1
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Githaka JM, Pirayeshfard L, Goping IS. Cancer invasion and metastasis: Insights from murine pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130375. [PMID: 37150225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130375] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer invasion and metastasis accounts for the majority of cancer related mortality. A better understanding of the players that drive the aberrant invasion and migration of tumors cells will provide critical targets to inhibit metastasis. Postnatal pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis is characterized by highly proliferative, invasive, and migratory normal epithelial cells. Identifying the molecular regulators of pubertal gland development is a promising strategy since tumorigenesis and metastasis is postulated to be a consequence of aberrant reactivation of developmental stages. In this review, we summarize the pubertal morphogenesis regulators that are involved in cancer metastasis and revisit pubertal mammary gland transcriptome profiling to uncover both known and unknown metastasis genes. Our updated list of pubertal morphogenesis regulators shows that most are implicated in invasion and metastasis. This review highlights molecular linkages between development and metastasis and provides a guide for exploring novel metastatic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Maringa Githaka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
| | - Leila Pirayeshfard
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Ing Swie Goping
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
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Freeman DW, Rodrigues Sousa E, Karkampouna S, Zoni E, Gray PC, Salomon DS, Kruithof-de Julio M, Spike BT. Whence CRIPTO: The Reemergence of an Oncofetal Factor in 'Wounds' That Fail to Heal. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10164. [PMID: 34576327 PMCID: PMC8472190 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There exists a set of factors termed oncofetal proteins that play key roles in ontogeny before they decline or disappear as the organism's tissues achieve homeostasis, only to then re-emerge in cancer. Although the unique therapeutic potential presented by such factors has been recognized for more than a century, their clinical utility has yet to be fully realized1. This review highlights the small signaling protein CRIPTO encoded by the tumor derived growth factor 1 (TDGF1/Tdgf1) gene, an oft cited oncofetal protein whose presence in the cancer literature as a tumor promoter, diagnostic marker and viable therapeutic target continues to grow. We touch lightly on features well established and well-reviewed since its discovery more than 30 years ago, including CRIPTO's early developmental roles and modulation of SMAD2/3 activation by a selected set of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family ligands. We predominantly focus instead on more recent and less well understood additions to the CRIPTO signaling repertoire, on its potential upstream regulators and on new conceptual ground for understanding its mode of action in the multicellular and often stressful contexts of neoplastic transformation and progression. We ask whence it re-emerges in cancer and where it 'hides' between the time of its fetal activity and its oncogenic reemergence. In this regard, we examine CRIPTO's restriction to rare cells in the adult, its potential for paracrine crosstalk, and its emerging role in inflammation and tissue regeneration-roles it may reprise in tumorigenesis, acting on subsets of tumor cells to foster cancer initiation and progression. We also consider critical gaps in knowledge and resources that stand between the recent, exciting momentum in the CRIPTO field and highly actionable CRIPTO manipulation for cancer therapy and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Freeman
- Department of Oncological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA;
| | - Elisa Rodrigues Sousa
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (E.R.S.); (S.K.); (E.Z.)
| | - Sofia Karkampouna
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (E.R.S.); (S.K.); (E.Z.)
| | - Eugenio Zoni
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (E.R.S.); (S.K.); (E.Z.)
| | - Peter C. Gray
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - David S. Salomon
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 20893, USA;
| | - Marianna Kruithof-de Julio
- Urology Research Laboratory, Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (E.R.S.); (S.K.); (E.Z.)
- Translational Organoid Models, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Bern Center for Precision Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Urology, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin T. Spike
- Department of Oncological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA;
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Arnouk H, Yum G, Shah D. Cripto-1 as a Key Factor in Tumor Progression, Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179280. [PMID: 34502188 PMCID: PMC8430685 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cripto-1 is an essential protein for human development that plays a key role in the early phase of gastrulation in the differentiation of an embryo as well as assists with wound healing processes. Importantly, Cripto-1 induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition to turn fixed epithelial cells into a more mobile mesenchymal phenotype through the downregulation of epithelial adhesion molecules such as E-cadherin, occludins, and claudins, and the upregulation of mesenchymal, mobile proteins, such as N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug. Consequently, Cripto-1’s role in inducing EMT to promote cell motility is beneficial in embryogenesis, but detrimental in the formation, progression and metastasis of malignant tumors. Indeed, Cripto-1 is found to be upregulated in most cancers, such as breast, lung, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, cervical, ovarian, prostate, and skin cancers. Through its role in EMT, Cripto-1 can remodel cancer cells to enable them to travel through the extracellular matrix as well as blood and lymphatic vessels to metastasize to different organs. Additionally, Cripto-1 promotes the survival of cancer stem cells, which can lead to relapse in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilal Arnouk
- Department of Pathology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
- Chicago College of Optometry, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA;
- Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA;
- College of Dental Medicine-Illinois, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Gloria Yum
- Chicago College of Optometry, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA;
| | - Dean Shah
- Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA;
- Master of Public Health Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
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Balcioglu O, Heinz RE, Freeman DW, Gates BL, Hagos BM, Booker E, Mirzaei Mehrabad E, Diesen HT, Bhakta K, Ranganathan S, Kachi M, Leblanc M, Gray PC, Spike BT. CRIPTO antagonist ALK4 L75A-Fc inhibits breast cancer cell plasticity and adaptation to stress. Breast Cancer Res 2020; 22:125. [PMID: 33187540 PMCID: PMC7664111 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-020-01361-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CRIPTO is a multi-functional signaling protein that promotes stemness and oncogenesis. We previously developed a CRIPTO antagonist, ALK4L75A-Fc, and showed that it causes loss of the stem cell phenotype in normal mammary epithelia suggesting it may similarly inhibit CRIPTO-dependent plasticity in breast cancer cells. METHODS We focused on two triple negative breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468) to measure the effects of ALK4L75A-Fc on cancer cell behavior under nutrient deprivation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. We characterized the proliferation and migration of these cells in vitro using time-lapse microscopy and characterized stress-dependent changes in the levels and distribution of CRIPTO signaling mediators and cancer stem cell markers. We also assessed the effects of ALK4L75A-Fc on proliferation, EMT, and stem cell markers in vivo as well as on tumor growth and metastasis using inducible lentiviral delivery or systemic administration of purified ALK4L75A-Fc, which represents a candidate therapeutic approach. RESULTS ALK4L75A-Fc inhibited adaptive responses of breast cancer cells under conditions of nutrient and ER stress and reduced their proliferation, migration, clonogenicity, and expression of EMT and cancer stem cell markers. ALK4L75A-Fc also inhibited proliferation of human breast cancer cells in stressed tumor microenvironments in xenografts and reduced both primary tumor size and metastatic burden. CONCLUSIONS Cancer cell adaptation to stresses such as nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, and chemotherapy can critically contribute to dormancy, metastasis, therapy resistance, and recurrence. Identifying mechanisms that govern cellular adaptation, plasticity, and the emergence of stem-like cancer cells may be key to effective anticancer therapies. Results presented here indicate that targeting CRIPTO with ALK4L75A-Fc may have potential as such a therapy since it inhibits breast cancer cell adaptation to microenvironmental challenges and associated stem-like and EMT phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozlen Balcioglu
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Richard E Heinz
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - David W Freeman
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Brooke L Gates
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Berhane M Hagos
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Evan Booker
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | | | - Hyrum T Diesen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Kishan Bhakta
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Supraja Ranganathan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Masami Kachi
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Mathias Leblanc
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Peter C Gray
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Present Address: Biotheranostics Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Benjamin T Spike
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
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Sandomenico A, Ruvo M. Targeting Nodal and Cripto-1: Perspectives Inside Dual Potential Theranostic Cancer Biomarkers. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:1994-2050. [PMID: 30207211 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180912104707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elucidating the mechanisms of recurrence of embryonic signaling pathways in tumorigenesis has led to the discovery of onco-fetal players which have physiological roles during normal development but result aberrantly re-activated in tumors. In this context, Nodal and Cripto-1 are recognized as onco-developmental factors, which are absent in normal tissues but are overexpressed in several solid tumors where they can serve as theranostic agents. OBJECTIVE To collect, review and discuss the most relevant papers related to the involvement of Nodal and Cripto-1 in the development, progression, recurrence and metastasis of several tumors where they are over-expressed, with a particular attention to their occurrence on the surface of the corresponding sub-populations of cancer stem cells (CSC). RESULTS We have gathered, rationalized and discussed the most interesting findings extracted from some 370 papers related to the involvement of Cripto-1 and Nodal in all tumor types where they have been detected. Data demonstrate the clear connection between Nodal and Cripto-1 presence and their multiple oncogenic activities across different tumors. We have also reviewed and highlighted the potential of targeting Nodal, Cripto-1 and the complexes that they form on the surface of tumor cells, especially of CSC, as an innovative approach to detect and suppress tumors with molecules that block one or more mechanisms that they regulate. CONCLUSION Overall, Nodal and Cripto-1 represent two innovative and effective biomarkers for developing potential theranostic anti-tumor agents that target normal as well as CSC subpopulations and overcome both pharmacological resistance and tumor relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Sandomenico
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IBB-CNR), via Mezzocannone, 16, 80134, Napoli, Italy
| | - Menotti Ruvo
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IBB-CNR), via Mezzocannone, 16, 80134, Napoli, Italy
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Liu Y, Wang J, Yang T, Liu R, Xu Y. Overexpression levels of cripto-1 predict poor prognosis in patients with prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:2584-2591. [PMID: 31452743 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of cripto-1 (CR-1), an epidermal growth factor-cripto-1/FRL-1/Cryptic family protein, has been reported in multiple types of malignancy. However, the clinical functions of CR-1 in prostate cancer (PCa) remain largely unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between CR-1 expression and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of PCa. CR-1 expression was evaluated in 138 PCa tissues and 67 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) tissues using immunohistochemistry. The association between the clinicopathological features of patients with PCa and CR-1 expression was analyzed using a χ2 test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Cox regression model were used to analyze the association between CR-1 expression and biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival. It was revealed that the protein expression of CR-1 was markedly higher in PCa tissues than in BPH tissues. The mRNA expression of CR-1 in PCa tissue and cells was also significantly higher than in BPH tissue and the normal RWPE-1 prostate cell line (P<0.05). In addition, high CR-1 expression was significantly associated with prostate-specific antigen level (P=0.008), Gleason score (P=0.011) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.025) in patients with PCa. ROC curve indicated that patients with elevated expression of CR-1 exhibited shorter BCR-free survival (P<0.001). Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated that overexpression of CR-1 may be a novel predictor for prognosis of patients with PCa. Accordingly, the present study considered CR-1 to be a valuable predictor of poor prognosis and progression in PCa, and a potential therapeutic target for patients with PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Jianan Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Tong Yang
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Ranlu Liu
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China.,Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Yong Xu
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China.,Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
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In vivo and in vitro study of co-expression of LMP1 and Cripto-1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2019; 86:617-625. [PMID: 31375471 PMCID: PMC9422379 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, an epithelial-derived malignant tumor which because of its anatomical location and atypical early symptoms, when diagnosed invasion and metastasis often have occurred. This requires a better understanding of the development mechanism, identifying diagnostic markers, and developing new treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE To study the relationship of LMP1 and Cripto-1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS The expression of LMP1 and Cripto-1 in specimens obtained from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (n=42) and nasopharyngitis patients (n=22) were examined. The expression of LMP1 and Cripto-1 in LMP1-negative and LMP1-positive (CNE1-LMP1) cells were also examined. RESULTS The expression of LMP1 and Cripto-1 was significantly higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma than in nasopharyngitis (p<0.05). Their expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with metastasis were significantly higher than that without metastasis (p<0.05), which was correlated with TNM staging (p<0.05). High Cripto-1 expression and high proliferation rate were seen in CNE1-LMP1 cells. CONCLUSIONS The expression of LMP1 and Cripto-1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma is positively related. Their co-expression might contribute to the proliferation and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
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Liu Y, Qin Z, Yang K, Liu R, Xu Y. Cripto-1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer via Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Oncol Rep 2017; 37:1521-1528. [PMID: 28098905 DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cripto-1 (CR-1) derived EGF-CFC family was overexpressed in tumor development enhancing proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration of tumor cells. However, correlation between CR-1 and prostate cancer (PCa) remains still unclear. In the present study, we proved that CR-1 was expressed in PCa and its function was in the progression of PCa. Compared with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues, we confirmed that PCa tissues had high expression of CR-1 by immunohistochemistry and statistical data showed that CR-1 promoted properties of EMT in PCa tissues, including the downregulation of the cell adhesion molecules β-catenin (membrane) and E-cadherin while upregulating transcription factors β-catenin. Overexpression of CR-1 had close relationship with PSA, Gleason, clinical staging and lymph node metastasis in PCa patients. Then, we found that PC-3 cells transfected with CR-1-shRNA inhibited EMT using RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Also, we evaluated cell invasive ability in vitro by transwell and wound-healing assay. Our data showed that transfected CR-1-shRNA altered EMT including β-catenin, E-cadherin, c-myc, GSK-3, p-GSK and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in PC-3. It also suppressed PC-3 cell migration. Additionally, our results displayed that Licl had antitumor activity against PC-3 through the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Inhibition of cell viability was dose-time dependent. The present study proved that CR-1 regulates EMT of PCa by Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Hence, CR-1 may provide a new biological marker, and possibly contributes to clinical treatment against PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Prostate Disease Laboratory, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Zhenbang Qin
- Prostate Disease Laboratory, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Kuo Yang
- Prostate Disease Laboratory, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Ranlu Liu
- Prostate Disease Laboratory, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Yong Xu
- Prostate Disease Laboratory, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
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Klauzinska M, McCurdy D, Rangel MC, Vaidyanath A, Castro NP, Shen MM, Gonzales M, Bertolette D, Bianco C, Callahan R, Salomon DS, Raafat A. Cripto-1 ablation disrupts alveolar development in the mouse mammary gland through a progesterone receptor-mediated pathway. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2015; 185:2907-22. [PMID: 26429739 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cripto-1, a member of the epidermal growth factor-Cripto-1/FRL-1/Cryptic family, is critical for early embryonic development. Together with its ligand Nodal, Cripto-1 has been found to be associated with the undifferentiated status of mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Several studies have clearly shown that Cripto-1 is involved in regulating branching morphogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the mammary gland both in vitro and in vivo and together with the cofactor GRP78 is critical for the maintenance of mammary stem cells ex vivo. Our previous studies showed that mammary-specific overexpression of human Cripto-1 exhibited dramatic morphological alterations in nulliparous mice mammary glands. The present study shows a novel mechanism for Cripto-1 regulation of mammary gland development through direct effects on progesterone receptor expression and pathways regulated by progesterone in the mammary gland. We demonstrate a strict temporal regulation of mouse Cripto-1 (mCripto-1) expression that occurs during mammary gland development and a stage-specific function of mCripto-1 signaling during mammary gland development. Our data suggest that Cripto-1, like the progesterone receptor, is not required for the initial ductal growth but is essential for subsequent side branching and alveologenesis during the initial stages of pregnancy. Dissection of the mechanism by which this occurs indicates that mCripto-1 activates receptor activator NF-κB/receptor activator NF-κB ligand, and NF-κB signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Klauzinska
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - David McCurdy
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Maria Cristina Rangel
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Arun Vaidyanath
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nadia P Castro
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Michael M Shen
- Departments of Medicine Genetics and Development, Urology, and Systems Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Monica Gonzales
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Daniel Bertolette
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Caterina Bianco
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Robert Callahan
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - David S Salomon
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Ahmed Raafat
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Klauzinska M, Bertolette D, Tippireddy S, Strizzi L, Gray PC, Gonzales M, Duroux M, Ruvo M, Wechselberger C, Castro NP, Rangel MC, Focà A, Sandomenico A, Hendrix MJC, Salomon D, Cuttitta F. Cripto-1: an extracellular protein - connecting the sequestered biological dots. Connect Tissue Res 2015; 56:364-80. [PMID: 26327334 DOI: 10.3109/03008207.2015.1077239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cripto-1 (CR-1) is a multifunctional embryonic protein that is re-expressed during inflammation, wound repair, and malignant transformation. CR-1 can function either as a tethered co-receptor or shed as a free ligand underpinning its flexible role in cell physiology. CR-1 has been shown to mediate cell growth, migration, invasion, and induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). The main signaling pathways mediating CR-1 effects include Nodal-dependent (Smad2/3) and Nodal-independent (Src/p44/42/Akt) signaling transduction pathways. In addition, there are several naturally occurring binding partner proteins (BPPs) for CR-1 that can either agonize or antagonize its bioactivity. We will review the collective role of CR-1 as an extracellular protein, discuss caveats to consider in developing a quantitation assay, define possible mechanistic avenues applicable for drug discovery, and report on our experimental approaches to overcome these problematic issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Klauzinska
- a Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Daniel Bertolette
- a Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Sudhamsh Tippireddy
- a Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Luigi Strizzi
- b Department of Pathology , Program in Cancer Biology and Epigenomics, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Peter C Gray
- c Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, Salk Institute for Biological Studies , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Monica Gonzales
- d Office of Research Operations, Office of the Director, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Meg Duroux
- e Laboratory of Cancer Biology , Biomedicine Group, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University , Aalborg East , Denmark
| | - Menotti Ruvo
- f CIRPeB, University of Naples Federico II , Napoli , Italy .,g Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini del CRN , Napoli , Italy
| | | | - Nadia P Castro
- a Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Maria Cristina Rangel
- a Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Annalia Focà
- g Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini del CRN , Napoli , Italy .,i Dipartimento di Farmacia, University of Naples Federico II , Napoli , Italy , and
| | | | - Mary J C Hendrix
- j Program in Cancer Biology and Epigenomics, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - David Salomon
- a Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Frank Cuttitta
- a Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute , Frederick , MD , USA
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Pilli VS, Gupta K, Kotha BP, Aradhyam GK. Snail-mediated Cripto-1 repression regulates the cell cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related gene expression. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:1249-56. [PMID: 25889638 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factor Snail mediates epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMT) by coordinate repression of epithelial markers, facilitating mass cell movement during germ layer formation. Aberrant reprogramming in its signaling pathways causes metastatic cancer. Snail's involvement in "fate-changing" decisions is however not understood. Cripto-1 shares a common temporal expression pattern with Snail during development. While Cripto-1 is required for mammary morphogenesis and hematopoietic stem cell renewal, its unregulated expression causes metastatic cancers. Therefore, we suspected that Snail regulates the expression of Cripto-1 controlling decisions such as motility, transformation and differentiation. We demonstrate that Snail represses Cripto-1 gene by direct transcriptional interaction and propose a novel mechanism by which it co-ordinately regulates cell fate decisions during development and could be causal of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijaya S Pilli
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - K Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Bhanu P Kotha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Gopala Krishna Aradhyam
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India.
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12
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Dynamic regulation of the cancer stem cell compartment by Cripto-1 in colorectal cancer. Cell Death Differ 2015; 22:1700-13. [PMID: 26343543 PMCID: PMC4563784 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2015.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stemness was recently depicted as a dynamic condition in normal and tumor cells. We found that the embryonic protein Cripto-1 (CR1) was expressed by normal stem cells at the bottom of colonic crypts and by cancer stem cells (CSCs) in colorectal tumor tissues. CR1-positive populations isolated from patient-derived tumor spheroids exhibited increased clonogenic capacity and expression of stem-cell-related genes. CR1 expression in tumor spheroids was variable over time, being subject to a complex regulation of the intracellular, surface and secreted protein, which was related to changes of the clonogenic capacity at the population level. CR1 silencing induced CSC growth arrest in vitro with a concomitant decrease of Src/Akt signaling, while in vivo it inhibited the growth of CSC-derived tumor xenografts and reduced CSC numbers. Importantly, CR1 silencing in established xenografts through an inducible expression system decreased CSC growth in both primary and metastatic tumors, indicating an essential role of CR1 in the regulation the CSC compartment. These results point to CR1 as a novel and dynamically regulated effector of stem cell functions in colorectal cancer.
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13
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Ruggiero D, Nappo S, Nutile T, Sorice R, Talotta F, Giorgio E, Bellenguez C, Leutenegger AL, Liguori GL, Ciullo M. Genetic variants modulating CRIPTO serum levels identified by genome-wide association study in Cilento isolates. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1004976. [PMID: 25629528 PMCID: PMC4309561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cripto, the founding member of the EGF-CFC genes, plays an essential role in embryo development and is involved in cancer progression. Cripto is a GPI-anchored protein that can interact with various components of multiple signaling pathways, such as TGF-β, Wnt and MAPK, driving different processes, among them epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell proliferation, and stem cell renewal. Cripto protein can also be cleaved and released outside the cell in a soluble and still active form. Cripto is not significantly expressed in adult somatic tissues and its re-expression has been observed associated to pathological conditions, mainly cancer. Accordingly, CRIPTO has been detected at very low levels in the plasma of healthy volunteers, whereas its levels are significantly higher in patients with breast, colon or glioblastoma tumors. These data suggest that CRIPTO levels in human plasma or serum may have clinical significance. However, very little is known about the variability of serum levels of CRIPTO at a population level and the genetic contribution underlying this variability remains unknown. Here, we report the first genome-wide association study of CRIPTO serum levels in isolated populations (n = 1,054) from Cilento area in South Italy. The most associated SNPs (p-value<5*10-8) were all located on chromosome 3p22.1-3p21.3, in the CRIPTO gene region. Overall six CRIPTO associated loci were replicated in an independent sample (n = 535). Pathway analysis identified a main network including two other genes, besides CRIPTO, in the associated regions, involved in cell movement and proliferation. The replicated loci explain more than 87% of the CRIPTO variance, with 85% explained by the most associated SNP. Moreover, the functional analysis of the main associated locus identified a causal variant in the 5’UTR of CRIPTO gene which is able to strongly modulate CRIPTO expression through an AP-1-mediate transcriptional regulation. Cripto gene has a fundamental role in embryo development and is also involved in cancer. The protein is bound to the cell membrane through an anchor, that can be cleaved, causing the secretion of the protein, in a still active form. In the adult, CRIPTO is detected at very low levels in normal tissues and in the blood, while its increase in both tissues and blood is associated to pathological conditions, mainly cancer. As other GPI linked proteins such as the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), one of the most used tumor markers, CRIPTO is able to reach the bloodstream. Therefore, CRIPTO represents a new promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target, and blood CRIPTO levels might be associated to clinical features. Here we examined the variability of blood CRIPTO levels at a population level (population isolates from the Cilento region in South Italy) and we investigated the genetic architecture underlying this variability. We reported the association of common genetic variants with the levels of CRIPTO protein in the blood and we identified a main locus on chromosome 3 and additional five associated loci. Moreover, through functional analyses, we were able to uncover the mechanism responsible for the variation in CRIPTO levels, which is a regulation mediated by the transcriptional factor AP-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ruggiero
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Nappo
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Nutile
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Rossella Sorice
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Talotta
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Emilia Giorgio
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Celine Bellenguez
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
- Inserm, U744, Lille, France
- Université Lille-Nord de France, Lille, France
| | - Anne-Louise Leutenegger
- Inserm, U946, Paris, France
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, IUH, UMR-S 946, Paris, France
| | - Giovanna L. Liguori
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Marina Ciullo
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
- * E-mail:
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14
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Cripto-1 expression and its prognostic value in human bladder cancer patients. Tumour Biol 2014; 36:1105-13. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2695-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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15
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Zhao Y, Tan YS, Aupperlee MD, Langohr IM, Kirk EL, Troester MA, Schwartz RC, Haslam SZ. Pubertal high fat diet: effects on mammary cancer development. Breast Cancer Res 2014; 15:R100. [PMID: 24156623 PMCID: PMC3978633 DOI: 10.1186/bcr3561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epidemiological studies linking dietary fat intake and obesity to breast cancer risk have produced inconsistent results. This may be due to the difficulty of dissociating fat intake from obesity, and/or the lack of defined periods of exposure in these studies. The pubertal mammary gland is highly sensitive to cancer-causing agents. We assessed how high fat diet (HFD) affects inflammation, proliferative, and developmental events in the pubertal gland, since dysregulation of these can promote mammary tumorigenesis. To test the effect of HFD initiated during puberty on tumorigenesis, we utilized BALB/c mice, for which HFD neither induces obesity nor metabolic syndrome, allowing dissociation of HFD effects from other conditions associated with HFD. METHODS Pubertal BALB/c mice were fed a low fat diet (12% kcal fat) or a HFD (60% kcal fat), and subjected to carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced tumorigenesis. RESULTS HFD elevated mammary gland expression of inflammatory and growth factor genes at 3 and 4 weeks of diet. Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), robustly induced at 4 weeks, has direct mitogenic activity in mammary epithelial cells and, as a potent inducer of NF-κB activity, may induce inflammatory genes. Three weeks of HFD induced a transient influx of eosinophils into the mammary gland, consistent with elevated inflammatory factors. At 10 weeks, prior to the appearance of palpable tumors, there were increased numbers of abnormal mammary epithelial lesions, enhanced cellular proliferation, increased growth factors, chemokines associated with immune-suppressive regulatory T cells, increased vascularization, and elevated M2 macrophages. HFD dramatically reduced tumor latency. Early developing tumors were more proliferative and were associated with increased levels of tumor-related growth factors, including increased plasma levels of HGF in tumor-bearing animals. Early HFD tumors also had increased vascularization, and more intra-tumor and stromal M2 macrophages. CONCLUSIONS Taken together in this non-obesogenic context, HFD promotion of inflammatory processes, as well as local and systemically increased growth factor expression, are likely responsible for the enhanced tumorigenesis. It is noteworthy that although DMBA mutagenesis is virtually random in its targeting of genes in tumorigenesis, the short latency tumors arising in animals on HFD showed a unique gene expression profile, highlighting the potent overarching influence of HFD.
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16
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The multifaceted role of the embryonic gene Cripto-1 in cancer, stem cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Semin Cancer Biol 2014; 29:51-8. [PMID: 25153355 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2014.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cripto-1 (CR-1)/Teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor1 (TDGF-1) is a cell surface glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked glycoprotein that can function either in cis (autocrine) or in trans (paracrine). The cell membrane cis form is found in lipid rafts and endosomes while the trans acting form lacking the GPI anchor is soluble. As a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)/Cripto-1-FRL-1-Cryptic (CFC) family, CR-1 functions as an obligatory co-receptor for the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family members, Nodal and growth and differentiation factors 1 and 3 (GDF1/3) by activating Alk4/Alk7 signaling pathways that involve Smads 2, 3 and 4. In addition, CR-1 can activate non-Smad-dependent signaling elements such as PI3K, Akt and MAPK. Both of these pathways depend upon the 78kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78). Finally, CR-1 can facilitate signaling through the canonical Wnt/β-catenin and Notch/Cbf-1 pathways by functioning as a chaperone protein for LRP5/6 and Notch, respectively. CR-1 is essential for early embryonic development and maintains embryonic stem cell pluripotentiality. CR-1 performs an essential role in the etiology and progression of several types of human tumors where it is expressed in a population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this context, CR-1 can significantly enhance tumor cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis. Collectively, these facts suggest that CR-1 may be an attractive target in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of several types of human cancer.
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Giorgio E, Liguoro A, D'Orsi L, Mancinelli S, Barbieri A, Palma G, Arra C, Liguori GL. Cripto haploinsufficiency affects in vivo colon tumor development. Int J Oncol 2014; 45:31-40. [PMID: 24805056 PMCID: PMC4079161 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2014.2412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and aggressive cancers arising from alterations in various signaling pathways, such as the WNT, RAS-MAPK, PI3K and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathways. Cripto (also called Teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor), the original member of the vertebrate EGF-CFC family, plays a key role in all of these pathways and is deeply involved in early embryo development and cancer progression. The role of Cripto in colon and breast cancer, in particular, has been investigated, as it is still not clearly understood. In this article, we provide the first in vivo functional evidence of a role of Cripto in colon cancer development. We analyzed the effect of Cripto haploinsufficiency on colon tumor formation by treating Cripto heterozygous mice with the colonotropic carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM). Of note, in our model system, Cripto haploinsufficiency increased tumorigenesis. Moreover, we revealed a correlation between the differential AOM response found in wt and Cripto⁺/⁻ mice and the expression levels of glucose regulated protein-78 (Grp78), a heat shock protein required for Cripto signaling pathways. We hypothesize that the balance between Cripto and Grp78 expression levels might be crucial in cancer development and may account for the increased tumorigenesis in Cripto heterozygous mice. In summary, our results highlight the heterogeneous effect of Cripto on tumorigenesis and the consequent high level of complexity in the Cripto regulatory pathway, whose imbalance causes tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Giorgio
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics 'Adriano Buzzati-Traverso' (IGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Annamaria Liguoro
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics 'Adriano Buzzati-Traverso' (IGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luca D'Orsi
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics 'Adriano Buzzati-Traverso' (IGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Sara Mancinelli
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics 'Adriano Buzzati-Traverso' (IGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Barbieri
- Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Palma
- Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio Arra
- Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanna L Liguori
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics 'Adriano Buzzati-Traverso' (IGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
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18
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Wu Z, Weng D, Li G. Quantitative proteome analysis of overexpressed Cripto-1 tumor cell reveals 14-3-3γ as a novel biomarker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. J Proteomics 2013; 83:26-36. [PMID: 23500129 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Revised: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We previously found that Cripto-1 is involved in the tumorigenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here, to identify new NPC related proteins and to investigate the clinicopathological correlations of it in NPC, Cripto-1 over-expressed cell (CNE1/CR1(+)) was established. Two-dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were used to identify 23 differential proteins in CNE1/CR1(+) and parental cells. Among them, 14-3-3γ showed the potential to be a NPC related protein. 14-3-3γ expression was found in 58.3% (60/103) tumor tissues as detected by IHC, and 69.6% (16/23) NPC fresh tumors expressed higher 14-3-3γ than paired non-cancerous tissues as detected by Western blot. Moreover, 14-3-3γ expression was positively correlated with N classification (p=0.031), distant metastasis (M classification, p=0.018) and clinical stage (p=0.046) of NPC patients. As determined by the Kaplan-Meier method, 14-3-3γ expression in NPC was significantly associated with overall survival (p=0.015). Multivariate analysis also showed that the expression of 14-3-3γ protein was an independent prognostic factor for outcome of NPC. In this study, we identified upregulated 14-3-3γ by 2D-DIGE in CNE1/CR-1(+). We also demonstrated that 14-3-3γ might be a potential biomarker for the prognosis of patients with NPC. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE We believe that three aspects of this manuscript will make it interesting to general readers of Journal of Proteomics. Firstly, based on our previous report, we further validated that Cripto-1 can promote the proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this context, we used 2D-DIGE to identify new NPC related proteins. As a result, 14-3-3γ showed the potential to be a candidate. Secondly, we reported for the first time that the expression level of 14-3-3γ was significantly increased in human NPC patient tissues, and 14-3-3γ overexpression correlated statistically with N classification, distant metastasis, and clinical stage. Our results highlight the clinical significance of 14-3-3γ in NPC. Finally, we found that high 14-3-3γ expression is associated with poor survival in NPC patients. Thus, this study has identified that the 14-3-3γ involves in the carcinogenesis of NPC. Our findings may also provide new insights into understanding the molecular mechanism involved in NPC carcinogenesis and progression, and may lead to the development of new approaches for effective diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengrong Wu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China.
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Nagaoka T, Karasawa H, Turbyville T, Rangel MC, Castro NP, Gonzales M, Baker A, Seno M, Lockett S, Greer YE, Rubin JS, Salomon DS, Bianco C. Cripto-1 enhances the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by binding to LRP5 and LRP6 co-receptors. Cell Signal 2013; 25:178-89. [PMID: 23022962 PMCID: PMC3508164 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2012.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2012] [Revised: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cripto-1 is implicated in multiple cellular events, including cell proliferation, motility and angiogenesis, through the activation of an intricate network of signaling pathways. A crosstalk between Cripto-1 and the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has been previously described. In fact, Cripto-1 is a downstream target gene of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the embryo and in colon cancer cells and T-cell factor (Tcf)/lymphoid enhancer factor binding sites have been identified in the promoter and the first intronic region of the mouse and human Cripto-1 genes. We now demonstrate that Cripto-1 modulates signaling through the canonical Wnt/β-catenin/Tcf pathway by binding to the Wnt co-receptors low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 5 and LRP6, which facilitates Wnt3a binding to LRP5 and LRP6. Cripto-1 functionally enhances Wnt3a signaling through cytoplasmic stabilization of β-catenin and elevated β-catenin/Tcf transcriptional activation. Conversely, Wnt3a further increases Cripto-1 stimulation of migration, invasion and colony formation in soft agar of HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells, indicating that Cripto-1 and the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling co-operate in regulating motility and in vitro transformation of mammary epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadahiro Nagaoka
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, 1050 Boyles St., Bldg 560/ Room 12-46, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hideaki Karasawa
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, 1050 Boyles St., Bldg 560/ Room 12-46, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Thomas Turbyville
- Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
| | - Maria-Cristina Rangel
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, 1050 Boyles St., Bldg 560/ Room 12-46, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Nadia P. Castro
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, 1050 Boyles St., Bldg 560/ Room 12-46, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Monica Gonzales
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, 1050 Boyles St., Bldg 560/ Room 12-46, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Alyson Baker
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, 1050 Boyles St., Bldg 560/ Room 12-46, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Masaharu Seno
- Laboratory of Nano-Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Stephen Lockett
- Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
| | - Yoshimi E. Greer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 37 Convent Drive, Bldg 37/Room 2066, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Rubin
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 37 Convent Drive, Bldg 37/Room 2066, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David S. Salomon
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, 1050 Boyles St., Bldg 560/ Room 12-46, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Caterina Bianco
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, 1050 Boyles St., Bldg 560/ Room 12-46, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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20
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Spiller CM, Feng CW, Jackson A, Gillis AJM, Rolland AD, Looijenga LHJ, Koopman P, Bowles J. Endogenous Nodal signaling regulates germ cell potency during mammalian testis development. Development 2012; 139:4123-32. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.083006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Germ cells, the embryonic precursors of sperm or oocytes, respond to molecular cues that regulate their sex-specific development in the fetal gonads. In males in particular, the balance between continued proliferation and cell fate commitment is crucial: defects in proliferation result in insufficient spermatogonial stem cells for fertility, but escape from commitment and prolonged pluripotency can cause testicular germ cell tumors. However, the factors that regulate this balance remain unidentified. Here, we show that signaling by the TGFβ morphogen Nodal and its co-receptor Cripto is active during a crucial window of male germ cell development. The Nodal pathway is triggered when somatic signals, including FGF9, induce testicular germ cells to upregulate Cripto. Germ cells of mutant mice with compromised Nodal signaling showed premature differentiation, reduced pluripotency marker expression and a reduced ability to form embryonic germ (EG) cell colonies in vitro. Conversely, human testicular tumors showed upregulation of NODAL and CRIPTO that was proportional to invasiveness and to the number of malignant cells. Thus, Nodal signaling provides a molecular control mechanism that regulates male germ cell potency in normal development and testicular cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassy M. Spiller
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Chun-Wei Feng
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Andrew Jackson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ad J. M. Gillis
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Antoine D. Rolland
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Leendert H. J. Looijenga
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Koopman
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Josephine Bowles
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Gray PC, Vale W. Cripto/GRP78 modulation of the TGF-β pathway in development and oncogenesis. FEBS Lett 2012; 586:1836-45. [PMID: 22306319 PMCID: PMC3723343 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.01.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2012] [Revised: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/25/2012] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Cripto is a small, GPI-anchored signaling protein that regulates cellular survival, proliferation, differentiation and migration during normal developmental processes and tumorigenesis. Cripto functions as an obligatory co-receptor for the TGF-β ligands Nodal, GDF1 and GDF3 but attenuates signaling of others such as activin-A, activin-B and TGF-β1. Soluble, secreted forms of Cripto also activate Src, ras/raf/MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways via a mechanism that remains largely obscure. This review describes the biological roles and signaling mechanisms of Cripto, highlighting our identification of the 78 kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78) as a cell surface receptor/co-factor required for Cripto signaling via both TGF-β and Src/MAPK/PI3K pathways. We discuss emerging evidence indicating that Cripto/GRP78 signaling regulates normal somatic stem cells and their tumorigenic counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Gray
- Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States.
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Rangel MC, Karasawa H, Castro NP, Nagaoka T, Salomon DS, Bianco C. Role of Cripto-1 during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in development and cancer. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2012; 180:2188-200. [PMID: 22542493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2011] [Revised: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical multistep process that converts epithelial cells to more motile and invasive mesenchymal cells, contributing to body patterning and morphogenesis during embryonic development. In addition, both epithelial plasticity and increased motility and invasiveness are essential for the branching morphogenesis that occurs during development of the mammary gland and during tumor formation, allowing cancer cells to escape from the primary tumor. Cripto-1, a member of the epidermal growth factor-Cripto-1/FRL-1/Cryptic (EGF/CFC) gene family, together with the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family ligand Nodal, regulates both cell movement and EMT during embryonic development. During postnatal development, Cripto-1 regulates the branching morphogenesis of the mouse mammary gland and enhances both the invasive and migratory properties of mammary epithelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, transgenic mouse models have shown that Cripto-1 promotes the formation of mammary tumors that display properties of EMT, including the down-regulation of the cell surface adherens junctional protein E-cadherin and the up-regulation of mesenchymal markers, such as vimentin, N-cadherin, and Snail. Interestingly, Cripto-1 is enriched in a subpopulation of embryonal, melanoma, prostate, and pancreatic cancer cells that possess stem-like characteristics. Therefore, Cripto-1 may play a role during developmental EMT, and it may also be involved in the reprogramming of differentiated tumor cells into cancer stem cells through the induction of an EMT program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Rangel
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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MacLennan MB, Anderson BM, Ma DWL. Differential mammary gland development in FVB and C57Bl/6 mice: implications for breast cancer research. Nutrients 2011; 3:929-36. [PMID: 22254086 PMCID: PMC3257723 DOI: 10.3390/nu3110929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2011] [Revised: 10/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of research suggests a linkage between pubertal mammary gland development and environmental factors such as diet as modifiers of long term breast cancer risk. Much of this research is dependent upon mouse models, which may vary between studies. However, effects may be strain dependent and further modified by diet, which has not been previously examined. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine whether mammary gland development differs between FVB and C57Bl/6 strains on diets containing either n-6 or n-3 polyunsaturated fats. Developmental measures related to onset of puberty and mammary gland development differed between strains. Mice fed the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) diet were shown to have lower numbers of terminal end buds, a marker of mammary gland development. This study helps to further clarify differences in development and dietary response between FVB and C57Bl/6 mice in order to more appropriately relate mammary gland research to human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira B MacLennan
- Department of Human Health & Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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De Luca A, Lamura L, Strizzi L, Roma C, D'Antonio A, Margaryan N, Pirozzi G, Hsu MY, Botti G, Mari E, Hendrix MJC, Salomon DS, Normanno N. Expression and functional role of CRIPTO-1 in cutaneous melanoma. Br J Cancer 2011; 105:1030-8. [PMID: 21863025 PMCID: PMC3185940 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: CRIPTO-1 (CR-1) is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human carcinoma of different histological origin. In this study we addressed the expression and the functional role of CR-1 in cutaneous melanoma. Methods: Expression of CR-1 protein in melanomas and melanoma cell lines was assessed by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and/or flow cytometry. Levels of mRNA were evaluated by real-time PCR. Invasion assays were performed in Matrigel-coated modified Boyden chambers. Results: Expression of CR-1 protein and/or mRNA was found in 16 out of 37 primary human cutaneous melanomas and in 12 out of 21 melanoma cell lines. Recombinant CR-1 protein activated in melanoma cells c-Src and, at lesser extent, Smad signalling. In addition, CR-1 significantly increased the invasive ability of melanoma cells that was prevented by treatment with either the ALK4 inhibitor SB-431542 or the c-Src inhibitor saracatinib (AZD0530). Anti-CR-1 siRNAs produced a significant inhibition of the growth and the invasive ability of melanoma cells. Finally, a close correlation was found in melanoma cells between the levels of expression of CR-1 and the effects of saracatinib on cell growth. Conclusion: These data indicate that a significant fraction of cutaneous melanoma expresses CR-1 and that this growth factor is involved in the invasion and proliferation of melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A De Luca
- Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Research Department, INT-Fondazione Pascale, Naples 80131, Italy
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Yoon HJ, Hong JS, Shin WJ, Lee YJ, Hong KO, Lee JI, Hong SP, Hong SD. The role of Cripto-1 in the tumorigenesis and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Oncol 2011; 47:1023-31. [PMID: 21824804 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2011.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2011] [Revised: 07/20/2011] [Accepted: 07/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common malignancy of the oral cavity, remains a lethal disease in over 50% of cases diagnosed annually, due mostly to late detection of this cancer in its advanced stages despite the easy accessibility of the oral cavity for regular examinations. Cripto-1 is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-CFC protein family and is involved in the activation of several different signaling pathways during embryonic development and cellular transformation. Although the Cripto-1 protein is overexpressed in several human cancers including breast, colon, cervix, gastric, and pancreatic cancer, no prior study has evaluated Cripto-1 expression in OSCC. Therefore, our aims in this study were to examine Cripto-1 expression in clinical samples of OSCC patients using immunohistochemistry, to analyze the correlation between Cripto-1 expression and clinicopathologic parameters, and to identify the oncogenic roles of Cripto-1 in OSCC cell lines. Both epithelial dysplasia (73.3%) and OSCC (55.5%) tissue samples showed significantly higher expression of Cripto-1 than normal mucosa (20%) (p=0.031). In the OSCC samples, there was a significant correlation between Cripto-1 expression and the histological differentiation of OSCC (p=0.015) and a high PCNA index (p=0.011). The in vitro cell proliferation assays demonstrated that recombinant human Cripto-1 (rhCripto-1) induced both SCC-4 and SCC-25 cells to proliferate as compared with control cells (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). In in vitro migration assays, treatment of SCC-4 and SCC-25 cells with rhCripto-1 protein induced a 2.4-fold and 1.7-fold-increase in cell migration, respectively (p=0.000 and p=0.008, respectively). Taken together, our data suggest that Cripto-1 plays a role in the malignant transformation of the oral mucosa and is involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of OSCC by promoting the growth and migration of malignant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Jung Yoon
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, 28 Yeongeon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-749, Republic of Korea
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Kelly RK, Olson DL, Sun Y, Wen D, Wortham KA, Antognetti G, Cheung AE, Orozco OE, Yang L, Bailly V, Sanicola M. An antibody-cytotoxic conjugate, BIIB015, is a new targeted therapy for Cripto positive tumours. Eur J Cancer 2011; 47:1736-46. [PMID: 21458984 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2011.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Revised: 02/21/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BIIB015 is an immunoconjugate created for the treatment of solid tumours and is currently in Phase I of clinical evaluation. BIIB015 consists of a humanised monoclonal antibody against the Cripto protein carrying a payload, via a hindered disulphide linker, of the maytansinoid derivative, DM4. Cripto is a GPI-linked protein required for signal transduction of the TGF-beta ligand, Nodal. Cripto has been previously described as an oncogene and fits the classic pattern of an embryonic gene that is re-expressed in a transformed tumour cell. Cripto expression is highly prevalent on a number of solid tumours, including greater than 75% of breast, lung, and colorectal tumours. Our report documents for the first time that targeting the cell surface Cripto protein with an anti-Cripto antibody-cytotoxic conjugate is an effective means of inhibiting or regressing growth of Cripto positive tumours. BIIB015 which utilises a 'cleavable' linker containing a disulphide bond exhibits superior activity when compared to huB3F6 mAb conjugates with different linker systems, including one with a 'non-cleavable' linker. BIIB015 displays specificity for Cripto in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. In human xenograft models originating from lung (Calu-6), colon (CT-3), testicular (NCCIT) and breast (MDA-MB-231) tumour samples, BIIB015 shows robust activity with results ranging from >50% tumour inhibition to complete tumour regression. The efficacy seen in the MDA-MB-231 model, a triple negative (-HER2, -ER, and -PR) tumour, is particularly exciting since there is currently no approved therapy for this indication. In addition, BIIB015 can be combined with standard of care chemotherapeutics for enhanced efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K Kelly
- Biogen Idec, Inc, Discovery Oncology, 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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Abstract
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD Emerging evidence has clearly implicated an inappropriate activation of embryonic regulatory genes during cell transformation in adult tissues. An example of such a case is the embryonic gene Cripto-1. Cripto-1 is critical for embryonic development and is considered a marker of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. Critpo-1 is expressed at low levels in adult tissues, but is re-expressed at a high frequency in a number of different types of human carcinomas, therefore, representing an attractive therapeutic target in cancer. AREA COVERED IN THIS REVIEW This review surveys different approaches that have been used to target Cripto-1 in cancer as reflected by the relevant patent literature as well as peer-reviewed publications. Potential involvement and targeting of Cripto-1 in neurodegenerative and degenerative muscle diseases are also discussed. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN The reader will gain an overview of different mAbs, vaccines or oligonucleotides antisense targeting Cripto-1. A humanized anti-Cripto-1 antibody is currently being tested in a Phase I clinical trial in cancer patients. TAKE HOME MESSAGE Targeting Cripto-1 in human tumors has the potential to eliminate not only differentiated cancer cells but also destroy an undifferentiated subpopulation of cancer cells with stem-like characteristics that support tumor initiation and self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Bianco
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Calvanese L, Marasco D, Doti N, Saporito A, D'Auria G, Paolillo L, Ruvo M, Falcigno L. Structural investigations on the Nodal-Cripto binding: A theoretical and experimental approach. Biopolymers 2010; 93:1011-21. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.21517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Bianco C, Rangel MC, Castro NP, Nagaoka T, Rollman K, Gonzales M, Salomon DS. Role of Cripto-1 in stem cell maintenance and malignant progression. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2010; 177:532-40. [PMID: 20616345 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.100102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cripto-1 is critical for early embryonic development and, together with its ligand Nodal, has been found to be associated with the undifferentiated status of mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Like other embryonic genes, Cripto-1 performs important roles in the formation and progression of several types of human tumors, stimulating cell proliferation, migration, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and tumor angiogenesis. Several studies have demonstrated that cell fate regulation during embryonic development and cell transformation during oncogenesis share common signaling pathways, suggesting that uncontrolled activation of embryonic signaling pathways might drive cell transformation and tumor progression in adult tissues. Here we review our current understanding of how Cripto-1 controls stem cell biology and how it integrates with other major embryonic signaling pathways. Because many cancers are thought to derive from a subpopulation of cancer stem-like cells, which may re-express embryonic genes, Cripto-1 signaling may drive tumor growth through the generation or expansion of tumor initiating cells bearing stem-like characteristics. Therefore, the Cripto-1/Nodal signaling may represent an attractive target for treatment in cancer, leading to the elimination of undifferentiated stem-like tumor initiating cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Bianco
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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de Castro NP, Rangel MC, Nagaoka T, Salomon DS, Bianco C. Cripto-1: an embryonic gene that promotes tumorigenesis. Future Oncol 2010; 6:1127-42. [DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have shown that cell fate regulation during embryonic development and oncogenic transformation share common regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways. Indeed, an embryonic gene member of the EGF–Cripto-1/FRL1/Cryptic family, Cripto-1, has been implicated in embryogenesis and in carcinogenesis. Cripto-1 together with the TGF-β ligand Nodal is a key regulator of embryonic development and is a marker of undifferentiated human and mouse embryonic stem cells. While Cripto-1 expression is very low in normal adult tissues, Cripto-1 is re-expressed at high levels in several different human tumors, modulating cancer cell proliferation, migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stimulating tumor angiogenesis. Therefore, inhibition of Cripto-1 expression using blocking antibodies or antisense expression vectors might be a useful modality not only to target fully differentiated cancer cells but also to target a subpopulation of tumor cells with stem-like characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Pereira de Castro
- Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Dr., Bldg 37 Room 1112, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Maria Cristina Rangel
- Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Dr., Bldg 37 Room 1112, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tadahiro Nagaoka
- Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Dr., Bldg 37 Room 1112, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David S Salomon
- Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Dr., Bldg 37 Room 1112, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Micalizzi DS, Farabaugh SM, Ford HL. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer: parallels between normal development and tumor progression. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2010; 15:117-34. [PMID: 20490631 PMCID: PMC2886089 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-010-9178-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 721] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2010] [Accepted: 04/26/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
From the earliest stages of embryonic development, cells of epithelial and mesenchymal origin contribute to the structure and function of developing organs. However, these phenotypes are not always permanent, and instead, under the appropriate conditions, epithelial and mesenchymal cells convert between these two phenotypes. These processes, termed Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), or the reverse Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition (MET), are required for complex body patterning and morphogenesis. In addition, epithelial plasticity and the acquisition of invasive properties without the full commitment to a mesenchymal phenotype are critical in development, particularly during branching morphogenesis in the mammary gland. Recent work in cancer has identified an analogous plasticity of cellular phenotypes whereby epithelial cancer cells acquire mesenchymal features that permit escape from the primary tumor. Because local invasion is thought to be a necessary first step in metastatic dissemination, EMT and epithelial plasticity are hypothesized to contribute to tumor progression. Similarities between developmental and oncogenic EMT have led to the identification of common contributing pathways, suggesting that the reactivation of developmental pathways in breast and other cancers contributes to tumor progression. For example, developmental EMT regulators including Snail/Slug, Twist, Six1, and Cripto, along with developmental signaling pathways including TGF-beta and Wnt/beta-catenin, are misexpressed in breast cancer and correlate with poor clinical outcomes. This review focuses on the parallels between epithelial plasticity/EMT in the mammary gland and other organs during development, and on a selection of developmental EMT regulators that are misexpressed specifically during breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas S. Micalizzi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - Susan M. Farabaugh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - Heide L. Ford
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
- Program in Molecular Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
- University of Colorado at Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, RC1 North, Rm. 5102, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
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Zhang JG, Zhao J, Xin Y. Significance and relationship between Cripto-1 and p-STAT3 expression in gastric cancer and precancerous lesions. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16:571-7. [PMID: 20128024 PMCID: PMC2816268 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i5.571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To explore the relationship between Cripto-1 (CR-1) and tyrosine phosphorylation STAT3 (p-STAT3) expressions in gastric cancer (GC) and gastric carcinogensis and metastasis.
METHODS: The PV9000 immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of CR-1 and p-STAT3 in 178 cases of GC, 95 matched normal gastric mucosa, 40 chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 48 intestinal metaplasia (IM) and 25 dysplasia (DYS).
RESULTS: The positive rates of CR-1 and p-STAT3 expression were significantly higher in CAG (65.0% and 60.0%), in IM (83.3% and 77.1%), DYS (80.0% and 68%) and GC (71.3% and 60.1%) than in normal gastric mucosa (43.2% and 41.1%, P < 0.05), respectively. The expressions of CR-1 and p-STAT3 (78.3% and 66.7%) were significantly higher in GC with lymph node metastasis than in those without metastasis (53.1% and 42.9%, P < 0.05). CR-1 expression was also related to histological and Lauren’s types of GC (P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was positive relationship between CR-1 and p-STAT3 expressions in GC (rk = 0.189, P = 0.002).
CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of CR-1 and p-STAT3 may play important roles in gastric carcinogenesis and lymph node metastasis. CR-1 and p-STAT3 expression in GC was positively correlated, and the relevant molecular mechanism requires further investigations.
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Fathers KE, Rodrigues S, Zuo D, Murthy IV, Hallett M, Cardiff R, Park M. CrkII transgene induces atypical mammary gland development and tumorigenesis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2009; 176:446-60. [PMID: 20008144 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The v-Crk protein was originally isolated as the oncogene fusion product of the CT10 chicken retrovirus. Cellular homologues of v-Crk include Crk, which encodes two alternatively spliced proteins (CrkI and CrkII), and CrkL. Though CrkI/II proteins are elevated in several types of cancer, including breast, the question of whether these Crk adaptor proteins can promote breast cancer has not been addressed. We created a transgenic mouse model that allows the expression of CrkII through the hormonally responsive mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. During puberty, transgenic mice were found to have delayed ductal outgrowth, characterized by increased collagen surrounding the terminal end buds. In post-pubertal mice, precocious ductal branching was observed and associated with increased proliferation. Focal mammary tumors appeared in a subset of animals, with a latency of approximately 15 months. Mouse mammary tumor virus/CrkII tumors showed high levels of Crk protein as well as various cytokeratin markers characteristic of their respective tumor pathologies. This study demonstrates that the precise expression of CrkII is critical for integrating signals for ductal outgrowth and branching morphogenesis during mammary gland development. Furthermore, this study provides evidence for a potential role of CrkII in integrating signals for breast cancer progression in vivo, which has important implications for elevated CrkII observed in human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Fathers
- Departments of Biochemistry, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
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Bianco C, Cotten C, Lonardo E, Strizzi L, Baraty C, Mancino M, Gonzales M, Watanabe K, Nagaoka T, Berry C, Arai AE, Minchiotti G, Salomon DS. Cripto-1 is required for hypoxia to induce cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2009; 175:2146-58. [PMID: 19834060 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2009.090218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cripto-1 is a membrane-bound protein that is highly expressed in embryonic stem cells and in human tumors. In the present study, we investigated the effect of low levels of oxygen, which occurs naturally in rapidly growing tissues, on Cripto-1 expression in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells and in human embryonal carcinoma cells. During hypoxia, Cripto-1 expression levels were significantly elevated in mES cells and in Ntera-2 or NCCIT human embryonal carcinoma cells, as compared with cells growing with normal oxygen levels. The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha directly regulated Cripto-1 expression by binding to hypoxia-responsive elements within the promoter of mouse and human Cripto-1 genes in mES and NCCIT cells, respectively. Furthermore, hypoxia modulated differentiation of mES cells by enhancing formation of beating cardiomyocytes as compared with mES cells that were differentiated under normoxia. However, hypoxia failed to induce differentiation of mES cells into cardiomyocytes in the absence of Cripto-1 expression, demonstrating that Cripto-1 is required for hypoxia to fully differentiate mES cells into cardiomyocytes. Finally, cardiac tissue samples derived from patients who had suffered ischemic heart disease showed a dramatic increase in Cripto-1 expression as compared with nonischemic heart tissue samples, suggesting that hypoxia may also regulate Cripto-1 in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Bianco
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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Wu Z, Li G, Wu L, Weng D, Li X, Yao K. Cripto-1 overexpression is involved in the tumorigenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2009; 9:315. [PMID: 19732464 PMCID: PMC2751776 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-9-315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2009] [Accepted: 09/06/2009] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human Cripto-1, a member of the EGF-CFC family, is indispensable for early embryonic development. Cripto-1 plays an important oncogenic role during tumorigenesis and is overexpressed in a wide range of epithelial carcinomas, yet little is known about Cripto-1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of this study was to analyze the roles of Cripto-1 in the progression and clinical characteristics in NPC clinical samples and cell lines. Methods The expression of Cripto-1 at mRNA level was detected by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real time RT-PCR, and western blot was used to examine the protein expression. Cripto-1 expression and its clinical characteristics were investigated by performing immunohistochemical analysis on a total of 37 NPC clinical tissue samples. Lentiviral vectors were constructed to get an efficient expression of anti-Cripto-1 siRNA in CNE-2 and C666-1 cells, with invalid RNAi sequence as control. After the inhibition of the endogenous Cripto-1, the growth, cell cycle and invasion of cells were detected by MTT, FACS and Boyden chamber assay respectively. Moreover, in vivo, the proliferation of the tumor cells was evaluated in xenotransplant nude mice model with whole-body visualizing instrument. Results The results of real-time RT-PCR and western blot showed that the expression level of Cripto-1 was markedly higher in NPC cell lines than that in the immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial cell at both mRNA and protein levels. RT-PCR of 17 NPC tissues showed a high expression rate in 76.5% (13/17) cases. In an immunohistochemical study, Cripto-1 was found to express in 54.1% (20/37) cases of NPC. In addition, Cripto-1 overexpression was significantly associated with N classification (p = 0.034), distant metastasis (p = 0.036), and clinical stage (p = 0.007). Inhibition of endogenous Cripto-1 by lentivirus-mediated RNAi silencing technique suppressed NPC cell growth and invasion in vitro. In vivo, the average weight (p = 0.026) and volume (p = 0.044) of tumor in CNE-2/GFP+/Cripto-1- xenotransplant mice group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The Ki67 index was obviously lower in Cripto-1 RNAi treated tumors (p < 0.01). Conclusion Data of this study suggest that Cripto-1 overexpression is connected with the tumorigenesis and progression of NPC, lentivector-mediated RNAi might be feasible for the inhibition of the growth and invasion of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengrong Wu
- 1Department of Pathology & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China.
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Kelber JA, Panopoulos AD, Shani G, Booker EC, Belmonte JC, Vale WW, Gray PC. Blockade of Cripto binding to cell surface GRP78 inhibits oncogenic Cripto signaling via MAPK/PI3K and Smad2/3 pathways. Oncogene 2009; 28:2324-36. [PMID: 19421146 PMCID: PMC2749668 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2009.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2009] [Revised: 03/23/2009] [Accepted: 03/28/2009] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cripto is a developmental oncoprotein that signals via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and Smad2/3 pathways. However, the molecular basis for Cripto coupling to these pathways during embryogenesis and tumorigenesis is not fully understood. In this regard, we recently demonstrated that Cripto forms a cell surface complex with the HSP70 family member glucose-regulated protein-78 (GRP78). Here, we provide novel functional evidence demonstrating that cell surface GRP78 is a necessary mediator of Cripto signaling in human tumor, mammary epithelial and embryonic stem cells. We show that targeted disruption of the cell surface Cripto/GRP78 complex using shRNAs or GRP78 immunoneutralization precludes Cripto activation of MAPK/PI3K pathways and modulation of activin-A, activin-B, Nodal and transforming growth factor-beta1 signaling. We further demonstrate that blockade of Cripto binding to cell surface GRP78 prevents Cripto from increasing cellular proliferation, downregulating E-Cadherin, decreasing cell adhesion and promoting pro-proliferative responses to activin-A and Nodal. Thus, disrupting the Cripto/GRP78 binding interface blocks oncogenic Cripto signaling and may have important therapeutic value in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Kelber
- Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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37
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Radisky DC, Hartmann LC. Mammary involution and breast cancer risk: transgenic models and clinical studies. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2009; 14:181-91. [PMID: 19404726 PMCID: PMC2693781 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-009-9123-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2009] [Accepted: 04/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Postlactational involution is the process following weaning during which the mammary gland undergoes massive cell death and tissue remodeling as it returns to the pre-pregnant state. Lobular involution is the process by which the breast epithelial tissue is gradually lost with aging of the mammary gland. While postlactational involution and lobular involution are distinct processes, recent studies have indicated that both are related to breast cancer development. Experiments using a variety of rodent models, as well as observations in human populations, suggest that deregulation of postlactational involution may act to facilitate tumor formation. By contrast, new human studies show that completion of lobular involution protects against subsequent breast cancer incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek C. Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
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di Bari MG, Ginsburg E, Plant J, Strizzi L, Salomon DS, Vonderhaar BK. Msx2 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mouse mammary epithelial cells through upregulation of Cripto-1. J Cell Physiol 2009; 219:659-66. [PMID: 19170109 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process occurring during both embryogenesis and early stages of invasive cancer. Epithelial cells that undergo EMT become more migratory and invasive with a mesenchymal morphology. Herein we assess EMT induction in a mouse mammary epithelial cell line driven by Msx2, a homeobox-containing transcription factor important during mammary gland development. NMuMG cells, a normal mouse mammary epithelial cell line, stably transfected with a Msx2 cDNA showed downregulation of an epithelial marker E-cadherin and upregulation of the mesenchymal markers vimentin and N-cadherin. Furthermore, overexpression of Cripto-1, a member of the epidermal growth factor-CFC protein family already known to be involved in EMT, was detected in Msx2-transfected cells. The expression of Cripto-1 was accompanied by activation of the tyrosine kinase c-Src pathway and an increase in the invasive ability of the cells. Functional assays also demonstrated inhibition of the invasive behavior of the Msx2-transfected cells by a c-Src specific inhibitor. Moreover, immunohistochemistry of human infiltrating breast carcinomas showed positive staining for Msx2 only in the infiltrating tumor cells while the non-infiltrating tumor cells were negative. These results suggest that Msx2 may play a significant role in promoting EMT in epithelial cells that acquire properties involved in tumor invasion. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 659-666, 2009. Published 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G di Bari
- Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Section, Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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39
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Strizzi L, Postovit LM, Margaryan NV, Seftor EA, Abbott DE, Seftor REB, Salomon DS, Hendrix MJC. Emerging roles of nodal and Cripto-1: from embryogenesis to breast cancer progression. Breast Dis 2009; 29:91-103. [PMID: 19029628 DOI: 10.3233/bd-2008-29110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Breast carcinoma cells and embryonic progenitors similarly implement stem cell-associated signaling pathways to sustain continued growth and plasticity. Indeed, recent studies have implicated signaling pathways, including those associated with the Notch, and Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-beta) superfamilies, as instrumental to both embryological development and breast cancer progression. In particular, Nodal, an embryonic morphogen belonging to the TGF-beta superfamily, and its co-receptor, Cripto-1, are requisite to both embryogenesis and mammary gland maturation. Moreover, these developmental proteins have been shown to promote breast cancer progression. Here, we review the role of Nodal and its co-receptor Cripto-1 during development and we describe how this signaling pathway may be involved in breast cancer tumorigenesis. Moreover, we emphasize the potential utility of this signaling pathway as a novel target for the treatment and diagnosis of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Strizzi
- Children's Memorial Research Center, Cancer Biology and Epigenomics Program, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
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40
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Sun C, Orozco O, Olson DL, Choi E, Garber E, Tizard R, Szak S, Sanicola M, Carulli JP. CRIPTO3, a presumed pseudogene, is expressed in cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 377:215-20. [PMID: 18835250 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.09.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2008] [Accepted: 09/23/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cripto is a cell surface protein highly expressed in certain solid tumors, and overexpression of Cripto protein is oncogenic. Cripto-1 protein is encoded by CRIPTO1 gene. CRIPTO3, a presumed pseudogene, has an open reading frame with six amino acid differences from Cripto-1. We show that CRIPTO3 mRNA is the CRIPTO message expressed in many cancer samples. A CRIPTO3 SAGE tag was found in several cancer SAGE libraries, while the CRIPTO1 tag was found in ES cell libraries. In vitro experiments indicate both Cripto-1 and Cripto-3 proteins are functional in the Nodal-dependent signal pathway. Our data indicate that CRIPTO3 is an expressed gene, particularly in certain cancers, and suggest a potentially novel mechanism of oncogenesis through activation of a retrogene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Sun
- Department of Drug Discovery, Biogen Idec Inc, 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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41
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Strizzi L, Mancino M, Bianco C, Raafat A, Gonzales M, Booth BW, Watanabe K, Nagaoka T, Mack DL, Howard B, Callahan R, Smith GH, Salomon DS. Netrin-1 can affect morphogenesis and differentiation of the mouse mammary gland. J Cell Physiol 2008; 216:824-34. [PMID: 18425773 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Netrin-1 has been shown to regulate the function of the EGF-like protein Cripto-1 (Cr-1) and affect mammary gland development. Since Cr-1 is a target gene of Nanog and Oct4, we investigated the relationship between Netrin-1 and Cr-1, Nanog and Oct4 during different stages of development in the mouse mammary gland. Results from histological analysis show that exogenous Netrin-1 was able to induce formation of alveolar-like structures within the mammary gland terminal end buds of virgin transgenic Cripto-1 mice and enhance mammary gland alveologenesis in early pregnant FVB/N mice. Results from immunostaining and Western blot analysis show that Netrin-1, Nanog and Oct4 are expressed in the mouse embryonic mammary anlage epithelium while Cripto-1 is predominantly expressed outside this structure in the surrounding mesenchyme. We find that in lactating mammary glands of postnatal FVB/N mice, Netrin-1 expression is highest while Cripto-1 and Nanog levels are lowest indicating that Netrin-1 may perform a role in the mammary gland during lactation. HC-11 mouse mammary epithelial cells stimulated with lactogenic hormones and exogenous soluble Netrin-1 showed increased beta-casein expression as compared to control thus supporting the potential role for Netrin-1 during functional differentiation of mouse mammary epithelial cells. Finally, mouse ES cells treated with exogenous soluble Netrin-1 showed reduced levels of Nanog and Cripto-1 and higher levels of beta-III tubulin during differentiation. These results suggest that Netrin-1 may facilitate functional differentiation of mammary epithelial cells and possibly affect the expression of Nanog and/or Cripto-1 in multipotent cells that may reside in the mammary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Strizzi
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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42
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Shukla A, Ho Y, Liu X, Ryscavage A, Glick AB. Cripto-1 alters keratinocyte differentiation via blockade of transforming growth factor-beta1 signaling: role in skin carcinogenesis. Mol Cancer Res 2008; 6:509-16. [PMID: 18337457 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-07-0396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cripto-1 is an epidermal growth factor-Cripto/FRL1/Cryptic family member that plays a role in early embryogenesis as a coreceptor for Nodal and is overexpressed in human tumors. Here we report that in the two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model, Cripto-1 is highly up-regulated in tumor promoter-treated normal skin and in benign papillomas. Treatment of primary mouse keratinocytes with Cripto-1 stimulated proliferation and induced expression of keratin 8 but blocked induction of the normal epidermal differentiation marker keratin 1, changes that are hallmarks of tumor progression in squamous cancer. Chemical or genetic blockade of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 signaling pathway using the ALK5 kinase inhibitor SB431542 and dominant negative TGF-beta type II receptor, respectively, had similar effects on keratinocyte differentiation. Our results show that Cripto-1 could block TGF-beta1 receptor binding, phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3, TGF-beta-responsive luciferase reporter activity, and TGF-beta1-mediated senescence of keratinocytes. We suggest that inhibition of TGF-beta1 by Cripto-1 may play an important role in altering the differentiation state of keratinocytes and promoting outgrowth of squamous tumors in the mouse epidermis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Shukla
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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43
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Zhong XY, Zhang LH, Jia SQ, Shi T, Niu ZJ, Du H, Zhang GG, Hu Y, Lu AP, Li JY, Ji JF. Positive association of up-regulated Cripto-1 and down-regulated E-cadherin with tumour progression and poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Histopathology 2008; 52:560-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2008.02971.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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44
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Mancino M, Strizzi L, Wechselberger C, Watanabe K, Gonzales M, Hamada S, Normanno N, Salomon DS, Bianco C. Regulation of human cripto-1 gene expression by TGF-β1 and BMP-4 in embryonal and colon cancer cells. J Cell Physiol 2008; 215:192-203. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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45
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Bianco C, Strizzi L, Mancino M, Watanabe K, Gonzales M, Hamada S, Raafat A, Sahlah L, Chang C, Sotgia F, Normanno N, Lisanti M, Salomon DS. Regulation of Cripto-1 signaling and biological activity by caveolin-1 in mammary epithelial cells. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2008; 172:345-57. [PMID: 18202186 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.070696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human and mouse Cripto-1 (CR-1/Cr-1) proteins play an important role in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis. In this study, we examined the relationship between Cripto-1 and caveolin-1 (Cav-1), a membrane protein that acts as a tumor suppressor in the mammary gland. Cripto-1 was found to interact with Cav-1 in COS7 cells and mammary epithelial cells. Using EpH4 mouse mammary epithelial cells expressing Cr-1 (EpH4 Cr-1) or Cr-1 and Cav-1 (EpH4 Cr-1/Cav-1), we demonstrate that Cav-1 expression markedly reduced the ability of Cr-1 to enhance migration, invasion, and formation of branching structures in EpH4 Cr-1/Cav-1 cells as compared to EpH4 Cr-1 cells. Furthermore, coexpression of Cav-1 together with Cr-1 in EpH4 Cr-1/Cav-1 cells inhibited Cr-1-mediated activation of c-src and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Conversely, primary mammary epithelial cells isolated from Cav-1 null(-/-)/mouse mammary tumor virus-CR-1 transgenic animals showed enhanced motility and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-src as compared to Cav-1(+/-)/CR-1 mammary cells. Finally, mammary tumors derived from mouse mammary tumor virus-CR-1 mice showed a dramatic reduction of Cav-1 expression as compared to mammary tissue from normal FVB/N mice, suggesting that in vivo Cav-1 is down-regulated during the process of CR-1-mediated mammary tumorigenesis.
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Watanabe K, Bianco C, Strizzi L, Hamada S, Mancino M, Bailly V, Mo W, Wen D, Miatkowski K, Gonzales M, Sanicola M, Seno M, Salomon DS. Growth factor induction of Cripto-1 shedding by glycosylphosphatidylinositol-phospholipase D and enhancement of endothelial cell migration. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:31643-55. [PMID: 17720976 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m702713200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cripto-1 (CR-1) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane glycoprotein that has been shown to play an important role in embryogenesis and cellular transformation. CR-1 is reported to function as a membrane-bound co-receptor and as a soluble ligand. Although a number of studies implicate the role of CR-1 as a soluble ligand in tumor progression, it is unclear how transition from the membrane-bound to the soluble form is physiologically regulated and whether differences in biological activity exist between these forms. Here, we demonstrate that CR-1 protein is secreted from tumor cells into the conditioned medium after treatment with serum, epidermal growth factor, or lysophosphatidic acid, and this soluble form of CR-1 exhibits the ability to promote endothelial cell migration as a paracrine chemoattractant. On the other hand, membrane-bound CR-1 can stimulate endothelial cell sprouting through direct cell-cell interaction. Shedding of CR-1 occurs at the GPI-anchorage site by the activity of GPI-phospholipase D (GPI-PLD), because CR-1 shedding was suppressed by siRNA knockdown of GPI-PLD and enhanced by overexpression of GPI-PLD. These findings describe a novel molecular mechanism of CR-1 shedding, which may contribute to endothelial cell migration and possibly tumor angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Watanabe
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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47
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Strizzi L, Bianco C, Hirota M, Watanabe K, Mancino M, Hamada S, Raafat A, Lawson S, Ebert AD, D'Antonio A, Losito S, Normanno N, Salomon DS. Development of leiomyosarcoma of the uterus in MMTV-CR-1 transgenic mice. J Pathol 2007; 211:36-44. [PMID: 17072826 DOI: 10.1002/path.2083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of Cripto-1 (CR-1) in FVB/N mice using the MMTV-LTR promoter results in increased mammary tumourigenesis in these female transgenic mice (MMTV-CR-1). Here, we characterize uterine tumours that developed in 15/76 (19.7%) of MMTV-CR-1 female nulliparous or multiparous mice during 24 months of observation compared with 0/33 (0%) of FVB/N normal control mice observed during the same time period (p < 0.01). The uterine tumours collected from the MMTV-CR-1 mice were classified as leiomyosarcomas and found to express the CR-1 transgene by polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunohistochemistry. Detection by western blot analysis showed higher levels of phosphorylated (P) forms of c-src, Akt, GSK-3beta, and dephosphorylated (DP)-beta-catenin in lysates from MMTV-CR-1 uterine leiomyosarcomas in comparison with lysates from normal control FVB/N uteri. Immunostaining showed increased nuclear localization of beta-catenin in the MMTV-CR-1 uterine leiomyosarcomas. Increased immunostaining for CR-1 was detected in 9/13 (69.2%) cases of human leiomyosarcoma compared with staining in 3/15 (20%) human leiomyoma sections. Stronger immunostaining for P-src, P-Akt, P-GSK-3beta and increased nuclear localization of beta-catenin was also seen in human leiomyosarcomas in comparison with leiomyomas. Normal human uterine smooth muscle (UtSM) cells treated with exogenous soluble rhCR-1 showed increased levels of P-src, P-Akt, P-GSK-3beta and dephosphorylated (DP)-beta-catenin and increased proliferation (p < 0.05) and migration (p < 0.01) in comparison with untreated control UtSM cells. Inhibitors against c-src, Akt or beta-catenin, individually or in combination, significantly reduced CR-1-induced migration. These results suggest a role for CR-1 during uterine tumourigenesis either directly by activating c-src and Akt and/or via cross-talk with the canonical Wnt signalling pathway, as suggested by the increased expression of P-GSK-3beta, DP-beta-catenin, and increased nuclear localization of beta-catenin in human and MMTV-CR-1 mice leiomyosarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Strizzi
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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48
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Calvanese L, Saporito A, Marasco D, D'Auria G, Minchiotti G, Pedone C, Paolillo L, Falcigno L, Ruvo M. Solution structure of mouse Cripto CFC domain and its inactive variant Trp107Ala. J Med Chem 2007; 49:7054-62. [PMID: 17125258 DOI: 10.1021/jm060772r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We report here for the first time the solution structures at pH 3 and pH 6 of the synthetic CFC domain of mouse Cripto and of the point mutated variant W107A that is unable to bind to the Alk4 Cripto receptor. NMR data confirm that the CFC domain has a C1-C4, C2-C6, C3-C5 disulfide pattern and show that structures are rather flexible and globally extended, with three noncanonical antiparallel strands. His104 and Trp107 side chains protrude from a protein edge and are strongly exposed to solvent, supporting previous evidence of direct involvement in receptor binding. On the opposite molecule side, several nonpolar residues are gathered, forming a large hydrophobic patch that supposedly acts as interface with the cell membrane or the adjacent EGF-like domain. A second hydrophilic patch surrounding His104 and Trp107 is present only in the wild type variant, suggesting a possible involvement in modulating Alk4 recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Calvanese
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università Federico II, Complesso Universitario MSA, via Cintia 45, 80126 Napoli, Italy
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49
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Hamada S, Watanabe K, Hirota M, Bianco C, Strizzi L, Mancino M, Gonzales M, Salomon DS. beta-Catenin/TCF/LEF regulate expression of the short form human Cripto-1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 355:240-4. [PMID: 17291450 PMCID: PMC1853279 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.01.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2007] [Accepted: 01/28/2007] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The human gene Teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor 1 (TDGF1)/Cripto-1/CR-1 which is expressed in a wide variety of human carcinomas is a member of the EGF-cripto FRL1 cryptic (EGF-CFC) gene family. A majority of human colorectal tumors and hepatomas are known to possess a constitutively active canonical Wnt/beta-catenin/TCF signaling pathway, also express CR-1. Expression of a short form of CR-1 mRNA in colon carcinoma and hepatoma cell lines suggests that there may be differential regulation of CR-1 expression by the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in colon cancer as well as hepatoma cell lines. The present study demonstrates a direct transcriptional regulation of the short form CR-1 expression by the canonical Wnt signaling pathway through an intronic-exonic enhancer element, containing three tandem TCF/LEF binding sites within the CR-1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Hamada
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, NCI/CCR, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aobaku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Watanabe
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, NCI/CCR, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Morihisa Hirota
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aobaku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Caterina Bianco
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, NCI/CCR, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Luigi Strizzi
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, NCI/CCR, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mario Mancino
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, NCI/CCR, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Monica Gonzales
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, NCI/CCR, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David S. Salomon
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, NCI/CCR, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- *Corresponding author. Tel: 301-496-9536. Fax: 301-402-8656. E-mail address: . Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, NCI/CCR, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Room 1112, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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50
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Gray PC, Shani G, Aung K, Kelber J, Vale W. Cripto binds transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and inhibits TGF-beta signaling. Mol Cell Biol 2006; 26:9268-78. [PMID: 17030617 PMCID: PMC1698529 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01168-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cripto is a developmental oncoprotein and a member of the epidermal growth factor-Cripto, FRL-1, Cryptic family of extracellular signaling molecules. In addition to having essential functions during embryogenesis, Cripto is highly expressed in tumors and promotes tumorigenesis. During development, Cripto acts as an obligate coreceptor for transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) ligands, including nodals, growth and differentiation factor 1 (GDF1), and GDF3. As an oncogene, Cripto is thought to promote tumor growth via mechanisms including activation of mitogenic signaling pathways and antagonism of activin signaling. Here, we provide evidence supporting a novel mechanism in which Cripto inhibits the tumor suppressor function of TGF-beta. Cripto bound TGF-beta and reduced the association of TGF-beta with its type I receptor, TbetaRI. Consistent with its ability to block receptor assembly, Cripto suppressed TGF-beta signaling in multiple cell types and diminished the cytostatic effects of TGF-beta in mammary epithelial cells. Furthermore, targeted disruption of Cripto expression by use of small inhibitory RNA enhanced TGF-beta signaling, indicating that endogenous Cripto plays a role in restraining TGF-beta responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Gray
- Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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