHBA depletion downregulates IL13Rα2 expression in metastatic breast cancer cells, whereas treatment with Activin A in non-metastatic cells increases its expression levels. We also find that Activin A predominantly induces Smad2 phosphorylation and to a lesser extent activates Smad3 and Akt. Interestingly, we also show that Activin A-mediated upregulation of IL13Rα2 is Smad2-dependent since knocking down Smad2 or using the ALK4/ALK5 inhibitors EW-7197 and SB-505124 abolishes this effect. Most importantly, our data indicate that knocking down INHBA levels in breast cancer cells delays primary tumor growth, suppresses migration in vitro and inhibits the formation of lung metastases in vivo. Conclusively, our findings presented here suggest that the development of therapeutic interventions employing small molecule inhibitors against Activin receptors or neutralizing antibodies targeting Activin A ligand, could serve as alternative approaches against breast tumors overexpressing INHBA and/or IL13Rα2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kalli
- Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Fotios Mpekris
- Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Chen K Wong
- Genetics & Genomics and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Biomedical Genetics Section, Molecular Medicine Program and Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Myrofora Panagi
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Sait Ozturk
- Genetics & Genomics and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Biomedical Genetics Section, Molecular Medicine Program and Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sam Thiagalingam
- Genetics & Genomics and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Biomedical Genetics Section, Molecular Medicine Program and Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Harada M, Morikawa M, Ozawa T, Kobayashi M, Tamura Y, Takahashi K, Tanabe M, Tada K, Seto Y, Miyazono K, Koinuma D. Palbociclib enhances activin-SMAD-induced cytostasis in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Cancer Sci 2018; 110:209-220. [PMID: 30343527 PMCID: PMC6317929 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and CDK6 inhibitors are effective therapeutic options for hormone receptor (HR)‐positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐negative advanced breast cancer. Although CDK4/6 inhibitors mainly target the cyclin D‐CDK4/6‐retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (RB) axis, little is known about the clinical impact of inhibiting phosphorylation of other CDK4/6 target proteins. Here, we focused on other CDK4/6 targets, SMAD proteins. We showed that a CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib and activin‐SMAD2 signaling cooperatively inhibited cell cycle progression of a luminal‐type breast cancer cell line T47D. Palbociclib enhanced SMAD2 binding to the genome by inhibiting CDK4/6‐mediated linker phosphorylation of the SMAD2 protein. We also showed that cyclin G2 plays essential roles in SMAD2‐dependent cytostatic response. Moreover, comparison of the SMAD2 ChIP‐seq data of T47D cells with those of Hs578T (triple‐negative breast cancer cells) indicated that palbociclib augmented different SMAD2‐mediated functions based on cell type, and enhanced SMAD2 binding to the target regions on the genome without affecting its binding pattern. In summary, palbociclib enhances the cytostatic effects of the activin‐SMAD2 signaling pathway, whereas it possibly strengthens the tumor‐promoting aspect in aggressive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Harada
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Morikawa
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Ozawa
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mai Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Tamura
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Takahashi
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiko Tanabe
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiichiro Tada
- Department of Breast Surgery, Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Seto
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohei Miyazono
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daizo Koinuma
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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40
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Asnaghi L, White DT, Key N, Choi J, Mahale A, Alkatan H, Edward DP, Elkhamary SM, Al-Mesfer S, Maktabi A, Hurtado CG, Lee GY, Carcaboso AM, Mumm JS, Safieh LA, Eberhart CG. ACVR1C/SMAD2 signaling promotes invasion and growth in retinoblastoma. Oncogene 2018; 38:2056-2075. [PMID: 30401983 PMCID: PMC6430693 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0543-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer in children. While the primary tumor can often be treated by local or systemic chemotherapy, metastatic dissemination is generally resistant to therapy and remains a leading cause of pediatric cancer death in much of the world. In order to identify new therapeutic targets in aggressive tumors, we sequenced RNA transcripts in five snap frozen retinoblastomas which invaded the optic nerve and five which did not. A three-fold increase was noted in mRNA levels of ACVR1C/ALK7, a type I receptor of the TGF-β family, in invasive retinoblastomas, while downregulation of DACT2 and LEFTY2, negative modulators of the ACVR1C signaling, was observed in most invasive tumors. A two- to three-fold increase in ACVR1C mRNA was also found in invasive WERI Rb1 and Y79 cells as compared to non-invasive cells in vitro. Transcripts of ACVR1C receptor and its ligands (Nodal, Activin A/B, and GDF3) were expressed in six retinoblastoma lines, and evidence of downstream SMAD2 signaling was present in all these lines. Pharmacological inhibition of ACVR1C signaling using SB505124, or genetic downregulation of the receptor using shRNA potently suppressed invasion, growth, survival, and reduced the protein levels of the mesenchymal markers ZEB1 and Snail. The inhibitory effects on invasion, growth, and proliferation were recapitulated by knocking down SMAD2, but not SMAD3. Finally, in an orthotopic zebrafish model of retinoblastoma, a 55% decrease in tumor spread was noted (p=0.0026) when larvae were treated with 3 μM of SB505124, as compared to DMSO. Similarly, knockdown of ACVR1C in injected tumor cells using shRNA also resulted in a 54% reduction in tumor dissemination in the zebrafish eye as compared to scrambled shRNA control (p=0.0005). Our data support a role for the ACVR1C/SMAD2 pathway in promoting invasion and growth of retinoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Asnaghi
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David T White
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nolan Key
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua Choi
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alka Mahale
- King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hind Alkatan
- King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepak P Edward
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sahar M Elkhamary
- King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt
| | | | - Azza Maktabi
- King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Christopher G Hurtado
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Grace Y Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Jeff S Mumm
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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41
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Portale F, Cricrì G, Bresolin S, Lupi M, Gaspari S, Silvestri D, Russo B, Marino N, Ubezio P, Pagni F, Vergani P, Kronnie GT, Valsecchi MG, Locatelli F, Rizzari C, Biondi A, Dander E, D'Amico G. ActivinA: a new leukemia-promoting factor conferring migratory advantage to B-cell precursor-acute lymphoblastic leukemic cells. Haematologica 2018; 104:533-545. [PMID: 30262563 PMCID: PMC6395324 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.188664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell precursor-acute lymphoblastic leukemia modulates the bone marrow (BM) niche to become leukemia-supporting and chemo-protective by reprogramming the stromal microenvironment. New therapies targeting the interplay between leukemia and stroma can help improve disease outcome. We identified ActivinA, a TGF-β family member with a well-described role in promoting several solid malignancies, as a factor favoring leukemia that could represent a new potential target for therapy. ActivinA resulted over-expressed in the leukemic BM and its production was strongly induced in mesenchymal stromal cells after culture with leukemic cells. Moreover, MSCs isolated from BM of leukemic patients showed an intrinsic ability to secrete higher amounts of ActivinA compared to their normal counterparts. The pro-inflammatory leukemic BM microenvironment synergized with leukemic cells to induce stromal-derived ActivinA. Gene expression analysis of ActivinA-treated leukemic cells showed that this protein was able to significantly influence motility-associated pathways. Interestingly, ActivinA promoted random motility and CXCL12-driven migration of leukemic cells, even at suboptimal chemokine concentrations, characterizing the leukemic niche. Conversely, ActivinA severely impaired CXCL12-induced migration of healthy CD34+ cells. This opposite effect can be explained by the ability of ActivinA to increase intracellular calcium only in leukemic cells, boosting cytoskeleton dynamics through a higher rate of actin polymerization. Moreover, by stimulating the invasiveness of the leukemic cells, ActivinA was found to be a leukemia-promoting factor. Importantly, the ability of ActivinA to enhance BM engraftment and the metastatic potential of leukemic cells was confirmed in a xenograft mouse model of the disease. Overall, ActivinA was seen to be a key factor in conferring a migratory advantage to leukemic cells over healthy hematopoiesis within the leukemic niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Portale
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza
| | - Giulia Cricrì
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza
| | - Silvia Bresolin
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova
| | - Monica Lupi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano
| | - Stefania Gaspari
- Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù and Sapienza University of Rome.,Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Prevention, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza
| | - Daniela Silvestri
- Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Prevention, University of Milano-Bicocca.,School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza
| | - Barbara Russo
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza
| | - Noemi Marino
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza
| | - Paolo Ubezio
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano
| | - Fabio Pagni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca
| | - Patrizia Vergani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Maria Grazia Valsecchi
- Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Prevention, University of Milano-Bicocca
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù and Sapienza University of Rome
| | - Carmelo Rizzari
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza
| | - Andrea Biondi
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza.,School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza
| | - Erica Dander
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza
| | - Giovanna D'Amico
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza
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Chronic myeloid leukaemia cells require the bone morphogenic protein pathway for cell cycle progression and self-renewal. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:927. [PMID: 30206237 PMCID: PMC6134087 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0905-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Leukaemic stem cell (LSC) persistence remains a major obstacle to curing chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The bone morphogenic protein (BMP) pathway is deregulated in CML, with altered expression and response to the BMP ligands shown to impact on LSC expansion and behaviour. In this study, we determined whether alterations in the BMP pathway gene signature had any predictive value for therapeutic response by profiling 60 CML samples at diagnosis from the UK SPIRIT2 trial and correlating the data to treatment response using the 18-month follow-up data. There was significant deregulation of several genes involved in the BMP pathway with ACV1C, INHBA, SMAD7, SNAIL1 and SMURF2 showing differential expression in relation to response. Therapeutic targeting of CML cells using BMP receptor inhibitors, in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), indicate a synergistic mode of action. Furthermore, dual treatment resulted in altered cell cycle gene transcription and irreversible cell cycle arrest, along with increased apoptosis compared to single agents. Targeting CML CD34+ cells with BMP receptor inhibitors resulted in fewer cell divisions, reduced numbers of CD34+ cells and colony formation when compared to normal donor CD34+ cells, both in the presence and absence of BMP4. In an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model generated from CD34+ hematopoietic cells, we demonstrate altered cell cycle profiles and dynamics of ALK expression in CML-iPSCs in the presence and absence of BMP4 stimulation, when compared to normal iPSC. Moreover, dual targeting with TKI and BMP inhibitor prevented the self-renewal of CML-iPSC and increased meso-endodermal differentiation. These findings indicate that transformed stem cells may be more reliant on BMP signalling than normal stem cells. These changes offer a therapeutic window in CML, with intervention using BMP inhibitors in combination with TKI having the potential to target LSC self-renewal and improve long-term outcome for patients.
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43
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Lyu S, Jiang C, Xu R, Huang Y, Yan S. INHBA upregulation correlates with poorer prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Manag Res 2018; 10:1585-1596. [PMID: 29950896 PMCID: PMC6014728 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s160186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose INHBA, which encodes a member of the TGF-beta superfamily of proteins, has been identified to play a critical role in different types of cancer. However, its clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has never been reported. Patients and methods In this study, we collected 239 ESCC paraffin-embedded specimens and measured the expression of INHBA with immunohistochemistry (IHC). The clinical and prognostic significance of INHBA expression was statistically analyzed. What is more, we conducted a meta-analysis to study the prognostic value of INHBA expression in multiple types of solid tumors. Results The results showed that INHBA expression was observed predominantly in the cytoplasm of cells in the ESCC specimens. INHBA expression was closely correlated with N categories (P=0.026). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that ESCC patients in the low INHBA expression subgroup had significantly better prognosis than those with high INHBA level. Subgroup analysis revealed that INHBA distinguished the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) when patients were stratified by TNM stage status and N status. Multivariate analysis results suggested that INHBA expression was an independent factor that affected OS (HR =1.679, P=0.022) and DFS (HR =1.715, P=0.017). In the meta-analysis, six papers with 1321 patients were included and patients with high INHBA level had worse prognosis than patients with low INHBA level (HR 2.50, 95% CI 1.75–3.57, P<0.0001). Conclusion High INHBA level predicts poor prognosis in ESCC and other solid tumors. More studies are required to elucidate the role of INHBA and its clinical application in cancer settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Lyu
- Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Jiang
- Department of Cancer Center, People's Hospital of Baoan District, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhua Huang
- Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shumei Yan
- Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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44
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Zabkiewicz C, Resaul J, Hargest R, Jiang WG, Ye L. Increased Expression of Follistatin in Breast Cancer Reduces Invasiveness and Clinically Correlates with Better Survival. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2018. [PMID: 28647698 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Activin and its antagonist follistatin (FST) have been implicated in several solid tumours. This study investigated the role of FST in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS FST expression was examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry in a cohort of breast cancer samples. Expression was correlated to pathological and prognostic parameters in our patient cohort. FST was overexpressed in MCF-7 cells and assays for growth and invasion were performed. RESULTS FST is expressed in breast tissue, in the cytoplasm of mammary epithelial cells. Expression was decreased in breast cancer tissue in comparison to normal mammary tissue. Over-expression of FST in vitro led to significantly increased growth rate and reduced invasion. Higher FST associates with lower-grade tumours and better survival. CONCLUSION Our results suggest a role for FST as a suppressor of invasion and metastasis in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Zabkiewicz
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K
| | - Jeyna Resaul
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K
| | - Rachel Hargest
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K
| | - Wen Guo Jiang
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K.
| | - Lin Ye
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K.
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45
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Xiong S, Klausen C, Cheng JC, Leung PCK. Activin B promotes endometrial cancer cell migration by down-regulating E-cadherin via SMAD-independent MEK-ERK1/2-SNAIL signaling. Oncotarget 2018; 7:40060-40072. [PMID: 27223076 PMCID: PMC5129992 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
High-risk type II endometrial cancers account for ~30% of cases but ~75% of deaths due, in part, to their tendency to metastasize. Histopathological studies of type II endometrial cancers (non-endometrioid, mostly serous) suggest overproduction of activin B and down-regulation of E-cadherin, both of which are associated with reduced survival. Our previous studies have shown that activin B increases the migration of type II endometrial cancer cell lines. However, little is known about the relationship between activin B signaling and E-cadherin in endometrial cancer. We now demonstrate that activin B treatment significantly decreases E-cadherin expression in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner in KLE and HEC-50 cell lines. Interestingly, these effects were not inhibited by knockdown of SMAD2, SMAD3 or SMAD4. Rather, the suppressive effects of activin B on E-cadherin were mediated by MEK-ERK1/2-induced production of the transcription factor SNAIL. Importantly, activin B-induced cell migration was inhibited by forced-expression of E-cadherin or pre-treatment with the activin/TGF-β type I receptor inhibitor SB431542 or the MEK inhibitor U0126. We have identified a novel SMAD-independent pathway linking enhanced activin B signaling to reduced E-cadherin expression and increased migration in type II endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Xiong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Christian Klausen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Jung-Chien Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Peter C K Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
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Bond HM, Scicchitano S, Chiarella E, Amodio N, Lucchino V, Aloisio A, Montalcini Y, Mesuraca M, Morrone G. ZNF423: A New Player in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:255. [PMID: 29867779 PMCID: PMC5968090 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Preventive therapy can target hormone-responsive breast cancer (BC) by treatment with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and reduce the incidence of BC. Genome-wide association studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with relevant predictive values, SNPs in the ZNF423 gene were associated with decreased risk of BC during SERM therapy, and SNPs in the Cathepsin O gene with an increased risk. ZNF423, which was not previously associated with BC is a multifunctional transcription factor known to have a role in development, neurogenesis, and adipogenesis and is implicated in other types of cancer. ZNF423 is transcriptionally controlled by the homolog ZNF521, early B cell factor transcription factor, epigenetic silencing of the promoter by CpG island hyper-methylation, and also by ZNF423 itself in an auto-regulatory loop. In BC cells, ZNF423 expression is found to be induced by estrogen, dependent on the binding of the estrogen receptor and calmodulin-like 3 to SNPs in ZNP423 intronic sites in proximity to consensus estrogen response elements. ZNF423 has also been shown to play a mechanistic role by trans-activating the tumor suppressor BRCA1 and thus modulating the DNA damage response. Even though recent extensive trial studies did not classify these SNPs with the highest predictive values, for inclusion in polygenic SNP analysis, the mechanism unveiled in these studies has introduced ZNF423 as a factor important in the control of the estrogen response. Here, we aim at providing an overview of ZNF423 expression and functional role in human malignancies, with a specific focus on its implication in hormone-responsive BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M. Bond
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- *Correspondence: Heather M. Bond, ; Maria Mesuraca, ; Giovanni Morrone,
| | - Stefania Scicchitano
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Emanuela Chiarella
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Laboratory of Medical Oncology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valeria Lucchino
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Annamaria Aloisio
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ylenia Montalcini
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Mesuraca
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- *Correspondence: Heather M. Bond, ; Maria Mesuraca, ; Giovanni Morrone,
| | - Giovanni Morrone
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- *Correspondence: Heather M. Bond, ; Maria Mesuraca, ; Giovanni Morrone,
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Interaction with the GDF8/11 pathway reveals treatment options for adenocarcinoma of the breast. Breast 2017; 37:134-141. [PMID: 29156385 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast adenocarcinoma continues to be the most frequently diagnosed tumor entity. Despite established therapy options, mortality for breast cancer remains to be as high as 40,000 patients in the US annually. Thus, a need to develop a patient-oriented, targeted therapy exists. In this study, we investigated the interaction of breast adenocarcinoma with the ubiquitously present protein Follistatin and subsequently the GDF8/11 pathway. We analyzed primary histological samples from adenocarcinoma patients for expression of Follistatin and GDF8/11. Furthermore, expression levels of Follistatin and GDF8/11 in MCF7 were compared with MCF10a cells. From the resulting data, GDF8 and Follistatin were used as chemotherapeutic agents in MCF7 cells and their migratory, proliferative behavior and viability were measured. From the experiments, we were able to detect a significantly increased expression of Follistatin and GDF8/11 in the low malignant breast adenocarcinoma (G1) as compared to benign breast fibroadenoma. Interestingly, a decrease was demonstrated in higher grade malignancies. These findings were accompanied by the clinical observation that increased expression of Follistatin and GDF8 is associated with a higher overall survival rate of breasts cancer patients. Substitution of GDF8 and Follistatin reduces the viability of the MCF7 cells and disrupts the migrative and proliferative potential. In summary, MCF7 cells show high chemosensitivity to Follistatin and especially GDF8 and both proteins might serve as targets to improve systemic treatment in breast cancer. In contrast to most established chemotherapy regimens Follistatin and GDF8 show no cytotoxicity to other organs.
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Genome-wide screen for differentially methylated long noncoding RNAs identifies Esrp2 and lncRNA Esrp2-as regulated by enhancer DNA methylation with prognostic relevance for human breast cancer. Oncogene 2017; 36:6446-6461. [PMID: 28759043 PMCID: PMC5701091 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The majority of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is still poorly characterized with respect to function, interactions with protein-coding genes, and mechanisms that regulate their expression. As for protein-coding RNAs, epigenetic deregulation of lncRNA expression by alterations in DNA methylation might contribute to carcinogenesis. To provide genome-wide information on lncRNAs aberrantly methylated in breast cancer we profiled tumors of the C3(1) SV40TAg mouse model by MCIp-seq (Methylated CpG Immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing). This approach detected 69 lncRNAs differentially methylated between tumor tissue and normal mammary glands, with 26 located in antisense orientation of a protein-coding gene. One of the hypomethylated lncRNAs, 1810019D21Rik (now called Esrp2-antisense (as)) was identified in proximity to the epithelial splicing regulatory protein 2 (Esrp2) that is significantly elevated in C3(1) tumors. ESRPs were shown previously to have a dual role in carcinogenesis. Both gain and loss have been associated with poor prognosis in human cancers, but the mechanisms regulating expression are not known. In-depth analyses indicate that coordinate overexpression of Esrp2 and Esrp2-as inversely correlates with DNA methylation. Luciferase reporter gene assays support co-expression of Esrp2 and the major short Esrp2-as variant from a bidirectional promoter, and transcriptional regulation by methylation of a proximal enhancer. Ultimately, this enhancer-based regulatory mechanism provides a novel explanation for tissue-specific expression differences and upregulation of Esrp2 during carcinogenesis. Knockdown of Esrp2-as reduced Esrp2 protein levels without affecting mRNA expression and resulted in an altered transcriptional profile associated with extracellular matrix (ECM), cell motility and reduced proliferation, whereas overexpression enhanced proliferation. Our findings not only hold true for the murine tumor model, but led to the identification of an unannotated human homolog of Esrp2-as which is significantly upregulated in human breast cancer and associated with poor prognosis.
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Activin A stimulates migration of the fallopian tube epithelium, an origin of high-grade serous ovarian cancer, through non-canonical signaling. Cancer Lett 2017; 391:114-124. [PMID: 28115208 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Factors that stimulate the migration of fallopian tube epithelial (FTE)-derived high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) to the ovary are poorly elucidated. This study characterized the effect of the ovarian hormone, activin A, on normal FTE and HGSOC. Activin A and TGFβ1 induced an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in murine oviductal epithelial (MOE) cells, but only activin A increased migration. The migratory effect of activin A was independent of Smad2/3 and required phospho-AKT, phospho-ERK, and Rac1. Exogenous activin A stimulated migration of the HGSOC cell line OVCAR3 through a similar mechanism. Activin A signaling inhibitors, SB431542 and follistatin, reduced migration in OVCAR4 cells, which expressed activin A subunits (encoded by INHBA). Murine superovulation increased phospho-Smad2/3 immunostaining in the FTE. In Oncomine, transcripts for the activin A receptors (ACVR1B and ACVR2A) were higher in serous tumors relative to the normal ovary, while inhibitors of activin A signaling (INHA and TGFB3) were lower. High expression of both INHBA and ACVR2A, but not TGFβ receptors or co-receptors, was associated with shorter disease-free survival in serous cancer patients. These results suggest activin A stimulates migration of FTE-derived tumors to the ovary.
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50
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Loomans HA, Arnold SA, Quast LL, Andl CD. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma invasion is inhibited by Activin A in ACVRIB-positive cells. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:873. [PMID: 27829391 PMCID: PMC5101642 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2920-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a global public health issue, as it is the eighth most common cancer worldwide. The mechanisms behind ESCC invasion and progression are still poorly understood, and warrant further investigation into these processes and their drivers. In recent years, the ligand Activin A has been implicated as a player in the progression of a number of cancers. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of Activin A signaling in ESCC. Methods To investigate the role Activin A plays in ESCC biology, tissue microarrays containing 200 cores from 120 ESCC patients were analyzed upon immunofluorescence staining. We utilized three-dimensional organotypic reconstruct cultures of dysplastic and esophageal squamous tumor cells lines, in the context of fibroblast-secreted Activin A, to identify the effects of Activin A on cell invasion and determine protein expression and localization in epithelial and stromal compartments by immunofluorescence. To identify the functional consequences of stromal-derived Activin A on angiogenesis, we performed endothelial tube formation assays. Results Analysis of ESCC patient samples indicated that patients with high stromal Activin A expression had low epithelial ACVRIB, the Activin type I receptor. We found that overexpression of stromal-derived Activin A inhibited invasion of esophageal dysplastic squamous cells, ECdnT, and TE-2 ESCC cells, both positive for ACVRIB. This inhibition was accompanied by a decrease in expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein fibronectin and podoplanin, which is often expressed at the leading edge during invasion. Endothelial tube formation was disrupted in the presence of conditioned media from fibroblasts overexpressing Activin A. Interestingly, ACVRIB-negative TE-11 cells did not show the prior observed effects in the context of Activin A overexpression, indicating a dependence on the presence of ACVRIB. Conclusions We describe the first observation of an inhibitory role for Activin A in ESCC progression that is dependent on the expression of ACVRIB. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2920-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holli A Loomans
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shanna A Arnold
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Laura L Quast
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Claudia D Andl
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Drive, Building 20, BMS 223, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA.
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