1
|
Bi Y, Zhang L, Song Y, Sun L, Mulholland MW, Yin Y, Zhang W. Rspo2-LGR4 exacerbates hepatocellular carcinoma progression via activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. GASTROENTEROLOGIA Y HEPATOLOGIA 2024; 47:352-365. [PMID: 37437654 PMCID: PMC10863972 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2023.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) plays an important role in stem cell differentiation, organ development and cancer. Whether LGR4 affects the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. This study aimed to reveal the role of LGR4 in HCC. METHODS Clinical samples of HCC were collected to assess the expression of LGR4 and its correlation with patients' clinical characteristics. The expression level of LGR4 in HCC cells was altered by pharmacological and genetic methods, and the role of LGR4 in HCC progression was analyzed by in vivo and in vitro assays. HCC was induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in wild-type and LGR4 deficient mice, the effect of LGR4 on HCC was examined by histopathological evaluation and biochemical assays. RESULTS LGR4 expression was up-regulated in HCC samples, and its expression level was positively correlated with tumor size, microvascular invasion (MVI), TNM stage and pathological differentiation grade of HCC patients. In the mouse HCC model induced by DEN+CCl4, knockdown of LGR4 effectively inhibited the progression of HCC. Silencing of LGR4 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, stem cell-like properties and Warburg effect of HCC cells. These phenotypes were promoted by R-spondin2 (Rspo2), an endogenous ligand for LGR4. Rspo2 markedly increased the nuclear translocation of β-catenin, whereas IWR-1, an inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, reversed its effect. Deficiency of LGR4 significantly reduced the nuclear translocation of β-catenin and the expression of its downstream target genes cyclinD1 and c-Myc. CONCLUSIONS LGR4 promotes HCC progression via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanghui Bi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Liping Zhang
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yan Song
- First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijun Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Michael W Mulholland
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yue Yin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Weizhen Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China; Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yi Z, Ma T, Liu J, Tie W, Li Y, Bai J, Li L, Zhang L. LGR4 promotes tumorigenesis by activating TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in multiple myeloma. Cell Signal 2023; 110:110814. [PMID: 37473901 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematologic malignancy that remains incurable. Although accumulating evidence suggests that the leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) plays a biological function in a variety of cancers, its biological function and molecular mechanisms in MM are unclear. In the present study, we found that LGR4 was significantly upregulated in MM tissues and cells. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that knockdown of LGR4 significantly inhibited proliferation of MM cells, promoted apoptosis and arrested cell cycle in G1. Overexpression showed the opposite effect. Mechanistic studies revealed that LGR4 could interact with TGF-β1 and regulate TGF-β1 expression, thereby activating the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway and promoting MM progression. LGR4 may be a potential new target for MM diagnosis and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Yi
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China; Department of Pediatric Orthopedics and Pediatrics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenting Tie
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Li
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jun Bai
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Li
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Liansheng Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ahmed EM, Farag AS, Abdelwahed MS, Hanbazazh M, Samman A, Ashmawy D, Abd-Elhameed NR, Tharwat M, Othman AE, Shawky TA, Attia RM, Ibrahim AA, Azzam S, Elhussiny MEA, Nasr M, Naeem SA, Abd-Elhay WM, Ali Alfaifi AM, Hasan A. The Expression of Stem Cell Marker LGR5 and Its Coexpression with Β-Catenin in Sporadic Colorectal Carcinoma and Adenoma: A Comparative Immunohistochemical Study. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1233. [PMID: 37512045 PMCID: PMC10383310 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59071233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Background: LGR5 is one of the most important stem cell markers for colorectal cancer (CRC), as it potentiates Wnt/Β-catenin signaling. The well-characterized deregulation of Wnt/Β-catenin signaling that occurs during adenoma/carcinoma sequence in CRC renders LGR5 a hopeful therapeutic target. We assessed the immunohistochemical expression of LGR5 and Β-catenin in normal colonic and tumorous lesions with a clinicopathological correlation. Methods: Tissue blocks and clinical data of 50 selected cases were included: 8 from normal mucosa, 12 cases of adenoma, and 30 cases of CRC, where sections were cut and re-examined and the immunohistochemical technique was conducted using anti-LGR5 and anti-Β-catenin to measure the staining density. Results: There was no expression of LGR5 in normal mucosa compared to samples of adenoma and CRC samples. The association analysis showed that CRC specimens were more likely to have strong LGR5 and Β-catenin expressions than the other two groups (p = 0.048 and p < 0.001, respectively). Specimens with high-grade dysplastic adenoma were more likely to express moderate-to-strong expression of LGR5 and Β-catenin (p = 0.013 and p = 0.036, respectively). In contrast, there were no statistically significant associations between LGR5 and Β-catenin expression with grade and stage. Conclusion: These results suggest and support the possible role of LGR5 as a potential marker of cancer stem cells in sporadic colorectal carcinogenesis in addition to a prognostic value for LGR5 and Β-catenin in adenomatous lesions according to immunohistochemical expression density. A potential therapeutic role of LGR5 in CRC is suggested for future studies based on its role in pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eman Mohamed Ahmed
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Abeer Said Farag
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Mohammed S Abdelwahed
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mehenaz Hanbazazh
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulhadi Samman
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Diaa Ashmawy
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta 34517, Egypt
| | | | - Mohamed Tharwat
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Alyaa E Othman
- Infectious Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41552, Egypt
| | - Taiseer Ahmed Shawky
- Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Radwa Mohamed Attia
- General Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | | | - Sherif Azzam
- Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | | | - Mohamed Nasr
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Suhaib Alsayed Naeem
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Wagih M Abd-Elhay
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | | | - Abdulkarim Hasan
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
- Prince Mishari bin Saud Hospital, Ministry of Health, Albahah 22888, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wu L, Tian X, Du H, Liu X, Wu H. Bioinformatics Analysis of LGR4 in Colon Adenocarcinoma as Potential Diagnostic Biomarker, Therapeutic Target and Promoting Immune Cell Infiltration. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12081081. [PMID: 36008975 PMCID: PMC9406187 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colon adenocarcinoma is one of the tumors with the highest mortality rate, and tumorigenesis or development of colon adenocarcinoma is the major reason leading to patient death. However, the molecular mechanism and biomarker to predict tumor progression are currently unclear. With the goal of understanding the molecular mechanism and tumor progression, we utilized the TCGA database to identify differentially expressed genes. After identifying the differentially expressed genes among colon adenocarcinoma tissues with different expression levels of LGR4 and normal tissue, protein–protein interaction, gene ontology, pathway enrichment, gene set enrichment analysis, and immune cell infiltration analysis were conducted. Here, the top 10 hub genes, i.e., ALB, F2, APOA2, CYP1A1, SPRR2B, APOA1, APOB, CYP3A4, SST, and GCG, were identified, and relative correlation analysis was conducted. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that higher expression of LGR4 correlates with overall survival of colon adenocarcinoma patients, although expression levels of LGR4 in normal tissues are higher than in tumor tissues. Further functional analysis demonstrated that higher expression of LGR4 in colon adenocarcinoma may be linked to up-regulate metabolism-related pathways, for example, the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. These results were confirmed by gene set enrichment analysis. Immune cell infiltration analysis clearly showed that the infiltration percentage of T cells was significantly higher than other immune cells, and TIMER analysis revealed a positive correlation between T-cell infiltration and LGR4 expression. Finally, COAD cancer cells, Caco-2, were employed to be incubated with squalene and 25-hydroxycholesterol-3-sulfate, and relative experimental results confirmed that the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway involved in modulating the proliferation of COAD tumorigenesis. Our investigation revealed that LGR4 can be an emerging diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for colon adenocarcinoma by affecting metabolism-related pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
- Correspondence: (L.W.); (H.W.)
| | - Xiaoxiao Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
| | - Hao Du
- Department of Orthopedic, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
| | - Xiaomin Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
| | - Haigang Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, China
- Correspondence: (L.W.); (H.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yang L, Wang J, Gong X, Fan Q, Yang X, Cui Y, Gao X, Li L, Sun X, Li Y, Wang Y. Emerging Roles for LGR4 in Organ Development, Energy Metabolism and Carcinogenesis. Front Genet 2022; 12:728827. [PMID: 35140734 PMCID: PMC8819683 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.728827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The leucine-rich repeats containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) belonging to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) family, had various regulatory roles at multiple cellular types and numerous targeting sites, and aberrant LGR4 signaling played crucial roles in diseases and carcinogenesis. On the basis of these facts, LGR4 may become an appealing therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases and tumors. However, a comprehensive investigation of its functions and applications was still lacking. Hence, this paper provided an overview of the molecular characteristics and signaling mechanisms of LGR4, its involvement in multiple organ development and participation in the modulation of immunology related diseases, metabolic diseases, and oxidative stress damage along with cancer progression. Given that GPCRs accounted for almost a third of current clinical drug targets, the in-depth understanding of the sophisticated connections of LGR4 and its ligands would not only enrich their regulatory networks, but also shed new light on designing novel molecular targeted drugs and small molecule blockers for revolutionizing the treatment of various diseases and tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Yang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaodi Gong
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiong Fan
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoming Yang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunxia Cui
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Gao
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijuan Li
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Sun
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yuhong Li, ; Yudong Wang,
| | - Yudong Wang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yuhong Li, ; Yudong Wang,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
AbdelMageed M, Ismail HTH, Olsson L, Lindmark G, Hammarström ML, Hammarström S, Sitohy B. Clinical Significance of Stem Cell Biomarkers EpCAM, LGR5 and LGR4 mRNA Levels in Lymph Nodes of Colon Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:403. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.3390/ijms23010403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The significance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in initiation and progression of colon cancer (CC) has been established. In this study, we investigated the utility of measuring mRNA expression levels of CSC markers EpCAM, LGR5 and LGR4 for predicting survival outcome in surgically treated CC patients. Expression levels were determined in 5 CC cell lines, 66 primary CC tumors and 382 regional lymph nodes of 121 CC patients. Prognostic relevance was determined using Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses. CC patients with lymph nodes expressing high levels of EpCAM, LGR5 or LGR4 (higher than a clinical cutoff of 0.07, 0.06 and 2.558 mRNA copies/18S rRNA unit, respectively) had a decreased mean survival time of 32 months for EpCAM and 42 months for both LGR5 and LGR4 at a 12-year follow-up (p = 0.022, p = 0.005 and p = 0.011, respectively). Additional patients at risk for recurrence were detected when LGR5 was combined with the biomarkers CXCL17 or CEA plus CXCL16. In conclusion, the study underscores LGR5 as a particularly useful prognostic biomarker and illustrates the strength of combining biomarkers detecting different subpopulations of cancer cells and/or cells in the tumor microenvironment for predicting recurrence.
Collapse
|
8
|
Clinical Significance of Stem Cell Biomarkers EpCAM, LGR5 and LGR4 mRNA Levels in Lymph Nodes of Colon Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010403. [PMID: 35008827 PMCID: PMC8745090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The significance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in initiation and progression of colon cancer (CC) has been established. In this study, we investigated the utility of measuring mRNA expression levels of CSC markers EpCAM, LGR5 and LGR4 for predicting survival outcome in surgically treated CC patients. Expression levels were determined in 5 CC cell lines, 66 primary CC tumors and 382 regional lymph nodes of 121 CC patients. Prognostic relevance was determined using Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses. CC patients with lymph nodes expressing high levels of EpCAM, LGR5 or LGR4 (higher than a clinical cutoff of 0.07, 0.06 and 2.558 mRNA copies/18S rRNA unit, respectively) had a decreased mean survival time of 32 months for EpCAM and 42 months for both LGR5 and LGR4 at a 12-year follow-up (p = 0.022, p = 0.005 and p = 0.011, respectively). Additional patients at risk for recurrence were detected when LGR5 was combined with the biomarkers CXCL17 or CEA plus CXCL16. In conclusion, the study underscores LGR5 as a particularly useful prognostic biomarker and illustrates the strength of combining biomarkers detecting different subpopulations of cancer cells and/or cells in the tumor microenvironment for predicting recurrence.
Collapse
|
9
|
Yue F, Jiang W, Ku AT, Young AIJ, Zhang W, Souto EP, Gao Y, Yu Z, Wang Y, Creighton CJ, Nagi C, Wang T, Hilsenbeck SG, Feng XH, Huang S, Coarfa C, Zhang XHF, Liu Q, Lin X, Li Y. A Wnt-Independent LGR4-EGFR Signaling Axis in Cancer Metastasis. Cancer Res 2021; 81:4441-4454. [PMID: 34099494 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptors 4, 5, and 6 (LGR4/5/6) play critical roles in development and cancer. The widely accepted mechanism is that these proteins, together with their R-spondin ligands, stabilize Wnt receptors, thus potentiating Wnt signaling. Here we show that LGR4 enhanced breast cancer cell metastasis even when Wnt signaling was deactivated pharmacologically or genetically. Furthermore, LGR4 mutants that cannot potentiate Wnt signaling nevertheless promoted breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and breast cancer metastasis in vivo. Multiomic screening identified EGFR as a crucial mediator of LGR4 activity in cancer progression. Mechanistically, LGR4 interacted with EGFR and blocked EGFR ubiquitination and degradation, resulting in persistent EGFR activation. Together, these data uncover a Wnt-independent LGR4-EGFR signaling axis with broad implications for cancer progression and targeted therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: This work demonstrates a Wnt-independent mechanism by which LGR4 promotes cancer metastasis.See related commentary by Stevens and Williams, p. 4397.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yue
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Weiyu Jiang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amy T Ku
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Adelaide I J Young
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Weijie Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Eric P Souto
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Yankun Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Chandandeep Nagi
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Tao Wang
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Susan G Hilsenbeck
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Xin-Hua Feng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shixia Huang
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiang H-F Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Qingyun Liu
- Texas Therapeutics Institute and Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Xia Lin
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Yi Li
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. .,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
The Role of LGR4 (GPR48) in Normal and Cancer Processes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094690. [PMID: 33946652 PMCID: PMC8125670 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leucine-rich repeats containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) is a receptor that belongs to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors that can be activated by R-spondins (RSPOs), Norrin, circLGR4, and the ligand of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANKL) ligands to regulate signaling pathways in normal and pathological processes. LGR4 is widely expressed in different tissues where it has multiple functions such as tissue development and maintenance. LGR4 mainly acts through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to regulate proliferation, survival, and differentiation. In cancer, LGR4 participates in tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, recent evidence reveals that LGR4 is essential for the regulation of the cancer stem cell population by controlling self-renewal and regulating stem cell properties. This review summarizes the function of LGR4 and its ligands in normal and malignant processes.
Collapse
|
11
|
Zeng Z, Ji N, Yi J, Lv J, Yuan J, Lin Z, Liu L, Feng X. LGR4 overexpression is associated with clinical parameters and poor prognosis of serous ovarian cancer. Cancer Biomark 2021; 28:65-72. [PMID: 32176632 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-191145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE LGR4 expression in serous ovarian cancer paraffin-embedded tissues and fresh tissues were investigated, and its expression associated with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in serous ovarian cancer was explored. METHODS From Dec, 2009 to Jan, 2020, 122 paraffin-embedded serous ovarian cancer patients and 41 paired paratumor tissues who were both diagnosed and operated at the memorial hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University were selected in this research, respectively, and all of these tissues were performed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a polyclonal antibody for LGR4. Meanwhile, from Aug, 2013 to Mar, 2019, 15 cases of serous ovarian cancer fresh tissues and 15 cases of paratumor fresh tissues who were operated at Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University were performed with Quantitative Real-time PCR to detect the mRNA expression of LGR4, respectively. RESULTS LGR4 expression was much higher both in paraffin-embedded and fresh cancer tissues than that in paratumor tissues, respectively, and its expression was associated with recurrence free survival and overall survival in serous ovarian cancer patients. Moreover, in a multivariate model LGR4 was an indeed independent predictor of poor survival in serous ovarian cancer patients. CONCLUSION LGR4 is upregulated in serous ovarian cancer, and LGR4 is an indeed useful independent prognostic predictor in serous ovarian cancer, and it may provide important clinical value of serous ovarian cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyang Zeng
- Department of Gynecology, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical Universtiy, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gynecology, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical Universtiy, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Na Ji
- Department of Gynecology, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical Universtiy, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gynecology, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical Universtiy, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Juanjuan Yi
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Foshan Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gynecology, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical Universtiy, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin Lv
- Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianhuan Yuan
- Department of Gynecology, The First People's Hospital of Huizhou City, Huizhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongqiu Lin
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, The Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Longyang Liu
- Cancer Center, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical Universtiy, Guangzhou, China.,Southern Medical Universtiy, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Feng
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yang C, Wang Y, Hardy P. Emerging roles of microRNAs and their implications in uveal melanoma. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:545-559. [PMID: 32783068 PMCID: PMC11072399 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03612-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignant tumor in adults with an extremely high mortality rate. Genetic and epigenetic dysregulation contribute to the development of UM. Recent discoveries have revealed dysregulation of the expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) as one of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying UM tumorigenesis. Based on their roles, miRNAs are characterized as either oncogenic or tumor suppressive. This review focuses on the roles of miRNAs in UM tumorigenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis, as well as their therapeutic potentials. Particularly, the actions of collective miRNAs are summarized with respect to their involvement in major, aberrant signaling pathways that are implicated in the development and progression of UM. Elucidation of the underlying functional mechanisms and biological aspects of miRNA dysregulation in UM is invaluable in the development of miRNA-based therapeutics, which may be used in combination with conventional treatments to improve therapeutic outcomes. In addition, the expression levels of some miRNAs are correlated with UM initiation and progression and, therefore, may be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun Yang
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Physiology, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Yuejiao Wang
- Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Pierre Hardy
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Physiology, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C5, Canada.
- Research Center of CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Room 2.17.004, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Liu S, Tian W, Li B. Prognostic Hub Genes in the Immune Microenvironment of Lung Adenocarcinoma by Estimation. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2020; 25:77-89. [PMID: 33308118 DOI: 10.2174/1386207323666201211090604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mortality of lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD) is high. Recent studies have found that the degree of immune infiltration and stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment or tumours makes a significant contribution to prognosis. METHODS During study, we screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of TCGA database for prognostic genes in LUAD immune microenvironment. Further, immune and stromal cells were quantified using ESTIMATE algorithm. To study the effects of immune and stromal cell-associated genes on the prognosis of LUAD, LUAD patients were divided into high and low groups according to their immune/ stromal scores. The obtained scores were found to be related to the phenotype and survival rate of LUAD patients. By selecting DEGs with high expression in immune and stromal cells, we performed functional enrichment analysis and found that most genes are associated with pathways of cancer, stimulus response and the MAPK signaling. The functions and enriched pathways of LUAD prognostic genes were shown by a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Nonetheless, an external database was used to validate the prognostic genes from the TCGA. RESULTS Prognostic genes were listed according to their expression position and protein function. CONCLUSION We provided a new targets for immunotherapy of LUAD, which further provides basic knowledge for future clinical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004. China
| | - Wenjuan Tian
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004. China
| | - Burong Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004. China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li L, Zhang C, Li Y, Zhang Y, Lei Y. DJ-1 promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via enhancing FGF9 expression in colorectal cancer. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio051680. [PMID: 32366371 PMCID: PMC7325429 DOI: 10.1242/bio.051680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor metastasis is the main contributor to high recurrence and mortality in colorectal cancer (CRC). In a previous study, we found that DJ-1 plays an important role in CRC metastasis, and is the main target in Ciclopirox olamine (CPX)-treated CRC. However, the mechanism underlying DJ-1-induced CRC metastasis remains elusive. In the present study, our results showed that DJ-1 could activate Wnt signaling resulting in enhanced invasive potential and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CRC cells. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis reveals that the DJ-1/Wnt signaling pathway may promote CRC cells' EMT by regulating fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) expression. Molecular validation showed that expression of FGF9 was upregulated by the DJ-1/Wnt signaling pathway and decreasing FGF9-expression impeded DJ-1-induced CRC invasive ability and EMT, suggesting that FGF9 is involved in DJ-1-enhanced CRC metastasis. In addition, we show that FGF9 was overexpressed in CRC human specimens and was significantly associated with tumor differentiation. High FGF9 expression was correlated with worse overall survival, and a correlation exhibited between FGF9 and EMT markers (E-cadherin and Vimentin) in CRC samples. Together, our results determined that FGF9 was involved in DJ-1-induced invasion and EMT in CRC cells, and may represent a promising therapeutic candidate for CRC anti-metastatic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Longhao Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Chundong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yunlong Lei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hou Q, Han S, Yang L, Chen S, Chen J, Ma N, Wang C, Tang J, Chen X, Chen F, Dong XDE, Tu L. The Interplay of MicroRNA-34a, LGR4, EMT-Associated Factors, and MMP2 in Regulating Uveal Melanoma Cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2020; 60:4503-4510. [PMID: 31661551 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-26477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) has been implicated in many biological processes. It is downregulated in uveal melanoma, and introduction of miR-34a inhibits the proliferation and migration of uveal melanoma cells. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) is a novel target of miR-34a identified first in retinal pigment epithelial cells. In this study, we sought to evaluate the interaction of miR-34a and LGR4 in uveal melanoma and its downstream mechanisms. Methods The expression of LGR4, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated factors, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) in uveal melanoma cells was assessed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence analysis. MicroRNA-34a mimic molecules, LGR4 small interfering RNA (siRNA), or MMP2-specific siRNA were transiently transfected into uveal melanoma cells. In vitro scratch and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the migratory and invasive potential of the resultant uveal melanoma cells. Results LGR4 is upregulated in uveal melanoma cells. Introduction of miR-34a significantly decreased the expression level of LGR4. Transfection with miR-34a or knockdown of LGR4 attenuated the aggressiveness of uveal melanoma cells. In addition, there was a decrease in the expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail following miR-34a introduction or knockdown of LGR4. Finally, MMP2 was found to be a downstream effector for miR-34a and LGR4 that regulates the migration and invasion of uveal melanoma cells. Conclusions MicroRNA-34a negatively controls LGR4, thereby inhibiting the migration and invasion of uveal melanoma cells. Ultimately, both miR-34a and LGR4 impact the aggressiveness of uveal melanoma with alterations in the markers of the EMT. MMP2 is a downstream effector that influences the metastasis seen with uveal melanoma cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Hou
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shuxian Han
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Yang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shengwen Chen
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junxiu Chen
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Nan Ma
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Wang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiajia Tang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaogang Chen
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feng Chen
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang Da Eric Dong
- Department of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States
| | - LiLi Tu
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVES G protein-coupled receptor 137 (GPR137) was reported to be associated with several cancers, but its role in bladder cancer has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical significance of GPR137 in bladder cancer. METHODS The expressions of GPR137 in pathological tissues and corresponding normal tissues from bladder cancer patients were detected via quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blot was performed to detect GPR137 expression in bladder cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Chi-Squared test analyzed the relationship between GPR137 expression and clinical features of bladder cancer patients. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier method was adopted in estimating overall survival of bladder cancer patients. Prognostic value of GPR137 was evaluated through Cox regression analysis. RESULTS The expression of GPR137 mRNA and protein in pathological tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (P < .001). Moreover, similar result was found for bladder cancer patients and healthy controls (P < .001). And GPR137 expression was associated with tumor size (P = .006) and TNM stage (P = .012). The results of Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that patients with high expression of GPR137 had shorter overall survival time than those with low expression (Log rank test, P = .001). Cox regression analysis indicated that GPR137 could act as an independent biomarker for bladder cancer prognosis (HR = 1.850, 95% CI = 1.272-2.689, P = .001). CONCLUSION Abnormal expression of GPR137 is associated with bladder cancer and GPR137 is a potential biomarker for the therapy and prognosis of bladder cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianlei Lu
- Department of Surgical Urology, Affiliated Hospital to Academy of Medical Sciences
| | - Feng Zhong
- Department of Surgical Urology, First People's Hospital
| | - Beibei Sun
- Department of Operating Rooms, Second People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Surgical Urology, Affiliated Hospital to Academy of Medical Sciences
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Souza SMD, Valiente AEF, Sá KM, Juanes CDC, Rodrigues BJ, Farias ACC, Campelo CC, Silva PGDB, Almeida PRCD. Immunoexpression of LGR4 and Β-Catenin in Gastric Cancer and Normal Gastric Mucosa. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2019; 20:519-527. [PMID: 30803215 PMCID: PMC6897001 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2019.20.2.519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We evaluated the immunoexpression of LGR4 and β-catenin in primary gastric carcinomas, lymph node metastases and histologically normal gastric mucosa in the surgical margins of gastric primary tumours. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, observational study, based on 75 gastric carcinoma specimens from gastrectomies conducted at the hospital of the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil. The samples were analysed by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and Pearson’s linear regression were used in this study. Results: LGR4 expression was greater in the histologically normal gastric mucosa (basal third of the epithelial thickness) of the tumour surgical resection margin than in the cases of primary carcinomas (P<0.001, mainly diffuse-histotype cancer margins), and also in the number of cells stained in the normal mucosa (P<0.0001). Primary intestinal-type carcinomas showed greater positivity for LGR4 than diffuse tumours (59% vs 13%, P<0.0001) and in these the positivity was higher in the metastases (P=0.0242). The membranous immunoexpression of β-catenin was ubiquitous in the normal mucosa and present in 2/3 of the positive carcinomas. In only one case, nuclear β-catenin expression was observed. Most LGR4-positive cases were stained for membranous β-catenin but not the opposite (P<0.01). Conclusion: LGR4 is a likely biomarker of stem cells in the normal gastric mucosa and carcinomas of the stomach, not specific to cancer cells and positively associated with cell proliferation. LGR4 immunoexpression is more frequent and found in a larger number of cells in normal tissues than in tumour samples. Expression of β-catenin in the junctional membrane-complex occurred predominantly, in positive cases of gastric carcinomas and very rarely in the nucleus. LGR4 apparently influenced the membranous expression of β-catenin. These findings suggest a controversial role for LGR4, related to proliferative status and inversely related to tumour progression, in contrast to most previous reports.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susana Moreira de Souza
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
The RANK-RANKL axis: an opportunity for drug repurposing in cancer? Clin Transl Oncol 2019; 21:977-991. [PMID: 30656607 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-018-02023-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Drug repurposing offers advantages over traditional drug development in terms of cost, speed and improved patient outcomes. The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) ligand (RANKL) inhibitor denosumab is approved for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with advanced malignancies involving bone, including solid tumours and multiple myeloma. Following improved understanding of the role of RANK/RANKL in cancer biology, denosumab has already been repurposed as a treatment for giant cell tumour of bone. Here, we review the role of RANK/RANKL in tumourigenesis, including effects on tumour initiation, progression and metastasis and consider the impact of RANK/RANKL on tumour immunology and immune evasion. Finally, we look briefly at ongoing trials and future opportunities for therapeutic synergy when combining denosumab with anti-cancer agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Collapse
|
19
|
Zhou J, Liu H, Zhang L, Liu X, Zhang C, Wang Y, He Q, Zhang Y, Li Y, Chen Q, Zhang L, Wang K, Bu Y, Lei Y. DJ-1 promotes colorectal cancer progression through activating PLAGL2/Wnt/BMP4 axis. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:865. [PMID: 30158634 PMCID: PMC6115399 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0883-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis remains a big barrier for the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Our previous proteomics analysis identified DJ-1 as a potential metastasis biomarker of CRC. In this study, we found that DJ-1 was upregulated in CRC. The levels of DJ-1 were closely correlated with the depths of invasion and predicted patient outcome. Enforced expression of DJ-1 could enhance CRC proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo by stimulating Wnt-β-catenin signaling. Specifically, DJ-1-induced β-catenin nuclear translocation stimulated TCF transcription activity, which promoted BMP4 expression for CRC cell migration and invasion, and elevated CCND1 expression for CRC cell proliferation, respectively. Furthermore, DJ-1-induced Wnt signaling activation was dependent on PLAGL2 expression. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that DJ-1 can promote CRC metastasis by activating PLAGL2-Wnt-BMP4 axis, suggesting novel therapeutic opportunities for postoperative adjuvant therapy in CRC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Lian Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Chundong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Yitao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Qing He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Quanmei Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Kui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Youquan Bu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunlong Lei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Oh ST, Lee J, Yang KJ, Bae JM, Park HJ, Kim JW, Park YM. Increased Immunoreactivity of LGR4 in Histologically Aggressive Basal Cell Carcinoma. Ann Dermatol 2018; 30:630-633. [PMID: 33911496 PMCID: PMC7992481 DOI: 10.5021/ad.2018.30.5.630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Taek Oh
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Junguee Lee
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Keum-Jin Yang
- Clinical Medicine Research Institute, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung-Min Bae
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun-Jeong Park
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin-Woo Kim
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young-Min Park
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Targeting LGR5 in Colorectal Cancer: therapeutic gold or too plastic? Br J Cancer 2018; 118:1410-1418. [PMID: 29844449 PMCID: PMC5988707 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0118-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor (LGR5 or GPR49) potentiates canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling and is a marker of normal stem cells in several tissues, including the intestine. Consistent with stem cell potential, single isolated LGR5+ cells from the gut generate self-organising crypt/villus structures in vitro termed organoids or 'mini-guts', which accurately model the parent tissue. The well characterised deregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling that occurs during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence in colorectal cancer (CRC) renders LGR5 an interesting therapeutic target. Furthermore, recent studies demonstrating that CRC tumours contain LGR5+ subsets and retain a degree of normal tissue architecture has heightened translational interest. Such reports fuel hope that specific subpopulations or molecules within a tumour may be therapeutically targeted to prevent relapse and induce long-term remissions. Despite these observations, many studies within this field have produced conflicting and confusing results with no clear consensus on the therapeutic value of LGR5. This review will recap the various oncogenic and tumour suppressive roles that have been described for the LGR5 molecule in CRC. It will further highlight recent studies indicating the plasticity or redundancy of LGR5+ cells in intestinal cancer progression and assess the overall merit of therapeutically targeting LGR5 in CRC.
Collapse
|
22
|
Mi Y, Zhao S, Zhou C, Weng J, Li J, Wang Z, Sun H, Tang H, Zhang X, Sun X, Peng Z, Wen Y. Downregulation of homeobox gene Barx2 increases gastric cancer proliferation and metastasis and predicts poor patient outcomes. Oncotarget 2018; 7:60593-60608. [PMID: 27533254 PMCID: PMC5312404 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Barx2 is a Bar family homeodomain transcription factor shown to play a critical role in cell adhesion and cytoskeleton remodeling, key processes in carcinogenesis and metastasis. Using quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, we found that Barx2 is expressed at lower levels in human gastric cancer (GC) tissues than in adjacent normal mucosa. In a multivariate analysis, Barx2 expression emerged as an independent prognostic factor for disease-free and overall survival. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a trend toward even shorter overall survival in the patient group with Barx2-negative tumors, independent of advanced UICC stage and tumor relapse. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we demonstrated that under normal conditions Barx2 inhibited GC cell proliferation and invasiveness through inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings indicate that reduction or loss of Barx2 dis-inhibits GC cell proliferation and invasion, and that reduction in Barx2 could serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for poor outcome in GC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yushuai Mi
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China
| | - Senlin Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, SE-581 85 Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Chongzhi Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China
| | - Junyong Weng
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China
| | - Jikun Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China
| | - Zhanshan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China
| | - Huimin Sun
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China
| | - Huamei Tang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, 310014 Hangzhou Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaofeng Sun
- Department of Oncology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, SE-581 85 Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Zhihai Peng
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China
| | - Yugang Wen
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200080 Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, SE-581 85 Linkoping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Vert A, Castro J, Ribó M, Vilanova M, Benito A. Transcriptional profiling of NCI/ADR-RES cells unveils a complex network of signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of drug resistance. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:221-237. [PMID: 29379303 PMCID: PMC5757493 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s154378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among all the gynecological cancers. This is mostly due to the resistance of ovarian cancer to current chemotherapy regimens. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to identify the molecular mechanisms associated with chemoresistance. Methods NCI/ADR-RES is a multidrug-resistant cell line that is a model for the study of drug resistance in ovarian cancer. We carried out a microarray-derived transcriptional profiling analysis of NCI/ADR-RES to identify differentially expressed genes relative to its parental OVCAR-8. Results Gene-expression profiling has allowed the identification of genes and pathways that may be important for the development of drug resistance in ovarian cancer. The NCI/ADR-RES cell line has differential expression of genes involved in drug extrusion, inactivation, and efficacy, as well as genes involved in the architectural and functional reorganization of the extracellular matrix. These genes are controlled through different signaling pathways, including MAPK–Akt, Wnt, and Notch. Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance of using orthogonal therapies that target completely independent pathways to overcome mechanisms of resistance to both classical chemotherapeutic agents and molecularly targeted drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Vert
- Protein Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universitat de Girona.,Biomedical Research Institute of Girona (IDIBGi), Girona, Spain
| | - Jessica Castro
- Protein Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universitat de Girona.,Biomedical Research Institute of Girona (IDIBGi), Girona, Spain
| | - Marc Ribó
- Protein Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universitat de Girona.,Biomedical Research Institute of Girona (IDIBGi), Girona, Spain
| | - Maria Vilanova
- Protein Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universitat de Girona.,Biomedical Research Institute of Girona (IDIBGi), Girona, Spain
| | - Antoni Benito
- Protein Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universitat de Girona.,Biomedical Research Institute of Girona (IDIBGi), Girona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Yue Z, Yuan Z, Zeng L, Wang Y, Lai L, Li J, Sun P, Xue X, Qi J, Yang Z, Zheng Y, Fang Y, Li D, Siwko S, Li Y, Luo J, Liu M. LGR4 modulates breast cancer initiation, metastasis, and cancer stem cells. FASEB J 2017; 32:2422-2437. [PMID: 29269400 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700897r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The fourth member of the leucine-rich repeat-containing GPCR family (LGR4, frequently referred to as GPR48) and its cognate ligands, R-spondins (RSPOs) play crucial roles in the development of multiple organs as well as the survival of adult stem cells by activation of canonical Wnt signaling. Wnt/β-catenin signaling acts to regulate breast cancer; however, the molecular mechanisms determining its spatiotemporal regulation are largely unknown. In this study, we identified LGR4 as a master controller of Wnt/β-catenin signaling-mediated breast cancer tumorigenesis, metastasis, and cancer stem cell (CSC) maintenance. LGR4 expression in breast tumors correlated with poor prognosis. Either Lgr4 haploinsufficiency or mammary-specific deletion inhibited mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)- PyMT- and MMTV- Wnt1-driven mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis. Moreover, LGR4 down-regulation decreased in vitro migration and in vivo xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis. Furthermore, Lgr4 deletion in MMTV- Wnt1 tumor cells or knockdown in human breast cancer cells decreased the number of functional CSCs by ∼90%. Canonical Wnt signaling was impaired in LGR4-deficient breast cancer cells, and LGR4 knockdown resulted in increased E-cadherin and decreased expression of N-cadherin and snail transcription factor -2 ( SNAI2) (also called SLUG), implicating LGR4 in regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Our findings support a crucial role of the Wnt signaling component LGR4 in breast cancer initiation, metastasis, and breast CSCs.-Yue, Z., Yuan, Z., Zeng, L., Wang, Y., Lai, L., Li, J., Sun, P., Xue, X., Qi, J., Yang, Z., Zheng, Y., Fang, Y., Li, D., Siwko, S., Li, Y., Luo, J., Liu, M. LGR4 modulates breast cancer initiation, metastasis, and cancer stem cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Yue
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zengjin Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zeng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Li Lai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jing Li
- East China Normal University Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiwen Xue
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyi Qi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengfeng Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yansen Zheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanzhang Fang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Dali Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Stefan Siwko
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yi Li
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jian Luo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Kang YE, Kim JM, Kim KS, Chang JY, Jung M, Lee J, Yi S, Kim HW, Kim JT, Lee K, Choi MJ, Kang SK, Lee SE, Yi HS, Koo BS, Shong M. Upregulation of RSPO2-GPR48/LGR4 signaling in papillary thyroid carcinoma contributes to tumor progression. Oncotarget 2017; 8:114980-114994. [PMID: 29383135 PMCID: PMC5777747 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The signaling pathway involving the R-spondins and its cognate receptor, GPR48/LGR4, is crucial in development and carcinogenesis. However, the functional implications of the R-spondin-GPR48/LGR4 pathway in thyroid remain to be identified. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of R-spondin-GPR48/LGR4 signaling in papillary thyroid carcinomas. We retrospectively reviewed a total of 214 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma. The role of GPR48/LGR4 in proliferation and migration was examined in thyroid cancer cell lines. R-spondin 2, and GPR48/LGR4 were expressed at significantly higher levels in thyroid cancer than in normal controls. Elevated GPR48/LGR4 expression was significantly associated with tumor size (P=0.049), lymph node metastasis (P=0.004), recurrence (P=0.037), and the BRAFV600E mutation (P=0.003). Moreover, high GPR48/LGR4 expression was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis (P=0.027) and the BRAFV600E mutation (P=0.009). in vitro assays demonstrated that elevated expression of GPR48/LGR4 promoted proliferation and migration of thyroid cancer cells, whereas downregulation of GPR48/LGR4 decreased proliferation and migration by inhibition of the β-catenin pathway. Moreover, treatment of thyroid cancer cells with exogenous R-spondin 2 induced activation of the β-catenin pathway through GPR48/LGR4. The R-spondin 2-GPR48/LGR4 signaling axis also induced the phosphorylation of ERK, as well as phosphorylation of LRP6 and serine 9 of GSK3β. Our findings demonstrate that upregulation of the R-spondin 2-GPR48/LGR4 pathway contributes to tumor aggressiveness in papillary thyroid carcinoma by promoting ERK phosphorylation, suggesting that this pathway represents a novel therapeutic target for treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yea Eun Kang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, South Korea
| | - Jin-Man Kim
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Koon Soon Kim
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, South Korea.,Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Young Chang
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Mingyu Jung
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Junguee Lee
- Department of Pathology, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon 34943, Republic of Korea
| | - Shinae Yi
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon Woo Kim
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Tae Kim
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmin Lee
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jeong Choi
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Seul Ki Kang
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Eun Lee
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyon-Seung Yi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, South Korea
| | - Bon Seok Koo
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Minho Shong
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, South Korea.,Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Schindler AJ, Watanabe A, Howell SB. LGR5 and LGR6 in stem cell biology and ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 9:1346-1355. [PMID: 29416699 PMCID: PMC5787443 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling plays a fundamental role in patterning of the embryo and maintenance of stem cells in numerous epithelia. Epithelial stem cells are closeted in niches created by surrounding differentiated cells that express secreted Wnt and R-spondin proteins that influence proliferation rate and fate determination of stem cell daughters. R-spondins act through the LGR receptors to enhance Wnt signaling. This close association of stem cells with more differentiated regulatory cells expressing Wnt-pathway ligands is a feature replicated in all of the epithelial stem cell systems thus far examined. How the stem cell niche operates through these short-range interactions is best understood for the crypts of the gastrointestinal epithelium and skin. Less well understood are the stem cells that function in the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) and fallopian tube epithelium (FTE). While the cuboidal OSE appears to be made up of a single cell type, the cells of the FTE progress through a life cycle that involves differentiation into ciliated and secretory subtypes that are eventually shed into the lumen in a manner similar to the gastrointestinal epithelium. Available evidence suggests that high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) originates most often from stem cells in the FTE and that Wnt signaling augmented by LGR6 supports tumor development and progression. This review summarizes current information on LGR5 and LGR6 in the OSE and FTE and how their niches are organized relative to that of the gastrointestinal epithelium and skin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Schindler
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Arisa Watanabe
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Stephen B Howell
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Luo W, Tan P, Rodriguez M, He L, Tan K, Zeng L, Siwko S, Liu M. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (Lgr4) is necessary for prostate cancer metastasis via epithelial-mesenchymal transition. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:15525-15537. [PMID: 28768769 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.771931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a highly penetrant disease among men in industrialized societies, but the factors regulating the transition from indolent to aggressive and metastatic cancer remain poorly understood. We found that men with prostate cancers expressing high levels of the G protein-coupled receptor LGR4 had a significantly shorter recurrence-free survival compared with patients with cancers having low LGR4 expression. LGR4 expression was elevated in human prostate cancer cell lines with metastatic potential. We therefore generated a novel transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mouse model to investigate the role of Lgr4 in prostate cancer development and metastasis in vivo TRAMP Lgr4-/- mice exhibited an initial delay in prostate intraepithelial neoplasia formation, but the frequency of tumor formation was equivalent between TRAMP and TRAMP Lgr4-/- mice by 12 weeks. The loss of Lgr4 significantly improved TRAMP mouse survival and dramatically reduced the occurrence of lung metastases. LGR4 knockdown impaired the migration, invasion, and colony formation of DU145 cells and reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as demonstrated by up-regulation of E-cadherin and decreased expression of the EMT transcription factors ZEB, Twist, and Snail. Overexpression of LGR4 in LNCaP cells had the opposite effects. Orthotopic injection of DU145 cells stably expressing shRNA targeting LGR4 resulted in decreased xenograft tumor size, reduced tumor EMT marker expression, and impaired metastasis, in accord with our findings in TRAMP Lgr4-/- mice. In conclusion, we propose that Lgr4 is a key protein necessary for prostate cancer EMT and metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Luo
- From the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Peng Tan
- From the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and.,the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Melissa Rodriguez
- From the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Lian He
- From the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Kunrong Tan
- From the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Li Zeng
- the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Stefan Siwko
- From the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Mingyao Liu
- From the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and .,the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
LGR4 Is a Direct Target of MicroRNA-34a and Modulates the Proliferation and Migration of Retinal Pigment Epithelial ARPE-19 Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168320. [PMID: 27977785 PMCID: PMC5158047 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathology of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy is linked to proliferation, migration, and adhesion of the retinal pigment epithelium. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) expression modulates changes in proliferation and migration of retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19. In this study, we determined that miR-34a interacts with LGR4, identified by bioinformatics using TargetScan Human 5.0, to affect these changes. Double luciferase gene reporter assay confirmed miR-34a involvement in mediating control. miR-34a mimic transfection decreased LGR4 expression. Western blot analysis documented corresponding protein expression inhibition. MTS, Ki67 immunostaining, scratch and transwell testing, along with attachment assay showed that miR-34a upregulation inhibited ARPE-19 cell proliferation, migration and attachment partly through downregulation of LGR4 protein expression. Western blot analysis revealed that both miR-34a upregulation and LGR4 downregulation induced declines in E2F1, p-CDC2, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6 protein expression. Taken together, miR-34a gene expression upregulation inhibits ARPE-19 cell proliferation, migration and adhesion partly by suppressing LGR4 expression. These results substantiate earlier indications that both miR-34a and LGR4 are potential drug targets to prevent fibrosis in a clinical setting.
Collapse
|
29
|
Xu P, Dang Y, Wang L, Liu X, Ren X, Gu J, Liu M, Dai X, Ye X. Lgr4 is crucial for skin carcinogenesis by regulating MEK/ERK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Cancer Lett 2016; 383:161-170. [PMID: 27693558 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Lgr4 is a member of the leucine-rich, G protein-coupled receptor family of proteins, and has recently been shown to augment Wnt/β-catenin signaling via binding to Wnt agonists R-spondins. It plays an important role in skin development, but its involvement in skin tumorigenesis is unclear. Here, we report that mice deficient for Lgr4 are resistant to 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced keratinocyte proliferation and papilloma formation. We show that TPA treatment activates MEK1, ERK1/2 and downstream effector AP-1 in wild-type (WT) epidermal cells and mice, but not in cells or mice where Lgr4 is depleted. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is also dramatically activated by TPA treatment, and this activation is abolished when Lgr4 is deleted. We provide evidences that blocking both MEK1/ERK1/2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways prevents TPA-induced increase in the expression of Ccnd1 (cyclin D1), a known Wnt/β-catenin target gene, and that the activation of MEK1/ERK1/2 pathway lies upstream of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. Collectively, our findings identify Lgr4 as a critical positive factor for skin tumorigenesis by mediating the activation of MEK1/ERK1/2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science and School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yongyan Dang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science and School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Luyang Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science and School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science and School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiaolin Ren
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science and School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jun Gu
- Department of Dermatology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science and School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xing Dai
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, D250 Med Sci I, Irvine, CA 92697-1700, USA.
| | - Xiyun Ye
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science and School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Lynch JR, Wang JY. G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling in Stem Cells and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17050707. [PMID: 27187360 PMCID: PMC4881529 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17050707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large superfamily of cell-surface signaling proteins that bind extracellular ligands and transduce signals into cells via heterotrimeric G proteins. GPCRs are highly tractable drug targets. Aberrant expression of GPCRs and G proteins has been observed in various cancers and their importance in cancer stem cells has begun to be appreciated. We have recently reported essential roles for G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) and G protein subunit Gαq in the maintenance of cancer stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia. This review will discuss how GPCRs and G proteins regulate stem cells with a focus on cancer stem cells, as well as their implications for the development of novel targeted cancer therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Lynch
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Group, Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Jenny Yingzi Wang
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Group, Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
- Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
LGR4 is a receptor for RANKL and negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Nat Med 2016; 22:539-46. [PMID: 27064449 DOI: 10.1038/nm.4076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily member 11 (TNFSF11, also known as RANKL) regulates multiple physiological or pathological functions, including osteoclast differentiation and osteoporosis. TNFRSF11A (also called RANK) is considered to be the sole receptor for RANKL. Herein we report that leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4, also called GPR48) is another receptor for RANKL. LGR4 competes with RANK to bind RANKL and suppresses canonical RANK signaling during osteoclast differentiation. RANKL binding to LGR4 activates the Gαq and GSK3-β signaling pathway, an action that suppresses the expression and activity of nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 1 (NFATC1) during osteoclastogenesis. Both whole-body (Lgr4(-/-)) and monocyte conditional knockout mice of Lgr4 (Lgr4 CKO) exhibit osteoclast hyperactivation (including elevation of osteoclast number, surface area, and size) and increased bone erosion. The soluble LGR4 extracellular domain (ECD) binds RANKL and inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vivo. Moreover, LGR4-ECD therapeutically abrogated RANKL-induced bone loss in three mouse models of osteoporosis. Therefore, LGR4 acts as a second RANKL receptor that negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption.
Collapse
|
32
|
Targeted deletion of the murine Lgr4 gene decreases lens epithelial cell resistance to oxidative stress and induces age-related cataract formation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119599. [PMID: 25811370 PMCID: PMC4374889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress contributes to the formation of cataracts. The leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4, also known as GPR48), is important in many developmental processes. Since deletion of Lgr4 has previously been shown to lead to cataract formation in mice, we sought to determine the specific role that Lgr4 plays in the formation of cataracts. Initially, the lens opacities of Lgr4(-/-) mice at different ages without ocular anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) were evaluated with slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Lenses from both Lgr4(-/-) and wild-type mice were subjected to oxidation induced protein denaturation to assess the ability of the lens to withstand oxidation. The expression of antioxidant enzymes was evaluated with real-time quantitative PCR. Phenotypically, Lgr4(-/-) mice showed earlier onset of lens opacification and higher incidence of cataract formation compared with wild-type mice of similar age. In addition, Lgr4(-/-) mice demonstrated increased sensitivity to environmental oxidative damage, as evidenced by altered protein expression. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that two prominent antioxidant defense enzymes, catalase (CAT) and superoxidase dismutase-1 (SOD1), were significantly decreased in the lens epithelial cells of Lgr4(-/-) mice. Our results suggest that the deletion of Lgr4 can lead to premature cataract formation, as well as progressive deterioration with aging. Oxidative stress and altered expression of several antioxidant defense enzymes contribute to the formation of cataracts.
Collapse
|
33
|
Liang F, Yue J, Wang J, Zhang L, Fan R, Zhang H, Zhang Q. GPCR48/LGR4 promotes tumorigenesis of prostate cancer via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Med Oncol 2015; 32:49. [PMID: 25636507 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-015-0486-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) 48, also known as leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor (LGR) 4, is an orphan receptor belonging to the GPCR superfamily, which plays an important role in the development of various organs and multiple cancers. However, the function of GPCR48/LGR4 in prostate cancer has not been fully investigated. Herein, GPCR48/LGR4 was overexpressed and silenced in prostate cancer cells via plasmid and shRNA transfection, respectively. The expression of GPCR48/LGR4 in mRNA and protein levels was analyzed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting, respectively. Subsequently, we demonstrated the effects of GPCR48/LGR4 on the migration, invasion, proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells, including Du145 and PC-3 cells. Next, we investigated the relationship between GPCR48/LGR4 and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway. The results showed that the overexpression of GPCR48/LGR4 was associated with the up-regulation of Akt, a key effector of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which meantime up-regulated the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), while down-regulated forkhead box, class O (FOXO), all of whom are the downstream targets of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Hence, the results suggested that GPCR48/LGR4 may regulate prostate cancer cells and tumor growth via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and could provide a better therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Liang
- Department of Oncology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Ahmad R, Wojciech S, Jockers R. Hunting for the function of orphan GPCRs - beyond the search for the endogenous ligand. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 172:3212-28. [PMID: 25231237 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Seven transmembrane-spanning proteins (7TM), also called GPCRs, are among the most versatile and evolutionary successful protein families. Out of the 400 non-odourant members identified in the human genome, approximately 100 remain orphans that have not been matched with an endogenous ligand. Apart from the classical deorphanization strategies, several alternative strategies provided recent new insights into the function of these proteins, which hold promise for high therapeutic potential. These alternative strategies consist of the phenotypical characterization of organisms silenced or overexpressing orphan 7TM proteins, the search for constitutive receptor activity and formation of protein complexes including 7TM proteins as well as the development of synthetic, surrogate ligands. Taken together, a variety of ligand-independent functions can be attributed to orphan 7TM proteins that range from constitutive activity to complex formation with other proteins and include 'true' orphans for which no ligand exist and 'conditional' orphans that behave like orphans in the absence of ligand and as non-orphans in the presence of ligand.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raise Ahmad
- Institut Cochin, INSERM, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8104, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Stefanie Wojciech
- Institut Cochin, INSERM, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8104, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Ralf Jockers
- Institut Cochin, INSERM, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 8104, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
GPR84 sustains aberrant β-catenin signaling in leukemic stem cells for maintenance of MLL leukemogenesis. Blood 2014; 124:3284-94. [PMID: 25293777 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2013-10-532523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
β-catenin is required for establishment of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Targeted inhibition of β-catenin signaling has been hampered by the lack of pathway components amenable to pharmacologic manipulation. Here we identified a novel β-catenin regulator, GPR84, a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family that represents a highly tractable class of drug targets. High GPR84 expression levels were confirmed in human and mouse AML LSCs compared with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Suppression of GPR84 significantly inhibited cell growth by inducing G1-phase cell-cycle arrest in pre-LSCs, reduced LSC frequency, and impaired reconstitution of stem cell-derived mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) AML, which represents an aggressive and drug-resistant subtype of AML. The GPR84-deficient phenotype in established AML could be rescued by expression of constitutively active β-catenin. Furthermore, GPR84 conferred a growth advantage to Hoxa9/Meis1a-transduced stem cells. Microarray analysis demonstrated that GPR84 significantly upregulated a small set of MLL-fusion targets and β-catenin coeffectors, and downregulated a hematopoietic cell-cycle inhibitor. Altogether, our data reveal a previously unrecognized role of GPR84 in maintaining fully developed AML by sustaining aberrant β-catenin signaling in LSCs, and suggest that targeting the oncogenic GPR84/β-catenin signaling axis may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for AML.
Collapse
|
36
|
Zhu J, Deng S, Duan J, Xie X, Xu S, Ran M, Dai X, Pu Y, Zhang X. FBXL20 acts as an invasion inducer and mediates E-cadherin in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Oncol Lett 2014; 7:2185-2191. [PMID: 24932313 PMCID: PMC4049678 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2014.2031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms eliciting colorectal adenocarcinoma are not well understood and the FBXL20 gene is problematic as it exhibits an abnormal expression in colorectal cancer cells. In the present study a recombinant plasmid, pReceiver-M03-FBL20 expression plasmid was constructed, which overexpressed FBXL20; this was transfected into Lovo cells to form Lovo-FBL20 cells. The FBXL20 expression level was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis. The cell viability and invasion capacity were measured using cell counting kit 8, Transwell chamber and wound healing assays, respectively. The associated genes, including E-cadherin, β-catenin, c-Myc, SET nuclear oncogene, protein phosphatase-2A, Axin, p53 and caspase 3, were detected by qPCR and western blotting. It was demonstrated that the FBXL20 expression level was markedly upregulated in the Lovo-FBL20 cells transfected with pReceiver-M03-FBL20 expression plasmid, compared with that of the Lovo cells. In addition, the cell viability and invasion capacity of the Lovo-FBL20 cells were significantly increased. These increases correlated with a significant upregulation in the expression level of β-catenin and c-Myc, and a downregulated expression level of E-cadherin. The results of the present study indicate that FBXL20 may mediate the ubiquitin degradation of E-cadherin resulting in an increased invasive ability of malignant cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Zhu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Premedical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Shishan Deng
- Department of Human Anatomy, Premedical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Jie Duan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Xingguo Xie
- Department of Human Anatomy, Premedical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Shiquan Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Premedical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Maocheng Ran
- Department of Human Anatomy, Premedical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaosi Dai
- Department of Human Anatomy, Premedical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Yu Pu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Stat3 upregulates leucine-rich repeat-containing g protein-coupled receptor 4 expression in osteosarcoma cells. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:310691. [PMID: 24455684 PMCID: PMC3886594 DOI: 10.1155/2013/310691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Revised: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) signaling is the common hallmark in various human cancers including osteosarcoma. In the present study, according to PCR-based microarrays using cDNA prepared from interleukin-6 (IL-6) treated osteosarcoma cells, we found that leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) was a transcriptional target of Stat3. Overexpression of Stat3 promoted LGR4 expression, while its deficiency using small interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced LGR4 expression. Furthermore, we identified a Stat3 binding motif located at −556 to −549 bp in the LGR4 promoter that is able to interact with Stat3. Thus, our results suggest a previously unknown Stat3-LGR4 molecular network, which may control osteosarcoma development and progression.
Collapse
|